Mid July Predictions:

[Daseal]

It's always fun to look back towards the end of the season for what you thought in July. Granted huge things like injuries can take place that drastically change your expectations, but just toss your predictions down. No need to worry about records, too much work!

AFC:
East:Pretty obvious at this points. Jets could be a sleeper team, but they won't pass the Pats.

• Patriots
• Bills
• Jets
• Dolphins

North: Cleveland keeps it going and the rest of the division falls off. Only one team to the playoffs this year. Sorry Steelers.

• Cleveland
• Steelers
• Bengals
• Ravens

South: The Jags finally overtake the Colts. Both teams are quite good and it could go either way. The Texans will be much improved and in any other division, I might consider them a playoff team.

• Jaguars
• Colts
• Texans
• Titans

West:Bad division. Chargers are solid but a bit overrated. Raiders will be much better and I see problems with Brandon Marshall which will kill Denvers offense. KC is obviously rebuilding.

• Chargers
• Raiders
• Broncos
• Kansas City

NFC:
East: Hard fought division. I could definitely see anyone but the Cowboys in spots 2-4. There's going to be a big tossup in our division this year.

• Cowboys
• Giants
• Redskins
• Eagles

North: (This changes if Favre comes back GB wins it.) I think the Lions will be improved, and the Bears have no offense. Packers and Vikings duke this one out.

• Vikings
• Packers
• Bears
• Lions

South: Picking a winner is hard. This whole division could blow up and it really wouldn't matter. I don't see New Orleans as being very good. Carolina has QB issues. Tommy John surgery is a question mark for what it does to QBs.

• Tampa Bay
• New Orleans
• Carolina
• Falcons

West: Another bad division. 49ers will be terrible. Seahawks still the class of this division. Cardinals could certainly beat the Rams. But I think Saunders offense in St. Louis will work without being handcuffed like it was in DC. Bulger, Holt, and Jackson are three of the best in the NFL. Offense could be nasty. Cardinals still have question marks.

• Seahawks
• Rams
• Cardinals
• 49ers

NFC Playoffs:
Wildcard:Giants at Tampa Bay -- Giants win. The NFC South is weak, and someone has to win the division, but that's it.
Wildcard: Packers at Seahawks -- Packers win. We see how weak the NFC West is here.
Divisional:Packers at Cowboys -- Packers win, Dallas keeps the playoff streak alive.
Divisional: Giants at Vikings -- Vikings win, too strong of a defense and a nasty running game.
Championship: Packers at Vikings. Vikings win.
(I can't believe I have MN here. Dallas has a good shot too, so does GB is Favre is with them.

AFC Playoffs:
Wildcard:Chargers at Bills -- Chargers win. Don't really see SD as good as most folks do, but they're too much for a young but talented team
Wildcard: Cleveland at Colts -- Colts win. Colts wipe up Cleveland.
Divisional:Colts at Pats -- Pats win. Another classic game, but Colts pull it out.
Divisional: Chargers at Jaguars -- Jaguars crush them. Strong offense and defense.
Championship: Colts at Jaguars. Jags win. The power is shifting in the AFC South but be prepared for classic showdowns.

Super Bowl:
Jaguars vs. Minnesota: Jags win. Just what the NFL doesn't want to see. Two strong defenses really going after each other with pretty solid offenses.

[Schneed10]

Playoff Teams:

AFC:
1) Patriots
2) Chargers
3) Colts
4) Steelers
5) Jaguars
6) Browns

NFC:
1) Cowboys
2) Saints
3) Packers
4) Seahawks
5) Eagles
6) Vikings

AFC Championship: Steelers over Patriots
NFC Championship: Saints over Cowboys

Super Bowl: Steelers over Saints

[Daseal]

Wow, you have two super bowl teams I dont even see making the playoffs.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I'm not going to go into great detail because of the whole parity thing.

SURPRISE in a good way teams: Vikings, Redskins, Eagles, Kansas City, Texans
SURPRISE in a bad way teams: Cowboys, Giants, Seahawks, Browns

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Daseal, are you assuming Favre going to Minnesota or Tavaris Jackson actually taking them to the Super Bowl?

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Playoff Teams:

AFC:
1) Patriots
2) Chargers
3) Colts
4) Steelers
5) Jaguars
6) Browns

NFC:
1) Cowboys
2) Saints
3) Packers
4) Seahawks
5) Eagles
6) Vikings

AFC Championship: Steelers over Patriots
NFC Championship: Saints over Cowboys

Super Bowl: Steelers over Saints

I like your short and sweet approach so here's mine:

AFC playoff teams:
Patriots
Colts
Chargers
Steelers
Jags
Texans

NFC playoff teams:
Cowboys
Packers
Saints
Redskins
Giants
Seahawks

AFC Championship: Chargers over Patriots
NFC Championship: Redskins over Cowboys (WHY THE HELL NOT!)

Super Bowl: Redskins over Chargers (110% HOMER PREDICTION!)

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Daseal

Wow, you have two super bowl teams I dont even see making the playoffs.

I find it more surprising that your super bowl teams are QB'd by two guys named Tarvaris Jackson and David Garrard.

