2010 NFL Predictions
Written by Jason Lowry
We are just a couple months away from the start of the 2010 NFL season and the anticipation for week one action is building up all over the nation. What makes the NFL so great is a team can go from a bottom feeder to the playoffs in just the matter of one offseason, while at the same time a team that was dominant the year before can fall out of the spotlight and out of contention.
Last year the New Orleans Saints went from a team that finished 8-8 the previous year to Super Bowl Champions. Other surprising stories were the Cincinnati Bengals winning the AFC North and the New York Jets nearly making a trip to the Super Bowl in Rex Ryan’s first year as head coach. To give you an idea of just how much the league can change from one season to the next, the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, and Atlanta Falcons all failed to make the postseason after making it the year before.
There have been some interesting moves made this offseason, as many veteran players who have spent so much time with one organization, find themselves fighting for a new team in 2010. Even though there are likely still a few more moves to be made before the season gets underway, here is a look at my 2010 NFL predictions.
NFC EAST: I believe that the Cowboys are hands down the team to beat in this division, as they have one of the top defenses in all of football and made a huge addition on offense in rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant. The Eagles lose Donovan McNabb to the Redskins, but I believe the Eagles will still be one of the top teams in the NFC this season, while the Redskins will be good, just not good enough to win arguably the toughest division in football. Even though I have the Giants picked fourth in this division, they are still a top 10 team out of the NFC, and could easily swap places with the Eagles or Redskins.
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Washington Redskins
4. New York Giants
NFC NORTH: The North figures to be an exciting division to keep track of in 2010. All signs point to the return of Brett Favre to the Vikings, and that is reason enough for me to slot the Vikings in the top spot. Keep a close eye on the Packers, as they could very well be the surprise team of the NFL this season, much like the Saints were a year ago. I believe that the Bears will be better, but not good enough to compete with the Vikings or Packers. The Lions appear headed in the right direction, I just don’t think that is going to translate into many wins in 2010.
1. Minnesota Vikings
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Chicago Bears
4. Detroit Lions
NFC SOUTH: There hasn’t been a repeat champion out of this division since the realignment in 2002, making this one of the toughest divisions in the entire NFL to predict. I am going against the grain and picking the Saints to repeat in 2010, but I expect a much better year out of the Falcons, who appear to have the best shot at taking over the top spot. The Panthers will be solid, but I don’t believe they are a playoff team. The Buccaneers figure to be much more competitive this season, and could very well slip past the Panthers for third in the division.
1. New Orleans Saints
2. Atlanta Falcons
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC WEST: With Kurt Warner retiring from the Cardinals, the division is as wide open as any in the league. I give the early edge to the 49ers, but they must continue to get improved play from QB Alex Smith to really be a threat this season. The Cardinals could very well repeat as division champs again if QB Matt Lienart comes out and plays well. I have the Rams making the jump from last to third, but I don’t have them rated much higher than the Seahawks.
1. San Francisco 49ers
2. Arizona Cardinals
3. St Louis Rams
4. Seattle Seahawks
AFC EAST: I believe that any team outside of the Bills has a shot to win this division, as there isn’t much that separates the top three. For now I am giving the edge to the Patriots, mostly because I am expecting a huge season out of Tom Brady. This may come as a surprise to a lot of people, but I am taking the Dolphins to finish ahead of the Jets this season, as I believe the addition of Brandon Marshall is going to give the Dolphins one of the best offenses in all of football.
1. New England Patriots
2. Miami Dolphins
3. New York Jets
4. Buffalo Bills
AFC NORTH: Even though the Bengals swept the division in 2009, I believe that the Ravens are going to be the team to beat, and could be poised for a Super Bowl run this season. I look for another strong year out of the Bengals, who definitely have the talent to repeat as division champs. With all the problems surrounding the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger this offseason, I don’t think they will have what it takes to win the division, but the defense could save their season and keep them in the hunt. The Browns come into the 2010 season off four straight wins to finish up the 2009 season, and should be much improved this year.
