NFL Playoff Predictions 2007-2008

Recent History 2001-02: New England* 2002-03: Tampa Bay* 2003-04: New England* 2004-05: New England* 2005-06: New England 2006-07: New England *=Actual Champion

NFL Playoff Predictions 2007-2008

*Disclaimer: This is really long, but a great read, so enjoy it even if you know what comes at the end. Trust me, you know.

Recent History 2001-02: New England* 2002-03: Tampa Bay* 2003-04: New England* 2004-05: New England* 2005-06: New England 2006-07: New England *=Actual Champion

Wow, time really does fly. It feels like just yesterday I was huddled in a corner at the Salemwood School writing last year's column. It feels like just yesterday that Mother Nature decided to take the winter off. It feels like just yesterday that the New England Patriots were my favorite to win the Superbowl. Oh wait, that last part really WAS yesterday.

Anyway, welcome to my 2007-2008 NFL Playoff predictions column. I am expanding my audience this year, so for some of you this may be your first experience with my NFL logic. Others have been here from the beginning, as my first predictions were from the 2001-2002 post-season, the Patriots first Superbowl victory. To give all readers some history, over the last six years I have predicted four Superbowl champions just prior to the playoffs. Although I have fallen off the past two years, I have gotten pretty good at picking some of the other games. Last year I picked the AFC's top two seeds to choke, and they did. Baltimore got beat up by Indianapolis, and San Diego played like a bunch of babies against the Patriots. In the AFC championship I was a Reche Caldwell drop away from picking an eventual Superbowl champion. I will concede that my NFC bracket was a bit screwed up, but I did have the Saints making the NFC championship game. The bottom line is, I may or may not know what I am talking about, but if you have read this far you apparently care about my opinion.

I thought I might start off this year's column with something extra special. It dawned on me that while I watch Patriot games I often say a lot of ridiculous things. However, obscenities aside I usually fall back on one particular statement: "I hate the _(insert team name)_s!!!!" I figured it might be interesting to make a list of the NFL teams that I currently like and dislike. I was surprised to find that I dislike half of the league. I really thought it would be more like 80%. I guess I have let go of a lot of anger of the past six years, as my favorite team (New England) has won a few titles. Below are the top three teams that I like (besides the Patriots) and dislike around the league.

Like:

3) San Francisco 49ers: How could I not love this team? First they traded the Patriots a 2007 fourth round pick, the one they used to trade for Randy Moss. Next they bought up all of the sub-par free agents from last year. Then they lost 11 games this year, making the first round pick they traded to New England last year the seventh overall selection in this April’s draft. Wow, never has a bad team done so much good in one year.

2) Minnesota Vikings: I love Adrian Peterson. If I were Brad Childress (the head coach) I would run him every play. He is so big and so fast, he yet he moves like at ballerina. He set the single game rushing mark, as a ROOKIE!!! A few years ago my good friend Dave Lantman, an avid college football fan, told me that Peterson would be the best running back in the league his rookie year. He said this following Peterson’s freshman year of college. Turns out he was right, and the Vikings obviously heard our conversation.

1) Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson is the man. He has “IT” folks. Watch him play, he has guts and a good head on his shoulders. The Browns will have a tough decision to make with Brady Quinn waiting, but Anderson is their man. Also, Braylon Edwards is a stud, he really deserved his Pro-Bowl nod at wide-receiver. Their coach is a former Patriots coordinator, Romeo Crennel, and man did he deserve this year. These guys are young, they’re hungry and they play with an attitude. It is a shame that they won 10 games and didn’t make the playoffs.

Honorable Mention: Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints.

Dislike

3) Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens are a talented team that continues to disappoint every year since 2000. The Patriots game was ridiculous, but their mouthing off afterwards was worse. They have no class and what’s worse, they still have Steve McNair. Two things they need to do: fire Brian Billick (done) and start Troy Smith next year. Also, it might be time to let Ray Lewis go, he is starting to annoy me.

