NFL Predictions Thread

[Big Sexy]

Fine, did Chad Henne have a slightly better year then Mark Sanchez last year? Maybe he did, but
1. Henne wasn't a rookie.
2. Sanchez NOW isn't a rookie, so the Rookie mistakes are gone
3. Henne didn't lead his team in shit. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams led that team. That offense was most successful when Henne never even touched the damn ball.

1. He wasn't a rookie but he only threw 12 passes his rookie season. A year watching from the bench still had him more prepared then Sanchez but it's not like Henne was a veteran with a ton of experience.

2. I'll believe it when I see it. Not all high drafted qb's end up being great quarterbacks. He showed promise last year but his numbers really were atrocious for the most part. A couple solid playoff games doesn't automatically mean he can put an entire good season together.

3. And Mark Sanchez did? While the Dolphins running game was very good, the Jets running game was better. The Jets also had better receivers and a better defense. Shit, Ronnie Brown didn't even play in the last 7 games of the season so Henne only had Brown and Williams together for 6 of his 13 starts.

The Dolphins started the season 0-3 without Henne and finished 7-6 with Henne as the starter. Obviously he helped lead the team to something.

 

[Megatron]

Boldin is a top 10 receiver because he played along side Larry Fitzgerald. Who in my opinion is the best receiver in the NFL. Boldin was like there Welker. Only relevant because Moss can open up the field.

Bullshit. He's been fantastic ever since he came into the league. His rookie year he was the #1 WR and he had over 100 catches and was Offensive ROY. Fitzgerald wasn't even there. Don't give me that. Larry's better, but Boldin is more then capable of being a top receiver.

Bull fucking shit and you know that. If it wasn't for Big Ben they wouldn't have goten to super bowl 40. He carried them through Denver and Indianapolis. Besides when he came back for the stretch they went undeafeated and won something like 9 or 10 straight games. Get off the haterade. He meant more to that offense than anyone else on that team. They were a 6 and 10 team before Ben arrived. What does that have to say?

Pretty sure their defense carried them that season. Only two game did they allow more then 23 points. They were a top 3 defense all season long.

Another blind bashing by a Steelers fan. He might have played bad but without him they don't get out of the playoffs nor do they even get to the playoffs. Seattle couldn't even move the fucking ball. Come on man, you're better than that. Or so I thought.

I'm not hating. Ben played fucking terrible in that game. His QB rating would make Trent Dilfer look good. Don't forget the phantom TD that they gave him when he was down well short of the end-zone. Need a refresher of what happened?

Come on man. He threw only nine incompletions that entire game. Executed several scoring drives and completely shined when the game was on the line. Another blind bashing by a Steelers hater. This shit never gets old. Ben did more than enough to win that game.

Uh...

The one vs Arizona I will give you though.

LOL, when that defense was getting shit on late in games last year because they were banged up. Good logic. They lost games last year because there defense surrendered like 6 late game leads. Not because Ben threw it away.

Their offense wasn't any juggernauts in those losses either. Only once did they get more then 21 points, and that was against KC. It's tough to rely on a defense to hold an NFL offense to under 17 points each game.

Yeah Dixon or Leftwich aren't capable of winning games.

How many wins does Dennis Dixon have? 0. And Leftwich couldn't even cut it for the fucking Buccaneers. While they were bad, Leftwich isn't anything special to talk about.

Alright, I'm gonna really try to get one of the conferences up today. Probably the NFC.

 

[Jonnie Walker]

AFC East
1.) Jets (13-3)
2.) Patriots (10-6)
3.) Dolphins (10-6)
4.) Bills (7-9)

I think that the Jets are much more of a threat than the Pats, I actually think that their time as a dynasty is up, and while the Dolphins made a big move in acquiring Brandon Marshall, they still are a few steps under the rest of the teams in the East, but I think by next year they will be a top contender in their division. As for the Bills, I think they will continue to be the Bills, and remain in the basement of that division. And the reason I picked the Jets is because I think they have made big moves this offseason, and it's undeniable that they have a great defense, Shonn Greene will show his skills like he did in last season's playoffs, Mark Sanchez will improve, LT will be better than he was last year, seeing how this is a running team, and the addition of Santonio Holmes will not only help Sanchez, but will help the team as well.
AFC North
1.) Ravens (14-2)
2.) Bengals (11-5)*
3.) Steelers (7-9)
4.) Browns (6-10)

The Ravens are looking great on paper. Boldin and Stallworth will elevate Flacco to a Pro Bowl level, Ray Rice is a beast, Willis McGahee will be a nice complement, and that defense is insanely good. I don't know if it's as good as the Jets defense, but it is a damn good defense, and Ray Lewis will be a monster as usual, and Ed Reed will bounce back from last year's less than stellar season. As for the Bengals, I think they will be a threat with the addition of T.O, Benson had a good season running the ball, Ochocinco had a very good year last year, and Carson Palmer, if he can stay healthy, will elevate this team to new heights. The Steelers look like they're fucked, and since Roethlisberger will be out for the first 4-6 weeks, I don't see this team any better than 8-8, and the loss of Santonio Holmes leaves Roethlisberger with one less weapon. Luckily for them, Polamalu will be healthy, and the defense will improve to stop this team from being in the bottom of the division. The Browns will be better than last year, but that won't be very hard to do. They finished the season on a high note, winning 4 straight games and Colt McCoy could be a good rookie QB if he gets the chance to play.

