2011 NFL Preview

The National Football League is the biggest league in all of professional sports. Football is America’s game. If there was any doubt of that before, this summer proved that as people were more interested in the courtroom proceedings that came with the NFL Lockout than a season of very competitive Major League Baseball or one of the more competitive seasons on-track in NASCAR history. Even interest in the NBA Playoffs fueled by the hatred of Lebron James and emergence of the Dallas Mavericks has champions couldn’t compare to the interest that the sporting world had in whether or not we would have the NFL season start on time. Like it or not, the NFL is king in the sporting world and will remain on top of the throne for a long time to come.

I am like millions of sports fans in admitting that I am a “Football first - Everything else second” fan. With that mindset, right now is one of the most exciting times of the year. The anticipation is building and will be at fever pitch on September 8th when the Saints and the Packers take the field for the first regular season game of the 2011 NFL Season. As I have done since the beginning of The Highlight Reel, it is time for my annual preview of the upcoming NFL season. Previewing all 32 teams briefly and making predictions that you can take to the bank (if you want to lose all of your money), this is my preview of the 2011 NFL season.

NEWS and NOTES -- NFL Team Previews
AFC East
Buffalo Bills - The Buffalo Bills are just an ugly, ugly team. While they do have name recognition at a few positions (linebackers Nick Barnett and Shawne Merriman, receivers Steve Johnson and Brad Smith, running backs Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller), less-than-impressive men helm the Bills’ two leadership positions. Head coach Chan Gailey has never impressed me in any job he has had while the quarterback situation of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tyler Thigpen is a QB battle of mediocrity. The Buffalo Bills are going to be in a dogfight for the number one draft pick next season because the 2011 campaign for the Bills is going to be a major disappointment. (Estimated number of wins: 2-4)

Miami Dolphins - The fan base hates the quarterback. The team is full of consistent underachievers. The Miami Dolphins should be seen as one of the biggest disasters in the NFL but they are not. After a long time of observing the area, I understand why Miami is ignored: Miami, Florida as a whole is the worst sports city in America. If the fans in the home city don’t care, why should anyone else? Quarterback Chad Henne has little to no support from the Dolphins’ fans but the front office has faith in him. Also, Henne has Reggie Bush (obtained from New Orleans) to replace running backs Ronnie Brown (to Philadelphia) and Ricky Williams (to Baltimore) while receiver Brandon Marshall and tight end Anthony Fasano will remain key weapons for him. Of course, Miami obtained Matt Moore from Carolina in case Henne faltered again. The Dolphins defense looks to be their strong suit with the addition of veteran linebacker Jason Taylor to a defense already sporting one of the premiere linebackers in the game in Karlos Dansby. The defense will keep Miami from being an embarrassment and they will pick up a few surprising victories. However, they do not have a chance at the playoffs and a .500 record is really a stretch. Mediocrity in Miami will be the headline for the Dolphins season. (Estimated number of wins: 5-7)

New England Patriots - On paper, they should not even play this season because the Patriots have already won the Lombardi Trophy. Tom Brady is coming off an MVP season with 36 touchdowns and four interceptions, Bill Belicheck is still the premiere coach in the game today, and they have added Chad Ochocinco to Brady’s list of weapons while adding Albert Haynesworth and Shaun Ellis to their defensive front. The Patriots are just loaded from top to bottom. But, there is a reason why they play the game. I find myself doubting New England because this is not the only time they have been loaded in recent memory. Yet, they have not won a Super Bowl since 2003. The New England Patriots will be one of the league’s elite once again in 2011. But, I honestly see them going to same route that New England has gone in the playoffs the last seven seasons: high seed, early playoff exit, and ultimately disappointing season. The Patriots dominate the regular season but they have not won a game that really mattered in a long time and that trend continues in 2011. (Estimated number of wins: 13-15)

New York Jets - Two consecutive trips to the AFC Championship Game have the New York Jets looking more primed than ever before for a Super Bowl berth. Coach Rex Ryan’s bravado continues to ruffle the feathers of some and inspire dreams in others. For me, I think the New York Jets have a Super Bowl run in them. I honestly do. Quarterback Mark Sanchez has improved every season and the addition of receiver Plaxico Burress, freshly removed from two years in prison, and re-signing of Santonio Holmes outweigh the loss of receivers Braylon Edwards and Brad Smith. Plus, the Jets’ defense re-signed Antonio Cromartie and still have Darrelle Revis keeping the best secondary duo in the game today intact (Yeah, I said it Philadelphia). I don’t know if running backs Shonn Greene can carry the load or LaDanian Tomlinson can maintain that revitalized level of play he had last season. The Jets are playing a tougher schedule and they may not have the 11-win season of last year. However, I think they still have a legit shot at getting into the playoffs and doing some damage. The Jets have shown the ability to win in the big game environment recently more times than not (right, New England?) and I see them making some waves in the playoffs. All of the bravado may ultimately be false with a Super Bowl not in their future. But, the Jets will go down swinging and take some teams down in the process. (Estimated number of wins: 9-11)

