NFL preview 2010

Welcome back. Football season is finally back upon us. We are but only weeks away from meaningful NFL games. I can't help but realize how little I have paid attention to football this year. Usually, by July 4th I am going nuts getting ready for football season. But this year, it was almost as if I didn't even care when it started. I thought about it and there are 6 reasons:

1) The disappointment of the Steelers season last year. They should have finished minimum 12-4, but ended up 9-7 and lost several games they should have won (Chicago, Oakland, Cleveland)
2) The never ending disaster that is Ben Roethlisberger. He got press to the point it was annoying and it gave a grim outlook to this year.
3) Brett Favre
4) The World Cup. It took my attention into the second week of July.
5) I have been busy as hell, and haven't had time to gush over the upcoming season
6) The failures of my fantasy teams last year (A LOT of injuries)

But now we are already 1 game into the preseason, Dennis Dixon looks like a steed and the team actually played well. So I now present my 2010 NFL preview. (divisional order of finish shown)

AFC East
1. New England Patriots - Team has a lot to prove after last years collapse in the playoffs
2. Miami Dolphins - One of the most fun young teams to watch. HBO's favorite mobster and the Tuna have this team going in the right direction.
3. New York Jets - This team has the perfect formula for failure: High expectations. Lots of flash. High priced, big name free agents. This never works
4. Buffalo Bills - Unless they find a way to put Ryan Miller in front of the goaline to keep teams out, it is gonna be another long, cold, snowy winter in Buffalo.

AFC North
1. Baltimore Ravens - A lot of this has to do with the health of Ed Reed, but they finally have an offense to go with that defense
2. Pittsburgh Steelers - They get Tennessee and Oakland in their 3rd place schedule. A healthy Polamalu and a defense playing with a chip on their shoulder. Plus, Bryant McFadden is back.
3. Cincinnati Bengals - See Jets, New York. Plus first place schedule (NE, IND, SD)
4. Cleveland Browns - Name represents the team. shit.

AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts - Another year, another 12 win season for Peyton and the boys.
2. Houston Texans - 4 games without Brian "more Cushing for the pushing" against a tough schedule. They can put up the points, but can they run the ball?
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jack Del Rio will show just enough promise to hold onto his job... again.
4. Tennessee Titans - Chris Johnson is going to have a hard time breaking Eric Dickerson's record, when they are going to be behind all the time.

AFC West
1. San Diego Chargers - Phillip Rivers makes another run at MVP.
2. Oakland Raiders - Jason Campbell is an improvement at QB, and their running game showed flashes of promise. This team has something really going for them.
3. Kansas City Chiefs - This team has a ton of weapons, and the "fat Patriots" of old are back together.
4. Denver Broncos - They will take a step backward after the promise they showed early last year. McDaniels will be under the gun by the end of the year.

NFC East
1. Dallas Cowboys - Still the best team in the best division in football
2. New York Giants - Defensive line is healthy. Eli has the receivers this year to get it done.
3. Washington Redskins - Major recovery from last yer, but still growing.
4. Philadelphia Eagles - Kevin Kolb will be booed by Week 4.

NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers - Aaron Rodgers is the best young QB in the league, and their defense forced the most turnovers in the NFL
2. Minnesota Vikings - Team Favre is going to be good again, and I hate them for it.
3. Chicago Bears - They might be better this year, but the rest of the division is too good at the top.
4. Detroit Lions - See Bears, Chicago.

NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan really breaks out this year, and Michael Turner stays healthy
2. New Orleans Saints - Hangovers last longer at Mardi Gras.
3. Carolina Panthers - Very young team with a lot of growing to do.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Only team in NFC worse is the Rams

NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers - Wins games the old fashioned way. Defense, running and special teams
2. Arizona Cardinals - Matt Leinert's coming out party falls a little short, but he still gets 4,000 and 25 TDs
3. Seattle Seahawks - Pete Carroll won't have a lot to pump his fists about this year.
4. St. Louis Rams - They are the Rams

Playoff Predictions:
NFC
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Atlanta Falcons
4. San Francisco 49ers
5. Minnesota Vikings
6. New Orleans Saints

AFC
1. Indianapolis Colts
2. San Diego Chargers
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. New England Patriots
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
6. Miami Dolphins


This prediction is based on zero physical evidence. I will have a more in depth look at the SuperBowl next week.