The following blog post has been brought to you by the National Football League, starting in the year 2008, hence the new logo.
Yup. The official beginning of the NFL season is less than 21 hours away (at the time that I began typing this post), and I could not be any more excited than I am right now. Thankfully I don't have to get up early tomorrow, so I should be able to finish this preview before game time tomorrow (and thankfully, I don't have to wait till 9 Eastern to see the game, thanks to the Republican Party (yet that's the only props that party's getting from me ever at this moment)).
So anyways, I'll begin my preview of the 2008 season. I will include my record and my outlook for the team. So here it is...
Starting with the AFC East.
New England Patriots - 12-4
While this team won't run the table like it did last year, it will contend for a top spot in the AFC. Sure, they've lost their best corner in Asante Samuel, but it looks like this team's VERY high on Terrence Wheatley to fill in that hole nicely, and the addition of Deltha O'Neal as a third or fourth cornerback gives them an OK, albeit not a great secondary, but Belichick and company will put the pressure on the quarterback, mixing up who's going to blitz and who's going to drop back, so the secondary will look better than it really is (and the addition of Deltha gives them a veteran presence there, along with Rodney Harrison). The offense, given Tom Brady's health, should not miss a beat. San Diego, Indianapolis and Seattle, all road games listed as Sunday Nighters, could be the only challenges this team faces.
New York Jets - 10-6
Don't tell me that Brett Favre coming over here won't make a positive difference because it will. And not only is it Football Jesus coming over that will help, but major help with the offensive line should, especially with the beast Alan Faneca coming from the Steel City (with Damien Woody being the other). This should help an anemic offense that allowed a ton of sacks. But can Favre continue to make the most of his receivers like he did back in Green Bay? That will be the big question. Defensively, the additions of Vernon Gholston and Calvin Pace should help a pass rush that was average at best. Kris Jenkins can't be much worse than Dewayne Robertson at the nose tackle position, so that terrible run defense should see some improvement.
Buffalo Bills - 8-8
This team's got to be close to making a move for the playoffs in the AFC. They didn't finish very hot last year (they were 7-6 but lost their last three), but you can attribute that to just running into the wrong teams at the wrong time (the first was a Browns game in a blizzard, the second was a Giants game in the snow where Ahmad Bradshaw just went buckwild). But anyway, the quarterback play has to get better. They say Trent Edwards has the best chance to help this team win, and that he's not as mistake-prone as J.P. Losman. But that's not saying much. Depending on how James Hardy progresses, as well as the rest of the defense, this team will have its nose into things, but will it be enough? At this point, that answer is no.
Miami Dolphins - 2-14
Well, you can say this: the Dolphins will have doubled their win total from last year. But Chad Pennington (or whoever fills into the position if/when he gets hurt) has no real reliable targets. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams will be back at least, but the Dolphins have done very little, if any improving in the offseason. Gone are Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor, and a host of others that are part of the 1-15 aberration last year. But the good news is, Bill Parcells being in the organization will lead to some kind of turnaround. But that can't happen when there's minimal talent whatsoever on the roster. Akin Ayodele and Anthony Fasano were Parcellians in Dallas, and Ayodele's experience in the 3-4 should help. But this team is still abysmal. Good luck turning this puppy around, Tuna.
Now, to the AFC North.
Pittsburgh Steelers - 10-6
As expected with an emerging Cleveland Browns team, the Steelers will take a step back. The loss of Faneca up front will hurt the running game, and Sean Mahan's struggles at center doesn't help things. And neither does the astounding number of sacks given up (47, ranked 31st). We know Roethlisberger can scramble, but the protection needs to get better, but these guys just don't have it. This may just be another concussion for Big Ben waiting to happen. But otherwise, this team had very little roster turnover, and Mendenhall and Sweed coming on as new options on offense. Defensively, the void left by Clark Haggans should not be too hard to fill, with the fact that central-to-western Pennsylvania has some sort of an affinity with linebackers. Surprisingly, this team winds up winning the AFC North by winning the de facto AFC North Championship Game against the Cleveland Browns, and having tiebreaker advantages for them to have a home game in the playoffs.
