The NFL is almost three weeks old. We've had some pleasant surprises and some interesting disappointments. So what do I think will happen looking forward?
NFC EAST: 1-Giants, 2-Eagles, 3-Cowboys, 4-Redskins.
The Giants look like the best team in the NFC right now. The fact that no one is noticing it just shows what I'm talking about. I like the way Philly is keeping afloat without Donovan McNabb. I also like Dallas, who took the G-men to the limit before losing and seem to be a bit looser than in years past. Redskins are on the Jim Zorn Countdown watch.
NFC SOUTH: 1-Saints, 2-Falcons, 3-Panthers, 4-Buccaneers.
N'Awlins really impressed me in the way they shut down the Bills in Buffalo yesterday. If they can get some consistent defensive play, this team will be scary. Atlanta has been better than I thought, but I still think they are another year away from a Super Bowl type team. Carolina and Tampa are on the back end of things. The Panthers have an ugly remaining schedule that will keep their record worse than what they really are.
NFC NORTH: 1-Vikings, 2-Packers, 3-Bears, 4-Lions.
All of them won on Sunday. Amazing, huh? Minnesota has the most complete team. There is just something about the Packers that make me not trust them. Same with Chicago who look like a typical 9-7 type team. Congrats to Detroit for their first win.
NFC WEST: 1-Niners, 2-Cardinals, 3-Seahawks, 4-Rams.
The Rams are the worst team in the conference. San Francisco was a Brett Favre miracle from being the most surprising 3-0 team right now. They are the best team in the division, easily. Arizona has looked horrible in both their home games and needs to find some sort of running game if they want to get back to the playoffs. Seattle? Who knows?
AFC EAST: 1-Patriots, 2-Jets, 3-Dolphins, 4-Bills.
New England may not have a great featured back, but they have four guys that combined can do damage. They finally remembered that Tom Brady doesn't need to throw 50 times a game to be successful and beat a very good Atlanta team. The Jets are surprisingly 3-0 with rookie Mark Sanchez, but it's that defense that has been most impressive. I don't see them upending the Pats in the division, but this is a playoff team. Miami has a horrid schedule and is banged up enough that this will be a lost year. Speaking of lost, Buffalo is losing games and soon will lose their coach.
AFC SOUTH: 1-Colts, 2-Titans, 3-Jaguars, 4-Texans.
Who knew this division would be so bad? Indy looks like they should cruise to another division title. Tennessee is just too good to finish behind Jacksonville and Houston. Those two teams are pretty much the same: 5-11 ish.
AFC NORTH: 1-Ravens, 2-Steelers, 3-Bengals, 4-Browns.
Baltimore has been the best team in the NFL right now. The defense is there as always, but that offense has gotten ... dare I say it ... explosive. Pittsburgh is too talented and too well coached to fall to far back. They'll get it corrected. Cincinnati seems to have the chops to make a run for a postseason spot if Pittsburgh does struggle. The defense is much improved and the offense is getting back to being somewhat potent. Cleveland is the worst team in the NFL.
AFC WEST: 1-Chargers, 2-Broncos, 3-Chiefs, 4-Raiders.
San Diego will win this thing just because they are clearly the most talented team in the division. From there, they won't last long in the playoffs. Denver could challenge and it is obvious that Josh McDaniels can coach. Kyle Orton is playing well and the defense has improved. Kansas City and Oakland are just playing out the string.
Without looking at the schedule game-by-game, it's tough to get any prediction perfectly correct ... but here is my guess.
NFC PLAYOFF TEAMS: 1-Giants, 2-Vikings, 3-Saints, 4-Niners, 5-Falcons, 6-Eagles.
The Giants and Vikings will have the best records. N'Awlins has just enough of a tough road to not get a first round bye. Atlanta and Philly get the wildcard spots. I see the Saints beating Philly and Falcons over the Niners in the Wildcard Round. New Orleans takes down the Vikings in an upset and will face the Giants (who beat Atlanta) for the NFC Championship. I have to say New York is your NFC Champ.
AFC PLAYOFF TEAMS: 1-Patriots, 2-Colts, 3-Ravens, 4-Chargers, 5-Steelers, 6-Jets.
Yep, the Jets make the playoffs. This is a darn good bracket where any of them could win a Super Bowl. Baltimore takes out Rex Ryan and the Jets in a great Wildcard game (Steelers over Chargers in the other). In a great playoff matchup, the Steelers beat the Patriots in Foxboro while the Ravens upend the Colts. In a rematch of last year's AFC Championship ... this time in B-more ... the Ravens make it to the Super Bowl.
Yeah, I'm not too confident in a Giants-Ravens Super Bowl (a rematch of SB 35), but who was confident with a Steelers-Cardinals matchup this time last year????
