ATPF Preview Week 2

With the first week out of the way teams have already been anointed with the titles not given out until December and January. Fans have given up on their entire season and or regimes, general manager’s are already looking at head coaches, head coaches are looking at quarterbacks and we already can vote all 32 teams in power rankings and read experts describing why certain teams and players are failures. All of this tells us that the NFL is back!

Across the pond football gave out our pre season opinions and after one week we haven’t jumped off or onto too many bandwagons but we are looking ahead to week two with the information provided to us a week ago still fresh in the memory bank. Below is our prediction for each game

New York Jets @ New England Patriots

In the legendary words of Herm Edwards ‘they are who we thought they were’. The Patriots are indeed who we thought they were. They are still a tough team to beat but they have lost some firepower and struggled to a late victory against the Bills. It was the sort of game where knowing how to win carried the Pats to success against a team who is trying to learn what that requires.

The Jets meanwhile rode rookie Geno Smith’s 300 yard debut and let their stingy defense grind Josh Freeman and the Bucs into submission. Ultimately a Nick Folk field goal with 15 seconds remaining gave the Jets the 1 point win. When the Jets were successful and able to give the Patriots a run for their money under coach Rex Ryan they played hard, physical defense, ran the ball well and won the close ones, running the ball still needs more commitment but otherwise the Jets practised what Rex Ryan preaches in that week one win.

Looking ahead to week two and everyone has the Patriots cruising to success, Vegas gives the Jets a 12 point start. Don’t be fooled however, this will be a close one. The Jets need to run the ball better; they need to give Geno Smith a chance on third down to put points up but this Patriots defense is still susceptible against the pass, particularly the play action pass. Rex Ryan will have his team right up for this and expect the defense to get in Tom Brady’s face.

ATPF Prediction- Patriots win by less than a touchdown

Carolina Panthers @ Buffalo Bills

The Panthers were desperate offensively in their season opener but the Seahawks may have the league’s strongest defense so things should get easier here. The Bills had the Patriots on the ropes but a heartbreaking late field goal saw excitement turn to the usual despair in upstate New York.

Carolina may have only put up seven points but their defense gave reason for hope. CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson are meant to be a dynamic duo out of the backfield but were stifled by the Patriots. The Panthers are excellent in the front seven and will hope to again frustrate the duo. Rookie EJ Manuel will then be pressured to make things happen but the Panthers will take their chances with the developmental prospect. Cam Newton should have some joy against the Bills if his line can protect him and more rushing production should help him and the team further.

ATPF Prediction– Panthers win this one by around a score

Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens

The Superbowl Champion Ravens came down to earth with a bump in Denver but a tougher game this season they won’t have. As it turned out all four teams lost in the AFC North, a very rare occurrence but a bonus for the Ravens. The Browns meanwhile hung with Miami for a while until Brandon Weeden self destructed, his days as the starter look numbered.

The Ravens are still well coached, disciplined and above average in talent, the Browns have none of those attributes and a one sided game should occur. The Browns are unlikely to score many more than their 10 points in week one and the Champs should get back on track here,

ATPF Prediction– The Ravens take this one by at least 10

Dallas Cowboys @ Kansas City Chiefs

A pair of teams who got a W to kick off go head to head here. Andy Reid’s debut saw the Chiefs pummel a woeful Jacksonville side while Dallas won on the back of six Giants turnovers.

Key to this one could be Kansas’ excellent pass rushing duo Justin Houston and Tamba Hali teamed with the raucous Arrowhead faithful. Dallas’ offensive line was better than advertised in the opener but a year ago in a similar early season game the Cowboys were overwhelmed by crowd and pass rush in Seattle, a repeat is very much on the cards here. The Cowboys defense will struggle to match such opportunism as their opening win against an Alex Smith led offense which will concentrate on short passing and a heavy dose of electric rusher Jamaal Charles.

ATPF Prediction– The Chiefs get to 2-0 and win this one by between 3 and 7 points.