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Cincinnati Bengals
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Cleveland Browns
AFC SOUTH: As long as Peyton Manning is quarterback of the Colts, they are going to be the favorites to win this division. The Texans could be primed to really come on this season, as they have flirted around the .500 mark for the past three seasons. The Titans finished as good as anyone in 2009, and are only two seasons removed from winning this division. The Jaguars showed some improvement in 2009, but I don’t think there is enough talent to compete for the division crown.
1. Indianapolis Colts
2. Houston Texans
3. Tennessee Titans
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC WEST: This division appears to be there for the taking again for the San Diego Chargers, and while I think they will win the division, I don’t think it will be as easy as some people think. I think we are going to see huge improvements out of the Chiefs and Raiders this season, and both could win close to eight games this season. It’s hard telling what exactly to expect from the Broncos this season, but I believe they are going to suffer big time without Brandon Marshall on the field.
1. San Diego Chargers
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Oakland Raiders
4. Denver Broncos
Individual Team NFL Season Predictions
23 Responses to “2010 NFL Predictions”
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ravens winning it all
Do you really think that Denver Broncos will be last in the AFC West! I think that they finish second in the division and get a wild card spot. I also believe that the NYGiants will be in second behind Dallas (3-Philly 4-Washington). As 4 rw, I believe that the Ravens have a pretty good chance when they got Anquan Boldin, but I still believe that the Indianapolis Colts are still the team to beat (Peyton Manning could make almost any team get a 10-win season).
Denver Broncos WILL NOT be fourth
as caw said, 2nd a wild card spot is way more likely than getting fourth. I think they’ll have a 9-7 record.
I think the Ravens can beat anyone in this league, at any time, if they don’t beat themselves first. That is the only reason they didn’t go further last year. Too many stupid penalties. Heck, the game against Pittsburgh, they put 42 pts on the board, only to have 21 of them taken back because of penalties.
It will be hard pressed to pick them this year, based on that dubious history of penalties. If they can overcome that, they could actually run the table. We’ll see…
There is no way the chiefs are getting second oakland will have a giant improvment and if campbell and higgins connect there is a possibilly for them to be a wild card team and denver will get 3rd
The NEW ORLEANS SAINTS will win it all again this season.
Even though the Arizona Cardinal lost Kurt Warner doesnt mean that San Fran will come on top Alex Smith is ok but not great and the niners will not make the post season Arizona is still dangerous out in the west and I really do believe that Derek Anderson should start as a veteran QB he has the exp and the talent to bring Arizona back to the post season and even having a chance to winning it all Also as for the AFC East the Pats will not enter the post season either is all JETS there and they are well prepare to have another sucessful season and will be at the superbowl my predicition real simple ARIZONA and JETS at superbowl 2011.
Whats this guy smoking that he’s got the Seahawks finishing last behind Saint Louis? I hope he isn’t getting paid for these so called predictions. Ha- what a dope- if Hawks don’t win division or close 2nd I’d be shocked. It’s all how well Matt does this year.
Go Hawks
I don’t think the Saints will repeat as NFC South champs. Atlanta has a clear shot to win the division and making the playoffs and don’t be suprised if the Panthers sneak into the playoffs as wild card team.
cardinals 2nd lol ok and wtf is up with everyone thinking dallas is a hot team…uhhhhh no…..broncos i think #2….whoever made this prediction you must no twatch football on sunday lol but ohh well nobody can predict whats gonna happen and of course everyone says there teams gonna win it all….but in all fairness good luck to all teams this year….cardinals all the way.!!!!!!
I think the Packers should defintely be favored in not only the NFC North but also the conference as a whole. Aaron Rodgers is gonna give you another strong 4,000+ year and the offensive line is only going to improve from the second half of last year. They were the number 2 defense in the league last year and number 1 in takeaways. It was only their first year in the 3-4 defense so the Defense will only get better.
I like your predictions for the AFC South. Pretty spot on and I’m a Texans fan. I could see them taking a wild card spot, but thats if they can remedy the running game and hope that the “1st rounds” defensive line can put continuous pressure on the QB. With a rookie and 2nd year CB’s most likely starting, they will definitely need DL to shine. A team is only good as its weakest starter.
The Lions are going to go all the way!
