NFL Divisional Power Rankings

The Bears and Packers headline what should be the NFL's toughest division this year, the NFC North. (Credits: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Different from the rest of the major professional sports, the NFL has eight divisions split across two conferences allowing for true rivalries to flourish in a more organic fashion. Another thing these smaller divisions provide us with is a true feel for each of them. In the bigger divisions of the MLB, NBA and NHL, there are only certain times that the divisions can give you an indication whether or not they are tough or weak. That's purely statistical. In the NFL the divisions, because of their quant size,  often take on a deeper sense of identity year in and year out. This year we're giving our preseason Divisional Power Rankings, which will probably be completely wrong come November. But, anyways, here we go.

8. AFC West
Predictions:
Denver 11-5
Kansas City 7-9
San Diego 4-12
Oakland 3-13

It feels like an eternity since the AFC West has really been a competitive division from top-to-bottom, but really it's only been two years. San Diego looks like it's trending in the wrong direction, while Oakland will continue to be Oakland by remaining somewhere between embarrassing, hysterical and downright ugly. Kansas City was a train wreck last year, but as I've said before they were the best 2-14 team in the history of the NFL. They'll be much better, but I'm not sure if they'll be able to flip the switch entirely and be a playoff team.

7. NFC East
Predictions:
Washington 9-7
Dallas 7-9
NY Giants 6-10
Philadelphia 4-12

There's a lot of empty hype surrounding the NFC East as I think it's greatness of the past few years is really starting to wear off. Washington is still the cream of the division, but I'm not entirely sure that makes them an actual threat in the playoffs. Dallas will be right in between should be good and completely dysfunctional, although their best-case-to-worst-case scenario spectrum is always pretty wide. The Giants are in a transitional period and will see their moments of brilliance as well as sloppiness. Philadelphia's offensive line (or lack there of) will have them potentially in the Clowney sweepstakes.

6. AFC South
Predictions:
Indianapolis 11-5
Houston 10-6
Tennessee 5-11
Jacksonville 2-14

A whole lot of stock is being put in Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts to make that next step and become a 13-win team. Sure, they have the passing offense, but I don't think their defense will push them to the "elite" category. Houston (Matt Schaub and Arian Foster especially) continues to be overrated, although their defense is too dominant for them to be anything less than a 10-win team. I'm not sold on Jake Locker at all and the Tennessee defense isn't great, so I only see Chris Johnson carrying them to around five wins. Jacksonville is certainly a front-runner for Clowney.

5. AFC East
Predictions:
New England 10-6
Miami 8-8
Buffalo 8-8
NY Jets 6-10

This probably could be a reach, but I think this whole division will somewhere between 10-6 and 6-10. The Pats have weapon depletion issues and I still believe they have a reluctance to run the ball, though I don't understand why. A lot of people are hyping up the Dolphins as a surprise playoff team. They could be, but it all rides of Tannehill's growth. If he's as-advertised, then they will, if not they'll be .500 or so. The Bills defense is going to be surprisingly good with D-Coordinator Mike Pettine's exotic and overwhelming blitz scheme and the Jets defense will be strong enough to overcome their lack of firepower on offense.


4. NFC West
Predictions:
Seattle 13-3
San Francisco 12-4
St. Louis 5-11
Arizona 5-11

The NFC West definitely is the league's most top-heavy division with Seattle and San Francisco both being Super Bowl contenders. The Cardinals and Rams both actually have pretty interesting pieces on defense and should survive in that 5-7 win bracket, but offensively each are quite anemic. I like the Seahawks a bit better than the Niners, but they are basically neck and neck. Don't fall for all the talk about the bottom half of the division, they will be bad, bringing this whole division down.

3. AFC North
Predictions:
Cincinnati 13-3
Baltimore 10-6
Pittsburgh 8-8
Cleveland 6-10

Cincinnati could very well be the AFC Champion come February, with an emerging Andy Dalton and a defense that should only get better. Everyone is riding the "Ravens will suck this year" train, however I'm not buying. This is one of the best organizations in football and I'm quite sure they'll be a playoff team again. A Super Bowl team on the other hand? Probably not. Pittsburgh's defense is in a transitional year and their running game is wrought with injury turmoil. Again, hard to think the Steelers will be that great, but then again they won't be horrendous. Another 8-8 year in store for them. Cleveland actually isn't as far off as people think with Trent Richardson and their defense on the underrated side. Weeden's the big question mark. All in all, the AFC North has lost it's luster over the years, but not too much.

2. NFC South
Predictions:
Atlanta 12-4
Tampa Bay 10-6
Carolina 8-8
New Orleans 7-9

Atlanta will once again be the cream of the crop in the NFC South, but the rest of the division won't be far behind. I think the Buccaneers will be back on the positive side of things after a bit of a disappointment last year. Josh Freeman, Doug Martin and Vincent Jackson provide a nice triple threat and the defense will continue to be immovable on the ground. Their improvement in pass defense will be the key to a winning season with the acquisitions of Darelle Revis and Dashon Goldson. New Orleans and Carolina will both be right there with Drew Brees and Cam Newton at the helm, but the New Orleans defense worries me (dead last in rush d, second to last in pass d last season). Carolina could be even better than .500 if their defense plays like they did against the Ravens in preseason (it's preseason I know). Every single one of these teams could be a playoff team, but they also all could be mediocre.

1. NFC North
Predictions:
Green Bay 13-3
Chicago 11-5
Detroit 10-6
Minnesota 8-8

I think the NFC North is only going to improve from last year. They had three 10-win-or-more teams, although the Bears didn't make the playoffs. Green Bay will once again be at the top of the NFC, as it's hard to argue against a team led by Aaron Rodgers. Chicago's hire of pass-guru Marc Trestman should only help Jay Cutler stay focused. Combine that with what should be a monster defense and there's no doubt the Bears will be in the playoffs come January. Detroit will probably have the biggest turnaround of any team this year. Their four wins last year was more and indictment of locker room issues than it was talent. They're just too good across the board to miss the playoffs (or at least win 10 games). Minnesota will take a step back as I think AP won't be able to carry the load like he did last year. Relying on Christian Ponder more is nothing but bad news for the Vikes. Either way the NFC North is going to be a dousy this year.