It wasn't pretty for both teams, but the New Orleans Saints were able to take a lead early in the second half and hold it for a 14-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Some predicted that Vikings' QB Brett Favre will not duplicate the success he had last season, where he threw 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. It's too early to tell, but he wasn't as successful as the Vikings wanted him to be.
The Saints victory was the lowest scoring win for the Saints during the Sean Payton era. However, they will gladly take the victory. QB Drew Brees was accurate, completing 27 of 36 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown. They scored early, jumping out on top with 12:56 to go in the first quarter on WR Devery Henderson's 29-yard touchdown reception. But the scoring stopped, until the Vikings scored nine the second quarter with K Ryan Longwell's 41-yard field goal and TE Visanthe Shiancoe's 20-yard touchdown reception. The extra point was blocked after the touchdown, giving them nine instead of 10.
The Saints started off the second half on a good note also, as they scored another touchdown from RB Pierre Thomas. From there, it was just stingy defense from the two teams and two missed field goals from K Garrett Hartley prevented the Saints from scoring more. Favre only completed 15 of 27 passes for 171 yards, and he threw his first interception of the season. This was the seventh consecutive time the defending champions who hosted the opening Thursday night game has won. The Saints will travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers on Monday Night, and the Vikings will travel back home to host the Miami Dolphins for their home opener.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
NFC West Preview
The NFC West is by far the worst division in the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and St. Louis Rams don't figure to be threats to many teams in the NFL. However, there is upside to this division. The Seahawks had an amazing draft, so there's a chance they can surprise people and capture the division crown. The 49ers already have an assembly of talent on their roster, so it's plausible for them to succeed. The Rams used their #1 overall pick on what they hope to be the future of their franchise in QB Sam Bradford.
The St. Louis Rams drafting of QB Sam Bradford was a step in the right direction. They let go of QB Marc Bulger, who for years has been very overrated. It'll be difficult for Bradford to succeed as a rookie and the talent that's on the Rams roster. He is also coming off of a major shoulder injury, so he could struggle with that in his pro career as well. The schedule isn't difficult for the Rams, but they'll still lose most of their games with a rookie at the helm. They'll finish 3-13, which is an improvement from the 1-15 mark they had last year.
The Seattle Seahawks fired Jim Mora Jr. after one year, and they are now trusting their entire franchise to the hands of Pete Carroll, who was mediocre in his head coaching stints with the New England Patriots and the New York Jets. Carroll was very successful with the USC Trojans, winning two national championships. However, the NFL is different than college, and he has an aging quarterback in QB Matt Hasselbeck, who hasn't proven he has anything left in the tank. They also got rid of QB Seneca Wallace, so Hasselbeck will have to do good. They drafted pretty well, but made a dumb move by cutting WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh recently. They are giving the starting spot to WR Mike Williams, who was a bust in Detroit and Oakland and being real close to not having a career. The Seahawks have not improved and will remain at the 5-11 mark they finished with last year.
The San Francisco 49ers started off last season very well, highlighted with a close loss to the Minnesota Vikings. However, their embarrassing loss to the Atlanta Falcons was the beginning of a season in which they would fall back down to mediocrity. They finished at 8-8, and are now trusting QB Alex Smith to lead the way. With the competition in the division, combined with the talent on the roster, the 49ers should easily win the division. However, they won't be threats in the playoffs. They'll finish with a 9-7 mark and a division crown.
The Arizona Cardinals are two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance, but a lot has changed since. QB Kurt Warner, who led them to the Super Bowl and a NFC Divisional Round appearance last year, retired, leaving the position to QB Matt Leinart. Coach Ken Whisenhunt didn't see anything in Leinart and quickly lost faith in him, handing the job to QB Derek Anderson, who only had one solid season as a starter. Leinart was cut, and now the explosive offense, with WR Larry Fitzgerald, WR Steve Breaston, and WR Early Doucett, is now in the hands of Anderson. That will be a fail, as the Cardinals will fall to 7-9 and search for another quarterback next offseason.
