20 NFL Predictions for the '12 season
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The 2012 NFL season is here with another season of Ray Lewis pep talks, Tom Brady touchdowns and more than likely bitter disappointment felt by Cleveland Browns fans.
With that said the 2012 NFL year began with the Dallas Cowboys defeating the New York Giants 24-17 to open the regular season, which is basically my Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year's all wrapped up into one.
So with the excitement even higher than last year (talk to me midway through the season we'll see if I'm still excited), I'll give you my 20 NFL predictions for the 2012 season. (After the Super Bowl, we'll take a look back and see how wrong I was.)[[In-content Ad]]1. Darren McFadden will NOT play an entire season and be healthy. Arian Foster will.
2. Calvin Johnson will put a stop to the "Madden Curse."
3. The surprise teams will be in the AFC, the San Diego Chargers and in the NFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, though Tampa will just miss the playoffs. Watch out for Doug Martin at running back. I also like the Chiefs, just not enough to put them in the playoffs.
4. Cam Newton will NOT suffer a sophomore slump, but Andy Dalton will for the fact his offensive line is hurting.
5. Doug Martin will be the NFL Rookie of the Year.
6. The Buffalo Bills' defense will be the second-ranked defense in the NFL. Houston will lead the NFL in defense.
7. Baltimore's Torrey Smith will be the next breakout wide receiver.
8. Chris Johnson will have a bounce-back year and rush for 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns. Maurice Jones-Drew will be this year's holdout casualty like CJ2K was in '11.
9. There will be five quarterbacks to pass for over 5,000 yards. (Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers.)
10. This just in … Arizona stinks. They will be the worst team in the NFL. Jacksonville will be the second worst team, tied with the Rams.
11. Drew Brees will pass for just a tick over 5,500 yards, leading the NFL.
12. For you Browns fans … Cleveland will have four wins, but they've got to start somewhere, right? Bengals will finish 8-8 … they have a tough schedule.
13. These teams who made the playoffs in '11 will not be in the postseason in '12: Steelers, Bengals and Lions.
14. The comeback player of the year will be Peyton Manning.
15. Division winners will be: (AFC) Patriots, Ravens, Texans and Broncos; (NFC) Giants, Packers, Saints and 49ers.
16. Wild Card teams will be: (NFC) Cowboys and Falcons; (AFC) Chargers and Bills.
17. AFC and NFC title games will be Patriots over Ravens and Packers over Giants.
18. The NFL MVP will be Drew Brees.
19. The Super Bowl MVP will be Greg Jennings of the Packers.
20. The Super Bowl XLVII champion will be the Green Bay Packers over the Patriots by a score of 28-24.
We’ll check these out at the end of the season to see how wrong I am.
Since you are reading online here are some predictions that didn't make the cut in the print edition …
- Myself or one of my friends with have a meltdown due to fantasy football. I just know having Eli Manning will haunt me as a Cowboys fan in some way this season.
- The worst starting QB in the league will be John Skelton of the Cardinals.
- Sadly Tim Tebow will lead the Jets in rushing yardage. Bonus: Tebow will start at least two games at quarterback for the New York Jets.
- Arizona will start three QBs this season and be the worst NFL offense passing-wise in the past 20 years.
- Three head coaches who start the season will not return for the '13 season.
- The Saints' Jimmy Graham will lead tight ends in receiving yards, receptions and touchdowns.
- I will watch more football than I really need to.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com.
With that said the 2012 NFL year began with the Dallas Cowboys defeating the New York Giants 24-17 to open the regular season, which is basically my Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year's all wrapped up into one.
So with the excitement even higher than last year (talk to me midway through the season we'll see if I'm still excited), I'll give you my 20 NFL predictions for the 2012 season. (After the Super Bowl, we'll take a look back and see how wrong I was.)[[In-content Ad]]1. Darren McFadden will NOT play an entire season and be healthy. Arian Foster will.
2. Calvin Johnson will put a stop to the "Madden Curse."
3. The surprise teams will be in the AFC, the San Diego Chargers and in the NFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, though Tampa will just miss the playoffs. Watch out for Doug Martin at running back. I also like the Chiefs, just not enough to put them in the playoffs.
4. Cam Newton will NOT suffer a sophomore slump, but Andy Dalton will for the fact his offensive line is hurting.
5. Doug Martin will be the NFL Rookie of the Year.
6. The Buffalo Bills' defense will be the second-ranked defense in the NFL. Houston will lead the NFL in defense.
7. Baltimore's Torrey Smith will be the next breakout wide receiver.
8. Chris Johnson will have a bounce-back year and rush for 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns. Maurice Jones-Drew will be this year's holdout casualty like CJ2K was in '11.
9. There will be five quarterbacks to pass for over 5,000 yards. (Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers.)
10. This just in … Arizona stinks. They will be the worst team in the NFL. Jacksonville will be the second worst team, tied with the Rams.
11. Drew Brees will pass for just a tick over 5,500 yards, leading the NFL.
12. For you Browns fans … Cleveland will have four wins, but they've got to start somewhere, right? Bengals will finish 8-8 … they have a tough schedule.
13. These teams who made the playoffs in '11 will not be in the postseason in '12: Steelers, Bengals and Lions.
14. The comeback player of the year will be Peyton Manning.
15. Division winners will be: (AFC) Patriots, Ravens, Texans and Broncos; (NFC) Giants, Packers, Saints and 49ers.
16. Wild Card teams will be: (NFC) Cowboys and Falcons; (AFC) Chargers and Bills.
17. AFC and NFC title games will be Patriots over Ravens and Packers over Giants.
18. The NFL MVP will be Drew Brees.
19. The Super Bowl MVP will be Greg Jennings of the Packers.
20. The Super Bowl XLVII champion will be the Green Bay Packers over the Patriots by a score of 28-24.
We’ll check these out at the end of the season to see how wrong I am.
Since you are reading online here are some predictions that didn't make the cut in the print edition …
- Myself or one of my friends with have a meltdown due to fantasy football. I just know having Eli Manning will haunt me as a Cowboys fan in some way this season.
- The worst starting QB in the league will be John Skelton of the Cardinals.
- Sadly Tim Tebow will lead the Jets in rushing yardage. Bonus: Tebow will start at least two games at quarterback for the New York Jets.
- Arizona will start three QBs this season and be the worst NFL offense passing-wise in the past 20 years.
- Three head coaches who start the season will not return for the '13 season.
- The Saints' Jimmy Graham will lead tight ends in receiving yards, receptions and touchdowns.
- I will watch more football than I really need to.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com.