AFC East Preview

Since the turn of the millennium the New England Patriots have won 10 out of 13 AFC East titles. The Patriots are the team to beat and have dominated the division as well as the NFL in the early 2000's when they won three Super Bowls in four years; 2001, 2003 and 2004. In 2012 New England broke a tie with the Dolphins for most division titles; The Patriots have won 15 division titles to Miami's 14 with the Bills on ten and the Jets on four.

To decide which team is the greatest threat to New England's throne in the AFC East is tough and we will preview all four teams by taking a look at the Patriots' chances along with how the Jets, Bills and Dolphins will do to see if anyone can topple them:


Buffalo Bills

When you think about unlucky sports teams look no further than the Buffalo Bills. The team lost 4 Super Bowls in a row in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. To add further salt to their wounds the team currently has the longest playoff drought in the league as they have not appeared in the postseason since 1999. The doom and gloom has continued as the Bills also have the longest active streak of losing seasons as they have not finished .500 or better since 2004.

CJ Spiller is one of the Bills top talents

So how will the Bills perform in 2013? It is their first season under new head coach Doug Marrone and the Bills will start the new season with first round draft pick E.J. Manuel as the teams quarterback so to be honest their 2013 season will be based around his production. C.J. Spiller, Marquise Goodwin and T.J. Graham are all talented players on the Buffalo offense but it is going to be hard to have a successful season especially when their defense is getting a makeover as well.

Doug Marrone will entertain the fans with a fast run offense and their unpredictability may help them throughout the season but it is hard to see this team progressing further than 6-10 record wise. The Bills' main aim will be to keep Jarius Byrd on their roster as the pro bowl safety is being linked with a host of teams including divisional rivals the New England Patriots. Kyle Williams is probably the key player on the Buffalo defense as he has the versatility to play nose tackle and defensive tackle. On offense C.J. Spiller has the ability to win them close games but the question is how many of their games will be close enough for someone to step up and put W's in their column. 2013 is hard to predict for this franchise but their best hope will be to see a productive year out of E.J. Manuel and ensure they don't finish bottom of the AFC East for a 6th successive season.

Season prediction: 5-11. 4th in AFC East.


Miami Dolphins:

Head coach Joe Philbin was hired to in an attempt to revitalize the Dolphins and hopefully end a run of three consecutive losing seasons. Despite Dan Marino's best attempts Miami missed out on the signing of future hall of fame quarterback Peyton Manning so instead turned to the draft where they picked up former Texas A&M man Ryan Tannehill has the 8th overall pick. Tannehill had a productive 2012 as he helped the Dolphins finish 2nd in the AFC East with a 7-9 and went on to set franchise rookie records for passing yards, attempts, and completions.

Will Tannehill & the Dolphins progress in 2013?

Tannehill was hurt by the team's poor offensive line with the rookie throwing 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions; it is natural to assume he will progress in 2013 but O-line issues are hard to ignore. Nevertheless the Dolphins were the biggest spenders in the 2013 off-season and regardless of some weaknesses they have improved their team on both sides of the ball although usually the big spenders don't perform too well once it actually comes to game time. Brian Hartline signed a new deal with Miami after coming of his best career season whilst the Dolphins added an explosive weapon to their offense when they signed former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Mike Wallace. Despite his talents Wallace will need time to make an impact as this team gels together and the same can be said for the defense as despite some very good acquisitions such as linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Phillip Wheeler they will need time to adjust and grow as a unit. Cornerback Brent Grimes was also a good signing for the Dolphins who joined on a one year contract.

So in 2013 the Dolphins have a chance to end their losing season woes but it will come down to if they can come out victorious in the close games a 2012 saw them lose narrowly against the Cardinals, Jets, Bills and Colts. If they can improve on their divisional matchups they would like to think they have a shot at being a wildcard team but record wise I personally feel they are set to finish at 8-8 and 2nd in the AFC East for the second year running.

Season prediction: 8-8. 2nd in AFC East.


New England Patriots

Tom Brady heads in to 2013 season without key members of a prolific offense from last year which broke the record for first downs in a season with 444 and finished third all-time in scoring, 557 points, just behind the 2011 Green Bay Packers and their own 2007 record setting season. Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez, Danny Woodhead and Brandon Lloyd have all departed while Rob Gronkowski underwent a 3rd and 4th forearm surgery this off-season as well as back surgery so his return to the field could take up until week 6 and he looks doubtful for the season opener against the Bills tomorrow.

Can Brady and Belichick guide the Pats to their 4th ring?

The Patriots offense now features many new additions with most of them being rookies but preseason alone showed that Brady seems to be making it work with the likes of Kenbrell Thompkins, Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce and Zach Sudfeld. 2nd round pick Dobson has lots of potential are notably during his senior season at college he did no record a single drop from the 92 times he was targeted. Josh Boyce and Thompkins put up impressive numbers during preseason so they could be valuable assets whilst undrafted rookie Zach Sudfield who stands at 6'7 has the ability to be a Gronk 2.0. Speaking of 2.0's Danny Amendola was signed in favour of retaining Wes Welker's services and the Patriots will be hoping for similar results out of Amendola with both resilient along with being quick and mobile. Amendola is also a fellow Texas Tech product and after building up a good rapport with Tom Brady it is safe to say he should fit in to the Patriots' offensive system quickly. Brady has a knack for bringing the best out of his receivers which is a skill not many quarterbacks have and if he manages to produce great results out of this unknown group and win a 4th Super Bowl ring too he may certainly cement his place as the greatest QB to ever play the game. This is backed up by the fact that he holds the league record for most touchdown passes in the regular season with 50, has the most playoff wins in NFL history with 17, has the third highest career passer rating of all-time (96.6) and after breaking Joe Montana's playoff wins record also became the first NFL quarterback in history to guide his team to 10 divisional titles; With Joe Montana he's one of only two quarterbacks in history to win the regular season MVP and Super Bowl MVP as well as being one of only two QB's to lead their teams to 5 Super Bowls (3 wins) along with John Elway.

When you take the fact that this offense is led by head coach Bill Belichick, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Tom Brady even when you throw an unknown group of players in with them if anything it is scarier for their opponents as without the players who departed they won't know what to expect which is what still makes the Patriots a genuine Super Bowl contender. Their running game is dangerous and will improve whereas New England's defense doesn't get enough credit for the fact that they have finished in the top 10 in points allowed for six of the past seven years. After drafting the likes of linebacker Jamie Collins in the second round from the 2013 draft and adding him to a young talented group of players that include the likes of Chandler Jones, Dont'a Hightower as well as defensive leaders Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes this could be one of the Patriots' most talented defensive groups in years. With Aqib Talib signing a new contract he will be a real asset in the secondary and help this underrated defense improve in an area where they have been pretty vulnerable for the past two seasons. MetLife stadium is the aim for many teams for the 2013 season but when you assess the New England Patriots it is clear to see that they are one of the frontrunners to represent the AFC at Super Bowl and clinch a fifth consecutive AFC East title.

Season prediction: 12-4. 1st in AFC East.


New York Jets

Despite a defense that ranked 8th overall in the league the New York Jets failed considerably on offense and fell from an 8-8 team in 2011 to 6-10 in 2012. Their 281 points scored was the third worst total in the league ranking them 30th and despite not improving adding any real game changers to the offense they did draft Geno Smith who entered the 2013 draft out of West Virginia hoping to go in the first round before falling to the Jets in 2nd. With a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove Smith will want to hold on to the starting job that he has gained after Mark Sanchez got hurt during preseason. For many Jets fans they would consider this a blessing in disguise, something Tim Tebow wasn't fortunate enough to receive, as now Smith will lead the team in their week one opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Although Rex Ryan may not be the best head coach he is a good defensive coordinator so the Jets know they can rely on good defense especially when Ryan can be more aggressive with his play-calling considering that their offense is usually so abysmal. Smith has nothing to lose as he takes over a low scoring offense which was being led by a guy who will probably be remembered for the 'butt fumble' wherever he goes for the rest of his life.

But that was in the past and Jets followers will feel their defense gives them a chance in 2013 which it does providing the likes of Quiton Coples, DeMario Davis and Sheldon Richardson step up to the plate. Everyone on that side of the ball must come up big especially after Darelle Revis left for Tampa Bay. Unfortunately for the Jets there isn't too much you can say without sounding harsh so to finish I shall say that providing Geno Smith stays on the field who knows what could happen but realistically Rex Ryan will need an 8-8 season to hold on to his job and that is what they'll achieve at best but in all honesty after owner Woody Johnson sacked their former general manager Mike Tannenbaum after the 2012 campaign he should have done the same to Ryan because only when you start from absolute scratch can you hope to rebuild towards a better future.

