NFL season predictions

[PonyExpress]

AFC East
NE 13-3: most talented Pat team of SB era
NYJ 9-7*: Noodle arm gets his nine wins
Buf 6-10: Old men have too much youth
Mia 5-11: should have kept Culpepper and drafted Quinn

AFC North
Cin 11-5: D earns nickname "The Chaingang"
Bal 10-6*: Ngata great year for McNair
Pitt 7-9: rookie HC takes it on the Chin
Cle 6-10: swan song for Romeo

AFC South
JK 12-4: brawn overcomes lack of brain
Ind 9-7: shaky D sabotages great QB
Hou 6-10: Schaub better than Carr; who isn't?
Ten 6-10: VY gets some Ws, learns his ABCs.

AFC West
SD 13-3: Norv's wrench can't stop the victory machine
Oak 8-8: Surprise: Culpepper is back
Den 7-9: Al Wilson took the heart of Denver D with him
KC 4-12: 3 yards and a cloud of cliches from Herm

AFC Wild Card
Jac def NYJ
Cin def Bal

AFC Division
NE def Jac
SD def Cin

AFCCG
NE def SD

NFC East
Phi 11-5: Better balance on O keeps McNabb upright
Dal 10-6*: D Ware dominates
Was 9-7: Campbell makes leap
NYG 8-8: Eli better off without Barberella

NFC North
GB 9-7: victory lap for Favre
Chi 7-9: lack of leadership on O sinks ship
Det 6-10: Kitna loses all the close games
Min 4-12: weak at HC and QB

NFC South
NO 11-5: Bush breaks out
Car 11-5*: "every other year" trend continues
TB 5-11: Gruden packs it in
Atl 4-12: Petrino gets a reprieve, Vick doesn't

NFC West
StL 9-7: lesser of four evils
Sea 7-9: window closed
Ari 7-9: Chef Whis needs to add more seasoning
SF 6-10: The clothes don't make the man

NFC Wild Card
Dal def StL
Car def GB

NFC Divisional
NO def Car
Phi def Dal

NFCCG
NO def Phi

Super Bowl
NE def NO

 

[amazinPats]

AFC East
AFCCG
NE def SD

Was waiting to see if you would pick us here. We'd run you out of town with a SD pick!

 

[patriot lifer]

Was waiting to see if you would pick us here. We'd run you out of town with a SD pick!

"def" means defeats

 

[amazinPats]

"def" means defeats

Yeah, I know. I was waiting to see if Pony was going to pick NE as I was reading the playoff picks leading up the AFCCG.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

So Cincy goes 11-5 with no defense but Indy, with a much better offense and a weaker division, goes 9-7 with no defense? Indy missing the playoffs is a pipe dream.

What happened to Chicago? I don't care how much you hate Rex, that team made the superbowl last year and hasn't taken any hits.

Jax wins 12 games with two crappy QBs and a slew of crappy receivers for those QBs to throw to? This isn't as egregious as the above predictions. I just don't see it happening.

Small things aren't really worth discussing, because so much is unknown. Those above predictions are just silly, though.

Oh, and 7-9 is the low end for Denver. They could win between 7-12 games and I wouldn't really be surprised. I have no issue with you guessing the low end. It just sticks out.

 

[PATRIOT64]

AFC EAST
New England 12-4 Much the best of this bunch
New York Jets 10-6 Should provide a challange for a wild card but falls short
Miami 8-8 The running of Brown and the front 7 keep Miami at .500
Buffalo 6-10 Too many key losses on defense for Bills to overcome

AFC NORTH
Baltimore 11-5 Defense is SB caliber - Offense is a work in progress
Cincinnati 10-6 Opposite of Baltimore - Offense is great,Defense so so
Pittsburgh 8-8 Will struggle under new HC leadership,at least this year
Cleveland 6-10 Romeo will be a highly sought DC after this season

AFC SOUTH
Indianapolis 11-5 This division may come down to tiebreaker with Jax
Jacksonville 11-5 Super talent on defense will make Indy work to win South
Houston 9-7 This team is within 2 years away of being a SB contender
Tennessee 7-9 Unless this team gets some WRs soon,Young is in trouble

AFC WEST
San Diego 13-3 Turner makes no difference with this talent laden team
Denver 10-6 Will lose both games to SD and Cutler is just learning
Oakland 7-9 Another awesome defensive team without an offense
Kansas City 3-13 Preist Holmes may wish he retired - LJ deserves more

Division Winners - NE,Baltimore,Indy,and SD
Wild Cards - Cincinnati and Jacksonville
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