Cleveland Browns - 10-6
Some people thought these guys were the biggest fluke on the planet last year. I don't buy it. This team is starting to turn the corner as a playoff team. The biggest gripe on the Browns was the play of the defense, who only kept six opponents under 20 points all season and were ranked 30th in the league in yards given up per game. Thankfully for them, they got rid of the dead weight on the D-line and added Corey Williams, who played a three-technique defensive tackle in Green Bay and will be a 3-4 end in Cleveland, and Shaun Rogers, who we all know is a beast inside and will benefit from a change of scenery from that quagmire of a team in Detroit. Will this solve everything? No. But now, teams aren't going to be able to run on this team at will. Given that Derek Anderson can repeat his Pro Bowl performance in 2007, the passing game should be top notch, although Jamal Lewis may regress a bit due to his running style and football age (he's listed as 29, but this will already be his ninth year in the league). But behind a solid offensive line, there shouldn't be too much trouble. Don't be surprised if they actually take the division crown from Pittsburgh this year, as they almost had them in Pittsburgh last year and lost out on the division because of that head-to-head sweep, facilitated by Charlie Frye's ineffectiveness in the first game of the season. It's amazing that that was the difference maker for the Browns.
Cincinnati Bengals - 5-11
Who's gonna run the football for this team? Chris Perry? The guy who hasn't seen the light of a football field since 2006 (and even then, he saw limited action)? DeDe Dorsey? Well at least Kenny Watson isn't absolutely terrible. But you can't get much worse than Rudi Johnson last year, when he was battling hamstring problems. Better yet, is this defense EVER going to improve? Drafting Keith Rivers and Pat Sims is a good starting point. Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall started to get stuff right towards the end of last year at cornerback, and Bengals fans can only hope if that will continue. Some people have the Bengals higher than 5-11, but they have the misfortune of facing the NFC East and the AFC South, the two best divisions in football, and from what I'm seeing now, this team's gonna need more than just a super passing game. Who knows? Carson Palmer may bounce back and prove this prediction wrong with the weapons that he has, provided that Chad
Johnson Ocho Cinco's injury doesn't affect him too much.
Baltimore Ravens - 4-12
Ugh...This may be the first time that Ravens fans may have actually wished that Kyle Boller was going to be their quarterback. But if it means that they get to see Joe Flacco develop, so be it. With Jared Gaither replacing the retired Jonathan Ogden at left tackle, Ravens quarterbacks may need to get used to getting their face masks driven into the ground. That defense isn't getting any younger, either, despite the playmakers still being able to get the job done when needed. Unfortunately, their work is never enough. Don't expect much of a passing game from this team yet, because there's a lot of rebuilding to be done.
AFC South is next.
Indianapolis Colts - 13-3
For some reason I have a gut feeling that I may have overrated this team, given that the three losses I gave them were to San Diego, Jacksonville and then Tennessee at the end of the year when they don't have anything else to play for. Yeah, we know that Marvin Harrison is aging and that injuries are starting to catch up to him. Peyton Manning just came back from surgery on his knee, but we shouldn't expect the Colts to be that bad during the first few weeks of the season, despite going to Minnesota and hosting Jacksonville in Weeks 2 and 3. Luckily, they have the New England game at the Luke, but they go on the road to Pittsburgh and San Diego, teams that run their respective 3-4 defenses to great success. Like many times during their dominance, the Patriots-Colts game may dictate who gets a first round bye or home field advantage.
Jacksonville Jaguars - 11-5
After taking more of a back seat to Fred Taylor as he ran into the Pro Bowl for the first time in his long career, Maurice Jones-Drew looks to improve his yards per carry from a dip that it took in 2007 (4.6 to 2006's 5.7). The big question mark here is whether the passing game will remain where it was last year (in which it wasn't great, but David Garrard was an excellent game manager and ball controller after being handed the reins after the preseason last year) after the additions of Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson. One half of the run-stopping duo of John Henderson and Marcus Stroud is gone, so someone has to step up there. Adding Drayton Florence to the secondary will undoubtedly help their pass defense. While at this point, Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves will not start, they will be fresh legs coming off the bench to play in passing downs to help their pass rush. The biggest question that the Jaguars have had ever since Jack Del Rio turned this team around is whether they can finally overtake the Colts. If there's any chance for this happening, it's got to be now. Unfortunately, Garrard's injury during the 2007 season derailed chances of that happening, but it can happen with this current club.
