2010 NFL Season: Win/Loss Predictions for All 32 Teams

Football season has finally arrived.

Searching for a comprehensive NFL preview? Look no further. Predictions for all 32 teams are included in the slideshow, along with the standings for every division.

All of your burning questions will be answered, including who will be the champions of the crowded NFC East? What will be the fate of Brett Favre and the Vikings? And what effect does Ben Roethlisberger's suspension have on the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Agree with the picks? Disagree? Comments are welcome. 

Note: Portions of this piece appeared on www.vype.com and www.vype.com/dfw.

AFC East

Predicted Standings

1. New York Jets (11-5)

2. New England Patriots (10-6)

3. Miami Dolphins (8-8)

4. Buffalo Bills (3-13)

1. New York Jets

2010 Predicted Record: 11-5

We’ve heard it all. “Hard Knocks” will get to their heads. Rex Ryan is too crazy. Mark Sanchez is too young. Don’t listen to the doubters. The Jets are for real.

Let’s remember, this was a 9-7 team that put the pieces together in the playoffs and made it all the way to the AFC Championship game. Now, they’ve got a more confident quarterback ready to make the next step, a young running back brimming with potential (Shonn Greene) and an improved passing attack (addition of Santonio Holmes after suspension).

Yes, Thomas Jones is gone, but Greene and LaDanian Tomlinson should easily pick up where he left off. That running game will be one of the best in the NFL.

The Jets also have one of, if not the best, defenses in the league. Assuming Darrelle Revis comes to an agreement with the team, New York easily has the toughest secondary for opposing quarterbacks to matchup with. The Jets also have David Harris, Bart Scott, and run-cloggers like Kris Jenkins and Shaun Ellis.

The AFC is full of contenders for playoff spots, but has few teams that can contend for Super Bowl spots. The Jets are one of those Super Bowl contenders. If Mark Sanchez makes a steady improvement, New York might be on its way to the big game.

2. New England Patriots

2010 Predicted Record: 10-6

The Patriots have been a consistent Super Bowl team for nearly a decade. That might come to an end this season.

Tom Brady has been completely disrespected by New England’s front office, and isn’t getting paid like he deserves. Although Brady will never say it publicly, that situation will affect his play moving forward. He’s not happy with the way things are going with the team.

The Patriots are never a good running team, and that won’t change this season. They still have a great offensive line that can protect Brady as he tries to find Randy Moss and company. Moss might take a step back as he gets older, but New England should return Wes Welker and they have the emerging Julian Edelman.

The Patriots don’t have an elite defense like they did in years past, but Vince Wilfork is one of the game’s best defensive tackles, and the linebacking group has two possible pro bowl players in Jerod Mayo and Tully Banta-Cain. The secondary is strong as well.

Despite all of New England’s strengths, I don’t see this team holding off the Jets for another year. The Pats will be a wild card contender, but that’s all.

3. Miami Dolphins

2010 Predicted Record: 8-8

Want to know how much Brandon Marshall improves the Dolphins? Try one win.

It’s not that Marshall won’t put up nice statistics. He’s an All-Pro and will play well even if his quarterback (Chad Henne) does not.

In a different division, Miami would make the playoffs. Unfortunately, they play four games this season against the Jets and Patriots, two vastly superior teams.

Chad Henne is now the full-time quarterback and it remains to be seen how effective he can be. Adding Brandon Marshall certainly helps, but I wouldn’t expect an All-Pro season or anything near that from Henne.

Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams should remain as one of the best combos in the NFL. If Brown goes down, Ricky Williams proved he can step in and play like a top-tier running back (despite the fact that he’s over 30 years old).

The Dolphins are a middle of the pack defensive team with a nice group of linebackers. New addition Karlos Dansby is a Pro Bowl caliber player, and Channing Crowder is an emerging threat.

The Fins won’t make the playoffs unless a major injury strikes down a star on the Patriots or Jets. 

4. Buffalo Bills

2010 Predicted Record: 3-13

Buffalo might be the worst team in the NFL this season. At the very least, they’re the most boring to watch.

Seriously, try to think of three Buffalo Bills other than their running backs. Can you? And if you can, would you consider any of those guys elite players?

The Bills didn’t address their glaring need for a quarterback, and instead have opted for another season of Trent Edwards. His only weapon is Lee Evans, who under performed big time last season even with Terrell Owens on board. Buffalo’s three-headed rushing monster will run behind a slightly above-average offensive line. Of the three backs, C.J. Spiller has the most promise. Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch are already banged up.

Buffalo’s defense won’t stop anyone. It lacks a true anchor to lead the other players. Only Jairus Byrd and Paul Posluszny excel at their positions.

Buffalo will continue to be a bottom feeder until a true QB is brought in. If the Bills do finish 3-13, they might be able to get their hands on Jake Locker from the University of Washington. 

