With the 2014 season approaching, here is my predictions this year for the season. However, this year I will be doing things a little differently. Instead of predicting all the records of all 32 teams, I am just going to name the playoff teams and super bowl prediction. I will go seed by seed however and describe contenders for each seed in each conference through a patternal point of view.
American Football Conference
1 seed
There has been a interesting trend in the last six years with each division representing the 1 seed back to back years excluding the AFC North. Also from 2002-2008 each of the divisions rotated for representing the 1 seed in the order of West, East, North, South, West, East.......until the AFC North started getting skipped over due to the competitiveness of said division's top two teams then and the offensive sparks making it difficult for opposing teams to keep a Manning or Brady from the 1 seed. In a very interesting pattern, starting in 08 the South had the 1 seed for two years with Tennessee and Indianapolis, then the East with New England back to back and the west with Denver back to back. The South in 05 was the fourth different 1 seed representative since the re-alignment and after 09, there was a reverse order skipping over the North again for the East and the West. Since the West and Denver has represented two years straight and on top of a tougher schedule I think it makes sense they will not be a 1 seed again this year. Instead, expect the forward returning order since its back to the stomping grounds(2002 AFC West and Oakland represented the 1 seed). With the easiest NFC division defensively and the lack of elite offense in the AFC West(minus Denver) to go with home games against two teams who do not play as well on the road, this was a clear cut choice.........
1.New England Patriots
2 seed
The last two years, this division has been the 4 and 3 seed representative. The AFC North winner will be the 2 seed. Cincinatti is the reigning division champ but they have a new offense now and are a different team when playing away from home and against solid teams. Two teams who were off last year are sure to bounce back but only one of them can regain full identity as they have still had it the last two years. They still have their defensive superstar and a qb who has won before on his own. The other team lost a lot of weapons two offseasons ago as well as the motivational leader. They are not going to be that team again for a while. Also my pick has placed 3rd and 2nd last two years in the division...........
2.Pittsburgh Steelers
3 seed
Out of every division in the conference this division has been the 3 seed representative more than anyone. 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, and 2012. I believe this division with playing one of the two easier NFC divisions and the winner playing six games against division rivals who are not as good especially two of them, I have to give the edge to them and to a re-rising team in the conference in recent memory........
3.Indianapolis Colts
4 seed
That means we are down to the AFC West and it should be no surprise who is this seed. This team has a tougher schedule and is coming off the heels of a national embarrassment on the biggest stage. That game not only was about the talent it said something about their leader. He is just simply done in that regards. I was expecting the wheels to fall off this year but winning 10-11 games can be considered that. This team also stacked up on defensive talent but the best defensive division on the schedule represents offenses that play not to turn it over. This year will be the final straw and the culmination of the sports greatest QB finally facing the downfall of his career.............
4.Denver Broncos
Wild Card 1
Every candidate for the first wild card has a ceiling of 10-11 games. The last five seasons all the divisions got to represent the first wild card. From 2002-2010 only the AFC East and AFC South represented this spot. The AFC South has been here 6 times, while the AFC East has been here 3. In 2010 and 2011, the AFC North finally represented back to back years and in 2013 the AFC West represented for the first time since re-alignment. That said, the two most representative divisions are in line for this spot. Technically its the south's turn but the division is just too weak right now to represent so it will have to represent next year when Houston becomes stronger again. This year, it gets skipped over and its between two teams from the East. Both have decent secondaries but one has a stronger rush defense. The other has a stronger safety. The schedule comes into play as well as the battle to beat NE in week 15 and 16 as one will lose. But I see this team having the better chance at beating Green Bay and Chicago..........
5.Miami Dolphins
Wild Card 2
The opposite occured for the 6 seed early on. It was only the North and West divisions representing from 2002 through 2006 before the South had its first and only in 2007(putting three South teams in) and the East had its lone one in 2010. The last three years however the same two divisions who represented mostly have represented. And this division since 2007 has not gone two seasons without having a team here. This team is due for a bounce back season to boot..........
6.Baltimore Ravens
So I have Cincinatti, Kansas City, and San Diego all missing the postseason and Baltimore and Pittsburgh returning with Miami being the token one year wonder/surprise. Cincinatti did win 11 games last year but their performances stemmed mostly from at home. I think they are due for a down year as Dalton has yet to really face the learning curve in a weak AFC due to being overlooked for the two superior teams in the division. This year they are clearly going to be planned for and most teams don't get past it the first year. KC and SD had easier schedules last year and were exposed in bigger games so it should be no surprise they regress but I think Kansas City will be in the mix again but will not have a wild card locked up by week 15.
National Football Conference
1 seed
Before 2009 the divisions were mostly rotating among the top seed after NFC East's Philadelphia's 3-year run starting off at the realignment. The East represented in 07 and 08 but with two different teams. Then it appeared only the NFC South or the NFC North were strong enough for the top spot and since 2011 the NFC West has since replaced the North. This year that does not change. The South or West will have the top seed. Its not hard to know that its really between 3 teams for this coveted spot and usually nobody has represented back to back since those eagles. If that continues, which I believe it will, it is clearly between two teams. With injuries happening in their own division that can majorly affect their chances of contending or playing good defense on one end and offense on another on top of not having to worry about their biggest rival until Thanksgiving, it's not hard to see this team having a easier time and their recent history shows they only lose to teams worthy of beating them............
