Thursday, November 29, 2012

2012 NFL Predictions: December

Time is running out on our NFL season and being that December starts this upcoming weekend, it's time for me to reveal my last updated predictions of the regular season. Usually in the NFL, the last month will include some really tight divisional races, but the way its worked out this year is that essentially all the divisional races are over. Barring some crazy breakdowns, the Patriots, Ravens, Texans, Broncos, Giants, Falcons, and 49ers will all be division champs. The one division still up in the air is the NFC North where the Bears and Packers will be fighting it out this month. The most interesting races this month will be happening with both wild card races. In the AFC we have a three headed race between the Colts, Bengals, and Steelers. The Bengals are on the rise, the Steelers are in bad need of Ben Roethlisberger, and the Colts still have two games against the Texans on the docket, so this is anyone's game. It gets more confusing in the NFC as there are six teams within one game of each other all fighting for the final spot. Seahawks, Bucs, and Vikings stand slightly ahead at 6-5 while the Saints, Cowboys, and Redskins are all at 5-6. Here is how I think it will all play out.


Regular Season Predictions

AFC

AFC East
z-New England Patriots - 13-3
Miami Dolphins - 7-9
Buffalo Bills - 7-9
New York Jets - 6-10

AFC North
z-Baltimore Ravens - 11-5
y-Pittsburgh Steelers - 9-7
Cincinnati Bengals - 8-8
Cleveland Browns - 5-11

AFC South
*-Houston Texans - 14-2
y-Indianapolis Colts - 8-8
Tennessee Titans - 6-10
Jacksonville Jaguars - 3-13

AFC West
z-Denver Broncos - 12-4
San Diego Chargers - 7-9
Oakland Raiders - 5-11
Kansas City Chiefs - 2-14

NFC

NFC East
z-New York Giants - 11-5
Dallas Cowboys - 8-8
Washington Redskins - 7-9
Philadelphia Eagles - 5-11

NFC North
z-Chicago Bears - 12-4
y-Green Bay Packers - 10-6
Detroit Lions - 8-8
Minnesota Vikings - 8-8

NFC South
*-Atlanta Falcons - 13-3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 9-7
New Orleans Saints - 6-10
Carolina Panthers - 6-10

NFC West
z-San Francisco 49ers - 10-5-1
y-Seattle Seahawks - 9-7
St. Louis Rams - 6-9-1
Arizona Cardinals - 4-12

x - clinched playoffs
y - clinched wild card
z - clinched division
* - clinched division and homefield advantage 


Playoff Predictions

Wild Card Round
3- Denver Broncos - W
6- Indianapolis Colts - L

4- Baltimore Ravens - L
5- Pittsburgh Steelers - W

3- New York Giants - W
6- Seattle Seahawks - L

4- San Francisco 49ers - L
5- Green Bay Packers - W

Divisional Round
1- Houston Texans - W
5- Pittsburgh Steelers - L

2- New England Patriots - L
3- Denver Broncos - W

1- Atlanta Falcons - L
5- Green Bay Packers - W

2- Chicago Bears - L
3- New York Giants - W

Championship Round
1- Houston Texans - W
3- Denver Broncos - L

3- New York Giants - L
5- Green Bay Packers - W

Super Bowl XLVII
1- Houston Texans
5- Green Bay Packers

SUPER BOWL XLVII CHAMPIONS
Houston Texans


Predicted Draft Order

1- Kansas City Chiefs
2- Jacksonville Jaguars
3- Arizona Cardinals
4- Oakland Raiders
5- Cleveland Browns
6- Philadelphia Eagles
7- New York Jets
8- New Orleans Saints
9- Tennessee Titans
10- Carolina Panthers
11- St. Louis Rams
12- San Diego Chargers
13- Buffalo Bills
14- Miami Dolphins
15- Washington Redskins
16- Cincinnati Bengals
17- Dallas Cowboys
18- Minnesota Vikings
19- Detroit Lions
20- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
21- Indianapolis Colts
22- Seattle Seahawks
23- San Francisco 49ers
24- Baltimore Ravens
25- Pittsburgh Steelers
26- Chicago Bears
27- Atlanta Falcons
28- New England Patriots
29- New York Giants
30- Denver Broncos
31- Green Bay Packers
32- Houston Texans


For any questions, comments, concerns, or random emotional outbursts, please leave a comment below. Also check out my weekly power rankings for my thoughts on each individual team.

2 comments:

  1. Can you explain your reasoning in the playoff prediction how the Packers will beat the 49ers in SF? The Packers defense is playing bad, and the Niners with Colin at the helm has an added dimension that it did not have with Alex Smith, who beat the Packers at Lambeau. Not only that, but the 49ers defense is one of the best and the Packers with no run attack are a one dimensional offense, it makes it much easier for the Niner D to stop the pass.

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    1. Did Sunday's games answer anything? I understand how that is a confusing pick coming off the Niners beating the Saints and the Packers getting mauled by the Giants, but when push comes to shove, the Niners are very beatable and the Packers are very clutch. When it comes playoff time, I believe that the Packers can kick it into gear and win games. The other thing that they have is playoff experience. The Niners did good last year, but if the Niners decide to go with Kaepernick, I really believe that they won't make it far into the playoffs. But even with Alex Smith in, I believe that the Super Bowl champs of two years ago can get hot at the right time and make a run in the playoffs

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