Music to listen to: Lonely Girl by Oceanlab (PROFF remix)
Here’s a review of my NFL predictions at the halfway point of the season and my picks for this weekend
My preseason predictions will be in red, my analysis in italics
NFC East: Philadelphia, Dallas (wildcard), New York, Washington
NFC North: Green Bay, Detroit (wildcard), Minnesota, Chicago
NFC South: New Orleans, Atlanta, Tampa, Carolina
NFC West: St. Louis, Arizona, San Francisco, Seattle
NFC Championship: Green Bay over New Orleans
I thought the Eagles would at least win the NFC East and that looks unlikely to happen. Respect to the Giants, who I underestimated in the preseason because of injuries and inconsistency of Eli Manning. I think my NFL North will pan out the way it is, just flip Chicago and Minnesota. NFC South looks correct and if anyone tells you that they predicted the 49ers to be one of the top-five teams in the NFL this year, doubt them.
AFC East: New England, New York (wildcard), Miami, Buffalo
AFC North: Pittsburgh, Baltimore (wildcard), Cleveland, Cincinnati
AFC South: Houston, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Jacksonvillle
AFC West: San Diego, Kansas City, Oakland, Denver
AFC Championship: San Diego over New England
I think the Jets will win the East with the Patriots finishing second and Buffalo third. I underestimated Cincinnati and take the blame for that one. I just didn’t think that a rookie quarterback in that dysfunctional environment could thrive like Andy Dalton has. I predicted that the Colts would take a dip but not like this. The Chargers continue to disappoint, especially Philip Rivers.
Super Bowl: Green Bay over San Diego
One of those teams is going to make it to that game and I’ll let you guess which one…
Offensive Player of the Year:
1) Philip Rivers, San Diego
2) Andre Johnson, Houston
3) Drew Brees, New Orleans
4) Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
Rivers has been an overall disappointment this year and leads the league in interceptions. Johnson has been injured most of this year and has no chance to win this award. Brees is putting up some excellent numbers but is turning the ball over a little too much. Rodgers is on pace to historically have one of the best years for a quarterback in NFL history.
Defensive Player of the Year:
1) Ndamokong Suh, Detroit
2) Clay Matthews, Green Bay
3) Demarcus Ware, Dallas
This award usually isn’t determined until the latter part of the year but I’m still sticking with Suh.
MVP: Brees
It’s Rodgers’ award to lose.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Mark Ingram, New Orleans
Its going to come down to Cam Newton and Dalton.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Von Miller, Denver
Another award that usually isn’t determined until December but Miller has looked impressive so far.
15 Random NFC Thoughts:
1) Michael Vick won’t make it through the entire season, will try to comeback for the playoffs but falls short, therefore Philadelphia doesn’t win a playoff game this year.
Vick has already been dinged up this year between injured hands and concussions. I stand by this thought.
2) This will be Tony Romo’s final year with Dallas.
I’m actually going to stick with this one as well.
3) This will be Tom Coughlin’s last season as head coach of the Giants.
Coughlin finds a way to stick around even when you think he’s going to leave and having the Giants at 6-2 shows this trick.
4) Matt Stafford makes it though an entire season for Detroit Lions.
So far, so good…
5) Donovan McNabb doesn’t make it through entire season for Minnesota.
I’m on fire…
6) Adrian Peterson will request a trade from Minnesota by end of season.
With Christian Ponder on board at quarterback and looking competent, Peterson will stay in Minnesota.
7) Jay Cutler finishes in top-five in TD passes AND interceptions for Chicago
This won’t happen because of the emergence of Matt Forte at running back, decreasing Cutler’s chances to throw the ball and compile those stats.
8) Mark Ingram of New Orleans will finish second in the NFC in rushing.
I’ve missed on this one for several reasons. First, Ingram has been injured this year, therefore limiting chances. Second, Pierre Thomas and particularly Darren Sproles have emerged as better running options for the Saints. I’m still bullish on Ingram’s career prospects but he won’t finish second in the conference in rushing.
