NFC East:
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. New York Giants
4. Washington Redskins
Going into this season I thought any of the 4 teams could win the division, still sort of do but my goodness Washington's offense is so pathetic, this past Thursday it was more conservative then a Joe Gibbs run offense, just watching it instantly made me put them 4th. And I have never seen such a non chalantly run 2 minute drill either, you are down 2 scores and you're acting like it's the middle of the 3rd quarter! E
li Manning also got lucky as hell that the Redskins DB's have hands of stones because they dropped several Interceptions. I think he's going to be the same inconsistent Eli and though everyone is saying now that Eli gets a free pass for now and maybe forever I see that changing sometime after the halfway point through the season. The 2 teams that really scare me as a Dallas fan are the Eagles and the Saints, for the Eagles it really depends on the health of McNabb and a couple other key guys, the Saints offensive fire power makes me fear them. Of course they could also prove that the Katrina year was all a fluke and just a wave of momentum that was a truly special year. Oh and the Cowboys special teams suck, really just there coverage teams.NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints
2. Carolina Panthers
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4. Atlanta Falcons
I could see the Bucs finishing from 1st to 4th, will be interesting given there tougher schedule this year, Gruden seems to do well every other year with this Bucs team. But I haven't been a fan of that team for awhile, 1st round fodder at best. I could see Atlanta surprising some and finish 3rd (or if the division is extremely weak 2nd) The Panthers success hinges on Jake Delhomme and whether or not Steve Smith feels like fighting for his team rather then with it. Also needs a rebounded year from Julius Peppers who's in a contract year and is looking for a big pay day after a disappointing season last year.
NFC North
1. Minnesota Vikings
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Detroit Lions
4. Chicago Bears
Picking who finishes 1st and 2nd in this division is extremely tough, as hard as picking the winner of the AFC North. Adrian Peterson needs to play the whole season to prove everyone he can go a full season injury free, something he hasn't done since his freshman year at Oklahoma. I think the Vikings defense convinces me to put them over the Packers, they got the best run stuffers in the league with Pat and Kevin Williams and what some may call the best one-on-one pass rusher in the league in Jared Allen. The Vikings have lacked a pass rusher for the longest time and now teams will struggle running and passing against them. I still think Tarvaris Jackson sucks but maybe newcomer Bernard Berrian will help (doubtful) Jackson just can't make mistakes and try and move the chains especially if the running tandem of Peterson/Chester Taylor gets shut down. As cliche as it sounds he needs to be a bus driver.
I think Aaron Rodgers will do a fine job in replacing Brett Favre this year and I think the Packers made the right decision in moving on with the future at QB. Of course my wishful thinking is praying that both Favre and Rodgers fail in there new roles and everyone is pissed at the end of the day. But that defensive line is in trouble trading DT Corey Williams and Johnny Jolly could be facing drug charges soon. I hope also that I don't eventually regret passing on Ryan Grant in my fantasy draft for Randy Moss. The Lions will be the Lions and halfway through this year we will all wonder for the thousandth time what kind of incriminating pictures does Matt Millen have of the Ford Family. Look for Calvin Johnson to live up to draft hype and see what rookie Kevin Smith can do. That defense will still suck though. And even if Chicago's defense returns to Superbowl form that offense will be abysmal and it is never a good thing to rely on points from your return man, I don't care how good Devin Hester you can't expect him to score for you every week. Also no one can really think he's going to work out as there #1 receiver either, right?
NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks
2. Arizona Cardinals
3. St. Louis Rams
4. San Francisco 49ers
Easily the worst division in the league and what makes it even more fun is that the Patriots and the AFC East get to play them this year (HOORAY!!!) Seattle has this division locked up already, but you have to wonder with Bobby Engram out and DJ Hackett gone how much will Nate Burleson step up along with there lackluster ground game. There defense and home field advantage is top notch but it might have to carry them for the 1st half of the season. Expect Matt Hasselback to throw a ton. And to see Julius Jones mope and bitch on the sidelines, or running into the back of Walter Jones ass. I hate the 'Hawks though, that team catches so many breaks it's not even funny. It's a bit of a crapshoot for who will finish 2-4, no team is particularly strong in any category. The only reason I would give the 49ers to finish out of the cellar is because of new O-coordinator Mike Martz, but you have to wonder how will JT O'Sullivan do in his 1st chance to be a starting QB and who the hell he will be throwing to. Over the hill Isacc Bruce and 3rd WR and underachiever Bryant Johnson, this could also be an important year for Vernon Davis, here's to him staying healthy. Frank Gore should put up huge numbers this year but then again we all know how Martz forgets to run the ball from time to time, that may be the only successful thing this team will do this year, that and unleashing Patrick Willis upon the league. The Arizona Cardinals and Rams could both be fighting for the 6th playoff spot by years end, the Rams were massacred by injuries last year, to there entire offensive line (and there backups) Steven Jackson was hurt and Marc Bulger should not have been playing in over half the games with broken ribs. Interesting to see how #2 overall pick Chris Long will perform, personally I think it was a mistake to pass over Glenn Dorsey, even if they did have Adam Carriker. For the Cardinals, Kurt Warner will win some games with his arm, then lose some with his fumblitis and INT problems, then he'll probably get hurt for about a month somewhere in there too and it looks more and more like Matt Leinart is a bust.
A message to the Cardinals: Pay Anquan Boldin or trade him to DALLAS!
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Nawlins
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. Philly Eagles
6. Green Bay Packers
not neccessarily in the order they'll finish, though I think Dallas will be the #1 seed if all goes well for them and the injury bug settles down.
AFC East
1. NE Patriots
2. Buffalo Bills
3. New York J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!
4. Miami Dolphins
It would be beautiful to see the Dolphins beat Favre in his Jets debut tomorrow. Why do I think the Bills will finish ahead of the Jets? They were hit hard early on with season ending injuries to several key defensive players, missed Marshawn Lynch for a couple games, went over half the season with a rookie QB, Lee Evans massively underachieved and they were 2 last second field goals from finishing 9-7, oh and there best offensive player just ended a camp long holdout and is back with the team (OT Jason Peters is who I'm talking about) Sure the Jets improved in a ton of areas to and spent a crap load in free agency but I like what Dick Jauron is doing in Buffalo and if that city for once in it's history can get something to go their way they can make the playoffs. Vernon Gholston should be fun to watch as a Jet though. As for Miami, I think it is Bill Parcells goal to sign every player he can that he used to coach, no matter how old or crappy if you are available and he knows you, chances are you'll get a job.
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Cleveland Browns
3. Cincinatti Bengals
4. Baltimore Ravens
Pittsburgh's schedule is next to impossible, playing both the AFC South and NFC East in the same year (each conferences 2 toughest divisions) along with playing the other 2 1st place teams from the AFC (New England and the Chargers) But they are the Steelers and Big Ben is emerging as a top notch QB and he and WR Santonio Holmes are ready to take the next step. I just see Cleveland taking a bit of a step back, though they are going for it all this year and the next couple, they were very agressive on the trade front, not having a 1st 2nd or 3rd round pick in this years draft and giving up there 3rd rounder for next year too. They added Corey Williams, Donte Stallworth and Shaun Rogers who's great when motivated but at times seems seldom, but I think he has great size to be a nose tackle in the 3-4. But all in all I don't feel that great about there defense, Kamerion Wimbley needs to rebound from his sophmore slump to give this team a decent pass rush from the outside. Always reliable Joe Jurevicius will miss at least the 1st 6 weeks of the season and is up to Donte Stallworth to be the teams 3rd target behind phenom Braylon Edwards and the SOLDIER Kellen Winslow Jr. Cincinatti is in shambles and about the only thing keeping me from picking them last is the Ravens have a rookie coach and a rookie starting QB from a Division II school. Should still be fun to watch Carson Palmer, TJ whosyourmama and Chad Javon Ocho Cinco. I think rookie Keith Rivers will get enough tackles to make his stats look impressive to win defensive rookie of the year too.
AFC South
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. Indianapolis Colts
3. Tennessee Titans
4. Houston Texans
Why the Jags? I'm hoping the Jaguars agressive trading in the draft to get Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves, maybe they will finally get the one thing that has hurt them over the years and that is a steady pass rush. Plus they always seem to play Indy well but hardly ever beat them, but the Colts will coast a bit this year and turn it on come playoff time, the Jags will be the team to beat in the regular season. And why are the Titans ahead of the Texans? Because the Texans are taking a bit of a step back this year due to secondary concerns I have with them and they have yet to establish pretty much any running game. Andre Johnson goes down this season, and they are in trouble (and it's almost a guarantee he will miss some time this year, just don't know when) Im not even convinced Vince Young will show big time improvement, I just really like Jeff Fischer and will hazard a guess that his team isn't finishing last this year despite having a lackluster quarterback with limited passing skills and limited receivers. No one ever said I had to have perfect logic.
AFC West
1. San Diego Chargers
2. Denver Broncos
3. Oakland Raiders
4. KC Chiefs
1st I would like to say Shawne Merriman is the dumbest player in the league, he holds this title until he shuts his season down for what will preserve his career and get him paid down the line, which I think is the sole reason he is still playing, he wants that big time extension from San Diego, but with that knee injury looming they aren't even going to let him bring up an extension. Regardless of that situation this team is head and shoulders above this division, Id say this or the NFC South is the 2nd worst division in football. If Brandon Marshall can get it together and stay out of trouble him and Jay Cutler can possibly lead that team to a wild card spot but I think that defense is fairly weak and they are divisional round fodder, one and done. I also would love if Mike Shannahan would come out and say Selvin Young is the starting RB and that's that, would be great for my fantasy team but that will never happen. For all the credit they get for the great backs coming out of Denver they've been very unstable since Clinton Portis left, sure the running system works but there haven't been any big time studs in the backfield like they were churning out every year 5 years ago. Oakland I can see surprising some folks, they have arguably the best secondary in the league and I hope Jamarcus Russell succeeds this year with him and Darren McFadden in the backfield. I'm almost willing to guess they start the year good but fade down the stretch causing hype going into next season as a "sleeper" As for KC, they had a great draft, best by far in the league but someone has to go here and they are the most probable selection. This is a make or break year for Brodie Croyle and pretty much everyone is leaning towards break they could be and probably will be one of the teams hunting for a future QB to pair with rising WR Dwayne Bowe in this upcoming draft.
1. New England Patriots (what an easy schedule, not there fault though)
2. San Diego Chargers
3. Jacksonvill Jags
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
5. Indy Colts
6. Buffalo Bills
MVP: Tom Brady
DPOY: DeMarcus Ware
OROY: Kevin Smith (or whichever rookie RB does best)
DROY: Keith Rivers
COY: Dick Jauron
I'm not going to give my playoff predictions for fear of jinxing my prediction (that should be a big time hint)
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