1. New England Patriots (14-2) – Is there any team that can even be considered the favorite going into the playoffs? The Patriots are no doubt the best team in the NFL right now and are really just looking unbeatable. They’re definitely my pick to go to the Super Bowl and win it. They do have some young players, but I think it won’t matter. Brady will be magical and it’s going to be fun to watch, even if you hate the Patriots.
Last week’s rank: 1
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) – Big Ben missed the first four games of the season, but it showed no difference in their final record. Pittsburgh won the NFC North and has the number two overall seed in the AFC. They’ll be the team that has the best chance to beat the Patriots in my opinion. A strong running game, a tough as nails and clutch quarterback, and a great defense is going to be the toughest matchup for the Pats. All the Steelers have to do is get past their second round opponent.
Last week’s rank: 2
3. Atlanta Falcons (13-3) – Matt Ryan and the Falcons will be the team to beat in the NFC. They won the NFC South and have the number one seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, which means every team other than the Saints will have a very tough time beating them at home. New Orleans is the only team to beat Ryan at home. Who would’ve thought after Mike Vick left Atlanta to go to jail that the Falcons would ever be the number one seed so fast? Matt Ryan saved the franchise and he could lead them to a Super Bowl.
Last week’s rank: 3
4. Baltimore Ravens (12-4) – I think Ray Rice will lead this team deep into the playoffs. They have some weapons in the passing game as well, but without the strong running game, Baltimore wouldn’t be anywhere near the kind of team they need to be in order to win in the playoffs. The pass defense may be exploited but I think it won’t be much of a problem and they’ll win the first round matchup against the Chiefs.
Last week’s rank: 4
5. Chicago Bears (11-5) – Lovie Smith has done a tremendous job saving his job. It may have had a lot to do with Mike Martz coming in and the defense coming up big, too. Matt Forte, Jay Cutler, and Devin Hester are going to be key. If they deliver good performances like they’ve done all year, then the Bears will
Last week’s rank: 5
6. New Orleans Saints (12-4) – The Saints lost to the Bucs 23-13 at the Superdome on Sunday, but they have clinched a playoff spot and will head to Seattle to play a Seattle team that really doesn’t belong in the playoffs. I see the Saints just going to Seattle and tearing them a new one because they’re going to be a huge mismatch for them, obviously. The defending champs have a very good chance at going back to the Super Bowl as they beat the Falcons on Monday night a couple of weeks ago and the Bears may be who we thought they were!
Last week’s rank: 6
7. New York Jets (11-5) – After all the wild things that have come out of the Jets team this year, they’re in the playoffs and have a good chance at taking down the Colts in Indy. They easily beat the Bills 38-7 yesterday. Joe McKnight showed up big time as he rushed for 158 yards and the Jets’ defense picked off Buffalo quarterbacks four times. The Jets carry a good amount of momentum into their playoff matchup in Indy against the Colts.
Last week’s rank: 7
8. Green Bay Packers (10-6) – Green Bay clinched the final playoff spot with the 10-3 win over the Bears on Sunday. Aaron Rodgers leads his team to Philadelphia in the wild-card round of the playoffs this weekend. Will they be able to contain Mike Vick? I believe that with some of the injuries that the Eagles have had, the Packers could go into The Linc and take the win.
Last week’s rank: 10
9. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6) – I really liked the Eagles about five weeks ago, but not so much anymore. Mike Vick doesn’t look like his MVP-self anymore and it looks like they have some key injuries on defense. It’s going to be a tough game for them to win against the Packers next week, even though they’ll be playing at home. Of course, with the big play potential of the offense, I may have to think on this one before I make my playoff predictions as a whole later this week.
Last week’s rank: 8
10. Indianapolis Colts (10-6) – This has obviously been a down year for the Colts, winning the division in the last game of the year and only winning by close margins all season long. They draw the Jets in the first round, and even though they’re playing at home, I think it’s going to be real tough for the Colts to get the win. Maybe Peyton Manning can ask for a pillow so he can fall down on it every time a defensive lineman gets close to him. He took another dive before taking a sack yesterday and it makes me think that he’s not smart, he’s just weak.
Last week’s rank: 11
11. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) – Kansas City and Matt Cassel didn’t look good or playoff ready at all against Oakland on Sunday. Matt Cassel went 11 for 33 with only two interceptions. The Chiefs fell to the Raiders at home 31-10, losing any momentum they had going into the playoffs. With Charlie Weis looking forward to Florida, I don’t think the Chiefs have much of a chance against a very stingy Ravens’ defense. The Chiefs are still a young team and I’m definitely picking the Ravens in their wild-card matchup.
