2012-2013 NFL Season Thread

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[Queensryche]

I know it's a bit early, but I figure we should begin discussing right now. I'm gonna predict the four NFC divisions in this post and give my reasoning for why I feel like I do. Later on I'll predict the four AFC divisions. I will also not be predicting records, only where they place and who gets in the playoffs.

* - Denotes Wild Card Team

NFC East
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. NY Giants *
3. Washington Redskins
4. Philadelphia Eagles

Reasoning: Dallas is going to dominate and destroy other teams this year. Morris Claiborne will make their secondary that much better, and I also believe that the offense finally puts together all the pieces. The Giants have a brutal schedule and questions on offense and defense, but with their current team, they SHOULD get a wild card spot. Washington has some holes, but they've gotten some significant acquisitions, the biggest of which is Robert Griffin III. If Cam Newton can account for four more wins, RG3 can, because I believe he's as good as Cam. As for the Eagles, Jason Peters is out for the year, DeMeco Ryans is washed up, the only true offensive talent is LeSean McCoy, and the defense still has massive holes. Too many problems for the Eagles to overcome.


NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers
2. Chicago Bears *
3. Detroit Lions
4. Minnesota Vikings

Reasoning: No question that Green Bay is the best team in the division. Still have questions about their defense, but Aaron Rodgers is the NFL's best QB and the offense will put up enough points to win a lot of games. Chicago is poised to improve, with Jay Cutler healthy, a happy Matt Forte, and a (hopefully) improved offensive line, not to mention all the new weapons Cutler now has. Detroit's gonna take a step back, but they'll still be good and competitive. Maturity issues on the defense though need to be figured out. As for the Vikings, they're still developing Christian Ponder and don't have near the level of talent the other teams in the division have, so it'll end with another season in the basement.


NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons
2. Carolina Panthers
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Reasoning: Atlanta lately has followed a set pattern: Strong season, disappointing season, strong season, etc.. Last year was a disappointing season, and I also believe that Matt Ryan will finally, truly break out and show the world what he's made of. Cam Newton should be better than he was last year, and the Panthers will surprise people by having an improved season. New Orleans finally resolved the Brees situation, but the bounty scandal along with suspensions of key players has thrown the organization into disarray, and I'm not sure they can shake it off. As for Tampa Bay, I'm not sure they'll improve as much as people say they will, and with so many holes on the team, it's another cellar-dwelling season for them.


NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers
2. Seattle Seahawks
3. St. Louis Rams
4. Arizona Cardinals

Reasoning: No one in the division will threaten San Francisco, who return their stellar defense and have improved on offense. I do think they won't win as many games as they did last year, because teams now know to look out for them, and I also believe Alex Smith will regress from last season. Seattle has some solid players on offense and defense, but the QB question is going to haunt them for a while. Sam Bradford should bounce back nicely for the Rams, but their defense is gonna cost them more than a few games. As for Arizona, I'm not so sure they finish as strongly as they did last season. Kevin Kolb also needs to improve for them to have a chance.

[BigPimpin]

I actually like the Bears over the Packers this year.  Better overall team. 

And also, if Lynch wasn't completely mental, the Seahawks would have competed for the division.  I'm guessing Lynch is getting a 4-6 game ban which will crucify their chances.

I REALLY badly want to say the Panthers are going to make the playoffs this year, but saying that will require either one of the Giants/Cowboys/Bears/Packers to fall off a cliff.  The Giants and/or Cowboys could, as they have a brutal schedule. 

Cowboys, Bears, Falcons, 49ers, Giants, Packers, with Seahawks, Panthers and Saints knocking on the door.

I'll jump the gun and rank AFC, stars denoting playoff teams:

East:
New England Patriots
Buffalo Bills*
New York Jets
Miami Dolphins

North:
Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore Ravens*
Cincinatti Bengals
Cleveland Browns

South:
Houston Texans
Tennessee Titans
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars

West:
Kansas City Chiefs
Denver Broncos
San Diego Chargers
Oakland Raiders

[Turd Ferguson]

I still don't see how the Bears make the playoffs. That defense is not getting any better.