The St. Louis Rams drafting of QB Sam Bradford was a step in the right direction. They let go of QB Marc Bulger, who for years has been very overrated. It'll be difficult for Bradford to succeed as a rookie and the talent that's on the Rams roster. He is also coming off of a major shoulder injury, so he could struggle with that in his pro career as well. The schedule isn't difficult for the Rams, but they'll still lose most of their games with a rookie at the helm. They'll finish 3-13, which is an improvement from the 1-15 mark they had last year.
The Seattle Seahawks fired Jim Mora Jr. after one year, and they are now trusting their entire franchise to the hands of Pete Carroll, who was mediocre in his head coaching stints with the New England Patriots and the New York Jets. Carroll was very successful with the USC Trojans, winning two national championships. However, the NFL is different than college, and he has an aging quarterback in QB Matt Hasselbeck, who hasn't proven he has anything left in the tank. They also got rid of QB Seneca Wallace, so Hasselbeck will have to do good. They drafted pretty well, but made a dumb move by cutting WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh recently. They are giving the starting spot to WR Mike Williams, who was a bust in Detroit and Oakland and being real close to not having a career. The Seahawks have not improved and will remain at the 5-11 mark they finished with last year.
The San Francisco 49ers started off last season very well, highlighted with a close loss to the Minnesota Vikings. However, their embarrassing loss to the Atlanta Falcons was the beginning of a season in which they would fall back down to mediocrity. They finished at 8-8, and are now trusting QB Alex Smith to lead the way. With the competition in the division, combined with the talent on the roster, the 49ers should easily win the division. However, they won't be threats in the playoffs. They'll finish with a 9-7 mark and a division crown.
The Arizona Cardinals are two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance, but a lot has changed since. QB Kurt Warner, who led them to the Super Bowl and a NFC Divisional Round appearance last year, retired, leaving the position to QB Matt Leinart. Coach Ken Whisenhunt didn't see anything in Leinart and quickly lost faith in him, handing the job to QB Derek Anderson, who only had one solid season as a starter. Leinart was cut, and now the explosive offense, with WR Larry Fitzgerald, WR Steve Breaston, and WR Early Doucett, is now in the hands of Anderson. That will be a fail, as the Cardinals will fall to 7-9 and search for another quarterback next offseason.
NFC South Preview
The NFC South is home to the NFL champion New Orleans Saints, but they will have competition from the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't be an easy out either. This division has always been so strange from the time it was created back in 2002. The Saints won the division last year with a 13-3 record, but only had an 8-8 record the year before. The Carolina Panthers won the division the year before with a 12-4 record, but were only 8-8 with the same team. The Falcons were good in QB Matt Ryan's rookie year, with an 11-5 record, but they regressed to a 9-7 record.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 3-13 last year, but they are actually optimistic about the direction of their franchise. They used their first round pick last year on Kansas State QB Josh Freeman, and he was able to get on the field as a rookie. They were 3-13 last year because of the instability at the quarterback position. They started three different quarterbacks last year, and they also got rid of all of their veterans. The year before, they were 9-3 before taking a nosedive and losing the final four games and missing the playoffs, a first in NFL history. They play Baltimore and Cincinnati on the road, but their schedule isn't that hard. I expect them to improve upon last season, to 6-10, falling short of the playoffs.
The Carolina Panthers were 8-8 last season, finishing off the season greatly behind QB Matt Moore. QB Jake Delhomme was awful after having a great season the year before, prompting the Panthers to cut him. They also drafted QB Jimmy Clausen, so they have a competition at that position. However, Moore is expected to be the starter, and they have a defense that ranked fourth in pass defense. They were also the third best rushing team, with RB DeAngelo Williams and RB Jonathan Stewart. Their success comes down to the play at the quarterback position, and I think they'll definitely struggle with Moore being the full-time starter. He'll be removed, and Clausen will enter and struggle as well. The Panthers will also finish 6-10, probably costing John Fox his job.
The Atlanta Falcons were 11-5 in QB Matt Ryan's rookie season, and things were looking great for the quarterback. He didn't have a bad sophomore season, but the Falcons were only 9-7, and barely missed the playoffs. Their pass defense was awful, close to the bottom of the league. They made a move to improve their pass defense, signing underrated CB Dunta Robinson. The only question is who will play opposite him. Their pass defense will improve, but not significantly. They will improve however, as a team, and will win the division with an 11-5 record.
