It’s here.The 2017 NFL season is on the horizon and that means it’s also time for my third annual NFL preview.Who will make a surprise run?Who will make a stunning fall from the top?And most importantly…who will come out on top?

AFC:

East:

1. New England Patriots(15-1;No. 2 seed)

2.Miami Dolphins(7-9)

3.Buffalo Bills(6-10)

4.New York Jets(1-15)

The Pats are light years ahead of everyone in the division,while on the other side of the coin,the Jets experience a “bottoming out” year, à la 2016 Browns.The Bills and Dolphins(and Jets) continue to eat the Pats dust,as they have for most of the century.

North:

1.Pittsburgh Steelers(13-3;No. 3 seed)

2.Cincinnati Bengals(10-6)

3.Baltimore Ravens(7-9)

4.Cleveland Browns(5-11)

The Steelers run away with the division as Cincy and Cleveland improve.Baltimore disappoints,and Cleveland DE Myles Garrett puts up impressive numbers en route to AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year.Cleveland looks to contend in the near future.

South:

1.Indianapolis Colts(12-4; No. 4 seed)

2.Tennessee Titans(11-5; No. 6 seed)

3.Houston Texans(10-6)

4.Jacksonville Jaguars(3-13)

The Colts,who are the NFL’s top sleeper candidate in my opinion,roll past the league’s easiest schedule to a division crown,while the Titans roar to a wildcard berth.Houston improves,but not enough for the playoffs,while the Jaguars spend another year at the bottom.

West:

1.Oakland Raiders(15-1; No. 1 seed)

2. Kansas City Chiefs(11-5; No. 5 seed)

3. Los Angeles Chargers(8-8)

4.Denver Broncos(7-9)

The Silver and Black earn a No. 1 seed while the Chargers improve in their first season in LA since relocation.The Chiefs do well,but contemplate life without QB Alex Smith.The Broncos regress further while they try to solve their quarterback situation.

AFC Playoffs:

Seeds:

1.Oakland

2.New England

3.Pittburgh

4.Indianapolis

5.Kansas City 

6.Tennessee 

Wildcard Round(home team all caps):

Titans(6) 24-33 STEELERS(3)

Chiefs(5) 24-19 COLTS(4)

Divisional Round:

Steelers(3) 25-41 PATRIOTS(2)

Chiefs(5) 19-25 RAIDERS(1)

Conference Championship Game:

Patriots(2) 26-31 RAIDERS(1)

AFC Champions:Oakland Raiders

The Raiders outlast Tom Brady’s Pats and take the conference.They edge division rival Chiefs to get there,who ousted the Colts in the first round.Steel City ends the Titan’s run but are in turn routed by New England.

NFC:

East:

1.Dallas Cowboys(13-3; No. 1 seed)

2.New York Giants(10-6)

3.Philadelphia Eagles(8-8)

4.Washington Redskins(6-10)

Once again Dallas runs away with the East,while the Giants Super Bowl window begins closing fast with an aging Eli Manning under center.The Eagles start fast only to drop their last three and fall out of playoff contention.A tough schedule leaves the Redskins in the cellar after a disappointing year.

North:

1.Detroit Lions(12-4; No.3 seed)

2.Green Bay Packers(11-5; No. 5 seed)

3.Minnesota Vikings(9-7)

4.Chicago Bears(3-13)

I know,the Lions at the top may seem strange,but think about it.They were 9-4 before Matt Stafford’s broken finger derailed their season.They also host a Week 17 game against the Pack that could decide the division.They made several moves to beef up their D,including signing LB Paul Worrilow from NFC champs Atlanta.The Pack struggled early last year,exposing many flaws.Their defense,which ranked 22nd last year,lost a stud in Julius Peppers.The Vikes have another average year,while the Bears wait for someone to dig them out of the basement.

South:

1.Atlanta Falcons(12-4; No. 2 seed)

T2:New Orleans Saints(10-6)

T2:Tampa Bay Buccaneers(10-6)

4.Carolina Panthers(4-12)

NOLA and Tampa Bay enjoy solid seasons,but have no playoff berth to show for it.Atlanta loses a down-to-the-wire fight with Dallas for the No.1 seed,while Carolina falls even deeper.

West:

1.Arizona Cardinals(11-5; No. 4 seed)

2.Seattle Seahawks(11-5; No. 6 seed)

3.San Francisco 49ers(3-13)

4.Los Angeles Rams(2-14)

The Cards rebound from a disappointing 7-8-1 year to clinch the West,while Seattle loses the conference games tiebreak.The Niners show signs of extremely slow improvement,while the Rams bottom out.

NFC Playoffs:

Seeds:

1.Dallas

2.Atlanta

3.Detroit

4.Arizona

5.Green Bay

6.Seattle

Wildcard Round(home team all caps)

Seahawks(6) 15-24 LIONS(3)

Packers(5) 38-24 CARDINALS(4)

Divisional Round:

Lions 34-26 FALCONS

Packers 13-28 COWBOYS

Conference Championship Game:

Lions 17-27 COWBOYS

NFC Champions:Dallas Cowboys 

The Motor City Kitties make a nice run to the title game,recording their first playoff wins since 1991.The ‘Boys end up with the title however,smashing a Packers squad,who was coming off a solid win over Arizona,and then beating Detroit to clinch the crown.Atlanta is upset by Detroit,who avenges last year’s wildcard loss to Seattle with a good win.

Super Bowl LII @ U.S. Bank Stadium,Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Cowboys 31-28 Raiders

America’s Team ties the record with their sixth Super Bowl win.The Raiders get oh-so-close,but Dan Bailey nails a field goal in the dying seconds to win.

Super Bowl Champions:Dallas Cowboys 

Super Bowl MVP:Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys.

NFL Awards:

AFC:

Offensive Player of the Year(OPOY):Derek Carr,QB,Raiders

Defensive Player of the Year(DPOY):J.J.Watt,DE,Texans

Offensive Rookie of the Year(OROY):Corey Davis,WR,Titans

Defensive Rookie of the Year(DROY):Myles Garrett,DE,Browns

Comeback Player of the Year(CPOTY):J.J. Watt,DE,Texans

Coach of the Year(COTY):Jack del Rio,Raiders

NFC:

OPOY:David Johnson,RB,Cardinals

DPOY:Landon Collins,S,Giants

OROY:O.J. Howard,TE,Buccaneers 

DROY:Soloman Thomas,DE,49ers

CPOTY:NaVorro Bowman,LB,49ers

COTY:Bruce Arians,Cardinals

NFL:

MVP:Derek Carr,QB,Raiders

OPOY:Derek Carr,QB, Raiders 

DPOY:J.J. Watt,DE,Texans 

OROY:Corey Davis,WR,Titans

DROY:Myles Garrett,DE,Browns

CPOTY:J.J.Watt,DE,Texans

COTY:Jack deal Rio,Raiders