week one picks and predictions for the season

Its back. Need I say more? The journey for Lombardi and the big stage in Miami begins today for 26 teams. Opening weekend is another one of those unofficial holidays that is never mentioned in any conventional calendar you purchase, but its about as important for every sports fan you can think of.

So here we are and what would a new season be if I didn’t give you 44 predictions for the new NFL season? So here we go:

1. Not because I despise him, but I’m taking the under on Brett Favre playing 16 games. I’m taking the under on him playing 13 games. In fact, Sage, Tarvaris, start warming up.
2. the AFC East’s projected order of finish: New England Patriots, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills.
3. Terrell Owens WILL have a monster season.
4. Jay Cutler will lead the league in completion percentage, number of interceptions, number of chins by an elite starting QB, and amount of times he shows up his teammates.
5. Joe Flacco will take a bigger step forward in his progress as a QB than Matt Ryan.
6. Ladies and gentlemen, this year’s surprise team: Arizona Cardinals. I know you’re waiting for an explanation, and here it is: no one expects this team to make it back to the playoffs never mind the Super Bowl. They lost Todd Haley and Edge James, but they added a lot of skill players and managed to bring back Anquan Boldin and keep his mouth shut and just play. I love them to come out of the division again but as a 10-6 team; at the least.
7. The Vikings offense will play better than their defense will.
8. The best Wildcat player in the NFL will be Percy Harvin.
9. The best all purpose back in the NFL this year will be Matt Forte.
10. The AFC North’s projected order of finish: Ravens, Steelers, Bengals, Browns.
11. The best up and coming WR will be a battle all year between Hakeem Nicks and Kenny Britt. People in New York will continuously jump from camp to camp wondering whether the Giants should’ve gone with Kenny Britt (that Rutgers kid.)
12. Peyton Manning’s team will NOT win 12 games for the first time in like forever.
13. The Patriots will approach 600 points, but more out of necessity because their defense will struggle.
14. Ladies and gentleman, the NFL rushing leader: Frank Gore.
15. The Seahawks offense will scare the crap out of people.
16. The NFL Offensive rookie of the year: Percy Harvin. Can you tell I like this kid? Just a little nugget of information: the last time the Vikings took a chance on a kid with a bad rap coming out of college his name was Randy Moss. I’m just saying, the Vikings just have a pretty good read on these situations. 11 years later, the Vikes have a chance to be two for two.
17. The AFC South’s projected order of finish: Titans, Texans, Colts and Jaguars. Not because I hate on the Jags or Colts, its just that there are a lot of unknowns on those two teams than there are with the Titans and Texans.
18. Eric Mangini’s methods will end up back firing as Brady Quinn will play looking over his shoulder.
19. The Lions will be 0-6 before they win their first game. That’s 0-23 if you’re counting at home.
20. The AFC West’s projected order of finish: Chargers, Broncos, Raiders and Chiefs
21. The idiot receiver index is off the charts this year as 2 candidates have started early: Brandon Marshall and Michael Crabtree. Take your pick.
22. The NFC West’s projected order of finish: Cardinals, Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams.
23. Michael Vick will be a non-factor this season. Sorry to disappoint folks, but LeSean McCoy will be a better player than Vick.
24. The most overrated team in the AFC: San Diego SuperChargers.
25. The most overrated team in the NFC: tie between Vikings and Eagles.
26. No New York Giant receiver will separate themselves significantly.
27. Tom Brady will throw for 45 TD’s.
28. Peyton Manning will only throw 30. There will statistically be about 5 QB’s better than Peyton.
29. This year Drew Brees will throw for more than 5000 yards and beat Dan Marino’s record.
30. The NFC South’s projected order of finish will be: Saints, Falcons, Panthers and Bucs.
31. Aaron Rodgers will not be as great as everyone thinks but he will still be better than all the QB’s in the NFC North.
32. Familiar face who will have a huge come back year: tie between LDT, Reggie Bush and Carson Palmer.
33. The tandem that teams should worry about in Cincy is NOT Palmer to Ocho Cinco, its Palmer to Chris Henry.
34. Reggie Wayne is the most underrated WR in the NFL.
35. The NFC North’s projected order of finish: Packers, Bears, Vikings and Lions.
36. The NFL’s MVP will be Larry Fitzgerald. (yes I’m well aware of the Madden cover curse)
37. The NFC East’s projected order of finish will be: Giants, Cowboys, Redskins and Eagles.
38. The four wild cards will be: the Steelers, and the Texans in the AFC, and the Bears and Cowboys in the NFC.
39. Sadly (for myself and Giant fans) the best rushing team will be the Cowboys.
40. Matthew Stafford will only slightly out play Mark Sanchez but Mark Sanchez will have the better career overall.
41. The Final four will be the Patriots and Steelers in the AFC and the Giants and Packers.
42. Hard Knocks will have NO effect on how the Bengals lose this year.
43. The Super Bowl will be a matchup between the last two Super Bowl champions: Giants vs. the Steelers.
44. I will regret more than half of these picks.


