Vikings Final 53 Man Roster: Surprises and Snubs

The Vikings narrowed their roster down from 75 to 53 today in preparation for the regular season, leading to relief for some and heartbreak for others. Tomorrow some of those players will get some relief, as they will be added to the eight man practice squad for the year. You can view the Vikings "final" roster here:

 http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Vikings-Get-To-53-Man-Roster-Limit-Announce-Cuts/35270d4b-1aed-409c-a419-8c4456d5ba13

It's quite possible there are more tough decisions to come, as DT Christian Ballard may return from the left squad list, and Jerome Felton will return to the 53 once his three game suspension is up. OT DeMarcus Love is also suspended to start the season, though it's not as likely that the Vikings will make room on the squad for him. After perusing the list, here are the names that stood out, either on the roster or not.

(Pleasant) Surprises

FB Zach Line

While Jerome Felton serves his suspension, it appears the Vikings are going to roll with the undrafted rookie out of SMU as a lead blocker for #28. Line has had a noticeable preseason and training camp, and it's nice to see him rewarded with a roster spot. Line most likely is just going to serve a three week tour of duty in the NFL before being bumped back to the practice squad upon Felton's return, but  just grabbing a spot now is a sign of the coaching staff's faith in him.

WR Joe Webb

Joe Webb sticks around on the Vikings roster, only this time as a receiver instead of a quarterback. The ultra-athletic Webb still looks a little raw at his new position, but a great jump ball touchdown in the preseason showcased his potential value to this team. It's hard to imagine that the Vikings wouldn't be able to create some package of plays designed to showcase Webb's talent, and they can't pretend they don't need talent at the position. This should also be seen as an acknowledgement of the great locker room presence that Webb brings, as by all accounts he is a fantastic teammate and brings an infectious energy to the sideline.

LB Michael Mauti

Before the draft Mauti sent a letter out to all 32 NFL general managers, just asking for them to give him a shot to play professional football even with his multiple knee injuries. The Vikings were impressed enough to give him that chance, and he absolutely did not let that chance slip away. It's been impossible not to notice Mauti when watching the Vikings this preseason, and his fantastic instincts have helped him find the football and make plays. Mauti is another great locker room guy for the Vikings, as he brings fiery passion and great leadership skills to this squad. Don't be surprised if Mauti finds a way to start climbing up the depth chart over the next few seasons.

Snubs

CB Bobby Felder

Felder was viewed by most to be competing for the fifth cornerback/punt returner role with the Vikings along with Marcus Sherels. After the fourth preseason game when Sherels brought a kickoff back for a touchdown and picked off a pass this battle appeared to be over, and Sherels ended up grabbing a roster spot over Felder. Sherels has definitely earned his roster spot, but while Felder showed some inconsistency in his coverage skills he still flashed more ability than fourth cornerback AJ Jefferson. Felder's value did drop once he lost the return job, but Jefferson was picked on constantly by even third team offenses. The Vikings may have been hesitant to cut ties with Jefferson since he was received in a trade only last year, but Felder simply made more plays this preseason and should have been rewarded for it.

WR Stephen Burton

Just like Felder was in competition with Sherels, Burton was largely seen as competing with Joe Webb for the final receiver spot. Burton had a quality preseason and made some nice receptions in the preseason, but inconsistency dogged him as he was responsible for a Christian Ponder interception and a delay of game penalty. Burton looks more comfortable at the position than newcomer Webb, but Webb's added athleticism gives him an edge that Burton will simply never be able to overcome. Burton still should have had a spot on this roster though as the Vikings kept six receivers last year and still could have used the extra depth. Burton could have easily taken the spot of somebody like linebacker Larry Dean, who is an outstanding special teams player but provides almost no value at his listed position. In a year when Christian Ponder needs weapons around him to be properly evaluated, it seems perplexing that the Vikings would take away a potential target for him, no matter how inconsistent.

It will be interesting to see how the Vikings' practice squad tomorrow, as they will have a few regulars return but also have some standout rookies to make room for. Even that squad won't be finalized for quite some time, as Felton's return at the very least ensures that the shuffling isn't done yet.

2013 Season Predictions: Super Bowl

Super Bowl 48 pits the Denver Broncos against the San Francisco 49ers in the chilly outdoors of MetlLife Stadium (a Farmer's Almanac is already predicting snow on the day). Plenty of interesting stories run wild in the weeks leading up to the game. Old-school Peyton vs wave of the future Kaepernick, both trying to write new chapters of their legacies. Peyton going for glory in his younger brother's stadium. The final verdict on whether Peyton choosing the Broncos over the 49ers in free agency was the right call. Can Peyton Manning exorcise some of his playoff demons and erase any doubts about his status in the discussion for GOAT (greatest of all time) quarterback? Can Colin Kaepernick prove the viability of the athletic quarterback at the highest level by winning a championship in his second try? Can the 49ers finally get over the hump as an organization after coming up short two years in a row, and capture the franchise's 6th championship? (which would tie them for most all-time with the Steelers) Read on to find out who wins!

Broncos' Offense vs 49ers' Defense
Key match-up: LT Ryan Clady vs OLB Aldon Smith
The Broncos' offense figures to be explosive during the regular season, but this 49ers' defense will be the toughest task they will face all season. Intermediate target Wes Welker will have a tough time finding much yardage against this linebacking corps, and don't expect big gains from Denver's running game. However, it Peyton has enough time, this 49ers' secondary has shown they can be beat my the upper-echelon NFL passers. If Peyton has time to look of of rookie safety Eric Reid expect big gains from Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. If blind-side protector Ryan Clady is not able to handle pass-rusher Aldon Smith though, Peyton is going to have to squeeze balls into tight windows in order to move this offense, which could lead to some big turnovers for the 49ers.

49ers' Offense vs Broncos' Defense
Key match-up: TE Vernon Davis vs the field
The Broncos' defense overall matches up somewhat favorably against this 49ers' offense, as this Bronco defensive line appears well equipped to stop the run, the key to this 49er offense. These Bronco corners should also have a good day, as their one weakness appears to be deep threats, of which the 49ers currently really have none. The one match-up the 49ers will need to exploit to open up this defense will be tight end Vernon Davis, as there is no player on the Broncos' sideline who will be able to handle him man-to-man. Davis should be able to out-speed any linebacker that tries to cover him, and if he forces a safety to account for him he could help open up the run game. Kaepernick could also have a big day on the ground if the defensive line doesn't stick to their gaps, as this Bronco defense isn't athletic enough to catch him if he can get outside the pocket.

Special Teams
With the release of Tedd Ginn Jr and with the injury to LaMichael James, the 49ers' special teams doesn't figure to be explosive, and shouldn't be a large concern for the Broncos. Unreliable kicker David Akers was released this offseason, so the kicking game shouldn't be anything to stress about this season like it was last year for San Francisco. The Broncos do have a special teams threat in Trindon Holliday, who took both a punt and kickoff return for a touchdown in the playoff game against the Ravens last year. Look for 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh to play conservative special teams after giving up a return touchdown is last season's Super Bowl, meaning Holliday shouldn't get free but should give the Broncos some pretty good fields. Broncos' punter Britton Colquitt should also make an impact, as during the playoffs last year he pinned the Ravens deep several different times. Look for the 49ers to see a couple of long fields this game.

Coaching
This coaching match-up features two previous Super Bowl losers looking to finally reach the NFL peak in John Fox and Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh has been extremely creative and innovative since he reached the NFL and has one of the best coaching staffs in the league behind him. John Fox isn't quite on Harbaugh's level, and his conservative style of play cost the Broncos during crunch-time in the playoffs last year. Harbaugh's excellent motivational skills should have the 49ers coming onto the field fired up, while Fox won't be the factor that pushes this team over the edge.

Intangibles
While the intangibles are impossible to predict at this point because we haven't seen either of these teams in action yet, it needs to be stated how momentum and team character factor in just as much in these games as overall football talent. The Ravens were completely over-matched in terms of pure football ability in Super Bowl 47, but the momentum of Ray Lewis's "last ride" brought that team together and carried them to victory as they all played their tails off for Ray. Could Peyton make a similar impact next year? It's impossible to know right now, but one of these teams will be coming in hot to MetLife Stadium.

Predicted Score: San Francisco 49ers 31, Denver Broncos 28
As is often the case in close playoff games, turnovers prove to be the differnce as a Bronco running back fumbles and Peyton makes an ill-advised tight throw over the middle that gets picked. Colin Kaepernick manages to get points off the takeaways and directs a slow-moving but effective offense will a few big strikes to Vernon Davis. Kaepernick's legs open up some things in the defense and he grabs a rushing touchdown, and Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers finally get to the top.

