We're half-way, or just over the half-way point (depending on when a team's bye week occurred), through the 2012 NFL season. Time to check in and revise some predictions!
DIVISION PREDICTIONS
AFC East
1. New England Patriots
2. Miami Dolphins
3. Buffalo Bills
4. New York Jets
The Patriots had a rough start, but seem to be back on track. Their running game has really come out of nowhere to be awesome, and that is going to help them easily win the AFC East and compete for their second AFC title in a row. The New York Jets are so laughably bad and it is awesome. I was really looking forward to an atrocious season from them, and they are not disappointing. The middle of the division is a toss-up. Miami is playing a lot better than expected, especially with a rookie QB, and Buffalo should be a lot better, considering how ridiculous their offense can be and how good their defense should be.
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Cleveland Browns
Both Pittsburgh and Baltimore are flawed (aging defense, inconsistent offense), but still are well-rounded teams who will both make the playoffs per the norm. Pittsburgh wins the division thanks to having the better quarterback. Cincinnati is inconsistent, but I like the future of this squad. They're just under .500 at this point, but I could see them snaking the final Wild Card spot at 9-7 or 8-8. Cleveland is better than their record, but that's not saying much. Trent Richardson is a bright spot, as is their defense.
AFC South
1. Houston Texans
2. Indianapolis Colts
3. Tennessee Titans
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
Are the Houston Texans the best team in the AFC? Possibly, but I feel they are too young and inexperienced to surpass, say, the New England Patriots when it matters. Their offense has been but should be better, and their defense is definitely contributing to their dominance. I knew Indianapolis would be better than everyone expected, but not quite this good. Sitting at 5-3, Andrew Luck is making a good case as to why he was the first pick in the 2012 draft. However, there's no way this can last. Not this year, at least. Jacksonville is the worst team in the NFL, duh. I'm surprised Tennessee is SO bad, but it's nice to see Chris Johnson resurrecting his career.
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos
2. San Diego Chargers
3. Oakland Raiders
4. Kansas City Chiefs
We all knew it was going to take Peyton Manning a minute to get back to what he usually does, but you cannot be shocked that he is going to take the Denver Broncos to an AFC West title with little struggle. He also most definitely deserves to be in the MVP conversation. This should be Norv Turner's final season in San Diego, as the Chargers are worse than their record. It's hard to imagine that a team can be worse than the Chiefs, but there you go. Some things are going well for the Raiders (passing game) and some are not (Darren McFadden injured AGAIN), and they don't stand a chance.
NFC East
1. New York Giants
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Dallas Cowboys
4. Washington Redskins
This really should be the toughest division in the NFL, but instead, it is the stupidest. The New York Giants are a better team than they were a year ago, which is scary, but probably means they'll lose their first playoff game because they only when championships when you least expect. They are an excellent all-around team though, and have this division on lockdown. Andy Reid should be done in Philly at year's end, and it's hilarious that the Eagles have imploded in the same way that the New York Jets have. Dallas is worse than mediocre, they are inexplicably terrible, and I love it. Robert Griffin, III is crushing it and it is so fun, and I am loving on this Redskins team, but this is not their year.
NFC North
1. Chicago Bears
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Detroit Lions
4. Minnesota Vikings
If you tell me you picked the Chicago Bears to win this division at the beginning of the season, I will not believe you. But, look, they're 7-1 with an inconsistent yet capable offense and a historically ridiculous defense. Things could easily turn around and Green Bay could win it in the latest couple weeks, or just as easily, GB could settle for a Wild Card spot with a 12-4 record. It's weird to say it, but they are sort of having a down season. Detroit's running game seems to be much better off than last year, but they could stand to focus on it less. They're just not letting Stafford and Johnson fly the way they should. This will lead to them missing the playoffs, but I could still see them with a .500 record, which, considering the way the season started, shouldn't be too much of a disappointment. Apparently Adrian Peterson is healthy and still the best running back in the NFL. Otherwise, the Minnesota Vikings are not for real, in spite of their 5-4 record.
NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4. Carolina Panthers
I am proud that I championed the Atlanta Falcons this preseason, but they are looking better than even I thought they would. Matt Ryan has to be MVP favorite at this point. They're offense is intense, and they're defense has really come around. New Orleans has had a terrible start, but I can see them rounding the corner after this week's victory over the Eagles and barely nabbing the final Wild Card spot more than any other team. Tampa Bay is a nice story, and I am rooting for them, but this division is too tough. Carolina has been disappointment, and who knows who the real Cam Newton is anymore.
NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers
2. Seattle Seahawks
3. Arizona Cardinals
4. St. Louis Rams
I hate to say it, but the San Francisco 49ers ARE the real deal, and maybe even the best team in the NFC. Alex Smith may not have the flashy numbers, but it's so rare when he makes a mistake. They're downfall is their lack of points, but that defense is smothering. The possibility of Russell Wilson leading the Seahawks to the playoffs is SO stupid, but a young up-and-coming defense and Marshawn Lynch turning out to be the second or third best running back in the NFC sort of makes them legit. It's weird. Arizona looked weirdly good for the first couple games, but then reality came-a-crashing. The really need a quarterback, or to send Larry Fitzgerald somewhere with a QB who can get him the ball. St. Louis is not completely terrible, believe it or not, but they still are the worst team in the NFC.
POSTSEASON AWARDS
Coach of the Year: Gary Kubiak (Houston)
Atlanta's Mike Smith and Denver's John Fox will contend closely.
Comeback Player of the Year: Peyton Manning (QB, Denver)
With Adrian Peterson (RB, Minnesota) as a close second.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Bobby Wagner (LB, Seattle)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Andrew Luck (QB, Indianapolis)
This is sort of an insane year for offensive rookies. After this past Sunday's performance, Doug Martin (RB, Tampa Bay) might deserve this reward most of all. Hell, even sixth round pick Alfred Morris (RB, Washington) deserves to be in the conversation, as does RG3, OBVIOUSLY. At this point, Luck gets it due to the win-loss record (and also, he's really really good). This could change at the drop of the hat. Really, whoever has the biggest turnaround from last last year to this year between Indy, Washington and TB, that's who will win the award.
Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt (DE, Houston)
Offensive Player of the Year: Arian Foster (RB, Houston)
Most Valuable Player: Matt Ryan (QB, Atlanta)
With Peyton Manning as the runner-up.
PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
AFC
1. Houston Texans
2. New England Patriots
3. Denver Broncos
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Cincinnati Bengals
NFC
1. Atlanta Falcons
2. Chicago Bears
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. New York Giants
5. Green Bay Packers
6. New Orleans Saints
AFC Wild Card Round
Denver Broncos over Cincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers over Baltimore Ravens
NFC Wild Card Round
San Francisco 49ers over New Orleans Saints
Green Bay Packers over New York Giants
AFC Divisional Round
New England Patriots over Pittsburgh Steelers
Denver Broncos over Houston Texans
NFC Divisional Round
Atlanta Falcons over Green Bay Packers
San Francisco 49ers over Chicago Bears
AFC Championship
New England Patriots over Denver Broncos
NFC Championship
Atlanta Falcons over San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XLVII
New England Patriots over Atlanta Falcons
Super Bowl XLVII MVP
Tom Brady (QB, New England)