AFC North
Baltimore Ravens - The Baltimore Ravens are at a point where it is Super Bowl or bust in my eyes. Entering his fourth NFL season, starting quarterback Joe Flacco is one of the most consistent and proven game managers in the league while running back Ray Rice and wide receivers Anquan Boldin and lee Evans (fresh from Buffalo) are among the best weapons any QB in the league could hope to have. I think that the loss of tight end Todd Heap (to Arizona) will hurt Baltimore’s offense but not enough to have their offense have any excuses when it comes to reaching the next level. Meanwhile, Baltimore’s strength will once again be their hard-hitting, smash-mouth defense. The ageless Ray Lewis is going to be their premiere linebacker for a 16th season. If he can stay healthy, safety Ed Reed will put fear into opposing quarterbacks as they look for targets like the most celebrated secondary performers in the game today. Baltimore has been a playoff teams for the past couple of seasons but have not made the AFC Championship Game in any of those playoff appearances. It is now or never for the Ravens. As much as I like the Ravens and respect their players, especially on defense, I believe 2011 will be another early playoff exit. This squad simply does not have what it takes to reach the next level and join the Patriots, Colts, and rival Steelers as a Super Bowl Champion. (Estimated number of wins: 9-11)

Cincinnati Bengals - It is hard to believe that this is the same team who won the AFC North two seasons ago. It is a miracle to me that head coach Marvin Lewis keeps his job in Cincinnati while more talented and successful coaches are relieved of their duties. The Bengals continually disappoint and that consistent state of disaster finally reached a breaking point for quarterback Carson Palmer. Palmer gave them an ultimatum: trade me or I retire. The Bengals have yet to trade Palmer, he has not shown up, and the Bengals have been left with rookie Andy Dalton at starting QB. While I think Dalton has tremendous upside, he is not ready to be a starter yet in the NFL and will be destroyed in the NFL without the chance to learn and develop. The Bengals also released Terrell Owens and traded receiver Chad Ochocinco to New England in moves that further depleted an already bowling shoe ugly offense. Rookie WR AJ Green and veteran running back Cedric Benson will be bright spots on a team with few reasons to cheer in 2011. The Bengals, no shocker, will be among the worst teams in the NFL. (Estimated number of wins: 2-4)

Cleveland Browns - I think that the Cleveland Browns are going to surprise many people with just how good they are. Entering his second year in the league, quarterback Colt McCoy has a winning pedigree from the University of Texas that has followed him into the NFL. McCoy is going to lead a young offense including wide receiver Joshua Cribbs and running back/beast Peyton Hillis to greater things than his predecessors Derek Anderson, Jake Delhomme, and Brady Quinn. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s no-name Browns defense will begin earning respect and more name recognition through tenacious play and victories in close affairs for new coach Pat Shurmur. I think that the playoffs are still not in the immediate future for Cleveland. However, a .500 is far from an unrealistic dream for the Browns. (Estimated number of wins: 7-9)

Pittsburgh Steelers - One of the flagship organizations in all of football, the Pittsburgh Steelers showed in 2010 that you can never count them out. They overcame injuries, age, and suspensions to make a Super Bowl run that saw them fall just short against the Green Bay Packers. Despite making little to no moves in the free agency bonanza after the Lockout ended, Pittsburgh looks like one of the premiere squads once again in the AFC. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had an uneventful off-season that means he will start the year without a four-game suspension. Leading Pittsburgh’s always consistent offense, Big Ben will have running back Rashard Mendenhall and receivers Hines Wards, Mike Wallace, and Heath Miller as key weapons. But, Pittsburgh’s real strength has been their defense for years. As long as safety Troy Polamalu stays healthy and linebacker James Harrison can keep himself out of trouble with the league for aggressive hits and moronic comments, the anchors of the Steeler defense will lead a group poised to be as dominant as ever. I think the Pittsburgh Steelers have another great season ahead of them. While I believe they are a lock to win the AFC North, I only have them in the fight to win the AFC outright. Still, they will be playing well into January. (Estimated number of wins: 11-13)

AFC South
Houston Texans - If the Houston Texans do not win the AFC South or at least make a playoff appearance this season, I believe everyone should be disposed and management should start from scratch. 2011 should be Houston’s year to finally live up to the potential they have had for five years now. Head coach Gary Kubiak has a team loaded with star talent. Quarterback Matt Schaub has one of the premiere running backs in the league in Arian Foster in the backfield while wide receiver Andre Johnson is among the league’s elite. Houston has no excuse for not putting up points on a weekly basis. Meanwhile, the Texans defense is loaded with young studs poised to dominate. Mario Williams has moved from defensive end to linebacker alongside Brian Cushing in what I think will be a terrific line backing duo. Houston has all of the tools necessary to win the AFC South. But, that has been a statement said regarding the Texans for a number of years and they have failed time and time again. It may bite me again but I believe that the Texans will be a winner in 2011. I just cannot see this team failing to live up to their potential another season. The Texans will finally overtake the Colts (barely) and win the AFC South. (Estimated number of wins: 9-11)