The New Orleans Saints are the defending champions, pulling off an upset over the Indianapolis Colts. With much of their team remaining intact, they are some people's picks to have success again. Even though the statistics don't show an improved defense last year, they were certainly improved from the year before. Much of the credit should go to the additions of Gregg Williams and S Darren Sharper. Sharper will miss the first six games, and they also let go DE Will Smith in the offseason. Offensively, they are capable of lighting up the league again with proficient QB Drew Brees and his receiving core. However, they will have a Super Bowl hangover and finish at 9-7, just short of a playoff berth.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 3-13 last year, but they are actually optimistic about the direction of their franchise. They used their first round pick last year on Kansas State QB Josh Freeman, and he was able to get on the field as a rookie. They were 3-13 last year because of the instability at the quarterback position. They started three different quarterbacks last year, and they also got rid of all of their veterans. The year before, they were 9-3 before taking a nosedive and losing the final four games and missing the playoffs, a first in NFL history. They play Baltimore and Cincinnati on the road, but their schedule isn't that hard. I expect them to improve upon last season, to 6-10, falling short of the playoffs.
The Carolina Panthers were 8-8 last season, finishing off the season greatly behind QB Matt Moore. QB Jake Delhomme was awful after having a great season the year before, prompting the Panthers to cut him. They also drafted QB Jimmy Clausen, so they have a competition at that position. However, Moore is expected to be the starter, and they have a defense that ranked fourth in pass defense. They were also the third best rushing team, with RB DeAngelo Williams and RB Jonathan Stewart. Their success comes down to the play at the quarterback position, and I think they'll definitely struggle with Moore being the full-time starter. He'll be removed, and Clausen will enter and struggle as well. The Panthers will also finish 6-10, probably costing John Fox his job.
The Atlanta Falcons were 11-5 in QB Matt Ryan's rookie season, and things were looking great for the quarterback. He didn't have a bad sophomore season, but the Falcons were only 9-7, and barely missed the playoffs. Their pass defense was awful, close to the bottom of the league. They made a move to improve their pass defense, signing underrated CB Dunta Robinson. The only question is who will play opposite him. Their pass defense will improve, but not significantly. They will improve however, as a team, and will win the division with an 11-5 record.
The New Orleans Saints are the defending champions, pulling off an upset over the Indianapolis Colts. With much of their team remaining intact, they are some people's picks to have success again. Even though the statistics don't show an improved defense last year, they were certainly improved from the year before. Much of the credit should go to the additions of Gregg Williams and S Darren Sharper. Sharper will miss the first six games, and they also let go DE Will Smith in the offseason. Offensively, they are capable of lighting up the league again with proficient QB Drew Brees and his receiving core. However, they will have a Super Bowl hangover and finish at 9-7, just short of a playoff berth.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
NFC North Preview
The NFC North is a team with only two contenders -- the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. The Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions will not be impactful enough to ruin the party and become contenders this upcoming season. Last season, the Vikings won the division with a 12-4 record and made an appearance in the NFC Championship Game. They will be looking to build upon that and advance to the Super Bowl. The Packers finished at 11-5, but lost a heartbreaker in Arizona in the Wild Card Round. They are also looking to build upon their record and hopefully win the division.
The Detroit Lions finished the 2008 season at 0-16, the first for an NFL team since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 0-14 in the first year during the 1970s. There was only one way to go for the Lions, and that was up. They couldn't be worst than a completed defeated season. They improved to 2-14 last season, still a horrible season. The Lions drafted DT Ndamukong Suh with the second overall pick, and they also signed DE Kyle Vanden Bosch. They drafted QB Matthew Stafford with the #1 pick the year before, and they also have a good receiving threat in WR Calvin Johnson. They have to learn to put it together, and that may not happen this year, considering they play the NFC East and the AFC East. The Lions will finish 2-14 again.
The Chicago Bears weren't horrible after acquiring QB Jay Cutler. Cutler was very overrated coming in from the Denver Broncos, as the fans expected a lot from him. Instead, they got a 7-9 season, and Cutler threw for 27 touchdowns, but also threw 26 interceptions, a league high. They got the free agent prize, signing DE Julius Peppers to a long term deal. However, that doesn't fix nearly all of their problems, which happened to be a struggling offense. They hired Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator, but he is throw-happy and that will be a problem with Cutler. The difficult schedule also doesn't bode well for them, so they will regress this year. The Bears will finish at 6-10.
