2009 Eagles Preview: I'll Be Doggone

NFC EAST
2. Philadelphia Eagles
Projected Record: 9-7

Offense: A-
Defense: C
Coaching: C

What’s new: If you thought the circus around Terrell Owens or Brett Favre was bad, you haven’t seen anything yet. How about the combined headaches of having Donovan McNabb AND Michael Vick on the same team. Also added through the draft was Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy. The Eagles lost a lot on defense through free agency and injuries.

What’s good: The offensive depth. If Brian Westbrook, who is the real key to this offense, gets hurt again then the Eagles actually have someone to replace him (McCoy). There are plenty of targets for McNabb to throw to, including but not limited to, Desean Jackson, Kevin Curtis and Maclin. Throw in the unknown of Vick, and the Eagles offense is better than last season.

What’s bad: The defensive mess. Why the Eagles let Brian Dawkins leave I will never know. He had two good seasons left in him. Huge mistake. The safeties no longer scare anybody and the linebackers are nameless. The loss of Stuart Bradley was treated as huge news, but Bradley wasn’t that good to begin with. The fact the Eagles are concerned about not having him is a terrible sign.

What to expect: Andy Reid can’t even manage to keep either of his sons out of prison. How can he possibly manage the eventual McNabb-Vick issues that are going to plague this team? The death of Jim Johnson, who was the Eagles best coach on the entire staff, is certainly not going to help Reid any. Like the Cowboys, there is too much talent on this team for it to be bad. However, there’s really no way a team with a weak defense and a weak coach can consistently win in the NFL. The Eagles and Cowboys are almost identical. The Eagles are a better team, which puts them two games ahead of Dallas in the projected standings.

2009 Cowboys Preview: Big Problems In Big D

NFC EAST
4. Dallas Cowboys
Projected record: 7-9

Offense: A-
Defense: C
Coaching: D

What’s new: The Cowboys shuffled pieces in and out. Terrell Owens is gone, which would have brought some sense of normalcy to Dallas except Roy Williams is currently filling the crazy wide receiver quota. Igor Olshansky was a good addition on defense, but Keith Brooking is well over-the-hill. Also new is the Cowboys stadium. After botching the original Texas Stadium by screwing up the roof, Dallas has botched their second attempt by building a multi-billion dollar stadium with basic engineering flaws. Like having a scoreboard that interferes with play. Brilliant! There is no off-position on Jerry Jones’ surgically-altered genius switch.

What’s good: Losing Owens’ talents and insanity is a push, but the offense is still very good. It remains to be seen if either Marion Barber or Felix Jones can make it through a whole season. If they can this team should do better than 7-9. The offensive line is still good. Jason Witten is an invaluable target. There are weapons outside of Owens.

What’s bad: The overall chemistry in the locker room. The state of that clubhouse has to among the worst in the league. Also bad is that Wade Phillips is still somehow the head coach. I’m shocked that Jones kept him in Dallas, but his continued presence on the sideline helps the rest of the division. On the field, the Cowboys linebackers and secondary are easily among the worst in the NFC.


Wade Phillips is smiling...and so is the rest of the NFC East.

What to expect: Anything really. There’s too much talent on the team to lose 10 games or more, but there are too many distractions as well. Phillips has no control over the many personalities on this team. This is also the wrong division to have major problems in the secondary and linebacking corps. Also, the one name not mentioned so far, is oh-for-January Tony Romo. Who knows what his mental or physical state is. Neither one is good enough for this team to amount much of a threat in a loaded division.

2009 NFC West Preview: Arizona's Division To Lose

Since I fell a little behind, we are going to fly through the NFC West. It’s ok, because the division really isn’t that interesting.

NFC WEST
1. Arizona Cardinals
Projected Record: 11-5

Offense: A
Defense: C+
Coaching: B

What’s new: Realistic expectations. This team had long been labeled a loser. But this is a team that was a few minutes from winning the Super Bowl back in February. The same is expected of them in 2009-10. The Cards added Bryan McFadden from Pittsburgh, and changed their offensive hierarchy after Todd Haley left to coach Kansas City.

What’s good: Other than the expectations, the offense is really, really good. Kurt Warner has at least one more good season left in him. Everyone knows about Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. The offensive line grew up in a hurry. And Edgerrin James is no longer in town to complain and take carries away from other backs.

What’s bad: With or without James, the Cards still haven’t found a suitable running back. It didn’t seem to bother them much last season, but they only had success in the playoffs because they committed to running the ball. Can they do that for 16 games this year? Defensively, while the back seven are good, the front four worry me. Teams can still gash Arizona on the ground.

What to expect: It’s easy to forget the Cardinals were a .500 team last season until January. Their Super Bowl run could easily be a fluke. However, they are in the perfect division. They don’t need to run a whole lot and other than Stephen Jackson, they don’t have to worry about dominant running backs. Plus, the other three teams stink. Six games against the West, and games against Green Bay and Detroit, give Arizona plenty of winnable games. They may give up a lot of points, but they can score plenty to make up for it.


2. Seattle Seahawks
Projected Record: 7-9

Offense: B-
Defense: B-
Coaching: C-

What’s new: Jim Mora Jr. comes in to replace Mike Holmgren. T.J. Houshmandzadeh gives the Seahawks their best receiver since Joey Galloway. Aaron Curry and Max Unger are instant contributors from the draft. All that, and hopefully Matt Hasselbeck getting healthy gives Seattle a new look this year.

What’s good: The offensive line is still one of the best in the NFL. The Hasselbeck-Houshmandzadeh combination has some potential. The defense is scary fast. It’s awful hard to pass on this group, which is important considering they get the Cardinals twice a year.

What’s bad: The defense is fast for a reason…they are also undersized. It is easy to beat this team on the ground. Their blitzes also don’t work well against the bigger offensive lines. Hasselbeck is now an annual injury risk. Julian Jones can’t carry the load as the starting running back. And I’ve never been fond of either Jim Mora, especially the younger one.

What to expect: The window of opportunity is basically shut on these Seahawks. The Cardinals have passed them by. The 49ers are on the way up. The offensive line is getting older. Hasselbeck is rapidly getting old. The defense can still cause fits because of their speed, but more and more teams are figuring out how to beat them. If it wasn’t for a favorable schedule, Seattle could be staring at a 4-5 win season. I’ll give them seven because the rest of the NFC West is at least a year away.


3. San Francisco 49ers
Projected Record: 6-10

Offense: C+
Defense: C
Coaching: C+

What’s new: A sense that things are going in the right direction. Mike Singletary hasn’t proven much in terms of X’s and O’s, but he has laid down the law by the Bay. He’s also named a starting quarterback, and it was the right choice.

