Portis 26
Madden Freak
Round about this time of year, we usually have some fun with predictions for the forthcoming season. As ever, it's only interesting if predictions are bold. "Adrian Peterson finishes top 5 in rushing" is not a bold prediction. "Wayne Chrebet comes out of retirement and leads the league in receptions" would be.
Anyway, here are my 10 bold predictions for 2011:
1) Donovan McNabb has a great comeback year and leads the Vikings to a wildcard slot
McNabb has had his fair share of bad press but the fact remains that he put up superb numbers with the Eagles (check out his regular season INT % - one of the lowest in NFL history) and consistently took them to the post-season. That was often, although not always, with pretty average receivers. Sure, he had a terrible year last year but a) look at his horrific supporting cast and b) there seems to have been some really weird, neurotic thing going on with the Shanahans.
I say McNabb passes for 4000+ yards pass and leads the Vikings to a more than respectable 10-6 finish, enough for a wildcard.
2) The Chiefs bomb and finish with a losing record
Sure, they won the division last year and sure Cassel put up very impressive numbers. However, that was against an easy-peasy schedule (only 2 opponents with winning records) and with a now-departed coaching genius as his offensive coordinator. I say with Charlie Weis gone, it all goes horribly wrong, Haley reverts to type and becomes the hapless former golf coach he is, and the Chiefs finish 6-10 or 7-9.
3) The Bills surprise us with a winning record with Fitzpatrick lighting it up
I thought Fitzpatrick did really well last year and with some really promising young WRs (Johnson, Nelson, Easley) I think the Bills take the next step. Chan Gailey has done an awesome job so far and I think this year the Bills finish with a winning record, despite their still leaky D.
4) The Patriots under-perform
All I've heard this week has been about how they're going 15-1 or 14-2 or whatever. I don't buy it. They just brought in two complete headcases and the fact is, although they did amazingly last year, it was basically with smoke and mirrors. They did it with a very limited pass rush, very limited WRs, very raw LBs and very average RBs who really over-achieved. I think they get found out a bit this year. They'll still finish 11-5 or thereabouts but it won't be plain sailing.
5) Shanahan gets fired in mid-season
Has anyone noticed the remarkable similarity between Mike Shanahan, the genius former Broncos coach who won 2 SBs, and Mike Shanahan, the idiot Redskins coach? Are these guys related? Separated at birth? Shanahan's tenure has been a trainwreck and I can't believe Rex Grossman to Jabar Gaffney is going to be a winning formula. Some coaches get better with age. Others get more stubborn or more senile. Shanahan is not improving with age. He's gone after the Skins open 2-8.
6) Tarvaris Jackson is better than we thought
Everyone's been pulling their hair out about the T-Jax acquisition but in limited relief for Favre last year he looked quite confident and showcased a great arm. I'm going to stick my neck out and say he does better than expected.
7) The Titans bomb
Their lead WR is a headcase and has been in trouble with the law, Chris Johnson is holding out, they've got a rookie coach, their new veteran QB is exceedingly fragile, their new rookie QB is very erratic and inaccurate, how is this one not going to end in tears?
8) The "Dream Team" isn't
I will make a small wager that Michael Vick plays fewer than half the snaps in 2011. He's just too injury-prone now. And the Eagles' revamping of their D appears to have completely ignored their appalling LB corps. It'll be all pass-rush and coverage and no tackling and they'll get run over.
9) Cowboys make the playoffs
I say Garrett is a good coach and he has a fundamentally very good team that just got a bit lost last year. With good discipline and with Romo, Austin, Witten, Bryant et al back in the groove and with a refocused D they go a good 10-6 or 11-5.
10) The 49ers are a train-wreck
Harbaugh was the most coveted coach in the land but he has had no time to prepare his team, their star HB is holding out, their star WR has injury problems, and Alex Smith is not the answer at QB. Could get messy.
Anyway, here are my 10 bold predictions for 2011:
1) Donovan McNabb has a great comeback year and leads the Vikings to a wildcard slot
McNabb has had his fair share of bad press but the fact remains that he put up superb numbers with the Eagles (check out his regular season INT % - one of the lowest in NFL history) and consistently took them to the post-season. That was often, although not always, with pretty average receivers. Sure, he had a terrible year last year but a) look at his horrific supporting cast and b) there seems to have been some really weird, neurotic thing going on with the Shanahans.
I say McNabb passes for 4000+ yards pass and leads the Vikings to a more than respectable 10-6 finish, enough for a wildcard.
2) The Chiefs bomb and finish with a losing record
Sure, they won the division last year and sure Cassel put up very impressive numbers. However, that was against an easy-peasy schedule (only 2 opponents with winning records) and with a now-departed coaching genius as his offensive coordinator. I say with Charlie Weis gone, it all goes horribly wrong, Haley reverts to type and becomes the hapless former golf coach he is, and the Chiefs finish 6-10 or 7-9.
3) The Bills surprise us with a winning record with Fitzpatrick lighting it up
I thought Fitzpatrick did really well last year and with some really promising young WRs (Johnson, Nelson, Easley) I think the Bills take the next step. Chan Gailey has done an awesome job so far and I think this year the Bills finish with a winning record, despite their still leaky D.
4) The Patriots under-perform
All I've heard this week has been about how they're going 15-1 or 14-2 or whatever. I don't buy it. They just brought in two complete headcases and the fact is, although they did amazingly last year, it was basically with smoke and mirrors. They did it with a very limited pass rush, very limited WRs, very raw LBs and very average RBs who really over-achieved. I think they get found out a bit this year. They'll still finish 11-5 or thereabouts but it won't be plain sailing.
5) Shanahan gets fired in mid-season
Has anyone noticed the remarkable similarity between Mike Shanahan, the genius former Broncos coach who won 2 SBs, and Mike Shanahan, the idiot Redskins coach? Are these guys related? Separated at birth? Shanahan's tenure has been a trainwreck and I can't believe Rex Grossman to Jabar Gaffney is going to be a winning formula. Some coaches get better with age. Others get more stubborn or more senile. Shanahan is not improving with age. He's gone after the Skins open 2-8.
6) Tarvaris Jackson is better than we thought
Everyone's been pulling their hair out about the T-Jax acquisition but in limited relief for Favre last year he looked quite confident and showcased a great arm. I'm going to stick my neck out and say he does better than expected.
7) The Titans bomb
Their lead WR is a headcase and has been in trouble with the law, Chris Johnson is holding out, they've got a rookie coach, their new veteran QB is exceedingly fragile, their new rookie QB is very erratic and inaccurate, how is this one not going to end in tears?
8) The "Dream Team" isn't
I will make a small wager that Michael Vick plays fewer than half the snaps in 2011. He's just too injury-prone now. And the Eagles' revamping of their D appears to have completely ignored their appalling LB corps. It'll be all pass-rush and coverage and no tackling and they'll get run over.
9) Cowboys make the playoffs
I say Garrett is a good coach and he has a fundamentally very good team that just got a bit lost last year. With good discipline and with Romo, Austin, Witten, Bryant et al back in the groove and with a refocused D they go a good 10-6 or 11-5.
10) The 49ers are a train-wreck
Harbaugh was the most coveted coach in the land but he has had no time to prepare his team, their star HB is holding out, their star WR has injury problems, and Alex Smith is not the answer at QB. Could get messy.
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Yeah, come on guys. You aren't supposed to be held to these. These are stretches that you think could actually happen.Here is one...
eytonBradyRodgersBreesRiversVickRomoBig BenStaffordBradford/Shaub/Freeman/Ryan/CutlerNot as easy when you have to figure out who he might beat out.
that's not bold, that's crazy.
