Dust Off Your Crystal Ball

[Alexander]

Also, the Pack will dominate

With what?

I don't see much they did this offseason to improve. Ryan Grant proved last year he was a flash in the pan and the jury is still out on whether or not Rodgers is any better than an old Brett Favre. Capers is a good defensive coordinator, but I can't see how he can do what he wants on that defense if they don't gel quickly with it. Their best bet defensively is do what the Cardinals did and intermix 3 and 4 man line looks. I don't think they are quite there defensively and their CBs are ready to fall off at any time.

 

[bbgun]

With what?

Brainwaves.

 

[sonnyboy]

AFC East

1. Patriots....13-3
2. Bills...........8-8
3. Dolphins....6-10
4. Jets..........6-10

AFC North

1. Steelers....11-5
2. Ravens.....11-5
3. Bengals.....4-12
4. Browns......4-12


AFC South

1. Titans......11-5
2. Titans......10-6
3. Texans......9-7
4. Jaguars......7-9


AFC West

1. Chargers.....12-4
2. Raiders........6-10
3. Chiefs.........5-11
4. Broncos.......4-12


NFC East

1. Cowboys.....13-3
2. Eagles........11-5
3. Giants........10-6
4. Commanders......4-12


NFC North

1. Bears.........11-5
2. Vikings.......10-6
3. Packers......9-7
4. Lions.........3-13

NFC South

1. Saints..........9-7
2. Falcons....... 8-8
3. Panthers......8-8
4. Buccaneers..3-13


NFC West

1. Cardinals.....10-6
2. Seakawks....9-7
3. 49ers..........6-10
4. Rams..........5-11

NFC Championship Cowboys over Bears
AFC Championship Chargers over Pats
SB Cowboys over Chargers

 

[SkinsFan28]

No team in the NFCE will have less than 9 wins. 2 will be left out of the playoffs at 9-7.

The NFCS will be the surprise in how poor the teams records are (playing the NFCE/AFCE gives each team at least 5 losses)

The NFCN will be a dograce, with the Vikings falling at the end to Green Bay, Detroit actually wins 6 games

The NFCW will produce good teams, Ariz/Seattle/SF all surprise with winning records

The AFCW will have another 8-8 team getting in the playoffs

AFCE Buffalo will take the Division, with NE taking a wildcard

AFCS Houston takes it
AFCN Baltimore drops and the Steelers win it relatively easily.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

No way the Chargers finish last in that division - they are one of the most talented teams in the entire league and they get Merriman back this season. Plus a healthy Cromartie...they would be my pick in the AFC. I hate the Patriots....

Well, last season i think they were on the verge of completely falling apart. With a division full of average teams a few bad bounces and a third year under Norv equals disaster. But let me see them in preseason before holding me to this!

 

[DallasDomination]

AFC East

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

AFC North

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


AFC West

1. Chargers
2. chiefs
3. raiders
4. Broncos


NFC East

1.Giants
2. Cowboys
3. eagles
4. Commanders


NFC North

1. Bears
2. Packers
3. vikings
4. Lions

NFC South

1. falcons
2. panthers
3. Buccaneers
4. Saints


NFC West

1. Cardinals
2. 49ers
3. seahawks
4. Rams.

 

[DFWJC]

With what?

I don't see much they did this offseason to improve. Ryan Grant proved last year he was a flash in the pan and the jury is still out on whether or not Rodgers is any better than an old Brett Favre. Capers is a good defensive coordinator, but I can't see how he can do what he wants on that defense if they don't gel quickly with it. Their best bet defensively is do what the Cardinals did and intermix 3 and 4 man line looks. I don't think they are quite there defensively and their CBs are ready to fall off at any time.

I agree with GTB that the Packers will be FAR better than some expecting.

First, remember that they lost SEVEN games by 4 or less points and 2 in OT.

Offense
Very Strong
I can't see how anyone can question the offense. Even with some injuries they were 5th in the league in scoring (Dallas was 18th). Grant (who was banged up along witht he Oline) finished 8th in the NFC, basically tied with Forte in rushing and ypc. The WR group is one of the best 2-3 groups in the league, and QB has everything you would want and more.

Defense
Okay but big upside
This group let them down last season for sure. But this group has a ton of talent and just added BJ Raji to stuff the middle and added Clay Matthews. More importantly, they now have Dom Capers as Defensive Coordinator and they're going to the 3-4. Still, this could cause some growing pains.

Special teams
Very Strong

 

[Alexander]

just added BJ Raji to stuff the middle added Clay Matthews.

So they added the USC version of Bobby Carpenter. Yawn.

 

[DFWJC]

So they added the USC version of Bobby Carpenter. Yawn.

LOL...okay, so maybe Matthews could be excluded. He'll have to prove himself. They are already strong at LB anyway.

 

[TNCowboy]

I'm curious as to what weaknesses you are referring to.

I guess QB could be considered a weakness, but they don't ask to much of him and he manages a game just fine..so that's not a real issue. The WRs are only soso but they upgraded there with Nate Washington and Kenny Britt to go with a healthy Gage.

Otherwise:
They have one of the league's best RB duos...and great depth
They have a tremendous Oline
TEs are very solid (not great but solid) and deep
They have a very stout and deep Dline (but losing AH makes them thinner)
The LB core is solid
They have maybe the best secondary in the league
Special teams are very good too
Coaching is top 4-5 in the league


Maybe you can explain?

They don't have one of the league's best duos. They have one good RB, who is the only real playmaker on their entire offense. As we saw last year, contain Johnson, they don't have much else on offense to scare anyone.

Their QB is average, and near the end at that.

For the most part, their whole offense is a bunch of jags. They're well-coached and their OL is solid, but that got them no further than the middle of the pack offensively last year, and they've done very little to improve themselves while Collins and Mawae are a year older. I certainly don't see Kenny Britt as a game changer. Maybe you do.

