New England Patriots - "Never Give Up"

I love this team. For giving me more moments like that than a fan has any right to expect. For the second time in a row that we've faced them, the Patriots have given me an unbelievable "come outta nowhere" over-time win against the Dolphins. And the list goes on and on. I can talk all day about going from 5-11 one season to 11-5 and winning the Super Bowl. Or how about coming back from down 21 in the second half against the Bears last season?  I've just had so many great moments with this team, and they just keep giving me more.

Last season was a tough one. There was so much pressure as the defending champs, so many expectations. And while it ended perfectly, it was stressful to watch. But this season has brought back my passion for the Pats. It's like 2001 all over again for me. At the start, expectations were high. We had gone undefeated in the pre-season and looked poised to make another run at the title. But then we lost Lawyer Milloy. We were completely embarrassed by the Buffalo Bills. Injuries began to mount a lot faster than victories. When the time came to write the quarterly update, the Patriots were 2-2, hadn't beaten a good team, just lost pathetically to the Redskins, had a defense that was decimated, had rookies starting at positions they weren't supposed to play, Tom Brady hadn't played too well and was nursing an injured shoulder, and we looked practically dead in the water. And to top it off, the Dolphins had looked amazing. Ricky Williams was virtually unstoppable. I just couldn't justify with any logical reasoning how the Pats could win the division, let alone make the playoffs. And then I remembered that this was a team that defied logic. Nobody was picking them to win it all in 2001, and they did. Nobody was picking them to even come close in 2002, and they missed the playoffs on a tie-breaker. And nobody was picking them to go on a four game winning streak using a rag-tag group of misfits on defense and in the process take over first place in the division (well except me), and once again, they did. And now if we can just manage to win on Monday night against a team starting their fourth string quarterback, we'll head into our bye-week at 7-2 and enter into Week 11 with our starters back. Yeah, when you're a Patriots fan, there's only one thing you need to remember:  Never Give Up.

Predictions:

NFC NORTH:

1. Vikings - They have a huge lead and nobody else in their division should scare them.

2. Packers - The Packers have been way too inconsistent this year to top the Vikes.

3. Lions - They had a good start, but when you manage to lose all the rest of your games you end up 1-6.

4. Bears - It's really a toss-up between them and the Lions for last place, but I'm going with the Bears to end up in the basement.

NFC SOUTH:

1. Panthers - I didn't believe in them four weeks ago, but I believe in them now. Or maybe it's that I've lost  a lot of respect for the Buccs. Either way, Carolina is still my sleeper Super Bowl pick.

2. Buccaneers - I know what the Buccs fans are going through. It happened last year with the Pats. You know they have it in them to win, but players just can't stay focused after a title run. And in today's evenly matched NFL, you need to be focused to win.

3. Saints - They'll stay here until Michael Vick comes back. Then maybe the Falcons will make a run.

4. Falcons - When's Vick coming back?  They're the worst team in football right now, so if he doesn't get back soon, they won't even be able to catch the Saints.

NFC EAST:

1. Giants - Can I really stand firm on this?  I was ready to drop them until they beat the Vikings. I'll stick with the G-Men until week 12 at least. It may be stupid, but sometimes it pays to stick with your picks. I already ditched the Pack, and I ditched the Buccs a little pre-maturely, but I have my reasons. So I have to stay with the Giants to maintain some dignity.

2. Cowboys - They have such a cream-puff schedule, I have to stay with them even though they aren't as good as everybody thinks.

3. Eagles - They don't have a cream-puff schedule and they haven't looked so hot lately. Sorry Dave.

4. Redskins - This is why I don't buy into hype. After Week 2 you'd have a Bills/Skins Super Bowl. Does anybody think this is happening now?  

NFC WEST:

1. Rams - I stuck with them, and they proved me right. Because of that, I'm almost tempted to like them. But then I remember how cocky they were before the Pats stuck it to them in XXXVI, and I'm actually a little disappointed that they didn't implode.

2. Seahawks - The Hawks are good, but not as good as everybody was making them out to be.

3. 49ers - I'm sticking with the same line from Week 4, just because I like it so much: Tim Kautzmann's team doesn't have it where it counts. Does that come as a surprise to anyone?

4. Cardinals - More people showed up for the Chargers-Dolphins game in Arizona then they did for any Cardinals game this season. And it's not because the Monday Night Game was free admission.

NFC SEEDING:

1. Vikings

2. Panthers

3. Rams

4. Giants

5. Buccaneers

6. Seahawks

AFC NORTH:

1. Bengals - I have to. I absolutely have to. They're a game out of first place half-way through the season. How can I possibly have the Bengals make the playoffs and not be able to say I called it?

2. Ravens - That being said, they'll probably win it. And they'll probably be the first team to make the playoffs at 7-9.

3. Steelers - I'm enjoying this way too much.

4. Browns - They actually scared me on Sunday. But then again, every team scares you when I'm next in line for a starting position on defense.

AFC SOUTH:

1. Titans - The Titans are suddenly everybody's favorite pick. Forget the fact that we beat them a few weeks back and that we have an identical record. Everybody seems to rank them higher than the Pats. And it ticks me off!

2. Colts - The Colts are already showing signs of slowing down.

3. Texans - If we lose to this team after finally getting the chance to play them, I'll be so angry.

4. Jaguars - Same thing for this team. It's nice drawing the AFC South for your division after having the tough AFC West last year.

AFC EAST:

1. Patriots - Never Give Up.

2. Dolphins - They're going to keep us on our toes. Could it all come down to another cold December meltdown in Foxboro for the fish?

3. Bills - After four weeks nothing's changed. They're still a team full of Patriot rejects in ugly uniforms.

4. Jets - They would've scared me if they'd beaten the Eagles. But they didn't. So consider me not scared.

AFC WEST:

1. Chiefs - I've been anti-Chiefs all season. And all season they've screwed me. So grudgingly I put them here by default. Hopefully this will jynx them.

2. Broncos - They're on their fourth-string QB. How can I pick them?

3. Raiders - They're playing like crap. How can I pick them?

4. Chargers - And they're just pathetic. There's now way I'm picking them.

AFC SEEDING:

1. Chiefs

2. Patriots

3. Titans

4. Bengals

5. Colts

6. Dolphins

NFC PLAYOFFS:

Wild Card - Rams over Seahawks, Buccaneers over Giants

Divisional - Panthers over Rams, Vikings over Buccaneers

NFC Championship - Panthers over Vikings

AFC PLAYOFFS:

Wild Card - Titans over Dolphins,  Colts over Bengals

Divisional - Chiefs over Colts, Titans over Patriots

AFC Championship - Titans over Chiefs

SUPERBOWL XXXVIII:

Panthers over Titans

Why? you ask. Why did someone so set against picking hyped up teams put the Panthers in the Super Bowl?  Why did someone who is mad that the Titans keep getting picked over the Patriots have Tennessee beat New England in the playoffs?  As far as the Panthers go, they just look like one of those miracle teams like the Ravens and Patriots. And since absolutely no one in the NFC is giving me any type of dominating performance, I figure I might as well be able to say that I picked the Panthers in Week 8 to win it all. And as for the Patriots losing to the Titans... Well, I have my reasons. But don't think for a second that I've given up.