AFC Division Champions
East - *New England Patriots
North - *Baltimore Ravens
South - Houston Texans
West - San Diego Chargers
*Wild-card - Pittsburgh Steelers
*Wild-card - New York Jets
NFC Division Champions
East - Dallas Cowboys
North - *Green Bay Packers
South - New Orleans Saints
West - *San Francisco 49ers
*Wild-card - Philadelphia Eagles
*Wild-card - Atlanta Falcons
Wild-Card Round Games
NFC - Philadelphia Eagles @ New Orleans Saints
winner - Saints
- Atlanta Falcons @ Dallas Cowboys
winner - Cowboys
AFC - New York Jets @ Houston Texans
winner - Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers @ San Diego Chargers
winner - Steelers
Divisional Round Games
NFC - Saints @ 49ers
winner - Saints
Cowboys @ Packers
winner - Packers
AFC - Jets @ Patriots
winner - Patriots
Steelers @ Ravens
winner - Steelers
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
NFC - Saints @ Packers
winner - PACKERS
AFC - Steelers @ Patriots
winner - Steelers
SUPER BOWL CHAMPION
STEELERS over PACKERS
Showing posts with label steelers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label steelers. Show all posts
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
AFC NORTH
CINCINNATI BENGALS: (10-6 2009)
The Bengals come into 2010 as the defending division champions. The biggest names on the team would lead one to think this is a passing oriented, high scoring squad. Nope. The Bengals won in 2009 through a solid running game with minimal turnovers and a very good defense. They brought in an aging Terrell Owens to compliment Chad Ochocinco. TO’s production fell dramatically with the Bills. However, you must keep in mind that Carson Palmer is a significant upgrade over Trent Edwards, and Owens fits in very well with this offense. The Bengals drafted TE Jermaine Gresham to aid the passing attack, and what big expectations there are for Gresham who has had a stellar pre-season. Cedric Benson reinvigorated his career but racked up an awful lot of carries. Benson was the workhorse, and he faded towards the end of the season, so look for Bernard Scott to play a bigger role in the running game to help keep Benson fresh. Look for an improved Cincy Offense. However, that isn’t saying much, last season, the offense did not rank in the top 10 of any offensive category. They will need it to keep up with the likes of New England, Indy, Baltimore and New Orleans on the schedule. Defensively this team preformed well in 2009. The addition of Adam Pac-Man Jones was met with little media attention. Perhaps everyone expects so little of Jones, or maybe everyone expected the Bengals to make this move. Jones knows he’s playing his last card. If he messes this up, he’ll never get another shot. He played fairly well for Dallas and led the team in passes defensed during his short tenure. He’s not a top flight CB but the Bengals will ask him to be a Nickle CB. Jones has the ability to cover and make plays in the return game. Leon Hall and Jonathon Joseph became one of the best CB duos in the league last year. Roy Williams went down last season and it was probably the best for Cincy. Williams is terrible in coverage. With their schedule, the Bengals will need their Safety to assume coverage duties often. Rey Maualuga is an emerging star and didn’t let the Cincy faithful down when he was arrested in the offseason. Mike Zimmer’s defense is paramount to another division title.
