Since it has become an annual tradition here, I will break my long silence and post up my predictions for the 2007-2008 NFL season. Bear in mind that the records are a guess on where that team will finish, I don't actually calculate if all of these records combined will actually work.
NFC
NFC East
1. Cowboys (11-5) - An improved team this year, defense should improve drastically with Phillips. The season hinges on Romo.
2. Eagles (10-6) - The typical Eagles injury spree has already begun. They'll be a good team, but the defense needs some work
3. Redskins (7-9) - A little better than last year, but not much. Campbell will do fairly well, but no pass rush on defense hurts
4. Giants (5-11) - Will be a bad year for the Giants. Eli struggled with Tiki Barber as a security blanket. Subtract him, and potentially Strahan..no go
NFC North
1. Bears (12-4) - The most overrated Superbowl team of all time. The defense is still strong, but the offense will be worse.
2. Lions (9-7) - Improved, especially on offense. But that defense will let them down big time.
3. Vikings (8-8) - A solid defense, but no QB or WR, and only average at RB
4. Packers (6-10) - Sorry Favre, better retire soon. Make way for the future, this team isn't winning soon.
NFC West
1. Seahawks (10-6) - They talk like losing Jackson was a good thing. It isn't.
2. Cardinals (9-7) - There are a lot of very good individual players on this team. If the line can play well, they can go far.
3. Rams (9-7) - Jackson is very good, but he won't top last year. No defense will more than offset the former greatest show on turf.
4. 49ers (5-11) - Everyone is so high on the 49ers. I'm not. I don't think Frank Gore is as good as last year suggests, plus overspending on free agents doesn't always work, just ask the Redskins.
NFC South
1. Panthers (11-5) - They'll bounce back from last year if they stay healthy, but Delhomme is starting to slip.
2. Saints (10-6) - Very exciting offense, but they aren't the Colts...they need a defense, and they don't have it.
3. Bucs (6-10) - Cadillac ruined my Fantasy world last year. The once-dominant defense is aging.
4. Falcons (5-11) - Not that Vick is the best QB in the league, he helped this team immensly, and that will show.
AFC
AFC East
1. Patriots (13-3) - They just aren't fair.
2. Jets (10-6) - Thomas Jones needs to stay healthy to keep pressure off Pennington, but they've got a chance
3. Bills (7-9) - I don't know why people think they'll improve after losing McGahee
4. Dolphins (5-11) - Trent Green was a horrible decision, and that doesn't bode well for Ronnie Brown. I apologize for picking them to go to the playoffs last year
AFC North
1. Ravens (12-4) - Frightening defense, running game will improve with McGahee, but McNair is losing more every year
2. Bengals (11-5) - I love Carson Palmer, best non-Manning QB in the league. The defense holds them back though.
3. Steelers (6-10) - Once again the biggest farce of a championship team will show us that Roethlisburger is amazingly overrated
4. Browns (3-13) - They have a promising offensive line, but Quinn isn't ready for the big time.
AFC West
1. Chargers (12-4) - The defense will take a hit without Phillips, but Turner should help the offense. LT might be the best player of this generation.
2. Broncos (10-6) - Cutler has a lot of potential, but still a little green. No pass rush offsets a great secondary.
3. Oakland (7-9) - They'll be better with Culpepper and that defense, but the offensive line is a travesty.
4. Chiefs (5-11) - RBs always slow down after 400+ touch seasons, and who is playing QB? They never had a good defense either.
AFC South
1. Colts (13-3) - Every year people say they'll fall off because they let defensive starters go. Every year it doesn't happen. Manning is a god.
2. Jaguars (11-5) - One of the best defenses in the league, but a curiously unproductive offense considering how many top picks they have
3. Titans (6-10) - Vince Young is the most over hyped, overrated player in the league. Plus they lost their best WR, RB, CB/kick returner.
4. Texans (4-12) - Matt Schaub was a good backup, not a starter.
Playoffs
Wildcard Round
Eagles over Panthers
Seahawks over Saints
Chargers over Bengals
Jaguars over Ravens
Divisional Round
Cowboys over Seahawks
Bears over Eagles
Chargers over Colts
Patriots over Jaguars
Championship Round
Cowboys over Bears
Patriots over Chargers
Superbowl
Patriots over Cowboys
NFC
NFC East
1. Cowboys (11-5) - An improved team this year, defense should improve drastically with Phillips. The season hinges on Romo.
