Andy Dufresne
Footballguy
AFC (Dennis Dillon)
AFC East
1) New England Patriots (14-2).
It would be foolish to think they could make a run at another perfect regular season. It would be even more foolish to think they won't be Super Bowl contenders.
2) New York Jets (8-8).
They made a big splash in free agency (Alan Faneca, Calvin Pace, Kris Jenkins, et al), but they're still swimming upstream in this division.
3) Buffalo Bills (5-11).
This is a team with some good, young talent, but it needs to make a decision on who will be the quarterback -- and then stick with him.
4) Miami Dolphins (3-13).
Of all the reclamation work Bill Parcells has undertaken during his NFL career, restoring luster to this franchise will be the most challenging.
AFC North
1) Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5).
Ben Roethlisberger doesn't throw as many passes as some other QBs -- nor does he get near the notoriety -- but he's brilliantly effective when he does.
2) Cincinnati Bengals (10-6).
They added several defensive reinforcements and the offense should have enough firepower to contend for the division title -- with or without Ocho Cinco.
3) Cleveland Browns (9-7).
Cleveland should be a better team than it was last year, yet it could wind up with a worse record because of a schedule that can only be described as brutal.
4) Baltimore Ravens (6-10).
The defense has been carrying this team on its shoulders since the 2000 Super Bowl season. Don't expect things to change this year.
AFC South
1) Indianapolis Colts (13-3).
Give it up for the defense. Led by NFL defensive player of the year Bob Sanders, Indianapolis allowed the fewest points in the league last season.
2) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4).
Jack Del Rio's superb coaching and astute personnel moves -- not to mention his occasionally exquisite sideline appearance -- have Jacksonville nipping at the heels of Indianapolis.
3) Tennessee Titans (6-10).
Stop me if you've heard this before: If the Titans could just give quarterback Vince Young a big playmaker at wide receiver. . . .
4) Houston Texans (5-11).
Until it can find a premier left tackle who can anchor the offensive line for the next 10 years or so, Houston's progress will continue to be s-l-o-w.
AFC West
1) San Diego Chargers (14-2).
They finished strong in 2007 despite injuries to Antonio Gates and LaDainian Tomlinson. If Philip Rivers can step up his game a notch, this team could be Super.
2) Denver Broncos (9-7).
If they figure out their defense, they could be playoff contenders. If they don't, next season could be Mike Shanahan's last stand.
3) Kansas City Chiefs (5-11). Training camp will be like a casting call for Kansas City. There could be as many as seven positions open for rookies to win.
4) Oakland Raiders (3-13).
Despite some nice offseason additions -- cornerback DeAngelo Hall, safety Gibril Wilson, wide receiver Javon Walker and rookie running back Darren McFadden -- they still have a long way to go.
Wild-card games
No. 5 Jaguars over No. 4 Steelers
No. 3 Colts over No. 6 Bengals
Divisional playoffs
No. 1 Patriots over No. 5 Jaguars
No. 2 Chargers over No. 3 Colts
AFC championship game
No. 2 Chargers over No. 1 Patriots.
NFC (Clifton Brown)
NFC East
1) Dallas Cowboys (13-3).
Loaded with talent, and they are motivated by recent playoff flops. Their offense is the best in the conference. Draft choice Felix Jones will pick up where Julius Jones left off. This team is headed for Tampa.
2) New York Giants (13-3).
Defending Super Bowl champs will not surrender their crown easily. General manager Jerry Reese keeps upgrading talent, Eli Manning will keep improving and the pass rush is still nasty.
3) Philadelphia Eagles (7-9).
Playing in a tough division hurts them. Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook could still use more help on offense. Asante Samuel gives them a nice cover guy, but too bad he doesn't play offense.
4) Washington Redskins (4-12).
Jim Zorn may win eventually, but his first year as a head coach will be a struggle. He wants to throw, and quarterback Jason Campbell may not be quite ready. Defense is also a question mark.
NFC North
1) Green Bay Packers (11-5).
This is a talented team, regardless of what happens with Brett Favre. Aaron Rodgers has excellent receivers to work with, and the defense is solid. Mike McCarthy will coach this team to another division title.
2) Chicago Bears (10-6).
This will be a bounce-back season. Their post-Super Bowl blahs are over. Devin Hester will score enough big-play touchdowns to give the offense help, even if the quarterback play is shaky.
3) Minnesota Vikings (9-7).
Trendy pick to win the division, but the passing game is still shaky. Adrian Peterson is great, but he will have trouble improving on his rookie season. Playoffs must wait another year.