Miami Dolphins @ Indianapolis Colts

Both of this duo made the most of very friendly starts to the schedule with wins and both will fancy doubling up. The Colts got a bright start but then were under the cosh against the Raiders and had to come back under Andrew Luck in the fourth quarter while Miami only shook off the Browns in the fourth quarter.

Ryan Tannehill will be keen to show he is ascending closer to an excellent group of quarterbacks drafted last year, led by his rival here Andrew Luck. He received virtually nothing from his run game in the opener and if the Colts can stifle the rushing attack they will fully expect Andrew Luck to guide them to victory.

ATPF Prediction– Colts win this one comfortably

Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears

A pleasant surprise last year, the Vikings lost an important divisional game to the Lions in week one. The Bears got a huge win over the talented Bengals meanwhile. Adrian Peterson still ran wild for the Vikings but he can’t do it alone, with Christian Ponder having a nightmare the Vikings came off the tracks in the second half and without a playmaker like Percy Harvin he could struggle this year.

The Bears are perennially excellent defensively and will be a match for Peterson; he will certainly be their main focus. If the Bears heavily revamped line can keep Jay Cutler upright he should again be able to lean heavily on star man Brandon Marshall and put up plenty of points for the Bears.

ATPF Prediction- Bears build more momentum with a comfortable win

San Diego Chargers @ Philadelphia Eagles

The Chargers blew a huge lead to the Texans in week one while the Eagles got a crucial win against NFC East rivals Washington. Chip Kelly’s high speed offense crucially got more out of running back LeSean McCoy, his best weapon and he will look to him again here. Phillip Rivers had less than 220 yards passing but four touchdowns, crucial to the Chargers inability to put the game away was their lack of success on the ground, a recurring theme since LaDainian Tomlinson’s departure.

The Eagles forced three turnovers from the usually careful RG3 in that opening win and Phil Rivers has a penchant for turning it over so that could be decisive here. With the Chargers secondary heavily rebuilt this offseason they could struggle with the tempo and diversity of the Eagles offense.

ATPF Prediction– Eagles put up some big numbers en route to victory

St. Louis Rams @ Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons couldn’t punch the ball in on their final drive to beat the Saints in week one but the Rams came from the dead to beat the Cardinals in a thriller. The gulf in class between the two’s respective opponents in those matches however is huge so expect a different story here.

The Falcons lost Roddy White to injury but former Ram Steven Jackson had an impressive debut and will be up for this. Jared Cook had a huge debut for the Rams but the Falcons will be ready for him. Key to this game will be quarterback Matt Ryan who is virtually unbeatable at home and should have success against a defense who impressed last year but struggled against the less talented Cardinals last week.

ATPF Prediction– Falcons too strong for the Rams and win by around a touchdown

Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans

The Texans performed a miracle comeback against the Chargers whilst the Titans revamped defense overwhelmed the Steelers offense in a week one win. The Titans know this is a big one for them, losing at home to the superior Texans would already put them behind the 8 ball. Houston meanwhile want to right last year’s wrong and get a bye in the playoffs so winning has to be a habit.

The defenses of these teams will be key but Houston’s more potent offense will put points up and they have a way where somebody always beats you. If it’s not superstar runner Arian Foster or superstar receiver Andre Johnson its quarterback Matt Schaub and tight end Owen Daniels as we saw last week. The Titans and quarterback Jake Locker don’t have such diverse talent and if running back Chris Johnson doesn’t come up big the Texans will fancy their chances, patience could be key in a likely defensive battle.

ATPF Prediction– Texans win by around a score on the road here

Washington Redskins@ Green Bay Packers

The Packers were left with little doubt that the 49ers remain the team to beat in the NFC as they again found them too strong in week one. The Redskins meanwhile found the new look Eagles a tougher foe as a rusty RG3 took time to get going.

Green Bay needs to keep pace with the Bears and Lions so a home win here is essential. The Redskins ground teams out with battering ram Alfred Morris last year and used the magic of their quarterback to provide the x-factor. With Morris struggling in week one and RG3 still short of full pace the Pack will fancy limiting the Redskins offense and their potent Aaron Rodgers led passing attack should do the rest against an average defense.