Congratulations 49ers, and see you all in 2014!

2013 Season Predictions: NFC Playoffs

With all the NFC regular season predictions out there, it's time for some (crazy) early postseason results! According to my (also crazy early) regular season predictions, the playoff seedings would be as follows:

1. San Francisco 49ers (13-3) - Bye
2. Green Bay Packers (11-5) - Bye
3. Atlanta Falcons (11-5)
4. New York Giants (10-6)
5. Seattle Seahawks (12-4)
6. St. Louis Rams (10-6)

The one tiebreaker here goes to the Green Bay Packers, as I think they take the win when they play the Falcons during the regular season.

Unlike my AFC predictions, I at least have some new teams in the postseason this year for the NFC, the Giants and the Rams. That leaves a total of two new teams in the postseason this year, which would be the first time that happened in quite some time. The teams on the shakiest ground on this list are the Giants and the Falcons, who are both in complete toss-up divisions that could go in just about any direction. They are the teams I have the most faith in as of now, but that could very easily change once the regular season starts. The Bears and any teams that rise out of the East or South could challenge the Rams for the last wild card spot, but I'm very confident in their new weapons and the potency of their defense, even though they will have a hard time fighting through their division.

One final reminder, lifted from my AFC Playoffs post:
 It cannot be overstated how preliminary these predictions are. We haven't even played a snap of real NFL football yet this season, and a lot is going to change in terms of injuries, suspensions and just overall style of play that is going to change the direction of the trend a team is going in. Even a minor difference in seeding could potentially create an entire new set of predictions because the NFL is all about match-ups and how one team stacks man-for-man against another team, with even a minor weakness becoming a huge advantage. Momentum is also everything in the NFL and impossible to predict at this stage, as the last two Super Bowl winners were not the most talented teams in the league but simply got hot at the right time.

Wild Card Game 1: #3 Atlanta vs #6 St. Louis
Predicted winner: St. Louis
A little bit of a preseason upset pick, the playoff woes continue for Matt Ryan and the Falcons as his playoff record drops to 1-6. Even though the Falcons will be at home in the Georgia Dome, they just seem to always find a way to hurt themselves in January, even their playoff win last year was only possible because the Seahawks had a clock management error that left points off the board. The Rams defense is tough enough to not be bullied by Atlanta's skill position players, and their pass rush will most likely give Atlanta's offensive line fits. While the Rams offense won't be explosive enough to pull this game out of reach at any point, Sam Bradford should have enough time in the pocket to slowly slice up this Falcon's defense. Expect big things from the Rams' special teams too, as I'm going to predict a Tavon Austin return touchdown and a few long Greg Zurlein kicks ultimately put the nail in the coffin carrying the Falcon's Super Bowl dreams.
Predicted score: 30-24 Rams

Wild Card Game 2: #4 New York vs #5 Seattle

Predicted winner: Seattle

Seattle wins a wild card game on the road for the second year in a row as the Giants' dream of playing in the Super Bowl at their home stadium gets washed away. The Giants' linebackers may end up having a rough outing when faced with tackling "Beast Mode" Marshawn Lynch, whose physical style of running may be too much for the weak second level of the G-Men. Meanwhile, the Seahawks "Legion of Boom" defensive backfield should help contain Eli Manning and the Giants' passing game, though still expect a big play or two. David Wilson's explosive style of running may give the Giants a fighting chance, but it's hard to see this Giants' offensive line beating down this deep Seattle defensive front. Each defense will be able to force turnovers, but Seattle's defense will force one late and Lynch will close it out from there.

Predicted score: 27-20 Seahawks

Divisional Game 1: #1 San Francisco vs #6 St. Louis

Predicted winner: San Francisco

A divisional showdown for the first divisional game, the 49ers pull out a hard won victory to reach their third NFC championship game in three years. This promises to be a tough, physical match-up where the battle is largely decided in the trenches. On paper, that battle looks to be in favor of the 49ers as their top-notch offensive line should be able to hold up against the Rams fearsome front, and quarterback Colin Kaepernick's athleticism will help keep drives alive. Sam Bradford's line should keep him upright, but the 49ers athletic linebackers should clog up the middle of the field, making it tough sledding for some of Bradford's favorite targets like Austin and tight end Jared Cook. Bradford will be able to hit Chris Givens deep a few times from the pocket, but he will struggle to continuously pick up first downs and sustain drives. 

Predicted Score: 24-17 49ers

Divisional Game 2: #2 Green Bay vs #5 Seattle

Predicted winner: Seattle

The Packers try to get sweet revenge against the perpetrators of the Fail Mary last year, but come up short as Russell Wilson leads the Seahawks to another victory over the Pack at Lambeau field, as both is legs and his arms come up big. Last year defensive coordinator for the Packers, Dom Capers, took a lot of heat for his play calling against the 49ers in the playoffs, when Colin Kaepernick was able to set an NFL record for rushing yards by a quarterback. This time around, Capers overplays the run to try to atone for his mistakes, and as a result Wilson carves up the Packers deep off of play-action. Aaron Rodgers does his valiant best to pick this team up, but while the Packers' aggressive attack creates several big plays, it also lets the Legion of Boom force a few punts and an interception. Once Wilson has the play-action established the Packers defense will be on its heels and Lynch and the rest of Seattle's back stable will be able to take over from there. This won't be nearly as disappointing an outing as last year's for the Pack, but Caper's early gaffes will lead straight to a playoff exit for Green Bay.

Predicted Score: 35-27 Seahawks

NFC Championship Game: #1 San Francisco vs #5 Seattle

Predicted winner: San Francisco

San Francisco becomes the first Super Bowl loser to get back to the big game since the Buffalo Bills of the 1990s as they top their division rival in the last game that will be played at Candlestick Park. The crowd absolutely becomes a factor in this game as the 'Stick comes alive one last time. The crowd noise disrupts the timings of Russell Wilson's offense, and a blitz package designed by the 49ers manages to keep the Seahawks offense largely in check. The Seahawks defense doesn't make it easy for Kaepernick, but receiver Anquan Boldin makes several tough catches to move the chains at critical spots, and tight end Vernon Davis manages to break open a few times for some big gains. Wilson keeps the game close by making some plays outside the pocket, and late in the game players start getting nasty as tensions run high. A big, long game winning drive from Kaepernick clinches the game while leaving little time for Wilson to work, and he reaches his second Super Bowl in two years as a starter.

Predicted Score: 28-24 San Francisco

Your Super Bowl 48 match-up: The Denver Broncos vs the San Francisco 49ers. Predictions coming soon

2013 Season Predictions: NFC North

Here it is, finally: the predictions for the Minnesota Vikings' division. As previously stated in my post on breakout candidates for the Vikings this year, the Vikings can be predicted to go in one of two directions this year: Christian Ponder and the passing game step it up and the Vikings have a chance at the NFC North crown, or Ponder fails to show consistency and the Vikings fight to finish .500. That might seem like an oversimplification as there are many more factors that could affect how this football team finishes, but in today's NFL the quarterback is far and away the most important person on the field, and several flawed teams have been carried to success due to their quarterback's play. Christian Ponder needs to prove to Vikings fans this year he can be one of those guys. Meanwhile, slightly east of Minnesota, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has just about nothing to prove after leading the Packers to consecutive division championships, even though he suffered behind a porous offensive line last year and his offense had no running game to speak of. The Packers line looks to be leaky yet again this season, but can rookie running back Eddie Lacy provide enough offensive balance to give Rodgers time to throw? In Chicago Bears fans have a similar dilemna to the ones Vikings fans are facing, as it's unclear whether quarterback Jay Cutler has what it takes to be a reliable NFL quarterback. New head coach Marc Trestman was brought in to "fix" Cutler, and the Bears dedicated their offseason to giving Cutler the pieces around him he needs to succeed, so the pressure is most certainly on. The Detroit Lions experienced a swift fall from grace this season, going 4-12 after reaching the playoffs the year before. Their main question this year: which year is more indicitive of the direction this team is headed?

1. Green Bay Packers : 11-5 (2012 Season : 11-5)
With the best quarterback in football right now, there's almost no doubt that the Packers will be a postseason contender again come January. Rodgers may get sacked a fair amount behind this line again this year, but as long as he can avoid the injury bug this offense should keep humming. Eddie Lacy will at least provide a prescence in the backfield, something the Packers have lacked for a while, and he should be able to at least close out a few games for the Pack this year. The team also returns one of the top receiving corps in the league, and while depth is more of a concern after the loss of Greg Jennings, Rodgers ability to spread the ball around should make that a relatively moot point. Their defense is also not as bad as you might think, despite being embarrassed in the playoffs last year by the 49ers, if the starters can stay healthy this year (something they have failed to do the last few seasons) this unit has loads of potential, especially since they have a knack for making big plays and generating turnovers. The Packers will be challenged by the more physical teams in the league (the 49ers and Giants have been very successful against them the past few seasons) but should have no problem playing winter football at Lambeau come next year.

