Although the Hall of Fame game was Sunday night, most teams begin their exhibition season this weekend. I know it is very likely that a team or two suffers a devestating injury during pre-season, and then the critics will come out in full force, should we eliminate it, should the number of games be cut, etc. The preseason is a good place to judge the depth of a team, and determine which team will have good special teams players, but many of the key pieces do not play enough to make determininations on how well the team will do during the season. That being said, I am ready for the season to start, and here is how I think each team will fare.
American Football Conference:
East:
New England Patriots (14-2). I know the first team to go undefeated during the regular season in thirty five years. It is just such a rare feat that even with their relatively easy schedule, I see them slipping up twice. Likely foes would either be San Diego, Indianapolis or Pittsburgh, however I think the game at the Jets (week 2) may be a game to watch.
New York Jets (10-6). I can legitametly see this team doing this well. Normally I would not be so high on a team that has tried to build its core through free agency, however, Brett Favre will do some Brett Favre magic, and he automatically adds three wins to your record each season.
Buffalo Bills (8-8). The Bills are on their way back, but they aren’t quite there yet. A lot of the moves that they have been making are smart, and they are building a quality core. If they could add a proven quarterback and some more on defense, they would be in contention for the wildcard.
Miami Dolphins (3-13). The team is better, and that isn’t saying much. They will win more than one game this season, but they won’t win much more.
North:
Cleveland Browns (11-5). The Browns have improved on the team they were last season, and looking comparatitively to the Steelers schedule, the Browns is far less intimidating. I think the Browns improve slightly from last season and win the division.
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6). The Steelers are a good team, but they have one of the hardest schedules I have ever seen, including a five game stretch in which they face the Colts, Chargers, Patriots and Cowboys.
Baltimore Ravens (6-10). The loss of Johnathan Odgen will hurt botht the passing and running game, and the lack thereof a proven quarterback will hurt as well. Baltimore’s former strength, its defense, is not what it once was.
Cincinnati Bengals (6-10) Carson Palmer has TJ Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson, first round pick Keith Rivers is behind because of his holdout. That is the team. I think Rudi Johnson has carried the ball too much and won’t really be effective, and since the Bengals can’t play defense, they will be forced to throw anyways, leading you to believe that their passing offense is top of the line.
South:
Indianapolis Colts (12-4). I am not worried about Peyton Manning, he will be more effective at 50 percent than most quarterbacks are at 100 percent. Colts have some tough road games, but this team continues to improve their defense, which has always been the weakness.
Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5). I don’t know how David Garrard is such an effiecent passer living on the island of misfit wide receivers. The defense is strong, and so is the running game. Look for the Jaguars to continue thier ball control offense, dominating defense.
Houston Texans (9-7). Houston has their first ever above .500 season as a franchise. They are making the right moves to improve the team, and look like geniuses right now for taking Mario Williams instead of Reggie Bush or hometown hero Vince Young. Still not on the level of Jacksonville or Indianapolis, but in two or three years, they may be.
Tennessee Titans (5-11). Yes, Vince Young somehow led the Titans into the playoffs last season, but after seeing how the Titans handled the offseason, and not buying into their success as a team last season, I can see them falling significantly. Defense isn’t happy, and Young isn’t a franchise QB.
West:
San Diego Chargers (14-2). Another top tier team with a very favorable schedule. As long as Tomlinson and Gates and Rivers are healed from their injuries, and the defense plays as they have been the past two years, this team is a top team in the NFL.
Denver Broncos (8-8). After San Diego, this division is quite average. The Broncos have been evidence of that the past two seasons. The defense is weak up front, however, if they can play ball control and Cutler is improved, the team can reach eight wins. If the running game or Cutler stumbles, they will fall even further than they have.
Kansas City Chiefs (6-10). Kansas City has done a lot to improve this off season. Yes, trading Jared Allen (who likely was done after this season in KC) hurts now, but the pieces that they got will help them. Once Herman Edwards is gone, as too is Brodie Croyle, expect the Chiefs back in the playoffs.
Oakland Raiders (5-11). The Raiders might return to the glory once the power of Al Davis is delegated to others who know what they are doing. The team has players at the skill positions, but they are great athletes, not nessecarily even good football players.
National Football Conference:
East:
Dallas Cowboys (13-3). Dallas, on paper has the best team in the NFC. However, they have to clear the hurdle of not being able to win a playoff game since 1996, even though they may of had the most talent on paper in previous years.
New York Giants (11-5). Yes the Giants are the defensing Super Bowl Champions, however I think that they will struggle on defense without the leadership of Michael Strahan. The team is poised and will be back in the playoffs.
Washington Redskins (8-8). The Redskins played very inspired football at the end of last season following the tragic death of Shaun Taylor. They added a lot of young weapons to the offense, but I think Jim Zorn’s inexperience will prevail in key situations and the Redskins play .500 for the season.
