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document.write( " August 28, 2008 \n" ); document.write( "Upon Further Review: 2008 \n" ); document.write( " Predictions \n" ); document.write( "Welcome to the latest edition of "Upon \n" ); document.write( " Further Review" as this is my final warm-up before the regular season starts \n" ); document.write( " and my last chance to get into mid-season form. \n" ); document.write( "The preseason has come and gone. Yes, \n" ); document.write( " I know there is still one more preseason game left to play for everyone but \n" ); document.write( " let's be serious here... this game is less than a preseason game, it’s \n" ); document.write( " strictly a glorified scrimmage. So, with that in mind I will give you all my \n" ); document.write( " predictions for the year. Here we go: \n" ); document.write( "NFC EAST \n" ); document.write( "1. Dallas Cowboys (12-4): This team \n" ); document.write( " deep, with a capital D-E-E and P! There is talent everywhere. The only \n" ); document.write( " thing they need to watch out for is over confidence. If they can keep that \n" ); document.write( " in check, look for da' Boys to finish with the best record in the NFC. \n" ); document.write( "2. *New York Giants (10-6): The Osi \n" ); document.write( " Umenyiora injury hurts... badly! But the defense still has talent and they \n" ); document.write( " still have Steve Spagnuolo as their coordinator so they should be fine. \n" ); document.write( " Their offense is still very good, although they will have games where they \n" ); document.write( " will simply bog down for no reason. Heavy is the head that wears the crown \n" ); document.write( " and thus everyone on their schedule will be gunning for them. \n" ); document.write( "3. Washington Redskins (9-7): The \n" ); document.write( " 'Skins have a solid defense and that shouldn't be a problem area, especially \n" ); document.write( " with the addition of Jason Taylor. The offense is where most of the \n" ); document.write( " questions lay and it all starts at quarterback. Can Jason Campbell be the \n" ); document.write( " leader of this team? Can he play consistently enough throughout the season \n" ); document.write( " and not make too many mistakes? Those are bog question marks. I think he has \n" ); document.write( " the talent. Whether or not it can transfer onto the field is another \n" ); document.write( " question altogether. \n" ); document.write( "4. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Does \n" ); document.write( " finishing last in the NFL's best division make you a bad team? Nope! But of \n" ); document.write( " all the teams in the East the Eagles have the most questions. Can Donovan \n" ); document.write( " McNabb stay healthy? They need him to or the season is lost for sure. Can \n" ); document.write( " the defensive line and linebackers create enough of a pass rush? They \n" ); document.write( " better, especially against the likes of the Cowboys and Giants. Finally, \n" ); document.write( " will McNabb be able to find anyone open when he looks to pass the ball? Andy \n" ); document.write( " Reid can say that the wide receiver position is fine all he wants; the truth \n" ); document.write( " is this team is in dire need of a playmaker on the outside. This could very \n" ); document.write( " well be the defining position of, not only, the season but of Reid's tenure \n" ); document.write( " with the Birds. \n" ); document.write( "NFC NORTH \n" ); document.write( "1. Green Bay Packers (11-5): I've had \n" ); document.write( " time to think about this one. In my initial predictions I had Minnesota \n" ); document.write( " here. But I now have concerns with Minnesota's offense beyond Adrian \n" ); document.write( " Peterson, so I'm going with the Pack. With the exception of Brett Favre, the \n" ); document.write( " offense remains relatively intact. The defense is the same. The team was \n" ); document.write( " good last year and I think they will be good this year as well. \n" ); document.write( "2. *Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Again, I \n" ); document.write( " have major concerns for the offense beyond Andrian Peterson. I'm still not \n" ); document.write( " sold on Tavaris Jackson at quarterback. I just haven't seen enough from him \n" ); document.write( " yet. If he can get the ball to the wideouts and get guys out of the box, \n" ); document.write( " then Peterson will break the single season record for yardage. If he can't \n" ); document.write( " get the ball in the hands of the receivers consistently enough, then the \n" ); document.write( " yardage will be hard to come by for Peterson. \n" ); document.write( "3. Detroit Lions (8-8): The Lions are \n" ); document.write( " improving but they aren't quite there yet. The offense and defense have both \n" ); document.write( " looked good this preseason but remember, it’s just the preseason don't get \n" ); document.write( " too excited. The defense is still a major question mark. Will they be able \n" ); document.write( " to stop the run? If they can, then the sky is the limit for this squad. If \n" ); document.write( " they can't, then it will be much of the same for the Lions and their fans. \n" ); document.write( "4. Chicago Bears (5-11): Any team that \n" ); document.write( " has to flip a coin to decide on a starting quarterback is already in \n" ); document.write( " trouble. Add to it a suspect offensive line, an unproven running back and \n" ); document.write( " wide receivers that I could cover (except for Devin Hester of course, but \n" ); document.write( " just because he's so fast) and you have a recipe for disaster. It’s not \n" ); document.write( " going to be fun in Chicago this year. Hey, at least you got