NFL Preview & Predictions
Today we're going to be looking at the NFL, with team-by-team predictions, and fast-fowarding to Superbowl match-up and winner. I'll be back next week for a detailed preview of my favorite team: The Denver Broncos
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills 8-8; Show me something before I believe.
Miami Dolphins 6-10; A much improved club under Big Bill's leadership and solid QB play from Pennington
New England Patriots 13-3; I don't see New England coming 'back to the field' too much, although the age on defense can't escape AFC offenses this year. Even under the mad-genius' schemes. Great record is due impart to an unbelievably weak schedule.
New York Jets 8-8; I don't see much improvement with Brett Favre changing uniforms. It's an 8-8 league, and this team will be a decent 8-8. Winning a couple on Favre's arm, and losing a couple on him slinging it around carelessly like in the NFC Championship game...
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys 11-5; A very solid 11-5, however I can see this team reading a bit too many of its' summer press-clippings in a very tough NFC East
New York Giants 7-9; This team is more ripe for a Superbowl hangover than any past champion I can remember. They've lost key personnel and I just don't see them getting it done in their own division, let alone the conference.
Philadelphia Eagles 11-5; Wildcard team, with excellent all around season. They will rebound. Great organization.
Washington Redskins 8-8; A decent team, with good pieces will also have really solid coaching. QB play is everything in this league, and I just don't see Jason Campbell getting it done.
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens 4-12; I just don't see anything to write home about here. In fact, I would close the team offices and give everything back to the City of Cleveland.
Cincinnati Bengals 8-8; Same story, different year. Marv Lewis leaves at the end of the year. Bungals are back.
Cleveland Browns 8-8; Not buying all of the hype. Tough schedule, but benefit of having to travel the least number of miles in the NFL. I just don't think Anderson is the long term answer at QB. In this division, limiting turnovers and being able to run the ball is everything.
Pittsburgh Steelers 12-4; Which brings us to the team that will do that best. Look for a great year in Pittsburgh from QB, both tailbacks, and the defense.
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears 3-13; Fresno St. will have better QB play this year. Disaster in waiting. I would burn my equipment, throw it in Lake Michigan and quit.
Detroit Lions 6-10; They're the Lions. What more needs to be said. The teams' logo should be "6&10". Gross.
Green Bay Packers 10-6; I feel Aaron Rogers gets it done in caretaker form at QB, and the depth of the roster comes through time & again this year.
Minnesota Vikings 11-5; Adrian Peterson scares me. Tavaris Jackson does not. Running the ball and stopping the run still works. This team will be very good.
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans 10-6; In the best division in football, a very well coached, great pass-rush and very solid run game with a caretaker at QB, this team would runaway with any NFC division besides the East. Thing is, they're in the AFC and the South. Brutal schedule. With 19 former Broncos in the organization, "Denver South" will miss the playoffs. Barely.
Indianapolis Colts 11-5; Slow start will be overcome by Peyton being Peyton once he's fully healthy.
Jacksonville Jaguars 11-5; Solid, solid football team. I don't think Garrard has ever thrown an interception. Even if he does this year, they're still winning 11 games.
Tennessee Titans 4-12; Vince Young will be out of a job by week 9. Total sham.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons 3-10; They would be 3-13, but they will probably quit like their coward coach Bobby Petrino did last year. Poor Matt Ryan.
Carolina Panthers 8-8; Average team that never plays average football. They play really good, and surprisingly bad.
New Orleans Saints 11-5; Good football team. Defense will be much improved with Ced Ellis. QB play will be amazing, and maybe, just maybe, Reggie Bush will average more than 3.8 yards per carry
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-7; Love Garcia, but last year was more of an aberration for this team.
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos 11-5; Run defense will return to its' top-5 form that is has held for all of this century until last year's Jim Bates debacle. Look for a franchise year from Jay Cutler. (at least 30 TD's and 4,000 yards). No, Selvin Young will not have 2,000 yards, but the Broncos RB's will have more than 2,300 yards--which means they are a playoff team.
Kansas City Chiefs 8-8; Well coached. Good talent. It's an 8-8 league. Young team will play 8-8 ball.
Oakland Raiders 5-11; They're the Raiders. Napolean Kaufman...err, Darren McFadden will win them five games, Jamarcus the fat, will lose them 5 games. The other 6 will be lost by penalty and turnovers.
San Diego Chargers 13-3; The best team in the AFC. As much as it pains me to say it. Man, I wish Marty was still there to jack something up in the post-season. Maybe LT will pout or the jackass Phillip Rivers will start a bar fight in week 12.
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals 10-6; Seriously, I do believe this will be the year that the good drafts and personnel finally come together under Whisenhunt. This team has the talent on both sides of the ball to get it done, and Leinart, though not my vote for most mature QB, will mature enough on the field to lead this team to the division title. St. Louis Rams 9-7; Never sure what to make of this team. Now that Stephen Jackson got paid, will he rush for 2,000 yards, or pull a hamstring in week 4.