What’s good: There are good pieces on both sides of the ball. This isn’t a cohesive team yet, but they are getting there. I like Frank Gore (despite the injuries), Josh Morgan, Patrick Willis, Justin Smith and Manny Lawson. This team just needs time to gel.

What’s bad: The offensive line is still below average. The defense still has way too many holes that need to be filled. It’s too late to do so this season. And the 49ers steal of a draft pick in Michael Crabtree, has yet to sign or report to team. That’s not going to take the pressure off Shaun Hill if Gore gets hurt again.

What to expect: Wait one more season 49er fans. This team is a couple of offensive lineman and maybe one impact defensive player away from being a threat to compete for a playoff spot in the NFC. Singletary needs a full year under his belt, the offensive line needs to mature, and the young defense has to play as a whole unit. Until these things happen, I can’t see San Fran doing any better than six wins.


4. St. Louis Rams
Projected Record: 3-13

Offense: C
Defense: D
Coaching: INC

What’s new: Steve Spagnolo, who could have had any coaching job a year ago, lost a little bloom and now has to settle for the rebuilding Rams. Torry Holt and Orlando Pace, two of the last links from “The Greatest Show on Turf” have departed, leaving this team virtually leaderless.

What’s good: Stephen Jackson is still a star player and the Rams line is good enough to help him put up yards. Jason Smith was a great draft pick, just what the Rams needed to replace Pace. Marc Bulger is competent quarterback if he’s not hurt.

What’s bad: Bulger is often hurt, and his backup this season is Kyle Boller. Ask the Ravens fans how that worked out. Quarterback issues aside, most of the questions center around a defense that can’t stop the run or pass. Just run down the starting lineup and tell me how St. Louis will get off the field this season. When rookie James Laurinaitis is projected to start at middle linebacker, that’s a real problem. He’s a NFL project in my opinion. The secondary and linebackers are among the worst in the league.

What to expect: Despite the lousy division, I don’t see much reason for optimism in St. Louis. The Rams are going to be competing with the Lions, Broncos and Bucs for the league’s worst record. Spagnolo has himself a major rebuilding project. If the Seahawks and 49ers are worse than expected, then maybe the Rams can double the projected win total. Anything more than that would be an absolute stunner.

2009 Panthers & Saints Preview: The Top Of A Crazy Division

NFC SOUTH
1. Carolina Panthers
Projected Record: 10-6

Offense: A-
Defense: B
Coaching: B

What’s new: Again, sorry for the infrequent updates, I’m without a computer until almost the beginning of the season. As for the Panthers, other than adding players through the draft, they basically stood pat in the off-season. This group still has a good nucleus, so that shouldn’t be viewed as a bad thing.

What’s good: On paper, this team looks like one of the favorites in the NFC (again). They have a two-headed monster at running back and a two-headed monster at receiver. They have two Pro Bowl offensive tackles. The defense is solid throughout, and it has depth. It’s a versatile group. They can blitz all day, or lay back and drop seven, and have success no matter what.

What’s bad: Two things. The first is the two-faced Jake Delhomme. Delhomme has the potential to throw for 300 yards and three scores, or throw 100 yards with three picks. Heck, he could throw for 300 and three in the first half and 100 and three in the second. The 34-year is extremely unpredictable. Despite a great running game, the Panthers always seem to win or lose based on Delhomme’s performance. The second is the psyche of a team that got drubbed in primetime last January against the Cardinals at home. Who knows if they have fully recovered.

What to expect: Once again, I may be overrating the Panthers. I seem to do this every season. I like John Fox, and I like the overall talent and depth on the roster. But like the Chargers in the AFC, the Panthers have become nearly impossible to predict because of their erratic quarterback play. A 10-6 record along with a division crown and a playoff win seems to be the safe bet for Carolina.


2. New Orleans Saints
Projected Record: 9-7

Offense: A
Defense: C+
Coaching: B

What’s new: The Saints tinkered with their lineup. Deuce McAllister is gone. Darren Sharper is added. Along with Sharper, Malcolm Jenkins joins New Orleans through the draft to try and shore up a poor secondary. Other than that, the Saints added depth players at certain positions.

What’s good: Most of the offense, which has the potential to be the best in the NFC. Drew Brees comes off an MVP-caliber season. There is no reason to believe Brees will regress much, if at all this season. Marques Colston and Devery Henderson give Brees two great targets (Robert Meachem and Lance Moore are no slouches either). The offensive line is one of the best in the league. On defense, Charles Grant, Will Smith, Jonathan Vilma and Sedrick Ellis bring plenty of talent to a unit that must improve.

What’s bad: Two years ago, McAllister and Reggie Bush headlined a backfield that was supposedly the scariest in the league. Now McAllister is gone, and Bush has yet to prove anything beyond breaking an occasional screen pass or punt return. And despite all the talent that exists on the defensive side of the ball, the Saints have been consistently bad in the past few seasons when it comes to stopping the opposition.

What to expect: Three seasons ago, the Saints made the NFC Championship. In the past two seasons they’ve been strictly mediocre. We know New Orleans will put up points, so it’s going to come down to the defense. Unfortunately, we’ve seen the Saints defense fail in clutch situations time after time. While I think the unit will be better, I don’t think it will be good enough. New Orleans will be scratching for a wild card berth.

2009 Falcons Preview: Back To Earth, But Not For Long

NFC SOUTH
3. Atlanta Falcons
Projected Record: 7-9

Offense: B+
Defense: C-
Coaching: B-

What's new: Firstly, my computer. I had this all written yesterday and then my computer decided to do it's annual crash. So this will be the second time I write about the Falcons. In terms of the new for the Falcons, they brought in Tony Gonzalez from the Chiefs, Mike Peterson from the Jags and they also used their entire draft on defensive players. That's eight players in all.

What's good: The offense as a whole. Matt Ryan was far and away the 2008 Rookie of the Year. Michael Turner, Michael Jenkins and Roddy White are outstanding weapons. The offensive line is still young, but they are a solid unit. That's the only reason the unit doesn't get an A grade.


Roddy White is part of a dangerous offense, despite getting a ridiculous raise in the offseason.

What's bad: The defense as a whole. Keith Brooking, who is on the downside of his career, bolted for Dallas. That leaves the Falcons with the same gaping hole that Tampa has after losing Derrick Brooks. Other than Peterson, John Abraham and Jonathan Babineaux, there isn't a whole lot that will scare the opposition. Have you heard of Brent Grimes? How about Stephen Nicholas? Or Thomas DeCoud? They are all starters on the defense, but they might as well be members of the chain gang.

