Re: Anyone want a good laugh? I present the SI 06 predictions
I guess I'll throw my hat in the ring first:
* Miami will absolutely not win the East, but I'm sure that I'm not alone in that line of thinking. However, where I may be out on the edge is that I believe that Miami is not even a playoff calliber team. They fluked their way to a decent record last year, and will improve from a "should have been" 6-10 to 8-8. (Oh my God. After typing this I see that they have Miami in the Superbowl. The Super Bowl?!
:bricks: )
* The Steelers will not win 12 games. I do think that they will win the North, though.
* For a publication that focuses on sports, they don't even realize the basic components of an NFL prediction. Every year you have:
3-4 new Division winners, two of which that missed the playoffs the prior year.
3-4 playoff teams from last year will not go this year, and vice versa. At least one of these teams is a big surprise on either direction.
In their prediction, only 2 teams make the playoffs after missing it last year, with only one of them winning the division. None of the picks have a surprise nature to them whatsoever. Miami and Dallas are everyone's picks to make a run this year (which means neither will) and Jax/TB would probably be on everyone's ballot if asked which two playoff teams from last year will miss out this year. In reality, some team like Green Bay or StL is going to win a division this year. Count on it.
* I will be very surprised if Carolina makes it out of the NFC. Not because they aren't a good team, but becasue every single person I have read or spoken to about it is picking them. The Panthers aren't so good that it should be virtually unanimous, although the sad state of the NFC is a factor, I'm sure.