Episode 12: Popa's Pigskin Preview

Every year I make NFL predictions and every year, i'm totally off. This year shouldn't be any different.

AFC WEST:
1. San Diego Chargers
2. Denver Broncos
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Oakland Raiders

The chargers take this division with a ridiculous front seven and arguably the best player in the league. Sure they have Phillip Rivers at QB but 2 of the other 3 teams in this division have Jake Plummer and Aaron Brooks at the helm. I like the Broncos but I have them just missing the playoffs. Great defense but Jake Plummer is shaky especially after the meltdown in the playoffs and now he has Jay Cutler looking over his shoulder. I'm also not a big fan of this RB merry go round they have going there. KC has the tools but their coach is Herman Edwards. He's going to make Marty Schottenheimer look like a genius in this division. Plus what was once the best Offensive line in the league is now rebuilt. Not a good sign for LJ. Only thing I have to say about the Raiders is Aaron Brooks. It's also nice to see a player named Huff in the league.

AFC South:
1. Indianapolis Colts
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
3. Houston Texans
4. Tennessee Titans

Colts are the class of the division here. The defense is still stout and they still have peyton (which means he's bound to choke in the playoffs at one point). I thought Jacksonville was ahead of schedule last year. I think they'll just miss out on the playoffs this year. First bold prediction here is that Garrard might take over for Leftwich at one point this year. I would've picked the Texans as a darkhorse sleeper if Davis didn't have grandma ankles in here knees. BOB reference there. The Titans are a mess except at QB where they are probably the deepest team in the league. Newsflash guys, you can use some of the money y'all spend at QB on other positions! Keith Bulluck is crying behind an elvis statue somewhere.

AFC North:
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Cincinatti Bengals*
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Cleveland Browns

Call me crazy but I like the Ravens alot. Extremely balanced all around. If Mcnair doesn't get hurt, this team can get a bye in the playoffs. Big If though. Bengals offense is the best in the league. I'm still not sold on their defense. I know what you're thinking. Every year the steelers lose someone and they still make the playoffs. However the division is alot tougher this year then last year and the turnover might be too much. I feel bad for the Browns but they are going in the right direction. They have some type of curse though. Everytime they acquire a big time player, he goes down early in the season.

AFC East:
1. New England Patriots
2. Miami Dolphins*
3. Buffalo Bills
4. NY Jets

Tough time picking b/w the pats and dolphins. Went with the Patriots for now because of Brady. NE has the healthier QB as of now. The Branch situation doesn't scare me that much. They still have a solid defense even though it's not as strong as yester years. The biggest hindrance to a super bowl run is (believe it or not and i can't believe i'm saying this) is losing their kicker. Dolphins offense looks like it's ready to do big things and their defense is still solid. It all depends on whether you see Pro Bowl Daunte or Multiple Turnover Culpepper. Bills might be a sleeper team but their QB situation is really iffy. Can you trust any QB named JP? Didn't think so. The Jets suck. honestly. I can't see how they can muster more then 3 wins.

NFC West:
1. Seattle Seahawks
2. Arizona Cardinals
3. St. Louis Rams
4. San Francisco 49ers

This division will be tougher then you think. Seattle will still probably run through this division but the Rams and Cardinals are improved imo. I like Seattle's chances but Alexander will succumb to the Madden Curse. It never fails. Prepare to die (if only for this season), Mr. Alexander. They did improve their defense which looks very scary on paper. The Cardinals have too much offense and have a defense with a lot of potential. Next year, this might be a team to worry about. The Rams' newfound commitment to the running game will make them better off. Don't have to worry about Martz' gameplans anymore with probably 4 running plays a game. LOL. 49ers need a couple more drafts before they can start competing imo. Vernon Davis will be a beast though.

NFC North:
1. Chicago Bears
2. Minnesota Vikings
3. Detroit Lions
4. Green Bay Packers

I really had a tough time picking a division winner here. Mainly because I think Minnesota is a really strong team that CAN win the division here. They'll at least push for a playoff spot. The Bears defense is too strong though. Plus I think Muhsin Muhammad will be in for a big year too. Especially now that he has a QB that isn't Kyle Orton throwing to him. Minnesota is a very good team. Might have the best offensive line in the NFL. Looks like Chester Taylor might have a breakout year. Could be this year's LJ. Lions could be a solid team. I'm convinced Martz can't be a head coach....just an offensive Coordinator. Marinelli will make sure Martz sprinkles in some runs into the gameplan. Martz might make Roy Williams look extremely good this year though. Packers o-line looks a mess as does their secondary. Who on the Packers is going to generate a pass rush? I can only think of 2 or 3 people off the top of my head. AJ Hawk and Barnett are going to rack up 200 tackles each considering how long they'll both be on the field.

NFC South:
1. Atlanta Falcons
2. Carolina Panthers*
3. Tampa Bay Bucs
4. New Orleans Saints

In my suprise pick of the year, I'm picking the Falcons to win the division over the Panthers. I really like the way the defense looks for the Falcons. That pass rush is going to be sick. I think Vick will play better. He just needs his receivers to hold on to the ball. He'll have a lot of help on the ground with Dunn and Norwood though. I like the Panthers alot. However they always seem to get some type of injury. Disgusting. They probably will win this division if they stay somewhat healthy. D'angelo will be the truth when Deshaun Foster goes down. Tampa Bay just looks old, especially on defense. They need to re build around simms and Cadillac. Saints defense is terrible. But at least they have Jesus in cleats!!!!

NFC East:
1. New York Giants
2. Philedelphia Eagles*
3. Dallas Cowboys
4. Washington Redskins

The Giants are loaded. It all depends on whether Coughlin can put it together and whether Eli is really lined up to take the leap. Usually, young QBs take the leap in their third year. With the weapons surrounding Manning this year, don't be suprised if it does happen. Giants pass rush should be insane and will help protect a suspect secondary. Mcnabb makes a MVP push and carrys the Eagles on his back. I still think the defense is a little suspect even though I'm sure Jim Johnson will help cover up the holes as best he can. I'm really not sold on their corners. I don't know what to think of the cowboys. They can win this division or finish in last. It all depends on if Owens disruptive or not. It seems like Owens was pushed on to Parcells' lap and he really didn't want him. I don't think the offense is as good as advertised. The defense is however. My buddy BOB keeps telling me Brunell is for real. I don't see it. I see a QB that isn't as mobile as he used to be, who's arm is not as strong as used to be, and overall just looks long in the tooth. BOB will bring up the stats and he feels stats don't lie. He is half right....Stats can be misleading. They'll be a solid team. probably finish around 7-9 or 8-8. They finish last by default unfortunately. In another division, they might win the division or make the playoffs through the wild card.

Award Winners:

MVP: Ladainian Tomilson

AFC Offensive Player of the Year: Ladanian Tomilson

NFC Offensive Player of the Year: Eli Manning

Defensive Player of the Year: Ed Reed

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: Jesus in Cleats

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: AJ Hawk

Popa's Super Bowl Pick:
Carolina Panthers over the Indianapolis Colts

WHAT?!?!? I didn't even pick the panthers as my divisional winner?!?! I feel by the time the stretch run hits, they'll be hitting on all cylinders if they don't get hit by the injury bug. That's a big "if".