NFC EAST
Washington 10-6 Laron Landry makes this defense better,Campbell is good
Philadelphia 10-6 Will be a fight to the finish with Washington for NFC East
NY Giants 9-7 Eli will have his best year but they have no running game
Dallas 8-8 I cannot pick a team with Wade Phillips as Head Coach

NFC NORTH
Chicago 10-6 Rex cannot get any worse and defense may be better
Detroit 9-7 Once year away from taking the North,The offense is great
Minnesota 8-8 If this team had decent QB and WRs,They would be tough
Green Bay 4-12 "Why did I stay one more year?" Favre will say in January

NFC SOUTH
New Orleans 13-3 Well coached,VERY talented team,Clinches South in Dec.
Carolina 11-5 Too much expected last year,the heat is off now
Tampa Bay 6-10 Have too many indecisive choices at QB,Not a good thing
Atlanta 2-14 This offense was tailor made for Vicks talent-Now NO Vick

AFC West
Arizona 10-6 The Cardinals finally play well + SB in Ariz gives incentive
San Francisco 9-7 The 49ers will be SB bound within 3-4 years,not yet
St. Louis 8-8 The loss of Curtis may hurt ,Holt & Bruce getting old
Seattle 8-8 The lines on both sides of the ball are average at best

Division Winners - Washington,Chicago,New Orleans,Arizona
Wild Cards - Carolina and Philadelphia
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On fear of passing bad karma,I go no further for playoff predictions

 

[PonyExpress]

So Cincy goes 11-5 with no defense but Indy, with a much better offense and a weaker division, goes 9-7 with no defense? Indy missing the playoffs is a pipe dream.

What happened to Chicago? I don't care how much you hate Rex, that team made the superbowl last year and hasn't taken any hits.

Jax wins 12 games with two crappy QBs and a slew of crappy receivers for those QBs to throw to? This isn't as egregious as the above predictions. I just don't see it happening.

Small things aren't really worth discussing, because so much is unknown. Those above predictions are just silly, though.

Oh, and 7-9 is the low end for Denver. They could win between 7-12 games and I wouldn't really be surprised. I have no issue with you guessing the low end. It just sticks out.

The Cinci Linebacking corps has improved with the maturation of Ahmad Brooks and the addition of Edge Hartwell, 2 years removed from his Achilles' injury. The cb have a high ceiling: Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall are their most recent 1st rd picks, and Deltha O'Neal, while awful last season, has a history of quality play, only 1 year removed from the pro bowl. One or two solid players can make all the difference in a D.

As for the Colts, the fact they lost their Left Tackle, their starting CBs, their best Lber, are coming off the banquet circuit, have avoided injury to any of their key offensive weapons for years, and IMO play a rough schedule contributed to my prediction.

As for Denver, they are starting a Qb in his first full season; the leader of their D was cut with a neck injury. They had an emotionally devastating offseason. Their D-line has been completely reworked, and they plan to rely on rookies for a pass rush. Despite the talents of Jim Bates, that is alot to overcome. On offense, Travis Henry sustained a sprained knee in his the last preseason game, which could slow their running game early in the year; Nalen is a year older, Rod Smith disappeared last season, due to age. IMO this will be a down year for a great coach.

The Jaguars played much better than their record last season, has their starting QB back, a tremendous LB corps, a solid secondary, an awesome D-line, 2 quality rbs. Your dismissal of them is too cavalier.

As for Chicago, T. Jones was the leader of that O and left town. Over the last 7 years the loser of the Sb has plummeted the following season. The one "exception" was Seattle last year, who went 9-7.

 

[fair catch fryar]

After the SB I predicted Indy would go 9-7 or 8-8 and miss the playoffs. Since I've had time to recover and cool down, I still believe the SB ultimately goes through them again this year, the only difference being that we get to go through them at Gilette this time! IMO Any other predictions are useless, these 2 will be here come January and anyones else is just in the way!

 

[PonyExpress]

AFC EAST
New England 12-4 Much the best of this bunch
New York Jets 10-6 Should provide a challange for a wild card but falls short
Miami 8-8 The running of Brown and the front 7 keep Miami at .500
Buffalo 6-10 Too many key losses on defense for Bills to overcome

AFC NORTH
Baltimore 11-5 Defense is SB caliber - Offense is a work in progress
Cincinnati 10-6 Opposite of Baltimore - Offense is great,Defense so so
Pittsburgh 8-8 Will struggle under new HC leadership,at least this year
Cleveland 6-10 Romeo will be a highly sought DC after this season

AFC SOUTH
Indianapolis 11-5 This division may come down to tiebreaker with Jax
Jacksonville 11-5 Super talent on defense will make Indy work to win South
Houston 9-7 This team is within 2 years away of being a SB contender
Tennessee 7-9 Unless this team gets some WRs soon,Young is in trouble

