Football Thought of the Week
After pouring through most of Sports Illustrated's mammoth NFL preview issue, reading up about every team online and watching a good share of pre-season action (as much pre-season action as one sane person can without getting paid for it), I believe it is time for my 2009-10 NFL predictions.
Before I get started though, there is one key word I want to emphasise: madness. Usually reserved for the great month of March, those seven letters are going to define September, October, November, December, January and the first Sunday in February this season. Example? Of the eight division winners last season, would anybody be shocked if seven of them didn't re-peat this year? Only San Diego seems to be a lock. Of the four teams that made it to championship weekend last year, all four seem to have gotten worse over the summer.
Tom Brady is healthy, Mike Vick is back and Brett Favre is too (though he never really left, unfortunately). There's no question who the best running back in the NFL is (AP), but there are about five guys gunning for that number two spot, none of whom are named Tomlinson. The NFC North is now QB Central, while Peyton Manning and the Colts may be the worst team in the AFC South. And of all things, a scoreboard has take Terrell Owens' place in Dallas as the must-mention Cowboys distraction. Welcome back to football, where this season is sure to be pure madness.
Today is part I, the NFC and awards. Tuesday will be part II, the AFC and playoff picks.
NFC
East: 1)Philadelphia 2) NY Giants 3) Dallas 4) Washington
The Giants run the ball, play great D and have an adequate QB in Eli Manning. What they lack though is a game-breaker on offense, something the Eagles possess in DeSean Jackson (and Brian Westbrook, and maybe Jeremy Maclin, and maybe Mike Vick). Philly's defense is a question, especially in the secondary, but I see them grabbing 10 wins, good enough for the division title.
North: 1) Chicago 2) Green Bay 3) Minnesota 4) Detroit
No question here, the Lions will be the most improved team in the entire NFL; they should eclipse last year's win total by Thanksgiving. The top of the division looks like the NFC's most competitive, with the Bears, Pack and Vikes all aiming for the playoffs. Call me a homer - you wouldn't be the first - but I like Chicago. A favorable schedule (G.B. and Minnesota both come to Soldier Field in December), a much-improved offense and a rejuvenated D should earn the Bears 11 wins, while the other two will fight it out for second place.*
*In-depth Bears breakdown coming later in the week.
South: 1) New Orleans 2) Atlanta 3) Carolina 4) Tampa Bay
For some reason, I'm always a sucker for picking the Saints. The combo of Drew Brees, talented receivers, a good running game and a defense that can't possibly be worse than the 2008 version has me thinking that N.O. can make a playoff run. The Falcons and Panthers each will see a drop-off from last year's post-season births, because I have my doubts if Matt Ryan and the Carolina run game can repeat their success.
West: 1) Seattle 2) San Francisco 3) Arizona 4) St. Louis
It's not because they lost the Super Bowl that I think the Cardinals will return to their rightful spot at the bottom of the division; it's because I don't think they are very good. Outside of Warner, Fitzgerald and Boldin, this team doesn't have many noteworthy players. And Warner seems doomed for a letdown year. Seattle won't be great, but the 'Hawks should be better than everybody else out West.
Award winners
MVP - Drew Bree, New Orleans - He should have won it in 2006 and maybe should have won it last year as well. It will be tough to deny him this year if he puts up similar numbers and the Saints make the playoffs.
Defensive POY - Ed Reed, Baltimore - Simply put, no defender impacts the game as much as Reed does as the center fielder for the dominant Ravens D. He was a beast last year and will do it again this season.
Offensive ROY - Knowshon Moreno, Denver - This is a random guess, but for the sake of my fantasy football team, I hope it turns true. With the skill guys on the Broncos, they'd be dumb not to give him the ball 25 times per game.
Defensive ROY - Aaron Curry, Seattle - Smart linebacker + already talented team + weak opponents = big numbers for the former Wake Forest star.
After pouring through most of Sports Illustrated's mammoth NFL preview issue, reading up about every team online and watching a good share of pre-season action (as much pre-season action as one sane person can without getting paid for it), I believe it is time for my 2009-10 NFL predictions.
Before I get started though, there is one key word I want to emphasise: madness. Usually reserved for the great month of March, those seven letters are going to define September, October, November, December, January and the first Sunday in February this season. Example? Of the eight division winners last season, would anybody be shocked if seven of them didn't re-peat this year? Only San Diego seems to be a lock. Of the four teams that made it to championship weekend last year, all four seem to have gotten worse over the summer.
Tom Brady is healthy, Mike Vick is back and Brett Favre is too (though he never really left, unfortunately). There's no question who the best running back in the NFL is (AP), but there are about five guys gunning for that number two spot, none of whom are named Tomlinson. The NFC North is now QB Central, while Peyton Manning and the Colts may be the worst team in the AFC South. And of all things, a scoreboard has take Terrell Owens' place in Dallas as the must-mention Cowboys distraction. Welcome back to football, where this season is sure to be pure madness.
Today is part I, the NFC and awards. Tuesday will be part II, the AFC and playoff picks.
NFC
East: 1)Philadelphia 2) NY Giants 3) Dallas 4) Washington
The Giants run the ball, play great D and have an adequate QB in Eli Manning. What they lack though is a game-breaker on offense, something the Eagles possess in DeSean Jackson (and Brian Westbrook, and maybe Jeremy Maclin, and maybe Mike Vick). Philly's defense is a question, especially in the secondary, but I see them grabbing 10 wins, good enough for the division title.
North: 1) Chicago 2) Green Bay 3) Minnesota 4) Detroit
No question here, the Lions will be the most improved team in the entire NFL; they should eclipse last year's win total by Thanksgiving. The top of the division looks like the NFC's most competitive, with the Bears, Pack and Vikes all aiming for the playoffs. Call me a homer - you wouldn't be the first - but I like Chicago. A favorable schedule (G.B. and Minnesota both come to Soldier Field in December), a much-improved offense and a rejuvenated D should earn the Bears 11 wins, while the other two will fight it out for second place.*
*In-depth Bears breakdown coming later in the week.
South: 1) New Orleans 2) Atlanta 3) Carolina 4) Tampa Bay
For some reason, I'm always a sucker for picking the Saints. The combo of Drew Brees, talented receivers, a good running game and a defense that can't possibly be worse than the 2008 version has me thinking that N.O. can make a playoff run. The Falcons and Panthers each will see a drop-off from last year's post-season births, because I have my doubts if Matt Ryan and the Carolina run game can repeat their success.
West: 1) Seattle 2) San Francisco 3) Arizona 4) St. Louis
It's not because they lost the Super Bowl that I think the Cardinals will return to their rightful spot at the bottom of the division; it's because I don't think they are very good. Outside of Warner, Fitzgerald and Boldin, this team doesn't have many noteworthy players. And Warner seems doomed for a letdown year. Seattle won't be great, but the 'Hawks should be better than everybody else out West.
Award winners
MVP - Drew Bree, New Orleans - He should have won it in 2006 and maybe should have won it last year as well. It will be tough to deny him this year if he puts up similar numbers and the Saints make the playoffs.
Defensive POY - Ed Reed, Baltimore - Simply put, no defender impacts the game as much as Reed does as the center fielder for the dominant Ravens D. He was a beast last year and will do it again this season.
Offensive ROY - Knowshon Moreno, Denver - This is a random guess, but for the sake of my fantasy football team, I hope it turns true. With the skill guys on the Broncos, they'd be dumb not to give him the ball 25 times per game.
Defensive ROY - Aaron Curry, Seattle - Smart linebacker + already talented team + weak opponents = big numbers for the former Wake Forest star.
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