Football Predictions For The 2011 NFL Season

As reports swirl with respect to the merciful ending of the NFL’s lockout, now is as good a time as ever to take a look at some of the more prominent issues facing several of the league’s teams. These are several football predictions which fans should be able to look forward to as opening day draws near.

Now that the Brett Favre era has ended in Minnesota, it is time for the Vikings to find their quarterback of the future. The Vikings brass believed they have found their long term solution in Christian Ponder, the young snap take from Florida State whom Minnesota selected twelfth overall in the 2011 NFL draft. However, will Ponder be ready to handle the reigns of a mostly veteran team right off the bat?

My prediction is that Ponder will need some time on the bench to learn the playbook, as well as what it takes to be successful at the pro level. There are several free agents the Vikings could look to as a step gap for a season, including Donovan McNabb, Vince Young, and Matt Hasselbeck. All three are capable of taking this Vikings team deep into the playoffs.

Another interesting angle is the situation in Carolina. With a new coach and new quarterback – Auburn’s Cam Newton – the Panthers seem poised to rebound from a few horrible seasons. Although they are in a very tough division, many analysts are suggesting that Carolina could challenge for a home playoff game this year.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have retained most of their key players, and thus should be expected to battle deep into the playoffs yet again. After losing in the Super Bowl to Green Bay last year, Mike Tomlin and his team should be motivated to try and bring another trophy to the steel city.

These are some of the major storylines to be cognizant of as the approach of the 2011 season draws near. After a tumultuous offseason which resulted in a lockout, fans can look forward to soon being able to watch their favorite teams on Sundays once again.

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