Malach 2007-2008 NFL Preview

Thursday, September 06, 2007

With the games starting today ..
It is high time Malach puts out his popular NFL Preview for the 2007 - 2008 season.



AFC

AFC EAST
The New England Patriots: This team was one first down aways from going to yet another Super Bowl and winning it last year. Now, you have added Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donte Stallworth, when your top recievers last year were Reche Caldwell and Jabbar Gaffney. You added Adalius Thomas to a already nasty defense. Yes, Rodney Harrison is supended for the first four games, but the rookie Brandon Merriweather is a carbon clone of him. Eugene Wilson is also healthy. Yes, Richard Seymour might miss a large majority of the seasons, but he missed a lot games last year. And I would go to war with Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork, and Jarvis Green anyday. The Patriots are one of the top three team in the NFL, if not the top team, and look for another Super Bowl Ring to grace their fingers unless there is some type of catatrophic injuries.


The New York Jets: Mangenius and the Jets surprised a few people last year, they are still a few steps behind the Pats, but they might sneak into the playoffs considering how weak the rest of the division is. Again, Chad Pennington (a poor man's Tom Brady) is the key, if they keep him healthy and don't rely completely on his arm, they will win their fair share of games.


The Buffalo Bills: They are another year closer, but still need some pieces. This is JP Lossman's key year to try and finish above .500. Their offense might surprise a few.


The Miami Dolphins: Things are a bit of a mess in Miami, new coaching staff, player turnover. Trent Green alone will keep them in some games, but their defense is long in the tooth, and Teddy Ginn Jr. is not the answer.



AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: A top 5 AFC team, can their offense catch up to their Defense. Unless Pittsburgh comes back strong this year, they should take this division


Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers were an enigma last year. Roethlisberger was the biggest reason for that. Perhaps the multiple near death experiences? If the gets his head on straight, and he is not required to win them games (ie control the game with the run and short controlled passing), Pitt should give Baltimore a bit of run. A new head coach is interesting here too, from the same mold as Cowher, but we will see the differences.


Cinncinati Bengals: If the multiple Bengals don't go to jail, or get suspended, they should have a respectable year, maybe even 10 wins, but there still is no defense in Cincy.


Cleveland Browns: Well, still rebuilding, maybe the worst team in the AFC, and it won't be long before Brady Quinn is starting. Romeo, I had higher hopes for you . . .



AFC South
Indianapolis Colts: Coming off their Super Bowl win, and Payton Manning finally expelling his demons, the world will be gunning for them. They also lost a number of key players, and don't have an easy schedule. They will still put up points, and it will be interesting to see if teir defense continues from last year'ss playoffs or falls back to Earth. They are also in a cupcake division perhaps even weaker than the AFC East. They should easily win 12, and remain in the top 3 AFC teams. Plus, Payton has more commercials to film.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Dumping Byron Leftwich (who I affectionately call the black Drew Bledsoe) was a good move, but David Gerrard is not the answer. The Jags are too one dimensional on offense, and Gerrard won't win you any games. Still good enough to win 10 and sneak into the playoffs, but that will depend on the Jets.


Tennesee Titans: Now, the Titans. They will give some teams some fits, they will also upset some teams. They are a scrappy little team (Not counting Pacman Jones, or Albert Haynesworth), no one will want to play, but will finish around .500. They still need more pieces, and taking away Pacman Jones will hurt them alot.


Houson Texans: So, Houston dumped David Car for Matt Schaub, at least Schaub can scramble . . They MIGHT BE better than the Browns.



AFC WEST
San Diego Chargers: Very interesting division with a lot of questions, the Chargers being one of them. Basically no off season changes for the Chargers, except for the entire coaching staff. Norv Turner, yeah another .500 coach. They still have LT. They still have a scary defense. Phillip Rivers should be better. They are still probably a top 3 team in the league, but those question about Norv Turner . . .They will win this division, and then we will see.


Denver Broncos: Again, like the Chargers, have some questions after a disappointing season. Is Culter ready to pick up his game? Is there a running game? Travis Henry is the Jekyll and Hyde of running backs. Will age catch up with a pretty good defense. Denver too might sneak into the playoffs on a wild card.


Kansas City Chiefs: I am sorry, any team coached by Herm Edwards is hard to take serious.


Oakland Raiders: Well, they do have a good defense in Oakland, but will they score. They Culpepper but traded Moss. Jamarcus Russel isn't even signed. Gotta love Al Davis, unless your a Raiders fan.



NFC

NFC EAST
Philadelphia Eagles: Again the NFC East is a bit open to who wants to take it, but one would assume, the Eagles have the best shot at that. Considering what they did with Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb is a definitely improvement. The questions once again? Who is he throwing too? Is there enough of a running game?


New York Giants: Again, the Giants have what they need to perhaps be the best team out of the NFC, if, and this is a big if, Elie Manning comes into his own. The loss of Tiki Babar is huge, but I think Brandon Jacobs can take a lot of the that load, 10 wins will take this division and that is possible for the G-Men.


Dallas Cowboys: The Tuna is gone, but TO is still there. Romo, is he the answer? We will soon find out. I supposed they have a shot, of course, their new coach is Wade Phillips . . .


Washington Redskins: No defense, no quarterback, and a coach who rather be looking after his NASCAR team; sounds like a winning formula to me.



NFC North
Chicago Bears: Unless Rex Grossman is benched by mid season (for ugh, Brian Griese), The Bears will not make the playoffs, you heard to here first. But in one of the weakest division in the NFL, I could be wrong.


Green Bay Packers: Is this Brett Favre's last year? They added some interesting pieces, and it would not surprise me if they make the playoffs, and perhaps even win the division.


Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings were pretty good at beating bad teams last year. They are still rebuilding, but unlike the AFC you can rebuild and still be a playoff contender in the NFC.


Detroit Lions (thanks to Troy for pointing out my Faux Pas): Ok, no Matt Millen drafting wide recievers jokes, but Calvin Johnson will be special and fun to watch. John Kitna is a very good back up quarterback .. . maybe 8 wins in Detriot?



NFC South
New Orleans Saints: Here are the Colts of the NFC, if they can find some defense, they are clearly the NFC favorite. Will anyone challenge them in this division, maybe a sleeper like Tampa Bay, but they should run away with this division and win perhaps 12 games.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lucky for TB this is the one of the worst divisions in Football, and they might have done enough with the additon of Jeff Garcia to be playoff contenders and maybe even upset New Orleans once or twice.


Carolina Panthers: OK, I give up on Carolina, the Panthers suck. Jake Dellhomme is the original Rex Grossman


Atlanta Falcons: Who let the dogs out? Gonna be a long year in Hotlanta



NFC West
Seattle Seahawks: This should be a fun division, and all four teams have a shot at winning it. Seattle obviously missed Shaun Alexander, and lucky for them, Vince Young in on the cover of Madden this year. Seattle should win the division, but the teams behind aren't really that far behind.


St. Louis Rams: St. Louis keeps plugging along, with their above average seasons and short playoff runs, why should this year be any different.


San Francisco 49ers: This is a good young team and is going to surprise and dissappoint a lot of the upper teir NFC teams. 10 wins is not out of the question for this team, neither is the division, or 5 wins. Decent offense, and nasty defense.


Arizona Cardinals: This team is heading in the right direction, but is still a few pieces away. Will upset a few teams, and 8 wins will be a good season for them.



Once agains, the NFC sucks, expect the Patriot, Chargers, or Colts to take it all.

I am Malach the keelhauling master