2011 NFL Predictions by an Average Sports Fan

The 2011 NFL season starts in just over a week when the New Orleans Saints take on the Green Bay Packers. Football fans will rejoice while our favorite past time returns to the gridiron for what appears to an amazing season. While I most certainly can’t foresee the future, here are the predictions on how the upcoming NFL season will shape up.

AFC East

The New England Patriots may not be able to repeat their 14-2 season but they still have the same head coach and quarterback who know how to win. The New York Jets return with something to prove and will try to become the top dog in the division with their ferocious defense. Both the Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills have flaws, they may be able to earn enough combined wins to match the Patriots’ record. The race for the division title is going to be a two team race and until the Jets can prove they belong, the Patriots will secure another division crown and the Jets fighting for a wildcard berth.

AFC North

The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, who finished with the same record in 2010, will be going at it again to see who is the best in the North. Meanwhile the Cleveland Browns will continue to survive the season and come closer to the .500 mark. Lastly the Cincinnati Bengals will trudge through the season with more holes than Swiss cheese and be lucky to match 4 wins. When the season is over, the Ravens will have earned the title spot with the Steelers returning to the playoffs as a wildcard.

AFC South

Even though the Indianapolis Colts return as division champions, there are too many questions on this team, especially considering Peyton Manning’s health. The Houston Texans spent the off-season revamping their defense and pose the most potent threat to the Colts. There will be a fight for the bottom of the division between the Tennessee Titans, who are being held up by Chris Johnson, or the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are going nowhere quick. It is possible that we see a repeat of the 2010 NFC West where the winning team reaches the playoff with a 7-9 record, doubtful though as the Texans take home the title.
AFC West

The Kansas City Chiefs pulled off the impossible last year and surprised everyone when they won the division. They are going to have their hands full with a hungry San Diego Chargers team that failed to make the playoffs. The Oakland Raiders are finding their groove on offense and should prove to be some trouble this year. The Denver Broncos are going through their rebuilding process and will be lucky with 6 wins. The Chargers are going to man up this year and run away with the division title and potentially the best record in the AFC. The Raiders will have an outside shot at a wildcard berth.

NFC East

Even though the Philadelphia Eagles are being given the Super Bowl trophy already, they will have their hands full with the defenses since they had over a year to scheme for Michael Vick. The Dallas Cowboys are going to return to their playoff form thanks to a healthy Tony Romo and new head coach Jason Garrett. If you want to find a dark horse candidate in 2011, it would the New York Giants who have the chance to be special while the Washington Redskins are hoping just to make it through the season. Though the Eagles win the NFC East, the Cowboys will give them a run and force a tight division race.

NFC North

Hands down, this is going to be the toughest division in the NFL this year. The Green Bay Packers will have the proverbial target on their back this year as they try to become repeat Super Bowl champions. The Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears will be hot on their heels thanks to their defensive units that will keep them close in every game. The Minnesota Vikings will be the wildcard of the group and will surprise a few teams this year. The Packers will come away with the division title this year but look for the Bears and the Lions to finish above .500 and both with shots at a wildcard spot.

NFC South

In 2010, the NFC South was one of the best divisions around and we can expect more of the same in 2011. The Atlanta Falcons will rely on the legs of Michael Turner to carry them to the Super Bowl while the New Orleans Saints will use the arm of Drew Brees to knock their opponents around. Expect the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to take a step back but still prove to be a team around the .500 mark. The Cam Newton experiment with the Carolina Panthers is going to experience their rough times in 2011. The Saints will return to the top spot at the end of the season with the Falcons fighting for their playoff lives.

NFC West

The Seattle Seahawks managed not only to win the division title with a 7-9 record in 2011, but they earned a surprising first round playoff victory. They will need luck if they are going to repeat. The St. Louis Rams have a young quarterback who knows how to manage a game and a vastly under rated defense. The San Francisco 49ers is the wild card in the division with a new coach, but have questions at the quarterback position. Meanwhile the Arizona Cardinals banked their future on a quarterback who has yet to play a full season. Slowly but surely, the teams in the NFC West are returning to their previous stature. The Rams will take home a division title and be forced to deal with a pesky San Francisco 49ers team.

Super Bowl XLVI

The San Diego Chargers will represent the AFC and the Green Bay Packers will represent the NFC. In the end, Phillips Rivers will guide the Chargers to a victory.


People also view

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *