Before getting to my predictions a lot of teams and story lines intrigue the hell out of me. I'm definitely teetering between considering myself a bigger fan of the Patriots or of the NFL in general. At the moment I think the latter is winning out. A combination of having seen titles in my lifetime, witnessing a few straight terrible drafts, BB making crappy transactions or lack thereof in other cases, and gambling/fantasy/survivor/blogging/CFL makes being a fan of the league more appealing. I mean I get it BB, why would you want to improve your team around a top 10 NFL player of all time still in his prime, instead please keep trading back in the draft and passing up on impact players. And by all means play hard ball with players who will help you compete for Super Bowls.
In no particular order I find myself really interested in watching the following teams and would like to see them do well
- 49ers - You all know the boner this franchise gives me. It'll be good to see them playing in January again. How can you not like Singletary either?
- Packers - When you hate Favre as much as me, it's really easy to pull for Rodgers & Co. I was going to throw a ton of money on them to win the SB but their odds fell from 11 to 1 down to 8 to 1 in Vegas, guess I wasn't alone. Still tossed $20 on 'em anyway.
- Chiefs - The Patriots-West. Charlie Weis may be a fat-ass crappy college coach but he calls a good offense. That and I got Charles in two leagues.
- Eagles/Redskins - Reid completely made the right decision, it's time to roll the dice with Kolb with all that young talent but man, trading McNabb to the 'Skins... will be crazy.
- Raiders - I'll admit, their Defense and lack of JaMarcus has me wondering if they can approach .500 or better with their soft schedule (play the NFC West this year)
- Texans - I feel for the former Oiler fans who haven't seen a playoff game since 1993.
- Jets - Yeah, yeah, yeah we always hate the Jets anyway this isn't earth shattering. The thing is I'm beginning to become jealous of how they choose to approach player transactions (it doesn't help that Felger drives this point home every day on my car ride home). They trade up in the draft to take big time players, open their wallets to top shelf talent, and have a fuck you attitude. What's not to like about that? Would be nice to shut em up and hold them off another year.
- Dolphins - Quick how many teams have won a Super Bowl with a complete pussy ass diva WR instead of lunch pale guys who just do their thing? Quick, quick, quick rack your brain!!! Answer: Two. 2002 Bucs had Keyshawn Johnson who really wasn't all that instrumental in their success and the 2007 Giants had Plaxico Burress (If you said Michael Irvin smash your face into the ground for heresy. The playmaker was flamboyant and eccentric, but no diva). So don't count me in the group who is giddy to see Brandon Marshall in town. For all the hype you hear around Chad Ochocinco, TO, Marshall, Randy Moss, or any other prima donna wide receiver the fact is all they do is flap their gums and put up regular season stats... it's all they care about. Now Ochocinco is a harmless diva but Marshall has some big time problems. It's very disturbing that deceased former teammate Darrent Williams was murdered by people who intended and thought they were firing at Marshall. Have fun Dolphins fans.... it ain't gonna end well.
- Colts - Duh.
- Cowboys - Enough already we know they are hosting the Super Bowl. Guess what, the mothafuckas ain't going to be there. Talk about a franchise who, in recent years, walks with their chests out while having accomplished jack shit. The roster does look good, I'll admit that much, but I'm not throwing my chips anywhere near the center with Romo and Phillips as my QB and Coach.
- Vikings - Another year of the media Brett Favre circle jerk. I'll save you the drama. He has some gun slinging moments where he throws an under hand pass and Jon Gruden creams his pants in the booth, they win some games, maybe approach last year's success, then when it all matters Favre will brown out his pants and subtly avoid all blame in post game and any other interviews down the road. The media will make excuses and Sportscenter will cover it 24/7.
Quick Example:
2008 Division Winners: Dolphins, Steelers, Titans, Chargers, Giants, Vikings, Panthers, Cardinals
2009 Division Winners: Patriots, Bengals, Colts, Chargers, Cowboys, Vikings, Saints, Cardinals - 3 of 8 were the same
2008 Playoff Teams: AFC: Titans, Steelers, Dolphins, Chargers, Colts, Ravens. NFC: Giants, Panthers, Vikings, Cardinals, Falcons, Eagles
2009 Playoff Teams: AFC: Colts, Chargers, Patriots, Bengals, Jets, Ravens. NFC: Saints, Vikings, Cowboys, Cardinals, Packers, Eagles - 6 of 12 were the same
2008 Conference Championship Games: Steelers vs Ravens, Cardinals vs Eagles
2009 Conference Championship Games: Colts vs Jets, Saints vs Vikings - Entirely Different
2008 Super Bowl Champion: Steelers
2009 Super Bowl Champion: Saints - Neither team was a huge stretch but we weren't exactly expecting them to be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy either.
