Along with Miami and Baltimore, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh should compete for wild card spots...and possibly sneak away with a division. The Kansas City Chiefs will be the surprise team in the AFC. Alex Smith saw long-awaited success in San Francisco the last two years and expects to continue it in Kansas City. Andy Reid traveled from Philadelphia after 2012 and expects to maintain his winning ways.

The Chiefs '13 schedule is favorable for a drastic improvement and possible playoff appearance. The '12 Colts were picked by many to lose at least ten games and we recall how that turned out. The seeding for the AFC will be: 1-Denver, 2-Houston, 3-New England, 4-Pittsburgh, 5-Kansas City, 6-Cincinnati. Houston will travel to Denver for the AFC Championship Game in January 2014.

Dallas usually contends for the NFC East but fails to capitalize late in the season. 2013 should not be any different. The division will be tight..with all four teams eyeing the division in December. Washington's season rides on whether RG3 is healthy. The New York Giants continue to be an enigma, it is just as hard to explain why they did not make the playoffs as it is how they sneak into the playoffs and win the Super Bowl.

As Adrian Peterson goes...the Minnesota Vikings follow. The NFC North is up for grabs as Green Bay will be pushed by the Vikings and Lions. Any upgrade on defense by Detroit will turn into three-to-five more victories in '13. If Chicago can avoid a December collapse, the Bears may sneak up on the division.

Atlanta is expected to repeat as NFC South champs; while New Orleans attempts to regain their 2011 form. Only a few years ago, Seattle won the NFC West with a 7-9 mark. Last year they fielded two playoff teams, one representing the NFC in the Super Bowl. The 49'ers were the surprise team in 2011, Seattle in 2012...the St. Louis Rams should be in '13.

The Rams were 4-1-1 against the NFC West in '12, outside the division was their downfall. The Seahawks embarrassed the 49'ers in their last season match-up last year and expect to dethrone the NFC champs. Both wild card entries could come from the West. St. Louis will be the surprise team of the NFC.

Coach Jeff Fisher has rebuilt the Rams through defense and an O-line to give QB Sam Bradford the time he needs to pick apart D's. The head-to-head games will determine who captures the West. The seeding for the NFC will be: 1-Atlanta, 2-San Francisco, 3-Minnesota, 4-NY Giants, 5-Green Bay, 6-St. Louis. The Giants will travel to Atlanta for the NFC Championship Game.

Two of the last three Super Bowl winning QB's were of the new breed, Aaron Rogers and Joe Flacco. Matt Ryan should join the group this year. Ray Lewis walked away from the game a champion in the last Super Bowl....Tony Gonzalez should follow suit this year.

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