2. Eagles (10-6) - The typical Eagles injury spree has already begun. They'll be a good team, but the defense needs some work
3. Redskins (7-9) - A little better than last year, but not much. Campbell will do fairly well, but no pass rush on defense hurts
4. Giants (5-11) - Will be a bad year for the Giants. Eli struggled with Tiki Barber as a security blanket. Subtract him, and potentially Strahan..no go
NFC North
1. Bears (12-4) - The most overrated Superbowl team of all time. The defense is still strong, but the offense will be worse.
2. Lions (9-7) - Improved, especially on offense. But that defense will let them down big time.
3. Vikings (8-8) - A solid defense, but no QB or WR, and only average at RB
4. Packers (6-10) - Sorry Favre, better retire soon. Make way for the future, this team isn't winning soon.
NFC West
1. Seahawks (10-6) - They talk like losing Jackson was a good thing. It isn't.
2. Cardinals (9-7) - There are a lot of very good individual players on this team. If the line can play well, they can go far.
3. Rams (9-7) - Jackson is very good, but he won't top last year. No defense will more than offset the former greatest show on turf.
4. 49ers (5-11) - Everyone is so high on the 49ers. I'm not. I don't think Frank Gore is as good as last year suggests, plus overspending on free agents doesn't always work, just ask the Redskins.
NFC South
1. Panthers (11-5) - They'll bounce back from last year if they stay healthy, but Delhomme is starting to slip.
2. Saints (10-6) - Very exciting offense, but they aren't the Colts...they need a defense, and they don't have it.
3. Bucs (6-10) - Cadillac ruined my Fantasy world last year. The once-dominant defense is aging.
4. Falcons (5-11) - Not that Vick is the best QB in the league, he helped this team immensly, and that will show.
AFC
AFC East
1. Patriots (13-3) - They just aren't fair.
2. Jets (10-6) - Thomas Jones needs to stay healthy to keep pressure off Pennington, but they've got a chance
3. Bills (7-9) - I don't know why people think they'll improve after losing McGahee
4. Dolphins (5-11) - Trent Green was a horrible decision, and that doesn't bode well for Ronnie Brown. I apologize for picking them to go to the playoffs last year
AFC North
1. Ravens (12-4) - Frightening defense, running game will improve with McGahee, but McNair is losing more every year
2. Bengals (11-5) - I love Carson Palmer, best non-Manning QB in the league. The defense holds them back though.
3. Steelers (6-10) - Once again the biggest farce of a championship team will show us that Roethlisburger is amazingly overrated
4. Browns (3-13) - They have a promising offensive line, but Quinn isn't ready for the big time.
AFC West
1. Chargers (12-4) - The defense will take a hit without Phillips, but Turner should help the offense. LT might be the best player of this generation.
2. Broncos (10-6) - Cutler has a lot of potential, but still a little green. No pass rush offsets a great secondary.
3. Oakland (7-9) - They'll be better with Culpepper and that defense, but the offensive line is a travesty.
4. Chiefs (5-11) - RBs always slow down after 400+ touch seasons, and who is playing QB? They never had a good defense either.
AFC South
1. Colts (13-3) - Every year people say they'll fall off because they let defensive starters go. Every year it doesn't happen. Manning is a god.
2. Jaguars (11-5) - One of the best defenses in the league, but a curiously unproductive offense considering how many top picks they have
3. Titans (6-10) - Vince Young is the most over hyped, overrated player in the league. Plus they lost their best WR, RB, CB/kick returner.
4. Texans (4-12) - Matt Schaub was a good backup, not a starter.
Playoffs
Wildcard Round
Eagles over Panthers
Seahawks over Saints
Chargers over Bengals
Jaguars over Ravens
Divisional Round
Cowboys over Seahawks
Bears over Eagles
Chargers over Colts
Patriots over Jaguars
Championship Round
Cowboys over Bears
Patriots over Chargers
Superbowl
Patriots over Cowboys