2012 NFL Predictions: Divisions That Will Have a New Winner This Season

In 2011, the New England Patriots were the only repeat division champions. This year, there will be several new division winners as well.

But the turnover rate will not be nearly as drastic as last year. The Patriots, as well as the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers and the Houston Texans all look set to occupy one of the top four seeds in the playoffs once again. The Pats, Packers and Niners all won at least 13 games last season and lost no key players, while the Texans will likely win the AFC South by default.

The AFC West was wide open last season with the Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers all finishing at 8-8, while the Kansas City Chiefs had a 7-9 record. But the Broncos went through to the playoffs via tiebreaker, and Denver will take the division again after bringing Peyton Manning on board.

The other three divisions will be a struggle, and one game could make the difference between a winner and a wild card.

Here are the teams that will be new division winners in 2012.

Philadelphia Eagles, NFC East 

The New York Giants' Super Bowl victory helped erase the memory of how close they came to not making the playoffs. The Giants finished the season at 9-7, with the Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys at 8-8.

Philadelphia faced massive expectations last year due to a slew of free-agent signings and some ill-advised comment from Vince Young. The team started the year 1-4, and all notions of a dream season were erased in early October.

But this year, the team has made important adjustments on the defensive side of the ball—like letting Nnamdi Asomugha play on the outside more often, as noted by Grantland’s Bill Barnwell—and the Eagles will be much improved.

With an incredibly talented team, and the Giants again muddling through an inconsistent regular season, Philadelphia will finally start to live up to its potential and take the NFC East.

Atlanta Falcons, NFC South 

The Falcons finished 10-6 last season, but could not keep pace with the blistering New Orleans Saints offense.

This season, Sean Payton will not be on the sidelines, and Jonathan Vilma is out for the year as well due to suspensions resulting from the team’s bounty program. There is still an overwhelming amount of talent on the Saints offense, but the losses and the distractions will be too much to overcome when trying to fend off Falcons. 

Atlanta is a well-balanced team with few weaknesses. The team hopes that Matt Ryan can make the leap into the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks this year, but even if he doesn’t, the team looks like a lock to win 10 games.

Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers still have too many holes on their roster, and the Falcons’ consistency will be the difference in the South.

Pittsburgh Steelers, AFC North

Both the Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens finished 12-4 last regular season, but the Ravens took both the head-to-head matchups and thus the division as well. 

This year, expect the division to be just as competitive, with the Cincinnati Bengals continuing to be a factor as well. With all three teams boasting fantastic defenses, there will be no shortage of intense physical matchups in the AFC North. 

That is exactly the type of football the Steelers like to play, and the Ravens will not sweep them for a second season in a row. Both teams will make the postseason, but Terrell Suggs’ absence will hurt Baltimore enough to give their rivals the advantage.

Cincinnati has plenty to look forward to, but it is simply not in the same class as Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The winner will come down to these two teams, and the Steelers will take the crown this time around.