So let's see how bad I barfed it up for the season predictions I made in August:
I did the predictions in three parts:
Part I: 2011-12 Cannon Fodder
Indianapolis: Predicted: 6-10 Went: 11-5.
Andrew Luck, Andrew Luck, and The Great White Hope, Andrew Luck.
If there is any indication that the 2011-12 Colts may have well INTENTIONALLY Sucked For Luck, here you have it. One has to wonder if this means an NFL Draft Lottery is coming in two years for Mr. Johnny Football, especially if he gets another Heisman and a National Championship along the way.
The fact that the sympathy vote for Coach was also evident cannot be overlooked.
St. Louis: Predicted: 2-14 Went: 7-8-1
*BUZZER* Though, will the real St. Louis Rams please stand up!! Some weeks, they did look like they'd suck that badly. Others (the win and tie over the 49ers, as an example!), quite the opposite!
Minnesota: Predicted: 3-13
I'll save the bother. *BIG BUZZER!!!* (10-6 and in the playoffs)
*losing horns*
Adrian Peterson finally came into his own as THE elite running-back in the NFL, like everybody thought he was going to be at Oklahoma. Christian Ponder did enough not to lose, and the defense came up with enough pressure to at least give the Wild Card weekend one compelling storyline going in, other than the rookie quarterbacks in Indianapolis, Seattle, and Washington!
Cleveland: Predicted: 2-14 Went: 5-11
I think, more, that was probably a testament to the fact that parity in the NFL really took a hold this year. Only 2 teams went 2-14, only 3 more went 4-12. That means 27 teams did 5-11 or better.
Not much else need be said here.
Tampa Bay: Predicted: 4-12 Went: 7-9
Sounds like a pattern here, doesn't it? At least give some of the cannon fodder some real hope going forward... Most surprising of the wins was probably the one at Minnesota!
Washington: Predicted: 6-10 Went: 10-6 and won the NFC East.
Another huge-push rookie QB, another playoff team out of nowhere.
Jacksonville: Predicted: 4-12 Went: 2-14 and got the #2 Draft Pick
Franchise is in all sorts of trouble, and I'd have to think, if San Diego doesn't get to LA first, Jacksonville is probably the 2nd or 3rd (Oakland) AFC team in line.
Miami: Predicted: 6-10 Went: 7-9
4-3 to start after they beat the Jets in New York. (Of course, who didn't do that this year?)
Carolina: Predicted: 9-7 with league help. Went: 7-9.
Didn't get as much league help as I thought, but they probably needed more than a bit of help this year to get the seven wins they got.
Cam Newton is still a marketing beast, but it may come down as to whether RG3 supplants him as the True Great Black Hope of Quarterbacks. If so, look for Carolina to fade, and fast!!!
Buffalo: Predicted: 6-10 Went: 6-10
Hey, a clean hit! Went about as expected too...
Part II: The Middle Ground from Last Season
Kansas City: Predicted: 7-9. Went: 2-14 and the #1 Draft Pick.
Ouch. You want to talk about a team which could be relied to quit at about every turn? Take your pick between Jacksonville and Kansas City.
Went 0-14 in the AFC this year. Their only two wins were New Orleans when the league was depushing them hard, and Carolina.
Seattle: Predicted: 6-10. Went: 11-5
One win can be taken back from that, but it's clear that, in this "Year of the Fan" (TM Bud Light), the "12th Man" and their unholy obsession with football in Seahag Country had a lot to do with this one. 8-0 at home, 3-5 on the road.
Arizona: Predicted: 7-9 Went: 5-11
Someone had to lose those wins Seattle and St. Louis took. Another ho-hum year in Arizona, another waiting for Spring Training and the Cactus League.
Dallas: Predicted: 7-9 Went: 8-8
Change the coach and quarterback all you want, but this is Jerry's Team in Jerry's Palace. Until that changes...
Philly: Predicted: 8-8 Went: 4-12
Andy Reid finally got worn out, Michael Vick is probably gone too, and good riddance to them both. I truly still believe that there are many in the Eagle organization who were willing not to play to aid Dog-Killer in winning a Super Bowl the NFL would've gladly gift-wrapped for him.
