NFL Week 4 Predictions

Falcons over Panthers

The Panthers have had 9 days to prepare for the Falcons and review their mistakes after a horrible performance against the Giants. That being said, I don’t see the Falcons tripping up at home versus Carolina.

Patriots over Bills

This is an absolute must-win for the Patriots as they do not want to fall to 1-3 in the very competitive AFC. I see the Patriots rolling in this one and getting back on track.

Lions over Vikings

The Vikings are coming off of a huge upset over the 49ers so they should have no shortage of momentum going in, but the Lions should be able to handle them at home.

Chargers over Chiefs 

After their huge letdown last week against Atlanta, look for the Chargers to come out hot early and win easy on the road against Kansas City.

Seahawks over Rams

Riding the momentum of literally “stealing” a win from Green Bay last week, the Seahawks should easily handle the Rams and head to 3-1 on the season.

49ers over Jets

This one is going to be very tough for the Jets to pull out at home. Their offense should struggle against a 49ers defense looking to redeem themselves after a horrible game last week, and their defense is playing its first game without Darrelle Revis. This adds up to a Niners win.

Texans over Titans

The Texans defense should have a field day against the struggling and sluggish Chris Johnson in this one. Look for the Texans to roll in this one.

Broncos over Raiders

The Broncos absolutely need a win this week in order to avoid falling to 1-3 and slipping from the AFC’s top ranks. I think that they should win a relatively close game at home against the Raiders.

Cardinals over Dolphins

The Cardinals have become the sexy pick for most as a “surprise” super bowl team this year. I’m not ready to give them that honor just yet, but they should beat the Dolphins this week.

Bengals over Jaguars

The Bengals are rolling right now as their offense has put up 30-plus points in back to back games. Look for that to continue against the Jaguars on the Road.

Packers over Saints

The Packers should come out fired up after being robbed on Monday night, I expect them to take out their anger on a lifeless Saints team.

Buccaneers over Redskins

This is my relative upset pick of the week as I like the Bucs to steal a win at home against the Redskins and improve to 2-0 at home. 

Giants over Eagles

The Giants offense seems almost unstoppable right now and their defense should be able to force a few turnovers against the Eagles. Look for them to win a close one.

Cowboys over Bears

This one is the ultimate matchup of gunslinger quarterbacks and horrible offensive lines. I think the Cowboys should pull out a close win at home in this one.

New MLB Playoff Format Already Paying Dividends

 

 

Photo credits to baltimore.sportsthenandnow.com

 

When the offices of Major League Baseball announced their new format for the leagues playoffs, many people including me where very skeptical of it. And why wouldn’t we be? We had just witnessed arguably the greatest final day of the season in the history of American sport, with four games ending almost simultaneously and two historic collapses being completed. With the new playoff format none of that would’ve happened. The Red Sox and Braves would’ve both sat somewhat comfortably in the final wild card spots in their respective leagues, and both would’ve had to then play in a one game playoff with the Rays and Cardinals. But now all of that would be gone as it appeared baseball had ruined its greatest aspect: unpredictably.

Well let me be the first to say that I was completely wrong. Looking back, if we had the old playoff format still instituted this season, the wild card races in each league would be significantly less entertaining. The AL race for instance, would still be tight with the Yankees, Orioles, and Athletics all fighting for two spots. But in that format, teams like the Angels and Rays would have little-to-no shot at a playoff spot this late in the year. The NL race in last years format would have the Braves easily clinched with a 6.5 game lead as this is being typed. Instead, the Braves have still easily clinched a playoff spot, but the Dodgers and Brewers still have decent chances at catching the Cardinals for the final spot.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that this new playoff race simply makes many others, along with myself, more interested in late-September games. After doing a little research I’ve complied this stat: Of the 16 games which were played today, 12 of them had some sort of playoff implications. On the last Saturday of the season last year, only 11 out of 18 games (there were two makeups) had any. That’s the simple point I am trying to make. It may not be a huge difference that is noticed by everyone, but to the true fans of baseball it changes a lot. And yes it does have its flaws,the Braves are going to get stuck playing in a one-game playoff despite holding a nearly seven game lead on the next closest team. But sorry Braves fans, most things in life are not perfect and this system isn’t one of them.

So for what it’s worth, my opinion on the new MLB playoff format has certainly changed over the past eight months or so. So who’s to say that my opinion on other shifts in the MLB cannot change either? For example I am not a huge fan of the Astros moving to the AL and taking away “official” interleague play. But maybe, come April 1st when I see the Reds hosting the Angels on opening day my opinion on that will change too.

So let’s all give the MLB a well-deserved pat on the back for a job well done. Hopefully we will see much more of this change (for good) in the future.

NFL Week 3 Thoughts

Here are some of my thoughts on an unforgettable week of NFL football.

The Replacements

The picture above this text will forever live in infamy. One of the worst calls in NFL history came at just about the worst possible time for a league engaged in a tough lockout with its real officials. If it wasn’t clear already, now it is. The NFL needs their real refs back. The players, coaches, fans, and leagues image overall are being affected terribly in the wrong way by these guys. This has been an issue since week one of the preseason, yet the league has shown little urgency to improve their product on the field. Well maybe this game will be a tipping point. Never in the history of the league has a game actually been decided by a terrible call until now. But the NFL will not change a thing because they know that no matter how bad their on-field product is, fans will still watch. I can tell you that on Sunday afternoon I will still be glued to the TV watching NFL games, and I’m sure most of America will too. We just have too many loyalties that we must give in to. So until we the fans stand up to the mighty Goliath that is the NFL, I’m sorry to say that absolutely nothing will change.

Great Finishes 

Overshadowed by the madness that occurred on Monday night, was one of the better games in recent NFL history. On Sunday in Tennessee the Lions and the Titans played an absolute barn-burner which had just about everything. We saw a repeat of the “Music City Miracle” on a punt return, a game tying hail-mary which actually was completed, and a Titans stop on 4th and 1 deep in their own territory to end the game. This was one of three games on Sunday to go to overtime along with the Jets-Dolphins and Chiefs-Saints, and all three ended with a fantastic finish. It really is a shame that this weekend of NFL football will get completely overshadowed by one horrible call on Monday night. If we didn’t have that call on Monday night, we could be praising the NFL for its new overtime rules which so far this season have added a new and better flavor to games.

Upsets, Upsets, and More Upsets

This weekend of games also had a plethora of upsets which many did not see coming. We saw the Vikings take down the previously untouchable 49ers, the Chiefs send the Saints to 0-3, the Titans shock the Lions, and the Raiders come back against the Steelers. What all of this proves is the parity that the league has right now. Every year around this time we think that we know who is destined to go to the Super Bowl, and who is dead in the water. Yet every year we are proved wrong by more than one team. Maybe the 49ers aren’t as dominant as we thought they were, and maybe the Vikings are a respectable team. That’s the beauty of the NFL, we really will not know until the season progresses.

Are the Cardinals for Real?

When the Arizona Cardinals beat Seattle at home in week one we didn’t talk about their incredible goal-line stand, we talked about the replacement refs giving the Seahawks an extra timeout. When they beat the Patriots in New England last week we said it was a fluke and the Patriots choked. Well what will we say now after they trashed the Eagles at home on Sunday? The Cardinals absolutely dominated the Eagles in every way possible and made a believer out of many. I am sold on this team and this defense after Sunday. Any time you can hold the Patriots and Eagles offenses to 24 points combined, you have to be for real. I fully believe now that the Cardinals will be in the playoff picture, and will maybe even challenge San Francisco for the division.

NFL Week 3 Predictions

Bears over Rams

Despite St. Louis coming off of a win last week over the Redskins, I still like the Bears to beat them at home. Even with Matt Forte out the Bears should easily handle the Rams.

Bills over Browns

The Browns defense played horribly last week on the road against a decent Cincinnati offense. I see that continuing against the Bills who are fresh off of their dismantling of the Chiefs.

Cowboys over Buccaneers

In their home opener the Cowboys should come out hot against a pretty bad Tampa Bay defense as they will roll to an easy win to get to 2-1. I cannot predict what will happen if Dallas goes into the victory formation though.