Tennessee Titans - 8-8
Stuck in neutral from being in this oh-so tough division, the team seems to have limited upside since it seems that the two titans (with a lowercase t) of the division are there to stay for a while. They may have sneaked into the playoffs as a Wild Card, but they did it by beating up on a subpar NFC South and AFC West, but now they'll play AFC North teams that match up better, even though the NFC North is just as bad this year as either of the two divisions they played last year. And the Houston Texans have made a huge stride over their existence, and believe it or not, the Texans have never beaten a Vince Young-quarterbacked team in the NFL. But that's changing this year. The defense still looks good, thanks to that superb defensive line, given everyone's health (especially Jevon Kearse). Rookie Chris Johnson seems to be the one guy that everyone is clamoring about. The speedster is definitely going to help the running game get that 1-2 punch to complement LenDale White's power. Alge Crumpler already has experience playing with a run-first quarterback in the NFL, so expect him to get a lot off touches.
Houston Texans - 8-8
They're surely knocking on the door to go above .500, but they're not quite there. The running game is dead. Unless Ahman Green has a 2007 Fred Taylor-esque season, this team's going nowhere on the ground. He's not as fast as he used to be, he's injury-prone, and Steve Slaton doesn't have the build to be an every-down back in the league...yet. But he could be useful as a scatback. The offensive line is also doing a little shuffling after Mike Flanagan left and Fred Weary was placed on the IR. But they think that first round pick Duane Brown has some tremendous upside and will start immediately at left tackle. Mario Williams is the freaking truth at DE, and Amobi Okoye should come back to have a better sophomore season. but after Dunta Robinson's horrible injury suffered last year, will he come back from the PUP list and be his old self?
And to round out the AFC...is the West Division.
San Diego Chargers - 14-2
Yup. That's right. Even without/with a less-than-100-percent Shawne Merriman, this team has enough depth at outside linebacker not to miss a beat. Shaun Phillips is almost as disruptive as Merriman, and they seem high on Jyles Tucker, Merriman's backup. But Tucker hasn't been in a situation as an every-down player. After a year of Norv Turner being the man in San Diego, the team looks to start off strong, and this record is attainable under the right circumstances. The Patriots will come into San Diego and challenge them on Sunday Night, as will Indianapolis. But with the schedule the way it is to start the season (Carolina, at Denver, the Jets, at Oakland, at Miami), there's no reason why they shouldn't start 5-0. If everything goes right, they could go into their showdown in Pittsburgh 9-0, or at the worst, 8-1 (given they lose to the Pats). After injuries to key players stalled them from getting to the Super Bowl, expect this team to be playing at their comfortable home in January.
Denver Broncos - 6-10
Don't take this too personally, Broncos fans. But you can't expect me to believe that this team's going to be better when the defense is still suspect (Dewayne Robertson's signing was a little of a help on the D-line, I'll admit), and the team lacks any explosiveness in the receiving corps outside of Brandom Marshall, who I really like. Cutler does seem to be making the move as a solid quarterback, but the schedule is just brutal. This team has never been able to play up to par at sea level (on the road), and teams like Jacksonville, an improved New Orleans, and Tampa Bay all come to Denver. This will probably be the most likely prediction to be wrong from all this. But who knows?
Kansas City Chiefs - 4-12
And you wonder why I had the Chargers being so good in this division. Because it sucks. Larry Johnson is still a very talented back with size, speed, and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, but the offensive line may have him in a hospital bed before this season's over. They can only hope that Branden Albert becomes that Will Shields or Willie Roaf that can anchor this team's offensive line. Having your starting center and right guard bolt on you leaves the O-line in a disarray of inexperience and unprovenness. And the defense isn't any better either, after trading Jared Allen to the Vikings. But at least Tamba Hali is there. While Brandon Flowers is expected to man the cornerback position immediately, there's always that learning curve that comes with rookie corners and going to the NFL. And outside of a Dwayne Bowe and an aging but still great Tony Gonzalez, there's no real talent there. I'm honestly surprised that this team doesn't finish last place in my predictions.
Oakland Raiders - 3-13
The good news? The Raiders start the season 2-0. The bad news? The rest of the season. They've got the defense, they've got Darren McFadden, but who's gonna stop them from stacking 8 and 9 in the box to stop the run? JaMarcus Russell must make the big leap this year if the Raiders are to threaten for a .500 record.
Done with the AFC...now, the NFC.
Starting with the East.