What to expect: A trip back to Earth for the Falcons. Like Miami and Baltimore, this was a team that snuck up on everyone in 2008, and they won't have that ability in 2009. And like the rest of this division, they have to go through the NFC and AFC East in 2009. Last year they had a much easier time playing the NFC North and AFC West. The Falcons are set up well for success through the next four to five years...maybe even longer. They've done a great job rebuilding after the Mike Vick fiasco. This season will mearly be a speed bump on their road to success.

2009 Buccaneers Preview: Sinking Ship

NFC SOUTH
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Projected Record: 4-12

Offense: D+
Defense: B-
Coaching: INC

What’s new: Raheem Morris takes over for Jon Gruden as the head man. He brings in excommunicated BC head coach Jeff Jagodzinski to coach the offense who in turn brings in a lot of vowels to the staff. The Bucs also managed to acquire Kellen Winslow in a trade with Cleveland. They drafted Josh Freeman to take over for the departed Jeff Garcia. Tampa also loses longtime defensive leader Derrick Brooks.

What’s good: The defense, despite the loss of Brooks, is still a solid unit. True, a lot of the big names have retired or have been released. But this is still a fast and aggressive unit, and any team outside of the NFC South will struggle to put up points against them. Winslow gives whatever quarterback lines up under center a decent security blanket.

What’s bad: The offense is a mess. The problems start at QB. Freeman is competing for the starting job with Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich. Survival of the fittest will determine the winner, instead of talent. Whichever way Morris goes is probably not going to pretty. Morris is also a big question mark. He’s only 32-years-old. I know the trend recently has been to hire extremely young coaches, but Morris is not Mike Tomlin (who is an NFL-lifer). Morris has done most of his coaching in the college ranks. This is a huge step up for someone with virtually no NFL experience and zero experience as a head coach at any level.


At the time of publication, Raheem Morris will be younger than five players on his roster, including Ronde Barber.

What to expect: A new head coach, two new coordinators for the offense and defense, an unsettled quarterback situation, an average offensive line, a defense that doesn’t have its veteran leader, etc… All of these things add up to a team that is going to have a lot of trouble playing consistently week to week. They also play in one of the tougher divisions AND they have to play both the NFC and AFC East. The defense will be good enough to keep them in some ballgames, but this is a team that is going to struggle to find four wins.

2009 NFC North Preview: A Division In Shambles

Well, my week long vacation is upon me. So while I relax on the beach, I will not be posting daily previews. Instead, the combined AFC West and NFC North previews will have to be sufficient enough until I return. The daily previews should return Monday, August 24th.

NFC NORTH
1. Chicago Bears
Projected Record: 10-6

Offense: B-
Defense: A-
Coaching: B-

What’s new: Jay Cutler arrives from the Broncos, complaining all the way. Despite completely selling out his teammates in Denver, Cutler is a major upgrade at quarterback, a position that is very weak among the rest of the North teams. Other than Cutler, the Bears did little through free agency and even less through the draft (mostly because they gave all their picks to the Broncos).

What’s good: The gamble on Cutler should pay off. Especially in the North. One starting quarterback is Aaron Rodgers. The other two teams haven’t even named a starter yet. There is no more controversy in Chicago behind center. Cutler also brings balance to the Bears offense. No longer can teams key on Matt Forte, who had an exceptional rookie year. The defense, despite losing a step the last couple of years, is still one of the NFL’s most feared.

What’s bad: Cutler had Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal to throw to in Denver. He’ll have Devin Hester (who has never proven anything as a wideout), Rashied Davis, Earl Bennett and Juaquin Iglesias to throw to in Chicago. This is a major downgrade. The Bears safeties, which used to be one of the league’s best tandems, are now Craig Steltz and Kevin Payne. That won’t help a devolving defense.

What to expect: The NFC North is wide open. Getting Cutler gives the Bears the best quarterback in the division. They have the second best running back in the division. They have a good offensive line and a very good defense. These things usually add up to a division title. However, just because the Bears are the North’s best team, that doesn’t necessarily make them one of the NFC’s best teams. This is still a squad that would probably finish in 3rd or 4th place in either the NFC East or NFC South. They still have to play Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Minnesota twice. So the Bears are still looking at a maximum of 10 wins.


2. Minnesota Vikings
Projected Record: 10-6

Offense: B-
Defense: B
Coaching: B-

What’s new: Thankfully for 99.9% of the country, not Brett Favre. The Vikings fans should also be very happy about that. He would have done nothing but sink what could be an exciting 2009 season. You saw how well it worked for the Jets last seasons and the Packers before that. The problem is, the Vikings didn’t do much of anything in the off-season, and this was a team that couldn’t make it out of the first round of the playoffs. The status quo is not good enough for Minnesota.

What’s good: Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. With those two, the Vikings figure to have the best running game in the NFL. The Vikings defense continues its Jekyll and Hyde routine. They continuously are #1 against the run and near the bottom of the league against the pass. Still, they force plenty of turnovers and score their fair share of touchdowns.

What’s bad: The quarterback and receiver situation. The Tavaris Jackson-Sage Rosenfels combination pretty much assures the Vikings of not making the Super Bowl this season. Rosenfels is the better of the two and should start, but the Vikings may as well be making a choice between Kyle Boller and Tony Banks. Further complicating the passing game are the receivers. Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice are barely legitimate NFL #3’s. They are the starting wideouts for Minnesota. Percy Harvin does intrigue me, but it remains to be seen how Brad Childress will use him.

What to expect: Thanks to the division, the Vikings could win 10 games easily. I think their upside is much higher than the Bears. However, their potential for disaster, especially because of the quarterback situation, is also much greater. This is the same Viking team as last season. If they get a lead in a game, they can pound you to oblivion. If they get behind, they are almost helpless. Minnesota will probably keep pace in with Chicago, but they’ll have to settle for another one and done in January.


3. Green Bay Packers
Projected Record: 7-9

Offense: B-
Defense: B-
Coaching: C

What’s new: Basically the entire defensive coaching staff. Along with the new coaching staff, the Packers are switching from the 4-3 to the 3-4. Green Bay was non-existent in free agency and instead added a couple of components through the draft.

What’s good: The Packers have a good, but not great, starting lineup on both sides of the ball. There are enough weapons to keep the offense moving if Aaron Rodgers continues to progress. On defense, there are holes in each one of the units, but more than enough good players on the line, the linebackers and the secondary to camouflage some of the weak points.