Indianapolis Colts - For the first time in a long time, the Indianapolis Colts head into an NFL season surrounded in controversy. Peyton Manning, one of the upper echelon quarterbacks in the league, is still healing from his second neck surgery in 24 months and does not appear to be ready to return to the lineup. His replacement: recently un-retired Kerry Collins. The arrival of Collins was met with anxiety from fans and anger from players, namely receiver Reggie Wayne. Manning will return and the Colts offense will be on fire once Manning knocks off the rust. With a list of weapons including a healthy Joseph Addai in the backfield, tight end Dallas Clark, and receivers Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzales, Austin Collie, and Pierre Garcon, offense will not hinder Indianapolis once Manning returns. But, I think Peyton Manning’s injury is not the only problem Indy is facing. Their defense has struggled for years. Often-injured Bob Sanders is gone and the secondary has not improved. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis cannot do it all from the defensive line. The Colts are going to contend for the AFC South. However, Houston is a legit contender for the division this year too. A slow start in Indy could provide too much of an obstacle for even Peyton Manning to overcome. (Estimated number of wins: 9-11)

Jacksonville Jaguars - In my opinion, there is nothing good about the Jacksonville Jaguars except for the cheerleaders and running back Maurice Jones-Drew. That is it. The quarterback situation in Jacksonville is rather ugly with veteran David Garrard released mere days before the start of the season in favor of temporary starter Luke McCown as QB of the future / rookie Blaine Gabbert is definitely not ready to start in the NFL. The defense is nonexistent and a difficult schedule will not make things easy for the Jags. Jack Del Rio continues to remain in Jacksonville despite finding himself on the hot seat for the last couple of seasons. I just don’t see how Del Rio can remain the coach in Jacksonville after this season because 2011 is going to be another disappointing campaign for the Jaguars. Jacksonville may be able to avoid the cellar in the AFC South but they will be closer to bottom dwellers than playoff contenders in 2011. (Estimated number of wins: 2-4)

Tennessee Titans - The more things change the more they stay the same. That adage is the best way to sum up the 2011 Tennessee Titans. For the first time since 1994, the Titans are going to be coached by someone other than Jeff Fisher. Mike Munchak has taken over the reigns in Tennessee and has a new starting quarterback as Vince Young was released and Matt Hasselback was brought in from Seattle. However, the biggest star in Tennessee has been their biggest headache as running back Chris Johnson’s contract demands have lead to Johnson missing the abbreviated training camp and preseason because of delusional greed. While one of the best and highest paid backs in the game, Johnson’s desire to be one of the highest paid players has been more of a hindrance than a contribution to the Titans. Tennessee is not loaded with well-known players on both sides of the ball. But, they do have a lot of determined players looking for the victories that have eluded Tennessee for the last couple of seasons. 2011 is going to be a year of rebuilding for the Titans. I don’t think they have major success ahead of them in 2011 but they won’t be as terrible as other teams in the league. (Estimated number of wins: 5-7)

AFC West
Denver Broncos - A new regime has already helped Denver make more headlines in the preseason than Denver made in all of last season as the saga of Tim Tebow has captivated the nation. New head coach John Fox (formerly of Carolina Panther fame) is solidly behind Kyle Orton at quarterback. Tebow, a first-round pick a season ago, has been fighting for the third string role despite playing more competitively in his three starts last season than Orton. John Fox will bring experienced leadership to the Broncos and should help them reestablish themselves as the power running team they have been since the John Elway Era ended. The addition of Willis McGahee from Baltimore to a backfield already including Knowshon Moreno will only make the running game more dangerous while receiver Brandon Lloyd will give the Denver QB (whomever he is) a solid target. The Broncos defense is loaded with heavy hitters and talent including the return of defensive end Elvis Dumervil and addition of first round pick linebacker Von Miller. I won’t say that Denver is going to go from 2-14 to playoff team overnight. But, the Broncos will be considerably better in 2011 as they may flirt with a .500 record. (Estimated number of wins: 6-8)

Kansas City Chiefs - The Kansas City Chiefs surprised the league in 2010 with a division win. However, in the playoffs, a 34-7 loss to Baltimore showed that Kansas City won a weak division and never stood a chance against real competition. I think Kansas City’s division win was a fluke. I just don’t see it being a long-term deal. Head coach Todd Haley is going to have lofty expectation met with soul-crushing reality in 2011 as Matt Cassel’s top target in 2010, Dwayne Bowe, will not have the same spectacular season as in 2010. Running back Thomas Jones will continue to be a solid player. Plus, safety Eric Berry heads a defense that will keep KC in many games. Ultimately, I don’t think the Chiefs’ premiere players will be enough to keep up with a healthy Chargers or rapidly improving Broncos in the AFC West. 2011 will be a tough season for those who bleed red and white for the Chiefs. (Estimated number of wins: 5-7)

