Well with the NFL season upon us I have taken it upon myself to make my predictions for each division. Some picks are out there, but I don't want everything to be th same as the so called professional forecasters.
AFC East:
1. New York Jets 12-4
2. New England Patriots 11-5
3. Miami Dophins 9-7
4. Buffalo Bills 3-13
New York is a lock at finishing first if Sanchez stays healthy, now if Sanchez gets injured at any point then the Patriots should easily jump over the Jets. Though Brady did lose a step last season and teams have started finally figuring out New England's Run and Gun offense (aka they use a modified Run N Shoot). New England should still get a wildcard though. I also feel Brady has lost a step. The Dolphins will only go so far with their Wildcat offense. The mopdified single wing offense has slowly become a novelty. Note Pittsburg with Kordell Stewart where it fizzled out within 3-4 years. Buffalo just hasn't really improved though CJ Spiller could win Rookie of the Year he's only one player. We all saw how far that got Barry Sanders.
AFC North:
1. Ravens 11-5
2. Steelers 10-6
3. Bengals 10-6
4. Browns 7-9
Though I hate to admit it the Ravens are currently the best team in the North. THey acquired TJ Houshmazada to use in either the slot or 3 wide sets. They have an established QB in Flacco. They still have a punishing defense even thugh the keys in the defense keep getting older. The only question is will the defense hold up over the long season. THe Steelers season depends upon how they do in the first 4 games without Roethlisberger. I have them going 2-2 across this four game spand, but they could finish worse or better. The Bengals are most people's hands on favorite to win the North unfortunately they seem to always go back to playing Bungle football and with both Pittsburgh and Baltimore with superior defenses that like gettting to the QB the Bengals maybe hardpressed for wins in the division. The Bengals also are a team that may get into shootouts and I'm unsure if their defense will stop the other team enough to win. The Browns apparently are still struggling from the Paul Brown curse, but could very well surprise this year. With Holmgren in the front office this is the season for Mangini to win or most likely leave town. So the pressure is on the Browns, but unfortunately I feel this is Mangini's last season there.
AFC South:
Colts 14-2
Texans 9-7
Titans 8-8
Jaguars 6-10
Who can bet against the Colts and Peyton Manning. If any team cold run the table it is most likely the Colts. Though the Manning contract talks could be a distraction, but Manning seems to be a cool cat. THe Colts very well could be making it back to the playoffs. The Texans aren't there yet, but do keep improving and I look for them to atleast match their record from last year. The Titans could shake things up, because if they played how they did in the stretch alst year they could dehrone the Colts, however if they play like they did at the start of last season they could find themselves playing catch up again. The Jaguars could very well be Mr. Irrelevent in the South. Their division oppoenents are just better than they are. The Jaguars also are lacking in many key areas.
AFC West:
1. Oakland Raiders: 8-8
2. San Diego Chargers 7-9
3. Kansas City Chiefs 7-9
4. Denver Broncos 5-11
I feel with as weak as the west is Oakland will triumph and win the divison at 8-8 or maybe even 7-9. This is the bottom of the barrel of the AFC and I had to pick a team. Though many would say the Chargers are favored, they lost Tomlinson whom I still believe is the best back in the game today. Also I feel the verdict is out that the Chargers made the wrong choice in the Brees-Rivers QB controversary. The Chiefs have improve, but I don't see them winning the West just yet. It is a possibility though with as bad as I find this division. The Broncos seem to start out good every year. Heck it's a possibility that they could start 5-0 and then choke. The division has been their's to win the past two seasons and they've choked. This season I look for them to struggle and to go to Tebow late season when nothing matters anymore.
NFC East
1. N.Y. Giants 11-5
2. Washington Redskins 10-6
3. Dallas Cowboys 7-9
4. Philadelphia Eagles 5-11
The Giants are hands on my favorite to win the East. THough Washington very well could give them a run in for the money as Shanahan finds a way to win almost everywhere he goes. (I exclude his one year stint with the Raiders where he had no chance to build a winner). If McNabb stays healthy the Redskins may finally have a QB that can atleast lead them to the NFC Championship game. THough I feel it maybe another year of Eli. The Cowboys and Eagles are really irrelevent in the East unless the Cowboys offense finally starts ticking in the Redzone. Their first team offense did so poorly in the preseason I don't believe they'll click soon enough. The Eagles imo went from contenders with McNabb to the bottom of the barrel. I look for Vick to start by the end of the season, but it maybe too late to salvage the season.