AFC South

1.) Texans (12-4)
2.) Colts (11-5)*
3.) Titans (9-7)
4.) Jaguars (8-8)

I know this will surprise alot of people, but I see the Texans putting it all together next year and making it to the playoffs, and I see them actually being better than the Colts who may not be as good after losing in the Super Bowl. I see a promising young team in the Titans, but this division is crowded with good teams, and I see the Jaguars being in the cellar again, because let's face it, they are pretty much just Maurice Jones-Drew and a bunch of schmucks.

AFC West
1.) Chargers (10-6)
2.) Chiefs (9-7)
3.) Raiders (6-10)
4.) Broncos (3-13)
I see the Chargers winning because can anyone honestly picture another team winning this division? Rivers is a very good Quarterback, Ryan Matthews is a talented young Running Back, and they'll find a way to win with or without Vincent Jackson. The Chiefs are actually a talented young team, they made a good defensive pick in the draft in Eric Berry, Jamaal Charles is a very good young running back and the addition of Thomas Jones will help this offense tremendously, Dwayne Bowe is looking like he could do a good job this year, and the defense will step it up. The Raiders made a good move by adding Jason Campbell and getting rid of Jamarcus Russell, and Chaz Schilens and Louis Murphy are promising young receivers, and Darrius Heyward-Bey can't be any worse than he was last year. And the Broncos will flat out suck this year. The loss of Brandon Marshall leaves this team fucked.

NFC East
1.) Cowboys (11-5)
2.) Redskins (9-7)
3.) Giants (7-9)
4.) Eagles (2-14)

I think that the Cowboys are the biggest threat in this division. They have the all around best team in the East, when you take into account that the Redskins could be very good with McNabb, Portis, and Haynesworth, but they could also be very mediocre. The Giants weren't good last year, and to be honest I expect them to be a little worse this year seeing how badly they played at the end of the year. The Eagles have a young and inexperienced team, and if the trend follows, they should have alot of big injuries. I see nothing special in Kolb or McCoy, and I think this will be a terrible team.

NFC North
1.) Vikings (13-3)
2.) Packers (12-4)*
3.) Bears (9-7)
4.) Lions (4-12)

I think we all know damn well that Brett Favre is coming back, and that alone puts the Vikes in the number one spot. The Packers are a really, really good team, but with Favre coming back, I think they come in at a very, very close second place. The Bears aren't a good team by any stretch, but they made a huge move in acquiring Julius Peppers, and I think both Cutler and Forte will bounce back, and a healthy Brian Urlacher will be leading the defense at middle linebacker, so this is definitely a team you can't sleep on, but I don't see them playing any better than the Packers or Vikings, and that leaves the Lions, who will make improvements from last year as Matthew Stafford will mature, and Ndamukong Suh will be a force on the defensive line, but they are in a tough division, and I think they'll lose all six divisional games.

NFC South
1.) Falcons (13-3)
2.) Saints (12-4)*
3.) Panthers (6-10)
4.) Buccaneers (4-12)

I think that the Falcons will win by the skin of their teeth, but they have a pretty easy schedule, and with healthy returns of Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Brian Williams, I think the team will be very good this year, and Dunta Robinson and Sean Weatherspoon will be very good on defense, along with guys like Lofton, Abraham, Babineux, and Grimes, who is very underrated. The Saints are a very good team, but I think at some point Brees will succumb to the Madden Curse, and they will lose out on the division title. The Panthers are going to be awful on defense with the loss of Julius Peppers, and I can't see them being good at all. And of course, you have the Bucs, who will probably be a failure, but they could win a few games against good teams.

NFC West
1.) 49ers (9-7)
2.) Seahawks (7-9)
3.) Cardinals (4-12)
4.) Rams (3-13)
The 49ers are easily the best team in this division, and will cruise to a win, with the only team looking like slight competition being Seattle. The Cardinals will suffer without Warner, and the Rams will improve with Bradford, but they'll still suck.

Awards
MVP: Matt Schaub
Offensive Player: Michael Turner
Defensive Player: Darrelle Revis
Offensive ROTY: Ryan Matthews
Defensive ROTY: Eric Berry

AFC Playoffs:
1.) Baltimore Ravens
2.) New York Jets
3.) Houston Texans
4.) San Diego Chargers
5.) Indianapolis Colts
6.) Cincinatti Bengals

NFC Playoffs:
1.) Minnesota Vikings
2.) Atlanta Falcons
3.) Dallas Cowboys
4.) San Francisco 49ers
5.) Green Bay Packers
6.) New Orleans Saints

AFC Championship: Bengals over Ravens
NFC Championship: Falcons over Vikings

Super Bowl: Falcons over Bengals

 

[Stormtrooper]

1. He wasn't a rookie but he only threw 12 passes his rookie season. A year watching from the bench still had him more prepared then Sanchez but it's not like Henne was a veteran with a ton of experience.

So he wasn't a rookie. Thanks for clarifying what I said. He was NOT a rookie. And rookie mistakes happen to ROOKIES, not 2nd year guys who sit on their ass for a year while the most underrated QB of the past 10 pluss years helps lead the Dolphins to the division.

2. I'll believe it when I see it. Not all high drafted qb's end up being great quarterbacks. He showed promise last year but his numbers really were atrocious for the most part. A couple solid playoff games doesn't automatically mean he can put an entire good season together.

And numbers are what matters, not success. I forgot about that. The only important numbers are wins and losses. At the end of the day, Mark Sanchez was 10-8 as a starting QB (8-7 regular season, 2-1 in playoffs). I'll take that from a rookie QB who is lives at the practice facility to ensure he improves from last year.

