Super Bowl 2009 - Predictions

[DSYoungEsq]

Hey, come on, someone had to do it!!! :D

Packers v Browns, Packers win and finally send old Favre off to retirement. :p

[MadTheSwine]

Rams vs Chargers

[Two and a Half Inches of Fun]

Chicago v. New England

Chicago wins.

[lightingtool]

Colts v. Giants

Giants win.

Archie Manning might explode.

[Bearflag70]

Dallas Cowboys over San Diego Chargers

Not only are they my two favorite teams, in that order, but they also have reason to be the most "championship-hungry" teams with the talent to pull it off.

[Anomalous Reading]

Dallas Cowboys over San Diego Chargers

Not only are they my two favorite teams, in that order, but they also have reason to be the most "championship-hungry" teams with the talent to pull it off.Never underestimate the power of Jerry Jones to overhype a team and to pull down a good one.

As much as I like the boys, my JJ-hate supercedes it.

Colts vs Giants.

[Hal Briston]

Oh well...it's not an original idea, but it's what I first thought when I read the thread title:

Giants over the Colts, 31-17.

[Really Not All That Bright]

Colts over Buccaneers, 31-20.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

It's premature for this seeing as how the draft hasn't even taken place, but I'll say the Steelers over the Cowboys.

[Omniscient]

National Football Conference

Last Year's Finish
NFC EAST W L
Dallas 13 3
NY Giants 10 6
Washington 9 7
Philadelphia 8 8

Early 2008 Prediction
NFC EAST W L
NY Giants 12 4
Dallas 10 6
Washington 8 8
Philadelphia 3 13

I'm going to ride the Super Bowl wave and predict that Eli holds it together and that the Giants defense continues to dominate. Spagnuolo is coming back and their defense should continue to to be scary when it's healthy. I don't think that they'll run roughshod but I think they improce on this year's numbers. Dallas is going to take a step back and TO is going to slowly start eating away at this team from the inside. The Jason Garrett/Wade Phillips situation will become a point of friction after a few bad losses, most critically, this just isn't a very deep team and it will become apparent. I'd predict and even worse finish for the Cowpokes if the rest of this division was going to be any better. I think the 'Skins are going find a good coach and that they'll be in better hands than in Gibbs but it's going to take them a little time to transistion under new leadership. The net-effect is going to be a .500 season and missing the playoffs, expect a slow start and a strong finish. The Eagles are going to let McNabb go but they are going to ask way too much for him. Teams will take a wait and see approach and Reid will stobbornly go through the draft with him still on the roster, perhaps even going so far as you release him. All of this is going to really kill this team, they were bad this season and they'll be worse without NcNabb in the short term. I think age is going to take a serious toll on each team except the Redskins, especially on each defense.


Last Year's Finish
NFC NORTH W L
Green Bay 13 3
Minnesota 8 8
Detroit 7 9
Chicago 7 9

Early 2008 Prediction
NFC NORTH W L
Green Bay 11 5
Chicago 9 7
Minnesota 8 8
Detroit 6 10

I expect more of the same from this Norris. The Packers will be the best team in the league again, but we won't see Favre being as steady as he was this year. We'll see more of those classic Favre implosions, but Ryan Grant's emergence and the young, improving defense will pick him up more often than not. The Bears are going to add a veteran QB, I'm not sold on McNabb and I don't think they'll let themselves be extorted by the Eagles, but Grossman is gone and they'll get a guy in there to manage the game. This is still a very talented team and with some help on the O-line and running game they'll bounce back from last year's disappointment. I don't think the Vikings will make the leap. Teams will adjust for Adrian Peterson and they probably won't add a passing game, without one they won't be better than 8-8. The Lions will remain the Lions. Kitna is good as seatwarmer, not as a francise guy. The Lions have missed on too many draft picks over the years and it's going to hold them back once again.


