WHAT'S THE WILDEST NFL FACTOID YOU KNOW, SPORTZ?? This takes the cake. The last five #1 overall picks in the NFL Draft have been quarterbacks. Michael Vick, David Carr, Carson Palmer, Eli Manning and Alex Smith. Here is my wild fact. Vick wears #7....Carr wears #8.... Palmer wears #9.....Manning wears #10....Smith wears #11. Either Vince Young or Matt Leinart better try on a #12 jersey.
WHO WILL WIN THE NFC EAST??? I'll pick the EAGLES (4-3). Yeah, they really haven't played that well yet. BUT, the Eagles still hold their cards. For one...they still have 7 division games remaning. They get to face the Giants and Redskins twice and the Cowboys at home. So they can climb over everyone in the NFC East if they take care of business. But can they win this division?? I mean, they are 4-3 and coulda-shoulda lost to San Diego and Kansas City...and barely hung on against Oakland. The only game in which they looked like the 2004 team was against San Francisco in Week 2. Despite all of that...they have 4 wins, just one less than the G-men whom lead the division. Right now, the best team in the NFC East is New York, but I think that Philly has the better outlook down the stretch.
WHO WINS THE NFC NORTH?? Laugh now....but I think it will be the VIKINGS (2-5). Sure, the team hasn't played well at all and doesn't have great talent....but every now and then you just gotta reach in your butt and pull one out. They are just 2 games back of Chicago right now...so they are in striking distance regardless. Okay...but, how Sportz will they win?? Schedule. Minnesota has Detroit [twice], at Green Bay, Cleveland, at St Louis and at Baltimore.....all winnable games. So is the season ender against Da Bears that could be for all the NFC North marbles. The biggest land-mines is Week 10 at the Giants and Week 15 hosting the Steelers. Other than that....the games are winnable. Now, look at Chicago's sked: Carolina, at Tampa, Atlanta, at Pittsburgh.....not to mention two tough ones in New Orleans and Minnesota. The only real "gimme" is in two weeks against the Niners. The Lions have the same sort of sked. Maybe the Vikingscan do this??
WHO WILL WIN THAT WILD NFC SOUTH?? The South is the toughest division in the NFC....as Tampa, Carolina and Atlanta are all 5-2...and the Saints are probably the best 2-6 team [yet, the unluckiest team] in the league. And the best thing of all???? They all have to play each other TWICE!!! I think it will be ATLANTA (5-2) that ends up winning this thing. Tampa has some real QB issues to deal with...something the others don't. So it is Atlanta v Carolina. I really like Carolina a lot, but I will stick with Vick. He wins games. And remember...the two games Atlanta lost this year were very close [Seattle - they made a huge comeback but fell short.......New England - Vick didn't play]. Carolina looked rough against the Saints and Dolphins...and barely hung on against the Packers, Cardinals and Lions. I say Atlanta.
WHO WINS THE NFC WEST?? Um, SEAHAWKS (5-2). The Rams are the only team close...and their coaches keep having heart issues.
WHO WINS THE AFC WEST??? I say the BRONCOS (6-2). The Chiefs and Chargers have lost some heartbreakers. Denver is more complete.
WHO WINS THE AFC EAST??? The PATRIOTS (4-3). They've played a murderous schedule [Carolina, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Atlanta, Denver] dealt with so many injuries after an offseason with turnover, lost both coordinators and get everyone's best effort every week. Despite all of that...they lead the division by a game. They've only played one division game [Buffalo last Sunday night] and will get to feast on the rest of a surprisingly poor division.
WHO WINS THE AFC NORTH?? I will say the STEELERS (5-2). Mainly because the Steelers get the Bengals in Pittsburgh [they already won in Cincinnati].
WHO WINS THE AFC SOUTH?? The COLTS (7-0) are past the South and are paying attention the the Broncos, Patriots, Bengals and Steelers.
SO WHICH FOUR TEAMS WILL GET BYES IN THE PLAYOFFS?? In the AFC, it will be the Colts and Steelers. In the NFC, Falcons and Seahawks.
WILL THE SAINTS EVER RETURN TO NEW ORLEANS?? No. There is no way they can play football....or anything...in the Superdome. Many people died in that building which should be destroyed. The problem is that there is no way to rebuild...at least not in the near future. The city and state were financially strapped before Katrina that there is no way to justify funds to keep the Saints [who the state was paying just to keep around] when there is so much to be done. I think when the offseason rolls around, the NFL will go strong at getting a Los Angeles stadium bid going. They do that....they will be the Los Angeles Saints in 2007. In 2006, they will be San Antonio.
WHO IS THE MVP??? Wow. This is tough. Is it Carson Palmer?? He leads the NFL in passing yards and TDs and is 2nd in QB rating [and has just 5 INTs]. Is it Steve Smith?? He leads the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and TDs. Or is it Shaun Alexander? He leads the NFL in TDs, 3rd in rushing yards, and 2nd in yards per game. No, I say LaDanlian Tomlinson who can do everything. He's ran for 10 TDs....caught a TD...and has thrown 3 TDs. Amazing!!! You can shut him down in one facet...but he can get off in other ways.
IF HOUSTON, GREEN BAY OR SAN FRANCISCO GET THE #1 PICK IN THE DRAFT...WILL THEY KEEP IT?? The Niners won't. They will look to deal it away for something in the top 5-10. Houston may very well keep it and draft Vince Young from nearby Texas. Not only will the local product bring excitement to the team...but it will give them a mobile QB who can get away when that crappy offensive line breaks down. It would be very interesting to see if the Packers would indeed take on Leinart...and hold a Aikman-Walsh type battle with him and Aaron Rogers.
IS THIS IT FOR BRETT FAVRE?? It has to be. He's almost called it quits the past few years...but Green Bay goes on a late run and gets into the playoffs. Brett can't quit that. But he can quit a 1-6 team who has no defense and limited offensive weapons to help him. Not to mention all the personal tragedies that have laced his life over the past year and a half. I think he's gone.
WHAT COACHES DO YOU THINK WILL BE FIRED AFTER THE SEASON?
Mike Sherman, Green Bay. This whole organization will be rehauled once Favre goes.
Mike Tice, Minnesota. Even if my prediction comes true...he has to be done with the ownership.
Jim Haslett, New Orleans. A shame since the Saints never had a chance. He was on thin ice before all this.
Mike Martz, St. Louis. They won't return his phone calls.
Dom Capers, Houston. He, Carr and Casserly may all get the axe.
Norv Turner, Oakland. If Martz is available, you better bet that Al Davis will give him a call.
WILL THERE BE A SURPRISE FIRING?? Maybe. The name that comes to my mind is Baltimore's Brian Billick. Remember, there is new ownership in Baltimore...and Billick was a Modell guy. For all his offensive genius...he has failed to develop a QB. I notice all of the dumb excessive penalties they've racked up this year as a sign of maybe Billick is losing his team a bit. He may stay.....but he may get thrown away.
WHAT COACH HAS PLAYED HIS WAY OFF THE HOT SEAT?? Mike Holmgren. He's yet to have great success in Seattle...but he's taken them to elite status as far as the NFC West goes. He keeps on winning despite losing the bulk of his receiving corp over the last month.
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