The Green Bay Packers finished the season only one game behind the Vikings, but had two humiliating losses to the Vikings. The Packers couldn't protect QB Aaron Rodgers at all, resulting in many sacks for the Vikings' defense. The Packers defense was in the top 5 last year, so their 3-4 defense should remain stout this year. Rodgers was a very potent passer last year, and some are expecting him to have a better year. Rodgers should have a better year as he gets older and wiser running the offense. The Packers will remain at 11-5, but they will win the NFC North division via a tiebreaker and they'll advance to the Super Bowl.
The Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North division with a 12-4 record, and were a non-interception away from advancing to the Super Bowl. QB Brett Favre decided to return for his 20th season, so Vikings' fans are elated. However, asking Favre to throw 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions is a tough thing to ask. Favre had his best season ever, but he won't have a season like that again. The Vikings will regress, because of Favre, but they'll still be a legitimate threat and playoff contender. They'll finish 11-5 also, but lose tiebreaker to the Packers.
The Detroit Lions finished the 2008 season at 0-16, the first for an NFL team since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 0-14 in the first year during the 1970s. There was only one way to go for the Lions, and that was up. They couldn't be worst than a completed defeated season. They improved to 2-14 last season, still a horrible season. The Lions drafted DT Ndamukong Suh with the second overall pick, and they also signed DE Kyle Vanden Bosch. They drafted QB Matthew Stafford with the #1 pick the year before, and they also have a good receiving threat in WR Calvin Johnson. They have to learn to put it together, and that may not happen this year, considering they play the NFC East and the AFC East. The Lions will finish 2-14 again.
The Chicago Bears weren't horrible after acquiring QB Jay Cutler. Cutler was very overrated coming in from the Denver Broncos, as the fans expected a lot from him. Instead, they got a 7-9 season, and Cutler threw for 27 touchdowns, but also threw 26 interceptions, a league high. They got the free agent prize, signing DE Julius Peppers to a long term deal. However, that doesn't fix nearly all of their problems, which happened to be a struggling offense. They hired Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator, but he is throw-happy and that will be a problem with Cutler. The difficult schedule also doesn't bode well for them, so they will regress this year. The Bears will finish at 6-10.
The Green Bay Packers finished the season only one game behind the Vikings, but had two humiliating losses to the Vikings. The Packers couldn't protect QB Aaron Rodgers at all, resulting in many sacks for the Vikings' defense. The Packers defense was in the top 5 last year, so their 3-4 defense should remain stout this year. Rodgers was a very potent passer last year, and some are expecting him to have a better year. Rodgers should have a better year as he gets older and wiser running the offense. The Packers will remain at 11-5, but they will win the NFC North division via a tiebreaker and they'll advance to the Super Bowl.
The Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North division with a 12-4 record, and were a non-interception away from advancing to the Super Bowl. QB Brett Favre decided to return for his 20th season, so Vikings' fans are elated. However, asking Favre to throw 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions is a tough thing to ask. Favre had his best season ever, but he won't have a season like that again. The Vikings will regress, because of Favre, but they'll still be a legitimate threat and playoff contender. They'll finish 11-5 also, but lose tiebreaker to the Packers.
NFC East Preview
The NFC East will arguably be the most difficult division during the season, with all teams capable of beating each other. The Dallas Cowboys won the division last season with an 11-5 record, and the Philadelphia Eagles also made the playoffs as a wild card with an 11-5 record as well. The New York Giants and the Washington Redskins missed the playoffs, but both teams have improved from last season, and are talented enough to make a playoff run as well. The NFC East plays the AFC South and the NFC North, so it won't be an easy task, but each team is capable of having at least a .500 record.
The Washington Redskins acquired Mike Shanahan as head coach and QB Donovan McNabb from the rival Eagles in the offseason. Those two acquisitions are enough to improve the Redskins drastically. However, they've had their problems with DT Albert Haynesworth, and McNabb has to learn a whole new system. The Redskins also had problems protecting former QB Jason Campbell, so it'll be a challenge holding McNabb upright. The Redskins were 4-12 last year. They will be significantly better, but they'll finish at 8-8, not enough for a playoff appearance.
