NFL Preview

Better late than never it's the JMO NFL Preview!

So, with only 1/2 hour to spare before the opening kick-off of the 2007-2008 NFL season, here's what I see happening this year in the NFL:

NFC:

(Let's start with the boring league in the hopes that you'll read all the way through to the end!)

East
Dallas, Philadelphia, New York Giants, Washington
Not nearly as competetive as last year. Watch for a humbled and hungry Tony Romo to lead his team to the top of this division. Without Tiki Barber the Giants will end up cut from the post season. It'll be a close shave, but Philly will edge them out for the wild card spot. There certainly won't be three teams from this division in the big dance like last year.
Winner: Dallas


West
Seattle, San Fransico, Saint Louis, Arizona
This was a difficult division to determine a victor in. Frank Gore impressed a lot of people last year! But Shawn Alexander is still Shawn Alexander and while Hasselbeck is not Brady or Manning, I'd take him if the others were hurt. The Rams and Cardinals remain peranial bottom feeders. That, and how could I pick a team who's star is named Gore?! However, I think the supreme court will hand a wild card berth to the Niners.
Winner: Seattle

North
Chicago, Green Bay, Detroit, Minnesotta
Talk about an easy pick! I submit that there should be a rule that no one with grey hair should be allowed to start at QB for an NFL team. The only reason I think the Packers will finish in second is because Kitna and Bell won't be able to lift the Lions out of the slump and the only name I recongize on the Vikes roster is Ryan Longwell (But I'd hate to have been TE Visanthe Shiancoe in 1st grade! He probably has trouble spelling his name now! "Defense wins championships" is the old adage. It needs to be updated to include a disclaimer regarding the QB. But with their ability to stop the run and the addition of Benson, the Bears will waltz into the postseason.
Winner: Chicago

South
New Orleans, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Atlanta
With out Vick, the Falcons will be Vicktory-less. Tampa may have a Cadillac, but they need a Hum-V. Foster and Smith are still good, but DelHomme is still a toss and hope QB. No question, New Orleans is very happy about one man named Bush as he'll lead the Saints as they go marching into the playoffs.
Winner: New Orleans

AFC

East
New England, New York Jets, Buffalo, Miami
It's tough to not sound like a homer when the rest of your division is so bad. Patriots had no losses they can't over come, and with the Moss threat their WR core is so good they released Caldwell, their leading receiver last year! Don't get me wrong, the Jets will be surprising, not a threat, just surprising. They'll grab a WC spot while Buff and Miami both have sub-five hundred seasons
Winner: New England

West
San Diego, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles
LT, Rivers, Gates. If it weren't foolish to have so many people from one team on a fantasy league, I'd start all three of them. Denver's D will lift them over and aging LJ in KC. There's no division where it's easier to pick the team that will finish fourth than this one. The Silver and Black will slither back to LA in last place.
Winner: San Diego

North
Baltimore, Cincinatti, Pittsburgh, Cleveland
I think it's fitting that the Bengals wear orange. That way when the players who are arrested are serving time, they can still show some solidarity with their collegues. Palmer continues to recover and Big Ben's bell's been rung. Watch for Baltimore to sneak into the lead near the end of the season. Cinci snatches a wild card spot.
Winner: Baltimore

South
Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Houston, Tennessee
Even though both Manning brothers were in the top five among QBs with errant passes last year, this brother will still be able to get to the post season. Teams need to learn that the way to stop the Colts is to run the ball. They gave up a league worst 5+ yrd/carry last year, it keeps the clock running and Peyton off the field. (Watch for the Saints to prove that opening night!) With the addition of Shaub to Houston, the Texans will elevate over Young and the Titans. Jacksonville will continue to depress their fans by narrowly missing the post season again this year.
Winner: Indianapolis

Playoffs:
AFC
round 1
NYJ @ INDY winner INDY
CIN @ BALT winner CIN
NE Bye SD Bye

round 2
CIN @ NE winner NE
INDY @ SD winner SD

round 3
SD @ NE winner NE

NFC
round 1
PHI @ SEA winner SEA
SF @ CHI winner CHI
DAL Bye NO Bye

round 2
CHI @ DAL winner DAL
SEA @ NO winner NO

round 3
DAL @ NO winner DAL

SUPER BOWL

NE vs DAL winner NE

(Just in case you missed it, the order in which the teams are listed in each division is the order in which I think they'll finish.) There you have it. So, where am I right? Where am I wrong? lemmie hear your opinion!