[JDub]

I still don't see how the Bears make the playoffs. That defense is not getting any better.

They should have made it last year if it wasn't for Cutler and Forte getting hurt. IMO they were probably the 2nd or 3rd best team in the NFC before the injuries. I think Cutler is trash (although it's not like he had much to work with) but if he plays like he did last year I don't see how they don't make the playoffs.

[BigPimpin]

I still don't see how the Bears make the playoffs. That defense is not getting any better.

They should have made it last year if it wasn't for Cutler and Forte getting hurt. IMO they were probably the 2nd or 3rd best team in the NFC before the injuries. I think Cutler is trash (although it's not like he had much to work with) but if he plays like he did last year I don't see how they don't make the playoffs.

Even if their defense holds serve, they now have a useful second running back (everyone laugh at Marion Barber on the way out the door), a better #1 receiver in Brandon Marshall, and, from what I'm to understand, an improved offensive line.  They're a better team this year than they were last year, before injuries crippled their season.

[Turd Ferguson]

Jay Cutler played at his best form last year and it wasn't enough. I doubt he repeats that performance.

The Lions have a favorable schedule and a much improved team all around. The Bears won't make it in over them, so unless either the Saints or Falcons fall out of the playoffs I can't see them getting in.

[Queensryche]

I still don't see how the Bears make the playoffs. That defense is not getting any better.

They should have made it last year if it wasn't for Cutler and Forte getting hurt. IMO they were probably the 2nd or 3rd best team in the NFC before the injuries. I think Cutler is trash (although it's not like he had much to work with) but if he plays like he did last year I don't see how they don't make the playoffs.

Just out of curiosity, if Jay Cutler is trash, what does that make Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, and Mark Sanchez? I've seen all of them called trash as well.

Guess nowadays any QB not named Rodgers, Brady, Brees, or Manning (either of them) is the reincarnation of Rick Mirer.

EDIT: Also, these are opinions. Please don't take offense if someone doesn't post something conforming to your homerific viewpoint.

[BigPimpin]

The Lions have a favorable schedule and a much improved team all around. The Bears won't make it in over them, so unless either the Saints or Falcons fall out of the playoffs I can't see them getting in.

The schedule argument is so flawed because they have 14 of the same opponents shared.  Let's look at the other two:

BEARS - @Cowboys, Panthers
LIONS - @Eagles, Falcons

That's...pretty equal, actually.  Cowboys > Eagles, but Falcons > Panthers.  So if the Lions have a favorable schedule, then it stands to reason that the Bears do, too.

And, just to play Devils' Advocate, who's to say that the Lions skill players can stay on the field?  They have a lot of health question marks that came together positively for them last year.  TF, you may be their running back by season's end.

[JDub]

Jay Cutler played at his best form last year and it wasn't enough. I doubt he repeats that performance.

The Lions have a favorable schedule and a much improved team all around. The Bears won't make it in over them, so unless either the Saints or Falcons fall out of the playoffs I can't see them getting in.

Cutler got hurt in week 11 and they went 1-5 after that against a bunch of ok or bad teams. And barley lost most of them on top of it. If Cutler was around they would have won 3-4 more games easy and the Lions would have been sitting out of the playoffs last year. The whole NFC North has an easy schedule this year so that doesn't mean much. If you want to make a comparison Lions and Bears were both 7-3 last season when Cutler got hurt so I'm not sure how you can think the Lions will make it in the playoffs over the Bears so easily.

I still don't see how the Bears make the playoffs. That defense is not getting any better.

They should have made it last year if it wasn't for Cutler and Forte getting hurt. IMO they were probably the 2nd or 3rd best team in the NFC before the injuries. I think Cutler is trash (although it's not like he had much to work with) but if he plays like he did last year I don't see how they don't make the playoffs.

