The Official NFL Divisional Weekend Preview (2008-09)

Looking to bounce back after going 2-2 in the wild card round last week, I will be a little more cautious in picking my three definite winners and, of course, one upset; which is probably very surprising to most NFL fans out there. But, what can I say? I enjoy living on the edge. It's not like I have any money riding on the outcome of these games. Once again, I will present to you:

* What I, myself think.

* What Madden 09 (for XBOX 360) says.

and, of course...

* What 'Whatifsports.com' says (FYI: WIS just recently released the 2008 rosters).

Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans

Saturday, January 10th, 2009 at 4:30 PM ET

ME: BAL 21, TEN 24

Like most playoff games nowadays, this game will be close and will come down to the team that makes the least mistakes. With DE's Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch back in the lineup, Tennessee will get plenty of pressure on rookie QB Joe Flacco, sacking him many times and forcing multiple turnovers. With their elite RB's--Lendale White and rookie Chris Johnson--in the backfield, Tennessee will have no trouble controlling the clock. I actually believe if QB Kerry Collins can limit mistakes on offense and maybe score two or three times, they should be able to control the tempo and dominate both sides of the ball. Collins keeps the ball away from Ed Reed and Chris Johnson rolls for 120+ as Tennessee advances.

Madden '09: BAL 19, TEN 13

Turns out Baltimore's defense is very good, though I'm sure you already figured that out for yourself. The Ray Lewis-led squad dominated Kerry Collins and Tennessee in this Madden matchup by sacking him four times (two of which went to Lewis, himself), plus a Terrell Suggs INT. The bright moment for Tennessee was Chris Johnson's 56-yard run early in the third quarter, which gave Tennessee the 13-12 lead. But, the rookie Flacco managed a late scoring drive which was capped by a three-yard TD which he ran in himself. The Matt Stover extra point gave Baltimore the 19-13 lead with just over a minute to play. Ray Lewis sealed the win with a late sack of Kerry Collins as time expired. Could Baltimore match their 2000 Super Bowl season? Their defense just may be good enough.

WIS: BAL 6, TEN 12

Kerry Collins was't near as affective as he should've been (7 for 18, 44 passing yards), but he was able to get the job done, nonetheless. As I expected, defense is what won the game. Tennessee shut Flacco down, sacking him three times and limiting him to just 115 yards through the air. Chris Johnson led the team in rushing yards, with 75, as Tennessee picked up 155 on 35 carries. Four Rob Bironas FG's and three Matt Stover FG's were the only points of the game. So, I guess in a way, it was the special teams that made the difference. Anyway, Tennessee moves on, according to WIS.com.
Overall: TEN (2-1)
Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers

Saturday, January 10th, 2009 at 8:15 PM ET

ME: ARI 35, CAR 31

Ah, yes. The big, head-scratching prediction. I have been praising the Panthers' running game and calling Jake Delhomme the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year all season long, but I'm going to have to pick against the mighty Panthers this week. I like the matchup of Kurt Warner and Pro Bowl WR's Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin v.s. Carolina's 16th ranked pass defense. Arizona limited Atlanta's sixth ranked offense to 250 total yards and the game's second-leading rusher, Michael Turner, to just 42 yards (forced a Turner fumble, too). Not to mention the three turnovers they forced, including two Matt Ryan INT's. Arizona has as much of a chance at stopping the Panthers elite running game as anyone.

Madden '09: ARI 17, CAR 33

So, it appears as though John Madden and his crew don't agree with my upset pick, at all. He has Carolina playing mistake-free, T.O.P. domination. In this game, the killer duo of DeAngelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart combining for 165 yards and 2 TD's (one each). Jake Delhomme went 18 of 26 for 261 yards and a late second quarter TD pass to All-Pro WR Steve Smith, which gave Carolina a 17-0 advantage. A late scoring spree for Kurt Warner and his Cards wasn't enough as the second seeded Panthers advanced to the NFC Conference Championship game.

WIS: ARI 38, CAR 24

Wow, this result really surprised me. Not only did Arizona beat Carolina by two TD's, but Kurt Warner threw for 269 yards and three TD's while Arizona stopped the DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart-led Carolina run game to 116 yards on 34 carries. Larry Fitzgerald was Arizona's leading receiver with 5 catches for 93 yards and two of Warner's three passing TD's. Arizona's defense also sacked Delhomme (14 for 22 for 182 yards) twice and picked him off once more, which happened to be returned 61 yards for a TD by former Steelers LB Clark Haggans in the second quarter.
Overall: ARI (2-1)

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants

Sunday, January 11th, 2009 at 1 PM ET

ME: PHI 17, NYG 31

I'm not buying into the whole "Eagles are untouchable" talk I keep hearing. Yes, they may have beaten the Giants earlier in the season, but I guess you haven't learned your lesson yet: don't doubt Eli Manning in the playoffs. He WILL prove you wrong, he's done it before. ESPN's poll showed that about 54% of people out there believed Philly would win. Philly's D gave up 83 rushing yards and two TD's to Adrian Peterson last week. What do you think the trio of Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw are going to do to this defense? If Philly can't get Brian Westbrook going early, it could be a long day for this Philly offense going up against the NFL's fifth best defense, led by DE Justin Tuck.

Madden '09: PHI 18, NYG 17

Philadelphia advanced with the slimest of margins thanks to 247 passing yards and a late TD pass to the rookie DeSean Jackson--who broke out for five catches, 102 yards and the TD catch. But, the Eagles pulled off the miraculous 14-point comeback thanks to four kicks booted through the uprights by veteran David Akers. Eli Manning and the G-Men took the 14-0 lead after a McNabb fumble was returned for a TD and Ahmad Bradshaw ran the ball in from two yards out. Akers hit three of his four FG's in the second half as McNabb's Eagles outscored New York 12-0 in the fourth quarter and 15-3 in the second half. Philly can thank Manning's two second-half INT's, which were both intercepted by Philly's Quintin Mikell. Brandon Jacobs' 133 rushing yards ended up making little impact on the outcome.

WIS: PHI 23, NYG 21

Donovan McNabb and the Eagles' D proved me wrong as Philly pulled off a two-point upset. Eli Manning was nothing compared to the red-hot Eagle defense. In fact, Manning went just 14 for 25 for 172 yards (0 TD, 0 INT). It was New York's running game that kept the Giants' hopes alive with 214 yards on 28 carries, scoring all three of the team's TD's (2 Ward, 1 Jacobs). Head coach Andy Reid did, in fact, get the running game going early and often for Philadelphia as Brian Westbrook scored his lone TD from 20-yards out just five minutes into the game. Westbrook finished with 129 yards on the ground and 46 through the air en route to a 23-21 win.

Overall: PHI (2-1)
San Diego Chargers @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Sunday, January 11th, 2009 at 4:45 PM ET

ME: SD 10, PIT 24

All bias aside, Pittsburgh will win this football game. The only thing I'm real worried about, at this point, is how Ben Roethlisberger will react after sustaining a concussion against the Cleveland Browns two weeks ago. The guy is a warrior and has been hit plenty before. If he can just manage the game--he really doesn't have to do anything special--Pittsburgh will be fine. Mike Tomlin will most likely get the run game going early and often. If Willie Parker can be affective on the ground, it's smooth sailing from there. On defense, they will need to stop the little man, Darren Sproles, since the 'Bolts will most likely be without Ladainian Tomlinson for a majority of the game, anyway. Score some points on the ground, limit mistakes and force a few turnovers is what Pittsburgh must--and will--do against the Chargers' on Sunday.

Madden '09: SD 17, PIT 24

Ben Roethlisberger played a real solid game, completing 18 of his 25 passes for 198 yards and two TD's. But, the talk of the night was Willie Parker and his 132 rushing yards and two TD runs. Pittsburgh lost two fumbles on offense, but Pittsburgh's two INT's and five sacks of Philip Rivers (three recorded by James Harrison) made up for the offensive turnovers. Tomlinson and Sproles combined for just 73 rushing yards as Pittsburgh held the ball for 36 of the possible 60 minutes.

WIS: SD 10, PIT 20

Again, Ben Roethlisberger had a solid game, going 15 for 22, 249 yards and a fourth quarter TD pass to Hines Ward. Darren Sproles and Ladainian Tomlinson combined for 101 of the Chargers' 122 yards on the ground, but a couple James Harrison sacks and a Troy Polamalu INT proved costly for Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers offense. Pittsburgh played usual Steeler defense and dominated the time of possession with their 338 total yards and zero turnovers on offense. Pittsburgh advances to play Tennessee in the Conference Championship, according to me and WIS.

Overall: PIT (3-0)

Playoff Brackets Nearly Set: Week 17 Wrap-up

What a way to end a topsy-turvy season! Five-plus blowouts--including three shut-out performances--as we wrap up another fine NFL regular season. In the end, seasoned veterans, such as Brett Favre and "choke artist" Tony Romo, will be watching the playoffs unfold from their armchairs at home. Just like the rest of us!

Replacing the two gun-slingers (I guess Romo would like to be referred to as a gun-slinger?), are two rookie signal-callers, Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan. Flacco of the Ravens, and Ryan of the Falcons are battling for both the Rookie of the Year award and the right to represent their respective conferences in the Super Bowl this season.

If you had asked an entire panel of so-called "experts" before the start of the season, I'm 99% sure that neither the two young'un's (that's how Dictionary.com said it was spelled, FYI), nor their teams would be mentioned under the category of playoff potential. Baltimore won just five games one year ago as Atlanta went on to win just four. Both teams turned a new page over the off-season, hiring a new head coach and drafting themselves a franchise QB. Both team owners hit jackpot, as you can see. Two wild card teams battling for League supremacy.

As an NFL fan and observer, all you can do it sit and wait anxiously for the two to take the field next weekend to come. Again, as an NFL fan and observer, I will certainly be watching these two warriors battle it out, and possibly even witness the two make a few big plays and lead their teams to round two the following weekend.

Flacco, accompanied by Baltimore's stingy defense, ranked #2 in the NFL, will go head-to-head with possible MVP candidate, Chad Pennington in Miami. Yes, you heard me correctly. Dolphins QB Chad Pennington, the scum of New York just a few years back, has come up in a few MVP debates. I mean, really, why not? There really hasn't been a clear front-runner this year, unlike last year when New England Patriots QB Tom Brady won--almost unanimously! Pennington deserves a majority of the credit for turning around the 11-5 Dolphins. Remember, they won just one game last year, and that was in overtime against the 5-11 Ravens. But, I'm gonna throw this out there to counteract that last argument, Tony Sparano is my vote for NFL Coach of the Year (even though I don't even get a vote).As far as the Ravens/Dolphins wild card matchup in Miami goes, this could be get out of hand. I'm going with the upset, which really isn't an upset in my eyes. The three v.s. six seed matchup is misleading. Both teams have an 11-5 record, but Baltimore has the hot hand, winning 9 of their last 11 games, including a 27-13 victory over, yes, the Dolphins. Over half of Baltimore's wins haven't really been that close, and believe it or not, Baltimore's offense has played fantastic the past few weeks. Their defense is, well, great. Hard-nosed, in-your-face defense explains the Ravens D, completely. Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers! That's what helped them defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars to reach the point they're at now. That, and the fact that Jags' QB David Garrad was on his back a majority of the time.

Regardless of the outcome of the Denver Broncos/San Diego Chargers game (DEN 6, SD 24 at the half), the Indianapolis Colts (#5 seed in AFC bracket) will come out winners. Peyton Manning, like Pennington, is well alive in the hunt for the NFL's MVP award, and plays his best ball late in the year. Never rule Manning out of anything, he knows what he is doing and gets the job done day-in, day-out.

According to my calculations...and predictions, it will be Baltimore at Tennessee and Indianapolis at Pittsburgh in the second round of the AFC playoffs. I will give you my round two predictions when we get that far. Too early to tell you who is playing better ball (sorry).

