See, I told you so.
What exactly is the point of doing season predictions? Why do so many people do it and publish it? I think that's why, so that should the slight chance that we get slightly more right than wrong, we can say that: "See, I told you so." Ironically, we don't often here "wow, I screwed that up bad. I wasn't even close!"
I think a second reason people do predictions is because the offseason is long and we get so excited for the season to start we gotta do something to prepare! I love football! So here I go.
NFC
Last season the Eagles, Lions and Cardinals sat in the NFC cellar. This season those three should all be significantly stronger while no team in the conference really shows much decline. Result: the '13 NFC may be the strongest and most balanced conference we have ever seen. For many years the East has been Beast while the West was a laughingstock. Not so now, as many people view the NFC West as the best division in the league, while the South and North can also stake a claim as the strongest, a telling sign of how tough the conference has grown. Now more than ever, the NFC is really up for grabs and should be very entertaining.
At this point, the two best teams in the NFC are the 49ers and Seahawks; I don't think there's a lot of doubt about that. Thinking about the postseason, it is most likely that those two teams would meet in the second round. That makes winning the division so important, because even if the Wild Card wins, you want the NFC Championship game in Seattle or San Francisco, not 3,000+ miles away in Atlanta.
East
The East may not be as dominant as it has in the past, but it will be no less competitive. Indeed, each of the four teams has a good shot at winning the division. The biggest wild card is RGIII. The Redskins quarterback led the Redskins to the playoffs a year ago, and while his recovery has been remarkable, you wonder how much he will be compromised or how conservative the team will be with him. (Then again, he could be even better with his gained experience. I'm not so sure, as defenses will be ready for him.) It seems that any given week Cowboys QB Tony Romo can look like either the best passer in the league or the worst, and he's usually the worst at the most inopportune times. The Giants are my team and Eli Manning is one of my favorite players, but they have been hit hard by injuries at nearly every position, and after the defense's underperformance last year and losses of Osi and Chris Canty, you wonder if they can regain that vaunted pass rush that disguises other weaknesses. The Eagles were a mess last year and made the change to Chip Kelly's high speed offense and got a new D-coordinator. Is that enough to turn them around? We'll see.
Cowboys
+ Romo and Dez Bryant
- Tendency for Romo and defense to crumble; fragility of DeMarco Murray leading the ground game
Tough games: Broncos, @Eagles, @Lions, @Saints, @Giants, @Bears, @Packers @Redskins
Prediction: 9-7
Redskins
+ RGIII and Alfred Morris; a healthy Brian Orakpo should improve the defense
- Griffin's knee, challenging schedule
Tough games: @Packers, @Cowboys, Bears, @Broncos, @Vikings, @Eagles, 49ers, Giants, @Falcons, @Giants
Prediction: 9-7
Eagles
+ Coach Chip Kelly's regime, LeSean McCoy
- Offensive line, depth at receiver, Michael Vick injury risk
Tough games: @Redskins, @Broncos, @Giants, @Buccaneers, @Packers, @Vikings, Bears, @Cowboys
Prediction: 8-8
Giants
+ Eli Manning, Jason Pierre-Paul (if healthy). Champion experience.
- Plethora of injuries already on both sides; depth of ground game; secondary and pass rush
Tough games: @Cowboys, Broncos, @Chiefs, @Bears, @Eagles, Packers, @Redskins, @Chargers, Seahawks, @Lions
Prediction: 7-9
West
The breakout of the NFC West happened quick. Alex Smith turned things around in San Fran, then the keys were handed over to Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers exploded. Among all the great young quarterbacks in the league, Russell Wilson for the Seahawks may be the best. Sam Bradford finally has some receivers and o-line protection and a decent chance (remember, he was a #1 pick several years ago), and with the big step the Rams made last year, maybe they can build on that. And the Cardinals are coming off a season with one of the most pathetic quarterback performances in league history into one with a new quarterback who threw for over 4,000 yards a year ago. A lot to look forward to.
