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.