ATPF Prediction– The Redskins can’t keep pace here and lose by at least ten

Detroit Lions @ Arizona Cardinals

The Lions offense came up big in an opening win over Minnesota while the Cardinals blew what could be a rare chance to win in week one.

The high powered Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Reggie Bush trio could wreak havoc on a rebuilding Cardinals defense missing star linebacker Daryl Washington. Carson Palmer showed himself to still be capable against a Rams defense at least as strong as the Lions so points are likely in this match.

ATPF Prediction– The Lions could put up big points here and win by upwards of a touchdown

New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A crushing, narrow defeat for the Bucs and a joyous goal line stand for the Saints sees the two meet in complete opposite moods here. Josh Freeman’s woes against a strong Jets defense and the Saints ability to make a stand on defense under Rob Ryan were the back page headlines but things may be a little different here.

With the Falcons so dominant in the NFC South of late the Saints looked like they had spent an entire nine months preparing for them and with a deafening Superbowl behind them they got the win. The offense is always potent but can they keep the ball rolling defensively in an equally important road game here? Tampa are dominant against the run and if Darrelle Revis can keep one target quiet they can hold the Saints juggernaut to reasonable totals. The Bucs meanwhile will look to star runner Doug Martin to earn them the time of possession battle and will expect Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams to cause the Saints secondary fits.

ATPF Prediction– The Bucs have to win this one and narrowly, they do

Denver Broncos @ New York Giants

The Broncos looked unstoppable in week one, annihilating the superbowl champions Baltimore, the Giants outplayed the Cowboys but six turnovers can’t be overcome. The Manning sons face off here with younger brother Eli needing a home win badly, Peyton meanwhile will look to guide his team to beating both of the last two Superbowl winners in as many weeks.

An offensive cast which looked deadly was all that and more in week one as Peyton Manning threw seven touchdown passes. The juggernaut rolls into the big apple against a defense no longer the force of old and it’s tough to envisage the Giants making many stands. New York’s offense put up huge numbers themselves against the Cowboys with three receivers having 100 yards and Victor Cruz scoring three touchdowns. This promises to be a pass fest between two high powered offenses but Denver’s defense are a solid unit even without Von Miller whereas the Giants have plenty to prove on that side of the ball.

ATPF Prediction– Denver win an aerial dogfight by around a touchdown

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Oakland Raiders

Both minnows were beaten in week one but the Raiders showed some life, the Jags however were dire. With an extremely long journey out west things may not get much better for them here.

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert was injured for Jacksonville, journeyman Chad Henne steps in, little difference there. Terrelle Pryor has taken the start in Oakland, the dual threat had a nice game in week one and teamed with star rusher Darren McFadden could give the Raiders a dangerous run game. A defense likely to be spurred on by the ever passionate Black Hole can again pour misery on probably the worst offense in football.

ATPF Prediction– Raiders win, yes you read correctly, infact they win comfortably

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks

The niners proved their worth with a repeat victory over the Green Bay Packers in week one, Seattle got in a battle with Carolina but they won it. One of the most eagerly anticipated rivalries of the season will be hugely affected by the two head to head clashes.

San Francisco had almost 500 yards of offense and 40 minutes possession in that opener. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is emerging into an absolute superstar, the dual threat quarterback had almost 200 yards rushing against the Pack in the playoffs and 400 yards against them passing in week one, pick your poison with him. Seattle’s defense is amongst the league’s toughest, no way will Kaepernick get close to either of those stats nor will receiver Anquan Boldin match the 200 yard debut he had last week against dominant corners Richard Sherman or Brandon Browner, Sherman v Boldin will be unmissable. The Seahawks offense struggled in week one and without Percy Harvin and possibly Sidney Rice the focal point will again be Marshawn Lynch, he couldn’t get going in the opener and the 49ers will no doubt make stopping him their first priority. The twelfth man of Seattle is always important but the talent of San Francisco’s offense makes them favourite nevertheless.

ATPF Prediction– The 49ers wear down Seattle’s defense en route to a hard fought victory

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals

Both teams lost their openers but Baltimore’s defeat softened the blow. The Steelers were awful offensively against Tennessee, the Bengals lost a topsy turvy battle with the Bears. On that form there is little doubt that Cincinnati, at home, should be favourites here.

