MrRant 0 Report post Posted September 2, 2003 http://espn.go.com/nfl/preview03/s/predictions.html 7 out of 16 pick the Seahawks as a Wildcard while Mark Schlereth and Jaws pick the Seahawks to win the West. So 9 out of 16 pick the Hawks to at least get in the playoffs which is nice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fazzle 0 Report post Posted September 2, 2003 2 people predict the Bills to get into the Super Bowl. Berman, who's predicting a Bills/49ers Super Bowl for about the 80th consecutive year, and their NFL page editor, who's predciting a Bills/Bucs Super Bowl. But he's also predicting Gregg Williams as coach of the year, which makes him a complete moron. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ecto Cooler Report post Posted September 2, 2003 AFC CHAMP: Bills NFC CHAMP: 49ers NFL CHAMP: TBD (in February) Swami never lies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
King Kamala 0 Report post Posted September 2, 2003 I'm predicting a Pats- Bucs Superbowl, with the Pats being victorious in a doozy of a game. Than again last year I picked a Pats-Rams rematch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted September 2, 2003 Titans vs Bucs is the favorite match up by ESPN? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LaParkaMarka 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 Bah...Seattle has a nice offense, but the holdout by Walter Jones and injury to Shawn Springs will hurt em. There are far better NFC teams than them. And what's up with everyone picking the Dolphins to win the AFC East? Guh? They're good, but Buffalo/Pats have improved a lot more than them. Of course, that division is a total crapshoot. But it seems like the Bills are the top team right now. I really like the picks by Mel Kiper Jr...don't agree so much with the Seattle wildcard or the Giants over the Iggles. But other than that, great. I'm glad someone else is picking the Ravens over the Steelers and the Minnesota pick is nice and gutsy too. Good for him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 Well Jones reported today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 AFC CHAMP: Bills NFC CHAMP: 49ers NFL CHAMP: TBD (in February) Swami never lies. I want the matchup to finally come true...so he'll STOP PREDICTING IT. It's a running gag on its last legs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlwaysPissedOff 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 Wow.. the Vikings win the North? Wingo must have been on some good shit when he said that. As for the Bills: Eh. They are still the 3rd best team in the AFC North, maybe second if New England's defense doesn't get up to par. Good to great offense, but their defense is still suspect, so Id take the Pats and the Phins over them anyday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ANKLELOCK 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 6 of the 18 picked the Titans as NFL champs and most picked them as at least AFC champs. That is my pick. You are all fooling yourself if you think otherwise. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted September 3, 2003 NFC: Philly AFC: Tennessee Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Satanico Report post Posted September 3, 2003 Did ESPN ask them for predictions on what team will be a surprise this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted September 3, 2003 With wacky Parity these days, Unless Cincy or Houston, 'Troit, or Zona wins...Nothing is a surprise. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Satanico Report post Posted September 3, 2003 Cincinnati is due... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Agent_Bond34 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 Why all this love now all of a sudden for Seattle? Have they done anything that warrants this kind of hype? Maybe I'm missing something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 Wow.. the Vikings win the North? Wingo must have been on some good shit when he said that. As for the Bills: Eh. They are still the 3rd best team in the AFC North, maybe second if New England's defense doesn't get up to par. Good to great offense, but their defense is still suspect, so Id take the Pats and the Phins over them anyday. 1. The Bills play in the East. 2. Of all the teams I'm not worried about them beating it's the Dolphins. Patriots scare me. Dolphins have to come to Buffalo in December...in fact...they have to go to New England in December too. They're out. I'll say it again about the Phins and Pats. They are too one-dimensional. Pats can't run, Phins can't pass. And the Pats and Bills (and even the JETS) figured out to build to stop the Phins running game. You don't see teams using hte #4 pick to bring in a DT, then other teams bring in Sam Adams, Takeo Spikes, Rodney Harrison and Ted Washington if they haven't figured out they need to stop Ricky. It's all in the Pats hands this year. If the Phins and Bills can stop the dump pass they can't turn to the run. At least with Buffalo you have to stop Henry, Moulds and Bledsoe. I'd fear that a lot more than Ricky-Fiedler and ...Chamber? Or Brady-Brown and ...I don't even know who they'll start at RB. Forget about the Jets. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the pinjockey 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 Seattle played a great half dozen meaningless games at the end of last season. If that doesn't spell playoffs I don't know what does. Now they may play well this year, but until they perform I am not putting them ahead of S.F. or St. Louis. Matt Hasselbeck: Perform in real games and I will buy into the hype. But some people are predicting 4000 yards passing this season? Give me a break Koren Robinson: Potential top 10 receiver. Darrell Jackson: I want to see how he rebounds from his Mr. Potato Head stint last year. Shaun Alexander: Yes, he will give you 1400 yards on the season with 15-18 TDs. Unfortunately it will mostly come in 5-6 games. He needs to stop being a 30 carry 250 yard game to 25 carry 50 yard next game roller coster ride. Defense: Line is nothing special, LBs are solid, Springs' injury kills their secondary. Trufant will probably start or see significant time and rookie CBs always seem to struggle. And their schedule is nothing to sneeze at. New Orleans - tough game at Ariz - win St. Louis - win at GB - loss SanFran - win Chicago - Win at Cincy - trap game, loss Pitt. - tough at Wash - tough with hurting secondary Detroit - win at Baltimore - loss Cleve - tough at Minn - tough at St.Louis - probably split series call this the loss Ariz - win at SanFran - loss So take out Arizona, since SF and StL play them as well, and they have a tough road ahead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 With wacky Parity these days, Unless Cincy or Houston, 'Troit, or Zona wins...Nothing is a surprise. Carr, Mack, and ROTY Andre Johnson will make the playoffs this year. Detroit has the other ROTY candidate in Charles Rogers, and Cincy has a new coach, while Zona has heatstroke and is the NFL trash dump. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bored 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 With wacky Parity these days, Unless Cincy or Houston, 'Troit, or Zona wins...Nothing is a surprise. Carr, Mack, and ROTY Andre Johnson will make the playoffs this year. Ummm one BIG problem...the offensive line still sucks and Carr will have no time to throw and Mack is nothing special. One question I thought I'd pose is now in the National Parity League the last four Super Bowl champs have been first time winners. Who will be a first time winner, if there is one, this year? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 Who will be a first time winner, if there is one, this year? BUFFALO!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the pinjockey 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 How is Mike Williams coming along up there? I would imagine he is going to be a key to their whole offense. With Reed instead of Price, the opposition will probably start throwing an extra man in the box and the tackles will have to be able to handle one-on-one matchups. If he can't handle it yet, they are screwed with Bledsoe back there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 Mack is better than the rapping RB and the O-Line had the whole preseason to work together so it will be better. Also watch out for JJ Moses on special teams as he will get the team good field possession and maybe 1 or 2 TDs on kickoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 How is Mike Williams coming along up there? I would imagine he is going to be a key to their whole offense. With Reed instead of Price, the opposition will probably start throwing an extra man in the box and the tackles will have to be able to handle one-on-one matchups. If he can't handle it yet, they are screwed with Bledsoe back there. He's still getting beat by the smarter DEs out there. The key to the offense is Kevin Gilbride the Offensive Coordinator. I know it's going to sound weird with how potent the O was...but I don't like this man. The team was obviously built to RUN THE BALL...but he just won't call running plays. He just wants Bledsoe to chuck it all day long...and that's not going to beat good teams (Hence...last year they only beat the bad teams). If he can stop passing every 3rd and 2 or 3rd and 1 (And yes...I do mean EVERY time) they'll be much better off. How Travis Henry got over 1400 yards last year I'll never know, what with all the passing they had to do. I did see them try an actual timing offense in the first quarter of the Rams preseason game...and it was flawless...I just hope they get the message that a blocking FB, two blocking TEs, an O-line that is far better at run blocking than pass blocking and 2 possesion recievers in the top 3 WRs...means that you are supposed to play ball control. Sure...Bledsoe to Moulds down the field is fun... but winning is funner! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LaParkaMarka 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 Mack is better than the rapper, but that doesn't mean he's very good. Not enough to push the Texans into the playoffs, at any rate. The Texans have a nice little core with Carr and Johnson, but playoffs right now is just not obtainable. The Colts and Titans are good enough to hand them 4 losses, and they still have games against the Bucs/Pats/Bills/Phins. Houston might be a playoff team few years down the road, but not now. BPS - Your sig rules all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 BPS - Your sig rules all. Well...it is, in my opinion, the funniest moment in the history of television. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the pinjockey 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 How much of the anti-ball control concept has to do with Henry's fumblitis? It might be hard on them to plan running the ball and running down the clock if they can't trust their starting RB with the ball. And Stacey Mack, IMO, will make a solid starting RB. Just not this year. He has 1200 yard potential in him, but with that line and the fact that there is no threat in the passing game he is screwed. Carr to Johnson will be a great connection for years to come, but right now it is open season on Carr and he is going to get hurt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 That's why I understood the McGahee pick. If they commit to the run Henry can be a 1600+ yard back easy. But he could also fumble his way out of the league... His days are numbered. I'd like to see a bigger commitment to not just the run...but more importantly...7 yard passes. Both Reed and Bobby Shaw will go over the middle...and in three WR sets one of them is going to get initial coverage from a LB. They can catch the damn ball...they just need Bledsoe and Gilbride to stop thinking big play. If the D is going to be better (and it just can't not be considering last year) they need ball control. Look at New England...no running game so the screen pass becomes their running game. I'd like to see quick routes and timing patterns all day long. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the pinjockey 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 With no Price they are going to have to realize that they need short stuff to open up the long passes. I don't think that will be a problem, unless Gilbride is a complete tool. Of course I despise the short pass, because of Andy Reid. Being the complete opposite of Gilbride, you just scream at the TV to throw the ball more than 5 god damn yards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 I don't think Carr is out to set the record for most sacks taken this year. While the opposing defenses are set on making Carr into the next Tim Couch (crybaby) Carr will make the dump off pass to Billy Miller. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the pinjockey 0 Report post Posted September 3, 2003 Miller cought 50 some passes last year and Carr still got sacked 72 times. With Johnson and the improvement of Miller and himself I could see avoiding maybe 20 of those sacks, but that still means 50+ sacks which is ridiculous and dangerous. If Carr can survive until Houston gets an O line he is going to be a stud. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites