One of my favorite days on the NFL calendar is the release of the NFL schedule. It used to not get a lot of attention, so that is why I loved when the schedule came out. Now the schedule release gets a huge amount of attention with two hour specials from NFL Network and ESPN. I don't look at the schedule and go through it picking out each game's wins or losses. It is impossible to tell how each team is going to be in 2010, so to try and predict which games your team is going to win or loss is pointless. I love to try and analyze why the NFL put certain games in certain spots. The things I look for, especially when analyzing the Broncos' schedule, is primetime games, road trips, and when we play certain teams on our schedule. Yes, you need the schedule to break right sometimes to help you get on a run and into the playoffs, but we will not be sure of how the teams are playing at that time until you get there.
Denver's schedule opens up on the road at Jacksonville. For the sixth straight year, Denver opens on the road, but it will be at the less than intimidating Jackonsville Municipal Stadium. Not a bad opener for the Broncos. The Broncos get their home opener vs. Seattle in Week 2. Once again, the Broncos get a chance to get off to a 2-0 start. The Broncos host the Colts in Week 3. Unfortunately, the Broncos get Peyton Manning and the Colts early in the season instead of at the end of the year. Got to get off to a 2-0 start before the Colts game. Week 4 sends Denver to Tennessee for a tough road game. Denver goes to Baltimore in Week 5. The Broncos never win in Baltimore. The Broncos come back home and host the Jets in Week 6. The Broncos host Oakland in Week 7, and then they travel to London to take on San Francisco in Week 8. Denver gets the bye week in Week 9, and they start the second half of their season with hosting Kansas City. Week 11 sends the Broncos to San Diego for their only Monday Night Football appearance. Week 12 pits Denver at home vs. St. Louis. Denver goes on the road to KC in Week 13. The Broncos travel to Arizona in Week 14, and they head to Oakland in Week 15. The Broncos finish at home vs. Houston in Week 16, and Denver hosts the Chargers at home in Week 17.
Quick Hits on the Broncos' schedule:
-Starting on the road at Jacksonville and hosting Seattle in Week 2 has to give Denver a 2-0 start.
-Why not let the Broncos host the doubleheader of the MNF opener? Why give the game to Kansas City and give it a 9:15 pm start local time in KC? That made no sense.
-Their toughest stretch of the season starts in Week 3 and ends in Week 6. The four game stretch includes: home vs. Indy, at Tennessee, at Baltimore, home vs. Jets. Those are four really tough games for Denver. They have to be at least 2-0 going into the Indy game, and they have to be at least 3-2 going into the Jets game.
-Going to London should be interesting. I wonder how Denver will play in what is a neutral site game overseas, eventhough it is considered a SF home game.
-I love that the bye week is in the middle of the season.
-If Denver is 5-3 headed into their bye, then they are in good shape to make a run for the playoffs.
-The Broncos come out of the bye with home vs. KC, at SD, and home vs. St. Louis. They need to get 2 out of these 3 games. That would put them at 7-4.
-Although they play 3 straight road games (at KC, at Arizona, at Oak) for the first time since 1997. The KC game will be tough because Arrowhead always gives Denver fits, but they are getting Arizona at the right time. Arizona might be having a down year and that stadium could be a ghost town if the Cards are playing out the string. Also, the Broncos usually play well at Oakland every year. If they can get 2 out of those 3, then they are really in striking position for the playoffs.
-Denver finishes with Houston and San Diego at home. Obviously, both teams look good on paper, but who knows how Houston will fare in 2010. They have yet to prove in Gary Kubiak/Matt Schaub Era that they can win a big game late in the year. San Diego could have things locked up, but it could also be a chance that this game could mean a lot for both teams.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
2010 NFL Schedule Released!
| 1 | Sun. | Sept. 12 | at Jacksonville | Jacksonville Municipal Stadium | 1 p.m. EST | CBS |
| 2 | Sun. | Sept. 19 | SEATTLE | INVESCO Field at Mile High | 4:05 p.m. EST | FOX |
| 3 | Sun. | Sept. 26 | INDIANAPOLIS | INVESCO Field at Mile High | 4:15 p.m. EST | CBS |
| 4 | Sun. | Oct. 3 | at Tennessee | LP Field | 1 p.m. EST | CBS |
| 5 | Sun. | Oct. 10 | at Baltimore | M&T Bank Stadium | 1 p.m. EST | CBS |
| 6 | Sun. | Oct. 17 | NEW YORK JETS | INVESCO Field at Mile High | 4:05 p.m. EST | CBS |
| 7 | Sun. | Oct. 24 | OAKLAND | INVESCO Field at Mile High | 4:15 p.m. EST | CBS |
| 8 | Sun. | Oct. 31 | at San Francisco | Wembley Stadium (London) | 1 p.m. EST | CBS |
| 9 | BYE | |||||
| 10 | Sun. | Nov. 14 | KANSAS CITY | INVESCO Field at Mile High | 4:05 p.m. EST | CBS |
| 11 | Mon. | Nov. 22 | at San Diego | Qualcomm Stadium | 8:30 p.m. EST | ESPN (National) |
| 12 | Sun. | Nov. 28 | ST. LOUIS | INVESCO Field at Mile High | 4:15 p.m. EST | FOX* |
| 13 | Sun. | Dec. 5 | at Kansas City | Arrowhead Stadium | 1 p.m. EST | CBS* |
| 14 | Sun. | Dec. 12 | at Arizona | University of Phoenix Stadium | 4:15 p.m. EST | CBS* |
| 15 | Sun. | Dec. 19 | at Oakland | Oakland Coliseum | 4:15 p.m. EST | CBS* |
| 16 | Sun. | Dec. 26 | HOUSTON | INVESCO Field at Mile High | 4:05 p.m. EST | CBS* |
| 17 | Sun. | Jan. 2 | SAN DIEGO | INVESCO Field at Mile High | 4:15 p.m. EST | CBS* |
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The Marshall Plan Ends With Trade To Miami
The Brandon Marshall saga finally ended for the Denver Broncos yesterday. Denver sent Marshall to the Miami Dolphins for a 2nd round pick in this year's draft and a second round pick in 2011. The fact that Denver got a 2nd round pick back from Miami this year is a really good thing because the value in return for trading receivers was dwindling. Now, the Broncos have 3 picks in the first 45 picks of this year's draft. They can go many ways with those picks, and there is a chance they could even try to find a replacement for Marshall with one of those three picks.
