NFL Playoff Picks Every year, 5-7 teams return to the playoffs from the previous season. Inevitably, the Patriots, Colts, Chargers and Seahawks are part of the 5-7 recurring teams, so that doesn't bode well for the rest of the returning playoff teams. This is due in part to free agency, injuries and strength of schedule. In addition, there is always one team that makes the "jump" to the playoffs after only winning a couple of games the previous season. This makes projecting the NFL playoffs exceedingly difficult, but I will certainly give it a shot. Without further ado, here are the picks...
NFC
East - Easily the hardest division in football, this division has produced three playoff teams each of the past two years. Last year the Giants won the Super Bowl, the Cowboys and Redskins went to the playoffs, and the Eagles were probably the greatest 8-8 team in NFL history. My gut tells me Eli Manning and the Giants have spent too much time on the banquet circuit this offseason, while their division foes have only gotten stronger. I think Donovan McNabb stays healthy, Tony Romo joins the NFL's elite QB's (if he wasn't already a member) and Jason Campbell has a career year.
Pick: Eagles*, Redskins, Cowboys.
North - If the NFC East is the hardest division in football, the North very well might be the worst. The North's four starting QB's would all be backups to the four NFC East starters. But the rules say someone must win this division out of Minnesota, Green Bay, Chicago and Detroit. The smart money says Minnesota--with superior defense and an incredible running game--should be able to pull off nine or ten wins. Green Bay might struggle without Brett Favre, Chicago has embraced Kyle "Neck Beard" Orton as their starter and Detroit is content to let Matt Millen continue to run the franchise into the ground. By process of elimination, that leaves the Vikings to come out alive.
Pick: Vikings*
South - In the last five years, all 4 teams have won a division title (Tampa Bay won two), making handicapping the division that much harder. Atlanta is in shambles and in rebuilding mode. Tampa Bay is always frisky but eventually their dicey QB situation will come back to bite them. Carolina seems solid on paper, but they haven't been good the last five years or so and don't appear to have gotten much better. That leaves New Orleans, who clearly has the best offense in the division. If their defense can stay healthy and keep teams from scoring over 40 points, they should be able to handle this division.
Pick: Saints*
West - The last five or six years or so, this division has been Seattle and everyone else. While San Francisco, Arizona and St. Louis have all improved during the offseason, this is still Seattle's division to lose. Mike Holmgren, the Seahawks coach/resident walrus, is in the last year of his contract and I believe he is motivated to go out a winner. Plus, Seattle is such a difficult place to play for visiting teams, they just need to a couple of road wins to remain competitive in this division.
Pick: Seahawks*
AFC
East - Do you think Tom Brady douses himself with an entire bottle of Stetson before each game to repel defenders with the pungent smell? I say yes. Whatever Brady and the rest of the Patriots are doing, they are obviously doing it well, so they are pretty much the closest thing to a lock for the playoffs. People keep harping on the Jets this offseason, but I really don't see it. Yes they have an improved offensive line, and acquired Brett Favre, but really I don't think that makes them and automatic playoff team. They have to play the Patriots twice, which means they are 0-2 in those games, and would realistically have to win 10 out of 14 games. I don't see that happening. I actually like the Bills this year, and almost picked them but their QB situation isn't great. Trent Edwards and JP Losman can sling the ball, but don't produce enough wins. The Dolphins should improve under Parcells' management, but they are still at the bottom rung of the ladder.
Pick: Patriots*
North - In the last three years the Bengals, Ravens and Steelers have won the division, so why can't the Browns win it this year? They won ten games last year and barely missed the playoffs, and return a potent offense and solid defense. The Steelers are really good but have a brutal schedule--playing the Colts, Chargers and Patriots never helps your record. The Bengals are frisky but seem to believe they are better than they actually are. Plus it seems they are never interested in actually winning, just putting on an aerial show between Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson. The Ravens might actually be good this year, but they are starting some combination of Troy Smith, Kyle Boller and Joe Flacco. Pick your poison. If the Browns can stay healthy this year, I think they can win the division.