BALTIMORE RAVENS: (9-7 2009)
The Ravens enter 2010 with higher offensive expectations than the young franchise (the Baltimore version) has ever had. Joe Flacco set single season franchise records for completion percentage (63.1) and QB rating (88.9) last season. The Ravens’ brass gave him a big new toy to play with. The team traded a pair of draft picks for Anquan Boldin to start alongside the everlasting Derrick Mason and Dante Stallworth. Stallworth missed the 2009 season after killing a man with his car. Stallworth gives the Ravens a viable deep threat to compliment possession receivers Mason and Boldin. The Ravens also have a trio of running backs, all capable of putting up big numbers. The tandem of Ray Rice, Willis McGahee will keep defenses honest and fullback Le’Ron McClain provides added depth in the backfield. This offense will keep itself in the conversation. No longer will Ray Lewis and company hog the spotlight. However, Baltimore’s stout front seven deserves the fanfare. Haloti Ngata, Ray Lewis, and Terrell Suggs will do their part. The big question for the Ravens entering the season is whether they can overcome the loss of Ed Reed. Reed is on the physically unable to perform list. He will not be able to play the first 6 weeks of the season. If the Ravens secondary answers the bell, this team has a chance at the championship.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS: (9-7 2009)
The Steelers hope to bounce back from a, by their lofty standards, disappointing 2009 campaign. Offensively, the team has a number of questions. They will likely start the season with Byron Leftwich in place of Ben Roethlisberger, who spent the offseason harassing coeds in Georgia. The team let Willie Parker and Santonio Holmes go and did not do much to replace them. The team hopes Mike Wallace can continue his development and become the weapon Holmes was and that Hines Ward somehow got younger during the offseason. The Steelers also signed WR Antwaan Randle-El for his second tour of duty with the team and you can’t forget about TE Heath Miller. Miller has become one of the most reliable TEs in the game. Believe it or not, the Steelers are a passing oriented team. Rashard Mendenhall has his moments but has yet to emerge as an every down threat. Losing OT Willie Colon was a big setback for this team. They signed former Cowboy Flozell Adams as a replacement but Adams is a penalty machine and his ability has slipped with his age. Mike Tomlin is a defensive coach and a very good one. The Steelers will once again have a top tier defense. James Harrison and Lamar Woodley anchor the front seven. Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor make up for the inconsistencies of CB Willie Gay. If Troy Polamalu stays healthy, the Steelers will press for a playoff birth. If he goes down again, so does Pittsburgh.
CLEVELAND BROWNS: (5-11 2009)
The Bengals come into 2010 as the defending division champions. The biggest names on the team would lead one to think this is a passing oriented, high scoring squad. Nope. The Bengals won in 2009 through a solid running game with minimal turnovers and a very good defense. They brought in an aging Terrell Owens to compliment Chad Ochocinco. TO’s production fell dramatically with the Bills. However, you must keep in mind that Carson Palmer is a significant upgrade over Trent Edwards, and Owens fits in very well with this offense. The Bengals drafted TE Jermaine Gresham to aid the passing attack, and what big expectations there are for Gresham who has had a stellar pre-season. Cedric Benson reinvigorated his career but racked up an awful lot of carries. Benson was the workhorse, and he faded towards the end of the season, so look for Bernard Scott to play a bigger role in the running game to help keep Benson fresh. Look for an improved Cincy Offense. However, that isn’t saying much, last season, the offense did not rank in the top 10 of any offensive category. They will need it to keep up with the likes of New England, Indy, Baltimore and New Orleans on the schedule. Defensively this team preformed well in 2009. The addition of Adam Pac-Man Jones was met with little media attention. Perhaps everyone expects so little of Jones, or maybe everyone expected the Bengals to make this move. Jones knows he’s playing his last card. If he messes this up, he’ll never get another shot. He played fairly well for Dallas and led the team in passes defensed during his short tenure. He’s not a top flight CB but the Bengals will ask him to be a Nickle CB. Jones has the ability to cover and make plays in the return game. Leon Hall and Jonathon Joseph became one of the best CB duos in the league last year. Roy Williams went down last season and it was probably the best for Cincy. Williams is terrible in coverage. With their schedule, the Bengals will need their Safety to assume coverage duties often. Rey Maualuga is an emerging star and didn’t let the Cincy faithful down when he was arrested in the offseason. Mike Zimmer’s defense is paramount to another division title.