What’s bad: The right side of the offensive line is basically untested and unreliable. Ryan Grant is a good running back, but he’s always injured. Expect more of the same from “Fred Taylor, Jr.” in 2009. Aaron Rogers showed only glimpses of being ready to start in the NFL. Most of his season was marred by terrible decisions. He should progress, but he may not be able to progress far enough until next season. Also, the Packers should not be switching to a 3-4 defense in a division with Adrian Peterson and Matt Forte. Good luck stopping those two with only three down-linemen.

What to expect: The Packers may have the league’s easiest schedule…otherwise they’d be looking a 5-win season. Look at the opening six games: Chicago, Cincinnati, at St. Louis, at Minnesota, Detroit and at Cleveland. Anything less than 4-2 would be an embarrassment. They don’t have to play Minnesota after November 1st. However, the Packers better be around 8-3 by the time they get into their final five games (Baltimore, at Chicago, at Pittsburgh, Seattle, at Arizona). Anything less than 8-3 would assure the Packers of not grabbing a wild card spot. I see them getting to that stretch at 7-4, then losing five straight to end the season.


4. Detroit Lions
Projected Record: 2-14

Offense: D-
Defense: D
Coaching: INC

What’s new: Matt Stafford has been drafted to save this franchise. If he can’t save it, Detroit fans would probably settle for a win or two. You know, nothing major. Jim Schwartz is now the head coach. Another blah hiring if you ask me. The Lions also added Larry Foote and Julian Peterson to their defense, which means only nine more players to go until the unit is respectable.

What’s good: At least Stafford gives the team some hope of the unknown. Calvin Johnson is a very good receiver. Foote should provide some sort of leadership to the defense. The logo change looks good! That’s something!

What’s bad: Everything else, and that’s too much to list here. Here are the cliffnotes. The offensive line is one of the worst in the league. The defensive line is one of the worst in the league. The secondary is one of the worst in the league. The running back situation is anyone’s guess. Maybe it’s Kevin Smith. Maybe it’s Maurice Morris. Stafford probably won’t start the season, and when he comes in, he’s sure to beaten to a pulp behind that line. Plus, there’s the 17-game losing streak hovering over the entire franchise’s head.

What to expect: I’d like to say there is some sign of a turnaround in Detroit. You know, something like Miami or Atlanta pulled off. But there are no signs that indicate that has any chance of happening. It’s going to be another awful, awful season in Motown. The Lions won’t go 0-16 again, but they won’t move out of the NFC North cellar, which in itself is pretty pathetic. I would say the Lions are AT LEAST three seasons away from being able to field a respectable team.

2009 AFC West Preview: Lightning Strikes On Top, Rest Of Division Has No Thunder

AFC WEST
1. San Diego Chargers
Projected Record: 11-5

Offense: B+
Defense: B
Coaching: D

What’s new: The Chargers get Shawne Merriman back from injury, but other than that there wasn’t much added in the off-season. A decent draft netted Larry English, who is a linebacker/defensive end hybrid.

What’s good: The big names are still here. LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson, Merriman, Antonio Cromartie, Quentin Jammer, Shaun Phillips, Luis Castillio, etc… If healthy, this is still one of the best teams in the NFL. They even made sure to re-sign Darren Sproles incase something happens to Tomlinson again.

What’s bad: They are never healthy. Injuries always cost this team a couple of games. Bad coaching and inconsistent quarterback play always cost them a few more. This is a team that should win 12-13 games every year without much problem. They will be lucky to get to the 11 that I predicted for them. The only reason they have had a sustained period of success is because the rest of the AFC West has been garbage.

What to expect: A division title, but they won’t get a first round bye and will have to win a playoff game in a cold-weather city. Which they won’t be able to do. As long as Norv Turner is the head coach, and Phillip Rivers is the quarterback, this team will never win a meaningful game. Despite having loads of talent, the Chargers are lazy, poorly disciplined and terribly coached. And if Tomlinson, Gates and the rest of the offense continue to suffer from nagging injuries, look for a repeat of last year’s 8-8 season.


2. Kansas City Chiefs
Projected Record: 8-8

Offense: B-
Defense: C
Coaching: INC

What’s new: A whole heckuva lot. First of all, the Chiefs did the smart thing by taking the one person away from New England that was primarily responsible for all their championships. They didn’t hire Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini or Josh McDaniels. They hired general manager Scott Pioli. Pioli was able to get Matt Cassel, which gives KC their best quarterback since Trent Green. They also got young stud Tyson Jackson in the draft.

What’s good: The offense at B- may be a little high…for now. But look what they have: Cassell, Larry Johnson, Dwayne Bowe and an offensive line that is basically rebuilt and much better. By the end of the season, B- may be a little low. Defensively they have a lot of young talent with Jackson, Tamba Hali, Glenn Dorsey and Derrick Johnson. They also added Zach Thomas and Mike Vrabel to keep the young guys in check. There’s a lot of raw talent here. It will be interesting to see what new coach Todd Haley does with it.

What’s bad: The secondary is still one of the worst in the league. After Bowe, the options for Cassel go downhill sharply. I like most of Pioli’s moves, but I’m not sure why he traded away Tony Gonzalez, who would have given Cassel a security blanket and made this offense legit. And there’s thing about raw talent is you don’t know how it’s going to react in a real game. That could be a good thing, but it could be equally as bad.

What to expect: If the Chiefs went 3-13, it wouldn’t surprise me. If they made the playoffs, it wouldn’t surprise me. I think this could be the dark horse team of the year. The Chiefs must beat Oakland on September 20th. They’re at Baltimore before that game, then have four straight against the NFC East. So if they lose to the Raiders, KC could be staring at 0-6. However, if the Chiefs manage to get to December anywhere near .500, they finish with five very winnable games (Denver, Buffalo, Cincinnati, at Denver and at Cleveland). The Chiefs have a new coach and he has a lot of young talent to play with. They are in an unpredictable division, so if Haley presses the right buttons, this could be a playoff team. We’ll call them 8-8 for now.


3. Oakland Raiders
Projected Record: 6-10

Offense: C
Defense: C+
Coaching: C-

What’s new: Could it be? Stability at Al Davis’ coaching position? Well, not really. But Tom Cable did have some success last season after being handed the reigns. He’ll probably get at least 16 games until he somehow upsets Davis. Other than that, the Silver and Black brought in Jeff Garcia to compete for the QB job. Garcia is still good enough to start in the NFL until he has a lousy season and proves otherwise.

What’s good: Potentially Garcia, if he’s allowed to start. Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas and Michael Bush form an interesting three-headed monster at running back. Darrius Heyward-Bey is signed, which actually makes Davis look smart for choosing Heyward-Bey over Michael Crabtree. The secondary with Nnamdi Asomugha, Michael Huff and Chris Johnson could be one the NFL’s 10 best by seasons end.

