2011 NFL Playoff Predictions

Every year, right before the season, I like to predict the NFL playoffs as well as pick my Superbowl champion, just like most other football fans. Let's go ahead and do that, and if it is short enough we can move on to my stat leaders, If I don't have time for that then those predictions will be out on Tuesday.
Let's get started.

The sixth seed in the NFC will be the New Orleans Saints out of the NFC South with a record of 10-6. They didn't do much this off season with the exception of Mark Ingram. Just a side Wild Card note here: I have the Lions also going 10-6, but the Lions will lose the head to head with New Orleans.

With the fifth seed I have the Dallas Cowboys. The offense will be back with Romo back on the field, an improved secondary will help defend the passing game, and with an explosive offense as always, I project the Cowboys to go 11-5. That being said, we know the Cowboys have let their fans down the last couple of years; they were projected to have a great year and then screw the pooch. Expect the Cowboys to have a much better season this year.

Now our first division winner comes from the NFC West where the Kevin Kolb led Arizona Cardinals win their division by one game. They added Kevin Kolb from the Eagles in the off season as expected, and I anticipate them to have a much better year. I have the Cardinals winning the division with a 9-7 record, beating out the Rams by a small margin of only one game. Maybe 2012 will be the year for Bradford and the young St.Louis Rams.

In the three spot I have the Philadelphia Eagles from the NFC East. They had a great off season adding Jason Babin, Nnamdi Asomugha (no, I didn't have to search that name up), Cullen Jenkins, and a blockbuster Kolb for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Their defense has improved a ton, and they could be an extreme powerhouse this year if they can figure out their problems at the offensive line. That all being said, I have the Eagles down for 12-4.

In the two spot, from the NFC South, I have the Atlanta Falcons, led by Matty Ice.  Just like the Saints, the Falcons made no big moves, but added some young depth. You may want to look out for Julio Jones this season; he has tremendous athletic ability and can score from anywhere on the field. I have the Falcons also going 12-4 but winning the match up with the Eagles to give them the first round bye and home field for the first game.

And the first seed in the NFC is the Green Bay Packers. They have kept nearly all of their Superbowl team from last year and are any people's Superbowl favorite. Jermicahel Finley, AJ Hawk, and Ryan Grant are all ready to go after being placed on IR last season. This might just be the best offense in the NFL this year with a two-man backfield and Aaron Rodgers under center. I have the Packers down to go 14-2 only losing at the Giants and at the Chargers.

With the sixth seed in the AFC is the New York Jets. A little difference from last year with a few added veterans and a new receiving core around Santonio Holmes. I have the Jets going 11-5, and taking second in the AFC East. Could this be the year of the "Sanchise"? I guess we will have to wait and see.

The fifth seed in the AFC from the AFC North with a 12-4 record is the Baltimore Ravens. Last year they made it to the divisional round and couldn't come up with a game winning drive against the Steelers: they were also my Superbowl pick last year. That being said, I think they will have another great season this year, and be in contention to get to the Superbowl.
The Texans have come close to the playoffs a number of times since becoming a franchise in 2002, but this is the year. Arian Foster is going to lead the Texans to win the AFC South and claim the fourth seed in the AFC with a 10-6 record. The Colts will finish a game behind with a record of 9-7.

The third seed in the AFC is the Chargers from the AFC West. They always seem to be over hyped, but they seemed to have fixed the problems on special teams so if they can minimize mistakes these team could be extremely good. I have them going 12-4 and winning their division by three games. Maybe Norv Turner can finally get to the Superbowl this year.


With the second seed I have the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have been to the Superbowl the last two years, and Mike Tomlin knows what he is doing. I have the Steelers going 13-3. I expect Big Ben to have a great season and win the division for the fourth time in the last five years.


Then the final seed (as many expected) is the New England Patriots. They have had made the playoffs eight times in the past ten years, and I expect them to make it nine out of  eleven. They made improvements on their offensive line and in the secondary and picked up some good depth in the draft. I have them going 14-2 and I wouldn't doubt it. Patriots are going to be good, real good.

