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Jim's
Picks |
Cyd's
Picks |
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NFC EAST |
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1. Philadelphia Eagles: See Terrell Owens flex.
See Terrell Owens preen. See Terrell Owens mimic a
gay circuit boy. For better or worse, and it will
be mostly the latter, Owens will be the focus of the
2005 Eagles. The team is blessed to have Donovan
McNabb at quarterback and to be playing in the
mediocre NFC. If they were in the AFC, the Eagles
would be lucky to earn a wild card berth. A fifth
trip to the conference finals is possible, but
there'll be no Super Bowl in Philadelphia this year. |
1. New York Giants: For some reason, I think the
Giants have the gleam this year (thank you, Marty
Schottenheimer). While I hated it last year, I think
putting Eli Manning into a starting role to end last
season is going to pay huge dividends. This team's
offense now looks a hell of a lot like the Jaguars
offense that went 14-2 about five years ago; and Tom
Coughlin was the coach there. This team is going to
shock people the way the Chargers did last year; and
then Eli will choke in January, just like his
brother. |
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2. Dallas Cowboys: Can Drew Bledsoe find
happiness in Big D? If so, the Pokes will be a
playoff team. An emphasis on defense and a good
young runner in Julius Jones is Bill Parcells'
formula for a winning season. |
2.
Dallas Cowboys: Bill Parcell's record as a coach
looks like a roller coaster: up, down, up, down.
Luckily, last year, he was down. I'm not so high on
new QB Drew Bledsoe; but, I'm madly in love with
running back Julius Jones. Plus, watch for the
Cowboys to have one of the best defenses in the NFL. |
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3. New York Giants: I have a running debate with
my friends. I say Peyton Manning is much better
looking than his brother Eli; they tell me I'm
crazy. What's not in doubt is that Peyton is a much
better quarterback. The Giants made some nice
off-season moves, so second place and a wild card
berth are not out of the question. |
3. Philadelphia Eagles:
Philly Fans will certainly be all over me for this;
hopefully, they just won't throw batteries.
I'm
big on chemistry. The Eagles just don't have it this
year. With the T.O. debacle, there are going to be
more distractions on this team than they'll be able
to overcome. Wait . . . sorry, the phone rang; the
Eagles were calling about their open starting wide
receiver position. I declined. |
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4. Washington Redskins: I bet Joe Gibbs wishes
he had stayed in NASCAR. The Redskins have a
dreadful passing game and offense that will go only
as far as Clinton Portis can carry it. A superb
defense at least means the Skins won't be
embarrassed on the scoreboard that much. |
4.
Washington Redskins: Boy, does Joe Gibbs wish he
stuck with NASCAR. Oh wait - Jim said that. Screw
it. Clinton Portis is the lone standout on this
offense. How did they let Laveranues Coles go in a
one-for-one trade for Santana Moss? Ugh. |
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NFC NORTH |
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1. Detroit Lions: Joey Harrington is trying to
butch himself up with facial hair, but it's a look
that just doesn't work. What's wrong with being a
sensitive, thoughtful person? It doesn't preclude
being a talented quarterback, and Harrington is on
the hot seat to prove he was worth a first-round
pick. His backup, Jeff "I Date Playboy Models So
There's No Way I'm Gay" Garcia, broke his leg
in the final exhibition game, so it's sink or swim
with Harrington. On paper, at least, the
Lions have a wealth of offensive talent. It should
be enough to get them a title in a weak division. |
1.
Minnesota Vikings: While Randy Moss is my
favorite player to watch, I actually think it was a
good thing to let him go. It forced the Vikings to
focus on defense, which will help carry them through
a non-conference schedule with two or three wins.
Plus, it certainly won't hurt to have the media stop
attacking them for one of their players leaving
games and mooning the crowd. Lots of very positive
attitude will be what brings the Vikings their first
NFC North crown. |
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2. Minnesota Vikings: If the Vikings had a coach
other than Mike Tice they would be my pick to win
the division. But he seems to find a way to botch a
couple of games each season. The key question will
be whether the offense will b as explosive wihtout
Randy Moss. And I'm still not convinced they've
improved their defense enough. |
2.
Chicago Bears: Funny how people wrote off these
Bears before Rex Grossman got hurt; now, most would
rank them out of the Top 10 in the college coaches
poll. But, I love that they cut Chad Hutchinson and
are going with rookie Kyle Orton who, by the way,
has put up respectable numbers in the preseason.
This Bears team will look a lot like the Bills. |
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3. Green Bay Packers: There may not have been
an NFL team with a worse off-season than Green Bay.
The Packers lost both starting guards ans did
nothing to improve an awful defense. Brett Favre
may have wish he had retired. |
3.