2. Minnesota Vikings : 8-8 (2012 Season : 10-6)
This breaks my heart to have to predict it, but my brain won't have it any other way. I said this season could go one of two ways, and ultimately I see my beloved Vikings taking a step back because Christian Ponder isn't up to the task of being an NFL starter. I would love for him to prove me wrong this year, I really would. But right now, the spotty decision making, the lack of deep ball accuracy, and extreme happy feet in the pocket prevent me from saying that the light will just turn on and he'll turn into a quality NFL starter. Plenty of fans and analysts have mentioned that if Ponder could only be a league average quarterback the Vikings would have a very strong chance at another playoff berth. The thing is, that line of thinking already is indicitive of Ponder's perceived lack of upside, and I'm simply not willing to settle for a league average quarterback to lead my team. It can be somewhat exhausting to read NFL predictions for the Vikings and only read about Christian Ponder, since there are so many other interesting facets of this team and many positive things to like about Leslie Fraizer's squad. In the end, I'm not going to mention them either here, because viewing this season as anything but a referendum on Christian Ponder at this point is a mistake. If he can't be anything better than average, expect big changes next offseason.

3. Chicago Bears : 8-8 (2012 Season: 10-6)
The Bears are trying to do their best to salvage the career of Jay Cutler, but at this point he may simply be who he is. He's a quarterback who is extremely gifted athletically with a cannon of an arm but is prone to bad decision making and getting injured. Marc Trestman's system has seen plenty of success in his time as an NFL offensive coordinator, but we saw this offense go through some growing pains during the preseason, and Jay Cutler has still shown a knack for throwing bad interceptions. Another key factor for the Bears that has largely been overlooked this offseason due to the Trestman hiring is how well their defense will play without head coach Lovie Smith, who had always been one of the best defensive minds in football. Over the first half of the season last year this Bears' defense was receiving comparisons to their heralded 1985 team, forcing turnovers left and right and carrying this team to a 7-1 start. However, as the season wore on, the comparisons became less and less apropos, as the aging defense started to look a little gassed and weren't as effective down the stretch. With most of their key starters returning another year older on defense (the one exception being 2nd round pick Jonathan Bostic, their new starting inside linebacker) and without Lovie Smith's guidance this unit could take a large step back, and Jay Cutler has never been able to carry a team on his own.

4. Detroit Lions : 7-9 (2012 Season : 4-12)
In the end, neither the 10-6 playoff team nor the 4-12 last in the division Lions are the true version of this team. In the end, the answer lies somewhere in the middle. The Lions simply had terrible luck last year, losing eight games decided by a touchdown or less, including a game on Thanksgiving where they lost due to one of the weirdest replay rules ever invented. Logic dictates that simply won't happen again to the Lions, and they have several new additions to be proud of like free agent running back Reggie Bush and athletic rookie defensive end Ezekiel Ansah. However, quarterback Matthew Stafford also owns an awful 1-24 record during the regular season when going against teams with a winning record. The Lions beat the teams they are supposed to beat, but they have yet to be able to challenge any of the big dogs in the NFL. This team has plenty of talent and potential, but they have yet to put it all together under head coach Jim Schwartz and returning to being average likely won't be enough to save his job.

Vikings Preseason Game 4: Hot/Not and Stray Observations

If you sat down to watch the Vikings' 4th preseason game, congratulations, you really love NFL football! The 4th preseason game is often overlooked due to the start of the college football season and the fact that few if any starters typically play to avoid injuries. Thus, the viewing public is mainly subjected to watching players on the bubble fight for one last chance to make the regular season roster, even though they likely will see little to not actual playing time once the season starts outside of special  teams. This game film will be extremely important to the coaching staff as they cut down the roster from 75 players to the final 53 man roster, and here is likely a few takeaways they will find after pouring through the tape:

Hot: Desmond Bishop, LB
A former starting middle linebacker for the Green Bay Packers during their Super Bowl run in 2010, Bishop later blew out his hamstring which led to his release from the team and him signing a one-year minimum veteran deal with the Vikings. While most fans hoped he would come in and be a starter, Bishop struggled to stay healthy during training camp and the first preseason games, which led to head coach Leslie Fraizer calling him out through the media and letting him know his roster spot wasn't safe. Bishop answered the call very well in week 3 of the preseason, and this week it was more of the same as he played fast and physical against the Titans starter, recording two tackles for loss. This is the Bishop the Vikings hope they had signed this offseason, and it looks like Bishop may be playing his way into locking up a starting spot on this roster.

Not: AJ Jefferson, CB
The Vikings' fourth cornerback on the depth chart (meaning he will see time in dime packages most likely) did not alleviate concerns about the Vikings depth at cornerback, as he was constantly targeted and picked on by the Titans' cornerbacks and receivers, including on their third-string offense. The Titans had a long drive down the field when passing Jefferson's way three different times, including one pass for a touchdown, which does not bode well for what starting offenses could look to do against AJ. While in all likelihood Jefferson's roster spot looks to be safe, it would not be at all surprising if general manager Rick Speilman decides to sift through the cuts made by other teams in the upcoming days to pick up a corner who might have a shot at replacing Jefferson.

Hot: Marcus Sherels, CB
While the Viking's fourth cornerback was targeted and picked on, their fifth corner from last year refused to be bullied and made big plays to help out this Vikings' team. Sherels decided to miss week three of the preseason to grieve with his family over the death of his father, a decision he made sure he talked to coach Fraizer about knowing that he is squarely on the roster bubble this year and needed to make a splash. After clearly being frustrated when the Titans' first two kickoffs left the endzone, leaving Sherels no chance to show off his skills as a returner, the former undrafted player from the University of Minnesota took the next kickoff 109 yards for a touchdown. After his first big splash play of the day, Sherels took that momentum onto his play on the defensive side of the ball when he managed to pick off the Titans' third string quarterback Rusty Smith. Sherels huge play helped the Vikings win the game and should make sure he remains a part of the Vikings' roster.

Not: Jeff Locke, P
Rookie punter Jeff Locke continues to show a strong leg as his one kick of the night sailed a long way, going 46 yards, and had enough air under it to only allow about a two yard return. However, his chemistry as a holder with kicker Blair Walsh is still a work in progress, as a spotty hold by Locke cost the Vikings 3 points when Walsh hooked it to the left of the goalpost. One of my key stocks to watch this season, Locke and Walsh still look like they need to fine tune their rapport in order to make sure the Vikings don't leave points off the board this season.

Hot: Michael Mauti, LB
A 7th round pick in this year's NFL Draft, Mauti was a stand-out player at Penn State, but three ACL tears during his college career kept many teams from calling his name during draft time.The Vikings took a chance on him based on his potential and also his sterling intangibles (he wrote letters to all 32 NFL GM's before the draft explaining his love of football and desire to keep playing) and it looks like they may reap the rewards before long. Mauti has flashed excellent instincts and tackling ability during the preseason, and last night was no exception as he finished with four tackles, forced an incompletion in the red zone and issued a key block that helped Sherels run free on his return touchdown. Mauti has simply displayed a nose for the football and he almost certainly has played himself into a spot on the Vikings' roster this season.

Other Observations:

• Third-string quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson played most of the game and finished 19/26 for 187 yards with one touchdown and one (bad) interception. There is no reason for him not to remain on this squad, even though the idea has been floated out there that he could be cut and the team would keep wide receiver Joe Webb as an emergency quarterback.
• Rookie first round pick Xavier Rhodes is still learning what he can get away with at the NFL level, as he had a holding call against him that gave the Titans a first down.
• Undrafted rookie fullback Zach Line had some nice moments as a blocker, and it's very possible the team puts him on the 53 while starting fullback Jerome Felton is suspended.
• Backup safety Robert Blanton was around the football a lot and displayed good coverage skills in the end zone, which is very nice to see since the other backup safety, Mistral Raymond, is battling injuries
• Cornerback Bobby Felder, in competition with Sherels for a roster spot, had some nice plays today but got beat on a deep pass and later left the game with an injury. Advantage: Sherels

2013 Season Predictions: NFC East

Like the NFC South, this has the potential to be anybody's division when it comes to 2013. In fact, it's been four seasons since someone was able to repeat as division champions in the NFC East (bad news for Washington Redskins fans). The Washington Redskins won their last seven games in a row in order to be crowned champions of the East, but with second year quarterback Robert Griffin III returning from knee surgery and major questions in the defensive secondary, they are far from locks to repeat again. The New York Giants spent January on the couch after winning the previous Super Bowl, and while they're itching to return to postseason play, they need to show more consistency as a team to get there. The Dallas Cowboys have long been a talented team that simply fails to respond to expectations, and with a new defense run by Monte Kiffin it remains to be seen whether they can make this year different. The Philidelphia Eagles might be one of the most interesting teams to watch this year under new head coach Chip Kelly, but questions about the defense's viability and how Kelly's offense will translate to the NFL remain.

