ZB NFL Preview 2013: NFC South

by | Sep 2, 2013 | 2013 season

The NFC South was a one team race last year as Atlanta ran away with the division. The Falcons are probably still the cream of the crop, but the league is done punishing the Saints for the so-called Bounty-gate scandal and with Sean Payton back, they should be much improved over the disappointing 2012. The Bucs and Panthers also look to be up and coming. The NFC South could be tightening up in 2013. (more…)

ZB NFL Preview 2013: NFC North

by | Sep 1, 2013 | 2013 season

On paper, the NFC North looks like the most competitive division in the NFL. It features the league’s best quarterback, best running back, best wide receiver (if not two), and possibly the best linebacker and best defensive tackle as well. In reality, however, the former Black and Blue division also offers a plethora of suspect offensive lines, and a couple really questionable defenses. The folks in Green Bay have started the annual Super Bowl discussion, and Chicago, Detroit, and Minnesota all see themselves as playoff teams. The reality is the Packers may be the only team of the four still playing in January – and they just might be playing in February. (more…)

ZB NFL Preview 2013: NFC West

by | Aug 31, 2013 | 2013 season

San Francisco has a Super Bowl appearance and an NFC Championship game appearance to show for the last two seasons. By the end of 2012, however, Seattle may have been playing the better football. St. Louis had a win and a tie against the 49ers last year and most experts think only quarterback play held Arizona back from being just as competitive. The NFC West is simply stacked. The top two teams are young and talented – possibly the best in football. The only thing preventing St. Louis and Arizona from contending for potential playoff spots is their unfortunate placement in this division. The West will be playing some Must Watch football over the next few months. (more…)

ZB NFL Preview 2013: AFC East

by | Aug 30, 2013 | 2013 season

The AFC East has been New England and everybody else for more than a decade. The Patriots had a tough offseason, losing players to injury, free agency, incarceration and who knows what else. But Bill Belichick and crew remain the class of the division, at least for one more year. Miami and Buffalo appear to be headed in the right direction, but neither team has solved all of its problems. And the Jets … well, the Jets have a long way to go to get back to being the team that just a few years ago went to back-to-back AFC Championship games. (more…)

ZB NFL Preview 2013: AFC South

by | Aug 29, 2013 | 2013 season

After chasing Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts for so long, Houston fans had to be thinking it was their turn to reign supreme over the AFC South for a few years when Manning missed the 2011 season due to his neck injury and subsequently moved on to Denver last year. And the Texans are a solidly run organization with the talent to be competitive for some time to come. But the Colts have come storming back. Under the leadership of Chuck Pagano, Bruce Arians and Manning’s replacement Andrew Luck, Indy returned to prominence much faster than expected. It’ll likely be a two-team race at the top of the division for at least another year or two, as the Titans and Jaguars are sorting, yet again, through some growing pains. The battle for the top should be one of the more interesting races of the 2013 season. (more…)

ZB NFL Preview 2013: AFC North

by | Aug 28, 2013 | 2013 season

The AFC North is home to the defending Super Bowl champions for the fourth time in 12 years. Not too shabby, and there may be a fifth in the wings. The Ravens, while still looking like solid contenders may or may not have taken a step back. Cincinnati has taken a step forward, but how far remains to be seen. Pittsburgh looks to be treading water, and Cleveland’s hopes of improving this year are spitting up blood on the sidelines in Detroit. Once again, this division is a two team race. Don’t bet against the champs. (more…)