Two picks from Andy Dalton in that defeat did little to quieten his detractors and the Steelers at least in Ben Roethlisberger have the better quarterback. The Bengals gave up 24 points to Chicago but their defense is still among the league’s best and considering the way the Steelers struggled against Tennessee, one of the league’s worst defenses a year ago this could again be a long night for Roethlisberger and co.

ATPF Prediction– The Steelers make this a game but the Bengals outlast them

ATPF Divisional Preview- AFC East

New England Patriots– The Patriots look good for a fifth straight divisional title in the AFC East which lacks any other serious playoff contenders. They suffered a reverse at the hands of an inspired Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship last year having lost the Superbowl the previous year. Once again they look to have too much for their divisional foes although whether they have improved on last year’s team has to be in serious doubt.

Offensively the Patriots led the league in both scoring and offensive yards in 2012 but their arsenal of weapons looks severely depleted in 2013. Losing 100 plus catches a year from Wes Welker hurts, his ability to get open is unparalleled and although replacement Danny Amendola is a similar type of receiver his health and overall production both leave something to be desired by comparison. Another huge loss was jailed Aaron Hernandez, his murder charge has surely hurt the whole organisation and the Patriots dynamic duo of tight ends is no more. With all-pro Rob Gronkowski struggling to overcome a slew of injuries it appears Brady may have to lean heavily on rookies Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce and will also need more from versatile Julian Edelman. Bruising LeGarrette Blount comes in to help Stevan Ridley who had a breakout 2012 and Shane Vereen who emerged in the playoffs, the loss of pocket rocket Danny Woodhead will hurt on third downs although Vereen has potential for that spot. Anchored by one of the league’s best offensive lines the Patriots should again be amongst the team’s best offenses but whether they are quite the force of old is in doubt.

Patriots Receiver Danny Amendola

It is obvious after two defense heavy drafts that Bill Belichick believes the Patriots defense is their weakness and he is actively trying to address a unit that hasn’t been championship calibre in recent years. Vince Wilfork remains one of the premier defensive tackles in the league but his new partner in crime Tommy Kelly is a questionable acquisition from Oakland. Breakout candidate Chandler Jones and underrated Rob Ninkovich lead the pass rushers and should get help from rookie second rounder Jamie Collins. On the face of it a quartet of Aqib Talib, Alfonzo Dennard, Devin McCourty and newly acquired Adrian Wilson shouldn’t rank as low as 29^th against the pass again. Rookie Logan Ryan adds depth but the secondary will again need more help upfront to hold up, particularly against the league’s more potent passing attacks. The unit on paper looks better than last year’s 25^th ranked squad but make no mistake, they will give up plenty of points and yards.

2013 Predicted wins– 11-12

Playoff Prediction– Again likely to reach the AFC championship but don’t look as strong as the likes of Denver so can’t see them making the Superbowl.

Miami Dolphins– Mediocrity has become the norm in Miami although owner Stephen Ross and General Manager Jeff Ireland are doing their very best to end that. Big money acquisitions Mike Wallace, Dannell Ellerbe and Dustin Keller are joined by third overall pick Dion Jordan on a roster which appears far more blessed with top end talent than in recent years. Of course second year quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s progression will be all important although the old cliché ‘they will go as far as he takes them’ isn’t quite accurate.

