The Official NFL Season Thread

[W]

We're three days away from the greatest season in all of sports. We'll use this thread to post any thoughts/news we have on the season. First off, I'd like to get some predictions in if I could:

Here's mine:
AFC
East
Patriots 13-3
Dolphins 7-9
Bills 7-9
Jets 6-10

West
Chargers 10-6
Broncos 5-11
Raiders 4-12
Chiefs 3-13

North
Steelers 14-2
Ravens 10-6
Browns 6-10
Bengals 4-12

South
Titans 12-4
Colts 11-5
Jags 9-7
Texans 8-8

NFC
East
Giants 12-4
Eagles 10-6
Cowboys 9-7
Redskins 8-8

West
Seahawks 9-7
Cardinals 8-8
49ers 4-12
Rams 2-14

North
Vikings 11-5
Packers 9-7
Bears 7-9
Lions 4-12

South
Falcons 12-4
Panthers 11-5
Saints 7-9
Bucs 4-12


So...
AFC
1 Pats BYE
2 Steelers BYE

3 Titans
6 Ravens

4 Chargers
5 Colts

NFC
1 Giants BYE
2 Falcons BYE

3 Vikings
6 Eagles

4 Seahawks
5 Panthers

Anyone want to do a year long pickem on ESPN BTW?

[Buscemi]

I only know a few things:

-the Lions will break the most consecutive losses record
-the Rams will get the Number 2 pick for the third year in a row
-the Chiefs are the exact same team as last year since they cut everyone who they claimed would improve the team in training camp

[W]

I only know a few things:

-the Lions will break the most consecutive losses record
-the Rams will get the Number 2 pick for the third year in a row
-the Chiefs are the exact same team as last year since they cut everyone who they claimed would improve the team in training camp

Umm... adding a QB that was behind Brady and filled in nicely last year, losing their leading receiver, and drafting what looks to be a good Defensive End makes the Chiefs the same team? I don't see how you can change QBs and get rid of your best player and not be a different team...

The Rams may get the #1 pick this year.

Detroit got better and Stafford is a legit starting QB. They'll win something this year.

[Buscemi]

Detroit basically looks like the 2002 Houston Texans. They got a quarterback but they've got no offensive line. Stafford will get chased around a lot. Also, they've got professional idiot Scott Linehan as offensive coordinator. I would not trust him even if he told me that the world was ending.

As for the Chiefs, I don't really know the seriousness of Cassell's injury. Also, everyone seems to think that he will be a bust due to his unproveness and his $14 million dollar contract. And last, they really lost some morale when they began to use Thigpen again. As a result, they look like the same team as last season.

[Shrykespeare]

West
Seahawks 9-7
Cardinals 8-8
49ers 4-12
Rams 2-14

You're KIDDING, right?

I'm not saying the Cardinals are a shoo-in to win the division, they're not. But the Seahawks?? Transpose the 49ers and the Seahawks, and I think you may be a lot closer. I have seen nothing from the Seahawks that convinces me that they will even challenge for the division crown.

GO BIG RED!!

[W]

The Super Bowl loser has had a hard time making the playoffs in past years. There's no running game and I'm thinking their passing.

The Seahawks defense is decent, Hasselbeck is back and in great form from what I hear and him and Who'sYoMomma should hook up a good amount of times. What do the Niners have?

I think the 'hawks are gonna take it, though it should be close.

[A_Roode]

You're not liking my Saints either. Our schedule isn't that bad and I think we can go 9-7, maybe 10-6.

[transformers2]

Well i will add my predictions

AFC East
1.Patriots
2.Dolphins
3.Bills
4.Jets

AFC North
1.Steelers
2.Ravens
3.Browns
4.Bengals

AFC South
1.Colts
2.Titans
3.Texans
4.Jagaurs

AFC West
1.Chargers
2.Broncos
3.Chiefs
4.Raiders

Wild Card
1.Ravens
2.Titans

NFC East
1.Eagles
2.Giants
3.Cowboys
4.Redskins

NFC North
1.Vikings
2.Bears
3.Packers
4.Lions

NFC South
1.Panthers
2.Falcons
3.Saints
4.Bucs

NFC West
1.Cardinals
2.49ers
3.Seahawks
4.Rams

Wild Card
1.Giants
2.Falcons

[Buscemi]

You're not liking my Saints either. Our schedule isn't that bad and I think we can go 9-7, maybe 10-6.

As long as you've got Shockey playing, don't even think about them being great.

[W]

Because Tight End is the most important position in sports. The Saints have a chance as long as they have Brees. I like the Panthers and Falcons over them, though.

[Buscemi]

W, you are forgetting about the Ewing theory. The theory easily applies to Jeremy Shockey in the fact that teams play better without him.

Also, he is a chemistry killer.

[W]

Ewing Theory: "the Ewing Theory claims that when a longtime superstar who has never won a championship leaves the team via injury, trade or free agency, and the media writes the team off, the team will play better. "

Nothing to do with Shockey.

[Buscemi]

But he does fit the theory in the fact that they play better without him. Also, I still think the Giants won the Super Bowl a few years back because Shockey got hurt and not because Tiki Barber retired. Keep in mind that when Shockey did play, they went under .500.

[W]

Nope, Tiki fits the theory much better.

[Buscemi]

Had Shockey not gotten hurt, the team would have finished with a losing record, Tom Coughlin would have lost his job and Eli Manning would be out of New York. And Shockey would probably still be getting his fat contract to get two touchdowns a year and get in lots of trouble.

