My Fearless League Predictions

 

It is time again for my fearless attempt (note:  no dart boards were injured during this exercise) to predict the outcome of the 2011 NFL Season.  I know that some of you will doubt my crystal ball but it seldom fails me (except when it needs repair which happens around this time every year).

AFC East

  1. Pats –
    This team has struggled in the playoffs but always has a great regular
    season.  This year it will get to the AFC
    Championship game.
  2. Jets – I wonder how good the O will be because I
    am not sold on QB Sanchez.
  3. Dolphins – This team is without a QB and it will
    show.  Daboll is the OC which is good
    news for the TE’s.
  4. Bills – This team is going to be in the running
    for the 1st pick QB Luck.  But
    will they be willing to pay enough to sign him if they get the 1st
    pick.

AFC North

  1. Steelers – They have a D older than the “over
    the hill gang” of Redskin fame and the window to winning is closing because of
    it.
  2. Ravens – They just can’t seem to find a way beat
    the Steelers and they will not this year.
  3. Browns – They can be 8-8 or better IF they can
    keep QB McCoy healthy.  Otherwise 3-13.
  4. Bengals – This team is in serious trouble with a
    new QB and questions about their D.

AFC South

  1. Texans – The team has a great running game to go
    with an outstanding passing attack.  The
    only question is their D.  Williams as
    OLB?
  2. Colts – The latest on QB Manning is that he will
    be out for a couple of months.  They
    could end up with a top 5 draft pick in 2012 without him.
  3. Titans – RB Johnson is the key.  The O line has to give him just a step and he
    can go all the way.  The D and passing
    attacks keep them from contending.
  4. Jags – Look for this team to be the first choice
    to move to LA.  The city is in a
    financial hole and the team is bereft of talent.

AFC West

  1. Chargers – This team can not possibly get off to
    as bad a start as they have for the last couple of years.  Any improvement in their start will vault
    them into the playoffs.
  2. Chiefs – QB Cassel is hurt and the running game
    alone can not make up for a porous D.
  3. Raiders – I am the only one they did not call to
    play QB.  Key losses cannot be overcome.
  4. Broncos – This team has a long way to go to
    become competitive.

 

NFC East

  1. Eagles – The team has gone all out to win this
    year.  QB Vick will not have as good a
    year as 2010 but the D is better and this is the year.  If not, HC Reid is gone.
  2. Giants – QB Manning is not as good as most think
    and that again prevents them from getting far in the post season.
  3. Cowboys – Owner Jones is still looking for a HC
    that can win.  The problem is JJ is the
    GM and this team is not that good.
  4. Redskins – Another team without a QB.  McNabb was not the answer.  If HC Shanahan doesn’t find the answer soon
    he will be gone as well.

 

NFC North

  1. Packers – Despite a flurry of injuries last year
    the team made the playoffs and won it all.
    Those wounded players are back and the team is better than last year.
  2. Lions – No one is going to want to face the D
    front this season.  If QB Stafford stays
    healthy this team can get into the playoffs.
  3. Bears – HC Smith will likely be replaced if they
    slip below the Lions.  Bye Lovie.
  4. Vikings – The window is now closed on this team
    contending.

 

NFC South

  1. Saints – They will lose game 1 vs the Pack but
    still win the division.  Sproles will
    help this team.
  2. Falcons – Their time will come next year but
    they still have some issues on D.
  3. Bucs – This is the best 3rd place
    team in the league.  They will challenge
    the Falcons next season.
  4. Panthers – They had the top pick and I am not
    sure they used it wisely.  While QB Newton
    will improve this year will he ever be willing to pay the price to become a top
    QB?

 

NFC West

  1. Rams – The D is much better and the O behind QB
    Bradford will flourish.
  2. Cardinals – QB Kolb will make this team better
    but not enough to overtake the Rams.
  3. 49ers – QB Smith is a white flag indicating this
    team might be looking to bring Stanford QB Luck to the team next year.
  4. Seahawks – This is a bad team without a QB.  Jackson couldn’t make it in MN with the best
    RB in the league so how will he do here?
    It won’t be pretty.

That’s what I think.  Tell me what you think.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent.

He is a senior writer for and edits https://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on

and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/.

He edits .
Also listen to the best Sports Talk anywhere on the Internet and hear his sports show Monday-Friday 6-8 PM EST on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/ or .

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1 thought on “My Fearless League Predictions”

  1. I’ve got to disagree with the Bengals. I don’t think the D is as questionable as you might think. They might have trouble stopping the pass – but against the run they are pretty good. In that division – stopping the run is much more important than the pass.

    I’m not saying they are going to win a bunch of games, but the D is not really a big ? mark. I think our WR and offense will struggle to put up points, making the D look worse than they really are. Hope you’re not right, but I do respect your blog and opinion.

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