AFC North

Predicted Standings

1. Baltimore Ravens (10-6)

2. Cincinatti Bengals (10-6)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8)

4. Cleveland Browns (3-13)

1. Baltimore Ravens

2010 Predicted Record: 10-6

For years, the Ravens main strength was their tough defense. Now that they’ve added Anquan Boldin to the offense, the whole team is much more balanced.

QB Joe Flacco could be in for a breakout season. He started to put the pieces together last season and is only 25 years old. Expect 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Ray Rice is the most important player on the roster. He’s a dynamic runner capable of breaking off long touchdowns at any time. That’s a trait only a handful of players in the NFL possess. He’s a top five fantasy player for the 2010-2011 season.

Ray Lewis is still the anchor of Baltimore’s hard-nosed defense, but Ed Reed doesn’t look to be even close to healthy. He might miss a significant amount of games this season, and even if he doesn’t, it’s doubtful Reed will be playing at 100 percent.

Haloti Ngata remains one of the best linemen in the league, and the Ravens do have dependable starters like Terrell Suggs and Dawan Landry. The corners need to prove their worth, as do the other linemen around Ngata.

Overall, the Ravens have a great shot at winning the AFC North and making serious noise in the postseason. 

2. Cincinnati Bengals

2010 Predicted Record: 10-6

If you couldn’t get enough of Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco together on VH1, you’re in luck. The dynamic duo has teamed up to form a terrifying threat for opposing defenses.

Of course, that terrifying threat may end up only hurting the Bengals if either prima donna gets fed up with his lack of touches. I personally don’t anticipate any problems—T.O. can’t afford to complain or he’s as good as gone, and Ochocinco is capable of masking his frustrations (but certainly not his trash talking). Both players should have around 1,000 yards.

Last year, Cedric Benson was a fantasy MVP for his surprisingly strong play. I don’t anticipate a repeat of that performance, but Benson should still take a considerable amount of pressure off Carson Palmer and the passing game.

Cincinnati’s passing game struggled last season, and while Palmer should have a better season now that he has T.O, he’s not going to return to his All-Pro form from a few years back.

The Bengals have a sneaky good defense. Antwan Odom was leading the league in sacks last season before getting injured, and his return spells trouble for other teams. Cincinnati also has two cornerbacks who had six interceptions in 2009 (Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall). That kind of pressure is key to winning football games.

The Bengals should be right in the mix for a wild card spot. Assuming no major injuries occur, they will squeak into the playoffs.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

2010 Predicted Record: 8-8

Ben Roethlisberger completely ruined Pittsburgh’s chances at making the postseason.

Big Ben will miss at minimum four games due to suspension, which is a quarter of the season. The Steelers play Atlanta, at the Titans, at Tampa Bay, and against the Ravens during that stretch. They could easily start the season 1-3 without their franchise QB.

The rest of the offense is talented but unproven. Rashard Mendenhall will be thrust into the starting running back job full-time, and while he has the talent to produce huge numbers, the porous offensive line he runs behind might prevent a breakout campaign. Receiver Mike Wallace has shown flashes of greatness, but so far isn’t anything more than an occasional deep-bomb target. Hines Ward is the only consistent force on the offense.

Pittsburgh arguably has the best linebacking group in the NFL, led by James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley. Both guys are defensive player of the year candidates.

If Troy Polamulu can return to his old form, the Steelers are in great shape. I’d say it’s unlikely he’s ever 100 percent though.

Unless Pittsburgh’s defense carries the team by absolutely shutting down opposing offenses, I see the Steelers falling short of the playoffs in an extremely tough division. With Ben Roethlisberger on board for all 16 games, maybe things go differently. Unfortunately, that’s not an option.

4. Cleveland Browns

2010 Predicted Record: 3-13

Yes, the Browns finished last season with four straight victories. No, they won’t match that mark all of this year.

Cleveland has anointed Jake Delhomme, the guy who finished with ten more interceptions than touchdowns in 2009, as the starter. That’s basically all you need to know about the direction of the team.

The Browns do have running backs that could become breakout fantasy players—Jerome Harrison had a monster 200-plus yard game last season and will look to build on that. Rookie Montario Hardesty should also get carries behind an offensive line led by All-Pro LT Joe Thomas.

Cleveland has no wide receivers for opposing teams to be worried about. Mohamed Massaquoi is the only man worth taking note of for fantasy football purposes.

The Browns’ defense is awful. Rookie Joe Haden helps shore up a solid group of cornerbacks, but other than that, there’s not much to cheer for in Cleveland.

If you’re a Browns fan, hope for the top pick in the 2011 Draft, and for Eric Mangini to be fired. 

