2011 NFL Predictions: Who Is Going to the Playoffs This Season?

It's football season!

The last month has been a rush with the lockout ending, free agency beginning, draft picks being signed, undrafted free agents being signed, trades taking place, training camp and preseason games. 

Football fans could not be happier. The season is two weeks away from when defending Super Bowl champions Green Bay Packers host the New Orleans Saints.

Here are the predictions for every division, who will make the playoffs come January and who will win the Super Bowl.

AFC East: Who Will Outwit the Other, Bill Belichick or Rex Ryan?

It all comes down to who outwits the other, Bill Belichick or Rex Ryan. I am going with Belichick. Here's why: 

The New England Patriots suffered a tough loss to their division rival, the New York Jets in the playoffs last season. Now the Patriots are reloaded and primed for a big season. 

Tom Brady looks better than ever after a 3,900-yard season and 36 touchdowns compared to his four interceptions. Brady has his favorite possession receiver back in full health in Wes Welker, and picked up Chad Ochocinco. The tight ends are a big part of the offense as well, and Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski will look to build off their solid rookie seasons.

The running game will also be a big part of the Patriots as the Law Firm, or Benjarvus Green-Ellis, and the small, but quick and nimble Danny Woodhead return to balance the offense. 

On defense, the secondary and pass rush were big disappointments last season, especially in the playoffs. The Patriots got Albert Haynesworth in a trade, which he and Vince Wilfork will plug up the middle. The secondary is more experienced now as Devin McCourty, Brandon Meriweather and Patrick Chung are becoming more used to the system. 

The Patriots could go 13-3 on the season.

The New York Jets will take second with the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills following. 

For the Jets to win the East, Mark Sanchez must show consistency at quarterback. Sanchez has a big target in Plaxico Burress now, and the reliable Santanio Holmes to throw to. The Jets defense should be at the top of the league and carry the load for the Jets.

The Jets still make the playoffs, though.  

AFC North: Defense Reigns Supreme Here

This division is all about defense. 

The Steelers won the AFC last year and have won the AFC North three out of the last four seasons. Proven quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn't play four games last year due to suspension, and the Steelers still were AFC North champions. Roethlisberger has four weapons to throw to now in Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Jerricho Cotchery and Heath Miller.

Don't forget about the run game. Mendenhall is a bruiser and can pick up tough yards.

The defense is getting old, but still wins games. The Steel Curtain will be led by the fierce James Harrison, Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor and Lamar Woodley. 

Expect a 13-3 finish for the Steelers. 

The Baltimore Ravens finish second but still make the playoffs. The Ravens defense is getting older and will hold back a little. They lost two weapons for Joe Flacco in Derrick Mason and Todd Heap, and also a defensive nose tackle, Kelly Gregg, who plugged the hole last year. 

It's no secret, though, that if Ray Lewis and Ed Reed stay healthy, they will be fierce. 

If the Ravens can beat the Steelers at Heinz Field, this may be their year for a division title. 

The Cleveland Browns are rising with Colt McCoy, and the Cincinnati Bengals are going downward. 

AFC South: Peyton Manning Will Be Fine

Peyton Manning is likely to miss the opening game, as the Colts signed Kerry Collins yesterday. However, Manning will be back Week 2, and in a relatively weak division you have to pick the Colts to win the division. 

Manning just has that competitive edge that will outlast the rest of the division. Manning has Reggie Wayne to throw to, along with Austin Collie, Dallas Clark and Pierre Garcon.

Their weakness last year was injured receivers who must stay healthy in 2011. For the Colts to be successful, the receivers must provide Manning with production, Manning must play and the offensive line has to protect Manning. 

The Colts go 11-5. 

The Houston Texans are asked the question same question every year: Is this finally the year they make the playoffs?

Well, it's time they should. The offense is there, and now the defense is finally getting better. The defense is switching to a 3-4 as Mario Williams will be moving to outside linebacker. The key component for the Texans' success? The secondary. The Texans cannot blow games in the fourth quarter by giving up big plays to Manning anymore. 

I see the Texans being still a year or two removed from the playoffs. 

Jacksonville and Tennessee are still years apart as well. Tennessee is interesting, with the Chris Johnson holdout, the addition of veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and a new head coach.

AFC West: It's the Chargers' to Lose

The San Diego Chargers just had so many questions last season. The Chargers underachieve and don't seem to click until December.

