NFL KICKOFF STARTS TONIGHT!!!

Tonight we begin the NFL 2016 season. The Superbowl champion Denver Broncos host the Carolina Panthers in a Superbowl rematch to start the season. The wait is over. We're finally here folks. Today I'm going to give my incite on each division and how I think things will play out. After you're finished reading here, run on over to our Facebook page at The Red Zone Faction and give me your division winners. I'll even throw in my conference champs and oh why not... I'll give you my 2016 champion. I think you'll be shocked. Don't scroll down. Read this out. No cheating (Wink). So on that note let's get it.

NFC North

The NFC North is one of those divisions you just know how things will play out. Easily predictable. The The Detroit Lions were already a train wreck in so many areas. Then Wide Receiver Calvin Johnson retires? That's terrible news for the Lions. The offense was the one thing holding this team together. Now its a complete unknown. I think they finish last in this division. The Chicago Bears will be grateful for the Lions issues because they wont be far behind in losses. The Defense still needs plenty of work and last I checked Jay Cutler is still the quarterback in Chicago. They do have a few decent wide receivers. Jeremy Langford at running back is still an unproven back. They let Forte walk in free agency during the offseason so they must feel comfortable with him. The Minnesota Vikings will finish second. They had a terrible injury to their quarterback Teddy Bridgewater this summer but they traded for Sam Bradford so they should be pretty solid. I like the Vikings Defense and I think they have plenty of weapons on the offense. Bradford just needs to stay healthy. If that happens they have a great chance to win the NFC North. But that's very doubtful. I'm taking the Green Bay Packers to win the North. Aaron Rodgers will be back on his game with his favorite toy Jordy Nelson back in the lineup and Eddie Lacy looks fantastic and in great shape. Lacy is also in a contract year so I know he'll be playing lights out this year. Green Bay's defense will need to play better and that is really the only

question mark I have for this team. Consistency. It's Dr. Jeckle/Mr. Hyde with these guys. Bottom line - I think Green Bay is a better over all team than the other three teams in the NFC North. Simple as that. Green Bay wins the NFC North. Vikings will be in the wild card talk. That is... IF Bradford stays on the field. Long shot..

NFC South

The NFC South is not so predictable. The only certain I do know is that Carolina has by far the best defense of this group. New Orleans has the worst. And it is that reason and that reason alone why I place them 4th in the NFC South. Drew Brees only has so much time left. They need to be in "win now" mode but I haven't seen ownership do anything to help Brees. If anything they've only made matters worse in New Orleans. Atlanta will finish third but it wont be without a fight. Matt Ryan is honestly the reason I place them 3rd. The defense will be better but Ryan is average at best and average in the NFL doesn't get you far. They have one of if not the best wide receiver in the league in Julio Jones. If he doesn't get them far into the playoffs this season I think Atlanta should consider making a move at quarterback. I don't think I'm alone on that island either. Tampa Bay finishes second and I'll even give them a wild card probability. I think Jameis Winston takes his game to a new level in his second year and his defense will help him. I like Tampa this year. But... Those Carolina Panthers win the south once again and It shouldn't be too

hard. The panthers with Cam Newton leading the pack have only gotten stronger since there Superbowl loss to Von Miller and the Denver Broncos. Cam and Von will meet once again tonight. Von may get the best of Cam again tonight. But either way the Panthers own the NFC South again in 2016.

NFC East

The NFC East is well.. It's the weakest of the divisions in the NFC. A lot of rebuilding being done on all four team. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo just suffered another injury which along with there ton of suspension and defense (and I'll be honest- My hatred) I'm predicting them to sit last in the East. I think Ezekiel Elliott along with the offensive line will keep them in games and may even give them a few wins. But with such a huge whole at quarterback I can't take them seriously. Too many questions here. And I know Peanut will disagree but anyone (excluding Cowboy fans) should realize the Cowboys chances are slim to none without a defense and a quarterback. My Philadelphia Eagles will finish third. Sam Bradford was just traded to the Minnesota Vikings for multiple draft picks. Those picks will come in handy later to build this team around rookie quarterback Carson Wentz. Which I am absolutely happy about. The Eagles are a huge question mark on offense. The Defense is another story and is the reason they will not finish in last place. They'll win games based on defense and running the ball. Doug Pederson is an Andy Reid clone but he has yet to coach an NFL game. We'll see where we stand in a few days. Until then we have no idea what we're in for. The New York Giants finish second. They are also in rebuilding mode but mainly on defense. Their offence should be really solid. They have one of the greats at wide receiver in Odell Beckham Jr. They have a few other receivers that certainly not scrubs either. Eli Manning will get it done in the clutch and make it hard for the team I have winning the division. The Washington Redskins get it done this year. Again. Kirk Cousins is a good quarterback folks. Desean Jackson is in a contract year and I know he'll bring it. The defense will be better though I think

the Josh Norman sign wont be a factor. Norman is good but he's got Beckham and Dez Bryant twice a year now. His life just got real. But Cousins and the offense will get it done. Redskins win the East in '16.