Not much to say about the NFC. The Chicago Bears let me down:( I had them beating Houston--and the 12-4 New York Giants beating Minnesota)--and winning the NFC North title. Rookie RB Matt Forte is still another one of my favorites to win Rookie of the Year. Man, it's sooo hard to choose just one this year. Minnesota pulls off a shocking upset, 20-19, after a Ryan Longwell game-winning 50-yard FG in their dome. Thanks to his 103 yards on the ground, Adrian Peterson won the NFL rushing title with 1,760 yards in 16 games.

Like the Baltimore Ravens, the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys just had to win their final game and they clinch the final spot in the NFC playoffs. The problem? Dallas and Philly were playing eachother. That simple fact, plus the fact that these two teams were fierce rivals, made this game a great, evenly-matched game. Or so we thought..The game, to my surprise, quickly got ugly for Romo's 'Boys. I can hear the people in Dallas now:

"Romo is a waste of space, time, money" ((etc, etc, etc.))

But, I don't think it's fair, personally. Yes, he has found several different ways to lose playoff games--even with 13 Pro Bowlers last year--but he is still rather young and is still in the middle of his prime. Give him a little breathing room, Dallas. Not so much pressure. That could end up going a long way. It took both Manning's a few years to get into the groove of things.

Anyways, let's go on to the other side of this matchup. Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid did it, Philly. Despite the long skid earlier in the season and talks of Reid's firing, the Eagles have reached the playoffs and even have a shot in the wild card game against the third-seeded Minnesota Vikings (10-6). Great win for Philly, especially since they were able to shut-down division rival Dallas, 44-6.

I doubted Minnesota against the Giants this week and I will not let that happen again this week. Ever since Tarvaris Jackson's return to the lineup, the Vikes have been a whole different team. They have won five of their last six games (only loss was v.s. Falcons, 24-17), and have the number one rusher in the League in their backfield. Minnesota's D will shut down the Philly run game and AP will run over Philly's D for 150+ yards. Minnesota defeats Philly to move onto round two.

In the other first round NFC wild card matchup, the struggling Kurt Warner--who was once in the thick of the MVP talks--and his Arizona Cardinals will have to tackle a huge task. Out-throwing, and out-running the red-hot Atlanta Falcons. Led by, of course, Matt Ryan (like I said earlier), the Falcons have had the most success they've had in several years (well, since Michael Vick, anyway) under new head coach Mike Smith.

To me, this is no contest. The lower-seeded Falcons will run away with this one and Ryan may only have to throw the ball 20 or 25 times. Former San Diego Chargers RB Michael Turner has had a phenomenal season, as he picked up 208 yards on the ground against the New Orleans Saints earlier today. Round two matchups: Falcons @ Giants, Vikings @ Panthers.

Still awaiting tonight's results. But, like I said, I don't think the late-game will affect my wild card round predictions...at all. Enjoy the rest of your time off, everyone.

Happy New Year!

NFL 2008 Preview With Divisional and Playoff Predictions

Ah, can you smell it? No, not the sorry excuse for food you’re brewing in your kitchen – the NFL season genius! There’s a hint of fall in the air and all of the locals are wearing the current player bandwagon jersey. Labor Day has finally arrived and it’s officially okay to start planning how to bogart your children’s Halloween candy. It all hints at the same thing, with that thing being the official arrival of the NFL season. AKA, the only sports season that really matters.

For whatever reason, this particular off-season seemed especially rough. But it’s okay now, because we’re officially less than 72 hours from opening night.

Speaking of opening night, we’ll kickoff this year’s NFL season with two teams from the NFC East, which is arguably the toughest division in football. Well, save for the Redskins who are like the red-headed step child of the division, but even they are better than most other teams. Would there be a better place to start off an NFL preview than with the toughest division in the sport? I submit that there is not.

The key:

Z - Clinches home field advantage and wild card playoff bye
X - Clinches division
Y – Clinches wild card playoff bid

NFC EAST

1. Philadelphia Eagles
2. Dallas Cowboys
3. New York Giants
4. Washington Redskins

The Dallas Cowboys are the popular pick here and with good reason, they’re team is stacked and they are the token most-played-as Madden team of 2008. However the only team that can go blow for blow with them on offense in the division are the Eagles. The Eagles improved on both offense (Desean Jackson) and defense (Asante Samuel), not to mention that they have a threat to top 2,000 yards from scrimmage in Brian Westbrook. Barring a Donovan McNabb injury, the team will be a serious competitor in both the division and the entire league.

Usually, defending Super Bowl champs get a bit more respect, but not when they’ve lost two integral parts of the winning team. Michael Strahan retired to follow Tiki Barber’s blazoned career path towards television whereas Osi Umenyiora has been lost for the year thanks to a torn lateral meniscus. And no, I have no idea what a meniscus is. Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka are talented, but not enough so to completely fill in the aforementioned players cleats. Not even close. It also remains to be seen which Eli Manning is going to show up this season. Either the Super-Vendetta, Eli or the Aw-Shucks-That-Was-My-Fault-You-Dropped-That, Eli.

Likely to end up in the cellar is the Washington Redskins. Jason Campbell and company will be making the transition into the West Coast Offense this year and will be working out all the kinks. Again, being in the basement of the NFC East isn’t even that bad. I see it being like a refurnished basement complete with ping pong tables, a mini-fridge and a nice sports watching section. Just like the AFC South’s would have…

AFC SOUTH

1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. Indianapolis Colts
3. Houston Texans
4. Tennessee Titans

Easily the toughest division in the AFC, the South saw three of its teams gain entry into the playoffs last year. Even before all the reports out of Indiana broke about Peyton Manning’s not-that-serious knee injury actually being quite serious, I had the Jaguars pegged as division winners. They’ve shown they could at times play on the Colts level offensively over the past few years and now, finally, have a quarterback who is capable of managing everything necessary in order to beat them.