So here goes... try not to predict based on 2009 results but don't be a complete dildo and pick a Browns-Lions Super Bowl either. Let's walk this fine line.....
AFC East
1st. Miami Dolphins - The AFC East has a brutally tough schedule this year. They play the AFC North and NFC North. The two strength of schedule games is what I feel determines this very tight division. The Patriots play Indianapolis & San Diego, the Jets play Houston & Denver, while the Dolphins play Tennessee & Oakland. I think this plays out a lot like 2008 where the Dolphins just scrap out enough wins to find themselves at 10-6 come season end. Two points to make on Miami.
- I was talking to Nagle last night and he was scared about the Bills game for obvious trap reasons. When I told him I figure Miami pulls away in the 4th quarter and wins 24-13 or so, he said he didn't care if the final was 3-2, just wants the win. This is exactly their philosophy right through to Sparano. Who the hell cares what the score is just keep winning. I wouldn't be surprised if they finish 10-6 and their PF/PA is close to 0. No style points with these guys.
- Remember, in 2007 the Dolphins went 1-15. The 2008 record of 11-5 was a bit inflated. The schedule was very easy that season. The 2009 step back was predictable. It was probably one of the strongest 7-9 seasons (had the Saints and Colts both on the ropes but blew each game) I've seen and injuries aside it was probably a better team in 2009. Sometimes you have to take one step back before you take two forward. The 1993 Patriots went 5-11 and were among the crummier teams in the league. In 1994 they came out of no where to rip off a winning streak and go 10-6 while making the playoffs for the first time in a long while. We all figured 1995 would be a coming out party but they had injuries and took a step back going 6-10. 1996 turned out to be that party with an 11-5 record and Super Bowl berth. Both those Pats and these Dolphins got the Parcells connection going on... hmm....
3rd. New York Jets - I like Rex Ryan's attitude, I love the way they sign their own impact players, I love the swagger, I really love the bamboozle job they did in getting Holmes for a 5th rounder, I like the Cromartie acquisition (17 illegitimate kids and all), I'm not crazy about signing LT the washed up dingleberry, and lastly how can you not love the defense. You're thinking, "Really, Joe, 3rd place, wtf is up with that?"
There are a few things that are going to hold the Jets back. First off, the expectations on Mark Sanchez are completely too high and unachievable. In year two he is still going to struggle at times and flat out lose a game or two for you. It's simply part of the growing process. If this team's expectations were 10-6 and they were under the radar a bit (like the Dolphins) I'd feel better, but they aren't. From Hard Knocks to the countless Super Bowl predictions the bar is wicked high for the Jets. I also think Shonn Greene is injury prone. I don't think they will be able to give him the same number of carries that Thomas Jones was able to provide. If they need to run the rock with LT for a 2 or 3 game stretch this season it's going to end up falling on Sanchez's shoulders. He's a QB that will be most effective throwing 20 passes a game or so, not 40. Lastly, could the Jets have a bigger X on their backs going into this season? To boot the Jets open the season with Baltimore, New England, Miami, Buffalo, Minnesota, Denver, Green Bay. I don't think a 3-4 or 2-5 start is out of the question.
4th. Buffalo Bills - I can tell this blog is going to be long enough as is, let's not spend any time on the Bills. Mark them down for a top 5 pick in the 2011 draft.
AFC North
1st. Baltimore Ravens - For the first time in 76 years (more like 14), the Baltimore Ravens will have a better offense than defense. I like that Flacco has already gotten his sea legs with a pretty impressive 3-2 playoff record to start his career. Couple that with the addition of Anquan Boldin (ugghhhh at least Taylor Price should make a huge impact for the Pats this season, oh wait), the studliest of running backs in Ray Rice, and I think we are looking at a team who scores 400+ points and wins the AFC North fairly easily.
2nd. Pittsburgh Steelers - Had Big Ben not gone out and unleashed his shlong then allegedly rape a girl, I'd have picked the Steelers to bounce back big time in 2010. Much like the Patriots losing Rodney Harrison in 2005, the Steelers (even moreso) were porked without Troy Polamalu. Now that the long haired, soft spoken, animal is back that defense should be flying around again.
