2012 NFL Predictions: Who Wins Individual Awards, Who Dethrones New York Giants?

Is there anything better than the excitement felt when the NFL season is upon us?

Sure, the birth of a child, your wedding day and realizing that the cop who pulled you over for doing 70 in a 50 mile per hour zone isn't going to show at your court date come to mind.

But, they all pale in comparison to the joy that bubbles up from the thought of watching the perfect execution of the zone stretch, destroying your friends in fantasy football and Faith Hill in that tight leather outfit singing the theme to Sunday Night Football.

Ahhhh, life is good again.

I can't remember an offseason as tumultuous as this past one.

Between the "Bounty Scandal" (which I promise not to bring up again), Peyton Manning signing with Denver and being replaced by the most pro-ready quarterback that I've ever seen in Indianapolis, the lockout of the NFL referees and everyone still wondering how the 15-1 Packers were one-and-done in the playoffs, it's been pretty interesting to say the least.

I'm just glad that the labor dispute was resolved last offseason or we might be watching the public execution of Roger Goodell on Wednesday, instead of the Giants and Cowboys matchup in the 2012 opener.

I'm always amazed at how, even when I do well with team records and playoff prognostications, the word "suck" does not even come close to describing my predictions for the season awards.

Two years ago, I correctly predicted that  the Packers would beat the Steelers in the Super Bowl, but I tabbed Mike Singletary to win Coach of the Year. Granted, I was only one year off on the head man for the 49ers winning the award, but Singletary's performance led me to wear a bag over my head for six months.

Anyway, I'll still throw in this worthless opinion of who I see to be the best of the best. I think that the MVP will go to Aaron Rodgers again, with Tom Brady taking home the Offensive Player of the Year. The defensive equivalent will go to Patrick Willis. The Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year will go to Andrew Luck and Luke Kuechly, respectively. For Coach of the Year, I like Tom Coughlin.

The Giants will win the division, but in a season with great coaching performances, I think that Coughlin will get it as a "lifetime achievement award" kind of thing.

As for the rest of how the season will play out, take a look below and feel free to let me know what you think. Please try to keep the profanity to a minimum.

	W	L			W	L
AFC East				NFC East
New England	13	3		New York Giants	12	4
Buffalo	9	7		Philadelphia	11	5
New York Jets	7	9		Dallas	8	8
Miami	2	14		Washington	5	11
AFC North				NFC North
Pittsburgh	11	5		Green Bay	13	3
Baltimore	11	5		Chicago	11	5
Cincinnati	8	8		Detroit	10	6
Cleveland	3	13		Minnesota	3	13
AFC South				NFC South
Houston	11	5		New Orleans	10	6
Tennessee	9	7		Atlanta	10	6
Jacksonville	4	12		Carolina	8	8
Indianapolis	4	12		Tampa Bay	4	12
AFC West				NFC West
Kansas City	11	5		San Francisco	11	5
Denver	10	6		Seattle	8	8
San Diego	9	7		Arizona	4	12
Oakland	4	12		St. Louis	2	14

Wild Card Round

 
Houston over Denver
Baltimore over Kansas City

New Orleans over Chicago
Philadelphia over San Francisco

Divisional Round

 
 New England over Baltimore
Houston over Pittsburgh

Green Bay over New Orleans
New York Giants over Philadelphia

Conference Championships

 
New England over Houston
Green Bay over New York Giants

Super Bowl

Green Bay over New England