Ten Thoughts to Digest (1 Viewer)

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

The Green Bay Packers are the most overrated team in the NFL.They have a terrible pass defense, and in the National Quarterback league, if you cannot somewhat defend the pass, you got no shot.

I agree the Packers have been somewhat overrated in the football press this summer. Regarding the pass defense, however, they are returning two pro-bowlers from last season in the back 4, including the NFL defensive MVP. They showed some cracks in the armor at times, but they easily lined up the best defensive backfield in the NFC North last year and will do so again this season if/when Harris comes back healthy.

Woodson won't keep up that play....not at his age. It catches up to everyone...even Champ Bailey.

 

[jurb26]

3. Super Bowl team that no one is discussing: The New England Patriots. I like their young defense. Yeah, they are young. Yes, this is a concern. But guess what: They have room to make mistakes, because the offense will be elite. Brady has a ton of weapons, and might just have the 2nd best statistical season of his life this year. But if that defense can stay healthy from here on out: Watch out. 5. Larry Fitzgerald will end the year as the number 1 WR. All the worry, all the concern for Fitz will melt away after this season. Kurt Warner was a great QB, and deserves the HOF. But his arm was shot last season, and he was forced to keep things short all year. (amazing he still did what he did). Fitzgerald will get to catch the ball downfield for the first time in a long time. Anderson is terrible, don't get me wrong, but he knows how to hurl it, and he also knows how to lock onto a receiver (as Braylon Edwards 1300 yd, 16TD season proved).

I find these 2 points to be a bit of a contradiction. If Brady has the 2nd best statistical season of his life then Moss will be a near lock for WR1 and probably even a top 5 player overall.

Hernandez, Gronkowski, Tate, Edelman....I see alot more guys for Brady to throw the ball to this year. We'll see Sunday against the Bengals whether these guys will get meaninful production in the regular season, or if we go back to the "dink and dunk to Wes and throw it deep to Randy" show.

I don't care how many more guys Brady has to throw to. If he posts 30+ TDs you can bank on Moss scoring 16+.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

#10- As a poster stated earlier....I think the Bengals are a very underrated team going into this season. That defense is solid to great...depends on how some of those young guys develop and how Odom comes back from the injury. On offense...Andre Smith should provide more support for the OL by startin at RT than he did last season as a rookie(holdout...injured...etc). Cedric Benson was the most consistent performer on offense. They bring in TO, Shipley and Gresham to add to Ochocinco....and Carson Palmer is real happy dropping back to pass.

The only competition they have is the Ravens, but have you seen their defensive backfield...also how long can Ray Ray perform solidly??? Pittsburgh isn't even close even with Big ben all 16 games. Cleveland isn't either.

 

[WisWolvrns]

The additions of Peppers and Suh to the division add extra risk to Rodgers

I agree. Rodgers hit the deck 50 times last year... I fear he can't take that much punishment again without starting to get game missing nicks. The added defensive players will make it worse.10. Ben Watson TE Clev will surprise and be a top 10 TE.

 

[atcdav]

I don't know about Detroit making the playoffs but I can easily see the Bears bringing up the rear in the NFC North. Fantasy-wise Dallas will be awesome,,but Superbowl...no way

 

[solorca]

Maybe it's because I have been watching the Panthers for so long, but I think that people are seriously underestimating their defense this year. Last season, the pass defense was quite good, and the only player that the team lost of note was Chris Harris. Granted, Harris is a very good safety, but Sherrod Martin played extremely well in place of him after an injury last season.

The defensive line looked absolutely dominate in the preseason. Granted, it's just the preseason, but they looked better than I have seen them look (preseason, regular season, playoffs, etc.) since 2002, when they were the #2 defense in the NFL. I know that they lost Peppers, but the biggest loss from that isn't really his performance (because frankly, Peppers only "performs" about half of the time...he would completely disappear quite often), it was the double-teams that he commanded. Even without that however, the team has speedy guys on the ends that can take over. Everette Brown had, I believe, 4 sacks in about 4 quarters of actual play in the preseason. Charles Johnson had 2-3 as well.

Again, I know it was just the preseason, but I saw something from the team that I haven't seen in many years...actual tackling. They were wrapping up opponents and using solid tackling skills. Someone has taught these guys the fundamentals, and I am looking quite forward to seeing them in the regular season. The only team that put up anything against the first team defense in the preseason was the Ravens, and that was a mid-range passing touchdown (against a second stringer) after an offensive turnover on the Panthers side of the field.

Don't sleep on the Panthers defense this season. Sleep on the passing game all you like though, because it's going to be ugly.