1. New York Giants : 10-6 (2012 Season : 9-7)
With all the unanswered questions surrounding this division entering the season, the New York Giants appear to be the safe pick to take the division crown this year. The Giants actually finished in the top five in points scored on offense and the top twelve in points scored on defense, but several strong outings were matched with extremely disappointing showings against Cincinnati, Atlanta and Baltimore. The Giants have proved they are able to succeed against the best teams in the NFL, they just need to be more consistent week-to-week and against their opponents in the division (3-3 record in the division last year). The Giants defense will be their main area of concern this year, with several injuries in the secondary and perhaps the worst linebacking corps in the league, however, if they can get their pass-rush to click again like it did during their Super Bowl run those negatives should largely be able to be concealed (a big if, though). The Giants are also going to need Eli Manning and the passing game to be solid all season this year, as Eli had what some described as a "dead arm" phase, when he went three weeks with underwhelming yardage and no passing touchdowns.

2. Washington Redskins : 9-7 (2012 Season : 10-6)
The story of the Redskins' season this year will all revolve around the health of their young quarterback's knee, make no mistake. If RGIII comes back healthier than ever, the Redskins' shot at repeating as division champions skyrocket. However, if RGIII looks tentative or shaky in the pocket because of his knee, or the Redskins don't open up the playbook due to concern for his safety, those odds don't look as good. It should take RGIII a couple weeks before he is fully confident and comfortable playing football again at full speed, and that lost time might be enough to keep the Redskins out of the playoffs. This defense looks good up front, especially with pass rusher Brian Orakpo returning from injury, but their back end will likely be porous again this year if the rush cannot get home. Running back Morris will likely be counted on early and often in order to take pressure off of RGIII, but if he cannot produce without defenses accounting as much for RGIII's legs this offense is going to struggle. The Redskins might take a while to warm up and that may cost them, but by the end of the year they'll be one of the most exciting teams in the NFL again.

3. Dallas Cowboys : 9-7 (2012 Season : 8-8)
The Dallas Cowboys have come close to contention the past couple of years but haven't finished the job, losing two week 17 play-in games for the playoffs the past two seasons. Quarterback Tony Romo has often been maligned for his play in those two games, but overall he is far from the worst problem on this team. The Cowboys have great receiving options for Romo but haven't found a consistent running back to take pressure off of him and their offensive line struggles to protect him. Oft-injured back Demarco Murray is a huge boost to this offense when he is on the field...he just isn't on the field enough to rely on him. The defense is also under transition from a 3-4 to a 4-3 scheme this year, which has the potential to cause confusion out on the field. The stars of this defense should have a smooth transition, like stud pass-rusher Demarcus Ware, but some of the members of this defense feel like square pegs in round holes and may struggle to adapt. Like it or not, Jerry Jones' squad has struggled to close out seasons recently, and there seems little  to suggest this year should be different.

4. Philadelphia Eagles : 6-10 (2012 Season : 4-12)
The Philadelphia Eagles may be the most intriguing team in the NFL this year. That doesn't mean they'll be that good, at least yet. The Eagle's new up-tempo attack under Chip Kelly should be fascinating and exciting to watch, as it remains to be seen how he'll use the considerable offensive talent in Philadelphia, including what may be the most athletic line in the league. Michael Vick also has a chance to revive his career yet again in Kelly's system, and if he can avoid turning the ball over things look promising for the team's chances. The defense, however, isn't nearly as intriguing, and indeed may be one of the worst units in the league, as it's under a complete rebuild after the failed "Dream Team" of the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Kelly won't be able to bring out his entire bag of tricks if this team is playing from behind all the time, and defensive woes figure to slow down his high octane offense at different points during this season. Whether or not Kelly is able to transition to the NFL is still in question for this team, whether it's worth watching is not.

2013 Season Predictions: NFC South

The NFC South could wind up being one of the biggest toss-ups in football this year, with each team having the potential to win this division, but each could also wind up finishing .500 or worse when it's all said and done. The division winner last year, the Atlanta Falcons, appear to be a contender again this year due to having the best combination of skill position players in the NFL, but their play in the trenches this year could hold them back. The New Orleans Saints could get a boost this year with head coach Sean Payton returning from a one year suspension, but their historically bad defense last year might not even be that improved due to a multitude of injuries. The Carolina Panthers have a fearsome rebuilt front seven and the dynamic Cam Newton at quarterback, but will the back end of their defense or the talent around Newton limit them? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were on a hot streak during the middle of the season last year, but quarterback Josh Freeman's inconsistency at quarterback cost them down the stretch and his play will define their season this year.

1. Atlanta Falcons : 11-5 (2012 Season : 13-3)
The Falcons were a team very few people took seriously last year, as while they did storm through the regular season, they did so with a very easy schedule and had never won a playoff game under quarterback Matt Ryan. Matt Ryan managed to prove many of his doubters wrong by finally winning a game in January, but with a much tougher regular season, does this team have it in them to win more? With the best wide receiver tandem in the NFL (Roddy White and Julio Jones), an ageless tight end (Tony Gonzalez) and a free agent running back excited to finally be on a winner (Steven Jackson), expect plenty of big plays from this Falcon's offense. However, their defense may have a hard time sharing the load, because over half their sack production from 2012 departed in free agency, and it will be hard for acquisition Osi Umenyiora to replace that all by himself. Their secondary also figures to have some young rookie contributors, and it is likely they will experience some severe growing pains without a significant pass rush to help them out. Will that be enough to hold them back now that their schedule is much less forgiving?

2. New Orleans Saints : 9-7 (2012 Season : 7-9)
The Saints offense should explode back onto the scene with Sean Payton returning to the fold, but even a top tier offense may not be enough to carry this defense. New defensive coordinator Rob Ryan came to the Superdome to try to at least develop a workable defense out of 2012's last place unit, but with multiple injuries striking players he expected to be big contributors and even starters, things do not look good. Both of the players slated to be the starting outside linebackers (the players Ryan relies on for his pass rush) have gone down, meaning this unit will have trouble setting the edge and getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Even though this defense will almost surely be at the bottom of the league, there is no reason this offense shouldn't be at the top with underrated talent at the skill positions (except maybe Jimmy Graham, who can't be called underrated if he's considered the best healthy tight end in the league right now), which should propel the Saints back to at least a winning record.

3. Carolina Panthers : 7-9 (2012 Season : 7-9)
"Now it's time to win." That was the statement on Cam Newton given by new Panthers General Manager Dave Gettleman. Cam Newton has all the tools you could ask for in a modern quarterback, but he is just 13-19 in his career as a starter. Can he get past his immaturity issues and prove that he's the man this year? That seems unlikely with a pair of aging running backs in his backfield, neither of whom was able to top Newton's total rushing yards last year. Steve Smith and Greg Olsen are reliable in their roles as a wide receiver and tight end, respectively, but neither is that explosive and there is little to no depth behind them. This defense is the most solid that the Panthers have seen in years, especially up the middle, but their secondary is still a question and that's a bad weakness to have with the explosive offenses of the Falcons and Saints. Overall, Gettleman needs to provide more support behind Cam before making more statements to the media.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers : 7-9 (2012 Season : 7-9)
The Buccaneers showed last year that they have plenty of talent, now they just need to show it week in and week out. They seemed poised to compete for a wild card spot during the middle of the season, as they got to a 6-4 start, but they stumbled down the stretch to finish 7-9. Their secondary (ranked last in the NFL) was a huge part of that, though with offseason additions Dashon Goldson and Darelle Revis that issue appears to be resolved. The main player under the microscope will be quarterback Josh Freeman, who has plenty of talent around him with two quality wide receivers in Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams and workhorse back Doug Martin, but has gone through extreme highs and lows during his career. Those lows included a stretch during the last three games of the 2012 season when he threw only two touchdown passes to a staggering nine interceptions. That simply cannot happen if the Buccaneers want a shot at postseason contention this year, but unfortunately, Josh Freemen just might be who he is at this point.

