I’m using my 500th post (finally!) to begin the yearly orgy of prognostication. How will the NFL season work out this year? My confident prediction last year of the Steelers and the Rams in the Super Bowl didn’t pan out.
What do you think? Who will win the divisions, the conferences, and the Big One? Explain your choice as much as necessary.
I’ll return with my picks presently.
The Saints win the Super Bowl. One day, I’ll get it right.
E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles!! … in about 2525. If we’re lucky.
I’m a huge Pittsburgh fan, so I’ll go for Steelers and Bucs. By the way, the Steelers beat the Bucs last year 17 - 0 IN Tampa, and beat em like 4 out of the last 5 times. Now I’m not saying they would beat em in the superbowl… ok so I am saying that! Go Steelers!
Packers win! Packers win! Beating the Raiders in the Super Bowl.
Divisions:
Jets
Steelers
Titans
Chiefs
Eagles
Packers
Bucs
49ers
Wild Cards (a bonus you didn’t ask for!):
Bills
Raiders
Rams
Cowboys
Super Bowl:
Steelers over Eagles
It’s easier to say who won’t win.
The Raiders.
Miami and Philadelphia in the SB and Philly wins.
For the record, I am not a big fan of either team.Buccaneers over Philly, again, in the NFC championship game, and Dolphins over Chargers in the AFC (Yes, I’m on a big freaking limb here, but bear with me)…
Bucs defeat Miami in a low scoring Superbowl.
LaDanian Tomlinson wins league MVP; Brian Kelly wins Superbowl MVP with 2 interceptions.
(It should be noted that I’m a Bucs fan, and it should also be noted that I’m dead serious about all this.)
What’s the deal with all this Raider hatred? Raiders in 2003/2004 baby!
Oh Paco, your post made me laugh. Thanks for that, I was having a bad day…
Oh wait, you were being serious weren’t you?
Seriously though, folks, I have to say the Broncos will be going to the Superbowl. Do I honestly believe it? No. But hey, I’m not giving up on them now!
The league sure has gotten unpreditable, hasn’t it?
I bet Chris Berman is picking the Bills against the 49ers. And I do think my Bills could win their division, so who knows…
On a related note, anyone want to suggest a couple sleeper players for my fantasy team? (We’re playing on NFL.com, so my team name is Fifteen Bucks Poorer)…
AFC Div:
Patriots
Steelers
Colts
Chiefs
WC:
Bills
Broncos
NFC Div:
Eagles
Packers
Bucs
49ers
WC:
Falcons
'Skins
Steelers over the Patsies in the AFC Champ game
Bucs over the Facons in the NFC contest
Steelers over the Bucs 23-17 in OT when Plexico returns a punt for a TD
[sub]Yes I’m a Steeler fan, whats it to ya?[/sub]
Lions and Bengals in the Super Bowl. What kind of odds can I get?
The Falcons will actually split the regular season series with the Bucs this year, but lose the division in a tie-breaker. The NFC championship will see Atlanta losing to St. Louis. Mike Vick will win league MVP. But then, I’m a homer.
AFC Division Winners:
East - Miami
North - Steelers
South - Tennessee
West - San Diego
AFC Wild Cards:
Oakland
Buffalo
NFC Division Winners:
East - Philadelphia
North - Green Bay
South - Tampa Bay
West - St. Louis
NFC Wild Cards:
Atlanta
San Francisco
AFC Championship: Steelers over Miami
NFC Championship: Green Bay over Tampa Bay
Super Bowl: Steelers over Green Bay (barely overcoming Favre’s superhuman abilities)
MVP: Favre (with McNabb a close second)
Rookie of the year: Charles Rogers
Raiders and Jets miss the playoffs.
Browns miss the playoffs, despite playing in a crappy division.
Miami does make the playoffs, for once.
The Eagles win their division (because it sucks), go out in the first round.
Falcons may have some issues with teams gamplanning Vick after watching tapes all season. If the running game doesn’t go, they will not.
The following teams will remaing sucky till further notice, Arizona, Cowboys, Detriot, Texans.
Sleeper teams: Seattle, San Diego.
Playoff glass slipper award: Titans.
World Champs 2003-04 Season: Titans (assuming no major injuries for once).
Niners/Raiders.
I’d love to see that game.
Nobody has Chicago or Minnesota over Green Bay? GB has been hit hard by free agency, while Chicago and Minnesota are under the cap and spending, and improving. Minnesota had a great offense offset by a horrific defense last year. The off-season pick-ups on defense will make Minnesota a sleeper, just moving from a last place D to a 15th ranked D will be enough to win games. After a 2001 year that most considered a fluke, Chicago showed flashes of brilliance again in 2002. They’ll only be better this year. Green Bay just isn’t the team they’ve been, look for a downer year. At least they get to play Detroit twice a year.