Last week’s rank: 9
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6) – One of the youngest teams in the league will be missing out on the playoffs, but they may have the brightest future of any team in the league. Josh Freeman has shown tremendous improvement this season and looks like a future star of the league. He’s got good, young receivers to throw to (Benn, Mike Williams, and Winslow) and a very solid running back (LaGarrette Blount). A legit pass rusher, a replacement for aging Ronde Barber, and maybe some help at guard would seem to be the biggest needs for the Bucs coming up this offseason.
Last week’s rank: 12
13. New York Giants (10-6) – I don’t think Tom Coughlin should be fired by the Giants and I’ve read where the organization still has complete faith in him, as they should. He’s a very good head coach and they’ll be back in 2011. They have very few places in which they need improving; things just didn’t fall into the right places for them this year, especially punts.
Last week’s rank: 13
14. A Whale’s Vagina Chargers (9-7) – You should be completely miserable San Diego! What is it with the Chargers and waiting until late in the year to come alive? Well this year it caught up with them and they’re missing out on the playoffs. I believe Norv Turner isn’t the best head coach and I’m wondering if he could be a surprise firing coming up soon?
Last week’s rank: 14
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8) – Maurice Jones-Drew played the whole season with knee issues and still finished in the top five in rushing and was voted to the Pro Bowl. There’s a lot to like about this team, but for the third time since 2006, Jack Del Rio’s team was in position to get into the playoffs, but lost late in the year to not get in. He has one year left on the contract and I believe he’ll stay the coach for one last year. It’ll give him another year with a more improved roster and Gene Smith will continue to add the right talent for him. Next year could be the year for the Jags.
Last week’s rank: 15
16. Oakland Raiders (8-8) – Tom Cable did a good job with what he had in Oakland this year. Darren McFadden had a couple huge games and showed that he’s not a complete bust. Quarterback is still a problem since Jason Campbell isn’t the answer and their defense has some aging vets, but also some good young talent. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Raiders can make a run for the division next season, but that’s if Cable can continue to improve as a coach and his team.
Last week’s rank: 16
17. Seattle Seahawks (7-9) – Playoff restructuring. New Orleans will be headed to Seattle next weekend for a playoff game against a team that finished the season below .500. This is the first time a team has won the division with a record under .500, which is just awful. That shouldn’t happen, but it’s the way it ended up somehow (way to go 49ers). It may be a tough game for the Saints because the Seahawks are going to be playing at home with the “12th Man,” but I still think the Seahawks don’t stand a chance.
Last week’s rank: 19
18. St. Louis Rams (7-9) – Sam Bradford had at least three tipped passes, including on a key third down in the fourth quarter and an awful interception at a crucial point in the fourth quarter, which led to the Seahawks kicking a field goal to extend Seattle’s lead to 10. It’s unfortunate that the Rams weren’t able to make the playoffs and win the division, but they’re still a young team, just one season removed from a one-win campaign. If I were a Rams fan, I’d be ecstatic about this season and the future.
Last week’s rank: 17
19. Miami Dolphins (7-9) – The Dolphins season ended on a sour note, but it never was a very sweet 2010 for them anyway. Their rush offense wasn’t as dominant as it was in 2009, Chad Henne was benched at one point, and their home record was atrocious. And Tony Sporano may not be back next season.
Last week’s rank: 18
20. Minnesota Vikings (6-10) – Brett Favre’s career is over. I’m officially ending it. If he comes back again, he will die. There will be a funeral for his career this Tuesday evening in Southern Mississippi, from whence he came. It was a sad season for Favre. Many times I couldn’t bear to watch as he got clocked from behind or drilled into the turf. My lasting image of Favre will be of a man who didn’t give up, but when he did that, it cost him dearly. If the Vikings are smart, they’ll bring back Leslie Frazier as head coach.
Last week’s rank: 20
21. Tennessee Titans (6-10) – Randy Moss proved to be completely useless, just like Vince Young. Kerry Collins has somehow passed Johnny Unitas on the all-time passing list-hell froze over. Jeff Fisher could be moving on from Tennessee after being the head coach since during the 1994 season. We could see change in Tennessee for the first time in a long time in the coming months.
