A few one liners concerning each team in the NFL and their preseason thus far:
New England (Projected Finish - 1st) 13-3
- Tom Brady is back and looking like the old Tom Brady. Not a lock to win the division but the defense is better and with Tom back you have to like their chances. Curious to see how Fred Taylor functions in a RB by committee.
Miami (Projected Finish - 2nd) 10-6
- This team went from 3-13 in 07 to winning the division in 08, but all everyone is talking about is Tom Brady and T.O. Watch out for Pennington and the Jets! This Defense is for real and will once again battle for 1st Place in the East.
Buffalo (Projected Finish - 3rd) 6-10
- T.O. is a Bill. Who cares. He has declined each year from a fantasy aspect and now he has an average QB throwing him the ball. Sorry Bills fans, but I am not a fan of Trent Edwards.
NY Jets (Projected Finish - 4th) 5-11
- Name your rookie QB the starter seems ballsy to me but I guess that is what everyone likes about Coach Ryan – he likes to take chances. I am not looking to much into the Baltimore game because their defense is menacing but I do not see the same success for Sanchez as Matt Ryan in 08
Baltimore (Projected Finish - 1st) 12-4
- Flacco has looked solid thus far in preseason so maybe he can beat the Sophomore slump and lead this team past Pittsburgh. The defense will be solid again and I am very anxious to watch Ray Rice run all over the competition. Curious if he can last a full season or if he will even be given the chance?
Pittsburgh (Projected Finish - 2nd) 10-6
- Big Ben has been sacked the most over the past 4 year span than any other QB (139 times) and 2nd place isn't even close. I would be worried because with Leftwich gone I do not see Charlie Batch scaring any opposing defenses
Cincinnati (Projected Finish - 3rd) 8-8
- Similar to above post, Cincinnati's OL is garbage. Carson cannot stay healthy and with a suspect OL I do not by the hype that Cedric Benson will have a stellar year. It is a shame for Bengal fans because the defense (piece of the puzzle that has usually struggled) looks like it could be very good this year.
Cleveland (Projected Finish - 4th) 3-13
- This team epitomizes the word SHAMBLES. So they looked solid against the Lions, who cares! That was the Lions! Mangini is wearing out his welcome quickly by not naming a starter at QB because as we all know – If you have 2 QB's you really have Zero.
Indianapolis (Projected Finish - 1st) 11-5
- The offense is playing like mid season form already so if the defense can stay healthy the Colts should have smooth sailing to 1st Place in the South. I loved the Donald Brown pick with Addai struggling to stay healthy or look explosive and Anthony Gonzalez should have a career year as the #2 WR.
Tennessee (Projected Finish - 2nd) 10-6
- I do not see losing Haynesworth as a huge blow to this team. He will be missed but the Titans have so many young stars non the DL they will manage to still compete and win games. The running game will be stellar but once again the passing game will struggle with no weapons. Rookie WR Kenny Britt will not be a factor right away and Nate Washington is currently injured.
Houston (Projected Finish - 3rd) 10-6
- I have the Texans finishing 3rd but they are definitely a team who could surprise some people. If Schaub stays healthy he has the BEST WR in the game in Andre Johnson, if Slaton can avoid the sophomore slump, and if the Defense can play like it did down the stretch in 08 this team could be playoff bound.
Jacksonville (Projected Finish - 4th) 8-8
- The biggest question mark in the AFC are the Jags. I like Garrard this year but he has zero weapons to throw to beyond Maurice Jones Drew. Tory Holt is by no means a #1 WR (especially on grass). If Jones can carry the load on offense this team could stick around in the some games with their above average defense but the division is tough and it will be hard to claw to the top this year.
San Diego (Projected Finish - 1st) 14-2
- The Chargers are one of the most talented teams in football and currently sit in the weakest division in football as well. They could finish .500 and still take this one easily so playing below average teams could hurt them come playoff time but with Merriman back and Sproles on board to split with LT this team should be scary.
Kansas City (Projected Finish - 2nd) 6-10
- The Chiefs are awarded 2nd place by default. New coach, new GM, new QB and terrible defense but that tells you how bad this division is. I look for Larry Johnson to improve with a solid QB under center and Bowe to stretch the field so this team (on Cassell's arm alone) could win a few games.
Oakland (Projected Finish - 3rd) 5-11
- I will say it again – JaMarcus Russell is a complete Bust. I cannot believe that Al Davis drafted Heyward Bey and that they haven't tried to trade 1 of their 3 solid RB's (McFadden, Fargas, Bush) to improve the team elsewhere. They should be in the cellar but Denver takes it by a nose.
Denver (Projected Finish - 4th) 4-12
- Ouch. Trading Cutler = DUMB. Not trading Marshall = DUMBER. I assume Marshall will be suspended by team soon and with Moreno sidelined it is looking more and more like Orton will have to carry this team alone – Double Ouch.!