Seriously, they only won because they didn't need to give Shockey the ball. Tiki's retirement was purely coincidence.

[geezer9687]

So I went through and analyzed every team's schedule, game by game. Here is what I came up with:

AFC East
New England 14-2
Buffalo 5-11
New York Jets 3-13
Miami 3-13

AFC South
Tennessee 12-4
Texans 12-4
Indianapolis 10-6
Jacksonville 10-6

AFC North
Pittsburgh 15-1
Baltimore 2-4
Cincinatti 6-10
Cleveland 1-15

AFC West
San Diego 14-2
Denver 4-12
Kansas City 4-12
Oakland 1-15

NFC East
Philadelphia 13-3
Redskins 11-5
Dallas 8-8
New York Giants 5-11

NFC South
New Orleans 12-4
Atlanta 12-4
Carolina 12-4
Tampa Bay 1-15

NFC North
Green Bay 14-2
Chicago 11-5
Minnesota 9-7
Detroit 3-13

NFC West
Seattle 8-8
Arizona 7-9
San Francisco 2-14
St. Louis 1-15

AFC Playoffs
1. Pittsburgh Bye
2. New England Bye

3. San Diego W
6. Texans

4. Tennessee W (The Titans win this time. Fuck the Ravens)
5. Baltimore

1. Pittsburgh W
4. Tennessee

2. New England W
3. San Diego

1. Pittsburgh
2. New England W (New England goes back to the super Bowl, led by a Tom Brady assault that is very difficult to stop)

NFC
1. Green Bay BYE
2. Philadelphia BYE

3. New Orleans W
6. Carolina

4. Seattle
5. Atlanta W

1. Green Bay W (Its uncanny how much I love the Packers this season)
5. Atlanta

2. Philadelphia W
3. New Orleans

1. Green Bay W
2. Philadelphia

Super Bowl
Green Bay
New England

And Green Bay wins. Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, Ryan Grant, an underrated defense, a team thats not getting a ton of hype, extra motivation because Favre's Vikings are... I love this team, I think they are going to go all the way.

[BanksIsDaFuture]

Green Bay making it to the Super Bowl.....

Rodgers isn't that good yet. And you've got the Giants going 5-11? Wow.

[Buscemi]

Also he has four teams going 1-15 in the SAME SEASON. There has never been a season since the NFL went to sixteen games where more than one team has won just one game or no games at all.

[geezer9687]

Yes I do... because those four teams are going to be DREADFUL this season, and they play BRUTAL schedules. They will all be lucky to win one game. They certainly may not all only win one game, that's downright unlikely. If I were correct in every one of these records, I should seriously be playing the lottery. Some may win 2 or 3 or maybe even 4. The point is, they will be absolutely god awful, and will be in contention for worst team of the year.

Aaron Rodgers is going to have a massive year. He IS that good now. He has the weapons, Jennings is a stud, and Grant is going to be better than he was last year.

Green Bay and Philadelphia are the league's most complete teams, and I think that one of them is winning the Super Bowl. I like Green Bay because they are the team that no one is really talking about that I see really breaking out.

I hate the Giants this year, as the 5-11 record shows. This team is going absolutely nowhere without Plaxico. As much of a dumbass as the guy is, he was the team's MVP. Jacobs is a big health concern and he is their entire offense. Eli is overrated and has no one to throw the ball to. They are not making the playoffs, book it.

[W]

The most complete team are the Patriots and Chargers if you're looking at every position. For some reason, though, the Chargers can't get over the hump.

I don't think the Texans have a realistic shot at beating the Colts and Titans in overall record this year unless a QB gets injured. They do have a shot at a winning season, though.

Anyone want to do weekly picks and see who can get the most right by the end of the season? We can do both with and without the spread if you'd like. Here's this weekend's games (I won't count Thursdays game because I don't think it gives enough time):

SUNDAY
MIA @ ATL
KC @ BAL
PHI @ CAR
DEN @ CIN
MIN @ CLE
NYJ @ HOU
JAC @ IND
DET @ NO
DAL @ TB
SF @ ARI
WAS @ NYG
STL @ SEA
CHI @ GB
--------------
MONDAY
BUF @ NE
SD @ OAK

[geezer9687]

The Pats don't have the defense though. I agree on the Chargers, but they get docked for having Norv Turner as a coach, which is why they never get over the hump.

I've got a Yahoo Pick'em league if you'd like to sign up.
Group ID: 5265
Password: Football

Uses the spread so its more fun.

[Buscemi]

Wait a minute Geez, didn't the Giants win all of their regular season games when they didn't have Plaxico? Sure they lost in the playoffs but you can't predict what happens in the playoffs.

[BanksIsDaFuture]

Hixon will nicely fill Plaxico's role.

[geezer9687]

Wait a minute Geez, didn't the Giants win all of their regular season games when they didn't have Plaxico? Sure they lost in the playoffs but you can't predict what happens in the playoffs.

Boush do you just make stuff up? The Giants went 2-3 in the regular season without Plaxico. Then they lost in the playoffs.
Here's the link

Hixon will nicely fill Plaxico's role.

If you believe that, then I've got a bridge in North Jersey to sell you. What about Hixon's career or anything he has shown you makes you believe he can fill the shoes of one of the league's elite receivers?

[Buscemi]

I thought I remembered the Giants being better without him.

But still, the Giants don't really need Plaxico around. The Steelers didn't need him and neither will the Giants.

[Sponsored content]