2013 NFL Season Predictions

-Eric Brill

AFC EAST
1) New England Patriots (10-6)
2) Buffalo Bills (7-9)
3) Miami Dolphins (6-10)
4) New York Jets (1-15)

People who think that the Dolphins are a wild card contender are high. Overspending on Mike Wallace does not make you a double digit win team. EJ Manuel could well be the offensive rookie of the year, and CJ Spiller should go off, but there are still questions surrounding the defense after the injury to Stephon Gilmore and their already porous run defense. The Jets are just the worst thing ever.

AFC NORTH
1) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
2) Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)
3) Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
4) Cleveland Browns (7-9)

I don't think this has ever happened, but I do in fact have a three way tie atop the AFC North slated for 2013. I predict that they will each split their respective series' but the difference will come from the Browns getting a win against Baltimore and Cincinnati but get swept at the hands of the black and gold, giving the Steelers the tie break for the division title. Cleveland is headed in the right direction and in a different division they might have been able to compete for a wild card spot.

AFC SOUTH
1) Houston Texans (10-6)
2) Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
3) Tennessee Titans (7-9)
4) Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12)

Its the Texans and then everybody else. The Colts overachieved last year, and are a pile of mediocrity at every position except quarterback. I actually think the Titans could surprise some people this year, but it depends entirely on whether Jake Locker can prove he deserves to be a starting QB in the NFL. They have the pieces in place on offense everywhere else. The Jaguars are still the Jaguars, though Blaine Gabbert looked half decent in preseason and Maurice Jones-Drew appears to be healthy again.

AFC WEST
1) Denver Broncos (14-2)
2) Kansas City Chiefs (8-8)
3) San Diego Chargers (6-10)
4) Oakland Raiders (3-13)

The Broncos are the best team in football, in the worst division in football. While I think Andy Reid will prove an excellent hire, the idea that the Chiefs are the sexy pick to win a wild card spot this year has gone too far. The Chargers are a mess and Philip Rivers is regressing. Keep an eye on the Raiders week 14 matchup with the Jets, as that may well be the deciding factor in who gets the top pick in the 2014 draft.

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

I'm higher than most on the Cowboys this year. I like the Giants to rebound as they always do and think that Chip Kelly could potentially work wonders with Michael Vick and Co. My gut says that the Redskins are letting RG3 twist the media in his favor and are rushing him back to the field too soon. It could be a long year in Washington, especially given the difficulty of their schedule.

NFC NORTH
1) Green Bay Packers (13-3)
2) Chicago Bears (8-8)
3) Detroit Lions (6-10)
4) Minnesota Vikings (6-10)

This is the Packers division. Even if Adrian Peterson does somehow manage to eclipse 2500 yards (and I'm rooting for him), it's difficult to envision them getting back to double digit wins. The Bears could go either way, but right now the losses of Lovie Smith and Brian Urlacher, the installment of a new offensive scheme and my general discomfort over all things Cutler related, have them on the wrong side of the playoff bubble. One player does not a team make and the Lions have to prove they can play defense and run the ball before they can even sniff the playoffs again.

NFC SOUTH
1) New Orleans Saints (13-3)
2) Atlanta Falcons (11-5)
3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
4) Carolina Panthers (7-9)

Watch out for the Saints. Sean Payton is back with a vengeance and ready to unleash offensive hell on opposing defenses. I expect a career year out of Brees so while the Falcons remain a legitimate contender, they will have to do so through the wild card. I like the direction that the Bucs and Panthers are headed but the difficulty of the NFC, particularly among the other two teams in this division, will have them sitting at home come January. Look for Cam Newton to improve vastly this year, as Carolina is a potential sleeper pick to squeak out a wild card spot if all goes correctly.

NFC WEST
1) San Francisco 49ers (11-5)
2) Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
3) Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
4) St. Louis Rams (5-11)

The Seahawks missing the playoffs are my bold prediction. I love Russell Wilson the guy, but as a QB, he is still developing. They have limited targets in the passing game and can't expect Marshawn Lynch to carry them through a difficult schedule in a rising division. I like Arizona to rebound this year, but Carson Palmer isn't taking this team to the playoffs anytime soon, while the Rams have been vastly overrated of late. The 49ers remain the most capable of handling a loaded NFC in 2013.

WILD CARD ROUND

AFC
(6) Ravens over (3) Texans
(4) Steelers over (5) Bengals

NFC
(3) 49ers over (6) Giants
(5) Falcons over (4) Cowboys

DIVISIONAL ROUND

AFC
(1) Broncos over (6) Ravens
(4) Steelers over (2) Patriots

NFC
(1) Saints over (5) Falcons
(2) Packers over (3) 49ers

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

AFC
(1) Broncos over (4) Steelers

NFC
(1) Saints over (2) Packers

SUPER BOWL
Broncos over Saints

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
MVP: Drew Brees
Offensive Player of the Year: Drew Brees
Defensive Player of the Year: Luke Kuechly
Offensive Rookie of the Year: LeVeon Bell
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Tyrann Mathieu
Coach of the Year: Sean Payton
Comeback Player of the Year: Robert Griffin III

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yardage: Drew Brees (5300)
Passing Touchdowns: Drew Brees (47)
Rushing Yardage: Adrian Peterson (1700)
Rushing Touchdowns: Steven Jackson (19)
Receptions: Randall Cobb (115)
Receiving Yardage: Dez Bryant (1600)
Receiving Touchdowns: Jimmy Graham (18)
Sacks: DeMarcus Ware (21)
Interceptions: Patrick Peterson (8)
Tackles: Luke Kuechly (200 total)