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2008-09 NFL Preview and Predictions

20 July 2008 127 views

As NFL training camps get ready to open up (some already have), prognosticators are plentiful, but no one will really know with absolute certainty who this year’s Super Bowl champion will be.  There are many possibilities, including 3-4 “pencil them in” candidates, as well as 3-4 other teams who could pull off a stunning playoff run (e.g. 2000’s St. Louis Rams).  Last year provided some intense moments, record breaking performances and an unlikely NFL champion in the New York Giants.  With several teams fielding almost identical rosters from last year, it will be interesting to see how this year’s NFL season develops.

NFC Contenders

New York Giants
You can’t write a list of contenders without including last year’s Super Bowl champs.  They lost Michael Strahan to retirement, but Eli Manning’s confidence should be through the roof and the offense is virtually the same as last year.  If the running backs can stay healthy and the defense can survive (mentally) without Strahan, the Giants will be in the mix late in the season. [New York Giants jersey]

Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have beefed up their payroll (and problem child’s) this year, but there’s hope in Big D.  Tony Romo has another year of experience and is primed for a better season.  Terrell Owens is a monster receiver, but could be  the cause of more headaches that he’s worth.  The recent signing of Adam “Pacman” Jones is risky as well, considering he’s not been reinstated to play this season, but if he is allowed to play, the defense should be outstanding.  There are only 2 threats for the Cowboys: the Giants and themselves. [Dallas Cowboys jersey]

Philadelphia Eagles
Another NFC East team – another contender.  The Eagles have a strong offense and defense; much like the Giants.  When healthy, they can compete with anyone.  If Donovan McNabb can stay on the field all season, Philadelphia will make the playoffs and be in good position for the playoffs. [Philadelphia Eagles jersey]

Nobody
Yes, these above are the only 3 serious contenders in the NFC from my perspective.  Carolina, New Orleans, Washington, Minnesota and Green Bay round out the “maybe’s”, but they all have issues that could keep them from winning a title.

AFC Contenders

New England Patriots
After finishing the regular season undefeated and reaching the Super Bowl, only to lose to New York, the Patriots will be out for blood in 08-09.  Randy Moss is on board, Tom Brady is still there and they still have their asshole coach, so you know they will perform well all season.  Less focus will be paid this year on finishing with a “perfect record”, but they may still have one when all things are said and done. [New England Patriots jersey]

Indianapolis Colts
Another extremely strong & well-coached team, the Colts are serious contenders for the NFL championship as well.  With Peyton Manning at the helm and Tony Dungy on the sidelines, this team can beat anybody and could also challenge the Patriots for a perfect regular season record.  They will have to figure out how to beat the Patriots (again), and face extremely competitive challenges from the Jaguars, Chargers and/or Steelers if they want to try for their 2nd championship in the last 3 years. [Indianapolis Colts jersey]

San Diego Chargers
LaDainian Tomlinson… One player who could almost single-handedly put his team in the playoffs.  Add Phillip Rivers, w/ another year of experience, a decent wide receiving core and a solid defense, and you have a contender.  I’m not sure this crew has enough to get past the Colts or Patriots, but they’ll certainly give it their best shot. [San Diego Chargers jersey]

Pittsburgh Steelers
Big Ben and Co. will be seeking their 2nd championship this decade, featuring a lineup of Willie Parker, Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu.  This team is explosive on offense, controls the clock well and punishes the opposition on defense.  To be a serious contender, the Steelers will need to average at least 20-22 points per game – their defense will handle the rest. [Pittsburgh Steelers jersey]

Others
The Jagaurs have a good shot, as do the Broncos, Browns and Bengals of making the playoffs.  They will struggle against the elite teams, but will put together strong games and be competitive until they are eliminated.

Super Bowl Preview
I see the Patriots vs. the Cowboys in the championship game, w/ the Cowboys taking it. 

I’d love to get some other predictions… leave your comments.

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6 Comments »

  • derek said:

    chargers over cowboys….please chargers cant beat new england or the colts they’ve beaten the colts the last 3 times including TWO TIMES last year and the pats have weakened and the chargers have only gotten better

    # 31 July 2008 at 3:20 pm
  • J-Jerseys Admin (author) said:

    The Chargers did beat Indy last year, but got stomped by the Patriots. I still think they have a serious shot at the title this year though, especially if Rivers plays better and they get some other people involved in the offense. It will be interesting to see what happens w/out Lorenzo Neal blocking for LT (assuming they don’t re-sign Neal).

    The Giants won last year’s Super Bowl, but Indy and New England won two of the previous three (Steelers won the other), so in my mind, the AFC still goes through them.

    # 31 July 2008 at 3:44 pm
  • Seth Johnson said:

    ok, i like ur colts prediction…. they will need to beat the pats this year, and i think they are perfectly capable of doing it. they have all the right pieces. its just mental prep at this point…

    AS FOR THE CHARGERS. recently indy has struggled and has been shocked multiple times by the chargers. i feel like we’ll have their number this year and will be able to slip by them, as well as give a push for another undefeated season (that is if they can handle the last jags game and their 2nd string can take the titans in the season ender).

    i dont wana go into this but idk what all the hype is about the cowboys winning the bowl, i dont see them winning a playoff game.

    my predictions….

    AFC North
    -Browns 12-4
    -Steelers 10-6
    -Ravens 7-9
    -Bengals 5-11

    Baltimore will give a small shove within the division… not enough to make in the top half

    AFC South
    -Colts 14-2
    -Jaguars 12-4
    -Texans 9-7
    -Titans 8-8

    The Colts will roar throughout the year, and the texans will record their first ever winning season.

