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Jenna Fackrell

Daniel Baker

Daniel Baker, 21st Century Journalism Reporter

With the 2014 NFL season underway, that means that everyone has their predictions on who is going to win it all and who is going to take a major fall. Last season, we saw a Kansas City Chiefs team that was 2-14 and had the number one overall draft pick, skyrocketed to an astonishing 9-0 start, and ended the season 11-5.

The Chiefs made their first playoff appearance since 2010, and early in the game looked like a Super Bowl caliber team. At halftime, The Chiefs were up on the Indianapolis Colts 31-10. Now, in most games, a 21 point margin is enough for a team to hold on and win the game. Andrew Luck and the Colts had different plans in mind. Luck and the Colts came on the field after an Alex Smith touchdown throw to Knile Davis made the score 38-10. Down 28, the Colts could have given up. Nope, they didn’t even think of giving up. The Colts would go on consecutive touchdown drives, making the score 38-24. The Chiefs respond with a Ryan Succop field goal, increasing their lead back up to 17, making the score 41-24. Then, Andrew Luck leads his offense again to consecutive touchdown drives, making the score 41-38. Fast forward to the 5:36 mark in the fourth quarter, The Colts are down 44-38. With one last chance, Andrew Luck leads the Colts to a game-winning drive with a 45-44 win on WIld-Card Weekend. The Indianapolis Colts would comeback, down 28 to make it the second largest comeback in league history. The Kansas City Chiefs were up 28 points, but still ended up on the losing end.

Now fast forward to present day. The Seattle Seahawks are the defending Super Bowl champions after embarrassing Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos with a 43-8 blowout win. The 49ers defense is hit with injuries and suspensions all around. The St. Louis Rams star quarterback is out for a second straight season with a torn ACL. “Johnny Cleveland” seems to be a big deal when he is on the bench. The 2014 NFL season doesn’t present a clear favorite to win it all. So who is the “best” team in the NFL? There isn’t one.

2014 has to be the most uncertain NFL season in quite some time. With teams like the Seahawks, Packers, Broncos and Colts, the NFL is wide open. There will be surprise teams like the Kansas City Chiefs were last season. And then we will have the not so good surprise teams like the 4-12 Atlanta Falcons were last season. The season before the Atlanta Falcons were 13-3.

Below are the 2014 NFL predictions and awards.

Enjoy!

AFC

East

  1. Patriots/11-5
  2. Dolphins/10-6
  3. Jets/8-8
  4. Bills/5-11

North

  1. Steelers/11-5
  2. Ravens/10-6
  3. Bengals/9-7
  4. Browns/6-10

NFC

East

  1. Eagles/11-5
  2. Giants/10-6
  3. Cowboys/9-7
  4. Redskins/8-8

North

  1. Packers/13-3
  2. Bears/10-6
  3. Vikings/8-8
  4. Lions/7-9


Playoff Seeds

AFC

  1. Colts/12-4
  2. Broncos/12-4
  3. Patriots/11-5
  4. Steelers/11-5
  5. Dolphins/10-6 (wild card #1)
  6. Chargers/10-6 (wild card #2)

NFC

  1. Packers/13-3
  2. Seahawks/12-4
  3. Saints/12-4
  4. Eagles/11-5
  5. 49ers/11-5 (wild card #1)
  6. Buccaneers/11-5 (wild card #2)

Wild Card Weekend

*= wins game

AFC-

3- Patriots (24)*

6- Chargers (17)

 

4- Steelers (14)

5- Dolphins (28)*

NFC-

3- Saints (27)*

6- Buccaneers (7)

 

4- Eagles (20)

5- 49ers (31)*

Divisional Round

AFC-

1- Colts (41)*

5- Dolphins (27)

 

2- Broncos (31)*

3- Patriots (30)

 

NFC-

1- Packers (44)*

5- 49ers (38)

 

2-Seahawks (21)*

3- Saints (17)

 

AFC Championship Game

1- Colts (35)*

2- Broncos (33)

 

NFC Championship Game

1- Packers (27)*

2- Seahawks (20)

 

Super Bowl 49

AFC Champions: Indianapolis Colts (27)

NFC Champions: Green Bay Packers (31)*

2014 NFL Awards

MVP: Aaron Rodgers (QB; Green Bay Packers)

Rookie of the Year: Jadeveon Clowney (LB; Houston Texans)

Coach of the Year: Joe Philbin (Miami Dolphins)