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| Jim's
Outlook |
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Cyd's
Outlook |
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AFC EAST |
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1) New
England Patriots: Pats will miss leadership and play of
Willie McGinest and Adam Vinatieri. But any team with Tom Brady
and Bill Belichick will contend.
2) Miami
Dolphins:
If Daunte
Culpepper can play like it's 2004, the Fins have a chance to win
the division.
3) Buffalo
Bills:
J.P.
Losman doesn't appear to be the answer at quarterback. There's
not a whole to recommend with this bunch.
4) New
YorkJets:
New coach Eric Mangini
is a Belichick "Mini Me," minus Tom Brady. The start of a
rebuilding process. |
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1) New
England Patriots. I read David Halberstam's
"The Education of a Coach" about Patriots coach Bill
Belichick this summer. This pick is a vote of complete
confidence in Belichick. In what was supposed to be a
"rebuilding" year last year, they came within one dumb pass by
Tom Brady from winning the Super Bowl again. They'll be the
class of the NFL again.
2) Miami
Dolphins. They've improved at the quarterback position, for
sure. And coach Nick Saban is a Belichick guy. But, I just can't
help but feel they have more work to do to catch the Pats.
3) Buffalo
Bills. The Bills are going to be a better team than most
people think. I actually have a lot more faith in J.P. Losman
than other people. Unfortunately, in this division, better means
7-9 and third place instead of 5-11 and third place.
4) New York
Jets. Two seasons ago, they were a field goal away from the
AFC Championship game. Now, with the Titans, they're one of the
worst teams in the conference. |
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AFC NORTH |
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1)
Cincinnati Bengals:
If Carson Palmer's knee holds up, the Bengals
will be an offensive force. If the defense can stop the run,
the Bengals can be Super Bowl bound.
2)
Pittsburgh Steelers:
The
Steelers will miss Jerome Bettis in the backfield, which means
they'll need more consistency at quarterback from Ben
Roethlisberger, assuming he can stay healthy. I don't see a
repeat of the Super Bowl.
3)
Baltimore Ravens:
Steve McNair is an upgrade at QB, but I don't see
him staying healthy all season. The defense is still tough, but
no longer as dominant.
4) Cleveland
Browns: If
second-year QB Charlie Frye plays well, this team can surprise.
Willie McGinest provides the defense with some much-needed
leadership. |
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1)
Cincinnati Bengals. I know, I know – I shouldn't put stock
in the preseason. But, Carson Palmer was one of the few players
I really wanted to see; and his 13-for-20, 213 yards and four
touchdowns sold me. Plus, the Bengals' defense, a weakness last
season, is flying around the field
2) Baltimore
Ravens. This team has just needed a quarterback for the last
few seasons to be a real contender. In Steve McNair, they now
have one. The running game is suspect now, but Mike Anderson is
a great backup for Jamal Lewis.
3)
Pittsburgh Steelers. While they still have a lot of the
pieces, this team just seems off, much like the Patriots the
year after they won their first Super Bowl. Bettis leaving will
be bigger than most think, and all of the health problems with
QB Ben Roethlisberger – thumb, appendix, motorcycle crash – are
troubling. Plus, they're missing the two MVPs from their playoff
run last year: Kim von
Oelhoffen, who tore apart Carson Palmer's knee in their first
playoff win; and Peyton Manning, who choked against the Steelers
in their second playoff win.
4) Cleveland
Browns. At some point, this team is going to take a big leap
forward. It could be this year; the problem is, they play in one
of the toughest divisions in football. |
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AFC SOUTH |
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1)
Indianapolis Colts:
This team has all the ingredients for a Super
Bowl run if Edgerrin James can be replace at running back;
that's a big if. The defense should continue to improve, and
Peyton Manning may top 40 touchdown passes.
2)
Jacksonville Jaguars:
Last year's 12-4
was fluky, so expect the Jags to come back down to Earth. Team's
strength continues to be its defensive line.
