Ah it’s that time of the year again.

It’s a time where every single player in the NFL and all the loving and passionate fans can have real hope that maybe, just maybe this is the year their team will win the Super Bowl. It’s great isn’t it? For a football fan, the start of the NFL season can be compared to a child entering a candy store for the first time in their lives, exciting and new. Each year brings new stories, new players and a healthy amount of restored hope.

As we await kickoff, the questions start to surface about which teams will still be standing in February. For the first time in my lifetime, the Super Bowl will be held in a cold weather location — MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It’s going to be a great NFL season so here are my final pre-season predictions for the 2013-2014 NFL season:

Will Cam Newton finally lead the Panthers to the playoffs? By Pantherfan11, via Wikimedia Commons

NFC East: #4 New York Giants

NFC North: #3 Green Bay Packers

NFC South: #2 Atlanta Falcons

NFC West: #1 San Francisco 49ers

Wildcards: #5 Seattle Seahawks, #6 Carolina Panthers

AFC:

AFC East: #1 New England Patriots

AFC North: #3 Cincinnati Bengals

AFC South: #4 Indianapolis Colts

AFC West: #2 Denver Broncos

Wildcards: #5 Baltimore Ravens, #6 Houston Texans

Playoff Bracket:

First Round:

#6 Carolina Panthers @ #3 Green Bay Packers (Panthers 31-28)

#5 Seattle Seahawks @ #4 New York Giants (Seahawks 21-14)

#6 Houston Texans @ #3 Cincinnati Bengals (Bengals 28-21)

#5 Baltimore Ravens @ #4 Indianapolis Colts (Ravens 24-21)

Second Round:

#6 Carolina Panthers @ #1 San Francisco 49ers (49ers 34-21)

#5 Seattle Seahawks @ #2 Atlanta Falcons (Atlanta 35-28)

#5 Baltimore Ravens @ #1 New England Patriots (Patriots 24-21)

#3 Cincinnati Bengals @ #2 Denver Broncos (Broncos 28-24)

Championship Games:

#2 Atlanta Falcons @ #1 San Francisco 49ers (49ers 34-31)

#2 Denver Broncos @ #1 New England Patriots (Patriots 41-38)

Super Bowl: New England Patriots vs San Francisco 49ers (49ers 28-21)

Super Bowl Champions: San Francisco 49ers

Most of my teams are the same teams that have made the playoffs the last few years with the Carolina Panthers sneaking in this year. This is the season Cam Newton finally takes charge and leads them to the playoffs — and maybe even a playoff win. I can’t wait to sit back and watch as it all unfolds, remote in hand, RedZone Channel at the ready.

What do you think about my predictions? Comment below.