Garrard's solid, he had a really good year last year in the QB rating department, but mainly because he only threw 3 picks. He'd have to take more risks in the playoffs to make some plays to beat a Patriot, Charger, Colt, or Steeler team. I think he managed the game exceedingly well last year, but if asked to make plays as he will in the playoffs, he won't be as good.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I like your short and sweet approach so here's mine:

AFC playoff teams:
Patriots
Colts
Chargers
Steelers
Jags
Texans

NFC playoff teams:
Cowboys
Packers
Saints
Redskins
Giants
Bucs

AFC Championship: Chargers over Patriots
NFC Championship: Redskins over Cowboys (WHY THE HELL NOT!)

Super Bowl: Redskins over Chargers (110% HOMER PREDICTION!)

Not to burst your bubble, but you have 3 wildcard winners and no NFC West representative. Swap somebody out for the Seahawks!

[Redskin Jim]

I love your SB pick Matty, that was my homer pick last year!
My picks:
NFC
East- REDSKINS, I'm a homer.
west- cardinals, they've been due for years to pass the seahawks by talent alone, but, they are the cardinals. Seahawks may win it again.
north- packers, the most solid team in the division, even with Rogers-see cowboys game last year. Vikings=overrated, defense above average, offense a joke accept AD and o line.
south- saints,Watch out for this team, defense is highly improved, offense always potent, running game a question.
wild cards- tampa bay, a team on the rise, watch out for Favre here.
dalass-no comment.

AFC
east-patriots, I hate them
west-chargers, everyone else is a joke.
north- steelers, I can't pick the browns, pitt owns them.
south- jags, I think they get over the hump, they haven't been able to get out from under the colts, I think they might do it this year.
wild cards- colts-nuff said.
texans- they play in the NFC East light! I can see three teams fom this division in the playoffs.
NFC Championship- REDSKINS-Saints- I'm a homer!
AFC Championship-Jags-Chargers.
Superbowl-REDSKINS-Chargers!
REDSKINS SUPERBOWL CHAMPS!

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Not to burst your bubble, but you have 3 wildcard winners and no NFC West representative. Swap somebody out for the Seahawks!

whoops, I'll take out the Bucs for Seattle

[SmootSmack]

I can dig a Minnesota vs Jacksonville matchup, and I'd love (of course) to see the Redskins at least play in the Super Bowl. But since money is changing hands here, I'm going to go against the grain here with my July picks. Ask me again in August, and it may change

NFC East: Cowboys
NFC North: Vikings
NFC South: Nawlins
NFC West: Seahawks
WC: Rams
WC: Redskins

NFC Championship: Seahawks over Redskins (damn you TJ Duckett!!)

AFC East: Patriots
AFC North: Steelers
AFC South: Colts
AFC West: Chargers
WC: Jaguars
WC: Bills

AFC Championship: Bills over Steelers

Super Bowl: Bills over Seahawks

[Paintrain]

AFC East:
1. Pats-They are going to be hell bent to avenge their SB loss
2. Bills-Better, but still not good
3. Jets-Constantly in flux at the skill positions
4. Dolphins-They still suck

AFC North:
1. Browns-They'll live up to the hype
2. Steelers-Close 2nd but will come up just short
3. Bengals-Offense rebounds, but defense is still pathetic
4. Ravens-'With the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens select...'

AFC South:
1. Jaguars-It all comes together this year for Del Rio's team
2. Colts-The window closes on the end of the Dungy era
3. Titans-Lack of offensive weapons hurts this team
4. Texans-Good team in a better division

AFC West:
1. Chargers-Best in a bad division
2. Chiefs-Croyle and Bowe make a stong connection for the next few years
3. Broncos-Is this the year Shannahan is finally held accountable?
4. Raiders-They are the Raiders, duh.

Wildcards:
Colts
Steelers

AFC Champs-Jacksonville over New England

NFC East:
1. Dallas-My fingers ache just from typing that
2. Washington-Zorn has a Payton, Tomlin-like first year
3. Philly-Could this be Reid's final season?
4. NYG-The magic of '07 is long gone

NFC North:
1. Minnesota-Not as good as advertised, but good enough
2. Green Bay-Rogers struggles in his first year as a starter
3. Chicago-Lack of a QB kills any playoff hopes
4. Detroit-New year, same Lions

NFC South
1. Saints-Finally healthy the Saints rebound
2. Buccaneers-One of the 72 QB on their roster starts more than 8 games
3. Panthers-Exit John Fox, Enter Bill Cowher
4. Falcons-Still the least talented roster in the NFL

NFC West:
1. Arizona-Ok, now THIS is the year they put it together (where have we heard that before?)
2. Seattle-Holmgren goes out with a wildcard berth
3. SF-Martz makes Alex Smith loosely resemble an NFL QB
4. St. Louis-Some good young pieces but Holt, Little, Bulger start looking old

Wildcards:
Washington, Seattle

NFC Champs
Dallas (ugh) over Washington (I just shed a tear)

Super Bowl-Jacksonville over Dallas

[Slingin Sammy 33]

AFC East:
Patriots - Still the best in the AFC with something to prove
Jets - Improved D & Solid OL keep the Jets in the hunt
Bills
Dolphins

North:
Steelers - Very good D, Mendenhall & Sweed contribute
Cleveland - playoff bound
Ravens
Bengals - too much turmoil

South: Dec 18th could determine the division
Colts - 1
Jaguars - 2 until they step up and knock the Colts off
Titans - D still solid, Crumpler helps Young but not enough.
Texans

West:
Chargers - Great D, great OL, LT
Broncos
Kansas City - good draft, but two years and a QB away
Raiders - secondary looks very good on paper, but the front can't stop the run. Walkers eye socket fracture will be a factor, look for increased drops.