Nonetheless it all comes back to Roethlisberger really letting this franchise down. I can't say it any better than Glassman in his predictions, "Remember when Manning missed the preseason in 08? He was bad for like 6 or 7 games before he got going. Big Ben is going to miss 4 games before he even gets to start. Too much to overcome."
3rd. Cincinnati Bengals - The offense is relying on a noodle armed QB, a couple of crazy receivers, a trouble making running back, and a rookie TE. They will NOT go 6-0 in the division again. Mark them down at 8-8.
4th Cleveland Browns - It's really too bad Hardesty went down for the year, he looked sick in the 4th preseason game before he got hurt. Mangina won't make it beyond this season, but at least Holmgren is calling the shots - I would think they become competitive in the next 2 or 3 years.
AFC South
1st. Indianapolis Colts - The other team I threw money on in Vegas. The over under on wins was 11.5 and the over paid +170. It would totally be my luck that the Colts crap out once I put money on them but doesn't 12 or more wins seem like an absolute mortal lock?
I think it's about time that this is now accepted as fact.... Peyton Manning is the greatest regular season quarterback of all time. Is this even debatable anymore after 2009? He was an artist out there. Every close game he came through. Manning pretty much runs the offense (and quite possibly more than that). You can put him down for a 13-3 record, 4,000+ yards, and 30+ TD's. Sure he's had a good team around him but there is no debate or comebacks to be made, the man is the greatest regular season QB ever, period. Part of me thinks Favre continues to play so that Manning might not break all his records - ain't happenin' Brett. Mark it down, come 2016 or 2017 when Manning hangs them up he'll have smoked all of Favre's records.
Now are the Colts approaching the greatest regular season run in NFL history?
2003-2009: 12-4, 12-4, 14-2, 12-4, 13-3, 12-4, 14-2 - Total 89-23 (.795 win %)
Here are a few more 7 year runs:
Patriots (2001-2007) 11-5, 9-7, 14-2, 14-2, 10-6, 12-4, 16-0 -- Total 86-26 (.768 win %) *If you actually go from 2003 to 2009 the Patriots are 1 game better but then you are cutting out a Super Bowl year... I just can't acknowledge it that way
49ers (1984-1990) 15-1, 10-6, 10-5-1, 13-2, 10-6, 14-2, 14-2 -- Total 86-24-1 (.779 win %)
49ers (1992-1998) 14-2, 10-6, 13-3, 11-5, 12-4, 13-3, 12-4 -- Total 85-27 (.759 win %)
Steelers (1973-1979) 10-4, 10-3-1, 12-2, 10-4, 9-5, 14-2, 12-4 -- Total 77-24-1 (.755 win %)
Quick, what's the difference between the Colts 7 year run and all these other teams? Yup, you got it 1 Super Bowl title vs multiple titles (You didn't think I'd just praise the Colts here did you?)
2nd. Houston Texans - I'm surprised there isn't a bit more hype around the Texans. The offense is going to score a ton of points again with Schaub, Johnson, Foster, Jones, Walter, and Daniels once his knee is good. The defense has quite a few playmakers in Mario Williams, Brian Cushing, DeMeco Ryans, Bernard Pollard (just puked), and rookie CB Kareem Jackson. Mark them down at 10-6.
3rd. Tennessee Titans - I don't like teams that can't pass their way back into a game. If the Titans fall behind by 10+ points I'm sticking a fork in them 9 times out of 10. They need to get ahead in games they play. It reminds me a lot of the 2009 Dolphins. They will be competitive in every game but Manning will have a few game winning drives at their expense while VY won't be able to answer in the reverse situation.
4th. Jacksonville Jaguars - Calling it now. The Los Angeles Jaguars (or potentially a name change) will begin play somewhere around 2013. What a lousy NFL city, what was the league thinking granting them a franchise over Baltimore, St. Louis, or Tennessee who also put in bids at the time?
AFC West
1st. San Diego Chargers - Losing the horribly overrated (at least the past 2 or 3 years) LT (and the painful obligation to give him 20+ touches when he didn't deserve 10), playing their division in 6 games + the NFC West = a pretty sick season. If they don't clinch the division by week 12 I'll be shocked.
Another thing worth noting is that travel tends to be brutal for west coast teams since the majority of the NFL lies on the east coast. Since the Chargers are playing the NFC West they won't have those short week cross-country flights. Look for them to challenge for the #1 seed.
Speaking of cross country flights the Patriots fly to San Diego this season, mark that L down already.
