I ran the table last year with the Colts, touch wood, and hope to do the same this year. In the latest installment of Buffalo Steve's and my annual tradition of NFL picks, please find my picks below:
AFC Division Winners:
AFC East: New England.
AFC North: Baltimore.
AFC South: Indianapolis.
AFC West: San Diego.
Wild Cards: Jets, Denver.
Dark Horses: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Jacksonville. This is really an injustice as the Steelers are only two seasons removed from a Super Bowl championship. Roethlisberger is healthy and lighter but Joey Porter has left because of free agency. The Bengals have "Ocho Cinco", Chad Johnson, at wide receiver. The AFC is so much better than the NFC. It's almost similar to the gulf between the NBA East and West before the Celtics got KG and Ray Allen. More on the NBA soon. Whoa!
AFC Champion: New England.
-------
NFC Division Winners:
East: Cowboys.
North: Bears.
South: Saints.
West: Seattle.
Wild Card: Giants, Eagles.
Dark Horses: Redskins, Packers, Carolina. If Brett Favre gets some help his teammates in what could possibly be his last season with the Packers, the Packers could be fun to watch for the first time in a while.
Conference Champion: Saints.
Super Bowl Champion: Patriots. The Patriots finally got Tom Brady some receiving help. A hungry Randy Moss better play all games (not just national ones) or Bellichick will show him the door faster the door will hit him you know where.
Local Team Outlook:
Bills: Ouch. Where do I begin? The losses of London Fletcher-Baker, Willis McGahee, and others to free agency and trades hurt the Bills. There were so many losses that I think I was traded. J.P. Losman is improved but I don't think he has enough help yet. 6-10 is the best I can come up with and hope to be surprised.
Jets: The acquisition of Thomas Jones at running back is just what the doctor ordered to replace the now retired Curtis Martin. The Jets questioned drinking Eric Mangini's brew last year and are now drinking it by Gatorade bucket load. I reviewed the games and the Jets can win 11 games but the Patriots will win 13. Two of the Jets five losses are against the Patriots but they will be must see battle royales. The Jets do have an opportunity to upset the Patriots this Sunday without Rodney Harrison who is suspended four games for using HGH.
Giants: How will the Giants adjust to life without Tiki Barber? How will Michael Strahan's long holdout hurt the Giants? Will Eli Manning step it up like his brother Peyton did last year? Too many questions but enough to make the playoffs in the NFC at 9-7.
Posted by a psyched up Tank in NY.