Oakland Raiders - After surprising the league with an 8-8 record, owner Al Davis decided to stop the momentum of the Raiders by replacing head coach Tom Cable with Hue Jackson. While I question the coaching change, the Oakland Raiders did not make any drastic changes with their player personnel and that should mean the Raiders would remain a threat in a weak AFC West. For the first time in his career, quarterback Jason Campbell will be helming the same offense for a second straight year. Speedy running backs Darren McFadden and Michael Bush will keep opposing defenses in check while Campbell has a receiving corps including Jacoby Ford and former first rounder Darrius Heyward-Bey trying to prove themselves as choice receivers. Defensive lineman Richard Seymour and linebacker Rolando McClain will lead Oakland’s always-tough defense into battle but I think the loss of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan (to Dallas) will be felt big time. Then, there is the Terrell Pryor factor. After drafting the former Ohio State QB in the supplemental draft, the Raiders have made it clear they see him as a future quarterback. Therefore, if the Raiders have a slow start, the rumblings and Pryor talk could become just the distraction needed to turn Oakland back into the hot dumpster fire Al Davis has kept them in since their Super Bowl run in 2002. I think Oakland is in big trouble. Too many potential distractions will lead to a disappointment in 2011 for Raider Nation. (Estimated number of wins: 4-6)

San Diego Chargers - Last season was a shocker for the Bolts as the San Diego Chargers went 9-7 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005. San Diego has not made many moves to improve their team from one year ago, personnel-wise. The loss of running back Darren Sproles to New Orleans will force the Chargers to rely heavily on second-year back Ryan Mathews and touchdown machine Mike Tolbert to add a ground dimension to Philip Rivers’ high-powered pass-heavy offense. With receivers Vincent Jackson, Patrick Crayton, and tight end Antonio Gates all as targets, Rivers is a lock at another 4,000 yard season. Meanwhile, the Charger defense is quietly among the best in the game and will only get better with the additions of linebacker Takeo Spikes (from San Francisco) and safety Bob Sanders (from Indianapolis) to a secondary already home to Quentin Jammer. I don’t think that San Diego has what it takes to achieve the postseason success that they’ve had the potential for in years past. Nevertheless, the Chargers do have what it takes to return to the playoffs after a one-season hiatus. They win a weak AFC West. (Estimated number of wins: 8-10)

NFC East
Dallas Cowboys - Once again, the Dallas Cowboys are entering the season with a ton of hype as they potentially have one of the best teams in the league. They have many delusional fans and analysts saying this season is where Dallas returns to the Super Bowl. I am not one of those Cowboys fans. I do believe that the Cowboys have gotten better via subtraction over the off-season. For one, Jason Garrett is officially the head coach in Dallas. His willpower and determination showed in the final weeks of last season that he was clearly a better leader than former coach/human jellyfish Wade Phillips. In addition, the releases of receiver Roy Williams and running back Marion Barber ultimately will help the Cowboys as Williams has forever been a bust and Barber was taking valuable reps from now feature backs Tashard Choice and Felix Jones. But, I still don’t think they have the right quarterback for the job in Dallas. Tony Romo is one of the most overrated players in the game. I just do not believe in him as a leader and winner in the NFL. Romo does have plenty of weapons though as Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are stud receivers and Jason Whitten remains one of the league’s top tight ends. But, I don’t believe in Romo. Dallas’ defense is also loaded with beasts including linebackers DeMarcus Ware, Bradie James, Anthony Spencer and CB Terrance Newman. But, for all of the talented players on the Dallas Cowboys roster, I honestly just cannot see Dallas living up to the potential again this season. As a Cowboys fan, I hope I am wrong. But, I fear that Romo and the Cowboys will look great on paper and be mediocre on the field. They may have a shot as a Wild Card berth in the competitive NFC but they will not be a Super Bowl contender. Not even close. (Estimated number of wins: 8-10)

New York Giants - Eli Manning is not a quarterback that I would want if I were looking for a QB to win me games weekly. However, Eli Manning is a solid game manager. Manning can direct the organized chaos on the field better than most. As long as the Giants are not depending on Manning to win a ton of games on his arm, the Giants can be a very successful team in 2011. They have a one-two punch in the backfield that I love in Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. While the NFL may be a passing league, I think the Giants will make their way to victory on the ground. Also, New York looks great on defense. If they can avoid the injury bug, that Giants defense that includes stud players Osi Umenyiora and Marvin Austin on the defensive line and Antrel Rolle and Prince Amukamara in the secondary will be among the most difficult to penetrate in the league. One thing I like about this year’s Giants team is the humiliating way 2010 ended for them. Blowing a massive lead to Philadelphia and missing the playoffs despite a ten-win season will give this team a massive chip on their shoulder going into the upcoming season. Teams who come into the season playing to erase embarrassment achieve great things nine times out of ten and I think the Giants are going to shock a lot of people by busting a lot of heads in 2011. They are my favorite to win the NFC East. (Estimated number of wins: 9-11)