AFC WEST
San Diego 13-3 Turner makes no difference with this talent laden team
Denver 10-6 Will lose both games to SD and Cutler is just learning
Oakland 7-9 Another awesome defensive team without an offense
Kansas City 3-13 Preist Holmes may wish he retired - LJ deserves more

Division Winners - NE,Baltimore,Indy,and SD
Wild Cards - Cincinnati and Jacksonville
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

NFC EAST
Washington 10-6 Laron Landry makes this defense better,Campbell is good
Philadelphia 10-6 Will be a fight to the finish with Washington for NFC East
NY Giants 9-7 Eli will have his best year but they have no running game
Dallas 8-8 I cannot pick a team with Wade Phillips as Head Coach

NFC NORTH
Chicago 10-6 Rex cannot get any worse and defense may be better
Detroit 9-7 Once year away from taking the North,The offense is great
Minnesota 8-8 If this team had decent QB and WRs,They would be tough
Green Bay 4-12 "Why did I stay one more year?" Favre will say in January

NFC SOUTH
New Orleans 13-3 Well coached,VERY talented team,Clinches South in Dec.
Carolina 11-5 Too much expected last year,the heat is off now
Tampa Bay 6-10 Have too many indecisive choices at QB,Not a good thing
Atlanta 2-14 This offense was tailor made for Vicks talent-Now NO Vick

AFC West
Arizona 10-6 The Cardinals finally play well + SB in Ariz gives incentive
San Francisco 9-7 The 49ers will be SB bound within 3-4 years,not yet
St. Louis 8-8 The loss of Curtis may hurt ,Holt & Bruce getting old
Seattle 8-8 The lines on both sides of the ball are average at best

Division Winners - Washington,Chicago,New Orleans,Arizona
Wild Cards - Carolina and Philadelphia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

On fear of passing bad karma,I go no further for playoff predictions

I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes to do this kind of thing! I love the Pats, but the whole league is interesting. I hope other people chime in. In fact an "over under" contest of total wins, for every team, would be an interesting exercise for the board.

 

[He Ban Me]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes to do this kind of thing! I love the Pats, but the whole league is interesting. I hope other people chime in. In fact an "over under" contest of total wins, for every team, would be an interesting exercise for the board.

The most intriguing thing to me is that in the AFC, there is a wonderful Round Robin for Divisional Winners last season. Indy and Pats have TWO of those games on the road, while Ravens and Chargers have two of the three at home. As Gene Keady used to say (when Big Ten scheduled 18 Conference Games-home and home series), it's not only who you play, but when you play them. I like SD's chance to go 3-0. Their roadie is early at NE, what better time to go to NE than early in the season (before they ramp it up AND the weather gets nasty). Baltimore might have the most difficult time with 3-0, since they go to SD, then home with Pats and Colts, back-to-back-to-back. Pats have a legit shot at 3-0, with SD at home, if they get by that, the Colts are bookended by some cream puffs (Skins and Bills), then they get Ravens off the heels of their(Ravens) roadie to SD. Colts get Pats at home Nov. 4th. Then right out to SD.

Methinks SD goes 3-0
Colts 2-1
Pats 1-2
Ravens 0-3

 

[Seven Nation Army]

Where is this idea that the Chargers are going to have a spectacular season coming from? Is there any evidence to suggest this? PonyExpress, if your predictions come true it will be the first playoff victory for San Diego since about 1995.

*San Diego will not win its division.

*Indy will be eliminated on the road in either Denver or Foxboro during the Divisional Round.

*It is going to be Denver and New England in the AFC Championship Game in Foxboro.

*The Super Bowl will be a rematch of XXXIX: New England and Philly.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

The Cinci Linebacking corps has improved with the maturation of Ahmad Brooks and the addition of Edge Hartwell, 2 years removed from his Achilles' injury. The cb have a high ceiling: Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall are their most recent 1st rd picks, and Deltha O'Neal, while awful last season, has a history of quality play, only 1 year removed from the pro bowl. One or two solid players can make all the difference in a D.

As for the Colts, the fact they lost their Left Tackle, their starting CBs, their best Lber, are coming off the banquet circuit, have avoided injury to any of their key offensive weapons for years, and IMO play a rough schedule contributed to my prediction.

As for Denver, they are starting a Qb in his first full season; the leader of their D was cut with a neck injury. They had an emotionally devastating offseason. Their D-line has been completely reworked, and they plan to rely on rookies for a pass rush. Despite the talents of Jim Bates, that is alot to overcome. On offense, Travis Henry sustained a sprained knee in his the last preseason game, which could slow their running game early in the year; Nalen is a year older, Rod Smith disappeared last season, due to age. IMO this will be a down year for a great coach.

