Here it goes:
1. The Patriots will finish 13-3.
I still don’t know what to make of the Richard Seymour trade/potential fiasco but I believe the Patriots are in 2007-mode, which is to win the Super Bowl. The Patriots will be better on defense and better running the football, which are more important than Tom Brady and fortysomething touchdown passes. That would give them the best record in the AFC, I believe. The fact that the Patriots play Baltimore, Tennessee and Atlanta at home is a big plus. More on their Super Bowl status later.
2. Brett Favre will struggle.
I realize this is not breaking news. But Favre is not an elite player anymore. Last year was his last chance. The Jets had everything in place to be a contender. When they beat the then-undefeated Titans they were there. But Favre can’t physically make the plays to finish the job. The Minnesota Vikings will be good, but with the focus on Favre rather than the best player in the league, Adrian Peterson, will be a distraction. Maybe the Vikings win 10 games, but that won’t be good enough.
3. Ravens over the Steelers.
Looking for that surprise team? The Ravens technically aren’t a surprise, but they are good and tough, and Joe Flacco is legitimate NFL quarterback. The Ravens and Steelers are in the same division and were neck and neck a year ago. I’m guessing the Super Bowl hangover will hit the Steelers, who are as talented as the Patriots. Both of these teams are contenders but I see the Steelers taking a step back, maybe in the 11-5 range. The Ravens will finish 12-4.
4. AFC will be a beast.
Nothing has changed. The AFC has six legit teams who can win it all — New England, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, San Diego, Tennessee and Indianapolis. While I would put the last three teams on the second tier, especially Indy, they all have experience on their side. The Patriots will not walk through those five teams. Why this is important is the AFC champion will be tested, as opposed to the NFC champ, which doesn’t appear to have a clear-cut favorite outside of the Giants.
5. The Giants will be Giants.
This is a big year for the New York Football Giants. They have a great defense. They can run the football as well as any team in the league. And they have a quarterback, Eli Manning, who isn’t afraid to make a big play. That is a recipe for a Super Bowl team. The NFC has a few teams that appear to be on the upswing, including Atlanta and Carolina. The Philadelphia Eagles are good, maybe very good. And Green Bay appears to be in position to compete in that conference. But the Giants are built to win over the long haul.
6. Stafford is best QB of the rookie duo.
I will go on record saying Matthew Stafford, formerly of the University of Georgia, is going to be a star. He may take his lumps in Detroit this season (see Troy Aikman in Dallas as a rookie starter … 0-11). I can’t say the same for Mark Sanchez, who doesn’t appear to physically be as imposing as he looked in college. He looks like just another quarterback. It is going to be interesting to see him perform under the NY spotlight where there may not be much, if any, of a honeymoon.
7. LT has one more year left in him.
LaDanian Tomlinson has been taken aback that people call Adrian Peterson the best running back in the NFL. I agree with the public’s sentiment, but I also believe LT will do everything in his power to be the second best back in the NFL. I look for 1,500 yards and 18 TDs, which means the Chargers will be a force in the AFC.
8. San Fran will win NFC West.
I am a believer in Mike Singletary. He is as good as it gets. He understands the “tough” aspect of building a winner as much as anybody. The NFC West is not a strong division. In fact, you could argue it is the weakest in the entire league. But the 49ers can be better than the best team in a bad division. I also like quarterback Shaun Hill to continue his rise. Frank Gore is a producer, on a par with any running back not named Peterson or Tomlinson. I like this team to improve defensively and finish at 11-5.
9. Arizona will go south.
I still don’t know how the Cardinals got in the playoffs, never mind the Super Bowl. But it will end unceremoniously this season. They will be lucky to finish 8-8, which isn’t saying much in their division. I believe Larry Fitzgerald is the best receiver in the NFL, but other than that, this team is barley above average. The loss of offensive coordinator Todd Haley will be big. He was the guru on offense. In fact, I will go on record as saying the Cardinals won’t win eight games.
10. Patriots will win Super Bowl.
The loss of Seymour (traded to Oakland) is something to consider here, but here is the brass tacks: The Patriots are the best team in the NFL. I believe they made some tough decisions, all on defense, and they will be better for it. They were aging on defense and it cost them in big games against good offenses. The Patriots have a lot of prove, including Coach Bill Belichick. This season will be the makeup for 18-and-1. This will be the makeup for the 11-5 season which didn’t earn them a playoff berth. This will the makeup for Tom Brady, who is out to prove is a living legend. It won’t be easy, but I believe the Patriots will be the best from box to wire, with homefield advantage a big advantage especially in the AFC. As for playing the Giants in the Super Bowl, it would be a great matchup.
