AFC NORTH
Pittsburgh Steelers— After getting a dose of Tebow-mania, the Steelers exited the 2011 playoffs earlier than expected. However, much of the roster that helped the team finish 12-4 last season is set to return, and expectations in Steeltown are high once more. New offensive coordinator Todd Haley promises to open up the offence and let QB Ben Roethlisberger find his group of talented pass catchers led by speedy
Mike Wallace and budding star Antonio Brown. While veterans Troy Polamalu and James Harrison drive the defence, the unit is slowly being infused with youthful talent, and looks to re-emerge as one of the top groups in the league.
Baltimore Ravens — The Ravens have been Super Bowl contenders for the past couple of seasons and 2012 is no different. The defensive unit took a massive hit after it was announced that Terrell Suggs, 2011 Defensive Player of the Year, tore his ACL and will miss all of this season. While this undoubtedly leaves a huge hole in the defence, the Ravens still boast a talented group of players led by leader Ray Lewis. Meanwhile, Baltimore waits for QB Joe Flacco to take the next step, as the team will only go as far as he takes them.
Cincinnati Bengals — Although it is expected to take a couple of seasons, the Bengals’ rebuilding project is off to a fast and promising start. Led by rookie QB Andy Dalton and WR AJ Green, Cincinnati qualified for the playoffs last season— a result that no pundit saw coming. The offence should continue improving as Dalton and Green grow together. The Bengals’ defence surprised last year, proving to be a strong unit comprised of youthful talent at every level. Cincinnati fans feel rejuvenated and hope last season’s unexpected success wasn’t an aberration.
Cleveland Browns — Mirroring the foundation of their Ohio rivals, the Browns look for a fresh start led by a new rookie quarterback and running back. Although 28 years old, Brandon Weeden steps into his first season in the NFL with high hopes and a strong arm. He’ll be aided by former Alabama star RB Trent Richardson, who some are comparing to Adrian Peterson. The Browns hope these two players will spark an offence that has been sputtering over the past couple of years. Though the defence is a unit in progress, the core is there with DE Jabaal Sheard, MLB D’Qwell Jackson, and CB Joe Haden. Finally, things don’t look so bleak for the Browns.
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans — The Texans are the most skilled team in the division. With a high-flying offence and crippling run defence, there isn’t a lot the Texans can’t match favourably against. The only problem they may face is a worrisome trend of injuries to their star players. Andre Johnson can be an absolute monster receiver, but all of that is contingent on his ability to get on the field. The problem is he can’t seem to stay healthy. In the past two campaigns, Johnson has missed out on 12 regular season games. If the Texans continually smother offences as they are poised to do, and Johnson stays healthy, they should roll into the playoffs.
Tennessee Titans — There is some uncertainty in the Titans’ camp stemming from the pivotal quarterback and running back positions. The newly named sophomore starting quarterback Jake Locker is fairly untested, but does have the benefit of an offensive line that rarely yields sacks. This guaranteed time in the pocket should give him the ability to overcome any starting jitters that he may have. Running back Chris Johnson is also a frustrating uncertainty after last year’s disappointing campaign. Should he bounce back and show glimmers of what he is capable of, a playoff berth is not unthinkable for the Titans.
Indianapolis Colts — Unless the Colts’ horseshoe logo comes to life and starts providing their aptly named starting quarterback Andrew Luck some luck, the prospects are bleak for the Colts this season. This year will be all about maturing and refining Luck’s superstar potential, especially if Donald Brown continues to fall short of expectations carrying the ball. Much can be said on the other side of the ball where an explosive pass rush is in place; but a reliable pass defence is not. Although the Colts shouldn’t be counted out, 2013-2014 seems more like their time.
Jacksonville Jaguars — This isn’t going to be good. A once consistent playoff contender, the Jags have experienced a speedy fall from grace. Aside from the pint sized power and prowess of Maurice Jones-Drew, there isn’t a lot to be thankful for in Jacksonville. A sloppy sophomore quarterback in Blaine Gabbert and a ubiquitous blend of mediocrity on defence buries any hope of the Jaguars putting together a .500 record this season.
NFC NORTH
Green Bay Packers — While Green Bay’s promising 2011 season ended on a sour note, there is no reason to believe that the Packers won’t be back as a top Super Bowl contender this year. Having finished second last in total defence last season, their unit will need improvement if they’re to reach New Orleans. The team spent their first six draft picks on the defensive side of the ball—notably OLB Nick Perry and DE Jerel Worthy, both players who can put pressure on the quarterback. Their offensive talent is undeniable and will be reliable barring major injury. Undoubtedly, Aaron Rodgers will pick apart defences with his many weapons. However, Green Bay’s fate will ultimately be determined on the other side of the ball.