Green Bay Packers: Two weeks ago I had them
winning the division. But, I just don't like what I
hear coming out of Green Bay: Favre talking about
being distracted, Ahman Green losing more and more
touches, the controversy with Javon Walker, and so
many losses of talent. I could see them finishing
dead last. |
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4. Chicago Bears: Da Bears have a terrific
defense but the team will be weighed down by an
offense that has lost its starting quarterback and
seen its top draft pick, running back Cedric Benson,
sit out the bulk of the preseason. Rookie Kyle Orton
will start at QB, which shows how desperate they
are. |
4. Detroit Lions:
I want to like Joey Harrington; but, looks and
personality just aren't going to count on Sundays
this autumn. While the Lions got the best player in
the draft in wide receiver Mike Williams, I'm afraid
the dufusses running the Lions won't know what to do
with him. As long as Matt Millen and Steve Mariucci
are in Detroit, I'm very down on this team. |
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NFC SOUTH |
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1. Carolina Panthers: Count me among those
jumping on the Panthers bandwagon. Two years
removed from a Super Bowl berth, the Panthers look
ready to make another run. In quarterback Jake Delhomme they have a proven winner who is terrific
in the clutch. The defensive line, anchored by
Julius Peppers, is football's best. If the Cats can
stay injury-free they are my pick to win the NFC. |
1. Atlanta Falcons: There's no reason to be down
on this team. They will have a much-improved defense
from last year, Mike Vick will have a crucial year
of experience in the "West Coast offense" under his
belt, the Falcons have maybe the best rushing attack
in the league, and they have a couple solid
possession receivers to keep the chains moving. If
only they had a stretch-the-field receiver, they'd
be golden. |
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2. Atlanta Falcons: Will Michael Vick ever be a
consistent passer? I think this team overachieved
in 2004 and reality will slap the Falcons in the
face this year. One interesting fact -- Atlanta has
never had back-to-back winning seasons. |
2.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: I've got a good feeling
about this team this year. After their Super Bowl
win of three seasons ago, the Bucs suffered the
worst two-year record of any SB champ. But, coach
Jon Gruden has quietly put together a strong offense
and a solid defense. You just can't keep a good
coach down. |
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3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: I had a hard time
figuring out where to place the Bucs. They should
be better on offense with rookie Cadillac Williams
and the improved play of quarterback Brian Griese.
Their defense isn't what it used to be, and the Bucs
could finish anywhere from second to fourth. |
3.
New Orleans: Every year, I think, "where can I
put the Saints," and every year I get it wrong. So,
look for them to win the division or the Super Bowl
or some such nonsense. A big question right now is,
where will they be playing home games after the
devastation of Katrina? |
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4. New Orleans Saints: The Saints won four
straight games to close out 2004. Which, given the
schizophrenic nature of this team, means they'll
start 2005 my losing their first four. Quarterback
Aaron Brooks exemplifies this franchise-- hot one
week, cold the next. Frankly, nothing this team
does this season would surprise me. Update: All bets
are off given the fact that the Saints may not have
a home this season because of Hurricane Katrina. |
4. Carolina
Panthers: I know I'm getting this one wrong, but
what the hell. I think this team is going to
struggle with the running game. Stephen Davis is the
starter right now, and I'm just not sold on DeShaun
Foster. Still, their defense is going to keep them
in games and give them a shot. |
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NFC WEST |
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1. St. Louis Rams: Welcome to the NFL's worst
division. Winning the West is like being called the
best swimmer in Afghanistan. The Rams, with their
explosive offense and improved defense, should be
the best of this sorry lot. |
1. St. Louis Rams: Welcome to the NFL's
most underrated division. Plenty of people will
discount this division, but there are three teams
that all have a legit shot at the playoffs. The Rams
seem to have the swagger they had a couple of years
ago, and they certainly haven't lost the speed.
Steven Jackson will be the oil to Mike Martz's
offensive engine that they lacked last year. If only
Martz would stop calling stupid timeouts! |
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2. Seattle Seahawks: The Hawks are pretty much
the New Orleans Saints but just closer to the North
Pole. One never knows which Seahawks team will show
up from week to week. They have some terrific skill
players but consistency is not their forte. |
2.
Arizona Cardinals: I love coach Denny Green.
Yeah, it might in part be that he was the coach at
Stanford during my magical freshman year. But, the
guy just wins (until January). He took the Vikings
to the playoffs with about a half dozen different
quarterbacks. Now, with Kurt Warner, two solid wide
receivers and an improving defense, this might be
the best team in Arizona ever. |
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3. Arizona Cardinals: I am not as high on this
team as some others. Basically, I don't think
quarterback Kurt Warner has anything left. The
Cardinals certainly will be contenders in the West,
but they'll end this season as have most Cardinal
teams -- out of the playoffs. |
3. Seattle Seahawks: In Shaun Alexander, the
'Hawks have the best player in the division. In Mike
Holmgren, they have the worst coach. I'm betting
that Holmgren won't make it through the season as
the team falls from its perch last year atop the
division. |
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4. San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith, the top pick
in the draft, has looked terrible in the preseason
but looked terrific
sitting with his torso exposed in a bucket
of ice water prior to the draft; it was a picture
that quickly made the rounds of the Internet. But I
digress. Smith will start the season on the bench
as new coach Mike Nolan tries to revive a franchise
that has gone into the ditch. Call AAA. |
4. San Francisco 49ers:
I
don't know which is worse: that hideous "training
video" that the 49ers put together or the team
they're going to put on the field. I suppose that's
not entirely fair; but, it's close. This is going to
be rebuilding year #2 - and with a new head coach.
There will be more crickets chirping in the stands
of Candlestick than points scored by this team. |
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PLAYOFFS |
Wild card round
Philadelphia over Minnesota
Detroit over Dallas
Divisional Round
St. Louis over Philadelphia
Carolina over Detroit
NFC Championship
Carolina over St. Louis
Super Bowl XL
Indianapolis over Carolina |
Wild card round
Minnesota over Dallas
St. Louis over Tampa Bay
Divisional Round
St. Louis over NY Giants
Atlanta over Minnesota
NFC Championship
St. Louis over Atlanta
Super Bowl XL
Kansas City over St. Louis |
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