2013 NFL Season Preview

As we approach the beginning of the season with the Ravens Vs Broncos on Thursday, its time to take a preview of the 2013 NFL Season. In this preview, I'll go through predictions of each division, the playoffs and the Super Bowl. First, lets start off with the AFC.

1) Denver Broncos: 13-3
2) Kansas City Chiefs: 7-9
3) San Diego Chargers: 6-10
4) Oakland Raiders: 4-12

The Broncos look poised to be a true Super Bowl contender with Peyton Manning entering his 2nd season in Denver. The offense was also able to add Wes Welker who could be a favorite of Manning throughout the season. The Broncos were also able to add to the running game drafting Wisconsin RB Montee Ball in the 2nd rd this year. The Broncos do have some questions on the defense, but the offense should be able to make up for it. Meanwhile, the Chiefs could be a bit of a mystery, adding QB Alex Smith along with head coach Andy Reid. The Chargers look poised to take a step back as they've been decimated with injuries at WR. As for the Raiders, it could be a rough go for QB Terrelle Pryor, who looks like he'll enter Week 1 as the starting QB.

1) Houston Texans: 11-5

2) Indianapolis Colts: 10-6

3) Tennessee Titans: 6-10

4) Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-12

I see a repeat of 2012 with the AFC South, with the Texans just edging the Colts for the division. J.J Watt is coming off a tremendous defensive season and the Texans were able to add an offensive weapon for QB Matt Schuab with WR DeAndre Hopkins in the 1st rd, who has looked like the real deal. It should bring pressure off of Andre Johnson. Andrew Luck shouldn't see much of a sophomore slump, in fact he could be a darkhorse MVP candidate (but not one of my picks). The Titans should be ok, and that's about it. Its tough to predict the type of year QB Jake Locker will have, but they do have a solid back-up in Ryan Fitzpatrick. And what to say about the Jaguars.....they should be involved in a lot of offensive shoot-outs, but a very young and raw team, I see them picking in the top 5 in the 2014 draft.

1) Pittsburgh Steelers: 11-5

2) Cincinnati Bengals: 9-7

3) Baltimore Ravens: 8-8

4) Cleveland Browns: 4-12

I see the Steelers having a bounce-back year in large part to what should be a top 5 defense. The defense will see a flux in youth, with James Harrison gone to the Bengals, and 1st rd pick Jarvis Jones seeing plenty of playing time. The running game could be a question-mark for the first few weeks without 2nd rd pick Le'Veon Bell, but the addition of Markus Wheaton (3rd rd) and a step-up from Sanders should make up for Mike Wallace's absence in the passing game. The Bengals should have a solid year, but just come up short in divisional games. The Ravens could take a step back this year with the absence of Boldin on offense, and Ray Lewis, Ed Reed on defense. And while Brandon Weeden has looked solid in the preseason for the Browns, well, they're still the Browns.

1) Miami Dolphins: 13-3

2) New England Patriots: 12-4

3) Buffalo Bills: 7-9

4) New York Jets: 5-11

That's right, I'm going outside the box here and predicting a big year for the Dolphins. They should have a stout defense with added pieces like 1st rd pick Dion Jordan and Jamar Taylor (2nd rd), as well as an added weapon for QB Ryan Tannehill in Mike Wallace, who could have a big year with a change of scenery. The Patriots should have an equally solid year, and in any other year would win the division, but I see a break-out year for the Dolphins. The Patriots will have a lot of youth at WR for Tom Brady, so we'll see how that plays out, and how the defense (particularly run-stop) improves. The Bills should have a fine year with E.J Manuel in his 1st season, but just that, fine, a season to build off of. And the Jets just look like a mess, with Geno Smith entering the year as the starting QB, despite a fairly poor preseason, and not a lot of weapons for him to work with.

Playoff Seeding:

1) Broncos

2) Dolphins

3) Steelers

4) Texans

5) Patriots

6) Colts

                             

                         

Colts vs. Steelers: This would be a true test for 2nd yr QB Andrew Luck, but I think the Steelers D would be too much for Luck. Steelers

                                          

Patriots vs Texans: This would be a test for the Texans D facing Tom Brady and a fairly young offense, but I think the Texans D would be up to the task. Texans

                                                  

Texans Vs Broncos: While the Texans D was up to the task with the Patriots, I don't see them matching up here with Manning and company. Broncos

                                                      

Steelers vs Dolphins: Mike Wallace against his former team. All in all, I think this is where the Dolphins breakout season ends because of the steel curtain. Steelers

                                                    

