The best thing to happen week 1 would be for the phins to win and the pats to lose. Miami & NE are heading in opposite directions. Tommy Boy's injury is the curse of the Super Bowl loser rearing its ugly head. Alex Smith is a bust. Carolina will reemerge. Philly won't. Cleveland is overrated. Favre will have a subpar season & retire for good.
The bears' offense is going to be one of the worst in the league, and the defense is going to be ordinary. I'm hopeful for more than 4 wins.
AFC East: North: South: West: Wildcard1: Wildcard2: NFC East: North: South: West: Wildcard1: Wildcard2: PLAYOFFS (a > b; team a wins) Wildcard: Patriots > Jaguars Texans > Chargers Buccaneers > Cowboys Saints > Redskins Divisional Colts > Texans Steelers > Patriots Buccaneers > Seahawks Vikings > Saints Conference Steelers > Colts Vikings > Buccaneers Super Bowl Steelers > Vikings
Usually I like to pick every game over the schedule but I haven't had time so based on what I think is going to play out NFC North 1. Green Bay 10 to 11 wins 2. Minnesota 8 to 10 wins 3. Chicago 6 to 8 wins 4. Detroit 5 to 7 wins NFC East 1. Dallas 11 to 13 wins 2. Philadelphia 10 to 11 wins 3. N.Y. Giants 9 to 11 wins 4. Washington 7 or 8 wins NFC South 1. New Orleans 10 to 12 wins 2. Carolina 7 to 9 wins 3. Tampa Bay 7 or 8 wins 4. Atlanta 3 to 5 wins NFC West 1. Seattle 9 to 11 wins 2. Arizona 7 to 9 wins 3. St. Louis 7 to 9 wins 4. San Francisco 3 to 5 wins AFC North 1. Pittsburgh 8 to 10 wins 2. Cleveland 8 to 9 wins 3. Cincinnati 4 to 6 wins 4. Baltimore 4 to 6 wins AFC East 1. New England 12 to 14 wins 2. N.Y. Jets 8 to 10 wins 3. Buffalo 7 to 9 wins 4. Miami 5 to 7 wins AFC South 1. Indianapolis 11 to 13 wins 2. Jacksonville 10 to 12 wins 3. Houston 8 or 9 wins 4. Tennessee 6 to 8 wins AFC West 1. San Diego 12 to 14 wins 2. Denver 6 to 8 wins 3. Oakland 4 to 6 wins 4. Kansas City 4 to 6 wins Yes I actually think the final wild card spot in the AFC will come down to Cleveland, Houston, or New York Jets. Ironically the Texas go to Lambeau late in the year I believe so maybe the Packers end up doing a favor for Brett Favre. My Super Bowl pick is the popular one from last year New Orleans vs. Indianapolis
New Orleans will be back. Carolina will suck, again. San Diego wins it all. Dallas will choke again. the 49ers will be respectable.
NFC North 1. Minnesota 11-5 2. Green Bay 8-8 3. Detroit 5-11 4. Chicago 3-13 NFC East 1. Dallas 11-5 2. Philadelphia 10-6 3. N.Y. Giants 8-8 4. Washington 4-12 NFC South 1. Tampa 9-7 2. New Orleans 9-7 3. Carolina 6-10 4. Atlanta 4-12 NFC West 1. Seattle 10-6 2. Arizona 8-8 3. St. Louis 7-9 4. San Francisco 6-10 AFC North 1. Pittsburgh 10-6 2. Cleveland 8-8 3. Cincinnati 8-8 4. Baltimore 6-10 AFC East 1. New England 12-4 2. N.Y. Jets 9-7 3. Buffalo 6-10 4. Miami 4-12 AFC South 1. Jacksonville 11-5 2. Indy 10-6 3. Tennessee 8-8 4. Houston 8-8 AFC West 1. San Diego 11-5 2. Oakland 8-8 3. Denver 6-10 4. Kansas City 4-12 round 1: Seattle, Tampa, SD, Pitt, Philly, GB, NYJ, Indy round 2: Dallas, Minnesota, NE, Jacksonville, Indy, Pitt, GB, Philly round 3: Dallas, Philly, Jacksonville, NE SB: Jacksonville, Dallas Jacksonville Edit: I downgraded the Gmen after hearing about Osi. Their D line was their edge in my opinion. Rumor has it that Strahan will fill in. Wait and see.
Cowboys win the SB but if the Steelers grab 11 or 12 wins, they win the AFC, toughest schedule but a stacked offense
You think so? I think the Cowboys are set up for a relatively tough season. There's a lot of volatility in that locker room that could very well affect the team's play.
If we struggle this season, it won't be because of the ESPN hyped "volatility" of our locker room. That screams "hey, I don't really know what's going on, but I heard it on ESPN and decided to repeat it because its the only thing I could come up." Key issues for the Cowboys: PR/KR coverage Unknowns/unprovens at WR behind Owens/Crayton Blocking of our 2nd and 3rd string TEs (particularly, pass blocking) has been poor this preseason We still look lost in zone coverage Talented starting CBs; but behind them is a lot of youth/inexperience/rookie ILB coverage was terrible last year; Thomas excels in that, but can Burnett/Carpenter be better in coverage this year Pass rush was inconsistent at times; particularly along the DL 3rd down defense needs to improve; though later in the last season, it improved a lot run blocking last year was up and down Those are all legitimate concerns that could factor in us not doing well next year.
Because I definitely don't think for myself and I definitely give two shits what those ESPN people say.
Pittsburgh offensive line will make or break that team. They have a lot of key players but in the trenches I wonder how good they might be.
NFC North: Minnesota (9-7) East: Dallas (11-5) South: New Orleans (10-6) West: Seattle (10-6) Wild Card: Tampa (9-7); Philly (9-7) AFC North: Pittsburgh (10-6) East: New England (13-3) South: Indianapolis (11-5) West: San Diego (12-4) Wild Card: Jacksonville (10-6); New York (9-7) NFC Playoffs 1st Round: Seattle over Tampa, Philly over Minnesota 2nd Round: Dallas over Philly; New Orleans over Seattle NFC Championship: New Orleans over Dallas AFC Playoffs 1st Round: Indianapolis over New York; Jacksonville over Pittsburgh 2nd Round: New England over Jacksonville; San Diego over Indianapolis AFC Championship: San Diego over New England Super Bowl: San Diego over New Orleans!
Romo comes back to earth this year Norv happens - Chargers have a poor season and don't make the playoffs Brady Quinn starts at least 9 games Joe Flacco starts at least 8 games Farve leads the Jets to an AFC East title Redskins miss the playoffs and Snyder fires somebody Reggie Bush breaks out this year Cardinals make the playoffs Lions draft a WR in the first round
The Cardinals were my sleeper team last year; I don't know about this year. That QB spot is just too unstable. Leinart isn't translating into a pro and can Warner still do it? I'll ignore the Charger comment : ] I think Bush could break out this year. It's his year to make or break his pro career. He has to learn to just hit the hole and not try to dance around each defender. This isn't college, he doesn't have the speed to juke every defender coming at him. Hit the hole hard, get positive yardage, and then the rest of the run game will open up. It's a shame that with New Orleans' pass offense that Bush hasn't gotten it going yet.
Why must you ruin my fun? Speaking of which... what kind of year do you expect from Russell? I hope he gets protected better this year than previous QBs have been in Oakland... otherwise he'll struggle; people will unfairly blame Russell at every turn, etc.
There is no defining measurement and it happens for different reasons. Carson Palmer came back. So did Drew Brees. At the end of the day, I don't believe Romo is anything more than an average QB that happens to be in a very good situation.