Very briefly, here's how I see the 2004 NFL Season playing out:
AFC EAST
Patriots
Jets
Bills
Dolphins
I thought that New England was very lucky to win the first Super Bowl, but
there is no question that they were the best team in football last year.
What's scary is that they are so good, and have a stockpile of draft picks
to infuse new talent. A schedule against the weak AFC North and NFC West
should give them the inside track for the #1 seed in the playoffs. The
Jets are their only serious competition in the division, if Chad Pennington
stays healthy, and if their defense starts to play up to their high draft
status, they could be this year's Carolina and make some noise - especially
if the Pats stumble. The Bills' offensive line woes and integrating a new
coaching system will keep them mired in mediocrity, and the Fish have just
simply been devastated by injuries in the midst of a long-term decline.
This could be the first Top 5 draft pick year for the Fish in decades.
AFC NORTH
Steelers
Bengals
Ravens
Browns
This is one of the hardest divisions to call - I think that all four teams
could finish within 2 games of .500, in almost any order. My surprise pick
for the division is Pittsburgh, even though this is supposed to be a
rebuilding year with a new QBin development. Still, Coach Bill Cowher is
on the hot seat, and I think that he will have a "Rasputin" year to silence
his critics behind a solid offensive line and very good skill position
players. Despite having the unproven Carson Palmer at QB, I like the
Bengals to keep it together, and again fall just shy of a Wild Card for the
second consecutive year. The Ravens will have a good defense as usual,
but with a trial swirling around Jamal Lewis and Kyle Boller looking shaky,
they will again struggle to just keep their noses above .500 in a weak
division. I like a lot of things that the Browns have done, brining in
Jeff Garcia and Kellen Winslow, but the defense looks weak, and the overall
organization - with a HC managing to parlay a very mediocre career win-loss
percentage into a house-cleaning of the front-office to consolidate his
control - strikes me as being a little bit in disarray, which is never a
good sign.
AFC SOUTH
Colts
Titans*
Texans
Jaguars
I think that this could be the best division in football this year. The
Colts offense will, as usual, be top-of-the-line. They are also returning
almost everyone on defense, and keeping the same scheme, which I think
should translate into improvement. The Titans, meanwhile, just seem to be
good every year, and this year appears to be no exception with Chris Brown
replacing Eddie George and Tyrone Calico replacing Justin McCareins, just
like a conveyor belt. They should take one wild-card slot. If David Carr
continues to play like he did in the preseason - and his #1 overall draft
status, I may have the Texans spotted too low here. Still, this division
just looks too tough for them to move up.... then again, I said that about
the Panthers last year. The Jaguars, meanwhile, claim last place almost
by default despite what could be the best pair of run-stopping defensive
tackles in football.
AFC WEST
Raiders
Chiefs*
Broncos
Chargers
The surprise pick here is the Raiders, who gave up on Coach Bill Callahan
last year, and thus looked much worse than they really are. They may have
the best offensive line in football - and these things tend to be
important. They'll have to contend with the Chiefs, who are no offensive
slouches themselves though. I have them taking the other wild card, but
with no apparent improvement to their defensive talent, its hard to see
them going all the way. In Denver, I think that they will actually end up
missing Clinton Portis, especially with some really worries about the
quality of their WR's. The Chargers, meanwhile, remain an utter mess,
right down to their #1 overall draftpick holding out on them. They'll be
back in that position again.
NFC EAST
Eagles
Cowboys
Redskins
Giants
The Eagles have been the most consistently good team in football for years,
thanks to Andy Reid who has my vote as the best coach in football. I have
to believe that adding players like Terrell Owens, Jevon Kearse, and Hugh
Douglass will only make them better - these free agents are the real deals.
In Dallas, its hard to see a Bill Parcells coached team ever falling
completely on its face. Joe Gibbs is a pretty good coach himself, but
Snyder has built a fine mess in Washington that will take a while to sort
through. Tom Coughlin rounds out this coaching-clinic of a division,
where they are at least open about the fact that this simply a full
rebuilding year for the future under Eli Manning.
NFC NORTH
Packers
Vikings*
Lions
Bears
The Packers are returning every offensive starter - and consistency will
count. The only worry is whether the scatter-shot Brett Favre we saw in
the playoffs last year is a portent of things to come. If so, the Vikings
appear poised to take full advantage behind the emerging Daunte Culpepper,
who so far has been the League's most dynamic player - not Michael Vick.
They'll take one Wild Card. In Detroit, the pieces are falling into
place, but I'm not sure that Joey Harrington is the QB to take advantage.
The Bears, meanwhile, are building for the future with a rookie Head Coach
and a 1st-year QB.
NFC SOUTH
Saints
Panthers*
Falcons
Bucs
New Orleans has been under everyone's radar screen, but they very quietly
have put together an awful lot of talented offensive players like Deuce
McAllister, Aaron Brooks, Joe Horn, and Donte Stallworth along with
stockpiling a lot of young defensive linemen. If they put it together,
the Saints will be one of this year's surprise teams. The Panthers
meanwhile won't catch all the breaks they caught in their miracle run last
year, but will remain solid and grab the Wild Card berth. Michael Vick
will stay healthy this year, but a new system, and a dearth of defensive
talent will keep those offensive points from turning into wins. The Bucs,
meanwhile, brought in a ton of free agents - which never seems like a
recipe for success.
NFC WEST
Seahawks
Rams
49ers
Cardinals
The worst division in football, hands down, and the Seahawks should romp to
the #1 overall playoff seed. The interception-prone Marc Bulger will keep
the Rams fans frustrated, while San Francisco edges out the Cardinals as
both teams build for the future.
Final Four
Indianapolis at New England
By rights, it looks to me like New England has the stars aligned to do it
again and become a repeat champion. Something tells me, however, that
Indianapolis - which played them tight last time around, pull off the upset
this year in advance.
Philadelphia at Seattle
Bad news for Southeast Pennsylvania as the NFC Championship woes continue
for the Eagles, this time having to play on the road in Seattle where the
homefield advantage is simply too much.
In the Super Bowl, battle-tested Indianapolis edges out Seattle for the
Super Bowl crown.
Fearlessly,
JDG
_______________________________________________________
John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED]
"The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world,
it is God's gift to humanity." - George W. Bush 1/29/03
_______________________________________________
http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