2) Pittsburgh Steelers: I cannot stand Hines Ward and the following quote about the Patriots: “You look back in the past, and we played them in the championship games, and you kind of wonder. It seemed like they were a step ahead of us at all times.” You have to be kidding me. They take their lead from this guy? I guess the whole team is a bunch of smug, cocky, and classless individuals. Wow, the Steelers would be number one if it weren’t for the……

1) San Diego Chargers: There are so many things about the Chargers that bother me. But, LaDainian Tomlinson takes the cake. This guy claims to be all class but cannot take a loss with grace. He feels it necessary to attack other players and coaches in the media, specifically the Patriots. As the face of the franchise I associate him with the whole team. This says it all: “I think the Patriots live by the rule, ‘If you’re not cheating you’re not trying.” LT, you are awful.

Honorable Mention: Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans.

So, that is a rather involved look into my head. As you can see teams that pose no threat to my favorite team are my favorites. However, good teams, playoff teams are on my bad list. A full list of liked and disliked teams is available upon request. Now, let’s get down to business.

NFC

As per usual I start with the NFC. I do this because they are the weaker of the two conferences. Heard this before? The last six years I have been using the same line. By now you would think that it would be evened out, but it’s not close. The AFC is still much deeper and stronger than the NFC. In the early 90’s this wasn’t the case, but something changed. Personally, I think it was the Denver Broncos. They smacked the NFC around in two straight Super Bowls (98, 99). Despite clowning on the Patriots every time we play them I appreciate Denver’s contribution to the league. So, on with the wild card rounds. First, the Seattle Seahawks host the Washington Redskins. Having spent time in Washington this fall I can tell you the Redskins are an average football team. One week they can play the Eagles tight, the next they can get blown out 52-7 by the Patriots. They are coming to the table with a back-up quarterback and an aging coach. I think the Skins can play some defense and they run the ball well, but there is one problem for me. This team is on a serious roll, having won their last five games to get in the dance. This either backfires (see the Philadelphia Phillies 2007) or turns out awesome (see Colorado Rockies 2007). Seattle is a good team, being on the east coast nobody cares. Memo to everyone: Don’t sleep on the Seahawks. With a quarterback and a decent coach anything is possible. The defense may not be able to hold up against Dallas, but against Washington it will be enough. I pick the Seahawks 24-13. In the other wildcard (New York Giants at Tampa Bay Buccaneers) game I am not sure what to do. Like everyone I am wondering which Eli Manning is going to show up in Tampa Bay; the one who looks like a scared high school kid or the one who played like the second coming of well, Peyton Manning a week ago. I know everyone in the national media is writing about and talking about the same thing but it really is the key to this game. If Eli plays like he did against the Patriots the Giants can make the Super Bowl. Really, no joke. I like the Buccaneers in this game, because I trust Jeff Garcia over Eli Manning. Although I would like to see the Giants win, I think bad Eli shows up. Earnest Graham will run well and the defense will step up for Tampa. Buccaneers 30 - 13.

The next round will prove to be just as boring as the Buccaneers will face the Cowboys. The Cowboys are good, really good. There is one thing holding them back. Their coach, Wade Philips, is the football version of Grady Little. You might love the guy, but he is going to make some bad decisions you can’t ignore. Against the Patriots he said that he wanted to force Tom Brady to beat his team. Wow, that sounds like a great idea. I can’t even think of an analogy to that situation. Usually you don’t want to force the other team’s best player (who rises to the challenge 999 times out of 1000) to beat you. It’s kind of like playing Monkey Ball Soccer and putting down your controller with 10 seconds to go, up only 1 goal. Actually, it’s nothing like that. Cowboys beat the Buccaneers 31- 21. In the other divisional game, things get more exciting. Mike Holmgren returns to Green Bay in what might be the game of the playoffs. This will be a really exciting game, in the snow, in Green Bay. It is almost a Christmas Miracle, minus the Christmas part. I like Seattle a lot. I think they can win the NFC. Unfotunately Brett Favre is on the other side of the field, and I like him too. Ultimately it comes down to this, Hasselbeck is good and Favre is great. A tight game, with the Packers winning 17-10.

In the NFC championship only the strong survive. These two teams are the only two teams that have played good football in the NFC all year long. Both have gotten decent quarterback play, both have good defenses. The Cowboys are the better team. The Packers are the more likeable. For a while I thought Seattle would be here and would upset Dallas. I don’t see Green Bay doing that though. Romo is playing out of his mind this year, and have you seen his girlfriend. He is a 4.0 away from completing the perfect semester. The Packers are a young team, take away Favre and you have a lottery pick team. The NFC is boring, the Packers could spice it up, I just don’t think they will. Cowboys 42 – 23. Yawn.