Dolphins Quarterback Ryan Tannehill

Ranked 27^th in total offense last year former Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman’s unit should be improved and have to be if the Dolphins are to get anywhere near the playoffs. Ryan Tannehill is vital to that improvement, he was uneven as you would expect from a very inexperienced rookie last year (just one season as a college QB). He does possess all the physical attributes required for the position and his attitude is impressive. If he can take the expected step forward this could be a vastly improved offense in 2013. He should certainly be helped by the free agent addition of Mike Wallace, one of the league’s fastest wide receivers. Wallace should form an effective tandem with Brian Hartline who had a career year in 2012 and seemed to have great chemistry with Tannehill from the start; they look the ideal duo of the possession receiver in Hartline and the playmaker in Wallace. New tight end Dustin Keller should also be an upgrade; he often flattered to deceive in New York but has the athletic ability to breakout. Losing the dynamic Reggie Bush is a blow so second year man Lamar Miller looks set to get the majority of carries although Daniel Thomas and rookie Mike Gillislee should both get plenty of touches also. On the offensive line, the loss of former first overall pick Jake Long will be evaluated by how well second year man Jonathan Martin plays in his spot. Veteran Tyson Clabo will move into the right tackle spot whilst a young interior is led by third year pro bowl possible Mike Pouncey. The offense must be improved and they are banking on their big money free agent additions along with improvement from Tannehill to make it happen. Enthusiasm is tempered by a pair of new tackles and the lack of a proven playmaker in the backfield however so I don’t see a top 16 offense.

Defensively the Dolphins bend but don’t break style has been pretty effective in the past couple of seasons. Ranking sixth and seventh in points allowed is an excellent return but their 327 yards per game allowed last year along with just 10 interceptions showed improvement was still needed. All-pro pass rusher Cameron Wake is the star man and should at last get some help in the form of rookie Dion Jordan. A dynamic Jason Pierre-Paul type athlete, Jordan could easily be a rookie of the year candidate. Inside, the enormous Paul Soliai and underrated Randy Starks are an excellent tandem. With Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett gone and replaced by versatile Phillip Wheeler and improving Dannell Ellerbe the Dolphins again have a decent linebacking unit.  The weakness of the defense looks to be corner, Brent Grimes replaces Sean Smith but the team needs rookie Jamar Taylor to start and produce from day one, there is little depth so team’s will attack with spread offenses and pressurise this group. Safeties Chris Clemons and Reshad Jones provide stability but the secondary is still a concern. Defensively Miami have a strong front seven and if Jordan can be effective they could have one of the league’s best pass rushing tandems but their secondary could be found out by New England, New Orleans, Atlanta and Baltimore.

2013 Predicted wins– 7-8

Playoff Prediction– Would need to win all the close ones to make the playoffs but realistically don’t look ready to make it there this season.

 

New York Jets- The Big Apple’s best known soap opera looks set to continue at pace in 2013. Tim Tebow leaves his starring role but rookie Geno Smith can take his place. Brash, abrasive head coach Rex Ryan enters the final year of his contract and his team has been in steady decline the past couple of years. With star player Darrelle Revis gone the team is extremely light on pro-bowl talent and is set for another year of quarterback conundrums and catastrophes. New general managers normally mean new head coaches and barring a big turnaround this looks set to be Ryan’s last season of a head coaching stint that promised so much but ultimately failed to deliver.

Head Coach Rex Ryan and Quarterback Mark Sanchez

The only place to start when looking at the Jets is the quarterback position. Former first round pick Mark Sanchez has been a bust considering what the Jets traded to get him. In his first couple of seasons as a game manager he was able to get by but under pressure he has been shown up time and again. Even so he is the clubhouse leader at the position over Geno Smith who was the second quarterback drafted in a much maligned class. Much like last year the volatile Jets fans will soon start to scream for Sanchez out when times get hard and Smith will take Tebow’s place as the reputed saviour. He is likely to get game time this year but in reality isn’t ready for a starting role. Whoever is under center will struggle for targets, talented trouble causer Santonio Holmes is recovering from season ending foot surgery while second year man Stephen Hill is still a raw talent rather than a reliable target. Jeremy Kerley is a solid if undersized target while Jeff Cumberland looks set to get the starting tight end role despite ability wise looking no better than a backup. Last year’s leading rusher Shonn Greene is gone but similar styled Chris Ivory arrives from New Orleans via trade. Ivory, a big bruising runner is favourite to start. Another new addition Mike Goodson is more versatile and should at least get third down duties if not the starting role. Left Tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Center Nick Mangold are both amongst the league’s best but the rest of the line is in transition. An offense that ranked 30^th overall last year and the same in passing again looks woefully devoid of talent and teams are sure to focus hard on the running game with eight in the box.

