Last season, I chose to follow two teams who were on the borderline of a playoff berth. It was a way to get back a little of that "fighting for your lives each week" feeling that had left me with all of the Patriots' recent success. The Jaguars and Saints took me on a wild ride that ended with both of them just missing out on the post-season on Week 17. This year, I'll be back following them, but I've also decided to take two new teams under my wing this year. They're the Cincinnati Bengals and the Carolina Panthers. I'll be following them each week, rooting for them to make the leap into the post-season.
There's an ad that ran during Super Bowl XXXIX that said, "Tomorrow, we're all undefeated." Truer words couldn't be spoken as we head into opening weekend for the NFL. All four of these teams are looking for that fresh start, hoping that this season will bring the success that last year didn't. Will the Panthers get back to the Super Bowl? Will the Bengals meet the expectations they fell short of the season before? Can the Jaguars bounce back from the injuries that sidelined them in 2004? And can the Saints lift a broken city to its feet in what has to be their most meaningful season in years. They've all been given a second chance. It's up to them, what they do with it.
Pre-Season Predictions:
This is by far my favorite part of the NFL starting back up. There's not a feat more challenging than trying to successfully predict all twelve NFL playoff teams before the first snap. Sure, nailing all 63 of the NCCA Men's basketball tournament is much more impressive. But that's completely up to luck. Picking the twelve playoff teams is possible, as long as you have the analytical skills necessary. So once again, in my effort to prove my superior intellect over the folks at ESPN, here are my pre-season picks. Last year, I went an ugly 5-7. Although, there were three teams who I picked as playoff teams that blew their opportunity on Week 17. So I was a few breaks away from 8-4. I will point out, however, that my rule that only seven playoff teams, at most, can be picked to make it again next year held true. The Patriots, Colts, Broncos, Packers, Seahawks, Rams, and Eagles all made the post-season in back to back years. Same rules apply this season. Here we go...
NFC NORTH:
1. Vikings
2. Packers
3. Lions
4. Bears
The Vikings should have this thing wrapped up by Week 11. Just a horrible division.
NFC SOUTH:
1. Falcons
2. Panthers
3. Saints
4. Buccanneers
Sports Illustrated has the Panthers going all the way. I love the Panthers, ever since they became the only opponent I've felt bad for after my team beat them in Super Bowl XXXVIII. However, I'm going with Hotlanta to win the division.
NFC EAST:
1. Eagles
2. Cowboys
3. Giants
4. Redskins
The Eagles are hurting at the receiver position, with cancer T.O. as the sole threat. They're my most hated team in the league, and if ever there was a time to drop them out of contention, it's now. But I've learned better than to count Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb out.
NFC WEST:
1. Seahawks
2. Rams
3. Cardinals
4. 49ers
The Cardinals as a sleeper-pick? I'll believe it when I see it. It's a toss-up between the Rams and Seahawks. But the Seahawks just had so many implosions last season and still managed to get in. If they can learn from their mistakes, there's no reason to count them out.
NFC SEEDING:
1. Vikings
2. Falcons
3. Eagles
4. Seahawks
5. Panthers
6. Cowboys
The Vikes are in the weakest division by far, which should net them the top seed. The Eagles will probably struggle a bit, so I've knocked them down to the third spot. And as long as the O-line holds up and gives Bledsoe time, he could flourish in Dallas.
AFC NORTH:
1. Steelers
2. Ravens
3. Bengals
4. Browns
I've got four NFC teams returning to the playoffs, so I have to pick my AFC returnees sparingly. I have no problem going with a team that finished 15-1.
AFC SOUTH:
1. Colts
2. Jaguars
3. Titans
4. Texans
The Jags just missed out on the playoffs down the stretch. I'll roll the dice with them again this year.
AFC EAST:
1. Patriots
2. Jets
3. Bills
4. Dolphins
Seriously, were you expecting anything else?
AFC WEST:
1. Chiefs
2. Chargers
3. Broncos
4. Raiders
I still hold a big grudge against the Chiefs for the way they stole the spotlight from the Patriots with their ridiculously easy schedule in 2003. But seeing as I've used up all my returning playoff team spots, someone's got to get promoted.
AFC SEEDING:
1. Colts
2. Patriots
3. Steelers
4. Chiefs
5. Ravens
6. Jaguars
I want to go on record as saying that I really don't like leaving the Jets off this list. But I only had three spots remaining for the AFC. I can't boot the Pats, Colts, or Steelers for the Jets. And on the NFC side, the Vikings and Eagles are practically locks. I have to go with Seattle or St. Lous in the West. So that's six returning playoff teams that I'm locked into. It really boils down to Atlanta vs. the Jets. Could the Panthers overtake the Falcons? Yes. But do I really think the Saints or the Cardinals are going to have a better record to take a wild card spot? No.
Observations:
Returning playoff teams from last season - 7: Patriots, Colts, Steelers, Eagles, Falcons, Vikings, Seahawks
Non-returning playoff teams from last season - 5: Cowboys, Panthers, Ravens, Chiefs, Jaguars.
On the returning teams, I really can only see the Rams overtaking the Seahawks as a possibility of messing them up. I only really feel good about the Panthers on the non-returning teams. But I had to shut teams like the Jets and Chargers out to follow my rule. It hasn't failed me yet.
NFC PLAYOFFS:
Wildcard Round:
Eagles over Cowboys, Panthers over Seahawks
Divisional Round:
Vikings over Panthers, Falcons over Eagles
NFC Championship:
Vikings over Falcons
AFC PLAYOFFS:
Wildcard Round:
Ravens over Chiefs, Steelers over Jaguars
Divisional Round:
Colts over Chiefs, Patriots over Steelers
AFC Championship
Patriots over Colts - By putting the Colts as the top seed, I wanted to point out that the Patriots would kill Peyton Manning, even in the RCA Dome. Plus, the top two seeds almost never make it to the Super Bowl, and I have the Vikings going...
SUPERBOWL XL:
Patriots over Vikings
My pre-season Super Bowl prediction from last season, rears it's head again in the 2005 version. Hopefully, history won't repeat itself too much, and I'll do better than 5-7.
