As we were writing the division previews and talking about how we were going to put these preseason projects together I got a message from contributing writer Rich Larson razzing me about this particular aspect of the assignments.

It’s pointless trying to predict what’s going to happen in the NFL, he says. Too many things are going to change over the next few months. Too many things have changed over the last several months.

And he’s right. Half the playoff teams will turn over from last season. About one-quarter of the league’s teams will dramatically underachieve based on our expectations and another quarter will surprise the hell out of us. So what’s the point?

Everyone else is doing it? Bragging rights? Who knows? But we did it anyway. Our eight division previews have been posted over the last several days and our playoff predictions, for better or for worse, are below. Let us know who you think is right on and who you think missed the mark.Andy Tellijohn, editorial director

NFC East NFC North NFC West NFC South
Washington Green Bay Seattle Atlanta
New York Giants Chicago San Francisco New Orleans
Dallas Minnesota St. Louis Carolina
Philadelphia Detroit Arizona Tampa Bay
AFC East AFC North AFC West AFC South
New England Cincinnati Denver Indianapolis
Buffalo Baltimore Kansas City Houston
Miami Pittsburgh San Diego Tennessee
New York Jets Cleveland Oakland Jacksonville
NFC Seed 1 Seattle
NFC Seed 2 Atlanta
NFC WC 1 San Francisco
NFC WC 2 New Orleans
AFC Seed 1 Denver
AFC Seed 2 Indianapolis
AFC WC 1 Houston
AFC WC 2 Baltimore
NFC Champ Seattle
AFC Champ Denver
Super Bowl champ Seattle

Andy’s explanation:

It’s said that former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle wanted parity within the NFL. I’m not sure true parity was ever reached, but for a while it did seem as though the league was made up of mostly mediocre teams, any of whom could be beat or beaten by almost any other on any given Sunday.

I’m not sure that’s the case in the NFL right now though. To me there are a couple dominant teams in the AFC, a bunch of slightly above and below average ones and a couple of doormats whose fans will be thinking about draft day by midseason. Denver is the best of the bunch. Peyton Manning and his collection of skill position talents are complemented by a good defense. That defense lost some pieces over the offseason but that should easily be overcome by Manning being another year healthier and more familiar with the Broncos’ system.

Cincinnati and Indianapolis are on the right track and Baltimore and Pittsburgh are well run teams that will always be in the mix. Houston has been on the verge for the last couple years, but for some reason just hasn’t been able to take it to the next level. New England is the only team I see standing in Denver’s way, but it’d take a lot for that team – minus some key contributors from 2012 – to knock the Broncs from the top spot.

The same hierarchy is true in the NFC, though the conference does have more solid teams. Green Bay and Atlanta will be good again and New Orleans is whole after a season without much of its coaching staff. Minnesota will take a step back and Chicago will take awhile to adjust to a new system. The true strength of this conference is out west, where Seattle and San Francisco will produce some must watch television during their two games this season. Right now I have Seattle edging out the 49ers for the division and home field advantage in the playoffs. Ultimately the Seahawks and the Broncos are my picks to emerge as Super Bowl participants. And Seattle may be one of the only teams in the league with enough defensive backs to slow down Manning and crew. The Lombardi trophy heads to Washington state.

Tony Tellijohn, co-founder

NFC East NFC North NFC West NFC South
Dallas Green Bay San Francisco Atlanta
New York Giants Detroit Seattle New Orleans
Washington Minnesota St. Louis Tampa Bay
Philadelphia Chicago Arizona Carolina
AFC East AFC North AFC West AFC South
New England Cincinnati Denver Houston
Miami Baltimore Kansas City Indianapolis
Buffalo Pittsburgh San Diego Tennessee
New York Jets Cleveland Oakland Jacksonville
NFC Seed 1 San Francisco
NFC Seed 2 Atlanta
NFC WC 1 Seattle
NFC WC 2 Detroit
AFC Seed 1 Denver
AFC Seed 2 Houston
AFC WC 1 Indianapolis
AFC WC 2 Kansas City
NFC Champ San Francisco
AFC Champ Denver
Super Bowl champ San Francisco

Tony’s explanation:

No major surprises in my picks (in my eyes). In the NFC East, Dallas needs to remain healthy to have a legitimate shot at winning what might be the second worst division in the NFL this year, holding off the Giants. The Redskins might have the most talent in the division, but the likelihood of RG3 not succumbing to RGKNEE seems unlikely. In the Central, Green Bay still has questions, but fewer than other divisions. In the West, Seattle seems to be the fashionable pick, but I am tempted to leave them out of the playoffs altogether, with their second year midget quarterback. Even without a healthy top tier WR, San Francisco can win the West, but St. Louis might surprise some folks. In the South, I’ve been hearing a lot of Carolina picks, which I just don’t get—they underachieved last year, and did nothing to get better. Atlanta’s window may be closing, but New Orleans is already almost shut.

The AFC seems like a much less competitive conference this year. New England should walk away with the East because there still isn’t anyone ready to challenge them. Denver should do the same in the West. Houston might have a stiff challenge from Indianapolis, but I don’t see the Colts overachieving quite like last year. The North might be the toughest division to call, but not because it’s that great—Baltimore and Pittsburgh seem to be declining, leaving the division up for grabs. The Bengals seem to be the most likely to grab the reigns, although Cleveland could also surprise.

For the wildcards, I still see whoever finishes second in the west getting in, whether that is Seattle or St. Louis. Detroit seems as logical as anyone else in today’s crazy NFL. Same logic applies with Kansas City in the AFC, as they probably underachieved last year, and can beat up on Oakland and San Diego to pick up four wins.