Now we move on to the good part: my playoff predictions. Now if you don't know how this works, the first round is called the Wild Card Round, the second round is the Divisional Round, and the round before the Superbowl is the Conference Championship. In the Wildcard Round the sixth seeded team in each conference plays the third seeded team in the same conference while the fourth and fifth seeds from the same conference play each other. The winner of those games advance to the Divisional Round where the lowest seed to advance in each conference plays the highest seed. The winner of those advance to the conference championship, and then the Superbowl. I'd hope, if you are American, you would already know that...but I thought I would help you out if you didn't.


Wildcard Round

In the NFC Wildcard round lets start with the Saints vs Eagles. I think Brees and the Saints will put up a fight, but Eagles will pull off in the end: Eagles 31, Saints 20.

Then in the second wild card game for the NFC is the Cowboys vs Cardinals. I think the Cowboys pass all over the Cardinals, and humiliate their offense: Cowboys 38, Cardinals 17.

Next we shift to the AFC where the Jets take on the Chargers. I think this will be the best game we see in the playoffs but Norv Turner and the Chargers will lose in overtime: Chargers 27, Jets 24



The second game for the AFC is the Ravens vs the Texans. Now I think this may be a good game as well. I really like the Ravens, but at the same time Houston can attack in a lot of different ways. I'm going to take the Ravens, but just by a hair: Ravens 27, Texans 24.

 Divisonal Round

So like I said, after the wildcard round we move to the divisional round. The first game in the NFC is the Packers taking on the Cowboys. I think Cowboys will put up a fight at the beginning, but the Packers offense will be too much for the Cowboys young secondary: Packers 34, Cowboys 24.


The second game in the NFC is the Eagles taking on the Falcons for the second time of the season. The Falcons got the first round bye because they won the head to head matchup in week two of the regular season. But who can win it later in the season? I think the Falcons will find a way to contain Vick and McCoy and end up winning this one: Falcons 20, Eagles 14.


Then we move over to the AFC where the Chargers take on the Patriots. Rivers make an attempt for a comeback at the end, but I think the Patriots will hold on: Patriots 37, Chargers 30.

The final divisional match-up is the Ravens and the Steelers; another divisional rivalry. This is going to be another great game. I really like both of these teams this year but I think Ravens will win it on a game winning field goal: Ravens 16, Steelers 14.


Conference Championships

One last game. One more win to get to that Superbowl from here. In the NFC we have the Packers vs the Falcons and in the AFC the Patriots vs the Ravens. So who's it going to be?


In the NFC there is the Packers vs the Falcons that will be played in Green Bay. This was the match-up we saw last year in the divisional round. The Packers prevailed, and later went on the Superbowl. The Packers, with their team healthy, are going to make it past the Falcons with a little help from their defense: Packers 30, Falcons 20.


In the AFC it will be the Ravens taking on the Patriots. The Patriots, with only two losses all year, and Brady are really going to step up in this one. But I think the Ravens will make big plays on defense that will bring home an AFC Championship: Ravens 27, Patriots 21.


Superbowl XLVI
The long journey, all season these two teams fought to get here. Packers for the second straight time. Ravens for the first time in over 10 years. Both looking for a championship. Both teams have the defense, but the Packers have the more dominant offense with Aaron Rodgers. So, my 2011-2012 Superbowl Champions are the Green Bay Packers by a score of 24 to 17. The MVP is Aaron Rodgers, and the Packers bring the championship back to Green Bay for the second straight year.


Since this has been such a long post, at the beginning of the next blog on Tuesday I will give you guys my selection for the stat leaders. Also, Wednesday I will be releasing my week one fantasy rankings. But until then, don't forget to follow me on Twitter @TheFFAddict, and you can always email me any questions or comments to cshardy@att.net. Also, don't forget to leave a comment on this blog and follow this blog. Thanks!