NFL season predictions

[Bob Hunter]

Well, it's that time of year again.

Who dares to predict wins and loses this season? Maybe we can get Ben Burch to dazzle us again with his brilliance (and accuracy).

Use this thread to post full conference or partial predictions (e.g. favorite team records instead of every team, every division, both conferences)

Here are the predictions I feel pretty good about right now:

San Francisco 13-3
New England 14-2
Chicago 10-6
Green Bay 12-4
Denver 9-7
Cleveland 4-12
Seattle 9-7
New York Jets 6-10
Carolina 8-8
Buffalo 10-6
New York Giants 9-7
Indianapolis 3-13
St. Louis 2-14
Atlanta 10-6
N.0 12-4
Jax 2-14
Miami 4-12

[Ryan Scott]

I'm going with Packers - Patriots, just because we had a baby this summer and I don't know enough about the teams to pick someone else.

[Bob Hunter]

I'm going with Packers - Patriots, just because we had a baby this summer and I don't know enough about the teams to pick someone else.

I would LOVE to see a Packers vs. Patriots Super Bowl. I bet Mike Schultz would like that too!

[Nate Pruitt]

I would love to see your predictions for total blown ACLs and pulled hamstrings/groins this season. Being able to predict those would strongly influence my season standing predictions.

[Jeremy D. Scott]

I'll play:

AFC:
1. Patriots
2. Texans
3. Ravens
4. Broncos
WC Steelers
WC Chiefs

Patriots over Broncos
Ravens over Texans

NFC:
1. Packers
2. Falcons
3. Eagles
4. 49ers
WC Panthers
WC Cowboys

Cowboys over Packers
49ers over Falcons

Patriots over Cowboys

[Mike Schutz]

AFC
East: Patriots
West: Broncos
North: Ravens
South: Texans
WC: Steelers
WC: Bills

Patriots over Texans

NFC
East: Eagles
West: 49ers
North: Packers
South:Falcons
WC: Giants
WC: Bears

Packers over Falcons

SB: Patriots over Packers

[Bob Hunter]

Where is Ben Burch? He has to get his predictions in. Ben, are you out there?

[Nate Pruitt]

AFC
East: Patriots
West: Broncos
North: Bengals
South: Texans
WC: Ravens
WC: Titans

Texans over Bengals

NFC
East: Giants
West: 49ers
North: Packers
South: Panthers
WC: Falcons
WC: Lions

49ers over Packers

SB: 49ers over Texans...

Why? Because the predictions at this point are all nonsense, anyway. WAY too many variables. This prediction would be based on the Texans remaining healthy, but it won't happen. That team will have at least 18 significant* leg injuries across the roster this season because of their trash field.

[Benjamin Burch]

Well, I won't be getting my full predictions in like usual. However....

AFC:

1. Patriots
2. Texans
3. Ravens
4. Broncos
5. Steelers
6. Bills

Ravens over Bills
Steelers over Broncos
Patriots over Steelers
Ravens over Texans
Patriots over Ravens

NFC:

1. Packers
2. 49ers
3. Cowboys
4. Saints
5. Bears
6. Falcons

Cowboys over Falcons
Saints over Bears
Packers over Saints
Cowboys over 49ers
Cowboys over Packers

Cowboys over Patriots

[Benjamin Burch]

And just in case anyone is curious, I've called Dallas over NYG last night for about 2 months now.

[Bob Hunter]

Cowboys over Patriots

Really? Wow, after watching them defeat the Giants last night, I could almost see this happening. The Dallas receiving core looks solid, Romo seems to be in command of this offense.

[Benjamin Burch]

Really? Wow, after watching them defeat the Giants last night, I could almost see this happening. The Dallas receiving core looks solid, Romo seems to be in command of this offense.

I think Romo is the 5th best QB in the league or so, better than Eli or Ben, and DeMarco Murray is a beast. If they're both healthy all year, I believe the defense can do what is necessary.

[Nate Pruitt]

I think Romo is the 5th best QB in the league or so, better than Eli or Ben

Now that could prove interesting- ten 5 or 10 quarterbacks as rated by Naznetters.

[Benjamin Burch]

Now that could prove interesting- ten 5 or 10 quarterbacks as rated by Naznetters.

1) Rodgers
2) Brees
3) Brady
4) Peyton
5) Romo
6) Ben
7) Eli
8) Rivers
9) Stafford
10) Cutler

[Nate Pruitt]

I'm close to agreement with you:

1) Rodgers
2) Brees
3) Brady
4) Romo
5) Eli
6) Peyton
7) Stafford
8) Newton
9) Ben
10) Vick

I am leaning heavily on late game/high pressure decision making which has caused me to drop Rivers and especially Cutler down the ranks. Newton and Vick are often right to run, so I won't knock them.

