What do you expect from last year's teams that were 8-8??? Some of you may have seen this already on NFL Live, but i would like you guys opinions. Minnesotta Vikings - The Vikings are the most improved team out of the 8-8 teams of 2004, actually they had the best offseason out of the whole NFL. They now have a respectable defense and plenty of potential at the WR position. Only weakness they have is RB, but that's only because Bennett, Smith and Moore haven't stepped it up yet.......well Smith won't get his shot....but i believe Moore and Bennett may get the job done this year. Prediction 11-5 or better. Cincinatti Bengals - The Bengals are the AFC Saints, they have the potential but they always fall short, and in a division like the AFC North you're going to have to be an elite team to represent the AFC. This years team looks solid with plenty of young talent on the offensive side of the ball. Oh yeah and they drafted David Pollack and Odell Thurman. AND QUITE FRANKLY THAT'S ALL YOU NEED..........................hahaha....lol.........Steven A. Smith's an interesting fellow. Reference to his new show "QUITE FRANKLY" if non of y'all caught the joke. Prediction 8-8 or better St. Louis Rams - What????........Rams suck. Martz is a nut case. My Prediction 6-10 or worse New Orleans Saints - This is the year for the Saints to finally show their potential, cause if not, then they'll be heading towards L.A. in no time. The Saints have had an above average offseason and they had an above average draft. Now if only they can have an above average season. It's Brooks time to shine or him and Haslett will be packing each others bags. My prediction 9-7 or better
Vikings Most improved team in the NFL. Favorite in the North and maybe in the NFC. They added Pat Williams who is a huge addition. Fred Smoot is a great corner. Sharper is a leader in the secondary and playmaker if he ever stays healthy. The offense will be fine with Culpepper at the helm and a healthy Michael Bennet = the most explosive back in the NFL possibly. My guess is 11-5 and a divsion title. Rams. Very underrated this season. They are 2 seasons off a 12-4 record and will show why. One of the best offenses in the NFL and they will have a better rushing attack right away with Steven Jackson this season as to Faulk last season. Faulk can still be a threat out of the backfield as a reciever. They have a decent secondary and had youth on the defensive line which should be improved. If the line can put pressure and play how we know they can they should be good. 10-6 NFC West Champs. Bengals They are stacked on offense. Palmer played 3 straight games with QB rating of 100 or better to close the season before he went down. Rudi Johnson is one of the better backs in the league. Chris Perry provides great insurance. The recieving core is stacked wiht Johnson,T.J. Warrick and Washington. The defense is getting better to. Improves every season and with the addition of Pollack and the line should force pressure that means more INT's for Tory James if thats possible. 10-6 Wild Card Saints Aaron Brooks is incosistent as they come. He has his good game but then his bad games. Good news is the get McAlister back and he should be one of the top NFC backs. Horn is a threat but thats about it. Stallsworth has been a bust. The defense should be a little better with the youth on the line. Will Smith was solid as a rookie. Grant and Howard were as well. Only problem their of DE's and the interior line is horrible. The LB's are ok but could use work and the secondary is gonna be alright as long as they have a bit of a pass rush. overall though the defense is ok. I see a team that needs to find some defense. Look for an 7-9 record for the Saints in a tough divsion.
Minnesota have a good team but i think too many questions on offense. Will Culpepper do good without Moss? Which WR will step it up? Who is their RB? Defnsively they did a great job picking up Fred smoot and Erasmus James as key players in their D. I like the Vikes but theyll be a game short of the division. Wild Card 9-7 The Cincinatti Bengals are a team ready to surprise everyone this year. Offensively they second yr. starter Carson Palmer who had a mediocre yr. with 18 TDs and INTs. He had his first experience of play last year and should show us he could bring the Bengals into the playoffs. Then they have RUDI! He had a pretty good yr. with 12 TDs and just short of 1500 yds. I expect big numbers for him this yr. Then the WRs with Chad Johnson as the big starter. Then Warrick and Houshmanzadah or however u spell it. They should make Palmer into a good QB this yr. I think the only way they could go wrong this season is the D. If Pollack does well i think the D does. Theyve got O'Neal and James as DBs and should have another good year. 10-6 wild card Then the Rams. I dont see them going anywhere either. The offense is going to need to step it up big time to make the playoffs. The D is going to be a big dissapointment and will let too many points for the D to handle. The offense is still a good one even though Faulk will be gone. 6-10 The Saints..... Im not too familiar with them but of wht ive heard they have gret potential but always missing something. Their plans seem to never work and somehow mess up in the end. Brookes needs to play like a good QB and not make rookie mistakes. Horn has to prove tht hes still good even though getting old and he needs some help from Hakim or Stallworth. Deuce is the only player tht seems to be good for his carrer. The D still seems to be a question and dont seem to change it much. 8-8 again and will miss it by a game.
