I have been overloaded with a ton of stuff lately. From work, to sports, to school, to anything else that may come up in life, I haven't had the time to update this as often as I would like to. However, after watching the sports world for the last two weeks, I've got some things I would like to hit on.
NFL hits
1.) Are the Steelers still...the Steelers? They blew a fourth quarter lead to the Bears in week two and lost 17-14. Pittsburgh followed that performance by blowing a 13-0 first half lead to the Bengals. 13-0 in the first half isn't exactly a done deal, but I bet anyone who picked the Steelers to win that game was feeling pretty comfortable. I know I gave a co-worker of mine a little grief after looking at his pick sheet, where he correctly picked Cincinnati over Pittsburgh. I wouldn't sweat it though, this team is still the defending world champs. After playing San Diego this week, things lighten up for the Steelers as the next two games are against Detroit and Cleveland.
2.) Michael Vicks regular season return to the NFL was...boring. 0/2 passing wise and one rush for seven yards didn't exactly have me jumping out of my seat. I think Vick is still an explosive player though, and Andy Reid is slowly working Vick in to the offense. He will be an asset to the Eagles come December, when they should be battling for a division title with the Giants. By then he should be somewhat reminiscent of the old Mike Vick.
3.) I've said it before and I'll say it again. Tony Romo is the mos overrated QB in the NFL. He consistently does not come through when his team needs him the most, which is the ultimate marking of a true star quarterback. Jerry Jones dumped T.O. in the off-season, and tried to make the team as "Romo-friendly" as possible, yet he still isn't taking the leadership role of this team like he should be. When you ask me about top QBs in the league, heres my top 10 list disregarding injuries and all that. If I had to pick a QB to win me a game tomorrow, here would be my list..
1.) Peyton Manning
2.) Tom Brady
3.) Drew Brees
4.) Philip Rivers
5.) Ben Roethlisberger
6.) Eli Manning
7.) Donovan McNabb
8.) Aaron Rodgers
9.) Brett Favre
10.) Matt Ryan
Notice who isn't on that list? Romo. Those guys listed above get it done much more consistently than Romo. Sure Romo may throw 25+ touchdowns and over 3500 yards and look all flashy, but the most important stat is "Did he win the game?" I don't see the Cowboys winning a superbowl with Romo at the helm.
4.) Brett Favre is looking like a kid, once again. Believe me, I was much against Favre and all of his indecisevness, and holding the Vikings hostage, and showing up to training camp whenever he wants etc. But the bottom line is that without Favre, the Vikings don't win that gam yesterday. Neither Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels could have made that play yesterday to win the game. Brett Favre drove 80 yards down the field yesterday with no timeouts and less than two minutes on the clock and punched in a TD. Not only was it a heck of a throw, but did you see that catch? Pretty impressive for a guy who was signed earlier that week.
5.) The Saints scored 27 points, and Drew Brees didn't throw a touchdown. Good one..wait, really? This has to be a sign of the apocalypse..
6.) The Detroit Lions..won..a football game. Heres an interesting stat, did you know that since the Detroit Lions won their last football game in December of 2007, the Detroit Tigers won over 150 games. Oh. Well anyways, congrats to Jim Schwartz and Matt Stafford, as each of them earned their first ever NFL wins yesterday. I like Schwartz, I think he can turn this team around and Stafford is looking very solid so far. Maybe not statistically, but his throws are accurate and very catchable. I like what this team is doing.
7.) This brings me to my next point, the Washington Redskins. When will owner Daniel Snyder realize that what he has been doing since 200 isn't working. Jason Campbell is a very incapable NFL quarterback. Jim Zorn is lost as a head coach. This team is spiraling downward. Money can't buy rings. Chemistry, stability, and leadership can. Just ask the Steelers, they seem to have all three. Look at any Superbowl contender this year. They have a leader at QB (Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers etc.) They have stability and leadership in the head coaching position (Mike Tomlin, Belichick) and chemistry, to me, is the most important part of building a succesful team. Also See: Dallas Cowboys..
I'm about to go watch Carolina play at Dallas. I say the Cowboys win 24-20. A tale of two quarterbacks who are not known for their playoff heroics, Jake Delhomme and Tony Romo. Maybe Romo and the 'Boys can prove everything I just said about them wrong!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Top 6 Surprises of NFL Week 1 action
Well, well, well. We got just a bit of sneak preview of whats to come this NFL season. The Vikings can run the ball, The Steelers can play defense. These are things we already know and were aware of coming in to the season. Waht I'm more interested in though, are the things that I didn't expect. I don't want to talk anymore about Favres return, ESPN has that covered. I don't want to talk about the mumbo jumbo you can hear anywhere else. I'm interested in some of the surprises of week one, and here are my top six most surprising headlines from NFL week one action.
6.) What in the name of Zeus is wrong with Jake Delhomme? After coming off perhaps the worst performance by a QB in NFL playoff history, things didn't get any better Sunday as Philly manhandled the Carolina offense, forcing five turnovers, including four interceptions and a fumble lost by Jake Delhomme. I mean, I know Philly has a strong defense, but Carolina looked absolutely miserable. Of Carolinas last 22 possesions dating back to last season, Jake Delhomme has turned the ball over 11 times himself, including 9 interceptions and 2 fumbles. Now their are questions in Carolina as to whether they can win with Delhomme under center. Carolina fans are even entertaining the idea of having Matt Moore, the former Oregon State QB, start in place of Delhomme. I know things are bad, but with Matt Moore at QB, the maximum amount of wins Carolina could reach is 6. Jake is 34 years old now, but there is no way he should be playing this bad. Coach John Fox defended Delhomme Monday after the loss to Philly and said that his status as starting QB "hasn't changed". But how long can you afford to keep him in the lineup? Carolina is in big trouble right now.
5.) The Browns actually played well....for two quarters. If you had told me before Sundays Minnesota at Cleveland game that the Browns would be leading at half time, I would have most likely had you drug tested. Somehow though, the Brownsd went into halftime with a slim 13-10 lead. Slim, but a lead none the less. I was impressed with the way the Browns played for those two quarter. They got a pass rush on Favre and they shut down Adrian Peterson on the ground. They made tackles in the open field when they had to, and they found a way to get points on the board. The second half was a different story, as Minnesota proved to be too much, but I don't think Cleveland or their fans can be completely disappointed with the way they played. Mangini is a defensive guru and it seems like he had the Vikings a bit confused in the first half. If the Browns continue to make strides like they did yesterday, they could have a chance to compete in the AFC sooner rather than later. Not this year, but next year or two years down the road, Cleveland could compete. Wow, did I just say that?