AFC South

Predicted Standings

1. Indianapolis Colts (12-4)

2. Tennessee Titans (9-7)

3. Houston Texans (8-8)

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10)

1. Indianapolis Colts

2010 Predicted Record: 12-4

The Colts are the darlings of the AFC South. In fact, since 2002, Indianapolis has won the division every year except one. That won’t change this season.

As long as Peyton Manning remains at the helm, the Colts are a good bet for at least 10 wins and playoff birth. He’s arguably the best quarterback in the NFL and has plenty of weapons at his disposal.

Indy’s running game leaves a lot to be desired, but the Joseph Addai/Donald Brown duo is dangerous enough to keep defenses on their toes.

I foresee a decline in Reggie Wayne’s stats this season. Just as Marvin Harrison passed the torch to Wayne in 2004, Wayne will pass the torch to Pierre Garcon in 2010. Garcon is a big target capable of a monster season. And, of course, Dallas Clark will remain one of Manning’s favorite options.

Indy’s defense is quietly one of the better units in the AFC. Bob Sanders and Dwight Freeney are the anchors, and they are joined by possible Pro Bowlers like Robert Mathis (9 sacks last season), rookie first-round pick Jerry Hughes, MLB Gary Bracket, and free safety Antoine Bethea.

Perhaps the biggest question mark for the Colts is whether or not head coach Jim Caldwell is capable of leading his team to a Super Bowl championship after failing to do so last season. Tony Dungy brought the team together, and it remains to be seen whether Caldwell can replicate that success.  

2. Tennessee Titans

2010 Predicted Record: 9-7

Tennessee has the best all-around player in the NFL. Chris Johnson is capable of topping 2,000 yards rushing again, and yet, his team might not even make the playoffs.

Vince Young is a proven winner, but hasn’t shown he can pass in clutch situations when the team can’t just live with the ground game. And it’s not all his fault—Young’s targets are Justin Gage, Kenny Britt, and Nate Washington. Yuck.

Still, as long as Young has Chris Johnson at his disposal, the offense should flow accordingly. Those two make up a unique duo of speed out of the backfield.

The Titans have an average defense at best. Last season, they were very inconsistent, even allowing 59 points to the Patriots. Someone other than Stephen Tulloch needs to make plays and force turnovers for the offense. Otherwise, they will be on the outside looking in by season’s end.

3. Houston Texans

2010 Predicted Record: 8-8

Sorry Texans fans—another year without a playoff appearance is on the way.

Houston just didn’t do enough this offseason to put themselves ahead of the Titans or other wild card contenders. Their running game is still atrocious, and it sounds like rookie Ben Tate will miss time during the regular season, which doesn’t bode well at all.

The Texans will win games behind Matt Schaub and the best wide receiver around, Andre Johnson. Johnson literally can’t be stopped (unless he visits Revis Island). Tight end Owen Daniels is returning from surgery but was having a breakout campaign in 2009 before succumbing to injury.

Houston’s defense is anchored by Mario Williams (remember when the Texans were ridiculed for passing on Reggie Bush?), and he will put constant pressure on other quarterbacks. Upon his return, linebacker Brian Cushing will be a force to be reckoned with. The Texan secondary is young and improving, but isn’t quite there yet. That sentence basically sums up the entire team.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

2010 Predicted Record: 6-10

Maurice Jones-Drew is sick of the Jaguars being overlooked. Unless he has an MVP-caliber season, however, his squad won’t be going anywhere this season.

The Jaguars are shaky at quarterback, where David Garrard puts up solid stats, but isn’t well-liked by coach Jack Del Rio, who was tempted to pull Garrard at multiple points last season. MJD is one of the most dynamic players in football but has little help around him. Mike Sims-Walker is the only receiving threat other teams need to keep an eye on.

Aaron Kampman was a huge addition to a weak defensive line, and he should be a major help in improving an average defense from a year ago. Jacksonville was also able to grab Kirk Morrison, who finished with over 130 tackles for the Raiders in 2009. Those two guys are game-changers.

Even with an improved D, the Jags don’t have enough firepower to beat out the Texans, Titans, or Colts. In the AFC West, Jacksonville would win 8 or 9 games. In this division, they’ll only win 6. 

AFC West

Predicted Standings

1. San Diego Chargers (10-6)

2. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)

3. Denver Broncos (6-10)

4. Oakland Raiders (5-11)

1. San Diego Chargers

2010 Predicted Record: 10-6

The Chargers play in the second-worst division in the NFL (NFC West is the worst), yet they consistently under perform both in the regular season and the playoffs. That doesn’t mean they won’t win the AFC West though.

The Chargers will finish with ten wins behind Philip Rivers and a new rushing attack. Running back Ryan Mathews is a front-runner for rookie of the year and will receive lots of carries now that LaDanian Tomlinson is gone.