FUMBLE!

Season prediction: 6-10. 3rd in AFC East.

NFC West Preview

What a difference a few short years can make! In the 2010 season the Seattle Seahawks became the first team to reach the playoffs with a losing record when they clinched the NFC West title on the final day of the regular season. Now heading in to the 2013 season the Seahawks are one of the powerhouses in the NFC along with their arch rivals the San Francisco 49ers who made the Super Bowl last season. Heading in to this season the two will both believe that they have a good chance of going deep in to the postseason whilst the other two teams in the division, the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals, are both in their own type of rebuilding process so predicting their fate for the 2013 season is something that will take unique analysis.

One things for sure this division has talent and its matchups are always good to watch so with 2 days to go until the rest of week 1 gets underway let us take a look at all four teams to see where they'll end up come the end of the regular season:


St. Louis Rams

When you look at the Rams you have to say that although they are in a rebuilding process you can see they actually have a plan for the future. They finished 7-8-1 last season and only lost 1 game to a division rival which is impressive considering they have the Niners and Seattle competing with them. On offense they are led by 4th year quarterback Sam Bradford who had his best year to date in 2012 throwing 21 touchdowns and 13 interceptions for 3,702 yards. The rest of the offense is also young and many people are predicting a good future for this group of young men but after improving from 2-14 to 7-8-1 it is being suggested by some that they have a shot at making it in to the playoffs as a wild-card team.

Now I like the job the franchise is doing on all fronts I mean both of the Rams first round picks from this year's draft class have great potential and will benefit them on both sides of the ball for years to come. Tavon Austin was the number 8 overall pick and the wide receiver will fit nicely in to the St. Louis offense and then there's Alec Ogletree who despite some run ins with legal issues has the potential to be a very good linebacker if he keeps his head screwed on and is managed in the right way. The Rams may have lost franchise running back Steven Jackson but Zac Stacy may have been a major steal in the 5th round as he impressed in the combine and made the Dan Walker Award watch list in 2012. He also was a two-time West Alabama Player of the Year and ended his career in college with 5,863 rushing yards and 76 total touchdowns.

How will Jeff Fishers Rams fair in 2013?

Now despite the good work Jeff Fisher has done the Rams need to be realistic in 2013 in the sense that they may take a step back in terms of their season record but if they can keep this group together they have reason to be optimistic for the future. Their downfall will be that the NFC West faces the NFC South which is another division with two front runners and two other teams looking to be that surprise package so the schedule is tougher for the Rams than last year. When you add that together with the fact that they will find it very hard to only lose one game within their division again, I have them winning just one NFC West matchup this year and losing the other 5, then you have to say that 2013 will be another learning experience for this franchise.

Season prediction: 6-10. 4th in NFC West.


Arizona Cardinals

After a surprising 4-0 start in 2012 the Cardinals lost 11 of their last 12 games which meant they finished 5-11 as well as bottom of the NFC West. Following the disappointing season Ken Whisenhunt was fired and replaced by Bruce Arians after he guided the Colts to the playoffs during his time as interim head coach. With Arians now given the opportunity of head coaching his home team he will look to revive the fortunes of Larry Fitzgerald whilst developing the likes of Michael Floyd and Andre Roberts who together create a wide receiver trio that could produce results for Arizona.

Will Fitzgerald put up big numbers this season?

 The talent on this team doesn't give off the impression that the Cardinals are a franchise that it is rebuilding but with new coaches, a new GM and a few new faces it's hard to predict how Arizona will do. With Arians as head coach the Cardinals ship will be steadied and they will make progress but sadly like their divisional counterparts the Rams it will be a tough schedule that hurts their chances especially as they line up in a division with two of the best teams in the entire NFL. Arizona will be tough to beat though as they now have new faces most notable on offense as experienced quarterback Carlson Palmer was brought in to help the offense out and ensure that Larry Fitzgerald is given the chance to show off his superstar talents again. Palmer endured a tough couple of years in Oakland before making the move to Arizona and he will be looking to prove himself as this is probably his last genuine shot at recapturing the good level he played at during his early years as a Bengal.

The Cardinals have potential on offense but on defense is where there season chances lay as they still have pro bowl calibre players in the shape of Calais Campbell, Patrick Peterson and Darnell Dockett despite losing an experienced leader in Adrian Wilson. As mentioned before Cardinals are enduring a lot of changes this year which isn't always ideal but I feel the players and coaching staff will embrace the challenge which will result in a productive year in terms of progressing forward and rebuilding the franchise.

Season prediction: 7-9. 3rd in NFC West.


San Francisco 49ers

After going 13-3 and defeating the Atlanta Falcons 28-24 the 49ers reached their first Super Bowl since 1994 under the guidance of Jim Harbaugh. Unfortunately for San Francisco they fell short of winning the Lombardi trophy by a mere seven yards as a Baltimore redzone stand clinched the win for them. For the Niners it was heart breaking but they had a lot of positives to take from the 2012 season and will look to become the first team to lose a Super Bowl then go on to bounce back by winning it the next season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins; 7/12 Super Bowl loses since 2000 have failed to even make it back to the playoffs after defeat in the big game!

The Niners defense is crucial to any success and even though they endured some playoff woes last season, especially in the Super Bowl against the Ravens, we know that the likes of Justin Smith, NaVorro Bowman, Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks are all top notch defensive players who can all be difference makers in their own right. They've added rookie free safety Eric Reid who will be beneficial to this secondary along with the veteran cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. It's scary to think that the 49ers defense could improve when you consider they were in the top 3 for defensive categories such as takeaways, points allowed per game, third down conversions and total yards allowed which overall made them the best defense in 2012; watch out for rookie outside linebacker Corey Lemonier who forced his way on to the roster and could make a big name for himself. The 49ers have a star-studded roster even when you take out a wide receiver like Michael Crabtree who underwent surgery to repair a torn achilles tendon this past May so he won't return for at least 6 months plus Anquan Boldin isn't exactly a bad replacement!

Colin Kaepernick is a real star in the making

The NFC West division is the only one which has given me a headache on deciding who will win it because to choose between San Francisco and Seattle may as well come down to the flip of a coin but personally it comes down to the fact that the 49ers have Colin Kaepernick. With this young man as their QB it makes me think they'll have a great 2013 and progress to the postseason as NFC West champions. He managed to beat out Alex Smith who had a 104.1 passer rating before his injury but Jim Harbaugh saw a unique and dynamic talent in Kaepernick; even in his first start he tore apart a highly rated Bears defense completing 16 of his 23 pass attempts for 246 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the 32-7 win. In Kaepernick's 10 starts he threw 10 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions and he threw for 1,608 yards whilst on the ground he rushed for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns. Now that Kaepernick has had a full offseason to learn the offense you can expect greater success from him in 2013 especially under Jim Harbaugh's guidance as he has full trust in his young QB and will give him the freedom he needs. In the playoffs alone you could see how he had improved in such a short amount of time especially when he tore the Packers to shreds along with leading the Niners to a comeback against the Falcons in the NFC title game. His postseason numbers were impressive and even in the Super Bowl considering it was only his 13th start in the league he more than held his own; 798 passing yards in playoffs, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 264 rushing yards with 3 touchdowns and a combined passer rating of 100.9. Kaepernick can tear it up in the air and on the ground as he possesses fantastic arm strength with good accuracy, great speed and has great scrambling ability. There's so much you can say about the 49ers and their talented young quarterback but I'll finish by saying expect big things from the 49ers especially in the regular season as they'll be looking to prove many people wrong who are suggesting the Seahawks will take their divisional crown. Despite some tough challenges ahead it's safe to say that although it is a long season the 49ers are one of the standout Super Bowl contenders.

Season prediction: 1st in NFC West. 12-4


Seattle Seahawks

In three years Pete Carroll has taken the Seattle Seahawks to new heights. In his first year as head coach they won the NFC West with a 7-9 record then in 2011 they posted a 7-9 record again but finished 3rd. Last season was the turning point as Carroll started to build his own team and prove to the players they had the potential to succeed with the team finishing 11-5 and making it to the divisional round of the playoffs where they lost by the narrowest of margins 30-28 to the Falcons. Their 11 victories was the third best record posted in franchise history and they went undefeated at home for the third time ever.