4.) What happened to those mighty Texans who were a dark horse pick by so many to make the playoffs this year? The Texans are known for their ability to score points if anything. However Sunday they were completely stuffed by the Jets and Rex Ryans defense. Matt Schaub looked awful. He completed 18 of 33 passes for 166 yards and an interception. Good thing I didn't start him in fantasy..oh wait. Steve Slaton looked awful, the line didn't help him at all either. Slaton had 9 carries for 17 yards. DT Kris Jenkins walked all over Houston Center Chris Myers. Houston was held to 204 total yards of offense, and only had possesion of the ball for 21:14. For a team with so many offensive weapons (Schaub, Slaton, Andrew Johnson, Owen Daniels and Jacoby Jones) they seemed completely out of sync. Besides Schaub, I also started Andrew Johnson at receiver. How do you think my team did?
3.) What happened to those Cardinals? We knew they could score points, but we didn't think they could play too much of solid defense. It actually turned out to be quite the opposite on Sunday. The Cardinals held San Francisco to 20 points and 203 yards of offense. Anytime that the Cardinals defense holds someone to those type of numbers, it should be an easy W as their offense had no trouble scoring points last season. However, the Cards only mustered up 16 points. Only rushing for 40 yards on the ground probably didn't help the Cards, but Kurt Warner and the passing game usually make up for that. Only thing is, Warner threw two interceptions. Warner was also sacked 3 times and hit 8 times. For a Cards offense that excelled in the air last season, they couldn't get it done against a defense that is not exactly dominant.
2.) The Raiders hung with the Chargers, and the Bills hung with the Pats? Weirder things have happened on Monday Night Football, but last night was a series of back to back rarities. The Monday night doubleheader started off with the Buffalo Bills taking on the New England Patriots in Foxboro. Buffalo grabbed an early lead and never trailed until it counted the most. Tom Brady snapped in to official "Tom Brady form" and tossed a touchdown pass to Benjamin Watson with 50 seconds left. This score was the immediate result of a fumbled kickoff return by Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin. On the bright side though, the Bills played with a ton of heart and made a terrific game out of what most people, including myself, predicted to be a blowout. For an offense that seemed stuck in park rather than drive all pre-season, putting up 24 points on Belichicks defense isn't too shabby. The second game of the night had the Chargers visiting the Raiders in Oakland. Another lopsided match up that went to the very last few seconds, literally. Oakland stuck with San Diego all game and kept the Chargers offense in check all game until Darren Sproles scored with 18 seconds left in the ball game. After a hectic off-season where head coach Tom Cable was accused of punching an assistant coach in the face, followed by the Richard Seymour ordeal, I was surprised to see the Raiders pull together so well and play as well as they did. 2 near upset bids were cut short in the final minute of each game. Parity is one thing the NFL has always been noted for, but last nights games truely proved to people that anything can happen in the NFL. Anything.
1.) Young quarterbacks can succeed. Mark Sanchez was nearly flawless against Houston. Matt Stafford threw for over 200 yards against the Saints and the Lions scored 27 points. Brodie Croyle started for KC in place of Matt Cassell, but still completed 16 of 24 passes and threw 2 tds. Against the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens! Jamarcus Russel even shined a bit in the first half against San Diego, although he did finish the game with 2 interceptions to 1 touchdown. Whatever way you look at it, young QBs can succeed. Its always been frowned upon in the NFL to start a rookie or young quarterback, but this weekends performances is sure to make some coaches think twice. Enter Vince Young...not really though.
6.) What in the name of Zeus is wrong with Jake Delhomme? After coming off perhaps the worst performance by a QB in NFL playoff history, things didn't get any better Sunday as Philly manhandled the Carolina offense, forcing five turnovers, including four interceptions and a fumble lost by Jake Delhomme. I mean, I know Philly has a strong defense, but Carolina looked absolutely miserable. Of Carolinas last 22 possesions dating back to last season, Jake Delhomme has turned the ball over 11 times himself, including 9 interceptions and 2 fumbles. Now their are questions in Carolina as to whether they can win with Delhomme under center. Carolina fans are even entertaining the idea of having Matt Moore, the former Oregon State QB, start in place of Delhomme. I know things are bad, but with Matt Moore at QB, the maximum amount of wins Carolina could reach is 6. Jake is 34 years old now, but there is no way he should be playing this bad. Coach John Fox defended Delhomme Monday after the loss to Philly and said that his status as starting QB "hasn't changed". But how long can you afford to keep him in the lineup? Carolina is in big trouble right now.
5.) The Browns actually played well....for two quarters. If you had told me before Sundays Minnesota at Cleveland game that the Browns would be leading at half time, I would have most likely had you drug tested. Somehow though, the Brownsd went into halftime with a slim 13-10 lead. Slim, but a lead none the less. I was impressed with the way the Browns played for those two quarter. They got a pass rush on Favre and they shut down Adrian Peterson on the ground. They made tackles in the open field when they had to, and they found a way to get points on the board. The second half was a different story, as Minnesota proved to be too much, but I don't think Cleveland or their fans can be completely disappointed with the way they played. Mangini is a defensive guru and it seems like he had the Vikings a bit confused in the first half. If the Browns continue to make strides like they did yesterday, they could have a chance to compete in the AFC sooner rather than later. Not this year, but next year or two years down the road, Cleveland could compete. Wow, did I just say that?
4.) What happened to those mighty Texans who were a dark horse pick by so many to make the playoffs this year? The Texans are known for their ability to score points if anything. However Sunday they were completely stuffed by the Jets and Rex Ryans defense. Matt Schaub looked awful. He completed 18 of 33 passes for 166 yards and an interception. Good thing I didn't start him in fantasy..oh wait. Steve Slaton looked awful, the line didn't help him at all either. Slaton had 9 carries for 17 yards. DT Kris Jenkins walked all over Houston Center Chris Myers. Houston was held to 204 total yards of offense, and only had possesion of the ball for 21:14. For a team with so many offensive weapons (Schaub, Slaton, Andrew Johnson, Owen Daniels and Jacoby Jones) they seemed completely out of sync. Besides Schaub, I also started Andrew Johnson at receiver. How do you think my team did?
3.) What happened to those Cardinals? We knew they could score points, but we didn't think they could play too much of solid defense. It actually turned out to be quite the opposite on Sunday. The Cardinals held San Francisco to 20 points and 203 yards of offense. Anytime that the Cardinals defense holds someone to those type of numbers, it should be an easy W as their offense had no trouble scoring points last season. However, the Cards only mustered up 16 points. Only rushing for 40 yards on the ground probably didn't help the Cards, but Kurt Warner and the passing game usually make up for that. Only thing is, Warner threw two interceptions. Warner was also sacked 3 times and hit 8 times. For a Cards offense that excelled in the air last season, they couldn't get it done against a defense that is not exactly dominant.