The loss of Vincent Jackson for at least the first quarter of the season is huge. He’s Rivers’s top option and makes that offense click. Without him, who knows how the Chargers will fare.

San Diego’s linebacking corps is good enough to stop anyone—provided they stay healthy. For the past few seasons, Shawne Merriman hasn’t proved he’s capable of doing that. Even without Antonio Cromartie, the Chargers have depth at the corner back positions with guys like Antoine Cason, Nathan Vasher, and Quentin Jammer.

San Diego will continue to be a sexy Super Bowl pick, but until they show some grit and determination in the playoffs, I refuse to consider them a contender for a championship. 

2. Kansas City Chiefs

2010 Predicted Record: 6-10

In another division, the Chiefs would remain as one of the bottom feeders of the AFC. In the AFC West, however, they are capable of finishing second.

With a year under his belt, Matt Cassel should play much better. The Chiefs have a new offensive coordinator, Charlie Weis, who can help with that improvement. Kansas City will run plenty of unique plays to keep defenses on their toes at all times.

Jamaal Charles is primed and ready to have a true breakout season. He finished with over 1,100 yards last year but wasn’t the feature back. That will change this season, with veteran Thomas Jones figuring to get a nice chunk of carries as well.

Kansas City still has an awful offensive line, and until that changes, Matt Cassel will be sacked multiple times each game. Cassel does have Dwyane Bowe at his disposal, but Bowe is inconsistent and has some maturity issues.

Safety Eric Berry is a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year and is a huge boost to Kansas City’s secondary. He’s a surefire stud from day one. Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson have to prove they aren’t busts this season. If they improve, the Chiefs will have a solid foundation on defense. 

3. Denver Broncos

2010 Predicted Record: 6-10

Josh McDaniels and company continue to make boneheaded decisions that cost the team. Jay Cutler? Gone. Brandon Marshall? Gone. And now, Denver has three quarterbacks to replace Cutler, including first-round pick Tim Tebow. Huh?

The Broncos already had a solid quarterback in Kyle Orton, and a youngster looking to make a name for himself (Brady Quinn). That’s what makes the addition of Tebow so strange. It will be interesting to see how that situation unfolds.

Knowshon Moreno should show glimpses of Bronco star runners from years past this season. He has all the tools necessary to be an elite player.

The Broncos reached on Demaryius Thomas in the NFL Draft instead of going with Dez Bryant, a move that will certainly haunt them for years to come. They only have Eddie Royal as a major target.

The loss of Elvis Dumervil on defense hurts even more. He was the heart and soul of that squad and a legitimate defensive player of the year candidate. Without him, the Broncos are unable to put nearly as much pressure on the quarterback.

Denver will compete for second in the AFC West, but that’s not saying much.

4. Oakland Raiders

Al Davis says Jason Campbell is the second coming of Jim Plunkett. Al Davis is also the architect behind last season’s Darrius Heyward-Bey pick.

I like what the Raiders did this offseason. Jason Campbell is certainly an improvement over JaMarcus Russell, who the Raiders wisely got rid of so they could start a new era of football.

Still, Campbell isn’t going to save the day. He had a below average offensive line and below average receivers in Washington, and he has a below average line with even worse receivers in Oakland. Michael Bush and Darren McFadden make up a solid tandem, but they aren’t elite by any means.

On defense, the Raiders will be bolstered by the arrival of rookie middle linebacker Rolando McClain, who promises to fill that void for the next decade. Oakland also has a nice secondary led by Nnamdi Asomugha, arguably the second-best cornerback in the game. The defensive line features Richard Seymour, who is on the decline, and the overpaid Tommy Kelly. While some of those guys are bright spots, the defense as a whole isn’t good enough to stop above-average offenses.

Until Oakland fixes their passing game with legitimate targets, they will remain at the bottom of the AFC West.

NFC East

Predicted Standings

1. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)

2. Washington Redskins (9-7)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8)

4. New York Giants (8-8)

1. Dallas Cowboys

2010 Predicted Record: 11-5

The Cowboys have an extremely talented and deep roster on both sides of the ball. They’re definitely the favorites to win the NFC East, but only time will tell if they can make plays come the postseason.

Tony Romo should throw for around 4,000 yards and finish with 25-30 touchdowns. He simply gets the job done week in and week out. He has plenty of targets—Miles Austin, rookie sensation Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, and Roy Williams (yes, he’s still considered a target) are all capable of ripping off big plays.

In the backfield, Dallas will go with a three-headed monster led presumably by Felix Jones. Marion Barber will continue to get goal line carries and touches on third-and-one situations, while Tashard Choice will give both guys a breather from time to time.

Dallas’s defense features plenty of Pro Bowl players. Jay Ratliff really emerged last season and should play just as well in 2010. DeMarcus Ware is one of the most feared football players in the NFL, and for good reason. He’s always ready to lay down a big hit or force a turnover. Watch for Anthony Spencer to record double-digit sacks this season.

