2011 NFL Predictions: Put Up Or Shut Up
The NFL season is upon us and things will get kicked off on Thursday night when Aaron Rogers and the Green Bay Packers clash with Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.
As we do every year, each AA staff member will “Put Up Or Shut Up” with their thoughts on how the NFL season is going to play out. Once the season is finished, we’ll compare these predictions to see which staff member gets bragging rights for the offseason. Last year’s winner was Merlin. He narrowly edged out yours truly by one point. This year, I’m out for blood.
Don’t think you’re getting off the hook either Addicts! We expect you to make the very same predictions in the comments. At the end of the year, we’ll crown a reader champion.
Patrick Allen (Senior Editor)
AFC East:New England Patriots
AFC North:Baltimore Ravens
AFC South:Indianapolis Colts
AFC West:San Diego Chargers
NFC East:Philadelphia Eagles
NFC North:Green Bay Packers
NFC South:Atlanta Falcons
NFC West:Arizona Cardinals
AFC Wild Cards: (2) Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns (the Browns are this year’s Chiefs)
NFC Wild Cards:(2) New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys
AFC Champion:Baltimore Ravens
NFC Champion:Green Bay Packers (Rogers is out of his mind)
Super Bowl Champion:Green Bay Packers (repeat)
Super Bowl MVP: Aaron Rogers
Coach of the Year:Pat Shurmur
MVP:Aaron Rogers
Offensive Player of the Year:Philip Rivers
Defensive Player of the Year:Eric Berry
Offensive Rookie of the Year:Mark Ingram
Defensive Rookie of the Year:Phil Taylor (groan)
Merlin (Senior Editor, 2010 Prediction Champion)
AFC East: New England
AFC North: Baltimore
AFC South: Houston
AFC West: San Diego
NFC East: Philadelphia
NFC North: Green Bay
NFC South: New Orleans
NFC West: St. Louis
AFC Wild Cards: (2) NY Jets, Pittsburgh
NFC Wild Cards:(2) Atlanta, Detroit
AFC Champion: New England
NFC Champion: New Orleans
Super Bowl Champion: New Orleans
Super Bowl MVP: Drew Brees
Coach of the Year: Jim Schwartz
MVP: Drew Brees
Offensive Player of the Year: Drew Brees
Defensive Player of the Year: Ndamukong Suh
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Julio Jones
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Nick Fairley
Double D (Senior Staff Writer)
AFC East: Patriots (The machine stays in tune)
AFC North: Steelers (A relatively light schedule all but guarantees it plus the Browns aren’t there yet)
AFC South: Texans (A Peyton-less Colts in Week 1 will be just enough to decide this division)
AFC West: Chargers (The new kick-off rule keeps the Bolts’ special teams from losing important games)
NFC East: Eagles (OL is suspect but a solid D combined with a mobile Vick and top shelf weapons take them deep)
NFC North: Packers (This year’s model is even better than last year’s)
NFC South: Falcons (Matty Ice achieves elite status, edges out Saints)
NFC West: 49ers (Rams are the popular pick here and they have a good defense but their offense can’t keep them off the field and their special teams can’t keep them out of the hole)
AFC Wild Cards: Jets, Ravens (2)
NFC Wild Cards: Saints, Lions(2)
AFC Champion: Steelers (Chargers simply can’t hang in the post season at this level)
NFC Champion: Eagles (They grind it out with the Falcons and emerge with the conference title)
Super Bowl Champion: Eagles
Super Bowl MVP: DeSean Jackson (DJax assumes command of the light switch at The Big Show)
Coach of the Year: Jim Schwartz
MVP: Michael Vick
Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Ryan
Defensive Player of the Year: James Laurinaitis (Solid LB skills finally translate into break out year)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Derek Sherrod Randall Cobb (Many a GM will regret overlooking this guy)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Phil Taylor Akeem Ayers (A disruptive SAM who’ll give Manning and Schaub some sore ribs and sleepless nights)
Jeremy Hanson (Senior Staff Writer)
AFC East: Patriots
AFC North: Ravens
AFC South: Colts
AFC West: Chargers (Ugh!)
NFC East: Eagles
NFC North: Packers
NFC South: Falcons
NFC West: Rams
AFC Wild Cards: (2) Steelers, Chiefs
NFC Wild Cards:(2) Bears, Saints
AFC Champion: Patriots
NFC Champion: Falcons
Super Bowl Champion: Patriots
Super Bowl MVP: Tom Brady (Geesh!)
