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Thursday, September 9, 2010

2010 NFL Season Predictions

I'm changing my seasonal predictions a bit this time around. Normally I pick divisional winners and eventually a single champion, but this time I'm making random (and sometimes rather absurd) predictions of things that will happen with the NFL season about to start tonight. I make no guarantees that any of these predictions will happen, but if any of them do, I take full credit for prognosticating them.

1. The Miami Dolphins will win the AFC East. The Jets soaked up every last bit of limelight they could get their hands on this offseason and then some. Rex Ryan loved to talk as much trash and bring as much focus on the team as he could. The Patriots are still the Patriots, as well, and I see no reason why they won't compete this year. However, the Dolphins were relatively quiet in their moves, but they still put together a very strong team. They traded for Brandon Marshall. They signed Karlos Dansby. Chad Henne is entering his second year as starting quarterback, and will continue to improve. I really see the Dolphins stealing the division away on the last weekend of the season, especially since their final regular season game is at New England.

2. Brandon Marshall will have a better statistical year than Larry Fitzgerald. I wouldn't necessarily count this prediction as bold since I know many football insiders share the same feelings I have for Fitzgerald this year. Fitz is going to have a down year by his standards. I made sure to stay away from him while drafting for my fantasy teams. He doesn't have Kurt Warner throwing the ball to him anymore, and he doesn't have Anquan Boldin drawing coverage away from him. Oh sure, he'll get his share of yards and touchdowns, but they won't be as good as Marshall's stats. The Dolphins will throw to Marshall all year long, and his size and speed will help them win their division.

3. The Kansas City Chiefs will be better than you think. I'm not going so far to say they'll win their division or even make the playoffs, but they will finish somewhere around 7-9 or 8-8. They've been flat out awful for the last several years, but Matt Cassel is reunited with Charlie Weis, and Romeo Crennel is better suited as a defensive coordinator than a head coach. Eric Berry will be as good a safety as Ed Reed in his prime in a few years, and Scott Pioli is already turning the franchise into a new Patriots. The Chargers' dominance of the AFC West is coming to a close.

4. The Cleveland Browns have a shot at going 0-16 this year. My God, this team is terrible. I was watching the NFL Network last night and Steve Mariucci made an off-hand comment that the Browns "seemed to be improved." I can only assume that was his way of being polite to this team. They might be improved in a few years with Mike Holmgren calling the shots, but they look flat out awful this year. Jake Delhomme's best days are far behind him at quarterback. They have no backup quarterback to speak of. They have no receivers. They have no tight end. They have no defense. (I suppose other than all that, they're an okay team.) But have you seen their schedule? They open Sunday in Tampa Bay. Tampa will be a lousy team as well, but if the Browns don't win that game, they don't have another winable game on their schedule until December. In addition to their divisional opponents, they face Atlanta, New Orleans, New England, the Jets, Miami - the list goes on and on. Their first winable game after Week 1 is Week 14 against the Bills, and that game is in Buffalo. Their final three games are all against divisional opponents again, and there's no reason to think they stand to beat any of the AFC North teams this year. The Detroit Lions may have some company at a winless season sooner than most people think.

4. Eric Mangini will be the first head coach fired this season. This is almost like a 3(a) prediction. Mangini was suspected at facing the chopping block this past off-season when Mike Holmgren took over the Browns organization, but Holmgren kept him as coach. If the Browns are 1-7 or 0-8 by their bye week in Week 9, I don't see how Mangini keeps his job.

5. Brett Favre's consecutive games started streak will end this season. Have you watched any of Favre's press interviews the last few weeks? I try to avoid them like the plague, but what I've seen of them make Favre look like he's in his 70s. He sounds old, he looks old, and he doesn't seem to have the type of fire burning in him that he's had in the past. That may change when it's time to actually take the field, but his ankle is still an injury issue. He's going to take a hit at some point this season that will reaggravate that injury, and he won't be able to play the following week. He might be his typical Favre self and do his best to play, but there will come a point where Sage Rosenfels will have to start for the Vikings this season.

6. Drew Brees will break the "Madden curse." That is to say, Drew Brees will have another typical Drew Brees year where he throws for 48,000 yards, 850 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. Ho hum.

7. Jerry Jones will have a conniption when the Cowboys lose to the Packers in the playoffs. Well, maybe not literally a conniption, but Ol' Jerry will go ballistic when the Cowboys are ousted from the playoffs yet again. He sure would love to have his 'Boys be the literal home team in the Super Bowl in February, but it's not going to happen. The Cowboys don't show signs of the drama they've had in the past, but where there's a will, there's a way. I'm not quite certain what will lead to the Cowboys' implosion this year, but my first thought would be Tony Romo choking yet again in a big game. Aaron Rodgers, on the other hand, will be his normal cool self and lead the Packers onward.

8. The Houston Texans will make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. I was originally going to go so far and say the Texans will win the AFC South outright, but the more I see of the Colts, the more it pains me to say they will still win the division this year. The Texans will still win one of the two wild card spots this year, though (the other being the Jets). Arian Foster will become a household name by the end of the season, Andre Johnson will have yet another amazing year, and Matt Schaub will become a hero in Houston (if he isn't already).

9. Aaron Rodgers will be the NFL MVP. I'm somewhat bummed that Drew Brees will be shafted yet again only because he's deserved the MVP award each of the last two years and lost out on it both times. (I doubt Brees is shedding any tears on missing out though since he only won the Super Bowl last season) Brees will miss out on the MVP yet again this year to Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has more than filled Brett Favre's shoes as the Packers' quarterback, and if he can avoid being sacked he will have an even bigger year than he did last year. One of the things I admire most about Rodgers is his ability to stay cool under fire, which is precisely why I predict the Packers will be the Cowboys in the postseason.

10. The Baltimore Ravens will beat the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV. I know, I sound like such a complete homer saying that. And isn't it odd that for what's probably the first time in the Ravens' franchise history, there are more questions about their defense than their offense? It's a justifiable issue, but I believe in Ray Lewis. I believe in Ed Reed. I believe that Terrence Cody will wreck havoc inside the line. I believe Haloti Ngata will give opposing quarterbacks nightmares. I believe Sergio Kindle will find playing time this season and will show what he's capable of. The Ravens clearly loaded up to make a serious run this season, and I really do believe it will pay off come February. I'd have a hard time rooting against Aaron Rodgers because I admire his skills so much, but he will eventually win a Super Bowl as well. It just won't be this year.

1 comment:

  1. Yes, Aaron Rodgers will win a Superbowl this year, RAY.

    ReplyDelete