The expectations have risen in Seattle and now it is the job of the players and coaching staff to rise to the occasions and make this talent count. Now while many people are predicting either the Seahawks or 49ers will dip personally I don't see a dip from either but I do see Seattle not meeting their own expectations which will be to win the NFC West. The only good news for them on this front is that they are a definite playoff team regardless of what happens in the division and it's what you do after January that makes you great so Pete Carroll just needs to keep his players focused and ensure that they get the job done. The reason I don't see them winning the division is due to their schedule as it was home form which helped them last season as the team only managed 3 wins out of 8 on the road. It will be success on the road which determines their fate this year as they travel to Carolina on week 1 which is no easy game then they also have matchups against the Texans, Colts, Falcons and Giants on the road to look forward to. Their home form will be fine and they'll win at least 6 games but I have just mentioned 5 hard road games so let's say worst case scenario was they lost all 5 and won the other 3 that puts them at just a 9 win team which in the NFC may not be good enough.

Can Wilson, Carroll and co go all the way this year?

Thankfully for Pete Carroll he knows how to manage talent and the likes of superstar running back Marshawn Lynch will ensure the Seahawks don't dip drastically. Their defense is arguably the best in the league with the team ranked 1st in points per game only allowing 15.3 along with being tied 4th for turnovers forced with 31; helped by the talented secondary of cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner  along with strong safety Kam Chancellor and free safety Earl Thomas. Now I don't believe sophomore quarterback Russell Wilson will have a sophomore slump but if he did they better hope the defense comes up big once again which I believe they will. Thankfully for Seattle they have near enough ever piece in their jigsaw in place for success and will have one coming back when Percy Harvin returns from injury later on in the season which will be a great boost for them. Wilson won't slump as 2012 saw him tie Peyton Manning's rookie touchdown record with 26 and the fact he only threw 10 interceptions was impressive especially when you consider Manning threw 28 picks in his rookie season. Wilson had a regular season passer rating of 100.0 and from two playoff games had a rating of 102.4 with 3 touchdowns and one interception so it is clear to see this kid has a bright future. His talents helped Sidney Rice produce the second best season to date in his six year career and could help fellow wideout Golden Tate have a breakout year in 2013. When you consider their potential on offense along with an established defense which has added Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril as pass rushers, sacks being maybe the one weak spot for the Seattle D considering their total of 36 ranked 18th, despite the fact I believe they'll finish 2nd in the West with an 11-5 record you have to say considering they're a sure bet for the postseason that this Seattle are a genuine early season Super Bowl contender.

Season prediction: 11-5. 2nd in NFC West.

NFC South Preview

The NFC South will be an interesting division this year as the New Orleans Saints look to challenge the Atlanta Falcons for the division title. Tampa Bay and Carolina are still rebuilding but have good pieces in place to put up a fight in the 2013 season. The NFC South is the only division to have each of its four teams make a conference championship game and funnily enough all four on each occasion won that particular game to go the Super Bowl with the Saints and the Buccaneers winning theirs in Super Bowl's XLIV and XXXVII respectively whilst the Falcons and Panthers lost in their lone Super Bowl appearances.

With the 2013 season underway shortly let's now look at how each of these four NFC South teams will fair this year:


Carolina Panthers

For the Panthers it is pretty short and sweet: Despite a losing season in 2012 they finished second in the NFC South as opposed to 3rd in 2011 and their 7-9 record last year was a one win improvement on their 6-10 campaign from the previous season. Head coach Ron Rivera will be looking for further development from his Panthers team as he looks to mould this team so more in his third year in charge. Despite not enduring as much hype as 2011 due to the influx of young QB's in the league last year third year QB Cam Newton may feel he has a bit of a point to prove in 2013 as he looks to get back in to the spotlight.

His sophomore season saw him put up just as good numbers as his rookie year with the best sign being that the interceptions decreased from 17 in 2011 down to 12 last year. Newton rushed for more yards than the previous year but threw marginally less than 2011 and had 2 less touchdowns and 6 less rushing TD's but his raw talent is something that will keep him in the league for years to come. He may not be able to pass as good as the likes of Luck, Wilson and RGIII but his ability to be so dynamic is what makes Newton quite unique

How will Newton & co fair in 2013?

So it is clear that the Panthers had a productive 2012 season especially after winning 5 of their last 6 games which included wins over division rivals Atlanta and New Orleans. If they are to improve in 2013 they need their defense to catch up with the offense so that they can have a chance of reaching the playoffs. The Carolina defense ranked 23rd in total yardage but they have good discipline and the ability to force turnover opportunities so if the likes of Luke Kuechly, Chase Blackburn and other members of this defense step up to the challenge they could help this Panthers team succeed.

Season prediction: 6-10. 4th in NFC South


Atlanta Falcons:

Despite going 13-3 last season and even being 8-0 and one point in the year the Atlanta Falcons didn't receive a lot of love from many for their 2012 season. Their wins may not have been convincing but the main thing is they did get that W in the column for 13/16 games as well as an appearance in the NFC championship game. The main thing for the Falcons is that they have progressed especially since Mike Smith came in as head coach back in 2008; they got back to the playoffs for the first time since 2004 and that year as a rookie head coach Smith and Matt Ryan who was a rookie too at the time became the first rookie quarterback and rookie coach tandem to take their team to the playoffs.

After leading that NFC title game by 10 points at halftime the Falcons failed to score in the second half which ultimately caused them to lose to the 49ers and miss out on a trip to the Super Bowl but it was progress as Matt Ryan got over the one blemish that was on his record which was not having a playoff win with victory in the divisional round. Despite arguments regarding his playoff success I'm prepared to give Ryan and the Falcons the benefit of the doubt as his first defeat was Ryan's rookie season, the second was to Green Bay who went on to win the Super Bowl that year and the year after in 2011 despite the on the field collapse the defeat to the Giants was to again the eventual Super Bowl winner. Last year's loss to the Niners was another learning experience which should spur this Falcons team on for the 2013 season especially as legendary tight-end Tony Gonzalez has decided to join the team for one last ride as he enters his 17th season in the league; 5th as a Falcon. With Gonzalez and other top offensive weapons Julio Jones and Roddy White, 17 touchdowns between the two in 2012, as well as new running back Steven Jackson the Falcons offense can cause opposing defenses lots of trouble this year especially as Matt Ryan has grown in to one of the best and most reliable quarterbacks in the league.

As cool as ice!

His touchdown numbers have increased every year since he entered the league with the QB throwing over 30 touchdown passes for the first time in his career in 2012. His interception rate has always been low and that is proven by his career touchdown to interception ratio of 127:60. Although there are many positives this Atlanta offense needs to move on to an even higher level of play because on defense they don't have too much to be excited about and ranked 20th in total yardage last season. Now that may not be much to complain about but in this league your luck can easily turn and those close wins can start to become close losses so they need to improve from a defensive perspective and start to play to their strengths by attempting to dictate games on offense by putting up more points. They may have some hard games against the Patriots and Seahawks this year but Atlanta's three defeats last year only came against division rivals but regardless of their record this team should reach the playoffs which are where the wins really matter so until then they'll hope for a productive regular season and will be aiming for consecutive division titles.

Season prediction: 10-6. 2nd in NFC South.


New Orleans Saints:

The New Orleans Saints will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2012 season which saw them fall from division champions to 7-9 and a 3rd place finish in the NFC South. The Saints defense was shredded up for 7,042 yards of offense which was 440.1 yards per game marking the most yards allowed by any defense in NFL history. The knight in shining armour for New Orleans will be head coach Sean Payton who returns as the team's head coach following his one year suspension for his involvement in the bounty scandal.

So how does New Orleans bounce back? Many people have had their opinion on how much of an impact Payton will have in reviving the Saints' fortunes in 2013 and personally I think he will guide them to a good season. Like the Patriots tore teams apart after the whole spygate inquiry you just get that feel that Payton's 2013 Saints will defy the odds in a sense and prove themselves once again. Although the difference between spygate and the bountygate is despite the severe punishment you can't disagree with the fact that the Saints were wrong for rewarding their players in the form of a slush fund. In a way and although controversial to say you could say that after having a more than dreadful season on defense last year that this Saints team needs to get back to playing nasty on that side of the ball but obviously within the rules. Now that they have Rob Ryan it is safe to say he will help steady the ship and if they can at least make them average instead of looking like they're not even on the field then yes that would help.