Dallas Cowboys - 12-4
This team has everything. The offense...enough said. Marion Barber is returning, and explosive Felix Jones is going to be added to the mix. The defense is expected to get better, although marginally. Zach Thomas comes in and replaces Akin Ayodele at one of the inside linebacker positions. The reinstatement of Adam Bernard Jones and Mike Jenkins being drafted gives this team major depth in the secondary. And the front seven is still there, just ready to cause havoc with the opponents' running game and with the pass rush. Anything less than a Super Bowl would be a failure here.
New York Giants - 11-5
Despite losing Strahan and Umenyiora, the defending champions come back with some semblance of a pass rush, still, with Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka moving to the end positions. However, the explosive pass rush that catapulted this team to its Super Bowl win WILL take a hit. Also gone is Kawika Mitchell, who was a big impact on the second level. While Antonio Pierce is the main man in the middle, the move of Kiwanuka to the line leaves a hole expected to be filled by Danny Clark, while Gerris Wilkinson, who also played well in the absence of Kiwanuka last season is expected to contribute immediately. But with the reduced pass rush, the defensive backfield is exposed to more trouble than before. Aaron Ross and Corey Webster will start, but there's still a question mark with the safetes, as Kenny Phillips and Michael Johnson are expected to compete for a job as a safety, and the ageless Sammy Knight will back up James Butler, who isn't all that great back there. The division has the fortune of playing against the NFC West, so that's why you see a lot of strong records from this division.
Philadephia Eagles - 11-5
I expect the Eagles to come back strong after a meager 8-8 season. Asante Samuel will make an immediate impact in the secondary and cut the field in half. But most of his success came in a cover-2 zone system, where the Eagles play a lot of man coverage. Samuel should be able to make the adjustment, but it will take a while. Donovan McNabb, when healthy, is one of the best quarterbacks in the league...but the key word there is "when healthy." McNabb, however, doesn't have a complete arsenal with his receivers, yet Brian Westbrook has been that go-to guy. Expect a resurgence from Philly this year.
Washington Redskins - 8-8
For the second consecutive year, the last place team in the NFC East will have a .500 record. Jason Campbell will have to get used to Jim Zorn's edition of the West Coast offense, and I think it's gonna be this that keeps the Redskins out of the playoffs. But not only will Campbell need to do this, but so does Todd Collins, who succeeded in Al Saunders' offense when Campbell went down with his injury. He will have a few options to throw to, given that they develop well. Along with Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El, who have struggled with consistency, Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas join the mix and can hopefully contribute immediately. Unfortunately for the Skins, the defense is still in flux. Shawn Springs is aging, we don't know whether Carlos Rogers will recover from his knee injury and be back at his former self, and the safety position next to LaRon Landry is in questionable hands with Reed Doughty. Jason Taylor is a welcome addition to the defensive line, but it may not be enough for them.
Now, to the oh-so great NFC North...not.
Green Bay Packers - 10-6 (WARNING: HOMERNESS IS PRESENT IN THIS RATING.)
So...Aaron Rodgers will have to fill in some big shoes left by Number Four. Skipping all the drama that went down during the offseason, Rodgers will be the quarterback for the future. But what does the future hold? Ryan Grant had a monster second half of the season running behind an OK offensive line bookended by two All-Pro tackles in Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, but his health is at a premium, knowing how hamstring injuries can be. Rodgers has quite possibly the best arsenal of receivers a young quarterback can have to get into the swing of things. Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones, and tight end Donald Lee can all contribute and help ease the transition of the starting quarterback position. Defensively, the line takes a hit on the inside. Corey Williams was traded. Much-maligned draft pick Justin Harrell is now on the PUP list. That leaves Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly as the top DTs on the team, and they're both solid when healthy (Jolly was IR'd sometime during last season). Aaron Kampman, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Cullen Jenkins are all on the top rotation on the ends, and they can still get after it. Charles Woodson and Al Harris are aging, but still solid whenever Harris doesn't have to face an elite receiver. The Packers are blessed that they play the subpar NFC South, but that's evened out by playing the AFC South, as well as an improved Vikings team, and two other division winners in the NFC that haven't lost a step.