BALTIMORE RAVENS: (9-7 2009)
The Ravens enter 2010 with higher offensive expectations than the young franchise (the Baltimore version) has ever had. Joe Flacco set single season franchise records for completion percentage (63.1) and QB rating (88.9) last season. The Ravens’ brass gave him a big new toy to play with. The team traded a pair of draft picks for Anquan Boldin to start alongside the everlasting Derrick Mason and Dante Stallworth. Stallworth missed the 2009 season after killing a man with his car. Stallworth gives the Ravens a viable deep threat to compliment possession receivers Mason and Boldin. The Ravens also have a trio of running backs, all capable of putting up big numbers. The tandem of Ray Rice, Willis McGahee will keep defenses honest and fullback Le’Ron McClain provides added depth in the backfield. This offense will keep itself in the conversation. No longer will Ray Lewis and company hog the spotlight. However, Baltimore’s stout front seven deserves the fanfare. Haloti Ngata, Ray Lewis, and Terrell Suggs will do their part. The big question for the Ravens entering the season is whether they can overcome the loss of Ed Reed. Reed is on the physically unable to perform list. He will not be able to play the first 6 weeks of the season. If the Ravens secondary answers the bell, this team has a chance at the championship.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS: (9-7 2009)
The Steelers hope to bounce back from a, by their lofty standards, disappointing 2009 campaign. Offensively, the team has a number of questions. They will likely start the season with Byron Leftwich in place of Ben Roethlisberger, who spent the offseason harassing coeds in Georgia. The team let Willie Parker and Santonio Holmes go and did not do much to replace them. The team hopes Mike Wallace can continue his development and become the weapon Holmes was and that Hines Ward somehow got younger during the offseason. The Steelers also signed WR Antwaan Randle-El for his second tour of duty with the team and you can’t forget about TE Heath Miller. Miller has become one of the most reliable TEs in the game. Believe it or not, the Steelers are a passing oriented team. Rashard Mendenhall has his moments but has yet to emerge as an every down threat. Losing OT Willie Colon was a big setback for this team. They signed former Cowboy Flozell Adams as a replacement but Adams is a penalty machine and his ability has slipped with his age. Mike Tomlin is a defensive coach and a very good one. The Steelers will once again have a top tier defense. James Harrison and Lamar Woodley anchor the front seven. Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor make up for the inconsistencies of CB Willie Gay. If Troy Polamalu stays healthy, the Steelers will press for a playoff birth. If he goes down again, so does Pittsburgh.
CLEVELAND BROWNS: (5-11 2009)
No one expects much from the Browns in 2010. Sunrise, Sunset. Mike Homlgren cleaned house in the offseason. Eric Mangini out together a string of solid games to close out 2009 and thereby earned himself a reprieve. If the team looks hapless in the early part of 2010, Mangini could find himself among the unemployed. It does not help the Browns that they play in the second most competitive division in football. Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace and Colt McCoy replace Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn at QB. McCoy will not likely see much, if any, action this season and the Browns want it that way. Browns fans do not deserve the 2009 incarnation of Delhomme. They have to hope he can recapture some of his old magic to keep the team respectable. Running back Jerome Harrison had his moments last season and the word is out that he can run. Lets see how a new season as "the man" will provide a boost or setback for this Browns team. Wide receivers Mohammad Massaquoi and Chansi Stuckey will put up better numbers if Delhomme performs. Wildcard Josh Cribbs is the most exciting player on this team. The Browns would be wise to find more and more ways to get him the ball other than on returns. Defensively the team looks to 1st round pick CB Joe Haden to provide some stability. The Browns rid themselves of leading sack man and Kamerion Wimbley in the offseason and return a group that preformed miserably last season. Holmgren has his work cut out for him. The defense will match up against a number of high-powered offenses and though improved, the Browns offense will struggle to keep pace. Sorry Cleveland.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Week 1 Selections:
Titans @ Steelers - Super Bowl champions will be honored tonight on their home turf. The Pittsburgh Steelers, last seasons Super Bowl champion, will take on the Tennessee Titans on the grass of Heinz Field. Big Ben Roethlisberger will lead the Steelers offense against the Albert Haynesworth-LESS Titans defense. I see major problems this year for the Titans defense at stopping the run without the big fella. We will see how Parker does against the Titans defense, and pay close attention to the affect that has on the play action pass for the Steelers offense tonight. For the Titans, Kerry Collins and company will be going against the NFL's best defense from a year ago, and the NFL's best defense this year. The Steelers defense is ferocious and plays even better at home. Led by Pro Bowl saftey, Troy Paulomolu, this defense will be hard to gain yards against. The Titans better hope for some lucky bounces or penalties to come their way if they think they can win on the road tonight. It's opening night in the NFL so one would anticipate a sloppy first few drives as players have so much adrenaline flowing through their veins. Not me. I think the Steelers will run the ball down the Titans throat allowing them to stretch the field and put points on the board. No Fat Albert means no win tonight for the Titans. Fun fact: Kerry Collins has a career 73.6 QB rating and a 1:1 TD to INT ratio when he plays in 60 degree weather...Temperature in Pittsburgh: 67 degrees all night. Steelers over the Titans by a score of 24 - 13.
