Football Preview 2010 (Part 1-Reality)

Before you dismiss my lowly BLOG just remember it was this guy (two thumbs right at me) that told you from the get-go that the Saints were going to win Superbowl 44 beating the Vikings in the 2009 NFC title game…now yes I did say they would beat the Patriots who beat the Texans in the 2009 AFC title game…but let’s not dwell on the negative after all in baseball 50% is pretty good.

Are you ready for some Bret Favre!…wait I mean Are you ready for some Football! The time has come for us to get giddy as we prepare for both the 2010 NFL season and our 2010 Fantasy Football season. It was a big news off-season and the headlines ranged anything from big fat Rolls Royce driving Albert Haynesworth wants out to one time superstar Brian Westbrook wants in. The Redskins are relevant again and no it’s not for beating up their significant other. Not to be outdone by the skins the Cowboys made some news of their own by drafting another wide receiver…that is a pre-Madonna and is divisive in the clubhouse…I’m sure it will all workout fine though, after all the Cowboys and Dez Bryant can always fall back on their mutual hate for WR Roy Williams if things get hairy. In other news Pete Carroll cuts a deal with prosecutors to leave USC without jail time and he only has to serve community service in Seattle…that’s not bad, while Kurt Warner hands over the keys to the Cardinals to the King of the Scottsdale Hot Tub Party…Matt Leinart. Some guy named Bret had ankle surgery and blah blah blah…while quietly the 49ers started realizing just how bad their division is and if they can just keep their coaches pants on, hell they just might win it! In the other conference Rex Ryan has assembled a team with so many clashing personalities not even his famous Rex Ryan Cookie Dough Chili will shut them up, while the Steelers wonder why their QB had to go all Kobe on them. Last but not least we visit the touching story of two people brought together by fate, love of the game, and the shared desire to date a Kardashian so they can have a relevant Reality TV show…T. Owens and Chad “85 and dropping” Johnson. This ladies and gentleman is the 2010 Football Preview!

PART ONE (REALITY)

Predictions:

NFC

NFC EAST: Cowboys 10-6 Eagles 9-7 Redskins 8-8 Giants 7-9 (The BEast) has new drama with McNabb changing teams and the arrival of Shanahan to the Redskins and Des Bryant to the Cowboys, but like always these teams will beat up on each other and the high expectations of this Cowboy team will fall short yet again. I like the Skins who have the easiest schedule of this group, but not enough to get into the playoffs as it’s hard for me to bet against Andy Reid and his Eagles even with a new QB, though Kolb will struggle at times. (Stars of Division-DeSean Jackson and Chris Cooley) {Sleepers-Devin Thomas WR Redskins and Jeremy Maclin WR Eagles}

NFC NORTH: Vikings 11-5 Packers 9-7 Lions 7-9 Bears 6-10 Old Man Favre gets it done again only this year with a touch less flare (BTW Favre and Britney Spears are the only world-class divas that get away with Trucker hats and Sandals), Aaron Rodgers and the Pack disappoint as their defense crumbles, while Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson actually stay healthy enough to hang above 500% for most of the year. Cutler and the Bears are helped by a great defense who often gets tired defending on the their own goal line time after time as Cutler continues to give the ball to the other team just so he can attempt to gun it in comeback glory. (Stars of Division Adrian Peterson and Calvin Johnson) {Sleepers-Johnny Knox WR Bears and Toby Gerhart RB Vikings}

NFC SOUTH: Saints 11-5 Falcons 10-6 Panthers 8-8 Bucs 3-13 Drew Brees strikes me as the kind of guy who can produce back to back MVP like seasons as the Saints lead the NFC again, meanwhile Matt Ryan and Michael Turner bounce back enough to make the playoffs. Jimmy Clausen defies the odds by being a good ex-Notre Dame NFL player (wow is Brady Quinn bad) and I don’t see the Bucs being good at all…in fact to give them 3 wins was tough. (Stars of Division-Drew Brees and Michael Turner){Sleepers-Jimmy Clausen QB Panthers and Josh Freeman QB Bucs}