Colts over Jaguars

The Colts looked very good last week against Minnesota and they should be able to continue that against Jacksonville. Even if Andrew Luck struggles versus the Jaguars defense, the Colts should roll.

Jets over Dolphins

This is a tough game for the Jets on the road, but they will understand its importance. They will have to play San Francisco and Houston in the next two weeks and do not want to be on the road to losing four in a row.

49ers over Vikings

This one should be an easy win for the Niners as their defense should get to Christian Ponder all day. Look for Randy Moss to play great in his return to Minnesota.

Saints over Chiefs

I am tempted to pick the Chiefs with how bad the Saints defense has played so far this year, but I just don’t see Drew Brees letting his team fall to 0-3 on the season.

Lions over Titans

The Lions got beat up pretty badly last week on the road against San Francisco. They should be able to rebound pretty nicely with a road win against Tennessee.

Bengals over Redskins

This is a recipe for disaster for the Redskins as their sub-par defense will have to match up with a very good Bengals offense. I like the Bengals to win a close one.

Eagles over Cardinals

It usually is very tough for road teams to win in the very hostile environment of Arizona. But I like the Eagles in this one if they can play a relatively clean game.

Falcons over Chargers

I like the Falcons offense to lead them to a tough road win against a very formidable Chargers team. The Falcons should be on their way to 3-0.

Texans over Broncos

It’s been well covered how Peyton Manning has struggled with the deep-ball this season. I believe that the Texans will take advantage of that and get the road win.

Steelers over Raiders

The Steelers should make short work of the Raiders as they travel to the black hole. Look for them to easily get to 2-1 as they head into their early bye.

Ravens over Patriots

I like the Ravens in this AFC Championship game rematch. They should win a close one against the Patriots who have rarely experienced the mediocre start that they have gotten off to this season.

Packers over Seahawks

The Seahawks proved last week against the Cowboys that they should certainly be considered a contender for an NFC playoff spot. But I see the Packers beating them in a very close game.

 

NFL Week 2 Thoughts

Here are some of my thoughts on the second week of the NFL season.

Big Trouble in the Big Easy

The New Orleans Saints are the only team in the NFC without a win. That’s something that even their greatest naysayers most likely did not predict a few weeks ago. This is a team which has given up 75 points in their first two games, a very startling number for a defense looking to move on after their infamous bounty scandal. Usually in the past this team has been able to overcome sub-par defensive play with an electric offense lead by quarterback Drew Brees. But that has not been the case so far this year. Brees has thrown just four touchdowns to four interceptions, and has looked a bit lost leading the offense for the first time without Sean Payton. This is a team that better get its act together very quickly as they’ll have tests against Green Bay, San Diego, Denver, Philadelphia, and Atlanta all in their next seven games.

A Texas Sized Letdown

 

The Dallas Cowboys came into their matchup with Seattle on Sunday about as high as a team could be. Just 10 days earlier they had upset the defending champions in their house on opening night, and had everyone questioning whether or not this team had finally gotten it down. But some would wait to see how they would play against Seattle as a test to see if this team had really changed for the better. And they failed miserably. The Cowboys dug themselves in an early hole as they got out to a 10-0 deficit after fumbling the opening kickoff and having a punt blocked. They were forced to play from behind the entire game, and this allowed rookie quarterback Russell Wilson to absolutely pick them apart. Wilson had all day to throw against a Dallas defensive line which bullied Eli Manning and the Giants just a week earlier. This performance leaves many in doubt for the Cowboys future this season as we will once again constantly have to ask “Which Cowboys team will show up this week?”

Peyton Struggles in Atlanta

After their week one victory over the Steelers all seemed to be right with the Denver Broncos. With a rejuvenated Peyton Manning at the helm and a nasty defense backing him up, this team was poised to go to the super bowl! Well that was the opinion of many last week and now we are forced to once again put Peyton back under a microscope. Manning threw three interceptions very early and the Broncos were doomed from the start against Atlanta. Despite a valiant effort Manning could not replicate his brothers performance a day earlier and the Broncos fell to 1-1. One of the main problems with Manning so far is that the deep pass has been almost non-existent to him this season. In fact Manning did not have a deep completion that comes to mind all game, something that he may be most known for. So maybe we were a bit too early to judge just how effective Peyton will be in Denver, but next week will tell us a lot as the Colts will take on the 2-0 Texans.