Last Year's Finish
NFC SOUTH W L
Tampa Bay 9 7
Carolina 7 9
New Orleans 7 9
Atlanta 4 12

Early 2008 Prediction
NFC SOUTH W L
New Orleans 11 5
Tampa Bay 6 10
Carolina 5 11
Atlanta 2 14

This division is really gonna suck. The Falcons are in deep trouble and have holes all over their roster. The QB position is going to be a morass and they aren't exactly a young, deep team. Arthur Blank deserves better, they'd better hit this draft out of the ballpark. Carolina is going to have a bunch of salary cap casualties and I don't think Delhomme will come back at 100%, it's a weak division so the prediction could be low but they won't be very good. Tampa is getting OLD. Garcia looks like his effective scrambling days might be behind him, at some point this team is going to have to go into full fledged rebuilding mode, this year seems like the trigger for that. I'm betting the Saints, bolstered by an atrocious division, will rack up a bunch of blowout wins. They need more defense to challege for a Super Bowl berth but a healthy Deuce will have them cranking out 35 points a game again.

Last Year's Finish
NFC WEST W L
Seattle 10 6
Arizona 8 8
San Francisco 5 11
St. Louis 3 13

Early 2008 Prediction
NFC WEST W L
Arizona 11 5
St. Louis 8 8
Seattle 7 9
San Francisco 6 10

Yup, I'm gonna drink the Cardinal's Kool-Aid this season. Not so much because I think they will be dominant but because I think there is going to be a power vaccuum when the Seahawks utterly implode this year. Alexander looks like the biggest albatros in the league not named Cedric Benson and he's going to drag down this team. Their defense isn't as good as the numbers indicate and if the offense takes another ste back this will be expesed. The Cardinals are improving in just about every aspect except for running back, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them grab a guy like Rashard Mendenhall to address it. I expect the Rams to recover from this injury plagued season to surprise people but the weaknesses on defense will hold them back. I love the addition of Martz in San Fran and he should do quite a lot to make Frank Gore valuable again but I'm pretty sure I could start at WR for this team. Martz will have to find some talent to make his system work.


American Football Conference

Last Year's Finish
AFC EAST W L
New England 16 0
Buffalo 7 9
NY Jets 4 12
Miami 1 15

Early 2008 Prediction
AFC EAST W L
New England 13 3
Buffalo 8 8
Miami 4 12
NY Jets 3 13

This division sucks donkey. The Pats will have a free pass to the playoffs for the umpteenth straight season and I see little reason to think that they'll take a major step back. They will however probably lose some key guys this season, both Randy Moss and Asante Samuel will want max contracts and there probably isn't enough money to pay them both unless some other big contracts go. CB and WR are positions where the Pats are loathe to spend money, and unless both these guys come back at a discount they'll lose one. I think Moss will take a moderate contract in order to stay in this system but Samuel will go elsewhere and get paid big bucks. That loss plus the likely loss of those aging linebackers is going to make their defense take a step back, but they'll still probably earn a first round bye. The rest of the division is awful and the only reason I have them winning the games they are is because they play each other 4 times apeice. The Dolphins will get Ronnie Brown back and make some hay in the draft and I think they'll surpass the Jets under Parcells leadership. Thomas Jones and Chad Pennington are cooked and this offense is going to be completely toothless this year, if they grab Darren McFadden I reserve the right to completely reconsider this prediction, with him this team would be a better version of the 2007 Vikings. The Bills are just good enough to win the games they are supposed to win and a healthy Losman should ensure another uninspired .500 finish.