Defensively, they lost their best player. I see very little pass rush on the outside, and no one to give them that push on the inside. It's a tough bunch that will be overmatched against good offenses.

It's pretty simple. Average offense (probably not even that if Kerry Collins reverts to form), and a tough defense that won't be able to get to the QB. That's a recipe for a 7-9 to 9-7 season. To me, they're very reminiscent of the Commanders when Greg Williams was able to field a fairly tough D in spite of lack of talent overall.

 

[DFWJC]

They don't have one of the league's best duos. They have one good RB, who is the only real playmaker on their entire offense. As we saw last year, contain Johnson, they don't have much else on offense to scare anyone.

Their QB is average, and near the end at that.

For the most part, their whole offense is a bunch of jags. They're well-coached and their OL is solid, but that got them no further than the middle of the pack offensively last year, and they've done very little to improve themselves while Collins and Mawae are a year older. I certainly don't see Kenny Britt as a game changer. Maybe you do.

Defensively, they lost their best player. I see very little pass rush on the outside, and no one to give them that push on the inside. It's a tough bunch that will be overmatched against good offenses.

It's pretty simple. Average offense (probably not even that if Kerry Collins reverts to form), and a tough defense that won't be able to get to the QB. That's a recipe for a 7-9 to 9-7 season. To me, they're very reminiscent of the Commanders when Greg Williams was able to field a fairly tough D in spite of lack of talent overall.

Well, at least we agree that QB is average at best (though he does have a strong arm, he is old) and the WR group needs to improve (though a healthy Gage and the additon of Washington should help some). I'm not either sure if Britt will help b/c rookies WRs rarely do. They are better at WR, but hard not to be...kind of like the Jags.

We'll have to agree to disagree on the rest....as I think they are strong everywhere else.

 

[Sarge]

Break out the Magic 8 Ball. Read the tea leaves. Pull stuff out of your trash. Throw darts at a dart board. Whatever method you use, predict how you think the 2009 season will unfold.


Here's mine...


AFC East

1. Patriots. Brady is back and they had an awesome off season.
2. Bills. Barely miss the playoffs.
3. Dolphins. They come back to earth with a #1 seed schedule in front of them.
4. Jets. The 2008 decline continues.


AFC North

1. Steelers. Could Ben's legal woes derail? Not enough.
2. Ravens. Flacco will struggle a bit though. Wildcard.
3. Bengals. Marvin's last shot falls short.
4. Browns. Most exciting thing will be a mid season QB trade.


AFC South

1. Titans. They won't miss Haynesworth.
2. Colts. Wildcard. Peyton keeps them afloat.
3. Texans. Could be a sleeper team. Very good DEs.
4. Jaguars. My faith in them pre-2008 is shattered.


AFC West

1. Chargers. Class of the Division.
2. Raiders. Yes, seriously.
3. Chiefs. Just below the Raiders.
4. Broncos. Can't see any reason for them to have hope this year.


NFC East

1. Giants. They return a scary Defense and a steady QB and ground game.
2. Cowboys. Wildcard. Year of redemption in a lot of ways. Could win division.
3. Eagles. Wildcard. Could also win division. That's how tough this division is.
4. Commanders. Defense will be improved but QB is still an albatross.


NFC North

1. Vikings. Sorry Favre haters.
2. Bears. Wildcard contender.
3. Lions. NFC Sleeper.
4. Packers. Just think they are going downhill.


NFC South

1. Saints. It'll be a party in the Big Easy.
2. Falcons. Will be a good team and still miss the playoffs.
3. Panthers. Just don't believe in their QB at all.
4. Buccaneers. Welcome to the NFL Coach Morris.


NFC West

1. Cardinals. That Offense carries them in a weak division.
2. 49ers. Improving but still way short of the mark.
3. Seahawks. Disappointing team of 2009.
4. Rams. Need an almost complete overhaul.

Patriots my pick to win it all.

Detroit ahead of the Packers? Not a chance my friend.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Right now I'll just pick my division winners and wildcards.

NFC East Cowboys
NFC West Arizona
NFC North Minnesota
NFC South New Orleans

NFC Wildcards Philadelphia and Green Bay


AFC East New England
AFC West San Diego
AFC North Pittsburgh
AFC South Tennessee

AFC Wildcards Buffalo and Houston

Am I reaching? Maybe, but I think Atlanta, Baltimore, and Miami come back to earth. Indianapolis lost a lot of coaches, some players, and they're getting old. No defense in Indy. Carolina has no QB and the one they have can't stay healthy.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Oh, almost forgot. Yes, I'm picking the Giants to miss the playoffs. I think they're going to have A LOT of trouble scoring points. Great defense. Not so much on the offensive side this year.

 

[BourbonBalz]

I take it you missed the Commanders before they started to have problems along the OL last year? I know we're Cowboys' fans, but they're got a capable team up there. Laugh now and you might be crying when they wax us at some point later this year.

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son. Well, the drunk part is O.K. I guess.

 

[sureletsrace]

I take it you missed the Commanders before they started to have problems along the OL last year? I know we're Cowboys' fans, but they're got a capable team up there. Laugh now and you might be crying when they wax us at some point later this year.

I'm sorry. I just have trouble remembering the last time I was concerned about our run defense. You have to be on drugs if you think that our defense won't contain the run.

 

[Alumni2k11]

Lions over Raiders in super bowl.

Edit: On a serious note, my playoff teams are....

NFC - Vikings, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Bears, Giants

AFC - Patriots, Ravens, Titans, Chargers, Bills, Texans

Patriots over Vikings in SB.

It seems like each year, half the playoff teams from the year before are different.

By the way, I am wrong 100% percent of the time.