Saturday, September 06, 2008

My NFL 2008 predictions

Here's my predictions how the divisions and playoffs will end up in the NFL this season.

NFC

NFC East
Dallas
- with the addition of Pacman and Zach Thomas this defense was good last year now it's great. Romo, Owens, Witten, Barber, Crayton, Felix, are all weapons that will produce BIG time.

Washington- This team is on the rise. They will struggle in a few games but they will be led by Campbell and Portis. Adding Jason Taylor to the defense doesn't hurt either. You will all be shocked to know that the Redskins will win a wild card birth into the playoffs. It's not how you start but how you finish.

Philadelphia- McNabb has no one to throw to. McNabb won't stay healthy. They won't make the playoffs. What's new?

NY Giants- These Superbowl champs will start the year off at 3-0 then after the bye week lose 4 of 5. In the last half of the season they will continue to lose 6 of their final 8 games. 6-10 isn't good enough. No Strahan, no Umenyiora = no chance.

NFC North
Green Bay- For all your haters out there this is a wake up call. This team even though better with Favre isn't that bad without him. Rodgers will be fine he's been getting ready for 4 years. They have a running game, a good WR core and a GREAT defense. The Pack will shock the football world by winning their division without #4 at QB. 10-6 is good enough here. I understand that QB's who replace superstars are terrible but I can't get Steve Young out of my thinking. What's the chances??? One in a million. So you're saying there is a chance!

Minnesota- Overrated, kind of. They have beefed up their defense (which was already good) and have a great O-line. But AP will not stay healthy and won't dominate like last year for a full season. When it counts AP won't be the Saviour. But they will win the wild card getting their revenge on the Packers with a win in Lambeau Field.

Detroit- The Lions are the Lions. Loaded with offensive talent but can't put it together. Megatron should be good but what else is a guarantee? In Detroit the only thing that could be guaranteed is that their defense is terrible and they don't make the playoffs.

Chicago- What is good about Chicago? Devin Hester and their defense when healthy. But this will not be enough to stay out of the NFC North cellar. The only way they could compete is if they get Culpepper to leave retirement and play QB for them.

NFC South
New Orleans
- Oh when the Saint go marching in! I am not sold on Reggie Bush or Duece McAlister. I do like their aerial attack with Shockey, Colston, Meachem and Bush. I think this is a weak division and they will win it with a record of 9-7.

Tampa Bay- A close second this team overachieved last season. Garcia won't stay healthy and their defense is too old to keep up.

Carolina- Suspension of Steve Smith will in the end hurt them too much. I think they will be lovin' the running back duo of D.Williams and J.Stewart.

Atlanta- I do think putting Matt Ryan as the starter is making a statement to be the new face of the new Falcon era but this isn't college. Michael Turner will be solid but they will be behind in too many games to use him his full potential.

NFC West
Seattle
- this division is truly flip a coin but you can't disagree with the Seahawks here. Hasselbeck is a top 10 QB without good WR cores year after year. Their defense is the best in the division and opponents have a tough time playing well at Qwest field. Julius will be a big upgrade for a bad running game last year.

Arizona- if Kurt Warner stays healthy and the starter this team will fight for the division title but will fail at the end.

St.Louis- These guys are finally healthy but I don't think they have enough to compete with the Hawks. Stephen Jackson will return to form, Bulger will be solid and Holt will continue to dominate but their defense is still really bad.

San Francisco- It doesn't matter who's the QB there (A.Smith, O'Sullivan, or S.Hill) their O-line is brutal. Superstar Frank Gore will want out. And the overhyped defense is going to be on the field way too much to be truly effective.

Wildcards- Washington & Minnesota

NFC Championsh
ip: Dallas beats New Orleans

AFC

AFC East
New England- I think these guys will dominate this year because they are great and because they have an easy schedule. Best strength of schedule in the last 15 years the Pats will finish 15-1.

NY Jets- Improved O-line, Brett Favre, improved defense, Richardson as their fullback, and a rejuivated Thomas Jones this team will bounce back. Not only will they bounce back but they squeak their way into the playoffs! Is Brett Favre that good? YES! Only 3 time MVP.

Buffalo- This team lost the most close games last season. I didn't see much for improvement in the offseason. Can't see them even getting back to where they were last yr.