What’s bad: Davis is still in charge, and he still calls the shots from his office/crypt. Both offensive and defensive lines are bad. The offensive line has improved slightly, but only at the pace of Oakland and the rest of Western California drifting into the Pacific Ocean. Also, if Garcia really is too old, and JaMarcus Russell continues to be a bust, then there’s a serious quarterback issue as well.

What to expect: I said it in the Chiefs preview, and I’ll say it again in the Broncos preview: the AFC West is basically up for grabs. Since the Chiefs, Raiders and Broncos all play one another four times, if one of those teams manages to win all four of those games, then they have a chance to make some noise in the division. Norv Turner is still in charge in San Diego, so it’s not as if the Chargers have monopolized the division crown. The Raiders defense, at least the back seven, is good enough to keep them in ballgames. They have seven to eight very winnable games on their schedule, and they should be able to get five or six of them.


4. Denver Broncos
Projected Record: 3-13

Offense: C
Defense: D-
Coaching: INC

What’s new: The Broncos got rid of Mike Shanahan…but couldn’t find a suitable replacement. So they got stuck with Josh McDaniels as head coach. Lesson #1 as an owner or general manager: Don’t fire your head coach unless you are 95% positive you can find someone as good or better than he is. In this case, replacing Shanahan is impossible, and the Broncos didn’t even come close. Also, Kyle Orton is now the quarterback instead of Jay Cutler. Knowshon Moreno was a decent addition through the draft.

What’s good: This will be short. Brandon Marshall is still here. He’s very unhappy, but he’s still here. The offensive line isn’t all that bad. Brian Dawkins was also a good pickup for the secondary. He still has a couple of good seasons left in him and I think the Eagles will rue getting rid of him.

What’s bad: I’ll try to keep it short. The Orton for Cutler swap did not help the Broncos this season. Sure it gave them a whole lot of draft picks, but the QB position will take a major hit in the process. Which means the receiving tandem of Marshall and Eddie Royal, one of the few team strengths, may be wasted on this team. The Corell Buckhalter-Moreno backfield has potential, but Buckhalter is always hurt, and as of now, Moreno is unproven. Defensively, things are a mess. It was one of the worst in the league last season, and figures to be among the bottom of defensive units again.

What to expect: A lot of people are saying that Denver will still manage to win 6 or 7 games. In the AFC West, anything is possible. Other than San Diego at the top, the rest of the division is up for grabs. However, after tanking last season and having a mini-fire sale this spring, I don’t see how Denver got better. They got rid of a Pro Bowl quarterback (as whiny as he might have been) and didn’t address any of their defensive problems aside from signing Dawkins. Furthermore, the hiring of McDaniels will prove to be a big mistake. Just because he worked for Bill Belichick doesn’t make him Bill Belichick. I would have thought the disasters of Eric Mangini, Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis would have proven that by now. McDaniels is the reason Cutler is gone, the reason Marshall wants to leave and the reason that the rest of the team almost led a revolt against upper management. Not a good start and his team hasn’t even struggled on the field yet. Which in 2009, they most certainly will. This may be the team with the first pick in the 2010 draft.

2009 Colts Preview: One Last Gasp?

AFC SOUTH
1. Indianapolis Colts
Projected Record: 12-4

Offense: A
Defense: B
Coaching: INC

What's new: The Colts, one of the NFL’s best models of consistency, will be breaking in a rookie coach following the retirement of Tony Dungy. Jim Caldwell is now the head man. It will be interesting to see how the longtime Colts assistant steps in. If this story is any indication, it’s not going all that well.

What’s good: Despite the loss of Dungy, and the loss of longtime receiver Marvin Harrison, these are still the same old Colts. Peyton Manning is still here. So are Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. Odds are Anthony Gonzalez will step up in the hole left by Harrison. The o-line is still very good. Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Bob Sanders and Antoine Bethea are still impact players defensively. The key will be keeping everyone healthy.


Without his favorite coach, how long can Peyton Manning keep leading the Colts to the playoffs?

What’s bad: While the o-line is still one of the best in the league, its performance has slowly declined in the past two seasons. Is it a mere blip on the screen, or a serious issue of age and injury conspiring against the unit? This season will tell. Other than that, the only obvious weaknesses in Indy are the linebackers. Gary Brackett is above average, but Clint Session and Phillip Wheeler don’t do much for the defense.

What to expect: Yes, the window of opportunity is rapidly closing on this team. But it’s still open for 2009. This is still a team that should be good enough to reclaim the division title from Tennessee if they stay healthy. Heck, they are probably the favorites to knock off Pittsburgh in the AFC and still have to be at the beginning of any conversation on championship contenders. Remember, even with all their problems last season, they still finished 12-4 and were only a game behind the Titans. However, should the Colts suffer injuries like last season, they will be hard-pressed to make the playoffs. They simply don’t have the depth they once did and Dungy won’t be there to rescue them.

2009 Titans Preview: Missing Man In The Middle

AFC SOUTH
2. Tennessee Titans
Projected Record: 9-7

Offense: B-
Defense: B-
Coaching: A

What’s new: Some weapons for AARP member Kerry Collins. The Titans grabbed wideouts Nate Washington from the Steelers and Kenny Britt from the draft. They also added some much needed depth on the offensive line.

What’s good: The running attack. The Chris Johnson-LenDale White combination wears out opposing defenses, and was one of two main reasons for the Titans surprising 13-3 season. The right side of the offensive line is strong. The linebackers are in the top half of the NFL. The secondary is one of the league’s best. The kicking game with Rob Bironas and Craig Hentrich is one of the most reliable. Jeff Fisher is also a top five NFL coach.

What’s bad: Vince Young is still on the roster. I just have a feeling that at some point this season ‘Ol Vince will do something stupid and it will be a major distraction. And, if the 53-year-old Collins gets hurt, then that psychopath will be under center. Speaking of crazy, White may be a talented runner, but his mouth tends to run much better than his legs sometimes. Nate Washington may be a talented 3rd receiver, but he will be the #1 on Tennessee’s roster. Not sure if he can handle that. Finally, Albert Haynesworth defected to Washington. Other than the running game, Haynesworth was the other main reason that the Titans reached 13-3.


Could this man help sink the Titans in 2009?

What to expect: The Titans will be good, and another playoff run wouldn’t surprise anyone this season. However, I don’t think Tennessee will only lose three games as they did a season ago. If they manage to go 3-3 in their first six games that would be impressive. Look around this conference. The Steelers are still as good as they were last season. The Patriots get Brady back. The Colts, who were injured seemingly all of last season, get healthy themselves. The Chargers aren’t going to go only 8-8 again. The premier teams in the conference are better than Tennessee, or got better in the off-season, while the Titans didn’t do a whole lot. The AFC upgrade and the loss of Haynesworth should knock three or four wins from their 2008 total.