AFC

Now, on to the fun stuff. Although not their dominant selves the AFC was still better. The Patriots are clearly the class of the league, with the Colts not too far behind. Norv Turner could only screw up the talented Chargers for so long, and the Steelers have too much pride to play poorly until at least December. Overall you are seeing the same things, more talent and better coaching in the AFC (minus Norv Turner). First, let me say this about the perfect season, I love it, but they aren’t out of the woods yet. If I hear anyone say that Indy is flying under the radar I am going to start watching the NHL. If you are the defending Superbowl champions, have a 13-3 record, and your quarterback is Peyton Manning you don’t fly anywhere. YOU ARE A TANK AND EVERYONE CAN SEE YOU. If you can’t see these guys coming you don’t watch football. Ok, on with the predictions. In the first round the San Diego Chargers will face the Tennessee Titans. San Diego is pretty talented, and LaDainian Tomlinson will run all over the Titans defense. Congrats to the Titans for making it this far, they are like the #16 seeds in the NCAA basketball tournament. Thanks for playing but buh-bye. This is pretty close to a guarantee, unless Philip Rivers implodes a round early. Chargers 35 - 6. In the other game the trendy-pick Jacksonville Jaguars face the Pittsburgh Steelers. Everyone in the media thinks the Jaguars pose a serious threat to the Patriots, and maybe they do. However, I am banking on the fact that they are already thinking about the Pats. With that kind of mentality they won’t make it out of the Pittsburgh. I don’t like the Steelers, but I do they can win and big over the Jaguars. There is a reason David Garrard isn’t recognized as one of the league’s best quarterbacks, and this game will show why. Big Ben has a big day and so does the defense, Steelers 28 – 14.

In the next round, the Indianapolis Colts will get a real test from the Chargers. Unfortunately for San Diego, the Colts will have all the answers. Indianapolis has slowly developed into a physical team. Mix that in with an always potent offense and a hall-of-fame coach you have a serious contender. Philip Rivers, the Chargers quarterback, is not ready for this. If it is possible to take a step back, he took a leap this season. He is shaky and not the leader I thought he would be. I like the Colts 30 – 16. Now in the real game, the Patriots will host the Pittsburgh Steelers. At this point the Steelers are pumped because they took care of business against the Jaguars. The only problem is, Tom Brady really wanted to play the Jaguars. It is not a good idea to upset Tom Brady. If anyone thinks for a second that the Patriots don’t own Pittsburgh, you’re crazy. America already saw this game. In fact I am picking the same score. Anthony Smith I guarantee you get lit up, Patriots 34-13.

Wow, here we are again. A year later, a year wiser. I remember the day after the AFC championship in 2007. It was freezing, I did a morning run down at the Tufts outdoor track. I cursed Reche Caldwell and dreamed of better days. Those days came. The Patriots were literally four yards away from going to the Superbowl last year. One first down would have sealed the deal. However, sometimes the sacrifices are worth it. If they had won the Superbowl with Reche Caldwell, Troy Brown, and Jabar Gaffney there would be no Randy Moss, no Wes Welker, and certainly no 16-0. The Pats would have continued with the status quo. Woops! The Colts made this bed, now they are going to lay in it. In the re-match everyone wants to see, we get the performance we all want to see. Tom Brady throws five touchdowns, three to Moss. The Pats win in a great game, but not really a close one. Manning, he gives everyone in New England his favorite facial expression. Patriots 38-21.

Superbowl XLII

I think this is all you need to know about NFC teams. The following is a real poll question on coldhardfootballfacts.com. If the NFC Pro Bowl team played the 2007 Patriots in a 10-game series, how many would New England win? Would you believe that 70% thought the Patriots would win 5+ !! What!!@$#!@?? I love the Patriots but that should never happen. The Patriots have a salary cap, the NFC pro-bowl roster does not. The scary thing is, I agree. Normally I would say that it is outrageous, but in reality a majority of the AFC pro-bowl roster is comprised of Patriots. Wow, just had to share that with everyone. So who do I think wins? Come on, New England. They are hands down the greatest team of the modern era, possibly all-time. The Cowboys are a good team, and can play with the Patriots, but I just don’t see them winning. Patriots 31-26. Tom Brady MVP. Hats and t-shirts all around!!!