The defense lost some key players (Marcus Stroud) but quickly found players to shore up the defensive line through the NFL Draft (Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves). The Colts on the other hand, have questions about Peyton Manning’s knee and Marvin Harrison’s ability to contribute at a pre-2007 level. Both instances have likely been over-blown, but it’s worth noting, especially from a team who hasn’t had any of those problems for what seems like the past 55 years.

The Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans are in the bottom tier of the division, but both having promising young teams. It’s a tossup as to who most think will finish ahead of the other, but I figure there’s a good chance they’ll both finish with nearly the same record (somewhere around 8-8). The key for the Texans will be the health of QB Matt Schaub and WR Andre Johnson whereas for the Titans it will be Vince Young’s progression into a mature QB. He showed flashes of maturity last year as well as a blossoming connection with his receivers. If everything goes as it should, this division could be a down and out war year after year for the next 5-7 years.

Also, does anyone think we should apologize to Charlie Casserley after he was shunned from society after the Mario Williams pick? Although Reggie Bush wasn’t a bust by any means, he definitely hasn’t lived up to the Barry Sanders like billing everyone was placing upon him. Hey, speaking of Reggie Bush...

NFC SOUTH

1. New Orleans Saints
2. Carolina Panthers
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4. Atlanta Falcons

The New Orleans Saints had an off year last year compared to their 2006, but look to return to the big stage this year with nearly everyone healthy as well as some new additions. Jeremy Shockey and injury-red-shirt rookie Robert Meachem should make some positive contributions on offense. Plus, Drew Brees is very unlikely to take any of Shockey’s #### like Eli did, which could actually mean we may see an improvement in Shockey’s play. No one has had the balls to tell him what he does wrong yet, so we’ll have to wait and see how he’ll take to Brees. Several draft picks could contribute defensively, including but not limited to USC defensive tackle Sedrick Willis. Dan Morgan and Jonathan Vilma should also help out. To summarize it all, with the state of the rest of the division, it’s a safe bet that the Saints will win the NFC South this season.

The Carolina Panthers would beg to differ with that, with most of the key pieces from their explosive offensive days again ready to start together. Jake Delhomme, Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad all look to be healthy, although Jake Delhomme is coming off of Tommy John surgery -- which is never a good thing for a QB. The Panthers also has a potentially potent duo of running backs in Deangelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart. Unfortunately, besides some good rookies and solid at best free agent signings, the Panthers defense looks much the same as it did last year. Although last year’s problem was a failure to live up to expectations, so perhaps they can do the opposite in 2008.

A lot of people have Tampa Bay higher or maybe even winning the division, but I expect a Jeff Garcia fall back to earth this year. I actually expected it last year too, but it didn’t happen. Usually I wouldn’t expect such things two years in a row, but in Garcia’s case (his age), I’m going to. The defense is aging but is still solid and should be effective. Earnest Graham’s 2007 remains in question because it was so short, so we’ll have to wait and see on him as well. In a division known for the top teams falling down the ranks and then climbing back up again, this year may be the Bucs turn.

The Falcons are just a paradox now that we’ve learned that rookie Matt Ryan will start at QB and Michael Turner is as yet unproven as a starting RB. The defense isn’t very good, especially with the departure of Deangelo Hall, so it’s a wise move to expect a last place finish this year from them. Hey, that made me think of…

NFC NORTH

1. Minnesota Vikings
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Detroit Lions
4. Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears! You’ve likely heard enough about the NFC North too much already thanks to all that was covered during the Favre saga, but hey, we don’t have to talk about Brett again until the AFC East. Save that one for last? Sure! The Minnesota Vikings have a solid, talented team and are incredibly strong at nearly every position save for QB. Fortunately for them, the three other teams in the division have the same problem. Although Bryant McKinnie is out for four weeks and Tarvaris Jackson is going to have to win some of their ballgames himself, he’s going to have tons of opportunities to do so thanks to the Vikings defensive front. Is it too early to suggest a Purple People Eaters 2 type nickname? What’s that? That nickname sucked you say? Alright, well, the Vikings defense is going to be giving opposing offenses fits all year long and the combination of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor should give Tarvaris Jackson plenty of soft secondary’s to through into.

If Aaron Rodgers turns out as billed, then the Packers would have a good shot at the division. But the pressure of filling in You-Know-Who’s shoes and the fact that he’s going to have to beat the Vikings all by himself TWICE because Ryan Grant won’t have any success against them will likely add up to a second place finish. Maybe less, but I doubt that.

Taking a look at the other half of the division, the Chicago Bears situation has officially become a joke and the Detroit Lions have been one for years. However, I think the Lions have enough talent on offense and Jon Kitna is just crazy enough to think they can really win 14 games this year for them to have a decent enough year. Not 14-wins decent, but more like 7 or 8, and especially if they land Rudi Johnson to compliment Kevin Smith (which it appears they have).

As for the Bears, well, I don’t have anything nice to say so I won’t say anything at all, although I’d be surprised if they don’t finish in last place. A team I WOULD be surprised at finishing last calls home the…

AFC NORTH

1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Cleveland Browns
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Baltimore Ravens

The Pittsburgh Steelers are stacked, that’s the only way I can put it -- just incredibly stacked. They have a weapon for nearly every devisable situation and it just baffles me. A lot of people think the Browns are going to compete with them thanks to last year’s performance but I had serious, serious doubts about Derek Anderson.

Unless he proves that last year wasn’t a fluke, especially after his tail-spin at the end of the year that was either due to A) He isn’t good under pressure, or, B) He isn’t good when defensive coordinators have sufficient game tape of him to game plan for, I think the Browns would do well to keep him on a short leash in favor or Brady Quinn. I could be wrong, but I think Andersons late 2007 performance has been overlooked quite often.