NFC EAST: 1-Giants, 2-Eagles, 3-Cowboys, 4-Redskins.
The Giants look like the best team in the NFC right now. The fact that no one is noticing it just shows what I'm talking about. I like the way Philly is keeping afloat without Donovan McNabb. I also like Dallas, who took the G-men to the limit before losing and seem to be a bit looser than in years past. Redskins are on the Jim Zorn Countdown watch.
NFC SOUTH: 1-Saints, 2-Falcons, 3-Panthers, 4-Buccaneers.
N'Awlins really impressed me in the way they shut down the Bills in Buffalo yesterday. If they can get some consistent defensive play, this team will be scary. Atlanta has been better than I thought, but I still think they are another year away from a Super Bowl type team. Carolina and Tampa are on the back end of things. The Panthers have an ugly remaining schedule that will keep their record worse than what they really are.
NFC NORTH: 1-Vikings, 2-Packers, 3-Bears, 4-Lions.
All of them won on Sunday. Amazing, huh? Minnesota has the most complete team. There is just something about the Packers that make me not trust them. Same with Chicago who look like a typical 9-7 type team. Congrats to Detroit for their first win.
NFC WEST: 1-Niners, 2-Cardinals, 3-Seahawks, 4-Rams.
The Rams are the worst team in the conference. San Francisco was a Brett Favre miracle from being the most surprising 3-0 team right now. They are the best team in the division, easily. Arizona has looked horrible in both their home games and needs to find some sort of running game if they want to get back to the playoffs. Seattle? Who knows?
AFC EAST: 1-Patriots, 2-Jets, 3-Dolphins, 4-Bills.
New England may not have a great featured back, but they have four guys that combined can do damage. They finally remembered that Tom Brady doesn't need to throw 50 times a game to be successful and beat a very good Atlanta team. The Jets are surprisingly 3-0 with rookie Mark Sanchez, but it's that defense that has been most impressive. I don't see them upending the Pats in the division, but this is a playoff team. Miami has a horrid schedule and is banged up enough that this will be a lost year. Speaking of lost, Buffalo is losing games and soon will lose their coach.
AFC SOUTH: 1-Colts, 2-Titans, 3-Jaguars, 4-Texans.
Who knew this division would be so bad? Indy looks like they should cruise to another division title. Tennessee is just too good to finish behind Jacksonville and Houston. Those two teams are pretty much the same: 5-11 ish.
AFC NORTH: 1-Ravens, 2-Steelers, 3-Bengals, 4-Browns.
Baltimore has been the best team in the NFL right now. The defense is there as always, but that offense has gotten ... dare I say it ... explosive. Pittsburgh is too talented and too well coached to fall to far back. They'll get it corrected. Cincinnati seems to have the chops to make a run for a postseason spot if Pittsburgh does struggle. The defense is much improved and the offense is getting back to being somewhat potent. Cleveland is the worst team in the NFL.
AFC WEST: 1-Chargers, 2-Broncos, 3-Chiefs, 4-Raiders.
San Diego will win this thing just because they are clearly the most talented team in the division. From there, they won't last long in the playoffs. Denver could challenge and it is obvious that Josh McDaniels can coach. Kyle Orton is playing well and the defense has improved. Kansas City and Oakland are just playing out the string.
Without looking at the schedule game-by-game, it's tough to get any prediction perfectly correct ... but here is my guess.
NFC PLAYOFF TEAMS: 1-Giants, 2-Vikings, 3-Saints, 4-Niners, 5-Falcons, 6-Eagles.
The Giants and Vikings will have the best records. N'Awlins has just enough of a tough road to not get a first round bye. Atlanta and Philly get the wildcard spots. I see the Saints beating Philly and Falcons over the Niners in the Wildcard Round. New Orleans takes down the Vikings in an upset and will face the Giants (who beat Atlanta) for the NFC Championship. I have to say New York is your NFC Champ.
AFC PLAYOFF TEAMS: 1-Patriots, 2-Colts, 3-Ravens, 4-Chargers, 5-Steelers, 6-Jets.
Yep, the Jets make the playoffs. This is a darn good bracket where any of them could win a Super Bowl. Baltimore takes out Rex Ryan and the Jets in a great Wildcard game (Steelers over Chargers in the other). In a great playoff matchup, the Steelers beat the Patriots in Foxboro while the Ravens upend the Colts. In a rematch of last year's AFC Championship ... this time in B-more ... the Ravens make it to the Super Bowl.
Yeah, I'm not too confident in a Giants-Ravens Super Bowl (a rematch of SB 35), but who was confident with a Steelers-Cardinals matchup this time last year????
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