Predictions - First Pass!

[jeffbiologist]

I think my surprise team will be the Broncos--surprisingly BAD. Shanahan now has complete control, he has fired all the coordinators in previous years but this time he fired the GM(!!)and was in charge of the draft as well. Cutler goes down and the Broncos are fighting the Bears for the first pick in the draft--mark it down.
The NFC is still the national league here, but NO has made the most improvements and should battle one of the 3 NFC east teams for the SB.
The AFC, Pittsburgh will have a down year, and the Ravens(still with no QB) will step up like they should of last year. The AFC north-south battles this year will beat them both up, my 2 long shot wildcards are Oakland and the Texans.
Of course we win the East, and alot of our potential loss figuring has to do with those 4 west coast games. The fact that there are 2 back-to-backs gives us a great chance if we set up camp in CA and dont fly back. If this happens I say we go 14-2, if not we might slip to 12-4/11-5. Brett Favre is the Miami Dolphins version of Dante Culpepper!

 

[Richter]

What?

That Dallas game where Morris went out started a five game stretch where the offense averaged 41.6 points per game.

Morris was lost for the season before the offense peaked. His absence hurt, but please, can we stop overvaluing Sammy Morris on this board?

I'm not saying that the offense immediately declined, but that it "lost some punch". The physical side of the offense seemed diminished after that. They got it done with the aerial attack for a while, and then Maroney picked up his game to end the season, but the run of racking up quick points for three quarters and then grinding them to paste to run out the clock in the fourth petered out after Morris went down. The team seemed to go more to a short passing game to run the clock out after that. It's not overvaluing Morris, it's valuing a back who can pound a defense later in the game and give the offense that added dimension. This year, it could be Morris or Jordan, I don't care which, just as long as they get the job done. I love Maroney, he should be getting the bulk of backfield touches, but if the offense is looking to grind out first downs and run out the clock in the fourth quarter, I want a bigger, more physical, north-south runner to be toting the rock. I really like having Jordan on the team, and I think Morris' presence last year on the team past week 6 would have kept teams more honest.

 

[Richter]

I think my surprise team will be the Broncos--surprisingly BAD. Shanahan now has complete control, he has fired all the coordinators in previous years but this time he fired the GM(!!)and was in charge of the draft as well. Cutler goes down and the Broncos are fighting the Bears for the first pick in the draft--mark it down.

Totally agree about Denver. That's a bad team waiting to happen, especially with Marshall out early on. They still have no defensive line to speak of.

 

[BadMoFo]

Seems like none of the true homers will be happy unless the predictions have the Pats going 16-0 or 15-1, 14-2 at worst.


Face it, we are beatable. And just as easily as we went 16-0 last year, we could have easily been 13-3, maybe 12-4.

We are not as good this year as we were last year, so a 12-4 or an 11-5 prediction is not out of the question.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

That really is something I felt like there wasn't enough analysis of. When Morris went down against the Cowboys, that's when it felt like the offense lost some punch. They had the great game against the Bills, who were pathetic last season, and then the going got tougher, because the Pats couldn't platoon Maroney and Morris to wear down the opposing defensive line. I've often thought that if Morris stayed healthy, we would have beaten the Giants handily, because slowing down their rush would have been much easier with him in the backfield.

Agreed, our running attack did suffer with Morris hurt, although Maroney did have some good games, it was due to the other team stressing coverage.....

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

As long as we have home field advantage thru playoffs and don't lost to the Seahawks (the game I'm going to), I'll be happy.

 

[Disco Volante]

Seahawks (the game I'm going to), I'll be happy.

That's going to be an awesome environment man, loudest stadium in the NFL.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

That's going to be an awesome environment man, loudest stadium in the NFL.

I was there a couple of years ago when Bledsoe played for the Cowboys and he threw that late game INT which allowed the Seahawks to eventually win a game they had no business winning and was near deaf after I left.

 

[Richter]

That's going to be an awesome environment man, loudest stadium in the NFL.

Tell me about it. I was there for the opening of the stadium at the first preseason game. They set off fireworks during the opening ceremony, which just about made my ears bleed, then the crowd noise kicked in for the whole first half, and it was absolutely deafening. It finally quieted down when Dilfer blew his achilles, but damn, that place was seriously loud. Whoever Paul Allen hired to draw up plans to enhance the level of noise the stadium can generate did a bang-up job.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

REGULAR SEASON Prediction

After openning the season with 4 straight dominating wins, there will be more media saturation.....the undefeated question will come out again.

 

[Disco Volante]

Tell me about it. I was there for the opening of the stadium at the first preseason game. They set off fireworks during the opening ceremony, which just about made my ears bleed, then the crowd noise kicked in for the whole first half, and it was absolutely deafening. It finally quieted down when Dilfer blew his achilles, but damn, that place was seriously loud. Whoever Paul Allen hired to draw up plans to enhance the level of noise the stadium can generate did a bang-up job.