The team I was referring to that I would be surprised if they finished in last place was the Cincinnati Bengals. I even considered putting them in at the 2 spot but realized that the only reason I would be doing that would be to make a crazy, controversial prediction just for the sake of making one. I can’t stand people who do that.The Bengals once again have everyone healthy, although now they have a new RB with tons of potential. However that potential is watered-down by some injury risks, so it’s worth being wary of. Even if they have problems at RB again this year, barring Chad Johnsons shoulder popping out of his socket, causing him to miss the entire year – I think the offense will be just fine. It’s the defense where the questions lie, so hopefully rookie Keith Rivers will give them solid play from such a high draft pick.

The Ravens have questions at many positions but most has a good chance of panning out well in the long run (Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Fabian Washington). The defense continues to get older all the while so it will be interesting to see when they start to focus on bringing some top-round Draft talent or solid free agents in order for the veterans to pass the torch on. Who knows, though, Joey Flacco could have a fantastic rookie season and the Ravens could compete for the division title. That would be quite doubtful, though. Just as doubtful is the situation out West…

NFC WEST

1. Seattle Seahawks
2. St. Louis Rams
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. Arizona Cardinals

If the Seattle Seahawks played in any other division, it’s unlikely they’d still be able to scoot by and win the division year after year with so many injury problems. However, no one in the NFC West has stepped up to claim the throne, so the Seahawks stay seated there. This year, the only real threat to the division crown is the St. Louis Rams, who were plagued by injuries so widespread it seemed like it was contagious. With the return of a healthy Stephen Jackson and entire offensive line, the Rams look to fare a lot better this year.

Seattle’s situation is yet again muddied by injury this year and yet again at the WR position. Both Deion and Branch and Bobby Engram will miss a significant amount of time, although they leave behind openings that look to be filled by some talented young wide outs. Matt Hasselbeck is still Matt Hasselbeck; the RB spot has what seems like a dozen possible starting candidates and the defense isn’t the best in the league, but also isn’t the worst. Here’s a perfect opportunity to use the word solid right here. They Seahawks defense is solid. The word solid is a solid word in terms of being a football adjective, I think. The 49ers, doubtfully proud owners of the worst, most anemic offense in the NFL last year have been giving a gleam of hope with the arrival of Mike Martz.

The whole discussion has been beaten to death several times, so I’ll try and keep it simple. Josh Morgan is going to be Martz’s Torry Holt, Vernon Davis and Isaac Bruce will combine to be Martz’s pre-2006 Isaac Bruce and Frank Gore is going to a be a tougher, more downhill running version of Martz’s Marshall Faulk. The only problem is that Martz is expecting J.T. O’Sullivan to be his Marc Bulger/Kurt Warner. This may be the year that Mike Martz finally realizes that he is indeed a mere mortal, just like the rest of us. I’ll be surprised if the offense catches fire this year, but if it does I will express and undying respect of Mike Martz. So we’ll see.

Finally, we have the Arizona Cardinals. The perennial underachievers of the NFL, the Cardinals fail to live up to hopes even when those hopes are actually warranted (like the arrival of Edgerrin James). The Cardinals season is going to be started off with Kurt Warner at the helm and he will lead them where he always does – on a good path towards the playoffs that suddenly and unexpectedly turns towards the edge of a cliff. This should happen around mid-season, with the hopes of a playoff bid dwindling. The Cardinals will throw Matt Leinart in, realize he won’t get them in the playoffs, but keep him in there anyway since they’ll also realize that maybe they need to keep him in for a good chunk of games in order for him to get used to being the starting QB. I heard in-game experience does wonders for quarterbacks, but what do I know? But speaking of in-game experience for QB’s…

AFC WEST

1. Denver Broncos
2. San Diego Chargers
3. Oakland Raiders
4. Kansas City Chiefs

The AFC West has two quarterbacks who are in dire need of in-game experience: Brodie Croyle and JaMarcus Russell. Because of this, the division is essentially a shoo-in to be won by either the Broncos or Chargers. Jay Cutler proved last year that he’s the real deal and the fact that the Broncos running game is so frigging befuddling doesn’t really matter so much anymore. Brandon Marshall’s suspension was cut to one game, which meant more to his ecstatic fantasy owners than the actual team, and the team drafted rookie WR Eddie Royal, who is apparently of the rare breed of rookie WR’s with enough tools to be named a starter in his first year. All of that combined with major question in San Diego should add up to a division crown for the Broncos.

The San Diego Chargers have injury questions, mainly for Antonio Gates and Philip Rivers, but LaDainian Tomlinson proved at the end of last year that he may be a mortal as well. The guy’s racked up nearly 2,500 carries (excluding receptions) so it’s really no surprise that he managed to get injured at least once. It’s a smart bet to expect either a regression or a beginning of a regression from him this year, which is something that will not bode well for Philip Rivers. Nor would the situation from his favorite target, Antonio Gates, who has stated he doesn’t know how his big toe will hold up this year. For such a big person and such a big percentage of Philip Rivers’s total completions, Gate’s big toe could spell big problems for Rivers and the Chargers overall offense. Poor Chris Chambers, he waited way too long to demand a trade from Miami.

That leaves the Chiefs and Raiders to battle it out for third place, although each team’s future looks very bright after their recent drafts. The Raiders have heralded, Hall of Fame lock, Darren McFadden to look forward to, while the Chiefs have a large portion of their 73 draft picks to look forward to. Not to mention, Brodie Croyle faced some very tough pass defenses in his 6 losses last year, so there is reason for some optimism with him this year. On the subject of optimism, let’s head down east to…

AFC EAST

1. New England Patriots
2. New York Jets
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are a mortal lock to once again finish in AFC East, despite improving leaps and bounds since Bill Parcells arrive. Overall in the division, barring a Tom Brady injury, the Patriots should once again take the division crown despite the fast improving competition.

The Jets got Brett Favre; everyone will be better, blah, blah, blah. The biggest acquisition and I’ll stand by this to the end will turn out to be Alan Faneca. He and Damien Woody will help shore up the offensive line, which is where all improvements to the running and passing game begin. Obviously, Brett Favre is an improvement but the biggest reason the Jets will truly compete for the AFC East title will be in large thanks to Alan Faneca and Damien Woody.