And What About Those Dang Replacement Refs?

 

If you were one of the NFL referees currently locked out by the league, this weekend of games could not have gone any better for you. Which means that if you were one of the NFL’s replacement referees, this weekend of games could not have gone any worse for you. The replacement refs were downright horrible this weekend blowing many obvious calls and making many incorrect ones as well. They also appeared to have little-to-no control over the players. Off of the top of my head I can clearly recall at least three or four games this week where fights nearly broke out on the field between players. To make matters worse it was even discovered that a Saints fan was scheduled to referee the Saints-Panthers game before being removed. Then today LeSean McCoy told 94WIP in Philadelphia that a ref told him “I need you for my fantasy team” during a game. This is getting out of control incredibly fast and these two sides desperately need to come to a deal before the league looses all of its credibility.

NFL Week 2 Predictions

Chiefs over Bills

In a matchup of two teams coming off blowout losses in week 1, I like the Chiefs on the road over the banged-up Buffalo Bills.

Bengals over Browns

The Bengals were embarrassed on the road last week on Monday Night Football, look for them to return the favor to the lowly Browns who may struggle to win four games this year.

Colts over Vikings

Andrew Luck gets his first career NFL win as the Colts topple the Vikings in their home opener.

Raiders over Dolphins

The Raiders look more disciplined after their Monday night debacle as they get a big road win over the Dolphins, whose home field advantage continues to be non-existent.

Patriots over Cardinals

This one is somewhat self-explanatory. The Patriots rarely lose at home and the Cardinals usually have trouble on the east coast. Look for a blowout in this one.

Giants over Buccaneers 

This one is a must-win for the Giants after a loss on opening night. Look for them to control the game early against Tampa and never look back.

Ravens over Eagles

Despite both being 1-0, these two teams are on the complete opposite ends of the spectrum. The Ravens come in hot while the Eagles are banged up and lack momentum. Look for the Ravens to win on the road.

Saints over Panthers

Both of these teams had very disappointing opening weeks as they both lost to inferior opponents, but look for the Saints to win this one on the road.

Texans over Jaguars

The Texans looked dominant last week against Miami as they controlled both sides of the ball. Look for that to continue at Jacksonville.

Redskins over Rams

Even without receiver Pierre Garcon, the Redskins offense should not have much trouble scoring against this Rams defense. Look for this one to be a bit close than expected though.

Steelers over Jets

The Steelers need this one a lot more than the Jets do. Look for that to show up today as even without two top defenders, Pittsburgh wins easy.

Cowboys over Seahawks

Look for the improved Dallas pass rush to get to Russel Wilson a ton today as the Cowboys get their second win on the road over Seattle.

Chargers over Titans

The Chargers did not play well in their first game against Oakland but they still got the win. Look for that to change in this one as they win easy over Tennessee.

49ers over Lions

The 49ers are my pick to win the super bowl. So far they have done nothing to prove me wrong of that so I’ll continue to pick them over the Lions.

Falcons over Broncos

The Falcons spoil Peyton Manning’s first road game as a Bronco as they put pressure on him all night. Look for Matt Ryan to play very well as Atlanta gets the win.

 

 

NFL Week 1 Thoughts

Now that week 1 of the NFL season is officially over, let’s take a look at a few teams and players who caught my eye for better or for worse.

RG3 Outplays Luck…For Now

On Sunday in New Orleans the Washington Redskins got probably the most impressive and unexpected win of the week. The MVP and leader of the victory was of course quarterback Robert Griffin III, who was playing in his first NFL game. Griffin threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns in a first performance probably only bested by Cam Newtons first game in 2011. Griffin also greatly outplayed his counterpart Andrew Luck, who struggled in his first NFL game in Chicago. Luck completed just over 50% of his passes and threw three interceptions to only one touchdown. Obviously we shouldn’t take too much out of this as it is only one game for each player, but right now RG3 certainly has the upper hand on his “rival” Andrew Luck.