2.) The Raiders hung with the Chargers, and the Bills hung with the Pats? Weirder things have happened on Monday Night Football, but last night was a series of back to back rarities. The Monday night doubleheader started off with the Buffalo Bills taking on the New England Patriots in Foxboro. Buffalo grabbed an early lead and never trailed until it counted the most. Tom Brady snapped in to official "Tom Brady form" and tossed a touchdown pass to Benjamin Watson with 50 seconds left. This score was the immediate result of a fumbled kickoff return by Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin. On the bright side though, the Bills played with a ton of heart and made a terrific game out of what most people, including myself, predicted to be a blowout. For an offense that seemed stuck in park rather than drive all pre-season, putting up 24 points on Belichicks defense isn't too shabby. The second game of the night had the Chargers visiting the Raiders in Oakland. Another lopsided match up that went to the very last few seconds, literally. Oakland stuck with San Diego all game and kept the Chargers offense in check all game until Darren Sproles scored with 18 seconds left in the ball game. After a hectic off-season where head coach Tom Cable was accused of punching an assistant coach in the face, followed by the Richard Seymour ordeal, I was surprised to see the Raiders pull together so well and play as well as they did. 2 near upset bids were cut short in the final minute of each game. Parity is one thing the NFL has always been noted for, but last nights games truely proved to people that anything can happen in the NFL. Anything.
1.) Young quarterbacks can succeed. Mark Sanchez was nearly flawless against Houston. Matt Stafford threw for over 200 yards against the Saints and the Lions scored 27 points. Brodie Croyle started for KC in place of Matt Cassell, but still completed 16 of 24 passes and threw 2 tds. Against the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens! Jamarcus Russel even shined a bit in the first half against San Diego, although he did finish the game with 2 interceptions to 1 touchdown. Whatever way you look at it, young QBs can succeed. Its always been frowned upon in the NFL to start a rookie or young quarterback, but this weekends performances is sure to make some coaches think twice. Enter Vince Young...not really though.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
2009 NFL season predictions (continued)
Now that I have covered the AFC, its time for me to unveil my thoughts on the NFC.
NFC East
New York Giants 13-3
Philadelphia Eagles 12-4
Dallas Cowboys 9-7
Washington Redskins 6-10
The Giants are just a force to be reckoned with. I admire what Tom Coughlin does and how he handles this team. Rather than trying to befriend his players (Cough, Wade Philips) Coughlin takes a hard stance and demands both respect and perfection, and it works. Eli Manning will have to live up to his ridiculous new contract, however it will be more difficult without Plaxico Burres to throw to. Kevin Boss is becoming a viable recieving threat at the tight end position, and the O-line is perhaps the best unit in the league. Brandon Jacobs is a punishing runner and a defense led by Osi Umenyiora and Antonio Pierce will once again be dominant. The Giants will come out on top of this dog fight for division champs.
Philadelphia is a popular choice among many to contend for a superbowl title. Besides the controversial signing of QB Michael Vick, the Eagles added even more offensive toys for Donovan McNabb to play with. Drafting wide reciever Jeremy Maclin at 19th overall was an absolute steal, and drafting LeSean McCoy from Pittsburgh was also another great pick. Desean Jackson had a very succesful rookie debut during the 2008 campaign, and will contribute to what could be the fastest offense in the NFL. Replacing defensive mastermind Jim Johnson is an impossible task, however the Eagles will be ok. Johnson was one of the most respected coaches in the NFL by not only his peers, but his players as well. He will be missed greatly, but Philly has a reputation for playing stellar defense, and will do so once again this season.
Finishing third in the NFC East is the Dallas Cowboys. QB Tony Romo is a very solid starter, however I do not believe he has the leadership skills necessary to join the ranks of Manning and Brady when discussing top quarterbacks in the league. Although he was criticized for dropping passes, the loss of Terrell Owens to Buffalo will hurt. Jerry Jones tried to make the team "Romo-friendly" as he tried to build the team around Tony. Head Coach Wade Philips is also another name on the coaching hot seat this year. It has been over a decade since Dallas has won a playoff game, and I don't think this years Cowboys will break that streak. Demarcus Ware is perhaps the best pass rusher in the NFL and was a big reason Dallas led the NFL in sacks last season. Despite that, the defense does not impress me as a whole. The Cowboys have a ton of talent, but I don't see them putting it all together behind Wade Philips.
The signing of Albert Haynseworth was perhaps the biggest move during the entire off-season. It vastly improves a defensive unit that was shaky and now forces opposing coaches to game plan around Haynseworth. Besides that, there isn't much worth talking about on the Redskins. Owner Dan Snyder is a perfect example of the fact that money can't buy you a superbowl ring. After being unable to trade for Jay Cutler in the off-season, Jason Campbell will return as starting QB. Campbell is a very incosistent starting quarterback and is not someone who can win 10+ games for you. Clinton Portis is one of the most talented running backs in the NFL and always puts up good numbers. Besides Portis on offense, there isn't much of anything that will catch your eye. The Redskins look destined for a long year.
NFC North
Green Bay Packers 10-6
Minnesota Vikings 10-6
Chicago Bears 7-9
Detroit Lions 2-14
Aaron Rodgers has become one of the premier passers in the NFL, and has a great wide reciever tandem in Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. Jennings may be one of the most underrated players in the NFL, but trust me, he is a beast. Ryan Grant should rebound from a disappointing 2008 season where he only had four touchdowns. Bringing in Dom Capers to coach up the defense is a very wise move. Aaron Kampman, Nick Barnett, AJ Hawk and Charles Woodson are the leaders of the defense and gives Capers a lot of talent to work with. I believe the Packers will rebound from being 6-10 in 2008 and will win the division.
The first thing you think of when you think of the Minnesota Vikings is Brett Favre. Wait, what?!? The ever so indecisive Favre stole all off-season headlines when he decided to sign with the Vikings in August. Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels now battle for the back-up position behind Favre, who some think may still have something left in the tank. Even though Favre is not the player he once was, its ok. The Vikings are not known for having a pass heavy offense because they have the best running back in professional football, Adrian Peterson. Besides Favre and Peterson on offense, the Vikings have one of the top defenses in the NFL and shut down the run extremely well. If Favre can simply manage the game rather than forcing throws and being the gunslinger he once was, the Vikings have a lot of potential.
Chicago won the Jay Cutler sweepstakes in the off-season, and acquired a a pro-bowl type quarterback. Only problem is, Cutler has no one to throw to. Devin Hester is a tremendous punt/kick returner, but as a reciever he is decent at best. Cutlers only offensive passing weapon may be Greg Olsen. The former Hurricane has established himself as one of the top five recieving tight ends in all of football. Matt Forte will also look to build on the success he had during his rookie season last year. Forte is a running back who can also catch passes out of the backfield as well. The defense has a reputation for being dominant in recent years, however they are not the same defense they once were. But hey, any defense led by Brian Urlacher can't be in too bad of shape.