Philadelphia Eagles - The Philadelphia Eagles won the NFL off-season as they made moves and loaded up on free agents like a squirrel loading nuts for winter. Philadelphia added QB Vince Young (from Tennessee), RB Ronnie Brown (from Miami), TE Donald Lee (from Green Bay), DE Jason Babin (from Tennessee), and CB Nnamdi Asomugha (from Oakland) to a team that won the NFC East just a season ago with Comeback Player of the Year Michael Vick (now known as Philadelphia’s $100 million dollar man). Plus, they added CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in a trade that sent QB Kevin Kolb to Arizona and the Eagles still have receiving corps with DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Riley Cooper, and Steve Smith (formerly of the Giants). On paper, it looks like head coach Andy Reid may have finally got the squad necessary to earn his first Super Bowl ring. But, those rings are not won on paper. As good as Philadelphia can be, and I believe they will be good, I do not think they are a lock to win the NFC Championship. I don’t think they are a lock to win the NFC East. Michael Vick has never played a full 16-game season and there is nothing stopping him from being injured in 2011 the same as he was in 2010. Philadelphia will be a contender for the NFC East alongside Dallas and New York. But, nothing is a lock for the Eagles. (Estimated number of wins: 8-10)

Washington Redskins - The years Mike Shanahan will ultimately spend in Washington will tarnish any success that he had in Denver in the late 90s. Once again, the Washington Redskins are destined for another year of solid effort and ultimate disappointment in our nation’s capital. The Donovan McNabb Era in Washington ended after one season as McNabb was shipped to Minnesota; leaving the Redskins to depend upon Rex Grossman (and probably John Beck) as the leader of the Redskins offense. Washington has a few nice receivers, especially in Santana Moss and Donté Stallworth, and a great young running back in Tim Hightower. But, that is pretty much it for Washington. I feel so badly for DeAngelo Hall as he is one of the best cornerbacks in the game and he’s trapped in Washington like an innocent man behind bars. The Redskins are indeed a prison-like setting for the careers of many and things will not change in 2011. The Redskins will be a bottom dweller in the NFC in 2011. (Estimated number of wins: 2-4)

NFC North
Chicago Bears - The Chicago Bears were one win away from the Super Bowl last season. While they have made few roster changes, I think that the biggest NFL rule change heading into the 2011 season has affected the Bears more than any other team in the league. Kickoffs were moved from the 30 to the 35-yard line. This means there will be more touchbacks. With more touchbacks, the Bears have will have fewer opportunities for kick returner Devon Hester to make an impact on the game. Chicago’s defense is still their biggest key to success. Brian Urlacher is still an outstanding linebacker while defensive end Julius Peppers appeared last season to have a career resurgence in Chicago. However, fellow linebacker Lance Briggs has requested a trade and appears disgruntled heading into the season. Meanwhile, Chicago does have a good offense on paper. They added former Cowboy running back Marion Barber and receiver Roy Williams through free agency to a squad already boasting RB Matt Forte and receivers Earl Bennett and Devon Hester. But, two moves have me skeptical of the Bears’ offense: they traded tight end Greg Olsen to Carolina and they still have Jay Cutler at quarterback. Jay Cutler showed in the Playoffs that he is not the kind of QB you need if you want to be a winner in the NFL. He has talent but has no heart. While Chicago came close to the Super Bowl last season, I think that the 2011 season will be a cold, hard drop back to reality for the bears as the Packers are healthy, the Lions look like a team on the verge of greatness, and Minnesota is too talented to be a complete bust. The NFC North is loaded with talent and Chicago, to me, appears to be the least talented team in the division. Chicago will finish fourth in a very tough NFC North. (Estimated number of wins: 6-8)

Detroit Lions - If Matthew Stafford can stay healthy for the Detroit Lions, I think we may see something not seen since 2000: a winning season in Detroit. Years of futility in Detroit have allowed the Lions to load up on talent through the NFL Draft. Now, the Lions have one of the most talented young rosters in the entire league. Matthew Stafford has shown flashes of brilliance in his two injury-plagued seasons while Calvin Johnson has emerged as one of the best receivers in the game today. Plus, Detroit’s defensive line is among the league’s best. Consisting of the premiere defense player in the league in DT Ndamukong Suh and veteran DE Kyle Vanden Bosh, the addition of rookie DT Nick Fairley will only make Detroit’s front four that much more fearsome to opposing offensives. The Detroit Lions have so much talent that it is implausible to think they won’t have a winning record at the end of the season. I do not believe Detroit will be a match for their division rival Green Bay Packers. But, as long as they remain healthy, Detroit has too much young talent not to be a playoff contender in 2011. Detroit will remain in the hunt to the final snaps of the 2011 regular season and have Wild Card aspirations that are more realistic than one would have believed just three years ago when this team was 0-16. The Detroit Lions will be good in 2011. (Estimated number of wins: 9-11)

