Paul's Points: Predictions for the NFL Season

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.draftboardinsider.com/articles/paulspoints_09-08-2006.html

For some reason, there's a surprising number of people ready to hand the Lombardi Trophy over to the Miami Dolphins. Why? This team is better, that’s obvious; but they still don’t have an offensive line, their secondary is young, and their front seven is old. Ronnie Brown without Ricky Williams isn't much of a question mark, but what about the addition of Daunte Culpepper? Will he be enough? Not this season, but you have to hand it to Nick Saban, he has this franchise poised. Dolphin fans are just going to have to wait a little bit longer.

This leads us to the New England Patriots. Why is everyone writing them off and sticking with the chalk pick of Indianapolis? Deion Branch is not their franchise, Tom Brady is. Give him some people to throw the ball to and the rest is going to take care of itself. You don’t stop the league’s best quarterback by taking away a receiver, who frankly hasn’t put up the numbers to consider him one of the best in the league. Deion Branch is as much who is he because of Tom Brady as anything else. So the Patriots acquisition of Doug Gabriel should serve as an indication that they believe the Patriots will move on without missing a beat, just like all great franchises do.

He forecasts the Pats to win the AFCE with a 14-2 record and loose to Denver in the AFC Championship game - oh well, at least he started out okay...

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

http://www.draftboardinsider.com/articles/paulspoints_09-08-2006.html

He forecasts the Pats to win the AFCE with a 14-2 record and loose to Denver in the AFC Championship game - oh well, at least he started out okay...

Box, read Bill Simmons page 2 article on ESPN.com about the upcoming NFL season and what he says about Denver. I know he's a homer but he makes his point so clearly that its hard not to agree. He basically says that the drafting of Jay Cutler is the worst thing Denver could have done to the shaken confidence of Jake Plummer. Cutler is the future QB of Denver and its a matter of time before Plummer starts throwing dumbass interceptions that the fans start calling for Plummers head. Shanahan has made it clear that Plummers days are numbered. His confidence will be the first to go. Simmons point: Denver will not be in the superbowl.

 

[stinkypete]

I'm not ready to pick a Jake Plummer Collapse. The fact is, we've been waiting 3 years for Plummer's collapse, and he has been among the league's better QBs over that time span.

I think Denver should be more worried about the loss of Trevor Pryce. Pryce did not put up big numbers onver the '05 season, but he was a Seymour-esque presence on that line, stuffing the run and drawing the double teams. Withougt Pryce, Denver will struggle to force a pass rush, greatly limiting the effectiveness of a great secondary, and opening things for offenses.

 

[dhamz]

I'm not ready to pick a Jake Plummer Collapse. The fact is, we've been waiting 3 years for Plummer's collapse, and he has been among the league's better QBs over that time span.

I think he pretty much has collapsed every year - in January when it counts. He sure did last year in the title game.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

The AFC West is going to beat up on each other.

Denver has to prove they can run the ball with Bell and Bell, and if they can get the tough yards, plus they lost Jeb Putzier, but they did pick up Walker.