NFL Football Views

AFC East

yNew England Patriots (11-5) - New England will sorely miss running back Corey Dillon, who became a free agent after the end of the season and appears set to retire, but a new crop of wide receivers, including bombshell Randy Moss and late blooming Wes Welker, will help Tom Brady score the points to push them to the play-offs.
Miami Dolphins (8-8) - The Dolphins are hoping to rejuvenate the offense with new coach Cam Cameron and Trent Green, their second new quarterback in two years. With an ageing defense and Jason Taylor hinting at retirement last season, the Dolphins know it’s getting closer and closer to make-it-or-break-it time.
New York Jets (7-9) - Quarterback Chad Pennington is a solid player at his best but continually injury-ridden. With not too many changes from last season but Thomas Jones a key signing to upgrade the running game, the Jets will look to improve but do also face a tough schedule.
Buffalo Bills (5-11) - With quarterback JP Losman remaining mediocre at best, the Bills will miss running back Willis McGahee - departed to Baltimore. Rookie replacement Marshawn Lynch just won’t be able to carry the team to the top of one of the league’s toughest divisions.

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AFC West

*yzSan Diego Chargers (12-4) - The hiring of Norv Turner as head coach surely raised some eyebrows, but this Chargers team is too good for it to make too much of a difference. And after getting this to the Super Bowl last season, San Diego come back with fire in their eyes.
xDenver Broncos (10-6) - After the tragic death of cornerback Darrent Williams, the Broncos will have inspiration to boot this season - as well as loads of new signings and a solid defense to rely on. Quarterback Jay Cutler now has a season under his belt, so expect big connections between him and a solid receiving corps.
Kansas City Chiefs (8-8) - The Chiefs boast arguably the second best running back in the league, but with a weak quarterback in Damon Huard, expect defenses to key in on Larry Johnson more than in previous years.
Oakland Raiders (4-12) - Perennial losers Oakland will be aided by the addition of No1 draft pick JaMarcus Russell - assuming he eventually ends his contract holdout - but it won’t be enough to save the team from its fourth straight last-place in the division.

AFC North

yCincinnati Bengals (10-6) - After coming back from a devastating injury in early 2006, quarterback Carson Palmer continues to look better and better. A solid receiving corps provides him plenty of options. Provided that the defense steps up to the plate and the team stay out of jail, the Bengals should lead the division.
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) Replacing an “Old Faithful” coach like Bill Cowher can’t be easy, and the hiring of relative unknown Mike Tomlin raised more than a few eyebrows in Pittsburgh - though not as many as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s sub-par play last season. If Roethlisberger can get it together, running back Willie Parker and a consistent defensive unit should play their parts as well.
Baltimore Ravens (7-9) - Old-timer Steve McNair is far past his prime, but the loss of running back Jamal Lewis to Cleveland takes a lot of drama and only a little skill from the team. Baltimore’s defense always carries the team, and expect more of the same this year unless McNair returns to his Tennessee form.
Cleveland Browns (5-11) - The Browns were unbelievably lucky enough to pass on quarterback Brady Quinn in the first round of the draft and still be able to trade back up to get him with the 22nd pick. Expect to see improvement, but the rookie QB will need more time to make a concrete difference.

AFC South

yzIndianapolis Colts (12-4) - The Colts lost some key players this year, but the reigning Super Bowl champs are simply too good to let it affect them. After the departure of superstar running back Edgerrin James last year - a loss everyone thought would kill them - the Colts won the Super Bowl. The Colts again will be contenders for the AFC title. xJacksonville Jaguars (9-7) - With an iffy passing game but a dead-on runner in Maurice Jones-Drew, expect the Jags to pound it out even more this year. The consistently outstanding defense should help the offense in low-scoring games. Despite the questions on the passing game, Jacksonville has the talent to make the postseason. Houston Texans (6-10) - After head coach Gary Kubiak did quite a lot to turn around the team last year, the newcomers continue to join. The addition of quarterback Matt Schaub and veteran running back Ahman Green should help Houston turn around its perpetual losing streak, but in a division as tough as this, the best the Texans can hope for is third place. Tennessee Titans (6-10) - Last season Tennessee rode its way to an 8-8 record on the shoulders of quarterback Vince Young, who delivered the team’s only good showings. This season, expect defenses to focus more on Young, and with no other Titan on whom to rely, this season could see declines for the Titans.