Speaking of picks here are mine for week 1:

Bengals (-4) over Broncos- I like the Bengals draft. I love the Bengals offensive players. I love Hard knocks. Uh oh, I know the last one probably wasn’t a good sign for things to come but let’s be real, the Bengals on Hard Knocks was headed towards each other like a Pacquiao and Mayweather heavyweight fight. The Broncos will be a good team, but with all the bad karma surrounding them, I just think the Bengals will take advantage. Also, for all the Bronco fans, save your breath with all the Jay Cutler hate. Last time you had a QB force his way out of town, it was in your favor. Call this karma coming back to square things up.

Jets (+4.5) over Texans- Don’t agree with this line at all, but hey, oddsmakers have been waiting for the Texans to take that step forward for a while now and if they don’t, expect Gary Kubiak to get fired. I like the Jets D, but without Calvin Pace and others, they might have to scheme a bit better to rattle Matt Schaub. Or they can wait for his eventual ankle sprain.

Vikings (-4) over Browns- Seriously? Only 4 points? This is too easy, that I’m beginning to sweat profusely wondering what Vegas is trying to pull here.

Saints (-13) over Lions- If there’s one thing the Saints know to do, its pound very weak teams. Sorry Mr. Schwartz, you won’t win. But if you do, give this guy a key to the city.

Jaguars (+7) over Colts- I think the Jags will beat the Colts. I don’t know why I don’t trust Peyton Manning, I’m just going to blame it on the recession since it’s the number one trending excuse in humanity.

Ravens (-13) over Chiefs- Anytime you fire your offensive coordinator 10 days before you start your season, red flags should go up. I trust Scott Pioli to build up this team, but it will take some time. Joe Flacco = big season ahead.

Cowboys (-6) over Bucs- Prepare yourself for some Cowboys propaganda to come out after this.

Pats (-10.5) over Bills- If this line were -20.5 I would take that line. Maybe blink once, but I still take it. Tom Brady will have a statement game (expect it to be an edict coming from Bill Belichiek to continue running up the score even in the fourth quarter, which should make people’s hair stand up on the back of their neck.)

Eagles (-2) over Panthers- Only because the Panthers lost their run stuffing DT Maake Kemoeatu, and the Eagles will look to run the football a lot.
Giants (-6.5) over Redskins- love this match up, and it will be close, but a few late TD’s will widen the margin comfortably for the Giants.

Seahawks (-8.5) over Rams- You need a reason for this?

Packers (-3.5) over Bears - I like the Bears, but the Packers have looked mighty impressive in the preseason. I know, who cares about the preseason. But still, it’s a measuring stick and they have been as impressive as can be to ignore.

Dolphins (+4) over Falcons- I love the Dolphins. I love the fact that they didn’t show a single different Wildcat formation in the preseason. I love the fact that they picked Pat White. I love Chad Pennington and their number defensive line. I stayed away from Michael Turner in drafts like Michael Crabtree and Brandon Marshall stay away from common sense.

Chargers (-9) over Raiders- LDT, meet the defensive line of the Raiders. They know each other well. All you need to know is Richard Seymour will do everything in his power to stay away from that team. Oakland has literally turned into a black hole.