Detroit Lions — 2011 may go down as the year the Detroit franchise finally turned things around. Fresh off their first winning season since 2000, the Lions—led by emerging QB Matthew Stafford and star WR Calvin Johnson—boast one of the most exciting offences in the league. However, like their Cheesehead counterparts in Wisconsin, the defence is shaky and will need to improve before Detroit becomes a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Chicago Bears — After a tumultuous end to last season, marked by injuries to both their starting quarterback and running back, the Bears look rejuvenated. They hope to reach the same level of success they experienced in the 2010 campaign when they reached the NFC Championship game. While the reunion of Brandon Marshall and Jay Cutler should prove lethal, the Bears’ offence will sputter if they don’t receive better offensive line play. Between Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, and Julius Peppers, the Bears will be tough on defence. However, the secondary will need to play well against the arms of Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford if they are to contend for a division title.
Minnesota Vikings — It wasn’t too long ago that the Vikings were contending for a championship. However, Brett Favre is (thankfully) gone, and year two of the Christian Ponder era begins. Unfortunately, he won’t have his security blanket in star RB Adrian Peterson for some of the season. Other than Percy Harvin, the rest of the offence is marked by few playmakers. Jared Allen, likely the NFL’s best pass rusher, leads the Vikings’ defence, but the rest of the personnel looks bleak. Rebuilding is the name of the game in Minny this season.
NFC SOUTH
New Orleans Saints — The Saints’ offseason revolved around the extensive punishments handed out as a result of the bounty scandal. Although they lose Head Coach Sean Payton for the entire year, this will not stop New Orleans from continuing their winning ways. Drew Brees is still a phenomenal quarterback, not only in his reads and accuracy, but also his ability to utilize all his options so effectively. While this may be a testament to Payton’s coaching, it is not remotely farfetched to assume that Brees—and the rest of the team—will be able to follow this path right back into the postseason and Lombardi contention. The only weakness to be found is a sub-par pass defence that is further decimated by their offseason scandal and subsequent suspensions.
Carolina Panthers — The NFL has become a quarterback’s league, and the Carolina Panthers have one definite talent at the position. Despite all the hype and predictions heading into last season, Cam Newton surpassed even the highest expectations and made his mark in the history books by amassing a first year record of 4051 passing yards, and an astonishing 706 rushing yards. Coupled with a dynamic running game, the offence is a juggernaut. The defence is somewhat suspect, especially on the passing end, but that shouldn’t prevent the Panthers from improving in 2012.
Atlanta Falcons — It’s still difficult to consider the Falcons a legitimate Super Bowl threat. Over the past four years, they have consistently put on strong regular season performances, followed by disappointing postseasons. In these playoff appearances, QB Matt Ryan has been sub-par and the defence has underperformed. Until they learn to play as a unit and break through their mental blocks, Atlanta shouldn’t be seen as a postseason or even a divisional threat.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 2011-2012 was a disastrous campaign for the Bucs on essentially all accounts. While it isn’t hard to imagine a slightly better performance this time around, there isn’t a whole lot to be excited about in Tampa besides a potentially exciting group of draft picks. The young crop could mature and become relevant NFL players at some point, but this won’t be the year.
AFC EAST
New England Patriots — No question exists as to whether the Pats are the division’s top dogs. Fresh off a 14-2 regular season and a run to the Super Bowl, this team is hungry to get back to the big dance and win it. The offence, as always, will be top notch, but defence will be what makes or breaks this season. Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower were drafted for this very purpose. They will be key to reviving what was the NFL’s last ranked defense in 2011.
Buffalo Bills — The Bills showed promise last year and the pressure is now on in Orchard Park for this team to get back to the playoffs after a lengthy hiatus. Buffalo splurged on a contract extension to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, as well as on defensive end Mario Williams, who will be called upon to anchor the defensive line. Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller will share the running duties, but the big question will be whether Fitzpatrick has enough aerial weapons, besides standout Steve Johnson.
New York Jets — Today’s NFL requires that a championship team possess a game-changing, starting quarterback. The Jets have two pretenders. Neither Mark Sanchez nor Tim Tebow has enough skill to lead this team to match the greatness of their tenants at the Met Life Stadium. The defensive core, highlighted by Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie is solid. However, the Jets won’t score enough points to keep up with the cream of the crop in the AFC.
Miami Dolphins — The ‘fins haven’t won a playoff game since 2000 and this year won’t be any different. Led by Joe Philbin, this is a team building towards future success which isn’t quite on the horizon. Reggie Bush, Jake Long, and Cameron Wake are some of the few household names on this squad. However, it will be up to rookie QB Ryan Tannehill who will be tasked with restoring Miami to greatness.