And yes, a couple good playoff games doesn't a good season make, but it wasn't a couple good playoff games. It was a VERY good last 5 or 6 games. He "got it" late in the season, everything started to click, and he became a good QB. That's why I see him having a better year.

3. And Mark Sanchez did? While the Dolphins running game was very good, the Jets running game was better. The Jets also had better receivers and a better defense. Shit, Ronnie Brown didn't even play in the last 7 games of the season so Henne only had Brown and Williams together for 6 of his 13 starts.

Sanchez didn't have to lead his team, but neither did Henne, so I fail to see why Henne was better in that regard. And Ricky didn't need Ronnie, who is pretty overrated anyway, Ricky was awesome last year. Miami had a good running attack last year. They didn't have the receivers, and they didn't have the best defense in the league, but none of that matters. To say Henne was a lot better and will be a lot better then Sanchez is just bias because of Sanchez being in New York.

The Dolphins started the season 0-3 without Henne and finished 7-6 with Henne as the starter. Obviously he helped lead the team to something.

What, exactly? Oh, I remember what Henne "led" them to, 3rd place in the division, and NO PLAYOFFS. And Henne didn't lead shit. Who's to say Pennington wouldn't have led the Fish to 10-6? Hell, I would have bet on it, because as I said earlier, Pennington is the most underrated QB of the past decade plus.

 

[Big Sexy]

So he wasn't a rookie. Thanks for clarifying what I said. He was NOT a rookie. And rookie mistakes happen to ROOKIES, not 2nd year guys who sit on their ass for a year while the most underrated QB of the past 10 pluss years helps lead the Dolphins to the division.

Playing your first meaningful games in professional football is still a tough thing no matter how long you have been "watching" from the sidelines. Experience wise, the gap was not that big between Henne and Sanchez.

And numbers are what matters, not success. I forgot about that. The only important numbers are wins and losses. At the end of the day, Mark Sanchez was 10-8 as a starting QB (8-7 regular season, 2-1 in playoffs). I'll take that from a rookie QB who is lives at the practice facility to ensure he improves from last year.

You know damn well success does not fall on one player. Sanchez was playing for a better team and had more talent around him. 10-8 isn't exactly a ton better then 7-6 either.

And yes, a couple good playoff games doesn't a good season make, but it wasn't a couple good playoff games. It was a VERY good last 5 or 6 games. He "got it" late in the season, everything started to click, and he became a good QB. That's why I see him having a better year.

Looking at his last 6 games (final 3 regular season and 3 playoffs) he only had a qb rating above 80 in two of those games and 3 times it was below 61. He played horrible in week 15 vs Atlanta, didn't do shit in week 17 vs Cinci, and was below average in the playoff win over San Diego. The running game and defense carried that team all season and that isn't arguable. Sanchez was lucky with the situation he got placed in. Did he show potential? Yes, but don't act like he was better then he really was.

Sanchez didn't have to lead his team, but neither did Henne, so I fail to see why Henne was better in that regard. And Ricky didn't need Ronnie, who is pretty overrated anyway, Ricky was awesome last year. Miami had a good running attack last year. They didn't have the receivers, and they didn't have the best defense in the league, but none of that matters. To say Henne was a lot better and will be a lot better then Sanchez is just bias because of Sanchez being in New York.

Where exactly did I say Henne was WAY better? Oh wait I didn't. Don't put words in my mouth. I believe Henne was better last year and over the course of his career will be the better quarterback but by no means do I think he is leaps and bounds ahead of Sanchez. And stop with this New York bias bullshit that you bring up with everything. Not everyone hates New York. I actually happen to like a lot of the Jets players like Braylon Edwards, Bart Scott, LT, Shonn Greene, and David Harris.

What, exactly? Oh, I remember what Henne "led" them to, 3rd place in the division, and NO PLAYOFFS.

A winning record and two victories over the Jets is pretty good for a guy that took over a 0-3 team. His running game helped but Henne was no slouch.

And Henne didn't lead shit. Who's to say Pennington wouldn't have led the Fish to 10-6? Hell, I would have bet on it, because as I said earlier, Pennington is the most underrated QB of the past decade plus.

I agree Pennington is underrated but you can't start a season 0-3 with the future potential franchise qb on the bench and expect to keep your job. I highly doubt the Dolphins go 10-3 to end that season no matter who their quarterback is. Pennington got injured and Henne stepped in nicely

And please stop with this "Henne didn't lead shit, it was all the running game" because the exact same thing can easily be said about Sanchez and can actually be said to a higher degree because like I said Sanchez had a better running game, better receivers, and a better defense then Henne did.

 

[Megatron]

And numbers are what matters, not success. I forgot about that. The only important numbers are wins and losses. At the end of the day, Mark Sanchez was 10-8 as a starting QB (8-7 regular season, 2-1 in playoffs). I'll take that from a rookie QB who is lives at the practice facility to ensure he improves from last year.

So Trent Dilfer was a great QB because he was the QB when the Raven's won the SB? Sanchez had the defense and didn't have to do a whole lot, while Henne's defense wasn't great at all.

They didn't have the receivers, and they didn't have the best defense in the league, but none of that matters.

Uh, what? Pretty sure that means a whole lot. How is a guy supposed to do well if he doesn't have any weapons? Or a defense?

To say Henne was a lot better and will be a lot better then Sanchez is just bias because of Sanchez being in New York.