NFC West

Three of the best defenses play in this division. The fourth up until a year ago was included in that category. This is one of the best divisions in all of football. The San Francisco 49r's are on the bottom in this division. A once great team even just two years ago they have fallen so far and to make matters worse they brought Chip Kelly in to coach this team. I'm not wasting another minute on them. Last place for the 9'ers. The L.A Rams have a very solid defense and that should keep them respectable. But they drafted Jared Goff with the first over all pick in this years NFL draft and though I hear he will not be active Week 1, they are going to start him this season. That means they will not be in the playoff picture this season. 8-8 tops. And I'm being nice. I'm not on the Goff wagon( yes, I'm calling BUST). I think the Rams paid too much to get that pick. But that is just my opinion. The Seahawks come in second this year. Marshawn Lynch retired so the running game, which is what Seattle has always leaned on, is all but gone. Russell Wilson will carry this team but with its yet to be

seen without Lynch behind him. Time will tell. The Arizona Cardinals Win the West and I think they get #1 seed in the playoffs. David Johnson is an absolute beast and along with Carson Palmer will carry this team to the Superbowl. Yeah, I said it... Superbowl. Larry Fitzgerald will not be suiting up much longer. This ones for him. Go Cards!

AFC North

The AFC North reminds me of the NFC North. It's really bottom heavy, a few question marks with three of the four teams. I'm picking the Ravens to finish fourth because they have the most questions. They have talent but not much depth and they lack star power. Not the same Ravens I'm use to seeing. The Cleveland Browns finish third. I think the Browns are better than most people think. They have a few stars and I think the new coach reaches them and puts them in a better position to win games. I love Hue Jackson and I look forward to seeing what he does in Cleveland. I just hope they don't fire him at the end of the season like Cleveland tends to do. He is a good coach. They need to give him time. He'll make them better. The Cincinnati Bengals place second. Andy Dalton will do what he does. He'll play decent enough to get them a playoff bid then choke. We've

seen this for how many seasons now? We know how this story ends. Start A.J McCarron already...It's his reputation. Maybe a wild card. Pittsburgh Steelers get my vote for winners of the AFC North. Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown along with that great running game and decent defense will be more than enough to win the division and get a high seed in the playoffs. No question the best team in the North.

AFC South

The AFC South is a division that has had a lot of change over the last few years and this year would be no different. It is a very young division and I'll be honest. It's undoubtedly the hardest division to predict. So keep this in mind as you read this part of the blog. I'm picking the Jacksonville Jaguars to finish last but I would not be shocked in the least if they win it. They have moved mountains to get this team competitive and I think they're on the right path. Watch out for Jacksonville folks. Tennessee Titans will finish third but this is another team I feel is on the come up. This running game will be insanely good. I also thing quarterback Marcus Mariota will take his game to the next level in year two. The only thing Tennessee lacks is wide receivers. Defense is "ok". Still growing in a few areas but I like this team. The Indianapolis Colts finish second. Andrew Luck gets his

mojo back and T.Y. Hilton and those receivers run wild. The Colts defense and questions on the offensive line and running back keep me from giving them the division. The Houston Texans take the AFC South title in 2016. One name... J.J. Watt. He's a game changer. Watt is capable of taking over games. The offense is more than capable of putting up points. DeAndre Hopkins and Lamar Miller will get things done. The offensive line is good. Houston wins the South. No question.

AFC East

In large part the New England Patriots have dominated this division for well over a decade. Well for those of you that know me, know that I'm a closet Patriots fan. So It won't change in this writing I assure you. The Miami Dolphins will finish last in this division. They have a ton of work to do on both sides of the ball. They have a few good wide outs but everything else on that offense is highly questionable. The Buffalo Bills finish third in the East. I think Tyrod Taylor plays well and the offense will be a positive. I can not say the same for their defense. They simply do not look good and depth is also an issue. The offense will keep them in games because they have stars. LeSean McCoy and Sammy Watkins are play makers and will keep points on the board. I'm just concerned about this defense. The New York Jets finish in second. They brought back Ryan Fitzpatrick and that alone makes them better. Matt Forte is the man in the back field now. Brandon Marshall is still there at wide receiver. That defense is legit. They will give the winner of this division fits. The New England Patriots win the 2016 division title. Surprise surprise... Tom Brady is out the first four weeks of the season due to Rodger Goodell being a .....well, I'll

be nice and not go there. It's all about what happens when he returns. He's going to unload on the NFL when he returns people. The New England Patriots are not only going to the Superbowl. They are going to beat the "good guys" being the Arizona Cardinals (Larry Fitzgerald going out on a high note kinda deal). Only for the evil Tom Brady to steal the show, win the Superbowl, ride off into the sunset, then retire. Just like his buddy did last year. Makes for a good story line doesn't it? Which is exactly what the NFL is all about these days... Bad guys finish first. GO PATS!

AFC West

The AFC West is another very predictable division. The Chargers will finish in last. Nothing to really about here. The other three teams are just all around better. I love Phillip Rivers and I cant help but think about how Eli Manning pouting on draft day ruined Rivers' life. I feel Rivers would win just about anywhere else. He should've ran out of town years ago but Rivers is a class act. He's loyal to San Diego. They'll send his tail down the river soon though just like they did Drew Brees. The Kansas City Chiefs finish third. Injuries, Alex Smith, bone head clock management by Andy Reid. Reid wont last as long in KC as he did Philly. The Denver Broncos will come up a game short of winning the West. They'll finish second but get a wild card. The young quarterback will cost them a few games and keep them from going anywhere in the playoffs.

The Oakland Raiders will win the AFC West. They are the youngest talented team in the NFL. Derek Carr and Amari Cooper have another year of chemistry. Khalil Mack and that defense will be another year better. They've built this Raiders team to be good for years. When they take over you'll know it. It's about to get real.

Well there ya have it folks. My thoughts and predictions on the 2016 NFL Season. If you scrolled to the bottom to see my Superbowl picks and winner you'll just have to go back to the top. It's in the article. Remember to come over to our Facebook page at The Red Zone Faction and give me your division winners. Thanks for stopping by and giving us a read. Have a blessed day and enjoy your NFL Kickoff weekend! I know I will!