The Jaguars played much better than their record last season, has their starting QB back, a tremendous LB corps, a solid secondary, an awesome D-line, 2 quality rbs. Your dismissal of them is too cavalier.

As for Chicago, T. Jones was the leader of that O and left town. Over the last 7 years the loser of the Sb has plummeted the following season. The one "exception" was Seattle last year, who went 9-7.

I may not agree with your conclusions but I respect your thought process. I can buy some of your reasoning, just not when it comes to Indy. They can do it with smoke and mirrors, and that offense alone can win 10+ games.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Patriots64, by my rough calculation your league has 277 wins and 241 losses. Ain't gonna happen!

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

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On fear of passing bad karma,I go no further for playoff predictions

Good job but you're a little too optimistic for a few of the teams. You've got 42 more wins than losses and they've got to even out. There may always be a few more winning teams thna losing ones (and vice versa) but 17 teams with over .500 records against 7 sub .500 teams isn't likely.

Edit- I didn't seee Mike the Brits post when I posted mine.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

What happened to Chicago? I don't care how much you hate Rex, that team made the superbowl last year and hasn't taken any hits.

In support of Pony:

Look, I don't hate Dyslexy Rexy, but I agree he's not going to set the world on fire. He showed he is eminently rattle-able, not just in the SB, but for weeks prior. Their D, for all the great moments and overall toughness they showed, was not a Baltimore 01-style suffocating, dominating D -- it was one that made you go "Oh Shoot!" way too often. Lots of turnovers. Yes they put themselves in position to make those plays, but it is a very special D indeed that can duplicate the luck, the opponent ineptitute, and the skill that makes the turnover its hallmark. I don't think this Chicago D is that special.

That said, they have everything in place, assuming:

- Cedric Benson is not a hump (although he seems to be a pouting beeyotch);
- Rex can read the blitz and not collapse in a sobbing, sweaty-palmed heap
- The receivers give Rex a consistent target; they're not the world's most talented crop

BUT I will say they have the personnel in line to be the "class" of the NFC North for a few years. I just don't know that it goes any deeper than that.

PFnV

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

In support of Pony:

Look, I don't hate Dyslexy Rexy, but I agree he's not going to set the world on fire. He showed he is eminently rattle-able, not just in the SB, but for weeks prior. Their D, for all the great moments and overall toughness they showed, was not a Baltimore 01-style suffocating, dominating D -- it was one that made you go "Oh Shoot!" way too often. Lots of turnovers. Yes they put themselves in position to make those plays, but it is a very special D indeed that can duplicate the luck, the opponent ineptitute, and the skill that makes the turnover its hallmark. I don't think this Chicago D is that special.

That said, they have everything in place, assuming:

- Cedric Benson is not a hump (although he seems to be a pouting beeyotch);
- Rex can read the blitz and not collapse in a sobbing, sweaty-palmed heap
- The receivers give Rex a consistent target; they're not the world's most talented crop

BUT I will say they have the personnel in line to be the "class" of the NFC North for a few years. I just don't know that it goes any deeper than that.

PFnV

I don't disagree with anything you said. I'm just saying that Chicago doesn't have a losing record in the abysmal NFC. They wouldn't make the playoffs in the AFC, but they're the favorites in the NFC.

 

[He Ban Me]

Good job but you're a little too optimistic for a few of the teams. You've got 42 more wins than losses and they've got to even out. There may always be a few more winning teams thna losing ones (and vice versa) but 17 teams with over .500 records against 7 sub .500 teams isn't likely.

Edit- I didn't seee Mike the Brits post when I posted mine.

That's funny, I didn't bother to check w-l's.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Patriots64, by my rough calculation your league has 277 wins and 241 losses. Ain't gonna happen!

Just a stab in the dark predictions,But what the hell-Its still preseason and nothing really important to talk about

 

[Mike the Brit]

Just a stab in the dark predictions,But what the hell-Its still preseason and nothing really important to talk about

No worries -- it shows that you have a generous heart ...

 

[Oswlek]

I'm not giving any major predictions yet, but I just wanted to remind everyone a few things:

1) There will be at least three new division champs. It happens every year and still people are suprised when the season doesn't play out exactly like the last one.

2) At least one of those three new champs will be a non-playoff team the prior year.

3) At least two playoff teams were non-playoff teams the prior year.

4) At least one prior year division champ will drop off the map - very regularly in disastrous fashion.

These scenarios happen every year, yet despite this, people still get up in arms when they see predictions of 7-9 and 8-8 seasons from a good team from the year before. It *will* happen. It's just a matter of who.