the Cubs and \n" ); document.write( " White Sox. \n" ); document.write( "NFC SOUTH \n" ); document.write( "1. New Orleans Saints (10-6): I \n" ); document.write( " struggled with this pick. There are three teams who are very close, but not \n" ); document.write( " all together great. I went with the Saints simply because I love their \n" ); document.write( " offense and think their defense will play well enough to keep them in many \n" ); document.write( " games. Besides, someone has to win this division right? \n" ); document.write( "2. Carolina Panthers (9-7): Here comes \n" ); document.write( " the surprise pick. I can't really put my finger on why, call it a gut \n" ); document.write( " feeling (then again I did just finish eating some leftover Thai food from \n" ); document.write( " the fridge), but I just see the Panthers finishing second and just miss out \n" ); document.write( " on making the playoffs. Call me crazy. Heck, I've been called worse and \n" ); document.write( " that's just by my wife. There is something I just like about this squad. \n" ); document.write( "3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8): I'm not \n" ); document.write( " sold on this team. Maybe I'm completely wrong, it wouldn't be a shocker. \n" ); document.write( " There is just something about this team that I don't like. Jeff Garcia is a \n" ); document.write( " gutsy quarterback and he gives 100%, but I just don't feel comfortable with \n" ); document.write( " him as the starter. I think it all goes back to him being the starter of my \n" ); document.write( " Cleveland Browns. Some memories are just hard to forget. \n" ); document.write( "4. Atlanta Falcons (4-12): The Falcons \n" ); document.write( " have some talent at certain positions, but overall they pretty much stink. \n" ); document.write( " The Matt Ryan selection was a step in the right direction. But it’s going to \n" ); document.write( " take more than a quarterback to right this ship. If they keep making solid \n" ); document.write( " choices like Ryan then the Falcons will be back sooner rather than later. \n" ); document.write( " The Falcons will end the streak of five (5) last-to-first finishes in this \n" ); document.write( " division. \n" ); document.write( "NFC WEST \n" ); document.write( "1. Seattle Seahawks (10-6): Picking \n" ); document.write( " the Seahawks to win this division is kinda like me picking my favorite "boy \n" ); document.write( " band". I'm not a fan of any of them but I do have to choose one. The \n" ); document.write( " Seahawks were the class of this division last year and nothing has changed. \n" ); document.write( " They are the best team in a weak division. \n" ); document.write( "2. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): The \n" ); document.write( " Cardinals offense can score points with any team in the NFL, as long as Matt \n" ); document.write( " Leinart isn't under center, but their defense is still questionable. Add to \n" ); document.write( " it Anquan Boldin's discontent and I see the Cardinals at or below .500. \n" ); document.write( "3. St. Louis Rams (6-10): The Rams \n" ); document.write( " just need to get healthy. The offense is still solid, of course with the \n" ); document.write( " loss of Isaac Bruce it will be curious to see who setups to take the heat \n" ); document.write( " off Torry Holt (and someone PLEASE do that because I have Holt in my fantasy \n" ); document.write( " league)? The defense is still a question mark even with Chris Long on the \n" ); document.write( " roster. Heck, they'd probably still be in trouble if Howie Long was on their \n" ); document.write( " roster as well. \n" ); document.write( "4. San Francisco 49ers (5-11): I do \n" ); document.write( " not like this team at all. Mike Nolan hasn't shown me anything except that \n" ); document.write( " he's a snappy dresser. Their big ticket free agent last season, Nate \n" ); document.write( " Clemens, got burned more times than me when I pick up a pan without a \n" ); document.write( " potholder... and I do that just about every day. \n" ); document.write( "Wildcard Playoffs \n" ); document.write( "
Divisional Playoffs \n" ); document.write( "
NFC Championship \n" ); document.write( "
AFC EAST \n" ); document.write( "1. New England Patriots (11-5): The \n" ); document.write( " best team during the regular season last year, takes a few steps backwards. \n" ); document.write( " They are still the class of the East, but teams will be better prepared for \n" ); document.write( " them now. Besides, their defense is of big concern to me. I mean, the \n" ); document.write( " average age of their defenders is like 82 or something like that... I was \n" ); document.write( " never good at Math. The Pats will still win the division but I just don't \n" ); document.write( " see them dominating like they did last season. \n" ); document.write( "2. Buffalo Bills (9-7): The Bills are \n" ); document.write( " up and coming. It’s just a shame that they may be up and coming to Toronto \n" ); document.write( " very soon. There is talent in Buffalo for sure. They are just too \n" ); document.write( " inconsistent for my liking. \n" ); document.write( "3. New York Jets (8-8): Brett Favre be \n" ); document.write( " damned! This team will still finish at or near the .500 mark even with the \n" ); document.write( " future Hall of Famer. I like what they did on offense, somewhat, but I still \n" ); document.write( " believe the defense will be where they struggle. \n" ); document.write( "4. Miami Dolphins (4-12): Bill \n" ); document.write( " Parcels' reclamation project is underway but is FAR from completion. Give \n" ); document.write( " him another two (2) years and then look for this team to challenge for the \n" ); document.write( " top spot in the division. \n" ); document.write( "AFC NORTH \n" ); document.write( "1. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6): The \n" ); document.write( " Steelers are still at the top of North until someone, possibly Cleveland, \n" ); document.write( " can knock them off. They have talent and a confident swagger about them. \n" ); document.write( " Look for them to repeat. \n" ); document.write( "2. *Cleveland Browns (9-7): Before the \n" ); document.write( " preseason games started I had the Browns atop the division. But, their \n" ); document.write( " lackluster performances thus far have given me cause for alarm. I'm not \n" ); document.write( " entirely worried about this team, since it's only the preseason, but I do \n" ); document.write( " have reservations now. \n" ); document.write( "3. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9): The \n" ); document.write( " Bengal offense is one of the most potent in the league but their defense is \n" ); document.write( " of MAJOR concern. Ok, let's be honest their defense is awful. Marvin Lewis \n" ); document.write( " has done a horrible job developing any kind of decent defense in Cincinnati \n" ); document.write( " and its going to cost him and the team in the end. \n" ); document.write( "4. Baltimore Ravens (6-10): The Ravens \n" ); document.write( " still have a solid defense, but their offense is lacking any kind of punch \n" ); document.write( " to it. Maybe the NFL will approve for the Bengals and Ravens to merge? The \n" ); document.write( " quarterback has been an issue ever since they arrived in Baltimore and it \n" ); document.write( " will continue to be this season. Joe Flacco appears to be the long term \n" ); document.write( " answer, but you never know because Baltimore has turned into a quarterback \n" ); document.write( " graveyard. \n" ); document.write( "AFC SOUTH \n" ); document.write( "1. Indianapolis Colts (10-6): Forget \n" ); document.write( " the injuries to Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison, this team is still very, \n" ); document.write( " very good. They are solid on both sides of the ball and I do not see them \n" ); document.write( " relinquishing their hold on the South title just yet. \n" ); document.write( "2. *Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6): The \n" ); document.write( " Jaguars will be nipping at the Colts heels all season but will once again \n" ); document.write( " fall short. This will, once again, be a team that everyone hates to play. \n" ); document.write( " They will punch you in the mouth, figuratively (well, maybe literally as \n" ); document.write( " well), and then just keep punching you over and over again. Playing the Jags \n" ); document.write( " is like going 10 rounds against George Foreman. You may or may not win, but \n" ); document.write( " rest assured you will know you were in a fight. \n" ); document.write( "3. Houston Texans (8-8): The Texans \n" ); document.write( " make it out of the cellar in the tough South. They have a good, young, up \n" ); document.write( " and coming team but they aren't there yet. The biggest concerns for the \n" ); document.write( " Texans are the offensive line and the health of Andre Johnson. If the line \n" ); document.write( " can open holes AND keep Matt Schaub upright and Johnson can stay healthy \n" ); document.write( " then this team can and will surprise many teams this season. \n" ); document.write( "4. Tennessee Titans (7-9): There won't \n" ); document.write( " be any need for a gift from the Colts at the end of this season for the \n" ); document.write( " Titans because they simply aren't going to make the playoffs. I was shocked \n" ); document.write( " they made the playoffs last season to be perfectly honest with you. Their \n" ); document.write( " defense is good but their offense is bad, bad, bad. They can run the ball \n" ); document.write( " for sure but Vince Young and company couldn't get the passing game going \n" ); document.write( " even if the opposition's defense decides to not take the field. \n" ); document.write( "AFC WEST \n" ); document.write( "1. San Diego Chargers (11-5): In my \n" ); document.write( " estimation, this is team to beat in the AFC even with the injury to Shawne \n" ); document.write( " Merriman. Talent abounds on this Charger team. They should dominate the West \n" ); document.write( " and then coast at the end of the year to get everyone ready for the \n" ); document.write( " playoffs. \n" ); document.write( "2. Denver Broncos (8-8): The Broncos \n" ); document.write( " are what they are... a .500 team. They aren't really bad, but they aren't \n" ); document.write( " really good either. They are just somewhere in the middle. They could \n" ); document.write( " surprise and make the playoffs, but I doubt it. \n" ); document.write( "3. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): The \n" ); document.write( " Chiefs are coming along fine. They are building the right way. Give this \n" ); document.write( " team another year or so and they should be back at their rightful \n" ); document.write( " position... challenging for the division title and the playoffs. \n" ); document.write( "4. Oakland Raiders (5-11): The Raiders \n" ); document.write( " aren't good, sorry Raider Nation. Yes, they have JaMarcus Russell and Darren \n" ); document.write( " McFadden but what else do they have? They may do better than my predicted \n" ); document.write( " 5-11, but not by much. \n" ); document.write( "Wildcard Playoffs \n" ); document.write( "
Divisional Playoffs \n" ); document.write( "
AFC Championship \n" ); document.write( "
SUPER BOWL \n" ); document.write( "
WORLD CHAMPION \n" ); document.write( "
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