2. Washington Redskins

2010 Predicted Record: 9-7

Usually, the Redskins go out and spend too much money on overrated players (see Albert Haynesworth). This year, however, they struck gold in the offseason.

Donovan McNabb is the perfect leader for this team. He gives the ‘Skins their first dependable quarterback arguably since Brad Johnson at the turn of the millennium.

Some argue that McNabb will struggle without receivers like DeSean Jackson. Keep in mind that McNabb used to throw for 4,000 yards with no real targets around him, and he does have Santana Moss along with Chris Cooley and the emerging Fred Davis.

Expect Clinton Portis to have a bounce back season behind a rejuvenated offensive line. That line was one of the worst in football last season, but GM Bruce Allen added rookie fourth-overall pick Trent Williams, Artis Hicks, and former Pro Bowl LT Jamaal Brown.

The defense switched from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4, which may take time to adjust to. The biggest issue lies with Albert Haynesworth—if he can settle his differences with coach Shanahan, he’s a major contributor to this team and greatly enhances the value of outside linebackers Brian Orakpo and Andre Carter. If he sits out, Washington loses lots of depth.

London Fletcher is one of the most reliable players in the NFL and consistently finishes games with double-digit tackle totals. The secondary is also pretty strong, featuring Carlos Rogers, DeAngelo Hall, and LaRon Landry.

The Redskins won’t come close to competing with the Cowboys, but with the improvements they made this offseason, nine wins seems like a realistic mark to aim for. The Eagles are rebuilding and the Giants are staying put, meaning this is Washington’s chance to compete for a Wild Card spot.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

2010 Predicted Record: 8-8

The Kevin Kolb era has officially begun.

Philadelphia is attempting to pull a “Green Bay Packers”—unload your franchise QB for a young gun and hope to strike gold. The Packers were successful with Aaron Rodgers, but it took time. Remember, in Rodgers’s first season as starter, his team went 6-10 despite his gaudy statline that included over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Kolb won’t replicate that success, especially not this season. Rodgers is truly one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and it’s highly unlikely Philadelphia struck gold going after the same strategy. Still, Kolb won’t be a pushover. He should play fairly well and does have plenty of targets around the field.

LeSean McCoy has some large shoes to fill as he replaces Brian Westbrook, but he’s talented enough to establish his own legacy. Just like Kolb, however, he might not play completely up to his potential this year.

DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are two young, speedy, dependable receivers. Jackson in particular is a special player and a pro bowl candidate. And don’t forget Brent Celek—another young guy who is emerging as one of the better tight ends in the NFL.

The star of Philly’s defense is Trent Cole, who recorded 12.5 sacks last season. Stewart Bradley returns as the middle linebacker after missing last season due to injury. He and Ernie Sims, acquired from the Lions, are integral pieces to the defense.

In a few years, the Eagles might be the best team in the NFC East. For now, their offense is just too young and inexperienced to progress past an 8-8 record.

4. New York Giants

2010 Predicted Record: 8-8

The Giants were an average football team last year. Usually, an 8-8 record results in an overhaul of the roster or at least some aggressive free agent acquisitions. The Giants, however, did nothing of the sort this offseason. For that reason, they fall behind the Redskins and Eagles in the standings.

Eli Manning is a proven leader and one of the better quarterbacks in football. He will once again hand the ball off to the often-injured Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, both of whom are capable of running for 1,000 yards or more when healthy.

Steve Smith emerged as a number-one receiver in 2009 and is joined by talented targets like Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks. Nicks is talented enough to finish the season with 1,000 yards.

New York added Keith Bullock to play middle linebacker, but he’s the only new guy who will have any sort of impact for the Giants.

New York will send out a talented defensive line with studs like Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Osi Umenyiora. Rookie Jason Pierre-Paul may factor in by season’s end as well. That unit might be the strength of the team.

As a whole, the Giants are talented but simply didn’t even attempt to keep up with division foes during the offseason. You can’t sit around and expect to make the playoffs after an average season.

NFC North

Predicted Standings

1. Green Bay Packers (12-4)

2. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)

3. Chicago Bears (7-9)

4. Detroit Lions (5-11)

1. Green Bay Packers

2010 Predicted Record: 12-4

The Packers have officially arrived.

Sure, Green Bay was already pretty good last year—finishing 11-5 and qualifying for the playoffs as a wild card team—but this season they’re ready to take it to the next level and compete for a Super Bowl.

Aaron Rodgers is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL. That’s not a misprint. He doesn’t have a ring like the Manning brothers, Brady, or Brees yet, but he’s well on his way. No defense (or below-average offensive line) is capable of slowing him down.

