SI 2008 NFL Predictions: Pats over Eagles (SB 43)

[Disco Volante]

SI Full 2008 NFL Predictions

New England Patriots
Projected Finish: 1st in AFC East
-Paul Zimmerman

It's business as usual: Replacement parts have been found, everyone's locked in, the machine rolls on to the Super Bowl.

The 2002 Super Bowl -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 -- had been over for a few hours, and Bill Belichick, the New England coach, shook his head and mumbled to the few people near him, "Can you believe we won the Super Bowl with this?"

It was hard to believe then that Belichick's collection of castoffs and reclamation projects had become world champions. Now it's not so hard. In an era in which dynasties are supposedly impossible because of the salary cap, free agency and so forth, the Patriots under Belichick have marched through the 21st century like medieval warlords. In the last seven years they've won three Super Bowls in four appearances, and they're overwhelming favorites to be back this year.

Oh sure, there's always some tweaking to do. Two years ago they wouldn't pay the price to keep David Givens and Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch, so off went their two top wideouts. "Give me wide receivers," Tom Brady said after the 2006 season, in one of his few public shows of annoyance. So in came a supposedly washed-up Randy Moss, who had an All-Pro year, and Wes Welker, Brady's magician on the hot reads, who tied for the league lead in receptions.

[Continued...]

 

[JSn]

Now that article makes me happy (I ignored the mention of Webster, lol).

Go Pat's. May you visit each team on the schedule with your goodie bag of soul-crushing defeats blank stares for the media.

 

[fgssand]

Sure would be fun to make those obnoxious Eagle fans..."Cry Eagles Cry", again. They were much worse that ram, panther (panther fans were actually really nice) and giant fans put together at each superbowl.

 

[Mogamedogz]

Great. Dr. Z is picking us... maybe we are worse off than I thought.

 

[Kontradiction]

Dr. Z is notoriously terrible on his Super Bowl predictions. Isn't this considered a curse as well?

 

[BadMoFo]

The kiss of death. Can't wait for basketball season.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Man! I sure hate these predictions, especially those that jinx. And this when we continue to read reports about how our OL is not doing good, we have only two TEs both of whom are prone to get hurt quickly, our CBs aren't good, our ST sucks at this point...whew...

I am going to try to persuade all the prediction guys to please pick the Jets or the Bills.

 

[rusH1023]

Great. Dr. Z is picking us... maybe we are worse off than I thought.

Took the words out of my mouth. Same guy who called us "Smooth Criminals" a year ago next month.

 

[BadMoFo]

I think we'll be pretty good next year, not like last year good. I don't think the Eagles will go 12-4, not in their division.

 

[primetime]

Dr. Z is notoriously terrible on his Super Bowl predictions. Isn't this considered a curse as well?

He picked the Giants last year before the Super Bowl.

 

[Disco Volante]

The last 6 years of Dr. Z's silly NFL predictions...

2002: Rams over Steelers
2003: Buccaneers over Chiefs
2004: Patriots over Seahawks
2005: Panthers over Colts
2006: Panthers over Dolphins
2007: Saints over Chargers

The one year he did pick us, we won the Super Bowl. Also the only other time Brady was on the SI NFL season preview cover was during the 2004 Super Bowl season. Any curse obviously wouldn't apply to us.

 

[Mogamedogz]

He picked the Giants last year before the Super Bowl.

The sun shines on every dogs arss once in a while.

 

[BadMoFo]

He picked the Giants last year before the Super Bowl.

So he picked one game correctly, great for him.


These are his actual predictions for last year:

AFC EAST
Patriots 12-4
Jets 9-7
Bills 8-8
Dolphins 5-11

AFC NORTH
Bengals 10-6
Ravens 10-6*
Steelers 8-8
Browns 5-11

AFC SOUTH
Colts 12-4
Titans 8-8
Jaguars 8-8
Texans 6-10

AFC WEST
Chargers 11-5
Broncos 10-6*
Chiefs 7-9
Raiders 4-12

NFC EAST
Eagles 11-5
Cowboys 9-7*
Giants 6-10
Redskins 6-10

NFC NORTH
Bears 11-5
Packers 6-10
Vikings 6-10
Lions 4-12

NFC SOUTH
Saints 12-4
Panthers 11-5*
Buccaneers 5-11
Falcons 3-13

NFC WEST
Seahawks 9-7
Rams 9-7
49ers 8-8
Cardinals 7-9
*- Wild Card

Playoffs:

Wild Card
AFC Chargers (3) beat Broncos (6) Bengals (4) beat Ravens (5)
NFC Bears (3) beat Cowboys (6) Panthers (5) beat Seahawks (4)

Divisional
AFC Colts (1) beat Bengals (4) Chargers (3) beat Patriots (2)
NFC Saints (1) beat Panthers (5) Eagles (2) beat Bears (3)

Championship Games
AFC Chargers (3) beat Colts (1)
NFC Saints (1) beat Eagles (2)

Super Bowl XLII
Saints 31, Chargers 27

Also, I think just two months ago, he was picking the Vikings. The guy's senile.

 

[blackglass3]

Good God. If Dr. Z is picking us, I will be happy with a home playoff game.

There is always next year.

 

[BadMoFo]

The last 6 years of Dr. Z's silly NFL predictions...

2002: Rams over Steelers
2003: Buccaneers over Chiefs
2004: Patriots over Seahawks
2005: Panthers over Colts
2006: Panthers over Dolphins
2007: Saints over Chargers

The one year he did pick us, we won the Super Bowl. Also the only other time Brady was on the SI NFL season preview cover was during the 2004 Super Bowl season. Any curse obviously wouldn't apply to us.

Because we are such a charmed team.

 

[SVN]

fact that Paul Zimmerman 'Dr Z' has written isnt so comforting. didnt he pick minnesota to win the SB . ?

 

[Kontradiction]

The last 6 years of Dr. Z's silly NFL predictions...

2002: Rams over Steelers
2003: Buccaneers over Chiefs
2004: Patriots over Seahawks
2005: Panthers over Colts
2006: Panthers over Dolphins
2007: Saints over Chargers

The one year he did pick us, we won the Super Bowl. Also the only other time Brady was on the SI NFL season preview cover was during the 2004 Super Bowl season. Any curse obviously wouldn't apply to us.

Trivia: when was the last time Mr. Brady graced the cover of Si altogether?

 

[Raffy15]

heard brady's on the cover. anyone got pics?

edit: nevermind its on the first page!

 

[QB12]

Chill brothers.

After all, Peter King picked us to win it all too (over The Boys)

 

[Raffy15]

anyone got kings top 50 palyer rankings?