FOOTBALL PLAYERS SUFFER broken bones and concussions. Football writers get paper cuts, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and, in my case at least, hernias.
However, no surgical procedure was going to get in the way of previewing the 2012 NFL season. It’s been nine long months but football’s back baby!
The AFC
Championship Winner
It’s boring and predictable but it’s also impossible to look past Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Having come up just short in last season’s Super Bowl, the Pats will be looking for revenge this year.
While a lot of focus will be on the twin tight end threat posed by Hernandez and Gronkowski, it is the addition of Brandon Lloyd and the deep ball option he gives Brady that represents the final piece of the New England offensive jigsaw.
Yes, their defence is terrible but that’s never stopped them winning the AFC before.
Dark Horse
If a team is going to beat the Patriots, it will be the Houston Texans. While average – Arian Foster and Andre Johnson aside – on offence, they have one of the best young defences in the league.
If the likes of Cushing and Watt play as well as they have shown they can, the Texans will comfortably reach the playoffs.
However, doubts remain as to whether or not this team can raise their game to beat teams of the calibre of the Steelers, Ravens and Patriots when it really matters.
Busted Flush
Jets fans will talk the talk as they do every season but this side’s chances of winning a Super Bowl with Rex Ryan are finished. Ryan himself will probably be the first coach to face the chop this year.
The fact he told the New York media last week that this could be the best team he’s coached since he took over the Gang Green tells you just how likely he is to be fired.
Storyline to watch out for
There’ll be a Tebow thing but that’s beyond boring now. The real story in the AFC will be Peyton Manning’s neck. If he stays healthy for 16 games the Broncos will comfortably make the playoffs. If they get there, you never know what might happen.
Green Bay Packers running back Alex Green celebrates after rushing for a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during preseason (AP Photo/Morry Gash).
The NFC
Championship Winner
Once more, The Redzone is going out a limb and predicting the Green Bay Packers will come out on top in the NFC.
Aaron Rodgers is undoubtedly the best QB in the NFL and will be looking to cross the 5,000-yard barrier once more. His habit of spreading the passes around makes knowing which Green Bay wideout to draft almost impossible for fantasy football players though.
Like the Patriots, the Packers’ run game and defence isn’t up to much but they always look like outscoring most opponents and that should be good enough.
Dark Horse
This is probably the morphine talking, but the Atlanta Falcons have every chance of claiming the NFC Championship this year.
While Matt Ryan has been nothing more than steady up until now, the time is right for Matty Ice to break loose with a monster season. In a new system co-ordinated by Dirk Koetter, the Falcons will look to stretch the field with Roddy White and Julio Jones much more than hand off to Michael Turner this year.
Having such a competitive division involving the Panthers, Bucs and Saints should help more than hinder the Falcons too.
Busted Flush
While a lot of people are tipping San Francisco to repeat their playoff run of 2012 or, indeed, go one better, I don’t think it will happen for the 49ers.
They’ve an awesome defence, one of the league’s best and a corps of top notch running backs. On top of that, Vernon Davis could be the league’s standout tight end not wearing a New England Patriots jersey.
However, the 49ers will never win a Super Bowl with Alex Smith at the helm. For all his qualities as a game manager, he very rarely wins games for his side. For as long as that continues, the 49ers will continue to play the bridesmaid.
Storyline to watch out for
The Saints. How will the deal with the suspensions? Not very well I suspect.
Also, it will be interesting to see if the Lions can put their off-the-field problems behind them. Once again, I suspect not.
