It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the moment that provides clarity in your otherwise mundane lives. It’s time for the MoonDog Sports 2011 NFL predictions.
Last season I was fairly accurate with my predictions, correctly picking eight of the 12 playoff teams – four each in the NFC and AFC – and I predicted that the Packers would advance to the Super Bowl.
Not great, not bad, but clearly there’s room for improvement.
I know the Saints are primed for a run and the Eagles made a lot of moves that have some thinking they can reach the Super Bowl, but in the end Green Bay is the most well rounded team in the conference.
Some believe the Falcons are ready to take it to the next level, but quarterback Matt Ryan simply isn’t in the same category as Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees.
The NFC West is like the warm up act before the big name performer hits the stage, and it’s anyone’s guess who will win that division.
My best guess is that Arizona will finish first because St. Louis, while improved, isn’t strong enough defensively and lacks impact skill players.
As a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan, I’d love to see them get back to their glory days of the 1970′s and 1990′s, but it won’t happen this season.
A weak secondary and a questionable offensive line are the Cowboys biggest areas of concern, not to mention they don’t have a strong kicker and Tony Romo still shows a propensity to do stupid things.
I still love the Packers, not literally of course, but I believe they are still the best team in the NFC. Think about this: Green Bay won Super Bowl XLV and did it with several key players missing parts or all of the season due to injury.
It boils down to Aaron Rodgers being the best quarterback in the NFC, regardless of what anyone wants to think. Drew Brees is a respectable second and Rodgers is the man.
After losing the AFC Championship game last season, Jets coach Rex Ryan guaranteed a Super Bowl victory in 2012.
I like his bravado, but the Jets aren’t the best team in the AFC. While I believe they are a lock to be in the playoffs, they won’t represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLVI.
The Steelers are a team that are always in the mix, as are the Ravens. Both teams play great defense and have solid running games, but this season neither of them will win the AFC.
And let’s not forget about the Chargers, a team that has underachieved for years. San Diego is still one of the more talented teams in the league, but for reasons that escape logic they can’t seem to put it all together and that trend will continue in 2011.
The team that will play the Packers in Super Bowl XLVI are the New England Patriots.
Tom Brady takes the pieces he’s given and makes things work, and this season he’ll have a better defense on the field that won’t force him to outscore opponents to win games.
The Packers and Patriots will make for a potentially exciting Super Bowl with two of the NFL’s elite QB’s battling for supremacy.
So who will win Super Bowl XLVI? Scroll down to see my pick.
So as the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints get ready to kickoff the 2011 NFL season tonight, these are the teams that will earn playoff berths.
AFC East
1. New England Patriots
2. New York Jets
3. Miami Dolphins
4. Buffalo Bills
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Cleveland Browns
4. Cincinnati Bengals
AFC South
1. Houston Texans
2. Indianapolis Colts
3. Tennessee Titans
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC West
1. San Diego Chargers
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Oakland Raiders
4. Denver Broncos
AFC Wildcards
New York Jets
Baltimore Ravens
AFC Champion
New England Patriots
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles
2. Dallas Cowboys
3. New York Giants
4. Washington Redskins
NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers
2. Detroit Lions
3. Chicago Bears
4. Minnesota Vikings
NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints
2. Atlanta Falcons
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4. Carolina Panthers
NFC West
1. Arizona Cardinals
2. St. Louis Rams
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. Seattle Seahawks
NFC Wildcards
Atlanta Falcons
Detroit Lions
NFC Champion
Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XLVI Champions
New England Patriots