The Jets defense perennially carries the offense as it did in 2012 and will again be expected to be elite. Unfortunately being the solid unit that it was in 2012 won’t be enough, Rex Ryan needs to return his defense to being a real elite group but with shutdown corner Darrelle Revis gone they have lost a huge part of Ryan’s better defenses. His place goes to ninth overall pick Dee Milliner out of Alabama, a big corner who excels in man coverage although not quite to Revis level. Antonio Cromartie had his best season for many a year in 2012 and should again be a strong presence opposite Milliner. Free agent acquisition Dawan Landry and second year man Josh Bush look to be the starters at safety but neither inspire confidence. Antwan Barnes was a nice acquisition from San Diego who should help a workmanlike linebacking corps. A steady flow of new, high draft picks on the defensive line has left plenty of talent there with Muhammad Wilkerson, Quinton Coples and rookie Sheldon Richardson all set to get time at defensive end and Kenrick Ellis likely to take over the starting nose tackle job from departed Sione Pouha. With Ryan back calling the defense this unit will as usual be a strong one but lack of an elite pass rusher hurts and they won’t likely get much rest either.

2013 Predicted wins– 5-6

Playoff Prediction– Ryan’s defenses have led the Jets to the playoffs in the past but with so little offensive talent it is hard to envisage a repeat.

Buffalo Bills– It seems the Bills latest rebuilding process starts every year and 2013 is no different. Former Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone is the latest new head coach but talk of superbowls is hardly likely to excite a Bills fanbase used to big promises and small performance. With a three way quarterback battle and a whole slew of veterans released to be replaced by rookies this team is once again back to the start of a rebuilding process. Hopefully for their long suffering fans the Bills will finally come good and start to build something of promise for the future in 2013.

The aforementioned three way quarterback battle is between former Philadelphia backup and brief Arizona starter Kevin Kolb, journeyman veteran Tarvaris Jackson and EJ Manuel, the only quarterback taken in the first round of the 2013 draft. Manuel is the future but Kolb looks the favourite for now, he was viewed as a certain starter back in his Philly days but took an almighty beating in his two years in Arizona. A pocket passer lacking Manuel’s physical tools, I would expect Kolb to start but Manuel to come in in the second half of the season for Buffalo to see what it has. The strength of the Bills offense is the running game led by CJ Spiller who had a breakout year in 2012 despite injuries. Veteran Fred Jackson is a good compliment to the explosive Spiller but what is on the face of it one of the league’s strongest duos is weakened by the fact that both are injury prone. Stevie Johnson is far and away the Bills best receiver and should again comfortably top 1000 yards receiving. With eyes on the future second and third round draftees Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin and second year wideout TJ Graham will all get plenty of playing time and battle for the second receiver slot, Buffalo has to hit on at least one of this physically gifted trio. Big bodied tight end Scott Chandler is an endzone target but not a dynamic playmaker by any means and he is recovering from a major knee injury. The offensive line is one of the league’s better units, tackles Cody Glenn and Erik Pears, center Eric Wood and guard Kraig Urbik are a strong quartet, they must replace the departed Andy Levitre (Tennessee) but have several candidates to do so. A much changed unit and with eyes on the future the Bills offense isn’t expected to be a major force although both Johnson and Spiller are dynamic playmakers likely to make their share of highlight reels again.

Bills Running Back CJ Spiller

Defensively Buffalo appointed former Jets coordinator Mike Pettine to try and turnaround a woeful unit. Six veteran starters departed, just two came in plus three rookie draft picks. $100 million dollar man Mario Williams is again faced with the same 3-4 scheme which saw him as an  inbetweener in Houston and led to his departure. Kyle Williams, former Seahawk Alan Branch and Marcell Dareus form an impressive looking defensive line with Mario Williams likely to rotate his position but basically just get after the quarterback in a scheme where blitzing should be heavy and often. It is to be hoped that free agent acquisition Manny Lawson (Cincinnati) and rookie Kiko Alonso can breathe life into a distinctly average group of linebackers. Second year corner Stephon Gilmore impressed as a rookie and Leodis McKelvin is also pretty solid. Safety Jairus Byrd is one of the league’s best and a real ballhawk, Aaron Williams looks likely to move into the spot alongside but must prove his physicality for the role. This unit boasts some elite talents but must fill some holes also, particularly in the linebacking corps. They can’t afford to rank 31 against the rush again and must also improve their pass rush but a strong secondary and new scheme give them hope.

