Is there anything better than the excitement felt when the NFL season is upon us?
Sure, the birth of a child, your wedding day, and realizing the cop who pulled you over doing 70 in a 50 mile per hour zone isn’t going to show at your court date come to mind.
But, they all pale in comparison to the joy that bubbles up from the thought of watching the perfect execution of the zone stretch, destroying your friends in fantasy football, and Faith Hill in that tight leather outfit singing the theme to Sunday Night Football. Ahhhh, life is good again.
This has been one of the most tumultuous offseasons in quite some time.
Between the bounty scandal, Peyton Manning signing with the Broncos (just before trading Tim Tebow to the Jets) and being replaced by the most pro-ready quarterback I’ve ever seen in Indianapolis (Andrew Luck), the lockout of the NFL referees and many still wondering how the 15-1 Packers went one-and-done in the playoffs, it’s safe to say this offseason has been filled with interesting storylines.
Photo Credit: Packers.com
I’m just a happy camper that the labor dispute was resolved last offseason or we might be watching the public execution of Roger Goodell on Wednesday, instead of the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys squaring off in the season opener. I’m always amazed at how, even when I do well with team records and playoff prognostications, the word “suck” doesn’t even come close describing my predictions for the season awards.
Two years ago, I correctly predicted the Packers beating the Steelers in the Super Bowl, but I tabbed Mike Singletary to win Coach of the Year. Granted, I was only one year off on the head man for the 49ers winning the award, but Singletary’s performance led me to wear a bag over my head for six months.
Anyway, I’ll still throw this worthless opinion of who I see is the best of the best. I think the MVP will go to Aaron Rodgers again, with Tom Brady taking home the Offensive Player of the Year. The defensive equivalent will go to Patrick Willis.
The Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year willl go to Andrew Luck and Luke Kuechly, respectively. For Coach of the Year, I like Tom Coughlin. The Giants will win the division, but in a season with great coaching performances, I think he gets it as a “lifetime achievement award” kind of thing.
As for the rest of how the season plays out, take a look below and feel free to let me know what you think. Please try to keep the profanity to a minimum.
Also check out NFC East Lead Writer Louis Musto’s 2012 NFL Award Predictions. He has a few different takes.
| W | L | W | L | |||
| AFC East | NFC East | |||||
| New England | 13 | 3 | New York Giants | 12 | 4 | |
| Buffalo | 9 | 7 | Philadelphia | 11 | 5 | |
| New York Jets | 7 | 9 | Dallas | 8 | 8 | |
| Miami | 2 | 14 | Washington | 5 | 11 | |
| AFC North | NFC North | |||||
| Pittsburgh | 11 | 5 | Green Bay | 13 | 3 | |
| Baltimore | 11 | 5 | Chicago | 11 | 5 | |
| Cincinnati | 8 | 8 | Detroit | 10 | 6 | |
| Cleveland | 3 | 13 | Minnesota | 3 | 13 | |
| AFC South | NFC South | |||||
| Houston | 11 | 5 | New Orleans | 10 | 6 | |
| Tennessee | 9 | 7 | Atlanta | 10 | 6 | |
| Jacksonville | 4 | 12 | Carolina | 8 | 8 | |
| Indianapolis | 4 | 12 | Tampa Bay | 4 | 12 | |
| AFC West | NFC West | |||||
| Kansas City | 11 | 5 | San Francisco | 11 | 5 | |
| Denver | 10 | 6 | Seattle | 8 | 8 | |
| San Diego | 9 | 7 | Arizona | 4 | 12 | |
| Oakland | 4 | 12 | St. Louis | 2 | 14 |
Wild Card Round
Houston over Denver
Baltimore over Kansas City
New Orleans over Chicago
Philadelphia over San Francisco
Divisional Round
New England over Baltimore
Houston over Pittsburgh
Green Bay over New Orleans
New York Giants over Philadelphia
Conference Championships
New England over Houston
Green Bay over New York Giants
Super Bowl
Green Bay over New England
