NFL Preview

The NFL season may still be young, but it is never too early to pick possible postseason favorites. Here are the five teams destined for greatness this season.

5) Houston Texans

This year, the Texans started off strong with a consistent running attack from sophomore halfback Ben Tate out of Auburn filling the shoes of starting back (and reigning NFL rushing champion) Arian Foster. While Matt Schaub has not been putting up Drew Brees-like numbers, he is consistently throwing between 230 and 250 yards per game. One of the Texans’ biggest threats is wide receiver Andre Johnson. Wide receivers are generally thought of as spoiled “divas,” but Andre Johnson has consistently been one of the top receivers in the league year after year without letting the whole world know it. Houston also has a strong presence on the defensive side of the ball with defensive playmakers like linebackers Brian Cushing and Mario Williams, who will spend the year stopping the opponents’ running game in its tracks. The weak AFC South also benefits Houston. The Jaguars, with a rookie starting quarterback in Blaine Gabbert, and the Titans, with an unusually unproductive Chris Johnson, do not appear to pose any threat. As long as the Colts are without Peyton Manning, their future Hall of Fame quarterback, the Texans will dominate the AFC South.

4) Pittsburgh Steelers

Somehow Pittsburgh finds a way to make the playoffs every year, regardless of how they begin the season, as can be seen by week one’s 35-7 loss against the Baltimore Ravens. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is coming off of a solid season in which he threw for 3,200 yards, 17 touchdowns and only five interceptions in 12 games. He needs to continue this consistency for the Steelers since they arguably have not had a consistently good rushing attack since Jerome “The Bus” Bettis donned the black and yellow. The Steelers have always won with their defense, and this year should not be any different as can be seen from their week two shutout of the Seattle Seahawks. As long as safety Troy Polamalu stays healthy, he will be a game changer, and the Steelers will be a legitimate playoff contender.

3) New York Jets

Ever since Rex Ryan arrived in New York, the Jets always seem to be playing revitalized and driven football. Mark Sanchez is still not in the pantheon of elite NFL quarterbacks, but he is improving, as evidenced by his two trips to the AFC Championship game in only two years as a starter. In some ways, the Jets and Steelers are alike with their stifling defenses and middle of the road offenses. Although with Darrelle Revis, Bart Scott and Antonio Cromartie on the defensive side of the ball, New York’s offense doesn’t have to be very explosive. Revis and Cromartie form arguably the best cornerback tandem in all of the NFL. With four Pro Bowls between them, they know how to be successful. The Jets will be vying for the top spot of the AFC East with the second-ranked team on this list all season.

2) New England Patriots

As long as the Patriots have Tom Brady behind center, they will always be in contention for a Super Bowl championship. After Brady tallied 36 touchdowns and four interceptions last season, the Patriots continue to show no signs of slowing down. There is some intangible factor about the Patriots. Between head coach Bill Belichick and Brady, winning is a way life. Beyond Brady and Belichick, the Patriots have Jerod Mayo at linebacker, who led the league in tackles last year. While Mayo is great, the defense as a whole is still suspect. With Vince Wilfork and Albert Haynesworth up front, they trot out a strong defensive line, but the secondary is mostly young and untested outside of second-year Pro Bowl cornerback Devin McCourty. But Brady possesses countless weapons at his disposal. Wide receivers Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, Deion Branch and Chad Ochocinco, in addition to tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, will punish defenses through January.

1) Green Bay Packers

The reigning NFL champions look as strong as ever, especially with Aaron Rodgers becoming arguably one of the top five quarterbacks in the NFL. The Packers field perhaps the top receiving corps in the game with the trio of Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson, who create big plays after the catch. A.J. Hawk and Clay Matthews head up a very strong linebacking core with B.J. Raji at the nose tackle spot and Charles Woodson roaming in the secondary. Ultimately, there aren’t many holes remaining on this Green Bay team. Now with a healthy Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley on the field, combined with the emergence of sophomore tailback James Starks, the Packers’ offense looks more dangerous than ever. Remember, this is a team that won the Super Bowl last year with 16 players on Injured Reserve.
Super Bowl Prediction

With all that said, the Packers will defeat the Patriots in the 2012 Super Bowl. Rodgers and his receiving corps will be too much for the aging Patriots defense.