AFC
East
NE 14-2
NYJ 12 -4
BUF 5-11
MIA 4-12
North
PIT 14-2
BAL 13-3
CLE 8-8
CIN 1-15
South
IND 13-3
HOU 12-4
JAX 3-13
TEN 3-13
West
SD 12-4
KC 7-9
DEN 5-11
OAK 3-13
NFC
East
PHI 12-4
NYG 10-6
DAL 9-7
WAS 3-13
North
GB 14-2
DET 9-7
MIN 7-9
DET 7-9
South
ATL 14-2
NO 12-4
TB 7-9
CAR 5-11
West
STL 7-9
SEA 5-11
SF 4-12
ARI 2-14
The most significant change to come out of the new CBA will be moving kickoffs back to the 35 yard line. Longer fields will lead to slightly less scoring around the league (around 1.5 to 2 points each game). Teams struggling for identity will find themselves emerging as apparent defensive forces (BAL, STL, WAS, DEN, MIN, SF, BUF, MIA, KC), though this won't necessarily equate with wins. New Orleans and New England will vastly improve on the defensive side of the ball -especially against the run, while Detroit, Atlanta, Houston and Buffalo will sport re-vamped defenses that will excel at pressuring, maybe even injuring, QBs throughout the season. The Giants will continue to do that as well.
Perhaps struggling to get below the cap and make ends meet, or perhaps because of the Andrew Luck Factor, many troubled teams parted with their best players for 2011, especially in the AFC: CIN's done with Ocho and Carson Palmer, JAX and Garrard, MIA with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, OAK with Asomugha and Zach Miller, TEN Vince Young, Jason Babin. The result will be -contrary to the predictions of other leading NFL sites, an unprecedented amount of teams with double-digit loss columns.
I expect significant contributors to include rookie running backs Ingram in NO and Thomas in MIA, rookie TE Kendricks in STL, DT Fairley in DET and WR Julio Jones in ATL. Young players Larod Stephens-Howling (ARI), Jimmy Graham (NO), Jerome Harrison (DET), Percy Harvin (MIN), Amendola (STL), Woodhead and Edelman (NE) are likely to emerge as bonafide stars. Blount (TB) will prove that his rookie season was no joke, expect him to compete with Peterson and Johnson for the league lead in rushing yards. Established players Ricky Williams and Lee Evans (BAL), Ochocinco (NE), Cotchery (PIT), Steve Breaston (KC) will produce in their new homes. I think Kevin Kolb will prove, like all Eagles QBs upon leaving Andy Reid's system, to be a bust.
Offensive MVP? Aaron Rodgers is my bet, with Ed Reed gaining defensive honours. Miami's Daniel Thomas and Denver's Von Miller are my bets for Rookies of the Year.
Since I'm still suffering from debilitating muscle spasms, I'll have to come back to this later. Remember, you saw it here first!