2009 Texans Preview: Worth The Wait

AFC SOUTH
3. Houston Texans
Projected Record: 9-7

Offense: B
Defense: C+
Coaching: C+

What’s new: A sense of optimism in Houston. For the first time since the Texans came into the league in 2002, they have a real chance to compete for a playoff spot. If it weren’t for the Chiefs (more on them later in the week), the Texans would be my ultimate AFC and NFL sleeper.

What’s good: Surprisingly, the offense. Matt Schaub has come into his own the last couple of seasons. Andre Johnson may be the second best receiver in the league behind Larry Fitzgerald. Steve Slaton, Kevin Walter and Owen Daniels are all great weapons for Schaub. Slaton had one of the greatest "under the radar" seasons in 2008. If he played anywhere other than Houston, he would have been considered for the Pro Bowl. The only reason I gave them a B is the offensive line. It struggled for the first 10 games last year. However, when the Texans went 5-1 in the last six games, the offensive line play was one of the main reasons. If they continue that improvement, the B grade will prove to be too low.


How under the radar is Steve Slaton? When I google-searched his picture, the first 10 photos were of him playing for West Virginia.

What’s bad: The defensive backfield. It’s atrocious. Dunta Robinson is the only decent player they have back there. And he gambles WAY too much. Nick Ferguson, at age 35, is one of the starting safeties. He hasn’t been good or healthy since 2005. And if you’ve heard of Jacques Reeves and Eugene Wilson, then you have way too much free time on your hands. Perhaps you would like to write for a blog? This one, maybe?

What to expect: This team has made strides since having their horrendous 2006 campaign. The offense will be scary good if Schaub is kept upright. The defensive front seven is young, but got better game-by-game in 2008, and will help keep the defense has a whole respectable this season. The schedule even gives Houston a shot at a great start. In their first seven games, the Texans host the Jets, Jaguars, Raiders and 49ers, and also have a road game against Cincinnati. A 4-3 or even 5-2 start is not out of the question. However, the Texans play in a loaded division and a loaded conference. The Colts and Titans are still better than Houston. And even though I think Jacksonville will struggle, they are still a dangerous team. The division is too good, and the Texans are still too young, to get a wild card birth this season.

2009 Jaguars Preview: Mixed Signals

AFC SOUTH
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
Projected Record: 5-11

Offense: C+
Defense: C+
Coaching: C

What’s new: This is a team in transition, so there’s a lot that’s new and there’s a lot that left. Torry Holt, Tra Thomas and several draft picks come in. Fred Taylor, Mike Peterson, Paul Spicer, Marcus Stroud and Matt Williams are out. The balance is negative for Jacksonville. They definitely lost more talent than what they brought in. They also lost leadership with Taylor and Peterson departing.

What’s good: Maurice Jones-Drew is one of the better backs in the NFL, and now he has his chance to be the primary ball-carrier. Check back in at the end of the season to see if the gamble paid off for the Jags. The offensive line, which broke down last season, got reinforcements through the draft.


The Jaguars uniform change goes into the "what's new" category, but not necessarily into the "what's good".

What’s bad: Jacksonville’s defense used to be one of the most underrated in the league. Losing Peterson, Stroud and Spicer in one off-season may be too much for a unit to take. Even though they added Derrick Harvey, the Jaguars won’t be able to count on their defense as much as they used to. In a division with Indianapolis, Tennessee and Houston, that’s not a good feeling going into 2009.

What to expect: It appears that the Jaguars wanted to start dumping salary and rebuilding from scratch. But they only went halfway. They dumped a lot of talent on the defensive end, but they still have Jones-Drew, David Garrard, John Henderson and a rebuilt offensive line. So it was as if someone in the front office started letting players leave, then looked at the roster, and said "wait a minute, maybe this isn't a good idea". However, the defense took too many hits. I’m not sure if I would want to play four games against the passing attack of Indianapolis and Houston, then two more against the running attack of Tennessee without three of the defense’s former star players. The Jacksonville defense won several games in the past, but they are unlikely to do so this season. The offense, while slightly improved, won’t be able to pick up the slack.

2009 Steelers Preview: Steel The Favorite

AFC NORTH
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
Projected Record: 12-4

Offense: B
Defense: A+
Coaching: A-

What’s new: As usual, the Steelers didn’t go through free agency to add pieces. They locked up their own stars and added depth through the draft. The 2nd round choice of Kraig Urbik could be a steal on the offensive line.

What’s good: Basically everything, starting with the ownership and moving down all the way to the practice squad. That defense, especially the linebackers, is the best in the league in my opinion. There is no weak area to attack. How anyone will be able to score 20 points against them is the rest of the NFL’s major dilemma.

What’s bad: The only question mark on the entire team is the offensive line. Ben Roethlisberger got hit way too much last season. Even though they got better as the season progressed, a questionable offensive line is always a problem in this league. Then again, that offensive line just won a Super Bowl.


The Steelers could win one more of these...before the salary cap disappears and they turn in to the NFL's version of the Pirates.

What to expect: Probably another Super Bowl run. This team is a prime example of how a franchise should be run. There is talent on both sides of the football. There is also depth on both sides for when injuries occur and for when some of Pittsburgh’s stars become too expensive to re-sign. The only issue other than the o-line is complacency. The Steelers had one of their worst seasons in recent memory after they won Super Bowl XL. If the line breaks down again, Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall get banged up again and if Big Ben gets bored again, there’s a chance this team could barely slip into the playoffs and be one and done. The odds on Pittsburgh winning the AFC North easily and coasting to at least the AFC Championship game are much higher.

2009 Ravens Preview: Sophomore Slump

AFC NORTH
2. Baltimore Ravens
Projected Record: 8-8

Offense: C
Defense: A-
Coaching: B

What’s new: Not a whole lot was added, but a lot was lost (more on that in a moment). The two most significant additions were Dominique Foxworth (meh) and Michael Oher (a great value pick late in the first round). Oher won’t be the next Jonathan Ogden, but he doesn’t have to be.

What’s good: I’m hesitant to put Joe Flacco in this category. Flacco did what most decent Ravens quarterbacks have done in the past few seasons: not lose the game. He rarely was asked to win it. Unlike Matt Ryan, who had a much better season with Atlanta, I think we need another year to see if Flacco is legit. Other than that, the defense is still one of the NFL’s best and the young offensive line is slowly coming together.