Green Bay Packers - The champs are here! The Green Bay Packers were the last team to get into the NFC Playoffs last season and turned the #6 seed into another Super Bowl Championship for the Packer Nation. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers finally broke free of Brett Favre’s shadow by bringing a title to Title Town while also emerging as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks. The Packers went through the playoffs last season with a team of superstars on IR and all of fully healthy heading into the season opener against New Orleans. Rodgers has an outstand corps of receivers at his disposal including Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, and Jordy Nelson along with tight end Jermichael Finlay. Also, Green Bay’s running game will be at full power with the return of Ryan Grant. Meanwhile, Green Bay’s defense is young, fast, exciting, and dominating led by linebacker Clay Matthews, defensive lineman BJ Raji, and cornerback Charles Woodson. No team has repeated as Super Bowl Champion since the New England Patriots did in 2003-2004. Loaded on both sides of the ball and filled with motivation to repeat, I think the Green Bay Packers are going to be the class of a very competitive NFC North and will be a major contender to win the NFC Championship and defend their Super Bowl crown. Barring any major injuries, Green Bay will be a legit Super Bowl contender in 2011 and will be playing well into January 2012. Personally, they are one of my favorites to win it all. (Estimated number of wins: 11-13)

Minnesota Vikings - I didn’t know that the Minnesota Vikings was the team where quarterbacks went to have their final days of their career but that appears to be the case. With Brett Favre officially retired for god, Minnesota’s new quarterback of the future is Donovan McNabb. Yes, the same Donovan McNabb who spent a decade successfully in Philadelphia before having a train wreck of a season last year in Washington. McNabb is leading the Vikings in 2011 with first round pick Christian Ponder waiting in the wings but I don’t think there will be a lot of cries for Ponder to take the helm from Vikings fans. Donovan is coming into the season looking to prove himself and will not be alone in that regard as last year’s Vikings team was a major disappointment. Adrian Peterson is one of the top running backs in the game and will give McNabb a weapon in the backfield that he has never had in his career. If Percy Harvin can keep his migraines under control, he will have a breakout season as the feature receiver now that Sidney Rice is in Seattle. Minnesota’s defense is still packed with stud players, especially hard hitting defensive end Jared Allen, and new coach Leslie Frazier should bring plenty of fresh ideas to both sides of the ball in his first complete season on the job. Minnesota is not going to be a playoff team in 2011. But, Minnesota will not be as bad as some are saying. They will be a spoiler to other foes’ playoff hopes late in the season and will not be an easy win for the opposition. (Estimated number of wins: 6-8)

NFC South
Atlanta Falcons - Matty Ice is ready for another big year in the NFL as the Atlanta Falcons come off last season’s 13-3 record and early playoff dismissal looking for a more successful postseason. Matt Ryan had plenty of weapons in Atlanta and the rich only got richer as the Falcons added rookie wide receiver Julio Jones and rookie running back Jacquizz Rodgers to a lineup already boasting the league’s leading receiver in 2010 Roddy White and running back Michael Turner. Atlanta’s defense got stronger with the addition of defensive end Ray Edwards (from Minnesota) to a defensive line that includes Jonathan Babineaux and John Abraham. Plus, the emergence in 2010 of Curtis Lofton as one of the top linebackers in the game only adds to the big names and talents on the Falcons defense. I don’t think that Atlanta will repeat as division champions in 2011 but I also don’t think there will be a playoff without the Falcons playing a part. Atlanta is going to be a solid Wild Card and I believe they can go farther this season than last in the postseason. Atlanta is a definite Super Bowl threat in 2011. (Estimated number of wins: 10-12)

Carolina Panthers - It is a new era in Carolina as Ron Rivera has replaced John Fox and the Panthers have their quarterback of the future in #1 overall pick Cam Newton. While the future should be bright, I fear that many Panthers fans may be overly optimistic heading into the 2011 campaign. Carolina re-signed running back DeAngelo Williams to keep the Panthers’ one-two running back punch in tact as Williams and Jonathan Stewart will be relied on heavily as Newton is going to struggle early. Those struggles will not be because of a lack of weapons though as Carolina added tight ends Greg Olsen (from Chicago) and Jeremy Shockey (from New Orleans) and have a healthy and happy Steve Smith looking forward to the season. Carolina’s offense should be better than the abysmal mess it was in 2010. However, Carolina’s once-proud defense looks like an absolute train wreck. For every talented starter (DE Charles Johnson linebackers Thomas Davis and Jon Beason, CB Chris Gamble), Carolina has two glaring weaknesses on that side of the ball. I think that, in the long run, Ron Rivera will be a great coach in Carolina. But, I still am not 100% sold on Cam Newton as the quarterback of the future. Newton is a run first, throw second quarterback and those do not succeed often in the NFL. At least Newton puts Carolina on the national scene again. That is something nice for a team that I feel will be among the worst in the league. (Estimated number of wins: 2-4)

