2015 NFC & AFC North Predictions

2015 NFL Season Predictions

NFC North

Green Bay Packers (11-5)

As long as the Packers have a healthy Aaron Rodgers they are always in contention for a Super Bowl. The Jordy Nelson injury is going to hurt, but the good thing is it happened so early on that they can take care of that issue now rather than later. Rodgers is the type of quarterback who instantly makes any receiver he plays with better, so I expect that this receiving core will step it up in his absence. Julius Peppers seems like he has been around the league for forever and a day, but yet he still is an absolute beast! Peppers along with Clay Matthews should have opposing quarterbacks running for days and throwing bad passes into that solid secondary. The Packers should be one of the top teams in the league this season.

Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

Getting Adrian Peterson back for the Vikings will help, but honestly it doesn’t send them into playoff territory. They may be able to toss a couple of upsets, but this team will be on the long train to mediocrity island because a whole lot of nothing is going on with this team!

Detroit Lions (4-12)

I hope Detroit has enjoyed what little bit of mediocre success they’ve had over the past couple of seasons because that ship has sailed! The Lions will be back to shitsville where they have reigned supreme for many years! Calvin Johnson is all you got and he can’t do everything! Matthew Stafford is completely overrated and only looks halfway decent because he has Calvin Johnson as a receiver, he does all the work. Just throw up that ball and chances are Megatron is coming down with it! But I have a feeling this is the season Stafford is finally exposed and not even his “go to” guy will be able to save him!

Chicago Bears (2-14)

The Chicago Bears by far will be one of the worst teams in the league! Jay Cutler still sucks so he should provide the same awful quarterback play he has offered for many years! The defense is unrecognizable and it’s obvious this team is in a rebuilding year. Hopefully that helps usher Jay Cutler off into backupsville where he belongs. It’s amazing this guy still has a starting job, I guess it goes to show what little talent there is at the quarterback position in the NFL.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

During the John Harbaugh era the Ravens have been one of the most consistently good teams over the years. The Ravens weren’t a bad team last year, they just had a lot of offseason drama distracting them along with major injuries. Steve Smith has already announced this season will be his last, so I expect him to play like he always has and go out in a blaze of glory! Elvis Dumerville and Terrell Suggs are two of the best linebackers in the league so you cannot underestimate this defense at all. This team has quality leadership and experienced players and coaches who know how to get the job done. This team works hard and it shows through their play on the field. The area’s of concern I have with this team are the ground game and the secondary. It is basically running back by committee until someone steps it up to claim the starting position. That is not enough to hold them back from being a contender this season.

Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)

The Bengals always feel like they’re going to be THAT team. You know THAT team that has potential. THAT team who is finally going to get over the hump and make a playoff run. THAT team that always gives people high hopes and lets them down time and time again. Until they can prove otherwise what else can you really expect? On paper this team isn’t too bad, but I have had to refrain myself from ever picking the Bengals to be a legitimate contender because I am all too used to the veil that the Bengals are hidden behind during the  pre-season!

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-9)

The Steelers on offense will be one of the top teams in the league, but on the defensive side of the ball it’s going to be ugly. I’m not talking about typical ugly hard nosed Pittsburgh Steel Curtain type defense…I’m talking just straight up awful defense! Dick LeBeau is no longer the defensive coordinator and they lost one of their greatest leaders on defense, Troy Polamalu. The Steelers really lack any fire power on the defensive side of the ball and that will be awkward to see considering that has been the Steelers signature for the majority of their existence! The Steelers offense will outduel some teams this season, but that defense is going to kill them!

Cleveland Browns (1-15)

The Browns will forever be stuck in this vortex of garbage until they finally get some people who give a damn in their front office. They have no leadership, no quality players, and nobody it seems who is even interested in winning. The Browns will have a top five pick in the draft yet again next season…maybe they can finally figure out what to do with it?!?! They will have an entire season of losing to watch and figure it out!