Minnesota Vikings - 9-7 (WARNING: More bias)
They have their franchise running back. They have a blazing fast receiver (again). They have a stout offensive line. They have quite possibly the best defensive line they've ever had since the days of the Purple People Eaters. Their linebackers are solid. But then, there's the big question with this team: quarterback. This is why every Packers fan in the world was holding his or her breath about the possibility of Number Four donning the purple. Thankfully, it didn't happen. It's not like Tarvaris Jackson has the Packers' receiving corps to throw to. There's Bernard Berrian (who's fast but not a top receiver), Sidney Rice (who's sizable but isn't a big play receiver), Bobby Wade (who's a good solid receiver), and...that's it. The tight ends aren't very skilled receivers. But then there's the defense. Jared Allen plus the Williams Wall, then E.J. Henderson, Chad Greenway make for a pretty good front seven. Darren Sharper is still a solid safety, as is Antoine Winfield at corner. But do you know the real problem with this team? No? Well it's simple. They're the Minnesota Vikings. They don't know how to finish a season on top. They had a chance to get into the playoffs last year, and choked! They could have beaten the Redskins at home. That killed their chances. Oh, and then there's Adrian Peterson getting injured, like he's been known to do since his days in Norman. OK, I'm done with clinging to optimism. But seriously, this record doesn't do justice to the strides they took to improve for this season.
Detroit Lions - 6-10
Well first off, this is the Detroit Lions we're talking about. The defense is starting to look like Tampa Bay, Junior, with Chartric Darby, an old Brian Kelly, Dwight Smith, and the more detailed implementation of the Tampa 2 defense. But the fact that I have to say "Junior," doesn't bode well for the team. It's still brutal, and should keep them from going anywhere, no matter how good the offense can be. Speaking of the offense, the receiving needs to get more consistent. They've got a top-notch corps with Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Mike Furrey, and Shaun McDonald, and a quarterback that can get it to him, but the consistency isn't there (from Kitna at least). Kevin Smith and Rudi Johnson are expected to share carries and neither of them are really that impressive, and the jury's still out on Smith. Another mediocre season in the Motor City.
Chicago Bears - 5-11
My niece has more offensive talent than the Bears do. So many places where unproven talent, or already-proven-nonexistent talent exist. Wide receiver. We all know that Brandon Lloyd is just trash and should not be starting an NFL game. Marty Booker is at least a good route-runner and possession receiver. Greg Olsen has tremendous athletic talent, but is he the Room Store guy? Can he put it all together as a tight end? Matt Forte seems to have every-down back potential, but it's going to be interesting to see him progress. Kyle Orton is at least a good decision-maker (at least when he's not getting shitfaced all the time) and he rarely makes mistakes, but isn't the guy who will win games for his team. The good news is that the defense is still strong, though they underachieved in certain parts last year, ranking 28th in the league in yards allowed per game. Expect Devin Hester to make a huge impact on offense as a situational slot receiver as well as a return specialist.
Oh boy...Hold your breath, because here we go to...the NFC South...
New Orleans Saints - 10-6
We knew this team had an explosive offense since 2006. Defensively, they weren't up to par. Drew Brees should bounce back and have another career year with Colston, Bush and company coming back. But will Deuce McAllister be the one to spell Bush? Or will it be Pierre Thomas or Aaron Stecker, who came on last year to do well running the ball in the absences of McAllister and Bush? Sedrick Ellis, Randall Gay, and Jonathan Vilma are welcome additions to the porous defense last year. The defensive line should look good on paper, with Charles Grant and Will Smith bookending it. Mike McKenzie is getting older, but can still cover. The Saints are fortunate to have the NFC South to beat up on, but you really don't know what will happen, as surprises have arisen from the division ever since its inception.
Carolina Panthers - 9-7
The key here is whether Jake Delhomme comes back strong from Tommy John surgery and because for a football player it's not as major as it is for a baseball player, I don't think he'll have much trouble with that. Jonathan Stewart was drafted to be the main back and have DeAngelo Williams spell him. I have a feeling Stewart will be a reliable one during his time in Carolina, especially with what could shape to be a good offensive line, with first round pick Jeff Otah going to right tackle, and having the mainstays Jordan Gross and Travelle Wharton play next to each other on the left side. The receiving was given a boost with Muhsin Muhammad returning and D.J. Hackett coming in to ease the burden from Steve Smith. The defensive line is looking weak though outside of Julius Peppers, who himself didn't have a great year last year, with just 2.5 sacks. Jon Beason is ready to be the man in the middle of this defense, and he's got some help on the sides as well. Unfortunately for the Panthers, they lose out on the playoffs on the de facto NFC South championship game on Week 17 against the Saints.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 8-8
Everyone on this team that matters is getting old, it seems. No wonder the state of Florida is a popular retirement site. But the NFL's version of the AARP is still effective until proven otherwise. Joey Galloway, surprisingly, still has speed on the outside. The Bucs brought back Warrick Dunn to be an insurance for when Cadillac Williams breaks an axle again. Somehow, Derrick Brooks is still alive and starting for the team. But the team is neither outstanding nor bad anymore. The Tampa 2 has been a staple of this defense since Monte Kiffin brought it, and for some reason, it just doesn't fail, no matter who the hell is in it. I just wish I knew why it worked and why the Buccaneers have been semi-successful with it. Expect an average season from it.