Monday, September 7, 2009
AFC SEASON PREDICTIONS
Here are my predictions for the AFC for the NFL 2009-2010 season.
AFC North:
1. Pittsburgh Steelers: I have the Steelers going 12-4. The Super Bowl champs have an easy schedule with, what I see, only six tough games. I can see them starting as high as 10-0 before they play Baltimore on the road. The Steelers will win the division and if they can make it 13-3 they very well could be the number 1 seed in the playoffs.
2. Baltimore Ravens: Really going out on a limb picking the Ravens to go second in this division...I see the Ravens starting off hot just like the Steelers. Flacco is poised for a great sophmore season, and the Ravens defense is always hungry and eager to create turnovers. Weeks 2, 4, and 6 are on the road against San Diego, New England, and Minnesota respectively so look for those games to be tough for Coach Harbaugh. I think the Ravens are a solid team and they have a good young back in Ray Rice. I have the Ravens going 11-5.
3. Cincinnati Bengals: I absolutely love this team this year. Unfortunately for them, they have a ridiculously hard schedule where they play @ Green Bay, Pittsburgh twice, Baltimore twice, Houston, Chicago, @ Minnesota, and @ San Diego. If they can go 2-7 in those 9 games they have a chance at a 9-7 or 8-8 season. But, I think those losses will add up and kill the chemistry that this team has. I think they have so much talent and are coming close to having the right pieces of the puzzle, but their schedule is too difficult to have a winning season. I have the Bengals at 6-10 this year.
4. Cleveland Browns: Right off the bat I have concerns with this team and their new head coach, Eric Mangini, because five days prior to opening day they STILL haven't named their starting quarterback. I will be surprised if it isn't Brady Quinn, but I just don't like what I see with this team. Jamal Lewis isn't going to give them the ground game they need, and Brady Quinn is a rookie still and needs a year under his belt before I put any trust in him. Looking at their schedule I see eight games that they have a chance at winning. Of those eight, FIVE are on the road. Just like the Bengals, their schedule is too hard and they won't be able to handle it. Browns will win at best 4 games this year, I have them 5-11.
AFC East:
1. New England Patriots: Surprise, surprise. Patriots will go 12-4 this season. I see potential for 13-3, but I think they will lose in week 17 to Houston because they will be resting Brady and Moss. I really love the Patriots vs. Dolphins matchups this season. They get Miami in Foxboro in early November so weather won't be too much of a factor, and then they go south to Miami in December right after an away game in New Orleans. Look out for those two games to play a factor on some of the Patriots players. Still, this is a team built for success. 12-4 for the Pats.
2. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins are an exciting team. I really like them this season, I love their coach, Tony Sparano, and I love the tenacity that Joey Porter brings to this defense. Pennington can lead the offense against a tough first three weeks of the season, but after that they have a great opportunity to roll off quite a few W's the rest of the way. Dolphins finish 10-6.