Joe Flacco and his one eyebrow hope to avoid a dropoff in year two.

What’s bad: The personnel around Flacco. Neither Willis McGahee, Ray Rice or Leron McClain are ready to be featured backs. McGahee is too brittle, Rice and McClain are incomplete runners, suitable for only one purpose (McClain for short yards and Rice for 3rd downs). Derrick Mason, at least for this week, is still playing. But at 36, he’s the best target for Flacco…and that’s not a good thing. There’s no one else for Flacco to throw to if Mason suffers another shoulder injury. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and several members of that Baltimore defense are all on the wrong side of 30.

What to expect: Like the Dolphins, the Ravens are due for a fall back to Earth. The league will have an entire of year of John Harbaugh’s schemes on tape, and Baltimore won’t sneak up on anyone. Also like Miami, the Ravens schedule gets drastically tougher this season. They got unlucky drawing the 2nd place schedule (New England and Indianapolis) instead of Pittsburgh’s 1st place schedule (Miami and Tennessee). More importantly, the Ravens failed last season because they were 0-3 against Pittsburgh. The Steelers certainly didn’t get worse in the off-season. The Ravens lost Rex Ryan, Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard. Finally, for the better part of the last decade, the Ravens seem to be up one year and down the next (a bad 2005 was followed by a great 2006, which was followed by a terrible 2007, which was followed by last year’s AFC Championship run). That trend, the schedule, the Steelers and Flacco’s return to the mean are all things that point to a .500 football team…if that.

2009 Bengals Preview: Losing Their Stripes

AFC NORTH
3. Cincinnati Bengals
Projected Record: 6-10

Offense: C
Defense: D-
Coaching: C-

What’s new: When the first answer is Laveranues Coles, and the year isn’t 2003, then there are some serious issues for a team that finished 4-11-1 last season. The other new addition may be a healthy Carson Palmer. Or maybe not.

What’s good: Palmer can still be pretty good if he manages to stay off the PUP list. It appears that he is heading into this season much healthier than the last two. With him, the Bengals stand a chance of spreading the field and operating their offense. Chad Ochocinco, who is one name change away from being like Prince, is still an effective receiver.


Any chance the Bengals had of ever being consistently good ended on this play.

What’s bad: Just about everything else. Even if Palmer is healthy, he’ll have a hard time staying that way with an anemic offensive line and an equally bad running attack. Cedric Benson, really? The defense was one of the worst in the NFL last year and unless Ray Maualuga is the next Lawrence Taylor, it figures to be at the same level again. Futhermore, Marvin Lewis is on the short leash this season. If the Bengals struggle out of the gate, then the players will quit on Lewis and he’s likely to be the first coach fired in the 2009 season.

What to expect: I think Palmer will bounce back, and he will play in the majority of games this year. I don’t think that will have much effect on the Bengals’ place in the standings. Both offensive and defensive lines are awful. The defense can’t get off the field, and without a running game, the offensive can’t keep them off the field. The only good news for Cincinnati is the early schedule presents two or three winnable games. If they don’t get early victories against the Broncos and Browns, that six win prediction may be cut in half.

2009 Browns Preview: The Cleveland Browns Lay A Great Pumpkin

AFC NORTH
4. Cleveland Browns
Projected Record: 4-12

Offense: C
Defense: D
Coaching: F

What’s new: The most notable is the coaching staff. Unfortunately, it’s Eric Mangini who is charge. After having players quit on him and after mismanaging the Brett Favre situation with the Jets, Mangini somehow duped another franchise into giving him a chance. Mangini still has the marginal talent that was left by former co-worker Romeo Crennell.

What’s good: Well, the Browns have two quarterbacks that are better than serviceable. Personally I like Derek Anderson way more than Brady Quinn, who will never amount to anything more than an average NFL QB. It looks as if Cleveland is going with Quinn to start the season. The offensive line, at least the left side of it, is also pretty good. Defensively, Shaun Rogers can put his claim in of being one of the best nose tackles in the game.


DO NOT START THIS MAN!

What’s bad: The Browns have two quarterbacks, which means they really have none. I see at least one quarterback change coming during the season…if not more. Jamal Lewis as the premier running back is a mistake. Forget having serious miles on him. His odometer broke off long ago. Braylon Edwards is still a very good target, but will be doubled-teamed all year after the Browns traded away Kellen Winslow. Other than Rogers and D’Qwell Jackson, the defense doesn’t have much on it.

What to expect: Unless Edwards stops dropping passes at an alarming rate, and unless one of the quarterbacks has a phenomenal year (not impossible since Anderson did have a good 2007), the Browns are going to be awful. They will be hard-pressed to compete with Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the North. They may have the worst coach in the NFL. They may have one of the three or four worst defenses in the NFL. For a franchise that was so close to being a contender two seasons ago, it’s almost shocking to see how far the Browns have fallen.

2009 Patriots Preview: Knee-Jerk Reaction

AFC EAST
1. New England Patriots
Projected Record: 11-5

Offense: A-
Defense: B-
Coaching: A

What’s new: Tom Brady’s left knee…or at least the Patriots hope that’s the case.

What’s good: Assuming that Brady is close to what he was in 2007, the offense should still be very dangerous. Throwing Laurence Maroney down the depth chart is the right move for New England. I’d rather have Sammy Morris as my starter. They still have Randy Moss and Wes Welker for Brady to throw to. So the targets are there. The majority of the offensive line can still play at or near a Pro Bowl level.

What’s bad: The Pats are the favorites in this division, but they are far from what they were two years ago. First off, Father Time has really caught up to this team. Richard Seymour, Tedy Bruschi, Shawn Springs (yes…that Shawn Springs), Adalius Thomas, Matt Light and Steven Neal are all expected to start and all well past 30. The defense has depth, but they don’t have a lot talent in the secondary or on the left side of the linebackers. And if Brady gets hurt again, there’s no more Matt Cassel. It will be up to Kevin O’Connell. I’ll give you a few minutes to wikipedia him since I know unless Bill Belichick is reading this, you haven’t heard of O’Connell.


Bill Belichick's reaction upon learning another Patriots hidden-spy camera was discovered by the NFL.

What to expect: The season will come down to Brady’s knee. It’s safe to assume that Brady will never be the quarterback he was two seasons ago. It wouldn’t be surprising if Brady never comes close to being that quarterback again. Knee reconstruction is one injury that is almost impossible to ever recover from. It typically takes 15-18 months before the knee is physically ready. And it usually takes much longer for the person that knee belongs to, to be mentally and emotionally ready. Carson Palmer tore his ACL in January 2006, and he is nowhere close to what he once was. If Brady stays healthy, the Pats should be good enough to win the division and maybe a playoff game. If not, then all bets are off.

