** NightCap's 2011 NFL Projections **

[NightCap424]

The free agency period is slowing down and many of the big names have signed. I have looked over schedules for this year and statistics from 2010. I have also looked at team needs from last year and tried to discover if teams addressed those issues in the short term. Strength of schedule and home/away match-ups definitely come into play here. Here are my projections for 2011.....comments and discussions are welcome. Playoff seeding in parenthesis.

AFC East

New England Patriots: 13-3 (1)
New York Jets: 11-5 (5)
Miami Dolphins: 6-10
Buffalo Bills: 4-12

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers: 12-4 (2)
Baltimore Ravens: 11-5 (6)
Cleveland Browns: 7-9
Cincinnati Bengals: 5-11

AFC South

Houston Texans: 10-6 (4)
Indianapolis Colts: 9-7
Tennessee Titans: 8-8
Jacksonville Jaguars: 6-10

AFC West

San Diego Chargers: 11-5 (3)
Oakland Raiders: 7-9
Denver Broncos: 6-10
Kansas City Chiefs: 5-11


NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles: 11-5 (3)
Dallas Cowboys: 10-6 (5)
New York Giants: 8-8
Washington Redskins: 6-10

NFC North

Green Bay Packers: 12-4 (2)
Chicago Bears: 10-6
Detroit Lions: 7-9
Minnesota Vikings: 7-9

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons: 12-4 (1)
New Orleans Saints: 10-6 (6)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-8
Carolina Panthers: 4-12

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals: 9-7 (4)
St. Louis Rams: 8-8
San Francisco 49ers: 6-10
Seattle Seahawks: 6-10


NFC & AFC Wild Card Playoff Round:

Philadelphia Eagles defeat New Orleans Saints
Dallas Cowboys defeat Arizona Cardinals
New York Jets defeat Houston Texans
San Diego Chargers defeat Baltimore Ravens

NFC & AFC Divisional Playoff Round:

New England Patriots defeat New York Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers defeat San Diego Chargers
Green Bay Packers defeat Philadelphia Eagles
Atlanta Falcons defeat Dallas Cowboys

NFC & AFC Conference Championship Round:

Atlanta Falcons defeat Green Bay Packers
Pittsburgh Steelers defeat New England Patirots

Super Bowl XLVI

Atlanta Falcons (27) defeat Pittsburgh Steelers (20)

[aztriman]

I like the Houston and AZ calls. I'll post my own board later today. I think the Chiefs will win more than 5 games though, since Todd Haley is a great offensive mind that has a lot of talent on that side of the ball. I also think the Bucs can challenge for 2nd place in that division. Great thread.

[aztriman]

AFC East

New England Patriots: 13-3 (1)
New York Jets: 10-6 (6)
Miami Dolphins: 6-10
Buffalo Bills: 4-12

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens: 11-5 (2)
Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6
Cleveland Browns: 7-9
Cincinnati Bengals: 4-12

AFC South

Houston Texans: 11-5 (4)
Indianapolis Colts: 10-6 (5)
Tennessee Titans: 8-8
Jacksonville Jaguars: 5-11

AFC West

San Diego Chargers: 11-5 (3)
Kansas City Chiefs: 7-9
Oakland Raiders: 7-9
Denver Broncos: 6-10


NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles: 12-4 (3)
Dallas Cowboys: 9-7 (6)
New York Giants: 8-8
Washington Redskins: 5-10

NFC North

Green Bay Packers: 12-4 (1)
Chicago Bears: 9-7
Detroit Lions: 7-9
Minnesota Vikings: 6-10

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons: 12-4 (2)
New Orleans Saints: 10-6 (5)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-7
Carolina Panthers: 4-12

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals: 9-7 (4)
St. Louis Rams: 8-8
San Francisco 49ers: 6-10
Seattle Seahawks: 6-10


NFC & AFC Wild Card Playoff Round:

Philadelphia Eagles defeat Dallas Cowboys
New Orleans Saints defeat Arizona Cardinals
Houston Texans defeat Indianapolis Colts
San Diego Chargers defeat NY Jets

NFC & AFC Divisional Playoff Round:

New England Patriots defeat Houston Texans
Baltimore Ravens defeat San Diego Chargers
Green Bay Packers defeat New Orleans Saints
Atlanta Falcons defeat Philadelphia Eagles

NFC & AFC Conference Championship Round:

Green Bay Packers defeat Atlanta Falcons
New England Patirots defeat Baltimore Ravens

Super Bowl XLVI

Green Bay Packers (24) defeat New England Patriots (23)

[NightCap424]

Originally Posted by aztriman

I like the Houston and AZ calls. I'll post my own board later today. I think the Chiefs will win more than 5 games though, since Todd Haley is a great offensive mind that has a lot of talent on that side of the ball. I also think the Bucs can challenge for 2nd place in that division. Great thread.

Here is the thing about the Chiefs.....look at their schedule. Weeks 11-15 can easily all be losses. I also think they lose week 2 and 3 on the road to the Lions and Chargers. Week 5 is on the road at Indy and we all know how Peyton plays at home. That's eight losses right there to go along with a road Denver game, road Oakland game, and a second match-up with SD. Those are my eleven losses that I have projected for KC. Obviously things can change but I just don't see how they improved over the offseason and it is still a young squad that needed all of the OTAs.