Green Bay’s Achilles heel has been its shady offensive line, which allowed its fair share of sacks over the last few years. While the line still isn’t anywhere near elite, it finally has some depth with the addition of first-round pick Bryan Bulaga and the return of tackle Mark Tauscher. For what it’s worth, the Packers haven’t given up a sack all preseason.

Running back Ryan Grant should continue to provide stability out of the backfield and is a pretty safe bet to eclipse 1,100 yards. He’s a vital part of the offense.

Receivers Greg Jennings and Donald Driver are major targets for Rodgers, especially Jennings, who, despite a down season in 2009, is still one of the best wide outs in football. Tight end Jermichael Finley looks ready to join the upper echelon of players at his position by year’s end as well.

Green Bay’s 3-4 defense made huge strides last season, leading the league in turnovers forced and interceptions. They have the reigning defensive player of the year (Charles Woodson), an improving defensive line led by youngster B.J. Raji, and a great group of linebackers that includes Clay Matthews, A.J. Hawk, and Nick Barnett.

Two things need to happen this season if the Packers want to be Super Bowl contenders. One, the offensive line needs to hold up. Two, the defense needs to play as well as it did last year. I suspect both sides of the ball live up to expectations, and the Packers compete for a championship.

2. Minnesota Vikings

2010 Predicted Record: 10-6

Part two of the Brett Favre in Minnesota saga is underway.

The Vikings have a well-balanced team that finished fifth in total offense and sixth in total defense last season. Much to the chagrin of football fans, Brett Favre is back for another year. Don’t expect the big-time numbers he put up last season, especially without Sidney Rice for half of 2010.

Adrian Peterson is the second-best running back in the NFL. Minnesota would be smart to feed him the ball as much as possible, but coach Brad Childress became infatuated with play action fakes that allowed for Favre to “just be Favre” as all the ESPN announcers loved to say last year. Still, Peterson should put up some pretty impressive numbers, and could possibly lead all running backs in touchdowns.

Without Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin becomes even more valuable. The Vikings better hope Harvin’s migraines don’t become an issue that drags him down. He has the talent to be a star in the NFL.

Minnesota has a stacked defensive line that includes the Williams duo and all-pro Jared Allen. Don’t forget Ray Edwards either, who finished with 8.5 sacks in 2009.

Antoine Winfield is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and will play alongside new addition Lito Shepard. Those two guys form a nice combo in the secondary.

While the Vikings are still a great football team, the loss of Sidney Rice for half the season will put a huge damper on their chances of winning the division. It’s also unrealistic to think Brett Favre will play as well as he did in 2009. Minnesota will make the playoffs as a wild card team, but they should no longer be considered amongst the favorites to win a Super Bowl. 

3. Chicago Bears

2010 Predicted Record: 7-9

Year two of the Jay Cutler era will end in a similar fashion to that of year one—plenty of potential that ultimately doesn’t deliver the desired results.

Cutler struggled last season, throwing for 27 touchdowns and 28 interceptions (most in the NFL).

Matt Forte was also a big disappointment coming off a monster 2008 year. Look for him to play somewhere in between his 2008 and 2009 performances—perhaps 1,100 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards.

Someone in that crowded Chicago receiving corps needs to step up. I’m not so sure if anyone is up to the task. The best bet is that multiple receivers (Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett, Devin Hester, Devin Aromashodu) will have solid but unspectacular campaigns.

Chicago made a splash this offseason by bringing in the most prized free agent of the summer—Julius Peppers. Peppers should help Chicago’s passing attack immensely, assuming he doesn’t become contend like Albert Haynesworth did after grabbing a huge contract.

Brian Urlacher is the heart and soul of the entire team and whether or not he can return to his previous form will help determine the fate of the Bears. He’s joined by pro bowl linebacker Lance Briggs.

Devin Hester remains one of the few special teams players capable of influencing a game because of his returning skills. Josh Cribbs is the best in the business, but Hester isn’t far behind.

As long as Brett Favre remains in Minnesota, the Bears will be relegated to third in the NFC North. They need to add some receiving weapons to take the pressure off Jay Cutler, because we all know what he was able to do with Brandon Marshall in Denver.

4. Detroit Lions

2010 Predicted Record: 5-11

The Lions continue to make strides towards a return to relevance, but they aren’t quite there yet.

Quarterback Matt Stafford is a strong candidate to have a breakout second season. He showed glimpses of potential last season and the additions of Javhid Best plus Nate Burleson should help him out immensely.

Best is the new running back in Detroit, and will form a tandem with Kevin Smith. Still, this is Best’s job for the long haul and he might be the feature back by season’s end.

Calvin Johnson needs to recover from a disappointing 2009 campaign. With Nate Burleson playing alongside him, Johnson won’t be double teamed quite as much. If opposing teams key in on “Megatron” every game, Burleson could have a sneaky good season.