NFC:
Cowboys
Eagles
Redskins
Giants - Offense will be solid, secondary is weak, Strahan's retirement will have a much bigger effect than many realize.

North:
Vikings - Excellent OL & ground game, very good D wins the division
Packers - solid but Favre won't be back and Rodgers won't duplicate the #2 in the NFL passing numbers
Lions
Bears - No offense and a D that no longer scares anyone

South:
Tampa Bay - solid D wins this ugly division
New Orleans
Carolina
Falcons

West:
Seahawks
Cardinals
49ers
Rams

NFC Playoffs:
Wildcard: Redskins at Tampa Bay -- Redskins win. JC & Zorn's offense are clicking after some early stumbles.
Wildcard: Eagles at Vikings -- Vikings win.
Divisional: Redskins at Cowboys -- Homo chokes again.
Divisional: Vikings at Seahawks -- Seahawks shut down run game and Jackson can't carry the Vikes
Championship: Redskins at Seahawks. Zorn's knowledge of Holmgren's playcalling dooms the Seahawks.


AFC Playoffs:
Wildcard: Jagsat Steelers -- Steelers win.
Wildcard: Cleveland at Chargers -- Chargers win.
Divisional: Steelersat Pats -- Pats win. Brady and Belicheat have figured out how to solve the pressure defense by now.
Divisional: Chargers at Colts -- Colts too much for Rivers
Championship: Colts at NE. NE wins.

Super Bowl:
Redskins vs. Patriots: NE is on a mission after last year's "Epic Fail". Patriots win.

[scafuri27]

AFC East Afc north Afc South AFC West
1. Pats 1. Browns 1. Colts 1. Chargers
2. Bills 2. Steelers 2. Jags 2. Denver
3. Jets 3. Bengals 3. Texans 3. KC
4. Fins 4. Ravens 4. Titans 4. OAK

KC and OAK very similar teams, Browns come out on top of the north circa 05 bengals. Pats continue old ways from 07. Steelers and Texans finish with same record, Texans have tie breaker in the opener.

Wildcard 6 Texans lose to 3 Browns
5 Jags defeat 4 Chargers
Pats over Jags
Browns over Colts

Pats over Browns

NFC East NFC NORTH SOUTH WEST
1. Dallas 1. LIONS! (wow) 1. Saints 1. ARI
2. Skins 2. GB 2. TB 2. STL
3. NY 3. MIN 3. CAR 3. SEA
4. PHI 4. CHI 4. ATL 4. SF

Lions crank up the offense in a division up for grabs (getting shut down by GB's secondary on both occasions but they split)..injuries plague Minn. Arizona gets it together in the west and seattle begins to slip. Patrick Willis tears it up for SF but no offense yet again. Saints cruise through a weak south... Unfortunately Dallas wins the east. If we can snag 2 of the first 3 road div games things may be different.

6 SKINS defeat 3 Cards
4 Lions defeat 5 STL

SKins over Dallas (we are the 08 Giants!!)
Lions over Saints

Skins over Lions (1991?)

SUPER BOWL PATS OVER REDSKINS.... Pats make good on what they should have done last year. Belicheck later found guilty of taping our pre-game walk through and is tarred and feathered at the opener in Fed Ex field 09'.

[GTripp0012]

I'm sure I'm going to waffle on these over the next two months. Especially in the NFC East, where my pick to win the division changes depending on which way the wind is blowing, seemingly.

Also, I didn't do these based on the schedule -- I rounded the win projection off to the nearest whole number -- so these might not even be a zero win sum (which means that these predictions might have more teams winning than teams losing, which is impossible).

**Team (win total)

Giants (12)
Eagles (11)
Cowboys (8)
Redskins (8)

Panthers (10)
Saints (9)
Bucs (6)
Falcons (3)

Bears (11)
Packers (10)
Vikings (9)
Lions (4)

Cardinals (9)
Seahawks (8)
Rams (8)
49ers (3)

Patriots (13)
Jets (7)
Bills (5)
Dolphins (4)

Jaguars (11)
Colts (10)
Texans (9)
Titans (4)

Bengals (11)
Steelers (9)
Ravens (5)
Browns (4)

Chargers (14)
Broncos (10)
Raiders (5)
Chiefs (3)

AFC Championship:

Patriots at Chargers

NFC Championship:

Eagles at Bears

Super Bowl XLIII:

Chargers over Eagles