Knock-Knock-Knock on Footballs Door

If you're anything like me you've already had football for the past few months with the BAFA my cousins Solent Thrashers will be appearing in the finals this weekend in Leicester, Go Thrashers! or you indulged yourself with week one of the NCAA football season, I personally stayed up until 6am to watch TCU defeat Minnesota in what was a battle of my loyalties being a devout TCU fan since 2009 it was difficult to watch my team beat up on Minnesota (several of my friends Alma mater) but certainly kept me out of trouble considering I watched the annihilation of Minnesota in a Minneapolis bar last September at the hands of TCU. If the British leagues and college football season is not your thing then I guess Madden 16 has kept you occupied? Not a gamer? How about all those NFL Network top 10 reruns? Barring the preseason what else has kept you occupied? Fantasy drafts? Three drafts in and I'm salivating at the thought of week one action.

Tom Brady won his appeal with the NFL (you already knew, if you didn't where have you been?) Though I believe Brady is not wholly innocent, the NFL team couldn't get its case together or operate it with the same consistency that Brady runs his offences therefore the Hail Mary's spoken across the New England fan-scape were answered, but all is not lost all the spygate leaks are now coming out and even more fans across the globe are placing asterisk's onto the Lombardi trophies displayed in Foxborough. Tim Tebow didn't make the final 53 man roster of the Eagles and bible thumping Christians across America are crying persecution on behalf of their faith, He wasn't cut because he believes in a highly questionable deity, he was cut because he isn't consistent, he isn't strong armed, he isn't a pro pocket passer and he can't break down the defences the way you need to... he won some games, but not without some luck, he can join Ponder, Locker and Sanchez fraternity of could have been Quarterbacks thankfully Tim never ran into the ass of one of his linemen.

In the fourth and two column I'll be making my picks for each weeks game, plus my opinions (more in depth throughout the season as topics come and go) Let's get to my picks for the 2015 regular season.

AFC North

The Steelers will take this division this year and the reason why? The offence is looking better than ever, the defence is starting to look solid maybe not to the peak of the mid 2000 Steelers we are used to but with Big Ben reaching his prime years and prime maturity there is no reason why they can't take the crown. The Ravens will still be a threat, if Andy Dalton can play with the consistency the Bengals fans are asking they also could be a threat to the top spot. Cleveland, keep on keeping on.                                      

1. Pittsburgh Steelers                                    

 

2. Baltimore Ravens                                     

 

3. Cincinnati Bengals                                     

 

4. Cleveland Browns                                      

 

NFC North

It's very difficult to pick against the league’s best quarterback in Aaron Rodgers and after all it was not number 12 who allowed Seattle back into the NFC title game, it was the mental mistakes on defence and special teams that cost the Packers a shot at a fifth Super Bowl trophy. The Vikings can creep into the post season if Teddy Bridgewater can click with Adrian Peterson and newly acquired Mike Wallace the Vikings could be a dark horse in 2015. Detroit losing Suh but adding Ngata could be problematic in Detroit but the London bound Lions are also still in contention in the North. Chicago... Jay Cutler.

1. Green Bay Packers

 

2. Minnesota Vikings

 

3. Detroit Lions

 

4. Chicago Bears

 

AFC South

Indianapolis will take top spot unless something drastic happens. Houston should come in at a close second behind the play of JJ Watt and a journeyman quarterback in Brian Hoyer who knows the system from his days in New England with Bill O'Brien. Jacksonville could be the surprise with another year in the same system with Gabbert, Tennessee with Mariota will have to see how he adapts to the pro game.

1. Indianapolis Colts

 

2. Houston Texans

 

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

 

4. Tennessee Titans

 

NFC South

Atlanta should come back from a 6-10 record (5 wins within the division) with a new identity, hopefully without the mental errors and injuries, it's the 50th season for the Falcons and hopefully a season to remember for the folks in Georgia. New Orleans will come into the year with a new ground and pound identity with both Ingram and CJ Spiller on the roster as they set out to regain control in the South. Carolina after the loss of rookie sensation Kelvin Benjamin in the preseason the Panthers could suffer on the offensive end, hopefully Rivera will shape up the defence to a higher standard in the points allowed column. Tampa will continue its youth movement.

1. Atlanta Falcons

 

 

2. New Orleans Saints

 

3. Carolina Panthers

 

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

 

AFC East

Expect New England to maintain their hold of the throne by any means necessary,  This division is wide open for second place, easily the toughest four to pick in order however with additions to the Dolphins on both side of the ball, particularly NFC North stalwarts Greg Jennings and Ndamukong Suh should take second spot. The Jets and Bills will tough it out with two new head coaches and two new quarterbacks starting it's a crap shoot.

1. New England Patriots

 

2. Miami Dolphins

 

3. Buffalo Bills

 

4. New York Jets

 

NFC East

Dallas will be a handful in the East and should defend the title with relative ease, the loss of DeMarco Murray could be costly but with the offensive line intact it's next man up for the Cowboys, expect the Giants to right the ship with Coughlin on the hot seat, Cruz returning alongside Beckham*, Philadelphia are always shapeshifting and eventually Chip Kelly's train of thought will get derailed, Washington remain at the bottom with inconsistent... everything.

1. Dallas Cowboys

 

2. New York Giants

 

3. Philadelphia Eagles

 

4. Washington

*Madden Curse Pending

 

AFC West

Peyton Manning is not the Peyton Manning we know and love and with a new offensive system I'm not sure how the Broncos will recuperate after a disappointing preseason expect the San Diego Chargers to win out the AFC West being set on both sides of the ball. Kansas City and Oakland have both made strides to improve but without receiving touchdowns in Missouri and a 32nd ranked offence in the bay area these two teams will continue to fight for third and fourth.

1. San Diego Chargers

 

2. Denver Broncos

 

3. Kansas City Chiefs

 

4. Oakland Raiders

 

NFC West

The most difficult division to pick a winner for Seattle was one run play away from back to back Super Bowl championships I don't know how much more this team can keep up with the grind of an NFL season but if any team is to do it, it's a team coached by Pete Carroll. A lot of veterans and despite Chancellor holding out this team will be very difficult to beat, though I see it being the Cardinals year with a full healthy season from Carson Palmer. St. Louis now have Nick Foles instead of Sam Bradford and the 49ers have sunk quicker than the Titanic this off season.

1. Arizona Cardinals

 

2. Seattle Seahawks

 

3. St Louis Rams

 

4. San Francisco 49ers