2013 Season Predictions: NFC West

Hands-down, this is the best division in football. Once the laughing stock of football in 2010 when they sent the 7-9 Seahawks to the playoffs, this division now houses unarguably two of the three best rosters in the NFL. Last year Super Bowl runner-ups, the San Francisco 49ers, hope to finish the job this year after third year quarterback Colin Kaepernick's first offseason as the starter for this team. The Seattle Seahawks are out to take this division for themselves this year after their slow start last year turned into a red-hot finish as rookie quarterback Russell Wilson came into his own. The other two teams in this division are also nothing to sleep on, with the St. Louis Rams playing extremely tough football last year and hoping to take another step forward in Coach Jeff Fisher's second year. The Arizona Cardinals are nothing to overlook either, with reigning Coach of the Year Bruce Arians coming in to work with a talented roster that just has a few key holes.

1. San Francisco 49ers : 13-3 (2012 Season : 11-4-1)
The division winners for the past two years, the 49ers are going to have to play great football all year in order to keep the soaring Seahawks at bay. Luckily, they appear to have the talent on both sides of the ball to do just that. While the loss of leading wide receiver Michael Crabtree for most of the season hurts, the 49ers are a run-first team anyway and still have plenty of weapons outside of their backfield for their quarterback to work with. Colin Kaepernick may actually be the most dynamic weapon on the 49ers roster, tearing up defenses with both his arms and his legs last postseason, but it's the non-physical portion of the game that should improve the most for him this year. After making a few mental errors, especially just in the managerial aspect of the game, last year, Kaepernick should start to become more comfortable leading this offense. Perhaps more importantly, his team should be more comfortable with him after practicing with him all offseason. The defense, which fell apart due to injuries in the playoffs last year, looks to have reloaded and gotten healthy, and should have no problem carrying the team if Kaepernick and the offense need to adjust to the new players on offense.

2. Seattle Seahawks : 12-4 (2012 Season : 11-5)
The Seahawks could easily switch places with the 49ers in the blink of an eye in these predictions, and ultimately a few minor details keep them out of the top spot....at least for now. The Seahawks have extremely enviable depth on the defensive side of the ball and a star workhorse back in Marshawn Lynch, not to mention the emerging talents of quarterback Russell Wilson. They however, do have several PED suspensions on the defensive side of the ball, including last year's first round pick pass rusher Bruce Irvin. They also imagined their big acquisition this offseason, Percy Harvin, would be the piece that could put their offense over the top but he is now lost indefinitely with a hip injury. Their offensive line also gives me some cause for concern because the Redskin's blitz packages in the playoffs last year proved very effective in slowing down their offense last year. Are all those concerns extremely nit-picky? Yes. That's how good the Seahawks are, and that's how close they are to taking the division from these 49ers.

3. St. Louis Rams : 10-6 (2012 Season : 7-8-1)
Don't sleep on the St. Louis Rams this year, a potential sleeper team that could make some noise even in an extremely tough division. It's notable that even with the Seahawks and 49ers taking control of the conversation last year, the Rams managed to go 4-1-1 in their division. Coach Jeff Fisher has assembled a fearsome young defense, full of playmakers that helped the team tie for the most sacks in the league. The offense's job this year will be to prove that they are capable of keeping pace with the defense, and with all the new additions this offseason to that unit that looks likely. Quarterback Sam Bradford has been surrounded by mediocre talent his entire career, but free agent left tackle Lake Long figures to finally afford him time to throw this year. The people he will be throwing too also look to be solid, with big tight end Jared Cook and electric rookie slot receiver Tavon Austin providing solid options underneath, while 2nd year receiver Chris Givens looks ready to complement those two as a quality deep threat. While no one should give the Rams a chance to even sniff at a division title this year, if Sam Bradford is able to use the weapons around him this team could easily compete for a playoff spot.

4. Arizona Cardinals : 6-10 (2012 Season : 5-11)
While the Cardinals are unquestionably in the basement of this division, if they competed about anywhere else they would most likely be considered a pretty hot sleeper team. New head coach Bruce Arians has plenty to work with in a great receiving corp led by Larry Fitzgerald and an underrated defense that was very successful last year considering the situations it was faced with. The Cardinals suffered last year from just about the worst offensive line, running back, and quarterback play last season, and while free agents Rashard Mendenhall (who previously was a workhorse back for Arians in Pittsburgh) and Carson Palmer should help improve the latter two situations, the first position group will still hold this team back this year. The Cardinals spend a first round pick on guard Jonathan Cooper to help fix their offensive line but he has suffered a broken foot this offseason and won't be ready to compete for a while. This offense will struggle again if it's given no time to work, and against the unforgiving defenses of this division that appears highly likely. The Cardinals aren't as bad as you think they are, but there's still a huge gap between them and the rest of this division this year.

2013 Season Predictions: AFC Playoffs

After completing predictions for the regular season for the AFC, here is what the potential playoff seedings would look like:

1. Denver (12-4) - Bye
2. Houston (12-4) - Bye
3. Cincinnati (11-5)
4. New England (11-5)
5. Baltimore (10-6)
6. Indianapolis (9-7)

The two tiebreakers between Denver and Houston, and Cincinnati and New England, were decided by which team I felt would win their regular season match-up (Thus, I am predicting Denver beats Houston in week 16 and Cincinnati tops the Patriots week 5).

First, before predicting how the postseason will play out from here, a few observations:

1. The exact same playoff field returns from the 2012 season, albeit slightly re-ordered in terms of seeding. While this is extremely unlikely to happen in reality, right now before the season starts there seem to be a wide gap in the AFC between the playoff teams from 2012 and everyone else. The team closest to being left off this list in Indianapolis, due to having major question marks at the offensive line and defense, but unfortunately for everyone else, they have Andrew Luck, who has the potential to make those negatives meaningless. The ultimate decision to leave teams like Miami and Kansas City off this list really came down to faith in the talents of Luck, who played well enough in his debut season to warrant that faith.

2. These six teams are the only teams in the AFC that I predicted would have a winning record in 2013. That should speak to how weak this conference has become in comparison to the NFC. (Seven of the top ten picks in the 2013 NFL Draft were slated to go to AFC teams)

3. It cannot be overstated how preliminary these predictions are. We haven't even played a snap of real NFL football yet this season, and a lot is going to change in terms of injuries, suspensions and just overall style of play that is going to change the direction of the trend a team is going in. Even a minor difference in seeding could potentially create an entire new set of predictions because the NFL is all about match-ups and how one team stacks man-for-man against another team, with even a minor weakness becoming a huge advantage. Momentum is also everything in the NFL and impossible to predict at this stage, as the last two Super Bowl winners were not the most talented teams in the league but simply got hot at the right time.

Wild Card Game 1: #3 Cincinnati vs #6 Indianapolis
Predicted winner: Cincinnati
While it may seem hypocritical for me to pick Cincinnati after just expounding on the faith I have in young Andrew Luck, I am also a realist and know there's only so many things he's going to be able to do for this team on his own. When it comes to matching up the Colts and the Bengals, the dominant defensive line in Cincinnatti should be too much for the weak Indy o-line to handle, leaving Luck no time to be able to get his offense on the move. On the other side of things, the Bengals should now have too many weapons for the Colts to hope to contain and while I don't envision Andy Dalton lighting up the scoreboard on his home turf, this offense should gain steady yards and keep momentum squarely on the Bengals' sideline.
Predicted score: 27-14 Bengals

Wild Card Game 2: #4 New England vs #5 Baltimore
Predicted winner: Baltimore
A rare one-and-done for Tom Brady in the playoffs, as he simply draws the match-up in round one that he has struggled against recently: the Baltimore Ravens. Brady lost twice to the Ravens last year and especially struggled to put points on the board against the Ravens in the AFC Championship game on his home field. Fast forward a year and the talent around Brady has gotten weaker while the Raven's defense only looks stronger. Joe Flacco's offense doesn't seem capable of lighting up the scoreboard in this game, but they should play good complimentary football and take any turnovers or short fields the defense is able to give them into favorable offensive situations and most likely points. This is a game that figures to be pretty close throughout but the Ravens psychological edge over Brady, knowing they can get to him, should push them over the top.
Predicted score: 20-17 Ravens

Divisional Game 1: #1 Denver vs #5 Baltimore
Predicted winner: Denver
Hmm....this seems familiar. The Ravens come to Mile High Stadium for the second year in a row for a shot at the AFC title game, only this time I have a different outcome occurring (though I did last year too, and that worked out well for them). Peyton Manning most likely will have another average day (or at least average for him) against this strong Baltimore defense, meaning the pressure is mainly on the Bronco defense to not give up as many big plays in the passing game and put more pressure on Flacco this time around (the Broncos, despite leading the league in sacks last year with St. Louis, did not record a sack until overtime last year). All the breaks the Ravens got, such as a tipped past pick-six and Jacoby Jone's miraculous catch, don't figure to repeat themselves as long as the Broncos don't get overconfident and play disciplined football. If the Broncos' defense can hold up their end of the bargain this postseason, Denver has a great chance to taste sweet revenge.
Predicted score: 24-20 Denver