Just out of curiosity, if Jay Cutler is trash, what does that make Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, and Mark Sanchez? I've seen all of them called trash as well.

Guess nowadays any QB not named Rodgers, Brady, Brees, or Manning (either of them) is the reincarnation of Rick Mirer.

EDIT: Also, these are opinions. Please don't take offense if someone doesn't post something conforming to your homerific viewpoint.

Trash is probably too strong of a word. He made too many mistakes, a .500 W-L record, never lead his team to the playoffs (until 2 seasons ago), etc. But like I said he never had much help with WRs and he was definitely an elite level guy last season. If he plays like that this season they should make the playoffs no problem.

[Queensryche]

Now time for my AFC picks.

* - Denotes Wild Card team

AFC East
1. New England Patriots
2. Buffalo Bills *
3. NY Jets
4. Miami Dolphins

Reasoning: Son of a female dog Pimpin, you stole my line. Anyways, New England still has Tom Brady and still has their offense, and the draft will drastically improve their defense, so they stay on top. Buffalo had a strong run to begin the season, but it fell flat. With the additions they've made for this season, they'll be considerably stronger and good enough to win a Wild Card. With the disharmony in the locker room and the Tebowmania circus following it, the Jets will stumble and finish short. As for Miami, they may or may not have the QB they need in Ryan Tannehill, but they still need weapons on offense, as well as a couple more additions on defense.


AFC North
1. Cincinnati Bengals
2. Pittsburgh Steelers *
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Cleveland Browns

Reasoning: No, I'm not kidding. Cincinnati hit with both AJ Green and Andy Dalton last year, and a year's experience for this team along with their fantastic drafts the past two years will equate into a division title for the Bengals. Pittsburgh will still be good, but their defense is getting older and their overreliance on both Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu will hurt them. Baltimore's defense will also be older, but more than that, no Terrell Suggs means no playoff spot. And finally, Cleveland got themselves a good RB in Trent Richardson, but they still have too many holes to fill.


AFC South
1. Houston Texans
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Indianapolis Colts

Reasoning: Even with their losses, the Texans still have Andre Johnson and Arian Foster, and the defense is good enough to give them the division. Tennessee still needs a QB and still needs holes filled on defense, but Chris Johnson will bounce back and help the Titans be respectable. Jacksonville has even more holes to fill, but they've still got Maurice Jones-Drew, and at least they're not in complete rebuilding mode like the Colts are, with the complete roster turnover they had.


AFC West
1. San Diego Chargers
2. Denver Broncos
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Oakland Raiders

Reasoning: I know I'm taking a risk considering that Norv Turner is still the head coach, but the Chargers are poised to rebound, in particular Philip Rivers. Denver added Peyton Manning, which helps a lot, but they've still got needs, and poor drafting means they finish second. Kansas City has questions, like whether Matt Cassel is "the guy" and if Jamaal Charles will get back to form. Oakland unfortunately is a mess in the wake of Al Davis' death (paradoxical, huh?) and they'll need at least a year to sort things out.

[Jokerfish]

I think that is pretty accurate The only things I will say is this I think it's a coin flip between broncos and  the Chargers as well as the top three of the AFC North.
AFC
West:
 Norv Turner is not a great coach and The chargers don't win because of him. They win because They generally have a lot of talent on their roster. Phillip Rivers is a better quarterback then how he played last year. I don't trust the O-line or the running game so I see them fluctuating this season making them some where between 8-8 and 10-8
The Broncos went 8-8  despite essentially having a backup play most of the season. Do you really think that the broncos can't improve their record by at least 1 or 2 games with Peyton Manning at the helm? which leaves them in the same range as the Chargers. Broncos pull it out for my pick   
North:
It is so hard to pick a winner out of the AFC North because those teams have to play each other and can you honestly say that you cant see everyone but the browns splitting their series's against one another. Bengals should be on the rise assuming their isn't any major injuries/ police blotter type of stuff that has plagued this team in the past. I will pick the Ravens though Steelers don't make the playoffs.
 East:
I agree with the Pats Bills 1 2 combo. As a long time Bills fan I will say the Bills have found new and improved ways to disappoint me each season.
South:
AFC South is the Texans to lose. Jaguars will have the worst standing in this division this season as they haven't really improved this off season and the Colts will do better enough to edge the Jags.
NFC

North:
Another ridiculously hard division to call. The Bears looked formidable when Cuttler was healthy. Lions are improved and the Pack is always on the Attack. Pack will win the division bears make the wild card.

