It is Labor Day and many of us are relaxing and enjoying time with family while some of us are looking forward to Thursday night when the Baltimore Ravens start the defense of the Lombardi trophy when they visit the Denver Broncos. With 9 new starts on the Ravens D, it will be a challenge for them to repeat - then again not many thought they would get to the Super Bowl let alone with it last year.
AFC East
The New England Patriots will take this division easily despite losing Welker and Hernandez. The New York Jets won't pose much an effort this year as neither QB option is good enough to win more than 8 games this year. Buffalo Bills could surprise a few teams but without a solid QB they will only go as far as CJ Spiller can carry them. Miami Dolphins made a huge splash in free agency with Mike Wallace. Unfortunately, that won't be enough to threaten for the division title. No wild card team in this division.
AFC North
The Baltimore Ravens still have Flacco, Smith, Rice, and Suggs and will contend this year for the division title even though losing 9 starters on the D from last year. Pittsburgh Steelers let Jonathan Dwyer go on Saturday which was a bit of a surprise. Without a solid running game, aging D and the loss of Mike Wallace the Steelers will amass 9 wins but it won't be enough to take the division. Cincinnati Bengals are the most intriguing team in this division. Under Andy Dalton the Bengals have made it to the playoffs each of the last two years. No major splashes in the free agency market but adding rookie RB and TE will bolster the team to the division title. Cleveland Browns will manage to win 7 games this year.
AFC South
This division is wide open. Houston Texans added a little speed to the WR corp while keeping the D intact and getting healthier. The big question is the new injury that Arian Foster has with his back. Anyone who has had lower back pain understands how easily it can flare up and most are not a running back in the NFL. Jacksonville Jaguars will compete this year but there just isn't enough there on the offense side of the ball to manage 6 wins on the season. Tennessee Titans are starting to round into a playoff team but Locker is still too green to lead them there this year. The team to watch in the Indianapolis Colts. Adding Bradshaw to the backfield will be what Luck needed to soften up the linebackers. Look for the Colts to take this division handily.
AFC West
This is a tough one to write being an Oakland Raider fan. I'd like to grandstand and hype of the Raiders but I just can't see them winning more than 6 games this year. Unless Pryor is the real deal and McFadden can stay healthy all year. Denver Broncos will top 10 wins this year but may struggle a bit with the lost of Dumervil and the suspension of Miller. San Diego Chargers will be challenging the Raiders for the cellar all year long. Kansas City Chiefs will flourish under Andy Reid and will take this division.
Division winners - Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots
Wild Card - Denver Broncos and Houston Texans
AFC Championship game - Indianapolis Colts vs. Denver Broncos
NFC East
This could be the toughest division to handicap. The Dallas Cowboys will have a healthy Dez Bryant and Miles Austin while having one of the easiest schedules. If the D can step up this is a 10 win team. Washington Redskins will go as far as RGIII but I see him struggle this year. Philadelphia Eagles will be the most exciting team to watch in this division. Chip's new up tempo offense will make the best use of McCoy, Jackson and Vick's talents but I don't think it will be enough to win the division. Despite losing Bradshaw and Osi it won't deter the New York Giants from wining this division.
NFC North
The Norse division will be fun to watch. Chicago Bears have a new coach that gets the best of his QB and that could be great news for Bears fans. Forte looks great and Marshall should give Megatron a run for the WR title. Minnesota Vikings lost a few key D players, namely Winfield, and added a big name on offense - Greg Jennings. Normally that would be huge, unfortunately not the case when you have Ponder throwing the ball. Vikings will make noise with AP but it won't be enough to take the division. Green Bay Packers have Rodgers but that is about it. Lacy appears to be the answer to a horrible run game but it won't be enough to take the division. The division winner will be the Detroit Lions. Stafford has no excuses this year as the Lions added Reggie Bush to the backfield.
NFC South
Carolina Panthers lost Johnathan Stewart to start the season and didn't add any speed to the WR corp. Cam can only do so much. It looks like another 7 game win season for the Panthers. New Orleans Saints get Sean Payton back this year. I know he is the coach but no one calls a game better and that will be the difference this year. Brees will be able to do his job and not worry about anything else. The D will keep this team out of the Super Bowl. Atlanta Falcons were oh so close to making the Super bowl last year and will get closer this year with the running of Steven Jackson. Tampa Bay Buccaneers will make noise but will struggle to reach 8 wins.
NFC West
The once forgotten division has a lot of fire power this year and could see three playoff teams. Seattle Seahawks plainly got better in the offseason with the additions of Avirl and Harvin -when he comes back - and will take this division this year. San Francisco 49ers added Boldin but lost Crabtree. Kap will still be a play maker but it will have to be a wild card winner if it does take place. St. Louis Rams are the most intriguing team. Bradford has two fast WR's in Givens and Austin. Richardson will show the league why the Rams let Jackson go. Arizona Cardinals could shake up this division if Mendenhall stays healthy and Palmer remains up right.
Division winners - Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, New York Giants
Wild Card - Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints
NFC Conference game - Seattle Seahwaks vs New York Giants
Super Bowl - Seattle Seahawks vs. Indianapolis Colts
Winner - Seattle Seahawks
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