Predicting The NFL Divisional Winners

Everybody wants to talk about the parody in the NFL. They love to rant about the league’s wild unpredictability and how every division is wide open. But when you look at the schedules and the league itself, the good franchises consistently win and all that parody talk couldn’t be further from the truth.

If I don’t hit 6 out of 8 of these divisional winners, I’m going to throw a party at Fleming’s Steakhouse in West Hartford,CT and start the night with $1,000 bar tab. Which should get Fisch through half the night. That’s how confident I am that the NFL is just as, if not more, predictable than any other professional league in America. So here we go:

AFC

EAST – Patriots: Anybody who doesn’t pick the Pats to win the conference is probably a delusional Jets fan or has been watching way too much of the T.O. show. Brady returns, Belichick is on a mission and Randy Moss wants to cement his Hall of Fame career with a Super Bowl ring. No brainer.

NORTH – Steelers: The defending Super Bowl champs might not repeat as World champs but they’ll definitely repeat as division champs. The Bengals and Browns aren’t going to provide much of a fight. The Ravens are always in the mix because of their defense but it will be interesting to see how Joe Flacco responds to defenses that adjust to him.

Not the guy who's gonna lead the Titans

SOUTH – Titans: The Titans play defense and run the football down people’s throat. While Peyton Manning will steady the ship in Indy, the Colts are going to have to make adjustments to a new coaching staff. Jack Del Rio has to right the ship in Jacksonville and Houston still struggles to win the big games. Give me the Titans and their run game.

WEST – Chargers: This is the safest bet in American sports. The Broncos are led by a smug coach who thinks his way is the only way and ran their franchise QB out of town (oh yeah, he’s a first-year head coach too). The Chiefs are led by a fool’s gold QB. And the Raiders are led by….. who the hell are the Raiders led by?

NFC

EAST – Philadelphia: I’ve been saying Philly all summer so I’m going to stick with them. It’s going to be a close one between them and the Giants.It will be interesting to see how they use Mike Vick but they’ve put together some nice offensive weapons (McCoy, Maclin. Desean Jackson) even if he doesn’t provide a punch.

Not the guy who's gonna lead the Vikings

NORTH – Minnesota: This was a tough one. Anybody could win this division but once Brett Favre comes back, the Vikings will be put over the edge. Jay Cutler and the Bears will give them their biggest threat while the Packers will still lie to themselves and say it was a good move getting rid of Favre. Last season’s 6-10 mark hasn’t convinced them enough.

SOUTH – Atlanta: Unlike Green Bay, the Falcons actually improved once they got rid of their franchise QB. Matt Ryan is a stud and their running game is almost unstoppable. Falcons fans are probably thinking next level in 2009. They deserve it.

WEST – Seattle: I’m not taking the Seahawks because I’m from Seattle. Matt Hasselback returns and they have drafted well over the past few years, which will allow them to move past Arizona after a one year hiatus.

Unpredictable? They’ve just been predicted! $1,000 says I’ll be right on 75% of them.