Divisional Game 2: #2 Houston vs #3 Cincinatti
Predicted winner: Houston
Another year, another playoff game between the Texans and Bengals. This would be the third year in a row these two squads would square off in January, only this time it comes one round later. This figures to be a battle fought largely in the trenches, as Houston's offensive line must push back the Bengals in order to spring the focal point of their offense, running back Arian Foster. The Bengals o-line needs to keep monster defensive end JJ Watt at bay and keep the Texans from penetrating and disrupting their offense, a battle they decidedly lost last year. The Bengals and Texans almost seem like mirror images of each other in a way, both built on solid defenses and lead by quarterbacks many have questioned. Both quarterbacks have also been given new weapons this offseason in the hopes that they will use them to erase some of the many questions surrounding them. In the end, this feels like a repeat for the third year in a row as while the Bengals' offense may have some more bite this season at the skill positions, they won't be able to use those weapons if their offensive line gets dominated like it did last year. Houston on the other hand should be able to do enough offensively with their running game to get play-action working for their passing game, leading to enough points to win the game but still not be good enough of a performance to silence the Matt Schaub critics.
Predicted score: 20-13 Houston

AFC Championship Game: #1 Denver vs #2 Houston
Predicted winner: Denver
Congratulations to Peyton Manning on reaching the third Super Bowl of his career, and congrats to the Texans for making it to the first AFC Championship game in franchise history! Is it likely that the top two seeds both make it all the way to the championship game? No. Which is why these predictions should be taken with entire shakers of salt. Now, though Houston's defense figures to be solid, they have been absolutely carved apart by the elite passers in this league like Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. Peyton's up-tempo attack in Denver should give them similar problems, especially with the multiple receiving threats Houston would have to cover. Denver's run defense looks to be exceptional this year, even if the rest of their defense isn't shaping up to be great, and if they are able to slow down Arian Foster this Texan offense will stand no chance of matching Peyton point for point. It's also possible that Manning takes the lead early, forcing the Texans to rely on Matt Schaub's arm rather than Foster's legs in order to get their offense going. Make no mistake, that is a game the Texans cannot get sucked into because if they do they may have no chance of winning. Unfortunately, they may have no choice if Peyton is able to pick apart their defense like Rodgers and Brady were able to. The Broncos' lack of clarity in their running game may prevent them from closing this game out in the 4th quarter, but late game heroics just don't seem in the cards for Matt Schaub.
Predicted score: 34-24 Denver

Well there you have it, the Denver Broncos are my pick to reach the Super Bowl this year and compete for the 2nd Lombardi of Peyton Manning's career. NFC predictions will be coming up shortly and then a final post will be made declaring my extremely early preseason winner of Super Bowl XLVIII. Stay tuned sports people!

2013 Season Predictions: AFC North

The division sporting the reigning Super Bowl Champions has been consistently competitive throughout the years, and nothing figures to change that this year. The division has produced at least two playoff teams each season the last five years, including two Super Bowl champions during that span. The Super Bowl Champion Ravens will look to successfully transition on defense with several new starters while hoping to see more consistency from Super Bowl MVP quarterback Joe Flacco in order to reach the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. The other 2012 playoff team from this division, the Cincinatti Bengals, hope to make the playoffs for a franchise record 3rd consecutive season, and maybe even win a game in January this time. The Pittsburgh Steelers attempted a reload during the offseason in order not to fall behind in the division, but the usual punching-bag in this division, the Cleveland Browns, seem ready to escape the cellar this year.

1. Cincinnatti Bengals : 11-5 (2012 Season : 10-6)

With some young offensive talent added to an absolutely dominant defense in Cincinnatti, it's hard not to see the Bengals rising up and making a splash in the AFC. With playmaking rookies in running back Giovanni Bernard and tight end Tyler Eifert joining third year All-Pro receiver AJ Green, the weapons at third year quarterback Andy Dalton's disposal went from being average to downright enviable. While the Red Rifle faces many questions about his viability as a franchise quarterback after extremely disappointing outings in the postseason, Dalton need only be an effective game manager for this team to be successful. The defense is full of talented playmakers, most notably All-Pro defensive tackle Geno Atkins and free agent outside linebacker James Harrison, formerly of the rival Steelers, that will keep games close even when Dalton struggles, as they did several times last season. The true litmus test for this team should come in January, anything less than that should be seen as extremely disappointing and likely means a new starting quarterback will be wearing the stripes in 2014.

2. Baltimore Ravens : 10-6 (2012 Season : 10-6)

After an extremely interesting offseason for the defending Super Bowl champions, there's little to suggest wizard general manager Ozzie Newsome hasn't worked his magic once again to keep this roster playoff-caliber. The Ravens will field as many as six or seven new starters on defense this year, but already look like they will not miss a beat and this unit may actually be better than the one that hoisted the Lombardi Trophy last year. The big questions for this team come on offense, where there are question marks at just about every position group. Quarterback Joe Flacco was spectacular in the playoffs, but he has yet to show the same spark he had in January and February in any other month of football. Losing him number one wide receiver Anquan Boldin to trade and starting tight end Dennis Pitta to injury won't help him either, as neither role has been filled in a notable way. Starting running back Ray Rice should still be the focal point of this offense with backup Bernard Pierce also seeing plenty of carries, but it'll be tough to pound the ball against the tough defenses in this division. Defense will retake its place as the identity of the Ravens in 2013, and it should be enough to keep them in contention this season.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers : 8-8 (2012 Season : 8-8)

The Steelers are attempting to get back in contention this season after disappointing play down the stretch cost them the playoffs in 2012. The defense continues to remain a top tier unit in the league under ageless defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau, even though the defense figures to be one of the oldest in the league. While defense will most likely not be a liability for the Steelers in 2013, they need to prove they can dip into the fountain of youth a little bit to force more turnovers than last year and stop giving up big plays in the passing game. If they cannot, it may be time for a defensive face-lift in Heinz Field. The offensive line looks to be the main position group holding the Steelers back this year, as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is extremely invaluable to this offense yet has been under constant duress the past couple years and has not completed a full 16 game regular season since 2008. The line doesn't appear ready to keep Big Ben upright, and with rookie 2nd round pick Leveon Bell injured, the running game doesn't figure to slow down many opposing defenses.

4. Cleveland Browns : 7-9 (2012 Season : 5-11)

The Browns appear poise to make a little noise this season, at least more than they have made in a long time, but it likely won't be enough to move them out of the basement of the AFC North. Free agent addition Paul Kruger and rookie 6th overall pick Barkevious Mingo figure to form a scary pass-rushing duo, and the defense as a whole seems to be solid, even if it may rank at the bottom of this division. On the offensive side of the ball, new head coach Rod Chudzinsky and offensive coordinator Norv Turner seemed poised to spark a very dull offensive attack last year, putting the ball in the hands of 2nd year running back Trent Richardson more to pound the ball, then emphasizing 2nd year quarterback Brandon Weeden's downfield passing abilities. While that sounds like a good plan, Weeden hasn't showed enough to prove to anyone he can reliably lead an offense week in and week out, and in general the only skill position threat on this team outside of Trent has already been suspended for the first two games of the season. There's hope to be had in Cleveland, but the most questionable quarterback situation in the division keeps them from breaking out this year.

2013 Season Predictions: AFC East

The AFC East has been one of the most unbalanced divisions in the NFL for over a decade now, as the Patriots have taken 10 of the last 12 division titles while becoming one of the league's all time dynasties. This year, however, some people have been scared off the bandwagon with both of the Patriot's big tight-ends off the field currently (for very different reasons) and his old security blanket in Wes Welker now working for his biggest rival. Is this the year Brady and Belichick finally lose their iron grip on the division title to the Miami Dolphins, fresh off a multi-million dollar spending spree in free agency? Meanwhile, how do the Bills fare with rookie EJ Manuel at the helm this year? And is it possible to at least dampen the colossal dumpster fire once known as the New York Jets? (Hint: I think not)

1. New England Patriots : 11-5 (2012 Season : 12-4)

Well, another season, another division title for New England. As many losses as New England has suffered for their passing game, they still have one of the top quarterbacks in NFL history and one of the greatest coaches to ever design a game plan: they'll be fine. Brady has already demonstrated plenty of chemistry with some of his new receivers like Danny Amendola and undrafted rookie Kenbrell Thompkins, and their running game already looks like it'll be effective enough to take plenty of pressure off their passing game. Not to mention, they have some emerging talent on defense after being carried by their offense for the past few years. While Brady and co. may not coast through the regular season this year and may experience a few more bumps than we're used to from this squad, make no mistake: betting against the Patriots winning this division again is about as useful as playing AP in a preseason game.

