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NFC
CENTRAL |
| Jim's
Outlook |
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Cyd's
Outlook |
GREEN
BAY PACKERS
Outlook: This team is fun to root for again, now that super homophobe Reggie White and moral hypocrite Mark ``I
Condemn Clinton but Hang Around With My Babysitters in my
Underwear'' Chumura are gone. Make no mistake--the Pack is back. Brett Favre is injury-free and will play like his MVP days of old. The running game, once everyone is healthy, will be terrific. A focused Gilbert Brown will solidify the line, the secondary is solid and the kicking game is dependable. The NFC is overall fairly weak and the Pack has a chance to get out to a 4-0 mark before the tough part of the schedule intrudes.
Forecast: The Pack wins the division, gets a bye, and knocks off the Rams to win the NFC title. In a repeat of Super Bowl XXII, Green Bay loses to Denver. |
1 |
TAMPA
BAY BUCCANEERS
Outlook: Let's think about this. Last
year, the Washington Redskins were the prohibitive favorites to
win the Super Bowl with a stiff defense and Brad Johnson
quarterbacking. They didn't even make the playoffs.
This year, many people are touting the Bucs as the team to beat
for the Super Bowl. Why? They barely improved their
quarterbacking, if they even improved it at all (watch Shaun
King start by November). What they need to do is demote
head coach Tony Dungee to defensive coordinator, get Jimmy
Johnson to be the head coach, and THEN they can talk about Super
Bowls.
Forecast: 11-5. Dungy gets the
boot after another playoff loss to the Eagles. |
TAMPA
BAY BUCCANEERS
Outlook: The Bucs lead the league in players with Alaska-size egos. There's Keyshawn ``Throw Me the Damn Ball'' Johnson, and add newcomer defensive lineman Simeon Rice to the mix.
``I don't need marketing. I look good. I'm beautiful in the face. I have Adonis-type form. I have a physique to die for. I have abilities other people would like to be able to pay for. It feels good to be me. I enjoy being
me,'' Rice said. Too bad neither of these guys plays quarterback. I'm not a big Brad Johnson fan, who's been too inconsistent and injury-prone to be considered among the elite. The defense will be terrific again, but it'll still be no Super Bowl for the Bucs.
Forecast: Tampa has enough to win a wild card, but another playoff flameout awaits them. |
2 |
GREEN
BAY PACKERS
Outlook: The Pack finished their 2000 campaign
with four straight wins against their four division
opponents. They are riding some great momentum into 2001,
and Brett Favre seems to be 100% healthy. If he stays that
way, the Packers have a great shot at the division title and
going to the Super Bowl.
Forecast: 10-6. Something tells
me this team will battle injuries all season and suffer because
of it. |
DETROIT
LIONS
Outlook: I love new general manager Matt Millen. During a spring scrimmage, he challenged an offensive lineman to a wrestling match on the field ... and won. He has great people skills,
is confident without being arrogant and has a terrific sense of humor. Yeah, yeah, he can't run or tackle,
but I think he sets a good tone for a sad-sack franchise. The strength of this team is on both lines, with the skill players being a notch below the best.
Forecast: This will be an erratic team ... up one week, down the next ... but I say 9-7 and the last wild card. |
3 |
MINNESOTA
VIKINGS
Outlook: If only they didn't have what some
call "the toughest schedule of any team in 20 years,"
they could win the Super Bowl. Hell, if they can get to
the playoffs, they could win the Super Bowl. That's just
going to be super tough. The Vikes will ride their talent,
the death of Korey Stringer, and Denny Green's solid coaching, to a
very good record given their schedule. They're just going
to have a tough time stopping many people from scoring.
Forecast: 8-8. Denny won't lose
his job because he's simply good at marketing himself.
Randy Moss or Daunte Culpepper will finish in the top two in MVP
voting. |
MINNESOTA
VIKINGS
Outlook: I have a friend who's a HUGE Viking fan and even has a
tattoo of a Norseman on his butt. Back in 1998, at the Gay Games in Amsterdam, we're waiting outside a bar and he starts talking to this guy he trying to score with. Turns out the guy is also a huge Viking fan. So Steve uses a line that worked like a charm: ``Want to come back to my room and kiss my Viking ass?'' I think Steve will have a frustrating year as a fan of this team. The offensive line, because of free agency and the sad death of Korey Stringer, is shaky, and the defense is downright awful. Daunte Culpepper, Randy Moss and Cris Carter are superb, but I remember how this team staggered at the end last year: losing 4 of its last 5 regular season games and being demolished, 41-0, by the Giants in the NFC title game.
Forecast: This may be the most fun team to watch: they'll score in bunches, but give up even more. No playoff choke this year because they won't make them. |
4 |
CHICAGO
BEARS
Outlook: The Bears made a great move in
getting rid of Cade McNown - a draft mistake, I said three years
ago. Shane Matthews and Jim Miller are both decent
quarterbacks, and have both shown flashes of great play.
If the Bears were in a weaker division, they could make a
playoff run. but, they don't.
Forecast: 7-9. 2002 will be the
break-out year for Da Bears.
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CHICAGO
BEARS
Outlook: The walking cancer, Cade McNown is gone, so things can only get better for the Bears. Unfortunately, the talent is thin, and Dick Jauron seems clueless as a coach. Not much here to excite me.
Forecast: Pork belly futures are up, but sell
winter wheat and corn futures. |
5 |
DETROIT
LIONS
Outlook: Ugh. This is one of my least
favorite teams in the NFL simply because, like the Titans (whom
they play on Oct. 21), they are just boooooring. Lots of
people are talking about what a great job Matt Millen is going
to do as the team president. Millen has talked a lot about
changing the attitude in Detroit - which is good, but he needs
to start by hiring a real head coach, making Marty Mornhinweg
the offensive coordinator, and finding a new quarterback.
Forecast: 6-10. Millen yaps all
season about the lack of a winning attitude and everyone starts
to tune out. |
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