2013 Predicted wins– 4-5

Playoff Prediction– Inconceivable that Buffalo play on into January.

5 teams who will improve in 2013

1)    Philadelphia Eagles– There are a whole host of reasons to believe that the Eagles can bounce back from a 4-12 season, their second consecutive year of epic disappointment. Two years detached from their ‘dream team’ nickname which they gained after adding a whole host of big name free agents before the 2011 season, the Eagles are under first year NFL head coach Chip Kelly and he is looking for a more level headed under the radar approach. Kelly’s tenure of the Oregon Ducks brought unparalleled success to the school and he became one of the hottest properties in college football. He has a bit of a reputation as a mad scientist but there is no doubting how innovative he is and he is bringing his dynamic, fast-paced offense to the NFL in the city of brotherly love.

Kelly’s predecessor, Andy Reid never got the credit he deserved in Philly but while he did a fine job, it was clear in 2012 that his period in office had run its course. Kelly’s energy and enthusiasm should rub off on a roster that has the talent to be right in the playoff hunt in 2013. Offensively, the Eagles are stacked with talent. A three way quarterback battle should go in the favour of Michael Vick, the mercurial but injury prone veteran looks the ideal fit for the new offensive scheme. Still the fastest and most dynamic running quarterback in the league yet possessing all the throws, Vick should be suited by a fast pace offense and one which won’t require him to make as many pre-snap reads. On the outside the duo of Jeremy Maclin and the enigmatic but explosive DeSean Jackson give the Eagles a deep threat and LeSean McCoy should be much more utilised this year as the top tier do-it-all running back that he is. The key to the Eagles offense is keeping Vick healthy and although that’s easier said than done when he’s 20 yards past the line of scrimmage the returning Jason Peters, a pro bowl calibre left tackle and first round draft choice Lane Johnson who projects to play on the right should help him no end.

New Eagles Coach Chip Kelly

Going from worst to first in the division is tough but Washington did it last year and it would be no surprise if Philadelphia did it this year. The competitive nature of the NFC East means that 9 wins is normally enough and Philly shouldn’t be far away from that in 2013. All four teams have won the division in the last four years showing just how open it is and the Redskins were the outsiders to do so last season. It’s now 10 years since the Eagles were the last team to defend the NFC East and once again the incumbent champions look very vulnerable.

2)    New Orleans Saints– Three full seasons have passed since the Saints shocked the Indianapolis Colts to win their first Superbowl. Their run of three straight playoff appearances was halted with a disappointing 7-9 season last year but that tells barely half the story. Rocked by the bounty scandal which revealed how players had received cash bounties for injuring opponents the Saints found themselves wrapped up in the biggest scandal since the Patriots Spygate incident of 2007. The repercussions saw several defensive players banned and most importantly inspirational head-coach Sean Payton banned for a year. General Manager Mickey Loomis also received an eight game ban and Assistant Head Coach six matches. With franchise quarterback Drew Brees holding out for part of the offseason the Saints couldn’t possibly have been in worse shape going into the year despite a talented roster. It carried over into a 0-4 start which left the Saints in an impossible position. They regrouped and became competitive again but the playoffs were a bridge too far.

Former University of Texas Safety Kenny Vaccaro

With Payton now back in full command and Brees signed up and back on board the key to the Saints in 2013 will be their defense which was the worst in the NFL in 2012, particularly against the pass. First round draftee Kenny Vaccaro, a returning Jonathan Vilma and the conversion into a 3-4 scheme under veteran Rob Ryan all give hope and with Brees coming off a third straight 5000 yard passing season (no other quarterback in history has two) the defense doesn’t have to be great. Middle of the road would probably be enough for a playoff berth although the NFC South is as tough now as it ever has been.

