The 2014 NFL regular season begins on Thursday night when the Green Bay Packers face the Seattle Seahawks on the road. The rest of the Week 1 action will continue on Sunday and Monday.
Of course, the Seahawks took home the championship crown for last season after thrashing the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl, 43-8. Will Seattle be able to repeat? Can Denver make it back to the Super Bowl win?
Will another team take home the crown? Can the New England Patriots return to glory, or continue to fall short in the playoffs like they have been since 2005? What about others like the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers an San Francisco 49ers? How about Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts?
Also worth mentioning will be the awards. Can Peyton Manning win a sixth MVP award, or will Aaron Rodgers steal it this year? How about Johnny Manziel or Teddy Bridgewater — will either of them end up starting for their respective teams this season?
All of that and more in my 2014 NFL season preview and predictions! Enjoy.
AFC Division Record Predictions
AFC East
[3] New England Patriots (12-4)
New York Jets (8-8)
Miami Dolphins (8-8)
Buffalo Bills (4-12)
AFC North
[4] Cincinnati Bengals (11-5)
Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-9)
Cleveland Browns (4-12)
AFC South
[2] Indianapolis Colts (12-4)
Tennessee Titans (5-11)
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12)
Houston Texans (2-14)
AFC West
[1] Denver Broncos (15-1)
[5] San Diego Chargers: (11-5)
[6] Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)
Oakland Raiders (3-13)
NFC Division Record Predictions
NFC East
[4] Washington Redskins (9-7)
Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
Philadelphia Eagles (6-10)
New York Giants (4-12)
NFC North
[2] Green Bay Packers (13-3)
[5] Chicago Bears (11-5)
Detroit Lions (9-7)
Minnesota Vikings (4-12)
NFC South
[1] New Orleans Saints (13-3)
[6] Carolina Panthers (10-6)
Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
NFC West
[3] Seattle Seahawks (12-4)
San Francisco 49ers (9-7)
Arizona Cardinals (9-7)
St. Louis Rams (2-14)
Awards
MVP: Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos
Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
Defensive Player of the Year: Lavonte David, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans Saints
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jadeveon Clowney, OLB/DE, Houston Texans
Comeback Player of the Year: Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Coach of the Year: Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
NFL Playoffs: AFC
Wild Card
(3) Patriots over (6) Chiefs
(5) Chargers over (4) Bengals
Divisional Round
(1) Broncos over (5) Chargers
(2) Colts over (3) Patriots
AFC Championship
(1) Broncos over (2) Colts
NFL Playoffs: NFC
Wild Card
(3) Seahawks over (6) Panthers
(5) Bears over (4) Redskins
Divisional Round
(1) Saints over (5) Bears
(2) Packers over (3) Seahawks
NFC Championship
(1) Saints over (2) Packers
Super Bowl: Broncos vs Saints
I believe the Denver Broncos play the role of the 2012 Miami Heat this season as they look to rebound from losing in the championship in an embarrassing fashion the year prior.
I feel like Peyton Manning plays that LeBron James role and spends this whole season with only one mission: get back to the Super Bowl and win that ring. I believe he does so, and what better than to do it against the guy who beat you in the Super Bowl back in 2010: Saints QB Drew Brees?
It would be the perfect story for this Broncos team, who spend this whole season showing they're the best team in the NFL not just offensively, but defensively as well with a new, revamped squad.
Denver's my pick to win it all this year.
What team is your pick?