9) Josh Freeman of Tampa will regress in his third season.
This has happened to numerous quarterbacks over the years.
10) St. Louis will not only finish with winning record, but push 10 wins.
Let’s move on…
11) Seattle will have worst record in NFC and be in the running for Andrew Luck Sweepstakes
The Rams beat them to the punch…
12) This will be Lovie Smith ‘s last season in Chicago.
See my Tom Coughlin comments.
13) Mike Sims-Walker will have second-most receiving yards in NFC.
Seeing how he’s out of the NFL right now, this prediction won’t come to pass.
14) Falcons miss playoffs not because of offense, but because of overrated defense.
The Falcons have been ok on both sides of the ball but will still miss playoffs.
15) Kevin Kolb won’t be a bust in Arizona.
Not looking good for Kolb halfway through this year.
15 Random AFC Thoughts:
1) San Diego will have best record in AFC and 2) Philip Rivers will push 5,000 yards in passing
Wrong on both fronts for the most disappointing team in the conference.
3) Peyton Manning doesn’t play in entire 2011 season.
Sticking with this prediction despite what you’re hearing out of Indy. Manning is saying that he wants to come back to look professional but there’s NO way that he’ll step foot on the field in this current condition.
4) Andre Johnson will win triple crown of receiving in AFC, having the most catches, yards and touchdowns in conference.
That hamstring injury has messed all of this up.
5) NY Jets defense doesn’t finish in top half of NFL defenses, statistically
The Jets are playing better on defense the last few games and will eventually finish in the top-10.
6) Ray Rice will lead conference in rushing even over Chris Johnson
Respect to Fred Jackson of Buffalo for leading the conference in rushing so far. Rice has 532 yards but trails Jackson by 271 yards. Chris Johnson play has been embarrassing by his standards this year.
7) Reggie Bush will rush for 1,000 yards
Bush has 427 yards through eight games, which would leave him short at this pace.
8) Maurice Jones-Drew misses at least seven games
He’s been healthy all season.
9) Pittsburgh will lose AT LEAST three starters on defense for the season at some point this year (every starter is 30 years or older)
The Steelers’ defense has held up so far.
10) Colt McCoy will have a breakout season for Cleveland
I expected more from McCoy at this point of the season.
11) Matt Cassel will be benched at some point during season
He’s still staring for the Chiefs and there aren’t many alternatives left.
12) Andy Dalton will be good for a rookie but Carson Palmer ultimately plays at some point this season for the Bengals.
Dalton has been excellent this year and Palmer is struggling in Oakland.
13) Buffalo will win the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.
Ryan Fitzpatrick proved me wrong…
14) This will be the last year for the following coaches in their cities: Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville, Tony Sparano, Miami and Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati
Lewis survives but the other three will be gone at the end of the season.
15) Arian Foster won’t reach 1,100 yards in 2011 and may not even reach 1,000
Foster will surpass these numbers but hasn’t been as productive as he was last season.
On to the picks (home team in CAPS):
SAN DIEGO (-7) Oakland
CINCINNATI (+3) Pittsburgh
KANSAS CITY (-3) Denver
Jacksonville (-3) INDIANAPOLIS (the Colts HAVE to win one of these contests…right?)
Buffalo (+5.5) DALLAS
TAMPA (+3) Houston
CAROLINA (-3.5) Tennessee
Washington (+3.5) MIAMI
New Orleans (PK) ATLANTA
Detroit (+2.5) CHICAGO
CLEVELAND (-2.5) Detroit
Arizona (+14) PHILADELPHIA
Baltimore (-6.5) SEATTLE
NY Giants (+3.5) SAN FRANCISCO
New England (+1.5) NY JETS
GREEN BAY (-13.5) Minnesota
Those are my thoughts, what are yours?
The Sports Inquirer 
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