The Hail Mary - Looking Back on My 2014 Predictions

NFC East (My Predictions)

1. *New York Giants 10-6, 2. Philadelphia Eagles 8-8, 3. Washington 8-8, 4. Dallas 6-10

NFC East (Actual Results)

1. *Dallas 12-4, 2. Philadelphia 10-6, 3. New York Giants 6-10, 4. Washington 4-12

The Verdict: I need to stop picking the Giants to win the division. No one had Dallas going 12-4, and I was correct about the Eagles missing the playoffs.


NFC North (My Predictions)

1. *Chicago 11-5, 2. *Green Bay 11-5, 3. Minnesota 7-9, 4. Detroit 6-10

NFC North (Actual Results)

1. *Green Bay 12-4, 2. *Detroit 11-5, 3. Minnesota 7-9, 4. Chicago 5-11

The Verdict: Was way off on Chicago and Detroit, but pretty spot on with Green Bay and Minnesota.


NFC South (My Predictions)

1. *New Orleans 11-5, 2. Tampa Bay 7-9, 3. Atlanta 7-9, 4. Carolina 6-10

NFC South (Actual Results)

1. *Carolina 7-8-1. 2. New Orleans 7-9, 3. Atlanta 6-10, 4. Tampa Bay 2-14

The Verdict: Like many others, was caught off guard by how bad the Saints were this year. Basically predicted correctly that the division would stink.


NFC West (My Predictions)

1. *San Francisco 12-4, 2. *Seattle 10-6, 3. St. Louis 8-8, 4. Arizona 7-9

NFC West (Actual Results)

1. *Seattle 12-4, 2. *Arizona 11-5, 3. San Francisco 8-8, 4. St. Louis 6-10

The Verdict: The 49ers greatly underachieved compared to my expectations. I looked spot on about Seattle the first half of the season, but they turned it around in the second half to surpass my prediction. Arizona was much better than I anticipated.


In the NFC I correctly predicted 2 (Green Bay, Seattle) of the 6 playoff teams. I predicted a San Francisco/New Orleans NFC Championship game which obviously won't be happening with neither team making the playoffs. My Super Bowl pick of the 49ers did not pay off.


AFC East (My Predictions)

1. *New England 12-4, 2. Miami 8-8, 3. Buffalo 7-9, 4. New York Jets 7-9

AFC East (Actual Results)

1. *New England 12-4, 2. Buffalo 9-7, 3. Miami 8-8, 4. New York Jets 4-12

The Verdict: This is always the easiest division to predict a winner in. Only place I was really off was giving the Jets too much credit.


AFC North (My Predictions)

1. *Pittsburgh 11-5, 2. *Cincinnati 10-6, 3. *Baltimore 9-7, 4. Cleveland 7-9

AFC North (Actual Results)

1. *Pittsburgh 11-5, 2. *Cincinnati 10-5-1, 3. *Baltimore 10-6, 4. Cleveland 7-9

The Verdict: A perfect score in this division and I almost nailed the records too!


AFC South (My Predictions)

1. *Indianapolis 12-4, 2. Tennessee 5-11, 3. Houston 4-12, 4. Jacksonville 4-12

AFC South (Actual Results)

1. *Indianapolis 11-5, 2. Houston 9-7, 3. Jacksonville 3-13, 4. Tennessee 2-14

The Verdict: Colts ran away with the division as expected, the surprise was how improved Houston was.


AFC West (My Predictions)

1. *Denver 13-3, 2. Kansas City 9-7, 3. San Diego 8-8, 4. Oakland 4-12

AFC West (Actual Results)

1. *Denver 12-4, 2. Kansas City 9-7, 3. San Diego 9-7, 4. Oakland 3-13

The Verdict: Another division where I was almost perfect.


In the AFC I correctly predicted all four division winners and all 6 playoff teams. My AFC Championship game prediction of Denver/New England is still in play, as is Denver as my choice to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.