Man, it feels good to be writing this latest NFL update. If you recall last time, my boys were a meager 3-4 and things were looking a little more than dismal. Things were so bad, I had to remove them from the NFL so that I could make my report seem worth reading and still maintain my dignity by keeping my Pats Super Bowl prediction. So now we're 3/4's of the way through the NFL season, and every team has 12 games under their belt. If the season ended today, the Patriots wouldn't be in the playoffs, but we're still 7-5 and much improved from five weeks ago. And you know what, you can still think I'm crazy for having such a large amount of faith in the Patriots, but you have to admit that you don't think I'm as crazy as you did 5 weeks ago. Well there's a ton of stuff I could ramble on about, but I'll get to that in the upcoming paragraphs. Since the playoffs are a few games away, I'm going to switch up the format on concentrate solely on the contenders. So with most of the season out of the way and a ton of teams all tied up with four games to play, I'll make my picks for the playoffs.
NFC East
Sorry Giants, but you blew this one. Not that you really were ever good enough to deserve a playoff spot, but you are a team that tends to sneak into the post-season now and then. One game behind the Eagles without McNabb, and you go and lose to the Texans. To make things worse, you completely bomb out against Tennesse earning you an early exit. Spurrier's given up his playoff dreams, and the Cowboys never had them in the first place. Congratulations to the Eagles for hanging on when the going got tough, you've earned yourselves a second division title and if you can manage to not choke yourselves in the next four weeks, home field throughout the playoffs. However, I have this nagging feeling we're going to get another loss out of the Eagles. They've lacked focus all season and can't seem to win the easy ones.
NFC North
The Packers have already won the division, but their lack of focus may have cost them home field. They're a good team, but overly amazing. I was relying on their easy schedule to earn them home field which all but guaranteed a trip to San Diego. Now they've got a tough schedule ahead, and unless they play spectacularly the NFC Championship won't be played in Wisconsin.
NFC South
WOW! What a division. The Falcons, Saints, and Buccs will all make the playoffs. Who'da thunk it? The Saints should run the table from here, but they're in the back of the pack. If Atlanta beats Tampa this week they'll take the division. If Tampa wins it, they'll still have to face the Steelers, and a loss there could put the Saints at the top.
NFC West
49ers have this one wrapped up after the Silence of the Rams Part 2 took place against the Eagles. San Fran's loss to the Eagles will make it tough to get home field, but if they can win it out, they have a shot, all be it a long one.
NFC Playoff Picture
1. Eagles (12-4)
2. Buccanneers (12-4)
3. Packers (12-4)
4. 49ers (11-5)
Wild Card: Saints (12-4)
Wild Card: Falcons (11-4-1)
AFC East
It's time....it's time.....it's time for the PATRIOTS to take their second consecutive Division Title. Face it, they are master's of their own destiny. Sorry, but nobody's making the playoffs this year at 9-7 and I can't foresee either the 6-6 Bills or 6-6 Jets winning out their hard schedules. So that leaves Miami and the Pats. Miami has to play Oakland and at Minnesota plus the clincher......at NEW ENGLAND. Remember those rumors about the Dolphins choking in December? Well they're all true. Now we've got the Patriots who have all three division teams at home and at Tennessee. You have to give me this. It will take an absolute explosion on our part to mess this up. My pick is that we run the table.....and here's why....
I've discussed my 5 Year Theory in detail. We'll I'm working on a 2 Year theory with the Pats.
Last year - we start 3-4 and lose a key player to injury, Drew Bledsoe
This year - we start 3-4 because we lost a key player to injury, Troy Brown
Last year - we rally to 5-4 and are looking strong
This year - we rally to 5-4 and are looking strong
Last year - we lose a huge Sunday night game to the Rams and drop to 5-5
This year - we lose a huge Sunday night game to the Raiders and drop to 5-5
Last year - we run the table and go 11-5
This year - the table run has begun with 2 games down and four to go
Notice a trend?
AFC North
Steelers walk away with the division as expected.
AFC South
Colts have the best record in the AFC right now and that just may be how it ends up with their easy schedule. Tennessee will be close with the wild card, hard to say. It all depends on how the Broncos handle life without Griese.
AFC West
San Diego didn't fade like I expected, but Oakland will take the division title. Can the Broncos keep their head above water? It's going to be a close one. See the Broncos peaked too early. You can't peak at week six. The playoffs start at week 18. You need to be near the peak around week 16 or 17. The Raiders peaked at week 12. Too Early. It's all about the Peak. The Patriots peaked at the perfect time last year. Funny, how this year is a lot like the last one...
AFC Playoff Picture
1. Colts (12-4)
2. Raiders (11-5)
3. Patriots (11-5)
4. Steelers (10-5-1)
Wild Card: Chargers (11-5)
Wild Card: Dolphins (10-6)
NFC Playoffs:
WILD CARD:
Packers over Falcons
49ers over Saints
DIVISIONAL:
Eagles over 49ers ****Assumming Mc Nabb is playing. I think the Niners won't be slacking like the last game
Buccanneers over Packers - Brett Can't play in Tampa. They blew it when they lost home field.
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP:
Buccanneers over Eagles - I just can't put the Eagles in the Super Bowl. I just can't do it. And besides, I want the Patriots to play the Buccs. Time to make Warren Sapp eat his words.
AFC Playoffs:
WILD CARD:
Patriots over Dolphins - Phins lose back to back in cold New England
Chargers crush the Steelers
DIVISIONAL:
Hmm...what happened last time the Pats and Raiders faced off in a divisional game? Think it'll snow in Oakland?
Chargers beat the Colts
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP:
Father vs. Son - Chargers vs. Patriots. The Chargers got lucky in Qualcomm with Tara Reid in the stands. It won't be the same in Gillette Stadium. Plus you can't play the Super Bowl in your own stadium - that's just completely unfair.
SUPER BOWL XXXVII:
Warren Sapp said he'd quit football if he lost to the Patriots in the Super Bowl. I hope he has a good retirement fund, cause there aren't many other jobs that will pay you to take cheap shots at guys nowhere near the play. The Patriots hold onto their titles and become SUPER BOWL XXXVII CHAMPIONS!
And you know what, that would be the story book ending to the season. Maybe it will happen, maybe it won't . But I've stuck with this team through thick and thin, and so all you nay-sayers just remember this one thing - we aren't the chumps you think we are. We were never the chumps you thought we were. This team has courage. This team has heart. This team has a fire deep within them that cannot be quenched. So it's time to Shout It From The Rooftops - WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS. THIS IS OUR TIME. WE WILL FINALLY GET THE RESPECT WE DESERVE. WE WILL NOT BE DENIED.