[cptkirk321]

Every year I hear that Houston is finally going to break through and every year they end up a .500 team, don't see that changing once again this year.

[mark12]

Originally Posted by cptkirk321

Every year I hear that Houston is finally going to break through and every year they end up a .500 team, don't see that changing once again this year.

Hope you are wrong. Put down a substantial wager on over 8 wins a couple weeks ago. I think the 2 free agents (Joseph and Manning) along with Wade Phillips 3-4 defense will win the division and put them in the playoffs. Unless Schaub gets hurt. Then we are dead because no way Leinart get us there.

[cuse_man]

Houston has made all the right moves so far which is all you can ask at this point. The defense should be much better than last year...anything would be better really, but manning/joseph are big upgrades from what they had out there last year. Cushing disappointed a bit last year so we will need him to rebound, and hope Mario makes a smooth transition in the 3-4. The offensive side of the ball looks fine. They have a good enough QB to win any game, Foster has looked like one of the better RB's out there, Andre is a beast, Solid oline along with one of the best TE's in the league (pre-injury) IMO in Own Daniels who should be back near full strength.

Things look good in Houston.

[aztriman]

No doubt the Chiefs have a tough go of it this year. It's a much tougher road than last when they didn't beat any great teams. But, Arrowhead is a tough place to play, and they play the Broncos twice, Bills, Dolphins and Vikings. So, they only need to win two others.

They have a better receiving core with the addition of Baldwin and Breaston (who is very underrated).

[BOBBYW]

Hou-35/1...

[NightCap424]

Originally Posted by aztriman

No doubt the Chiefs have a tough go of it this year. It's a much tougher road than last when they didn't beat any great teams. But, Arrowhead is a tough place to play, and they play the Broncos twice, Bills, Dolphins and Vikings. So, they only need to win two others.

They have a better receiving core with the addition of Baldwin and Breaston (who is very underrated).

Still not 100% confident in Cassel.....we'll see

[weazel079]

Looks solid

[Joe D]

Nice picks with exception to Indianapolis. Manning or Shaub? If number 18 is at QB, they will continue to win that division.

AFC East

New York Jets: 12-4 (2)
New England Patriots: 11-5 (5)
Miami Dolphins: 7-9
Buffalo Bills: 4-12

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens: 11-5 (3)
Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6 (6)
Cleveland Browns: 7-9
Cincinnati Bengals: 4-12

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts: 13-3 (1)
Houston Texans: 10-6
Tennessee Titans: 8-8
Jacksonville Jaguars: 7-9

AFC West

San Diego Chargers: 10-6 (4)
Kansas City Chiefs: 9-7
Oakland Raiders: 9-7
Denver Broncos: 5-11


NFC East

New York Giants: 11-5 (3)
Philadelphia Eagles: 11-5 (5)
Dallas Cowboys: 8-8
Washington Redskins: 6-10

NFC North

Green Bay Packers: 12-4 (1)
Chicago Bears: 9-7
Detroit Lions: 8-8
Minnesota Vikings: 7-9

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons: 12-4 (2)
New Orleans Saints: 10-6 (6)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-6
Carolina Panthers: 3-13

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals: 10-6 (4)
St. Louis Rams: 9-7
San Francisco 49ers: 6-10
Seattle Seahawks: 4-12


NFC & AFC Wild Card Playoff Round:

(5) Philadelphia Eagles defeat (4) Arizona Cardinals
(3) New York Giants defeat (6) New Orleans Saints
(3) Baltimore Ravens defeat (6) Pittsburgh Steelers
(4) San Diego Chargers defeat (5) New England Patriots

NFC & AFC Divisional Playoff Round:

(1) Green Bay Packers defeat (5) Philadelphia Eagles
(3) New York Giants defeat (2) Atlanta Falcons
(1) Indianapolis Colts defeat (4) San Diego Chargers
(2) New York Jets defeat (3) Baltimore Ravens

NFC & AFC Conference Championship Round:

Green Bay Packers defeat New York Giants
Indianapolis Colts defeat New York Jets

Super Bowl XLVI

Indianapolis Colts (27) defeat Green Bay Packers (17)

[Sweetleaf22]

Pretty good till the end part, but I'd take it. BOL Night capper



good work!

[Sweetleaf22]

Originally Posted by NightCap424

Here is the thing about the Chiefs.....look at their schedule. Weeks 11-15 can easily all be losses. I also think they lose week 2 and 3 on the road to the Lions and Chargers. Week 5 is on the road at Indy and we all know how Peyton plays at home. That's eight losses right there to go along with a road Denver game, road Oakland game, and a second match-up with SD. Those are my eleven losses that I have projected for KC. Obviously things can change but I just don't see how they improved over the offseason and it is still a young squad that needed all of the OTAs.

I also like the chiefs for over 5 wins, no offense. Like the new WR's and really like McClain as the new power back. Kinda like that D also.....

[NightCap424]

Originally Posted by Joe D

Nice picks with exception to Indianapolis. Manning or Shaub? If number 18 is at QB, they will continue to win that division.

I think this is the year we see the start of the slow down for #18....the division is weak but their schedule has some tough bumps. I just don't see Indy being as dominant this year. Plus, with the offseason neck surgery, who knows if Peyton will see a full season if he takes a big hit.