2011 NFL Season: Updated Playoff Predictions

Only a quarter of the NFL season has passed, but the football landscape has dramatically changed in just four weeks. Perennial powers like the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles are really struggling, while eternal losers like the Detroit Lions and the Buffalo Bills seem destined to make a playoff run. At the beginning of the season, I picked the San Diego Chargers to beat the New Orleans Saints in this year's Super Bowl. But four weeks through the season, have I changed my mind?

AFC East Champion: New England Patriots

Despite a surprising early season loss to the Buffalo Bills, the New England Patriots still look like the class of the AFC. Tom Brady continues to be the best quarterback of this generation, and Wes Welker is on pace to shatter every single receiving record known to man. Young tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez make the New England passing game impossible to defend, and young running backs Stevan Ridley and Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis keep the ground game going.

Despite some struggles on defense, the Patriots possess too much offensive weapons for any team to deal with.

FINAL RECORD: 13-3

AFC North Champion: Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens have looked like a Super Bowl contender early this season, as they have dominated the top two conference teams last season, the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Joe Flacco has significantly improved from last year, and Ray Rice continues to be the most dynamic backfield threat in the league. The stacked Baltimore defense is as stifling as ever, as they rank in the Top 10 in passing and rushing yards allowed. Expect the Ravens to continue their domination of the AFC, as they will enter the playoffs, as one of the favorites to win the conference.

FINAL RECORD: 12-4

AFC South Champion: Houston Texans

The Houston Texans will easily claim the weakest division in the AFC, as they look like one of the most balanced team in all of football. The Houston offense is as potent as ever, as Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Arian Foster continue to keep opposing coaches up at night.

The significant improvement from last year has been the defense, as Wade Philips has turned Houston into the No.1 ranked defensive unit in the NFL. The Titans will give Houston some competition, but Tennessee will likely fade late in the year, as the Texans run away with the division. 

FINAL RECORD: 11-5

AFC West Champion: San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers arguably possess the most talented team in football, led by All-Pro quarterback Philip Rivers and his numerous offensive weapons. The San Diego defense has been very stingy through four games, as they rank fifth in passing yards allowed. The Chargers balanced squad will dominate the weak AFC West, and they will easily claim the division.

FINAL RECORD: 11-5

AFC Wild Cards: Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets

The two teams that met in the conference championship game last year will claim the two wild card spots in the AFC.

The Pittsburgh Steelers look slow and old on both sides of the ball but expect the franchise to pick it up in the second half of the year. Matchups with league bottomfeeders like the Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinatti Bengals (two), Cleveland Browns (two) and St Louis Rams will provide a cake walk schedule for the Steelers, and they will take advantage of it.

FINAL RECORD: 11-5

The New York Jets are facing a lot of criticism for their performance over the last two weeks. Mark Sanchez and the Jets running game have struggled, and the defense has been inconsistent. But Rex Ryan knows how to fire up his troops, and New York boasts too much talent on both sides of the ball to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008. 

FINAL RECORD: 10-6

NFC East Champion: Dallas Cowboys

With a little luck, the Dallas Cowboys would be 4-0 right now. They possess one of the most talented squads in football, on both sides of the ball. Tony Romo will silence his critics by having a terrific season, and Rob Ryan will turn the Cowboys defense into one of the most feared in football. Dallas will claim a much weakened NFC East by finally putting their excessive talent on display.

FINAL RECORD: 10-6

NFC North Champion: Green Bay Packers

In my preseason playoff predictions, I faced a lot of criticism for predicting a lofty 14-2 record for the Green Bay Packers. Well, my prediction looks very reachable now, doesn't it?

The Packers have steamrolled every opponent on their schedule so far, as Aaron Rodgers looks like the early season favorite for NFL MVP. The defense has had its struggles, but Green Bay will have no problem outscoring any team they face, as they cruise to another division title.

FINAL RECORD: 14-2

NFC South Champion: New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints seem like the 2009 team through four weeks. Drew Brees has been stupendous, and the NFC powerhouse has finally found a running game, through the efforts of Darren Sproles and Mark Ingram.

The defense has had its struggles, but like the Packers, the Saints can outscore any team they play handily. Brees will have an MVP-caliber season and lead the Saints to an easy division title.

FINAL RECORD: 12-4

NFC West Champion: San Francisco 49ers

Jim Harbaugh for Coach of the Year? Sounds right. The 49ers have been very impressive through four weeks, as the defense looks like one of the best in football. San Francisco is finally living up to the hype from last year, as the offense has been dynamic as ever under Alex Smith.

Frank Gore continues to be one of the most dangerous backfield threats in football, and Vernon Davis, Braylon Edwards and Michael Crabtree lead a much-improved passing game. The 49ers already lead the weakest division in football by two games, and this lead will grow throughout the season, as San Francisco establish themselves as the class of the west.

FINAL RECORD: 10-6

NFC Wild Cards: New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons

The New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons will sneak into the 2011 postseason, by outlasting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles through the stretch run.

The New York Giants look very impressive through four games, posting a 3-1 record, while beating two playoff teams from last year. Eli Manning has significantly cut down his interceptions, and the defense is still playing at an elite level, despite all the injuries. New York has the talent to go all the way, as Tom Coughlin fights for his coaching life successfully.

FINAL RECORD: 10-6

The Atlanta Falcons have been inconsistent through four weeks, as they have been crushed by the Chicago Bears, have sneaked past the Eagles, have lost a tight battle with the Bucs and then outlasted the abysmal Seahawks in Seattle. I am not a firm believer in the Falcons and have never really been during the Matt Ryan era, but Atlanta boasts enough talent on both sides of the ball, to claim the last spot in the NFC playoffs.

FINAL RECORD: 9-7

Wild Card Playoff Predictions

New York Jets def. San Diego Chargers 27-21

Norv Turner strikes again.

Pittsburgh Steelers def. Houston Texans 20-10

Experience pays off for a less talented Steelers team, as the Texans are just not ready to make a run yet.

New York Giants def. San Francisco 49ers 24-17

This will be a mistake full, highly entertaining postseason classic.

Dallas Cowboys def. Atlanta Falcons 31-17

Tony Romo proves that he is better than Matt Ryan. 

Divisional-Round Predictions

New York Jets def. New England Patriots 28-21

I guess lightning does strike twice.

Baltimore Ravens def. Pittsburgh Steelers 30-20

The Ravens finally beat the Steelers, as the tide has finally turned in the AFC North.

New York Giants def. Green Bay Packers 24-21

Aaron Rodgers pulls a Brett Favre in a chilly game at Lambeau.

New Orleans Saints def. Dallas Cowboys 30-24

Romo will throw for 300 yards, three touchdowns and 0 interceptions and still be called a "choker" after the Cowboys are eliminated.

Championship-Round Predictions

Baltimore Ravens def. New York Jets 20-17 (OT)

This will be an AFC classic to put in history books. The Jets will show up this time around, and the game will be a toss-up. I flipped a coin, and it landed on the Ravens.

New Orleans Saints def. New York Giants 28-24

Another classic, and Eli Manning throws a late pick to send the Saints to the Super Bowl. In other words, he pulls a Brett Favre.

Super Bowl Predictions

New Orleans Saints def. Baltimore Ravens 20-17

The best offense in the league meets the best defense in the league, and they will turn this Super Bowl into one of the most entertaining ever. The Baltimore D will hold the Saints offense the entire game, but Drew Brees will lead a stunning last-minute drive that ends in a Saints touchdown. In other words, he pulled a Brett Favre, but this time, in the Super Bowl.