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Predicting the NFL's other division winners

If the Ravens make the playoffs, they could still have to travel during their playoff run and even if they win the North, they could still have to travel. And then there's still the NFC to look at as the Ravens would have to play them for the Lombardi. Here's a prediction for the other 7 divisional winners.

By Chuck Mills
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

AFC West: Broncos

Why: To start, the Broncos have Peyton Manning, who's always been good for 10+ wins. Second off, the Chiefs are expected to take a step back and the Chargers won a lot of games the should have lost. Do I need to explain the Raiders?

AFC South: Colts

Why: The other teams are quarterbacked by Ryan Fitzpatrick, Chad Henne and Jake Locker. The Colts have Andrew Luck. They're winning unless Luck gets injured severely. If that happens, it's going to be the 2010 Seahawks all over again. Ewww.

AFC East: Patriots

Why: The Patriots are the best team in this division. Period. The Patriots didn't sign Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner because they were scared of the Dolphins and Jets. They did it to keep up with Seattle and Denver. All of their divisional opponents have questions at QB and honestly Bill Belichick is still the best coach in the division.

NFC North: Packers

Why: The Lions are going through a change with the hiring of Jim Caldwell as head coach. The Vikings are going through changes with the hiring of Mike Zimmer and the drafting of Teddy Bridgewater to be the new QB. That leaves it between Green Bay and Chicago, and I believe that Aaron Rodgers gives the Packers the edge over Jay Cutler's Bears.

NFC West: Seahawks

Why: Colin Kaepernick has never won a game at CenturyLink Field. That's not a stat that coincides with divisional trophies, however the 49ers have the likeliest chance to unseat the predicted division winner. The Cardinals have Carson Palmer, who is approaching the end of his career rapidly and could drop off. Sam Bradford hasn't led the Rams to .500, so a divisional victory seems like a lot to ask him.

NFC South: Saints

Why: The Falcons were an abysmal team in 2013; while I think they'll bounce back in 2014, I don't think they'll bounce back that much. The Panthers will struggle with the lack of quality targets and more importantly a quality blindside blocker for Cam Newton. The Buccaneers will improve from 2013, but they have questions on their roster. The Saints are still the class of the NFC South.

NFC East: Eagles

Why: Unlike the other NFC divisions, the Eagles aren't here because they're the best, but because they're the least flawed, and I don't think that the loss of DeSean Jackson changes that fact.

Predicted Berths

AFC

1: Winner of Broncos vs. Patriots

2: Loser of Broncos vs. Patriots

3: Colts

4: AFC North Victor

5: 2nd AFC North

6: 3rd AFC North

NFC

1: Seahawks

2: Saints

3: Packers

4: Eagles

5: 49ers

6: Bears

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