Here to lend a helping hand

If the defense can improve it will take some pressure off the offense and then they have a chance to make it back to the postseason especially as they have one of the best quarterbacks in the league leading their team. QB Drew Brees has been consistent for the Saints ever since he joined them in 2006 and since the Super Bowl win in 2009 he has really taken his game to another level; in the past two seasons he has thrown for over 5000 yards and in 2011 he set the record for most passing yards in a season with 5,476 yards. There are so many stats that show how great Brees is with one being that his passer rating has only been below 90.0 once in his 7 years as the team's QB and that was 89.4; his best ever passer rating was 110.6 in 2011. The past two years have seen him throw 89 touchdown passes to just 33 interceptions which is phenomenal; he has 244 touchdowns as a Saint to 112 interceptions. Brees has improved and established himself in the top bracket of quarterbacks especially when you consider he has a postseason passer rating of 103.9 ranking him 1st among active players and 2nd all-time he has a solid regular season rating of 94.3, 7th all-time. So with Brees under centre, Sean Payton back as head coach along with one of the most dynamic players in the game in the shape of running back Darren Sproles plus Jimmy Graham who is no slouch at tight-end the Saints will be quietly hoping they bounce back in style this season and personally although it is obviously a long season I feel that if the Saints defeat Atlanta in their week 1 matchup I feel if they will end up winning the division.

Season prediction: 10-6. 1st in NFC South. *Saints win title on best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division*


Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Although they finished bottom of the division to finish 7-9 last season was a decent achievement for Tampa Bay especially as it was Greg Schiano's first year as the Buccaneers head coach. The NFC South is a tougher division than some make out especially when you consider that Tampa Bay, Carolina and New Orleans all finished on 7-9 last season and that division winners Atlanta's three losses all came against those three division rivals.

There is a mixed feeling to how the Bucs will fair in 2013 especially as the like of 5th year quarterback Josh Freeman have come under criticism. He helped guide the team to 6-4 in 2012 before they lost 5 of their last 6 games and that has put some pressure on this young man's shoulders. Personally from looking at his 2012 tape yes the pass completion rate went down by 8% but he set franchise records for most touchdown passes with 27 and most passing yards with 4,065 so I would say that Freeman deserves all of 2013 to quarterback this team. The team wasn't good enough to sneak by in to wildcard contention last year and I'm not saying they are this year but the Bucs front office has helped Greg Schiano improve his roster with good draft picks like Akeem Spence and William Gholston. As well as that and most importantly was that Tampa Bay made a big move in free agency when they acquired Darrelle Revis who is one of if not the best cornerback in the league. He will automatically improve the Bucs defense and even better for Tampa Bay is the fact that Revis can tutor 2013 second round draft out of Mississippi State pick Johnthan Banks which can only be beneficial to the franchise.

Is this the start of a new era in Tampa?

Overall for the Bucs to have a successful 2013 and any chance of pulling off a surprise in the NFC South they will need the likes of sophomore Doug Martin and wide receiver Vincent Jackson to perform at the top of their game along with the likes of Freeman as well as hoping Revis has a big impact on defense. Doug Martin had a great 2012 with the running back setting a franchise rushing record of 1,454 yards in his rookie year; he also was tied for 4th among running backs in terms of touchdowns with 11. As for Vincent Jackson well he hauled in just below 1,400 receiving yards and caught 8 touchdowns so he will look to have another good year this season. Personally I feel the Bucs will record at least 6 wins and to be honest sometimes there isn't much difference between 6-10 teams to 10-6 teams so for Tampa Bay it will come down to whether they are victors in the close games this season and how they fair against their division rivals throughout the year

Season prediction: 7-9. 3rd in NFC South

NFC North Preview

As we know the NFC is a very competitive conference and it recent years a general consensus among many would suggest there are more high quality teams within it as opposed to the AFC. Within the NFC North it is safe to say that this division is one of the most fiercely contested divisions with the established franchises of the Packers and Bears up against two growing ones in the form of the Vikings and Lions. One things for sure and that is all four of these teams are talented which will make the NFC North particularly interesting as well as exciting to watch for the 2013 season.

The Bears and Packers are the well-known names of the division with the Bears clinching one Super Bowl title in 1985 in Super Bowl XX whilst the Packers have won one Super Bowl in each of the past two decades with their tally standing at two. The Vikings have had numerous playoff berths throughout their history but have never won the big game although last season they returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2009. With the Packers being consistent year in year out, the Vikings surprising and looking to prove they aren't going anywhere, the Bears looking to bounce back after falling from 7-1 to 10-6 in 2012 meaning they missed out on the playoffs and the Lions hoping their talents finally shine through after a disappointing season. With all four teams feeling like they have a realistic chance of winning the division let us preview the NFC North for this season. It's hard to call especially in this division and although all have a shot at making the playoffs look out for my season prediction for these teams to see how I think they'll fair in 2013:


Minnesota Vikings:

The Vikings ended the 2012 season with a crucial 4 game winning streak to reach the playoffs and shock everyone. One of the surprise stories of the season was Adrian Peterson has he literally carried Minnesota to the post-season by rushing for 2,097 yards just 9 short of Eric Dickerson's long standing record. In 2013 Peterson believes he can hit the 2,500 mark and while personally I think he can beat the record I don't think that the 2,500 number being thrown around is possible.

The reason for that is not because AP can't do it but because the Vikings need to throw the football in order to build on their surprisingly successful 2012. Nobody thought that they would compete like they did and nobody believed Peterson would have such a sensational return and impact like he did. Although defensive planning won't complete stop him the opposition have had all of the off-season to look at the Vikings offense and study it so that if they do rely on the ground game again it won't work to the same devastating effect. The likes of tight end Kyle Rudolph are good options to have in the offense but now Christian Ponder has been given a dynamic receiving weapon in the shape of Greg Jennings he needs to step up in his third season in the league and have a break out year; you can see in preseason he's making the effort to attempt to throw the football down the field which is good to see.

AP & the Vikings will be looking to defy the odds again

I feel that Ponder has been unfairly criticised at times as he is a young guy and that so far what he has done in two years has been good. Yes he may not have taken the league by the storm such as the likes of Andrew Luck, RG3 or Cam Newton but Ponder was a part of helping the Vikings getting back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009. In his second season his touchdowns went up from 13 to 18 whilst his interceptions dropped from 13 to 12 despite the fact he played 5 more games in 2012 as opposed to 2011 and attempted almost 200 more passes. Ponder's quarterback rating also increased from 70.1 to 81.2 so it is clear to see he is developing but due to the fact that the NFL has such high expectations this could be a make or break year for him as a Viking. The Vikings were underdogs last year but now whether they like it or not expectations have risen for this franchise as the fans look for them to deliver a successful 2013 and while it may seem tough for them to achieve despite the fact they have talent on both sides of the ball to so. Regardless of what happens this season the Vikings a well-run organisation that should stand them in good stead for the future. All those associated with the franchise will be hoping that Minnesota returns to the post-season come the turn of the new year but although their general play should improve it seems likely that they'll take a backwards step in terms of their record and where they finish within the NFC North.

Season prediction: 6-10. 4th in NFC North.


Green Bay Packers:

Just like the way people say the Patriots will always compete while they have Tom Brady as their quarterback the same will apply for the Green Bay Packers for as many years as they have Aaron Rodgers as their QB. The Packers are well equipped on both sides of the ball with their defense ranking 11th and their offense ranking 13th in net total yardage. They have a healthy Clay Matthews this year which automatically boosts their chances and a very promising first-round draft pick in Datone Jones so their defense will either remain solid or improve in 2013 as well as Eddie Lacy who will help them in the running game which if anything is probably one thing the Packers needed to improve from an offensive point of view.

Can Rodgers help Green Bay go all the way?

Green Bay have won the NFC North for the past two years and made the playoffs for four years consecutively including a Super Bowl win in the 2010 season. Aaron Rodgers is the leader of this team and highly praised by near enough anyone who knows about the NFL. The 2011 MVP has put up astronomical numbers in just 5 years as a starting quarterback throwing 171 touchdowns to just 46 interceptions. He is the only quarterback in NFL history to have a passer rating of over 100.0 in both the regular season and the playoffs: Regular season 104.9 ranking him 1st all-time, playoff career passer rating of 103.6 ranking him 3rd of all-time and second among active QB's. At 29 years old Rodgers is in the prime of his career and will continue to tear up opposing defenses for years to come up with his talent and the talent around him he will want to build on that one Super Bowl ring.

Despite a tough 2012 season for the Packers which saw them questioned pretty much throughout the year especially after a controversial defeat in week 3 against the Seahawks you would have to say that heading in to 2013 they are one of the main early season Super Bowl contenders and it would be very hard to bet against Mike McCarthy's men winning a third NFC North title this season. Green Bay are the team to beat in this division and you could also suggest it very likely that the Packers are in position to compete for a bye to the divisional round in the playoffs despite the fact they are in a competitive NFC North and have a tough schedule which includes games against the NFC East teams as well as a week one encounter against the San Francisco 49ers who were the team that defeated them in last season's divisional round. While missing wildcard week has not always been a blessing for many teams in the playoffs in recent years you would have to say playing that extra game last year was what ultimately cost the Packers against the Niners so securing their passage to the divisional round may be crucial to Green Bay's chances of winning the Super Bowl considering how competitive and tough the NFC is.