The New York Giants started the season 5-0 before struggling the rest of the season and finishing 8-8. The biggest reason for that was the defense, which gave up 40 points five times during the season. QB Eli Manning had his best season without a big-name wide receiver, but the Giants struggled to run the football. The Giants made sure they do the things necessary to fix their defense. They acquired S Antrel Rolle, drafted DE Jason Pierre-Paul and hired Perry Fewell as their defensive coordinator. Their offense, particularly their run game, will be better than last season. The Giants will surprise this season, and win the division with an 11-5 record.
The Philadelphia Eagles are in transition at the quarterback position for the first time in more than a decade. After trading QB Donovan McNabb to the Redskins, the Eagles are now trusting their offense to QB Kevin Kolb. There is no telling how Kolb will do. He's looked impressive at times during the preseason, but his performance was great. The Eagles are now a young football team, but their defense will remain good. The only question is their offense without McNabb and RB Brian Westbrook, who was cut in the offseason. The Eagles will struggle in Kolb's first year, finishing at 7-9 and missing the playoffs.
The Dallas Cowboys are the defending NFC East champions, and they come into this season as the most overrated team in the NFL. Some analysts have the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, where it will be played in their home stadium. The Cowboys have looked awful in the preseason. Teams have played well in the regular season after playing bad in preseason, but it's time to hit the panic button if you're a Cowboys fan. QB Tony Romo is good, but his connection with WR Roy Williams is still off and WR Miles Austin will not have a season like he did last season. The Cowboys will finish at 10-6, good enough to win the Wild Card, but they won't get far.
The Washington Redskins acquired Mike Shanahan as head coach and QB Donovan McNabb from the rival Eagles in the offseason. Those two acquisitions are enough to improve the Redskins drastically. However, they've had their problems with DT Albert Haynesworth, and McNabb has to learn a whole new system. The Redskins also had problems protecting former QB Jason Campbell, so it'll be a challenge holding McNabb upright. The Redskins were 4-12 last year. They will be significantly better, but they'll finish at 8-8, not enough for a playoff appearance.
The New York Giants started the season 5-0 before struggling the rest of the season and finishing 8-8. The biggest reason for that was the defense, which gave up 40 points five times during the season. QB Eli Manning had his best season without a big-name wide receiver, but the Giants struggled to run the football. The Giants made sure they do the things necessary to fix their defense. They acquired S Antrel Rolle, drafted DE Jason Pierre-Paul and hired Perry Fewell as their defensive coordinator. Their offense, particularly their run game, will be better than last season. The Giants will surprise this season, and win the division with an 11-5 record.
The Philadelphia Eagles are in transition at the quarterback position for the first time in more than a decade. After trading QB Donovan McNabb to the Redskins, the Eagles are now trusting their offense to QB Kevin Kolb. There is no telling how Kolb will do. He's looked impressive at times during the preseason, but his performance was great. The Eagles are now a young football team, but their defense will remain good. The only question is their offense without McNabb and RB Brian Westbrook, who was cut in the offseason. The Eagles will struggle in Kolb's first year, finishing at 7-9 and missing the playoffs.
The Dallas Cowboys are the defending NFC East champions, and they come into this season as the most overrated team in the NFL. Some analysts have the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, where it will be played in their home stadium. The Cowboys have looked awful in the preseason. Teams have played well in the regular season after playing bad in preseason, but it's time to hit the panic button if you're a Cowboys fan. QB Tony Romo is good, but his connection with WR Roy Williams is still off and WR Miles Austin will not have a season like he did last season. The Cowboys will finish at 10-6, good enough to win the Wild Card, but they won't get far.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
AFC West Preview
The AFC West hasn't really been any different in recent memory. With the exception of the 2005 season, when the Denver Broncos won the division with a 13-3 record, the San Diego Chargers have dominated the division. The Oakland Raiders have been completely irrelevant since their appearance in the Super Bowl after the 2002 season. The Kansas City Chiefs have been mediocre at best after winning the AFC West title during the 2003 season. It doesn't appear to be much different this year.