Last Year's Finish
AFC NORTH W L
Pittsburgh 10 6
Cleveland 10 6
Cincinnati 7 9
Baltimore 5 11

Early 2008 Prediction
AFC NORTH W L
Cleveland 10 6
Pittsburgh 10 6
Cincinnati 6 10
Baltimore 6 10

The division of the haves and have nots. I don't think the Browns were a fluke and I think they'll be good again this season, better even, but the tougher schedule and that they won't surprise anyone will have them equalling last year's numbers. The Steelers will also stay the course and they'll probably be a little more comfortable under Tomlins system with an extra offseason to get used to it. They need to get a little deeper in the backfield and on the D-line but they'll be in the playoffs again. The Bengals and the Ravens are also going to be pretty much the same as they were last season. Marvin Lewis deserved to be fired and he will be after this season. The Ravens are going to have to enter a transition period as their defense gets older and slower. The offense, even if they do add McNabb, is short on talent and they will be learning a new system. There's going to be a lot of ugly football in this division.

Last Year's Finish
AFC SOUTH W L
Indianapolis 13 3
Jacksonville 11 5
Tennessee 10 6
Houston 8 8

Early 2008 Prediction
AFC SOUTH W L
Indianapolis 11 5
Jacksonville 10 6
Houston 9 7
Tennessee 7 9

This will be the most competitive division next season. The Colts will come back to the pack just a little. I think that Harrison's injury problems this season were just the tip of the iceberg and you could tell that Peyton was a little uncomfortable without him in the lineup. Still they have Addai and Wayne and a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. Were it not for the strides the Jags and Texans have made they'd be a 13 win team again. Still, the Jags and Texans are going to win a bunch of games this year. The Jags are no longer a surprise and if they can find a consistent possestion receiver in the draft Gerrard can take another step forward. The Texans need to find a Running Back and there are plenty available. They are going to make the leap. The Titans are going the opposite direction. Vince Young hasn't been progressing and teams are going to get better at taking him out of the game, and unless the Titans running attack can become more consistent they are going to struggle to keep up with the offenses in their division.

AFC WEST W L
San Diego 11 5
Denver 7 9
Oakland 4 12
Kansas City 4 12

AFC WEST W L
San Diego 13 3
Denver 10 6
Oakland 3 13
Kansas City 2 14

We're about to witness the end of Herm Edwards coaching career. Larry Johnson might stab a teammate before this season is finished. This Chiefs team will get run up and down the field and they are pretty week on both lines which will make for a very long season. Oakland is another team that could very likely end up with McFadden and he'd probably be worth a couple Ws by himself. We can assume that Russell will get a full season under center and it's going to be a difficult road. The Chargers will reap the rewards of playing with these two dogs and should come back to earn a first round bye. Still don't feel to good about the Norv era but all the returning talent will dominate again. Denver could be an x-factor in the AFC and I'm betting Shanahan will get back into the playoffs. Fattening up on the Raiders and Chiefs will help, but I think that their offense will be very productive next season. A healthy Javon Walker and Brandon Marshall as well as a productive draft pick will give Cutler a lot of weapons to exploit.

NFC Playoff Teams
Giants, Packers, Saints, Cardinals, Cowboys, Bears.

AFC Playoff Teams
Chargers, Patriots, Colts, Browns, Jags, Broncos.

Super Bowl
Packers vs. Colts

Winner: Indianapolis Colts.

[What Exit?]

Damn, I am way too late to this party.

The Giants will win the All-Manning Superbowl. Eli, the running game and the defense will continue to improve.

Jim

[King Friday]

I'm gonna stick with my '08 prediction for the '09 superbowl.

Jacksonville over Dallas

[Really Not All That Bright]

I'm going to ride the Super Bowl wave and predict that Eli holds it together and that the Giants defense continues to dominate. Spagnuolo is coming back and their defense should continue to to be scary when it's healthy. I don't think that they'll run roughshod but I think they improce on this year's numbers.

I'm betting the Saints, bolstered by an atrocious division, will rack up a bunch of blowout wins. They need more defense to challege for a Super Bowl berth but a healthy Deuce will have them cranking out 35 points a game again.

I'm seeing something more akin to last year's Steelers out of next year's Giants. I think 8-8 will be a stretch.

I also doubt Deuce will be particularly effective coming off a third (fourth?) season-ending knee injury.

[dalej42]

Cardinals vs Jaguars.