3) Houston
Texans:
Betcha
the Texas will wish they took Reggie Bush with the first pick
rather than Mario Williams. No more excuses for David Carr if
he ever expects to be an elite QB.
4) Tennessee
Titans:
The rebuilding continues with rookie Vince Young at QB. This is
a far cry from the Titan teams that challenged for the Super
Bowl just a few years ago. |
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1)
Indianapolis Colts. The addition of kicker Adam Vinatieri is
supposed to be the difference in catapulting the Colts into the
Super Bowl. Huh? A kicker? That's because Peyton Manning
apologists blame their playoff loss on one missed field goal (of
course, they forget how badly Manning (sacked five times) played
in that game. The Manning apologists also seem to ignore that
the Colts have two backup running backs as their starters.
They're lucky they play in such a weak division.
2) Houston
Texans. Two disclosures. First, I over-rank the Texans
almost every year. Second, I'm partial to teams that take big
risks in the draft. While I think they passed up an incredible
player in the draft in Reggie Bush, they also got 6-foot-7 Mario
Williams in a hole they needed to fill.
3)
Jacksonville Jaguars. This is one of the great mystery teams
for me this season. They'll have a good defense again, but their
offense is simply anemic. I didn't buy Byron Leftwich when he
entered the league, and I don't buy him now. Plus, there's this
little tidbit from linebacker Mike Peterson: "Strangest thing
brought to camp? One guy (who was married) brought his
girlfriend to camp, let her stay in his room and even let her
watch practice on the field."
4) Tennessee
Titans. I thought last year would be the bottom-out season
for the Titans; I was wrong. They abandoned any hope of winning
this season when they selected Vince Young with their
first-round pick. Now we're hearing that Young might be ready to
be a starting NFL quarterback – in five or six years. |
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AFC WEST |
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1) San
Diego Chargers:
Phillips Rivers
has the makings of a star as he finally gets his chance under
center, but the offense still revolves around running back
Ladainian Tomlinson. The defense has the chance to be
scary-good, led by Shawne Merriman, but the shooting of LB Steve
Foley (out for the defense) is a big loss.
2)
Denver Broncos:
I still can't
see any team led by Jake Plummer winning it all, and the running
game is a question mark. In a rare reversal, defense might be
the strength.
3)
Kansas City Chiefs:
The Chief's
stars are getting old, save for breakout back Larry Johnson, a
fantasy football star. Trent Green still looking for receivers
to throw too.
4)
Oakland Raiders: Randy Moss? Aaron Brooks?
Warren Sapp? The Raiders certainly lead the league in head cases
with various degrees of talent. This team will suck, but it will
never be dull.workout gear underwear gay lesbian |
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1) Denver
Broncos. It's hard to bet against a team with a decent
defense and a powerful running game that upgraded its passing
game and still has a clutch kicker.
2) San Diego
Chargers. Coach Marty Schottenheimer is possibly the most
underrated regular-season head coach in the National Football
League. While I'm not sold on Philip Rivers, they have a player
in LaDainian Tomlinson who is worth at least three wins by
himself every season.
3) Kansas
City Chiefs. As opposed to the coaching situation in San
Diego, I just don't see why Herm Edwards, who left the New York
Jets in shambles, got out-coached almost every game, and only
found success when he was able to give a good pep talk, is
supposed to be the savior for this team. They still have much of
the same coaching staff from last year. Plus, they have DE Jared
Allen
bringing his baby blanket to training camp; he may need it
to cry into after this season.
4) Oakland
Raiders. Again, I don't think this team will be as bad as
other people think they'll be. They've got a lot of weapons; but
their success will ride on three things: 1) Whether the defense
can be simply serviceable; 2) Whether Aaron Brooks can be
serviceable; and 3) Whether Randy Moss can be great again. Plus,
they've got Warren Sapp, whom former teammate Warrick Dunn says
has the worst hygiene of anyone he's played with: "He wanted to
go out there and be as funky as possible so nobody would want to
touch him." |
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