So ESPN.com has published its experts' picks for the 2011 NFL season, and I thought we should give it a little attention.
Their chart reflects all of the league-wide predictions of twelve different pundits, and the Packers are the unanimous choice to win the NFC North. Interestingly, three of them also predict the Lions will get in as a wild card, and one even thinks the Vikings will. But not a soul believes that the Bears -- last year’s NFC North champs, as well as hosts of the NFC Championship Game -- will even make the playoffs in 2011. That’s quite remarkable, it seems to me.
One guy thinks the Cowboys will emerge as NFC Champs, and one picks the Falcons. (Evidently, he’s been talking to Peter King.) Everyone else lines up behind the Eagles (3), the Saints (3), or the Packers (4).
Meanwhile, on the AFC side, there is much less division: one vote for the Jets, one for the Steelers, one for the Chargers, and NINE for the New England Patriots. Indeed, the Patriots are the favorites at ESPN.com to win it all, with six of the 12 experts picking New England. The next most popular pick is our Packers, with just two votes. The Jets, Saints, Steelers, and Chargers each get one vote.
Over at NFL.com, meanwhile, they have assembled seven experts, and they are generally much higher on the Saints than at ESPN.com. Five of their seven guys do see the Patriots getting to the big game, but not one of them figures that New England will win it. Four pick the Saints, two pick the Pack, and one picks the Jets (over the Pack.)
As the season is set to kick-off tomorrow night, though, both ESPN.com’s and NFL.com’s power rankings put the Packers at the top of the league. Perhaps it’s an inherited slot, due to the defending champs. But we can certainly solidify that estimate with a win over the much-heralded New Orleans Saints at Lambeau tonight!
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