The Oakland Raiders don't have much reason to be optimistic, but they did acquire QB Jason Campbell and released awful QB JaMarcus Russell. Campbell was okay at best with the Washington Redskins, always lacking a good offensive line. He doesn't have a strong offensive line with the Raiders either, so it'll be interesting to see how they perform. Nonetheless, I expect the Raiders to improve upon their 5-11 record from last season. It won't be as difficult because they play the NFC West division. They will finish at 6-10.
The Kansas City Chiefs were 4-12 last year, and there is no reason to think they'll be better this season. They hired Charlie Weis as their offensive coordinator, a move that many liked. Weis helped QB Tom Brady win three Super Bowls as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. They also picked up RB Thomas Jones, who had a solid season with the New York Jets last year. However, they have QB Matt Cassel and a bad offensive line. Cassel was severely overrated after his successful 2008 season with the Patriots. He will never have the same kind of success again in his career. The Chiefs will be 4-12, just like last year.
The Denver Broncos were surprising a lot of folks after starting the season 5-0, but they quickly faded, finishing at a disappointing 8-8. QB Kyle Orton was solid, not making many mistakes. Their defense were also solid at the beginning, but they faded over the course of the season, just like Orton. They got rid of WR Brandon Marshall and TE Tony Scheffler, their biggest offensive weapons. Drafting QB Tim Tebow does nothing for their success. Their schedule toward the end isn't that tough, but they'll still finish at 9-7, short of making the playoffs again.
The San Diego Chargers return the most important player -- QB Philip Rivers. WR Vincent Jackson has refused to sign a tender, and OL Marcus McNeill has refused to do so also. However, Rivers' success is the only thing that matters, and he can get the job done with WR Malcolm Floyd and TE Antonio Gates. The Chargers were 13-3 last year, and with their easy schedule, they should be 13-3 again. They will finish first or second again, with the Indianapolis Colts the only other team in the AFC that will matter. However, the Chargers will look to get past their postseason failures, as they lost to the New York Jets in their first playoff game last year.
The Oakland Raiders don't have much reason to be optimistic, but they did acquire QB Jason Campbell and released awful QB JaMarcus Russell. Campbell was okay at best with the Washington Redskins, always lacking a good offensive line. He doesn't have a strong offensive line with the Raiders either, so it'll be interesting to see how they perform. Nonetheless, I expect the Raiders to improve upon their 5-11 record from last season. It won't be as difficult because they play the NFC West division. They will finish at 6-10.
The Kansas City Chiefs were 4-12 last year, and there is no reason to think they'll be better this season. They hired Charlie Weis as their offensive coordinator, a move that many liked. Weis helped QB Tom Brady win three Super Bowls as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. They also picked up RB Thomas Jones, who had a solid season with the New York Jets last year. However, they have QB Matt Cassel and a bad offensive line. Cassel was severely overrated after his successful 2008 season with the Patriots. He will never have the same kind of success again in his career. The Chiefs will be 4-12, just like last year.
The Denver Broncos were surprising a lot of folks after starting the season 5-0, but they quickly faded, finishing at a disappointing 8-8. QB Kyle Orton was solid, not making many mistakes. Their defense were also solid at the beginning, but they faded over the course of the season, just like Orton. They got rid of WR Brandon Marshall and TE Tony Scheffler, their biggest offensive weapons. Drafting QB Tim Tebow does nothing for their success. Their schedule toward the end isn't that tough, but they'll still finish at 9-7, short of making the playoffs again.
The San Diego Chargers return the most important player -- QB Philip Rivers. WR Vincent Jackson has refused to sign a tender, and OL Marcus McNeill has refused to do so also. However, Rivers' success is the only thing that matters, and he can get the job done with WR Malcolm Floyd and TE Antonio Gates. The Chargers were 13-3 last year, and with their easy schedule, they should be 13-3 again. They will finish first or second again, with the Indianapolis Colts the only other team in the AFC that will matter. However, the Chargers will look to get past their postseason failures, as they lost to the New York Jets in their first playoff game last year.