No Drama in New York Just Yet

Going into week 1 the Jets preseason offense had scored just one touchdown in four games, and it was led by third-string quarterback Greg McElroy. So obviously Jets fans did not have much hope going into their matchup against the new-look Buffalo Bills. But that would all change after the game. The Jets scored 48 points and although some of them were aided by bad Ryan Fitzpatrick turnovers, they looked very good. The Bills on the other hand were expected to challenge for a playoff spot this season. But they looked nowhere near that on Sunday as Ryan Fitzpatrick did not look any better than last year, and the defense was more of the same. Buffalo also learned that they had lost running back Fred Jackson for around four weeks which is a tough blow for a team looking to get off to another hot start.

49ers Handle Packers, Look Like Class of the NFC

On Sunday the San Francisco 49ers made something very clear after their opening day win over the Packers: They are really, really, really good. The NFC runners-up last year absolutely dominated the Packers in their home stadium 30-22 in a game which wasn’t even that close. I picked the 49ers to go to the Super Bowl this year, and so far they have done nothing to screw that up (I’m looking at you 2010 Cowboys). The defense held the vaunted Packers offense to only 22 points, their lowest regular season point total since their loss at Kansas City last year. If that isn’t enough to get you excited about this team, just look at the revamped offense. Alex Smith looks capable of repeating his unexpected 2011 season with new weapons Mario Manningham and Randy Moss helping him out. All in all this team should be the best team in the NFC this year barring some sort of historic breakdown.

Peyton’s Back and So Are the Broncos

On Sunday Night Football on prime-time TV, Peyton Manning made his first NFL start since January of 2011 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his first game in orange crush Manning did what he does best: manage the game. He threw for only 253 yards and two touchdowns which is a modest performance for him, but Broncos fans can expect much more this season. Many expect the Broncos to be among the AFC’s best teams in 2012 and after their performance on Sunday night there’s no reason to think any different. But the Broncos and their fans cannot sit too easy for long as they will travel to Atlanta to take on the dangerous Falcons in a tough Monday night game.

 

 

NFL Week 1 Predictions

Bears over Colts

The Bears defense plays up to their potential and spoils Andrew Luck’s debut as a Colt. Jay Cutler and the Bears offense looks as it did before the quarterback was injured last season.

Eagles over Browns

The non-dream team Eagles get their first win in what looks like it may be Andy Reid’s final chance to win a Super Bowl. Brandon Weeden struggles and the Browns offense looks anemic already.

Patriots over Titans

It’s a typical start to the season for the Patriots as they dominate the Titans in week one. Jake Locker looks good leading the offense, but he is no match to keep up with the high-powered Patriots offense.

Falcons over Chiefs

In a very intriguing inter-conference matchup, the Falcons get a big win on the road over a very talented Chiefs team. Both teams will look to rebound off of disappointing years in 2011.

Vikings over Jaguars 

In a matchup of two teams who will have to deal with their top running backs being less than 100 percent, Christian Ponder is slightly less horrible than Blaine Gabbert as the Vikings take it.

Saints over Redskins

In their first game post “bounty-gate”, the Saints offense puts on a show as they spoil Robert Griffin III’s debut as a Redskin. The Saints defense makes a major statement for how 2012 will fare.

Jets over Bills

The Jets offense looks much better than they did in the preseason as they do not struggle very much. Ryan Fitzpatrick continues to turn the ball over at a rapid pace.

Lions over Rams

The Lions start the 2012 season off right as they dominate the Rams in week 1. The Rams offense struggles for the first time in what is beginning to look like a very long 2012 for them.

Texans over Dolphins

In Matt Schaub’s first game in nearly 10 months, the Texans offense picks up right where it left off without him as they win easy over the Dolphins. The defense looks like they will not miss Mario Williams after a dominant first game.

Packers over 49ers 

In a matchup of the NFC’s two best teams in 2011, the Packers utilize their home-field advantage and win a very closely contested game over San Francisco.

Cardinals over Seahawks

In a matchup featuring two teams with prominent quarterback problems, the Cardinals spoil Russel Wilson’s debut as a starter. John Skelton looks good and manages to silence any talks of a controversy for now.

