Well, to paraphrase former WWE Champion the Rock, FINALLY the 2012 NFL Season has begun. As an NFL fan for over 35 years, I always get excited, especially when the first week of the season arrives. I love seeing the pre-game shows, and seeing the “experts” argue over who they think will win. I love see video of fans tailgating, and hearing about injury reports, Super Bowl predictions, scandals, and the whole kit and caboodle. In my opinion, the NFL Season is the best season ever.

Well, since I have starting writing this blog, I have noticed that writers for this, and other blogs have posted their weekly picks for the NFL. Well, last season, I didn’t partake in doing a weekly blog, but I did do picks for the NFL playoffs, and the Super Bowl, and I had a good time doing, so for this season, I decided to take the plunge, and do weekly picks.

Now, so my readers understand, I do NOT go by the spread, or predict the score. I am going to list the teams, the stadiums, etc. I am going to mention any notable injuries, and do a little analysis, and just make my prediction of which team I think will win the game.

Sound Good? Well, here we go:

Before I start with Sunday’s Match ups, let me do a quick post-mortem on the Dallas Cowboys at the defending champion New York Giants that was played on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at Met Life Stadium. At first, it started out like neither team wanted to score, and it was going to be one of those boring defensive games. However, Dallas’ offense somehow got going, and put 24 points on the board, and New York’s Eli Manning could not quite make one of his miraculous fourth quarter comebacks, and was only able to get the Giants 17 points, and Dallas won.

Dallas’ Tony Romo was having a good night despite his offensive line’s inability to stay still as they drew offside penalties like crazy. Surprisingly, Romo’s main target was Kevin Olgletree. Dallas’ defense stifled the Giants’ receivers all night, and their running game. One the other hand, Giants defense started out good, but their secondary was falling apart. On offense, Victor Cruz was dropping balls as if they were hot potatoes.

Game was just OK overall. I didn’t go nuts like everyone does over Dallas. It is only Week 1. Let’s see how these guys are, especially Romo in December.

Now, for Sunday, and Monday Night:

All 1:00 P.M. Games:

Indianapolis Colts AT Chicago Bears
Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill
The main injury concerns for the Colts concern the availability of Austin Collie (WR). At first, he was declared likely, but now he is a game time decision. LB Pat Angerer is out. For the Bears, despite his saying the knee won’t be the same, MLB Brian Urlacher will play.

Final Analysis: This is the official NFL debut for the much touted rookie QB from Stanford, Andrew Luck who is the new Colts QB. He looked very much the part of a professional QB in the preseason, but before we put him in Canton, let’s remember he is a rookie. He will make rookie mistakes, and he is facing a good Bears Defense that will try to confuse him.

On the other side, it will be interesting to see how Bears QB Jay Cutler can rebound after the season ending injury he had last season. Now that he has his favorite target on offense, we will see if that offense improves. The running game should be good as well.

Pick: A lot of people are very high on Luck, and think he can win. With Urlacher not quite up to speed, and the fact that Luck, and his offense are apparently on the same page, I am going to gamble a bit, and go with the rookie. Winner: Indianapolis Colts

Philadelphia Eagles AT Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, OH
The injury report for the Eagles is interesting for the fact that Michael Vick is NOT on it. The Browns’ Trent Richardson is listed as questionable. I am hearing he is supposed to play though. Browns’ Scott Fujita is now available (for now) to the team thanks to the overturning of his Bounty related suspension.

I don’t mean to sound like a smart ass but I don’t really think it matters. I mean, seriously. The Eagles should beat the Browns like a drum. Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

St. Louis Rams AT Detroit Lions
Ford Field in Detroit, MI
The Rams will be without their First Round pick Michael Brockers due to an ankle injury. The Detroit Lions will be banged up in the secondary as CB Chris Houston is doubtful due to an ankle injury, and Safety Louis Delmas listed as doubtful due to a knee injury.

Well, this game does not look all that exciting to me. Rams’ QB Sam Bradford has yet to show me that he is worthy of that #1 overall pick. It is true that he has hardly any receivers. The defense is just alright. The Lions have a fierce front seven with that Suh, Vanden Bosch, etc. Of course, their offense features Matt Stafford, and Megatron. Rams will be eaten by the Lions. Winner: Detroit Lions

Miami Dolphins AT Houston Texans
Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX
The only person that is hurt for the Dolphins is Tony McDaniel. Their opponents, the Texans have of interest, LB Brooks Reed (hip), and star RB Arian Foster (knee) who are both game time decisions. Foster said he expects to play though.

Even though it is great that the Dolphins are coming into Houston healthy, I don’t think they are going to come out of there with a win. Houston is one of the top teams in the AFC, and I just think they are going to just crush Miami. Winner: Houston Texans

Atlanta Falcons AT Kansas City Chiefs
Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO
The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense has been bombard with injuries, and as many as six could be out for this game. DE Allen Bailey with an ankle injury, Safety Kendrick Lewis with a shoulder injury, DT Anthony Toribio with an ankle injury are all listed as doubtful. LB Jovan Belcher with a groin injury, CB Brandon Flowers with a foot injury, and LB Derrick Johnson with an ankle are listed as questionable.

It looks like Matt Ryan, and his group of receivers, and his Hall of Fame (surely) tight end, Tony Gonzalez may just have a field day at Arrowhead despite that stadium being one of the hardest places to play. I am not sold on Matt Cassel being a good QB, and I just don’t think the Chiefs are up to the task. Winner: Falcons

Jacksonville Jaguars AT Minnesota Vikings
Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota
The main injuries in this game are the Jaguars will be without Daryl Smith, their best LB who will miss the game with a groin injury, and Derek Cox, their top CB with a hamstring injury. Their rookie receiver Justin Blackmon is probable with an ankle injury. For the Vikings, the main injury of note is their top RB Adrian Peterson who is coming back from that ACL tear suffered on Dec 24, 2011. Listed as questionable, there will be a decision Saturday morning whether he plays or not.

Well, people will be watching this game to pretty much see (if he plays) how Peterson does. If he is allowed to play, it will be a great thing to see. As for who wins, with Maurice Jones-Drew just getting back to the team, and getting back into football shape, I am thinking that the Vikings will wind up winning it. It will be ugly though. Winner: Vikings

Washington Redskins AT New Orleans Saints
Super Dome in New Orleans, LA
Well, the news that NFL Commissioner Goodell got repelled (for now) by that three person panel, puts an interesting spin on notable injuries. Jonathan Vilma is now eligible to play, but he has an injury where he won’t be ready (not that he is anyway, football-wise) for a few weeks. Saints could put him on PUP for six weeks. Will Smith could play right away as he is healthy. The Saints, before all this has WR Marques Colston (foot), CB Jabari Greer (groin), LB David Hawthorne (knee), and LB Curtis Lofton (ankle) listed as questionable. All seem likely to be able to play.

Well, we have another rookie QB in the highly touted Robert Griffin III in his debut with the Washington Redskins. I prefer him to Andrew Luck, but in this game sadly, Griffin is making his debut against the wrong team at the wrong time. The Saints are at home with their crowd backing them up, and after the terrible offseason, and now with the latest news, they are going to be mad as hornets. Winner: New Orleans

Buffalo Bills AT New York Jets
Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Buffalo Bills WR Stevie Johnson is listed as questionable with a groin injury, and for the Jets, the significant injury is TE Dustin Keller who is questionable with a hamstring, but both are expected to play. The other injury for the Jets is LB Sione Pouha who’s also questionable with a back injury, but doesn’t look likely to play.

Well, I am going to be “from Missouri” so to speak with these two teams. They are going to have to show me they are worth the hype, especially ESPN’s favorite team, the Jets. The Bills, on paper have improved their defense with the addition of former Texans’ Mario Williams. Let’s see though if QB Fitzpatrick can play well for more than 5 games.

For the Jets, who I feel is the most over hyped team in the NFL, they better live up to the hype. I am reading that Tebow is going to play 10-20 percent of the game. Well, call me old school, but when you have two QBs, you don’t have any. Jets Owner Woody Johnson does not like the team being called a “circus?” Well, maybe his team better stop acting like clowns then.

I think from looking at the Jets’ O line, especially that right side, I think Buffalo could exploit it with their defense. Jets have no pass rush, and a pop gun offense. Winner: Buffalo

New England Patriots AT Tennessee Titans
LP Field in Nashville, TN
The only notable injury for the Patriots is RB Shane Vereen (foot). The injuries of note for the Titans are LB Sen’ Derrick Marks is doubtful with his knee, and CB Jurrell Casey questionable with his elbow.

This should be an interesting game. The Titans are giving the reins to second year QB Jake Locker while former starter Matt Hasselbeck is the backup, and mentor. Locker is going up against one of the most elite QBs in the NFL, and arguably one of the best QBs ever in Tom Brady. I’m looking forward to this game.

