NFL Season Predictions

The NFL season starts tomorrow and we couldn't be more excited. Naturally, we think the Colts are going to defeat the Saints to kick things off (we'll say 31-16). We're taking the day off work just to make sure we're prepared to take it all in. That Super Bowl banner is sure going to look nice. Alright, enough with the bragging, here are our NFL regular season predictions.

AFC East

1.) New England Patriots (12-4)
- All those offseason acquisitions won't make them nearly the juggernaut people are predicting.

2.) New York Jets (8-8)
- Last year's cupcake schedule is gone, and this team has too many holes to pull off another double-digit campaign.

3.) Buffalo Bills (7-9)
- A team on the rise, but it's a slow rise.

4.) Miami Dolphins (6-10)
- This time, please don't take a kick returner with that top-10 pick.

AFC North

1.) Cincinnati Bengals (11-5)
- Palmer's healthy and this defense is going to force turnovers like the 2005 version, not last year's sad sack group.

2.) Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
- There's a reason only the Patriots and Colts win division titles consistently. First-place schedules aren't easy.

3.) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
- Tomlin makes his presence felt in his first year.

4.) Cleveland Browns (4-12)
- Brady Quinn, welcome to the rest of your career.

AFC South

1.) Indianapolis Colts (13-3)
- We're homers and proud of it. But wait until you see this defense.

2.) Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7)
- Garrard. David Garrard. Learn it, love it.

3.) Tennessee Titans (7-9)
- Vince Young can only take a weaponless team so far.

4.) Houston Texans (6-10)
- Matt Schaub, welcome to the rest of your career.

AFC West

1.) San Diego Chargers (12-4)
- Week two showdown with Patriots is crucial for homefield.

2.) Denver Broncos (11-5)
- The best secondary in the NFL? Maybe.

3.) Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)
- It's Brodie time by week five.

4.) Oakland Raiders (5-11)
- Hey, they're more than doubling their win total, right?

AFC Playoffs

Wild Card Round
Bengals over Broncos
Patriots over Ravens

Divisional Round
Colts over Bengals
Chargers over Patriots

AFC Championship Game
Colts over Chargers


NFC East

1.) Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
- Romo goes to the Pro Bowl - again. Yeah, we hate it, too.

2.) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
- McNabb can start polishing that Comeback Player of the Year anytime now.

3.) Washington Redskins (7-9)
- All that money, all this failure.

4.) New York Giants (6-10)
- Eli will be great, but the defense will implode.

NFC North

1.) Chicago Bears (11-5)
- Stuck at 7-5, they go to Griese and reel off four straight to end the season.

2.) Green Bay Packers (9-7)
- Farve's reward for all that hard work? A first-round playoff exit. Could be worse.

3.) Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
- Purple Jesus wins Rookie of the Year, but the team still mostly sucks.

4.) Detroit Lions (5-11)
- Matt Millen, chopping time has finally come.

NFC South

1.) New Orleans Saints (11-5)
- They'll start the season 0-1, but then the schedule gets nice and managable.

2.) Carolina Panthers (7-9)
- Peppers wants Freeney money. He'll earn it this season, but it won't matter.

3.) Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
- Hey, seven wins should get Petrino Coach of the Year.

4.) Tampa Bay Bucs (5-11)
- Gruden's glow is finally gone. Hallelujah.

NFC West

1.) Seattle Seahawks (12-4)
- Shaun Alexander has something to prove and he's in the right division to do it.

2.) St. Louis Rams (8-8)
- Holt blows out his knee in week three and S-Jax faces eight-man fronts the rest of the way.

3.) San Francisco 49ers (7-9)
- That sleeper tag was fun while it lasted, wasn't it?

4.) Arizona Cardinals (6-10)
- Sometimes, it's just not your century.

NFC Playoffs

Wild Card Round
Bears over Broncos
Eagles over Saints

Divisional Round
Seahawks over Bears
Cowboys over Eagles

NFC Championship Game
Seahawks over Cowboys

Super Bowl XLII
Colts over Seahawks
- In the game everyone thought we'd be seeing two years ago, the Colts make up for lost time with a 42-17 drubbing that cements Manning's legacy as the greatest QB of his - or any- generation.