Philadelphia Eagles (7-9). This team is really a two horse team. McNabb and Westbrook. Neither have played a full season since god knows when. The defense has players, but this team rides on the shoulders of Westbrook and McNabb.
North:
Minnesota Vikings (11-5). The Vikings were big spenders for medicority in the offseason this year with Berrian and Williams. Adding Jared Allen helps, and the draft, what they had left anyways, was good. They have improved, and have the elements (run game and defense) you need to be successful in the NFL.
Chicago Bears (10-6). The Bears are being overlooked because of a bad season last year in which they went 7-9 and were decimated by injuries on the defensive side. The offense is very lacking, however, the defense should be back to its form from 2005 and 2006 and special teams is the best in the league. The offensive line has improved, so whether it be Grossman or Orton, they won’t be on their back so much and the holes will be there for Forte.
Green Bay Packers (6-10). Yes the Packers had a good team last year, but they lost the guy who led them. It reminds me a lot of the Broncos of 1999 who went 6-10. They had a good team, Elways retired, the team wasn’t so good anymore. Aaron Rodgers is already shaken and I think will struggle, a lot. Behind Rodgers is Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn, good luck Packers.
Detroit Lions (4-12). The Lions are more of a well, the offensive line couldn’t block last year and they didn’t make any significant improvements there. Kitna can throw the ball, even though his yards are deceiving because the Lions are often behind, as are the receivers. Not much expected from the Motor City.
South:
New Orleans Saints (12-4). Personally I am not high on the Saints, but I think if Duece is healthy, which is the key to all of this, they will be the second best team in the NFC. The defense has improved and they continue to add weapons to the offense that is already explosive.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6). The Bucs have some pieces, sporadically placed that would give you hope to their success. They don’t have enough at any one place, however the defense is still one of the top third in the NFL, and if Ernest Graham continues the way he played last year, the Bucs won’t worry about the wrecked Cadiliac.
Carolina Panthers (7-9). The Panthers always seem to receive rave reviews prior to the season starting, but they have a lot of internal problems with key players. The run game will be there, but passing not so much, and I think the defense will stuggle, and that was often their strength.
Atlanta Falcons (5-11). Matt Ryan was the best QB in the NFL draft, but I am not sold on a guy who doesn’t even throw 2 touchdowns for every 1 interception (30td, 17int). The Falcons run and run and run, which Michael Turner does, but he isn’t a number one running back. Arthur Blank has done a good job trying to clean up the franchises image, but they are going to stuggle this season.
West:
Seattle Seahawks (8-8). Seattle has one of the top home field advantages in the NFL. The problem is, the team that plays there has been on the decline for the past couple of seasons, yet, the rest of the teams in the division cannot catch up.
Saint Louis Rams (6-10). The Rams have the offensive weapons, although aging or frustrated, they still have the weapons. They keep drafting on defense, and improving on that side of the ball. The Rams won’t be good by any stretch of the imagination, but they will be better than last seasons performance.
Arizona Cardinals (6-10). The Cardinals, like Carolina are a popular pick to have a breakout season, but it never seems to happen that way. I think they are improved, but I don’t see them being the good team that everyone invisions them being.
San Fransisco 49ers (2-14). Simply put, the worst team in the NFL. Alex Smith has not lived up to it, and although the defense has good, young players (Patrick Willis), the offense cannot score nor can they move the ball.
2008 NFL Playoff Picture
AFC
#1 Seed San Diego Chargers
#2 Seed New England Patriots
#6 Seed Pittsburgh Steelers at #3 Seed Indianapolis Colts
#5 Seed Jacksonville Jaguars at #4 Seed Cleveland Browns
Cleveland and Indianapolis advance, Cleveland will lose at San Diego and Indianapolis will beat New England.
San Diego will advance from the AFC to the Super Bowl
NFC
#1 Seed Dallas Cowboys
#2 Seed New Orleans Saints
#6 Seed Chicago Bears at #3 Seed Minnesota Vikings
#5 Seed New York Giants at #4 Seed Seattle Seahawks
Both lower seeds in the NFC win, pairing it up to be the Giants at New Orleans, and Chicago at the Cowboys. The Saints and Cowboys prevail.
The Cowboys represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XLIII
San Diego Chargers defeat the Dallas Cowboys
NFL Awards
MVP: Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
Offensive Player of the year: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Defensive Player of the year: Mario Williams, Houston Texans
Offensive Rookie of the year: Johnathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers
Defensive Rookie of the year: Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots
Comeback Player of the year: Mike Brown, Chicago Bears
And that is what I think, as of right now. Just like the ‘experts’ I could be way off line, or I could be close. It is just what I think, just for fun.