4) Detroit Lions (3-13).
The fade at the end of last season is a sign of things to come. Every other team in the division improved; the Lions did not, and it will show on the field. This franchise cannot seem to move forward.
NFC South
1) New Orleans Saints (11-5).
The additions of Jonathan Vilma and Sedrick Ellis will improve their defense. Drew Brees directs the short passing game as well as any quarterback. The Saints march back into the postseason.
2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9).
The health of Cadillac Williams is uncertain, and the running game could suffer. Team speed has improved with draft picks Aqib Talib and Dexter Jackson, but their aging defense will cost them.
3) Carolina Panthers (7-9).
Excellent draft featuring running back Jonathan Stewart and tackle Jeff Otah will improve the offense. But the defense no longer scares people, and too much of the offense still relies on Steve Smith.
4) Atlanta Falcons (1-15).
Even if Matt Ryan becomes a Pro Bowl quarterback, it will not happen as a rookie. Michael Turner will find fewer holes to run through than he did in San Diego. A long season is in store.
NFC West
1) Seattle Seahawks (11-5).
Mike Holmgren wanted a Super Bowl for his swan song. He will have to settle for the playoffs. They are good enough to win a weak division, but they cannot handle the NFC's elite.
2) St. Louis Rams (7-9).
You have to figure the Rams will have fewer injuries than in '07. If Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger return to form, the offense will hum, and rookie Chris Long will be an All-Pro soon. Things are looking up.
3) Arizona Cardinals (5-11).
The offense lacks a home-run hitter, and the Cardinals need quarterback Matt Leinart to emerge as their leader. One year, Arizona will finally get it right. But it will not be this year.
4) San Francisco 49ers (3-13).
New offensive coordinator Mike Martz was brought in to help Alex Smith, and to save Mike Nolan. Good luck with that. This group will not make anyone forget Joe Montana or Steve Young.
Wild-card games
No. 5 Giants over No. 4 Saints
No. 3 Seahawks over No. 6 Bears
Divisional playoffs
No. 1 Cowboys over No. 5 Giants
No. 2 Packers over No. 3 Seahawks
NFC championship game
No. 1 Cowboys over No. 2 Packers
Both predict San Diego Chargers over Cowboys.
AFC East
1) New England Patriots (14-2).
It would be foolish to think they could make a run at another perfect regular season. It would be even more foolish to think they won't be Super Bowl contenders.
2) New York Jets (8-8).
They made a big splash in free agency (Alan Faneca, Calvin Pace, Kris Jenkins, et al), but they're still swimming upstream in this division.
3) Buffalo Bills (5-11).
This is a team with some good, young talent, but it needs to make a decision on who will be the quarterback -- and then stick with him.
4) Miami Dolphins (3-13).
Of all the reclamation work Bill Parcells has undertaken during his NFL career, restoring luster to this franchise will be the most challenging.
AFC North
1) Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5).
Ben Roethlisberger doesn't throw as many passes as some other QBs -- nor does he get near the notoriety -- but he's brilliantly effective when he does.
2) Cincinnati Bengals (10-6).
They added several defensive reinforcements and the offense should have enough firepower to contend for the division title -- with or without Ocho Cinco.
3) Cleveland Browns (9-7).
Cleveland should be a better team than it was last year, yet it could wind up with a worse record because of a schedule that can only be described as brutal.
4) Baltimore Ravens (6-10).
The defense has been carrying this team on its shoulders since the 2000 Super Bowl season. Don't expect things to change this year.
AFC South
1) Indianapolis Colts (13-3).
Give it up for the defense. Led by NFL defensive player of the year Bob Sanders, Indianapolis allowed the fewest points in the league last season.
2) Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4).
Jack Del Rio's superb coaching and astute personnel moves -- not to mention his occasionally exquisite sideline appearance -- have Jacksonville nipping at the heels of Indianapolis.
3) Tennessee Titans (6-10).
Stop me if you've heard this before: If the Titans could just give quarterback Vince Young a big playmaker at wide receiver. . . .
4) Houston Texans (5-11).
Until it can find a premier left tackle who can anchor the offensive line for the next 10 years or so, Houston's progress will continue to be s-l-o-w.
AFC West
1) San Diego Chargers (14-2).
They finished strong in 2007 despite injuries to Antonio Gates and LaDainian Tomlinson. If Philip Rivers can step up his game a notch, this team could be Super.
2) Denver Broncos (9-7).
If they figure out their defense, they could be playoff contenders. If they don't, next season could be Mike Shanahan's last stand.