Clearly, it was apparent that Denver and Marshall weren't going to coexist anymore. This has been a move that was anticipated from the moment Marshall was benched for the final game of the season. Josh McDaniels has sent a message, and the message is that if you don't get on board with the team philosphy, then you are expendable- no matter who you are. Unlike the Jets, the Broncos actually value character, commitment, and team players. Marshall never was a team-first player. He constantly got himself in trouble and put himself in bad situations. If you are a Bronco fan, then you can look at this move as addition by subtraction.
Bronco fans can get upset and blame McDaniels, but it was hard to see Marshall get a contract extension from the Mike Shanahan regime too. Marshall just agreed to the become the highest paid WR in NFL history with his new deal in Miami. That is a lot of money to throw at a guy who is one screwup away from getting suspended for at least half a season. Shanahan was never going to give Marshall that type of money and neither was McDaniels. If he wasn't going to be in the long term plans, then might as well move on and get the best trade possible.
Now, it would be foolish not to admit how extremely talented Marshall is. You are talking about a top five receiver in the NFL. This will certainly affect the Bronco offense. In the NFL, you win with the QB-not the receivers. However, when Kyle Orton is your QB, then you need wideouts like Brandon Marshall to help you succeed. Marshall is immense talent, and it is hard to see how his absence won't negatively affect the Bronco offense, but football is a strange game. Sometimes, you can take a piece away and still have a productive system. Perhaps the group of Eddie Royal, Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Lloyd, Brandon Stokely, and a draft pick, can make up for some of the production that Marshall gave them. When Denver advanced to the 2005 AFC Championship, their top 3 WRs were: Rod Smith (Aging veteran), Ashley Lelie, and Charlie Adams. Once again, you can't just judge a football team on paper. It is how that group comes together and plays in a system.
Bronco fans are up in arms that in the past two years we have lost our two best players. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall are now gone, and the fanbase wants to know how are we going to win again. Well, for everything that Cutler and Marshall did statistically, the one fact remains: Both of them never got Denver into the playoffs. They couldn't win a must win game against SF in 2006, they couldn't win must win games at Carolina, against Buffalo, and at San Diego in 2008, and Marshall couldn't help us beat Oakland at home in 2009. Maybe Marshall and Cutler were never going to get us to where we wanted to go. It is hard to see the bigger picture now, but perhaps losing Marshall will be a blessing. Once again, addition by subtraction.
Clearly, it was apparent that Denver and Marshall weren't going to coexist anymore. This has been a move that was anticipated from the moment Marshall was benched for the final game of the season. Josh McDaniels has sent a message, and the message is that if you don't get on board with the team philosphy, then you are expendable- no matter who you are. Unlike the Jets, the Broncos actually value character, commitment, and team players. Marshall never was a team-first player. He constantly got himself in trouble and put himself in bad situations. If you are a Bronco fan, then you can look at this move as addition by subtraction.
Bronco fans can get upset and blame McDaniels, but it was hard to see Marshall get a contract extension from the Mike Shanahan regime too. Marshall just agreed to the become the highest paid WR in NFL history with his new deal in Miami. That is a lot of money to throw at a guy who is one screwup away from getting suspended for at least half a season. Shanahan was never going to give Marshall that type of money and neither was McDaniels. If he wasn't going to be in the long term plans, then might as well move on and get the best trade possible.
Now, it would be foolish not to admit how extremely talented Marshall is. You are talking about a top five receiver in the NFL. This will certainly affect the Bronco offense. In the NFL, you win with the QB-not the receivers. However, when Kyle Orton is your QB, then you need wideouts like Brandon Marshall to help you succeed. Marshall is immense talent, and it is hard to see how his absence won't negatively affect the Bronco offense, but football is a strange game. Sometimes, you can take a piece away and still have a productive system. Perhaps the group of Eddie Royal, Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Lloyd, Brandon Stokely, and a draft pick, can make up for some of the production that Marshall gave them. When Denver advanced to the 2005 AFC Championship, their top 3 WRs were: Rod Smith (Aging veteran), Ashley Lelie, and Charlie Adams. Once again, you can't just judge a football team on paper. It is how that group comes together and plays in a system.
Bronco fans are up in arms that in the past two years we have lost our two best players. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall are now gone, and the fanbase wants to know how are we going to win again. Well, for everything that Cutler and Marshall did statistically, the one fact remains: Both of them never got Denver into the playoffs. They couldn't win a must win game against SF in 2006, they couldn't win must win games at Carolina, against Buffalo, and at San Diego in 2008, and Marshall couldn't help us beat Oakland at home in 2009. Maybe Marshall and Cutler were never going to get us to where we wanted to go. It is hard to see the bigger picture now, but perhaps losing Marshall will be a blessing. Once again, addition by subtraction.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Schedule Outlook
The NFL has not announced when they are going to release the 2010 schedule, but it looks like sometime during next week that it could be announced. I've already taken a stab at what I think the matchups will be for the primetime games and the Thanksgiving games, but I wanted to throw some other schedule predictions out there for the entire upcoming season. Here are some of my predictions and possibilities as we await for the league to release the white smoke and reveal the schedule.....
1) I think Colts-Pats will go to CBS in the late afternoon slot this year. NBC had that game the last two years, so CBS gets it back-in early November.
2) FOX will get Cowboys at Colts in one matchup, and NBC gets the Manning Bowl with the Giants at Indy.
3) The Houston Texans will get a shot at Sunday Night Football this year. I could see a Baltimore-Houston matchup or a Houston-San Diego SNF matchup early in the year.
4) The Jets will be the primetime darlings this year. We already know that they will host the MNF opener, and they will host the NFLN Thanksgiving Night game, but look for them to get at least 1 other SNF appearance, and at least 1 more MNF appearance. They have some attractive games on their out of division schedule: Green Bay, Minnesota, Baltimore and Pittsburgh top the list.
5) If Favre returns, look for New England to host Minnesota on a SNF matchup. Also, look for FOX to try and secure Green Bay at New England for one of its' late doubleheader matchups.
6) The AFC teams who will have the most primetime appearances: New England, Jets, Colts, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh.