It will be interesting to see if the Patriots’ young, and hopefully improved defense can stop the star RB for the Titans in Chris Johnson. Seeing the McCourty twins is going to be really cool. The main question for the Patriots is can the offensive line which is still coming together (no Brian Waters, and Matt Light retired) protect Tom Brady? I think so. Winner: New England Patriots

4:25 pm NFL Games:

Seattle Seahawks AT Arizona Cardinals
University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
Injury of concern for the Cardinals is Beanie Wells who was listed as questionable with a hamstring. For the Seahawks, the injuries are tackle James Carpenter, and WR Golden Tate are out with knee injuries, and RB Marshawn Lynch is questionable with back spasms.

Well, it is obvious to me that despite having a beast of a WR in Larry Fitzgerald, the Cardinals, outside of Kurt Warner, can not find a QB to throw him the ball. I mean, it is just tragic. Now, I am not as high on Seattle as a lot of people, but let’s see what the rookie QB Russell Wilson can do. Winner: Seattle Seahawks

San Fransisco 49ers AT Green Bay Packers
Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI
The only injury of any importance is Ted Ginn being listed as questionable due to an ankle injury.

This game should be the best game of the week. Great QB match up in the sense that 49ers Alex Smith was the #1 overall pick in the 2005 Draft, and the first QB taken, and he is going up against Aaron Rodgers who sat in that green room for the longest time, before being taken at #25. In most experts’ eyes, this was supposed to be the NFC Championship game last post season, but it didn’t happen. Should be a good one.

For the game, even though the 49ers have an excellent defense, and the Packers defense hopefully have improved some, and I am not sure I have faith in them, I think Rodgers will put on a light show. Winner: Green Bay Packers

Carolina Panthers AT Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL
RB Jonathan Stewart for the Panthers is listed as questionable. He has not practiced all week, so it is not likely he will play. Arrelious Benn, WR for the Bucs is listed as questionable despite practicing all week.

The Bucs were awful last year, and this preseason, they didn’t look all that great. I am a Rutgers graduate, so in that sense I want new Bucs Head Coach Greg Schiano to do well, but it will take awhile to turn this around. The Panthers once again have Ron Rivera as their head coach, and Cam Newton as QB. Will he have the dreaded sophomore slump? Will he be even better? We will see. He should lead the team to a win though. Winner: Carolina Panthers

8:20 pm SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Pittsburgh Steelers AT Denver Broncos
Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, CO
Notable Injuries for the Steelers are Safety Ryan Clark will not be playing due to his sickle cell illness which is aggravated by playing in the high altitude. There are conflicting reports as to whether LB James Harrison (officially listed as questionable) will play or not. RBs are pretty banged up: Rashard Mendendall (knee) listed as doubtful. Issac Redman (ankle) is listed as probable, and Baron Batch is listed as questionable with a groin. The Broncos have no important injuries.

Well, this is a huge game for a one Peyton Manning. It is his first game back after losing a year of his career due to a fourth neck surgery. Most fans know about his parting with the Colts. It will be strange to see him in other than a Colts uniform, but life goes on. It will be interesting to see how healthy, and how back to 100% he REALLY is. He looked pretty decent in preseason.

The Steelers come to town to try to avenge the post season loss to the Broncos. Of course, this time they face a much superior QB. The Steelers come in a bit banged up, and they have Ben, their elite QB learning a new offense, and getting to know new Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley, but I think this game as a whole will be a good game.

Defensive guru Dick LeBeau turns 75 tomorrow, and I think the Steelers will give their Defensive Coordinator a birthday gift. I think it will be close though. Winner: Steelers

9/10/11 MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Game 1 at 7pm: Cincinnati Bengals AT Baltimore Ravens
M &T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland
No notable injuries for either team.

This game shows why, at least in my view, the AFCN is the best division in the NFL. You have four tough, hardnosed teams who are physical not only with opponents outside their division, but with each other. This should be a pretty good game. It will be interesting to see how Terrell Suggs (on PUP due to Achilles ) absence affects the defense, and if Flacco can be the elite QB he claims he is.

The Bengals need to prove they can continue to be a playoff contender, and if this game somehow becomes a scoring fest, QB Andrew Dalton has show he can keep up. Their defense has to get after Flacco, and hold down RB Ray Rice. However, since Flacco has an excellent record at home, I expect him to hold on to that. Winner: Baltimore Ravens

Game #2 at approximately 10:15pm San Diego Chargers AT Oakland Raiders
Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA
The only notable injury for both teams is RB Ryan Matthews for the Chargers being out due to the collar bone injury as he had no contact in practice.

Well, I think this year is do or die for both the Chargers, and their coach Norv Turner. If they don’t get in the playoffs, I think their “genius” of a GM has to see that Turner is not the answer. Rivers has to cut down on the turnovers. The entire Chargers team has to cool it with their brashness, and bravado, and not start out so late, and hope to be Silky Sullivan (he was a great racehorse in the ’50s who would start his run about 40 lengths back), and somehow get into the playoffs. They can get off to a great start by destroying the Raiders. The Raiders are what they are. It will take awhile to get that team turned around. Winner: Chargers

Well, those are my picks. Good luck to everyone, and I pray there are no serious injuries in Week 1.

Terri Bey currently blogs for CamelClutchBlog.com about Wrestling, NFL, and other sports/pop culture related subjects. Her work has appeared in BleacherReport and for F4WOnline.com. Terri can be found here at Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/TerriBey and at Twitter- http://www.twitter.com/giopontifan

Fantasy Football Almanac 2012: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide

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Now that I have spent the last two weeks previewing and predicting the AFC & NFC conference now it’s time to predict who I think ends the 2012-2013 NFL Season as Super Bowl Champions. With that being said lets look at the rankings based off of my predictions in each division the last two weeks:

AFC Playoff teams:

1. Baltimore Ravens (13-3)

2. Houston Texans (13-3)

3. New England Patriots (11-5)

4. Denver Broncos (11-5)

5. New York Jets (10-6)

6. San Diego Chargers

NFC Playoff teams:

1. Green Bay Packers (14-2)

2. New Orleans Saints (12-4)

3. San Francisco 49ers (11-5)

4. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)

5. Chicago Bears (10-6)

6. Carolina Panthers (9-7)

So with those following rankings in place the playoff matchups would look as followed:

AFC:

(3) New England Patriots vs. (6) San Diego Chargers

(4) Denver Broncos vs. (5) New York Jets

(1) Baltimore Ravens & (2) Houston Texans get 1^st round bye

NFC:

(3) San Francisco 49ers vs. (6) Carolina Panthers

(4) Philadelphia Eagles vs. (5) Chicago Bears

(1) Green Bay Packers & (2) New Orleans Saints get 1^st round bye

Predictions for Wild Card Weekend:

(3) New England Patriots defeat (6) San Diego Chargers

It might surprise some that I had New England as a #3 seed for the AFC side of the playoffs but when you have two divisions that aren’t that strong (AFC North and AFC South), it seemed like a better fit for the Ravens or Texans. While I won’t be shocked if the Pats do receive a first round bye I think the other two teams have a better shot. As for the Chargers I believe the team and Phillip Rivers have a comeback season in 2012 as they march back into the playoffs but get bounced out by the Patriots in Foxboro.

(4) Denver Broncos defeat (5) New York Jets

Whichever network that features the NFL playoff games this season for the AFC; I would presume that being CBS would be frothing at the mouth if this game would come to fruition. Tim Tebow, now a New York Jet, returns to Denver to take on his own team at Mile High Stadium in the playoffs. While the dollar signs and ratings are certainly there I believe the Peyton Manning led Denver Broncos defeat the Jets in the Wild Card weekend round.

(6) Carolina Panthers defeat (3) San Francisco 49ers

I truly believe that the Carolina Panthers are going to be that “Cinderella team” in the NFL this season. They are riding off of a very impressive and shocking 2011 season led by a rookie quarterback & will use such to build off of for the 2012 season. That shocking roll will continue on when I have them defeating the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card round. I believe Cam Newton would thrive in the spotlight while the Niners continue to have whispers of whether or not Alex Smith is “the guy” for them.

(5) Chicago Bears defeat (4) Philadelphia Eagles

I really like the Chicago Bears this season as being a team could surprise many with how good they can be. Jay Cutler knows that this is a make-or-break season for him now that Brandon Marshall is thrown into the mix and Lovie Smith once again starts the season on a “warm” seat that could get hotter if the Bears don’t thrive. Really like Chicago advancing into the divisional round as I don’t believe the Eagles have what it takes to be a Super Bowl destined team as long as Andy Reid is coaching and Michael Vick is their quarterback.

NFL Divisional Round predictions:

AFC:

(1) Baltimore Ravens vs. (4) Denver Broncos

(2) Houston Texans vs. (3) New England Patriots

NFC:

(1) Green Bay Packers vs. (6) Carolina Panthers

(2) New Orleans Saints vs. (5) Chicago Bears

Predictions for the Divisional Round:

(4) Denver Broncos defeat (1) Baltimore Ravens

While it may no longer be “Tebow Time” in Denver it certainly will be “Peyton Time” for the Broncos I predict this postseason. Denver has a lot to prove but the former 4-time NFL MVP has a lot more to prove then new team. Peyton Manning realizes he has a lot of doubters out there and will use that to motivate him to go into Baltimore, defeat the #1 seed Ravens and enter the AFC Championship Game once again.

(2) Houston Texans defeat (3) New England Patriots

Last season the Texans had a stretch of bad luck since they were not a healthy team for the playoffs. That in-turn hurt them during there January run into a hopeful Super Bowl appearance and left many wondering what could’ve been & what should’ve been for this Texans team. I really like what Houston will be able to do this season and believe Arian Foster is a stronger NFL MVP candidate. I look for the Texans to shock the Patriots (despite both team’s seeding) and advance to their first AFC Championship Game as a franchise.

(1) Green Bay Packers defeat (6) Carolina Panthers

This predicted match-up is a very interesting one because you have the powerhouse Green Bay Packers taking on the surprise/Cinderella team that is the Carolina Panthers. Carolina will enter this game knowing they are playing with “house money” but will match-up against a Packers team that still has a bad taste in their mouth from last season’s Divisional Game. I like Green Bay’s chances against the Panthers but wouldn’t be surprised if Carolina hung in there with the former Champions until the final second.

(2) New Orleans Saints defeat (5) Chicago Bears

Just like the Green Bay Packers, the New Orleans Saints have a lot to prove this season especially if they make the playoffs like I have predicted in this blog. The Saints will as a team is going to be questioned coming off of all the “bounty gate” mess and people will wonder if this is a playoff bound or even Super Bowl bound team. Now with Drew Brees back into the fold for the Saints I don’t see this being a problem and see them doing what they exactly do by winning games & advancing back to the NFC Championship Game this year.

NFL Championship Game Predictions:

AFC Championship Game:

(2) Houston Texans vs. (4) Denver Broncos

NFC Championship Game:

(1) Green Bay Packers vs. (2) New Orleans Saints

Predictions for the NFC & AFC Championship Games:

(2) Houston Texans defeat (4) Denver Broncos

There is something about this Houston Texans team that I really like about going into the 2012-2013 season that makes me believe they are serious Super Bowl contenders this year. The old adage has always been “defense wins Championships” and they had a very solid 3-4 defensive scheme last season that carried them all the way to the divisional round despite their depleting injuries. They enter this season with a healthy team and pretty much the same defense making them a serious threat to do what some thought they’d do last year by making it to the Super Bowl.

(1) Green Bay Packers defeat (2) New Orleans Saints

While the old adage is “defense wins championships” the new one maybe that “offense wins championships” and these two teams certainly show that type of displaying offense that would help them advance to the Super Bowl. But in all honesty I believe that there is this secret feeling amongst Green Bay Packers players that they need to avenge their exit from the playoffs during a 15-1 season last year. That there was something missing in the end result for last year and that they need to capture that goal this season by bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back to Green Bay.

Super Bowl 47 Prediction:

Green Bay Packers vs. Houston Texans

Well here is my Super Bowl 47 prediction for this season, the Green Bay Packers vs. the Houston Texans. Two teams that had very good 2011 campaigns but ended short in the divisional round of both conference playoffs. One is your normal defensive powerhouse while the other is an offensive juggernaut and a Super Bowl matchup I’d love to see in New Orleans at the end of this season.

With that being said I believe the Super Bowl winner for the 2012-2013 season will be the Green Bay Packers. I believe this to be certain because there is a lot of unfinished business for this team and they want to get back to where they believed they should’ve been last year, the Super Bowl. They are entering this season more motivated and hungry then they were last season, a season in which they went 15-1. If that belief is to hold true then they should be holding the Vince Lombardi trophy up once again to close out this season.

SUPER BOWL 47 CHAMPION: Green Bay Packers

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Fantasy Football Almanac 2012: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide

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Fantasy Football for Smart People: How to Dominate Your Draft

On Wednesday, the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Champion New York Giants kick off the 2012/13 Season on Sept. 5, 2012 at the Met Life Stadium against the much hated Dallas Cowboys. After this past off season that came with a lot of drama, the season could not have come any faster. During the off season, NFL fans heard about the woes of the New York Jets where they gave their supposed starting quarterback Mark Sanchez a new contract with more money, and then they went out, and traded for Denver’s Tim Tebow. The news of Mr. Tebow, and the Jets have dominated not only the New York tabloids’ back pages, but ESPN. ESPN Sports center has turned into Jets Center. Silly me, and I thought there were other teams in the NFL.

The NFL off season also gave us the Peyton Manning drama. It was not enough that during the Super Bowl in Indianapolis, where Peyton’s brother Eli was supposed to be having his day in the sun, that the media focused on Peyton vs Colt’s Owner Jim Irsay, even I think both were at fault, but the whole entire feud was brought out in the open with Irsay cleaning house. Anyway, Petyon finally landed with the Broncos. Of course, Peyton has been under a microscope ever since.

Of course, NFL fans had to deal with hearing about the Saints’ bounty Scandal. It is in the courts now. I have written a blog about how I felt. I have done a bit of rethinking, and even though I still stand by my feelings about Gregg Williams (that he should be thrown out of the NFL), and I don’t have a high opinion of the coach either, but I think the players who were nailed got hit way too hard. Vilma especially got harder than I thought. I think too hard.

However, even though some of that will seep into NFL discussions for this upcoming year, this year is pretty much a new year, and as a fan, and a blogger, (but a fan first) I am thrilled. I am going to see if the Giants, or their Super Bowl opponents can return to the Super Bowl. I want to see how Peyton does after four neck surgeries, and a year away. Every year, there is turnover as far as the playoffs where teams who made it last year, don’t make it the following year. Who will they be, and who will be the new shooters? 2012 sounds like a fun season.

Before I go any further, I am going to go on a little mini rant about something that could cast a pall over the NFL season, at least the first few games. As of this writing, the NFL, and the NFLRA (the referee’s union) have NOT reached an agreement. They attempted to do so this past Friday on August 31, 2012, but failed. As many fans know, the preseason games have been officiated by these substitute referees from high school, to the Lingerie Bowl. They have been HORRIBLE. Now, I KNOW the real referees such as Ed Hochuli, and Mike Carey screw up calls. However, at least they are used to the speed of the game, and know the rules, and updated rules. These refs don’t have a clue what they are doing. They don’t even know where to put the ball after a play. They make blatant incorrect calls that the fans know are wrong. I fear that one of these refs are going to screw up a call where someone gets seriously injured, or costs a team a game, and may indeed cost that team a playoff spot. The NFL, and the NFLRA have to keep working to get an agreement, and get the regular refs back on that field.

[ad 2Well, now that I have said my peace about the refs, I am ready to give my predictions and preview for the 2012/2013 Season, and my predictions for the Super Bowl which takes place in New Orleans, LA.

Before I begin, I wish everyone who roots for whatever team, good luck, and I wish all the teams to have healthy players throughout the year. I also wish those who play Fantasy Football, good luck!

NFC

NFC NORTH

GREEN BAY PACKERS: 13-3
DETROIT LIONS: 10-6
CHICAGO BEARS: 9-7
MINNESOTA VIKINGS: 7-9

Aaron Rodgers is fantastic. He will , barring injury, easily lead the Packers to win the division. I am not in love with the Vikings, as I am not sure how Peterson will do coming off the ACL, and the Chicago Bears don't impress me that much. Lions should do well if Stafford stays healthy.

NFC WEST

SAN FRANSISCO 49ERS: 12-4
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: 9-7
ST. LOUIS RAMS: 7-9
ARIZONA CARDINALS: 5-11

49ers may take a slight step back, but should fairly easily win the division. I am not sure how the Seahawks will do with a rookie QB. Coach Carroll must believe in him though. The Rams got Gregg Williams taken from them due to the suspension, so I don't know how they will be defensively. QB Stafford hopefully will step up. The Cardinals are a dumpster fire, period.

NFC SOUTH

ATLANTA FALCONS: 11-5
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: 11-5
CAROLINA PANTHERS: 8-8
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: 5-11

To start with the obvious, Tampa Bay is a mess. We will see if the Panthers' Cam Newton will have the "Sophomore Slump." I still don't like their defense. Even without Coach Payton, the Saints should be able to manage 10 games. Whether Brees can break his own passing record, that is another thing. I have the Falcons winning the division by means of splitting their series with the Saints. I think this division will be competitive.

NFC EAST

GIANTS: 12-4
EAGLES: 11-5
COWBOYS: 9-7
REDSKINS: 9-7 (COWBOYS AND SKINS SPLIT)

This is the toughest division to call. All four teams are hated rivals, and all get physical with each other. They're all tough to play against. I think Giants just get the division, with the Eagles finishing second. Cowboys, and Redskins finish with the same record, but Cowboys end of ahead due to a split.

PLAYOFF DIVISION WINNERS: GIANTS, FALCONS, PACKERS, 49ers
PLAYOFF WILD CARD WINNERS: EAGLES, SAINTS

Now, let's go to the

AFC

AFC NORTH

PITTSBURGH STEELERS: 12-4
BALTIMORE RAVENS: 10-6
CINCINNATI BENGALS: 9-7
CLEVELAND BROWNS: 3-13

Well, you have a couple of tough teams in this division. You have two teams that just "hate" each other, the Ravens, and the Steelers. They get together late in the year, but that should be good. They won the division last year, by tiebreaker, but with Terrell Suggs, their best pass rusher out (for now) with an Achilles tear, and an aging defense, and a QB who is trying to show the is the "best," I think they step back a bit. The Steelers have a new offense, and people doubt if Ben can get along with new offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and learn the offense. I think he can, and fortunately, Mike Wallace, the team's star wideout came back. I think the Steelers take the division. Bengals will do OK, but miss the playoffs. The Browns are the Browns.

