JaredOfNazareth

There will also be some average team that rebounds.

Broncos
Bengals
Steelers
Rams
Panthers
Falcans

JaredOfNazareth

BTW guys the only AFC contender to get better are the Pats( A. Thomas is huge IMO) and Broncos. Maybe the Ravens with McGahee but they also lost Thomas so thats a wash at best for them.

On the other hand. The Colts will be the same(Hopefully Vince Young can steal a game or two.) The Chargers have zero stability or leadership. None. That team played hard for Marty. But what about this new staff? Also when Meriman was suspended there D was very leaky. Not to mention guys like Marty, Cower and even Ditka have had some some retarded brutish teams. Simple people can get pumped up easily but they are not as aware and are prone to mistakes if you have a whole roster of these guys.

IIRC, Bill Walsh said something about the Bears, in the 80s, being brutes and they are easily beatable. Thats why they only won one SB. Same for Cowers Steelers. We will soon find out if the Chargers can handle more complexity from Turner. I predict more sloppy play and excuses.

Aqua4Ever04

I love all of you guys calling the Dolphins one of the bottom 5 teams in football. That seems impossible to me considering we have a top 5 defense in the league.

In:

Denver
New England
Philadelphia
Chicago
St. Louis

Out:

Buffalo
Oakland
Detroit
Washington
Tennessee

BoltsFan

So I'm assuming you're familiar with the SD draft. Apparently you're discounting it because it's a "draft." Definitely unknown potential w/regard to the draft. SD has not made "big" FA aquisitions in the off season. Actually Dielman was big but lets leave that alone.

With regard to the draft, has anybody been paying attention to how SD's been drafting lately and what we've mined from the draft in the last 3-4 years? I mean from an objective standpoint is there an NE fan out there prepared to say we suck at drafting? Is there an NE fan out there willing to say we don't know what we're doing? Putting the draft aside. In the last 4 years how many teams have picked up PB caliber UDFA's. Do the research. It's instructive.

Here's my point. Big FA acquisitions definitely do not always equate to improvement. I don't wanna get into previous particulars but if I were NE this year I would have focused on upgrading the DL, LB corps, and OL. I know you have to keep TB happy. I know its understood that NE is going to have to continually restructure his deal. Just sayin'... Your DL and LB corps deserve x amount of attention. Maybe I'm wrong? Maybe it's all good there? Time will tell...

Sean Pa Patriot

in

Pats
Colts
Bengals
Seahawks
Broncos

Out
Redskins
Cowboys
Raiders
Titans
Chiefs

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We going to take it one game at a time

BoltsFan

That's an interesting take. I view the Jets and Pats in much the same way. I think it's gonna be hard for NE to own the Jets this year. I don't think Mangini sucks. I think the Jets and Dolphins both have hard on's for your arse and you're gonna have to toss "A" game at both of them if you want to get by them. We'll see...

Mike the Brit

Well, you'll have to accept some homerism (I don't live in Homerville, but the mayor is a friend of mine ... ) but, even so, I think that the gap between the Pats and the Jets is bigger.

The Perfidious Penguin has done a good job and the Jets' off-season moves make sense to me, but the gap last season was bigger than that between the Broncos and the Chargers -- I think that the play-off meeting gave an objective picture. It's true that New England are going to have to be at their best, but complacent is not the message I get from the Patriots after their loss to the Colts.

Coaching changes are a big deal and there's no denying it. From my perspective, an organization that goes 14-2 and sacks their coach looks dysfunctional. If I was absolutely confident that the Bolts' talent couldn't overcome that negative, I would have the Broncos as a lock. As it is, I think that probably both will make the play-offs (Oakland is terrible and KC looks to be on the way down, so there will be some easy wins in the division when the two don't meet) but don't want to guess which will win the division.

Going back to the Jets, they are my other wildcard bet and they are the reason I make Buffalo and Miami locks not to go to the playoffs. Their division is just too strong. I certainly don't think either of them are among the worst five in the NFL, by the way, BetBoy -- that wasn't the question.

(Rationally, I could have made Cleveland a lock not to go to the play-offs too, for similar reasons, but my sentimental side hopes that Romeo can pull off a miracle.)

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They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Well, Pats fans should be invincible by now. [Fitzy, 16 November 2009]

Still here to learn

g-fresh

3 most likely to make it from the NFC:
Philadelphia
New Orleans
Seattle

I left Chicago out as a lock because unless they get something better at QB they are in big trouble. Add to that the fact that Briggs may not play and they are less of a lock than the teams I listed.

3 most likely to make it from the AFC:
New England
Indianapolis
San Diego

The AFC west should be interesting with the Chargers and Broncos battling for the top spot. On paper the Broncos could certainly win it, but I think talent wise Sand Diego is the second best team in the league right now. Of course a couple injuries and this all changes.

3 most likely to not make it from the NFC:
New York Giants
Tampa Bay
Minnesota

This was tough to choose, because it doesn't seem like any teams from the NFC should make the playoffs.

3 most likely to not make it from the AFC:
Oakland
Houston
Cleveland

No one is calling the Dolphins a bottom 5 team, they are saying they think they are among the 5 most likely to not make the playoffs; those are two very different things.

I sure hope not!

BoltsFan

Sigh.

Ok, lets look at your picks from a purely divisional perspective shall we? Can't argue much about your 1st 2 picks. Both should get there. By and large.

Indy has a clear cut bullseye on their ass and in no way am I sure that the Colts are up for the (frenchman speaking) challenge. I'm just not sure right now. Because they're actually not that good. I mean from a talent point of view. There's a lot that factors into winning it all. It was surprising to see PM rally the troops against NE the way he did. PM could have easily given up. Instead he manned up. Good on him.

Can't believe you've got the Bengals in and are dissing the Ravens? What? Are you thinking the Bengals are feeling like they have something to prove given their prior off field transgressions? Hmm, ya maybe. Given the fact that guys like DO, CH, and others may or may not be able to help? Do the Bengals have enough? Anythings possible but I'd rank the Ravens over the Bengals going into the pre-season.

So are NE fans of a mind that suggests that the NYJ and Miami have no game? I'm just saying the Jets could prove to be a hassle for NE. Honestly, it's looking that way to me. JMO. We all understand how important div rivalries are. Overall, NE has a losing record against both the Dolphins and the Jets. The Jet rivalry is pretty tight but you're still 4 down. Even after all your accomplishments. Point being the Jets and Miami should ALWAYS be a concern for NE. Miami actually tends to own you.

Now the big one. You actually believe the Broncos are more likely to get into the playoffs than the Bolts? Sigh. Rather than me get into why I think that's not true. I'd prefer you offer up your perspective on why you think that is true. Because I do not want to summarily refute things.

Bruschi 3:16

Huh? When was the last time Miami's super defense got them to the playoffs?

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