My 2012 NFL Predictions

Pads are on and all 32 NFL teams have taken the field for training camp as we are quickly approaching the 2012 kickoff.

Amazing enough, in less than five days the preseason kicks off and coaches will be able to evaluate their players in real game situations. While there are some players that are certain to be on the teams' roster after the final cut day, there are many more that are vying to find a slot on a team.

Teams have made changes since last year's season came to a close. Several teams have new coaches, quarterbacks have found new landing spots and key free agents have been picked up all in hopes of finding the right pieces to complete the puzzle. There are even several top draft picks that teams are hoping will step in and deliver to give them a competitive shot in their goal of raising the Lombardi trophy at the end of the season.

While each team comes off a certain level of play from last year, everyone has the same record and hasn't lost a game this season giving the hopes of reaching the team goals an acceptable level of realism at this point.

I am not, nor do I claim to be an NFL expert. I'm a fan that looks at the teams, the moves, and forms my opinions based on the factors that each and everyone of us use to make the same types of predictions. After looking at what I know, here is what I project for this season. Some will agree, some will say I am totally off, but it sparks conversation and debate and leaves us yearning a little more to fulfill that void that has been missing since January.

In just a few short weeks, NFL Sundays will once again fill stadiums and rule the airwaves.

AFC East

1. New England Patriots
2. New York Jets
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Miami Dolphins

AFC North
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Cleveland Browns

AFC South
1. Houston Texans
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Jacksonville Jaguars

AFC West
1. Denver Broncos
2. San Diego Chargers
3. Oakland Raiders
4. Kansas City Chiefs

AFC Wild Card Teams: Pittsburgh and San Diego

NFC East
1. New York Giants
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Washington Redskins
4. Dallas Cowboys

NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers
2. Detroit Lions
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. Chicago Bears

NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints
2. Carolina Panthers
3. Atlanta Falcons
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers
2. Arizona Cardinals
3. St. Louis Rams
4. Seattle Seahawks

NFC Wild Card Teams: Philadelphia and Detroit

Super Bowl: Baltimore vs. San Francisco
Champion: San Francisco