What to predict, what to predict? Let's take a look at some teams listed as viable Super Bowl contenders this year:
Colts: 1-2 Jaguars: 2-2 Patriots: 2-1 (and very misleading, at that) Chargers: 2-2 Vikings: 1-3 (though I never considered them a genuine Super Bowl team, the hype was certainly there)
Now, we all could imagine that some of the teams on this list would have come across some difficulties at this point in the season, but I don't think anybody imagined they all would. The AFC is wide open, and that's a preliminary to one of my picks. I'm not crazy, I swear to you. TEN @ BAL: Tennessee hasn’t beaten any great teams yet, but Baltimore doesn’t fall into the “great team” category anyhow. Tennessee has the stingier defense and a veteran at quarterback. Upset special for Baltimore? I can’t call it. Winner: Tennessee
KC @ CAR: Kansas City didn’t so much prove that they are decent football team as much as they merely highlighted just how bad Denver is on the defensive side on the ball. They won’t run all day on Carolina, and Carolina gets a sure win at home. Winner: Carolina
CHI @ DET: Detroit finally ousted Millen. Detroit is still the same Detroit we know and love, and the same Detroit that Detroit fans find painful to watch. Winner: Chicago
ATL @ GB: Aaron Rodgers doesn’t need to be Brett Favre. He’s known that for years as Favre’s backup, and with an organization that showed some guts in supporting him, he won’t forget it this week. It’s unrealistic. One thing I admire about Rodgers is that he looks like a guy who’s learned from a great quarterback and is trying to make a mark as a great quarterback in his own right, as opposed to trying to be the guy that he studied under. Rodgers will be ready to go if he plays on Sunday. Winner: Green Bay IND @ HOU: Indianapolis has been ####ed up. With the bye week, they are still hurting. They’ll be alright though. They have time to heal before playing Tennessee, and they’ll take this one from Houston. Peyton Manning will have a level-head, and for football fans, it’s going to be exciting to watch Peyton Manning grind out Ws. Winner: Indianopolis
SD @ MIA: In a recent blog post, I projected Miami sneaking into the playoffs this year on a wildcard spot in a shaky AFC. That starts here with a huge upset over San Diego. Granted, I think the Chargers are still looking damn good to take the conference this year with the way things have been going in the AFC, I still think this Miami team has upset potential. They don’t turn the ball over, and their one-two in the backfield is going to be rough on the Chargers. Winner: Miami
SEA @ NYG: Having the Bengals at home was a trap game, and as a Giants fan, it wasn’t the kind of thriller you like to see your team take part in. However, a “W” is a “W”, and the trap-game has come and gone. Or has it? The Giants are notoriously bad after the bye. Plaxico has been benched. However, I think the young guys will pick up the slack very nicely, seizing one of the few opportunities to be the go-to receivers they will have this year. The Giants have to pick up a win following a bye at some point or another, don’t they? Winner: New Jersey
WAS @ PHI: Philly is a physical team, and they are at home. But the Redskins have some confidence, and they’ll ride it out into this week over an Eagles team that has their greatest component on offense listed as questionable. This will put Philly in a tough spot if they lose, and Washington will be getting the Super Bowl hype when they win. Winner: Washington
TB @ DEN: Explosive offense, or great defense? I’ll take the great defense sir, and can I get a little “your offense couldn’t outscore the Kansas City Chiefs” on the side? Thank you. Have a good one. Winner: Tampa Bay
BUF @ ARI: Buffalo hasn’t gotten much credit at 4-0, and no, maybe they don’t deserve it. But take a look around the AFC and tell me who has lived up to the expectations? The Bills will be listed as a weak 5-0, but that’s still just two wins short of the total they accounted for last season in a 5 games as opposed to 16. Winner: Buffalo
CIN @ DAL: You know, Dallas has the talent, but I just think they are poised to fall apart against the Bengals. Oh, I couldn’t resist that. In all seriousness, Cincinatti without Carson Palmer means that the “any given Sunday” rule does not even apply. Winner: Dallas
NE @ SF: The Gold Rush is back! The Gold Rush is back! The Gold Rush is back! The problem is that New England is going to loot the 49ers down to their last peso. Winner: New England
PIT @ JAC: Pittsburgh is ####ed up. Jacksonville isn’t 100% either though, and Pittsburgh’s defense is still a rough unit. I’m going to bank on the fact that Jacksonville, while they will generate pressure, it won’t be enough to put Big Ben out of the game like the Eagles had. Winner: Pittsburgh
MIN @ NO: The Saints offense is starting to get some momentum going, and Minnesota has been dealt a tough slate and now finds themselves at 1-3. I’m going to pick against the Vikings in spite, seeing as in the preseason, they rivaled the Saints of ’07 with all of the Super Bowl hype surrounding what was in reality a .500 team. And to be honest, I just can’t stand that. Winner: Saints
Did the Enver Broncos get the same syndrome that afflicts the Nuggets; namely, playing NO defense? When you can't even beat the Chiefs it says that the Broncos have no D.
I can see an upset in Miami. SD typically doesn't play well on the East Coast, especially if it's an early game.
The AFC West champion will be 9-7 due to them playing the NFC South, which is going to be very tough this year.
I hear you snorky. Believe me, I have faith, but I do admit that they haven't been playing their best ball and have a tendency to look past teams, even though they haven't won anything. I just hope they are thinking ahead to the Pats.
That is why I wanted them to take a shot at John #### Jr.. He is a proven winner who would be able to keep the team focused and their heads at a normal size.
slshusker- The Broncos haven't played defense, at all. The game against San Diego was close because the Chargers defense completely broke down, and I wouldn't bank on that in the rematch. And then there was Ed. But I'm going to leave it at that.
jon464- Agreed, on all counts. Thanks for dropping by.
Boltbacker- The upset hype is here, but this is the gut-wrenching feeling you get that makes it that much sweeter when your team pulls out the "W". I gotta say, I respect the fact that you look at things pretty objectively. Unlike our San Fransisco insider, bringing us news we have not heard before, with great analysis...
sf901608- THE GOLD RUSH IS BACK! THE GOLD RUSH IS BACK! THE GOLD RUSH IS BACK! You see, I exclaimed, and therefore, my obnoxious capital letters chant trumps yours.
Snorky- I don't know, BB might just do it. Get him a Ricky Williams jersey, a bag of everything that Williams can't smoke, and he'll be on board.
Even though Ricky is from San Diego, I can't smoke with or without him. I'm trying to lose weight. I still wonder if Ricky is going without, or does he not believe that second hand smoke is against the rules. I'll bet you that his argument when he fails a drug test this year is that he wasn't smoking, the guy next to him was.
Westbrook will play sunday and will light it up. Anyone who says one of these teams will win by two scores doesn't know NFC EAST football. Eagles 28 Redskins 24
The NFC East has certainly lived up to its legacy thus far this year. Looking at the scores, not one single team has won by a double digit margin thus far.
Giants over Washington: 16-7
Dallas over Eagles: 41-38 (or was it 37?)
Washington over Dallas: 26-24
Actually, the odd thing about looking at it this way is that the Eagles are due for a win to get the cycle going again. I may just have to flip on that one. Hell of a division, regardless.
