NFL Predictions that I'll probably get wrong
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
When the lockout was going on this past summer, my loyalty to the NFL was on the fence. The NFL players and owners eventually came through for themselves and the fans, and for at least for the next 10 years we are guaranteed there will be an NFL season.
That puts a smile on my face, though it is probably likely we'll be going though all this again in another decade.
Anyway, I've always liked predicting the winners of each NFL game every week, though it is easy and safe to say I'm not that great at it. This year, I've decided to try my hand at predicting some of the NFL season because I think I'm going to be right (though I probably won't be).
With that … here are my inaugural NFL season predictions. Getting to watch any NFL game (one of my best friends has extended a season-long invite to watch the NFL Sunday Ticket package for the second year in a row) allows me to see this list come true, or more than likely, I've just ruined the season for a lot of players and teams before they have even started.
Feel free to give me your predictions as well. Now …give me some football.
• The worst team in the NFL will NOT be the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Bengals have a foundation for a decent future, but it's not happening this season. I think the Bengals will have the No. 3 pick in the '12 NFL Draft, but the worst team will be the Carolina Panthers, followed by the Buffalo Bills as the second-worst team.
• The '11 NFL rushing leader will be …
My choice for the NFL rushing leader this season is Darren McFadden. If (and this is a big IF) he stays healthy, DMac will put up his best career number this season for an Oakland Raider team that won't be making the playoffs.
• The NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year will be …
The offensive ROY will be A.J. Green, wide receiver of the Cincinnati Bengals. The defensive ROY will be will be Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller.
• The NFL Coach of the Year will be …
This is a tough one, but I'm going with Gary Kubiak of the Houston Texans. This is his and a lot of people's last opportunity to make things happen in Houston.
• The Philadelphia Eagles won't be a "dream team"
Philadelphia will win the NFC East with all their offseason free agent signings, but will do it with 10 wins, and they will not make it to the NFC Championship game. There are always a few games that are surprise losses for every team, so there is that going against them, plus they have Atlanta, New England, New York Jets and Dallas on Christmas Eve on their schedule this year. Not to mention they open the season against a youthful St. Louis Rams team that is about to break through and put the NFL on notice.
• Six teams won't be celebrating the holidays
The Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins won't have a normal holiday schedule. The aforementioned teams will be playing football on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and New Year's Day. At least the rest of the NFL gets Thanksgiving off. There will be no going back for seconds during their holiday meals … bah humbug.
• The most overrated team headed into the season is …
Like I said earlier, the Eagles will be a good team … not great, but really good. The team who is the trendy pick to make the playoffs, but will instead be watching them in January, will be the Detroit Lions. They have more healthcare problems than the US government, with health risks at quarterback and running back, just for starters. The Lions will finish 8-8, maybe.
• The Colts' 9-year playoff streak is finished
They struggled last season with Peyton Manning and still won their division. This year, starting the season without Manning is going to be a tough road to travel. It's hard for me to bet against the Colts, but I think their playoff streak is over.
• My Playoff Picks are …
In the AFC, I think the following six teams will advance in the postseason: Patriots, Ravens, Chargers and Texans will win their divisions, and the Jets and Steelers will be Wild Card teams. The NFC division winners will be: Eagles, Packers, Falcons and Rams, and the Saints and Cardinals will be Wild Card teams.
• Advancing to the Super Bowl are …
The Ravens will defeat the Chargers in the AFC title game, and the Falcons will beat the Packers to reach XLVI on Feb. 5, 2012.
• The NFL MVP will be ….
The 2011 NFL Most Valuable Player will be Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. I honestly think he's the best quarterback in the league, especially with Vincent Jackson running routes and catching passes for him. Rivers passed for 4,710 yards last season, and look for him with Jackson at WR for an entire season to throw for over 5,000 yards.
• My Super Bowl Champion is …
The team who will be holding the Vince Lombardi trophy after the Super Bowl is complete will be the Baltimore Ravens. With Ray Rice at running back, Joe Flacco playing quarterback, John Harbaugh as head coach and a defense that has one last run left in them with Ray Lewis leading the way, this will be a tough team come playoff time.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of the Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com.[[In-content Ad]]
That puts a smile on my face, though it is probably likely we'll be going though all this again in another decade.