Panthers over Buccaneers

Super-quarterback Cam Newton picks up right where he left off last season as he slices through a very average Buccaneers defense. The Panthers open up 2012 with a win.

Broncos over Steelers

In a rematch of last season’s epic AFC Wildcard game, the result is the same as Peyton Manning gets a win in his first game as a Bronco. The Steelers look like they might finally be showing their age.

Ravens over Bengals

The Ravens prove that they are still the leaders of the AFC North as they handle the Bengals on the road in a prime-time matchup on Monday Night Football.

Chargers over Raiders

In a the second game of a Monday night doubleheader, the Chargers start the season off right as their offense looks very good even without running back Mike Tolbert.

 

2012 NFC West Best Case, Worst Case

Welcome to our 2012 NFL Preview series here at Views From the Cheap Seats where we will take a look at a best and worst case scenario for every NFL team this season.

Finally we have the NFC North up, this division is expected to be ruled by the San Francisco 49ers after an outstanding 2011. One of the major story lines going into this season in the division will be quarterback controversies. In Arizona it will be John Skelton, the current starter, versus Kevin Kolb. In Seattle the Seahawks will have to hope that rookie Russel Wilson can effectively lead the offense. And in St. Louis the Rams may be giving top-pick Sam Bradford his final shot as their starter. Read on to see how these players will fare in 2012.

Arizona Cardinals

Best Case: John Skelton can lead the offense effectively as the battle with Kevin Kolb becomes non-existent. Larry Fitzgerald has the best year of his already stellar NFL career as he is Skelton’s favorite target. The defense becomes a turnover forcing machine and this leads to an increase in wins. The team wins nine games surprisingly and challenges San Francisco for the division title. They don’t make the playoffs in a tough NFC but leave a lot of hope for their fans in 2013.

Worst Case: Skelton struggles right off of the bat and the team has to turn to Kevin Kolb very early in the season. Just like last year, Kolb looks uninterested and is unable to lead the offense as well. This leads to the two switching off roles throughout the year, and the offense never producing. The team wins only five games and is forced to look to rebuild during the draft which is never an easy thing to do.

San Francisco 49ers

 

 

Best Case: The additions of Randy Moss, Mario Manningham, and Brandon Jacobs add to an already decent offense to match their dominant defense. With all of his weapons to throw to, Alex Smith has an even better season than he did last year as he throws for over 4,000 yards. The defense leads the league in most categories as they are easily among the NFL’s best. A team that has already been to an NFC title game gets even further this year as they become super bowl champions.

Worst Case: Alex Smith looks like he did before his miraculous 2011 season even with a ton of weapons to throw to on offense. An unexpected concern arises at running back as both Frank Gore and Brandon Jacobs suffer injuries. Randy Moss plays uninspired despite a rather promising preseason. The defense is a bit less dominant and this leads to them struggling to win the division. An early exit from the playoffs leaves a lot to be desired in January.

Seattle Seahawks

Best Case: Russel Wilson looks like a proven veteran just as he did during the preseason as he leads the offense with poise. Marshawn Lynch is able to stay healthy for most of the season and he is able to be the offenses most productive and “go to” player. A defense which was already top-ten in the league last year has another successful season, and helps lead the team to nine wins. Just like Arizona, the team doesn’t make the playoffs but it appears clear that they are headed in the right direction.

Worst Case: Wilson looks like he was rushed into the job much too early as he struggles in the season’s first few games. Free agent acquisition Matt Flynn looks like a one hit wonder as well as he struggles to play successful football. Tarvaris Jackson is even inserted into the role near the end of the year, further exemplifying the statement “When you have two (or three) quarterbacks, you really have none.”

St. Louis Rams

Best Case: In his last real chance to be a starter in the NFL, Sam Bradford looks like he did during his rookie season. Steven Jackson stays healthy for a majority of the season and once again makes the offense respectable. Jeff Fisher’s leadership makes the defense revert back to its 2010 form and the team surprisingly finishes .500 and wins eight games. They finish only a few games out of the playoff hunt.

Worst Case: Bradford’s struggles continue into this year as he seems to be completely unable to lead the team. Steven Jackson is injured early in the season which only adds to an anemic offense’s futility. The defense struggles once again and serious talks of the team moving elsewhere begin to arise. Jeff Fisher resigns after just one forgettable season.

