NFL 2011 forecast

After an unnecessary, over-long lockout, the NFL is back in business for the 2011 season. Now, I'm not an expert on these things, but let me take a crack at figuring out who is going to the postseason......

AFC East:

1. New England. I lost respect for the Patriots a while ago, well before the '07 imperfect season. Still, they may have just enough to hold off the Jets and finish at 11-5.

2. NY Jets. "Gang Green" will be a bridesmaid again with a wild card berth. 10-6.

3. Miami. Exit Ricky Williams, Chad Pennington, & Ronnie Brown. Enter Reggie Bush. Not enough for the playoffs. 8-8.

4. Buffalo. 20 years ago, they were relevant. They're still trying to live down losing 4 straight Super Bowls. 7-9.

AFC North:

1. Baltimore. The balance of power in the division officially shifts. 12-4.

2. Pittsburgh. Hines Ward won on Dancing With the Stars. The Steelers will be happy to be a wild card. 11-5.

3. Cleveland. One more step shy of the playoffs. 7-9.

4. Cincinnati. Chad Ochocinco is gone, Carson Palmer quit and took his brother with him. Marvin Lewis is likely next if the Bengals become the Bungles again. 6-10.

AFC South:

1. Indianapolis. So what if America's Favorite Hick, Peyton Manning, isn't playing in week 1? Kerry Collins knows how to take a team to the promised land. 11-5.

2. Houston. Way overdue, but not yet a primetime player. 8-8.

3. Tennessee. Jeff Fisher is gone. So is Vince Young. Matt Hasselbeck leads the offense, but where? 7-9.

4. Jacksonville. Dumping David Garrard was a mistake. Enough said. 5-11.

AFC West:

1. Kansas City. Last year wasn't a fluke. 10-6.

2. San Diego. The glory days are over with Darren Sproles having followed LaDainian Tomlinson & Shawne Merriman out of town. 9-7.

3. Denver. Not quite their turn. 7-9.

4. Oakland. Last year's 6-0 division record was a fluke. Back down to earth. 7-9.

NFC East:

1. Philadelphia. The Eagles' so-called "Dream Team" actually makes more sense than Miami's over-hyped NBA crew, who choked in the Finals. The Eagles have something the Heat and the Patriots don't. R-E-S-P-E-C-T! 13-3.

2. Dallas. At least their defense isn't a M*A*S*H unit. 10-6.

3. NY Giants. 2 key offensive weapons, gone. A shredded defense due to injuries. And Eli Manning thinks he's an elite QB? Methinks he may have been sniffing his Oreo cookies too much before eating. 9-7.

4. Washington. Daniel Snyder, do us a favor. Sell the team. 7-9.

NFC North:

1. Green Bay. It took Aaron Rodgers six seasons to formally become The Man in "Titletown". That ain't changing right away. 12-4.

2. Detroit. The Lions will follow the lead of the Tigers instead of the Pistons for a change. 10-6.

3. Minnesota. Donovan McNabb replaces Brett Favre, or whatever that was posing for a QB the last two years. 9-7.

4. Chicago. The division has passed them by. 8-8.

NFC South:

1. New Orleans. Reggie Bush fled for Miami. Darren Sproles comes in from San Diego. And the Saints drafted 2009 Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, the son of the former Giants star. Drew Brees remains the QB, and that may be enough. 11-5.

2. Atlanta. Never bet against Matt Ryan, especially at home. 11-5. (New Orleans wins the division based on tiebreakers)

3. Carolina. Heisman winner Cam Newton joins Jimmy Clausen at QB for the Panthers, but they're not yet ready to take the division. 7-9.

4. Tampa Bay. Too tough a division, and someone has to fill the basement. 7-9.

NFC West:

1. Arizona. Kevin Kolb takes over at QB, given a fair chance to prove he is a winner. 10-6.

2. Seattle. For Pete Carroll, year 2 is make-or-break. 8-8.

3. San Francisco. Close, but not yet. 7-9.

4. St. Louis. See San Francisco. 5-11.

Wild cards: AFC: Jets, Pittsburgh; NFC: Dallas, Atlanta.

Of course, I could be wrong.......!