Season prediction: 11-5. 1st in NFC North.


Detroit Lions:

The Lions suffered an abysmal 2012 season finishing 4-12 which was majorly disappointing for all those associated with the franchise after their 10-6 finish in 2011 which saw them make the playoffs. This Lions roster has plenty of talent but is in danger of becoming just another what could have been type of team if they don't step up to the plate this season. I went out on a limb last season and predicted the Lions to finish 10-6 last year but bad luck as well as bad performances went hand in hand as the Lions dropped back to last place in the NFC North.

The one positive for Detroit was that Calvin Johnson aka 'Megatron' as he captured the record for the most receiving yards in a single season with 1,964 yards. Megatron became the first player in NFL history to have consecutive seasons with at least 1,600 yards receiving as well as tying Michael Irvin's record for most 100 receiving yard games in a single season with 11. Despite another successful season for Johnson Detroit's misfortunes reflected especially on himself and quarterback Matthew Stafford from an offensive point of view with the pair both drastically declining in terms of touchdowns. After the team pulled their 2012 record back to 4-5 they then lost 9 in a row and once out of realistic playoff contention it appeared the Lions were more set on helping Megatron break the receiving yards record than working the team's mishaps. I'm not taking anything away from Calvin Johnson as breaking that long-standing record was an incredible achievement but a man of his calibre should be hauling in more than 5 touchdown passes as he is possibly the most naturally gifted wide receiver of all time as he possesses the entire skill-set to break many records. In 2011 he had 16 touchdown receptions and Matthew Stafford had an outstanding 41 touchdowns from the quarterback position but once again a man with his talents put up a lousy 2012 campaign as he dropped to just 20 touchdown passes and up on his interceptions by one from 16 to 17.

Stafford & Megatron need to be back to their best in 2013

In 2013 it is hard to predict how Jim Schwartz's team will do as he needs to make sure this talented roster succeeds. Most of the team are being paid well but they are young so he needs to make sure that they keep a good head on their shoulders so that they can compete in this division. Despite the obvious talents of Megatron and although it may sound obvious I believe any success this Lions team has come down to Matthew Stafford because he has come under criticism after last year and he should be bouncing back as he probably has a bit of a chip on his shoulder. In the NFC North you could argue the quarterback position is more important than most hence the Vikings needing Ponder to step up, the Bears needing Cutler to perform and Rodgers pretty much always guiding the Packers to success. Stafford needs to return to the high standard we saw in 2011 in order for Detroit to compete and considering they have now added Reggie Bush to the run game it gives them something new plus on defense they have possibly the best defensive tackle pairing with Suh and Fairley so if Detroit's best players step up then they could cause a headache in this division.

Season prediction: 8-8. 3rd in NFC North.


Chicago Bears:

The thing that makes the NFC North so easy to write about is how tough it is to predict but how many factors it has in it. Sadly for Chicago they are in the boat where they are the kind of team many people put faith in year in and year out yet they keep failing to deliver and you don't have to go any further than last season when the team fell from a fantastic 7-1 start to finish 10-6 and 3rd in the division with the collapse causing former head coach Lovie Smith to be fired in his 9th season in charge of the team.

The 2013 season sees Marc Trestman in his first year in charge of the Bears. Trestman's Bears are getting a lot of hype from many but he will need the likes of Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall to get things going if this Chicago team are to go places. The Bears have only had four playoff appearances since the turn of the millennium so Trestman has pressure on him to succeed already. Thankfully for quarterback Jay Cutler his new head coach should be able to tutor him and help him improve his game with the 30 year old coming off of decent 2012 campaign which saw him throw 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Brandon Marshall hauled in 11 of Cutler's 19 TD passes last season and as everyone knows the two have a great rapport but Trestman's biggest job will be to make sure it is just as effective but that the Bears don't rely on the partnership as it then becomes predictable so implementing someone like new tight end Martellus Bennett would be great to help the Bears' passing game as well as their run game. They have Matt Forte at running back that at the age of 27 should really be having one of the best seasons in his career especially after rushing for 1,094 yards in 2012 which was his highest total since he came in to the league as a rookie in 2008.

Can Trestman deliver in his 1st season as Chicago's HC?

Judging how the Bears will do in 2013 is hard especially as they are up against three other teams who are all going to be very competitive. The difference maker for the Bears for them in-particular for me will be how they compete against the NFC East teams in those divisional crossover matchups as the Lions, Vikings and Packers all offer something dynamic but in their own unique way whereas I believe the Bears will have to rely on a tough defense if they are to have a successful season this year. The offense needs improvement and Marc Trestman will be able to steady that ship but new defensive coordinator Mel Tucker has lot of talent on his side of the ball with the likes of Corey Wootton, Tim Jennings and Lance Briggs to name a few. Tucker will need to utilize his defensive players in order for the Bears to succeed as if they can maintain the 5th ranked defense in the league or better they'll have a chance of reaching the post-season. It goes without saying that a successful NFL team needs all of its players to chip in so that can happen but with no real superstar player on the Bears team they all need to step up; to be honest this could be a blessing disguise and although it will be tough if their players step up a trip back to the post-season could be a genuine possibility but if so it'll be through a wildcard spot.

Season prediction: 9-7. 2nd in NFC North

NFC East Preview

The NFC East is one of the most competitive divisions in the national football league and if 2013 it is anyone's guess as to who will win the division. Since 2005 it has been a bit of a dogfight as the division has seen all four of its teams claim the title at least once; the Giants lead the way with 3, then the Cowboys and Eagles have two whilst the Redskins claimed the divisional crown last year on the final game of the regular season. Since 2005 only the New York Giants have won a Super Bowl from the NFC East and have managed to triumph on two occasions since then whereas the Philadelphia Eagles have never won the Super Bowl despite dominating the NFC east 2001-2004 where they won four consecutive division titles but fell at the final hurdle at Super Bowl XXXIX; note the Patriots played against the Giants twice and the Eagles in the three Super Bowl's mentioned.

An already tough division has been made harder by the fact that the NFC East will face off against the NFC North this season. With the 2013 NFL season kicking off soon let us take a look at each team's chances within the NFC East:

Dallas Cowboys:

Last season saw Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys lose again on the penultimate game of the regular season when they defeated 28-18 on the road against the Washington Redskins. The defeat was tough to swallow for the franchise considering they lost in similar circumstances the year before to the New York Giants meaning that for two seasons in a row the franchise missed out on the playoffs by the skin of their teeth.

The Cowboys have finished 8-8 the past two seasons so they will be looking to go one step further by posting a winning record and clinching the division. Although the team are 22-26 since they last went to the playoffs and despite the fact that many people consider them chokers down the stretch following recent big game losses head coach Jason Garret and quarterback Tony Romo in particular have a chip on their shoulder as well as a point to prove. The Dallas Cowboys franchise is one of the most well renowned teams in the league and will hope that a healthy roster will see them fulfill the potential they believe that they have. With Garrett heading in to his 4th year as the teams head coach he has no excuses now as this Dallas team does have the talent to succeed.

It's now or never time Romo & co!

The team has a new defensive coordinator and will most likely line up with a 4-3 so the likes of DeMarcus Ware and Sean Lee will need to step up to ensure they improve on that side of the ball as well as develop with the new scheme. On offense running back DeMarco Murray and number one wide receiver Dez Bryant are crucial to helping Tony Romo and the Dallas offense succeed. Romo is an underrated quarterback who comes under individual scrutiny when his team loses like most quarterbacks. He has a regular season all-time career passer rating of 95.6 which ranks him at 5th and 4th among active players leaving him behind just Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and only .1 behind Peyton Manning. He may be prone to a big game interception but all it takes is one season to change people's opinions and the 2013 one could be it; Romo threw for a phenomenal 4903 yards last season. The 8th year quarterback will look to guide the Cowboys to their first divisional since 2009 and now that it seems they have the pieces in place it is time for this team to deliver.

Season prediction: 10-6. 1st in NFC East.


Washington Redskins:

Thanks to the help of rookie sensation Robert Griffin III the Washington Redskins overcame the odds to finish the 2012 NFL season as NFC East champions. Mike Shanahan's team went on a 7 game winning streak in the second half of the regular season to pull off a shock but unfortunately for them RG3 fell victim to injuries on his ACL and LCL ligaments.