NFC North:
1. Green Bay Packers 12-4
2. Minnesota Vikings 10-6
3. Chicago Bears 7-9
4. Detroit Lions 4-12
Sorry Favre fans, Rodgers has proven that McCarthy has made the right decision to pull the trigger on Favre. Rodgers has improved each season he has been the starter and I look for him to be the best QB in the NFC barring Drew Brees. Green Bay should be ready to sweep Favre and the Vikings this year. The Vikings are a better team with Favre, but he does his whole fake I'm retiring thing every off season. I actually will look for some defnses to be gunning for him Also who can say if his ankle will hold up. The Vikings could finish as good as 15-1 that is if they can recover from the early defeat to the Saints. I however don't look for them to recover and I see a blowup between Childress and Favre which coul damage team morale. THe Bears have made some improvements and if Cutler gets some sort of protection and has time to throw the ball he could be the second coming of Jim McMahon. However Chicago hasn';t really improved the O-Line. Detroit is slowly improving and could make a run in a few years. Stafford will have to stay healthy however. Give the Lions two more years and I can see them wnning the North.
NFC South:
1. New Orleans Saints 15-1
2. Atlanta Falcons 12-4
3. Carolina Panthers 9-7
4. Tampa Bay 4-12
Overall this is the roughest division in all football since I see the Falcons and Panthers as contenders to New Orleans. New Orleans is hwoever just the current best team in the NFL. They will look to defend the Super Bowl Title and could repeat as champions. The Falcons are probably the biggest threat in the division and if the Ryan gets into a rhythym he could compete with Rodgers and Brees as the best QB in the NFC. The Panthers are a young team and don't have the distraction of paying Peppers a lot of money this year. They instead have went with younger players they've been grooming the past two seasons. Overall the Panthers could make a pounce in the division and finish better than I predict. The Buccaneers have reverted back to the Yuccaneers. They have been irrelevent since having Dungy build up a team and firing him to bring in Gruden. Gruden truly did nothing it was Dungy's team that won the Super Bowl not Gruden's. Tampa has been dying and becoming more irrelevent each season.
NFC West:
1. San Fransisco 49ers 11-5
2. Seattle Seahawks 9-7
3. Arizona Cardinals 7-9
4. St.Louis Rams 4-12
This is the 49ers year to impress. Smith came on strong late last year to show that it was the right decision to take him as a #1 pick way back when. THe 49ers probably are the most complete team in the West and I don't see the rest of the division as a threat. The Seahawks are now in the Pete Carrol era and well Carroll has been here before when he coached the Patriots. I don't see Carroll winning it all this year even though he's use to winning. Maybe next year he'll have a team to compete against the 49ers. The Cardinals would be odds on favorites to win if they had Kurt Warner. I say they should send the team over to Warner's now and get him suited up for week 1. With Warner the Cardinals would easily win the division, but with Lein, er Anderson they'll be lucky to get a few wins. My advice is call Warner now. The Rams are rebuilding and maybe they should call up Warner also... Bradford is a shining star, but I don't believe they have enough weapons around him. Also their O-Line will have to do a bette rjob protecting the QB.
I mysawell do a mock playoff predictions too.
Pittsburgh will head into Baltimore in the first Round of the playoffs in the typical 3 vs 6 matchup. Pittsburgh is a threat as a number 6 seed and has previously won a Superbowl from this seed. Can they repeat again. I Do have Pittsburgh winning in OT against the Ravens in the first round of the playoffs.
New England goes into Oakland in the 4 vs 5 matchup. The Raiders miracle season (sic 8-8) continues as they finally enact revenge for the snowbowl/tuck rule game. Final comes down to a safety late in the game that sets the Raiders up for a victory.
Pittsburgh goes ino Indianapolis, but unfortunately this time Big Ben does not make the big tackle. Manning lights up the scoreboard and no comeback for Big Ben this time. 28-14 final.
Oakland goes into New York to face the Jets. Sanchez has a good game and ends the Raiders playoff run.
