NFL Season starting – The greatest time of the year

NFL season is starting today.    The opening of the NFL season is always a fantastic time of year.  Every team starts with the same record.  We know that some teams will win.  Some teams will lose.  Some are planning to lose.  With the 16 game season.  Every game is important in the NFL.  It is the perfect length.  If you start out slow you are pretty much out.  If you start out quickly it does not mean you are in.

The NFL Season lasts a short 16 games.  It takes forever to get here and then in  a blink of an eye it is over.  Okay enough of that.  What is this season going to bring and who will be the last team standing after the Super Bowl is done.

As with everything in the NFL much of how a season is going to go comes down to how healthy a team can stay.  So we are going to look at this as if everyone from this point on will be healthy.  Sure it could happen – No Chance!

The AFC

In the AFC I see it coming down to three teams.   The Patriots, The Raiders and the Steelers.

It looks again as if the Patriots will be the team to beat in the AFC.  This is hardly going out on a limb.  Things have a way of not going they way it looks like they should.  In the pre season the Patriots lost some key pieces on offense.   With the loss of Julian Edelman it is not as if the Patriots will struggle but it will make things a little more difficult.  NOTE – I started this post  before the season started.  The Patriots got blasted by the Chiefs.  Some people are saying the Patriots run is over.  Really one game and that is what you are already predicting.  I still say the Patriots are the team to beat.

The Raiders are coming off an great hear and if Derrick Carr does not get hurt we have have been talking about a different team in the Super Bowl last year.  The Raiders are loaded again on offense.  Their offensive line will be amazing and adding Beast Mode their backfield will make things much easier for Carr.  Maybe not easier but it will help to open some things up.   The big question is how will their defense perform.  They have some huge hey players but they will more than likely have to out score opponents.  Which they will have the ability to do.

The Steelers are well the Steelers.  They have basically been the same team for the last few years.   If Big Ben can stay healthy they will put up the points.  With the addition of T.J. Watt on defense they will be getting some pressure on the other teams quarterback.

The NFC

In the NFC I see it coming down to The Packers, The Seahawks and The Falcons

It was a difficult decision to put the Falcons in here.   The loser of the Super Bowl traditionally has not done very well.  The question is can the Falcons avoid the fall off.  I am not sure but they are in a good situation to make that change.  Their division is going to be pretty difficult.  The Buccaneers are poised to have a pretty good season.  It is hard to believe that the Panthers will have a down year like last year.  The Saints with Brees are always going to be a threat.    The Falcons are pretty much bringing back the same team as last year.  They will be in every game this year and I think will break the trend of down seasons after a super bowl loss.

Can the Packers defense get better this year?  That is the big question.  The Packers offense is going to score.  That is about the only sure thing with the Packers this year.  They have made some big changes on defense.  In an uncharacteristic off season Ted Thompson has went in the free agency quite a bit on defense.  Fans have been calling for him to do this for a while.  If this pays off then the Packers have the potential to have an amazing season.  If it does not they will still have an alright season and probably make the playoffs for the 9th straight year.   The question is when they get there will they be able to win any games.

The Seahawks are going to be in the mix as long as they can keep this defense going.  There are some signs that there has been some trouble.  Last year there was a lot of blame and finger pointing.   If they can just get out their and play then they will do well.  Russel Wilson is the glue that keeps the offense rolling.  Is he  a great quarterback?   I am not sure but he is pretty good and that is good enough.  With the defense they have really the offense just needs to to present opportunities to the other team.  This is something that Wilson is pretty good at.

The NFL season is so difficult to predict.  With the short season injuries and so many other variables it is truly a league where anything can happen.

Who are your picks for the AFC and NFC?