Cards win!

[An Arky]

Cowboys/Jags. Cowboys win.

Ugh.

[kidchameleon]

Dallas over Denver

[Omniscient]

Heh, nobody is picking the Pats? Really?

[Trunk]

Jags over Redskins

[Ponder Stibbons]

Dolphins over the Rams :D

[Sal Ammoniac]

Heh, nobody is picking the Pats? Really?
I am. I'm going to recycle this year's prediction: Pats 28, Giants 24. Hey, it didn't come true this year, but maybe I was just off a year.

[BobLibDem]

Lions beat Dolphins to finish 19-0 season.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

Lions beat Dolphins to finish 19-0 season.


Oh, I wish. I wish.

[Fear the Turtle]

'Boys over the Chargers.

This weeks Sign of the Apocalypse (apologies to SI): On Monday night I saw a promo from NBC announcing next years Super Bowl is on NBC. Thanks NBC! I'll just tune my TV to NBC now and leave it there for a year. :rolleyes:

[Gangster Octopus]

Pack over the Pats

[imthjckaz]

Minnesota over New England.

Tavaris Jackson outplays Brady to complete a Viking Perfect Season.





It could happen.

[lieu]

Pats, Colts, Giants and Pack will be there near the end, but all will falter.

After Tony Romo gets his nuts cut off in a boating accident and regains his focus,

Cowboys beat Chargers in XLIII

[Bearflag70]

Dolphins over the Rams :D

Yeah, and Huey Lewis will win the best album Grammy.

[Taber]

complete homer pick, but it could happen - Packers over Chargers

[Death of Rats]

Dolphins go 19-0 and we spend the next 30 years hearing about the '72 Dolphins AND the '09 Dolphins popping champagne corks. :D

Also, they sign Mercury Morris to a token contract so that he will never die! BWAHAHAHA!

... unless...






The world pays me ONE MILLION DOLLARS!

[What Exit?]

Dolphins go 19-0 and we spend the next 30 years hearing about the '72 Dolphins AND the '09 Dolphins popping champagne corks. :D

Also, they sign Mercury Morris to a token contract so that he will never die! BWAHAHAHA!

... unless...


The world pays me ONE MILLION DOLLARS!
That's Ok, let Merc & Co. have their memories. They don't bother me at all.

[brownie55]

Jags over Redskins
'Skins might not even have a coach by then.

[Ellis Dee]

I'm seeing something more akin to last year's Steelers out of next year's Giants. I think 8-8 will be a stretch.Eli won't crash his motorcycle without a helmet, nor is he likely to have appendicitis. Those two issues with Ben were pretty much solely responsible for the Steelers struggles the year after their Superbowl win.I think age is going to take a serious toll on [the Giants, Cowboys and Eagles.]I think this is what you meant to say, but I'm not positive. Let me know if I misinterpreted.

First off, fantastic write-ups. I agree with the vast majority of what you wrote, though much of it hadn't occurred to me until I read your post. But as to the aging NFC East, I don't see the Giants as an old team at all; I'd actually call them a young team. Sure, there's Toomer and Strahan, but hey, Toomer's draft class included Terry Glenn, Marvin Harrison and Terrell Owens, so it's not inconceivable he returns. Despite that, let's assume both Toomer and Strahan are gone. Here's the (not exhaustive; who cares about emergency QB) current team makeup with the ages they will be September 4th, 2008:

QB: 27 (4 yrs) Eli Manning

RB: 26 (3 yrs) Brandon Jacobs
RB: 28 (4 yrs) Derrick Ward
RB: 22 (1 yr) Ahmad Bradshaw
FB: 27 (3 yrs) Madison Hedgecock

WR: 31 (8 yrs) Plaxico Burress
WR: (Roster hole; free agent or draft)
WR: 23 (1 yr) Steve Smith

