We survived.
This summer it was uncertain whether we would get to see the Green Bay Packers attempt to repeat as Super Bowl Champions. The NFL lockout had all football fans on the brink of insanity, wondering if the season could be saved.
Well it was, and tonight the Packers begin that quest to claim the hallowed Lombardi Trophy for a second straight year.
But they will run into numerous hurdles on that trek. Here’s my stab in the dark at how the NFL season will play out.
 
NFC South
Arguably the toughest division in football, the NFC South has three legitimate playoff contenders and the league’s most-hyped rookie in Carolina quarterback Cam Newton.
But when the dust settles, New Orleans’ high-powered offense and newfound running game will walk away with the division crown, and Tampa Bay will nab a Wild Card spot. Atlanta will end up on the wrong end of a tiebreaker and be left out of the playoffs.
 
NFC North
The Packers are much better this year than anyone in their division and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, should have quarterback Aaron Rodgers title-belting to a division crown.
Now, for my out-on-a-limb pick, quarterback Matthew Stafford leads the Detroit Lions to the NFC’s last Wild Card spot. With wide receiver Calvin Johnson and running back Jahvid Best, the Lions can score points. And if defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley can stay healthy and unsuspended by the league, they will be a wrecking crew on defense.
 
NFC East
After their offseason acquisitions, nothing less than a Super Bowl will suffice for Philadelphia Eagles fans.
They’ll take step one to that goal by easily winning the division.
 
NFC West
St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford will throw his hat into the MVP ring with his performance this season.
That performance will also be enough to get the Rams to the playoffs over the pathetic NFC West field.
 
AFC South
The reign of terror is over.
With Peyton Manning down and out, the Colts are in deep trouble. They will open the season with Kerry Collins at quarterback.
I was surprised during the Colts’ geriatric quarterback tryouts that they didn’t offer the job to someone with a little more experience than Collins, like maybe Bart Starr. Though I guess Collins is still better than the Colts’ other option under center, Curtis Painter.
But Manning’s injury opens the door for the Houston Texans to go dancing in January.
 
AFC North
There are only two respectable teams in this division, and both will make the playoffs. It’s merely a matter of in what order.
This year, the Baltimore Ravens will fall just short of winning the division title and be forced to sneak in the playoffs with a Wild Card berth. The Pittsburgh Steelers will be division champs.
 
AFC East
This is the most intriguing division in the NFL, if for no other reason than getting to see Jets coach Rex Ryan and Patriots coach Bill Belichick square off twice during the regular season. These two will also run away from the rest of their division and both claim playoff spots.
New England and its newest offensive addition, Chad Ochocinco, will take the conference’s top seed in the playoffs. Ryan’s stiff Jets defense will enter the playoffs as a Wild Card team yet again.
 
AFC West
Kansas City overachieved last season, and it will show this year as they come crashing down to Earth. Denver appears more concerned with who will be its No. 2 quarterback than it is with winning, and Oakland is, well, still Oakland.
This leaves San Diego as the division winner by default.
 
NFC Playoffs
In the divisional round, Philadelphia trounces Detroit, and Tampa Bay beats St. Louis.
The next weekend, the Saints end the Eagles’ championship dreams, and the Packers dominate the Bucs.
In the NFC Championship Game, the Saints’ offense struggles mightily with the frigid Wisconsin temperatures. Following the game, Rodgers whips out the title belt he had on the Super Bowl stage last season, signifying the Packers’ attempt to defend their title.
 
AFC Playoffs
On the first weekend, the Jets defeat the Chargers, and the Texans beat the Ravens.
The divisional round has New York ending New England’s season for the second-straight year and Houston upsetting Pittsburgh.
Finally, Ryan, quarterback Mark Sanchez and the Jets snap their two-game losing streak in the AFC Championship Game and earn the right to play in the Super Bowl by defeating the Texans.
 
Super Bowl
The last repeat Super Bowl Champion in the NFL was the 2003-04 Patriots, and that won’t change.
The stingy Jets defense will bottle up Rodgers and the potent Packers passing attack en route to the franchise’s first Super Bowl title since Joe Namath led them there in January 1969.
 
Rob Landry is a 23-year-old mass communication senior from Mandeville, La. Follow him on Twitter @RobLandry85.
 
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Contact Rob Landry at [email protected]