Maybe you remember last year's post, 8 Bold Predictions for the 2009 NFL Season? Well, here's an update for this year! Mostly because of my job, which has moved from part time to full time this summer, I haven't been obsessively following every facet of the NFL offseason. Just...semi-obsessively. For your viewing pleasure, here's 8 bold predictions (one for each division) for the upcoming season:
Note: I'm going to try really hard shake things up and keep these predictions from looking too much like last year's. These are supposed to be Bold! Also, I am fully aware and acknowledging here that some of my predictions from last year turned out to be utterly moronic. Here we go.
AFC East (Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, Jets): So many interesting things to think about here, with some key players being sent to/from these teams in the offseason. Honestly, I could probably make a case for every team except the Bills winning here. I think I'll go with predicting the finishing order - Dolphins first, behind a revamped WR corp and surprising QB play (with a few creative running plays). Then Patriots, with a shaky Wes Welker to start but playing better as the year goes on. Then everybody's favorite media darlings the Jets who will lose on Thanksgiving to the Bengals. Bills? Why would you draft a star RB when your offensive line and indeed your offense in general is in shambles?
AFC South (Texans, Colts, Jaguars, Titans): I already tried to say the Colts won't make the playoffs (last year) and I think I won't do that again until it actually happens. And *everybody* picks the Texans to be the surprise team to make the playoffs, so that's out (and besides, it's high time they either got over the hump and make the playoffs, or else something - probably head coach - needs to/will change). Instead I will go out on a limb and say that Chris Johnson will disappoint after an electrifying, record-breaking 2009 season, and instead finish the year with a solid, but unexciting 1400 yards. Regression toward the mean, people. Regression toward the mean.
AFC West (Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers): I'd be very surprised if the Chargers didn't take this division by week 14 or so, so my prediction will instead focus on the most improved team from last year to this year - the Oakland Raiders. It's hard to put into words just how bad JaMarcus Russel was, and now that he's been replaced by a competent quarterback (and a surprisingly adept backup), and the franchise managed to get through the draft without making any idiotic picks means that this team is on its way back to respectability. Bold prediction? Oakland picking outside the top 10 in next year's draft.
AFC North (Ravens, Bengals, Browns, Steelers): Call me a homer if you wish but I'm predicting Cincy makes the playoffs in back to back seasons for the first time in 27 years and THIS is the year they finally win a playoff game, the first time since 1990 (the longest NFL playoff win drought, yes, even more than the Lions), when the Reds won the World Series against the Athletics. Watch out for the Bengals defense, by the way, and Carson Palmer will return to form now that he has an elite TE.
NFC East (Giants, Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins): This division is really all about sending Washington QB Jason Campbell to the Raiders and Philadelphia QB Donovan McNabb to the Redskins. This completely changes the balance of power in the division, but maybe not in the way you'd think. McNabb will be playing on a vastly inferior team, while inexperienced Kevin Kolb fills in for the Eagles (yes, he did great in his 3 starts against pathetic teams). So really all this does is weaken the Eagles and bring the Redskins from "really bad" to just "bad". I'm predicting less than 8 wins for each team.
NFC South (Falcons, Saints, Panthers, Buccaneers): Atlanta bounces back from an injury filled year and Matt Ryan is over his sophomore slump, which means the Falcons and the Saints will be neck and neck in this race, splitting the games between them and deciding only in the last week which will win the division (the Saints) and who advances as a Wild Card team (Falcons). That's right. Two teams from this division will be playing in the post season.
NFC West (Cardinals, Rams, 49ers, Seahawks): This is a super weak division to begin with, but the Rams are essentially an afterthought and the Seahawks have way too many new pieces to be considered a contender. Which leaves, to me, a two team race to win the division between San Fransisco and Arizona. Despite the naysayers, I think Cardinals QB Matt Leinart has potential and hopefully spent his time studying while Kurt Warner was at the helm, much in the same way Aaron Rodgers learned from Brett Favre. I think he'll struggle, but eventually lead his team to win the division (barely).
NFC North (Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings): This also looks to be shaping up into a two-team race between the Packers and Vikings, largely dependent upon Minnesota's QB situation. That said, my prediction here is that the Lions will improve on last year's effort based on a solid draft and an overall upward trend. I think they will win 4 games this year, which leaves them far from the playoffs but counts as progress nonetheless. Poor Detroit.
Bonus Prediction: Brett Favre will start this year, but not finish.
Bonus content:
High profile transfer makes Purdue sort of relevant.
Do I feel bad for Cleveland? Of course not.
Edit - Mike Neal (2nd round draft pick of the Packers this past year) may be one of my newest football players, but watch out for Ryan Kerrigan.
.jpg)
You pretty much killed my post, because you said exactly what I was going to say down to a very close margin. Though, I'm probably putting more stock in the Texans this year. (Fuck you all, I was rooting for the Texans BEFORE it was popular)
ReplyDelete