3. Buffalo Bills: The Bills are desperate to make the playoffs. Better luck next year. With a healthy Tom Brady and a solid Dolphins team, the chance for the Bills to make some noise will fall directly on the shoulders of TO...and I don't like that, not one bit. The Bills have a few games on the schedule that they should be able to win, but they aren't a team that plays well on the road so I won't put any trust in them. Bills finish 7-9.
4. New York Jets: It hurts me to write this short prediction for the Jets, being a Sanchez fan myself, but the Jets don't do it for me this year. I really love their defense and I think Rex Ryan will only help make it stronger. But, their offense, starting a rookie quarterback without any true weapons to his right or left scares me. I don't know if this team has enough on the offensive side to make it happen. Sanchez will have to pull off a Matt Ryan type of season if this team has plans to play after January 3rd. Jets go 6-10.
AFC WEST:
1. San Diego Chargers: The Chargers have any easy schedule and a very good team to go with it. Phillip Rivers is an elite quarterback in the NFL and he will be able to put up PRO-BOWL numbers with his Chargers offense. A rookie to watch for this team is OLB Larry English from Northern Illinois. The Chargers run a 3-4 defense and English fits perfectly into their system. Chargers go 12-4.
2. Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs have a good offense. They, however, don't have a great defense. In order for the Chiefs to make a run at the wild-card this season they must come together on the defensive side of the ball. I think Larry Johnson will put up huge numbers this season and Mark Bradley will add consistency to the wide out group. I just don't see this defense being able to compete in the games against the NFC-East teams. Chiefs could run off 5 in a row at the end of the year to make some noise, but they open up the season with too much coming at them. KC goes 6-10.
3. Denver Broncos: The Broncos had a rough off-season. New coach Josh McDaniels didn't see eye to eye with star quarterback Jay Cutler so they parted ways. Prior to the start of the season star receiver Brandon Marshall flat out doesn't want to play for Denver. I believe something will happen their that sends Marshall packing. That being said, I foresee McDaniels packing before the end of the season. Broncos play Dallas, New England, @ San Diego, @ Baltimore, Pittsburgh, @ Washington, San Diego, New York Giants, @ Kansas City, and @ Indianapolis from Week 4 to Week 14. Good luck coach! Broncos die early, finish 5-11.
4. Oakland Raiders: I would love to see the Raiders have a good season this year, but it's not going to happen. They have a formidable defense, a future-star running back, and a pretty good tight end. What they need is a break out year from JaMarcus Russel and two receivers to have terrific seasons. Is that asking too much? Schedule hurts the Raiders, but maybe they make noise at the end of the season like they did upsetting the Buccaneers last year. Raiders go 4-12.
AFC South:
1. Houston Texans: My Cinderella of the season. The Texans are counting their blessings every day for not drafting Reggie Bush over Mario Williams three years ago. Quarterback Matt Schaub, if he stays healthy, has all of the ability to be a Pro-Bowl quarterback this season. Steve Slaton and Chris Brown make this team extremely dynamic and tough to prepare for. Let's not forget the best receiver in the NFL also is on this team and his name is Andre Johnson. Johnson is a beast, a specimen, and he will have 120+ receptions this season. This team has all the talent to make this their season. Texans win the division and head into the playoffs with a 11-5 record.
2. Indianapolis Colts: The Peyton Manning Colts have their work cut out for them this year. But as usual, they will get it done. Manning & Company always earns their pay on the offensive side of the ball. With Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis stuffing opponents ground games each week, it will be the secondary of the Colts that must step up for this team to have a great season. I think the Colts have one of the worst secondaries in football and at some point during the season they will have to make a move to upgrade that part of their defense. That being said the Colts go 10-6...with caution.