I'm not sure if Henne is better then Sanchez, but from what he showed last year, he's gonna be a hell of a better QB then what you're making him out to be.

What, exactly? Oh, I remember what Henne "led" them to, 3rd place in the division, and NO PLAYOFFS. And Henne didn't lead shit. Who's to say Pennington wouldn't have led the Fish to 10-6? Hell, I would have bet on it, because as I said earlier, Pennington is the most underrated QB of the past decade plus.

Pennington was placed on IR and wasn't gonna play for the rest of the season. So that's a moot point.

 

[Stormtrooper]

So Trent Dilfer was a great QB because he was the QB when the Raven's won the SB? Sanchez had the defense and didn't have to do a whole lot, while Henne's defense wasn't great at all.

Sorry. I'm a fan. All I care about with my team is Wins and Losses. If you are content with good stats on a non-playoff team, then you can have it.

And I NEVER said anything about winning making a QB great, I said that I'd rather have someone who wins, which Sanchez did under more adverse conditions (rookie, good team expected to do good, New York media/fan scrutiny, worse weather conditions, etc) then a guy with better numbers who couldn't get his team into the Postseason. Henne had a chance to do that, and he failed.

Uh, what? Pretty sure that means a whole lot. How is a guy supposed to do well if he doesn't have any weapons? Or a defense?

You're right, that didn't make sense. Mainly because Miami actually had decent receivers and a pretty good D. Did they have the #1 D, no, but they had a good one.

I'm not sure if Henne is better then Sanchez, but from what he showed last year, he's gonna be a hell of a better QB then what you're making him out to be.

I never made him out to be terrible. All I'm doing is defending Sanchez, who people think is the second coming of Ryan Leaf or something, which is a load of bullshit (and the people saying it know it).

Pennington was placed on IR and wasn't gonna play for the rest of the season. So that's a moot point.

What I was saying is who's to say a healthy Pennington would have done better then Henne did. It's conceivable that a healthy Pennington could have won more games then Henne ultimately did.

 

[Big Sexy]

I am willing to bet everything I own that if you put Henne on the Jets last year they still make the playoffs and if you put Sanchez on the Dolphins they finish their final 13 games worse then 7-6. Sanchez had more help around him on offense and the number one defense in the league. Henne had one of, if not the worst receiving corps in the league and he had a bottom 10 defense.

 

[Megatron]

Sorry. I'm a fan. All I care about with my team is Wins and Losses. If you are content with good stats on a non-playoff team, then you can have it.

What? Did I say I'd want a QB that puts up the stats but doesn't win? You were saying that Sanchez was so great b/c he went 10-8 when it was mainly b/c of his defense. As long as he didn't throw picks in key situations he was fine. The defense and running game carried them.

And I NEVER said anything about winning making a QB great, I said that I'd rather have someone who wins, which Sanchez did under more adverse conditions (rookie, good team expected to do good, New York media/fan scrutiny, worse weather conditions, etc) then a guy with better numbers who couldn't get his team into the Postseason. Henne had a chance to do that, and he failed.

Give Henne the WR's and defense that Sanchez had and he'll take you into the postseason.

You're right, that didn't make sense. Mainly because Miami actually had decent receivers and a pretty good D. Did they have the #1 D, no, but they had a good one.

What? Their passing game was 20th in yards and 27th in TDs. Their defense was 25th in points and 22nd in yards. How is that good? And they couldn't get turnovers either. 27th in the NFL. Their defense was far from good.

I never made him out to be terrible. All I'm doing is defending Sanchez, who people think is the second coming of Ryan Leaf or something, which is a load of bullshit (and the people saying it know it).

Nobody was coming in here and saying Sanchez was gonna go Ryan Leaf next year. Quit assuming that everyone is against NY.

What I was saying is who's to say a healthy Pennington would have done better then Henne did. It's conceivable that a healthy Pennington could have won more games then Henne ultimately did.

Too bad Pennington is as fragile as a stick. He may have been able to go 9-7, but if you're injury prone like he is oh well.

 

[BooCocky]

Bullshit. He's been fantastic ever since he came into the league. His rookie year he was the #1 WR and he had over 100 catches and was Offensive ROY. Fitzgerald wasn't even there. Don't give me that. Larry's better, but Boldin is more then capable of being a top receiver.

But he became a bigger threat when Larry got there because Larry is bigger and a better receiver. Which was my point. Boldin is a good number two. Not a number one.

Pretty sure their defense carried them that season. Only two game did they allow more then 23 points. They were a top 3 defense all season long.

You got to score touchdowns though. Ben did not turn the ball over in crucial situations and he made plays when they have to. The Steelers were never supposed to score 32 points a game. But it was there job to score when they got the ball. Which they did. Why didn't we win when Stewart was our QB? Because he couldn't do the things Ben could. He was not a proven winner and a playmaker.

I'm not hating. Ben played fucking terrible in that game. His QB rating would make Trent Dilfer look good. Don't forget the phantom TD that they gave him when he was down well short of the end-zone. Need a refresher of what happened?

It doesnt fucking matter. Without Roethlisberger under center the Steelers dont even make the playoffs. He was that important. He might not have been important against the Seahawks but they were lucky to be there anyway. All Romo had to do was hold onto the ball. And I honestly can't recall a bad call. Ben scored the touchdown on the QB scramble. The ball reached the goal line which is all it needs. And it did that. Quit hating.

Their offense wasn't any juggernauts in those losses either. Only once did they get more then 21 points, and that was against KC. It's tough to rely on a defense to hold an NFL offense to under 17 points each game.