I really hope that's a game we can get an early lead in because I have a feeling that can turn into an Ravens "make you sick to your stomach until the final play" type of game.

REGULAR SEASON Prediction

After openning the season with 4 straight dominating wins, there will be more media saturation.....the undefeated question will come out again.

After opening the season with a win.*

Undefeated talk will start right away this season due to last year, with the volume turning up a bit with a week 6 win @ San Diego then proceeding to become deafening with a week 9 win @ Indy.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

I really hope that's a game we can get an early lead in because I have a feeling that can turn into an Ravens "make you sick to your stomach until the final play" type of game.



After opening the season with a win.*

Undefeated talk will start right away this season due to last year, with the volume turning up a bit with a week 6 win @ San Diego then proceeding to become deafening with a week 9 win @ Indy.

for some reason, maybe because I can't stand the Ravens, I actually enjoyed the last few minutes of that game, as the Ravens imploded. You just knew it was going to happen, that team is totally undisciplined.....

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

We are not as good this year as we were last year, so a 12-4 or an 11-5 prediction is not out of the question.

Really? Are you sure about that?

The losses in the secondary and helath of the OL just may prove you right. But for all we know Mayo could be a stud from day 1, Seymour shows his old skills, and the patchwork secondary gets the job done (with an assist from a nasty pass rush featuring AD outside and Crable helping out on passing downs). Maroney, Morris, and Jordan could team up to give the 2008 patriots a much better running offense than 2007. There might be a better chance of this team being worse but it isn't out of the question that it could be just as good.

Also, the schedule this year should be much easier. Look at it again. It is littered with garbade from the west coast. It is the easiest schedule in the league using 2007 records. The 2007 Patriots played 6 playoff teams and a 10-6 Browns team that didn't make the playoffs.

 

[bradmahn]

I'm not saying that the offense immediately declined, but that it "lost some punch". The physical side of the offense seemed diminished after that. They got it done with the aerial attack for a while, and then Maroney picked up his game to end the season, but the run of racking up quick points for three quarters and then grinding them to paste to run out the clock in the fourth petered out after Morris went down. The team seemed to go more to a short passing game to run the clock out after that. It's not overvaluing Morris, it's valuing a back who can pound a defense later in the game and give the offense that added dimension. This year, it could be Morris or Jordan, I don't care which, just as long as they get the job done. I love Maroney, he should be getting the bulk of backfield touches, but if the offense is looking to grind out first downs and run out the clock in the fourth quarter, I want a bigger, more physical, north-south runner to be toting the rock. I really like having Jordan on the team, and I think Morris' presence last year on the team past week 6 would have kept teams more honest.

Fair enough. My apologies for coming across with a little hostility, I've just seen far too many statements along the lines of "Morris was better than Maroney" and all that when it simply wasn't the case. Morris would have been truly beneficial later in the season but I think that has a lot to do with depth and, of course, the fact that he was a solid runner who was a potential receiver - something Maroney wasn't last year (for whatever reason, skills, usage, w/e).

A little more unpredictability from the RBs could have helped in all regards. This year should be much improved in that area.

 

[bradmahn]

Seems like none of the true homers will be happy unless the predictions have the Pats going 16-0 or 15-1, 14-2 at worst.


Face it, we are beatable. And just as easily as we went 16-0 last year, we could have easily been 13-3, maybe 12-4.

We are not as good this year as we were last year, so a 12-4 or an 11-5 prediction is not out of the question.

I'm going to have to agree with TB'sGoat and second his post.

It's foolish to say unequivocally that this year's team is not as good as last - they haven't even played the third effing preseason game!

 

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

The top 3 AFC teams amongst each other last year...

Pats: 3-0
Chargers: 2-2
Colts: 0-3

Care to elaborate on why you having us losing to both teams this year?

Also a Monday night home loss against a mediocre team seems strange. Though I'm assuming you think will have the post-Chargers came banged up hangover, which is fair.

Yes. We have spanked the Chargers time and time again, and traditionally, when one team owns another like that, at some point, the tide has to turn.

We have become very familiar with San Diego and they with us, and I just feel like the Chargers are due against us.

Last season notwithstanding, because I think that was once in a lifetime type of season, the Pats traditionally get stronger and play their best ball late.

I see the Chargers beating us in October and the Pats returning the favor when it counts - IN JANUARY!

As far as the Colts, they gave us one of our toughest games last season (along with the Eagles & the Ravens). They are a great team, with a strong defense and a top QB. I don't think it is a reach at all to think we would lose on the road to the Colts.

Believe me, I would love to go 16-0 again, but come on, let's be realistic. 12-4 is still the watermark of greatness in the NFL. 14-2, 15-1 = amazing. 16-0 = perfect.