If you didn’t see my NFL Preview, where I predicted how each team would finish, you can see that here.
Now I will predict how the NFL Playoffs will play out and who will tak some hardware.
AFC Projected Seeds
1. New England Patriots (13-3)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
3. Tennessee Titans (11-5)
4. San Diego Chargers (10-6)
5. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7)
Playoff Predictions:
Wild Card Round: Titans (3) over Jaguars (6), Ravens (5) over Chargers (4)
Divisional Round: Patriots (1) ver Ravens (5), Steelers (2) over Titans (3)
AFC Championship: Steelers (2) over Patriots (1)
NFC Projected Seeds
1. New York Giants (12-4)
2. Green Bay Packers (12-4)
3. New Orleans Saints (11-5)
4. San Francisco 49ers (10-6)
5. Chicago Bears (11-5)
6. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
Playoff Predictions:
Wild Card Round: Saints (3) over Falcons (6), Bears (5) over 49ers (4)
Divisional Round: Bears (5) over Giants (1), Saints (3) over Packers (2)
NFC Championship: Saints (3) over Bears (5)
Super Bowl
Steelers over Saints- The Steelers repeat. I’m usually not a fan of picking the defending champs but the Steelers are different. I’ve never seen a team so determined before. They’re not satisifed with only one title and they know they can repeat. Tomlin is an excellent coach they also have the defensive guru, Dick LeBeau. Troy Polamalu is perhaps the best defensive player in the game and all Roethlisberger does in win. Also a healthy Rashard Mendenhall will give them a nice 1-2 punch in the backfield. There’s so much to like a lot about the Steelers this year.
Super Bowl MVP: Ben Roethlisberger
NFL Awards
MVP: Drew Brees
Brees had a historical 2008 season which saw him pass for over 5,000 yards. He did take home Offensive Player of the Year honors but missed out on MVP. The Saints have improved their defense in the off season and will hopefully have a healthy Marques Colston and Reggie Bush for the whole season. While it would be tough to repeat those numbers it’s certainly not out of reach and an overall improved Saints team will be enough for Bress to take home the honors.
O.P.O.Y.: Adrian Peterson
Peterson is a flat out beast no doubt about that. He has the potential to run for 2,000 yards this season and the addition of Brett Favre only helps his projections for this season. Similar to Brees last season Peterson will have great numbers but his teams performance will be the thing holding him back from MVP honors.
D.P.O.Y.: Troy Polamalu
Fellow teammate James Harrison took home the honors last season and I see another Steeler taking home the ward this season. Polamalu is the defensive leader of the Steelers and is in the prime of his career right now. He can play both the run and pass and can make some unbelievable plays on the field.
O.R.O.Y.: Mark Sanchez
The media darling has proven in the pre season that he can play. Now it won’t be so easy in the regular season but Sanchez is ready for it. He has a good offensive line to protect him and a great running game to bail him out. He has been quick in picking up the playbook and they will hold nothing back from him.
D.P.O.Y.: Rey Maualuga
A linebacker has won this award every year since 2002 and I expect that trend to continue with Maualuga. He was a beast while U.S.C. but fell in the draft due to concerns about his ability to be a three down linebacker. The Bengals snatched him up in the second round and he will start at strong side linebacker this season and be a tackling machine.
C.O.Y.: Mike McCarthy
McCarthy’s Packers had a down year last year but I expect them to have a rebound year. They have a new defense in place and an explosive offense to go with that. He nearly won the award two years ago and will get his due this season.