7) CBS will fight hard to get the Colts at Washington and Colts at Philly games on their doubleheader late window.
8) Eagles-Redskins will be a SNF matchup and possibly could get the other game on MNF.
9) Although the Bears were 7-9 last season, they will still get at least 2 SNF and 2 MNF games this year.
10) If Favre returns the Vikings will be featured so much it might even rival the Cowboys. Minnesota has matchups against the Giants, Dallas, Philly, Washington, New Orleans, New England and the Jets. They will be on SNF 3 times, MNF 2 times, and NFLN once.
11) The Saints don't have the most attractive set of opponents, but if they host Minnesota on opening night, then look for CBS to snatch up the Steeler-Saint game, and FOX to fight for the Dallas-Saints matchup.
12) The NFC teams with the most primetime appearances: Dallas, Giants, Washington, Philly, Chicago, Minnesota, Green Bay, and New Orleans.
As far as Denver goes, I still don't think they will open at home this year. I know they want the MNF doubleheader game, but if they open at home, they might get St. Louis. Here are my quick hits regarding Denver's schedule possibilities:
1) Week 1: at home vs. St. Louis or on the road at Jacksonville or Baltimore
2) Look for at least 1 MNF game: hosting San Diego or the Jets
3) Denver has had a NFL Network game each year. This year they could get at road game at Oakland or Arizona.
4) If Brandon Marshall gets traded to Seattle or the Jets, the two teams most rumored to get him, then that would be interesting because both the Jets and Seattle visit Denver this year.
5) If they get a SNF game, it could be against San Diego, the Jets, or Indy at home. On the road, it could be San Diego or Baltimore.
6) Denver hasn't made the playoffs in four years, so look for a lot of Sunday afternoon late starts this season.
1) I think Colts-Pats will go to CBS in the late afternoon slot this year. NBC had that game the last two years, so CBS gets it back-in early November.
2) FOX will get Cowboys at Colts in one matchup, and NBC gets the Manning Bowl with the Giants at Indy.
3) The Houston Texans will get a shot at Sunday Night Football this year. I could see a Baltimore-Houston matchup or a Houston-San Diego SNF matchup early in the year.
4) The Jets will be the primetime darlings this year. We already know that they will host the MNF opener, and they will host the NFLN Thanksgiving Night game, but look for them to get at least 1 other SNF appearance, and at least 1 more MNF appearance. They have some attractive games on their out of division schedule: Green Bay, Minnesota, Baltimore and Pittsburgh top the list.
5) If Favre returns, look for New England to host Minnesota on a SNF matchup. Also, look for FOX to try and secure Green Bay at New England for one of its' late doubleheader matchups.
6) The AFC teams who will have the most primetime appearances: New England, Jets, Colts, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh.
7) CBS will fight hard to get the Colts at Washington and Colts at Philly games on their doubleheader late window.
8) Eagles-Redskins will be a SNF matchup and possibly could get the other game on MNF.
9) Although the Bears were 7-9 last season, they will still get at least 2 SNF and 2 MNF games this year.
10) If Favre returns the Vikings will be featured so much it might even rival the Cowboys. Minnesota has matchups against the Giants, Dallas, Philly, Washington, New Orleans, New England and the Jets. They will be on SNF 3 times, MNF 2 times, and NFLN once.
11) The Saints don't have the most attractive set of opponents, but if they host Minnesota on opening night, then look for CBS to snatch up the Steeler-Saint game, and FOX to fight for the Dallas-Saints matchup.
12) The NFC teams with the most primetime appearances: Dallas, Giants, Washington, Philly, Chicago, Minnesota, Green Bay, and New Orleans.
As far as Denver goes, I still don't think they will open at home this year. I know they want the MNF doubleheader game, but if they open at home, they might get St. Louis. Here are my quick hits regarding Denver's schedule possibilities:
1) Week 1: at home vs. St. Louis or on the road at Jacksonville or Baltimore
2) Look for at least 1 MNF game: hosting San Diego or the Jets
3) Denver has had a NFL Network game each year. This year they could get at road game at Oakland or Arizona.
4) If Brandon Marshall gets traded to Seattle or the Jets, the two teams most rumored to get him, then that would be interesting because both the Jets and Seattle visit Denver this year.
5) If they get a SNF game, it could be against San Diego, the Jets, or Indy at home. On the road, it could be San Diego or Baltimore.
6) Denver hasn't made the playoffs in four years, so look for a lot of Sunday afternoon late starts this season.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Offseason Notes and Thoughts
It was a great gesture to see Jason Elam sign a one day contract with the Broncos, so he can officially retire as a Denver Bronco. After reading Stefan Fatsis' book, one of the real good guys depicted in the book is Elam. He is a good person and a great kicker. He will also go down as one of the greatest kickers in NFL history. His legacy with the Broncos organization is secure, and he will no doubt be inducted into the Bronco Ring of Fame. He was such a weapon in the Denver offense for so many years, especially in the Elway-Shanny-Terrell Davis Era. Once the Broncos moved the ball into the opposing team's territory, it was like they were already in Elam's range. Here are my favorite kicks and moments from Elam's career:
1) The 63 yard field goal against Jacksonville in 1998. Obviously, this kick was huge because it tied the NFL record for longest field goal, but it also exemplified how powerful Elam's leg was, and how it was such a weapon for those great Bronco teams.
2) The 51 yard field goal against the Packers in Super Bowl XXXII. It was one of the longest field goals in Super Bowl history, and it was huge kick because it put Denver up 17-7 in the first half.
3) The back to back field goals against the New York Jets in the 1998 AFC Championship. Down 10-7, Elam hit two field goals on consecutive drives late in the third quarter. The first one tied it a 10, and the second won finally gave Denver a lead at 13-10. Both were huge field goals that changed the momentum of the game, and they were both in the face of a swirling and gusty wind.
4) The 50 yard field goal against New England in the 2005 AFC Divisional Playoff. The Broncos were up 7-3 late in the second quarter, and they had just recovered a fumble. Elam's long field goal gave the Broncos a huge 10-3 lead going into halftime.
5) Elam's game winning field goal in overtime against the Raiders on Monday Night Football in 2000. It was the last Monday Night game ever played at Mile High Stadium. Once Denver got the ball in overtime, you knew all they had to do was move the ball just enough to get it into field goal range for Elam. They did that, and Elam nailed the game winner.