Philadelphia (Projected Finish - 1st) 11-5
- Michael Vick is a backup QB. This team has a solid QB in McNabb and by throwing Vick in to run wildcat type plays is just throwing this team out of sync. Keep Vick on the sidelines in case McNabb goes down, period. Eagles are also my predicted #1 NFC defensive team for 09.
NY Giants (Projected Finish - 2nd) 10-6
- Burress is gone and now Eli is left with a handful of mediocre WR's. It is not time to panic just yet though because they still have the best OL in football and a great running game. Throw in their stifling defense and the Giants could easily make a run at the Super Bowl once again this year.
Washington (Projected Finish - 3rd) 7-9
- This may come as a surprise, as I have never been a fan of Jason Campbell (still am not) but I am feeling good about the Redskins D this year. Campbell is a streaky player but if the D steps it up in this very tough division Campbell could surprise some people.
Dallas (Projected Finish - 4th) 7-9
- WOW! The Cowboys finishing last in the East? You heard it here first. The WR's are so-so (even with a healthy Roy Williams) and the RB's all have their injury concerns. Romo can get hot and when he does he makes average players looks great but he cannot carry this team 16 games so I envision a down year in Big D this year.
Green Bay (Projected Finish - 1st) 12-4
- Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, and a healthy Ryan Grant will spell trouble for all opposing defenses this year. The defense has looked solid thus far in preseason but many are still learning the nuances of the 3-4 defense. The defense shouldn't be a crutch to the offense but I doubt anyone cares. This offense could be the Saints of 08
Minnesota (Projected Finish - 2nd) 10-6
- Brett Favre is back. Who cares. Doesn't anyone care that he usually leads the NFL in interceptions each year and that his gambles more often have a negative outcome than positive? AP will and the defense will put this team in the playoff, NOT Mr Favre.
Chicago (Projected Finish - 3rd) 9-7
- Jay Cutler makes this team much better but the division is very tough. Forte and Greg Olsen will benefit from the addition of Cutler but there is no down-field threat on this team. Earl Bennett is a logical choice since they played together at Vanderbilt and we are not buying the Devin Hester experiment. Leave him at KR where he belongs. (That goes for Cribbs as well!)
Detroit (Projected Finish - 4th) 2-14
- My mother always told me – If you do not have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
New Orleans (Projected Finish - 1st) 11-5
- Million dollar question – Will Drew Brees throw for 5,000 yards again? Answer – NO. He will not have too because the defense is better (not the secondary) and the team should have a running game this year with Bush and Pierre Thomas sharing the workload. Colston is healthy and should be the #1 red-zone threat.
Atlanta (Projected Finish - 2nd) 9-7
- Michael Turner is a beast. Matt Ryan does not need to have 4,000 yards passing and 35 td's for this team to win. All they need is Turner and the defense to step it up. This is a tough division to predict with any of the 4 teams realistically able to finish in this 2nd place spot.
Carolina (Projected Finish - 3rd) 9-7
- Run, run, run. That is all they do and they do it better than any team in the NFL. This year should be no different. I am curious to see how the defense performs as they have been bitten by the injury bug (Beeson and the secondary) along with Peppers wanting out of town. I doubt Peppers will play with the same intensity we are used to seeing.
Tampa Bay (Projected Finish - 4th) 6-10
- Mistake #1 – Draft Josh Freeman in Round 1. Mistake #2 – Give Kellen Winslow more money! And Mistake #3 – Announce the team plans to start Cadillac Williams at RB. This team will win 6 games SOLELY based on the solid defense they play. The offense has multiple problems and not enough time to fix them.
Seattle (Projected Finish - 1st) 10-6
- Hasselback is back and looking to stay healthy. This team has no identity without him and they are lucky their division is weaker than other divisions. I love the Edgerin James addition as Julius Jones is not a feature back. Signing TJ was also great for Seattle and TE John Carleson is gaining more and more recognition around the league.
Arizona (Projected Finish - 2nd) 9-7
- Last years Super Bowl surprise and could easily repeat based on their explosive offense alone. The D looks like it could be better and with only Seattle in its way a division title is not too far out of their grasp.
San Francisco (Projected Finish - 3rd) 6-10
- Shaun Hill is the starter and Josh Morgan is the new #1 go to guy in San Fran. Frank Gore cannot be counted on to withstand a full season but now the 49ers have a backup in Glen Coffee. If Gore were to go down at least now they would not be completely one dimensional like years past.
St Louis (Projected Finish - 4th) 3-13
- Bulger is hurt, Donnie Avery is hurt and the Rams defense might be the worst in football. Predicted 3 wins is very friendly for this team.
Early Super Bowl Favorites:
AFC - Logical - New England Patriots ; Sleeper - Houston Texans
NFC - Logical - Philadelphia Eagles ; Sleeper - Green Bay Packers
Hope you enjoyed my Rant!
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