Friday, September 3, 2010
AFC South Preview
The AFC South is another division in the AFC with several quality teams who will be making a run at the playoffs. The AFC South, since the alignment took place in 2002, usually started and ended with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have won at least 12 games every year since 2003. However, the Tennessee Titans won the division in 2008 with a 13-3 record. As a matter of fact, the Titans and the Colts are the only two teams to claim AFC South division titles since the division was created.
The Jacksonville Jaguars finished last season with a 7-9 record, and they haven't necessarily improved to make people believe in them this year. They do have productive QB David Garrard, who led them to a 12-4 record and an AFC Divisional Round appearance in 2007, his first season as a starter. They also have RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who is very productive out of the backfield running and catching the football. Other than that, the Jaguars have nothing else, which is surprising that Jack Del Rio has been able to last that long as head coach. They place the NFC East and the AFC West, so expect the Jaguars to finish at 6-10.
The Tennessee Titans are just two years removed from their 13-3 record and AFC South division crown. They got off to a terrible 0-6 start, capped off with a 59-0 loss to the New England Patriots. However, they went 8-2 when Jeff Fisher benched QB Kerry Collins in favor of QB Vince Young. Young will be the starter this year, so expectations are a little high for the Titans. The difficulty of their schedule, combined with being in the AFC South, will get the Titans a 9-7 record, just short of making postseason play.
The Houston Texans once again come into the season with bigger expectations than the year before. WR Andre Johnson is the best wide receiver in the league, and QB Matt Schaub is pretty good also. They improved their defense by drafting CB Kareem Jackson, and they already have LB Brian Cushing, who'll miss the first four games, and LB DeMeco Ryans to go along with DE Mario Williams. However, the difficulty of their schedule and being in the same division as the Colts and Titans, will hurt the Texans quest for a playoff berth. They won't make any progress, finishing at 9-7 like the year before, and fall short of a playoff appearance.
While AFC teams like the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals have improved their roster dramatically, one team still stands in the way, the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts haven't made any moves in the offseason, and they didn't need to. It starts off with arguably the best quarterback in NFL history with QB Peyton Manning, and the rest of the offense goes along. Their defense, if they can remain healthy, is also stout with S Bob Sanders, DE Dwight Freeney and DE Robert Mathis. The Colts will finish 13-3 and win the division again, and this time around, there won't be a fluke performance like the one the Saints had in the Super Bowl. Manning will capture his second title.
The Jacksonville Jaguars finished last season with a 7-9 record, and they haven't necessarily improved to make people believe in them this year. They do have productive QB David Garrard, who led them to a 12-4 record and an AFC Divisional Round appearance in 2007, his first season as a starter. They also have RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who is very productive out of the backfield running and catching the football. Other than that, the Jaguars have nothing else, which is surprising that Jack Del Rio has been able to last that long as head coach. They place the NFC East and the AFC West, so expect the Jaguars to finish at 6-10.
The Tennessee Titans are just two years removed from their 13-3 record and AFC South division crown. They got off to a terrible 0-6 start, capped off with a 59-0 loss to the New England Patriots. However, they went 8-2 when Jeff Fisher benched QB Kerry Collins in favor of QB Vince Young. Young will be the starter this year, so expectations are a little high for the Titans. The difficulty of their schedule, combined with being in the AFC South, will get the Titans a 9-7 record, just short of making postseason play.
The Houston Texans once again come into the season with bigger expectations than the year before. WR Andre Johnson is the best wide receiver in the league, and QB Matt Schaub is pretty good also. They improved their defense by drafting CB Kareem Jackson, and they already have LB Brian Cushing, who'll miss the first four games, and LB DeMeco Ryans to go along with DE Mario Williams. However, the difficulty of their schedule and being in the same division as the Colts and Titans, will hurt the Texans quest for a playoff berth. They won't make any progress, finishing at 9-7 like the year before, and fall short of a playoff appearance.