3. Tennessee Titans: They lost Albert Haynesworth, just that defensive tackle that had 8.5 sacks and would stop the run game by himself. Big loss on the D-Line, but they have the bodies to make up for it. I just don't see Kerry Collins having anything like the season he had last year. VY will be the starter at the end of the season and will show he can be the starter for the future for the Titan franchise. Titans go 9-7 and miss the playoffs.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags aren't a good team. They have a solid quarterback in David Garrard, a freak of a running back in Maurice Jones-Drew, but who else do they have. Locker room issues killed this team last season. What is that like this year? Wait and find out after the Jags start off 0-4 and head to Seattle in Week 5. Jags go 4-12.
AFC North:
1. Pittsburgh Steelers: I have the Steelers going 12-4. The Super Bowl champs have an easy schedule with, what I see, only six tough games. I can see them starting as high as 10-0 before they play Baltimore on the road. The Steelers will win the division and if they can make it 13-3 they very well could be the number 1 seed in the playoffs.2. Baltimore Ravens: Really going out on a limb picking the Ravens to go second in this division...I see the Ravens starting off hot just like the Steelers. Flacco is poised for a great sophmore season, and the Ravens defense is always hungry and eager to create turnovers. Weeks 2, 4, and 6 are on the road against San Diego, New England, and Minnesota respectively so look for those games to be tough for Coach Harbaugh. I think the Ravens are a solid team and they have a good young back in Ray Rice. I have the Ravens going 11-5.
3. Cincinnati Bengals: I absolutely love this team this year. Unfortunately for them, they have a ridiculously hard schedule where they play @ Green Bay, Pittsburgh twice, Baltimore twice, Houston, Chicago, @ Minnesota, and @ San Diego. If they can go 2-7 in those 9 games they have a chance at a 9-7 or 8-8 season. But, I think those losses will add up and kill the chemistry that this team has. I think they have so much talent and are coming close to having the right pieces of the puzzle, but their schedule is too difficult to have a winning season. I have the Bengals at 6-10 this year.
4. Cleveland Browns: Right off the bat I have concerns with this team and their new head coach, Eric Mangini, because five days prior to opening day they STILL haven't named their starting quarterback. I will be surprised if it isn't Brady Quinn, but I just don't like what I see with this team. Jamal Lewis isn't going to give them the ground game they need, and Brady Quinn is a rookie still and needs a year under his belt before I put any trust in him. Looking at their schedule I see eight games that they have a chance at winning. Of those eight, FIVE are on the road. Just like the Bengals, their schedule is too hard and they won't be able to handle it. Browns will win at best 4 games this year, I have them 5-11.
AFC East:
1. New England Patriots: Surprise, surprise. Patriots will go 12-4 this season. I see potential for 13-3, but I think they will lose in week 17 to Houston because they will be resting Brady and Moss. I really love the Patriots vs. Dolphins matchups this season. They get Miami in Foxboro in early November so weather won't be too much of a factor, and then they go south to Miami in December right after an away game in New Orleans. Look out for those two games to play a factor on some of the Patriots players. Still, this is a team built for success. 12-4 for the Pats.2. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins are an exciting team. I really like them this season, I love their coach, Tony Sparano, and I love the tenacity that Joey Porter brings to this defense. Pennington can lead the offense against a tough first three weeks of the season, but after that they have a great opportunity to roll off quite a few W's the rest of the way. Dolphins finish 10-6.
3. Buffalo Bills: The Bills are desperate to make the playoffs. Better luck next year. With a healthy Tom Brady and a solid Dolphins team, the chance for the Bills to make some noise will fall directly on the shoulders of TO...and I don't like that, not one bit. The Bills have a few games on the schedule that they should be able to win, but they aren't a team that plays well on the road so I won't put any trust in them. Bills finish 7-9.