AFC WEST:

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS: 11-5
DENVER BRONCOS: 10-6
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: 8-8
OAKLAND RAIDERS: 7-9

I did a lot of thinking about this division, and I think the Chargers bounce back from a couple of dismal seasons, and go 11-5, and make the playoffs for a change. Maybe it is hopeful thinking, as I do not like this team much, but it is guess on my part.I am taking Peyton Manning's health, and the fact he has not played in a year into consideration, so that is why I have the Broncos where I have them. I think they make the playoffs if Manning stays healthy. The Chiefs, and the Raiders are just the other two teams. I don't think they will do much. I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

AFC SOUTH

HOUSTON TEXANS: 13-3
TENNESSEE TITANS: 8-8
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: 7-9
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: 5-11

Well, after all these years of hearing how Houston is going to break through, it looks like they finally arrived. Well, sort of. I think this team is going to wind up with an awesome record regardless like they did last year. However, what ruined the whole thing is that like many times before, Matt Schaub, their top QB could not stay healthy. They did beat the Bengals in the playoffs last year with the rookie, and had their special teams been in operating order, I think they would have beaten the Ravens. However, I am sure they will win the division. The Titans could challenge, but we will see what Locker does. I know the experts are in total man love with Andrew Luck, and think he may do something with the Colts ala Ben Roethlisberger in 2004, but the guy’s a rookie, and I will judge for myself on Mr. Luck. Jaguars got their weapon, Maurice Jones Drew back, but I still think the Jaguars are going to be in the cellar.

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS:14-2
BUFFALO BILLS: 8-8
NEW YORK JETS: 7-9
MIAMI DOLPHINS: 6-10

This division was an easy call. The New England Patriots, as long as they got Mr. Thomas Edward Brady under center, and Bill Belichick as head coach, they are going to win a lot of games, and I think they are definitely winning the division. I am not one of the chicken little people worrying about the offensive line, and such. They know what they are doing. I am not buying the Bills. The Bills have improved on their defense, at least on paper. The Dolphins still look like a mess. I can’t even figure the Jets out. Rex Ryan says this is the best team he has had. Rex…..don’t talk……show me. I am going to be “from Missouri” as they say when it come to the Jets. They have to show me.

PLAYOFF DIVISION WINNERS: PATRIOTS, TEXANS, STEELERS, CHARGERS
PLAYOFF WILD CARD WINNERS: BRONCOS, RAVENS

Now, I am not going to go into the entire playoff bit, but I will just give you, my readers my representative for the AFC, and for the NFC, and the winner of the Super Bowl.

For the NFC: SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

For the AFC: TEXANS

WINNER OF SUPER BOWL 47 IS: THE HOUSTON TEXANS

Terri Bey currently blogs for CamelClutchBlog.com about Wrestling, NFL, and other sports/pop culture related subjects. Her work has appeared in BleacherReport and for F4WOnline.com. Terri can be found here at Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/TerriBey and at Twitter- http://www.twitter.com/giopointfan

Fantasy Football Almanac 2012: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide

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Fantasy Football for Smart People: How to Dominate Your Draft

It’s that time of the year again where I flip the script from talking wrestling and starting talking about the greatest American sport known as Football. This will be the first in a 3-part series leading us up to the first week of Football action on Wednesday September 5^th at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. We kick things off with the AFC Conference Preview & Predictions blog followed up with the NFC next week and who I think will be crowned Super Bowl Champion in the following week.

Let’s take a look at the AFC by starting things off with the AFC East Division, the home of the reigning AFC Champion New England Patriots.

AFC East:

The AFC East is one of the most competitive divisions in all of Football. To me, being a Baseball fan, I would compare it to the AL East in Major League Baseball. All four of these teams are pretty strong and give division matchups the type of “big game” feel they should have. If you are able to fight your way out of this division as the Champion sets up any team for a strong playoff push come January.

New England Patriots (11-5):

This should come to no surprise that I would have the New England Patriots as the AFC East Division Champions. They are the reigning AFC Champions and enter the 2012-2013 season with a heartbreaking Super Bowl loss that will leave them wanting to fight back to the “big game” in February and win another Championship. New England’s heart and fight will be tested by the leadership of Tom Brady should help them once again be successful in the 2012-2013 season.

New York Jets (10-6):

This is a make-or-break season for the New York Jets after a disappointing 2011-2012 campaign. Rex Ryan is the biggest name on the NFL coaching hot seat this season and needs his team to rally behind Mark Sanchez to get them back to the playoff promise land. I honestly don’t believe Tim Tebow starts this season at quarterback (unless Sanchez goes down with injury at any point) but will prove to be a very big red-zone threat for a newly developed offense that could prove to potentially be revolutionary in the NFL.

Buffalo Bills (7-9):

I really enjoyed the Buffalo Bills story in the first part of last season. They were a fun team to watch after starting 5-0 and got an exciting win over the Patriots at home. People even believed that this was the beginning of the Bills return to the playoffs but it just wasn’t meant to be yet. I still think Buffalo is on the cusp of something good right now but this isn’t there season, especially in the tough AFC East. This is a team that can continue building and be poised for a potential playoff return in the 2013-2014 season.

Miami Dolphins (4-12):

This is a franchise that still is lacking an identity. They don’t know who their starting quarterback is, they don’t know who their starting running back is and they are still in that “rebuilding mode” as they play for the future. There is nothing wrong in that logic but it’s not a team that we should be looking at as making a comeback this year. Miami could be on the right pace but it’s going to take some more rough roads before they figure out what direction the Fins’ want to move towards.

AFC North:

Another AFC division that is pretty strong and last season gave us three of the six AFC playoff teams. Not bad for an entire division as it shows how strong they truly are. I don’t see that situation repeating this year and actually see the division start to lay-out back to “normal” where they may have two teams (at best) make the playoffs.

Baltimore Ravens (13-3):

I have been harping on this team being successful for the last couple of seasons and they finally looked like an “AFC Elite” team last season despite the heartbreaking loss in the AFC Championship Game. If you remember correctly, this was a team that was given very little chance to beat New England at home in the AFC Championship Game and nearly pulled it off. If that type of loss isn’t enough motivation for this team to come back with a fire and passion this year then I don’t know what else is.

Cincinnati Bengals (10-6):

Most people are in fear that this team will struggle due to the “sophomore slump” that most rookies go through (and they have two big ones in Andy Dalton & AJ Green) but I believe is a team that will put that folklore to rest. Cincy has something real good going right now with the Dalton/Green combination and could be a force to be reckoned with if they continue to grow at the pace they are destined to be. I like the Bengals chances this season as they continue to build off this youth movement that is currently in place.

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8):

The Steelers are getting older by the day, literally and their franchise is being affected by it. For year their defense was the foundation of their success and they are looking like the most affected by “age.” Don’t believe me? Re-watch the defense getting burned in that playoff game in Denver. I believe this team continues to slip until they start instilling some youth in their system, like the New England Patriots have done very well.

Cleveland Browns (3-13):

What is there to say about this franchise? They play in Cleveland, they continue to struggle and there is no light at the end of this deep & dark tunnel currently. Things don’t look good in Cleveland now (other then the potential Trent Richardson could display) and they don’t look good in the future. They may have a shocking win here or there but don’t consider them a team to fear on the schedule.

AFC South:

This is one of the weakest divisions in the entire NFL. If you win this division not only do you get granted a playoff spot but you may also be granted a first round bye due to how week it is. Six division matchups could give one team a free pass into the divisional round and an easier route to the Super Bowl 47 this February.

Houston Texans (13-3):

If injuries didn’t plague them throughout the season I believe this Texans team was a “shoe in” for the AFC Championship Game last season. They played in the weakest division in the NFL and were a pretty dominating team because of such. They portrayed the moniker “defense wins championships” and clearly could’ve been an NFL elite team at the end of the season had they not lost Matt Schaub or Andre Johnson. This is a team that very well could be Super Bowl 47 bound this season.

Tennessee Titans (7-9):

I honestly believe that the only way Tennessee becomes successful again is if they: 1.) Let Jake Locker become the starting quarterback and 2.) Have the Chris Johnson “of old” on the field. This is a frustrating team to watch because they very well could be one or two moves away from making the playoffs again. It’s a been a disappointing franchise for quite sometime now due to player moves they gone through and the very talented Kenny Britt not being able to stay out of trouble continues to hurt this squad. If they got it together they could be playing in January but not this season.

