2013 NFL Season Team-By-Team Predictions

Now that the draft and for the most part, free agency are over, I decided to do my yearly predictions and go though every week of the season and predict how the season would turn out. Most of the time my predictions don’t become reality, but they are always fun to do, and it’s fun to see how my predictions compare with how things really turned out. So here are my 2013 NFL Predictions:

AFC NORTH

Ravens: 6-10

Bengals: 12-4

Steelers: 11-5

Browns: 6-10

The Ravens got lost a lot of players on that great defense that led them to the Super Bowl last season, although the offense did step up, they lost a key contributor in Anquan Boldin. The Bengals added Tyler Eifert which is going to help Andy Dalton tremendously. Having Eifert, Gresham and Green on the same field are going to create mismatches. I could see the Steelers doing slightly worse finishing at 9-7 or the Cleveland Browns finishing at around 8-8. Overall this is where I expect things to finish out.

AFC EAST

Patriots: 13-3

Dolphins: 10-6

Bills: 1-15

Jets: 3-13

The Patriots are going to come in as the favorites to win the division, and more than likely do just that. I could see them losing an extra game or two, but for the most part I think they finish at the top of the AFC East. The Dolphins have a brutal first part of the schedule, if they can survive that, they will do alright. If not, they could dig themselves a hole and finish around 8-8. I think 10-6 is a possibility for them. With the Bills and Jets. Who is playing quarterback? The Jets and Bills seasons do not look promising. I could see them winning an extra game maybe two, but definitely would not expect playoffs.

AFC SOUTH

Texans: 12-4

Colts: 8-8

Titans: 2-14

Jaguars: 3-13

The Texans should pull out the division for the third consecutive year and possibly make a deep run in the playoffs. Andrew Luck and the Colts are making progress, but as of now I only see them as being an average team. I don’t trust Jake Locker at quarterback and I think that team has a lot of issues to solve. The same thing s goes for the Jaguars. I could see them maybe winning an extra game or two, but not many more.

AFC WEST

Broncos: 13-3

Chargers: 11-5

Raiders: 4-12

Chiefs: 8-8

Peyton Manning and the Broncos will win the division once again. If it’s one thing I learned last season, it’s don’t bet against Peyton Manning. The Chargers will hang in for a while, but the fact of the matter is, they aren’t as much of an elite team as they used to be. If Phillip Rivers can play like Phillip Rivers and not whoever he played like last season, the Chargers can succeed. The Raiders could win an extra game or two, but this team has definitely taken a turn for the worst from where they were a few years ago. If Matt Flynn plays like the Raiders think he can, the Raiders can begin to build around him. Alex Smith will do wonders for the chiefs. This team has one of the best offensive lines and a decent defense. If Alex Smith can play like the Alex Smith of the last two years, the Chiefs could make some noise.

NFC NORTH

Packers: 12-4

Vikings: 4-12

Bears: 5-11

Lions: 6-10

The Packers should be the overwhelming favorite in this division. As Stephen A. Smith would say, “Aaron Rogers is a baaaaad man!” Unless Adrian Peterson has another year like he had last year, I don’t see the Vikings doing a whole lot. They traded away their best receiver and their quarterback is sub-par. Patterson needs a few years to develop,  but until then the Vikings are going to rely on defense and Adrian Peterson. When the Bears fired Lovie Smith I was shocked. I thought that team was a year or two away from making a big run. The Bears have a tough scheduled and I don’t see them doing much. Much the same with the Lions.

NFC EAST

Redskins: 10-6

Giants: 9-7

Cowboys 7-9

Eagles: 3-13

The Redskins are obviously the best team in the division if RGIII can stay healthy. Even if he’s not, Kirk Cousins is a good replacement that wont lose games for you. The Giants just miss out on the playoffs for the second straight year, if they can get Cruz signed, maybe that changes, but for the mist part, I see them as an average team. The Cowboys miss out on the playoffs once again and prove that they are only an average team. If the Cowboys go 7-9 that may be a good record. Cowboys have a tough scheduled and really could end up only winning five. The Eagles have questions all around, and until they get the quarterback situation figured out they are not going to do much. Chip Kelly needs to prove he belongs in NFL, I really think the Eagles could have hired other, better candidates, but we will see how it works out.