4. New York Jets: It hurts me to write this short prediction for the Jets, being a Sanchez fan myself, but the Jets don't do it for me this year. I really love their defense and I think Rex Ryan will only help make it stronger. But, their offense, starting a rookie quarterback without any true weapons to his right or left scares me. I don't know if this team has enough on the offensive side to make it happen. Sanchez will have to pull off a Matt Ryan type of season if this team has plans to play after January 3rd. Jets go 6-10.
AFC WEST:
1. San Diego Chargers: The Chargers have any easy schedule and a very good team to go with it. Phillip Rivers is an elite quarterback in the NFL and he will be able to put up PRO-BOWL numbers with his Chargers offense. A rookie to watch for this team is OLB Larry English from Northern Illinois. The Chargers run a 3-4 defense and English fits perfectly into their system. Chargers go 12-4.2. Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs have a good offense. They, however, don't have a great defense. In order for the Chiefs to make a run at the wild-card this season they must come together on the defensive side of the ball. I think Larry Johnson will put up huge numbers this season and Mark Bradley will add consistency to the wide out group. I just don't see this defense being able to compete in the games against the NFC-East teams. Chiefs could run off 5 in a row at the end of the year to make some noise, but they open up the season with too much coming at them. KC goes 6-10.
3. Denver Broncos: The Broncos had a rough off-season. New coach Josh McDaniels didn't see eye to eye with star quarterback Jay Cutler so they parted ways. Prior to the start of the season star receiver Brandon Marshall flat out doesn't want to play for Denver. I believe something will happen their that sends Marshall packing. That being said, I foresee McDaniels packing before the end of the season. Broncos play Dallas, New England, @ San Diego, @ Baltimore, Pittsburgh, @ Washington, San Diego, New York Giants, @ Kansas City, and @ Indianapolis from Week 4 to Week 14. Good luck coach! Broncos die early, finish 5-11.
4. Oakland Raiders: I would love to see the Raiders have a good season this year, but it's not going to happen. They have a formidable defense, a future-star running back, and a pretty good tight end. What they need is a break out year from JaMarcus Russel and two receivers to have terrific seasons. Is that asking too much? Schedule hurts the Raiders, but maybe they make noise at the end of the season like they did upsetting the Buccaneers last year. Raiders go 4-12.
AFC South:
1. Houston Texans: My Cinderella of the season. The Texans are counting their blessings every day for not drafting Reggie Bush over Mario Williams three years ago. Quarterback Matt Schaub, if he stays healthy, has all of the ability to be a Pro-Bowl quarterback this season. Steve Slaton and Chris Brown make this team extremely dynamic and tough to prepare for. Let's not forget the best receiver in the NFL also is on this team and his name is Andre Johnson. Johnson is a beast, a specimen, and he will have 120+ receptions this season. This team has all the talent to make this their season. Texans win the division and head into the playoffs with a 11-5 record.2. Indianapolis Colts: The Peyton Manning Colts have their work cut out for them this year. But as usual, they will get it done. Manning & Company always earns their pay on the offensive side of the ball. With Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis stuffing opponents ground games each week, it will be the secondary of the Colts that must step up for this team to have a great season. I think the Colts have one of the worst secondaries in football and at some point during the season they will have to make a move to upgrade that part of their defense. That being said the Colts go 10-6...with caution.
3. Tennessee Titans: They lost Albert Haynesworth, just that defensive tackle that had 8.5 sacks and would stop the run game by himself. Big loss on the D-Line, but they have the bodies to make up for it. I just don't see Kerry Collins having anything like the season he had last year. VY will be the starter at the end of the season and will show he can be the starter for the future for the Titan franchise. Titans go 9-7 and miss the playoffs.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags aren't a good team. They have a solid quarterback in David Garrard, a freak of a running back in Maurice Jones-Drew, but who else do they have. Locker room issues killed this team last season. What is that like this year? Wait and find out after the Jags start off 0-4 and head to Seattle in Week 5. Jags go 4-12.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)