FC East New England 14-2 Buffalo 8-8 New York Jets 7-9 Miami 5-11 AFC North Baltimore 12-4 Pittsburgh 10-6 Cincinnati 9-7 Cleveland 5-11 AFC South Indianapolis 10-6 Tennessee 9-7 Jacksonville 7-9 Houston 7-9 AFC West San Diego 13-3 Denver 9-7 Oakland 7-9 Kansas City 5-11 NFC East Dallas 11-5 Philadelphia 10-6 New York Giants 8-8 Washington 5-11 NFC North Chicago 14-2 Minnesota 10-6 Detroit 7-9 Green Bay 6-10 NFC South New Orleans 12-4 Carolina 10-6 Atlanta 3-13 Tampa Bay 3-13 NFC West San Francisco 10-6 Seattle 9-7 Saint Louis 8-8 Arizona 6-10 AFC Champion: New England NFC Champion: New Orleans Super Bowl Champion: Patriots MVP: Tom brady Rookie of the Year: Brady Quinn
AFC EAST: New England: 13-3 New York: 8-8 Buffalo: 8-8 Miami: 3-13 AFC SOUTH: Indianapolis: 11-5 Tennesee: 8-8 Houston: 8-8 Jacksonville - 6-10 AFC WEST: San Diego: 14-2 *Denver: 11-5 Oakland: 6-10 Kansas City: 4-12 AFC NORTH: Cincinnati: 13-3 *Baltimore: 12-4 Pittsburgh: 9-7 Cleveland: 5-11 NFC EAST: Dallas: 12-4 *Philadelphia: 11-5 New York: 9-7 Washington: 8-8 NFC SOUTH: New Orleans: 13-3 Carolina: 8-8 Tampa Bay: 7-9 Atlanta: 2-14 NFC WEST: San Francisco: 11-5 *St Louis: 10-6 Arizona: 9-7 Seattle: 7-9 NFC NORTH: Chicago: 11-5 Detroit: 8-8 Green Bay: 8-8 Minnesota: 3-13 Wilcard: Cincinnati Denver Indianapolis Baltimore Philadelphia St Louis Chicago San Francisco Divisional: Baltimore San Diego Cincinnati New England Chicago New Orleans Philadelphia Dallas Championships: San Diego New England New Orleans Dallas Superbowl: New Orleans San Diego Superbowl MVP: LaDainian Tomlinson League MVP:Reggie Bush Offensive Player Of The Year: Reggie Bush Defensive Player Of The Year: Shawn Merriman Offensive Rookie Of The Year: Brady Quinn Defensive Rookie Of The Year: Patrick Willis NFL Comeback Player Of The Year: Randy Moss Coach Of The Year: Norv Turner
I'm really surprised at how many people are predicting the Bills to be better than the Jets. Maybe I'm nuts, but I just was not impressed at all with what Buffalo did this off-season. I realize there are questions about the O/D lines and a tougher schedule, but the amount of 7-9 and 6-10 predictions are also a little surprising. Personally, I think this roster is better than last year's roster. With the harder schedule, I think they'll go 9-7. With the quality of the AFC (Pats, Ravens, Steelers, Bengals, Colts, Jaguars, Chargers and Broncos are all good teams IMO), I'm not sure if this is enough to make the playoffs.
Look at J.P. Losman's year-over-year improvement from 2005 to 2006. It's hard not to think he's on the verge of a breakout season. He may take a step backwards, however most 26 year old QB's who stepped up at 25 do so again at 26. That's the way that talent diverges at a very high level. Now throw in Marshawn Lynch who looks like an excellent candidate to be the next great 2-way back in football and the fact that the last tailback was a flat player who depressed the Bills offense (except against the Jets) and the upside looks even more likely to occur. At receiver they've got another 26 year old who stepped up at 25 in Lee Evans and he's probably going to be one of the best receivers in the NFL over the next few years. Given the commitment the Bills made to the offensive line by signing Derrick Dockery and re-signing Jason Peters it's hard to see their offense disappointing them this year. On the defensive side they have some issues with the loss of Nate Clements, however they're still young and talented on that side of the ball. They have a few people that need to step up to make this a good defense but it's by no means a bad one at the moment.