Minnesota & Cincy will improve. I predict the Vikings will win the North. I really don't know about the Saints. I'd like to see them do well. Sadly, they are in the same type of pattern Miami was w/ Wanny. Things probably won't improve until Haslett goes away. Not only do the Rams not have a D (it pains me to say that. NOT!) but their special teams is a mess. The Rams have slide back into mediocrity like I predicted they would after narrowly beating Tennessee in the Super Bowl a few yrs ago. It took longer than I thought but it was worth the wait. St Louis, too, could use a change @ HC. I hope it doesn't happen because I just love to hate Martz. Like Wanny, MM is a better co-ordinator then coach.
6-10 for the saints, The NFC south is to hard for the saints next year. The bucs and panthers will be way better next year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>6-10 for the saints, The NFC south is to hard for the saints next year. The bucs and panthers will be way better next year.</div> You're not serious right??? The Saints will win the division this year. You'll see.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bleedblk&gld)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>6-10 for the saints, The NFC south is to hard for the saints next year. The bucs and panthers will be way better next year.</div> You're not serious right??? The Saints will win the division this year. You'll see.</div> You can't be serious if you think the Saints will win the divsion.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (porky88)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bleedblk&gld)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1)</div><div class='quotemain'>6-10 for the saints, The NFC south is to hard for the saints next year. The bucs and panthers will be way better next year.</div> You're not serious right??? The Saints will win the division this year. You'll see.</div> You can't be serious if you think the Saints will win the divsion. </div> No, i'm pretty serious. Our chances are as good as anyone else's in the NFC South.
I see 4th in the divison. The Bucs are gonna be good next year. Griese did a good job at QB, and they have a sick defense. The Panthers have a great defense and a good offense. The Falcons have a good defense, and a offense that is centered around Vick, who will kill your run defense
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bleedblk&gld)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (porky88)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bleedblk&gld)</div><div class='quotemain'> You're not serious right??? The Saints will win the division this year. You'll see.</div> You can't be serious if you think the Saints will win the divsion. </div> No, i'm pretty serious. Our chances are as good as anyone else's in the NFC South.</div> Look i know tht since ur a Saints fan u think theyre goin to the super bowl. Look im a giants fan and would love to see them win the division but looking at the eagles i dont see tht happening. If u think the Falcons and Panthers are gonna be 9-7 teams then the saints have a chance but im pretty sure atleast one of them will win atleast 10 and the saints wont pass 9.
If you look at the NFC South the Saints aren't in good shape at all. QB Jake Delhomme is probably the best QB in the divsion. Brain Griese played solid last season in 11 starts and threw 20 TD's. Mike Vick is exciting no matter what you'll all think and is the Falcons best bet to win. Aaron Brooks is inconsistent and he is probably the worse QB in the divsion. Yea that is right. 1. Panthers 2. Bucs 3. Falcons 4. Saints RB Foster,Davis,Goings all provide great deph. The Saints are very solid as well with the Deuce. One of your bright spots. Falcons got Dunn and Duckett and some guy named Vick. Bucs are in the worse shape but I am a believer that Carnell Williams is the best Rookie Back in the NFL. 1. Panthers 2. Saints 3. Falcons(a very close 3) 4. Bucs WR's. Saints have Joe Horn and thats about it. Go ahead and name off your scrubs but Stallworth is an overrated Bust and has done nothing. Falcons have nobody. They got Crumpler but this is a weak divsion for WR's. Panthers got Steve Smith,Colbert,Gardner now which is solid. Bucs got Clayton,Galloway and even Charles Lee has been a decent #3. 1. Panthers 2. Bucs 3. Saints 4. Falcons O-line wise the Panthers are solid and the Falcons are decent. Panthers are clearly the best group in the divsion. Everyone else is hard to say. Saints and Falcons in the middle and well the Bucs aren't looking good. The Saints have a nice unit but not that good. I think this divsion is weak in offensive line wise. The Bucs need to step it up a lot but should be improve from last seasons diaster. 1.Panthers 2.Saints 3.Falcons 4.Bucs Defense of wise the Panthers are very solid. All over the place it's hard to find a weakness. Falcons are the same sceinro. Solid all around and seem to be very confident. The Bucs are a better unit and when healthy are top 15 maybe top 10. The Saints are one of the worse defenses in football. Looking at it this is what makes the BIG difference and why the Saints will struggle. 1.Falcons 2.Panthers(a very close 2) 3.Bucs 4.Saints Coaching wise the Panthers have John Fox who is a hard coach. He is one of the best in the game in my opinion. Jon Gruden is solid as well. Remember a SB victory. Falcons have Jim Mora who accomplished more in his first year then Haslett as ever accomplish. 1.Panthers 2.Bucs 3.Falcons(a very close 3 but the others were in SB's) 4.Saints( a 4 that is far away) All in all that is my breakdown of the South. I don't like any South teams. This is what I think. It's the toughest divsion in the NFC. The Saints have talent but not enough to over take Atlanta or Carolina. The Bucs are up and coming and I think will over take the Saint for 3rd. Haslett might get fired into the season even. 1.Falcons 2.Panthers(a very close 2) 3.Bucs 4.Saints
Id put Brooks ahead of Vick and Greisball, but other tan that i Pretty much agree, of course it could be im a biased Packer fan looking out for a former boy.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (FLORIDA PACKER)</div><div class='quotemain'>Id put Brooks ahead of Vick and Greisball, but other tan that i Pretty much agree, of course it could be im a biased Packer fan looking out for a former boy.</div> Brooks is the most inconsistent QB i have ever seen in my life. That is why I put him at the bottom.