New York vs Indianapolis Manning throws a game losing interception as the Colts were driving for the go head FG leading to a final of 28-21
NFC Playoffs
The Redskns win the tiebreaker over the Vikings and head in against division rival New York in the 3 vs 6 matchup. The Skins pulll out a late game comeback driving 90 yards in the last 2:00 minutes for the victory. 24-21
The Falcons head into San Francisco for a matchup that becomes a gun fight. Smith makes a late game mistake that sets up the game winning field goal for the Falcons. There are a lot of points in this game with the final 46-44
The Redskins season ends the following week in New Orleans. The Saints just blow away the Skins and run to a 49-7 victory
The Falcons head to the frozen tundra of Green Bay and Lambeau Field. The Cheeseheads are out and after a slow start Rodgers lights up the scoreboard in the second half with 28 unanswered points. UNfortunately for Rodgers Ryan isn't done and answers with two late scores to tie the game up. In overtime The Falcons take a risk and decide to go with an onside kick after kicking a field goal.They recover the onside kick thus ending the game and making the new playoff overtime rule moot. 31-28 O.T.
The Falcons head into the Super Dome to face off against the Saints. This is just routine for the Saints as they knock off the Falcons for the third time in the season. Hartley kicks another game winning Field Goal to take the Saints to abck to back Super Bowls.
The Jets are the underdogs in this game and the Saints show it's no fluke they won last year. Brees and the Saints just dominate the game as Brees breaks Young's record for TD pass in a super bowl with 8 TDs. THis becomes the biggest blowout since the Redskins destroyed the Broncos. Final Score is 64-10.
The Saints unless something goes wrong such as Brees getting injured are the best team in the NFL. I don't see anyone competing against them this year. The AFC as a whole barring the Colts and maybe Steelers are not on par with the best of the NFC which is the reverse from 3-4 seasons ago. The Steelers are the wildcard in the AFC if they make it to the playoffs as a 6 seed I'd watch out for. They seem to play better when they have something to prove. The Ravens finally have an offense and very well could have the defense to compete against the Colts. But overall none of the teams I feel are on the Saints level.
(Now watch the Saints will prove me wrong by being blown out tonight.)
AFC East:
1. New York Jets 12-4
2. New England Patriots 11-5
3. Miami Dophins 9-7
4. Buffalo Bills 3-13
New York is a lock at finishing first if Sanchez stays healthy, now if Sanchez gets injured at any point then the Patriots should easily jump over the Jets. Though Brady did lose a step last season and teams have started finally figuring out New England's Run and Gun offense (aka they use a modified Run N Shoot). New England should still get a wildcard though. I also feel Brady has lost a step. The Dolphins will only go so far with their Wildcat offense. The mopdified single wing offense has slowly become a novelty. Note Pittsburg with Kordell Stewart where it fizzled out within 3-4 years. Buffalo just hasn't really improved though CJ Spiller could win Rookie of the Year he's only one player. We all saw how far that got Barry Sanders.
AFC North:
1. Ravens 11-5
2. Steelers 10-6
3. Bengals 10-6
4. Browns 7-9
Though I hate to admit it the Ravens are currently the best team in the North. THey acquired TJ Houshmazada to use in either the slot or 3 wide sets. They have an established QB in Flacco. They still have a punishing defense even thugh the keys in the defense keep getting older. The only question is will the defense hold up over the long season. THe Steelers season depends upon how they do in the first 4 games without Roethlisberger. I have them going 2-2 across this four game spand, but they could finish worse or better. The Bengals are most people's hands on favorite to win the North unfortunately they seem to always go back to playing Bungle football and with both Pittsburgh and Baltimore with superior defenses that like gettting to the QB the Bengals maybe hardpressed for wins in the division. The Bengals also are a team that may get into shootouts and I'm unsure if their defense will stop the other team enough to win. The Browns apparently are still struggling from the Paul Brown curse, but could very well surprise this year. With Holmgren in the front office this is the season for Mangini to win or most likely leave town. So the pressure is on the Browns, but unfortunately I feel this is Mangini's last season there.