AFC EAST: New England: 12-4 *New York: 9-7 Buffalo: 8-8 Miami: 4-12 AFC SOUTH: Indianapolis: 11-5 Jacksonville: 9-7 Tennesee: 6-10 Houston: 5-11 AFC WEST: San Diego: 13-3 *Denver: 11-5 Kansas City: 6-10 Oakland: 4-12 AFC NORTH: Baltimore: 12-4 Cincinatti: 9-7 Pittsburgh: 9-7 Cleveland: 5-11 NFC EAST: Dallas: 11-5 *Philadelphia: 10-6 Washington: 6-10 New York: 6-10 NFC SOUTH: New Orleans: 10-6 Carolina: 8-8 Tampa Bay: 7-9 Atlanta: 5-11 NFC WEST: Seattle: 10-6 *Arizona: 9-7 St. Louis: 9-7 San Francisco: 7-9 NFC NORTH: Chicago: 11-5 Detroit: 7-9 Green Bay: 7-9 Minnesota: 3-13 AFC: New England over New York Denver over Indianapolis San Diego over Denver Baltimore over New England San Diego over Baltimore NFC: Philadelphia over New Orleans Seattle over Arizona Chicago over Seattle Dallas over Philadelphia Chicago over Dallas SUPER BOWL: San Diego over Chicago Super Bowl MVP: LaDainian Tomlinson League MVP:Ladainian Tomlinson Offensive Player Of The Year: LT Defensive Player Of The Year: Shawne Merriman Offensive Rookie Of The Year: Calvin Johnson Defensive Rookie Of The Year: Patrick Willis Coach Of The Year: Ken Whisenhunt
I actually like Losman, but to expect him to a second major step forward is asking a lot. I'd say last year was his breakout season. He's a good quarterback, but based on the way your talking about him (and the way he performed last year), it sounds as if you're expecting him to be a Pro Bowl level QB. I just don't see it. Losman might get the recognition he deserves as a good QB, but asking for another huge step is asking for a lot. I think McGahee was overrated a couple of years ago, but I think he's now become a little underrated. As you mentioned in your post, they overhauled the offensive line this year. I think this season in Baltimore will prove that. Lynch is good, but I do not think he's an upgrade over. Evans IMO is already a top 10 WR. He's a great player and very under the radar. However, considering he was 6th in the league in yards, how much more do you really expect? That lack of a second threat I think is the only thing that's holding him back at this point. I think you are underestimating the losses on defense. In addition to Clements, they also lost London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes. I know both were getting up there in years, but they are still very good players. Those losses, combined with the injuries to Ryan Denney, Keith Ellison and Al Wallace, leave them with a very thin front 7 that I think will be vulnerable against the run. Unless Losman takes that step to a Pro Bowl caliber QB, I just don't see the talent on D or the secondary weapons on O for them. I do think they are on the right track though.
I'm surprised at hte number of people picking San Diego. Yes, they are loaded with talent, but they have an entirely new coaching staff that is headed by Norv Turner. Wade Phillips is a HUGE loss for them, and Ted Cotrell, while he is certainly familiar with Phillips 3-4, just isn't the coach Phillips is. I see them taking a step back this year under this new coaching staff.
Just like last year I say 10-6 and back to the playoffs. I can't stand how everyone thinks we are going to suck. Chad played every game last year and for the first time in forever he had a healthy off season. (I dont care what he did or anyone else did in preseason). We also added a very good RB to the team which is only going to improve the running game. Plus the D is only getting better just like they did at the end of last season.
The step up this year doesn't have to be to top 5 status. He could just step up a couple of slots to 9 or 8 and the Bills will win 9 or 10 games. My gut feeling on Losman is that he's never going to be an all-pro QB in a conference with Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer, Ben Roethlisberger and Vince Young likely fighting over that distinction. I think he'll be in the Philip Rivers area though and pretty consistently in the top 8 or so. That's all a good team needs to get over the hump and have a real chance to win it. Will the Bills be that good this year? I don't think so. They have a lot of integrating to do on the defensive side. 2008 though they'll be ready to lock horns with whoever else wants to step up and try to unseat the Patriots. I'm hoping the Jets are up to that. It'll take Kellen Clemens playing very well to get there.
The Jets are going to be extreme this year , bad or very good. We wait with baited breath to see which personality turns up game day against the Pats. Looks like most people are predicting that we will lose a couple of games that we really should win.
being Jets fans, we know this happens every year. There are always 2 games the Jets are supposed to win and don`t. There are also 2 games the Jets shouldn`t win, or even come close, and usually don`t. Having Mangini may change this. Having the team we currently have, may not help Mangini at all. Gotta give Mangini at least 5 years to set up a decent franchise. The Jets have been a bad franchise for many years now. Everyone thought FATcells would change this, and he almost did but he did what he does best in life, and that is QUIT! Herm inherited a very good team from FATcells and drove it into the ground along with one of the NFL`s best ever RB`s(Martin). He`ll do the same with KC and Larry Johnson too. He inherited a very good team in KC and they didn`t do squat last year and will do even less this year. These Jets we have currently may be moving in the right direction but there are way too many pieces the team still needs to be a Super Bowl contender. Hopefully by the time the new Giants Stadium is built we`ll have a contender to put on the field.
