Rob0729

Ok, with the season starting in less than 36 hours, time to put the cards on the table and make some predictions. I will do it more in random thoughts:

Right off the bat, I predict the Pats' record will be 12-4. It was 13-3 before Seymour left. I will say that his loss may make the Pats lose a close game that they might have won with him in. He may make no difference in the wins and loss column though.

Surprise teams (in a good way):
Green Bay - although after their preseason they aren't such a surprise since they have become a trendy pick)
Houston
Denver (not that they will contend for anything, but they will be around 8-8 which is far better than people expect)
Jacksonville - Their season last year was bombed before it started since they lost almost all of their starting o-line before the season started. Derrick Harvey lost his rookie season because he held out until the eve of the season.

Surprise teams (in a bad way):
Miami - Not much of surprise since they are a trendy pick to take a step or two or three back.
Indy - I know this will get me accused of being a Colt hater by the Colts weren't as good as their record last year and are going into the season with a lot of holes without Dungy there to work around them. Caldwell is trying to get his defense bigger which means that at least short term, that doesn't mean better. The LT situation could be scary for Manning.
Titans - Can Kerry Collins keep it together for another year?
Dallas - Again, not much of a surprise. This team has implosion written all over it.

Playoff teams

AFC
Patriots
Steelers
Chargers
Texans

Wild cards:
Ravens
Jags

NFC
Eagles
Cards
Saints
Packers

Wild Cards
Vikes
Falcons

League MVP: Aaron Rodgers (finally silencing critics that blasted Ted Thompson for trading Brett Favre and going with Rodgers)
Offensive POY: Adrian Peterson
Defensive POY: Mario Williams (finally silencing the critics that blasted the Texans for taking him over the overrated Reggie Bush)
OROY: Jeremy Maclin (not loving anyone for this award yet, but I will say that with McNabb throwing to him he has a great chance. I know Percy Harvin is a trendy pick, but I don't know if the Vikes are going to want to toss it up all that much)
DROY: Aaron Curry
Comeback Player not Brady: David Garrard (Now that his o-line has stablized a bit, he should be able to go back to being more efficient. Also, adding Holt won't hurt although he doesn't have a lot left).
Coach of the Year: Mike McCarthy

First coach fired: Tom Cable (Al is too quick with the ejector seat in Oakland)
How many weeks before the first TO incident - 6


AFC East standings

Pats 12-4
Miami 8-8
Jets 7-9
Bills 6-10

Super Bowl pick:

Patriots over the Packers - I know this is the homer in me considering the defense is a question mark, but I think the Pats have some unfinished business to tend with.

WhiZa

I pretty much agree with all of it. Houston I am unsure about, and as much as I hate to say it I think Sanchez will be OROY just based on the fact he won't have to do much on that team and a lot of people sympathize for him.

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mayoclinic

Nice job. I like a lot of your predictions, including Houston making the playoffs. I think that they have a lot of young talent, have just missed several times in the past, and can hopefully put it together. I also think Connor Barwin will be huge for them as a situational pass-rusher opposite Super Mario. Indy makes it as a wild card over Jacksonville, though.

Some other thoughts:

1. I pick the Pats to finish 14-2, with losses to Baltimore and Tennessee. Once the defense comes together (around the bye week), this team will be very hard to beat.

2. I like Adrian Peterson as OPOY and Mario Williams as DPOY. Not sure I see Aaron Rogers having that kind of a season. I see a guy named Brady being the MVP.

3. Patriots over the Giants in a SB rematch - vengeance will be ours. Minnesota, Philly and Chicago will compete, but the Giants still have the nastiest defense in the NFC, and just enough offense.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

everlong

I see this as just the opposite. They showed in the pre-season they could stop the run but still cannot stop the pass. I think around the bye week the young secondary will start to pull it together and then they'll be very hard to beat. The Pats are lucky in that they don't play any offensive juggernauts in the first half of the season. Atlanta, Tenn and Baltimore offer problems but they are all run first team. If you only do one thing well Bill will take it away. These teams don't do well in long yardage situations but our secondary is still scary on 3rd and any distance. Luckily these are all at home.

Second half of the season Indy and NO are the two games where we'll see where the secondary is at.

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"When Peyton Manning was a kid he used to go to bed at night and dream about throwing the winning touchdown for the Saints in the Superbowl. And on Sunday he did."

There's only two conclusions for Patriots fans on rookies. They are either a bust or being fitted for their bust in Canton.


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mayoclinic

Read my post again - that's what I said. I said that we would lose 2 of our first 6 games (Baltimore week 4 and Tennesee week 6) while the secondary came together, and then they would be very hard to beat and would win out.

I agree that Indy and NO are the two teams who will test the secondary the most. Neither has enough of a running game to do much damage against us on that front, however. I'm glad those 2 games are in the 2nd half of the season, after the secondary has had time to come together.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

Ochmed Jones

I make no bones about it, I am picking the Patriots to win the SB. I think Brady stays healthy all year, if he is now. And the offense carries us while the defense grews some legs for a nice playoff run.

Here is why recurring nightmare prediction: At some point during the year, we will lose at least 4 DB's to injury and guys like Ventrone, Spann and Richardson will find their way back to us.

My "you don't have what it takes to go all out" prediction: All three of the old guys we brought in, Galloway, Taylor and Springs are on the IR when Mr. Kraft is giving his SB winning speech.

And finally my BB draft prediction. BB will take a WR in the next draft.

mgcolby

Teams that will not live up to the hype:

1. Dallas - as noted by OP they have implosion written all over them.

2. Philly - They will struggle early and then implode from within. Their O-line is terrible which coming into the season looked like their strength. They are dinged up all over the place. And McNabb is already seemingly annoyed by Vicks role.

3. Houston - Matt Schaub end of story. When he actually plays more than 11 games in a season then I will believe the hype. He *****es out again and the Texans linger around 8-8 despite all of the talent on their team.

Teams that will raise some eyebrows:

1. Cincy - They have added to their defense that despite the numbers was playing very well at the end of last year. They brought in Roy Williams and Tank Johnson, they drafted USC Ray (not trying to spell his last name) and they get Keith Rivers back. Their offense was simply terrible. Now they hope that Palmer can stay healthy (yes I know he has a high ankle sprain) for 16 games. They have a recommitted Chad Johnson and Chris Henry, who I think will have a monster season for them. Benson has actually looked good for them. Their weak link is the O-Line, its not terrible but not great either. I would say it is average. But I look for them to surprise some folks and push the 10 win mark.

2. Seattle - no one seems to be talking about them. They already have a solid defense and then add Curry to the mix. They signed TJ to bring them a consistent receiver, Burleson has had a solid camp and preseason beating out our hometown favorite Deion Branch for the 2nd receiver role. Hasselbeck seems to have his back issues under control and Julius appears primed to have a great year. IF both of those guys stay healthy I think they take the NFC West.

3. NY Jets - I think they will be better than most think. I don't see them winning 10 games, but I can definitely see them winning 8 and being a tough out every week.

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QB12

I don't see us losing.

19-0, with us beating Minnesota (13-3) in the Super Bowl.

bostonia3333

Ravens over Seahawks in Super Bowl

everlong

My bad I read it as run defense coming together for whatever reason. So we agree across the board.

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"When Peyton Manning was a kid he used to go to bed at night and dream about throwing the winning touchdown for the Saints in the Superbowl. And on Sunday he did."

There's only two conclusions for Patriots fans on rookies. They are either a bust or being fitted for their bust in Canton.


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