Coach of the Year: Steve Spagnuolo (Rams)
MVP: Tom Brady
Offensive Player of the Year: Tom Brady
Defensive Player of the Year: Tamba Hali
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Cam Newton
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jerell Powe !
Randy Murawski (Senior Staff, Arrowhead Corespondent)
AFC East: New England
AFC North: Steelers
AFC South: Indianapolis
AFC West: KC Chiefs
NFC East: Eagles
NFC North: Packers
NFC South: Atlanta (ugh)
NFC West: St Louis
AFC Wild Cards: (2) Jets, Ravens
NFC Wild Cards:(2) Dallas , New Orleans
AFC Champion: New England
NFC Champion: Green Bay
Super Bowl Champion: New England
Super Bowl MVP: Tom Brady
Coach of the Year: Bill Belicheck
MVP: Aaron Rogers
Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Rogers
Defensive Player of the Year: Ndamukong Suh
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Mark Ingram
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Von Miller
Big Matt (Senior Staff Writer)
AFC East: New England (Waters for Maneri. I think its obvious at this point that Pioli was really the brains behind the Patriots)
AFC North: Baltimore
AFC South: Houston
AFC West: Kansas City
NFC East: Philadelphia (free agency is stupid!)
NFC North: Green Bay
NFC South: New Orleans
NFC West: St Louis (Best fans in the country, bro. Football too.)
AFC Wild Cards: (2) New York, San Diego
NFC Wild Cards: (2) Tampa Bay, Atlanta
AFC Champion: New England
NFC Champion: Philadelphia
Super Bowl Champion: New England (I apologize for this boring answer)
Super Bowl MVP: Brady (you think I wanted this?)
Coach of the Year: Belichick. He’s pretty clearly better than everyone else.
MVP: Matt Ryan
Offensive Player of the Year: Thomas Jones
Defensive Player of the Year: Suh (if he can get over the pesky fact that defensive linemen are never good until their third year, right guys?)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Julio J0nes
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Von Miller
Andrew Crocker (Staff Writer)
AFC East: New England Patriots 15-1, New York Jets 13-3, Buffalo Bills 8-8, Miami Dolphins 3-13
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens 12-4, Pittsburgh Steelers 12-4, Cleveland Browns 5-12, Cincinnati Bengals 1-15
AFC South: Houston Texans 9-7, Jacksonville Jaguars 9-7, Indianapolis Colts 8-8, Tennessee Titans 6-10
AFC West: San Diego Chargers 13-3, Kansas City Chiefs 7-9, Denver Broncos 6-10, Oakland Raiders 5-11
NFC East: Dallas Cowboys 11-5, Philadelphia Eagles 10-6, New York Giants 10-6, Washington Redskins 2-14
NFC North: Green Bay Packers 14-2, Detroit Lions 9-7, Chicago Bears 7-9, Minnesota Vikings 6-10
NFC South: New Orleans Saints 14-2, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-7, Atlanta Falcons 8-8, Carolina Panthers 1-15
NFC West: St. Louis Rams 8-8, Arizona Cardinals 7-9, Seattle Seahawks 5-11, San Francisco 49ers 3-13
AFC Wild Cards: (2) Jets, Steelers
NFC Wild Cards: (2) Eagles, Giants
AFC Champion: Chargers
NFC Champion: Packers
Super Bowl Champion: Packers
Super Bowl MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Coach of the Year: Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions
MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Offensive Player of the Year: RB Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys
Defensive Player of the Year: NT B.J. Raji, Green Bay Packers
Offensive Rookie of the Year: WR Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
Defensive Rookie of the Year: DT Marcell Dareus, Buffalo Bills
Nick Rodgers (Staff Writer)
AFC East: NY Jets
AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South: Indianapolis Colts
AFC West: San Diego Chargers
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles (unless Vick gets busted for cock-fighting)
NFC North: Green Bay Packers
NFC South: Atlanta Falcons
NFC West: St. Louis Rams
AFC Wild Cards: Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots
NFC Wild Cards: Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints
AFC Champion: NY Jets
NFC Champion: Atlanta Falcons
Super Bowl Champion: Atlanta Falcons
Super Bowl MVP: Matt Ryan
Coach of the Year: Bill Belichick (inexplicably after Patriots lose in 1st round)
MVP: Michael Vick (if he doesn’t get arrested for water-boarding baby seals)
Offensive Player of the Year: Jamaal Charles
Defensive Player of the Year: Ndamukong Suh
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Julio Jones
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Akeem Ayers
Victor Wishna (Staff Writer)
AFC East: New England Patriots
