NFL Predictions 2011: Going Green in Super Bowl XLVI

It's finally here people. The 2011-12 NFL season is upon us. Looking back at my predictions last year, I regret not having more confidence in the Chiefs (I had them making a Wild Card, not taking the division). My Super Bowl prediction was the Ravens over the Packers, which isn't so bad, until you realize I didn't even have the Steelers making the playoffs. I assure you, that is not the case this season. Oh, and uh... if you were wondering, I'd much prefer to not even discuss last year's Mike Singletary - coach of the year fiasco.

OK. Get your pens out and ready. My predictions are as follows.


Final Standings
(* = clinched division & home-field advantage; z = clinched division; x = clinched wild card)

AFC East

1. z-New England Patriots 12-4
2. x-New York Jets 11-5
3. Buffalo Bills 8-8
4. Miami Dolphins 4-12

A valiant effort by the Bills, but there's no doubt this will be a two-horse race.



AFC North

1. *-Pittsburgh Steelers 13-3
2. x-Baltimore Ravens 12-4
3. Cleveland Browns 7-9
4. Cincinatti Bengals 3-13

A similar theme prevails in the AFC North, with the Browns attempting to do the unthinkable. They'll come up a little short.



AFC South

1. z-Houston Texans 11-5
2. Indianapolis Colts 9-7
3. Tennessee Titans 8-8
4. Jacksonville Jaguars 3-13

Everyone seems to be on the Texans' train with Peyton Manning out for at least the first game (and who knows how long). Manning's injury should open the door for Houston, but will they finally walk through it?



AFC West

1. z-San Diego Chargers 12-4
2. Kansas City Chiefs 9-7
3. Denver Broncos 7-9
4. Oakland Raiders 4-12

The Chiefs will be the best non-playoff team in the AFC, and with a solid offseason, will be the sexy Super Bowl pick in 2012. As for this year? You better hope you drafted Philip Rivers and/or Vincent Jackson on your fantasy team. Super-Chargers indeed.



NFC East

1. z-Philadelphia Eagles 11-5
2. New York Giants 8-8
3. Dallas Cowboys 7-9
4. Washington Redskins 4-12

A comeback season for America's team? Not so fast. Tony Romo is Matt Cassel on a much bigger stage and the Cowboys are generally overrated coming into every season. The Eagles will snooze through the all-the-sudden weak NFC East.



NFC North

1. *-Green Bay Packers 14-2
2. x-Detroit Lions 10-6
3. Minnesota Vikings 5-11
4. Chicago Bears 5-11

The Pack have, undoubtedly, the most talent in the NFL. If healthy, they'll show it again in 2011. Detroit, though, will be the story of the NFL by finally making the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.



NFC South

1. z-Atlanta Falcons 13-3
2. x-New Orleans Saints 12-4
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-11
4. Carolina Panthers 3-13

This should be a bounce back year for the Saints. Grandview High School's Josh Freeman and his Bucs, however, should come back down to Earth in 2011. And here's to hoping Tony-G finally gets a playoff victory (or more) in what may be the last season for the greatest tight end in NFL history.



NFC West

1. z-Arizona Cardinals 9-7
2. Seattle Seahawks 6-10
3. St. Louis Rams 6-10
4. San Francisco 49ers 5-11

I'm not sure there's enough talent amongst ALL FOUR of the NFC West's teams to compile a playoff-caliber roster. Kevin Kolb—Larry Fitzgerald—Beanie Wells are probably the best 'big three' combination in the division.



* * *

Regular Season MVP: Philip Rivers, Chargers

Coach of the Year: Jim Schwartz, Lions

First Coach to be Canned: Jack Del Rio, Jaguars

Comeback Player of Year: Matt Hasselbeck, Titans

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Mark Ingram, Saints

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Von Miller, Broncos

SUPER BOWL XLVI PREDICTION: Jets 26, Packers 24

So there you have it, folks. Super Bowl XLVI will be going green with a showdown between last year's champs and the Rex Ryan version of Cirque du Soleil. The Jets will come out on top, and to no one on this side of the galaxy's surprise, Sexy Rexy will guarantee his Jets will win Super Bowl XLVII immediately after the game.

*By the way, the plan is to keep a record of my picks (straight-up) from week-to-week, and possibly compare it to some of the so-called "experts" across the nation. We'll see how it goes. Oh, and I'll take the Packers Thursday.