The only good thing about going 0-16 is that, well, it can't get any worse. The Lions hired Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and drafted former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford first overall. With Schwartz announcing Stafford as the starter, we're about to see what this kid is all about sooner rather thaan later. Calvin Johnson will be a nice big target for Stafford to throw to, that is if he gets any time behind an awful offensive line. The running game is nearly non-existent for the Lions, (Detroit fans are keeping their fingers crossed for a Barry Sanders comeback) and that is not exactly a good thing when you have a rookie quarterback. The defense gave up an average up 32.3 PPG last season, and I wouldn't expect a dramatic change. I can hear Roger Goodell now..(And with the first pick in the 2010 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions select...)
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons 11-5
Carolina Panthers 11-5
New Orleans Saints 9-7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-13
The Falcons are absolutely stacked on the offensive side of the football. The addittion of Tony Gonzalez in the off-season was huge. Add him with Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Roddy White, and you will have no problem scoring points. Head coach Mike Smith guided the Falcons to a very impressive 2008 season, and was named 2008 NFL Coach of the year. Smith, Ryan and the rest of the Falcons should be one of the top dogs in the NFC this year, even with a defense that may not exactly be stellar. Expectations are high for this 2009 Atlanta Falcons team.
The Panthers won the division in 2008 and should be in contention again, but will fall just short. Quarterback Jake Delhomme hopefully can rebound from one of the worst postseason performances by a QB in NFL history that left the Panthers with a bad taste in their mouth following last season. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart together in the backfield form a two headed beast that is a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. Steve Smith is still one of the quickest receivers in the NFL and is a threat to break free for a score whenever he touches the ball. Jon Beason is an animal at the linebacker position for Carolina. Julius Peppers is still a threat to rush the passer on every down. Very talented players on both sides of the ball should lead to a successful season.
The Saints are one of the most exciting teams to watch play. Drew Brees leads an offensive powerhouse that is stacked with weapons such as Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Marques Colston, Lance Moore, and Jeremy Shockey. Brees is an established pocket passer who can pick apart defenses with his arm. Bush is a threat not only when lined up in the backfield, but also when lined up as a slot reciever. Pierre Thomas can catch passes out of the backfield and should have a breakout year this year and really make a name for himself. While the offense is perhaps the best in the NFL, the Saints defense is a different story. A defense that is regularly known for having trouble stopping opponents, they made some adjustments in the off-season by hiring defensive guru Greg Williams. New Orleans also drafted CB Malcolm Jenkins from Ohio State in the first round, and he should help shore up the secondary as well. Jonathan Vilma is also a talented linebacker who can make plays for the Saints on defense. Head coach Sean Payton had tremendous success his rookie season by leading the Saints to the NFC championship game, but since then has not been as lucky. The Saints are a dangerous team for anyone to play.
First off, Tampa Bay is a mess. Ok, now that that is off my chest, let me begin. Byron Leftwich left his backup QB role in Pittsburgh to start for Tampa Bay. While Leftwich is strong armed and tough, he lacks accuracy on his throws and tends to make some bad decisions. Tampa Bay did add running back Derrick Ward and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. during the off-season in an attempt to revamp the offense. They took a step backwards though when they fired offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski, which may be a sign of panic in the Bucs front office. The defense added linebacker Angelo Crowell, but that won't make up for the losses of linebackers Cato June and Derrick Brooks, along with cornerback Philip Buchanon. Rookie head coach Raheem Morris has his hands full and should start focusing on the draft board in April.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals 10-6
San Francisco 49ers 6-10
Seattle Seahawks 6-10
St. Louis Rams 3-13
The Cardinals have history against them, as seven of the last eight superbowl losers have failed to make the playoffs the following season. They also have the history of the madden curse working against Larry Fitzgerald (Troy Polamalu was already affected by the curse!) Besides both of those stats, I am expecting the Cardinals to win the division as the other three teams are sub par and this is perhaps the least competitive division in the NFL besides the AFC West. Fitzgerald, Boldin and Breaston should all once again have stellar years, as each reciever had over 1,000 yards recieving last season. The run game should get a boost from Ohio State rookie running back Beanie Wells. The defense out did themselves during the postseason last year, and will probably return to their normal mediocre play, which isn't too much of a problem when your offense puts up 25-30 PPG. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt should lead this team to the playoffs again.
The 49ers are unfortunately still the only team who have yet to sign their first round draft pick, Michael Crabtree. Crabtree has said he is willing to sit out the entire 2009-10 season and re-enter the draft again next April. Who knows when that contract situation will play itself out. As for the rest of the team, Frank Gore leads a solid running attack. As the only real offensive weapon, he will be depended upon heavily if the 49ers are going to have any shot this year at winning games. Tight end Vernon Davis has not translated his production from college to the NFL, even with all of the physical tools he posesses. Starting quarterback Shaun Hills most reliable target outside of the aging Isaac Bruce is Josh Morgan. Morgan enters his second season in the NFL, and could become a fantasy sleeper this year. On the defensive side of the ball, the one player that comes to mind is linebacker Patrick Willis. Willis is quickly becoming one of the best linebackers in all of football. Outside of Willis though, there may be no help. Head coach Mike Singletary has been criticized for the way he treats his players, but if he can win games this year, the doubters will be silenced. I don't expect the 49ers to have much success though, sorry Mike Singletary.
The Seattle Seahawks struggled last season, as starting QB Matt Hasselbeck was injured for most of the year and Jim Mora was on his first year on the job. The acquisition of wide reciever T.J. Houshmanzadeh will help the passing game, along with the solid production from tight end John Carlson. The running game was weak last season, and Julius Jones is an average back who will share carries with an aging Edgerrin James. Defensively, you would expect the Seahawks to be solid due to Jim Moras defensive experience. Seattle led the NFC last season with 20 interceptions and only allowed 15 passing touchdowns. If the defense can continue to improve, they should keep Seattle within reach of most games.
Finishing last in the NFC West will once again be the St. Louis Rams. Drafting offensive tackle Jason Smith from Baylor should help some, but the Rams are still in the re-building stage. St. Louis lost Torry Holt to the Jaguars, and QB Marc Bulger isn't getting any younger. Donnie Avery will step up in the passing game and Steven Jackson will bounce back from a rough 2008 campaign. Defensively, the Rams should show signs of life as rookie head coach Steve Spagnuolo was formerly the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants, including the year they stunned the world by beating the pats in Superbowl XLII. This year won't be the year, but I believe Spagnuolo is a bright guy and will ultimately have success as a head coach.