NFC SOUTH

Falcons: 11-5

Saints: 9-7

Panthers: 7-9

Buccaneers: 8-8

This is going to be a dogfight until the end when Atlanta finally pulls ahead. The Saints need to add a few more pieces to the defensive side of things before they can make any run at the playoffs. Sean Payton returning should help this team. I could definitely see the Saints winning a few more games. Just don’t rule them out. The Panthers have a decent defense to say the least, if Cam Newton and co. can get things figured out on offense, this team could make the playoffs. The Buccaneers are another team that has questions at the quarterback position. Can Josh Freeman get this team over the hump and help them reach the playoffs. Freeman started last season well, but faded away as the season went on.

NFC WEST:

49ers: 13-3

Seahawks: 10-6

Rams: 11-5

Cardinals: 6-10

This division is going to be a dogfight until the end. The 49ers will more than likely pull it out at the end, but then the other three will be fighting for a wildcard spot. The Seahawks have a tough schedule, if they can win on the road, this team could win another game or two. The Rams are ready to make that jump into the playoffs, its just a matter of executing. If Sam Bradford plays well this team could make a run. Carson Palmer was a good signing for the time being for the Cardinals. He will be able to get the ball to Larry Fitzgerald down the field like the Cardinals were able to a few years ago.

SEASON Predictions

Offensive Rookie of the year: Tavon Austin

Defensive rookie of the year: Star Loutelei

MVP: Peyton Manning

Offensive Player of the year: Peyton Manning

Defensive player of the year: JJ Watt

Coach of the year: Jeff Fisher

Comeback Player of the year: Alex Smith

Coaches fired: Ron Rivera, Jim Schwartz, Leslie Frasier, Rex Ryan, Jason Garrett, Mike Munchak

Tom Brady will break Drew Brees’s most consecutive game with TD pass.

AFC PLAYOFFS

1. Patriots

2. Broncos

3.Texans

4.Bengals

5. Steelers

6. Chargers

Texans will play the Chargers and Bengals will play the Steelers wild card weekend. I would expect the Texans to beat the Chargers, but I wouldn’t rule the Chargers out. In the end the Texans win 24-20 and move on to the divisional round for the third straight year. Bengals are becoming a serious threat in the AFC and the Steelers are replacing a lot of their aging players. I think the Bengals pull it out 20-17.

In the divisional round the Patriots will play the Bengals and the Broncos will play the Texans. The Bengals and Patriots will be an interesting upset and Im going to take the upset. Dalton steps up like Flacco did a year ago and pulls out the victory 27-23. I think the Broncos will also beat the Texans 35-24.

Broncos play the Bengals in the Championship round and I think this is the year where Manning just doesn’t take no for an answer. Broncos pull out the victory 28-23

NFC Playoffs

1. 49ers

2. Packers

3. Falcons

4. Redskins

5. Rams

6. Seahawks

Falcons play the Seahawks and Redskins play the Rams wild card weekend in the NFC. Falcons got the best of the Seahawks last year after a failed comeback attempt by the hawks. I think the Falcons pull it out again this year 31-23. Rams also prove to the world that they made the right decision choosing Bradfor over RGIII winning 27-23

In the NFC divisional round Falcons play the Packers and unfortunately for Tony Gonzalez, the Packers pull out the win 34-24. The 49ers and Rams will play each other for a third time and the Rams shock everybody once again beating the 49ers in overtime 23-20.

In the NFC Championship game the Rams story book ending comes to a close and Aaron Rogers will play in his second Super Bowl. Packers prove to be too much and pull out the win 27-16.

SUPER BOWL

BRONCOS VS PACKERS

This will be a great matchup between the games two best quarterbacks, but I think Peyton get the best of Aaron Rogers. The Broncos win the Super Bowl for Peyton Manning instead of John Elway and beat the Packers 38-34