NFC East

yzPhiladelphia Eagles (10-6) - The return of oft-injured Donovan McNabb to the team will have immediate effects, both on performance and morale. McNabb, as the leader of the team, will help them recreate the hunger for a championship they had during their 2005 Super Bowl run. As long as everyone stays healthy, the Eagles will make a deep run.
xNew York Giants (10-6) - Superstar running back Tiki Barber’s retirement will hurt the Giants deeply, forcing them to look to inconsistent quarterback Eli Manning and a new tag-team of novice running backs. With more pressure on Manning, look for him to step up and start making decisions as he has shown he can in flashes so far.
xWashington Redskins (9-7) - A normally stellar defense fell flat last year due to injuries and miscommunications, but look for it to turn itself around again with new recruits and a more focused approach from the coaches. Young quarterback Jason Campbell will need to step up big this year, but they should be back to something approaching their best.
Dallas Cowboys (8-8) - The big question for the Cowboys this year will be the performance of firecracker Tony Romo, who turned around the team’s season last year only to fall flat in the play-offs. New head coach Wade Phillips will attempt to harness the energy of a lacklustre defense, novice Romo and the headline-happy receiver Terrell Owens. If all the pieces fit together, look for a play-off run. If not, Dallas should be happy with .500.

NFC West

ySan Francisco 49ers (9-7) - The sleeper of the season, San Francisco’s young team is starting to grow up, and quarterback Alex Smith and running back Frank Gore can do nothing but improve with another season under their belts. Some key franchise moves in the off-season mean the Niners will be a force to be reckoned with this season.
Seattle Seahawks (7-9) - One of the better teams in the conference that just can’t seem to get it done, the Seahawks are on their last legs this year with veterans getting older every day. Should Alexander stay healthy, the Seahawks should make their presence known, despite a tough schedule in an increasingly tough division.
Arizona Cardinals (7-9) - Matt Leinart proved himself late in the season last year, setting franchise records for passing yards as a rookie. As long as veteran running back Edgerrin James can get some more carries this year, the Cardinals should improve - but just barely.
St Louis Rams (6-10) - The Rams offense continued to get better this season, with several quality receivers joining Pro Bowlers Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson on the scoring hunt. But a lacklustre defense means the team will only do so much - and with a particularly vicious schedule, the Rams need another year or so before they do any serious damage.

NFC North

yChicago Bears (10-6) - Despite reaching the Super Bowl last season, the Bears showed their weaknesses as they were dismantled by Indianapolis, and questions arose throughout the season whether they would ever win the whole deal with inconsistent Rex Grossman under center. An outstanding defense means they always will be a presence, but they could fall flat in the postseason.
Green Bay Packers (7-9) - Quarterback Brett Favre by now must be nearing the end of his reign in Green Bay, so once again it’s make-it-or-break-it time for the Pack. The departure of running back Ahman Green means there are few other offensive threats on the team, though, and Favre just can’t support the team by himself anymore.
Minnesota Vikings (6-10) - A new quarterback in an otherwise abysmal passing offense means rookie draft pick Adrian Peterson will have to be a miracle-worker for the team to go deep this post season, but a solid running game and good defense could be signs of things to come for the Vikings in a few years’ time.
Detroit Lions (5-11) - Wide receiver Calvin Johnson was a great pick for the Lions, but with no one but Jon Kitna to throw to him, Johnson can only do the team so much good. A struggling offensive line continues to haunt Kitna as sacks and giveaways overshadow his shining moments of success.

