Are You Ready For Some Football?? - II
AFC West
OAK QB Brooks has WR Moss as his go to. HC Art Shell inherits a mess and his boot camp may not be enough. How bad is it? 13 wins in their last 35, then they resigned QB Jeff George, who has not thrown a pass in 5 years. Pity the poor PSL holders.
KC Starting OT's Roaf & Welbourn retired, RB Priest is on PUP till week 6. RB Johnson & QB Green must carry the load. HC Herm Edwards comes with D in mind, where there is none. Is his philosophy a fit with the strengths of this team? If all goes well, an outside wildcard shot perhaps.
SD RB Tomlinson is the best. QB Brees & LB Seau out, QB Rivers in with 34 total career passes but has to play like Big Ben and make few mistakes. If Headcoach Schottenheimer can get out of his own conservative way and shore up a weak defensive secondary, the Bolts might get a wildcard.
DEN #1 RB Anderson out, RB's Tatum & Mike Bell in. Perhaps QB Plummer out & 1st rd pick QB Cutler in? Rehabbed ex Packer WR Jevon Walker could be a bigger score than T.O. in Dallas. Headcoach Shanahan never stands still, nor is sentimental, the Buncos take the West.
AFC South
HOU Rookie HC Kubiak has his hands full, with 18 wins in 4 seasons he can only move up, right?? With an offensive line resembling Swiss Cheese, Texan fans can still dream.
TEN Ten year HC Fisher wanted USC QB Leinart, but was overruled by management and got Texas QB Young. QB Volek starts the year, but 9 wins in 2 years sez Young gets his NFL initiation early. Fisher probably bows out after a 3rd losing year.
JAX WR Smith retired, can RB Taylor stay healthy for a full season? Last year 12-4 on a weak schedule, this year not so weak. Jags opening with: Dallas, Pittsburgh, @ Indy; @ Washington, we will know all by week 4. Perhaps a wildcard, but the AFC is thick with talented teams.
IND Last year, 13-0 then pffttt!!! DT Triplett, LB Thornton, RB James & K Vanderjagt gone. Backup QB King & K Vinatieri in. RB Rhodes & Addai should fill the James gap. Indy wins the South, then tries to exorcise their post season demons.
AFC East
NYJ Rookie HC Mangini inheirits a mess. RB Martin out for the season, a young offensive line and new defensive scheme conspire to keep the JETS in the cellar.
BUF Marv Levy & Dick Jauron let WR Moulds escape and released S Lawyer Milloy. An excellent secondary cannot overcome the unstable QB situation and patchwork offensive line.
MIA Da Fish finished 6-0, but started 3-7. RB Williams up in smoke & gone. QB Ferrotte out, rehabbing QB Culpepper & Lion's bust QB Harrington in. New offensive & defensive coordinators, a patchwork offensive line & overhauled secondary are all ??? Perhaps a wildcard?
NE A healthy RB Dillon & Faulk, add rookie RB Maroney, this gives QB Brady & HC Belichick the running game and ball control they lacked last year.
The formely injury ravaged D with a healthy SS Harrison, DE Seymour, LB Bruschi & LB Seau returns to its previous state. If Harrison, Wilson, Samuel & Warfield jell in the secondary, the Pats win the East and probably wind up in Steeltown for a title game rematch.
AFC North
CLE Add Super Bowl Rings from LB McGinest, WR Jurevicius and NT Washington, then sprinkle in pro bowl Center Bentley. Oops Bentleys down for the season. With the mixture of seasoned vets & youth HC Crennel could get the Browns turned around, but not this year.
CIN The division winners have been partying and got an off field back eye to show for it. 5 off season player run ins with John Law. Backup QB Kitna out, QB Wright in, QB Palmer nursing a rehabbed knee. A tough schedule (5 of the 1st 6 games vs playoff teams) and lack of D will declaw HC Marvin Lewis's high flyin sophmore Bengals.
BAL 0-8 on the road has to change. Enter QB McNair & RB Anderson to compliment RB & LB Lewis. If TE Heap, RB & LB Lewis stay healthy & McNair delivers, quoth the Raven nevermore, as the defense and ball control deliver a wildcard spot and maybe more.
PIT HC Cowher will retire after his 15th year. There have been 95 HC changes in the league and Pittsburgh owns the best record (141-82-1) over those 15 years. Bus Bettis retired, WR Randle-El lost, QB Big Ben injured in cycle accident.
RB's Parker, Kreider & Staley will suffice for ball control & Dick LeBeau's defense will have the Steelers in the North drivers seat, hosting the title game and perhaps headed for a 4th SB matchup vs the Cowboys in Super Bowl XLI at Miami.