He can be inconsitent but at least he can play QUARTERback and doesn't throw a pick every time he sees a linemen within 10 yds of him. If Brooks had a few better linemen then I think he'd be set.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (FLORIDA PACKER)</div><div class='quotemain'>He can be inconsitent but at least he can play QUARTERback and doesn't throw a pick every time he sees a linemen within 10 yds of him. If Brooks had a few better linemen then I think he'd be set.</div> Brooks is not much of a Quarterback at all. Naming one play is a bad excuse on why he is better than Vick and Griese. Hell even Brett Favre has thrown picks into linemans hands before. Brooks is very inconsistent. One week he throws 3 TD's the next week 3 INT's.
Griese is definetly the 2nd best QB in the South. Griese only had half a year and helped the jump start that bucs offense. The Saints have talent on offense but they have a crappy coach. He is probly going to be fired after this year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (porky88)</div><div class='quotemain'>If you look at the NFC South the Saints aren't in good shape at all. QB Jake Delhomme is probably the best QB in the divsion. Brain Griese played solid last season in 11 starts and threw 20 TD's. Mike Vick is exciting no matter what you'll all think and is the Falcons best bet to win. Aaron Brooks is inconsistent and he is probably the worse QB in the divsion. Yea that is right. 1. Panthers 2. Bucs 3. Falcons 4. Saints RB Foster,Davis,Goings all provide great deph. The Saints are very solid as well with the Deuce. One of your bright spots. Falcons got Dunn and Duckett and some guy named Vick. Bucs are in the worse shape but I am a believer that Carnell Williams is the best Rookie Back in the NFL. 1. Panthers 2. Saints 3. Falcons(a very close 3) 4. Bucs WR's. Saints have Joe Horn and thats about it. Go ahead and name off your scrubs but Stallworth is an overrated Bust and has done nothing. Falcons have nobody. They got Crumpler but this is a weak divsion for WR's. Panthers got Steve Smith,Colbert,Gardner now which is solid. Bucs got Clayton,Galloway and even Charles Lee has been a decent #3. 1. Panthers 2. Bucs 3. Saints 4. Falcons O-line wise the Panthers are solid and the Falcons are decent. Panthers are clearly the best group in the divsion. Everyone else is hard to say. Saints and Falcons in the middle and well the Bucs aren't looking good. The Saints have a nice unit but not that good. I think this divsion is weak in offensive line wise. The Bucs need to step it up a lot but should be improve from last seasons diaster. 1.Panthers 2.Saints 3.Falcons 4.Bucs Defense of wise the Panthers are very solid. All over the place it's hard to find a weakness. Falcons are the same sceinro. Solid all around and seem to be very confident. The Bucs are a better unit and when healthy are top 15 maybe top 10. The Saints are one of the worse defenses in football. Looking at it this is what makes the BIG difference and why the Saints will struggle. 1.Falcons 2.Panthers(a very close 2) 3.Bucs 4.Saints Coaching wise the Panthers have John Fox who is a hard coach. He is one of the best in the game in my opinion. Jon Gruden is solid as well. Remember a SB victory. Falcons have Jim Mora who accomplished more in his first year then Haslett as ever accomplish. 1.Panthers 2.Bucs 3.Falcons(a very close 3 but the others were in SB's) 4.Saints( a 4 that is far away) All in all that is my breakdown of the South. I don't like any South teams. This is what I think. It's the toughest divsion in the NFC. The Saints have talent but not enough to over take Atlanta or Carolina. The Bucs are up and coming and I think will over take the Saint for 3rd. Haslett might get fired into the season even. 1.Falcons 2.Panthers(a very close 2) 3.Bucs 4.Saints</div> how can you have the panthers at #1 at every spot except D, where you have them at a very close 2nd, but then have them being second in the division?? doesn't add up, personally...i'm not denigrating your choice, but the facts you put forth would indicate carolina would run away with the division(which i don't think will happen, but i think they will win it)...as for the rankings, the panthers o-line is unproven, and the falcons had the best running team last year, so i would give the falcons the nod for now...i do think the panthers have made the best moves, but there are still questions and possible depth issues there
The Falcons success is solely on the shoulders of Vick. If Vick gets injuried they will probly end up at #3 or #4. If he stays healthy then the Panthers and Falcons will contend for the Title. The Panthers have much more talent on their team because all the expericence from players who started for the injured players