1) The 63 yard field goal against Jacksonville in 1998. Obviously, this kick was huge because it tied the NFL record for longest field goal, but it also exemplified how powerful Elam's leg was, and how it was such a weapon for those great Bronco teams.
2) The 51 yard field goal against the Packers in Super Bowl XXXII. It was one of the longest field goals in Super Bowl history, and it was huge kick because it put Denver up 17-7 in the first half.
3) The back to back field goals against the New York Jets in the 1998 AFC Championship. Down 10-7, Elam hit two field goals on consecutive drives late in the third quarter. The first one tied it a 10, and the second won finally gave Denver a lead at 13-10. Both were huge field goals that changed the momentum of the game, and they were both in the face of a swirling and gusty wind.
4) The 50 yard field goal against New England in the 2005 AFC Divisional Playoff. The Broncos were up 7-3 late in the second quarter, and they had just recovered a fumble. Elam's long field goal gave the Broncos a huge 10-3 lead going into halftime.
5) Elam's game winning field goal in overtime against the Raiders on Monday Night Football in 2000. It was the last Monday Night game ever played at Mile High Stadium. Once Denver got the ball in overtime, you knew all they had to do was move the ball just enough to get it into field goal range for Elam. They did that, and Elam nailed the game winner.
Friday, April 2, 2010
A Look Back at 2009: The NFC
Here is my look back at my 2009 NFC predictions....
NFC EAST
1) Philadelphia Eagles (11-5): I think the Eagles are primed and ready for a big season in 2009. I like what the Eagles added to their offense (Macling,McCoy, Peters), and I think McNabb has enough weapons (Westbrook, Celek, Jackson, and Curtis) to create a lot of offense. The passing of Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson is both tragic and troublesome. They will miss his schemes and presence. Also, losing Brian Dawkins will hurt, but I think the Eagles defense will do enough and get enough stops in big spots to get the job done. In a tough division, Philly is the best team and wins the East.
2) Dallas (10-6): The Cowboys are ready to get back into the playoffs. Dallas is a good team that fell apart down the stretch. They have a very good defense, and I think losing Terrell Owens won't be a major issue for the offense. Remember, TO had one of his worst seasons last year. Throw in the fact that Tony Romo will be without the distractions of Owens, and I expect a lot out of Romo this year. There wasn't a lot of noise out of Dallas this Summer and that is a good thing. The Cowboys get into the playoffs as a Wild Card.
3) New York Giants (8-8): Every expert thinks the Giants are the favorite in the NFC. On paper, that is true, but I just have a feeling about this. The Giants have been in the playoffs every year since 2005. It is hard to make the playoffs 5 years in a row. Not having a really viable replacement for Plaxico Burres will be an issue all year long for Eli and the Giant offense. I guess I going out on a limb, but I think the Giants take a step back this year. Maybe injuries play a role, or they just lose some close games, but I see the Giants missing out of the playoffs.
4) Washington Redskins (5-11): I am not a big fan of Jim Zorn as a NFL Head Coach. The Skins obviously wanted to upgrade their QB position and didn't, so there will be a lot of pressure on Jason Campbell this year. Their offensive line will struggle, and their defense can only do so much. The Redskins struggle in 2009, and it sets the stage for Mike Shanahan to become their new Head Coach in 2010.
2) Dallas (10-6): The Cowboys are ready to get back into the playoffs. Dallas is a good team that fell apart down the stretch. They have a very good defense, and I think losing Terrell Owens won't be a major issue for the offense. Remember, TO had one of his worst seasons last year. Throw in the fact that Tony Romo will be without the distractions of Owens, and I expect a lot out of Romo this year. There wasn't a lot of noise out of Dallas this Summer and that is a good thing. The Cowboys get into the playoffs as a Wild Card.
3) New York Giants (8-8): Every expert thinks the Giants are the favorite in the NFC. On paper, that is true, but I just have a feeling about this. The Giants have been in the playoffs every year since 2005. It is hard to make the playoffs 5 years in a row. Not having a really viable replacement for Plaxico Burres will be an issue all year long for Eli and the Giant offense. I guess I going out on a limb, but I think the Giants take a step back this year. Maybe injuries play a role, or they just lose some close games, but I see the Giants missing out of the playoffs.
4) Washington Redskins (5-11): I am not a big fan of Jim Zorn as a NFL Head Coach. The Skins obviously wanted to upgrade their QB position and didn't, so there will be a lot of pressure on Jason Campbell this year. Their offensive line will struggle, and their defense can only do so much. The Redskins struggle in 2009, and it sets the stage for Mike Shanahan to become their new Head Coach in 2010.
-The Cowboys won the division at 11-5, the Eagles finished second and earned a wild card with an 11-5 record, the Giants finished third at 8-8, and the Redskins finished last at 4-12.
-I really nailed this division well. I had the Eagles winning the division and the Cowboys getting the wild card, but the opposite actually happened. Both teams made the playoffs, so my predictions were pretty spot on.
-I would like to take credit for my second best prediction of 2009: The Giants missing the playoffs. As I said back in August, I just had a gut feeling the Giants were going to miss the playoffs. No one else picked that to happen, so I was going out on a limb and I nailed that pick.
-It was easy to see that the Redskins were going to be terrible and finish last in the division. That was as easy as it gets to predict.
NFC NORTH
1) Chicago Bears (12-4): The Bears added Jay Cutler and that trade will pay off for the Bears in 2009. Forget about the receivers, a big time QB will improve the offense and the receivers, and Cutler is that big time QB. He has good weapsons around him (Hester, Forte, and Olson), and a good offense will help that defense. The Bears will win the NFC North, and Cutler will be an MVP candidate.
2) Green Bay Packers (10-6): The Packers are back for a bounce back year in 2009. Aaron Rodgers is the real deal, and they improved their defense (Raji, Mathews, new DC). The Packers schedule is favorable, and I think they will battle it out with the Bears for the division title all the way into December. Green Bay gets back to the playoffs in 2009.
3) Minnesota Vikings (8-8): The whole Brett Favre saga was draining on every one in the organization. Even if Favre signed with the Vikings, I still don't think they would have made the playoffs. Now they are stuck with Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels. Their defense is getting older and it is hard to keep that level of play on the defensive side going every year. The Vikings take a step back and miss the playoffs.