Seahawks
+ Perhaps the second most talented roster in the NFL. Balanced offense, strong o-line, great defense, great home field advantage
- No clear weaknesses
Tough games: 49ers, @Texans, @Colts, @Falcons, @49ers, @Giants
Prediction: 11-5
49ers
+ Perhaps the most talented roster in the NFL with a great coach (Harbaugh), dynamite quarterback, strong defense, and Super Bowl experience
- Weak group of wide receivers
Tough games: Packers, @Seahawks, Texans, @Saints, @Redskins, Seahawks, Falcons
Prediction: 11-5
Rams
+ Improved offensive line, speedy receivers, defense should be solid
- Bradford hasn't shown much in his career; no names in ground game
Winnable games: Cardinals, Jaguars, @Panthers, Titans, @Cardinals, Saints, Buccaneers
Prediction: 7-9
Cardinals
+ At least they have a real quarterback this year. Larry Fitzgerald will be happy. Defense was good last year
- Weak offensive line, weak rushing game, perhaps the league's toughest schedule
Winnable games: Lions, Panthers, @Jaguars, Colts, Rams, @Titans
Prediction: 5-11
North
Packers have owned the division lately but the Vikings made the playoffs last year while the Bears won 10 games. The Lions have a ton of talent and are no pushover, either. The NFC North has the best quarterback, running back, and wide receiver in the NFL. Most people are penciling in Green Bay to win the division without a second though, but I have some concerns about them, both on defense and offense. I love the addition of Reggie Bush to the Lions, but they don't have an easy game all year. If Jay Cutler can stay upright the Bears are my pick to win 10 games again and win the division, although a first round matchup with either the Packers or 49ers/Seahawks would be trouble.
Bears
+ New coach hopes to shake things up on offense. Matt Forte and Brandon Marshall are stars on offense. Strong and opportunistic defense
- Offensive line, Jay Cutler's leadership
Tough games: Bengals, @Lions, @Redskins, @Packers, Ravens, @Vikings, Cowboys, @Eagles, Packers
Prediction: 10-6
Packers
+ Aaron Rodgers, one of best quarterbacks (players) in the NFL leading the way, elite passing attacks; Clay Matthews is a monster on defense
- Defense is much too generous, especially in big games. They haven't had a legitimate ground game in a long time, questionable offensive line, tough schedule
Tough games: @49ers, @Bengals, @Ravens, @Vikings, @Giants, Falcons, @Cowboys, @Bears
Prediction: 9-7
Lions
+ Reggie Bush is perfect addition, Megatron is best receiver in football, talented defense
- Discipline, coaching, secondary
Winnable games: Vikings, @Cardinals, Bears, @Browns, Cowboys, @Steelers, Buccaneers, Ravens, Giants
Prediction: 8-8
Vikings
+ Adrian Peterson is the reigning MVP and carries the team. Strong o- and d- lines
- Nonexistent passing game, secondary
Winnable games: Browns, Steelers, Panthers, Redskins, Bears, Eagles, Lions
Prediction: 7-9
South
Falcons won the division going away last year as the other three teams all fell below .500 at 7-9. The Bucs and Saints are talented enough to make a jump, but the Saints will need a much better performance by their defense, and Josh Freeman will need to regain his swagger from early in his career when he looked like a future star. Cam Newton is a great talent but I question his leadership and ability to really take the Panthers up another step. I don't think Atlanta will be as dominant (or lucky?) as last season but even a small step back would keep them at the top of the division. One bright spot for the South, they go heads up with the AFC East, which means everybody gets a game with the Jets, Bills, and Dolphins.
Falcons
+ Impressive talent at skill positions on offense, significant success at home
- Defensive pass rush, inability to advance in the playoffs
Tough games: @Saints, Patriots, Seahawks, @Packers, @49ers
Prediction: 11-5
Buccaneers
+ Balanced offense; Revis and Goldson improve one of the league's worst pass defenses
- Is Josh Freeman going to rise or fall?
Winnable games: @Jets, Saints, @Panthers, Cardinals, Eagles, Panthers, Dolphins, Bills
Prediction: 9-7
Saints
- Drew Brees leads an elite aerial attack, Coach Sean Payton is back
- Defense has been historically bad
Winnable games: Falcons, Cardinals, Dolphins, Bills, @Jets, Cowboys, Panthers, Bucs, @Panthers
Prediction: 8-8
Panthers
+ Cam Newton among league's greatest talents and most exciting players; Luke Kuechly already a dominant force on defense in his second year
- Cam's leadership and inability to get everyone involved, troubles closing out games, defense isn't great
Winnable games: @Bills, Giants, Rams, @Dolphins, Buccaneers, Jets, Saints
Prediction: 6-10
Pencil It In
Seahawks
49ers
Likely In
Falcons
Packers
Bears
Best Shot in the East
Cowboys
Possible Party Crashers
Saints
Redskins
Eagles
Lions
Buccaneers
NFC Championship Game
Seahawks and Falcons
NFC and Super Bowl Champs
Seahawks
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