Atlanta Falcons - 3-13
What else do you expect? I don't think I need to spell anything out for you.
At this point, I'm getting tired of typing stuff about everyone, and my insight isn't as sharp as it was when I started this whole thing.
Seattle Seahawks - 12-4
This team is showing no signs of slowing down. They got rid of the dead weight that was Shaun Alexander, and the change of scenery of Julius Jones could be beneficial, as Marion Barber was overtaking him. If Deion Branch fully recovers from his injury, the Seahawks could have the best passing attack in the NFC, along with Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram, and a little help from Courtney Taylor and John Carlson. The defense shouldn't have any dropoff, as everyone returns better than ever. Expect Seattle to challenge for the NFC crown.
Arizona Cardinals - 7-9
Now that Matt Leinart has been officially branded a bust, Kurt Warner is expected to lead this team, and he's still got juice in the tank. We know about Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, who somehow still plays for the Cardinals after asking out of there. But Edgerrin James is way over the hill, and the Cardinals don't have a proven running back behind him. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Calais Campbell should help a defense that was a middle-of-the-roader last year, and is going to a full-time 3-4, moving Chike Okeafor and Travis LaBoy as pass-rushing outside linebackers. They could make a run at the division, but personally, I just don't see it.
St. Louis Rams - 5-11
This team is much better than I'm giving them credit for. Provided that the injury bug doesn't attack the Rams this year, they should scuffle for the .500 mark, but with who they have to play (specifically, the NFC East and an improved AFC East and not getting the Falcons until Week 17), it's not very likely. Chris Long will be expected to contribute immediately as a starter at the defensive end across from Leonard Little. There still should be some punch in this defensive line, and I think their success on defense rides in this area. O.J. Atogwe has developed into one of the conference's better playmakers at free safety, and Tye Hill makes the most of his small frame as a cover corner. Last year was an aberration for Marc Bulger with injuries and whatnot. Expect him, Torry Holt, Steven Jackson, and others to come back with vengeance. But they will fall short.
San Francisco 49ers - 2-14
Well that's what happens when J.T. O'Sullivan starts for your team, and he has a bunch of non-impact players/has-beens to throw to. I feel sorry for Frank Gore and Vernon Davis, the only beacons of hope on offense. As you can tell, I'm tired.
And here are my playoff picks...
SEEDS
NFC:
1) Dallas Cowboys (Dallas beat Seattle in the regular season)
2) Seattle Seahawks
3) Green Bay Packers (Green Bay beat New Orleans in the regular season)
4) New Orleans Saints
5) New York Giants (Giants have a better record against conference opponents than the Eagles)
6) Philadelphia Eagles
AFC:
1) San Diego Chargers
2) Indianapolis Colts
3) New England Patriots
4) Pittsburgh Steelers (Pittsburgh has a better record against divisional opponents than Cleveland)
5) Jacksonville Jaguars
6) Cleveland Browns (Cleveland has a beter record against common opponents than the New York Jets)
And the first round of the playoffs:
(3) Patriots over (6) Browns
(5) Jaguars over (4) Steelers
(6) Eagles over (3) Packers
(5) Gians over (4) Saints
Divisional round:
(3) Patriots over (2) Colts
(5) Jaguars over (1) Chargers
(1) Cowboys over (6) Eagles
(2) Seahawks over (5) Giants
Championship round:
(3) Patriots over (5) Jaguars
(2) Seahawks over (1) Cowboys
SUPER BOWL XLIII
Patriots over Seahawks
And that, my friends, is the preview of the NFL season, 2008.
Peace.
~KG~