 

 

2012 AFC West Best Case, Worst Case

Welcome to our 2012 NFL Preview series here at Views From the Cheap Seats where we will take a look at a best and worst case scenario for every NFL team this season.

Now up we have the AFC West, a division who should see major changes in 2012. After a year in which they did not have a team finish above .500, this division could easily have three teams with 10-plus wins. The Denver Broncos have made the big splash this off-season as they landed Peyton Manning to replace Tim Tebow at quarterback. Will Manning be able to live up to the hype in Denver? Can the Chargers finally play winning football for an entire season? Will the Chiefs redeem themselves after a disappointing 2011? And will the Raiders respond to a new head coach? Read on to find out.

Denver Broncos

Best Case: The Broncos get the quarterback that they expected in Peyton Manning as he has one of his best seasons in the league. With less pressure on him to carry the offense Willis McGahee sees a spike in his production. Receiver Demaryius Thomas turns out to be the breakout star of the year with Manning throwing him the ball. The defense is just a good as it was in 2011, but this year they are not needed to keep the team in low-scoring games. The Broncos roll through the rest of the AFC and make it all the way to the super bowl.

Worst Case: Manning, who still has yet to take a serious hit since January of 2011, proves to still have a lingering neck injury which causes him to miss a few games. The team now wishes that they hadn’t given up Tim Tebow as they are stuck with Brock Osweiler for a few games. Willis McGahee starts showing his age is old for a running back and begins to break down. The defense still plays well allowing for the team to make it into the playoffs as a wild card, but they bow out early in the playoffs.

Kansas City Chiefs

 

Best Case: The return of Jamaal Charles does wonders for the offense as he returns with a vengeance to be among the leagues leaders in rushing. Matt Cassel has another stellar season throwing to Dwayne Bowe, who is unaffected by his long holdout during the summer. Linebacker Tamba Hali has one of the best seasons in Chiefs defensive history as he challenges the NFL lead for sacks despite missing the teams first game. Kansas City challenges Denver for the top spot in the division, and goes on to make a run into the postseason.

Worst Case: Jamaal Charles struggles early as he is playing in his first competitive action in nearly a year. Dwayne Bowe also looks sluggish due to his holdout. The defense also struggles due to the loss of pro bowl corner back Brandon Carr. The team surges late but is still unable to make the playoffs and finishes third in the division. Head Coach Romeo Crennel looks like his future may be in doubt after just one full season in Kansas City.

Oakland Raiders

 

Best Case: Quarterback Carson Palmer looks like he has found a fountain of youth as he reverts back to his form with Cincinnati, a full season learning the offense in the off-season greatly helps him. Darren McFadden is finally able to stay healthy for a full season, and he puts up big numbers. Oakland’s defensive line, led by Richard Seymour, is a force to be reckoned with as they carry the team throughout. The team improves upon its eight win season last year and is in the hunt for a playoff spot.

Worst Case: The losses of tight end Kevin Boss and running back Michael Bush hurt the offense greatly, as they struggle to find replacements. Darren McFadden suffers another injury which holds him out for most of the year. The offense loses most of its weapons and struggles with explosiveness. Dennis Allen has trouble controlling the locker room and he leads the team to just a five win season. The Raiders wonder why they fired Hue Jackson at the end of 2011.

San Diego Chargers

 

Best Case: This team has never been able to put together a full season of good football. Most years they start off slow and then turn it on as the year goes on. But last year was the opposite, they played well early then faded late. But in 2012 they finally play a full season at a high level particularly due to a much more consistent Phillip Rivers. When Ryan Matthews returns to the offense he is a force, adding to an already prolific offense. The team wins double digit games and finally makes a run deep into the playoffs.

Worst Case: The team once again gets off to a slow start but this year they are unable to turn it around late. The loss of Vincet Jackson to Tampa Bay hurts the offense which has trouble finding a top receiver. The team ends up winning just seven games and finishes near the bottom of the division after a relatively brutal season. They still do not fire Norv Turner and fans have to wonder if they will ever see what they presumed to be the inevitable happen.