2011 NFL Pre-Preseason Predictions: Experience Takes It All

The NFL lockout has made this upcoming NFL season (if we have one) very predictable in terms of favorites to win the Super Bowl. Teams hoping that the picks they made in this year's NFL draft will make a big impact are going to be extremely disappointed.

Teams with all the experience should have the advantage this season. And with that, these are my picks for the upcoming 2011-12 season:

AFC Championship Game

New England Patriots

The Pats have Tom Brady. And Brady makes the most out of anything that he has around him. So it would be foolish to think that his team shouldn't be favored to get to the AFC Championship game. Wes Welker will be 100 percent this season and Brady's gang of nobody receivers will be somebodies by the end of the season as always.

And there won't be any distraction with Randy Moss gone. Oh, and don't forget about Danny Woodhead (hopefully we can recognize him after this year if he's caught working at another Modell's). 

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens pretty much have it all.

An amazing wide receiver core headlined by Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason. A very downhill, hard-nosed running back in Ray Rice. A proven defense led by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. And a quarterback named Joe Flacco, who has been living in the shadow Matt Ryan, the star quarterback drafted a few picks ahead.

The Ravens have something to prove and this is the year to do it.

Prediction: The Patriots will probably be too much for the Ravens to handle. Brady knows how to pick apart a defense and the Ravens D won't be an exception.

Final Score: 24-13, Patriots.

NFC Championship Game

Green Bay Packers

The legend of Brett Favre is long forgotten. And now Aaron Rodgers has established himself as an elite quarterback in the NFL. They managed to win the Super Bowl despite only managing a 10-6 record and playing as the sixth seed in the playoffs, but they pulled it off and people have to give them credit.

They were just in the Super Bowl, so why wouldn't they be the favorite to win it all again?

New Orleans Saints

The Saints have been doing everything right this offseason so far. The fact that there has been such a long lockout has not affected the players at all. Drew Brees has been a true leader by holding offseason workouts to ensure that everyone is in shape for the regular season.

They also helped out their one big weakness in the NFL draft by picking Alabama RB Mark Ingram. Ingram is the running back Pierre Thomas wants to be. With a healthy Reggie Bush, the running game for the Saints will be in the top five in my opinion.

They also have a nice set of receivers with Hofstra's own Marques Colston leading the way. All the Saints hard work will pay off and they will be the most ready to play football this season.

Prediction: The Saints will be marching into the Super Bowl for the second time in three years by defeating the Packers in what I think is going to be a blowout. The Saints offense is going to be in full sync and the Packers are gonna have a hard time stopping Brees.

Final Score: 35-10, Saints.

And with those picks we move onto the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XLVI Prediction: Saints vs. Patriots

Winner: This was a tough choice, but Brady is just too good to go against. The Saints will be the best prepared team in the NFL, doesn't mean they're gonna be the best team.

Final Score: 30-20, Patriots.