National Football League - "Reloaded"

The Jaguars finally leaped over the hurdle and made the post-season despite injuries to their star quarterback.

The Panthers also overcame a slew of injuries and made it all the way to the conference championship.

The Bengals vanquished a fourteen year playoff drought.

And most impressively, the Saint uplifted an entire region with their unwillingness to give up despite the harshest of circumstances.

However, the successes of last season haven't done much to sooth the overwhelming disappointment of a losing season, two early playoff exits, and a Super Bowl that slipped just out of reach. So for the 2006 Season, these teams decided to load up and hit the ground running with even more fire-power.

For the Jaguars and Bengals it's as simple has having Bryon Leftwich and Carson Palmer healthy. For the Panthers, it's the entire team that's finally back on its feet. And then there's the Saints, who may have altered the course of their franchise by drafting Reggie Bush.

By the looks of things, 2006 should be a big year for each and everyone of these teams. And I, for one, can't wait to see how it all plays out.

Pre-Season Predictions:

'It's the most wonderful time of the year"... The NFL is back, and that means that means it's once again time for my pre-season predictions!

After going 8 for 12 in 2002, and 7 for 12 in 2003, I imploded with a wretched 4 for 12 in 2004 when three of my picks blew their playoff hopes in Week 17. Last year I somewhat redeemed myself by going 6 for 12, but this season I'm really hoping to show off my analytical skills and break out the sacred 12 for 12.

As always, I'm staying tried an true to my "no more than seven playoff teams from last year will be back" rule which trips up so many people. Because of this rule, I had to eliminate some of my favorite teams. It was tough to do, but I can't knock out a team like the Colts for a much more questionable squad. That doesn't mean that I'm not expecting big things from them, though.

Let's see how it goes...

NFC NORTH:

1. Bears

2. Vikings

3. Lions

4. Packers

This division is pathetic. With three new coaches, I'm inclined to give my pick to the one team with stable and fairly solid leadership, Lovie Smith's Bears.

NFC SOUTH:

1. Panthers

2. Buccaneers

3. Falcons

4. Saints

I'm a big fan of the Panthers, and as long as they stay healthy, I see no reason why they won't be in the post-season.

NFC EAST:

1. Eagles

2. Cowboys

3. Giants

4. Redskins

It's going to be a close division. I have a reason to pick against every single team in the division. But the Eagles have got to be better without T.O., right? 

NFC WEST:

1. Rams

2. Seahawks

3. Cardinals

4. 49ers

Shaun Alexander is on the cover of Madden '07!  I repeat: Shaun Alexander is on the cover of Madden '07!  You've been warned.

NFC SEEDING:

1. Carolina

2. Rams

3. Eagles

4. Bears

5. Cowboys

6. Buccaneers

I don't see the Panthers having trouble with anyone in the Conference. The Rams have the Cards and Niners to beat up on four times. As for the rest, it's like trying to pick out the tallest midgets at the circus. I don't know!

AFC NORTH:

1. Steelers

2. Bengals

3. Ravens

4. Browns

I don't trust Carson Palmer's knee, or Steve McNair's anything. So I'm begrudgingly going with Pittsburgh. But before we move on, please allow me to state that the Steelers are completely fraudulent champions. And for those of you who wonder how I have the audacity to knock the Steelers when I just went on an eight paragraph rant about how no one respected the Patriots for the past five years, consider this:  The Patriots never needed to injure an opposing quarterback at the start of a playoff game, rely on the most accurate kicker in NFL history to shank a game winning field goal indoors, and have the referees railroad the NFC Champions in the title game in order to capture the Lombardi trophy. If that ever happens to the Pats, you can call them a fraud all you want. I will agree with you.

AFC SOUTH:

1. Colts

2. Jaguars

3. Titans

4. Texans

I see no reason to pick against Peyton Manning in the Colts. After all, this is a pick to make the playoffs, not to win a playoff game.

AFC EAST:

1. Patriots

2. Dolphins

3. Bills

4. Jets

I love how everyone is expecting Daunte Culpepper to be the catalyst for the Dolphins as they take the division from the Patriots. Wasn't this the same guy who imploded last year for the Vikings? 

AFC WEST:

1. Broncos

2. Chargers

3. Chiefs

4. Raiders

They're right up there with the Colts and Eagles in my book, but there's no denying that the Broncos should be a very good team this year.

AFC SEEDING:

1. Colts

2. Patriots

3. Broncos

4. Steelers

5. Dolphins

6. Chargers

I'm very upset that I had to leave the Jaguars off this list, but the "no more than seven playoff teams can return" me no choice. I would have also like to have given the Bengals the nod as well, but again, how can I take off the Pats, Colts, or Broncos?  There's always a part of you that wants to make the easy call that all the good teams from last year will be good again. But that never happens, so these are my picks.

Observations: 

Returning playoff teams from last season - 7:  Patriots, Colts, Broncos, Steelers, Bears, Panthers, Buccaneers

Non-returning playoff teams from last season - 5:  Bengals, Jaguars, Redskins Giants, Seahawks

New playoff teams - 5: Dolphins, Chargers, Rams, Eagles, Cowboys

Only the Bucs and Bears are a little shaky on my returning teams. Maybe one of the NFC North teams gets hot and knocks off the Bears, but I'm pretty confident about them. The NFC East will be pretty tight, so that may be my downfall. Looking at the five new teams, the only other teams that didn't make the playoffs last year that have a real shot are the Chiefs and the Falcons. All in all, I'm pretty happy with my picks. I guess we'll have to wait and see how happy I am come January.

NFC PLAYOFFS:

Wildcard Round:

Eagles over Buccaneers, Cowboys over Bears

Divisional Round:

Panthers over Cowboys, Eagles over Rams

NFC Championship:

Panthers over Eagles

AFC PLAYOFFS:

Wildcard Round:

Broncos over Chargers, Steelers over Dolphins

Divisional Round:

Colts over Steelers, Patriots over Broncos

AFC Championship

Patriots over Colts

SUPERBOWL XLI:

Patriots over Panthers

At least it will probably be a good game! Unlike XL...