Last year, their offense could score points, but it was their defense and special teams that were wretched. Losing Darren Sproles hurts, but the Chargers believe Ryan Matthews is ready to put his rookie struggles behind. Bruiser Matt Tolbert will get carries as well.

The receivers are set with Malcom Floyd and Vincent Jackson as Philip Rivers' go-to guys.

The defense should be better with the re-signing of Eric Weddle, the acquisitions of Travis LaBoy, Bob Sanders and Takeo Spikes.

Lastly, the punting game must get better blocking help.

The Chargers finish 12-4. 

Despite making the playoffs in 2010, the Kansas City Chiefs suffer a downfall in 2011 and miss the playoffs. Losing Charlie Weis will be huge to the offense.

Not to mention the Chiefs have a rough schedule. From Nov. 21 to Dec. 18, they face New England, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Green Bay and the New York Jets. 

Picking up Steve Breaston gives Matt Cassel another weapon, and the defense will benefit from having Kelly Gregg in the middle on the defense.

The Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos finish third and fourth, respectively. The Raiders and Broncos just have too big of questions at the quarterback positions.    

NFC East: Will Dream Team Live Up to the Hype?

The NFC East will be a race for the ages.

The Philadelphia Eagles went out and got a ridiculous amount of free agents. Will it pay off? It all depends on the health of Michael Vick. I am also going to guess it will take until midseason for the defense to click with all their new players. 

When watching the Eagles against the Steelers in Week 1 of the preseason, the Steelers found ways to beat Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel and Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie. The secret is to pass up the middle and to pass to the underneath routes ran by receivers.

The defensive line with Trent Cole, Cullen Jenkins and Jason Babin will be ferocious, especially with Babin's defensive coordinator coming over from Tennessee. Teams will have to run to the outside in order to have an effective running game.

The Eagles go 11-5.

I cannot decide if the New York Giants or Dallas Cowboys are the second best team. Right now, I lean towards the Cowboys. I know, it pains me, but here's why:

The Giants can't seem to get the monkey off their backs since winning the Super Bowl. The Giants made it back to the playoffs in 2008 but lost to the Eagles. That's been their problem, too—they cannot beat the Eagles. The Giants had a major collapse last year; they lost their best receiver (Steve Smith), the defense collapsed and Eli Manning throws a lot of interceptions. 

However, while their defense may have collapsed, it will carry the team.

The Giants go 9-7 and will miss the playoffs. 

The Cowboys, on the other hand, will be a different team with Tony Romo fully recovered. Romo has Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten to throw to. Felix Jones, with Marion Barber gone, will break out. 

The defense, led by DeMarcus Ware, will be much improved under Rob Ryan. The biggest question? The secondary. The question is whether it can stop teams and let Romo build leads. 

The Cowboys go 10-6 and make the playoffs.

The Washington Redskins just have too big of a question at quarterback, and too many other glaring needs. I mean, Rex Grossman or John Beck?    

NFC North: Black and Blue Division

This may be the toughest division and will the most fun to watch in 2011. Here's why: 

The Green Bay Packers are the defending Super Bowl champions. They don't get enough credit and just fly under the radar. They have a great head coach in Mike McCarthy, who is great at disciplining, motivating and developing his players. Just remember last year. The Packers had 16 players on injured reserve. How can you win a Super Bowl with that many injuries? Well, McCarthy and Dom Capers figured it out. 

Building depth through the NFL draft is their biggest success.

The Packers now have an elite quarterback in Aaron Rodgers. He is the leader. Rodgers has great receivers, a running back tandem and an offensive line growing and maturing as we speak.

The defense should not get shortchanged either. Capers has created a masterpiece. His main dish: Clay Matthews. His sides: Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams and Sam Shields. The mashed potatoes and gravy: Ryan Pickett and B.J. Raji. The bread and butter: Nick Collins.

Don't count out A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop either, who are tackling machines.

The Packers go 13-3 and win the division.

The Chicago Bears finish second, but miss the playoffs. The Bears' weakness will be the offensive line. Jay Cutler must learn to play under pressure. The defense will once again be their strong point. Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs are a deadly combination.

The Bears go 9-7 at the most.

The Detroit Lions are receiving all sort of hype this preseason. Mainly, because of their silver lining, made up of Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, Corey Williams and Kyle Vanden Bosch. The additions of linebackers Stephen Tulloch and Keith Bullock are huge as.