New Orleans Saints - The New Orleans Saints are looking for redemption after last season’s 41-36 loss in the opening round of the playoffs to the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks. With the off-season moves made, I think that New Orleans is easily going to rebound from the premature playoff loss last season as the Saints have the looks of a Super Bowl contender. Drew Brees is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL today and looks to have another huge passing season in him. While the Saints lost backfield weapon Reggie Bush (to Miami), the Saints grabbed two tremendous weapons in running back Darren Sproles from San Diego and rookie running back Mark Ingram to go along with Pierre Thomas. Brees has receivers Marques Colston, Lance Moore, and Robert Meachem as prime targets and the addition of center Olin Kreutz from Chicago will give Brees more time than ever to work with those targets. New Orleans’ defense remains strong as ever with the Saints returning talented starters DE Will Smith, linebacker Jonathan Vilma, and veteran safety Roman Harper. Head coach Sean Payton is one of the best minds in the game and I do not see this season as being the year that the New Orleans Saints return to the struggles of the Ain’ts predecessors. New Orleans will be a contender for the highly competitive NFC South and are a Super Bowl threat in 2011. (Estimated number of wins: 11-13)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tampa Bay was one of the biggest surprises in all of the NFL in 2010. Josh Freeman emerged as one of the best young quarterbacks in the league and the Buccaneers went 10-6 in an effort that just missed the playoffs. This year, Tampa Bay is not going to surprise anybody in the league. Head coach Raheem Morris is the youngest coach in the league but has the mindset and determination of a sage veteran. His influence shows in Freeman as he leads a talented young offense with explosive weapons in running back LeGarrette Blount, receiver Mike Williams, and tight end Kellen Winslow onto the field. Meanwhile, the Bucs defense is young and strong with an outstanding defensive line anchored by defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and rookie defensive ends Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers. Also, the Buccaneers secondary features the ageless Ronde Barber and Aqib Talib. Tampa Bay would win most any other division in the league. But, in the very competitive NFC South, Tampa Bay will be a contender that ultimately finishes third behind New Orleans and Atlanta. Still, Tampa Bay will be a Wild Card contender until the very end and may squeak into the playoffs. (Estimated number of wins: 8-10)

NFC West
Arizona Cardinals - The NFC West is hideous so it will not take much to win the division and earn a playoff spot. This is good news for the Arizona Cardinals as they are a mediocre team looking good in a terrible division. Kevin Kolb will finally have a starting job solely his own in Arizona after he was traded from Philadelphia. Kolb will have one of the most coveted weapons in all of the NFL in wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Also, Arizona picked up a great tight end in Todd Heap from Baltimore. But, will those players be enough for Arizona to win? Meanwhile, the Cardinals defense had plenty of talent including arguably the best player to come out of the 2011 NFL Draft in CB Patrick Peterson. If Arizona were in any other division, I wouldn’t get them a chance at a playoff berth. However, being in the NFC West, I believe wholeheartedly that the Cardinals could be a playoff team. They are not a legit contender at winning anything that matters though. (Estimated number of wins: 6-8)

San Francisco 49ers - After years of underachieving under the leadership of Mike Singletary, the 49ers have moved into a new era with former NFL quarterback and Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh taking the reigns of a once-proud organization. The tragedy for Harbaugh is that he has inherited a mess with the quarterback position and things are not going to get better quickly. Alex Smith was re-signed while Colin Kaepernick was drafted as the QB of the future. But, neither man is ready to lead a team now. San Francisco is loaded with weapons that a better QB would take to the playoffs. Running back Frank Gore is one of the best in the game when healthy while tight end Vernon Davis is elite at his position. Plus, the 49ers feature a defense full of talent including one of the best linebackers in the game in Patrick Willis. But, San Francisco has featured more talented teams with more experienced coaching in recent seasons and only has bitter disappointment to show from it. This year, they bring less to the table. Despite being in a weak division, San Francisco is going to be a bottom dweller and a frontrunner only in the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes of 2012. When thinking of their postseason aspirations, all I hear is Jim Mora saying “Playoffs? Playoffs?!?” and it sums up their chances. (Estimated number of wins: 3-5)

