As my divisional playoff previews finally come to a close, it is time to take one last look at the 2010 NFL season and predict who the final playoff teams will be and who will get a chance to play on the NFL’s ultimate stage for the Super Bowl.
First, let’s recap how I have predicted that each of the Divisions will shake out, starting with the AFC.
The AFC is pound for pound a lot stronger than the NFC this year, which makes the race for playoff spots that much more exciting. Each Conference sends six teams to the playoffs (The Divisional Winners plus two Wildcard Teams). The AFC should play out like this:
- Divisional Winners
- Wildcard Winners
Out of these six teams, the Colts and the Patriots have the best chance of reaching the Super Bowl. We will have to wait to see how the playoff matchups turn out to see if these teams will square off in the AFC championship game or if they will face each other earlier, but either way, my prediction is that the Patriots will walk away with the AFC title.
AFC Champion: New England Patriots
The NFC has some very good teams, including the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints. Most of the divisions, with the exception of the NFC West will be runaways, putting the NFC Playoff picture looking something like this.
- Divisional Winners
- Wildcard Winners
Of the six playoff teams from the NFC, there is no doubt that this race will include the Packers and the Saints down the stretch. The Packers should have home field advantage throughout the NFC, giving them a big advantage and eventually propelling them to a berth in the Super Bowl.
NFC Champion: Green Bay Packers
This year’s Super Bowl will be a rematch of Super Bowl XXXI which was won by Brett Favre and the Packers. This year it will showcase arguably two of the best quarterbacks in the league in Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. If both teams are healthy, I would have to give a slight edge to the Packers. The squads are pretty comparable when throwing the ball, but the Packers have a definite edge in the rushing game.
Super Bowl XLV Champion: Green Bay Packers
If you’re curious as to how I think the rest of the league will shake out, below are some projected final standings, as well as links to read a more in depth analysis of each division. You can also check out what my buddy over at Jock Jerseys had to say about the upcoming 2010 NFL Season here.
2010 AFC West Predicted Final Standings (Read Full AFC West Predictions Here)
- San Diego Chargers (11-5)
- Kansas City Chiefs (8-8)
- Denver Broncos (6-10)
- Oakland Raiders (5-11)
2010 AFC South Predicted Final Standings (Read Full AFC South Predictions Here)
- Indianapolis Colts (12-4)
- Tennessee Titans (10-6)
- Houston Texans (9-7)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)
2010 AFC North Predicted Final Standings (Read Full AFC North Predictions Here)
- Baltimore Ravens (11-4)
- Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (6-10)
- Cleveland Browns (2-14)
2010 AFC East Predicted Final Standings (Read Full AFC East Predictions Here)
- New England Patriots (13-3)
- New York Jets (10-6)
- Miami Dolphins (8-8)
- Buffalo Bills (5-11)
2010 NFC West Predicted Final Standings (Read Full NFC West Predictions Here)
- Arizona Cardinals (9-7)
- Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
- San Francisco 49ers (7-9)
- St. Louis Rams (2-14)
2010 NFC South Predicted Final Standings (Read Full NFC South Predictions Here)
- New Orleans Saints (12-4)
- Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
- Carolina Panthers (5-11)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)
2010 NFC North Predicted Final Standings (Read Full NFC NorthPredictions Here)
- Green Bay Packers (13-3)
- Chicago Bears (7-9)
- Minnesota Vikings (6-10)
- Detroit Lions (3-13)
2010 NFC East Predicted Final Standings (Read Full NFC East Predictions Here)
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
- Washington Redskins (9-7)
- Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
- New York Giants (7-9)