2nd. Oakland Raiders - I don't know why but I think the Raiders could be pretty good this year. Maybe the law of averages and sucking so putridly for 7 years has made me delusional about their potential turn around... almost as if they're just due because you can't suck this much forever?
Remember the best 7 year runs I listed above? Let's check out the Raiders from 2003 to 2009:
4-12, 5-11, 4-12, 2-14, 4-12, 5-11, 5-11 -- 29-83... Goooood.... Lorrrrrd!
3rd. Kansas City Chiefs - If Charlie Weis can make something of Cassel I think the Chiefs could turn around fairly quickly. There is a LOT to like about the roster. Jamaal Charles is a stud, Thomas Jones is the perfect compliment, Ponch has informed me that Dwayne Bowe attended Fitz's offseason camp and lost 30 lbs (look for a big year from him), they drafted McClusterfuck & Tony Moeaki, and this is just on offense. Then on defense Eric Berry has been compared to Ed Reed and fellow rookie Kendrick Lewis may be starting at the opposite safety position. I'm sensing another crappyish 6-10 year, but come 2012 or so they should be fighting for a wild card spot.... that is unless they have to start over at QB.
4th. Denver Broncos - Hmm so I'm not quite sure where Josh McDaniels is going with this. He's turned Cutler and Marshall into a pu pu platter of Kyle Orton/Brady Quinn/Tim Tebow (and his Nolan Ryan windup delivery) and Demarius Thomas. I'm not sure he's going to survive long enough for this to potentially pan out & turn around.
AFC PLAYOFF SEEDS
1. Colts
2. Chargers
3. Ravens
4. Dolphins
5. Patriots
6. Texans
Last team out: Steelers
Wild Card Round: Patriots over Dolphins (c'mon did you really think I'd give the final word in the AFC East to another team?), Ravens over Texans
Divisional Round: Colts over Patriots (I'm not sure who will cover Wayne, Clark, Garcon, Collie, Gonzalez, Addai, Raymond Berry, John Mackey, or anyone else), Ravens over Chargers (San Diego is unseating Indy who unseated the Steelers as playoff choke artists)
Conference Championship: Colts over Ravens - Manning leads a last minute game winning drive. All of New England throws up.
NFC East
1st. New York Giants - They may not be a very popular pick this year but I think the Giants have a nice bounce back season. Let's look at why they fell apart last year:
- New defensive coordinator that TOTALLY didn't pan out - He got shit-canned. D-Line is now back and completely healthy after Umenyiora missed all last season.
- Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw were dinged up all year - Both 100% healthy and raring to go this year.
- Wide Receiver play was good but a bit erratic - Steve Smith is your possession guy and Hakeem Nicks is going to be a bona-fide stud. Huge breakout year, I'm calling it.
- The Eagles finished higher last season but the transition year to Kolb will probably cost them a few games. The Redskins got better but are still weak at some skill positions. The Cowboys are the chief competition but for whatever reason the Giants own them.
2nd. Dallas Cowboys - Every time the Cowboys are hyped up to compete for a Super Bowl they crap down their legs. The NFC East is a TOUGH division. The Cowboys play the NFC North and AFC South to boot. I just don't see Romo or Phillips being mentally tough enough to grind out challenging stretches in the season. It seems you always hear about Dallas having 3 game losing streaks mid-year. Tony Romo is a great fantasy QB but I would never want him leading my potential Super Bowl run.
3rd. Philadelphia Eagles - In my opinion, this is pretty much the Green Bay Packers. Long time QB is leaving a good playoff team. There is no debating that the correct move was made to transition the team to your younger QB. I think McNabb will be good in Washington and may kick Philly in the newtons once or twice head to head, but Kolb is going to thrive. It just isn't going to show in the standings in 2010. I do like the Eagles a lot though in 2011 and 2012 as far as a legit Super Bowl contender.... kind of like how I stroke it to the Packers in 2010.
4th. Washington Redskins - Fourth place in the NFC East is probably 7-9 or 8-8. Put the Redskins in the NFC West and they may take the division. McNabb could be the most underrated player of the 2000's and Mike Shannahan instead of Jim Zorn at head coach is like going from Rosie O'Donnell to Scarlett Johanson in a porno with Redskins fans as the lead actor.
I just don't like the rest of that offense at all. The offensive line is terrible, the running backs are geyzers, and I'm not sure there are enough threats at wide receiver. Santana Moss and Chris Cooley should have nice years but will McNabb have enough time to consistently get them the ball?
