AFC North
1. Cincinnati Bengals 10-6: Defense loaded with talent, upgraded at RB via NFL draft, and has an Elite WR.
2. Baltimore Ravens 9-7: People underestimate this team every year, even after winning Super Bowl. They lost Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, but upgraded many other defensive positions. Biggest question is who will catch passes from Flacco.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers 9-7: A healthy Big Ben will make this team a playoff contender again. Aging but still solid defense. Biggest question is their offensive line.
4. Cleveland Browns 7-9: Will have a vastly improved offense with young playmakers Trent Richardson, Josh Gordon, and Jordan Cameron. Defense very underrated. But still have Brandon Weeden as their QB. That can only get them so far.
NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers 11-5: This offense is loaded with weapons and the game's best QB. Their defense will improve after an embarrassing performance last post-season. Can the offensive line hold up for Rodgers though?
2. Detroit Lions 9-7: Reggie Bush adds a much needed running element to a team that certainly excels throwing the football. This defense is also underrated severely, with the biggest strength being that beastly defensive line.
3. Chicago Bears 8-8: Still has a solid defense. Still has Brandon Marshall and Matt Forte. Still has Jay Cutler... And that can only get you so far.
4. Minnesota Vikings 6-10: Sure they have Adrian Peterson. But in a tough division, you can't win with Christian Ponder as your QB. Last year was a fluke.
AFC South
1. Houston Texans 12-4: Dominant defense. Dominant running game. Good enough passing game to get by. This team will contend for the Super Bowl.
2. Indianapolis Colts 9-7: This team seems to have a flare for the dramatic. Luck will find a way to win games that the Colts shouldn't win. But I'm skeptical of their defense and running game.
3. Tennessee Titans 6-10: A much improved offensive line might be just what the Titans needed to get Chris Johnson going again. Then again, maybe not. And they still have Jake Locker starting.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars 3-13: Worst quarterback situation in the league. Okay maybe Oakland does. Point is, what does this team have? If MJD does not comeback 100% and his old dominant self, then the answer is nothing.
NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons 12-4: Same great offense from a year ago, but upgraded tremendously with the acquisition of Steven Jackson at RB. A solid, yet unspectacular D makes this team a Super Bowl contender.
2. New Orleans Saints 10-6: Gut feeling that with Sean Payton back, the Saints become the best offense in football again. Their defense CAN NOT be worse than last year's pathetic effort. This team will contend for the playoffs yet again.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-8: I don't trust this team and I don't know why. I love the additions they made to their defense, mainly with getting Darrelle Revis. But I think it's because I don't view QB Josh Freeman as a leader, or as a very effective football player.
4. Carolina Panthers 7-9: A much improved defense to go along with the continued development of QB Cam Newton should have Carolina contending for the playoffs for much of the season, but ultimately they'll fall short.
Now on to the Playoff Prediction portion of this article. Here are my six playoff teams in each conference:
AFC NFC
1. Texans 1. 49ers
2. Broncos 2. Falcons
3. Patriots 3. Packers
4. Bengals 4. Cowboys
5. Ravens 5. Seahawks
6. Steelers 6. Redskins
Super Bowl Pick: Seattle Seahawks over Houston Texans
And yeah, it's a homer pick! Do I care? No. This is after all a Seattle Sports blog. I think I speak for everyone here when I say there's more than a legit chance of this happening. Go Seahawks! And let there be football again!
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