    AFC East
    -Patriots 14-2
    -Jets 10-6
    -Bills 8-8
    -Dolphins 4-12

    Pats will slip slightly but still remain a huge threat in the NFL while the jets move up the East with the aquisition of brett favre. Dolphins just flat out suck

    AFC West
    -Chargers 12-4
    -Broncos 10-6
    -Chiefs 6-10
    -Raiders 4-12

    Chargers always win this division, Jay Cutler will step up in his 2nd year, and the raiders suck as much as the dolphins. McFadden is no Arian Peterson.

    NFC North
    -Vikings 12-4
    -Packers 9-7
    -Bears 8-8
    -Lions 5-11

    Adrian Peterson will lead the Vikings to the division title and the playoffs, while Aaron Rodgers will be solid in his first year as a starter. Jon Kitna is a moron and his prediction is total BS.
    they suck.. bears will be a little better than last year

    NFC South
    -Panthers 11-5
    -Saints 10-6
    -Bucaneers 9-7
    -Falcons 6-10

    Jake Delhomme will be solid the year after his injury. this division is so unpredictable though. idk what will happen.

    NFC East
    -Cowboys 13-3
    -Giants 10-6
    -Redskins 9-7
    -Eagles 6-10

    Cowboys win it, Eagles suck.

    NFC West
    -Seahawks 11-5
    -Rams 8-8
    -Cardinals 6-10
    -49ers 3-13

    This division is the most boring division in the NFL. 49ers are the worst team in the leage in 08-09.

    AFC
    1-Colts
    2-Pats
    3-Chargers
    4-Browns
    5-Jaguars
    6-Steelers

    Wild Card Round (AFC)
    Steelers W vs. Chargers L – 28-17 Steelers Defense out powers Chargers Offense.
    Jaguars W vs. Browns L – 17-10 Jaguars beat Browns with ease.

    Divisional Round (AFC)
    Colts W vs. Jaguars L – 35-31 Colts will give the jaguars one last fight to move on to Championship
    Patriots W vs. Steelers L – 20-7 Patriots are just an all around better team.

    Championship Round (AFC)
    Colts W vs. Patriots L – 44-38 High Scoring Offense battle it out. It is the Manning Era.

    NFC
    1-Cowboys
    2-Vikings
    3-Panthers
    4-Seahawks
    5-Giants
    6-Saints

    Wild Card Round (NFC)
    Panthers W vs. Saints L – 14-6 Delhomme and Smith beat out Brees and Colston
    Giants W vs. Seahawks L – 13-7 Giants defense holds seahawks to one touchdown

    Divisional Round (NFC)
    Giants W vs. Cowboys L – 28-24 Giants work their magic again.
    Vikings W vs. Panthers L – 28-23 Adrian Peterson kicks ass

    Championship Round (NFC)
    Vikings W vs. Giants L – 21-20 Giants give Vikings a big scare but the Vikings want it more.

    SUPERBOWL
    Colts W vs. Vikings L – 30-24 Vikings forget that you need a good quarterback to win the superbowl. As i said before, it’s the era of Manning, only this year Peyton is out to show up his kid brother Eli. Should be a pretty good game.

    # 16 August 2008 at 9:20 am
  • J-Jerseys Admin (author) said:

    Thanks for the predictions Seth.

    Wow, you’re really gone out there w/ some bold picks, especially the Vikings reaching the Super Bowl. Had they traded for Brett Favre, I think that your pick would be a little more accurate, but I just don’t seem them coming out of the NFC. Adrian Peterson is a stud, but I don’t think he can get them to the Championship game on his own.

    # 16 August 2008 at 10:01 am
  • Chargers Fan said:

    In my unbiased opinion, the Chargers will annihilate everybody this season.

    # 20 August 2008 at 7:53 pm
  • Dan said:

    I like some of the picks above. However, I feel that some are a little off.

    AFC-North
    -Browns 11-5
    -Steelers 9-7
    Others don’t matter

    AFC-South
    -Colts 12-4
    -Jags 10-6
    again…others don’t matter

    AFC-East
    -Patriots 13-3
    -Jets 9-7
    -Bills 9-7

    AFC-West
    -Chargers 14-2
    -Broncos 10-6

    AFC
    1-Chargers
    2-Patriots
    3-Colts
    4-Browns
    5-Jags
    6-Broncos

    NFC-North
    -Vikings 11-5
    -Packers 9-7

    NFC-South
    -Saints 11-5
    -Panthers 10-6

    NFC-West
    -Seahawks 10-6
    -Rams 8-8

    NFC-East
    -Cowboys 12-4
    -Giants 10-6
    -Eagles 9-7

    NFC
    1-Cowboys
    2-Vikings
    3-Saints
    4-Seahawks
    5-Giants
    6-Panthers

    AFC Wildcard
    Colts win over Broncos
    Browns win over Jags

    NFC Wildcard
    Saints win over Panthers
    Giants win over Seahawks

    AFC Divisional
    Browns defeat Chargers in OT
    Colts defeat Pats

    NFC Divisional
    Cowboys blowout Giants
    Vikings defeat Saints on last drive

    AFC Champs
    Colts defeat Browns in close…high scoring game 45-41

    NFC Champs
    Cowboys defeat Vikings 28-13

    SUPER BOWL
    Cowboys 37 defeat Colts 24
    Dallas is just too much for Manning and company. Manning reverts back to choking under pressure. PacMan shines with 2 picks and Romo finally takes the next step! All of you Cowboy fans out there need to thank J.J. for buying this SuperBowl!!!!!

    # 5 September 2008 at 6:52 am