But they held fourth quarter leads in pretty much all of there losses. Not Big Ben's fault the defense couldn't keep teams like Oakland and Kansas City out of the end zone. And that defense was susceptible to the big pass play. Another thing that wasn't Ben Roethlisbergers fault.

How many wins does Dennis Dixon have? 0. And Leftwich couldn't even cut it for the fucking Buccaneers. While they were bad, Leftwich isn't anything special to talk about.

Yeah but that was because Dixon was young. If he stayed healthy his last college season he was a second round draft pick. Getting him in the sixth was a steal. And he performed well that game. And Byron, when he was here two years ago, he filled in nicely with his rocket arm and out of the shotgun. He has a quicker release than Ben which was nice when that line was shaky. And it's also hard to perform on teams when they suck. Jacksonville pretty much sucks as a franchise and TB hasn't been good since there super bowl appearance many moons ago.

Alright, I'm gonna really try to get one of the conferences up today. Probably the NFC.

So honored

Time for another conference by yours truly.

NFC South
1.) Saints (12-4)
2.) Falcons (10-6)
3.) Panthers (7-9)
4.) Buccaneers (4-12)

The Saints should win this division barring an injury to someone like Drew Brees. They are loaded on offense, even though I strongly believe that defense will not be that lucky this year. But still mediocre, enough to win 12 games and probably lose early in the playoffs. For crying out loud they weren't even good and had no right being in the Super Bowl after the travesty that was the NFC championship game.

The Falcons should be decent. They're coming off a down year but thats because Michael Turner is overrated and Matt Ryan wasn't full of luck. But they're still the second best team in that division. Unless Clausen takes over in Carolina which should happen. Got no faith in Matt Moore. And TB will just suck. The good news? Josh Freeman will improve greatly...

 

[simpsons_fanatic742]

AFC East
1.) Jets
2.) Dolphins
3.) Patriots
4.) Bills

I like the moves that the Jets made this off-season. Their defence was great last season so they went out and improved their offence. I love the addition of LT and I believe he still has something left to show in the NFL. He'll be a great RB for them this season. The Dolphins should be better and I like Marshall being added to help Henne. The Patriots seem to be declining and I don't think they beat out NY and MIA. The Bills are still working on getting better and they'll struggle again this year.

AFC North
1.) Ravens
2.) Bengals*
3.) Steelers
4.) Browns

The Ravens did like the Jets did and improved their offence to go with their great defence. Boldin is going to finally give the Ravens a passing game and that will help out Flacco and the RBs. The Bengals should be able to get the wild card and I like the addition of Owens. Hopefully Benson can keep up the play from last year. Losing Roethlisberger is going to hurt the Steelers and I don't see them regrouping from that. The Browns are like the Bills, still rebuilding.

AFC South
1.) Colts
2.) Texans*
3.) Titans
4.) Jaguars

The Colts win the division again because it's just what they do. The Texans are on the upswing every year, but losing Cushing may hurt them. The Titans will fall behind HOU and IND, but stay ahead of the Jags how will finish last again. This may be the year the Texans make the playoffs.

AFC West
1.) Chargers
2.) Raiders
3.) Broncos
4.) Chiefs

The Chargers win the division quite easily this year. I think the Raiders have a surprise season and finish second in the West. The Chiefs have an up and coming team like the Raiders, but I see them finishing behind OAK and DEN. They're not there yet. DEN falls in between the pack and still can't find an identity.

NFC East
1.) Cowboys
2.) Eagles
3.) Redskins
4.) Giants

The Cowboys should win this division. They have the strongest and most balanced team and they're coming off their first playoff win in a long time last year. It seems I'm in the minority, but I don't see the Eagles struggling that much with Kolb. I think he's a good QB and showed that he can play in the NFL. He's got some weapons to work with as well so I don't think the Eagles will fall off as much as people say. The Redskins are improved for sure, but I don't see them passing the Eagles yet. The Giants seem to be falling here and will fall behind the pack.

NFC North
1.) Vikings
2.) Packers*
3.) Lions
4.) Bears

I like MIN here to take the division. Losing Chester Taylor might hurt a little, but they still have their main weapons on offence. The defence should still be solid and lead them to the division win. The Packers are closing the gap on MIN and have a chance to win the division, but I don't see it this year. They'll take a wild card spot though. The Lions will be much improved and beat out Chicago for the third spot. Chicago still needs some help.

South
1.) Saints
2.) Falcons*
3.) Panthers
4.) Buccaneers

The Saints win the division again, but the Falcons make a good run this year. If they stay healthy they should be one of the top teams in the NFC. I see a wildcard spot for them. The Panthers are still regrouping after last season and won't make an impact in the division. The Buccaneers are in the same place as CAR, but Carolina is farther ahead. TAM finishes last.

NFC West
1.) 49ers
2.) Cardinals
3.) Seahawks
4.) Rams

The 49ers win the division because they have the most complete team. The Cardinals will fall off without Warner, but they still have Fitzgerald to keep them away from the bottom. The Seahawks get third because the Rams are still pretty terrible.