NFC East
New York Giants 13-3
Philadelphia Eagles 12-4
Dallas Cowboys 9-7
Washington Redskins 6-10
The Giants are just a force to be reckoned with. I admire what Tom Coughlin does and how he handles this team. Rather than trying to befriend his players (Cough, Wade Philips) Coughlin takes a hard stance and demands both respect and perfection, and it works. Eli Manning will have to live up to his ridiculous new contract, however it will be more difficult without Plaxico Burres to throw to. Kevin Boss is becoming a viable recieving threat at the tight end position, and the O-line is perhaps the best unit in the league. Brandon Jacobs is a punishing runner and a defense led by Osi Umenyiora and Antonio Pierce will once again be dominant. The Giants will come out on top of this dog fight for division champs.
Philadelphia is a popular choice among many to contend for a superbowl title. Besides the controversial signing of QB Michael Vick, the Eagles added even more offensive toys for Donovan McNabb to play with. Drafting wide reciever Jeremy Maclin at 19th overall was an absolute steal, and drafting LeSean McCoy from Pittsburgh was also another great pick. Desean Jackson had a very succesful rookie debut during the 2008 campaign, and will contribute to what could be the fastest offense in the NFL. Replacing defensive mastermind Jim Johnson is an impossible task, however the Eagles will be ok. Johnson was one of the most respected coaches in the NFL by not only his peers, but his players as well. He will be missed greatly, but Philly has a reputation for playing stellar defense, and will do so once again this season.
Finishing third in the NFC East is the Dallas Cowboys. QB Tony Romo is a very solid starter, however I do not believe he has the leadership skills necessary to join the ranks of Manning and Brady when discussing top quarterbacks in the league. Although he was criticized for dropping passes, the loss of Terrell Owens to Buffalo will hurt. Jerry Jones tried to make the team "Romo-friendly" as he tried to build the team around Tony. Head Coach Wade Philips is also another name on the coaching hot seat this year. It has been over a decade since Dallas has won a playoff game, and I don't think this years Cowboys will break that streak. Demarcus Ware is perhaps the best pass rusher in the NFL and was a big reason Dallas led the NFL in sacks last season. Despite that, the defense does not impress me as a whole. The Cowboys have a ton of talent, but I don't see them putting it all together behind Wade Philips.
The signing of Albert Haynseworth was perhaps the biggest move during the entire off-season. It vastly improves a defensive unit that was shaky and now forces opposing coaches to game plan around Haynseworth. Besides that, there isn't much worth talking about on the Redskins. Owner Dan Snyder is a perfect example of the fact that money can't buy you a superbowl ring. After being unable to trade for Jay Cutler in the off-season, Jason Campbell will return as starting QB. Campbell is a very incosistent starting quarterback and is not someone who can win 10+ games for you. Clinton Portis is one of the most talented running backs in the NFL and always puts up good numbers. Besides Portis on offense, there isn't much of anything that will catch your eye. The Redskins look destined for a long year.
NFC North
Green Bay Packers 10-6
Minnesota Vikings 10-6
Chicago Bears 7-9
Detroit Lions 2-14
Aaron Rodgers has become one of the premier passers in the NFL, and has a great wide reciever tandem in Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. Jennings may be one of the most underrated players in the NFL, but trust me, he is a beast. Ryan Grant should rebound from a disappointing 2008 season where he only had four touchdowns. Bringing in Dom Capers to coach up the defense is a very wise move. Aaron Kampman, Nick Barnett, AJ Hawk and Charles Woodson are the leaders of the defense and gives Capers a lot of talent to work with. I believe the Packers will rebound from being 6-10 in 2008 and will win the division.
The first thing you think of when you think of the Minnesota Vikings is Brett Favre. Wait, what?!? The ever so indecisive Favre stole all off-season headlines when he decided to sign with the Vikings in August. Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels now battle for the back-up position behind Favre, who some think may still have something left in the tank. Even though Favre is not the player he once was, its ok. The Vikings are not known for having a pass heavy offense because they have the best running back in professional football, Adrian Peterson. Besides Favre and Peterson on offense, the Vikings have one of the top defenses in the NFL and shut down the run extremely well. If Favre can simply manage the game rather than forcing throws and being the gunslinger he once was, the Vikings have a lot of potential.
Chicago won the Jay Cutler sweepstakes in the off-season, and acquired a a pro-bowl type quarterback. Only problem is, Cutler has no one to throw to. Devin Hester is a tremendous punt/kick returner, but as a reciever he is decent at best. Cutlers only offensive passing weapon may be Greg Olsen. The former Hurricane has established himself as one of the top five recieving tight ends in all of football. Matt Forte will also look to build on the success he had during his rookie season last year. Forte is a running back who can also catch passes out of the backfield as well. The defense has a reputation for being dominant in recent years, however they are not the same defense they once were. But hey, any defense led by Brian Urlacher can't be in too bad of shape.
The only good thing about going 0-16 is that, well, it can't get any worse. The Lions hired Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and drafted former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford first overall. With Schwartz announcing Stafford as the starter, we're about to see what this kid is all about sooner rather thaan later. Calvin Johnson will be a nice big target for Stafford to throw to, that is if he gets any time behind an awful offensive line. The running game is nearly non-existent for the Lions, (Detroit fans are keeping their fingers crossed for a Barry Sanders comeback) and that is not exactly a good thing when you have a rookie quarterback. The defense gave up an average up 32.3 PPG last season, and I wouldn't expect a dramatic change. I can hear Roger Goodell now..(And with the first pick in the 2010 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions select...)
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons 11-5
Carolina Panthers 11-5
New Orleans Saints 9-7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-13
The Falcons are absolutely stacked on the offensive side of the football. The addittion of Tony Gonzalez in the off-season was huge. Add him with Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Roddy White, and you will have no problem scoring points. Head coach Mike Smith guided the Falcons to a very impressive 2008 season, and was named 2008 NFL Coach of the year. Smith, Ryan and the rest of the Falcons should be one of the top dogs in the NFC this year, even with a defense that may not exactly be stellar. Expectations are high for this 2009 Atlanta Falcons team.
The Panthers won the division in 2008 and should be in contention again, but will fall just short. Quarterback Jake Delhomme hopefully can rebound from one of the worst postseason performances by a QB in NFL history that left the Panthers with a bad taste in their mouth following last season. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart together in the backfield form a two headed beast that is a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. Steve Smith is still one of the quickest receivers in the NFL and is a threat to break free for a score whenever he touches the ball. Jon Beason is an animal at the linebacker position for Carolina. Julius Peppers is still a threat to rush the passer on every down. Very talented players on both sides of the ball should lead to a successful season.