AFC East
1.New York Jets(13-3)
2.Buffalo Bills(11-5)
3.Miami Dolphins(11-5)
4.New England Patriots(8-8)
AFC North
1.Cincinnati Bengals(13-3)
2.Baltimore Ravens(13-3)*
3.Cleveland Browns(11-5)
4.Pittsburgh Steelers(8-8)
AFC South
1.Indianapolis Colts(13-3)
2.Houston Texans(11-5)*
3.Tennessee Titans(8-8)
4.Jacksonville Jaguars(8-8)
AFC West
1.Kansas City Chiefs(8-8)
2.Denver Broncos(6-10)
3.San Diego Chargers(3-13)
4.Oakland Raiders(3-13)
NFC East
1.Dallas Cowboys(13-3)
2.Washington Redskins(11-5)
3.New York Giants(8-8)
4.Philadelphia Eagles(6-10)
NFC North
1.Minnesota Vikings(13-3)
2.Detroit Lions(12-4)*
3.Green Bay Packers(11-5)
4.Chicago Bears(6-10)
NFC South
1.New Orleans Saints(13-3)
2.Atlanta Falcons(12-4)*
3.Carolina Panthers(8-8)
4.Tampa Bay Buccaneers(8-8)
NFC West
1.San Francisco 49ers(8-8)
2.St. Louis Rams(8-8)
3.Seattle Seahawks(8-8)
4.Arizona Cardinals(8-8)
ATL – 13-3 – A complete team with another year of experience
NO – 13-3 – Too high from the Super Bowl win to succeed to that level again
CAR – 4-12 – Clausen isn’t good enough to pull this team
TB – 3-13 – Who do they have to help?
MIN – 13-3 – Its gonna be ugly at first but they will shine towards the end
GB – 13-3 – They’re gonna be undefeated for most of the season
DET – 6-10 – Huge improvement for them, they will only get better with time
CHI – 3-13 – There is no team… they kinda suck
DAL – 14-2 – Experience, Talent, and the will to win, they’re going all the way
NYG – 12-4 – A tough schedule keeps them in 2nd
WSH – 7-9 – McNabb will show some leadership and pull this team to 7 wins but only 7
PHI 2-14 – Eagles fans are gonna realize how important McNabb was
SF – 10-6 – Division champs by default
ARI – 6-10 – Drama queen QB with no playing time… eek
SEA – 4-12 – Old QB with a new coach… maybe next year
STL 2-14 – No O-Line, Rookie QB, there lucky to win a game
NYJ – 15-1 – They have everything, they hardly need to try
NE – 9-7 – Patriots are past their prime… o well
MIA – 6-10 – Tough schedule
BUF – 0-16 – A tough schedule, and nobody to make plays… not a good combo
IND – 14-2 – Elite in the AFC, Manning will keep them in 1st
TEN – 12-4 – Everyone is going to attack the run… and that will be that
HOU – 7-9 – Tough schedule, but there is a lot of talent
JAC – 3-13 – Drew-Jones is all thats left…
SD – 13-3 – No LT… No problem, they look like the Chargers of old
DEN – 10-6 – Tebow doesn’t like to lose
OAK – 4-12 – Not yet…
KC – 2-14 – Almost as bad as the Bills…
BAL – 13-3 – One of the best teams in the NFL by far
CIN – 11-5 – TO will help, they can even get some upsets (Colts)
PIT – 8-8 – Too much drama… not enough talent…
CLE – 3-13 – McCoy… your time will come… not in 2010
Dallas Cowboys win the Superbowl 34-23 over the New York Jets
Oh… and Chris Burr… seriously?
Really, the dolphins are the most complete team in the afc. The Jets cant get a pass rush and the secondary just got beat bye a second and 3rd string QB. The pats are getting old, Brady is still uncomfortable in the pocket. Henne has a big year and Marshall puts up 100+ again with catchs. Ronnie is in the last year of his contract he runs with a purpus this year and the D is improved.