NFC WEST: 49ers 11-5 Cardinals 8-8 Seahawks 7-9 Rams 3-13 Alex Smith will finally stay healthy and protect the ball as he hands off to his stud back Frank Gore who will finally have the kind of running lanes he needs to be a #1 star back, Matt Leinart won’t be quite as bad people think, but he won’t have enough defense to get him above 500% either. Hasselback has his swan song season as he leaves with class but he loses too many close ones, and the Rams do their best Lions impression fighting for a few wins during an epically bad season. (Stars of Divison-Alex Smith, Justin Forsett, and finally Frank Gore){Sleepers-Michael Crabtree WR 49ers and Early Ducett WR Cardinals}

AFC

AFC WEST: Chiefs 9-7 Chargers 9-7 Raiders 8-8 Broncos 6-10 I got the exact order last year in this division correct, but this year it’s a bit tougher. The Chargers are talented but I hate the coach and there’s some drama on both sides of the ball so I have them taking a step back. My logic on the Chiefs is that they will control the ball so well with the two new guys in town (Charlie Weiss and Thomas Jones) they will find themselves in position to win a lot of games. I think the Broncos will show flashes and the Scrappy Raiders, on the backs of Michael Bush and Darren McFadden, will actually make it to 500% this year. (Stars of Division-Michael Bush, Ryan Matthews){Sleepers-Matty Cassel QB Chiefs and Jabar Gaffney WR Broncos}

AFC SOUTH: Texans 11-5 Colts 11-5 Titans 8-8 Jaguars 5-11 I just don’t see it with the Jaguars in any way this year, last year I predicted 6-10 and they went 7-9, this year I’m going even lower with 5-11. The Titans will stay at 8-8 again this year as they work out a defense that won’t be as good, and the running game can’t possibly repeat that kind of performance. As for the top two spots 11-5 sounds right for both. Last year I predicted a big jump for this very talented Texans team, maybe I was bit early they were in both Indy games last year and should’ve won one of them if not both. I think the Colts will show some age especially in that defense. (Stars of Division Andre Johnson, Matt Schaub, and Chris Johnson){Sleepers Donald Brown RB Colts and Jacoby Jones WR Texans}

AFC NORTH: Ravens 11-5 Bengals10-6 Browns 6-10 Steelers 6-10 The Ravens are loaded with talent, but that defense isn’t what it used to be. The Bengals actually have great balance in their roster and they were probably the best fit for a guy like T.O. I like them to have a nice consistent season, with Carson Palmer passing the ball a little better. As for the Steelers this will prove to be a lost season for them, once their QB went Kobe it was all over, they will show some flashes but ultimately a beat up defense and rusty offense will be too much to overcome. I like the Browns to make some progress as Holmgren gets this thing headed in the right direction. (Stars of Division Ray Rice and Joe Flacco){Carson Palmer QB Bengals and Jerome Harrison RB Browns}

AFC EAST: Patriots 11-5 Jets 9-7 Dolphins 8-8 Bills 2-14 The Bills will be really bad, like Godfather 3 bad. The Jets are clearly overrated and have way too many personalities floating around in that locker room to work, they will start sluggish and play catch up all year long. The Dolphins stay relevant but there are still too many spots on that team that have questions. My Pats are being overlooked again and that’s good if you’re a Pats fan (everybody knows New England teams play better with a chip on their shoulder), new additions at the TE and CB position prove worthwhile and Brady and Moss work their magic again. (Stars of Division Tom Brady and Randy Moss){Sleepers Chad Henne QB Miami and C.J. Spiller RB Bills}

Playoffs: NFC round 1: Falcons @ Cowboys/Eagles @Vikings. NFC round 2: Falcons @ Saints/Vikings @ 49ers. NFC Title: Saints Vs 49ers Champ-Saints
AFC round 1: Bengals @ Colts/ Chiefs @ Ravens. AFC round 2: Bengals @ Patriots/Ravens @ Texans. AFC Title: Pats Vs Texans Champ-Patriots
SUPER BOWL 45- Pats 41 Saints 38 MVP Tom Brady (one year late but still a great matchup)

I promise if this dream matchup of the Pats and Texans doesn’t work out this year I will stop picking it. Other scenarios that came close for me were Vikings vs Pats, 49ers vs Ravens, and Saints Bengals…but the Pats vs. Saints just felt right again. That’s it for 2010 Football preview as you see the NFL is all about Parody and that makes for a good season (unless you like the Bills, Bucs, or Rams)…so enjoy NFL 2010!

Bonus College Football Title Game-Alabama vs Penn St. (I would put Ohio St. in there but that schedule that is soft as Velveeta prevents me from giving them much due).