San Francisco 49ers 6-10; Whoa, again, Fresno St will have better QB play this year.
Seattle Seahawks 8-8; I respect Holmgren, but this team missed its window. The Dallas Mavericks of the NFL, people still think they're better than they are, and they royally blew their one championship opportunity
The only thing that matters in this years' playoffs is that the Broncos will be back. They will lose their second game to San Diego and I will cry for 6 months. So, I wont bore myself (or you the loyal reader) with week-by-week predictions or playoffs scenarios; I'll fast-forward to the end: Chargers over Cowboys in Superbowl XLIII.
This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR
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19 comments
Comments
Cardinals update
Well, that’s the NFL!
One week after Leinart seemed to have the QB position locked-up in Arizona, he goes out and vomits a 2.8 QB rtg,and loses his job.
Oh well, I’ve always liked Warner and feel he can lead them to the same record—he just doesn’t have the salary-cap, draft position, age and frailty working in his favor.
(Really says something about how bad Leinart had to play to lose that job)
by jaredstill on Aug 25, 2008 11:52 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Let me know...
if you want some help with the formatting….
-TSG
www.milehighreport.com
by John Bena on Aug 25, 2008 12:23 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I think the formatting should look like it does here:
http://jaredstill.blogspot.com/2008/08/nfl-preview-predictions.html
btw Jared, welcome to MHR! I am planning on coming out with my own predictions for the season, but that’ll be next week. Amazingly, we agree on many points…especially about the Browns.
It should be interesting to see how this season progresses. The AFC, for the first time, really is wide open. NE is in decline(though still top tier), Peyton Manning may not even start the season, San Diego is overrated. Changing of the Gaurd teams, like the Broncos, will make for an exciting year.
If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08
I got a high ankle sprain in college and it still hurts! ~ TSG 8/13/08
by Tim Lynch on Aug 25, 2008 12:49 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure thing!
I couldn’t figure out why in HTML edit, I couldn’t get the page-breaks I expected.
Let me go back and insert
. Thanks so much!
Jared
by jaredstill on Aug 25, 2008 12:53 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blame WYSIWYG....messes everything up
While also making everything easier. heh
If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08
I got a high ankle sprain in college and it still hurts! ~ TSG 8/13/08
by Tim Lynch on Aug 25, 2008 1:12 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Steelers and Pats
1. The Steelers aren’t going 12-4. Their O-Line will not let them. It will be more like 8-8.
2. The Pats are going to go more like 11-5 or 12-4. I also think the Jets could win 10 games.
by PABroncofan on Aug 25, 2008 2:25 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Steelers play
in the Mid-American conference though…that’s 6 wins right there. With their schedule, two backs and a bigger target at WR, I think they have a strong record. If not a powerhouse team. They would still get punked by Jacksonville…
And the Pats, again, I hear ya, but it’s the schedule…just like the Steelers, I feel they’re facing cupcakes every-other-week, all year long.
Thanks for the comments, though!
by jaredstill on Aug 25, 2008 3:17 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im not sold on 13 wins for SD
Now with the prospect of Merriodman out, and that Gates isnt a sure fire bet to start the season. Plus the WR’s are not all that good. IF Jackson doesnt show up teams are gonna focus on Chambers. Another thing about the WR’s if they do not show the ability to get open and if the OL doesnt get healthy teams are gonna load up to stuff LT, and seeing since they dont have Neal anymore that could happen. Not too mention the biggest question mark is that piece of crap QB. Nobody knows how he will respond to getting hit and playing on his recontructed knee. Sd has talent for 9-10 wins with all these problems. Plus I like to include the Norv factor.
by broncfanstuckinsd on Aug 25, 2008 3:31 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
13 wins for SD....
I think you’re right. I’m leaning toward down-grading that. Without Merrimam, that puts pressure on every other defensive gap, and without Gates healthy, that allows teams to roll up the safety to focus on the run. I wrote this before the Merrimam news broke…will revise depending on who is healthy.
Thanks!
by jaredstill on Aug 26, 2008 7:44 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I listened to the game (SD/SEA)
Again there starting defense is allowing teams to run on them, and the tackling is poor. Eric Weddle (who is the reason McCree is in Denver and gonna have the last laugh) missed a key tackle on Burelsons 68 yd TD pass from Frye on the 3rd offensive play for Seattle (hasselbeck didnt play). SD has had problems tackling all preseason. I believe this could be a problem. I have stated my dislike of Turner I think this is going to be proven true. Plus IMO Rivers was not very good. I still think his leg is bothering him. Do you think these things I just stated are my hopefulness or could be real problems
by broncfanstuckinsd on Aug 26, 2008 11:21 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jaws and Tirico
had a love-fest going for Phyllis last night. Jaws couldn’t stop blubbering about how he was able to plant his leg when throwing.
