NFL Predictions

It's still a little early to be thinking about the NFL but now that the free agency period and the draft are over, most teams are pretty much set. So it's at time like this where not much is going on in sports (unless you actually find the NBA playoffs to be enjoyable to watch) to make some predictions on how teams and players will fare in the 2010 season.

1. The New Orleans Saints will not win their division.
This could just be a prediction made out of spite because of the loss they handed my Minnesota Vikings in the NFC championship but my money is on the Atlanta Falcons. Matt Ryan is only going to get better as he gains experience and should have one of the premiere offenses with Michael Turner in the backfield. Another thing is the Saints won far too many games last year in some of the most bizarre ways. I just don't think they get so lucky this year. The pattern with this division is that no team can seem to win the division two years in a row. I think that pattern continues next year.

2. The Lions will be a .500 team.
As strange is this may sound, I've really been liking all the moves they've been making lately. Adding Nate Burleson gives them a solid receiving core with Calvin Johnson as the number 1. Stafford should only get better as he gains experience. And their defensive line should be a lot better with the addition of Ndamukong Suh and Kyle Vanden Bosch. They're a team on the rise that could make a playoff push.

3. Aaron Rodgers will be the NFL MVP.
As much as I hate to say, this guy is a beast. I've seen a lot of improvement in his first two years as the starting QB. He put up monster numbers last year with virtually no offensive line. After making some upgrades to that line, he may be poised to have a huge year.

4. New England misses the playoffs again.
I just don't see where they are gonna fit into the playoff picture. I've got San Diego, Baltimore, New York, and Indianapolis winning their division. And then I've got Tennessee and Cincinatti as the wild card teams. I think that Brady's best days are behind him and that defense can't stop anybody. The only thing that makes me question this prediction is that Bill Belichik is a genius and can make mediocre players look like studs.

5.The Philadelphia Eagles are still better than the Washington Redskins
Don't get me wrong, these teams are going to be a very good matchup next year. I just think the Eagles are still a little better. I like what they've got for receivers in DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. And I think Kevin Kolb is ready to step in and be the QB of the future.