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| Jim's
Outlook |
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Cyd's
Outlook |
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NFC EAST |
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1)
Washington: The ‘Skins have a new
coach (the legendary Joe Gibbs), new quarterback (Mark Brunell)
and new running back (Clinton Portis). The defensive and
offensive lines are no great shakes, though.
Prediction: The ‘Skins have enough to win the NFL’s weakest
division.
2)
Philadelphia: The Iggles have lost
three straight NFL title games, and their offseason moves smack
of desperation. New wideout Terrell Owens is a cancer who will
wear out his welcome by November.
Prediction: This team will have a hangover from the past
three years of failure and miss the playoffs.
3)
Dallas: The Cowboys are delusional if
they think 40-year-old QB Vinny Testeverde will stay in one
piece for 16 games. I love their defense, but their offense is
pretty weak.
Prediction: Dallas looks to be in the 7-9 to 9-7 category.
4) New York:
The offensive line is patchwork, which means trouble for whoever
is at quarterback, the veteran Kurt Warner or rookie Eli
Manning.
Prediction: 7-9 would be a success. |
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1)
Philadelphia: The reigning division
champs added solid talent on both sides of the ball. This may be
the most talented offense they’ve had in the Andy Reid era.
Prediction: Fullback Jon Ritchie is a big factor in making
it to yet another disappointing playoff appearance.
2)
Washington: How much of a difference
can a new head coach make? Witness last year’s Cowboys. What
troubles me here is Washington’s schedule: the toughest in the
league.
Prediction: Lots of talent, great coaches – will fight
Dallas for a playoff spot.
3)
Dallas: Conversely, the Cowboys have
the easiest schedule in the league. Their overwhelming problem,
though, is lack of talent. Parcells has done what he always
does: surround himself with players he knows. The problem is,
he’s known them for too long.
Prediction: Cowboys look great in some games, but not
enough.
4) New York:
Why the hell would a team get a quarterback who has looked so
bad the last two times he has played them? Answer: their new
head coach, Tom Coughlin, wasn’t there those games.
Prediction: the Gi’nts pack it in by October and throw Eli
Manning to the wolves. |
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NFC NORTH |
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1)
Green Bay: The Packers have all 11
starters back on offense, so no problem moving the ball. If they
can stop the run, a long playoff run is likely.
Prediction: The Pack reaches the Super Bowl for the first
time since 1997.
2)
Minnesota: The Vikings missed the 2003
playoffs on the final play of the season, yet hope springs
eternal. The offense is solid, but don’t see the defense
improved enough.
Prediction: The Vikes make it as a wild card.
3)
Detroit: New rookies give the Lions a
huge dose of speed, which will help settle quarterback Joey
Harrington. The defense is a work in progress.
Prediction: The Lions may not win many games, but will be
highly entertaining.
4) Chicago:
A guy named “Lovie” coaching ‘Da Bears? This team will struggle
in its transition to a new system.
Prediction: The Bears will contend for the division … in
2005. |
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1)
Minnesota: I love Mike Tice. The guy
comes across to me the way Belichick does – smart, systematic,
focused. He had a three-year plan to win the division when he
took over two years ago.
Prediction: That plan pays off in a trip to the Super Bowl.
2)
Green Bay: The Packers have their
high-flying offense back. The problem is, they have their
defense back, too – minus one of their best players, Mike
McKenzie.
Prediction: With pass-happy Detroit and Minnesota in their
division, the Pack will have trouble hanging onto second place
in the division.
3)
Chicago: Questions abound on this
team. But, with a strong defense, they have something that no
one else in the division has.
Prediction: Chicago sets up a strong run in 2005 with
improvement this year.
4) Detroit:
The Lions are cursed with the worst general manager in football,
Matt Millen. Now, they are putting up the youngest offense in
the league, starting two rookies, a second-year guy and a
third-year quarterback at their skill positions. It’ll take a
while for them to jell and the defense will be like a sieve.
Prediction: Matt Millen finally gets canned – two years too
late. |
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NFC SOUTH |
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1)
New Orleans:
I know it’s a stretch to pick the most dysfunctional team to win
its division, but I feel they’ll go against type. The Saints
have the talent, especially on offense.
Prediction: I confess that this is the toughest division to
figure out, but my vibe says New Orleans.