Ndamukong Suh will be an absolute stud from day one and should open up the floodgates for defensive ends Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch. Detroit also has Julian Peterson, who needs to regain his pre-2009 form if the Lions are going to put serious pressure on other teams.

Louis Delmas quickly emerged last season as one of the better free safeties in football. The rest of the secondary, however, still needs serious work.

NFC South

Predicted Standings

1. New Orleans Saints (12-4)

2. Atlanta Falcons (9-7)

3. Carolina Panthers (7-9)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13)

1. New Orleans Saints

2010 Predicted Record: 12-4

The defending Super Bowl champions should easily win the NFC South and once again compete for a championship.

The only thing that could possibly slow down Drew Brees this season is the Madden Curse. He’s a top-three quarterback in the NFL and has weapons all over the field.

Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush form an intriguing running duo. Thomas is more of a traditional back, while Bush specializes in receptions out of the backfield along with a few carries each game. They compliment each other well.

Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, and Lance Moore are all viable fantasy options at wide receiver. That exemplifies just how deep this Saints team is on offense.

New Orleans has a pretty good defense too. Will Smith finished with 13 sacks last season and was a major reason the Saints put so much pressure on opposing defenses. Defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis is a guy to watch after missing six games last year.

Jonathan Vilma is the anchor of the defense at the middle linebacker position. He racked up 110 tackles in 2009. New Orleans’s true strength on defense comes from the secondary though—Jabari Greer returns from injury and will play cornerback alongside Tracy Porter. And, of course, no one can discount Darren Sharper, who returned three of his nine interceptions last season for touchdowns. It’s unlikely he will replicate that success, but he’s still very important to the Saints' chances at repeating as champs.

2. Atlanta Falcons

2010 Predicted Record: 9-7

Coming into last season, the Falcons looked primed and ready to make some major noise in the NFC. They ended up finishing 9-7 without a trip to the playoffs.

The offense for the Falcons is the same as last year. Matt Ryan is an above-average quarterback who didn’t really take the “next step” to stardom as was expected. It will be interesting to see if he can stay healthy and emerge as a top-flight QB this season. He does have a top-five fantasy running back in Michael Turner, along with a top-five fantasy receiver in Roddy White. And don’t forget about the consummate workhorse, Tony Gonzalez. Gonzalez was targeted more than any tight end in the NFL last season, which is likely to repeat again this year. 

The defense isn’t nearly as strong. The Falcons finished 21^st in total D last year, and although the acquisition of cornerback Dunta Robinson will certainly improve that ranking, he’s not good enough to change Atlanta’s fortunes. The Falcons have a terrible defensive line, with John Abraham serving as the only guy capable of putting heavy pressure on opposing teams (and he finished last season with only 5.5 sacks).

The Falcons should not be discounted from the wild card hunt by any means. They will likely be competing against Minnesota and any one of the four NFC East teams for that final playoff spot. Depending on the health of Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, they just might be able to sneak into the postseason.

3. Carolina Panthers

2010 Predicted Record: 7-9

Carolina could go in two completely different directions this season. It all depends on Matt Moore.

Moore is an unknown at this point, as his only experience comes from seven games last season. He played pretty well down the stretch, but during the preseason this year, he’s struggled. I suspect Moore plays on par with other average quarterbacks like Jason Campbell, Matt Cassel, and Kyle Orton. Perhaps 3,000 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions is an accurate prediction.

The Panthers will rely heavily on their rushing attack, which consists of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Both are viable fantasy options, especially if one becomes a feature back because of injury to the other.

Carolina’s lone receiving threat is Steve Smith, who actually finished with less than 1,000 yards last season. It’s possible his best days are behind him.

The Panthers' suffered a major loss on the defensive line when Julius Peppers bolted to Chicago. Carolina no longer has an elite threat to rush the quarterback.

Jon Beason is a monster linebacker and the best defensive player on Carolina’s roster. He will once again be among the league leaders in tackles.

Carolina has two pretty solid cornerbacks (Chris Gamble and Richard Marshall), but no one capable of shutting down a number one receiver.

Until the Panthers figure out who their quarterback of the future is, they will have trouble winning games. Only a full-on breakout season from Matt Moore would propel Carolina into the wild card race.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2010 Predicted Record: 3-13

Tampa Bay is on a short list of teams that will compete for worst record in the NFL.

Quarterback Josh Freeman is completely unproven at this point. In ten games last season, he struggled immensely—1855 yards with 10 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. It’s unlikely he will improve a whole lot this season without an established wide receiver.

Rookie receiver Mike Williams may become a big-play target down the line, but don’t expect much out of him this season. Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. is the only dependable guy for Freeman to throw to.

The Buccaneers will probably start the season giving Cadillac Williams most of the touches out of the backfield. If he goes down to injury, watch out for rookie Kareem Huggins as a sleeper in fantasy football leagues.