West:
Niners  would have to screw up really badly to lose this division. Is it sad that the most dominate consistent QB in this Division is Alex Smith?

South:
Saints still make it into the playoffs but no where as high a seed as last year. Panthers will be 2nd missing the playoffs by 2 wins. Matt Ryan is going to put up ok numbers. the rest of the team I have a feeling is going implode this year. Mainly due to injuries.
East:
I don't really buy any of these teams making the playoffs. They seem to play down to their opponents level during the regular season. Which doesn't instill confidence for any of these teams. Redskins will be the most improved team this season in terms of record but won't get them a playoff spot. I guess i'll roll my D4..........Giants it is?       

[dilbert505]

It's funny. In the NFC, I agree with QR on 12 of 16 teams, but all the ones I disagree on are in the same division.

NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers
2. Chicago Bears
3. Detroit Lions
4. Minnesota Vikings

NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons
2. Carolina Panthers
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers
2. Seattle Seahawks
3. St. Louis Rams
4. Arizona Cardinals

Agreement up and down the line here (with the caveat that Marshawn Lynch might mess the Seahawks up, and drop them one slot behind the Rams.)

However, in the East, I have it differently.

1. New York Giants
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Dallas Cowboys
4. Washington Redskins

The Giants' schedule isn't easy, but I have serious issues pointing to schedule difficulty as a make or break factor. as Pimpin pointed out, any team in a division has 12 common opponents with any other division team, plus 2 games against each other, and the remaining 2 games are hard to point to as brutal differences. They're still the defending champions, returned most of the same team, improved in a couple places, and all of that combines to make it hard for me to knock them. As to the Eagles, QR knows well that he and I have a strong disagreement here. Peters is a top-3 tackle in the NFL, and losing him hurts, but Demetress Bell is a capable, competent replacement. DeMeco Ryans wasn't washed up, he suffered a brutal injury, from which he's now fully recovered. There are these guys named Jackson, Maclin, and Vick who might take umbrage to being told LeSean McCoy is the extent of the Eagles' offensive talent, and those defensive holes ought to be patched (Ryans and Kendricks in, Fletcher Cox in, Asomugha and DRC now playing a coverage pattern that suits their strengths, rather than playing Asante Samuel's game.) It's possible I'm wrong, of course, but I see a much rosier picture than QR does, and even if I'm overstating it, there's absolutely no way this team doesn't beat out the Redskins. Dallas is improved on D, but nothing about the offensive moves they've made gives me any reason to suspect they'll put it together. Unless by "it" you mean "a legal defense slush fund for Dez Bryant."

Playoffs: 1: GB (I almost feel compelled to put them here, since I'm now 1/23847389i7238905y23490-th owner of the Packers)
2: SF
3: ATL
4: NY
5: CHI
6: PHI (Just out: DAL, CAR, DET)

As to the AFC:

AFC East
1. New England Patriots
2. NY Jets
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Miami Dolphins

I still have Buffalo 3rd, but they're going to push the crap out of the Jets this year, and both will miss the postseason by a whisker. Buffalo might even end up 3rd on tiebreakers, with the same record as the Jets.

AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Cleveland Browns

Cincy's better, but I find it's hard to go wrong predicting good things for the Steelers and Ravens, and that's exactly what I expect. It's a two-team race at the top, but I wouldn't be shocked to see both wild cards come from the North this year (though that's not what I'm predicting). Baltimore did themselves a solid getting Ray Rice under contract and happy, and that'll help a great deal.