San Francisco and Denver seem to be a step ahead of everyone else in their conferences right now, and if they stay healthy they should match up in the Super Bowl.  I actually think Denver is better, but since when has that mattered in the Super Bowl?

Anthony Maggio, fantasy editor

NFC East NFC North NFC West NFC South
Washington Green Bay San Francisco New Orleans
Dallas Chicago Seattle Atlanta
Philadelphia Detroit Arizona Carolina
New York Giants Minnesota St. Louis Tampa Bay
AFC East AFC North AFC West AFC South
New England Cincinnati Denver Houston
Buffalo Baltimore Kansas City Indianapolis
Miami Cleveland San Diego Tennessee
New York Jets Pittsburgh Oakland Jacksonville
NFC Seed 1 New Orleans
NFC Seed 2 San Francisco
NFC WC 1 Seattle
NFC WC 2 Atlanta
AFC Seed 1 Denver
AFC Seed 2 New England
AFC WC 1 Baltimore
AFC WC 2 Indianapolis
NFC Champ Seattle
AFC Champ Denver
Super Bowl champ Denver

Anthony’s explanation:

So why Seattle as only a wild card playoff entrant but also my Super Bowl pick? Two words: Percy Harvin. I think the NFC West is the toughest division in football, and as such think it’s a coin flip between the top two squads for the division title. And although Michael Crabtree will return late for San Francisco, I expect Harvin to be much more game-ready, and he’s also more of a game-changer.

Ultimately the New Orleans and Atlanta battle will be good as well, but I think Sean Peyton’s return will help propel them in 2013. I picked the Falcons to edge out the Bears for the final playoff spot, but expect Chicago to be in the hunt as well.

On the AFC side, I expect Indianapolis to still be good, but think they played a bit over their heads last year and got a little lucky. Thus, I think they are back to the pack some, but still make the playoffs in what is overall a much weaker conference. Denver and New England have basically no competition, and the Broncos are arguably the most talented team in football. Cincy and Houston are good, and the Ravens are obviously the defending champs, but I think a Tom Brady miracle is about the only thing besides injuries that can derail Denver. And once Peyton Manning gets to the Super Bowl, he’s not gonna lose it.

Tim Madsen, contributing writer

NFC East NFC North NFC West NFC South
Washington Minnesota San Francisco Atlanta
New York Giants Green Bay Seattle New Orleans
Dallas Chicago St. Louis Carolina
Philadelphia Detroit Arizona Tampa Bay
AFC East AFC North AFC West AFC South
New England Cincinnati Denver Houston
Miami Baltimore Kansas City Indianapolis
Buffalo Cleveland San Diego Tennessee
New York Jets Pittsburgh Oakland Jacksonville
NFC Seed 1 San Francisco
NFC Seed 2 Atlanta
NFC WC 1 Seattle
NFC WC 2 New Orleans
AFC Seed 1 Denver
AFC Seed 2 New England
AFC WC 1 Kansas City
AFC WC 2 Baltimore
NFC Champ San Francisco
AFC Champ Denver
Super Bowl champ San Francisco

Tim’s explanation:

In the AFC, the Patriots and Broncos meet in the AFC Championship at a showdown at Mile-High. Manning shows why he is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time besting the resurgent Patriots. Both of these team cake walk their divisional opponents to battle in a shootout that shows why the quarterback is the most important position in football.

In the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers slug it out in physical throw downs that allows them to host the wildcard Saints. The Niners get their revenge against the Saints for the 2011 divisional defeat to meet the Manning led Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. Colin Kapernick, Frank Gore, and superior offensive and defensive line play is enough to impose their will against the pass-first Broncos for Super Bowl victory.

Rich Larson, contributing writer

NFC East NFC North NFC West NFC South
Giants Green Bay San Francisco Atlanta
Washington Chicago Seattle New Orleans
Dallas Minnesota Arizona Tampa Bay
Philadelphia Detroit St. Louis Carolina
AFC East AFC North AFC West AFC South
New England Baltimore Denver Houston
Buffalo Cincinnatti Kansas City Indianapolis
Miami Pittsburgh San Diego Jacksonville
Jets Cleveland Oakland Tennessee
NFC Seed 1 San Francisco
NFC Seed 2 Green Bay
NFC WC 1 Atlanta
NFC WC 2 Giants
AFC Seed 1 Baltimore
AFC Seed 2 Houston
AFC WC 1 Denver
AFC WC 2 Cincinnatti
NFC Champ Atlanta
AFC Champ Denver
Super Bowl champ Denver

Rich’s explanation:

A couple years ago, the NFL started running commercials near the end of the season, showing fans of a specific team making the most common predictions that were circulating at the beginning of the season.

It was things like Patriots fan saying “Who’s the guy Pittsburgh drafted RothLessSomething? Nice pick Cowher.”

Or a guy dressed head to toe in green and white saying “Mark Sanchez is the Jets ticket to the Super Bowl.”

It was a spot on campaign, and while it was very entertaining, it made us all feel a little bit stupid. Not because we had an opinion, but because we think we can see the future. Picking your Super Bowl winner on Labor Day, much less the carnage left in said team’s wake, is a futile exercise. So, with that said:

I have Denver beating Atlanta in New York. Don’t ask me why. It’s a hunch. I like the moves Atlanta made, especially bringing in Stephen Jackson, and I think they are the class of the NFC. However, I think Peyton Manning is on a mission. I wish I felt better about the running game in Denver, but I’m guessing it will sort itself out sometime in the next five months. When it comes down to it, its cold in New York in February, so I’ll pick the cold weather team.

Enough talking. Can we please just watch some football?

To see our individual division previews, click:

AFC South
AFC North
AFC East
AFC West
NFC West
NFC North
NFC South
NFC East