2. Miami Dolphins : 8-8 (2012 Season : 7-9)

Miami's spending spree gets them a total of one extra win this season, but at least it keeps them from another losing season. While many of their offseason acquisitions are nice, Ryan Tannehill still may need some extra time to develop as a passer before he can be viewed as a legitimate franchise quarterback like some of the other quarterbacks from his draft class, and no amount of money can fix that. Also, for all the Dolphins' spending, they forgot to fix one of the most important positions in the game, as Jonathan Martin has looked absolutely brutal in training camp and preseason. The loss of tight end Dustin Keller for the entire year to multiple knee injuries isn't going to do this offense any favors either. The defense is set to be a solid unit again this year,  though the injury concerns for #3 overall pick Dion Jordan are a little troubling. Overall, the Dolphins do have plenty of young talent and did bring in some good players, but they're going to need time to mesh and their young quarterback needs more than a year to develop before dethroning Tom Brady.

3. Buffalo Bills : 6-10 (2012 Season : 7-9)

The Bills are getting a new look this season with new head coach Doug Marrone and rookie quarterback EJ Manuel at the helm. Marrone looks to try to direct an up-tempo attack with star running back CJ Spiller and remake a Buffalo defense that has plenty of talent invested in it but has been largely underwhelming, even with big free agent signing Mario Williams. There's plenty to get excited about with this roster, but with a rookie (and one that was considered especially raw) directing the show for this offense, it's only natural that there's going to be some growing pains as EJ adjusts to life in the NFL. Even more than that, EJ may or may not miss week 1 right now with a knee injury, meaning undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel may become the first undrafted rookie to start week one since 1960. Optimism should be rampant in Buffalo, but before breaking their league record playoff drought there's going to be some low points with an extremely unstable quarterback situation this year and a defense that still has to prove it can step up.

4. New York Jets : 4-12 (2012 Season : 6-10)

The Jets will most likely field a quality defense this year, but apparently no one told Rex Ryan there are two sides to football. The Jets have extremely little talent to speak of offensively, as their top receiver doesn't know if he'll see the field this year, and the running back they made a trade for is currently injured. Also injured is their hapless starter from last year, Mark Sanchez, which means 2nd round rookie quarterback Geno Smith may be forced to start at the beginning of the season, even though the body of work he's shown to this point seems to say that he's not quite NFL ready or simply a bad fit in new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg system. The Jets may stop many teams from scoring this year, but if their offense turns the ball over and fails to consistently gain yards this team just doesn't have a chance at being successful. Rex Ryan has been telling the media that he's mainly been working with the defense this offseason and it shows on the field. Rex may still be one of the best defensive coordinators in the league, but apparently he still hasn't learned that to be an NFL head coach you need to pay attention to both sides of the ball in order to win games. It remains to be seen how patient owner Woody Johnson and new general manager John Idzik will be this season, but the odds are good both Rex and Sanchez don't survive past this season.

2013 Season Predictions: AFC South

The AFC South could make for an interesting showdown this year, as the Colts, who surprised everyone last year by winning 11 games and making the playoffs, try to show that last year was no fluke and attempt to regain the stranglehold on this division they once had during the Peyton Manning era. Meanwhile the Texans will try to forget last year's disappointing finish and work to prove to the world they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. At the lower end of the division, the Titans hope they can take the next step to avoid being trapped in NFL purgatory, while the Jaguar's lack of overall talent will likely have them competing in the Clowney sweepstakes.

1. Houston Texans : 12-4 (2012 Season : 12-4)
The Texans have won a playoff game each of the last two years but you'd be hard pressed to find someone on the Super Bowl bandwagon either of those years come playoff time. This team will try to prove they are one of the elite now that they are finally starting to get healthy on defense with star linebacker Brain Cushing returning and they have potentially found a new weapon in the passing game with 1st round pick wide receiver Deandre Hopkins. Safety Ed Reed brings some championship experience to this club from his time with the Ravens, but is that going to be enough to push this team over the hump? Quarterback Matt Schaub needs to prove he can hang with the big boys in January and this defense is going to need to stay on the field if they want to grab a ring before their short championship window closes.

2. Indianapolis Colts : 9-7 (2012 Season: 11-5)
The Colts are the rare team where their record might go down but their roster quality might go up. The Colts were extremely fortunate to win as many games as they did last season, actually being outscored by their opponents over the course of the season. However, Andrew Luck proved why he was such a hot prospect coming out of college by leading multiple game-winning drives and making sure the Colts went 9-0 in games decided by a touchdown or less. While that may not happen this year, Luck is primed to take a big step forward this year and start putting his name in the discussion for the game's elite quarterbacks. Being reunited with his old college offensive coordinator, Pep Hamilton, should do wonders to help him raise his completion percentage while lowering his turnovers, as long as his o-line is able to give him time to throw. The defense is still a question mark, but Chuck Pagano's leadership should at least keep this unit from being in the cellar of the NFL, which should be enough for Luck to lead Indy to a second consecutive winning season.

3. Tennessee Titans: 7-9 (2012 Season: 6-10)
A rebuilt interior line and a re-emphasis on the running game will help the Titans improve slightly this season, but it still might not be good enough to save the jobs of Head Coach Mike Munchak and quarterback Jake Locker. Though CJ2K looks like he's ready to elevate his game where it once used to be, the question marks surrounding Locker prevent this offense being looked at as a consistent unit. Locker's spotty accuracy and decision making have the potential to be drive-killers, and this defense isn't going to be able to pick up the slack. The secondary in particular looks to be one of the weaker groups in the league, and if teams exploit that and get an early lead on the Titans it seems questionable at best that Locker will be able to play effective catch-up.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-13 (2012 Season: 2-14)
New coach Gus Bradley was handed an unenviable situation to deal with in Jacksonville, and while his team has a few bright spots, ultimately it lacks talent at key position groups and depth pretty much across the board. The Jaguars do have some intriguing pieces on offense with a young receiving corps in Justin Blackmon, Cecil Shorts III and intriguing rookie Ace Sanders, as well as a possibly healthy MJD returning to run the ball for them. Their bookends on offense are solid in Eugene Monroe and 2nd overall pick Luke Joeckel, and new general manager David Caldwell added plenty of young talent in the secondary through the draft. However, with Gabbert and Henne as your two main options at quarterback and no pass rush to speak of on defense there's only so far this team is going to be able to go. It's going to be another long season for the Jaguars, here's hoping new "OW" Denard Robinson provides some semblance of excitement.

2013 Season Predictions: AFC West

This will be the first in a series of posts where I attempt to break down and predict the success (or lack thereof) for teams during the 2013 NFL season, division by division. Afterward playoff predictions will follow! Now, on to the AFC West!

I think if you polled most NFL experts, hands-down this would be ranked as the worst division in football. Three of its teams picked in the top 11 in last year's draft, including once owning two out of the first three picks (though Oakland later traded their selection). While some things figure to change this season, barring an unexpected injury to Peyton Manning this should be the Bronco's division all the way as he attempts to add another ring to his finger while Oakland figures to be one of the top contenders for top pick Jadeveon Clowney next spring.

1. Denver Broncos : 12-4 (2012 Record : 13-3)
With one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history reportedly feeling even better than he did last year, when he returned from injury and finished runner-up in MVP balloting, the Denver Broncos figure to coast through the regular season and wait until January to play meaningful football. While the departure of Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller's six game suspension leave giant holes in this team's pass rush ability, Peyton's up-tempo attack figures to keep the Broncos outscoring most of their regular season opponents anyway, so while they may lose a few games during the first six weeks while they wait for Miller's return, their season is in no way threatened as they feast on what looks to be a weak regular season schedule and wait for the playoffs.

2. Kansas City Chiefs: 8-8 (2012 Record: 2-14)
A nice improvement for the Chiefs, as the team who held the #1 overall pick this past year improves to .500 ball with the additions of Coach Andy Reid and quarterback Alex Smith. The Chiefs actually have a very talented roster at their disposal, and could make some noise in a weak AFC but their offense figures to be about league average at best and their defense appears to look solid but not dominant. Smith will make sure the Chiefs' offense cuts down on the ridiculous number of turnovers they gave up last year, but he also won't set the world on fire or keep opposing defensive coordinators up at night enough for this team to become a true contender. This team overall is in line for a big bounce-back year, but a few more playmakers are needed on both sides of the ball for this team to take the next step forward.

