Saturday, January 03, 2004
2003 PREDICTIONS REVIEWED - (My current comments are in CAPS)
NFC WEST - Still a two team race!
1) ST. LOUIS (11-5) - They're still the class of the division when healthy. I picked them last year, and it was the only division winner I got wrong.
(FINISHED 12-4, WON THE DIVISION)
2) SAN FRANCISCO (10-6) - Coaching is the great unknown. In terms of players, this is largely the same team that suffered an end of the year colllapse last year, and seemingly couldn't beat teams with winning records.
(7-9, THEY COULD BEAT CERTAIN TEAMS WITH WINNING RECORDS THIS YEAR, BUT ONLY COULD WIN ONE ON THE ROAD. COACHING, KICKING, AND OFFENSIVE WOES ARE STILL THE MAIN PROBLEMS)
3) Seattle (7-9) - Same old Seahawks.
(10-6, WAITING TO BE THE SAME OLD SEAHAWKS UNTIL OPENING PLAYOFF GAME)
4) Arizona (4-12) - Need a lot more than a new QB.
(BULLSEYE!)
NFC NORTH - Green Bay and the also rans.
1) GREEN BAY (10-6) - On top as long as they have Bret Favre.
(ANOTHER PERFECT PREDICTION, AND NOW THEY'VE DEVELOPED A RUNNING GAME)
2) Minnesota (8-8) - They've got the offensive talent and momentum from last year.
(CLOSE, 9-7, HAD THE MOMENTUM AND LOST IT MIDSEASON)
3) Chicago (7-9) - Will return to Soldier Field bring a return to the playoffs??? NO!!!
(ANOTHER PREDICTION THAT WAS DEAD ON)
4) Detroit (5-11) - Mooch can't rebuild the Lions in one year.
(THIS MAKES THREE OF FOUR IN THE NFC NORTH I PREDICTED PERFECTLY!)
NFC SOUTH - Arguably the best division in the league.
1) NEW ORLEANS (10-6) - They were ever so close last year.
(8-8, THEY MAY HAVE BEEN AN EXTRA POINT AWAY THIS YEAR)
2) TAMPA BAY (9-7) - Like Baltimore before them, a one hit wonder.
(CORRECT COMMENTS, BUT LOWER 7-9 RECORD)
3) Atlanta (8-8) - Would have picked them first, but not without Vick.
(5-11, EVEN WORSE THAN EXPECTED WITHOUT VICK)
4) Carolina (7-9) - Improving, but do they have a QB?
(11-5, APPARENTLY A GOOD ENOUGH QB TO WIN THE DIVISION)
NFC EAST - No team to challenge Philly
1) PHILADELPHIA (12-4) - May be the class of the league.
(ANOTHER PERFECT ANALYSIS)
2) Washington (8-8) - Still putting the pieces together.
(5-11, SEEM TO BE FALLING TO PIECES!)
3) N.Y. Giants (7-9) - Let's see... losing record, Superbowl, losing record, playoffs... The Giants take this season off.
(AT 4-12, DID WORSE THAN EVEN I EXPECTED)
4) Dallas (3-13) - Still falling to pieces.
(10-6, WHO WOULD HAVE THUNK IT???)
AFC WEST - The young and the ancient
1) SAN DIEGO (11-5) - They're young, have good coaching, and hopefully won't collapse like last year.
(STARTED THEIR COLLAPSE DURING THE OPENING GAME, MY WORST PREDICTION BY FAR, 4-12, WORST IN THE LEAGUE)
2) KANSAS CITY (10-6) - Similar to San Diego, but they didn't do well enough last year to have a collapse.
(13-3, COULDN'T BE BEATEN UNTIL LATE IN THE SEASON)
3) Denver (8-8) - Is Plummer really the answer???
(10-6, A QUALIFIED YES)
4) Oakland (7-9) - Last years division standings turned upside down. Age tends to creep up suddenly (the 49ers of the late 90's are my prime example). The Raiders looked REALLY OLD during the Superbowl and preseason, so I am expecting the same type of year this year as the Rams did last year.
(MY COMMENTS SEEMED GOOD, I JUST UNDERESTIMATED THE COMPLETE IMPLOSION OF THIS 4-12 TEAM)
AFC NORTH - The changing of the guard
1) CLEVELAND (10-6) - Looked good last year, now they've settled on a QB.
(5-11, LOOKED REALLY BAD, EVEN WHEN THEY BEAT THE 49ERS)
2) Pittsburgh (8-8) - With Kordell gone, they no longer have a safety valve.
(6-10 AT LEAST I WAS CLOSER ON THIS THAN CLEVELAND)
3) Baltimore (6-10) - Starting rookie Kyle Boller at QB. That usually doesn't bode well.
(IT DOES WHEN YOU'RE 10-6 AT SEASON END AND BOLLER IS NO LONGER YOUR STARTING QB)
4) Cincinnati (2-14) - Three certainties in life: death, taxes, and the Bengals in the cellar.
(8-8, I GUESS I AM AN IMMORTAL AND WON'T HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER DIME IN TAXES EITHER!)
AFC SOUTH - The winner is... the team that isn't from the South!
1) INDIANAPOLIS (11-5) - Defense should improve in Dungy's second year.
(12-4, IT DID)
2) TENNESSEE (10-6) - Last year may have been their best chance.
(12-4, IT STILL MAY HAVE BEEN)
3) Jacksonville (8-8) - Will new coach make a difference?
(NO, BUT TEAM SHOWED LIFE AT END OF 5-11 SEASON)
4) Houston (5-11) - Already the best team in Texas.
(CORRECT RECORD, BUT NOT THE BEST IN TEXAS BY A LONG SHOT!)
AFC EAST - The battle of the mediocre
1) NEW ENGLAND (10-6) - Defensive upgrades will make a difference.
(14-2, THEY DID)
2) Miami (9-7) - Ready for their annual December collapse.
(10-6, DIDN'T NEED A COLLAPSE, THEY GOT ELIMINATED ANYWAY!)
3) Buffalo (9-7) - They're on the right track.
(6-10, THEY DERAILED)
4) N. Y. Jets (6-10) - Injury to Pennington makes all the difference.
(BULLSEYE, IT DID)
PLAYOFF TEAMS
NFC - St. Louis, Green Bay, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tampa Bay
AFC - San Diego, Cleveland, Indianapolis, New England, Kansas City, Tennessee
(GOT FIVE DIVISION WINNERS RIGHT, 7 OF 12 PLAYOFF TEAMS)
SUPERBOWL MATCHUP: Philadelphia vs. Kansas City
WINNER: PHILADELPHIA
(STILL COULD HAPPEN!!!)
RECORDS CORRECTLY PREDICTED: 7
WITHIN ONE GAME: 4 more (11)
WITHIN TWO GAMES: 5 more (16)
SWING AND A MISS (more than two games): 16
SUMMARY: IN TODAY'S NFL, SOME TEAMS REMAIN ON TOP, SOME REMAIN IN THE CELLAR, A FEW GOOD TEAMS COLLAPSE, AND A FEW BAD TEAMS PULL THEMSELVES OUT OF THE MUCK!
Junior Bro 11:24:00 AM
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