The Bills have apparently found a suitable future QB in Trent Edwards and a staple franchise RB in Marshawn Lynch. If James Hardy pans out, he should make for a dangerous pairing along with Lee Evans. So the offense appears all set. The defense is also fast improving, an improvement that was boosted for the short-term with the addition of Marcus Stroud. Had the Jets not acquired Alan Faneca, I most definitely would have penciled in the Bills for the two spot. But they did, so I won’t.

THE PLAYOFFS (DUH, DUH DUHH – DUH DUH DUH DUH DUH DUHHH!!)

Wild Card Round

(6) Jets @ (3) Jaguars - Jaguars

(5) Cowboys @ (4) Seahawks - Cowboys

(6) Panthers @ (3) Vikings – Vikings

(5) Colts @ (4) Broncos – Colts

Divisional Round

(5) Colts @ (1) Patriots – Patriots

(3) Vikings @ (1) Eagles – Eagles

(3) Jaguars @ (2) Steelers – Steelers

(5) Cowboys @ (2) Saints – Cowboys

Conference Championships Round

(2) Steelers @ (1) Patriots – Patriots

(5) Cowboys @ (1) Eagles – Cowboys

The Super Bowl

Cowboys vs. Patriots – Patriots

Non Homer Super Bowl Prediction

Cowboys vs. Steelers – Cowboys

I don't think the playoff picks need to be explained too much, although I couldn't decide who to pick between the Patriots and Steelers so I used the homer breakdown way out.

Early NFC Preview

This weekend is the very first weekend of the NFL season as Art Monk, and Darrell Green get inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, along with four others, and the first preseason game of the year will be held on Sunday. The Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins will face off in Canton, Ohio at 8 PM ET. I think it's time to take a look at how the NFC will shape up this year.

NFC North

Winner of Division: Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have the best RB duo in the game, and a very tough offensive line to go along with it. This Division is very weak compared to last year with the questions surrounding the quarterbacks in Green Bay, and Chicago. As of right now, the Packers will be finishing third behind the offense-less Bears, and run-happy Vikings.

BOLD Predictions:

*Tarvaris Jackson throws for more yards than all three of Chicago’s quarterbacks combined.

*Brett Favre is not in a Packer uniform come September 4th.

Questions to be answered:

Once again, I bring up the Favre saga, but a few others include Jon Kitna’s Lions, and Chicago’s entire roster. I already established that the Vikings will win the North, but can Kitna follow through on his offseason ramblings (told the press he hopes to lead Detroit to a 10-win season). Chicago lost their top two wide receivers in Muhsin Muhammad, and Bernard Berrian, and cut running back Cedric Benson, as well. Grossman doesn’t quite have the leadership skills to lead this team to the playoffs on his own, so who will step up???

Bottom Line: This is the second-weakest NFC Division behind the NFC West. Minnesota, despite lack of a solid quarterback, may run away with this division if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t live up to Packer Nation’s expectations. Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

NFC East

Winner of Division: Dallas Cowboys

I am like every other Football whiz out there who doesn’t believe the Giants can repeat. Yes, I have gained confidence in Eli Manning’s abilities, and leadership, but he lost several key players on both sides of the ball, and Tony Romo’s ‘Boys are looking mighty hungry. Romo led Dallas to a 13-3 regular season record in 2007, look for him to match that performance this season. Owner Jerry Jones dealt running back Julius Jones, but drafted the young Felix Jones to fill in for Marion Barber every once in a while. You obviously can’t count out Donovan McNabb’s Eagles, who are looking pretty healthy at this point, and the Washington Redskins. Washington added Pro Bowl DE Jason Taylor, and added depth on offense in this year’s draft.

BOLD Predictions:

*Donovan McNabb stays healthy and leads the Eagles to a Wild Card berth, knocking off the defending Champions in the process.

*All four teams finish over .500.

Questions to be answered:

I believe McNabb will manage to finally stay healthy for all 16 games, but that is never a given. He has been battling injuries for the last several years, and anything can happen. The Eagles fate rides on the throwing arm of McNabb, and Philadelphia’s results will vary according to how he does this season. In D.C. the big question still involves Jason Campbell. Can he take his game to the next level and lead the ‘Skins to the playoffs?? That question has yet to be answered.

Bottom Line: Unlike the NFC North, this Division is very strong, and may be considered the toughest in the entire NFL. Therefore, it may be tough to decide a winner in August, and this may be the last Division clinched this season. We’ll just have to wait, and find out.

NFC South

Winner of Division: Carolina Panthers

It is Carolina’s year…to win the Division. Every year, it seems, there’s a new Division winner in the South, and the tradition will continue this season. Jake Delhomme seems to have made a remarkable comeback from Tommy John surgery, and the return of Muhsin Muhammad may mean a big year for Carolina’s passing offense. The running game has made a fresh start too, it seems. The departure of Deshaun Foster brought in Jonathan Stewart, the rookie out of Oregon. Stewart will be a nice complement to DeAngelo Williams, who is expected to have a solid season. The loss of Dan Morgan will be a big blow, but I don’t expect the defense to miss a beat with Julius Peppers hunting down quarterbacks.

BOLD Predictions:

*New Orleans’ Reggie Bush continues to be a draft bust, failing to reach 1,000 total yards for the Saints. But, newcomer Jeremy Shockey is named to the NFC Pro Bowl roster.

*Jake Delhomme accompanies Shockey on the NFC Pro Bowl roster, as Jeff Garcia proves he is past his prime for the Bucs.

Questions to be answered:

Obviously Delhomme isn’t guaranteed to make a strong comeback. So although I believe he will be back as strong as ever, anything can happen, and he still needs to prove himself to everyone. And, the questions surrounding Jeff Garcia, and whether Favre will be a Buc or not, still loom as training camp gets underway. Even more questions loom around New Orleans. Will Brees continue his Pro Bowl career, and can Deuce McAllister return to his normal form. And there’s always questions surrounding New Orleans’ defense. I have failed to even mention the Atlanta Falcons. Will Matt Ryan, rookie out of Boston College, be the starter come week 1? Who knows, I guess we’ll have to wait this one out.

