AFC East
New England Patriots - Over/Under 12 Wins
Y1: Well, Tom Brady appears to be healthy again, which is bad news for the rest of the NFL. 12 wins is a ton for Over/Under, but if you would bet on anyone for the over here, its the Pats. They have all the weapons on offense you could ever need, and the evil sweatshirted genius running the always stout defense. I'll say barely over at 13-3. OVER 12
Y2: I'm not as convinced as you are the Pats will return to completely dominate the rest of the league. Any player, even Tom Brady, is a question mark coming off of major knee surgery. Not to mention, who's actually going to run the ball for this team? On defense, several of their key players are another year older, excluding Mike Vrabel (traded to KC). Yet, they are still the best in the division by a mile, so I'll go on a limb again and say PUSH 12.
Buffalo Bills - Over/Under 7.5 Wins
Buffalo is a hard one to figure out here. Trent Edwards and Marshwan Lynch are pretty solid (if Lynch can stay out of trouble of course), but its hard to tell what impact TO (right) will have on this team. How will he handle being in a small market? How will he react to exact typographical opposite HC Dick Jauron? The D is nothing to write home about, and I can't see TO in Buffalo ending well. UNDER 7.5
I think you hit the nail on the head with this team. They seem to have a bunch of mismatched parts thrown together to try to find an offense. I don't think TO is necessarily going to make Trent Edwards a better quarterback at this time of his career. They'll play well at home, but won't get enough wins on the road to compete for a playoff spot. UNDER 7.5
Miami Dolphins - Over/Under 7.5 Wins
A 7.5 line for a reigning division champ?? Really? I think I'll take those odds every time. Sure, the Wildcat might not fool everyone this year, but with Pat White possibly running the show it could be an extra dimension. Gadget plays aside, this is still a pretty solid football team. As long as Chad Pennington can still lob passes accurately, and the D led by the return of Jason Taylor holds up they'll be good. The schedule is pretty tough against the AFC/NFC South but they should at least eek out 8 wins. OVER 7.5
The return of Jason Taylor, really? He gets rejected by every other team in the league and even Hollywood, so he has to land back in Miami? I think the bloom is off the rose for this team after a magical 2008 season. A lot of their success last year was done with smoke and mirrors, this year, they won't be so lucky. UNDER 7.5
New York Jets - Over/Under 7 Wins
I'm sorry, but I don't buy the Mark Sanchez for Heisman... err Rookie of the Year hype. I swear, every time I turn it on the Eastern SPorts Network I hear about the great Sanchez and how he's leading the Jets to the Super Bowl this year, (yes Bristol has an obsession with USC too). Sanchez (left) is a solid QB, but he's not the next Brady or Montana, and he's still a rookie. The Jets were bad when Favre failed them last year, it'll take a year or two for them to contend, especially in this division. UNDER 7
While I'm sick of having Mark Sanchez driven down my throat, I think this team can be just as good as last year. New head coach Rob Ryan has brought in some impact players on defense with him from Baltimore (Bart Scott, Jim Leonhard, etc.), which I think will help the Jets immensely. On offense, the 1-2 punch of Thomas Jones and Leon Washington should be enough to get this team to .500. OVER 7
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles - Over/Under 10 Wins
There's actually no way of knowing how Philly will perform with the Vick Circus in town, we've never seen anything like it before. How will Vick play? We don't know. How will Andy Reid circle the wagons? We don't know. Any prediction is an educated guess at best. This group of Eagles has been around the block a few times, but they've never faced these circumstances. 10 wins would be hard under normal circumstances, but now its going to be even harder. Just under at 9-7. UNDER 10
The Eagles seem to become more of a ticking time bomb every year, but somehow, like that bad rash, they keep coming back. For once though, there are more questions than answers. How will Mike Vick fit in and how will the situation affect Donovon McNabb? Will Brian Westbrook ever stay healthy for an entire season? How does the defense handle the tragic passing of coordinator Jim Johnson? There seems to be too much adversity for this team to overcome finally. UNDER 10
New York Giants - Over/Under 9.5 Wins
Well, someone has to win this division right? Plaxico is gone for good now, and that should free up this team to not have to deal with his hijinx. The return of Ahmad Bradshaw to a prominent role should really help aid the ground and pound of Brandon Jacobs (right). They will really need the youth at WR to step up, but the Giants are ready to go back to the top of the East. OVER 9.5
Someone does have to win this division, but I don't think it's the Giants. Eli's big contract may look great on paper, but really, is he one of the best quarterbacks in the league? Without Plax, there isn't a #1 receiver on the team; the opposition can load up the box to stop Brandon Jacobs. Defensively, the Giants seemed to have taken a couple steps back from their Super Bowl dominance. UNDER 9.5
Dallas Cowboys - Over/Under 9 Wins
TO is finally gone, but the biggest big screen TV in the world is the newest distraction for America's Team. Call me old-fashioned, but I like my sports without giant HD TV's right on top of the playing field. Here's hoping LBJ's next last-second shot doesn't deflect off of a giant IPhone. Should you ever have faith in a Wade Phillips led team? No. But the "most talented team in the league" should get to 9 wins. Yes, I'll take the lame way out. PUSH 9
Agreed that this is the most talented team in the league, and without the burden of TO around I think Tony Romo will finally be able to let loose with this offense. There will be two dynamic duos on offense, Roy Williams and Jason Witten catching passes (also free from the wrath of TO) and Fast Felix Jones and Marion the Barbarian in the backfield. The defense, led by DeMarcus Ware will be dominant enough to take the division crown. OVER 9
Washington Redskins - Over/Under 8 Wins
Well, at least Washington can win the spending money title every offseason! Albert Haynesworth signed for over $100 Million, but how much impact can a DT really have? Jason Campbell (left) is still going to be an average QB. Jim Zorn is still going to be an average coach. And with the quality in this division, its going to be hard to get above the .500 mark. UNDER 8
This team's fate this season starts and ends with Jason Campbell. If he doesn't take the leap forward, the Redskins will spend another year in mediocrity. If he does, they have a legitimate chance at making the playoffs. Does anyone out there think Jim Zorn can make Campbell a better quarterback? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? I thought not. Be smart and take UNDER 8
2 comments:
My picks:
NE: 11 (you are on acid Y1 to give them over).
BUF: 8 (TO will impact more then you think with Evans on the other side. Edwards will blossom. I may move it to 9 but 8 is safe).
MIA: 7 (an offseason of study and the Wildcat is not so effective, even with Pat White. Miami will fall back).
NYJ: 9 (taking a leap here. Sanchez will have a Ryan-esque ascension his rookie year. Much improved defense. Will go 4-2 in division, losing to NE twice, then defeating Houston, Jacksonville, Oakland, Tampa Bay and then Cincy in Week 17 to put them in contention with the wildcard).
Brother Y
My NFL Picks:
PHI: 8 (Vick signing going to hurt more than help. McNabb not going to be used to taking plays off for Vick to get in. He won't get in a suitable rhythm and it will affect them).
NYG: 8 (Pre-season struggles will carry over. Eli will not have the talent around him to produce effectively. Jacobs is the only saving factor for their aspirations).
DAL: 7 (Romo will be exposed and the Cowboy fans won't have to worry about him faltering in the playoffs, since they won't be there).
WAS: 9 (I've liked Campbell since he was at Auburn. Wanted Cleveland to take him but they took Frye. He will flourish under a 2nd year with Zorn and Redskin nation will be in contention for the division).
Brother Y
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