AFC Playoff Six Pack (in seeding order)
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. New England Patriots
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Denver Broncos
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Miami Dolphins or San Diego Chargers
Super Bowl XLI
Dallas Cowboys vs Pittsburgh Steelers
OAK QB Brooks has WR Moss as his go to. HC Art Shell inherits a mess and his boot camp may not be enough. How bad is it? 13 wins in their last 35, then they resigned QB Jeff George, who has not thrown a pass in 5 years. Pity the poor PSL holders.
KC Starting OT's Roaf & Welbourn retired, RB Priest is on PUP till week 6. RB Johnson & QB Green must carry the load. HC Herm Edwards comes with D in mind, where there is none. Is his philosophy a fit with the strengths of this team? If all goes well, an outside wildcard shot perhaps.
SD RB Tomlinson is the best. QB Brees & LB Seau out, QB Rivers in with 34 total career passes but has to play like Big Ben and make few mistakes. If Headcoach Schottenheimer can get out of his own conservative way and shore up a weak defensive secondary, the Bolts might get a wildcard.
DEN #1 RB Anderson out, RB's Tatum & Mike Bell in. Perhaps QB Plummer out & 1st rd pick QB Cutler in? Rehabbed ex Packer WR Jevon Walker could be a bigger score than T.O. in Dallas. Headcoach Shanahan never stands still, nor is sentimental, the Buncos take the West.
AFC South
HOU Rookie HC Kubiak has his hands full, with 18 wins in 4 seasons he can only move up, right?? With an offensive line resembling Swiss Cheese, Texan fans can still dream.
TEN Ten year HC Fisher wanted USC QB Leinart, but was overruled by management and got Texas QB Young. QB Volek starts the year, but 9 wins in 2 years sez Young gets his NFL initiation early. Fisher probably bows out after a 3rd losing year.
JAX WR Smith retired, can RB Taylor stay healthy for a full season? Last year 12-4 on a weak schedule, this year not so weak. Jags opening with: Dallas, Pittsburgh, @ Indy; @ Washington, we will know all by week 4. Perhaps a wildcard, but the AFC is thick with talented teams.
IND Last year, 13-0 then pffttt!!! DT Triplett, LB Thornton, RB James & K Vanderjagt gone. Backup QB King & K Vinatieri in. RB Rhodes & Addai should fill the James gap. Indy wins the South, then tries to exorcise their post season demons.
AFC East
NYJ Rookie HC Mangini inheirits a mess. RB Martin out for the season, a young offensive line and new defensive scheme conspire to keep the JETS in the cellar.
BUF Marv Levy & Dick Jauron let WR Moulds escape and released S Lawyer Milloy. An excellent secondary cannot overcome the unstable QB situation and patchwork offensive line.
MIA Da Fish finished 6-0, but started 3-7. RB Williams up in smoke & gone. QB Ferrotte out, rehabbing QB Culpepper & Lion's bust QB Harrington in. New offensive & defensive coordinators, a patchwork offensive line & overhauled secondary are all ??? Perhaps a wildcard?
NE A healthy RB Dillon & Faulk, add rookie RB Maroney, this gives QB Brady & HC Belichick the running game and ball control they lacked last year.
The formely injury ravaged D with a healthy SS Harrison, DE Seymour, LB Bruschi & LB Seau returns to its previous state. If Harrison, Wilson, Samuel & Warfield jell in the secondary, the Pats win the East and probably wind up in Steeltown for a title game rematch.
AFC North
CLE Add Super Bowl Rings from LB McGinest, WR Jurevicius and NT Washington, then sprinkle in pro bowl Center Bentley. Oops Bentleys down for the season. With the mixture of seasoned vets & youth HC Crennel could get the Browns turned around, but not this year.
CIN The division winners have been partying and got an off field back eye to show for it. 5 off season player run ins with John Law. Backup QB Kitna out, QB Wright in, QB Palmer nursing a rehabbed knee. A tough schedule (5 of the 1st 6 games vs playoff teams) and lack of D will declaw HC Marvin Lewis's high flyin sophmore Bengals.
BAL 0-8 on the road has to change. Enter QB McNair & RB Anderson to compliment RB & LB Lewis. If TE Heap, RB & LB Lewis stay healthy & McNair delivers, quoth the Raven nevermore, as the defense and ball control deliver a wildcard spot and maybe more.
PIT HC Cowher will retire after his 15th year. There have been 95 HC changes in the league and Pittsburgh owns the best record (141-82-1) over those 15 years. Bus Bettis retired, WR Randle-El lost, QB Big Ben injured in cycle accident.
RB's Parker, Kreider & Staley will suffice for ball control & Dick LeBeau's defense will have the Steelers in the North drivers seat, hosting the title game and perhaps headed for a 4th SB matchup vs the Cowboys in Super Bowl XLI at Miami.
AFC Playoff Six Pack (in seeding order)
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. New England Patriots
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Denver Broncos
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Miami Dolphins or San Diego Chargers
Super Bowl XLI
Dallas Cowboys vs Pittsburgh Steelers
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