Seattle Seahawks - Last year’s division winner, the Seattle Seahawks limped into the playoffs with a 7-9 record and then shut the mouths of naysayers by defeating the then-defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in the opening round. That was 2010 though. Longtime quarterback Matt Hasselback is now in Tennessee and the Seahawks have their future now relying on the arms of Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst. After making a big off-season acquisition in wide receiver Sidney Rice from Minnesota, the lack of a quality arm to get Rice the ball shows that Seattle’s mismanagement has destined them for a disappointing 2011 campaign. The Seahawks have talent on both sides of the ball. Plus, Pete Carroll does seem to have a knack for coaching up this team. But, they are beneficiaries of being in the dreadful NFC West. In any other division, Seattle would be a bottom dweller. In the West, they will stay in the fight for the division until the final weeks. There will be no fantasy ending though this season for the Seahawks. (Estimated number of wins: 5-7)

St. Louis Rams - Sam Bradford showed last season that he is a star quarterback of the future when he led the Rams to a 7-9 season and almost a playoff berth for this once-proud franchise. I like the addition of Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator. McDaniels is a terrific coordinator and will get a lot out of a team with the talented Bradford at QB, elite running back Stephen Jackson, and newly acquired wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker. The Rams defense does live a little to be desired but they have a solid defensive end in Chris Long and terrific young linebacker in James Laurinaitis. I think they can get stronger on defense with more time together as a unit. The Rams also benefit from being in the NFC West. St. Louis is not going to be a legit Super Bowl contender. However, the Rams do have a lot of potential. They can definitely have a winning record and I think they can easily win the division. (Estimated number of wins: 8-10)

Division Predictions (w/ Division Winners and Wild Card Teams in Bold)
AFC East - New England Patriots, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills

AFC North - Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals

AFC South - Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars

AFC West - San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders

NFC East - New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins

NFC North - Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears

NFC South - New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers

NFC West - St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers

POWER RANKINGS - Top 10 MVP Candidates for 2011
10. Michael Vick - Quarterback / Philadelphia Eagles
9. Tony Romo - Quarterback / Dallas Cowboys
8. Matt Schaub - Quarterback / Houston Texans
7. Matthew Stafford - Quarterback / Detroit Lions -or- Ndamukong Suh - Defensive Tackle / Detroit Lions
6. Matt Ryan - Quarterback / Atlanta Falcons
5. Ben Roethlisberger - Quarterback / Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Drew Brees - Quarterback / New Orleans Saints
3. Philip Rivers - Quarterback / San Diego Chargers
2. Aaron Rodgers - Quarterback / Green Bay Packers
1. Tom Brady - Quarterback / New England Patriots

BIG A predicts SUPER BOWL XLVI…
On February 5th, 2012, Indianapolis, Indiana will host Super Bowl XLVI from Lucas Oil Stadium. While the regular season and playoffs are long lasting and often an unpredictable road, that knowledge doesn’t stop us all from making our preseason predictions. Here is my prediction for the big game. It will be the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLVI with the Saints picking up their second Lombardi Trophy in three seasons.

Once in the playoffs, anything can happen. However, I like the consistency of Pittsburgh to win in the clutch more times than not. As much as I believe a fresh face from the AFC will be in the Super Bowl, I just cannot bring myself to choose anyone over the Steelers. New Orleans, on the other hand, has won me over with their revitalized run game as an added element to an already high-powered offense. Green Bay, Atlanta, New York, and New England all have a Super Bowl feel to them too. But, I’d put my money on Pittsburgh vs. New Orleans happening on Super Bowl Sunday with New Orleans winning it all.

WHAT I LEARNED THIS OFFSEASON…
I learned way too much about the business side of football thanks to the NFL Lockout. I also learned just how much I love the NFL. The threat, the mere threat, of taking away the game that millions of Americans (including myself) love has caused this nation to be at a fever pitch as if we haven’t watched a football game for a decade. We lost one game, a preseason game, due to the Lockout. We lost nothing that mattered and gained a rapid-fire version of free agency more entertaining than every before. But, the threat that we could have lost football has caused our nation to appreciate the beautiful game while it is here.

Thanks to injuries and the over-reactionary nature of the powers that be, football rules are changing every year. In cases like the new kickoff rule, these changes are not helping the game one iota. Therefore, we should appreciate the NFL while we have it now. Cherish it while it is here because everything changes. I thought I would always have NASCAR when I was a fan in the late 90s. Now, it is an unwatchable mess. I never thought the NBA would go away again or that golf would become boring again but a Lockout of their own and the loss of Tiger Woods’ personality have damaged both sports.

This Thursday night when the Packers and the Saints take the field, sit back and relax. Enjoy the game of football while it is here. Someday in the future, football will not be as great as it is now and you’ll be yearning for the “good ol’ days” of the NFL while a new sport takes its place as America’s Pastime. Until then, whether it is Faith Hill on NBC, Hank Williams, Jr. on ESPN, the FOX robots, or the cantankerous Andy Rooney of CBS introducing you to the festivities, cheer them during the intro as they welcome you to the upcoming NFL contest. America’s Game is something we all need to cherish while it is with us. The NFL Lockout taught me that.

- Aaron Goins