3) Kansas City Chiefs (5-11). Training camp will be like a casting call for Kansas City. There could be as many as seven positions open for rookies to win.
4) Oakland Raiders (3-13).
Despite some nice offseason additions -- cornerback DeAngelo Hall, safety Gibril Wilson, wide receiver Javon Walker and rookie running back Darren McFadden -- they still have a long way to go.
Wild-card games
No. 5 Jaguars over No. 4 Steelers
No. 3 Colts over No. 6 Bengals
Divisional playoffs
No. 1 Patriots over No. 5 Jaguars
No. 2 Chargers over No. 3 Colts
AFC championship game
No. 2 Chargers over No. 1 Patriots.
NFC (Clifton Brown)
NFC East
1) Dallas Cowboys (13-3).
Loaded with talent, and they are motivated by recent playoff flops. Their offense is the best in the conference. Draft choice Felix Jones will pick up where Julius Jones left off. This team is headed for Tampa.
2) New York Giants (13-3).
Defending Super Bowl champs will not surrender their crown easily. General manager Jerry Reese keeps upgrading talent, Eli Manning will keep improving and the pass rush is still nasty.
3) Philadelphia Eagles (7-9).
Playing in a tough division hurts them. Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook could still use more help on offense. Asante Samuel gives them a nice cover guy, but too bad he doesn't play offense.
4) Washington Redskins (4-12).
Jim Zorn may win eventually, but his first year as a head coach will be a struggle. He wants to throw, and quarterback Jason Campbell may not be quite ready. Defense is also a question mark.
NFC North
1) Green Bay Packers (11-5).
This is a talented team, regardless of what happens with Brett Favre. Aaron Rodgers has excellent receivers to work with, and the defense is solid. Mike McCarthy will coach this team to another division title.
2) Chicago Bears (10-6).
This will be a bounce-back season. Their post-Super Bowl blahs are over. Devin Hester will score enough big-play touchdowns to give the offense help, even if the quarterback play is shaky.
3) Minnesota Vikings (9-7).
Trendy pick to win the division, but the passing game is still shaky. Adrian Peterson is great, but he will have trouble improving on his rookie season. Playoffs must wait another year.
4) Detroit Lions (3-13).
The fade at the end of last season is a sign of things to come. Every other team in the division improved; the Lions did not, and it will show on the field. This franchise cannot seem to move forward.
NFC South
1) New Orleans Saints (11-5).
The additions of Jonathan Vilma and Sedrick Ellis will improve their defense. Drew Brees directs the short passing game as well as any quarterback. The Saints march back into the postseason.
2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9).
The health of Cadillac Williams is uncertain, and the running game could suffer. Team speed has improved with draft picks Aqib Talib and Dexter Jackson, but their aging defense will cost them.
3) Carolina Panthers (7-9).
Excellent draft featuring running back Jonathan Stewart and tackle Jeff Otah will improve the offense. But the defense no longer scares people, and too much of the offense still relies on Steve Smith.
4) Atlanta Falcons (1-15).
Even if Matt Ryan becomes a Pro Bowl quarterback, it will not happen as a rookie. Michael Turner will find fewer holes to run through than he did in San Diego. A long season is in store.
NFC West
1) Seattle Seahawks (11-5).
Mike Holmgren wanted a Super Bowl for his swan song. He will have to settle for the playoffs. They are good enough to win a weak division, but they cannot handle the NFC's elite.
2) St. Louis Rams (7-9).
You have to figure the Rams will have fewer injuries than in '07. If Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger return to form, the offense will hum, and rookie Chris Long will be an All-Pro soon. Things are looking up.
3) Arizona Cardinals (5-11).
The offense lacks a home-run hitter, and the Cardinals need quarterback Matt Leinart to emerge as their leader. One year, Arizona will finally get it right. But it will not be this year.
4) San Francisco 49ers (3-13).
New offensive coordinator Mike Martz was brought in to help Alex Smith, and to save Mike Nolan. Good luck with that. This group will not make anyone forget Joe Montana or Steve Young.
Wild-card games
No. 5 Giants over No. 4 Saints
No. 3 Seahawks over No. 6 Bears
Divisional playoffs
No. 1 Cowboys over No. 5 Giants
No. 2 Packers over No. 3 Seahawks
NFC championship game
No. 1 Cowboys over No. 2 Packers
Both predict San Diego Chargers over Cowboys.
Last edited by a moderator:
but I wouldn't make it. I do think they will surprise a lot of people but 10-6 is a little too rosey. 8-8 or 9-7 are not out of the picture.
I know it's hard to do, but I can see the entire division at .500 or better.