4) Detroit Lions (3-13): When you go 0-16 and clean house, the only place to go is up. The Lions are building a new program in Detroit, and new coach Jim Schwartz needs time to develop his program. Add in first overall pick, Matthew Stafford and any amount of victories will be considered a success. Detroit is a few years away, but in the NFL who knows. I think 3 wins would be a good stepping stone for the Lions in '09.
1) Chicago Bears (12-4): The Bears added Jay Cutler and that trade will pay off for the Bears in 2009. Forget about the receivers, a big time QB will improve the offense and the receivers, and Cutler is that big time QB. He has good weapsons around him (Hester, Forte, and Olson), and a good offense will help that defense. The Bears will win the NFC North, and Cutler will be an MVP candidate.
2) Green Bay Packers (10-6): The Packers are back for a bounce back year in 2009. Aaron Rodgers is the real deal, and they improved their defense (Raji, Mathews, new DC). The Packers schedule is favorable, and I think they will battle it out with the Bears for the division title all the way into December. Green Bay gets back to the playoffs in 2009.
3) Minnesota Vikings (8-8): The whole Brett Favre saga was draining on every one in the organization. Even if Favre signed with the Vikings, I still don't think they would have made the playoffs. Now they are stuck with Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels. Their defense is getting older and it is hard to keep that level of play on the defensive side going every year. The Vikings take a step back and miss the playoffs.
4) Detroit Lions (3-13): When you go 0-16 and clean house, the only place to go is up. The Lions are building a new program in Detroit, and new coach Jim Schwartz needs time to develop his program. Add in first overall pick, Matthew Stafford and any amount of victories will be considered a success. Detroit is a few years away, but in the NFL who knows. I think 3 wins would be a good stepping stone for the Lions in '09.
-The Vikings won the division at 12-4, the Packers got a wild card at 11-5, the Bears finished third at 7-9, and the Lions finished last at 2-14.
-I made my selections when it looked like Favre wasn't going to play for Minnesota. I have to admit that I thought the Vikings wouldn't make the playoffs even if Favre played for them. I was way off on my Minnesota pick.
-It wasn't a shock that Green Bay made it to the playoffs. It was easy to see that they would be a bounce back team in 2009.
-I really screwed up the Bears pick in 2009. I thought Jay Cutler was going to come in and tear it up and lead the Bears to the division. It was evident that the Bears needed a lot more than Jay Cutler because they were very disappointing all season long.
-The Lions were easy to pick. You knew it couldn't get any worse then 0-16, but you knew they were going to struggle and finish last.
NFC SOUTH
1) Atlanta Falcons (11-5): I struggled with who would win this division in 2009, but I settled on the Falcons. Matt Ryan is the goods at QB, and having Michael Turner will help that offense. Don't forget that they added TE Tony Gonzalez. The trio of Ryan, Turner, and Gonzalez with Roddy White is a nice group of offensive skill players. John Abraham is a force on defense. The Falcons won't sneak up on anyone this year, but in a wide open division, I think they will get the job done and win the South.
2) New Orleans (9-7): I originally had the Saints penciled in as my division winner, but I changed that. I picked the Saints to get very far last year, and they burned me. I am not going to invest in them again. They will be good, especially on offense (Brees, Thomas, Bush, Colston, Moore, and Shockey), but I am not sold on their defense. I know they added a good DC in Greg Williams, but I'm still not sold. I see the Saints leading the division all year, then fading at the end. No playoffs for the Saints in '09, and Sean Payton on the hot seat.
3) Carolina Panthers (8-8): I think that crushing loss to Arizona last year will have an effect on this team. You know they will play hard, run the ball, and play solid defense, but I think the pressure will be on Jake Delhomme. I don't trust Delhomme, and the Panthers will take a step back in 2009 and miss the playoffs.
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): The Bucs collapse at the end of last season was brutal, and it lead to the firing of Jon Gruden and the beginning of the Raheem Morris Era. I don't know if I can buy into Morris as a bonafide Head Coach in the NFL. I think the Bucs are rebuilding. I think they will start out slow, and maybe show some progress as the season goes on, but the Bucs are in for a rough 2009.
1) Atlanta Falcons (11-5): I struggled with who would win this division in 2009, but I settled on the Falcons. Matt Ryan is the goods at QB, and having Michael Turner will help that offense. Don't forget that they added TE Tony Gonzalez. The trio of Ryan, Turner, and Gonzalez with Roddy White is a nice group of offensive skill players. John Abraham is a force on defense. The Falcons won't sneak up on anyone this year, but in a wide open division, I think they will get the job done and win the South.
2) New Orleans (9-7): I originally had the Saints penciled in as my division winner, but I changed that. I picked the Saints to get very far last year, and they burned me. I am not going to invest in them again. They will be good, especially on offense (Brees, Thomas, Bush, Colston, Moore, and Shockey), but I am not sold on their defense. I know they added a good DC in Greg Williams, but I'm still not sold. I see the Saints leading the division all year, then fading at the end. No playoffs for the Saints in '09, and Sean Payton on the hot seat.
3) Carolina Panthers (8-8): I think that crushing loss to Arizona last year will have an effect on this team. You know they will play hard, run the ball, and play solid defense, but I think the pressure will be on Jake Delhomme. I don't trust Delhomme, and the Panthers will take a step back in 2009 and miss the playoffs.
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): The Bucs collapse at the end of last season was brutal, and it lead to the firing of Jon Gruden and the beginning of the Raheem Morris Era. I don't know if I can buy into Morris as a bonafide Head Coach in the NFL. I think the Bucs are rebuilding. I think they will start out slow, and maybe show some progress as the season goes on, but the Bucs are in for a rough 2009.
-The Saints finished first with a 13-3 record, the Falcons finished second with a 9-7 record, the Panthers finished third with an 8-8 record, and the Buccaneers finished last at 3-13.
-I nailed the Panthers and Bucs perfectly. I had a feeling that the Panthers wouldn't bounce back from that horrific playoff loss to Arizona the year before. I thought Raheem Morris was way in over his head in Tampa, and I was correct on that one.
-I had the Saints winning the division all summer long. I even wrote it on my piece of paper where I make my rough draft of my picks. For some reason at the last second, I over-analyzed it and I picked the Falcons to win the division. I don't know why, but I didn't think the Saints were going to make the playoffs, and I was completely off with that one.