The Saints are one of the most exciting teams to watch play. Drew Brees leads an offensive powerhouse that is stacked with weapons such as Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Marques Colston, Lance Moore, and Jeremy Shockey. Brees is an established pocket passer who can pick apart defenses with his arm. Bush is a threat not only when lined up in the backfield, but also when lined up as a slot reciever. Pierre Thomas can catch passes out of the backfield and should have a breakout year this year and really make a name for himself. While the offense is perhaps the best in the NFL, the Saints defense is a different story. A defense that is regularly known for having trouble stopping opponents, they made some adjustments in the off-season by hiring defensive guru Greg Williams. New Orleans also drafted CB Malcolm Jenkins from Ohio State in the first round, and he should help shore up the secondary as well. Jonathan Vilma is also a talented linebacker who can make plays for the Saints on defense. Head coach Sean Payton had tremendous success his rookie season by leading the Saints to the NFC championship game, but since then has not been as lucky. The Saints are a dangerous team for anyone to play.
First off, Tampa Bay is a mess. Ok, now that that is off my chest, let me begin. Byron Leftwich left his backup QB role in Pittsburgh to start for Tampa Bay. While Leftwich is strong armed and tough, he lacks accuracy on his throws and tends to make some bad decisions. Tampa Bay did add running back Derrick Ward and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. during the off-season in an attempt to revamp the offense. They took a step backwards though when they fired offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski, which may be a sign of panic in the Bucs front office. The defense added linebacker Angelo Crowell, but that won't make up for the losses of linebackers Cato June and Derrick Brooks, along with cornerback Philip Buchanon. Rookie head coach Raheem Morris has his hands full and should start focusing on the draft board in April.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals 10-6
San Francisco 49ers 6-10
Seattle Seahawks 6-10
St. Louis Rams 3-13
The Cardinals have history against them, as seven of the last eight superbowl losers have failed to make the playoffs the following season. They also have the history of the madden curse working against Larry Fitzgerald (Troy Polamalu was already affected by the curse!) Besides both of those stats, I am expecting the Cardinals to win the division as the other three teams are sub par and this is perhaps the least competitive division in the NFL besides the AFC West. Fitzgerald, Boldin and Breaston should all once again have stellar years, as each reciever had over 1,000 yards recieving last season. The run game should get a boost from Ohio State rookie running back Beanie Wells. The defense out did themselves during the postseason last year, and will probably return to their normal mediocre play, which isn't too much of a problem when your offense puts up 25-30 PPG. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt should lead this team to the playoffs again.
The 49ers are unfortunately still the only team who have yet to sign their first round draft pick, Michael Crabtree. Crabtree has said he is willing to sit out the entire 2009-10 season and re-enter the draft again next April. Who knows when that contract situation will play itself out. As for the rest of the team, Frank Gore leads a solid running attack. As the only real offensive weapon, he will be depended upon heavily if the 49ers are going to have any shot this year at winning games. Tight end Vernon Davis has not translated his production from college to the NFL, even with all of the physical tools he posesses. Starting quarterback Shaun Hills most reliable target outside of the aging Isaac Bruce is Josh Morgan. Morgan enters his second season in the NFL, and could become a fantasy sleeper this year. On the defensive side of the ball, the one player that comes to mind is linebacker Patrick Willis. Willis is quickly becoming one of the best linebackers in all of football. Outside of Willis though, there may be no help. Head coach Mike Singletary has been criticized for the way he treats his players, but if he can win games this year, the doubters will be silenced. I don't expect the 49ers to have much success though, sorry Mike Singletary.
The Seattle Seahawks struggled last season, as starting QB Matt Hasselbeck was injured for most of the year and Jim Mora was on his first year on the job. The acquisition of wide reciever T.J. Houshmanzadeh will help the passing game, along with the solid production from tight end John Carlson. The running game was weak last season, and Julius Jones is an average back who will share carries with an aging Edgerrin James. Defensively, you would expect the Seahawks to be solid due to Jim Moras defensive experience. Seattle led the NFC last season with 20 interceptions and only allowed 15 passing touchdowns. If the defense can continue to improve, they should keep Seattle within reach of most games.
Finishing last in the NFC West will once again be the St. Louis Rams. Drafting offensive tackle Jason Smith from Baylor should help some, but the Rams are still in the re-building stage. St. Louis lost Torry Holt to the Jaguars, and QB Marc Bulger isn't getting any younger. Donnie Avery will step up in the passing game and Steven Jackson will bounce back from a rough 2008 campaign. Defensively, the Rams should show signs of life as rookie head coach Steve Spagnuolo was formerly the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants, including the year they stunned the world by beating the pats in Superbowl XLII. This year won't be the year, but I believe Spagnuolo is a bright guy and will ultimately have success as a head coach.
Friday, September 11, 2009
My 2009 NFL Season Predictions
With the kickoff of the 2009 NFL season last night, we got a sneak peek at whats in store this season for two of last years AFC playoff teams. I will go division by division, giving an analysis of each team, trying once again to do the impossible, predict what the 2009 NFL season has in store for us.
AFC East
New England Patriots 13-3
Miami Dolphins 9-7
Buffalo Bills 7-9
New York Jets 6-10
No surprise here. Tom Brady returns and the Pats finish on top of what is at best a mediocre division. Bill Belichick and the Pats look poised for another deep postseason run. The loss of Richard Seymour will hurt, but the Pats won't have to worry about holding teams scoreless with the offensive fireworks they have.
The Dolphins have an aging defense and teams aren't going to be caught off-guard by the wildcat offense anymore as defenses have had a whole off-season to study it. Chad Pennington is someone I have always liked, and Tony Sparano had a very solid first year. For some reason I see this team taking a bit of a dip and returning back to earth following their incredible 2008 campaign.
The addition of T.O. to the Bills will not do much. A shaky offensive line with a young quarterback are not always the best ingredients for scoring points. The Bills also have at best an average defense. A weakened secondary due to the loss of Jabari Greer to the Saints and outside of Marcus Stroud, the Bills are shaky on the defensive line as well. Dick Jauron is definitely on the hot seat this year, and this might be the year he gets the boot from long time owner Ralph Wilson.
The Jets have a first year head coach in Rex Ryan as well as a rookie QB. The combination is not always the best (but if Mike Smith and Matt Ryan made it work last year, who knows). Mark Sanchez will eventually be a very good QB, however it won't be this year. I think the Jets are a year away from being a playoff contender when Rex can truly get his defensive scheme going and Sanchez becomes more comfortable.
AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers 12-4
Baltimore Ravens 11-5
Cincinatti Bengals 5-11
Cleveland Browns 4-12
Pittsburgh proved in their season opener that they are once again a defensive powerhouse and will create match up problems for any team that faces them. Troy Polamalu being injured may be just another case of the Madden curse, but either way the loss hurts. He is expected to return in 3-6 weeks, but the Steelers run a great system on defense led by genius Dick Lebeau. They will be ok on defense. The Steelers are also well disciplined team behind Mike Tomlin. Big Ben will once again work his magic and do just what he does; win games. He may not have the best stat line, but bottom line is that Ben has 51 wins in his first five seasons, more than any QB in NFL history. Don't expect that trend to end.
Baltimore will finish in a close second, however the loss of defensive coordinator Rex Ryan to the Jets will hurt. No worries though, as the defense will be led by Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata, Ed Reed and the gang. I believe QB Joe Flacco will avoid having a sophomore slump as he has a strong running game behind Leron McClain, Willis McGahee and Ray Rice. He also has Derrick Mason and Todd Heap to throw too, and while the Ravens aren't known for their offensive fireworks, they get very solid offensive production.
The Bengals get back a healthy Carson Palmer, but the loss of T.J. Houshmanzadeh will hurt. Chad Ochocinco looks to rebound from a sub par 2008 season, and I believe he can. Chris Henry will be a solid replacement as a number two reciever in place of Houshmanzadeh.The Bengals will have to live and die by the pass, as the running game is less than stellar. Rookie linbacker Rey Maualuga will make an impact on defense, but first round draft pick Andre Johnson will be affected by the time he missed in training camp and the pre-season. Marvin Lewis is also on the hot seat this year, and he may be in trouble.
As for Cleveland, where do I begin. Rookie head coach Eric Mangini will be in for a long year. The QB battle between Anderson and Quinn is one that has gone on for long enough. I believe Quinn should be the starter as the Browns need to begin building for the future. Quinn has a chance to be a solid NFL starter, but not with the offensive tiiks he has this year. Braylon Edwards dropped way too many passes last year, sixteen to be exact. That combined with the loss of Kellen Winslow Jr. will not help whichever QB starts. The Browns also have a porous defense. Expect a top five draft pick.
AFC South
Indianapolis Colts 11-5
Tennessee Titans 10-6
Houston Texans 9-7
Jacksonville Jaguars 5-11
Even with the loss of Coach Tony Dungy, don't expect too much of a drop off for Indy. The colts are still led by future hall of famer Peyton Manning. Reggie Wayne will be his number one target this year, and Anthony Gonzalez will transition nicely into the role of a number two reciever. Dallas Clark will also be a viable threat for Manning as he is one of the top Tight Ends in the league. On defense, the Colts have never been dominant. They never needed to be as they were used to putting up 30+ points a game. This year the defense is going to have to step up in order to help Manning win some games. Bob Sanders is one of the premier defensive players in the NFL, yet he is injury prone. If he cannot play in many games, the Colts may struggle a bit this year on defense. Even with that being said, Peyton is an offensive mastermind and will guide this team to the playoffs.
Tennessee proved in the season opener the same thing Pittsburgh did; they can play defense, and play it well. Veteran QB Kerry Collins proved he can still lead an offense down the field, as he passed for nearly 250 yards in the season opener against the Steelers. Chris Johnson is one of the most electrifying backs in the league, and Kenny Britt and Justin Gage proved they can be reliable recievers.
Houston is a sleeper pick by everyone to make the playoffs this year, however they play in perhaps the toughsest division in the NFL. Matt Schaub could become the QB that the Texans envisioned when they traded for him. Andre Johnson is an athletic freak who shouldn't have a problem racking up 80+ catches and 10+ touchdowns. I'm still not convinced the defense is stable enough to be able to hold opposing offenses in tight games. Mario Williams is also a freak of nature. Demeco Ryans is a tackle machine and should have an impressive year also, but the defense as a whole hasn't impressed me in the last few seasons.
AFC West
San Diego Chargers 11-5
Oakland Raiders 6-10
Denver Broncos 5-11
Kansas City Chiefs 4-12
San Diego will run away with the title of AFC West Champion, although it doesn't mean much. Winning the weakest divison in the NFL is nothing to brag about. QB Philip Rivers has made the leap in to the top 10 QBs in the NFL. Darren Sproles is a playmaker on offense, and Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates are nice targets for Rivers to throw to. However the question remains, can LT bounce back from a "down" year? (Although he still rushed for over 1,000 yards. I think L.T. proves once again he is still the machine he was two years ago, just a little older and maybe not as quick as he once was, yet still very productive. The defense will be very solid behind Merriman. He won't let them slip. Perhaps all the talent on this team will actually account for something in the postseason.
Oakland will do something this year they haven't done since their superbowl season in 2002, win more than five games. Jamarcus Russel showed at the end of last season that he can be a solid starter, and I expect that success to continue. Rookie reciever Heyward Bey was one of the fastest players in the draft, however had issues with actually catching the ball. McFadden should have a breakout year following being injured last year, as he is too good to get stuffed for a loss, even behind a weak offensive live. The defense has been the worst at stopping the run since 2003, but if newly acquired Richard Seymour decided to show up, he will help the defensive line a ton.
After losing their head coach, starting QB, and now rumors of the Broncos trading their star receiver Brandon Marshall, its safe to say the Broncos had one hell of an off-season, but not in a positive way. Orton will struggle as he did in the pre-season, and it especially doesn't help is Marshall continues to be a head case. Moreno from Georgia should have success on the ground, as I like how he fits. Still the defense will struggle as Champ Bailey can't do it all. Expect a top 7 draft pick.
The acquisition on Matt Cassel and head coach Todd Haley should have the Chiefs scoring points at a quick pace, but not this year. The running game is unreliable as Larry Johnson doesn't want to be in KC. Dwayne Bowe is the only real offensive threat after losing Tony Gonzalez. The defense is young, but in time they can improve and eventually become solid. For now though, the Chiefs will be back at the bottom of the barrel.
AFC East
New England Patriots 13-3
Miami Dolphins 9-7
Buffalo Bills 7-9
New York Jets 6-10
No surprise here. Tom Brady returns and the Pats finish on top of what is at best a mediocre division. Bill Belichick and the Pats look poised for another deep postseason run. The loss of Richard Seymour will hurt, but the Pats won't have to worry about holding teams scoreless with the offensive fireworks they have.
The Dolphins have an aging defense and teams aren't going to be caught off-guard by the wildcat offense anymore as defenses have had a whole off-season to study it. Chad Pennington is someone I have always liked, and Tony Sparano had a very solid first year. For some reason I see this team taking a bit of a dip and returning back to earth following their incredible 2008 campaign.