1.San Francisco 49ers
2 seed
As previously mentioned only two divisions have a team capable of winning 12+ games right now. The other division aside from the West is the South. And I don't have the 1 seed candidate as my 2 seed. In fact I factored in if they win the division things will go their way but otherwise things could fall apart and its hard to ignore the back and forth battle of being on top each year between them and their biggest rival. So much so like Carolina last year, this team emerges this year as the surprise team coming out on top with a stacked defense and offense if the QB produces.................
2.Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3 seed
Now we get down to the two crap divisions and the two divisions are top to bottom highly competitive but only early season struggles determine who is in the mix late. The NFC East usually has a team that puts together a string of wins, competing with 1 other while the other 2 are inconsistent in recent seasons. The NFC North has about three teams when it matters who will play sloppily for the crown. Therefore, the East wins the 3 seed and its between two teams for it but not necessarily both finish top two. Both teams have struggled in preseason but if a team is unlikely to not repeat, something crazy will happen. Sometimes you have to pick a favorite to not win because of past occurences. However I do believe that any minute a second team could return to take a wild card. But this has been a win-or-bust division recently. And when the worst division in football is on the schedule and it comes down to who is due for comeback division match wins alongside who has the better swing opponents, any team could win here. This team has the deep threat and go-to guy on their team now, the likely most talented tightend, and the second best runningback and sometimes the team can be motivated on defense as they are two years removed from being a top run defense and have the 2nd best safety in the division. Let's not forget they gave the broncos a tough time last year early in their place and was the only team to beat San Diego who had it too easy against the other 3 rivals on offense....................
3.Washington Redskins
4 seed
That brings us to the NFC North, and Green Bay has ruled this division three years straight. If there is any team truly due to have a year out of the postseason, it is this team. They barely won it last year but the division is more competitive and they face teams on the schedule from a defensive minded AFC East and balanced NFC South. I feel this is the year Green Bay takes a seat and I have a surprise upset loss for them this season in their own place but I am not naming that team. Their home schedule is challenging and they still have to go to places like Seattle, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Miami, Buffalo outside the division. Last year after finishing third back to back seasons, this team finished second last year. This year, they finish first........
4.Chicago Bears
Wild Card 1
Just like with top seeding, the same can be said for the best wild card odds. This team cannot fall any further from what they were last year and their division will stay here for the third straight season...........
5.Seattle Seahawks
Wild Card 2
The runner-up who benefits this year from the back-and-forth dualing with their biggest division rival. They have too much on offense to not be able to at least get a wild card. While I considered the East's Philadelphia here, I considered who was in this spot last year and voila! it was the New Orleans Saints, making this all too predictable.........
6.Atlanta Falcons
Surprised you are that I have Green Bay and New Orleans missing the playoffs. It should be no surprise Carolina does not return and only a little surprising Philadelphia does not in a close competition for that last wild card. I think pre-season events off the field has me concerned about the saints as well as unpreparation and Green Bay still is going to be sorry on defense. I'm also expecting something flukey to happen in Philly.
Super Bowl Prediction
Based on how I'm seeing things play out, I believe someone unexpected comes out of the AFC. Denver could be playing New England again in the playoffs after losing in the regular season. And it would not surprise me if Denver knocked them off in January considering the lack of true weapons on the team. Denver is going to be stronger on defense after the offseason and even last year they were up 24-0 on NE. It makes sense for them to knock off NE and then lose in a more raucious place. That team also will face a rematch with the Indianapolis Colts, who I expect wins the regular season meeting giving the opposite the knowledge in the same place at a much different time. Also, among the three QBs that have been mostly in the SB in this conference, none of of them have gone four years without. It is Big Ben's turn and that means Pittsburgh circa 2010 will avoid going on the road in the playoffs and make it to the big stage for Big Ben's fourth time. And that team also has gotten stronger on offense with a new no.2 receiver who was great in college and a speedy RB who is a more explosive version of Mewelde Moore and have not one but two good RBs starting. Technically, they loaded up quietly this offseason.
No need to go into detail, but only the South or West can represent the NFC at this time and well TB is not ready by a long shot. And being the sixth seed and going out west should they get out of the wild card, it is highly unlikely Atlanta goes given also the NFC West division winner also has not gone one and done since 2004. This is a one team waltz to the super bowl for San Francisco.
As hinted by the title it will be the battle of greatness. One team can only tie it and the other can put a cap on it. Pittsburgh and San Francisco are actually even. Pittsburgh has the ability to be just as good on defense as SF, and they have the better play action QB as well while not exactly possessing the best passing weapons. Big Ben won his two rings over NFC West teams. Seattle and Arizona have been his victim and San Francisco will be his next. Pittsburgh and Big Ben prove themselves and the NFL's all time greatest franchise will not defile history. We know which team is the cockier too btw and the most proud and that comes before the fall.
Pittsburgh wins 7th over San Francisco
So there you have it and I'm almost sure many people will not agree with that final prediction but it can't be worse than the team I picked last year. And no way will it be as predictable as what it was last year with the final four contenders. So I'm gonna take my chances here.
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