Awards
MVP: Peyton Manning
Offensive Player: Drew Brees
Defensive Player: DeMarcus Ware
Offensive ROTY: Dez Bryant
Defensive ROTY: Ndamukong Suh

AFC Playoffs:
1.) Colts
2.) Jets
3.) Ravens
4.) Chargers
5.) Bengals
6.) Texans

NFC Playoffs:
1.) Saints
2.) Cowboys
3.) Vikings
4.) 49ers
5.) Packers
6.) Falcons

AFC Playoffs:
Ravens over Texans, Bengals over Chargers
Colts over Bengals, Jets over Ravens
AFC Championship: Jets over Colts

NFC Playoffs:
Vikings over Falcons, Packers over 49ers
Saints over Packers, Cowboys over Vikings
NFC Championship: Cowboys over Saints

Super Bowl:
Cowboys over Jets (Homer pick? Yes, but it's damn possible)

 

[Tenta]

Right, I did promise by NFC Prognostications, didn't I? Damn promises. Anyway, here's my outlook for which will be the way of the NFC this 2010 Season:

NFC East:

1. Dallas Cowboys
2. New York Giants
3. Washington Redskins
4. Philadelphia Eagles

Summary: I don't see why I can't put the Cowboys here at the head of the class. As much as I dislike the Cowboys, and everything they stand for, the fact is that they may have the rushing attack in the NFC, perhaps even in the NFL. Marion Barber and Felix Jones combined are difficult to stop, but now Dallas has proven their third running back, Tashard Choice, may be better than some starters in the NFL. Consider that depth for a while; that's absolutely horrifying. In a division that typically demands a solid ground game, it appears as though Dallas has the best option. The Giants are facing a year in which many players are returning from injuries, and the loss of Antonio Pierce may hurt, but the signing of Keith Bullock will do wonders for the squad. That said, so much about the Giants are left to question, I'm not sure I can put them in the playoffs. Philly and Washington both look like good teams on paper, but the division is going to be tough. This may be a case in which we won't know the winner of this division until Week 15, when everyone comes together in a hige clusterfuck. Having Donovan McNabb will make the Skins better, but without a trustful running game, I don't see much out of them. I think Portis is on his last legs in this league, and that losing Chris Samuels to retirement is really going to hurt this team. The Eagles still have issues with a secondary that was wounded after losing Brian Dawkins. Yes, yes, new player and all that, but until I see the results, I can't put them in contention yet.

NFC South:

1. New Orleans Saints
2. Atlanta Falcons*
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Tampa Bay Bucs

Summary: Look, people are saying to buy into the Falcons this year; I just don't buy it yet. The Falcons are coming off a season where you could arbgue there most explosive player was Jerious Norwood. Anytime it's your backup running back, that's not a good sign. The drafting of Witherspoon and getting Dunta Robinson will help, but the realy question is going to be defensive tackle, where Peria Jerry is going to have to live up to his first round pick status. Otherwise, expect for John Abraham to be shut down, QBs to have all day to pass on the Falcons, and big time losses. The Saints are now the champs, and we all know To Be The Man, You Got To Beat The Man. I do believe the Saints got lucky for a good part of last season, and the media was just dying to see the Saints succeed so they could fancy their news coverages. That said, this team is the real deal, and the only issue I see is a secondary that still lacks depth. The Panthers will be better, and I actually expect for De'Angelo Williams to be in talks for MVP. That is, at least if my fantasy teams have any say. Bucs? I'll give them this, they'll be competitive in games. That's more than I can say for most bottom dwellers.

NFC West:

1. Arizona Cardinals
2. San Fransico 49ers
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. St. Louis Rams

Summary: Every one says that San Fran has the better team. I've yet to see it, really. They may have the best linebacker in the game and a great running back, but they have no WRs, Alex Smith at QB still frightens me, and other than that, I'm not sipping the Kool-Aid, really. Call it a hunch, but I just don't see who stands out on this team beside Gore and Willis. Sounds like a great sitcom. Still, the Cards will be worse, but as long as they have the great defensive line they do, and can keep turnovers the way they've been able to over the years, I can see them winning the division. This won't be the best division around, but I do think they'll all be more competitive than last year.

NFC North

1. Green Bay Packers
2. Minnesota Vikings*
3. Chicago Bears
4. Detroit Lions

Yes, I'm including Brett Favre on this Vikings lineup. Look, Green Bay, to me, has the better defense, in spite of the The Williams Bros. I still like the youth and explosion that the Pack attack has, and I think Aaron Rodgers can bring this team at least one win over Brett Favre. Remember, one game separated these teams last year. I really do believe this is the year Green Bay beats their Mississippi rival turned ally turned rival turned turncoat. The Bears will be a mess, really they will. Don't let the offseason signings fool you, this team is still going to be bad, and I'm still not sold on Jay Cutler. The Liond at least will have hope, and maybe a few more wins.

Back tomorrow with my Playoffs Picks

 

[16mikeytot]

I'll just go with the Eagles because im a Birds fan.
Summary: People Stop Hating The Eagles!!! All Kevin Kolb did last year was become the first QB in NFL history to throw for over 300 yards in his first two starts, Eagles will be fine Kevin Kolb is a more accurate QB than Mcnabb. Eagles have weapons in Jackson, Maclin, and Celek. Not to mention Vick is getting a full training camp under his belt. I've watched highlights of their training camp and from what I've read and seen Vick is better than ever. They drafted great in Graham, Allen, and Riley Cooper. The defense will be better with Stewart Bradley coming back and the addition of Ernie Sims. The Birds have the deepest receiving core in the league. Prediction 11-5 first or second in the NFC East.

