Upon Further Review

August 28, 2008

2008 Predictions

Welcome to the latest edition of "Upon Further Review" as this is my final warm-up before the regular season starts and my last chance to get into mid-season form.

The preseason has come and gone. Yes, I know there is still one more preseason game left to play for everyone but let's be serious here... this game is less than a preseason game, it’s strictly a glorified scrimmage. So, with that in mind I will give you all my predictions for the year. Here we go:

NFC EAST

1. Dallas Cowboys (12-4): This team deep, with a capital D-E-E and P!  There is talent everywhere. The only thing they need to watch out for is over confidence. If they can keep that in check, look for da' Boys to finish with the best record in the NFC.

2. *New York Giants (10-6): The Osi Umenyiora injury hurts... badly! But the defense still has talent and they still have Steve Spagnuolo as their coordinator so they should be fine. Their offense is still very good, although they will have games where they will simply bog down for no reason. Heavy is the head that wears the crown and thus everyone on their schedule will be gunning for them.

3. Washington Redskins (9-7): The 'Skins have a solid defense and that shouldn't be a problem area, especially with the addition of Jason Taylor. The offense is where most of the questions lay and it all starts at quarterback. Can Jason Campbell be the leader of this team? Can he play consistently enough throughout the season and not make too many mistakes? Those are bog question marks. I think he has the talent. Whether or not it can transfer onto the field is another question altogether.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Does finishing last in the NFL's best division make you a bad team? Nope! But of all the teams in the East the Eagles have the most questions. Can Donovan McNabb stay healthy? They need him to or the season is lost for sure. Can the defensive line and linebackers create enough of a pass rush? They better, especially against the likes of the Cowboys and Giants. Finally, will McNabb be able to find anyone open when he looks to pass the ball? Andy Reid can say that the wide receiver position is fine all he wants; the truth is this team is in dire need of a playmaker on the outside. This could very well be the defining position of, not only, the season but of Reid's tenure with the Birds.

NFC NORTH

1. Green Bay Packers (11-5): I've had time to think about this one. In my initial predictions I had Minnesota here. But I now have concerns with Minnesota's offense beyond Adrian Peterson, so I'm going with the Pack. With the exception of Brett Favre, the offense remains relatively intact. The defense is the same. The team was good last year and I think they will be good this year as well.

2. *Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Again, I have major concerns for the offense beyond Andrian Peterson. I'm still not sold on Tavaris Jackson at quarterback. I just haven't seen enough from him yet. If he can get the ball to the wideouts and get guys out of the box, then Peterson will break the single season record for yardage. If he can't get the ball in the hands of the receivers consistently enough, then the yardage will be hard to come by for Peterson.

3. Detroit Lions (8-8): The Lions are improving but they aren't quite there yet. The offense and defense have both looked good this preseason but remember, it’s just the preseason don't get too excited. The defense is still a major question mark. Will they be able to stop the run? If they can, then the sky is the limit for this squad. If they can't, then it will be much of the same for the Lions and their fans.

4. Chicago Bears (5-11): Any team that has to flip a coin to decide on a starting quarterback is already in trouble. Add to it a suspect offensive line, an unproven running back and wide receivers that I could cover (except for Devin Hester of course, but just because he's so fast) and you have a recipe for disaster. It’s not going to be fun in Chicago this year. Hey, at least you got the Cubs and White Sox.

NFC SOUTH

1. New Orleans Saints (10-6): I struggled with this pick. There are three teams who are very close, but not all together great. I went with the Saints simply because I love their offense and think their defense will play well enough to keep them in many games. Besides, someone has to win this division right?

2. Carolina Panthers (9-7): Here comes the surprise pick. I can't really put my finger on why, call it a gut feeling (then again I did just finish eating some leftover Thai food from the fridge), but I just see the Panthers finishing second and just miss out on making the playoffs. Call me crazy. Heck, I've been called worse and that's just by my wife. There is something I just like about this squad.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8): I'm not sold on this team. Maybe I'm completely wrong, it wouldn't be a shocker. There is just something about this team that I don't like. Jeff Garcia is a gutsy quarterback and he gives 100%, but I just don't feel comfortable with him as the starter. I think it all goes back to him being the starter of my Cleveland Browns. Some memories are just hard to forget.

4. Atlanta Falcons (4-12): The Falcons have some talent at certain positions, but overall they pretty much stink. The Matt Ryan selection was a step in the right direction. But it’s going to take more than a quarterback to right this ship. If they keep making solid choices like Ryan then the Falcons will be back sooner rather than later. The Falcons will end the streak of five (5) last-to-first finishes in this division.

NFC WEST

1. Seattle Seahawks (10-6): Picking the Seahawks to win this division is kinda like me picking my favorite "boy band". I'm not a fan of any of them but I do have to choose one. The Seahawks were the class of this division last year and nothing has changed. They are the best team in a weak division.

2. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): The Cardinals offense can score points with any team in the NFL, as long as Matt Leinart isn't under center, but their defense is still questionable. Add to it Anquan Boldin's discontent and I see the Cardinals at or below .500.