AFC South
1. Houston Texans
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Indianapolis Colts

I'd be floored if this division turned out any other way, barring a serious injury to a crucial Titan. Then I could see TEN and JAX switching, but that's it.

AFC West
1. Denver Broncos
2. San Diego Chargers
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Oakland Raiders

Blurgh. This division's going to beat the crap out of each other, and I expect that to be the difference maker. The Broncos probably edge out the Chargers on a tiebreaker at 10-6.

Playoffs: 1: New England Patriots
2: Houston Texans (I don't think Houston's this good; I think the rest of their division's that bad. They'll go 6-0 in the division, giving them a huge leg up on everyone else.)
3: Pittsburgh Steelers
4: Denver Broncos
5: Baltimore Ravens
6: San Diego Chargers (Just out: CIN, NYJ, BUF)

[The Hurricane]

Ok I'll throw my hat in....judging that 5 of the last 6 Super Bowl winners have been a wild card team. I doubt we'll see a division champion winning yet again this year. It'll be an underdog team that no one has given a chance.

Here's how I see the NFC seeding

1. Green Bay Packers
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. NY Giants/Philadelphia Eagles
4. Carolina Panthers

NFC Wild Card

5. Philadelphia Eagles/NY Giants
6. Detroit Lions/Bears

NFC Forecast. I just don't see the Cowboys doing worth a crap this year. They didn't do a lot to take care of key problems and that was blatantly evident in their first pre-season game when the first team offense couldn't keep Romo upright let alone score points. The Saints might prove everyone else wrong and make the wild card just on offensive firepower alone so don't be surprised even without Sean Payton on the sidelines them at least getting a playoff berth.


AFC

1. Patriots
2. Ravens
3. Texans
4. Broncos

Wildcard

5. Steelers
6. Raiders

AFC: I am thinking that the Raiders might finally make it over the hump and return to the playoffs all be it as a 6th seed and probably as a 1 and done scenario. The top 3 shouldn't really surprise, but I think Peyton becoming a Bronco gives them the push to at least a division title.

Super Bowl Prediction:

I'll post that later in the season, but I'm going to take a good guess and say a wild card team will make it in once again!

[JDub]

NFC

East - Giants
North - Packers
South - Saints (Even with all the stuff they are going through it's hard to to think they won't win the division still.)
West - Seahawks (Matt Flynn and/or Russell Wilson FTW)

Wild Card:

Bears
Panthers/Lions (can't decide)

AFC

East - Patriots
North - Steelers
South - Texans
West - Chargers (I guess? Too hard to pick a division winner.)

Wild Card:

Bengals
Bills

[crimsonrebel]

I do not like Dallas this year.  Their O line looks horrid and Witten now has a ruptured spleen.  NY will win the NFC east.  They are stronger this year with Wilson and two legit #1 threats at WR.

In the NFC west no way anyone upsets SF.  The O may be mediocre, but that D is enough to get by in a weak division.

Steelers worry me as well.  I have no confidence in the o line, Ben has a torn rotator cuff, Mendenhall is on the pup, and the D just keeps getting older.  IF Cincy can build on last season I like them as a dark horse.

I think this is the year The Raiders finally win the AFC West.  Palmer should return to form like he did at the end of last season.  They have a strong young WR corps, middle of the pack D, and a solid run game.  SD just wont be legit until the get rid of coach Skeletor.

[Queensryche]

ONCE AGAIN the national media rushes in to bash the Eagles and, by extension, Eagles fans.

Eagles owner Jeff Lurie recently commented in his state-of-the-team address that Andy Reid's job is on the line and that he won't be back if the Eagles don't see significant improvement. When pressed, he said 8-8 would not be acceptable. This has led the national media to say that Lurie shouldn't have said that so soon after Andy lost his oldest son and then take shots at Eagles fans who want Reid gone.