Their weakness, though, is the secondary, which the Lions failed to go after in free agency and in the draft.

The Lions go 8-8, miss the playoffs.

The Minnesota Vikings fall to last place, finish 6-10 again, but could be better depending on play of Donovan McNabb. The receivers will have to step up for McNabb.    

NFC South: It's the Saints, Falcons, Bucs, Oh My

This too is a three-team race for the title. I still believe the Falcons win the division. Here's why: 

The Falcons offense is just too good—Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Michael Turner and now Julio Jones. Teams can't double White anymore. 

Here's what I don't like about the Falcons. Their offensive line loses Harvey Dahl, and Tony Gonzalez is getting old. Will he still be an effective blocker and pass catcher to help White and Jones get open? 

The defense can be shaky, but is improving. Sean Weatherspoon had a great rookie season at linebacker last year.  

If anything, the offense will carry this team. Too many weapons and guy named Matty Ice. Well, he was up until he met the Packers in the playoffs. Ryan has to gain his composure and confidence back. Tramon Williams took some of it away. 

The Falcons go 11-5 and win the division. 

The New Orleans Saints go 10-6, make the playoffs. Last year, the running game really hurt them. So, what do they do? They acquire Darren Sproles and draft Mark Ingram. Sproles has speed and Ingram has the power to go with the speed. Pierre Thomas will likely be starter, and Chris Ivory will get time as well.

Then there's Drew Brees: a Super Bowl MVP, leader and accurate and prolific passer. Brees has a trio to throw to in Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and Lance Moore. Losing Jeremy Shockey might hurt a little, but Shockey was injured.

Picking up center Olin Kreutz was huge in offseason. There biggest drawback? The secondary. Losing Darren Sharper hurts.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are so close to being good. They will finish 9-7 and miss the playoffs. Josh Freeman is going to be a stud in the NFL. The Buccaneers have a great run game with LeGarrette Blount, who can hurdle and plow through defenders. Mike Williams and Kellen Winslow are Freeman's targets.

The defense is on the rise and improved by drafting Adrian Clayborn in the first round.

The Carolina Panthers will dwell in the cellar again as they develop Cam Newton as their quarterback of the future.  

NFC West: They Will Surprise

The NFC West isn't pretty but not that bad. 

St. Louis was this close from winning the division a year removed from going 1-15. It has Sam Bradford to thank for that. Bradford will be at the charge again and has to embrace the leader position for the Rams. 

The Rams gave Bradford more weapons this season. Bradford still has Steven Jackson, who will run for 1,000 yards and catch about 500 yards. Then Cadillac Williams is added, who looks to rebound from a disappointing start in Miami. At receiver position, Donnie Avery returns and Mike Sims-Walker comes in after two good years in Jacksonville. 

Losing Oshiomogho Atogwe and Michael Lewis on defense will hurt the Rams. 

The Rams also have a easy schedule to play with. The Rams go 9-7 and win the division. 

The Arizona Cardinals finish second at 8-8 with Kevin Kolb at the reins. Kolb has quickly gelled with Larry Fitzgerald this preseason. Outside of that, the Cardinals still have questions. The running game, first: Ryan Williams getting out for the season and trading Tim Hightower are huge. Can Beanie Wells surface the load like he was drafted to?

The secondary losing Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie hurts but gains Patrick Peterson. Peterson is only a rookie, though.

The Seattle Seahawks go 7-9 after winning the division last year, but trading Matt Hasselbeck hurts. Now they have Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback. Yes, they picked up Sidney Rice, but sold at quarterback.

Losing Lofa Tatupu is big on defense as well.

There one positive: the offensive line adding Robert Gallery.

Lastly, San Francisco keeps taking steps back. Alex Smith isn't the future. Smith has been given enough chances. I would say by midseason, we might see Colin Kaepernick.

The 49ers go 5-11 at worst.  

Who Will Win the Super Bowl?

AFC Wild Card: 

Ravens vs. Chargers

Colts vs. Jets

NFC Wild Card: 

Rams vs. Cowboys

Eagles vs. Saints

AFC Divisional Round: 

Chargers vs. Steelers

Patriots vs. Jets 

NFC Divisional Round: 

Packers vs. Rams

Eagles vs. Saints

AFC Championship: 

Patriots vs. Chargers

NFC Championship: 

Packers vs. Eagles

Super Bowl 

Packers vs. Patriots, and the Green Bay Packers win.