Winning the division and getting this young team playoff experience was a fantastic achievement for the Redskins but in 2013 they are now the team to beat. It is much harder to repeat success when everyone is hunting for you so head coach Mike Shanahan will need to ensure his team are ready for the battle this year. Robert Griffin will also be a target for opposing defenses after his phenomenal debut campaign which saw him win the offensive rookie of the year award as well as set records for highest passer rating, 102.4, by a rookie quarterback and highest touchdown to interception ratio at 4:1. To throw only 5 interceptions as a veteran let alone a rookie is astonishing so Griffin will be expected to show the same class this year that he showed in 2012.

How will RGIII fair in his sophomore season?

The injury has raised doubts over the young QB as such serious injury issues can often affect a player physiologically. I doubt he will have lost a step at all because he is very talented but you only have to look at Tom Brady's first year back after his ACL injury to see that it takes time to become comfortable again the pocket and what makes it even more of a challenge for RG3 is that his mobility and ability to rush out of the pocket is what makes him so dangerous but unfortunately that dynamic side also makes him vulnerable. Only time will tell as to how he and the Redskins fair but in a competitive NFC East they may suffer from second season syndrome due to a variety of factors. The franchise will be hoping that the likes of sophomore Alfred Morris will also be able to repeat the success of a fantastic 2012 whilst also hoping that the players in their prime such as Fred Davis, Pierre Garcon and DeAngelo Hall all have a good 2013 season.

Season Prediction: 8-8. 3rd in NFC East.


New York Giants:

The Giants must enjoy being written off because every time it happens they seem to go and prove everyone wrong. The team has won two Super Bowls out of the past 6 but failed miserably in defending their title in 2012 as they didn't even make the playoffs. After their win in 2007 they fell in the divisional rivals of the playoffs in 2008 to divisional rivals the Eagles and then missed out of the post-season for two consecutive years before their 2011 triumph.

To put any success in sport down to injuries is simplistic but for both Super Bowl runs the team got healthy at the right time. Unfortunately before the 2013 season has even begun there are injury concerns over the teams O-line and there were questions against the defenses secondary before injuries hit them during the final week of preseason. The Giants will be relying on Eli Manning to step up and get it done for them during the regular season but he has hardly ever managed that in his career so it does look doubtful.

Can Eli & Big Blue prove the doubters wrong again?

The Giants will be hoping they can make the playoffs and will look at past successes for optimism but lightning doesn't keep striking in the same place and it somehow struck twice in 2007 and 2011. I'm not taking anything away from the success of the New York Giants franchise but 2013 is going to be a rocky road for them. They'll still post an 8-8 season at worst but Eli Manning is a post-season quarterback; he ranks at 3rd among active QB's for career passer ratings in the post-season. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but in a competitive division you need a strong roster and although it would be silly to rule them out completely I just think that even with a bit of luck the Giants will chase a wildcard spot at best. Honestly it looks like they will miss out on the playoffs because at least 9 other teams have a legitimate chance of making it the playoffs and New York don't have it in them to post a record good enough of even scraping it through and despite his credentials it comes back to what was mentioned before and that is the fact that despite even the fact that Eli has elevated his play in the past two seasons to a more consistent basis as before he still doesn't have it in him to carry the Giants on his back.

Season Prediction: 9-7. 2nd in NFC East.


Philadelphia Eagles:

I look back to a year ago where despite most of my predictions being accurate I stumble across when I put faith in the Eagles to win the NFC East and like dating a regrettable ex-girlfriend I say to myself... Why!? The Eagles self-proclaimed themselves as a dream team two years ago and last year there was still hope they could mix it with the best but sadly for them Andy Reid's tenure as head coach of the franchise came to the a sour end when the team plummeted to a 4-12 record ending Reid's 14 years on a very low point.

So in 2013 the Eagles have turned to evil genius Chip Kelly to use his offensive creativeness to hopefully bring some sort of spark back to the Eagles. He has two QB's who can run the system and it will be a nightmare for opposing defenses but I still can't get over the fact that Michael Vick said earlier in the off-season that Chip Kelly told him how to "Run with the football and how to carry the football, and I think it's something that you just have to work on". I mean I know Chip Kelly is supposedly a genius but surely he couldn't teach Vick something so difficult, you know something that people are taught from pee-wee... Never mind. It is safe to say there are still doubts over Michael Vick and although this system may be the ideal fit for him this literally is his last chance because it is getting to the point that even if Chip Kelly wanted to stick with him after a say bad year you'd have to say that eventually the franchise would get to the point where they would consider just wanting to cut ties with him instead of throwing him another bone.

The mad scientist is coming for you!

Chip Kelly has plenty of offensive talent nevertheless and during preseason we have seen glimpses of what is to come. DeSean Jackson needs to have a big year regardless of the team's record because he is being paid big money and the franchise should only rightly feel that they want to see results on the field. They have a great tackle duo in the form of Jason Peters and Lane Johnson but 2013 for the Eagles will be about progressing and ensuring that the new era in Philadelphia gets off to a good start so they can start building for the future.

Season prediction: 7-9. 4th in NFC East.

New England Patriots final 53-man roster projection

The New England Patriots wrapped up their preseason with a solid 28-20 victory over the New York Giants last night. Now the team has to cut its roster to the final 53-man squad by 6pm on Saturday. With the likes of Quentin Sims and George Winn putting in very good performances they have given coach Belichick food for thought. Tim Tebow connected with Sims on two great touchdown plays and despite some bad moments this guy showed nothing keeps him down. Ryan Mallett and Josh Boyce both showed off their skills especially on their 40 yard touchdown play. Michael Buchanan almost all but confirmed his roster spot last night whilst Jake Bequette played well in the preseason finale to show he's not giving up hope of making the team.

Roster Selection:

OFFENSE:

Quarterbacks (3): Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett, Tim Tebow

I'm sticking with the three quarterbacks. The Patriots have only kept 2 QB's on their roster in 3 of the past 4 seasons but Bill Belichick would not have signed Tim Tebow for no reason even if that reason is to develop him as a quarterback under the guidance of himself and Josh McDaniels plus you know we will see Tebow score against the Jets on September 12th and that in itself is a good enough reason to select him. Ryan Mallett will hang around for years to come in New England; you can see he's growing thanks to the franchise and that to get the chance to learn from Tom Brady has been very beneficial to this young man. To have 3 talented quarterbacks in a rarity so for the 2013 season its worth keeping these three around.

Running Backs (4): Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen Leon Washington, LeGarrette Blount

I'm sticking with my four running backs from the last roster projection and here are the reasons why: Stevan Ridley established himself as a top running back and despite some fumbling troubles he is number one on this team. Shane Vereen's speed and ability to play at wide receiver make him a sure pick for coach Belichick due to his versatility plus Vereen seems to have built up a good rapport with Tom Brady. Leon Washington can offer the team something new on special teams and LeGarrette Blount beats out Brandon Bolden as this teams power running back thanks to a more productive preseason; Blount lead the way on the ground with two touchdowns. Bolden has pass catching ability but that's not enough for him to make the cut especially when George Winn did more in one game last night than Bolden has all preseason but sadly for Winn it may be a little to late despite his 54 yards from 14 carries and a score but don't rule this young man out just yet as he could be a surprise choice although regardless of what happens he will make the practice squad.

Wide Receivers (6): Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce, Julian Edelman, Kenbrell Thompkins, Matthew Slater,

Last time I had Jenkins and Jones in my roster projection with seven wideouts for New England but now the consensus seems to be on these 6 guys. Jones was cut a day after my last projection and Jenkings had lacklusture preseason. Their replacement Kenbrell Thompkins had a standout game against Lions where we hauled in 8 catches for 116 yards where he helped showcase his abilities. The undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati  has shown he could lock down the 'X' role in an explosive offense. Along with Josh Boyce and Aaron Dobson these three young talented rookies could all have great years especially as they have Tom Brady throwing to them. Danny Amendola has shown throughout preseason that him and Tom Brady are building a brilliant rapport whilst Julian Edelman will look to build on an impressive 2012 before his injury unfortunately brought his season to an end. Finally Slater earns a spot thanks to his solidness on special teams. Quentin Sims but in a great display against the Giants last night to put himself on Bill Belichick's radar and although it may be too late to make the roster cut you can expect to see him on the practice squad.

Tight Ends (4): Rob Gronkowski, Jake Ballard, Michael Hoomanawanui, Zach Sudfield

Superstar tight-end Rob Gronkowski is a surefire bet. Although he is in a race against time to be fit for week one it would be silly for the Patriots to put him on the PUP list as he'd then be unavailable for 6 weeks. Bill Belichick knows how manage his players and has two very capable tight-ends in the shape of Jake Ballard and Michael Hoomanawanui; both will be hoping to thrive in an explosive offense and both can block as well as help with the run game. With the pair both just 25 years old now is the time to make a name for themselves especially if the wake of a certain former Patriots tight-end's departure who shall not be named. Finally the fourth tight end roster selection will be undrafted rookie from Nevada Zach Sudfield. Sudfield has the size and catching ability to be a very effective offensive weapon, ring any bells, and during preseason he was impressive as he racked up 101 receiving yards from 8 receptions and for one touchdown which came against Tampa Bay in week 2 of preseason.