Bottom Line: Carolina, in my book, is the team to beat. Not the defending Division Champion Tampa Bay Bucs, the Panthers from Carolina. I feel the Bucs have too many questions surrounding their offense. There is no need for 4-5 different quarterbacks, and “Cadillac” Williams has been battling injuries that last year or so. He may not be able to carry the load of 16 games this year. Earnest Graham is going to have to be on top of his game this season, just like last year.

NFC West

Winner of Division: Seattle Seahawks

I jumped on Arizona’s bandwagon last year, thinking they would run away with the Division with Matt Leinart under center. I was off by a long-shot, and don’t feel the need to go off on a limb this season, as well. Leinart, just like his USC teammate Reggie Bush, has yet to prove himself to NFL teams that he is the guy in Arizona. So, I’m gonna stick with the more popular pick in Matt Hasselbeck’s ‘Hawks. With the Shaun Alexander era over, and the Mike Holmgren era nearly wrapped up, looks like the Seahawks are looking for a fresh start. They added former Cowboy Julius Jones to their backfield, and of course their defense is always stellar. Looks like Seattle is still the team to beat in the West.

BOLD Predictions:

*Matt Leinart, not surprisingly, struggles at the helm for Arizona, and fails to capture even a Wild Card spot.

*Julius Jones puts Hasselbeck, and the entire ‘Hawks defense on his back, and leads them to the Division title.

Questions to be answered:

I am still really puzzled, and confused as to why Alex Smith is still the guy in San Fran. If he doesn’t throw more TD’s than INT’s this year, his job security is really going to be on the line. Can Frank Gore break 1,500 for the Niners? Well, whether he does or not, he really NEEDS to. I am really not sure how the Rams will fare this year. Their line is beat up still, and it seems a majority of their receivers are past their prime. The success of the offense all comes down to Steven Jackson, and how well the O-line protects Pro Bowl quarterback Marc Bulger.
Bottom Line: This Division, as usual, is weak. Once again it will probably be decided at around week 14 or 15. Seattle will win a solid 11 games, and run away with this division. Sorry for all you bandwagoners out there, but the Cardinals are going to disappoint once again this year. Neither of the two Wild Card spots will be coming from the Division. As a matter of fact, they may both come from the East.

A Journey Through The NFL With Some Burning Questions - Part 1

As we stand on the precipice of the NFL pre-season and with mock drafts occurring left and right, it’s official: It’s finally okay to talk about football without getting shit on by all of the baseball fanatics. With it still being a tad too early for say, playoff predictions, it’s definitely not too early to take a look at each of the NFL teams, ask ourselves what the biggest question going into the pre-season is about them, then answer it as if we had expert knowledge and should be taken seriously. Sound fun? Your damn right it sounds fun! So let’s disregard the quizzical title and get started!

We’ll go alphabetically around the league because that is what would make our grade school teachers the happiest.

Arizona Cardinals

Question: Will Matt Leinart finally step up this year or will he turn out to be a complete and utter bust?

Answer: After some highly publicized R&R, Leinart will be under many different microscopes this coming season. Although he only played in five games last year before injury, his performance failed to impress anyone and even got him benched. Leinart has the weapons to succeed but will likely need to spend more time and effort in the film room where all young QB’s must put work in to improve. If he can do that, he has the talent and supporting cast to finally claim the Cardinals starting QB spot from the forever young Kurt Warner. If not, Warner doesn’t look to be going anywhere and has no problems utilizing all of the toys the Cardinals have on offense.

Atlanta Falcons

Question: How much have the Falcons regressed due to the Vick fiasco?

Answer: A lot. Barring a season for the ages the Falcons will likely be as good as Matt Ryan’s learning curve in 2008. Although Michael Turner will have trouble doing what he does with every defense focused primarily on him, the Falcons offense has lots of young talent that will grow and improve together with time. The defense on the other hand… well, you can’t blame Michael Vick for that mess. It might be hard to admit if you’re a Falcons fan, but 2008 will be a rebuilding year for the franchise -- but at least things are beginning to look up.

Baltimore Ravens

Question: Has the once feared and ferocious Ravens D finally passed it’s prime?

Answer: Don’t bring this up in front of Ray Lewis who is in a contract year and would likely kick the shit of you, but it’s actually looking like a reality. It would seem that after the 2007 performance (See: It was really bad) that the best-in-the-league showing in 2006 was the top of the mountain, with that mountain being a poorly imagined symbol of something’s prime. Barring one last hoorah or some rookies breaking out and carrying on the torch, the once vaunted Baltimore D has likely seen the last of it’s dominant years.

Buffalo Bills

Question: Will Trent Edwards finally give the Bills a competent QB to pair with it’s blossoming offense?

Answer: After repeatedly trying and failing with J.P. Losman, the Bills could have finally found their QB of the future in Trent Edwards. He’s young, he’s talented and he walked the walk last year when Losman went down with an injurt. Although he’s had some injury problems in the past, Edwards is plenty capable of utilizing all of the Bills’ young talent. But in the interests of being short and concise: Yes, Trent Edwards can be what the Bills wished J.P. Losman was but only if he can stave off the injury bug.

Carolina Panthers

Question: Are the Panthers a playoff contender with Jake Delhomme at the helm? Or with Matt Moore?

Answer: Yes, that’s technically two questions but no need to worry! If your really bothered by such a thing than just stop reading now and go sort your clothes out by color and weight -- you’ll like that better. No matter, the key to this question is whether or not it’s a healthy Jake Delhomme. In turn, the key to that key to the original question is that Delhomme is coming off Tommy John surgery. While he may be healthy in the general definition of the word, most front offices in the league would be going: Tommy John Surgery + 33 year old QB = Uh-oh, maybe it’s time for us to start looking at the future?! Despite being thrown into the fire as a rookie last year, Moore looked very impressive. If he becomes the starter and can limit his mistakes, a talented young running game and improved receiving corps (bolstered by Muhsin Muhammad’s return) could help him sneak the Panthers into playoff contention. In reality though, this isn’t going to happen.