2009 Bills Preview: Same Migraine, Different Location

AFC EAST
2. Buffalo Bills
Projected Record: 9-7

Offense: B+
Defense: C+
Coaching: D-

What’s new: Um, have you heard of Terrell Owens? I’m required by NFL mandate to mention Owens as soon as I mention the Bills. In fact, by this time next year, there’s a good chance that the Bills will be renamed the Buffalo Owens (or Toronto Owens). Also new: the lack of a quarterback controversy. What gives?


Sure the Bills as a team have slowly gotten better. But what about T.O.? Have you heard about T.O.? I need more T.O.!

What’s good: Well, the lack of quarterback controversy for one. Finally releasing J.P. Losman to go play in the UFL allows Trent Edwards and the rest of the Bills to finally know who the starting quarterback is. Owens traditionally helps his new team in year one before becoming a destructive force in year two. Along with Owens, the Bills have Marshawn Lynch, Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish for Edwards to play with. So there are a lot of weapons. Marcus Stroud on the defensive line was a great addition, and with Aaron Schobel, Paul Posluszny, Kawika Mitchell and Terrence McGee, there should be a bevy of playmakers on that side of the ball.

What’s bad: Dick Jauron is still the head coach. After the Bills got off to a hot start last year, the Wilson family decided it was time for an extension for Jauron. Bad move. The team tanked almost as quickly as the ink dried on the contract. Jauron is an even weaker version of Wade Phillips, so the Jauron-Owens relationship should be a doozy. The Bills line is young and getting better, but is not NFL-ready yet. Edwards better be ready to take some more shots this season. And despite the playmakers on defense, the Bills still have a lot of holes to fill on that side of the ball. The safeties are very weak and there is no depth anywhere on defense. One or two injuries, and this team will be right back to giving up 24 or more points a game.

What to expect: If the line holds, this offense should be fun to watch. Like the Jets, the Bills won’t be able to ease into their schedule. They get to play all three division teams at home late in the season, but that means they’ll have to play all three on the road before their bye week. So that late season home-field advantage may not mean anything. There are too many question marks on the offensive line and defensive backfield for them to be consistent. A 9-7 record seems about right.

2009 Dolphins Preview: Ground Control To Major Tom

AFC EAST
3. Miami Dolphins
Projected Record: 7-9

Offense: B-
Defense: C
Coaching: C

What’s new: Not a whole lot. The Dolphins bring back Jason Taylor, and add Vontae Davis through the draft. That’s a couple of nice pickups. Drafting Pat White is also an interesting move, but something tells me he won’t see the field a whole lot this season.

What’s good: The offensive line, which managed to keep Chad Pennington off his back and the wildcat offense up and running. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams managed to be a decent 1-2 combination in the backfield. Plus the defensive front seven is solid, and the coaches use them correctly.

What’s bad: Ted Ginn Jr. is the team’s number one receiver. Not good. The Dolphins still employ both Jason Allen and Will Allen to man the corner positions. Was Tim Allen not available? He’d probably be better. Furthermore, an injury to the brittle Pennington means that either White or Chad Henne will be taking snaps in an NFL game. Yikes!


An injury to Ronnie Brown and/or Chad Pennington means a Williams-Henne combo could be in store for Miami.

What to expect: Let’s be honest, Tony Sparano and the Dolphins had a remarkable 10-game turnaround last year. It was a great story, but they were also very lucky. First and foremost, they didn’t have to worry about Tom Brady, who is the execution axe hovering over the entire division this season. Secondly, they relied on the wildcat offense way too much last year. Yes, Miami caught lightning in a bottle and caught the rest of the league with their pants down. But if you give a NFL defensive coordinator an entire off-season to figure out a gimmick, they usually come through. I guarantee you that was priority number one this spring for every defensive coordinator on the Dolphins schedule. Speaking of schedule, Miami has a brutal one. Last year they had one of the NFL’s easiest. They start this season at Atlanta, home against Indy then at San Diego. The likelihood of 0-3 is high. Also, from Novermber 1st to December 20th, six of their eight games are on the road. That includes contests in New England, Carolina, Buffalo and Tennessee. The Dolphins are going to come back down to Earth this year. If anything, 7-9 may be too generous.

2009 Jets Preview: At Least Favre Is Gone

So here we go…season number 5! We’re going to try the NFL previews a little bit differently this season. We’ll go one team a day for the next few weeks (although I do have a couple of vacations planned…so maybe a whole bunch of teams in one day in the near future). We begin in the AFC, starting in the East, and we’ll go through the teams in ascending order. So even though the Jets shouldn’t be good in 2009, they get to be first on the ol’ Predictor page.

4. New York Jets
Projected Record: 6-10

Offense: D+
Defense: B-
Coaching: INC

What’s new: Rex Ryan comes over from Baltimore to be the head coach. He brings with him two former Ravens in Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard to help solidify the defense. Oh, and no Brett Favre. Favre was too busy doing his annual “who loves me” dance, and the Jets answer was a clear “not us” (thankfully). New York drafted Mark Sanchez to be his replacement.


Brett Favre left the Jets, but it would be even better if he just crawled into a hole and left the rest of the country in peace.

What’s good: The swap of Sanchez for Favre may not be great right off the bat, but it will be a great move for the Jets sooner rather than later. It appeared that New York would be screwed at quarterback for the foreseeable future after ridding themselves of the adequate Chad Pennington and the gamble on Favre failed miserably. But the Jets bet the farm on Sanchez, who will prove to be a better quarterback than #1 pick Matt Stafford. Also good: a solid defensive unit. The linebacking corps is deep and the secondary is in the top half of the NFL.

What’s bad: For starters, the schedule. The Jets begin the season with this: at Houston, New England, Tennessee, at New Orleans and at Miami. Houston will be much better than anyone expects, New England and New Orleans should return to form and Tennessee and Miami just got done making the playoffs. A 1-4 start would not be surprising. And despite the fact that the Smith-Ryan and Harbaugh-Flacco combinations did very well last season, a rookie head coach and rookie quarterback tend not to fare well in the NFL. I look at the 2008 season as the exception to that rule. Also, the offense lacks a true playmaker without Laveranues Coles and all four starters on the defensive line are huge injury risks.

What to expect: The AFC East is much better this season than it was last. The Jets missed their opportunity last year when Tom Brady was hurt and they got off to a hot start. On top of six games against a tough division, the Jets have to go through the NFC and AFC South, which are both tough divisions in their own rights. I see this team getting off to a poor start and never recovering.