An Outlook: The Final Standings For This Year’s NFL Season

Years ago, when my father was writing regularly for Chan Harris’ Door County Advocate he often wrote about sports and, at appropriate times of the year, he would make predictions for the coming season. Maybe it was the Bears – Packers match-up this Sunday to start the NFL season for both teams that reminded me of his prediction columns and led me to make my own predictions for this season of professional football. To be honest, however, the real reason is that I simply didn’t have any better idea for this week’s column.

With that acknowledgement of motive, I was surprised at how long it took me to put this together and I am now wondering whether Jim, my editor (who is not a sports fan), will even run this column.

Of course, I am a Bears’ fan and all of you are wondering if I believe your beloved Packers will make the Super Bowl. The answer is…yes!…but they won’t win the Lombardi Trophy. The Colts will beat the Broncos for the AFC Championship and the Packers will beat the Cowboys for the NFC Championship. But Andrew Luck and the Colts will win the grand prize.

Of course, the only way the Packers make the Super Bowl is if Aaron Rodgers stays healthy. Without him the Packers are a 9 – 7 team. Likewise (because all of you are already thinking it) the only way the Bears are a 6 – 10 team is if Jay Cutler stays healthy. Without Cutler the Bears are 8 – 8.

American Football Conference

East

Patriots 11 – 5

Bills 8 – 8

Dolphins 7 – 9

Jets 5 – 11

North

Bengals 10 – 6

Ravens 9 – 7

Steelers 8 – 8

Browns 5 – 11

South

Colts 12 – 4

Texans 7 – 9

Titans 6 – 10

Jaguars 4 – 12

West

Broncos 12 – 4

Chiefs 10 – 6

Chargers 8 – 8

Raiders 3 – 13

National Football Conference

 East

Cowboys 12 – 4

Giants 9 – 7

Eagles 7 – 9

Redskins 4 – 12

North

Packers 13 – 3

Lions 9 – 7

Vikings 7 – 9

Bears 6 – 10

South

Saints 10 – 6

Panthers 9 – 7

Buccaneers 7 – 9

Falcons 7 – 9

West

Seahawks 11 – 5

Cardinals 8 – 8

Rams 7 – 9

49ers 5 – 11