What better way to shake off the #deflategate offseason distractions than to open the season up with the New England Patriots! Football season, the greatest sports season is upon us. This year’s NFL season begins with the defending Super Bowl champs facing off against  the team with the most Lombardi trophies, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Many teams seem to have made upgrades in the off-season, and we’ll see whose additions make the biggest difference starting in week one.

Also enjoy the best sports videogame commercial ever.

Here are my full season predictions:

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles 12-4
2. New York Giants 9-7
3. Dallas Cowboys 8-8
4. Washington Redskins 4-16

The Eagles offense remained relatively steady although there is no consistency from season to season, but their real upgrade is to the defense which got rid of porous pieces and replaced them with solid defensive anchors.

NFC West

1. Seattle Seahawks 12-4
2. Arizona Cardinals 10 -6
3. San Francisco 49ers  8-8
4. St. Louis Rams 7-9

The Seattle Seahawks will be hungry for redemption after the greatest blunder in football history. The wounds from the Super Bowl loss may still bleed:

NFC North

1. Green Bay Packers 10-6
2. Minnesota Vikings 9-7
3. Detroit Lions 9-7
4. Chicago Bears 3-13

Adrian Peterson has returned and Teddy Bridgewater quietly had the best season last year of the rookie quarterbacks, so lookout for the Vikings to once again become relevant in the division. Aaron Rodgers has also lost Jordy Nelson which is a big blow to the Packers offense.

NFC South

1. New Orleans Saints 10-6
2. Carolina Panthers 9-7
3. Atlanta Falcons 9-7
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-12

At the end of last season, the Falcons were still in playoff-birth contention with a record of 6-10. The division will be tough once again, but not in a be the butt of the league type of way. Look for the Saints to make a return to the playoffs.

AFC East

1. New England Patriots 10-6
2. Buffalo Bills 9-7
3. Miami Dolphins 9-7
4. New York Jets 7-9

Tom Brady may have gotten his suspension lifted, but that doesn’t mean the Patriots will have any bit of an easier time. The Bills are a completely revamped team, the Dolphins are still rising, and slack-jaw aside, the Jets come into this season with a better team as well.

AFC West

1. Denver Broncos 10-6
2. Kansas City Chiefs 10-6
3. Sandiego Chargers 8-8
4. Oakland Raiders 6-10

This division is still about Peyton Manning, but the Chiefs will challenge the Broncos for the lead.

AFC North

1. Pittsburgh Steelers 9-7
2. Baltimore Ravens 9-7
3. Cincinnati Bengals 8-8
4. Cleveland Browns 3-13

Somehow the Cleveland Browns managed to become a worse team in the offseason. This will only benefit the other members of a division that have always remained in playoff contention.

AFC South

1. Indianapolis Colts 9-7
2. Houston Texans 8-8
3. Tennessee Titans  4-12
4. Jacksonville Jaguars 4-12

The Colts will look to build upon a solid season from last year, although they should be wary of a solidified Texans defensive team.

NFC Championship

Philadelphia Eagles vs Seattle Seahawks

AFC Championship

Baltimore Ravens vs Indianapolis Colts

Super Bowl

Philadelphia Eagles vs Indianapolis Colts

The Philadelphia Eagles are my favorite to win this season’s Super Bowl. If there is a method to Chip Kelly’s madness, then this is the season that his master plan would come to fruition. The organization did a good job in the offseason of upgrading the defense to compliment the already overpowering offense.  You’ll find me at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco if the Eagles make the Super Bowl!

Who do you think will win the Super Bowl, and who would you like to see as this season’s champions? Share in the Comments.