AFC South:
Colts 14-2
Texans 9-7
Titans 8-8
Jaguars 6-10
Who can bet against the Colts and Peyton Manning. If any team cold run the table it is most likely the Colts. Though the Manning contract talks could be a distraction, but Manning seems to be a cool cat. THe Colts very well could be making it back to the playoffs. The Texans aren't there yet, but do keep improving and I look for them to atleast match their record from last year. The Titans could shake things up, because if they played how they did in the stretch alst year they could dehrone the Colts, however if they play like they did at the start of last season they could find themselves playing catch up again. The Jaguars could very well be Mr. Irrelevent in the South. Their division oppoenents are just better than they are. The Jaguars also are lacking in many key areas.
AFC West:
1. Oakland Raiders: 8-8
2. San Diego Chargers 7-9
3. Kansas City Chiefs 7-9
4. Denver Broncos 5-11
I feel with as weak as the west is Oakland will triumph and win the divison at 8-8 or maybe even 7-9. This is the bottom of the barrel of the AFC and I had to pick a team. Though many would say the Chargers are favored, they lost Tomlinson whom I still believe is the best back in the game today. Also I feel the verdict is out that the Chargers made the wrong choice in the Brees-Rivers QB controversary. The Chiefs have improve, but I don't see them winning the West just yet. It is a possibility though with as bad as I find this division. The Broncos seem to start out good every year. Heck it's a possibility that they could start 5-0 and then choke. The division has been their's to win the past two seasons and they've choked. This season I look for them to struggle and to go to Tebow late season when nothing matters anymore.
NFC East
1. N.Y. Giants 11-5
2. Washington Redskins 10-6
3. Dallas Cowboys 7-9
4. Philadelphia Eagles 5-11
The Giants are hands on my favorite to win the East. THough Washington very well could give them a run in for the money as Shanahan finds a way to win almost everywhere he goes. (I exclude his one year stint with the Raiders where he had no chance to build a winner). If McNabb stays healthy the Redskins may finally have a QB that can atleast lead them to the NFC Championship game. THough I feel it maybe another year of Eli. The Cowboys and Eagles are really irrelevent in the East unless the Cowboys offense finally starts ticking in the Redzone. Their first team offense did so poorly in the preseason I don't believe they'll click soon enough. The Eagles imo went from contenders with McNabb to the bottom of the barrel. I look for Vick to start by the end of the season, but it maybe too late to salvage the season.
NFC North:
1. Green Bay Packers 12-4
2. Minnesota Vikings 10-6
3. Chicago Bears 7-9
4. Detroit Lions 4-12
Sorry Favre fans, Rodgers has proven that McCarthy has made the right decision to pull the trigger on Favre. Rodgers has improved each season he has been the starter and I look for him to be the best QB in the NFC barring Drew Brees. Green Bay should be ready to sweep Favre and the Vikings this year. The Vikings are a better team with Favre, but he does his whole fake I'm retiring thing every off season. I actually will look for some defnses to be gunning for him Also who can say if his ankle will hold up. The Vikings could finish as good as 15-1 that is if they can recover from the early defeat to the Saints. I however don't look for them to recover and I see a blowup between Childress and Favre which coul damage team morale. THe Bears have made some improvements and if Cutler gets some sort of protection and has time to throw the ball he could be the second coming of Jim McMahon. However Chicago hasn';t really improved the O-Line. Detroit is slowly improving and could make a run in a few years. Stafford will have to stay healthy however. Give the Lions two more years and I can see them wnning the North.
NFC South:
1. New Orleans Saints 15-1
2. Atlanta Falcons 12-4
3. Carolina Panthers 9-7
4. Tampa Bay 4-12
Overall this is the roughest division in all football since I see the Falcons and Panthers as contenders to New Orleans. New Orleans is hwoever just the current best team in the NFL. They will look to defend the Super Bowl Title and could repeat as champions. The Falcons are probably the biggest threat in the division and if the Ryan gets into a rhythym he could compete with Rodgers and Brees as the best QB in the NFC. The Panthers are a young team and don't have the distraction of paying Peppers a lot of money this year. They instead have went with younger players they've been grooming the past two seasons. Overall the Panthers could make a pounce in the division and finish better than I predict. The Buccaneers have reverted back to the Yuccaneers. They have been irrelevent since having Dungy build up a team and firing him to bring in Gruden. Gruden truly did nothing it was Dungy's team that won the Super Bowl not Gruden's. Tampa has been dying and becoming more irrelevent each season.