MAYBE if they'd done their research they'd know WHY Lurie felt compelled to say it. Not five days after Andy buried his son, his agent Bob LaMonte was at training camp and said to reporters that Jeff Lurie told them that Andy has a job for life with the Eagles and calling on Lurie to extend Andy. Isn't that more despicable? That LaMonte was trying to use Garrett Reid's death as leverage for a contract extension? Thankfully, LaMonte quickly backed off, probably because Andy called him up and asked him "What the HELL are you doing??!?" But no, the national media is so enamored with Andy Reid that they'll let that fly. God forbid though you suggest Andy's job is in jeopardy, because then come the "Be careful what you wish for" lines and other BS.

As for wanting Andy Reid out..........it's been 14 years. Yeah, they have all those playoff appearances and such, but no championship. Personally, I think the Eagles have gotten as far as they can with Andy. He's not a great clock manager, he's awful at challenges, and some of his personnel decisions (both players and coaches) have been bizarre. I don't think the Eagles will go any further and that it's time for a change.

I will say about Andy though that he's a fantastic motivator, his players love him, and for all his gameday faults, the one thing I will NEVER question him on is his eye for quarterback talent. Donovan McNabb had his best years here, AJ Feeley played well, Jeff Garcia's career was briefly revived, Michael Vick's career was resurrected, Trent Edwards looks better than he ever has, and it appears that Andy found a keeper in Nick Foles.

[The Hurricane]

Andy Reid has gotten a free ride way too long.

It wasn't even that long ago that Marty Schottenheimer took a Chargers team from the basement to a 14-2 record and a playoff berth and THAT wasn't enough to save his job because he didn't bring home a championship. He didn't get 14 years and honestly Andy shouldn't have either!

[Queensryche]

Andy Reid has gotten a free ride way too long.

It wasn't even that long ago that Marty Schottenheimer took a Chargers team from the basement to a 14-2 record and a playoff berth and THAT wasn't enough to save his job because he didn't bring home a championship. He didn't get 14 years and honestly Andy shouldn't have either!

Ah yes, Marty Schottenheimer. He's gotten a raw deal more than once in the NFL, and quite honestly if people looked at the teams he coached, he never had a great QB. Even his last year in San Diego, it was Philip Rivers' first year as a starter, so he was still something of an unknown commodity.

The difference between Andy Reid and Marty Schottenheimer is that Andy's well-liked by the press and Marty isn't, thus they'll go any length to defend Andy but not extend the same for Marty.

The worst part is people outside of the Philadelphia area who don't understand the little things about Andy that drive Eagles fans like me nuts, like his tendency to abandon the running game early on, his habit of not saying anything of substance in press conferences, etc.. Maybe it'll take Andy leaving the Eagles and coaching elsewhere to help other people see what about him drives Eagles fans mad. Sorta like how Donovan McNabb leaving the Eagles helped everyone else see the passive-aggressive manner in which he talks about things and how the guy has a WAY overblown view of himself, to the point of refusing to accept ANY responsibility when teams he QB'd lost.

[Queensryche]

A tale of two Power Rankings.

Personally, I feel the so-called Power Rankings are useless, especially ones before the season. But the contrast between FOX Sports' and ESPN's is rather startling.

FOX Sports

ESPN

FOX has #1 completely wrong. The ONLY teams that should merit consideration for #1 are the Packers and Patriots. I think FOX is also selling the Giants a little short. Both rankings are selling the Cowboys short in my opinion, along with the Panthers and Redskins.

I also think both rankings vastly overrate the Eagles. I don't see how either ranking for them can be justified. From what I've seen in the preseason, it's almost exactly the same team as last year's, with the same problems (porous run defense, Nnamdi Asomugha looks lost, the linebackers are weak, unreliable at QB) as last year. If I had to rank, I'd put the Eagles somewhere between 14 and 17. The Eagles could win anywhere from 5 to 11 games, and because of the problems I witnessed, I'm gonna predict they repeat last year's 8-8 record.

Doubt is an Infection - CM Punk