3)    Detroit Lions– It’s hard to see how a team with the talent of the Lions could go 4-12 last season but it’s even harder to see them not improving on it in 2013. Admittedly the NFC North containing the mighty Green Bay Packers, consistent Chicago Bears and 2012’s surprise team the Minnesota Vikings is tough, really tough but the Lions have the talent on both sides of the ball to compete with anyone. Offensively former number 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford has got over the injuries that plagued his early NFL career and now developed into a dynamic pocket passer. His arm strength and accuracy have combined to help him to over 10,000 passing yards in the past two years. Wide receiver Calvin ‘Megatron’ Johnson sees the lion’s share of those yards (excuse the pun) as the best receiver in all of football.  Although expected to be a viable option on the other side Titus Young ended up as a bust way more notorious to the police than defensive coordinators. They still however have upper echelon tight end Brandon Pettigrew and in Jahvid Best and new addition Reggie Bush a rushing attack that should be improved.

Ndamukong Suh

Defensively the strength of this unit is the line. Ndamukong Suh gets criticised (sometimes rightly) as a dirty player but he can also be a dominant one. Nick Fairley adds a young solid complement alongside and first round draftee Ziggy Ansah should improve their edge rush. The Lions were a respectable 13^th in yards allowed but inexplicably 27 in points allowed in 2012. They need to improve their red-zone defense and improve on a minus 16 turnover ratio that was huge. The talent on this roster is top 10 on both sides of the ball so it would be no surprise if they were competing for a playoff spot in 2013 and they certainly shouldn’t be last in the NFC North again as strong as it is.

4)    Miami Dolphins- The Dolphins finished 7-9 in 2012 and will hope to take further steps to firstly secure their place as the Patriots biggest rival in the division and secondly gain a playoff place. This is a franchise that has disappointed consistently in the last decade, making just one playoff appearance since 2001 but could be on the verge of turning the corner. Second year quarterback Ryan Tannehill is the key to progress. The former Texas A & M Aggie had an up and down rookie year which was expected due to his lack of experience at College level but physically he has the tools required. A second full off season should be big and he can add further to the class of 2012 which of course starred Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson. He will be protected by second round pick Jonathan Martin rather than the departed Jake Long but most vitally the acquisition of speed demon Mike Wallace and big target Dustin Keller should give him a massive boost.

Former Steelers Wide Receiver Mike Wallace

Defensively the Dolphins ranked 21^st in yards allowed but 7^th in points allowed. A middle of the road unit overall but again retooled and likely to improve in 2013. Linebackers Phillip Wheeler and particularly Dannell Ellerbe were prized acquisitions and Brent Grimes although coming off an injury is a top tier cornerback who should further upgrade this defense. First round draft choice Dion Jordan was the consensus top pass rusher in the draft and alongside Paul Soliai, Randy Starks and Cameron Wake he should be a part of one of the top defensive lines in football. Big things are expected of second year head coach Joe Philbin’s team and a playoff place is likely if Tannehill is the real deal.

5)    Tampa Bay Buccaneers– Picking two improvers in one division is perhaps controversial but it’s hard to think the Buccaneers won’t be stronger in 2013 under second year head coach Greg Schiano. The marquee signings of all-world corner Darrelle Revis and pro-bowl safety Dashon Goldson should turn their secondary round from team weakness to team strength, adding second round corner Jonathan Banks further shows the point of emphasis of their off season. Three more defensive linemen drafted add to the rotation upfront and a team which was first in the league against the rush, last against the pass should this year be around the top 10 overall.

Buccaneers Quarterback Josh Freeman

            Offensively quarterback Josh Freeman has something to prove but promising draftee Mike Glennon will push him and will want to compete for the job if Freeman doesn’t step up. Freeman is certainly surrounded by talent, Doug Martin rushed for almost 1500 yards as a rookie and receiving tandem Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams give him two big bodied targets. With the defensive acquisitions this team should go as far as Freeman can take them in 2013 and I fully expect a three way battle for supremacy in a brutal looking NFC South.