Indianapolis Colts (4-12):

Some may have said that the “post-Peyton Manning era” began last season despite him actually being on the roster but it officially begins this season as Andrew Luck will line-up on under center for the Colts this season and beyond. I like the moves the Colts made for the future during the off-season and in the draft so they are thinking ahead rather then right now. They will get there wins and Luck will show signs of being a franchise quarterback but they will still have more bumps in the road then success stories. Look for Indy to make their return to January Football in about two more seasons.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14):

Jacksonville only mirrors the Browns when it comes to franchises that have nothing going for them in the right direction. People have been calling for the decline of MJD (me included) the last couple of seasons but he has shown that he can still be dominant. Well I’m calling for the decline yet again and won’t be surprised if he has another typical MJD season either. Blaine Gabbart isn’t the guy for the Jaguars and never really performed very well in his rookie season. This is a franchise that is begging for both a move to Los Angeles and the #1 overall draft pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

AFC West:

The AFC West could be the surprise division for this season as the most exciting division in all of football. They clearly have four teams that very well could be representing their division in January Football and that should make for exciting football every Sunday when it comes to the AFC West. Out of all the divisions in the AFC this one was the hardest when coming up with who would win the division this year.

Denver Broncos (11-5)

This was one of the hardest calls to make when it came to pick any AFC division winner but I cannot bet against Peyton Manning. I don’t care about the neck surgeries/procedures he has gone through or being away from the NFL for an entire year. You cannot bet against the former 4-time NFL MVP unless he has given you a reason to do so and he hasn’t on the playing field. Denver is going to be a strong team this season with Peyton behind center and with that very good lockdown defense that is in place at Mile High Stadium.

San Diego Chargers (10-6)

San Diego is poised for a comeback season from last year’s struggling season. They never looked to be in-sync at all as Phillip Rivers played with no heart and it appeared to be a foregone conclusion that Norv Turner would be fired. That didn’t happen this past season but it could be if they have a duplicate season from last year. I don’t see that coming and actually am considering Phillip Rivers as a sleeper pick for the NFL MVP award this season.

Kansas City Chiefs (8-8)

The Chiefs had an encouraging season after Romeo Crennel took over from Todd Haley and looked to actually be inspired by their new interim coach (at the time). Kansas City will be a tough team this season, especially with the combo of Peyton Hillis and a hopefully healthy Jamaal Charles in the backfield. They will be good but not playoff bound just yet, I still think Matt Cassell as their starting quarterback holds them back from breaking through just yet.

Oakland Raiders (7-9)

Somehow the Raiders have had decent back-to-back seasons despite being a franchise that was considered to be left for dead. Oakland will be competitive once again this season but won’t be a playoff contending team when it comes down to crunch time at the end of the year. I like what’s going on in Oakland but like Kansas City I don’t think Carson Palmer is the answer to their needs. Plus they need a healthy Darren McFadden to help them be successful and that is something that has been quite the struggle since he entered the NFL.

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Fantasy Football Almanac 2012: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide

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Fantasy Football for Smart People: How to Dominate Your Draft

Let’s take a look back at some of the things that stood out from Week 14 in the National Football League!

- The win may have not looked pretty against a below average team in Cleveland but a win is a win and the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to roll as we are now three weeks away from the playoffs beginning. It hasn’t looked pretty in the process nor dominating but the Steelers have now rolled off 8 wins in their last 9 games making them the hottest team in the NFL sans the Green Bay Packers. This team looks to taking a slight edge as a potential AFC favorite as we get closer to the playoffs.

- Whether or not Peyton Hillis returns to the Cleveland Browns won’t be their biggest off-season storyline yet whether or not Colt McCoy is their starting quarterback will be. I believe he is but he needs more weapons because the Cleveland offense isn’t putting him in the best of lights right now. Decent quarterback, ton of potential, just needs to tap into it.

- Okay two things here: who would’ve thought that the Houston Texans would have won the AFC South this season and done it all thanks to current starting quarterback T.J. Yates? You may have thought one of the two but not certainly the latter of them. People may think you can sleep on the Texans but I don’t think so yet, they are still a team that you cannot take for granted.

- The Bengals gave it their all and tried their best to play spoiler but came up short this Sunday. One thing I noticed in this game that is positive for the Bengals is that A.J. Green is a future elite wide receiver and you can see that in his rookie year. I believe he will be discussed in the likes of Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald in a couple of seasons.

- Detroit needed to make a statement today that they were a playoff caliber team and despite winning they did not prove that in the slightest. The Lions have been struggling just as much on the field as they have off of it & needed that win to give them some confidence so they could carry for the rest of the season. I did not see a team that is ready to make a turn yet and prove to be a dangerous team come playoff season.

- Minnesota made a game of it but they are in desperate need of their offensive leader Adrian Peterson. I’m starting to be skeptical based on their record if we will ever see Adrian Peterson suit up for the rest of this season. If not no worries, there is always backup QB Joe Webb to take the carries.

- Speaking of making a statement the New Orleans Saints failed to do the same as well in Week 14 as they barely beat the fading Tennessee Titans. The Saints needed to have a decisive victory to prove that they are an elite team that can knock off the Packers and have failed to do so yet again. They are winning but not decisively like Green Bay has, New Orleans and the Giants (if they make the playoffs) are the most dangerous teams to knock off the defending champs.

- Do you write off the Titans yet? I’m not sold on that until we see how they do in Week 15. But one thing is for sure, you need to win 10 games in the AFC to make the playoffs this season.

- “The Dream Team” living up to their self given nickname in Week 14 as they put the boots to the Dolphins as they continue to play for nothing but a hope & a dream. LeSean McCoy had the crazy statistic of Week 14 as he carried the ball twenty-seven times and only rushed for thirty-eight yards. No matter what, Andy Reid is still getting fired, even if they finish the year 8-8.

- Farewell Tony Sparano. I look forward to Bill Cowher becoming the head coach for the Dolphins next season.

- Rex Ryan stated when the Jets were 5-5 that “every game was a playoff game from here on out” and they are playing like it as they have gone 3-0 in their last three games & becoming the favorite for the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs right now with three games to go. New York has one of the easiest schedules for the rest of the season and I don’t see any reason why they should not make the playoffs at this point. Will they be dangerous like they have in years past, that I am not sure yet.

- Farewell to Todd Haley, very surprising firing to be honest. Would’ve figured he received some sort of pass after the injuries they were dealt to this season. Guess it might have been more then meets the eye in Kansas City.

- New England is the best team in AFC as right now in Week 14. For them to keep that title they need to beat teams like the Washington Redskins convincingly. They failed to do that in Week 14 as their flaws are continuing to be showcased against weak teams in the final stretch of the regular season. If they get a first-round bye I will be shocked if they make the AFC Championship Game at this point.

- Washington’s offense showcased the flaws of the New England defense to the rest of the league. If the Redskins can just barely beat them imagine what a team like the Ravens, Steelers or even the Texans may be able to do. It was a great job by the ‘Skins in making it interesting all the way to the end.

- Atlanta wants to be in the playoffs they proved that to me and the rest of the league today as they came from behind to beat the Panthers this week. At one point I thought we were getting close to putting the “nail in the coffin” on the Falcons but they came back from a pretty good deficit to live for another day. This could be the momentum the Falcons need to carry them for the final push in the regular season.

- Is the wear & tear of the NFL starting to get to Cam Newton? He hasn’t been as dominant in recent weeks and I’m wondering if we could see his flaws being showcased now by the professional defenses in the NFL. You know what they say, time shall tell.

- Don’t know what to say about this Jaguars/Bucs matchup except that Maurice Jones-Drew is a beast. He has had another terrific season that people just don’t realize because he plays for Jacksonville. How he hasn’t demanded a trade to a contender at this point in his career is baffling.

- Could there be a chance the Bucs don’t bring back Raheem Morris next season? I guess only if a Bill Cowher or Jeff Fisher wanted to coach there; I consider him in the same boat as Todd Haley. He is in the hot seat for sure next season.

- The “Suck for Luck” campaign has now reached 13 straight losses! They are getting closer to clinching the #1 pick for the 2012 NFL Draft! Oh and its official, in case you thought it was already but Peyton Manning is done for the season. I am officially shocked.

- Baltimore gets the win and improves to 10-3 on the season. They are still my AFC favorite to make the Super Bowl and are playing very well lately whether it is against good teams or bad teams. I’ll be interested to see if Joe Flacco ever takes the leadership role on this team though.

- If you thought the “cat was out of the bag” on the Green Bay Packers last week then you were wrong as they took it too playoff contender the Oakland Raiders. Green Bay gets a convincing win and now sets itself up to clinch home field advantage next week. The only major concern right now for Green Bay isn’t their schedule for the rest of the season but the health of Greg Jennings.

- I think it’s safe to say that the Oakland Raiders are starting to fade back to where I predicted they would be fading to, yet gave them credit, six weeks ago right? They looked good for that short while but that short while has come and gone. If they want to play in January they need to start acting like it now. I’d almost consider Hue Jackson on the hot seat at the end of this season if they don’t make the playoffs since it is Oakland…

- I feel like I am repeating myself since Denver keeps doing the same thing week after week but damn Tim Tebow is clutch. You have got to give the guy credit for what he continues to accomplish this season. He may never accomplish anything else after this season for the rest of his career but people will always remember the “Tebowmania” that has swept the NFL for the 2011-2012 season as the Denver Broncos currently lead the AFC West with three games to go.