Pick: Browns*
South - What's not to like about a 6'5", 230 lbs. quarterback with a laser, rocket arm? Peyton Manning has been a little banged up this off season, but he has never missed a game in his career, and I don't expect him to start missing games now. Last season came the inevitable let down following their Super Bowl season, but I think they come back with the same desire as two years ago. Not that they won't have competition. The Jaguars have been drafting defensive lineman to get to Peyton Manning for the better part of a decade and they might actually catch him this year. The Texans have improved as well, and will certainly put up a good fight against the Colts and Jags. Also, the Titans who made the playoffs last year and always seem to be in the hunt, could surprise some people. After the NFC East, this is probably the best division in the football and was tempted to pick three playoff teams, but in the end only went with two.
Pick: Jaguars*, Colts
West - The Chargers are solid and any team that has LaDainian Tomlinson is going to be in the hunt, but if I had to pick one team from the consistent playoff performers (Patriots, Colts, Seahawks and Chargers) to miss the playoffs, it would be the Chargers. Denver is always brilliantly mediocre with Cutler slinging the rock and Kansas City has one of the worst offenses in the league. That leaves Oakland. It doesn't make any sense why a team that has won 19 combined games over the last five years should suddenly become good this season. I liken it to baseball's Tampa Bay Rays. They have been awful for so long, and have accumulated so many high draft picks, they should eventually be a contending team. The Raiders have a very underrated defense that should let them stay close in some games, and a very potent offense with JaMarcus Russell, Darren 4.27 McFadden, Justin Fargas and Javon Walker. I think they shock the world, win nine games and make the playoffs.
Pick: Chargers*, Raiders
*Division Winner
Playoff Picks
East -
Wild Card - Eagles over Cowboys, Redskins over Vikings
Division Playoffs - Eagles over Saints, Seahawks over Redskins
Conference Championship - Eagles over Seahawks
West -
Wild Card - Browns over Raiders, Colts over Chargers
Division Playoffs - Patriots over Browns, Colts over Jaguars
Conference Championship - Colts over Patriots
Super Bowl - Colts over Eagles**
** I'm purposely not picking the Redskins*** to avoid jinxing the Burgundy and Gold
***I realize I may jinxed them by saying I wasn't jinxing them, but by writing this, I'm avoiding the double, and possibly the triple jinx
East - Easily the hardest division in football, this division has produced three playoff teams each of the past two years. Last year the Giants won the Super Bowl, the Cowboys and Redskins went to the playoffs, and the Eagles were probably the greatest 8-8 team in NFL history. My gut tells me Eli Manning and the Giants have spent too much time on the banquet circuit this offseason, while their division foes have only gotten stronger. I think Donovan McNabb stays healthy, Tony Romo joins the NFL's elite QB's (if he wasn't already a member) and Jason Campbell has a career year.
West - The last five or six years or so, this division has been Seattle and everyone else. While San Francisco, Arizona and St. Louis have all improved during the offseason, this is still Seattle's division to lose. Mike Holmgren, the Seahawks coach/resident walrus, is in the last year of his contract and I believe he is motivated to go out a winner. Plus, Seattle is such a difficult place to play for visiting teams, they just need to a couple of road wins to remain competitive in this division.
South - What's not to like about a 6'5", 230 lbs. quarterback with a laser, rocket arm? Peyton Manning has been a little banged up this off season, but he has never missed a game in his career, and I don't expect him to start missing games now. Last season came the inevitable let down following their Super Bowl season, but I think they come back with the same desire as two years ago. Not that they won't have competition. The Jaguars have been drafting defensive lineman to get to Peyton Manning for the better part of a decade and they might actually catch him this year. The Texans have improved as well, and will certainly put up a good fight against the Colts and Jags. Also, the Titans who made the playoffs last year and always seem to be in the hunt, could surprise some people. After the NFC East, this is probably the best division in the football and was tempted to pick three playoff teams, but in the end only went with two.
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