NFC WEST
1) Seattle Seahawks (10-6): I love the Seahawks as a bounce back team to win the NFC West. Matt Hasselback is back and healthy, and I love their WR Corps (Houshmanzadah, Burleson, and Branch). Their defense should rebound from a bad year in 2008. Also, they have one of the rare home field advantages left in the NFL. Jim Mora will do a nice job with this team, and he will be considered a coach of the year candidate by November. Seattle rebounds and wins the weak NFC West.
2) San Francisco 49ers (8-8): Mike Singletary will be able to motivate this team, and they will play hard. Their problem will be the QB spot. If it is Shaun Hill or Alex Smith, I don't see them getting the production they need to make the playoffs. The Niners could suprise this year, but I think they are a year away.
3) Arizona Cardinals (7-9): The annual "Super Bowl Hangover" hits the Cards this year. All of a sudden the Cardinals are relevant, and I think they take a step back this season. I think Kurt Warner will have trouble staying healthy-just a hunch- and I think they will get a lot of teams' A-Game. The Cards struggle and miss out on the playoffs.
4) St. Louis Rams (4-12): The Steve Spagnuolo Era begins in St. Louis. The Ram defense was awful last year, and I think Spags will help them a little bit, but he needs more time to build it. Steven Jackson could have a big year, but I think Marc Bulger will struggle. I think the Rams are a year away from making a playoff push.
1) Seattle Seahawks (10-6): I love the Seahawks as a bounce back team to win the NFC West. Matt Hasselback is back and healthy, and I love their WR Corps (Houshmanzadah, Burleson, and Branch). Their defense should rebound from a bad year in 2008. Also, they have one of the rare home field advantages left in the NFL. Jim Mora will do a nice job with this team, and he will be considered a coach of the year candidate by November. Seattle rebounds and wins the weak NFC West.
2) San Francisco 49ers (8-8): Mike Singletary will be able to motivate this team, and they will play hard. Their problem will be the QB spot. If it is Shaun Hill or Alex Smith, I don't see them getting the production they need to make the playoffs. The Niners could suprise this year, but I think they are a year away.
3) Arizona Cardinals (7-9): The annual "Super Bowl Hangover" hits the Cards this year. All of a sudden the Cardinals are relevant, and I think they take a step back this season. I think Kurt Warner will have trouble staying healthy-just a hunch- and I think they will get a lot of teams' A-Game. The Cards struggle and miss out on the playoffs.
4) St. Louis Rams (4-12): The Steve Spagnuolo Era begins in St. Louis. The Ram defense was awful last year, and I think Spags will help them a little bit, but he needs more time to build it. Steven Jackson could have a big year, but I think Marc Bulger will struggle. I think the Rams are a year away from making a playoff push.
-The Cardinals won the division at 10-6, the Niners finished second at 8-8, the Seahawks finished third at 5-11, and the Rams finished last at 1-15.
-I was wrong again on the Seahawks. I really thought that Seattle would bounce back and win the division. I was way off on this pick.
-I nailed the 49ers. They finished exactly the way I thought they would finish.
-I thought Arizona was going to have the Super Bowl hangover, and I was dead wrong. Once again I doubted Kurt Warner and the Cardinals and they made me pay.
-It was easy to pick the Rams to finish last, and they wish they won 4 games like I predicted.
***My 2009 Playoff Predictions****
2009 NFC Playoff Predictions:
1) Chicago (12-4)
2) Philly (11-5)
3) Atlanta (11-5)
4) Seattle (10-6)
5)Dallas (10-6)
6)Green Bay (10-6)
1) Chicago (12-4)
2) Philly (11-5)
3) Atlanta (11-5)
4) Seattle (10-6)
5)Dallas (10-6)
6)Green Bay (10-6)
***I went 0 for 4 on my division winners, but I got 3 out of 6 playoff teams correctly predicted.
Wild Card Round:
3-Atlanta over 6-Green Bay (Matt Ryan gets his first playoff victory)
5-Dallas over 4-Seattle (Dallas gets first playoff win since 1996)
Divisional Round:
1-Chicago over 5-Dallas (Cutler gets his first playoff win)
2-Philly over 3-Atlanta (Philly gets to 6th NFC Title game since 2001)
NFC Championship:
2-Philly over 1-Chicago (Reid and McNabb win the NFC Title for the late Jim Johnson)
Wild Card Round:
3-Atlanta over 6-Green Bay (Matt Ryan gets his first playoff victory)
5-Dallas over 4-Seattle (Dallas gets first playoff win since 1996)
Divisional Round:
1-Chicago over 5-Dallas (Cutler gets his first playoff win)
2-Philly over 3-Atlanta (Philly gets to 6th NFC Title game since 2001)
NFC Championship:
2-Philly over 1-Chicago (Reid and McNabb win the NFC Title for the late Jim Johnson)
***I nailed the fact that Dallas would win their first playoff game since 1996.
***I was way off with Chicago in the NFC Championship.
***Philly didn't make the NFC Title Game and they were knocked out in the Wild Card round.
A Look Back at 2009: The Rest of the AFC
Continuing with my look back at my 2009 predictions, here is my look back at the AFC South and AFC West....
My predictions for 2009 for the AFC South:
1) Indianapolis Colts (11-5): The Colts get the division back in 2009. I know that Tony Dungy is gone, but the Colts still have Peyton Manning. Manning will lead the Colts very deep this year. Plus, the Colts are hungry. They have lost their last two playoff openers the last two years, and everyone is talking about the Steelers and the Pats in the AFC. The Colts just reload, and their window to win is never closed with Manning.
2) Tennessee Titans (10-6): Originally, I thought that the Titans wouldn't make the playoffs this year, but after looking at it deeper, I think the Titans get in as a wild card. Jeff Fisher is a very good coach, and they were the best team in the AFC last year. They killed themselves in the playoffs against Baltimore, and I think they are going to be very good this year. I like Kerry Collins, and he has help on that offense. Chris Johnson is a gamebreaker, and they added some help to their WRs with the addition of Nate Washington. Their defense is solid with good players at every level-especially Vanden Bosch, Bulluck, and Finnegan. The Titans will be a team no one wants to see in January.