- They have been hit with a slew of injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte & their chances of playing in the playoffs this season will be a miracle at best for the moment. Tough break for the runner-up in the NFC Championship game last season; with that being said is Lovie Smith on the hot seat? Hey look at this way, Todd Haley was fired and the Chiefs made the playoffs last season but have been held back by major injuries as well, think about it.

- In the last five games the San Francisco 49ers are 2-3 despite winning the NFC West and being at one time an easy guess for a first round bye in the NFC playoffs. That has all changed in recent weeks and the Niners flaws are continuing to be showcased by the rest of the league. They are a division leader but they are being led by Alex Smith, the Texans may have more faith in T.J. Yates then San Francisco has in their former #1 overall pick.

- Arizona continues to play well and win when Kevin Kolb isn’t their QB or getting the most reps. Maybe the Cards need to rethink their franchise’s game plan of Kolb being their quarterback. Things just haven’t worked in Kolb’s favor at all in 2011.

- I love how the Chargers have come back from the dead and have looked like the Chargers team we typically remember the last two weeks. They are sitting at 6-7 currently and are still in the playoff mix & should not be counted out just yet. They very well could shock the world and make the playoffs whether it is by Wild Card position or dare I say the AFC West. Stay tuned.

- Man the Buffalo Bills really have disappointed me this season. They are a bad case of a team having two seasons in one season as they started off strong (5-2) and have ended up horrible (0-7) with a record of 5-8 on the season. I really believed this team could have shaken things up in the AFC East and now I’m starting to wonder if they ever will with Chan Gailey as their head coach or with Ryan Fitzpatrick as their quarterback.

- I believe that based off of momentum from the last two weeks, the New York Giants are the 2nd best team in the NFC right now and that is with a record of 1-1 in those two games. They are playing very well, came close to beating Green Bay, defeated Dallas after being behind by 12 with a short time to go and are now atop the NFC East. They needed these two games to set the tone and are looking towards a decent playoff run come January, watching out for the Giants.

- What can you say about Dallas? They had their opportunities but they just did not get things done. Would it shock you if Jason Garrett gets fired during the off-season?

- I can’t believe it either but at least for now the Seattle Seahawks are still in contention to make the playoffs. They have had a great stretch the last couple of games with Marshawn Lynch living up to his “beast mode” nickname in those last 5 games. Seattle has played well down the stretch this season and while I don’t see them making the playoffs (shocking I know), they have a lot to look forward to next season if they can get an actual NFL QB under center.

- Is Steve Spagnuolo the next to go? This team continues to disappoint me as they had a lot to look forward to this season and just have not lived up to their potential.

Join Bower, “The Sweet Nasty” Chris Cause & myself every Sunday for more NFL & Fantasy Football talk over at www.wheelhouseradio.com!

Jeff Peck is the producer for the “Wheelhouse Radio” program that airs every Sunday at www.wheelhouseradio.com.

Jeff also co-hosts “The Still Real to us show” with Eric Gargiulo which can be available at www.wheelhouseradio.com and can be downloaded in the “Real Guy Radio” section of the site.

You can follow “The Champ Jeff Peck” on Twitter at www.twitter.com/therealjeffpeck you can also follow Wheelhouse Radio on twitter at www.twitter.com/thewheelhouse and you can e-mail them @ [email protected]

Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Refererence Guide

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For those of you new to Camel Clutch Blog, or are merely blissfully unaware of the individuals who inhabit this very handsome blog, my name is Justin Henry, and I am the resident picker of games at this here establishment.

Last season, in 256 regular season games, I went 165-91, giving me a healthy 64% winning advantage. 64% is pretty good, to be honest. Hell, by modern Oakland Raider standards, it’s enough to warrant drool. A 64% approval rating is something Barack Obama can only achieve in this day and age by ordering Rush Limbaugh and Al Sharpton to play Russian Roulette.

But I’m not trying to brag or anything; I’m just merely stating my qualifications for bringing back my weekly picks presentation. After all, here at camelclutchblog.com, not only are we a healthy source of scantily clad lasses in the side banner ads, but also serve as home to accurate football picks as well.

Who says we don’t cater to varied tastes?

The format of my column is simple: I pick a winner for each game, and then I rank my winners from the one I’m most confident in, to the one I’m least confident in, making my final pick either a startling upset, or a decisive selection in a game between two true heavyweights. If it were stated any more easily and arcanely, I’d hire Dan Dierdorf to grunt it.

And so, as Roger Goodell and his PR staff have diligently bashed into our collective consciousness since the end of July, football is BACK! And so are my picks of the week. Enjoy!

Current 2011 Record: 0-0

16. New England over Miami
The loss of Channing Crowder means there’s a chance play recognition diminishes on the Dolphins defense. Of course, against a Bill Belichick and Tom Brady-approved offense, play recognition is spotty at best. I look for the Patriots to run the same offense from last year, a week-to-week playbook change that you need to be an MIT graduate to master. And the players on New England’s offense are smart enough.
SCORE: Patriots 34, Dolphins 10

15. Kansas City over Buffalo
I’m not quite sure how to take the Bills, who saw Ryan Fitzpatrick and Stevie Johnson emerge as surprise stars last year. They should improve on their 4-12 from last season, but they come out of the chute against an upgraded Kansas City Chiefs. Not only does Buffalo have to deal with Romeo Crennel’s simple-but-effective defense, but they boast new offensive firepower in Steve Breaston, Le’Ron McClain, and Todd Heap. Todd Haley loves his gadgets, and I think he opens up shooting off every one of them.
SCORE: Chiefs 31, Bills 13

14. Denver over Oakland
Why is everybody laughing at the Broncos? They got Elvis Dumervil back and, paired with Von Miller, stands a chance of being one of the most dominant linebacker combos in football today. Of course, John Fox is an upgrade over Josh McDaniels that understands defenses, so that alone is an improvement. Kyle Orton doesn’t have Nnamdi Asomugha to worry about twice a year anymore, especially on Monday night. If Denver didn’t have a recently spotty rep, they’d be my top pick this week.
SCORE: Broncos 38, Raiders 16

13. New York Giants over Washington
Football takes a back seat in this game to America’s resolve, as the two cities primarily effected by the September 11 attacks meet on the tenth anniversary. The game won’t mean a hill of beans in comparison to the meaning of the date, but since this is a picks’ column, I’ll keep this simple: the Redskins needlessly struggle with their identity, and thus the Giants will swing their defensive line at (Grossman/Beck) like a wooden club. It doesn’t matter who starts, because New York will finish.
SCORE: Giants 27, Redskins 10

12. Cleveland over Cincinnati
Colt McCoy’s got a year more experience under his belt, which definitely puts him in better positioning than Andy Dalton, who’ll kiss the fire on Sunday thanks to Mike Brown’s stubbornness. The Bengals have added some attractive pieces on defense, like Manny Lawson and Thomas Howard, but how long can they last with Dalton likely turning the ball over many times? Their endurance will be tested when Peyton Hillis comes lumbering at them with intent of breaking the Madden Curse.
SCORE: Browns 27, Bengals 10

11. Arizona over Carolina
In some ways, picking a winner here is not an endorsement of greatness, but rather choosing the winner of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey between two meth addicts. Carolina’s best hope is to let DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, and Mike Goodson run over an inconsistent Cardinals defense, but on the other side, Kevin Kolb can play ‘jump ball’ with Larry Fitzgerald, who’s just happy to have a quarterback capable of winning once in a while. If the Cardinals defense can hold any, just take them.
SCORE: Cardinals 20, Panthers 10

10. New York Jets over Dallas
Just because Tony Romo’s healthy doesn’t mean that the Cowboys are going to become ravenous world beaters again. The Cowboys have ten of their eleven starters back, including DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears, and everybody forgets that they gave up about 27 points a game last season. Addition of Rob Ryan or not, the Jets remain a smart and aggressive team, and it’s Rex Ryan that’ll take advantage of any Cowboy shortcomings. If Tony Romo’s comeback starts slow, it could be a long night.
SCORE: Jets 27, Cowboys 13

9. San Diego over Minnesota
As much as I’d like to see Donovan McNabb succeed just to crack Kyle Shanahan in the mouth, he’s going to find it hard to outduel Philip Rivers, who has a healthier offensive line at his disposal. While the Chargers are notorious slow starters, in a four quarter game, Rivers is more apt to attack Minnesota’s questionable secondary (Antoine Winfield is now 34) than McNabb is to take advantage of San Diego’s fourth quarter ineptitude on defense. It may take time for McNabb to master the Minnesota offense.
SCORE: Chargers 23, Vikings 14

8. Philadelphia over St. Louis
Much was made of the Eagles’ “Dream Team”, but the Rams boast the better offensive line, as well as a tight end package (Michael Hoomanawanui and rookie Lance Kendricks) that is primed to batter the Eagles’ shaky linebackers. The Rams defense, however, has weaknesses, and the Eagles’ speed offense, led by Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy, will lead chases all afternoon. On top of that, Sam Bradford can be a little heavy on the picks, and the Eagles secondary is a veritable hornets’ nest for turnovers.
SCORE: Eagles 27, Rams 14