On his early throws, though he was overthrowing. His first big completion was because of a blown coverage that allowed Vincent Jackson to get down to the 15 or so without anyone within 10 yards of him.
He had another pass where Sproles blew up the blitzing linebacker leaving an easy lob to Tolbert running down the right sideline wide open and Phyllis threw it about 5 yards out of bounds completely twisting up Tolbert in the process.
After a short pass to one of his receivers after a little bit of a scramble, it looked like he was favoring his leg, so it must still be bothering him.
"It's all over Fat Man" - Tom Jackson to John Madden 1977 AFC Championship Game
"I wouldn't say he's nowhere near T.O." - Pacman Jones on Brandon Marshall
"I love your analysis of our team. Its kinda like watching a spider monkey trying to figure out a jar of peanuts.. you know whats going on.. you know whats in there, but to actually figure it out, is just a bit beyond your mental skills..."
- Bronco Dano from DP Comments
by DesertBroncoFan on Aug 26, 2008 4:53 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think it is
In 2006 Culpepper tried to come back from a knee injury too soon, and look what happened to him. I mean I hope Rivers eventually is ok, just not until Denver kicks their rears in week 2
by broncfanstuckinsd on Aug 26, 2008 5:17 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
and Week 17
I’m hoping to be there.
I’m waiting for them to start failing early in the season and hope everyone jumps off the bandwagon and starts dumping their seats so I don’t have to pay $100 for nose-bleed seats near the scoreboard!
"It's all over Fat Man" - Tom Jackson to John Madden 1977 AFC Championship Game
"I wouldn't say he's nowhere near T.O." - Pacman Jones on Brandon Marshall
"I love your analysis of our team. Its kinda like watching a spider monkey trying to figure out a jar of peanuts.. you know whats going on.. you know whats in there, but to actually figure it out, is just a bit beyond your mental skills..."
- Bronco Dano from DP Comments
by DesertBroncoFan on Aug 26, 2008 5:49 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
could be
the last bronco/charger game in SD also. Hopefully it is meaningless I would like to go to the game myself. The last one i was in 1997 Den/Sd on Sunday Night TV. TD had 178 yards and Den won 38-28
by broncfanstuckinsd on Aug 26, 2008 6:03 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Unfortunately, I was there for the Christmas Eve Debacle last year
"It's all over Fat Man" - Tom Jackson to John Madden 1977 AFC Championship Game
"I wouldn't say he's nowhere near T.O." - Pacman Jones on Brandon Marshall
"I love your analysis of our team. Its kinda like watching a spider monkey trying to figure out a jar of peanuts.. you know whats going on.. you know whats in there, but to actually figure it out, is just a bit beyond your mental skills..."
- Bronco Dano from DP Comments
by DesertBroncoFan on Aug 26, 2008 6:34 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heh
They did go on about his fine throwing form, but seriously he is hefting the ball much farther than he used to.
His first big completion was because of a blown coverage that allowed Vincent Jackson to get down to the 15 or so without anyone within 10 yards of him.
He had a couple of those last year where the receiver actually had to come back to the ball it was so underthrown. It seemed like they took Chambers out early, and Gates obviously wasn’t in. In a bit of good news, it does look like he could make the opener, or at least be available early in the season; so I think Rivers will have more weapons in his arsenal come the regular season. And Sproles looked great, if he keeps running like last night, nobody is going to miss Turner. Also the Oline was opening huge holes. StuckinSD is right on the money about the tackling and run defense, but Jamal still isn’t playing; folks are really hoping he makes a difference and that his knees hold out. It is going to be an interesting season.
Jyles Tucker got a fat contract; it looks to me that they are really counting on him to take over for Merriman. They see lots of upside, and the probability that Merriman is going to be gone this season, and then really gone the season after next. They say Tucker’s injury was just a bruise, but boy are the Bolts getting hit by the injury bug.
"He's doing everything a receiver would do except catch the ball." Mike Shanahan
by Brian (DaBolts) on Aug 26, 2008 8:12 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jaws is an idiot on Rivers....
Seriously, you’re exactly right. Jaws had a total hard-on for this guy even though Rivers has two very big mechanics flaws: 1) the ball’s too low in the pocket (not a killer with quick release; see Elway, Cutler, Romo, Brady) and 2) the throwing motion makes Charles Barkley’s golf swing look fluid….
And Jaws is supposed to be the QB film guy. How can he like what he sees with Rivers. Dude shot-puts the ball & has the maturity of a 14 year-old
by jaredstill on Sep 3, 2008 3:12 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Look for Brees to have his traditional
good every other year. I swear, he needs to just play even years in the NFL.
Owning the Patriots since September 9, 1960
by Darin H on Aug 25, 2008 3:46 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
New England will not make the playoffs--that's what I see.
Broncos broncos everywhere and all the league did blink,
Broncos broncos everywhere think moldy faiders stink!
by Mike Clark on Aug 26, 2008 10:11 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

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