The 2013 NFL season prediction blog

So I've been meaning to do this for a while, and yeah, I'm writing this after one game was played, but that one game doesn't change what I think about those two teams (well, maybe a little) so without further ado...

THE 2013 NFL SEASON AS EXPLAINED BY NOSTRA-JAKE-US

THIS ISN'T ME!

 Or something.

Let's start in the AFC

East
This is clearly New England's division to lose, like it is every year.  The Jets are just an absolute train wreck, and while Miami and Buffalo are improving, they still have a ways to go to knock off the kings of this division.
1.  New England
2.  Miami
3.  Buffalo
4.  New York

This is your coach New York.  Remember that.

North
When you have the defending champs, you have to give them respect, even if they just firesold their entire team.  This division is slowly getting weaker as Pittsburgh is in a tail spin, Cleveland is... well, Cleveland, and Cincinatti is proving that they are good, but mediocre good.  This all points to a fairly easy Baltimore division crown.
1.  Baltimore
2.  Cincinatti
3.  Pittsburgh
4.  Cleveland

He's slow, old, prone to injury, and a douche.  Have fun with that Pittsburgh

South
This division has one of the more interesting bad teams in Jacksonville, the cream of the AFC in Houston, and the intriguing and young Indianapolis.  Oh, and Tennessee is in the division too.  Houston should win this, Indy will be decent, but watch out for Jacksonville.  They're slowly turning that team around, and while this may not be their year, they are getting better.
1.  Houston
2.  Indianapolis
3.  Jacksonville
4.  Tennessee

This man will destroy you.

West
The AFC West is the NFC West of 5 years ago.  If Denver wasn't in this division, the winner here would go 6-10.  They're that bad.  I know Kansas City is a hot dark horse pick, but I don't like it.  Alex Smith is not the answer.
1.  Denver
2.  Oakland
3.  Kansas City
4.  San Diego

Just think - he's going to be your QB for, what, another 10 years?

AFC Playoffs
Byes - Denver and New England
1st round - Houston over Miami, Baltimore over Cincinatti
2nd round - Houston over Denver, New England over Baltimore
Championship round - Houston over New England

So back in the day I loved Warren Moon on the Oilers, so I've always had a soft spot for Houston.  I think they're doing everything right, and EVERYBODY is coming back for them.  Barring a crazy rash of injuries, I think they are the team to beat in the AFC.

Get this man a ring!

NFC
East
The NFC East was hyped for years as one of the best divisions in football.  Oh how the mighty have fallen.  Washington will explode the moment RG3's knee does.  Philadelphia has atrocious talent, plus Chip Kelly coaching today Michael Vick, which is not a good idea.  Kelly coaching Vick 10 years ago?  Match made in heaven.  Dallas is just... ugh.  And I've never been a fan of Eli Manning, so I don't like New York - especially with how they blew up their running game.  I think at best you're looking at a team going 9-7 and winning this division.
1.  New York
2.  Washington
3.  Dallas
4.  Philadelphia

He's the best of this division.  Kinda sad.

North
Green Bay is falling.  Not many people see it because Green Bay fans permeate everything much the way Notre Dame fans do.  Their defense has a bend don't break philosphy with the nasty habit of breaking, and a constantly changing receiving corp coupled with ABSOLUTELY NO RUNNING GAME  makes them a scary pick.  Except they play in the North.  The division where the other QB's are Jay Cutler, Matt Stafford, and Christian Ponder.  Game set and match.
1.  Green Bay
2.  Detroit
3.  Chicago
4.  Minnesota

When your best player keeps stomping on guys junk, you got a problem.  Hey, at least he's not Jay Cutler.

South
Sean Payton is back!  Sean Payton is back!  Sean Payton is back!  That, coupled with a horrendous Tampa Bay team, a Carolina team led by a stat padding RB as their QB, and Atlanta, who... wait, Atlanta's good too.  I have more faith in Atlanta's D then I do New Orleans, but I would also take Brees over Ryan any day of the week.  I think there is going to be some rust that needs to be shaken off of Payton at the beginning of the year, and a slow New Orleans start will be the only reason Atlanta wins this division.
1.  Atlanta
2.  New Orleans
3.  Carolina
4.  Tampa Bay

He's baaaaaaack...

West
Arguably the two best teams in football play in this division - and they play each other twice!  Awesome.  Seattle and San Francisco are not only great, they return many starters and both have exciting young quarterbacks, even if I think Kaepernick has the decision making ability of... Tony Romo.  Combined with the nasty injury bug that has already bitten the Niners and their absolute dick bag of a coach has me seeing Seattle with this division crown.  Oh, and St. Louis and Arizona will play sometimes too.
1.  Seattle
2.  San Francisco
3.  St. Louis
4.  Arizona

Seriously San Fran?  You have faith in this guy?

NFC Playoffs
Byes - Seattle and Atlanta
Round 1 - New Orleans over New York, Green Bay over San Francisco
Round 2 - New Orleans over Atlanta, Seattle over Green Bay
Championship - Seattle over New Orleans

SUPER BOWL
Seattle over Houston.  Honestly, not a 100% homer pick, but that is a factor.  Couple that in with the best secondary in football and the best running game in the league, I think this will *finally* be Seattle's year.

Number 1 bitches!

And the Super Bowl is in New York.  A cold weather Super Bowl.  Totally Seattle's win.

Yearly awards
MVP - A big part of me wants to write Russel Wilson here, but I can't quite get there.  Before the season I was in a toss up over Aaron Rodgers or Peyton Manning, and I think Denver has a better team, so I'll go with Manning.
Defensive player - Richard Sherman.  Homer pick here, but I know he's the best player in the league at his position, and now that everybody knows about him, he will be picked on, and he will thrive.
Comeback player - Alex Smith.  I don't think he'll take Kansas City to the playoffs, but he got jobbed bad in San Fran, and I think he'll do fantastic under Andy Reid.
Coach of the year - Sean Payton.  There's no way in hell the NFL will let this happen, but he will prove that he deserves this award, whether or not he gets it.
Offensive Rookie - EJ Manuel.  He'll get the most playtime of any rookie, and if he spends the entire year just heaving it to Stevie Johnson, he'll lock this up by week 4.
Defensive Rookie - Desmond Trufant.  He'll see a lot of play time opposite Asante Samuel (I believe) and he'll show why he was a first rounder early and often.

Dark Horse
The Jacksonville Jaguars. 

They still need to find an answer at Quarterback, but they're slowly rebuilding the right way, and while it may not pay off this year, I won't be surprised if they shock the world and beat some teams they have no business beating.

Tune in at the end of the season where we go over every single wrong pick I made - except for the Seattle pick, of course...