Looking Back at My NFL Predictions

We are about 1/3 of the way into the NFL season, so it's a good time to see how my pre-season predictions are going.

NFC EAST: This is pretty much going as planned. The Giants and Eagles are the class of the division. I over-estimated the Cowboys a bit (I had them finishing at 11-5) and had the Redskins at 6-10. That was figuring the Skins would win a few of those cupcake games they just had. Grade: A

NFC SOUTH: Not so good. I had the Carolina Panthers winning the division ... which was a mistake. I also had the Saints and Falcons as 8-8 teams ... which was a mistake. Hey, I was right to pick Tampa to have a horrid season. Grade: D

NFC NORTH: I really like my picks here. I had the Packers, Vikings, Bears and Lions ... with only Detroit suffering a losing season. I like my picks, though it doesn't look like the Packers will pass the Vikings. The Bears look like a 8-8 team. Grade: B

NFC WEST: I over-estimated the Rams by saying they would win four games. I like my Arizona pick to win the division, but I wish I had switched the Seahawks and Niners. Grade: B

AFC EAST: It may not look like it right now, but I love my picks here. There is no way the Patriots go 14-2 (they've already lost two games) but they are easily the class of this division. I have the Dolphins behind them, though at 8-8. The Jets are just behind that and the Bills are in last. I like these picks. Grade: A

AFC SOUTH: I'm cool with picking the Colts to win the division. Yeah, but I had the Titans going 12-4 too. Ouch. The Texans are better than a 6-10 team and the Jags are a wee bit better than 5-11. Grade: C

AFC NORTH: I still like my Steelers and Ravens picks right now. The Bengals will top my prediction (5-11). The Browns won't (4-12). Grade: B

AFC WEST: Horrible. I had the Chargers blowing through this division and the Broncos finishing 5-11. Kansas City will have to do a lot to get to that 7-9 record I predicted. Just bad. Grade: F

So, it is just a twisty rundown of predictions. I like most of them still and won't pick nits with the non-essential teams. I'm angry at myself for not really hitting on any surprises (Bengals, Broncos, Saints) and missing on some of my big dogs (Panthers, Titans, Chargers).