I think what is most telling is our shortcomings as truly devout Christians. For if we were I believe the top ten is to look like this:

1) Tebow
2) Tebow
3) Tebow
4) Tebow
5) Tebow
6) Tebow
7) Tebow
8) Tebow
9) Tebow
10) Tebow

[Benjamin Burch]

I'm close to agreement with you:

1) Rodgers
2) Brees
3) Brady
4) Romo
5) Eli
6) Peyton
7) Stafford
8) Newton
9) Ben
10) Vick

I am leaning heavily on late game/high pressure decision making which has caused me to drop Rivers and especially Cutler down the ranks. Newton and Vick are often right to run, so I won't knock them.

I think what is most telling is our shortcomings as truly devout Christians. For if we were I believe the top ten is to look like this:

1) Tebow
2) Tebow
3) Tebow
4) Tebow
5) Tebow
6) Tebow
7) Tebow
8) Tebow
9) Tebow
10) Tebow

I think Eli might be the most overrated player in the NFL. By this year, Stafford and Newton will be better than him. By next year, Luck and Griffin will make Eli an afterthought.

[Mike Schutz]

Four Saints players won their appeal.

Can I have a do-over?

[Nate Pruitt]

I think Eli might be the most overrated player in the NFL. By this year, Stafford and Newton will be better than him. By next year, Luck and Griffin will make Eli an afterthought.

I actually strongly considered putting both of Stafford and Newton above him (and Peyton). I want Peyton to be higher in my heart, but can't see it in my mind. Hopefully he has a great year. Eli has greatly improved his accuracy since he came into the league, which some people argue is instinctual and hard to significantly alter. Not only that, but he has to win so many games for NY down the stretch. My one thing about Eli is that he and the Giants offense really do remind me of last season's Broncos. They have a tendency to keep games close for too long and then need the dramatics down the stretch. If Wilson can't keep his hands on the ball this will ultimately lead to Bradshaw getting knocked out for a stretch (the one advantage of the 3 headed running game they had last season that carried them through Jacobs and Bradshaw injuries). Eli is generally a smart quarterback, though, so I'll always rank him higher than a Rivers (too emotional and headstrong) or Cutler (too stupid and narcissistic to understand he can't make certain passes).

Newton, I believe, will hold the course from last year with some passing improvements.* If Luck and RG3 can both stay healthy I think they'll be well up there. Probably not next season, but in their third years. Romo is enigmatic- both overrated and over blamed, which probably means he's just overworked. Hopefully Murray will rectify that for him this year.

[Mike Schutz]

After watching the Bills- Jets, I think I will need to re-think my choice of the Bills making the playoffs.

And as they are now saying in New York: "What pre-season?"

[Bob Hunter]

After watching the Bills- Jets, I think I will need to re-think my choice of the Bills making the playoffs.

And as they are now saying in New York: "What pre-season?"

He only rushed for 12 yards, but you can credit Tebow for putting the heat on Sanchez to finally deliver. It's amazing what positive peer pressure and leadership can do to raise the level of play.

[Benjamin Burch]

He only rushed for 12 yards, but you can credit Tebow for putting the heat on Sanchez to finally deliver. It's amazing what positive peer pressure and leadership can do to raise the level of play.

Sanchez will falter. He isn't an NFL quality QB.

The Jets are a 7-9 team. The Bills, however, are looking more like a 5-11 team than the playoff team a lot of us thought we might see.

[Jeremy D. Scott]

AFC:
1. Patriots
2. Texans
3. Ravens
4. Broncos
WC Steelers
WC Chiefs

Well, 4/6 ain't bad. But picking the Chiefs sure was. Got the Top 4 teams correct with the seeds incorrect.

Could still get 4/6 of my NFC teams too, but it's not likely.

http://www.nfl.com/playoffs/playoff-picture

[Jeremy D. Scott]

I'll play:

AFC:
1. Patriots
2. Texans
3. Ravens
4. Broncos
WC Steelers
WC Chiefs

Patriots over Broncos
Ravens over Texans

NFC:
1. Packers
2. Falcons
3. Eagles
4. 49ers
WC Panthers
WC Cowboys

Cowboys over Packers
49ers over Falcons

Patriots over Cowboys

Just realized that I have the distinction of picking the worst teams by record in each league to make the play-offs (Chiefs and Eagles).

Other than that I got seven out of the twelve play-off teams. Meh...

[Nate Pruitt]

AFC
East: Patriots
West: Broncos
North: Bengals
South: Texans
WC: Ravens
WC: Titans

Texans over Bengals

NFC
East: Giants
West: 49ers
North: Packers
South: Panthers
WC: Falcons
WC: Lions

49ers over Packers

SB: 49ers over Texans...

I was so close on the AFC, not so hot on the NFC, but since I'm watching the Texans and Bengals right now I suppose that won't be the AFC Championship game... I was too late in that prediction.

[Nate Pruitt]

Well, I could still be right about the champion. I'd take that.