Steelers vs. Broncos: The Steelers D should be better than the last time these 2 faced off in the playoffs, except its Peyton Manning, and not Tim Tebow. The Broncos get back to the Super Bowl. Broncos

1) Dallas Cowboys: 11-5
2) Washington Redskins: 9-7
3) New York Giants: 9-7
4) Philadelphia Eagles: 6-10

I know, I know, it seems every year most pick the Cowboys to win the division, yet they always fall short, however I think this could be the year, As long as the Dallas defense stays healthy, the Cowboys offense should be able to lead Dallas to the top of the NFC East with Dez Bryant continuing to emerge, along with the addition of 3rd rd pick WR Terrance Williams. RG3 should have a decent year, but I could envision a few hiccups, with a chance of some rust during the beginning of the season as he looks to regain his early form from last season. The Giants are always a question-mark, sometimes they can look like one of the top teams in the NFC, other-times they can look simply like a .500 team. I see the Giants continuing to ride that roller coaster with some ups and downs to an average 9-win season. The Eagles will need some time to adjust to Chip Kelly's offense, hence a 6-win season.

1) Green Bay Packers: 11-5

2) Chicago Bears: 10-6

3) Detroit Lions: 8-8

4) Minnesota Vikings: 6-10

The Packers should continue on with their presence in the playoffs. An added running game via the draft, Eddie Lacy (2nd rd), Jonathan Franklin (4th rd) should help out Aaron Rodgers. However, right on their heals this year should be the Bears. A reinvigorated offense should give Jay Cutler the pieces he needs to go along with the Bears defense (minus Urlacher however). The Lions should bounce-back from a disastrous 2012, but in steps, with a .500 season. The Vikings are really tough to predict. It would be almost impossible for Adrian Peterson to replicate his 2012 season, and Ponder is always a question at QB. Their season really depends on those two pieces, and with the Bears re-emerging, I see a lowly 6-win year for the Vikings.

1) Atlanta Falcons: 10-6

2) Carolina Panthers: 6-10

3) New Orleans Saints: 5-11

4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4-12

I see a really down year for the NFC South. The Falcons will benefit from that, but with only a 10-win season. Every other team has real question-marks about them. For the Panthers, will Cam Newton finally rise up to his potential? Will Newton start relying more on his arm and receivers? As for the Saints, will their defense show up? The Saints offense alone won't be enough for the Saints as we've seen in years past. As while the Bucs defense should be vastly improved and be a real force, what about that offense led by Josh Freeman? Is Freeman the long-term QB for Tampa? This year could be the test for that, but I have my doubts on Freeman. 

1) Seattle Seahawks: 13-3

2) San Francisco 49ers: 12-4

3) St.Louis Rams: 7-9

4) Arizona Cardinals: 6-10

The NFC West will come down to the Seahawks and 49ers, and I see the Seahawks just edging out San Francisco. Russell Wilson could emerge as a top 5 NFL QB (already just off the edge of the top 5). In their own right, the 49ers will have a strong year with Kaepernick entering his first full year as the starting QB. The question for the 49ers will be their secondary play. While the Rams added weapons in Tavon Austin (1st rd), it may take some time to get the offense to coalesce, especially with a top heavy division. While the Cardinals finally have a QB with Carson Palmer, there are some questions on defense, as well on the running game adding Rashard Mendenhall from the Steelers, who has his issues with fumbles.

Playoff Seeding:

1) Seahawks

2) Packers

3) Cowboys

4) Falcons

5) 49ers

6) Bears

Bears vs. Cowboys: This would be an interesting match-up. I think Tony Romo gets that much needed 2nd playoff win under his belt and the Cowboys are able to hold off Cutler and Matt Forte. Cowboys

              

49ers vs. Falcons: Will this finally be the time for the Falcons and Matt Ryan to march through the playoffs? Not versus the 49ers it won't be, another early exit. 49ers

                       

49ers vs. Seahawks: This would be a really exciting match-up, Kaepernick vs. Wilson. All in all, in a close game, I see Wilson and the Seahawks marching forwards. Seahawks

                

Cowboys vs. Packers: This would be a tough match-up for Dallas. While they would hang in, I think the Packers end up advancing. Packers

                

Packers vs. Seahawks: The re-match of that controversial 2012 MNF game. A potential shoot-out, I think the Seahawks D would do enough to advance. Seahawks.

Broncos vs Seahawks: Chance for a high flying Super Bowl with Manning vs. Wilson. In the end, I think the experience of Manning would prevail....and the Denver Broncos will be your Super Bowl Champions.

Well, there you have it, a preview of the 2013 NFL Season. There should definitely be some shocks and surprises along the way, so now we just kick back, and wait for kickoff. Enjoy.