I'm not quite sure that there is an abundance of that throughout league history. Maybe Bill Parcells is one of your examples. He did go 5-11 his first year in New England. Then he took the team to the playoffs in 1994. The following year they went 6-10 and followed that up by going to the Super Bowl in 1996. However, your theory doesn't hold up with his tenure as Jets head coach. He took over a garbage team, got them to 9-7 and then coached them to a 12-4 mark. Some big name coaches who took garbage teams to Super Bowls without a season of regression: Bill Walsh took over the 49ers in 1979. They went 2-14 in 1978 under Pete McCulley and Fred O'Connor. In 1979, they went 2-14. They were 6-10 in 1980. They went 13-3 and won the Super Bowl in Walsh's third year. (The team did regress in 1982 before going on their big string of consecutive seasons with 10+ victories.) The Eagles went 4-10 in 1975. Dick Vermeil was hired in 1976. The Eagles went 4-10 and 5-9 in Vermeil's first two seasons. In his third season, the team went 9-7 and made the playoffs. The next year they went 11-5 and won one playoff game. In year five the Eagles went 12-4 and made it to the Super Bowl. The Packers went 1-10-1 in 1958. The Packers went 7-5 the following season under new head coach Vince Lombardi. They did not regress in 1960. They went 8-4 and made the playoffs where they lost to the Eagles in the NFL Championship Game. The following year they went 11-3 and won the title. In the playoff era, there have been *34 rookie head coaches who took a team to the playoffs and coached the same team the following year. Sean Payton and Eric Mangini did it in 2006-07. Of the other 32 who accomplished the feat, how many made it back to the playoffs in the second year? 20 did and four won the league title. *Hunk Anderson and Luke Johnsos were both rookie co-coaches for the Chicago Bears in 1942. I have obviously counted them as one coach here. Cak
I don't know about other teams. I still can't give this team more than 6 wins - and that's if this team is that lucky. I hope they prove me wrong.
On personnel I'm right there with you. 6 wins looks like where it'll wind up. I'm holding out hope for 8 or even maybe 9 based on Mangini and Westhoff and a few other guys in the organization who appear to be very strong at producing despite talent deficits.
re: 35, 52 Two good examples for your theory are Leeman Bennett and Dan Reeves. Leeman Bennett (1976 Falcons went 4-10 under Marion Campbell and Pat Peppler) 1977 Falcons: 7-7 1978 Falcons: 9-7 (1-1 in postseason) 1979 Falcons: 6-10 1980 Falcons: 12-4 (0-1 in postseason; they were arguably the best team in the NFL during the regular season; they lost a heartbreaker to Dallas in the Divisional Playoffs) Dan Reeves (1980 Broncos went 8-8 under Red Miller) 1981 Broncos: 10-6 (did not qualify for postseason) 1982 Broncos: 2-7 1983 Broncos: 9-7 (0-1 in postseason) 1984 Broncos: 13-3 (0-1 in postseason) 1985 Broncos: 11-5 (did not qualify for postseason) 1986 Broncos: 11-5 (lost Super Bowl) I could have stopped after the 1983 entry. The rest was superfluous to the study. Reeves did coach the team to 10-6 and then fell off the table in year two for various reasons. He acquired a franchise QB and the team started to win big for many years.
FC East New England 12-4 New York Jets 11-5 Buffalo 6-10 Miami 4-12 AFC North Baltimore 11-5 Pittsburgh 10-6 Cincinnati 9-7 Cleveland 4-12 AFC South Indianapolis 13-3 Tennessee 8-8 Houston 8-8 Jacksonville 6-10 AFC West San Diego 14-2 Denver 10-6 Oakland 6-10 Kansas City 5-11 NFC East Dallas 11-5 Philadelphia 10-6 New York Giants 8-8 Washington 5-11 NFC North Chicago 12-4 Minnesota 9-7 Detroit 7-9 Green Bay 6-10 NFC South New Orleans 12-4 Carolina 10-6 Tampa Bay 5-11 Atlanta 3-13 NFC West San Francisco 11-5 Seattle 10-6 Arizona 9-7 St. Louis 8-8
I wish I could be that much optimistic, but well. You just don't win Kentucky Derby with donkeys. Jets OL and DL are FILLED with donkeys or maybe even less. I'd say if Pennington does lose his job this year, that wouldn't be because he is playing horrible - instead, he'd be lost due to injury.
Hahaha... Joke of the day. I'll take it. I had a good laughter out of it if anything. I hope they ARE flying donkeys!
AFC East New England 12-4 Jets 11-5 Bills 9-7 Miami 8-8 AFC North Cincinnati 10-6 Pittsburgh 9-7 Baltimore 7-9 Cleveland 5-11 AFC South Indianapolis 13-3 Tennessee 8-8 Jacksonville 6-9-1 Houston 5-10-1 AFC West San Diego 10-6 Denver 9-7 Oakland 7-9 KC 6-10 NFC East Dallas 10-6 Philadelphia 10-6 Washington 7-9 New York Giants 6-10 NFC North Chicago 9-7 Minnesota 8-8 Detroit 8-8 Green Bay 8-8 NFC South New Orleans 8-8 Carolina 8-8 Atlanta 6-10 Tampa Bay 5-11 NFC West St Louis 9-7 San Francisco 8-8 Arizona 8-8 Seattle 7-9 AFC Champion: Indy NFC Champion: St Louis Super Bowl Champion: Colts MVP: Peyton Manning Rookie of the Year: Adrian Peterson