 

[Big Sexy]

I'll just go with the Eagles because im a Birds fan.
Summary: People Stop Hating The Eagles!!! All Kevin Kolb did last year was become the first QB in NFL history to throw for over 300 yards in his first two starts, Eagles will be fine Kevin Kolb is a more accurate QB than Mcnabb. Eagles have weapons in Jackson, Maclin, and Celek. Not to mention Vick is getting a full training camp under his belt. I've watched highlights of their training camp and from what I've read and seen Vick is better than ever. They drafted great in Graham, Allen, and Riley Cooper. The defense will be better with Stewart Bradley coming back and the addition of Ernie Sims. The Birds have the deepest receiving core in the league. Prediction 11-5 first or second in the NFC East.

Best case scenario to me for the Eagles is they go 9-7 and just miss the playoffs, but I think 7-9 is a more realistic prediction. Kevin Kolb is unproven. I know he put up good numbers in his two starts last year but it was just 2 games. The first game against New Orleans he threw 51 passes so obviously his yards were going to be high but remember he also threw 3 interceptions in that game. Then he played the 30th ranked Chiefs defense and put up huge numbers. One average at best start and one great start against a shit defense/team does not sell me on a quarterback.

The running game has been non existent the last couple years in Philly and no signs show that it will improve. I like the Eagles D line and their linebackers but their secondary is atrocious. They signed a good safety in Marlin Jackson but he is now out for the season so they are left with Quintin Mikell and a bunch of unproven guys. At corner they have Asante Samuel but not much else. I wouldn't be too confident in Joselio Hanson and Ellis Hobbs.

So you add it all up, unproven qb + shit running game + horrible secondary = 7-9 season and probably last in the division.

 

[gd]

NFC East

1. Dallas
2. Washington*
3. Philly
4. Giants

The Cowboys really have no reason not to win the divison this year. They just seem to have all of the pieces in place, especially in a division that's down this year. If they don't get to the NFC Championship Game, at the very least, Phillips is definetly gone. Despite the ancient backfield they have in Washington, I do like the Redskins with McNabb and Shanahan. Their D has always been respectable as well. Kolb is serviceable enough to lead a Philly offense with a lot of weapons, but they'll definetly take a step back. Really no reason to believe in the G-Men this year. Eli is going to be average as usual and the whole Osi situation isn't a good sign.

NFC South

1. Falcons
2. Saints*
3. Panthers
4. Bucs

I really do like the Falcons this year. They had some injuries and tough losses last year causing them to miss out of the playoffs, but I think they'll bounce back this year. Matt Ryan is a winner and they have a lot of weapons on offense, if Turner can bounce back. Their size on D is somewhat of a concern though. The Saints will still make the playoffs, but the Super Bowl hangover will have somewhat of an effect. Still probably will win 10 games. I see the Panthers being decent and Matt Moore keeping the starting job all year. The Bucs will be an abomination.

NFC West

1. San Fran
2. Arizona
3. Seahawks
4. Rams

Shit divison, no doubt. Even with Alex Smith, the Niners have the best team with Gore and a good defense. The Cards won't make the playoffs with an unproven, weak armed QB. Seattle is a mess, expect to see Whitehurst at some point this year. Bradford will be a disaster in St. Louis, which will allow 30+ points a game.

NFC North

1. Packers
2. Vikings
3. Bears
4. Lions

I really like the Packers this year. Fantastic offense with one of the best QBs in the league, above average receivers, and a reliable running back. If their defense can improve, they could be a SB team. I see Minnesota in 2nd, even if Favre comes back. If he doesn't, I may slide hte Bears ahead of them. If Cutler can stop playing like a moron, they can be really good. Still no hope in Detroit. They'll win more than a few though.

Playoff picks at a later date, boys.

 

[Minor League Brian]

I don't get the hate for the Giants or the love for Kolb and the Eagles. I've seen respected analysts go as far as to say Kolb will throw for 4k yard, 20 TD's, and 10 picks. This "accuracy" of Kolb makes me laugh as he makes many stupid choices and will throw a ridiculous amount of picks this year. He's a "rookie' full time starter and he'll play like one.

The Giant's on the other hand are a sleeper team imo. I could actually see them winning the division this year. If the secondary can get healthy, they've got a good pass rush, and Eli is getting better and better. They've got a good young core of WR's. I just don't see an overall weakness on the team outside of Brandon Jacob's. Again, if that secondary can get healthy again look out.

I think this divison is a throw up this year with the Giants, Skins, and Cowboys. Eagles are just going to fall dead last to me and anyone who thinks they'll be a contender this year with Kolb is a damn Homer. Their D is not that good to bail Kolb out just yet.

 

[Big Sexy]

I don't get the hate for the Giants or the love for Kolb and the Eagles. I've seen respected analysts go as far as to say Kolb will throw for 4k yard, 20 TD's, and 10 picks. This "accuracy" of Kolb makes me laugh as he makes many stupid choices and will throw a ridiculous amount of picks this year. He's a "rookie' full time starter and he'll play like one.

The Giant's on the other hand are a sleeper team imo. I could actually see them winning the division this year. If the secondary can get healthy, they've got a good pass rush, and Eli is getting better and better. They've got a good young core of WR's. I just don't see an overall weakness on the team outside of Brandon Jacob's. Again, if that secondary can get healthy again look out.

I think this divison is a throw up this year with the Giants, Skins, and Cowboys. Eagles are just going to fall dead last to me and anyone who thinks they'll be a contender this year with Kolb is a damn Homer. Their D is not that good to bail Kolb out just yet.

I agree completely that people are really overrating Kolb and he will struggle at times. I have the Eagles being respectable but still finishing last in the division. I don't know about the Giants though. I like Eli and their receivers, and the defense has potential but they only went 8-8 last season and didn't really improve the team at all. If they play up to their potential then they could win the division but I have the Cowboys winning the division and the Redskins getting a wild card spot.