NFC South

*yzNew Orleans Saints (11-5) - A new coach, new quarterback and new running back took New Orleans on a storybook run last year, providing inspiration to their ailing city. The unparalleled offense is just getting better this year with several key signings to back up superstars Drew Brees and Reggie Bush.
Carolina Panthers (8-8) - After a string of injuries last season that deeply hurt the Panthers, this season brings a new quarterback in the form of David Carr and new offensive coaches who will look to turn things around. A strong defense helps the team’s case, but too many uncertainties don’t bode well.
Atlanta Falcons (6-10) - New head coach Bobby Petrino has a lot to prove with Atlanta this year, but Michael Vick’s personal (and legal) problems could put quite the crimp in his plans. New wide receivers Joe Horn and Laurent Robinson will help, but without anyone to throw it to them, the Falcons look set for another disappointing season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12) - Philadelphia favourite Jeff Garcia joins the team at quarterback, along with several other veteran players meant to guide coach Jon Gruden’s younger team. With several new players on offense, Gruden hopes he can finally reclaim the glory of his first few years in Tampa Bay, but this strung-together team doesn’t seem to be the way to do it - yet.

x: clinched play-off spot
y: clinched division title
z: clinched homefield advantage
*: clinched first-week bye

PLAY-OFFS

AFC
1 San Diego Chargers 2 Indianapolis Colts 3 New England Patriots 4 Cincinnati Bengals 5 Denver Broncos 6 Jacksonville Jaguars

NFC
1 New Orleans Saints 2 Philadelphia Eagles 3 Chicago Bears 4 San Francisco 49ers 5 New York Giants 6 Washington Redskins

WEEK 1

Wildcard Weekend

Cincinnati Bengals v Denver Broncos
WINNER: Broncos
The Broncos have something to prove after the issues of last season, so look to them to make a late play-off spurt.

Jacksonville Jaguars v New England Patriots
WINNER: Patriots
The Patriots aren’t going to let play-off hopes slip away so easily this year, so expect them to rout the wildcard game with a bang.

San Francisco 49ers v New York Giants
WINNER: Giants
The Giants know just making it to the play-offs no longer cuts it, so expect them to push their limits with a big game from Eli.

Chicago Bears v Washington Redskins
WINNER: Redskins
The Skins have a lot to prove after only mild success from Gibbs, and a floundering Bears team won’t have the passion to stop them.

WEEK 2

Divisional Play-offs
San Diego Chargers v Denver Broncos
WINNER: Chargers
The Chargers, after a week off, will stop the Broncos’ play-off dreams in their tracks with a quality display of football. New England Patriots v Indianapolis Colts
WINNER: Colts
In a priceless rematch of last year’s AFC Championship, the Patriots can’t beat the Colts’ talent after the defense stops Brady. New Orleans Saints v Washington Redskins
WINNER: Saints
The Redskins’ fire also can’t hold up to the packed Saints team, allowing Brees & Co. a relatively painless trip to the championship.

Philadelphia Eagles v New York Giants
WINNER: Eagles
The Eagles and Donovan McNabb take it to division rivals New York in a stomping that Eli’s defense just can’t handle.

WEEK 3

Conference Championships

San Diego Chargers v Indianapolis Colts
WINNER: Chargers
The reigning champs just don’t have the passion of newcomers San Diego, and LT is too much even for Indy’s defense.

New Orleans Saints v Philadelphia Eagles
WINNER: Eagles Philly pull a surprise win over conference favourite New Orleans when McNabb fits with his receivers for long touchdowns.

WEEK 4

Super Bowl Sunday

San Diego Chargers v Philadelphia Eagles
WINNER: Chargers
The Chargers want it this season, and they aren’t going to let anyone tell them they couldn’t have it. The power team of surprise hit Philip Rivers and the league’s leading rusher LaDanian Tomlinson will blow the team past anyone who tries to get in their way. This team is too skilled and too angry about last season’s 24-21 defeat to the Patriots to let it happen again.

We’re going to take a look at a game on Friday between the Baltimore Ravens and the Atlanta Falcons for all you sports betting fans.