AFC EAST
Miami 10-6
NE 9-7
NY 9-7
Buff 6-10
AFC North
Cinn 10-6
Pitt 10-6
Balt 9-7
Clev 7-9
AFC south
Indy 12-3
Tenn 10-6
Hou 9-7 (make the wildcard)
Jac 6-10
AFC West
KC 9-7
Oak 8-8
SD 8-8
Den 7-9
ok, well its kinda easy to see what team everyone likes based on their predictions but we gotta be realistic.
ok heres how it will pan-out
AFC
first place teams
patriots no im not a pats fan. i hate them
broncos not a great team but have a fairly easy schedule
steelers pittsburg always a contention team…
colts well duh
wildcard teams
jets (revis, taylor, lt, edwards etc. nough said
ravens still the best offense in the league
NFC
first place teams
eagles cowboys r their only competition
cardinals look at there division. they will win with 7-9
vikings will be favres last year and will go out with bang
saints riding high off of superbowl win
wildcards
cowboys still one of the best in the nfc
falcons built a great core of guys this year.
wildcard weekend
jets @ steelers (jets win)
ravens @ colts (ravens win)
the best offense and best defense teams will prove to much for the divisional champs this year
falcons @ eagles (eagles win)
cowboys @ cardinals (cowboys win)
divisional round
jets @ patriots (jets win)
ravens @ broncos (ravens win)
cowboys @ vikings (cowboys win)
eagles @ saints (saints win)
confrence championships
ravens at jets (best offense vs best defense to hard to chose a winner)
cowboys @ saints (saints win)
Superbowl
Saints VS. Ravens/Jets
Saints will lose no team from nfc south has ever repeated since the realignment of 2002. saints will also be under extreme pressure to repeat and will crumble under the pressure…
Congrats to either the JETS or the RAVENS
i say this cause the AFC will hands down win the Superbowl this years. they made the best moves over the offseason so they will always win the probowl…
ok a followup to my previous post correction in grammer. ment to say they will also win probowl no always, lol. sorry for the typo…
i wanted everyone also to see the records i predict
AFC
east
patriots 12-4
jets 11-5
dolphins 8-8
bills 3-13
west
broncos 12-4
chargers 10-6
chiefs 7-9
raiders 5-11
north
steelers 11-5
ravens 10-6
bengals 10-6
browns 3-13
south
colts 11-5
titans 10-6
texans 6-10
jaguars 4-12
NFC
east
eagles 11-5
cowboys 10-6
giants 10-6
redskins 6-10
west
cardinals 7-9
49ers 6-10
rams 4-12
seahawks 4-12
north
vikings 13-3
packers 8-8
bears 7-9
lions 4-12
south
saints 12-4
falcons 10-6
panthers 7-9
bucs 3-13
sorry chris burr but your predictions are totally mathmatically imposible. only 5 teams with under 500 records come on lol. the entire nfc west will have a losing record. do what i did. print out the schedule for the year and go game by game week by week and compare your matchups with offense defense qb etc. you will find when you are done that your results will be fairly close the those of the prefessionals and also unbiased.
good luck to all this year…
ok well with derrell revis and jets agreeing on a new contract and with signs that sanchez will give up far less interceptions this year. then i have the jets defeating the ravens in a close low scoring game.
JETS vs. SAINTS in superbowl. but like i said b4 saints will not repeat i wouldnt b surprised if the cowboys walk away with the win the the confrence championship but its tough to pick winners.
but im confident it will be
RAVENS/JETS vs. SAINTS/COWBOYS
NFC North
Vikings 13-3
Packers 9-7
Bears 9-7
Lions 3-13
NFC East
Cowboys 11-5
Eagles 10-6
Giants 7-9
Redskins 7-9
NFC South
Falcons 11-5
Saints 11-5
Panthers 7-9
Buccaneers 2-14
NFC West
49ers 11-5
Cardinals 8-8
Seahawks 4-12
Rams 1-15
AFC North
Ravens 12-4
Bengals 9-7
Steelers 7-9
Browns 7-9
AFC EAST
Patriots 11-5
Jets 10-6
Dolphins 9-7
Bills 3-13
AFC South
Colts 13-3
Titans 10-6
Texans 8-8
Jaguars 5-11
AFC West
Chargers 12-4
Broncos 7-9
Raiders 6-10
Chiefs 3-13
Playoff Teams
NFC: Vikings, 49ers, Cowboys, Falcons
wild cards: Saints, Eagles
AFC: Patriots, Chargers, Colts, Ravens
wild cards: Jets, Titans
AFC Champion: Colts
NFC Champion: Vikings
Super Bowl Champion: Vikings