NFL 2011/2012 season preview

Packers win Super Bowl XLV

The Green Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win their fourth Super Bowl in five attempts. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named the most valuable player of Super Bowl XLV after throwing three touchdowns. Rodgers closed the season with six straight wins and led the Packers to their first Super Bowl since 1997. The Steelers' attempt to produce the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history, they trailed 21-3 in the second quarter, largely failed due to three turnovers.

• NFL Champion: Green Bay
• AFC Champion: Pittsburgh
• NFC Champion: Green Bay
• AFC Division Winners: New England, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Kansas
• NFC Division Winners: Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle

NFL 2011/12 key dates

• September 8 : Regular season starts
• January 1 : Regular season ends
• January 7: Postseason begins
• January 29: Pro Bowl, Honolulu
• February 5 : Super Bowl XLVI, Indianapolis

Super Bowl XLVI favorites

These are the odds to win NFL 2011/12 Championship, published by online bookmakers before the start of the season.

Last season Aaron Rodgers led the Green Bay Packers to their first Super Bowl in 14 years. With virtually everybody back, even with no additions to the team, there is no reason not to repeat again. Green Bay has all the tools, but it is a different feel being the hunted rather than the hunters. Time will tell on if they can handle it.

The New England Patriots were one of the most dominant teams once again in the 2010 season. But a loss to the New York Jets in Divisional Playoffs, left a very bad taste in their mouths. The Patriots had a few needs heading into this season. They needed an effective pass rusher, a deep threat at wide receiver, and a run stuffer. They got all three in this off season. This team is just loaded with talent and they will be a very hard to stop this year.

Philadelphia Eagles' infusion of new talent in the offseason was on a scale never seen before in NFL. With the key acquisitions on the defensive side of the ball and the continued dominance on the offensive side it looks as though there are no holes in this team. The Eagles have the key pieces in place to make a serious Super Bowl run this year, in order to make that happen they must execute and keep Michael Vick healthy. There is no doubt they are the best team in the East but they have become one of the best in the NFL.

This is introduction to 2011/12 NFL season. Latest news, statistics, results and predictions you can find on our main NFL page.

Last year the San Diego Chargers were tops in the league in total offense and defense, yet couldn't qualify for the playoffs. The Chargers find themselves ready to make a serious run in 2011, with Phillip Rivers coming into his role as an elite NFL quarterback things are looking good in San Diego. With the Chargers there is no doubt there will be points on the board, so the main focus this offseason was on the defensive side of the ball and they improved tremendously.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have six Super Bowls in their case, and were close from picking up their seventh, but were denied by the Green Bay Packers. The defending AFC champions looked rather content to stand pat this offseason, focusing on getting their own guys' contracts extended rather than look towards free agency. They always find a way to make a deep playoff run, and Mike Tomlin is one of the top coaches in the NFL. It will be no surprise to see them back trying to get that seventh ring.

The Baltimore Ravens had another successful season that ended in bitter defeat at the hands of their archrivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens did not make a lot of moves in the free agent market but they did make key acquisitions that will help them win the AFC North. They do have the key pieces to make a run at the Super Bowl but their defense is not getting any younger so for them the time is now.

Predictions for the regular season

AFC East 1. New England Patriots 2. NY Jets 3. Miami Dolphins 4. Buffalo Bills AFC North 1. Baltimore Ravens 2. Pittsburgh Steelers 3. Cleveland Browns 4. Cincinati Bengals AFC South 1. Houston Texans 2. Indianapolis Colts 3. Jacksonsville Jaguars 4. Tennessee Titans AFC West 1. San Diego Chargers 2. Kansas City Chiefs 3. Denver Broncos 4. Oakland Raiders

NFC East 1. Philadelphia Eagles 2. Dallas Cowboys 3. NY Giants 4. Washington Redskins NFC North 1. Green Bay Packers 2. Detroit Lions 3. Minnessota Vikings 4. Chichago Bears NFC South 1. New Orlens Saints 2. Atlanta Falcons 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4. Carolina Panthers NFC West 1. Arizona Cardinals 2. St. Louis Rams 3. Seattle Seahawks 4. San Francisco 49ers