The addition of T.O. to the Bills will not do much. A shaky offensive line with a young quarterback are not always the best ingredients for scoring points. The Bills also have at best an average defense. A weakened secondary due to the loss of Jabari Greer to the Saints and outside of Marcus Stroud, the Bills are shaky on the defensive line as well. Dick Jauron is definitely on the hot seat this year, and this might be the year he gets the boot from long time owner Ralph Wilson.
The Jets have a first year head coach in Rex Ryan as well as a rookie QB. The combination is not always the best (but if Mike Smith and Matt Ryan made it work last year, who knows). Mark Sanchez will eventually be a very good QB, however it won't be this year. I think the Jets are a year away from being a playoff contender when Rex can truly get his defensive scheme going and Sanchez becomes more comfortable.
AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers 12-4
Baltimore Ravens 11-5
Cincinatti Bengals 5-11
Cleveland Browns 4-12
Pittsburgh proved in their season opener that they are once again a defensive powerhouse and will create match up problems for any team that faces them. Troy Polamalu being injured may be just another case of the Madden curse, but either way the loss hurts. He is expected to return in 3-6 weeks, but the Steelers run a great system on defense led by genius Dick Lebeau. They will be ok on defense. The Steelers are also well disciplined team behind Mike Tomlin. Big Ben will once again work his magic and do just what he does; win games. He may not have the best stat line, but bottom line is that Ben has 51 wins in his first five seasons, more than any QB in NFL history. Don't expect that trend to end.
Baltimore will finish in a close second, however the loss of defensive coordinator Rex Ryan to the Jets will hurt. No worries though, as the defense will be led by Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata, Ed Reed and the gang. I believe QB Joe Flacco will avoid having a sophomore slump as he has a strong running game behind Leron McClain, Willis McGahee and Ray Rice. He also has Derrick Mason and Todd Heap to throw too, and while the Ravens aren't known for their offensive fireworks, they get very solid offensive production.
The Bengals get back a healthy Carson Palmer, but the loss of T.J. Houshmanzadeh will hurt. Chad Ochocinco looks to rebound from a sub par 2008 season, and I believe he can. Chris Henry will be a solid replacement as a number two reciever in place of Houshmanzadeh.The Bengals will have to live and die by the pass, as the running game is less than stellar. Rookie linbacker Rey Maualuga will make an impact on defense, but first round draft pick Andre Johnson will be affected by the time he missed in training camp and the pre-season. Marvin Lewis is also on the hot seat this year, and he may be in trouble.
As for Cleveland, where do I begin. Rookie head coach Eric Mangini will be in for a long year. The QB battle between Anderson and Quinn is one that has gone on for long enough. I believe Quinn should be the starter as the Browns need to begin building for the future. Quinn has a chance to be a solid NFL starter, but not with the offensive tiiks he has this year. Braylon Edwards dropped way too many passes last year, sixteen to be exact. That combined with the loss of Kellen Winslow Jr. will not help whichever QB starts. The Browns also have a porous defense. Expect a top five draft pick.
AFC South
Indianapolis Colts 11-5
Tennessee Titans 10-6
Houston Texans 9-7
Jacksonville Jaguars 5-11
Even with the loss of Coach Tony Dungy, don't expect too much of a drop off for Indy. The colts are still led by future hall of famer Peyton Manning. Reggie Wayne will be his number one target this year, and Anthony Gonzalez will transition nicely into the role of a number two reciever. Dallas Clark will also be a viable threat for Manning as he is one of the top Tight Ends in the league. On defense, the Colts have never been dominant. They never needed to be as they were used to putting up 30+ points a game. This year the defense is going to have to step up in order to help Manning win some games. Bob Sanders is one of the premier defensive players in the NFL, yet he is injury prone. If he cannot play in many games, the Colts may struggle a bit this year on defense. Even with that being said, Peyton is an offensive mastermind and will guide this team to the playoffs.
Tennessee proved in the season opener the same thing Pittsburgh did; they can play defense, and play it well. Veteran QB Kerry Collins proved he can still lead an offense down the field, as he passed for nearly 250 yards in the season opener against the Steelers. Chris Johnson is one of the most electrifying backs in the league, and Kenny Britt and Justin Gage proved they can be reliable recievers.
Houston is a sleeper pick by everyone to make the playoffs this year, however they play in perhaps the toughsest division in the NFL. Matt Schaub could become the QB that the Texans envisioned when they traded for him. Andre Johnson is an athletic freak who shouldn't have a problem racking up 80+ catches and 10+ touchdowns. I'm still not convinced the defense is stable enough to be able to hold opposing offenses in tight games. Mario Williams is also a freak of nature. Demeco Ryans is a tackle machine and should have an impressive year also, but the defense as a whole hasn't impressed me in the last few seasons.
AFC West
San Diego Chargers 11-5
Oakland Raiders 6-10
Denver Broncos 5-11
Kansas City Chiefs 4-12
San Diego will run away with the title of AFC West Champion, although it doesn't mean much. Winning the weakest divison in the NFL is nothing to brag about. QB Philip Rivers has made the leap in to the top 10 QBs in the NFL. Darren Sproles is a playmaker on offense, and Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates are nice targets for Rivers to throw to. However the question remains, can LT bounce back from a "down" year? (Although he still rushed for over 1,000 yards. I think L.T. proves once again he is still the machine he was two years ago, just a little older and maybe not as quick as he once was, yet still very productive. The defense will be very solid behind Merriman. He won't let them slip. Perhaps all the talent on this team will actually account for something in the postseason.
Oakland will do something this year they haven't done since their superbowl season in 2002, win more than five games. Jamarcus Russel showed at the end of last season that he can be a solid starter, and I expect that success to continue. Rookie reciever Heyward Bey was one of the fastest players in the draft, however had issues with actually catching the ball. McFadden should have a breakout year following being injured last year, as he is too good to get stuffed for a loss, even behind a weak offensive live. The defense has been the worst at stopping the run since 2003, but if newly acquired Richard Seymour decided to show up, he will help the defensive line a ton.
After losing their head coach, starting QB, and now rumors of the Broncos trading their star receiver Brandon Marshall, its safe to say the Broncos had one hell of an off-season, but not in a positive way. Orton will struggle as he did in the pre-season, and it especially doesn't help is Marshall continues to be a head case. Moreno from Georgia should have success on the ground, as I like how he fits. Still the defense will struggle as Champ Bailey can't do it all. Expect a top 7 draft pick.
The acquisition on Matt Cassel and head coach Todd Haley should have the Chiefs scoring points at a quick pace, but not this year. The running game is unreliable as Larry Johnson doesn't want to be in KC. Dwayne Bowe is the only real offensive threat after losing Tony Gonzalez. The defense is young, but in time they can improve and eventually become solid. For now though, the Chiefs will be back at the bottom of the barrel.
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