3. San Diego Chargers: 5-11 (2012 Record: 7-9)
The Chargers take another step back, and the leash on Phillip Rivers gets a little bit tighter as the Chargers start to contemplate how much longer they can keep their (former) franchise quarterback around. New coach Mike McCoy was brought over to try to fix Rivers, but with protection issues still abound for the Charger's offensive line and injuries to many of the Charger wide receivers, there's not a whole lot you can ask this offense to do right now. Ryan Matthews has talent as a running back, but he has never been able to stay healthy and has been extremely inconsistent throughout the course of his career. This defense has plenty of talent and may be able to prop up the offense in tight spots, but if Rivers continues to turn the ball over like he has over the last two seasons (47 total over that span) there might not be much the defense can do to prevent points. An 8-8 season would be huge for this squad and should give the Charger's front office a lot of confidence that McCoy knows what he's doing.

4. Oakland Raiders: 2-14 (2012 Record: 4-12)
By far and away, my choice for the worst roster in the NFL. There is no proven starting quarterback on this roster. Even if there was, with the injury to Jared Veldheer at left tackle, the team couldn't protect him. If they could, who would he have to throw the ball to? Not to mention that the defense, which is supposed to be Coach Dennis Allen's specialty, is also severely talent deprived and was near the bottom of the NFL last season. Half of the Raider's wins last season came from beating up on Kansas City. With the Chiefs poised to rebound, the Raiders have no one to make them look even somewhat adequate.

Breaking: Jerome Felton Suspended for Three Games

The Viking's Pro Bowl fullback Jerome Felton was suspended for three games today for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. While details are currently unavailable, this is very disappointing news to say the least, Felton was just awarded a new contract this offseason to continue to be Adrian Peterson's lead blocker after almost being out of the league last year. Felton does have a DWI on his record from last summer.

With Felton off the field for at least three games the Vikings are likely going to use a few more three tight-end sets for added blocking. 2012 4th round pick tight-end Rhett Ellison, an excellent blocker with limited receiving skills, is likely to see a lot more game action now in the first three games. It is also possible this setback will open up a roster spot for undrafted rookie free agent fullback Zach Line from SMU, who has been fairly impressive this preseason with two touchdown catches.

Key Stocks for the 2013 Minnesota Vikings

Coming off an unexpected playoff berth after the 2012 season, the Minnesota Vikings can go in two distinct directions: onward and upward into possibly becoming a contender for the NFC North title and becoming one of the better young teams in the league, or they could step back and slip into NFL purgatory as a mediocre team with not enough talent to make the playoffs but enough skill to keep them out of the top of the NFL draft. Which direction will they end up going? In large part it will depend on these key members of the squad, whose performances this season are currently unpredictable but will have a huge hand in determining the fate of this squad.

2013 Draft First Round Triple-Dip
The Vikings had perhaps one of the most exciting nights in draft history in April, using three first round picks to grab three talented players at positions of need on their roster. However, it is now almost September, the excitement of draft night has faded, and now it's time to provide excitement on the field. All three are going to be counted on as contributors throughout the season, and how quickly they acclimate to the NFL game will have a large impact on the fate of this team.

Shariff Floyd, a defensive tackle out of Florida, tumbled in the draft from being almost a consensus #3 overall selection in most drafts to being in the Vikings lap at pick #23.  Known for his disruptive skills in the interior, Floyd was slated to back up and learn from the aging Kevin Williams, a former All-Pro, for a year and then most likely step into a starting role in 2014. However, Kevin Williams took a nasty cut-block Sunday against San Francisco in the preseason, and now Floyd might be thrust into a key role for the Vikings defense from the get-go. Reports from training camp had Floyd dominating against backup lineman (he also looked good in the preseason until a knee injury sidelined him until week one) but how he fares against starters will be the difference in whether the Vikings grabbed a steal late in the first round.

Using Seattle's draft pick they received in the Percy Harvin trade, the Vikings selected Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes at #25 overall to try to shore up their thin secondary. A big, physical corner, Rhodes projects to possibly start on the outside for the Vikings right away against team's number #2 receivers. While Rhodes physicality and coverage skills has led to several big moments in camp and preseason (including tipping a pass up so Vikings safety Jamarcus Sanford could get the interception), it can also lead him into trouble as he learns how much he can get away with at the NFL level without leaving guys open downfield or drawing flags. He might have to learn extremely quickly because with Chris Cook, a guy who has only started 16 games since being drafted in 2010, starting at the #1 spot, it is not hard to imagine a scenario where Rhodes is being asked to cover Calvin Johnson and Brandon Marshall, some of the best receivers in the league, very early in his NFL career.

While most people thought the Vikings were done after using two picks on the first day of the draft, General Manager Rick Speilman decided to go all-in and used four draft picks to trade with New England and get back into the first round to select Tennessee wide receiver Cordarelle Patterson with the 29th overall pick. An explosive athlete in the open field with practically unlimited potential but very raw ability, Patterson was brought in to add play-making ability to a Vikings receiving course that was extremely talent-dry in 2012. Patterson still has a lot to learn in terms of running NFL routes, but his speed and instincts with a football promise to give him many opportunities as a returner and on special plays like reverses and end-arounds. While the initial reports from the team sounded like Patterson was expected to be a slow study, he has performed admirably under the lights during the first few preseason games, and while he still has much to learn, the Vikings hope he will make it very hard on them to keep him off the field.

Jeff Locke
Another Vikings draft pick this spring has a chance to have a huge impact on this team, but in a much different way than the previous three. 5th round punter Jeff Locke from UCLA has largely looked like a smart addition this preseason, no matter how many people scratched their head during the draft. While he has a chance to continue the Viking's streak of great special teams play and make sure opposing offenses see long fields, he will also contribute in another role: holder for the Vikings All-Pro kicker Blair Walsh. Walsh, who set an NFL record by making ten field goals longer than 50 yards last season (out of ten attempts) needs this rookie to step in right away into the kicking unit so the Viking's special teams units stays a potent, and extremely reliable, weapon.

Josh Robinson
2012 3rd round draft pick is tasked with filling some awfully big shoes this season for the Vikings, in fact, according to Pro Football Focus, the 2nd year cornerback is filling the shoes of the best cornerback in the league, the departed Antoine Winfield who was cut this offseason and moved his aging talents to Seattle. Robinson is being asked to step into Winfield's old role as the Viking's slot corner, a position that is completely new to him. In the modern pass-happy NFL, the slot corner is going to see a lot of action on the field and NFL offenses will look to exploit him if they sense he isn't comfortable. An underrated aspect will also be how Robinson fares in run defense in his new position, as Winfield was always near the top of the team in tackles and was consistently ranked as one of the best cornerbacks in run defense. How Robinson transitions into his new role will be crucial to the success of the Viking's defense throughout the course of this season.

Erin Henderson
Like Robinson, Henderson is transitioning to a new role on the Viking's defense, shifting from their weak-side linebacker to their middle linebacker. Henderson has long been one of the top linebackers when it comes to stopping the run, but his coverage skills leave much to be desired and will be the biggest area of focus for critics during this season. By all accounts, Henderson has loved his new role and become a vocal leader on the Viking's defense and may be trusted to make the defensive calls during this season, but time will tell how well he can execute covering running backs and tight ends every single down. Like Robinson, Henderson's transition possibly paints a target on his back that opposing offensive coordinators will look for to see if they can pick up easy yards, and Henderson will have to show he can make them look elsewhere.

Christian Ponder
This is the biggest player to watch this season, and it isn't even close. Make no mistake: how all the above players perform may not matter depending on how Ponder performs. Ponder is going to decide where this team goes this season, and how the future looks beyond. He deserves an entire article dedicated to him and the implications of this season, so I'll leave him for now.

These are the seven players whose performances this season could either push this team over the edge, or lead to its downfall. You can be sure Leslie Fraizer will be watching their game film with great interest this year.

Thanks for reading and check back soon for potential breakout players for the Vikings in 2013!

Introduction

Welcome all would-be readers, to my new sports blog where I will be doing my best to provide coverage and analysis of the Minnesota Vikings throughout the upcoming season (and beyond!) as well as several of my thoughts on the NFL at large during the season! My goals for this blog will include examining key story lines that crop up throughout the season as well as break down all 16 regular season games that the Vikings play in depth (and hopefully a few more games in January!) As well as going in depth with Vikings coverage I will provide brief analysis on other games happening around the NFL and the issues of the day that crop up around the league! Throughout the next few days I will preview the Minnesota Vikings 2013 season after their first three preseason games as well as giving you my win-loss predictions for every NFL team and my complete playoff predictions for the upcoming year! Thanks in advance to all of you who stumble along to read and SKOL Vikings!