NFC North
1st. Green Bay Packers - The Packers are going to be nasty this season. Once Sydney Rice was put on the PUP list they pretty much clinched the division right then and there. I liked them to split with the Vikings, go 12-4, and win the division anyway, but now it's a slam dunk. Aaron Rodgers should probably already be called a top 5 quarterback but for dink analysts who still like to put Favre, Roethlisberger, or Rivers ahead of him, they won't be able to after 2010.
2nd. Minnesota Vikings - Brett Favre had a career season at the age of 40 in his 19th season. He had the highest QB Rating, completion percentage, yards per attempt, and fewest Int's in all his years. Can you believe that?
Actually, yes I can. This is marked proof, and one of the best arguments for pro-Brady people in a Brady versus Manning debate, that it is approximately 17,472,183 times easier to play quarterback in a dome than outside in a cold weather environment. Brett Favre didn't get any better. Anyone who says or thinks that is a fucking idiot. You don't get better at age 40. Playing in a controlled environment for at least 8 games a year makes accumulating statistics much easier. That is all that's been proven. Gee, throw a 30 yard pass into snowy wind when it's 10 degrees out or in a 68 degree dome?
I know I already proclaimed Manning the greatest regular season QB ever but what would Brady have done playing >50% of his games in a dome. Shit, what would Favre have done? Would he have 100 more TD's and 100 fewer Int's???? Maybe...
3rd. Chicago Bears - Here is a team that I have had a hard time predicting. Will Martz make Cutler better? Will Cutler keep acting like a wicked pube daddy? Will Forte bounce back? Will any of their wide receivers break out? Will Martz ever throw to Olsen? Is this defense still good?
I'm thinking.... not really, most definitely, not really, probably one of them, probably not, no. Mark them down for 7-9... I think.
4th. Detroit Lions - It's bad but I like a lot of this Lions offense. Fantasy wise I found myself grabbing Jahvid Best, Calvin Johnson, and Matt Stafford in mock drafts. Why in god's name would I want to rely on the shittiest team the past 10 years? But I think they are going to put up some points. The Lions may only win 4 or 5 games but I think they are finally on the right path and will become competitive.
NFC South
1st. New Orleans Saints - No love for the Saints from Vegas. They are 12-1 to win the Super Bowl. The PATRIOTS are 10-1!!! What dingleberry made those lines?
Then again that defense last year had approximately 935 turnovers and 261 defensive touchdowns. Those stats are a bit fluky. They allowed a ton of yards and a lot of points. Those stats aren't fluky. I think the Saints offense is still good enough to win 11 games and take the NFC South, but I don't foresee a repeat.
2nd. Atlanta Falcons - This has become a trendy team to pick to win the division and conference. Anytime booger eating John Clayton backs a team I go in the opposite direction. Has any other burn victim been given a cushier job that he sucks at more than him? ..... what's that? He's not a burn victim?! Fuck, he's ugly.
I remember Clayton coming out each week and picking the Patriots to lose in 2001. Granted this team came out of no where but he was an obnoxious turd about it. His lead story on espn.com was, "The Patriots are a Team of Destiny... Destined to lose to the Rams." Fahk you, Clayton. Why don't you get more sources off of hearsay.
I wonder how he feels now that he has Adam Schefter tossing his salad every day with spot on breaking news?
3rd. Carolina Panthers - The youngest team in the NFL, your Carolina Panthers. It's weird, just two seasons ago they went 12-4 and were legit contenders to reach the Super Bowl. That's what Jake Delhomme will do to you. Now they are a bunch of rookies with Steve Smith at wideout and two studs at running back.
Panthers fans, if they exist, are probably in for 2 or 3 crummy years while they try to turn this ship around. I would imagine they also won't be able to keep D'Angelo Williams & Jonathan Stewart together much beyond this year (which is outstanding fantasy news).
4th. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Here is a youth movement I'm liking a lot. If Raheem Morris didn't seem so completely unqualified to do an adequate coaching job I'd have them ahead of Carolina.
They are rolling out quite a few rookie or 2nd year players who are going to play a pretty significant roll on the team (Josh Freeman, Kareem Huggins, Mike Williams, Gerald McCoy, and Brian Price). It may result in taking a few lumps in 2010 but it can only make them that much stronger in the next few years.