Offensive Line (8): Nate Solder, Logan Mankins, Sebastian Vollmer, Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell, Marcus Cannon, Will Svitek, Chris McDonald

Solder, Mankins and Vollmer pick themselves. They are essential to the Patriots offensive line and the same can be said for the likes of Dan Connolly and Ryan Wendell as they offer the stability and consistency required. Markus Zusevics was my pick last time to make the roster but unfortunately an injury has come at a bad time meaning that Will Svitek all but guarantees his roster spot. Svitek has improved over the course of preseason anyway. Marcus Cannon will be around for another year but the 8th spot will seemingly go to Chris McDonald with the rookie out of Michigan State impressing during the offseason and in a sense beating out the likes of Kevin Haslem and Nick McDonald who both departed.


DEFENSE:

Defensive Ends (6): Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Michael Buchanan, Justin Francis, Jake Bequette, Marcus Benard


Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich were probably the only surefire bets before preseason even began. I'm sticking with Michael Buchanan from my last roster projection especially after a very good performance last night against the Giants. Justin Francis is solid enough to make the cut. Marcus Benard is another player enjoying the ride and his good preseason form gets him a place in the squad whilst Jake Bequette's performance against the Giants last night has done enough in my mind to prove he is capable of being productive for New England.

Defensive Tackles (4): Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly, Marcus Forston, Jermaine Cunningham

The Patriots are limited for options at defensive tackle but thankfully the group is led but the outstanding Vince Wilfork. Tommy Kelly helps provide a great 1-2 punch with Big Vince whilst Marcus Forston is good enough to keep around. I have shifted Jermaine Cunningham to defensive tackle after already selecting six defensive end's; Cunningham sneaks on to the roster now that Armond Armstead is out for at least 6 weeks and with Cory Grissom being placed on season-ending IR it makes sense to select Cunningham for the 53-man roster.

Linebackers (5): Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Dont'a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Dane Fletcher

I'm sticking with the same 5 linebackers as they all have unique talents and will all be beneficial to the Patriots. Jerod Mayo is a defensive leader and crucial to any success New England will have on defense. Dont'a Hightower will look to improve on a good rookie season in 2012. Brandon Spikes seems to improve year by year and will look to do the same in 2013. As for Dane Fletcher and Jamie Collins well you can expect the two to get plenty reps on special teams. Collins will be looking to show off his potential whenever he has the chance as the second round pick out of Southern Miss is a player that the Patriots have high hopes for.

Cornerbacks (5): Aqib Talib, Kyle Arrington, Marquice Cole, Logan Ryan, Alfonzo Dennard


Marquice Cole in for Ras-I Dowling is my one change at the cornerback position. Cole is all but in unless the Patriots bring another body in. Logan Ryan's development will continue while the likes of Dennard and Arrington are given another year to try and prove themselves. The Patriots need results in the secondary so they will be hoping someone can step up and help take the pressure off of Aqib Talib who will be looking to lead the group with some stellar performances. Talib came up big for New England during the second half of last season and now is his chance to prove himself as one of the best shutdown corners in the league.

Safety (5): Devin McCourty, Adrian Wilson, Tavon Wilson, Duron Harmon, Steve Gregory

Last time round I had the young Nate Ebner in but sadly I think he will miss out come cut day tomorrow. Although he can offer help on special teams the Patriots already have enough of that so they will rely on the likes of Steve Gregory and Devin McCourty to offer them stability as well as reliability at the position as the groups production increases. The likes of Tavon Wilson and Duron Harmon may be young but their talent will offer the Patriots something different. Adrian Wilson has rumours around him regarding being cut after a lackluster preseason but I think the veteran will get one last chance. The Patriots were hoping he would offer them the defensive leadership they have lacked and craved since the early 2000 dynasty but right now it appears Wilson may have lost a step but hopefully come the regular season Adrian Wilson will start to show his class.


Special Teams (3): Steve Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, Danny Aiken

Gostkowski will be looking to bounce back after a rocky 2012. Zoltan Mesko was given a good run by rookie punter Ryan Allen but as Mesko is one of the best punters in the league he will retain his job. Danny Aiken keeps his job as long snapper.

 

New England Patriots 53 man roster projection

With the preseason games just around the corner many members of the New England Patriots team will be hoping to prove themselves on the field ahead of the regular season in hope of a spot on the roster for the start of the 2013 campaign. The Patriots have a lot of competition at various positions on both sides of the ball so it will be interesting to see who makes the final roster; let us take a look at my stab at predicting the 53 man roster come September with the following projection:

I choose you!

OFFENSE:

Quarterback: Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett, Tim Tebow (3)

Despite the extra roster spot when having just two QB's on the team being especially valuable to the Patriots in recent years I think Tim Tebow earns a spot on the team come crunch time. Obviously Tom Brady is a dead certainty as the future hall of famer looks to guide his team to their 4th Super Bowl Championship and with the Ryan Mallett to Cleveland trade rumours now all but gone he will definitely be on the squad too but whether Tebow makes it is a question everyone will have an opinion on.

Personally I think that although we know Tebow won't be taking any snaps away from Brady his versatility will be the decisive factor in Belichick selecting him as New England can try to use him in various scenarios. Belichick would not have signed the former Florida man as a publicity stunt and after he spends a year with Brady and McDaniels they can assess his skill-set throughout the season giving the franchise the ability to assess the situation properly next year.

Running back: Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Leon Washington, LeGarrette Blount (4)

Ridley is a guaranteed selection after his production last season and after lining up at wide receiver in training recently Shane Vereen will make the team as he offers the team versatility which is what Belichick loves. Leon Washington can offer New England something different at the special teams and arguably something they have lacked in recent seasons especially in the shape of a kick-off returner so it's worth him being chosen for the squad.

The three mentioned already are the sure fire bets but the 4th spot came down to either LeGarrette Blount or Brandon Bolden; Bolden has had recent injury problems and while the potential is there Blount is only 26 so despite being 3 years older than Bolden he has the advantage as he is reaching his physical prime as well as the fact that that he's been making some nice plays in training camp so far so my bet is that Blount beats out Bolden for the 4th running back spot.

Wide Receiver: Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman, Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce, Donald Jones, Michael Jenkins, Matthew Slater (7)

The battle to be a receiver on the New England Patriots' team this season is the most intriguing and the productivity of this year's receiving corps will be crucial in determining any success the Patriots have in 2013. Dobson and Boyce both have the potential to be valuable for New England but obviously with it both being their rookie year in the league predicting any success for either remains a mystery but nevertheless both make the roster and will hope to improve before the start of the season. Danny Amendola has built up a good rapport with Tom Brady so far and any fan of the Patriots will be excited to see how the two link up when the season starts as well as how their on the field relationship progresses during the campaign. Amendola has the talent to become a star and now that he has Tom Brady throwing to him I believe this will happen; we saw the same happen with Julian Edelman last season before his injury and remember he did start the 2012 season ahead of Wes Welker. With that being said it is safe to say that Edelman makes the roster with his versatility being a key asset to the Patriots at this moment in time.

With Aaron Hernandez now off the roster the next 3 wide receiving slots are as crucial as ever with the offense needing as many valuable weapons as possible. The current receiving core is drawing comparisons to a depth chart that included the likes of Jabar Gaffney yet still made the Super Bowl but as we know Tom Brady can make anyone produce the goods due to the fact that he is arguably the greatest quarterback ever with this being one of the arguments why. Matthew Slater's familiarity earns him a spot on the roster while Jenkins and Jones may well battle it out for the final receiving spot on the roster if Belichick decides to go with 6 wideouts which could very well happen but for now I'll say that both make the team as Jenkins is a reliable veteran option whereas Jones has some decent statistics from his time in Buffalo, most coming against the Patriots, and could therefore prove to be a surprisingly good acquisition once the season progresses.

Jenkins is in and Donald Jones is out. This could very well change before the season starts, but for now, the healthy player who has been hooking up with Brady has a better shot than Jones, who missed time during minicamp.

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Jenkins is in and Donald Jones is out. This could very well change before the season starts, but for now, the healthy player who has been hooking up with Brady has a better shot than Jones, who missed time during minicamp.