LT: 27 (5 yrs) David Diehl
LG: 29 (7 yrs) Rich Seubert
C : 31 (8 yrs) Shaun O'Hara
RG: 26 (4 yrs) Chris Snee
RT: 29 (7 yrs) Kareem McKenzie

DE: 26 (5 yrs) Osi Umenyiora
DT: 24 (2 yrs) Barry Cofield
DT: 31 (8 yrs) Fred Robbins
DE: 25 (3 yrs) Justin Tuck

OLB: (Roster hole; free agent or draft)
MLB: 29 (7 yrs) Antonio Pierce
OLB: 28 (5 yrs) Kawika Mitchell

CB: 25 (1 yr) Aaron Ross
S : 26 (4 yrs) Gibril Wilson
S : 25 (3 yrs) James Butler
CB: 26 (3 yrs) Corey Webster

I assume that Mathius Kiwanuka (25, 2 yrs) will be re-converted back from LB to nis natural DE position, where he will take over Tuck's role as Tuck takes over for a vacated Michael Strahan. That leaves a hole at LB; Reggie Torbor (27, 4 yrs) filled in great for the second half of the season after Kiwi went down, but he's not really a starter.

[Ellis Dee]

I assume that Mathius Kiwanuka (25, 2 yrs) will be re-converted back from LB to nis natural DE position, where he will take over Tuck's role as Tuck takes over for a vacated Michael Strahan. That leaves a hole at LB; Reggie Torbor (27, 4 yrs) filled in great for the second half of the season after Kiwi went down, but he's not really a starter.I forgot about OLB Gerris Wilkinson (25, 2 yrs) who should and almost certainly will be the starter next year.

[What Exit?]

I forgot about OLB Gerris Wilkinson (25, 2 yrs) who should and almost certainly will be the starter next year.
Nice right up and I agree. This is a team that looks more likely to improve a little. Doesn't mean they will even make it back to the Superbowl, but they should challenge the Cowboys for the Division and I think they will take it.

[TheBigTripleD]

Oh please, it's obvious which team will win the superbowl

The one that hires Chuck Norris to play for them :D

[Omniscient]

But as to the aging NFC East, I don't see the Giants as an old team at all; I'd actually call them a young team.

On balance they aren't extraordinarily old, but my comment was more directed to the fact that they are old at a few critical positions. The aforementioned Toomer and Strahan are critical pieces, as are Sam Madison, R.W. McQuarters and Jeff Feagles. Those are all key positions to the style of football the Giants play and while they may not lose them all, they are in the phase where they bring diminishing returns. If they come back with holes at DE or CB or with a rookie Punter it will be hard for them to repeat this years Super Bowl. Of course you will note that I picked them to win the division, so it's not like I expect them to be a geriatric group.

[What Exit?]

On balance they aren't extraordinarily old, but my comment was more directed to the fact that they are old at a few critical positions. The aforementioned Toomer and Strahan are critical pieces, as are Sam Madison, R.W. McQuarters and Jeff Feagles. Those are all key positions to the style of football the Giants play and while they may not lose them all, they are in the phase where they bring diminishing returns. If they come back with holes at DE or CB or with a rookie Punter it will be hard for them to repeat this years Super Bowl. Of course you will note that I picked them to win the division, so it's not like I expect them to be a geriatric group.
Hey, from what I can see, Feagles is only 2/3rds of the way through his career so far.

I agree on the rest, but I don't think McQuarters would get the starting job if he returned anyway. Steve Smith looks ready to take over for Toomer. Sinorice Moss is really fast, I have no clue if he can stay healthy and make the catches, but I have hopes.

Strahan will be a tough loss, but if youngster Mathias Kiwanuka returns next year as least the Line backers will be strengthened.

Tuck, Cofield, Robbins & Umenyiora back a very good front four.

McQuarters was nothing special this year. Madison would be a tough to replace loss but Butler & Ross impressed me by the end of the year and should add a boost in the backfield.

Jim

[Genghis Bob]

Oh, I wish. I wish.