Last week’s rank: 21
22. Houston Texans (6-10) – I believe Gary Kubiak shouldn’t be brought back, but he could be if he fires his defensive coordinator and defensive backs coaches, reportedly. The worst secondary in the league has nowhere to go but up after ranking dead last in the league this season. However, now with Schaub at quarterback, Foster at running back, and Andre Johnson at wide receiver, the offense should be fine, but on defense is where the Texans need to improve greatly if they don’t want to waste the talents that are on their offense.
Last week’s rank: 22
23. Dallas Cowboys (6-10) – It’s been said this week that Jason Garrett will be brought back as head coach next year for the Cowboys and I think the Cowboys will be back to normal with him at the helm. Malcolm Jenkins had a down year and they could use some upgrades in the secondary and along the offensive line.
Last week’s rank: 24
24. Washington Redskins (6-10) – Rex Grossman did OK as quarterback for the Skins the past couple of weeks, but he’s too prone to turnovers to be the starter next year, because it’s clear that Donovan McNabb isn’t wanted anymore. So, quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and nose tackle (who knows what will happen with Haynesworth?) are all huge positions where Washington needs starting talent at. Not a good situation…
Last week’s rank: 23
25. Detroit Lions (6-10) – Four game winning streak to end the season? Detroit is still reeling from the Matt Millen era, but they may finally be getting to the light at the end of the tunnel. Suh, Best, Stafford, and Calvin Johnson are all solid building blocks and I like Jim Schwartz as head coach. GM Martin Mayhew has done a fine job so far and I’m looking forward to what else he’s going to add this coming offseason.
Last week’s rank: 26
26. San Francisco 49ers (6-10) – Mike Singletary is out as coach and it showed as they pounded the Cardinals 38-7 yesterday. I think that Singletary would be a great position coach, but as a coordinator or head coach, not so much. Not at all in fact. 2010 was a wasted season for the Niners and with as much talent as they have; they must be NFC West contenders again next year. Quarterback is the main concern for this team going forward, other than head coach of course.
Last week’s rank: 27
27. Cleveland Browns (5-11) – Is Colt McCoy really going to be the quarterback for Mike Holmgren and the Browns in the future? I don’t really see the point in just settling for him. One thing is clear: if they stick with McCoy, they need to surround him with great talent. A first round wide receiver like AJ Green or Julio Jones would be a tremendous asset for Colt. Joe Haden and TJ Ward were good rookies for the secondary and the Peyton Hillis for Brady Quinn trade rape was a great value as well.
Last week’s rank: 25
28. Buffalo Bills (4-12) – Ryan Fitzpatrick made a case for himself as at least being a solid option for the Bills’ starting quarterback for 2011 with his performance this season. Although, I could still see the Bills drafting a quarterback early in the draft. The defense and offensive line are the biggest of needs for them and it’s going to be a long time before the Bills could even be considered contenders for a wild card spot from the AFC East.
Last week’s rank: 28
29. Arizona Cardinals (5-11) – Arizona is desperate for a quarterback…and left tackle and defensive help. The good news is that they play in the NFC West and are going to have a high pick in the draft, so Arizona has quite a bit to of roster refilling to do. This season is a result of the losses of Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, and Karlos Dansby. Without that amazing passing game, the offense was a non-factor.
Last week’s rank: 29
30. Cincinnati Bengals (4-12) – Marvin Lewis came out this week and said that he felt like it was time for a change, so it’s looking like he won’t be back with Cincy for next season. It’d be a good idea to get rid of TO and Ochocinco and draft a quarterback for the future as well. The defense really fell off this season, too.
Last week’s rank: 30
31. Denver Broncos (4-12) – Tim Tebow has shown that he’s got the ability to be a playmaker in the NFL. During last year’s draft season, I thought he was a second rounder at best, but he’s shown that he could potentially be worth that first round pick that Brian Xanders and Josh McDaniels used on him. In the offseason, the Broncos defense is going to need a lot of help.
Last week’s rank: 31
32. Carolina Panthers (2-14) – This is the Panthers’ worst season since they won the first game and lost their remaining 15 games in 2001. They have the first pick in the draft and are going to be looking for a new head coach. Jimmy Clausen has played awful and to those of us who believed he’d be a decent NFL quarterback before and during last year’s draft (me), he’s been especially disappointing. Despite drafting Clausen in the second round last year, the Panthers should still look to draft a quarterback with the first overall pick.
Last week’s rank: 32