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens
AFC South: Houston Texans
AFC West: San Diego Chargers
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles
NFC North: Green Bay Packers
NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West: St. Louis Rams
AFC Wild Cards: New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs
NFC Wild Cards: Chicago Bears, New York Giants
AFC Champion: Jets
NFC Champion: Eagles
Super Bowl Champion: Jets
Super Bowl MVP: Santonio Holmes
Coach of the Year: Raheem Morris (Buccaneers)
MVP: LeSean McCoy
Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Bradford
Defensive Player of the Year: Tamba Hali
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Mark Ingram
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Robert Quinn
Lyle Graversen (Staff Writer)
AFC East: New England
AFC North: Pittsburgh
AFC South: Houston
AFC West: San Diego
NFC East: Philadelphia
NFC North: Green Bay
NFC South: New Orleans
NFC West: St. Louis
AFC Wild Cards: New York & Baltimore (2)
NFC Wild Cards: Atlanta and Dallas(2)
AFC Champion: Pittsburgh
NFC Champion: New Orleans
Super Bowl Champion: New Orleans
Super Bowl MVP: Drew Brees
Coach of the Year: Steve Spagnuolo
MVP: Aaron Rodgers
Offensive Player of the Year: Dwayne Bowe
Defensive Player of the Year: DeMarcus Ware
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Mark Ingram
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Patrick Peterson
Ladner Morse (Junior Staff)
AFC East: Patriots
AFC North: Ravens
AFC South: Texans
AFC West: Chiefs
NFC East: Cowboys
NFC North: Bears
NFC South: Falcons
NFC West: Cardinals
AFC Wild Cards: (2) Chargers and Jets
NFC Wild Cards:(2) Packers and Eagles
AFC Champion: Chargers
NFC Champion: Falcons
Super Bowl Champion: Falcons
Super Bowl MVP: Roddy White
Coach of the Year: Pat Shurmur
MVP: Aaron Rogers
Offensive Player of the Year: Arian Foster
Defensive Player of the Year: Darrelle Revis
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Julio Jones
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Patrick Peterson
Nicholas Clayton (Junior Staff Writer)
AFC East: New England
AFC North: Baltimore
AFC South: Houston
AFC West: San Diego
NFC East: Dallas
NFC North: Green Bay
NFC South: New Orleans
NFC West: St. Louis
AFC Wild Cards: Kansas City, Pittsburg
NFC Wild Cards: Philadelphia, Detroit
AFC Champion: Baltimore
NFC Champion: Green Bay
Super Bowl Champion: Green Bay
Super Bowl MVP: Aaron Rodgers
Coach of the Year: Mike Shanahan
MVP: Aaron Rodgers
Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers
Defensive Player of the Year: Ndomakong Suh
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Mark Ingram
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jimmy Smith
Taylor Green (Junior Staff Writer)
AFC East: New England Patriots 13-3, New York Jets 13-3, Buffalo Bills 8-8, Miami Dolphins 4-12
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens 12-4, Pittsburgh Steelers 12-4, Cleveland Browns 6-10, Cincinnati Bengals 2-14
AFC South: Houston Texans 9-7, Indianapolis Colts 9-7, Jacksonville Jaguars 7-9, Tennessee Titans 5-11
AFC West: San Diego Chargers 10-6, Kansas City Chiefs 9-7, Oakland Raiders 7-9,Denver Broncos 5-11
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles 10-6, Dallas Cowboys 9-7, New York Giants 9-7, Washington Redskins 4-12
NFC North: Green Bay Packers 13-3, Detroit Lions 9-7, Chicago Bears 9-7, Minnesota Vikings 6-10
NFC South: New Orleans Saints 12-4, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10-6, Atlanta Falcons 9-7, Carolina Panthers 3-13
NFC West: St. Louis Rams 9-7, Arizona Cardinals 7-9, Seattle Seahawks 5-11, San Francisco 49ers 3-13
AFC Wild Cards: (2) Jets, Steelers
NFC Wild Cards: (2) Buccaneers, Lions
AFC Champion: Baltimore
NFC Champion: Packers
Super Bowl Champion: Packers
Super Bowl MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Coach of the Year: Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions
MVP: Phillip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
Offensive Player of the Year: QB Phillip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
Defensive Player of the Year: NT Ndamukong Suh, Detriot Lions
Offensive Rookie of the Year: WR Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
Defensive Rookie of the Year: OLB Von Miller, Denver Broncos
Now it is your turn Addicts! Post your full predictions below in the comments. After the season, we’ll crown one of you the AA Reader Champion. You must predict all categories to be eligible.
Put up or shut up!