7. Tampa Bay over Detroit
I like where the Lions are going, especially in terms of Jim Schwartz sculpting a defensive monster. Stephen Tulloch, Justin Durant, and Eric Wright are all solid signings, and juxtaposing Nick Fairley next to Ndamukong Suh (when Fairley is healthy) is a running back’s nightmare. However, it’ll be a little bit before the Lions become cohesive, in spite of their impressive preseason win over the Patriots. I see Josh Freeman leading a concerted effort on the Lions’ D as the once-joke team finds itself.
SCORE: Buccaneers 17, Lions 10

6. Seattle over San Francisco
Well, somebody has to win. Either Tarvaris Jackson or Alex Smith will technically be undefeated at the start of week two, which would be humorous if it weren’t true. When it comes down to it, Seattle’s offense, even with Jackson, should see a marked improvement, thanks to Darrell Bevell’s hiring as offensive coordinator. Jackson has targets in Mike Williams and Sidney Rice, as well as a rejuvenated Marshawn Lynch. If Jackson can avoid mistakes in San Fran’s secondary, they’ll pull this out.
SCORE: Seahawks 16, 49ers 14

5. Chicago over Atlanta
I see both teams sinking this year in something of a post-good year hangover. Jay Cutler has to account for his mistakes more this season after his alleged “backing down” in the NFC Title game, whereas Matt Ryan was completely exposed in Atlanta’s divisional round loss to Green Bay. Both teams also have injury prone running backs in Matt Forte and Michael Turner respectively. For Sunday, however, I’ll take the Bears, because when you find yourself in doubt, you just take the home team.
SCORE: Bears 20, Falcons 14

4. Indianapolis over Houston
Peyton Manning’s neck vs. Arian Foster’s leg. This isn’t exactly what you’d call a gambler’s delight, since both offenses have a wider range of performance possibilities than usual. Houston has done everything imaginable to fix up their shoddy defense, including rearrange Mario Williams to linebacker and draft heavy on D in the first few rounds in April, but the Colts have enough offense that’s established in order to win, regardless of who throws the ball. I look for Dallas Clark to have a monster day in this one.
SCORE: Colts 24, Texans 20

3. Tennessee over Jacksonville
I originally submitted this on Sunday evening with Jacksonville winning, and they were very high on this list. My faith in the Jags’ new look defense, complete with Paul Posluszny and Clint Session as precisely the run stuffers needed in the AFC South, had me thinking “division title” for Jacksonville. But now with Luke McCown, he of the 74.8 career passer rating, inserted over David Garrard in a startling Tuesday cut, well…..that Jags D is going to be busy stopping Chris Johnson after McCown starts turning the ball over.
SCORE: Titans 17, Jaguars 13

2. Green Bay over New Orleans
So yeah, football is officially back when the two most recent champions hit the airwaves on Thursday night. The World Champions are undefeated since the concept of Thursday openers began a few years back, and that’s pretty much my only reason for taking Green Bay here. The Saints have added some nice pieces to the offense, particularly with Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles, but the Packers have retained most of their defensive clockwork, sans Cullen Jenkins. Should be a good one.
SCORE: Packers 17, Saints 14

1. Pittsburgh over Baltimore
After Hines Ward’s DUI arrest, Ray Rice and Ryan Clark set the stage for the week one clash with Twitter jabs back and forth. Of course, this rivalry didn’t need any more fire, but the taunts have proven why Twitter is an effective tool for making an interesting game even more so. After the way Pittsburgh has proven that they haven’t lost a step in preseason, I don’t see them losing to start the year. And after Rice let his “140 characters or less” fuel the fire, he may bear the brunt of the Steelers’ assault.
SCORE: Steelers 20, Ravens 17

Justin Henry is a freelance writer whose work appears on many websites. He provides wrestling, NFL, and other sports/pop culture columns for CamelClutchBlog.com, as well as several wrestling columns a week for WrestlingNewsSource.com and WrestleCrap.com. Justin can be found here on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/notoriousjrh and Twitter- http://www.twitter.com/cynicjrh.

Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Refererence Guide

NFL Jerseys on Amazon.com

Madden 12 video game

NFL America’s Game Super Bowl I-XL on DVD

This blog officially kicks off my 3-part series here at the Camel Clutch Blog where I preview the upcoming 2011-2012 NFL Season. In the first blog we will look at the AFC, in Part 2 we will look at the NFC and finally, in Part 3, we will look at the NFL Playoffs. Let’s kick-off the blogs series with the AFC.

AFC East:

1. New England Patriots (12-4)

The New England Patriots were the best regular season team in the NFL last year going 14-2 and in the offseason they arguably got better with the additions of Chad Ochocinco (who gives Tom Brady a legit #1 WR now since Randy Moss departed) and Albert Haynesworth (new location, new atmosphere, ton of upside). This is basically the same team from last season but still a touch older and despite the great offseason strides, they could end up as question marks.

The AFC will be very competitive this year and New England won’t be able to duplicate last season’s great regular season but they won’t be that far off as they will repeat at the AFC East Division winners earning a first round bye in the process.

2. New York Jets (10-6)

They were last season’s “sexy pick” to win the AFC and even win it all to become Super Bowl Champions. The defending two-time AFC Championship Game runner-ups look to take the monkey off their back and hope that the third time is a charm this season. The Jets will be good but when compared to the New England Patriots, they just don’t matchup as well and don’t have the same fire they had going into last season going into this season.

This is a playoff caliber team and as we all know once the Jets enter the playoffs they are a different football team. I believe Mark Sanchez will have his best NFL season in the league this year as he continues to grow as a quarterback and the offense allows him to spread the ball out more with what are arguably a better receiver core then last season. Look for a 2009 season from Darrelle Revis as well as he defends his title of “best cornerback in the NFL.”

3. Miami Dolphins (6-10)

This is a franchise that appears to once again be in a state of flux after an offseason of off the field issues & backstage problems in their franchise. It doesn’t help when you are reportedly trying to swag another coach to your franchise when your current coach is still under contract. Not a lot of confidence there don’t ya say?

The fans dislike Chad Henne because for some reason they think Kyle Orton can give them an AFC East Championship, Reggie Bush is the starter after mediocre (at best) & injury ridden years in New Orleans and you never know what Brandon Marshall will say or do next, hopefully it’s catching the ball if you’re a Dolphins fan. Not a lot to look forward to this year in Miami, unless they give the ball to Daniel Thomas for good come Week 10 or 11 when the season appears bleak.

4. Buffalo Bills (3-13)

The bottom feeders of the AFC East will continue to hold onto that crown once again as they are poised for another top draft selection in the 2012 NFL Draft. The question, of course, for most of the season will be whether or not Ryan Fitzpatrick is the guy in Buffalo (I think he is) or if they can make a run at Andrew Luck (won’t be the first time you hear that name) when he enters the ’12 NFL Draft. There certainly is talent in Buffalo, but not for a team who plays the other three AFC East teams six times in a season.

Fitzpatrick is a pretty decent NFL quarterback but the comparisons he will hear all season about whether or not he can be better then Andrew Luck in the NFL could effect his performance, especially towards the end of the season. Stevie Johnson is a decent wide receiver but his numbers will certainly go down now that Lee Evans is in Baltimore. I expect that CJ Spiller will become the first string running back a little before the mid-way point of the season.

AFC North:

1. Baltimore Ravens (13-3)

The Baltimore Ravens, despite being a playoff team last season, have the 2nd easiest schedule in the NFL currently. The combined record of their opponents this season is 113-139 with a winning percentage of .457. That’s great news for Ravens fans and bad news for the rest of the AFC as I fully expect this team to be the best regular season team in the AFC.

It’s another year of Joe Flacco at the helm in Baltimore and Anquan Boldin is finally healthy & acclimated to his new digs in Baltimore now with a season under his belt. When healthy and performing at his normal level, Boldin is a legit #1 WR. It’ll help him out that Lee Evans is lining up on the same line as him as well, which will take away some looks from the defense. Ray Rice, despite Ricky Williams being there, is on his own in the backfield in Baltimore and poised for the monster year many have been waiting to see from the New Rochelle native. I expect big things from the Ravens in ’11-’12.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)

The defending 2010-2011 AFC Champions or as I like to call them “the Super Bowl runner-ups” (sorry I’m a Packers fan and had to), are back at it again and have a lot of good things going for them. “Big Ben” is going to be there for the entire season now with no suspension in place or even pending, Mike Wallace is looking to have a “hey look I’m an elite Wide Receiver” season this year and the Steelers defense is well, the Steelers defense. Pittsburgh won’t be dealing with a “Super Bowl hangover” this season.

The only problem I see with the Steelers is the question marks and the age of their players. James Harrison is getting older, Hines Ward is a season (maybe less) away from potentially being a WR who gets one-year deals (see Issac Bruce, Derrick Mason & even Jerry Rice at one time) on various teams until he retires and the doubters on Rashard Mendenhall’s ability to repeat what he did last season are out there. One of the things that are going for the Steelers right now is that they currently tied for the 4th easiest schedule in the NFL. Not too bad for the defending AFC Champions.