Jets: Predicted: 10-6 Went: 6-10
They never let Tebow start. That said the entire story right there. How Rex Ryan is still going to have a job there is a mystery to me. This team is probably going double-digit losses again next year.
Oakland: Predicted: 6-10 Went: 4-12
They have to change their culture, or change their location. Until one, the other, or both occurs, the Raiders aren't an NFL franchise, with or without Al Davis.
San Diego: Predicted: 8-8 Went: 7-9
And a team that made more key mistakes than any 8-8-ish team out there! They're already talking that any coach selected to replace Norv Turner is probably with LA in mind!
Chicago: Predicted: 10-6 Went: 10-6!!
But not only was that 10-6 not enough to win the North, it actually left them out of the playoffs, and, as a direct result, see ya to Lovie Smith. It's clear it's Playoffs or Bust in the NFL these days.
That said, never saw Minnesota coming, nor the Cedric Benson injury.
Tennessee: Predicted: 8-8 Went: 6-10
A bit worse of a muddle than I thought -- didn't think Andrew Luck was going to get pushed That Hard in Year One.
Part III: The Relevant Teams from 2011-12.
Cincinnati: Predicted: 7-9 Went: 10-6 and to the playoffs.
What possibly could they bring to the table? Enough to be relevant in January...
Atlanta: Predicted: 11-5 Went: 13-3 and won the #1 seed two games clear.
I wanted to go higher, but thought the schedule would hold them to 11. Now, can they do what previous Atlanta teams (sans 98-99) have not, and turn that seed into a Super Bowl berth?
Until I hear otherwise, I say no.
Note that parity worked this way too: Only 4 teams finished 12-4 or 13-3, and no one better.
Detroit: Predicted: 10-6 Went: 4-12
One of my biggest misses of the year. Even with the record-breaking (and Curse-avoiding) year for Megatron, they did nothing. Complete lack of discipline at all levels of the game, and one has to wonder when someone is going to do the right thing and clean both roster AND coach...
Pittsburgh: Predicted: 10-6 Went: 8-8
Injuries and lack of discipline, again. Probably the start of a concerted de-push in the Steel City.
Denver: Since Manning did (SHOCKINGLY) play the whole year, I predicted 11-5. (Said 5-11 if he couldn't play at all.)
They went 13-3 and got the AFC #1 seed.
Not surprising, if you knew beforehand that Peyton Manning would play the whole year.
Houston: Predicted: 10-6 Went: 12-4
And didn't really beat anybody to those 12 wins, except the Week 15 win in Houston over Indianapolis and the week 3 win over Denver!
Still, not sold on these guys. Just not sold on them at all. Lost 3 of their last 4.
New Orleans: Predicted: 6-10 Went: 7-9
And it took a lot of the heat against the NFL vis-a-vis Bountygate to get them that!
Green Bay: Predicted: 10-6 Went: 11-5
You could add one, and a first-round bye, for the Fail Mary, but the biggest key, to me, was the Cedric Benson IR after the Week 5 loss, which took them to 2-3. They won 9 of 11.
Baltimore: Predicted: 12-4 Went: 10-6
Enough to win the division, but an injury to Ray Lewis, which has prompted his retirement today, spoke volumes.
San Francisco: Predicted: 13-3 Went: 11-4-1 and the #2 NFC seed.
Still, though, the team is capable of so much more, as it showed in New England late in the season.
But with controversies at both QB and kicker, I see them slamming into a wall here.
Giants: Predicted: 12-4 Went: 9-7 and OUT, the sixth year in a row the defending champs do not win a playoff game.
They've got serious problems in New York, both teams.
New England: Predicted them to run the table, they did not. They went 12-4.
Outside the San Fran loss, which should've been far worse... 31-3 to 31-31 inside a quarter, and you don't want me to think that wasn't a tribute?
But outside of that, 3 losses by 4 points.By 2 at home to Arizona (HOW?), by one at Baltimore (with the dodgy field goal), and by one at Seattle (need I say more)...
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