Back in Week 4 I had already made my predictions for the year. For those who do not remember I will attach it below along with updated comments on how I did.
This week, I will separate the teams in particular categories of who to look out for that are surprises this year, the usual contenders, pretenders, and the teams that have no chance. We are a quarter of the way through the NFL season.
LOOK OUT FOR...
Miami Dophins: This team has a realistic chance of winning their division. Their defense has remained solid from previous years and they have an offense to boot. They have become an exciting story for the Dolphins fans thur far.
Wow, I was almost right on this one. The Dolphins were winners of their last six games and next year might be their year. I can't believe they ended one game from the Patriots and a possible division title. Overall, good prediction.Cincinatti Bengals: Wow, what a cinderella story this has become. Marvin Lewis is displaying his true genious this year as he has the Bengals playing at their highest level. I see no reason their success will fade considering they are dominating the field on both sides.
Hit this one right on as the Bengals ended up winning their division. Although I am a bit concerned about how their defense dropped down the stretch which will hurt them in the playoffs.Jacksonville Jaguars: Right now they are hovering around in the middle of the pack. But they are not a team you want to face any given week because of their physical play and I rest their fate on the arms of Leftwich. Their defense is solid but they will only go as far as the health of their young quarterback.
Very good call once again. The Jags were very exciting this year ending at 12-4. Although their quarterback did go down, they still found ways to win.San Diego Chargers: I put them in this category because I feel many people wrote them off after a shaky 0-2 start. I knew they would be dangerous and it seems as if this giant has awaken. Look for them to win the AFC West once again.
Well, you can not be right on everything. The Chargers had their chances but just could not win the big games. Very disappointing year for this club, probably the best team ever to not make the playoffs.New York Giants: They are a team with a whole new look with Plaxico in the lineup. He spreads the field and opens things up for Shockey and company. Eli is coming into his own and will take this team far.
Hit it right on the spot once again as the NY Giants ended up winning the division. They were a huge surprise this year and played well enough to win a competitive division.Carolina Panthers: After a year absence from the playoffs, the Panthers look solid once again. They are in a very tough division, but they have experience on their side. The offense has all their key players back and the defense is holding its ground.
Right on! The Panthers tied the Buccs at 11-5 but lost the division title due to a tiebreaker. However, they did make the playoffs and are a very tough team to play against.Seattle Seahawks: Although they will be without the two starting receivers this week, the Seahawks benefit from a soft schedule. They should be able to run the tables in their division. The defense has been playing better lately and Alexander is back to form.
Could not have put it any better as the Seahawks went 13-3 and clinched homefield advantage throughout. I really like the Seahawks especially playing at home.THE CONTENDERS...New England
(correct as they won the division), Pittsburg
(correct as they made the playoffs), Indianapolis
(correct as they clinched homefield advantage throughout), Denver
(correct as they won their division and got a first round bye), Philadelphia
(incorrect, wow I would have never guessed how much of a distraction the loss of TO made to this team as they kept falling one by one with McNabb and Westbrook going on IR), Tampa Bay
(correct since they won their division and went 11-5). and Atlanta
(incorrect, boy did they blow it going down the stretch losing key divisional games and three straight to end the season at 8-8).
THE PRETENDERS...
Buffalo Bills: Until coach Mularkey realizes that Losman is not the right guy this team is just a pretender. The prospect of putting in Holcomb will dramatically raise the value of this team because Holcomb can air it out like he did in his days at Cleveland.
(Hit the spot right on as Buffalo just tanked down the stretch going 5-11. Not only did Losman hurt them early on, McGahee was horrible to end the season).Baltimore Ravens: No passing game, no go. Everything else is well tuned aside from the brain of this team which is the quarterback. Not even the return of Boller will help them.
(Right on since Baltimore went 6-10 and missed the playoffs. They need some help in the draft this year to even make them an average team next year).Kansas City Chiefs: I called this one too. After they crushed the Jets and beat the high powered Raiders in Oakland, I knew this team was still a fluke at 2-0. Right after they were blown out on Monday Night against Denver and blew a huge lead at home against Philly. The collapse has started earlier than I thought.
(I pride myself on picking this one right because year in and year out people think the Chiefs will be contenders. They are nothing more than pretenders and have never won the big games when they counted as they missed the playoffs at 10-6). Washington Redskins: This team is undefeated now at 3-0 but just like last year I see them going on a skid of many losses in a row. To start, they have two tough away games at Denver and Kansas City, I will reevaluate their character after that.
(Well, well, well, the Redskins needed to win five straight to make the playoffs and they did just that. I give them credit because I was wrong here thinking they would have crumbled).Dallas Cowboys: This is a good team now, but the season is 16 weeks long. Bledsoe has gotten off to fast starts before, but once he stumbles there is no turning back for him. Sorry tuna, this ship is starting to sink.
(I was right on here. Bledsoe did begin to struggle and the Cowboys missed the playoffs).The Whole NFC North Division: Chicago has no quarterback.
(Incorrect, I guess someone had to win the division right? Grossman coming back will help them immensely). Detriot can not be taken seriously with Harrington.
(Correct, perfect call as even some of his teammates criticized him as being the cause this year). Minnesota is a shell of their former self.
(Correct since the Vikings struggled this year, even though they got some life back when Brad Johnson stepped in but it was too little too late). Green Bay is old and plagued by injuries, with Ahman Green being the latest victim.
(Correct, perhaps the biggest disappointment this year with Favre throwing 26 interceptions, ouch).NO CHANCE:NY Jets, Cleveland, Tennessee, Houston, Oakland, New Orleans, St. Louis, Arizona, and San Francisco.
(Correct on ALL of these teams. Wow, from Week 4 on, none of these losers surprised us and continued to be horrible the rest of the year, some teams got even worse than they were).Well, I hope you enjoyed the 2005 season, and as I mentioned before no matter how much things change they still are the same in the NFL. I was right on for all but 6 teams, but the sad part is the teams that sucked I was perfect on. Those were the teams that I hoped would have surprised me and made things interesting, however, they all just rolled over.
