2009 Post-season Predictions Thursday, September 10, 2009

AFC Division Winners: Patriots, Colts, Chargers, Steelers
AFC Wildcards: Bengals, Texans

Notes: More people are jumping on the Bengals bandwagon but I've always believed Marvin Lewis isn't as bad as some say, and a healthy Carson Palmer can't hurt. The Bengals get to play the entire AFC West, too.

The Patriots will have a great offense, of course, but I'm sick of hearing how it will be as good as two years ago. The likelihood of any offense being that good is very low. Also, why do people laud the Patriots for every single personnel move they make? All I hear is what great use they're going to make out of Fred Taylor and Joey Galloway. Whaa??? What other team could add these two players and actually be praised for it? Taylor is 33 and Galloway is, wait for it.... Thirty-seven. We praise the Patriots because of our perception of them, not because we've actually looked at their decisions.

It's the same with Richard Seymour. We're praising them for getting a potential top-10 pick, but haven't they hurt their team for this year? Yet no one's cut a win off their projected totals. Besides that, if Seymour never shows up in Oakland, there's a good chance the Pats will have to give the pick back (since there was no physical performed on Seymour), and then they will just have a mess on their hands.

I really wish I could pick the Chargers to miss the playoffs, but their division is so bad, it's impossible. However, I do not at all understand the constant fawning and graveling people do at the feet of this team every preseason. They have a nice offense, but all they have on defense is a playmaker here or there. I vow that the Norv Factor will come to pass this year and this team will be embarrassed on a regular basis by non-division opponents. It starts next week against Baltimore.

NFC Divison Winners: Eagles, Saints, 49ers, Bears
NFC Wildcards: Panthers, Packers

Notes: The popular perception of the Vikings mystifies me. I think people start to spout an opinion and it sounds nifty, so it spreads everywhere. The Vikings apparently have had the most talented roster in the NFC for two years. But outside of big-name players, do they really have depth and talent? Or is it just name recognition? (Obviously AP is the best RB in the league.) Besides that, coaching will always be their achilles heel.

Meanwhile, while the Vikings haven't had an 11-win season since 2001, the Panthers have done that three times, have won lots of playoff games and have a solid, steady coach, and yet almost no one is picking them to make the playoffs. Some say Delhomme left a bad taste in their mouth due to his season-ending performance but... what, Bret Favre didn't?!

AFC Championship: Steelers over Patriots
NFC Championship: Saints over Bears
Super Bowl Champion: Steelers

Notes: The AFC is easy: The Pats and Steelers have the two best rosters and head coaches in the NFL. I picked the Steelers to make the Super Bowl, of course, because I'm a homer.

To me, the Saints are a proven commodity. They averaged 29 points per game. TWENTY-NINE POINTS! Their putrid defense HAS to regress to the mean and become merely below average. If they do, it should mean 11 wins. If they can get a couple home playoff games, they can go far in the playoffs.

2009 NFC South Predictions Thursday, August 27, 2009

Very quickly, the NFC South. All teams in the NFC South play all teams in the AFC East and NFC East this year. Should be a strong division this year. Predicted finishes:

1. New Orleans Saints - They've got a killer offense. Will Malcolm Jenkins and other new additions on defense help make games winnable? Last season, the Saints were never more than 1 game away from .500. They had only 1 winning streak, a length of two games. They had only one losing streak, a length of two games. They finished 8-8. But you can only hold a great offense down for so long. The defense will have to regress to the mean and get better, leading to more wins this year.


2. Carolina Panthers - The Panthers were impressive with a weak schedule last year, and put the beatdown on quite a few teams, leading to a 12-4 record. John Fox always has a well-prepared and physical team. Delhomme's meltdown against the Cardinals was stunning, but it doesn't represent the new Delhomme. He's still capable of steering the ship on the strength of a strong defense and running game, even though he makes mistakes.


3. Atlanta Falcons - Most are betting on an Atlanta division crown. I have my doubts. Matt Ryan will definitely keep them in contention all year, though.


4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - This team is either young or untalented almost everywhere. Their coach is a complete mystery. There will be growing pains for sure.