Summer is here and NFL football is just
around the corner. Training camp is
starting. So let's get a head start
on predicting which teams will be competing
in the upcoming season. Super Bowl XLI
will be played in Miami on Summer is
here and NFL football is just around
the corner. Training camp is starting.
So let's get a head start on predicting
which teams will be competing in the
upcoming season. Super Bowl XLI will
be played in Miami on February 4, 2007.
AFC
EAST
1. Miami
2. New England
3. New York Jets
4. Buffalo Bills
New
England bolstered their defense by signing
defensive tackle Jonathan Sullivan from
the New Orleans Saints but with no significant
improvement while other teams improved
within the division. Miami should look
great on offense with key acquisitions
of quarterback Daunte Culpepper and
Joey Harrington to complement their
solid defense. Buffalo is still missing
a leading quarterback and Eric Moulds
left for the Houston Texans even though
their defense is the best in the league.
The Jets picked up quarterback Patrick
Ramsey from the Washington Redskins
as an insurance to back up Chad Pennington,
who has recovered from his injury last
year. Look for the Dolphins to take
the division and go deep in the conference
playoffs.
AFC
NORTH
1. Baltimore
2. Cleveland
3. Pittsburgh
4. Cincinnati
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have their
work cut out trying to repeat the cinderella
season last year. Quarterback rofusbeger
with the much publicized off season
bike accident, should crash down to
earth. The Cincinnati Bengals chances
of making it in a tough division rest
upon Carson Palmer recovery from last
seasons knee injury. The Baltimore Ravens
improved both offence and defense with
the acquisition of quarterback Steve
McNair from the Tennessee Titans. The
Ravens defense should be tough to beat
with rookie defensive tackle Haloti
Ngata in the middle, Ray Lewis at linebacker
and safety Gerome Sapp from the Indianapolis
Colts. The Cleveland Browns will improve
slightly with the acquisition of defensive
stud Willie McGinest and WR Joe Jurevicius
from the Seahawks. This is a hard division
to predict since the teams are amongst
the most even in terms of style and
strength. It's a real crapshoot as far
as predicting who will provide the extra
stretch at the finish line. It may come
down to who will have the least injury
to finish ahead.
AFC
SOUTH
1. Tennessee
2. Indianapolis
3 . Houston
4 . Jacksonville
After slowly climbing and coming so
close to winning the super bowl last
year, the Indianapolis Colts should
descend hard this year. Quarterback
Peyton Manning, who relies on his supporting
cast to compete, should have a tough
season with high interception ratio
without the blocking and running support
of edge James couple with a weak defense.
The Tennessee Titans replaced the declined
Steve McNair with Vince Young who should
provide inspiration to the team. Houston
will improve vastly with wide receiver
Eric Moulds from the Buffalo Bills.
Jacksonville is the only team that remains
status quo and so will their record.
AFC
WEST
1. Denver
2. Kansas City
3. San Diego
4. Oakland
The
Denver Broncos seems to be a team that
finds a way to be competitive and this
year is no different. WR Javon Walker
from the Green Bay Packers should provide
a solid target for Jake Plummer. The
Kansas City Chiefs have always rely
on their running game and this year
is no exception with top RB Larry Johnson
carrying the load. Their achilles heels
is the defense, the worst in the league,
is the reason why the Chiefs will remain
near the bottom at the end of December.
The Chargers process a strong balanced
team both on offence and defense allowing
them to win games in the end. However,
the Chargers will be lacking a quarterback
who can be the leader and will struggle
with rookie QB Phillip Rivers. The Oakland
Raiders should be the weakest in the
division due to a lack luster defense
and a leaderless offence.
NFC
EAST
1 . Dallas
2. New York
3. Washington
4. Philadelphia
This
is considered the Meat and Potato division
of the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys have
gone younger as a team. But they still
have Drew Bledsoe at the helm. Who should
light up the scoreboard with WR Terrell
Owens. This is a make or break year
for the Cowboys. Look for them to improve.
The New York Giants had last season
to provide experience to their young
players. This year will be solid for
the Giants, particularly on offence.
QB Ely Manning should emerge with Tiki
Barber and WR Plaxico Burress providing
the supporting cast behind a solid offensive
line. The question mark is whether their
defense with Lavar Arrington can hold
up. The Philadelphia Eagle will lose
a step back with the departure of TO.
Donovan McNabb is on the decline with
injury and not able to guide the talented
team to win the superbowl and now he
has even less to work with. They will
fight with the Washington Redskins to
see who will be the bottom dweller of
the division
NFC
NORTH
1. Chicago
2. Minnesota
3. Green Bay
4. Detroit
The
Chicago Bears should remain at the top
of the division with a solid defense
and a mediocre offence. QB Rex Grossman's
play making will be key to their success.
And the reason why the Bears should
be at the top is because of the weak
division. The Minnesota Vikings as a
whole is not that impressive but Brad
Johnson should provide veteran leadership
at the helm. The Green Bay Packers should
be looking at another dismal season
with Brett Favre at quarterback. And
Detroit should not be a factor with
the new coaching and lack of quarterback
leadership.
NFC
SOUTH
1 . New Orleans
2 . Tampa Bay
3 . Carolina
4. Atlanta
The
Tampa Bay Buccaneers will rely on their
traditional strong defense and weak
offence led by rookie QB Chris Simms
and a strong running game led by Cadillac
Williams to tackle their opponents.
The New Orleans Saints should improve
by leaps and bounds from a disastrous
season with key additions QB Drew Brees
RB Reggie Bush. WR Joe Horn and Deuce
McAllister. The Carolina Panthers should
quiet down from last year. Now that
teams will certainly double or triple
cover on Steve Smith this year. The
Atlanta Falcons will have another dismal
year. Michael Vick has not won anything
since and there is no reason that will
change soon.
NFC
WEST
1. Seattle
2. Arizona
3 . San Francisco
4 . St. Louis
The
Seattle Seahawks will look to repeat
their performance from last season.
But they will have some stiff competition.
Arizona has improved tremendously with
the addition of Edge James at running
back. Their quarterback is still a bit
suspect though. The St. Louis Rams defense
should improve with Will Witherspoon
and LaRoi Glover. But Marc Bulger will
have to come out strong for the Rams
to win. And the San Francisco 49ers
has acquired CB Sammy Davis from the
San Diego Chargers and Trent Dilfer
from the Cleveland Browns at quarterback,
who has not been proven to be a successful
starter by any stretch. Still its an
improvement to what the 49ers have nonetheless.
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