While AFC teams like the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals have improved their roster dramatically, one team still stands in the way, the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts haven't made any moves in the offseason, and they didn't need to. It starts off with arguably the best quarterback in NFL history with QB Peyton Manning, and the rest of the offense goes along. Their defense, if they can remain healthy, is also stout with S Bob Sanders, DE Dwight Freeney and DE Robert Mathis. The Colts will finish 13-3 and win the division again, and this time around, there won't be a fluke performance like the one the Saints had in the Super Bowl. Manning will capture his second title.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
AFC North Preview
The AFC North was much better than what people expected last year, and it was also surprising the way the Pittsburgh Steelers struggled after winning the Super Bowl the season before. With the AFC North playing the NFC South and the AFC East, this could be a tough year for the division.
Starting off with the Cleveland Browns, they are almost guaranteed to not succeed this season. They have a challenging road game against the defending champion New Orleans Saints, but they don't have another challenging road game. However, their games against division opponents will fail them again, but I do look for them to improve upon last season, when they were 5-11, simply because of QB Jake Delhomme. Delhomme did have a bad year with the Carolina Panthers last year, but he tends to have on and off years and I look for him to have a decent season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't do much to their roster last offseason, so many wondered why they failed to duplicate their success from the 2008 season. The answer is very simple -- defense. While many credit QB Ben Roethlisberger for their success, it's their defense that actually holds the key to their success. They looked sharp defensively in the preseason, but has had quarterback issues with Roethlisberger missing up to the first six games. The improved defense will be the reason why they improve upon last season, but they won't find their way in the postseason again with a 9-7 record.
The Baltimore Ravens fell short of winning the division last season, but still advanced to the AFC Divisional Round with their lopsided road win against the New England Patriots. The Ravens have gotten better also, which could be a little scary for other teams. Their offense is improved with the acquisition of WR Anquan Boldin. Their defense, surprisingly, will be the only question mark. They have been solid for a long time, but their secondary hasn't been that strong last year and don't look to be that strong this season. However, I expect them to improve upon last year also and win the division with an 11-5 record.
The Cincinnati Bengals won the division last season but played awful in the AFC Wild Card Round against the New York Jets at home. The Bengals have improved by getting CB Adam "Pacman" Jones and WR Terrell Owens, two headaches for most teams. However, they have looked sharp in the preseason, and the Bengals defense looks better also. The Bengals success depends on QB Carson Palmer, who has been overrated the past couple of seasons. They won last year because of their running game and their defense, not Palmer. If he is like last year, they will have the same success. That is exactly what's going to happen, and the Bengals will improve one game to 11-5 but succumb the division crown to the Ravens.
Starting off with the Cleveland Browns, they are almost guaranteed to not succeed this season. They have a challenging road game against the defending champion New Orleans Saints, but they don't have another challenging road game. However, their games against division opponents will fail them again, but I do look for them to improve upon last season, when they were 5-11, simply because of QB Jake Delhomme. Delhomme did have a bad year with the Carolina Panthers last year, but he tends to have on and off years and I look for him to have a decent season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't do much to their roster last offseason, so many wondered why they failed to duplicate their success from the 2008 season. The answer is very simple -- defense. While many credit QB Ben Roethlisberger for their success, it's their defense that actually holds the key to their success. They looked sharp defensively in the preseason, but has had quarterback issues with Roethlisberger missing up to the first six games. The improved defense will be the reason why they improve upon last season, but they won't find their way in the postseason again with a 9-7 record.
The Baltimore Ravens fell short of winning the division last season, but still advanced to the AFC Divisional Round with their lopsided road win against the New England Patriots. The Ravens have gotten better also, which could be a little scary for other teams. Their offense is improved with the acquisition of WR Anquan Boldin. Their defense, surprisingly, will be the only question mark. They have been solid for a long time, but their secondary hasn't been that strong last year and don't look to be that strong this season. However, I expect them to improve upon last year also and win the division with an 11-5 record.
The Cincinnati Bengals won the division last season but played awful in the AFC Wild Card Round against the New York Jets at home. The Bengals have improved by getting CB Adam "Pacman" Jones and WR Terrell Owens, two headaches for most teams. However, they have looked sharp in the preseason, and the Bengals defense looks better also. The Bengals success depends on QB Carson Palmer, who has been overrated the past couple of seasons. They won last year because of their running game and their defense, not Palmer. If he is like last year, they will have the same success. That is exactly what's going to happen, and the Bengals will improve one game to 11-5 but succumb the division crown to the Ravens.
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