The season starts tomorrow. Thoughts? Predictions? I honestly haven't paid a whole lot of attention to goings-on in the league other than Dallas getting rid of Terrel Owens and Favre going to the Vikings. Good moves in both cases, but I don't know that either will bring success for those teams.
The Jets seem like a high variance team this year. No one really knows how Sanchez and the receiving corps will hold up or whether the youth will develop into real depth on the defensive line. The rest of the team is littered with mediocre to very good players, but little in the way of top tier stars or total crap, so while the Jets won't be regularly overmatched elsewhere, neither will they really overmatch anyone else. Throw on top of that a new coaching staff and nothing from 4-12 wins would surprise me.
Sanchez looked good in the pre-season. Ainge did too. Overall, I liked what I saw with the offense. The defense looked a little rough. I'd like to see them win another Super Bowl before I die.
I'm cautiously optimistic. There are good signs about Sanchez and the offense. I'd expect a bit more roughness from the defense given that the new coach is a defensive guru who's tinkered more on that side of the ball, much of it tinkering that we probably don't even recognize watching the games. There's decent talent on the defense, certainly enough to make a run with a modicum of luck. Still, even a rabidly optimistic Jets fan would be unable to be surprised by a 4 win season. You're not a Jets fan if soul crushing disappointment surprises you. Any finish better than the Lions wouldn't surprise me.
In that last game, Philly got their first touchdown pretty much from penalties by the Jets' defense. I was thinking, "Oh, shit! Here we go again." Then the defense tightened up and looked pretty good. Did they sign Danny Woodhead? He's a little dude, but he can run like hell. I was very impressed by him.
He wouldn't get many touches at all on the active roster--Jones and Washington are going to eat them all up, and it really doesn't matter whether Greene or Woodhead get the scraps--and they did resign him to the practice squad. Thomas Jones is 31, which is bordering on Methuseluhish for a running back. He's got maybe one more good season in him. Woodhead should have a real chance next season if he keeps up the good work, and if there's an injury this season he'll get a chance sooner. Of course there's always the chance that the Jets management will royally screw up player development.
I'm a Texans fan and this is a make or break year. Positives: Great skill position talent on offense. Several Pro-Bowl caliber players on the defense. Questions: Can we stay health? Will the defense perform up to their talent level? Can we score in the red zone?
Woo Hoo! No second half letdown! Who were those guys? They were just dominant. The offensive line and the defense as a whole were just absurdly good. Next week my spirits get crushed.
Somewhere actormike is crying. Brian Urlacher is done for the season after dislocating his right wrist in last night's loss to the Packers. And, so much for T.O.
The Skins will crash and burn, especially as long as they are under the bungling management of Danny-Boy. The Ravens? My son's favorite team, I predict they will go 10-6. Dunno if that will be good enough to take the AFC North. I've been a closet Steelers fan for a few years now. Time to come out of the closet!
Well, I'd say the Steelers are the heavy favorite in the North, but Baltimore rates to be in the Wild Card mix with a reasonable shot at an upset division win. So, looking for excuses to taunt your son, eh?
Damn you Buffalo! Taking an 11 point lead against New England with 5 minutes and change left and then blowing it so spectacularly is a sin! A god damned sin, I tell you!
Too early for Darrelle Revis, MVP? He's completely shut down Andre Johnson and Randy Moss the first two weeks of the season. I tended to think he was overrated coming into the season, but he's been just fantastic so far.
The Giants get stuck with a 1 & 20 but Wade's suck ass defense lets Elisha drive right down the fucking field for the winning score!
The Texans vs Titans game was incredible. One of the best games I've seen in a long time. Big plays, big hits, fights, tons of trash talk, and a down to the wire ending. Fantastic.
Fearless Week 3 predictions: Detroit finally wins a game by whipping hapless Washington Cincinnati beats Pittsburgh at home.
