Random thoughts...
Niners game
How about that Meadowlands barnburner? 6-3 at halftime and a 16-13 finale decided on a last-second field goal. Yawwwwwn. Typical for the Giants, but if the Niners are truly a Stupor Bore-caliber team this season they'll have to step it up. It's gonna take more than late field goals to beat the likes of the Rams.
Houston Texans
You know it's gotta be a slow day when I'm thinking about Houston. Actually, I caught the Texans' NFL Yearbook yesterday on ESPN2 and found it very interesting. The 30-minute show covered the team's formation and the excitement stirring in Houston as football returns to the city for the first time in five years. You just don't realize how revered football is in Texas if you don't live there, I suppose. The show talked about all the draft picks and the hiring of Dom Capers as the team's first coach, and the hope that he can do for the Texans what he did for Carolina in its first season.
As a sidenote, I overheard a guy in the sports department at my newspaper last night lamenting the fact that Capers got the coaching job, saying that he had to be one of the worst coaches in the league. Go figure. Of course, even the worst NFL coach gets paid more than the best newspaper sports reporter.
Season predictions
* AFC North -- Pittsburgh. This is a pretty weak division. Perhaps Cleveland or Cincinnati can put together more decent years than they have had, but I will believe it when it happens. Baltimore got salray-capped. I don't think they'll be as awful as everyone says, but they won't challenge for the title either.
*AFC South -- Let's see... Texans? Right. Jags? On the decline. Guess this leaves the Titans and Colts to duke it out. I like Indy, if only because with Peyton Manning anything seems possible. The team has matured, and they're due after last year's mediocre showing. Tony Dungy will turn things around.
*AFC West -- The only division that bears some similarity to its 2001 incarnation, but much improved with the loss of Seattle. Raiders are the favorite, but I give the nod to Denver. The Broncos are always consistent, and if Griese stays healthy they will be more of a threat. The Raiders aren't exactly toast, but losing their coach and with an aging roster it will be tough to build on last season's momentum.
*AFC East -- Look out for this division, which could produce the next Stupid Brawl champion. The Patriots have something to prove to the world's skeptics who still can't believe they won it all last year, but you also have the Dolphins and Jets who should contend. I'm one of the skeptics, so I'll side with Miami to take the division, but the Pats will make the playoffs.
* NFC South -- Zzzzzzzzzzz. A big thank-you to the football powers for transplanting the Saints, Falcons and Panthers from the NFC West. Now instead of losing to the Rams and the Niners they can get jackstomped by John Gruden and Trample Bay.
* NFC West -- Rams still rule, despite the fact that the Niners are supposed to be better. Both teams will see Seattle and Arizona four times this season, which will do wonders to boost those win totals. Look for San Francisco to make it as a wild card team.
*NFC East -- The Stupid Brawl may feature an all-Eastern cast of characters in January. This is another tough division. I like Philadelphia and think they may have what it takes to go to the big game. Dallas may still think it is America's team, but the Cowboys still have a long way to go to contend for the postseason. Redskins could be a wild card threat.
* NFC North -- Bears... Packers... Bears... Packers... Packers... Bears... If Chicago can keep its act together the team is a threat for the division title. I say "if" because that has never been the Bears' style. They'll fall apart somewhere and tank some games they should win and the Pack will quietly steal it away by the final week of the season.
Stupor Bore -- Philadelphia over Denver. It's the NFC's turn. I think with all the division realignment that we'll get some interesting outcomes. I know, I know... everyone is saying Pittsburgh has it in the bag. The Steelers are perennial underachievers. They can start underachieving this Monday when they lose to the Pats. The Broncos will sneak into the Bowl because they have experience, depth and consistency. If they host a few playoff games they stand a good chance. Philly underachieves too, but they are due to go to the Bowl. They may not finish with the best record in the NFC, but they'll upset somebody along the way -- like the Niners or Rams.
Week 1 picks
We'll have 'em posted by kickoff tomorrow at 10 a.m. PDT.
Glenn 8-D 10:34:00 AM