 

[Minor League Brian]

I agree completely that people are really overrating Kolb and he will struggle at times. I have the Eagles being respectable but still finishing last in the division. I don't know about the Giants though. I like Eli and their receivers, and the defense has potential but they only went 8-8 last season and didn't really improve the team at all. If they play up to their potential then they could win the division but I have the Cowboys winning the division and the Redskins getting a wild card spot.

Their secondary was dead. With the addition of Rolle and the fact they should be healthy, if they don't get bit by the injury bug again they should be good. Brandon Jacobs is the weakest link on that team and I look for Bradshaw to eventually start if he cannot return to his old "form". The problem with Jacobs is for being so big, he's afraid to get hit.

 

[Big Sexy]

Their secondary was dead. With the addition of Rolle and the fact they should be healthy, if they don't get bit by the injury bug again they should be good. Brandon Jacobs is the weakest link on that team and I look for Bradshaw to eventually start if he cannot return to his old "form". The problem with Jacobs is for being so big, he's afraid to get hit.

I'm still not sold on their secondary. I like the addition of Rolle, even though he was overrated as corner he has been much better since his switch to safety. I still don't like their corners though. Terrell Thomas was great last year and Corey Webster and Aaron Ross are solid but not overly spectacular. After those three they really have nothing at the position.

 

[The Crock]

Well now that Favre is done the Packers take the North. The Viks are a .500 team without Favre and don't stand a chance against a potent offensive and defensive attack such as the Pack. I predict the Pack goes all the way this year.

 

[Big Sexy]

Well now that Favre is done the Packers take the North. The Viks are a .500 team without Favre and don't stand a chance against a potent offensive and defensive attack such as the Pack. I predict the Pack goes all the way this year.

They're still better then a .500 team. They should go 10-6, maybe 11-5 and still get a wild card spot. I see 8-8 being a worse case scenario. In 2008 they went 10-6 with a combination of Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson at qb and this Vikings supporting cast is better then what they had in 2008.

 

[The Crock]

I just don't see the whole combo of Rosenfels and Jackson being any good. Plus the teams in their division have vastly improved.... Especially the Bears since they added Peppers and Taylor.

 

[Megatron]

NFC East:
1. Dallas
2. Washington
3. New York
4. Philadelphia

Really quite difficult to pick 2-4 in this division, as I really think they could go anywhere. Dallas has all of the right tools and should make a deep run, barring any serious injury. I like Washington at #2 because McNabb > Manning & Kolb, and he does have solid weapons with Devin Thomas and Santana Moss. New York is a team that I'm questionable about. I think they could either be really good or really poor, depending on how their running game goes. As for Philly, it will be a little rough in the first year of the Kevin Kolb era. Looking at a quick glance at their schedule, it'll be tough for them to break .500.

 

[Minor League Brian]

I really don't think Dallas will live up to their expectations. They've won 1 Playoff game in 13 years, just lost their LT and now have Alex Barron and Doug Free battling it out for the spot. Neither of which have ever been anything exciting. Witten is on the decline, with more tape on Austin you have no idea how well he will fair, Dez is already hurt and still only a first year receiver. Unless their running game is amazing, which it probably could be with the Barbarian and Jones complimenting each other, I don't see their offense as that amazing. They do have a good Defense but there's no way they can keep up that amazing play they had at the end of the year all season so if they don't get hot at the right time, don't expect the D to carry them again.

The Viking's showed what happens when Dallas' line breaks down and I expect it to happen again throughout the year. All the lines in the NFC East are aging, it hit the Redskins first, and they're in need of retooling and replacing.

 

[Megatron]

NFC North:
1. Green Bay
2. Minnesota
3. Chicago
4. Detroit

For a while I was wondering who would be the winner of this division b/w GB and Minnesota, but after the announcement of Favre's 'apparent' retirement, Green Bay takes it safely here. Rodgers is in his third season and could catapult himself into the names of Brady, Brees, and Manning if he can take these Packers far. Their defense might suffer slightly because of the loss of Jolly, but they're still gonna be able to get a bunch of turnovers with Charles Woodson and Al Harris at corners. Minnesota will still be a solid team with Tavaris Jackson as QB, although I can't see them getting more then 10 wins unless some miracles happen. They still have a top 3 back in the game with Peterson and a killer defensive line, but the receivers production will undoubtedly drop if Favre isn't there throwing the balll. I don't see a whole lot in the 2nd year of the Jay Cutler era in Chicago, and I thought he was overrated even when he was sent there last year. The guy is too erratic and turns it over too much. They upgraded their defensive line with the addition of Julius Peppers and Chester Taylor should be a good 3rd Down back. They're gonna have to do something special to help Lovie Smith his job. As for the Lions, I'm quite surprised that so many people expected them to do well this year. In fact, I think they're quite wrong. While QB Matthew Stafford is in his 2nd season and normally that's when QB's developments are greatest, from 1st to 2nd season, and they have a few good weapons with Jahvid Best, Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson, and Tony Scheffler, their defense, primarily the back 7, will be quite weak. Their LB core has an aging Julian Peterson, DeAndre Levy, who has been a pleasant surprise, and either Zack Follett or Jordan Dizon, is quite weak. And their secondary has some glaring holes, with only 2nd year safety Louis Delmas showing any upside. I want to see these guys do good, but anything more then 5 or 6 wins is a stretch, imo.