The Sports Inquirer

By E. Marcel Pourtout, Editor

Time for my annual NFL picks that will bring joy and excitement to us all when they aren’t correct.

The predicted finish of each division is in order for example, I have New England winning the AFC East followed by the Jets, Dolphins and Bills. You get the idea. Here are the picks

AFC East: New England, NY Jets, Miami, Buffalo

AFC North: Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cleveland

AFC South: Indianapolis, Houston, Tennessee, Jacksonville

AFC West: Denver, Kansas City, San Diego, Oakland

Wild cards: Kansas City and Houston

AFC Champion: New England

Thoughts: Picking the division winners was relatively easy with my only debate coming in the North where a case could be made for Baltimore. I think the Ravens’ offense won’t be enough and CIncinnati returns one of the top defensive units in the NFL with a solid offense. Andy Dalton will have his best year as a pro.

Selecting the wild card teams was another story. I thought about the Jets, Ravens, Chiefs, Dolphins, Chargers and Texans. I picked Houston because I like what they’ve done on defense, still have talented guys on offense and have a manageable schedule. Kansas City had a rough schedule but will do enough to get into the postseason.

I really wanted to pick Denver to repeat as AFC champions but I feel like the conference title game will be in New England who will gain homefield advantage. The Patriots’ defense will be much improved with the arrival of Darrelle Revis and will be primed by the postseason to control the Broncos’ offense.

NFC East: Philadelphia, Washington, Dallas, NY Giants

NFC North: Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota

NFC South: New Orleans, Tampa, Carolina, Atlanta

NFC West: Seattle, San Francisco, Arizona, St. Louis

Wild cards: San Francisco, Chicago

NFC Champion: Seattle

I had no debates with the division winners in the NFC. The Eagles are the best team in the East by a large margin. New Orleans is my clear pick in the South. Despite Chicago’s continual improvements on offense, the defense is still lacking. Green Bay, despite last night’s loss, are still a playoff team that did some things well that I liked against Seattle.

Speaking of the Seahawks, unless a major injury happens to Russell Wilson, they’re repeating as Super Bowl champions.

They returned nearly everyone of value, potentially get a full season out of Percy Harvin even though his injury history has to be acknowledged and they’re young in each key position.

Most Super Bowl-winning teams consist of a veteran group that just went through a grueling climb to the top and don’t have the health to repeat another championship run.

The majority of Seattle’s roster is 30 and under and I think Marshawn Lynch has one more good year at running back. As you’ll see in my individual awards section later in this post, I’m bullish on the Seahawks.

San Francisco is still a wild card team despite potentially posting another double-digit win season. Tampa intrigued me as a wild card but I think the South is going to be closer than people think with teams beating up on each other. Same thing for Washington and the East. That leaves Chicago sneaking into the postseason.

Super Bowl: Seattle over New England

MVP:

1) Russell Wilson, Seattle

2) Tom Brady, New England

3) Peyton Manning, Denver

4) Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco

5) Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay

I think we’re going to reach “Brady/Manning fatigue” this season with most people ready to promote a new star of the NFL. Wilson fits the bill as a Super Bowl-winning quarterback and is going to lead the best team in the NFL in many high profile moments like last night. That’s the recipe for an MVP season.

Offensive Player of the Year:

1) Peyton Manning

2) LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia

3) Calvin Johnson, Detroit

4) Drew Brees, New Orleans

5) Aaron Rodgers

Peyton Manning will still be the offensive player of the year. While he won’t reach 50 touchdowns again, the numbers will still be strong. McCoy has a chance to join Marshall Faulk and Roger Craig as the only guys to gain 1,000 yards receiving and catching. If he accomplishes that for a playoff team, it may be his award to lose.

Defensive Player of the Year:

1) Richard Sherman, Seattle

2) J.J. Watt, Houston

3) Patrick Peterson, Arizona

4) Robert Quinn, St. Louis

5) Clay Matthews, Green Bay

Similar to Wilson, Sherman will have many opportunites to shine in the national spotlight and claim the award he should have won last year in my opinion. His only problem as a cornerback is that if offenses avoid throwing towards his side of the field, the tangible numbers such as interceptions and pass deflections will be less. Sherman’s impact on the defense won’t be ignored though.

Watt will be even more productive this season with the addition of Jadeveon Clowney to the Texans’ pass rush as will Matthews who now calls Julius Peppers a teammate. Peterson may physically be the best cornerback in the entire league and will have some dominant games this year.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Brandin Cooks, New Orleans

Brees throws the ball often and somebody must catch those passes. Cooks has a chance for a 70-reception, 1,000-yard, eight touchdowns-type season.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jadeveon Clowney, Houston

He’s going to reach double-digit sacks just on athleticism and scheme alone.

On to the Week One picks (home team in CAPS):

New Orleans (-3) ATLANTA

3. LOUIS (-3.5) Minnesota

PITTSBURGH (-6.5) Cleveland

Jacksonville (+10.5) PHILADEPHIA

Oakland (+5.5) NY JETS

Cincinnati (+1.5) BALTIMORE

CHICAGO (-7) Buffalo

Washington (+3) HOUSTON

KANSAS CITY (-3) Tennessee

MIAMI (+4.5) New England

TAMPA (-2.5) Carolina

DALLAS (+4.5) San Francisco

Indianapolis (+7.5) DENVER

DETROIT (-6) NY Giants

ARIZONA (-3) San Diego

This week: 1-0

Season: 1-0