OK, I know the NFL season began Wednesday night when the Cowboys whipped the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
But for all practical purposes, the season gets under way today. And I can't seem to let each year kick off without predicting who will win (and who won't come close).
If you want a chuckle or two, here are my predictions for last season. Nobody saw Denver winning the AFC West, thanks to Tebow Magic. Then again, nobody saw Eli Manning and the Giants winning it all, particularly when they were just a .500 team late in the regular season.
And now Tebow isn't even with Denver anymore. Peyton Manning is, however, and that still is hard for this fervent Bronco fan to believe. If he can stay healthy, it makes the AFC West arguably the most compelling (and wide-open) division in the league. Any of three teams could make compelling arguments that they'll win it - and even Oakland fans can devise a scenario that's not three parts fantasy and one part folly. Keep an eye on Kansas City, which had an awful preseason but still retains one of the deepest rosters in the AFC and has several key skill players coming back from major injuries. I think Denver will be much stronger than it was last year, but faces such a tough schedule it won't make the playoffs.
It's hard not to go with New England again, because Tom Brady is still taking the snaps, but Baltimore was a short, shanked field goal from the Super Bowl last year. Both the Patriots and Ravens have significant questions about their defense, however.
Houston is a trendy pick, but if quarterback Matt Schaub gets hurt...
Over in the NFC, Green Bay's going to have fire in their eyes after going 15-1 in the regular season and then losing their first playoff game to the Giants. Unless the Packers are decimated by injury,however, the NFC goes through Lambeau Field.
Green Bay in winter will challenge the young, hungry 49ers, who are probably the second-best team in the NFC. New Orleans remains mighty strong, but the absence of their head coach through suspension has to have an impact on how far they go this season.
I think Dallas is poised for a big season, along with Philadelphia. The Cowboys have underachieved for a few years now, and Philly's had a year to gel after bringing in a boatload of new players last season.
It'll be interesting to watch all the rookie quarterbacks - with five set to start, that's the most in NFL history. Ironically, most look like they have what it takes to do well.
Although Brandon Weeden in Cleveland is likely to flame out if for no other reason than he plays for the Browns and is likely to take a severe beating.
But I hope I'm wrong, simply because no one should suffer such a fate. The NFL is such a brutal sport it commonly shortens the lives of its players.
Here's to a great season. I hope another Manning is hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, only this time it's Eli's older brother.
But for all practical purposes, the season gets under way today. And I can't seem to let each year kick off without predicting who will win (and who won't come close).
If you want a chuckle or two, here are my predictions for last season. Nobody saw Denver winning the AFC West, thanks to Tebow Magic. Then again, nobody saw Eli Manning and the Giants winning it all, particularly when they were just a .500 team late in the regular season.
And now Tebow isn't even with Denver anymore. Peyton Manning is, however, and that still is hard for this fervent Bronco fan to believe. If he can stay healthy, it makes the AFC West arguably the most compelling (and wide-open) division in the league. Any of three teams could make compelling arguments that they'll win it - and even Oakland fans can devise a scenario that's not three parts fantasy and one part folly. Keep an eye on Kansas City, which had an awful preseason but still retains one of the deepest rosters in the AFC and has several key skill players coming back from major injuries. I think Denver will be much stronger than it was last year, but faces such a tough schedule it won't make the playoffs.
It's hard not to go with New England again, because Tom Brady is still taking the snaps, but Baltimore was a short, shanked field goal from the Super Bowl last year. Both the Patriots and Ravens have significant questions about their defense, however.
Houston is a trendy pick, but if quarterback Matt Schaub gets hurt...
Over in the NFC, Green Bay's going to have fire in their eyes after going 15-1 in the regular season and then losing their first playoff game to the Giants. Unless the Packers are decimated by injury,however, the NFC goes through Lambeau Field.
Green Bay in winter will challenge the young, hungry 49ers, who are probably the second-best team in the NFC. New Orleans remains mighty strong, but the absence of their head coach through suspension has to have an impact on how far they go this season.
I think Dallas is poised for a big season, along with Philadelphia. The Cowboys have underachieved for a few years now, and Philly's had a year to gel after bringing in a boatload of new players last season.
It'll be interesting to watch all the rookie quarterbacks - with five set to start, that's the most in NFL history. Ironically, most look like they have what it takes to do well.
Although Brandon Weeden in Cleveland is likely to flame out if for no other reason than he plays for the Browns and is likely to take a severe beating.
But I hope I'm wrong, simply because no one should suffer such a fate. The NFL is such a brutal sport it commonly shortens the lives of its players.
Here's to a great season. I hope another Manning is hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, only this time it's Eli's older brother.
AFC
East
1.
New England
2.
Buffalo
3.
NY Jets
4.
Miami
North
1.
Baltimore
2.
Pittsburgh
3. Cincinnati
4. Cleveland
3. Cincinnati
4. Cleveland
South
1.
Houston
2.
Tennessee
3.
Jacksonville
4.
Indianapolis
West
1.
Kansas City
2.
San Diego
3. Denver
4. Oakland
3. Denver
4. Oakland
NFC
East
1.
Dallas
2.
Philadelphia
3. New York
3. New York
4. Washington
North
1.
Green Bay
2. Chicago
3. Detroit
4. Minnesota
South
1.
New Orleans
2.
Atlanta
3.
Carolina
4.
Tampa Bay
West
1.
San Francisco
2.
Seattle
3.
St. Louis
4.
Arizona
Playoffs
AFC
New England, Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City
Wild cards: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati
NFC
Dallas, Green Bay, New Orleans, San Francisco
Wild cards: Philadelphia, Chicago
Championship Games:
Baltimore over New England
Green Bay over San Francisco
Super Bowl
Green Bay over Baltimore
Playoffs
AFC
New England, Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City
Wild cards: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati
NFC
Dallas, Green Bay, New Orleans, San Francisco
Wild cards: Philadelphia, Chicago
Championship Games:
Baltimore over New England
Green Bay over San Francisco
Super Bowl
Green Bay over Baltimore
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