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos — The Broncos finished first in the AFC west last season and upset the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the playoffs. They did that with Tim Tebow. Fast forward to this year, and they now have future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning behind the center. Combine Manning with the same strong defense from last year, and the possibilities are endless. Even though Manning missed last year, he played 12 injury-free seasons prior. Thus, there is no reason to doubt that he can’t bounce back and regain his all-pro form. Also, look for talented receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker to break out. The Broncos are real contenders.
Kansas City Chiefs — The Chiefs are a very deep team. Not only do the Chiefs have burner Jamaal Charles back from an ACL tear, they’ve also added RB Peyton Hillis to create arguably the best one-two punch in the NFL. To add to the arsenal, Dexter McCluster has moved from running back to a slot receiver and should flourish in that position. However, the biggest spotlight this season is on QB Matt Cassel. After an impressive 2010, he took a big step backwards in 2011 throwing nine interceptions and only 10 touchdowns. That being said, the Chiefs’ strong running game should open up the passing game for Cassel, who shouldn’t need to be a hero.
Oakland Raiders — It’s simple. If RB Darren McFadden can stay healthy, Oakland could be a dark horse to win the division. That’s a big ‘if’ though, since he hasn’t played a full season his whole career. If he isn’t healthy, Oakland’s chances are bleak, especially without backup RB Michael Bush who left for Chicago. QB Carson Palmer is still a question mark but should play better than last year considering he spent a full offseason getting comfortable with his role on the team.
San Diego Chargers — For the last couple of years, the Chargers have been surrounded by hype but haven’t lived up to expectations. This year, after losing WR Vincent Jackson and star RB Ryan Matthews for at least the first few games of the season, there isn’t much hype around this year’s team—for good reason. Coupled with their weak defence, fans should not expect much coming out of San Diego this year.
NFC WEST
San Francisco 49ers — The Niners took the league by storm last year when they came within inches of a Super Bowl birth. This year, however, they won’t be able to sneak up on teams. Their elite defensive core from last season remains intact, and that should be enough to help overcome the target on their backs. On the offensive side of the ball, the focus is on QB Alex Smith who finally put together a good season last year, but returns with a chip on his shoulder after the 49ers openly pursued Peyton Manning. One question remains: can Smith take on this challenge and improve, or will he regress and lose confidence in his game? Should he prove he deserves to be the guy in San Fran, then the 49ers should run away with the West and prove that they are serious Super Bowl contenders.
Seattle Seahawks — The Seahawks are a mediocre team on paper, yet each year they seem to find a way to win games. RB Marshawn Lynch was a beast last season and often put the team on his back. However, the Seahawks will need rookie QB Russell Wilson to perform if they want to have any shot at overtaking the 49ers in the division and earning a postseason berth.
St. Louis Rams — The Rams failed to do anything right last year, finishing with an abysmal 2-14 record. That being said, there is no reason that a healthy QB Sam Bradford can’t bounce back and live up to his draft day potential. Still, that is far from certain—especially if the Rams’ offensive line doesn’t pick up their play. Don’t expect a complete turnaround, but the Rams should be better than last year.
Arizona Cardinals — The Cardinals have an unproven quarterback, injuries at running back, a weak defense, and Larry Fitzgerald. Apart from Fitzgerald, nothing seems remotely promising. Plus, Larry surely cannot throw the ball to himself. Look for Arizona to struggle this season.
NFC EAST
Philadelphia Eagles — Vince Young called this a dream team going into last season, and despite being a year late, his prediction might soon come true. The Eagles are stacked with weapons on both sides of the ball that put them squarely in the chase for the Superdome in February. If Michael Vick can escape his injury prone ways and LeSean McCoy continues to excel with a shiny contract extension in hand, this team has what it takes to go all the way.
New York Giants — This team takes clutch to a whole new level. A battle-tested unit, the Giants will scare anyone in the NFC if they can return to the playoffs. The team will have to deal with the league’s toughest schedule; but if anyone can overcome that adversity, it is this group. Mario Manningham and Brandon Jacobs are gone, but Victor Cruz and Ahmad Bradshaw should be able to carry the load for New York—oh, and Eli as well.
Dallas Cowboys — Jerry Jones thinks his team can contend in the NFC this season, but we disagree. This is an aging unit that, despite possessing some up-and-coming players like Sean Lee, won’t even be able to compete with two teams within its own division. The old mainstays Romo, Ware, Austin, and Jones remain; but considering the Cowboys have only won one playoff game since 1996, there is no reason to believe that the trend is going to change in 2012.
Washington Redskins — While Americans decide on whether or not to send a new president to Washington, the local team finally has a quarterback it can believe in. Robert Griffin III is the number one story for the Redskins and is expected to inject some energy into a lifeless franchise. Washington is still a few pieces away from being a contender and should hover around the 4-6 win mark, but brighter days may be ahead.