3) Houston Texans (8-8): The Texans will be picked by a lot of people to make the leap and finally make the playoffs in 2009. I don't see it. I am not jumping on the Houston bandwagon this year. I like their offense, but Matt Schaub has to stay healthy. Their defense and their toughness up front is what disturbs me. Plus, their division is very tough. Four games with the Colts and Titans is what is going to kill them. The Texans miss out on the playoffs again.
4) Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Which Jacksonville team will show up? The team that went 11-5 in 2007 or the team that imploded on their way to 5-11 in 2008. Which version of David Garrard will show up? The sensational 2007 version or the medicore 2008 version. This is just a weird team to figure out. They might be able to make some noise in 2009, but I just don't have enough confidence to pick them.
2) Tennessee Titans (10-6): Originally, I thought that the Titans wouldn't make the playoffs this year, but after looking at it deeper, I think the Titans get in as a wild card. Jeff Fisher is a very good coach, and they were the best team in the AFC last year. They killed themselves in the playoffs against Baltimore, and I think they are going to be very good this year. I like Kerry Collins, and he has help on that offense. Chris Johnson is a gamebreaker, and they added some help to their WRs with the addition of Nate Washington. Their defense is solid with good players at every level-especially Vanden Bosch, Bulluck, and Finnegan. The Titans will be a team no one wants to see in January.
3) Houston Texans (8-8): The Texans will be picked by a lot of people to make the leap and finally make the playoffs in 2009. I don't see it. I am not jumping on the Houston bandwagon this year. I like their offense, but Matt Schaub has to stay healthy. Their defense and their toughness up front is what disturbs me. Plus, their division is very tough. Four games with the Colts and Titans is what is going to kill them. The Texans miss out on the playoffs again.
4) Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Which Jacksonville team will show up? The team that went 11-5 in 2007 or the team that imploded on their way to 5-11 in 2008. Which version of David Garrard will show up? The sensational 2007 version or the medicore 2008 version. This is just a weird team to figure out. They might be able to make some noise in 2009, but I just don't have enough confidence to pick them.
-The Colts won the division at 14-2, Houston finished second at 9-7, the Titans finished third at 8-8, and Jacksonville finished last at 7-9.
-I nailed the Colts winning the division, but that might have been to easiest prediction to make of all-time.
-I went back and forth all summer on the Titans. I wasn't sure if they were going to make the playoffs. I figured that either Tennessee or Baltimore would miss the postseason in '09. I picked the Titans to make it as a wild card, but their 0-6 start derailed that plan. They finished a respectable 8-8, but too little too late.
-Many experts picked the Texans to make the playoffs, but I was right in my assumption that I wasn't buying it. I had them at 8-8 and out of the playoffs, and they finished 9-7 and out of the playoffs, so nailed that one pretty good.
-It was easy to pick Jax to finish last in this division, but they actually won 7 games, and I had them slotted for only 5.
AFC WEST
1) San Diego Chargers (12-4): The class of a weak division. The Chargers should have missed out on the playoffs last year, but they got hot at the end and won the West. San Diego should be better in 2009. Philip Rivers is a franchise QB, and LT will be very good this season. Throw in Gates, Sproles, Jackson, and Chambers, and the SD offense should put up a lot of points. Their defense obviously gets better with the return of Shawne Merriman. The Chargers have been in the playoffs in 4 of the last 5 years. They have won 3 playoff games in the last two years, but they haven't been to the Super Bowl. They need to take the next step. This could be the year they do.
2) Kansas City Chiefs (8-8): The Chiefs are done with the putrid Herm Edwards Era, and now start the Scott Pioli-Todd Haley Era. The Chiefs are a popular pick to be this year's Dolphins, especially since they added Matt Cassell. I think the Chiefs will be very improved and very well- coached this year, but they are a year away from making the playoffs. Their problem will be their weapons on offense and some defensive issues. I don't think they have enough playmakers to hurt defenses, and their front seven looks like it isn't good enough to slow down any good offensive team.
3) Oakland Raiders (6-10): The Raiders show some improvement this year by winning 6 games, but I'm not buying into the Tom Cable and JaMarcus Russell era in Oakland. I think Jeff Garcia will be starting by Week 5, but I don't think he will be able to help the Raiders into the playoffs. The Raiders are a team in disarray and they always will be as long as Al Davis is running the team.
4) Denver Broncos (5-11): Warning: This is going to be long! Now we get to my team, The 2009 Denver Broncos. What an offseason: Shanny gets fired, Bowlen hires Josh McDaniels, McD fueds with Jay Cutler, they trade Cutler to Chicago, name Kyle Orton the starter, Brandon Marshall wants a trade, they don't address their awful front seven in the offseason, and now everyone is picking Denver to win no more than 6 games max. Why did I pick Denver to go 5-11 and finish last? Well, there are a couple of reasons: 1- Reverse Psychology 2- Too much drama in the offseason 3- A rookie head coach under the most pressure ever in NFL history 4-Subtracting Jay Cutler and adding Kyle Orton 5-Their defensive front seven doesn't have a lot of talent 6-I picked them to make the playoffs last year and they were 8-5 and collapsed to finish 8-8 and I'm not doing that again. There are a lot of negatives for the Broncos going into 2009. Their are also so many questions surrounding this team. How will the team respond to McDaniels when faced with adversity? How will Kyle Orton play learining a very difficult new offense? How will the Brandon Marshall situation play out? How much will they improve at all on defense? How will adjust to Mike Nolan's new 3-4 scheme? How will Champ Bailey bounce back? How will an old secondary fare? I will give you this: The Broncos might not be as bad as everyone predicts in 2009. Kyle Orton will have some weapons on offense (Royal, Marshall, Stokely, Gaffney, Graham, Scheffler, Moreno, Hillis, and Buckhalter) and he has a very good OL to work with. McDaniels is a tremendous play caller and offensive mind, so the offense could be pretty good. Maybe their defense comes together. They really can't get worse than they were last year. Maybe guys like Ron Fields, Kenny Peterson, DJ Williams, Robert Ayers, Andra Davis, and Elvis Dumervil step up and give that front seven some reliability. The secondary with Dawkins, Champ, Andre Goodman, Renaldo Hill, and Alphonso Smith plays well and creates some turnovers. Maybe they get a break in their schedule and catch some teams at the right time, and they win a few close games they shouldn't. Who knows? That's the thing about this Bronco team. The title of their 2009 Media Guide should be: "The 2009 Denver Broncos- Who the Hell Knows?" I'm not trying to drink the kool-aid too much, but stranger things have happened. The Broncos are a true sleeper this year, but I'm not gonna jinx them. I did that last year and look what happened. I like this spot for Denver- laying around in the weeds with no one expecting anything. Maybe the worst offseason in Denver Broncos history will be replaced with one of the most satisfying and surprising season in Denver Broncos history......We'll see.