Chicago Bears

Question: Are the Bears really banking on Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton as the QB of the future?

Answer: I would like to say no but the organizations failure to select a QB in a draft that was absolutely loaded with them makes one wonder. We’ve seen enough of Grossman to know what he brings to and then immediately takes off the table. Orton on the other hand brings the game management element to the table but then takes off the big play element of Rex and the fact that he doesn’t seem to know how to shave. Regardless, choosing between the two is like having to pick between peas or peanuts for dinner. They might taste good if you talk yourself into it, but in the end your going to be left wanting more. Let’s all hope the Bears have their eyes on some QB’s in the 2009 draft class.

Cincinnati Bengals

Question: Are Carson Palmer’s best years being wasted on an underachieving, passionless team?

Answer: While Palmer likely still has many more solid years under his belt, it’s a shame his talent and performances aren’t translating into wins. Despite being surrounded by drama and being the only Bengal that hasn’t been arrested (What? Has the Bengals criminal thing been killed yet?) Palmer has been putting up Pro Bowl candidate numbers year in and year out. If the Bengals don’t get their act together soon, they may find themselves ready to compete in a few years only to find that Carson Palmer has already thrown his best games.

Cleveland Browns

Question: How well will Derek Anderson have to play to quell all of the impending Brady Quinn talk?

Answer: Very well. Despite having an out-of-nowhere breakout season last year, Anderson trailed off at the end of the year, just when the Browns needed him most. It was also when opposing defensive coordinators finally had enough film to get a feel for him and then start game planning against it. If the Browns had made the playoffs last year, it may be a different story, but since they didn’t, Anderson will need to get back to his stellar play immediately. If not, you’ll be hearing a lot about Brady Quinn everywhere you turn. And by everywhere, I mean ESPN and every single football related site on the internet.

Dallas Cowboys

Question: Will the Cowboys season be a disappointment without a Super Bowl win?

Answer: Although it would be a positive if they won just one playoff game, losing in or before the Super Bowl would be a disappointment due to all of the talent they have on the roster. The Cowboys first concern though, is likely how to survive the juggernaut NFC East and will save the Super Bowl thoughts until after they make the playoffs. Well everyone but Terrell Owens, that is.

Denver Broncos

Question: Does Mike Shanahan not like fantasy football or something?

Answer: I’m torn between the beliefs that Mike Shanahan has so many running backs because all the rumors are true that he doesn’t like fantasy football or that maybe he just loves running backs. Do you think he’s like that in everyday life? “What do you want for breakfast darling?” “Uh, I’ll have Apple Jacks. No! No! Give me some Wheaties. Throw some sugar on top. Wait, wait, no! I’m in the mood for some cream of wheat! Ah, screw it just throw everything into one bowl and I’ll eat it all!”

Detroit Lions

Question: How many wins does Jon Kitna likely think the Lions will chalk up this year?

Answer: Many people scoffed at Kitna’s inflated win prediction last year at this time, only to pretend they believed him all along once the Lions started knocking off wins early in the season. It’s safe to assume that Kitna won’t go down on his prediction from a year ago but nine wins is about right for a nice, liberal prediction. Kitna will probably lock in on around the twelve win prediction mark, be off by about three to four wins and never again predict win totals before the season.

Green Bay Packers

Question: If Favre returns to the Packers, what exactly can we expect from poor Aaron Rodgers?

Answer: If Favre returns and returns to the Packers then Aaron Rodgers would do something immediately. The whole, ‘I don’t mind shadowing this Hall of Fame quarterback because I’m just so grateful to be here’ act was put to rest when Favre shed tears at his retirement ceremony. If Favre comes back to Green Bay (and I really hope he doesn’t because that would be a real dick thing to do) than Rodgers will either A.) Demand a trade or B.) Just give up on football altogether and spend the rest of his life forgetting about the whole thing in the Bahamas.

Houston Texans

Question: Can Matt Schaub really lead the Texans through the jungle that is the AFC South?

Answer: Not to try and take away anything from Matt Schaub’s 2007 season, it was very good and he proved himself a suitable starting quarterback and all. However, he was injured for five games in his first full season as a starter and broke even in his touchdown to interception ratio. Opinions have been going either way, with some people believing such a season was very promising for a first year starter, where others think that while he’s going to be good, he’ll need to be better to lead the Texans to an AFC South title. I subscribe to the belief that he needs to get a bit better and that it will only be a matter of time until he does so. But not this year.

Indianapolis Colts

Question: Is it too early to wonder when Peyton Manning’s play will begin to decline?

Answer: Yes? Okay then. My fault.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Question: Will Jerry Porter provide a much needed spark for the Jaguars receiving corps or will it remain as the teams Achilles Heel?

Answer: It certainly won’t hurt to have Porter lined up out wide. The thing with David Garrard is that he’s a game managing quarterback and doesn’t necessarily need big time wide receiver to succeed. While many point out that the wide receiver position has been the Jaguars weak point, the combination of a two-headed dragon of a running game and a game manager if there ever was one QB greatly negate such a weakness. Still, it can’t hurt to have a talented WR on the team. Expect Porter to become Garrard’s new favorite target -- how’s that for a prediction?

Kansas City Chiefs

Question: How badly will Jared Allen’s departure effect the K.C. defense and more importantly, the entire team?

Answer: When you lose one of the best defensive players in the league and you weren’t that good of a defense in the first place, it’s going to hurt. Allen’s departure takes away a lot of credibility from the Chiefs defensive line and it’s highly unlikely they’ll finish as the thirteenth ranked unit without him. Although plugging in Glenn Dorsey at defensive tackle will help and is definitely the best possible rookie they could have drafted to try and salvage the situation.

If you'd like to read Part 2 (and honestly, why wouldn't you?) than Click Here.