NFC West
1st. San Francisco 49ers - I can't even conjure up a scenario where the 49ers don't take the division by 2 or 3 games. Six games against the Seahawks, Cardinals, and Rams - absolute worst they will do is 5-1. Four games against the AFC West, Chargers, Raiders, Chiefs, Broncos - that looks like 3-1. I won't even bother looking at who else they play. If they go 3-3 in those games they are 11-5. I think they could end up as one of those wicked soft 12-4 first round bye teams just through that soft schedule - a lot like how the Bears were in 2001 and 2005, the Falcons in 2004, or the Titans in 2008.
Welcome back to relevance San Francisco.
2nd. Seattle Seahawks - I commented previously that 4th place in the NFC East is like 7-9 or 8-8. Well, 2nd place in the NFC West is probably like 5-11 or 6-10. How early could the 49ers clinch this division? Week 9?
I love that people have talked up Pete Carroll like he's going to be a good pro coach. There isn't a single thing he did at USC that makes me think he won't continue to suck in the NFL.
Let's look at what Carroll does exceptionally well:
- Schmooze recruits and work endlessly to get them to commit to USC - In the NFL you have a draft. You either take the player or you don't when it's your pick.
- Fires his team up with a lot of energy and rah rah spirit - Do you really see established veterans rallying around that? Me either.
3rd. Arizona Cardinals - First off, fare thee well to Kurt Warner. My five or six loyal blog readers know how much I like Warner. Definitely sad to see him go since he can still perform at a high level but kudos in getting out before you end up getting rolled - especially when you have 19 children.
On the other side, good riddance Matt Leinart. What a whiny little bitch. Crying everywhere about being outplayed by Derek Anderson and furthermore, getting outplayed by Derek Anderson. Did everyone see Anderson last year? The guy is fucking horrible. Leinart is just another college qb who had no business being drafted as high as he was in the NFL.
He joins the likes of: Brady Quinn, Heath Shuler, Danny Wuerfel, Ken Dorsey, and in two years, Colt McCoy - I'd name more QB's but I don't know shit about college football. Any sport that relies on computers to determine a championship game is pretty dumb and not worth my while.
4th. St Louis Rams - Now that I've told everyone how little I know about college football I have to be a complete hypocrite and pretend that I know what I'm talking about.
That being said, I think the Rams struck gold with Sam Bradford. The kid has a great arm, is very poised, has a good quick delivery, and seems to have that swagger a NFL quarterback will require. The Rams have very little talent around him and this isn't going to turn around over night, but for the first time in four or five years I think things could be looking up in St Louis.
NFC PLAYOFF SEEDS
1. Packers
2. 49ers, yes the 49ers
3. Saints
4. Giants
5. Falcons
6. Cowboys
Last team out: Vikings
Wild Card: Giants over Falcons, Cowboys over Saints
Divisional Round: Packers over Cowboys, Giants over 49ers
Conference Championship: Packers over Giants - The game goes to overtime but Aaron Rodgers shows everyone what a good QB does in OT (i.e. doesn't throw a pick in his own end of the field)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: CJ Spiller - the only good thing in Buffalo
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Rolando McClain
Coach of the Year: Mike Singletary
MVP: Aaron Rodgers <----- Take this one to the bank
Offensive Player of the Year: Rodgers
Defensive Player of the Year: Troy Polamalu
Super Bowl Prediction: Green Bay Packers over Indianapolis Colts
MVP: Aaron Rodgers
So how did I do?
Did I pick at least 50% new division winners? 2009 - Patriots, Bengals, Colts, Chargers, Cowboys, Vikings, Saints, Cardinals. My picks - Dolphins, Ravens, Colts, Chargers, Giants, Packers, Saints, 49ers. 5 new teams out of 8: CHECK
Did I pick at least 50% new playoff teams? 2009 - Colts, Chargers, Patriots, Bengals, Jets, Ravens, Saints, Vikings, Cowboys, Cardinals, Packers, Eagles. My picks - Colts, Chargers, Ravens, Dolphins, Patriots, Texans, Packers, 49ers, Saints, Giants, Falcons, Cowboys. 5 new teams out of 12: NOPE, but not terrible.
New Conference Championship teams? 2009 - Colts vs Jets, Saints vs Viking. My picks - Colts vs Ravens, Packers vs Giants: NOPE, 1 repeat team which isn't awful and out of the question
Surprising but not so surprising champions? Green Bay Packers: Hell no, this isn't going out on a limb at all.
So there you have it, my terrible predictions in which I can't even follow my own guidelines. Hope you enjoyed all 50,000 words of it.
