2011 NFL Preview!!!

It is so nice to be writing my NFL Predictions column this year. Things looked a little bleak as May turned to June and June turned to July. Everyone thought the NFL would eventually settle the lockout, but it was getting a little too tedious for most fans. Finally, the NFL and NFLPA settled their differences and football was back by July 25th. The following week was crazy and wild as free agency, trades, college signings, and rumors all took center stage. After a wild 10 days, it is just starting to feel like a regular NFL preseason. To be honest, it will be challenging to try to predict the 2011 season. Only when the season actually starts, will we see the real effects on the lockout on teams and players. This year has the possibility of being totally unpredictable, or it might look very similar to last year. It is simply hard to tell at this point, and it is answer we won't have until the season ends. Whatever the case, it is still fun to try and make the same bold predictions that I have made when it comes to a season preview column. As we head into this unprecedented season, I still am going to stick to the formula that I have used in the past. The formula you ask? Here it is:

1)At least six teams will not return to the playoffs from 2010.

2)Six teams will make the playoffs after not making it last year.

3)At least four division winners out of eight will be different.

4) At least one team that lost 10 games the year before will make the playoffs this season.

Those four principles are how to set up your predictions for the upcoming NFL season. Also, there is a new theory that I must throw into play: "The Quarterback Conundrum." If your team has an top-level QB, then you have a chance to make the playoffs every single season. If your team has an average QB, then you are going to need breaks and luck to make the playoffs. If your team has a below average QB, then your simply not going to make a substantial run at the playoffs. The quarterback is so important in today's NFL; therefore, it must be considered a major factor-especially this particular season. Here are the 12 starting QBs from last year's playoff teams: Tom Brady, Mark Sanchez, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Peyton Manning, Matt Cassel, Mike Vick, Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, Matt Hasselbeck. All of those guys are in Top 15 of the NFL QBs (The exception being Sanchez and Cassel, but those two are arguable). Here are the 2009 NFL Playoff starting QBs: Brady, Sanchez, Carson Palmer, Flacco, Manning, Phillip Rivers, Tony Romo, Donovan McNabb, Brett Favre, Rodgers, Brees, and Kurt Warner. Again, there are not real slouches in that group.

With all that said, it feels good to get going with this year's NFL predictions column. It will be fun, and I will continue to try and think outside the box. I will give a little bit about what I like about that certain team, and I will write about what I don't like about that team. Finally, I will give a 2011 prediction with a record. First up is the NFC preview, and then I will follow it with the AFC preview. Enjoy!