NFC West:
1. San Fransisco 49ers 11-5
2. Seattle Seahawks 9-7
3. Arizona Cardinals 7-9
4. St.Louis Rams 4-12
This is the 49ers year to impress. Smith came on strong late last year to show that it was the right decision to take him as a #1 pick way back when. THe 49ers probably are the most complete team in the West and I don't see the rest of the division as a threat. The Seahawks are now in the Pete Carrol era and well Carroll has been here before when he coached the Patriots. I don't see Carroll winning it all this year even though he's use to winning. Maybe next year he'll have a team to compete against the 49ers. The Cardinals would be odds on favorites to win if they had Kurt Warner. I say they should send the team over to Warner's now and get him suited up for week 1. With Warner the Cardinals would easily win the division, but with Lein, er Anderson they'll be lucky to get a few wins. My advice is call Warner now. The Rams are rebuilding and maybe they should call up Warner also... Bradford is a shining star, but I don't believe they have enough weapons around him. Also their O-Line will have to do a bette rjob protecting the QB.
I mysawell do a mock playoff predictions too.
Pittsburgh will head into Baltimore in the first Round of the playoffs in the typical 3 vs 6 matchup. Pittsburgh is a threat as a number 6 seed and has previously won a Superbowl from this seed. Can they repeat again. I Do have Pittsburgh winning in OT against the Ravens in the first round of the playoffs.
New England goes into Oakland in the 4 vs 5 matchup. The Raiders miracle season (sic 8-8) continues as they finally enact revenge for the snowbowl/tuck rule game. Final comes down to a safety late in the game that sets the Raiders up for a victory.
Pittsburgh goes ino Indianapolis, but unfortunately this time Big Ben does not make the big tackle. Manning lights up the scoreboard and no comeback for Big Ben this time. 28-14 final.
Oakland goes into New York to face the Jets. Sanchez has a good game and ends the Raiders playoff run.
New York vs Indianapolis Manning throws a game losing interception as the Colts were driving for the go head FG leading to a final of 28-21
NFC Playoffs
The Redskns win the tiebreaker over the Vikings and head in against division rival New York in the 3 vs 6 matchup. The Skins pulll out a late game comeback driving 90 yards in the last 2:00 minutes for the victory. 24-21
The Falcons head into San Francisco for a matchup that becomes a gun fight. Smith makes a late game mistake that sets up the game winning field goal for the Falcons. There are a lot of points in this game with the final 46-44
The Redskins season ends the following week in New Orleans. The Saints just blow away the Skins and run to a 49-7 victory
The Falcons head to the frozen tundra of Green Bay and Lambeau Field. The Cheeseheads are out and after a slow start Rodgers lights up the scoreboard in the second half with 28 unanswered points. UNfortunately for Rodgers Ryan isn't done and answers with two late scores to tie the game up. In overtime The Falcons take a risk and decide to go with an onside kick after kicking a field goal.They recover the onside kick thus ending the game and making the new playoff overtime rule moot. 31-28 O.T.
The Falcons head into the Super Dome to face off against the Saints. This is just routine for the Saints as they knock off the Falcons for the third time in the season. Hartley kicks another game winning Field Goal to take the Saints to abck to back Super Bowls.
The Jets are the underdogs in this game and the Saints show it's no fluke they won last year. Brees and the Saints just dominate the game as Brees breaks Young's record for TD pass in a super bowl with 8 TDs. THis becomes the biggest blowout since the Redskins destroyed the Broncos. Final Score is 64-10.
The Saints unless something goes wrong such as Brees getting injured are the best team in the NFL. I don't see anyone competing against them this year. The AFC as a whole barring the Colts and maybe Steelers are not on par with the best of the NFC which is the reverse from 3-4 seasons ago. The Steelers are the wildcard in the AFC if they make it to the playoffs as a 6 seed I'd watch out for. They seem to play better when they have something to prove. The Ravens finally have an offense and very well could have the defense to compete against the Colts. But overall none of the teams I feel are on the Saints level.
(Now watch the Saints will prove me wrong by being blown out tonight.)
No comments:
Post a Comment