2014 Superbowl Predictions

[fustercluck]

Time for my yearly thread of Superbowl predictions! Last year I picked the 49ers to win it all. Close but no cigar.

My predictions in the past has been pretty solid overall...
2011/2012 season predictions
2010/2011 season predictions

But all that crap is in the past. Let's get right to it.

This year in the Superbowl I foresee...(hmm, still doing research as I'm posting this thread)...

The Denver Broncos vs. San Fransisco 49ers with Peyton taking home the Lombardi trophy!

That's what I came up with. I hate to go with the easy pick Superbowl favorites (originally was thinking maybe Pittsburgh), but I could find no reason why the Broncos shouldn't be the best team in the league this year. They got Peyton Manning, 3 great WRs in Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, and Eric Decker. They also got a veteran head coach, and a pretty solid defense (although perhaps not as good as last year).

Tough to pick the NFC this year. There's Green Bay, 49ers, Seattle, Atlanta, The Saints with their head coach back. Going with the 49ers again (not exactly a risky pick, either :hmm with berserker Jim Harbaugh at the helm. That fantastic defense and explosive offense...they will be a tough match for the Broncos.

But of course, all predictions are based on players/teams staying healthy which is certainly never guaranteed in the NFL. Also possible I might get the itch to change one of my Superbowl teams before the season officially starts (Sept 5th). Once the season starts, all my predictions are then set in stone!

Now it's your turn! Who do you see in the Superbowl this season?

 

[SamQuint]

I can gaurantee you it won't be the Jets or the Raiders.

 

[techs]

Cold.

 

[MontyAC]

I can gaurantee you it won't be the Jets or the Raiders.

Also Buffalo.

 

[Pardus]

Justin Bieber will be electrocuted during the half time game show.

 

[fustercluck]

Oh yeah, also I wanted to share some of my wisdom: Never pick the Cowboys, Eagles, or Chargers to win anything. People buy into them every year and every year they come up short or way short.

 

[Meghan54]

Predict the Super Bowl?

Sure.....two teams will play, one will win.

And the game will probably be less exciting and more boring than the Conference Championship games.

 

[BUTCH1]

Green Bay/NE Superbowl..

 

[crashtestdummy]

This year is wide open. There's no "perfect" team, and I could see any of the following coming away with the title:

Broncos
Falcons
49ers
Packers
Patriots
Ravens
Seahawks

My thoughts on these teams:
I'm not sure I see the Ravens on this list, as they lost a lot of leadership on defense, but I'll give them the respect they earned by winning the title.

I want to see if defenses will be better at defending the read-option stuff from the Niners and Hawks. They're solid teams, but both can really struggle if forced to pass.

The Broncos, at full strength, might be the most "complete" team, but their defense will be heavily hampered for at least the first half by injuries and Von Miller's suspension. Their RB corps is also uninspiring.

The Falcons never seem to be able to put a run together, but if you look at their depth chart, it's absolutely loaded with talent. This team reminds me of the mid-2000s Chargers. On paper they should scare everyone, but no one seems particularly worried.

The Packers have a lot of holes (James Starks and Eddie Lacy at RB, whoo!) and a brutal 6 game run to start the season (Niners, Skins, Bengals, Lions, Ravens), but Rogers is too good for this team to not make the playoffs and contend. I don't see them beating the Niners in the playoffs though.

The much-reported demise of the Patriots is premature.* While they've lost a lot of talent (losing both Hernandez and Welker really hurt), they seem to be in a good spot to keep running a similar offense to what they did last year. Instead of the 2TE, 1RB, 2WR sets in the hurry-up, expect to see 1TE, 2RB, 2WR with Vereen playing a hybrid RB/WR (like a modified Hernandez). They'll continue to beat up on lesser teams, but will struggle with defenses like the Niners and Seahawks that can get pressure with 4 and sit over the middle. Fortunately for them, there aren't a lot of defenses that should truly scare them in the AFC (Ravens might be it). They also get a bonus for having the easiest division in the league.

I don't have much confidence in any pick, as I feel all of these teams can be beaten by at least one other team on this list. If you're going to make me choose, though, I'll go with the Seahawks over the Patriots, in the Pete Carroll Revenge Bowl.

Now watch as a team that isn't on this list goes on to win it all.



*Full disclosure: I'm a Pats fan.

 

[MetalMat]

Browns vs. Cardinals, you heard it here first.



But no seriously I think it will be the Broncos vs. Packers. Arguments could be made for the Falcons or 49ers in the NFC but I think the Pack will pull ahead of the crowd. Broncos are going to wipe the floor with the AFC west, get the #1 seed and win both playoff games at home.

 

[fustercluck]

re: crashtestdummy

good analysis! I wouldn't hang the Patriots out to dry either. It's just that their arrogance got in the way again and they lost Wes Welker for what is chump change for them. I'm a big fan of the Seahawks too but I wonder if Pete Carroll can coach them to the Superbowl. He seemed to do a fine job last year. Peter King from Sports Illustrated also predicted Pats/Seahawks this year.

