The 2011 NFL season couldn’t get here quick enough for me; what a long, dreary off-season. As bored as I was, I took a lot of time to study rosters, and I feel pretty good about making predictions for the upcoming season. As always, expect some busts, but also some bold predictions that will come true.

I’m excited to be a part of Player Press and I’m excited to come at you fast and furious every day, all year long!

Here we go with my predictions for 2011:

NFC PLAYOFFS

WILD CARD TEAMS

Detroit. Will be stout against the run, and if Stafford stays upright, this is a dangerous team.

Falcons. Don’t be shocked if they’re in the Super Bowl. They have every element to be a beast in the NFC.

DIVISION WINNERS

Rams. They’re doing it right. Building through the draft, they have a special quarterback and they’re buying into what the coach is teaching. You don’t want to play them in the first round. Two years from now, we’ll be talking about them like we’re talking about the Falcons now.

Eagles. Dream Team on paper. We’ve never had a Super Bowl champion that didn’t have a committed pocket quarterback. Can Michael Vick continue to elevate his pocket play?

Saints. Super Bowl-caliber finesse team. Are they physical enough on defense and running the football? New addition Mark Ingram will help.

Packers. Have to be the favorites. Find me a weakness. Quarterbacks win championships now, not defenses, and the Packers have the best in Aaron Rodgers – the only QB in the league without a weakness, the most complete player in the NFL.

AFC PLAYOFFS

WILD CARD TEAMS

Ravens. Will age be a factor? And when will Joe Flacco take the next step? The answers could determine this team’s fate.

Jets. Love the coach. Will the third straight trip to the playoffs be the charm? I won’t be shocked if they’re carrying the AFC trophy when it’s all over. I like them better this year than the past two, especially with Mark Sanchez having another year of experience under his belt.

DIVISION WINNERS

Texans. The Colts are in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes now without Peyton; the Texans win this division by default. They’re the most complete team in the division now, and the only team with a QB who has been in their system. The AFC South could be like the NFC West this year; the weakest division in football.

Chargers. Every year, they’re the fashionable pick. Will this finally be the year that some piece of the puzzle isn’t missing, the year they don’t pee down their leg?

Patriots. Have to be the overall favorite in the NFL. Best coach, and some say best quarterback.

Steelers. Physical, blue collar, and a gamer at quarterback puts them where they always are – staring at a trophy.

PLAYOFFS

NFC title game: Saints vs. Packers.

AFC title game: Chargers vs. Patriots.

Super Bowl. Patriots vs. Packers.

Super Bowl winner: This may be a reach, because back-to-back championships are so hard to win in the NFL, but why not? The Packers are loaded, and they’re going to walk away with the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the second straight year.

MORE PREDICTIONS:

Comeback Player of the Year: Matthew Stafford, Lions. All he has to do is finish the season, that’s how good he is. Runner-up: Albert Haynesworth. Coach Belichick gets the most out of everyone, just ask Corey Dillon and Randy Moss.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Andy Dalton, Bengals. Star qualities on an awful team. Runner-up: Julio Jones, who will eventually be the No. 1 receiver in Atlanta over Roddy White – sometime in the next year or two. Jones is going to be too good to be a No. 2 receiver very soon.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Von Miller, Broncos. John Fox will turn him loose, just like Julius Peppers. And that defense will be on the field A LOT. Runner-up: Mason Foster. The Bucs defense favors linebacker involvement.

Coach of the Year: Jim Schwartz, Lions. This Jeff Fisher pupil is looking for the same results. Runner-up: Mike Munchak, Titans. “Munch” teaches only one way – the right way.

Defensive Player of the Year: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys. Ware has great talent and the aggressive outlook that you need; the most impressive pickup in the NFL this year was the Cowboys getting defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Take a coach like that with a player like Ware, and that spells M-V-P. Runner-up: I love Clay Matthews, but I’m picking Ndamukong Suh. He’s arguably the best defensive tackle in the league already.

Offensive Player of the Year: Philip Rivers, Chargers. A lot of points with a great passer equals huge numbers. Runner-up: Aaron Rodgers.

MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Packers. Because he’s the MVP, he’s not getting Offensive Player of the Year, too! Most complete quarterback in the NFL, the only one without a weakness. Runner-up: Tom Brady. He’s Tom Brady. I’d be stupid not to put him in here.

Some of these are Captain Obvious picks, and some might have you shaking your head. But I promise you, I will never shy away from my opinions and great banter with the fans. I’m looking forward to an awesome 2011 season!

Sean Salisbury, former NFL quarterback and NFL analyst for ESPN, covers sports for www.playerpress.com. Follow him on Twitter @SeanUnfiltered.