The Atlanta Falcons responded this past Monday, which happened to be the day that Michael Vick pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, by beating the Cincinnati Bengals by 5 points in the Georgia Dome.

They put up 24 points against the Bengals in that one. Don’t expect the Falcons to come close to putting that many points up against the Ravens in this game.

The Baltimore Ravens are one of those teams that plays hard every down of every play — whether it be in pre-season or the regular season. The Atlanta Falcons defense is pretty awful and Willis McGahee, the new Raven’s running back, should feel good about shredding it a week and two days before the regular season starts.

This game amounts to little more than a work-out for the Ravens who are just a much better team than the Falcons.

The NFL betting line of -3.5 against the Ravens shouldn’t be a problem at all as the Falcons may take a step back four days after their emotional game versus the Bengals. They won’t be fired up at all to play against a Raven’s defense that will be going full throttle in this one.

To put things more in the Raven’s favor, Joey Harrington, the new Atlanta Falcon’s quarterback can’t afford to get hurt in the pre-season. Expect Harrington to play maybe two or three series while the Raven’s first team defense will play well into the third quarter.

The spread is 3.5 points against the Ravens. We pick the Ravens and we’ll try to pad the bankroll going into the regular season.

See my NFL Picks.

Preseason comes to a close this weekend, and so ends our willingness to let our resident picks expert take a pass. Jim Poore shares his thoughts on some more meaningless preseason games this week. Jim’s prognostications can be found on Patriots INsider each week. Think he has something to learn? Let him know.

It is the fourth and final week of the NFL preseason, and it is likely that everybody is ready to get things rolling. Me too. Preseason is meaningless, and so are my preseason predictions. I have already received some emails regarding last week’s picks, which shows the passion that fans really do have. But it is just that. Preseason. It is tough enough to pick the regular season games, let alone ones where most of the regulars hardly even play.

I am ready to take on all comers again this year, and emails with your thoughts and analysis are very welcome. I have taken a lot of playful abuse over the last couple of years, mainly due to jealousy of my football knowledge. That is understandable. However, it is not my fault that I happen to know more than you, and once again it will be proven this year. But that is part of the fun with this column. I will pick four preseason games this week, and then on to the regular season.

As always, home team in CAPS.

NEW ENGLAND 4 New York Giants
It is certainly a plus that Asante Samuel is now signed, but I still have some questions with the Patriots defensive backfield. That might be their only weakness though. They should be ready to roll, at least through the regular season. I am not so sure about the Giants. It looks like Michael Strahan is going to end his “retirement”, but I think the Giants’ offense is going to be the key, specifically Eli Manning. The Patriots should win this preseason finale though.
Patriots 20-13

MINNESOTA 1 1/2 Dallas
These two teams have a lot of issues, but being in the NFC is going to help. The Vikings just don’t have a lot of talent, but their weak division is going to be a factor. As for the Cowboys, I think they are overrated. I think they have issues on offense, defense and coaching. I think their defense will be good, but probably not enough to carry them too far. And new coach Wade Phillips has not had a lot of success, and he has had his share of chances. Still, take the Cowboys here, as they are the better team, preseason or not.
Cowboys 23-17

SAN DIEGO 3 San Francisco
I don’t seem to hear a lot of people talking about the Chargers in the AFC, but I think I know why. Norv Turner, plain and simple. He has had very little success as an NFL head coach, but he has so much talent in San Diego it might not matter. The Chargers are going to be a force in the AFC, and could very well go deep into the playoffs this year. The 49ers might well make the playoffs too. Defensive upgrades, a strong offense and mediocre division all play factors in San Francisco. They should be a team to watch. But don’t watch them this week.
Chargers 26-14

NEW ORLEANS 1 1/2 Miami
The Saints look to be pretty good this year, and being an NFC team, they could have playoff aspirations. They do have Carolina in their division, which should be their main competition. The Dolphins are a big question mark. An entire new coaching staff, and questionable talent on both sides of the ball. I think Trent Green will help, but not that much. Take the Saints here. Why not?
Saints 20-10