3. Cleveland Browns (6-10)

I’m pretty sure if you go back and read my other NFL preview blogs from seasons prior here on the CCB or even listen to other NFL Season Preview podcasts on The Wheelhouse (at wheelhouseradio.com), you will hear me say “I really like this team.” I don’t know why, maybe it’s because I feel bad for Cleveland, maybe it’s because I dislike LeBron James, I just don’t know. But to keep tradition alive I will say the following…”I really like this team.”

It’s Colt McCoy’s team now and I’ve always thought he was a steal for the Browns when they drafted him. He has the possibility to be a great small quarterback with the gunslinger arm like Brett Favre and also has the possibility to end up like Rex Grossman, you just don’t know with this kid yet. I still think he’s a great player, think he will make a great leader on the field for the Browns and is excited to see this team continue to build as time goes on. If I had to compare them to another NFL Franchise that is rebuilding slowly I would call them the “poor man’s Detroit Lions.”Cleveland is on the right path…for once.

4. Cincinnati Bengals (1-15)

Talk about building a city up and tearing it back down in one swing of the wrecking ball. The Cincinnati Bengals appear to be returning to form this season as they appear to be on pace for being the worst team in the NFL this season. They have a rookie starting quarterback in Andy Dalton (reppin’ the redheads of the world!) and what appears to be a #1 rookie WR in A.J. Green. Carson Palmer is retired (I guess), Chad Ochocinco is gone and Cedric Benson may be the only hope in Cincy (unless he serves the full 20 day jail sentence).

One of the biggest surprises that I saw from the NFL during the offseason was the Bengals not only re-signing Marvin Lewis as their head coach but also giving him the keys to the entire franchise in regards to player personnel moves. Talk about mind boggling. Marvin Lewis was a hot commodity coach in the early 2000s but not now. He’s taken to the playoffs on multiple occasions, which in itself is a feat for Cincy, but you have nothing to show for it when you were at your highest level. It was time to move on, the Bengals didn’t think so and I full expect them to have the #1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft next year.

AFC South:

1. Indianapolis Colts (10-6)

Let’s be honest here, Peyton Manning is going to play this season. He may miss Week 1 but he won’t miss Week 2, believe me. He may not be the Peyton of old on the field due to the surgery but he’s going to do just enough to get the Colts in the playoffs again.

This isn’t the same old 15-1, 14-2 or 13-3 Colts of yesteryears but it’s the Colts and they still have Peyton Manning & the weapons to win the AFC South (which may be the worst division in the AFC). They may struggle out of the gate for the start of the season, but I expect them to catch fire and get on their normal pace at the end of the season. Calm down Colts haters, Indy is going to be just fine, Peyton hasn’t retired.

2. Houston Texans (8-8)

I really think that this has to be the “swan song” season for Gary Kubiak in the Houston. I was really high on Houston last season, but not this season. They finished 6-10 last season when they were positioned by many (including this guy right here) as team that could go 10-6 or 9-7 & make the Wild Card. That didn’t happen, they had an even worse season and yet they retaining mediocrity by continuing to have Gary Kubiak as their head coach which to me, was just a move due to the impending lockout.

As I write this Arian Foster is appearing to miss some time at some point this season whether it be to start the year or at the mid-way point. If you think Foster will repeat what he did last season you are out of your minds, even when he returns or becomes healthy this may be a “running back by committee” situation for all you Fantasy Footballers out there. Matt Schaub is Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson is one of the best WR’s in the NFL. I expect a better season this year then last, but not the playoffs for Houston.

3. Tennessee Titans (4-12)

Welcome to the post-Jeff Fisher era in Tennessee. Mike Munchak is in as head coach of the Titans, Vince Young is no longer the starting quarterback, Kerry Collins is out of retirement & showcasing the best grey beard in the NFL since Favre and Chris Johnson finally signed…days before the season is too start. Not a lot to look forward to this season in Tennessee unless you are excited for Jack Locker to start at the end of the season, which you know will happen at some point.

The Titans are a rebuilding franchise and are just hoping that Chris Johnson can be Chris Johnson & not get hurt (see: Darrelle Revis) since he hasn’t practiced, worked out or played at all during his holdout for more money & a new deal. Kenny Britt may surprise some this season and become a top-ten WR in the NFL. Look for a miserable & frustrating season for the Tennessee franchise.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14)

The Jacksonville Jaguars surprised me, the NFL and their fan base last season by going 8-8 when they were doomed to not be that competitive in the AFC South at all. Well what you thought was going to happen last season, will certainly happen this season. The Jaguars are not good; they already have injury concerns heading into the year with MJD maybe never being MJD-like again.

They are tied for the 3rd hardest schedule in the NFL going into this season and they will probably be doing such, at some point, with rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Who knows if MJD will be healthy enough or even effective this year and name one Wide Receiver on the Jaguars…I’m waiting. Still waiting… Look for a tough season in Jacksonville.

AFC West:

1. San Diego Chargers (11-5)

If you are a Chargers fan then normalcy shall return this season in the AFC West. Phillip Rivers is still one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, Vincent Jackson is playing a full season and it appears there will be a decent “running back by committee” scheme going on in San Diego. The defense is always one of the best in the league and you have one of the best pass catching tight ends in the game with Antonio Gates.

San Diego started clicking in the 2nd half of the season but it was just too late for them as they didn’t mesh well since everyone wasn’t healthy or playing on the field for most of the year. They enter this year with a full team, ready to play and avenging their loss to the Chiefs in the AFC West. San Diego looks to return to the upper echelon of the AFC this season.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)

To me, the Kansas City Chiefs were a big surprise team last season. While many predicted what the Chiefs would do last season (and were right), I just did not see it happening from this Chiefs franchise. I was wrong and they were right but then again they entered a season where the usual suspect at the top of the AFC West (San Diego Chargers) were not a full strength. Their rivals are at full strength now and will look to keep Kansas City from repeating in the AFC West.

The Chiefs to me are a borderline playoff team out of the AFC. I believe they may have the NFL MVP on their roster in Jamaal Charles and are putting Dwayne Bowe on the field in a contract year (he will want to get paid next season which could equal a big year for him). They have the offense but they also don’t have Charlie Weis calling the offensive plays anymore which I believe will hurt Matt Cassel and some of the offensive play calling. They will be good, they will be close to the playoffs, but I just don’t see it happening this season.

3. Oakland Raiders (6-10)

The Oakland Raiders went 8-8 last season, I repeat, the Oakland Raiders went 8-8 last season. If only I could see your face if you read this blog a year ago and were able to look in the future. You’d think you were on “Candid Camera” (remember that show) or maybe on Punk’d (for all you 21st century kids out there). It was something that NO ONE saw coming, not even the Oakland Raiders.

But even despite the good season and something that most franchise would build off of, Al Davis thought it would be a good idea not to build off of a successful year, because that doesn’t make sense to him. The worst thing to happen to the Raiders organization in the last ten years not named JaMarcus Russell is Al Davis still having a say (and a huge one I might add) in the day-to-day operations of the Oakland Raiders. Firing Tom Cable was dumb, but sadly not unexpected. The Raiders look to return to their days of below .500 this season.

4. Denver Broncos (4-12)

And the winner of “the worst quarterback controversy in the preseason that you could least likely care about” goes too…the Denver Broncos! I could careless who starts in Denver whether it be Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn or Tim Tebow. It doesn’t matter, you want to know why? Because John Elway is going to whatever he has to do (now that he’s in-charge of the Broncos operations) to get Stanford Quarterback Andrew Luck in Denver. Even if that means telling John Fox to not start Kyle Orton after the Broncos win 3 games he will do it.

The Broncos are going to be horrible and might have been too kind to give them even 4 wins. But the fact is, they have talent. They can throw the ball if Orton starts, they can run the ball with Moreno & McGahee and they have a talented WR in Brandon Lloyd. They have the offense to be competitive; combine that with a John Fox coached defense (remember how good the Panthers D were?) and you have the makings of a good team. While they have potential, it just won’t happen, Elway wants Luck and the 2011-2012 season will be a throwaway for the Broncos.

AFC Playoffs:

First round bye: Baltimore Ravens & New England Patriots

Division winners: San Diego Chargers & Indianapolis Colts

Wild card teams: New York Jets & Pittsburgh Steelers

Join Bower, “The Sweet Nasty” Chris Cause & myself every Sunday for more NFL & Fantasy Football talk over at www.wheelhouseradio.com!

Jeff Peck is the producer for the “Wheelhouse Radio” program that airs every Sunday at www.wheelhouseradio.com.

Jeff also co-hosts “The Still Real to us show” with Eric Gargiulo which can be available at www.wheelhouseradio.com and can be downloaded in the “Real Guy Radio” section of the site.

You can follow “The Champ Jeff Peck” on Twitter at www.twitter.com/therealjeffpeck you can also follow Wheelhouse Radio on twitter at www.twitter.com/thewheelhouse and you can e-mail them @ [email protected]

Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Refererence Guide

NFL Jerseys on Amazon.com

Madden 12 video game

NFL America’s Game Super Bowl I-XL on DVD