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Tight End: Rob Gronkowski, Jake Ballard, Michael Hoomanawanui, Zach Sudfield (4)

Rob Gronkowski is in a race against time to be ready for the start of the season and following the Aaron Hernandez saga the Patriots are facing the possibility of going from having two superstar tight-ends to none for week 1 of the 2013 season. Gronkowski will be ready to cause havoc on opposing defenses eventually but in the event of his absence during the start of the season the likes of Jake Ballard and Michael Hoomanawanui will get the chance to try and make an impact for the team during the teams early games.

It's safe to safe after Hernandez being cut from the team that Ballard and Hoomanawanui make the roster; the fourth tight end spot goes to the 6'7 man out of Nevada Zach Sudfeld who signed as an undrafted free agent on in May and has the potential to be a possible diamond in the rough for Bill Belichick. All three will have the responsibility of trying to produce the goods now that Aaron Hernandez has been cut but as long as Rob Gronkowski gets back to full health the Patriots know they have a superstar they can rely on as well as having Tom Brady's most valuable weapon at their disposal.

Offensive Line: Nate Solder, Logan Mankins, Sebastian Vollmer, Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell, Nick McDonald, Marcus Cannon, Kevin Haslam, Markus Zusevics (9)

The likes of Solder, Mankins and Vollmer are all valuable assets to this team. Dan Connolly has improved season by season and Ryan Wendell will line up at centre again with Nick McDonald providing cover at that position as well as chipping in at guard. The offensive line needs familiarity that's why there aren't many changes from last year with the likes of Marcus Cannon also making the cut but this year Kevin Haslam and Markus Zusevic will get a chance to show what they can do.

Svitek was on my list but when you realise that this Patriots team is full of young faces it makes sense that they would choose a 5 year younger player in the shape of Haslam over Svitek plus Haslam came out of Rutgers and we all know how their connection runs deep. Zusevics makes the cut thanks to his versatility as the second year man his 2012 experience with the team under his belt and can offer cover at tackle and guard positions.


DEFENSE:

Defensive End: Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Justin Francis, Jermaine Cunningham, Michael Buchanan (5)

Chandler Jones is the surefire bet at this position; he will look to build on an impressive rookie season as his raw talent proved to be a valuable asset during the 2012 season. Coming in to his sophomore year Jones will be looking to make a bigger leap by continuing to assert himself as one of the NFL's best young ends. His ability to rush the passer will improve and if his production continues at a high rate he could help the Patriot's defense get back to what it was during its Super Bowl winnings years. Rob Ninkovich will want to continue his good form and increase in production. Jermaine Cunningham may well have a shot at the versatility role while Justin Francis also gets in based on versatility. Cunningham gets in thanks to former Rutgers man Francis moving inside; the two seem to have both improved from 2012 and if they are determined to succeed it will earn them a roster spot.

I've projected 5 players at this position and it was hard to leave Jake Bequette and Jason Vega out but both just give me the impression that they'll fall short which leaves the door open for 2013 draftee Michael Buchanan who I believe could be a real steal for New England. The 7th round pick's stock in the draft fell due to character concerns but the 6'5, 255 pound defensive end is athletic and has shown signs of potential that could prove valuable especially as he possesses the ability to fit in to either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense thanks to the fact that his strength helps him in the pass rush as well as against opposing offensive linemen.

Jake Bequette

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Jake Bequette

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Jake Bequette

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Defensive Tackle: Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly, Armond Armstead (3)

With Vince Wilfork being the lone survivor on defense from the Patriots' last Super Bowl winning team we know that he is pretty much as valuable to New England's defense as Tom Brady is to its offense! This year I see him teaming up with just two out and out tackles in the shape of Kelly and Armstead; the two's productivity will go a long way to determining the success of the Patriots' passing defense in 2013.

Marcus Forston could well make the roster but having Justin Francis move inside along with Cunningham able to play inside means that the Patriots are allowed to go thinner at the defensive tackle position in 2013. If the ends and tackles step up like it seems they can then they can go a long way to helping the Patriots rack up a respectable position among defensive rankings this season and in the long run the production of these guys will go a long way in to determining any success they have come playoff time.

Linebacker: Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Don’t’a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Dane Fletcher (5)

The linebackers all but pick themselves for the Patriots this season. Jerod Mayo is a key player on this team and Brandon Spikes continues to improve making him a must for New England. Don'ta Hightower is coming in to his second season in the league on a high following a very productive debut year in 2012. The team will hope for something similar from Jamie Collins with the 2nd round pick out of Southern Miss showing he could make a huge difference on the team's defense this year; his explosiveness, athleticism and versatility means he can play multiple positions for the Patriots and as we know as well as something that has been mentioned many times previously... Bill Belichick loves versatility.

Dane Fletcher may not be as versatile or athletic as any of the previous four linebackers mentioned but he is reliable and a good player to keep on the roster. The fact that new signing Adrian Wilson can also play linebacker means that five linebacker selections is fine for New England which is bad news for the likes of Beauharnais as it seems that he'll be deemed surplus to requirements and not make the cut. Like I said these five pretty much pick themselves and it will extremely interesting to see how the likes of Mayo, Spikes, Collins and Hightower play together as well as end Chandler Jones with the prospect of this year's defense wreaking havoc on opposing QB's being quite likely if all goes to plan.

Cornerback: Aqib Talib, Kyle Arrington, Ras-I Dowling, Logan Ryan, Alfonzo Dennard (5)

Like the linebacker position I believe that the corners pick themselves. Aqib Talib will look to prove himself again after showing how valuable he can be to this Patriot's secondary during the second half of the 2012 season. The shutdown corner has the ability to go up against any of the top wideouts in the game and after opting to sign just a one year extension with New England in a way it shows that Talib is set on proving himself being committing to a long term deal. We all know Dowling has talent but will injuries haunt him again? Well that remains to be seen; if they don't we will see how productive he can be but if the plague continues the Patriots will need to bring in someone else.

Third round pick of out Rutgers Logan Ryan was one of the most talented players at his position in this years draft and could be another steal for New England in the long run. Kyle Arrington makes the team for another season but Alfonzo Dennard has questions over his head following his recent arrest. If he stays he will look to improve from 2012 but for now if something happens to him or Dowling you can expect the Patriots to add at this position.

Aqib Talib, Alfonzo Dennard, Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan, Ras-I Dowling

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Aqib Talib, Alfonzo Dennard, Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan, Ras-I Dowling

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Aqib Talib, Alfonzo Dennard, Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan, Ras-I Dowling

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Safety: Adrian Wilson, Devin McCourty, Tavon Wilson, Nate Ebner, Duron Harmon (5)

Duron Harmon was selected by the Patriots as the 91st pick from the NFL 2013 Draft... From yes you guessed it Rutgers! For someone not many people had heard of Harmon seems to be good value for a third round selection and will have a chance to prove himself in 2013. Adrian Wilson has been signed from Arizona will Bill Belichick hoping he has the same effect as Rodney Harrison did. If so the Adrian Wilson signing could well inspire a Super Bowl win as they need a talented and experienced leader to be the rock of this group to help improve their woes in the secondary. Adrian Wilson's namesake Tavon doesn't have much hype around him but the second year safety has the chance to learn from Adrian and improve his game.


Devin McCourty did very well in his transition to safety and it is clear to see he is better suited to the position but now New England will hope he can build on the 2012 season by producing the goods in 2013. It wouldn't be right if I didn't go for one risky selection throughout this projection and it will be in the shape of Nate Ebner as I think he has the potential to beat out Steve Gregory but in reality that maybe is a bit of a longshot.

Special Teams: Steve Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, Danny Aiken (3)

Rookie punter Ryan Allen has given Mesko a run for his money up until now but with Mesko being a very reliable punter as well as arguably one of the best in the league he will make the team. Gotskowski had a challenger brought in as well but despite a rocky 2012 he has the ability to bounce back in 2013. Danny Aiken continues his role as long snapper.

Cunningham’s ability to play on the interior allows the Patriots to go thinner at defensive tackle. Kelly and Armstead should give the pass rush a significant boost, all which could make Forston a goner.

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After seeing some of what the Patriots were running in OTAs and minicamp, it makes sense to keep Cunningham over Jake Bequette, who I had making the team before. Cunningham looks bigger this offseason, which means he could serve a very versatile role. Hughes: Jones, Ninkovich, Buchanan, Cunningham, Francis, Jake Bequette (6) It may seem there’s a bit of an overload at defensive end, but the versatility of Cunning ham and Francis to move inside makes that decision easier. Bequette was one of the final few in, just barely eking out CFL-exile Jason Vega. Ninkovich has been mentoring Bequette throughout the offseason and I think that makes the difference.

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OFFENSIVE LINE

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