Miami- the Dolphins are bad. Better with Chad Pennington but he's got no weapons other than Ted Ginn Jr. Ronnie Brown is hurt every year. In Ricky we trust? Not a chance. Losing Jason Taylor hurts too. This is the second worst team in the NFL.

AFC North
Pittsburgh- Strength of schedule not in their favour but these teams got to beat the Steelers. Big Ben is a top QB and his WR's are healthy and deadly. Parker will return to form. And they defensive will be good enough to win the division.

Cleveland- Lots of hype for this team but they can't beat the big dawgs when it counts. I can't see Jamal Lewis doing a repeat performance. Derek Anderson will he play all year if not Quinn doesn't have enough experience to win the division.

Cincinnati- They should have trade traded #85 when they had the chance. This team will struggle and they can't stop anyone. They might be last in the division.

Baltimore- Flacco gets the start but Troy Smith is the true starter here. McGahee is hurt and will be frustrated. This team is BAD. The best thing about it is Ray Lewis. They will compete in games but won't be able to get over the hump to actually put the nail in the coffin and win.

AFC South
Indianapolis- How many people are saying it's time for a new AFC South division champ? Well as long as Indy's defense is this good and with all these offensive weapons how can they be dethroned by the Jags? These guys are going to the Super bowl.

Jacksonville- Frustrated that they don?t win the division Garrad and the Jags will make the playoffs regardless. The best running tandem in football will pound the rock and be successful. This team is tough defensively and will make every offense earn every point.

Houston- The Texans have some promise but without a good run game or a good defense this team will not be able to string together enough victories to compete with the big boys. They will finish 7-9. Maybe the Texans are a good fit for Shaun Alexander?

Tennessee- Aggravation will be the result of this year as Mike Fisher is fired.

AFC West
San Diego
- The Chargers will be super. Easily winning the division again they will go to the Super bowl and WINNING a championship.

Oakland- Russel, McFadden, and Curry will have good chemistry and compete in most games. In this bad division, the Raiders will emerge as the #2 team.

Denver- Culter can fire the ball and Brandon Marshall can catch but what else do they have? Defensively who are they going to stop? Too many questions not enough answers.

Kansas City- this is the worst team in football. 2-14 will win them the #1 overall pick. LJ is done, Croyle isn't good enough and their d is horrific especially without J.Allen the NFL sack leader.

AFC Wildcards > Jacksonville, NY Jets

AFC Championship: San Diego beats Indy

Super Bowl: San Diego beats Dallas

Friday, September 05, 2008

Hype & Disappointment

Finally after much waiting the NFL season is HERE!
So I got the HD on the BIG screen. The jersey's are up, the NFL McFarlane figurines are out, the food is prepared and the guys are over. Washington at NY Thursday night opener. This is a can't miss successful event.

What a disappointing game. The Giants come out of the gates looking great. Eli Manning has ALL day to make a good decision as the O-line dominated. Jacobs looked awesome as he knocked over defenders play after play. Manning runs on into the end zone for a rushing TD (who is starting Manning any way? Throw it to Plax!)

Washington on the other hand, looked bad. They couldn't get pressure on Eli in the 1st half. They could not get a 1st down if their life depended on it. Couldn't run the ball effectively. The Giants D looked relentless. Last drive in the in the second quarter Washington strung 3 1st down carries together and S.Moss gets in the end zone. Finally some life out of the Skins.

Half time - way shorter than the Super Bowl.

The Skins make some adjustments and finally start getting pressure on Manning. Not out of it they have a shot to make a few plays and get back into this game. The problem is they could not score. A few dropped balls and terrible play calling on 3rd down (pass it over the 1st down line on 3rd down not under!). And 2 int's that didn't get caught the Skins had their chances but couldn't get it done.

Overall,
Burress looks great 10 catches for 133 yds. 6-4, 260 pound monster Jacobs punished people for 116 yds. 1st half Giants looked playoff bound and in the 2nd half they couldn't get anything really going. They need some work. But a win is a win no matter how ugly.

Washington didn't give up the run game so that is a good sign for Portis. Who got the rock 23 times but only busted out 1 run for 23 yds but he averaged just 2.8 yards on his other 22 rushing attempts. Randle El looked great even though he had a broken hand (7 rec for 73 yds).

Here's the spin:
I believe not only will Washington turn it around but NY will not be good this season. Week 1 means nothing it's the next 15 weeks that mean everything.

I am just thankful there are another 15 games this weekend that won't all be like this one.