3. St. Louis Rams (6-10): The Rams just need to get healthy. The offense is still solid, of course with the loss of Isaac Bruce it will be curious to see who setups to take the heat off Torry Holt (and someone PLEASE do that because I have Holt in my fantasy league)? The defense is still a question mark even with Chris Long on the roster. Heck, they'd probably still be in trouble if Howie Long was on their roster as well.

4. San Francisco 49ers (5-11): I do not like this team at all. Mike Nolan hasn't shown me anything except that he's a snappy dresser. Their big ticket free agent last season, Nate Clemens, got burned more times than me when I pick up a pan without a potholder... and I do that just about every day.

Wildcard Playoffs

• Saints over Giants

• Vikings over Seahawks

Divisional Playoffs

• Cowboys over Vikings

• Packers over Saints

NFC Championship

• Cowboys over Packers

AFC EAST

1. New England Patriots (11-5): The best team during the regular season last year, takes a few steps backwards. They are still the class of the East, but teams will be better prepared for them now. Besides, their defense is of big concern to me. I mean, the average age of their defenders is like 82 or something like that... I was never good at Math. The Pats will still win the division but I just don't see them dominating like they did last season.

2. Buffalo Bills (9-7): The Bills are up and coming. It’s just a shame that they may be up and coming to Toronto very soon. There is talent in Buffalo for sure. They are just too inconsistent for my liking.

3. New York Jets (8-8): Brett Favre be damned! This team will still finish at or near the .500 mark even with the future Hall of Famer. I like what they did on offense, somewhat, but I still believe the defense will be where they struggle.

4. Miami Dolphins (4-12): Bill Parcels' reclamation project is underway but is FAR from completion. Give him another two (2) years and then look for this team to challenge for the top spot in the division.

AFC NORTH

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6): The Steelers are still at the top of North until someone, possibly Cleveland, can knock them off. They have talent and a confident swagger about them. Look for them to repeat.

2. *Cleveland Browns (9-7): Before the preseason games started I had the Browns atop the division. But, their lackluster performances thus far have given me cause for alarm. I'm not entirely worried about this team, since it's only the preseason, but I do have reservations now.

3. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9): The Bengal offense is one of the most potent in the league but their defense is of MAJOR concern. Ok, let's be honest their defense is awful. Marvin Lewis has done a horrible job developing any kind of decent defense in Cincinnati and its going to cost him and the team in the end. 

4. Baltimore Ravens (6-10): The Ravens still have a solid defense, but their offense is lacking any kind of punch to it. Maybe the NFL will approve for the Bengals and Ravens to merge? The quarterback has been an issue ever since they arrived in Baltimore and it will continue to be this season. Joe Flacco appears to be the long term answer, but you never know because Baltimore has turned into a quarterback graveyard.

AFC SOUTH

1. Indianapolis Colts (10-6): Forget the injuries to Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison, this team is still very, very good. They are solid on both sides of the ball and I do not see them relinquishing their hold on the South title just yet.

2. *Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6): The Jaguars will be nipping at the Colts heels all season but will once again fall short. This will, once again, be a team that everyone hates to play. They will punch you in the mouth, figuratively (well, maybe literally as well), and then just keep punching you over and over again. Playing the Jags is like going 10 rounds against George Foreman. You may or may not win, but rest assured you will know you were in a fight.

3. Houston Texans (8-8): The Texans make it out of the cellar in the tough South. They have a good, young, up and coming team but they aren't there yet. The biggest concerns for the Texans are the offensive line and the health of Andre Johnson. If the line can open holes AND keep Matt Schaub upright and Johnson can stay healthy then this team can and will surprise many teams this season.

4. Tennessee Titans (7-9): There won't be any need for a gift from the Colts at the end of this season for the Titans because they simply aren't going to make the playoffs. I was shocked they made the playoffs last season to be perfectly honest with you. Their defense is good but their offense is bad, bad, bad. They can run the ball for sure but Vince Young and company couldn't get the passing game going even if the opposition's defense decides to not take the field.

AFC WEST

1. San Diego Chargers (11-5): In my estimation, this is team to beat in the AFC even with the injury to Shawne Merriman. Talent abounds on this Charger team. They should dominate the West and then coast at the end of the year to get everyone ready for the playoffs.

2. Denver Broncos (8-8): The Broncos are what they are... a .500 team. They aren't really bad, but they aren't really good either. They are just somewhere in the middle. They could surprise and make the playoffs, but I doubt it.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): The Chiefs are coming along fine. They are building the right way. Give this team another year or so and they should be back at their rightful position... challenging for the division title and the playoffs.

4. Oakland Raiders (5-11): The Raiders aren't good, sorry Raider Nation. Yes, they have JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden but what else do they have? They may do better than my predicted 5-11, but not by much.

Wildcard Playoffs

• Browns over Steelers

• Colts over Jaguars

Divisional Playoffs

• Chargers over Browns

• Colts over Patriots

AFC Championship

• Colts over Chargers

SUPER BOWL

• Cowboys over Colts

WORLD CHAMPION

• Dallas Cowboys