Anyway, I've always liked predicting the winners of each NFL game every week, though it is easy and safe to say I'm not that great at it. This year, I've decided to try my hand at predicting some of the NFL season because I think I'm going to be right (though I probably won't be).
With that … here are my inaugural NFL season predictions. Getting to watch any NFL game (one of my best friends has extended a season-long invite to watch the NFL Sunday Ticket package for the second year in a row) allows me to see this list come true, or more than likely, I've just ruined the season for a lot of players and teams before they have even started.
Feel free to give me your predictions as well. Now …give me some football.
• The worst team in the NFL will NOT be the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Bengals have a foundation for a decent future, but it's not happening this season. I think the Bengals will have the No. 3 pick in the '12 NFL Draft, but the worst team will be the Carolina Panthers, followed by the Buffalo Bills as the second-worst team.
• The '11 NFL rushing leader will be …
My choice for the NFL rushing leader this season is Darren McFadden. If (and this is a big IF) he stays healthy, DMac will put up his best career number this season for an Oakland Raider team that won't be making the playoffs.
• The NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year will be …
The offensive ROY will be A.J. Green, wide receiver of the Cincinnati Bengals. The defensive ROY will be will be Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller.
• The NFL Coach of the Year will be …
This is a tough one, but I'm going with Gary Kubiak of the Houston Texans. This is his and a lot of people's last opportunity to make things happen in Houston.
• The Philadelphia Eagles won't be a "dream team"
Philadelphia will win the NFC East with all their offseason free agent signings, but will do it with 10 wins, and they will not make it to the NFC Championship game. There are always a few games that are surprise losses for every team, so there is that going against them, plus they have Atlanta, New England, New York Jets and Dallas on Christmas Eve on their schedule this year. Not to mention they open the season against a youthful St. Louis Rams team that is about to break through and put the NFL on notice.
• Six teams won't be celebrating the holidays
The Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins won't have a normal holiday schedule. The aforementioned teams will be playing football on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and New Year's Day. At least the rest of the NFL gets Thanksgiving off. There will be no going back for seconds during their holiday meals … bah humbug.
• The most overrated team headed into the season is …
Like I said earlier, the Eagles will be a good team … not great, but really good. The team who is the trendy pick to make the playoffs, but will instead be watching them in January, will be the Detroit Lions. They have more healthcare problems than the US government, with health risks at quarterback and running back, just for starters. The Lions will finish 8-8, maybe.
• The Colts' 9-year playoff streak is finished
They struggled last season with Peyton Manning and still won their division. This year, starting the season without Manning is going to be a tough road to travel. It's hard for me to bet against the Colts, but I think their playoff streak is over.
• My Playoff Picks are …
In the AFC, I think the following six teams will advance in the postseason: Patriots, Ravens, Chargers and Texans will win their divisions, and the Jets and Steelers will be Wild Card teams. The NFC division winners will be: Eagles, Packers, Falcons and Rams, and the Saints and Cardinals will be Wild Card teams.
• Advancing to the Super Bowl are …
The Ravens will defeat the Chargers in the AFC title game, and the Falcons will beat the Packers to reach XLVI on Feb. 5, 2012.
• The NFL MVP will be ….
The 2011 NFL Most Valuable Player will be Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. I honestly think he's the best quarterback in the league, especially with Vincent Jackson running routes and catching passes for him. Rivers passed for 4,710 yards last season, and look for him with Jackson at WR for an entire season to throw for over 5,000 yards.
• My Super Bowl Champion is …
The team who will be holding the Vince Lombardi trophy after the Super Bowl is complete will be the Baltimore Ravens. With Ray Rice at running back, Joe Flacco playing quarterback, John Harbaugh as head coach and a defense that has one last run left in them with Ray Lewis leading the way, this will be a tough team come playoff time.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of the Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com.[[In-content Ad]]