 

[SSSnail]

I actually have money on the Chiefs winning it all.

If that doesn't work out, then Greenbay vs. New England, with Brady winning it all and rides into the sunset as the greatest QB to ever play the game.

 

[Ricky Spanish]

Vikings and the raiders all the way......

 

[KK]

Steelers vs. Packers

We'll get em this time.

 

[vi edit]

49ers, Seahawks, Falcons, GB and Chicago a further ways out...all teams with some talent (Bears an unknown with what Tressman brings). NFC is stacked.

Broncos are one of the few AFC teams that made upgrades and didn't lose mountains of talent. The Von Miller suspension will hurt but they have beefed up the secondary a bit.

I'm going Seattle and Denver Superbowl.

 

[DrPizza]

I'm surprised not to see the Redskins on anyone's list. With some returns from the injury list last year, their defense looks a hell of a lot better this year. Offensively, between RGIII and Morris, the have arguably a top 10 in the NFL as a back up qb, just in case. With the effort that RGIII seems to have put into his recovery, it seems to have inspired some of the players - and, i think he learned quite a bit. Perhaps, a better offense this year than last year.

 

[dank69]

Broncos win AFC by default and 49ers beat them in the SB.

 

[BUTCH1]

I actually have money on the Chiefs winning it all.

If that doesn't work out, then Greenbay vs. New England, with Brady winning it all and rides into the sunset as the greatest QB to ever play the game.

I'm hoping having Aqib Talib will help solidify a pass defense that has had issues for years, when he went out before halftime in last years AFC championship game the drop-off was dramatic, Flacco's no idiot and the took full advantage. I'm still thinking Denver is the best rounded team in the AFC at this point, as good as Welker already is/was now he has a chip on his shoulder and a QB as good as Brady at getting the ball out quick on slants, the question is can PM remain healthy for the full season?, if so watch out, this will be a very difficult offense to stop..

 

[BUTCH1]

I'm surprised not to see the Redskins on anyone's list. With some returns from the injury list last year, their defense looks a hell of a lot better this year. Offensively, between RGIII and Morris, the have arguably a top 10 in the NFL as a back up qb, just in case. With the effort that RGIII seems to have put into his recovery, it seems to have inspired some of the players - and, i think he learned quite a bit. Perhaps, a better offense this year than last year.

I think he learned that he needs to forget about trying for an extra 5-6yds if running and get down fast when a linebacker approaches..

 

[crashtestdummy]

re: crashtestdummy

good analysis! I wouldn't hang the Patriots out to dry either. It's just that their arrogance got in the way again and they lost Wes Welker for what is chump change for them. I'm a big fan of the Seahawks too but I wonder if Pete Carroll can coach them to the Superbowl. He seemed to do a fine job last year. Peter King from Sports Illustrated also predicted Pats/Seahawks this year.

I don't think it was just arrogance. I think he genuinely viewed Amendola and Welker as equivalent players, and he would take either at whichever would play for the lower price.

While Amendola has missed more games due to injury, they're not ones you expect to revisit often (dislocated elbow, broken clavicle). He's a better downfield player than Welker, and the Pats are already loaded with short-mid field options (Gronk, Vereen, Edelman, now Thomkins).

Anyway, if the Pats offense sputters, it'll be because they still don't have a true deep threat. Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce are supposed to be that, but they're rookies and 3rd and 4th round picks to boot.


As for the Seahawks, Pete Carroll isn't a brilliant X's and O's coach, but he's riding a new wave of offensive style and has the talent to execute it better than anyone else. He probably has this year and maybe next before the NFL really has the right defensive designs to counter it. I think the read option/pistol/etc is here to stay, but it has an outsized advantage right now because NFL coaches aren't used to defending it.

 

[ichy]

I'm not sure I see the Ravens on this list, as they lost a lot of leadership on defense, but I'll give them the respect they earned by winning the title.

People keep talking about this but so far from the pre-season it looks like the Ravens defense will be better than last year. Their biggest losses have been Anquan Boldin and Dennis Pitta. I think the receiver/tight end situation will be their biggest weakness, not defense.

 

[T9D]

The red sox

 

[KentState]

I'm going to go out on a limb, but it will be the Bengals/Falcons this year.

 

[zinfamous]

As much as I hate him, Brady embarrasses Peyton in the AFC championship...because that's what he tends to do.

...the Niners lose to the Skins in the NFC championship! :awe:

well, no, not really....but assuming Bobford the third settles down and tries not to injure himself anymore, the Skins stand to be much better than they were last year--defense should be back to where they are supposed to be, and with the emergence of Morris and if need-be a backup with Cousins, the Skins could shake it up. They could certainly lose to the Giants in any of 2 games, but they also have a chance of running the division....a chance, anyway. They're probably still a year out, though.


anyway...Niners over whatever inferior team the AFC poops out this season.

 

[Lyfer]

SF 49ers over Denver Broncos.