2) Kansas City Chiefs (8-8): The Chiefs are done with the putrid Herm Edwards Era, and now start the Scott Pioli-Todd Haley Era. The Chiefs are a popular pick to be this year's Dolphins, especially since they added Matt Cassell. I think the Chiefs will be very improved and very well- coached this year, but they are a year away from making the playoffs. Their problem will be their weapons on offense and some defensive issues. I don't think they have enough playmakers to hurt defenses, and their front seven looks like it isn't good enough to slow down any good offensive team.
3) Oakland Raiders (6-10): The Raiders show some improvement this year by winning 6 games, but I'm not buying into the Tom Cable and JaMarcus Russell era in Oakland. I think Jeff Garcia will be starting by Week 5, but I don't think he will be able to help the Raiders into the playoffs. The Raiders are a team in disarray and they always will be as long as Al Davis is running the team.
4) Denver Broncos (5-11): Warning: This is going to be long! Now we get to my team, The 2009 Denver Broncos. What an offseason: Shanny gets fired, Bowlen hires Josh McDaniels, McD fueds with Jay Cutler, they trade Cutler to Chicago, name Kyle Orton the starter, Brandon Marshall wants a trade, they don't address their awful front seven in the offseason, and now everyone is picking Denver to win no more than 6 games max. Why did I pick Denver to go 5-11 and finish last? Well, there are a couple of reasons: 1- Reverse Psychology 2- Too much drama in the offseason 3- A rookie head coach under the most pressure ever in NFL history 4-Subtracting Jay Cutler and adding Kyle Orton 5-Their defensive front seven doesn't have a lot of talent 6-I picked them to make the playoffs last year and they were 8-5 and collapsed to finish 8-8 and I'm not doing that again. There are a lot of negatives for the Broncos going into 2009. Their are also so many questions surrounding this team. How will the team respond to McDaniels when faced with adversity? How will Kyle Orton play learining a very difficult new offense? How will the Brandon Marshall situation play out? How much will they improve at all on defense? How will adjust to Mike Nolan's new 3-4 scheme? How will Champ Bailey bounce back? How will an old secondary fare? I will give you this: The Broncos might not be as bad as everyone predicts in 2009. Kyle Orton will have some weapons on offense (Royal, Marshall, Stokely, Gaffney, Graham, Scheffler, Moreno, Hillis, and Buckhalter) and he has a very good OL to work with. McDaniels is a tremendous play caller and offensive mind, so the offense could be pretty good. Maybe their defense comes together. They really can't get worse than they were last year. Maybe guys like Ron Fields, Kenny Peterson, DJ Williams, Robert Ayers, Andra Davis, and Elvis Dumervil step up and give that front seven some reliability. The secondary with Dawkins, Champ, Andre Goodman, Renaldo Hill, and Alphonso Smith plays well and creates some turnovers. Maybe they get a break in their schedule and catch some teams at the right time, and they win a few close games they shouldn't. Who knows? That's the thing about this Bronco team. The title of their 2009 Media Guide should be: "The 2009 Denver Broncos- Who the Hell Knows?" I'm not trying to drink the kool-aid too much, but stranger things have happened. The Broncos are a true sleeper this year, but I'm not gonna jinx them. I did that last year and look what happened. I like this spot for Denver- laying around in the weeds with no one expecting anything. Maybe the worst offseason in Denver Broncos history will be replaced with one of the most satisfying and surprising season in Denver Broncos history......We'll see.
-The Chargers won the division at 13-3, the Broncos finished second at 8-8, the Raiders finished third at 5-11, and the Chiefs finished last at 4-12.
-It was easy to pick the Chargers to win this division because they are the class of the West.
-I don't know how to pick the Broncos anymore. I didn't want to jinx them, so I picked them to go 5-11, but they started 6-0 and ended up at 8-8. Next year, I'm going to pick them at 6-10 just so I don't get my hopes up.
-I had the Chiefs at 8-8, and I thought they were going to be really improved, but they were awful throughout the season. They finished at 4-12, and they weren't even competitive in a lot of games. I missed that one badly.
-I nailed the Raiders pretty close, and they were where I expected them to be.
***My 2009 Playoff Predictions:
AFC Playoff Predictions
1) San Diego (12-4)
2) Indy (11-5)
3) New England (11-5)
4) Pittsburgh (10-6)
5)Tennessee (10-6)
6) Cincy (9-7)
1) San Diego (12-4)
2) Indy (11-5)
3) New England (11-5)
4) Pittsburgh (10-6)
5)Tennessee (10-6)
6) Cincy (9-7)
-I had 3 out of 4 division winners, and I correctly predicted 4 out of 6 playoff teams. I did well in the AFC in 2009.
Wild Card Round
3-New England over 6-Cincy (Brady and Belichick move on to face Indy)
5-Tenn over 4-Pittsburgh (Tenn upsets the defending Super Bowl Champs)
Divisional Round
1-San Diego over 5-Tenn (SD moves on to host AFC Title game)
2-Indy over 3-New England (Manning outduels Brady)
AFC Championship
1-San Diego over 2-Indy (SD makes first SB since 1994)
Wild Card Round
3-New England over 6-Cincy (Brady and Belichick move on to face Indy)
5-Tenn over 4-Pittsburgh (Tenn upsets the defending Super Bowl Champs)
Divisional Round
1-San Diego over 5-Tenn (SD moves on to host AFC Title game)
2-Indy over 3-New England (Manning outduels Brady)
AFC Championship
1-San Diego over 2-Indy (SD makes first SB since 1994)
-I would have had the correct AFC Championship matchup, but the Chargers completely choked against the Jets in the Divisional Round.
-No one really picked Indy to make it to the AFC Title Game, so I felt pretty good about Indy getting there and they did.
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