2012 NFL Preview

The NFL regular season starts tonight with the Giants playing the Cowboys.  So I decided to pick conference winners for the year, and I even threw in the Super Bowl match-up I think will happen.

AFC South

Pick: Houston Texans

Dark Horse: Indianapolis Colts

The Texans get Matt Schaub back this year along with Andre Johnson and Arian Foster.  If Johnson and Foster can maintain normal production and stay healthy, watch out for the Texans to make a playoff run.  The Colts could be scrappy.  They have a lot of rookies that can make some noise when mixed with the remaining veterans.  The Titans and Jaguars I think are both a quarterback away from being decent to good.  Until then, they will be in the lower echelon of teams.

AFC North

Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers

Dark Horse: Baltimore Ravens

As far as I’m concerned, you can flip flop these two teams for “pick” and “dark horse.” They are the faces of AFC North football, and they create the physical mentality that engulfs the division.  Cincinnati had a great year last year, and they could also be good.  I just don’t see them topping these two teams this year.  The main concern for Pittsburgh is they need to find a consistent runner for their rushing attack.  Redman really needs to step up for them this year.  Ray Rice is set to have another great year for the Ravens.  It will be interesting to see how the quarterback situation unfolds for the Browns, along with Trent Richardson’s debut.

 

AFC West

Pick: Denver Broncos

Dark Horse: Kansas City Chiefs

The great chase for Peyton Manning met its end in Denver, and the Broncos expect him to lead them to wins.  They have some of the underrated receivers in the league, and I think Manning will be able to highlight them.  Kansas City is my dark horse because I believe they are going to be a physical team this year that’s going to run the ball tough against every team they face.  Oakland has the players to make some noise this year, and we’ll see if they are able to produce some wins.  San Diego throws me a tough question, as I’m not completely sold on Ryan Matthews.  Especially if he’s playing slightly beat up.  This division is kind of wide open I think once you get past Denver.

AFC East

Pick: New England Patriots

Dark Horse: Buffalo Bills

New England is the clear cut favorite in this division.  This was the toughest division to pick a dark horse in because not much separates the remaining teams.  The Dolphins will be lucky to win six games.  The Bills and Jets have potential, but they don’t show enough to crack the code of topping Tom Brady and New England this year.

NFC South

Pick: Atlanta Falcons

Dark Horse: Carolina Panthers

I’m going to go ahead and defend myself by saying that the Saints defense just isn’t going to good enough this year with all the bounty suspensions.  Matt Ryan has put up numbers equivalent to Peyton Manning’s so far at the beginning of his career.  I think the Falcons will be good this year, but they are going to have to learn to win physical games like the one they lost to the Giants in the play-offs last year.  The Panthers defense has improved for this year, and I think Cam Newton and company can be a very competitive 10-plus game winner this year.  The Bucs are a few pieces away from being really competitive.

NFC North

Pick: Green Bay Packers

Dark Horse: Chicago Bears

The Packers are led by arguably the best player in the game right now in Aaron Rodgers.  He has a ton of receivers to throw to, a veteran running back, and a defense that is reliable and creates turnovers.  That’s tough to beat folks.  I like the personnel changes that Bears have created in getting two big receivers via draft and trade.  Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are both going to be awesome vertical threats for Jay Cutler.  Not to mention they have a good defense, and they have even more offensive weapons. I think this year will define Cutler’s career as a NFL Quarterback.  The Lions could also be in this race, and I think if they found a great running back that they can keep healthy, they are in the hunt for a Super Bowl.  The Vikings won’t be bad this year, I just don’t think they have what it takes to compete in this division yet.

NFC East

Pick: New York Giants

Dark Horse: Dallas Cowboys

The reigning Super Bowl Champs are my pick to take this division again this year.  They did lose some key players, but I think they are still the best team in this division.  The Cowboys have done a good bit of upgrading, and we will see the two play each other tonight.  I have a tough time believing In the Eagles because I’m not 100% certain Vick can stay healthy.  I think they need to get LeSean McCoy in the mix more.  The Redskins will be a fun team to watch with the addition of RGIII.

NFC West

Pick: San Francisco 49ers

Dark Horse: Seattle Seahawks

I really like what they have done in San Francisco to help Alex Smith out.  They have definitely upgraded that offense in the off-season adding Brandon Jacobs and Mario Manningham.  I like the draft pick in LaMichael James, and I think they will use him as a hybrid back like the Vikings have used Percy Harvin to supplement the offense.  They have one of the toughest defenses in the league.  The Seahawks I think are the next best team in this division, but I don’t think anyone will be superior to San Francisco. 

The Super Bowl is far away, and I will probably totally wrong.  If I had to pick though, I would pick San Francisco versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.  I like the way both teams play defense, and I think they both play a smash mouth style that wins you games in the NFL.

So as always tweet me on twitter @griffaldo or shoot me an email at JCGriffin13@yahoo.com .