Week 8: Division predictions

This season has been confusing. The Eagles are 6-1. The Jaguars are 4-3. The Falcons are 3-3. And we’re still far from the end. But it doesn’t mean we can’t predict end of the season results. Here are our eight division winners:

AFC East

The Patriots. The other teams have shown flashes of promise, but there’s no getting around that none of those teams have the firepower to compete with New England. However, the Patriots have looked shaky this year, getting into a lot of high-scoring games. Their defense has given up 169 points, including 42 to Kansas City and 33 against Houston and Carolina. I don’t think that they can repeat their dominance from last year.

AFC North

One team has a winning record. That team has also beat all of their division opponents once. And that team is the Steelers. Therefore, they are my prediction to win the division. When their offense takes flight, which it should, the Steelers could be the team to beat in the AFC. Meanwhile, the Browns are 0-8. I can’t say I didn’t see that coming. The Steelers defense has been phenomenal through the first seven weeks. Can their young D keep it up? I think so. This is a team that’s built to go all the way.

AFC South

Um. Uh…nobody in this division is any good. I’d say that the Texans are going to win it, but if you ask me, all of these teams stink. Whoever wins it should feel very lucky that they earned a playoff spot.

AFC West

Last year, the Raiders should have won this division. This year, Oakland kept their season alive with a Thursday night win over the Chiefs. Despite Kansas City’s incredible ability to collapse, I think that they will win the division. The Raiders will have to really pick it up if they want to compete for the division crown. But there’s no way the Chiefs will make the Super Bowl.

NFC East

The Eagles have the best record in the NFL. Why? Nobody knows. Anyway, they should win the division. The Giants are coming off of a playoff season in which they beat the Cowboys twice. They’re 1-6. Their offensive line has been terrible. Their defense has not lived up to the hype. I suggest that all Giants fans start getting ready for next year, because without their three best receivers, they have nothing to play for this year.

NFC North

Two weeks ago, I would have said that the Packers would win the division. But if they have no Aaron Rodgers, they have no offense. The Vikings have played well since a terrible loss to Pittsburgh, losing only to Detroit by a touchdown. Midway through the season, they are 6-2. But this team is too inexperienced to get far into the playoffs.

NFC South

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the Saints will win this division. They have played decently through 6 games. The Panthers started out well but have lost two in a row to fall to 4-3. New Orleans, however, has a 4-game winning streak and is coming off a win against Detroit when they scored 3 defensive touchdowns. Drew Brees, Mark Ingram, and Ted Ginn Jr. will provide experience. If they make the playoffs, they could go far.

NFC West

The NFC West has been Seattle’s division ever since the Niners made Super Bowl 47. But this year, Los Angeles has gotten off to a good start. The 4-2 Seahawks will play the Texans later today. They have both of their games against the Rams still to come. So my prediction is LA, but the Seahawks still have a lot of time to turn that around.