What could compel me to post on this oft-neglected little blog? Why the start of the 2008 NFL season of course. Might as well get some predictions on record before the kickoff tonight, so here you go:
NFC
East: A challenging division to predict, due to the quality of the teams and my inability to suppress my homerism for the Skins. Pretty much everyone thinks the Giants will be mediocre after their miraculous playoff run and the Cowboys will be good. I agree on both counts. People are hyping the Eagles but I just don’t see it. McNabb is going to get hurt, like he always does. Relying on a rookie WR seems dubious to me. As for the Skins….I’m not really sure what i think of them. Call it: Cowboys, Skins, Eagles, Giants
North: Some intriguing teams with glaring holes. The Minnesota and Green Bay defenses are pretty nasty. Chicago has potentially the worst QB situation in the league. The Lions are, well to be cliche, the Lions. I’d take the Vikings running game and D over the Packers, so lets say Vikings, Packers, Lions, Bears.
South: Outside of Atlanta, who are awful, I think this whole thing is a tossup. Tampa seems like a 9-10 win team to me, the Saints have a kind of under the radar sick offense and Carolina has their QB back. I’m going with New Orleans to win, followed by Carolina, Tampa and Atlanta but I could just as easily see Tampa or Carolina winning it.
West: Usually this is an easy one, just pick the Seahawks and move on. But I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the Arizona Cardinals win the division. Defense is pretty good, the QB drama scares me but if they can settle on Warner I think they’ll be alright. Cardinals, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers.
AFC
East: Anyone in the world not picking the Patriots to win? Didn’t think so. Patriots, Jets, Bills, Dolphins
North: I’ve seen some weird picks for this division, people picking the Ravens, which I don’t see at all. I know they’ve taken some hits on the offensive line but people are sleeping on the Steelers. I’m going Steelers, Browns, Bengals, Ravens.
South: Like everyone else I think this is the Jaguar’s year. Manning’s dinged up, Harrison is coming off injury, same with Freeney, this is the year Jacksonville gets over the hump. Also maybe the year Vince Young gets exposed as a non-NFL QB. Jaguars, Colts, Texans, Titans.
West: No way Shawn Merriman makes it through the year and its borderline criminal he’s being allowed to play. Having said that, very much like the offense and the D will be alright once Merriman’s knee explodes. Even still, my sleeper team this year is the Broncos. I’m on the Cutler bandwagon, that defense is underrated, screw it the Broncos are winning this division. Broncos, Chargers Raiders, Chiefs.
To recap:
NFC Division Winners:Cowboys, Vikings, Cardinals, Saints
NFC Wild Cards: Skins, Packers
AFC Division Winners: Patriots, Jaguars, Broncos, Steelers
AFC Wild Cards: Colts, Chargers
For the actual playoffs I’m saying it’ll be the Cowboys over the Vikings to represent the NFC and the Jaguars over the Patriots to represent the AFC. Cowboys win it, 34-27. There you have it. And yes I would be more then happy to have the Skins win it all instead.