You gotta believe. This is the year all of Matt Millen's strategizing pays off, big! Patiently, painstakingly, through years of study, effort and careful selection, he's crafted the team that will bring back the glory years . . .

Nah . . . I don't have it in me to continue. There's only so muc stompin' on that one heart can take. :(

[Ellis Dee]

On balance they aren't extraordinarily old, but my comment was more directed to the fact that they are old at a few critical positions. The aforementioned Toomer and Strahan are critical pieces, as are Sam Madison, R.W. McQuarters and Jeff Feagles. Those are all key positions to the style of football the Giants play and while they may not lose them all, they are in the phase where they bring diminishing returns. If they come back with holes at DE or CB or with a rookie Punter it will be hard for them to repeat this years Super Bowl. Of course you will note that I picked them to win the division, so it's not like I expect them to be a geriatric group.Fair enough. McQuarters was never a starting CB -- he was always the nickelback -- but your point still stands.

I find it very Freudian that I didn't list the TE position.

[Omniscient]

Fair enough. McQuarters was never a starting CB -- he was always the nickelback -- but your point still stands.

He's also the starting punt returner, which teams are starting to put quite a bit of value on.

[King Friday]

All these well thought out, insightful pre-preseason predictions, and not even one person had two teams in the final four. :confused:

You gotta love football! :D

[Really Not All That Bright]

Colts over Buccaneers, 31-20.
:smack:
I'm seeing something more akin to last year's Steelers out of next year's Giants. I think 8-8 will be a stretch.
:smack:
I also doubt Deuce will be particularly effective coming off a third (fourth?) season-ending knee injury.
Well, one out of three ain't bad. :D I did better than Omni, anyway.

[DSYoungEsq]

Lions beat Dolphins to finish 19-0 season.

I thought I remembered this one... :p:p:p:D

dalej42 did as well as anyone, but that's just homer luck. :eek:

[ToeJam]

I say Ravens* vs. Cards.**
*Or Colts.*
*Or Steelers

**Or Giants

That's my prediction. Let's see if i can get 2 outta 5 choices... :D

[Gangster Octopus]

I petition for an emergency re-opening of the edit function for this thread.

[DSYoungEsq]

[Maxwell Smart voice]Missed it by THAT much![/Maxwell Smart voice] :D

[Omniscient]

:smack:

:smack:

Well, one out of three ain't bad. :D I did better than Omni, anyway.

Hey, I made a lot of predictions! I got a lot of them right too!

Strangely my biggest issues seem to have been in predicting QB situations. My Packers pick assumed Favre would be with them, and the Jets pick that he wouldn't be with them. Ditto Pennington re: Dolphins. I predicted that McNabb would be gone and the Eagles would suck as a result. I predicted the Titans and Vikings would be mediocre with Young and Jackson, but both ended up with better seasons with veteran leaders. I didn't expect the Ravens and Falcons to get anything out of the QB position this year and therefore predicted bad years.

My biggest misses were expecting Cleveland and Jacksonville to be good again and I didn't think those terrible teams would be that terrible. Also, my tradition of completely being at a loss to predict the NFC South continues.

[Suburban Plankton]

Lions beat Dolphins to finish 19-0 season.
I suspect that this one might have been just the slightest bit tongue-in-cheek, but nevertheless I do believe I can prove mathematically that this is the Worst. Prediction. Ever.

[dalej42]

Hey, if I keep predicating the Cardinals will make it to the Super Bowl, one year it will happen.

What are those playoff tickets doing on my fridge? :p

[Really Not All That Bright]

Hey, I made a lot of predictions! I got a lot of them right too!
Yeah, I know. I'm just jerking your chain.

What's funny is how remarkably prescient my Colts-Bucs Superbowl pick looked in Week 13, compared to how dumb it looks now...

[DSYoungEsq]

Hey, if I keep predicating the Cardinals will make it to the Super Bowl, one year it will happen.

Cubs. ;)