2)
Carolina: The Panthers are confident
after almost winning the Super Bowl. Their strength is along the
defensive line, yet stars such as QB Jake Delhomme and wideout
Steve Smith have emerged on offense.
Prediction: No Super Bowl for the cats, but it’s back to the
playoffs.
3)
Tampa Bay: Hard to know what to make
of this bunch, which lost mainstays John Lynch and Warren Sapp
on defense, but picked up the underrated Charlie Garner at
running back.
Prediction: The Bucs stop at 8-8.
4) Atlanta:
Michael Vick has a sore hammy and first-round pick, corner
D’Angelo Hall, might miss half the season. I got a bad feeling
that Vick can stay healthy a whole season.
Prediction: If Vick is the guy for 16 games, then the
Falcons can win the division, but I don’t see it happening. |
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1)
Atlanta: Last year, the Falcons
struggled while Mike Vick’s leg healed. When he came back, they
went 3-1, beating Carolina and winning at Tampa Bay. New head
coach Jim Mora will help last year’s worst defense quite a bit.
Prediction: Atlanta takes aim at the Super Bowl, with a road
game standing between them and the big dance.
2)
Tampa Bay: While the offense looks
completely different than last year, the defense will only start
one player who wasn’t with the team last year. It may take a few
games for the new offensive weapons to play well together, but I
have faith in coach John Gruden.
Prediction: With locker room cancer Keyshawn Johnson and
bigmouth Warren Sapp gone, this team will become a team and make
the playoffs.
3)
Carolina: While the other three teams
in the division have some of the easiest schedules in the
league, along with Washington, Carolina has THE toughest. While
they’ll be tough at home, the Panthers will have trouble on the
road.
Prediction: I have a bad feeling that Jake Delhomme won’t
make it to November, which will kill the defending conference
champs.
4) New
Orleans:
Every year, I just throw New Orleans into the open spot of this
division. This year is no different. This is the strangest team
in the league – they could go 4-12 or 12-4 and go to
Jacksonville.
Prediction: More people will lose more money on this team
than any other this year. |
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NFC WEST |
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1)
Seattle: The ’Hawks are loaded for a
Super Bowl run, led by QB Matt Hasselbeck. The defense looks to
be coming along nicely.
Prediction: Seattle can make the Super Bowl if it can secure
home field.
2) St.
Louis: I don’t like the look of this
team. The running game is in transition and QB Marc Bulger
doesn’t inspire confidence. The defense isn’t enough the carry
the day if the offense struggles.
Prediction: The Rams miss the playoffs for only the second
time in six years.
3) San
Francisco: Tim Rattay to Brandon Lloyd
is not exactly Joe Montana to Dwight Clark, but beggars can’t be
choosers. The Niners, no longer among the elite, are just
another team.
Prediction: Will battle Arizona for last place.
4) Arizona:
New coach Denny Green will give this sorry franchise a higher
profile, but it will be hard to overcome years of bad drafts.
Emmitt Smith as starting running back inspires zero confidence.
Prediction: The Cardinals have replaced the Bengals as the
NFL’s biggest joke. |
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1)
Seattle: The hottest pick in the
league was one guarantee away from making the conference
semifinals last year. Now that coach Mike Holmgren can focus on
just coaching, Seattle should finally win that elusive division
title.
Prediction: There is something dysfunctional about this
team, which will end their playoff run as quickly as it ended
last year.
2) St.
Louis: God, I hope this team fails.
Coach Mike Martz is the most egomaniacal coach in the league who
gets outcoached more than he outcoaches his opponent. He’s lucky
they have such talent on offense.
Prediction: Martz will be blaming everyone else for missing
the playoff.
3)
Arizona: Last year, coach Dennis Green
was one of the two or three best unemployed NFL head coaches. He
landed in Arizona, then got the player he felt was the best
rookie available.
Prediction: 7-9 would be a nice leap for this team, which
will make the playoffs in 2005.
4) San
Francisco: In the 2003 offseason, the
49ers could have had a number of people as their head coach.
Like the Raiders across the Bay, they picked a guy in Dennis
Erickson who has a losing record as head coach. The team then
lost their three best players and replaced them with guys who
would only start on a small handful of teams (except Kevan
Barlow).
Prediction: They will rival the Chargers for the #1 pick in
next year’s draft. |
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