Rookie defensive tackle Gerald McCoy brings hope to an abysmal defensive line. Tampa will need to address that line again in next year’s NFL Draft to help McCoy out.

The Bucs have a pretty solid group of linebackers, all of which finished with at least 84 tackles last year. Barrett Rudd was among the league leaders with 142 tackles.

In the secondary, watch out for safety Tanard Jackson, who picked off five passes last year and returned two for touchdowns. At only 25-years-old, he’s a cornerstone for the rebuilding Buccaneers. 

NFC West

Predicted Standings

1. San Francisco 49ers (9-7)

2. Arizona Cardinals (7-9)

3. Seattle Seahawks (6-10)

4. St. Louis Rams (4-12)

1. San Francisco 49ers

2010 Predicted Record: 9-7

The battle for best of the mediocre will be won by the 49ers.

No team in the NFC West deserves to make the playoffs. In any other division, all four squads would struggle to win seven games.

The 49ers will squeak into the postseason behind a rock-solid rushing game and an underrated defense. Frank Gore and Brian Westbrook form a unique combination of power and agility to keep defenses on their toes. Alex Smith will never be a Pro Bowl QB, but he showed he’s no bust. He has two supremely talented targets—Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis. Davis led all receivers with 13 touchdowns last season, and assuming Crabtree shows improvement, both players should benefit from each other.

Patrick Willis may very well be the best linebacker in the NFL. He’s an absolute monster and is good for 120+ tackles, 3-6 sacks, and 3-5 interceptions. You don’t see that statline everyday.

San Fran’s secondary is unspectacular but gets the job done. That’s basically the message for the entire team.

2. Arizona Cardinals

2010 Predicted Record: 7-9

Arizona’s playoff streak will come to an end this season without Kurt Warner at the helm.

New QB Matt Leinart has yet to show any glimpses of his potential from his USC days. In fact, the Cardinals had to bring in Derek Anderson, who may end up with the starting quarterback job.

Leinart or Anderson will have one fewer Pro Bowl player to throw to, as Anquan Boldin went to the Ravens. That’s a huge loss for the QB and for Larry Fitzgerald, who will now be double-teamed on nearly every play.

Running back Beanie Wells should have a nice season and is a sleeper fantasy football pick. If the Cardinals make the playoffs, it’s because Wells found his stride and surprised the rest of the league.

Arizona’s defense is now without Karlos Dansby, and that’s a huge loss. Dansby was the heart and soul of that unit. Joey Porter is a good replacement, but won’t have the same impact as Dansby now that he’s 33 years old.

The Cardinals do have a strong secondary, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has the raw skills to become an elite cornerback this season.

3. Seattle Seahawks

2010 Predicted Record: 6-10

Pete Carroll’s first NFL go-around was a mixed bag—a 33-31 record. Now he’s back to the pro game, this time with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks are a team in transition. They’ve begun to overhaul the offensive line, and are now led by rookie LT Russell Okung. They also brought in rookie Golden Tate, who is drawing comparisons to Percy Harvin because of his athleticism.

Still, Seattle remains stubborn in the backfield. Julius Jones will figure into the running game despite Justin Forsett’s success last season. That dampens the youth movement big time. The Seahawks are also sticking with Matt Hasselbeck, even though he’s coming off his worst statistical season in years. Watch for Charlie Whitehurst to take the job if Hasselbeck can’t get back to his old form.

The defense is led by Aaron Curry, an outside linebacker with plenty of potential. Curry doesn’t have the luxury of a great linebacking group around him as in years past, when Seattle had one of the best trios around.

Rookie Earl Thomas is the only other notable player on defense. He’s the stud of the secondary for Pete Carroll and company.

4. St. Louis Rams

2010 Predicted Record: 4-12

The good news? The Rams will be better than last year. The bad news? The term “better” is pretty relative.

Even if A.J. Feeley begins the season as the starting quarterback, he won’t keep the job for long. Still, first overall pick Sam Bradford will surely struggle this season. Put a rookie quarterback behind a below-average offensive line with no legitimate receiving threats and you’re bound for trouble. Rams fans should hope Bradford has a Matt Stafford-esque rookie campaign (average stats but with glimpses of greatness) as opposed to a Joey Harrington rookie campaign.

Steven Jackson is the workhorse of this offense, and despite having a target on his back from opposing teams, he should put up nice numbers each game. Jackson is always an injury-risk, which should be kept in mind for fantasy football leagues.

The Rams still need to make lots of changes to the defense. Former top pick Chris Long didn’t live up to the hype in 2009 and the Rams will be looking for him to improve in his third season. St. Louis was smart in bringing back safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, and he’s capable of forcing turnovers every game. The rest of the defense is fairly unproven other than middle linebacker James Laurinaitis.