God tier...you will be missed. Ed never makes bad calls, the rules are just wrong.
Remaining on topic, we are implementing a new rule into the new NFL threads this year. As you are aware, there's an increased awareness of people's feelings on BG in regards to spoilers. Therefore, there will no longer by any game discussion in the NFL threads on game day. Some people may be tivoing the game, we don't want to spoil that for them.
Spoiler: show
With that out of the way, let's get down to the biz...
preseason predictions.
AFC East: New England
AFC South: Houston
AFC North: Baltimore
AFC West: Denver
Wildcards: San Diego, Buffalo
NFC East: Philadelphia
NFC South: Atlanta
NFC North: Green Bay
NFC West: Seattle
Wildcards: New York, Carolina
AFC Championship: Denver @ New England
NFC Championship: Carolina @ Green Bay
Superbowl: New England defeats Green Bay
Coach of the year: Bill Belichick
Offensive ROY: Doug Martin
Defensive ROY: Stephon Gilmore
MVP: Tom Brady (Have you seen the schedule? 13 wins...easy)
In a new installment:
Coaches to get fired: Ken Wisenhunt, Leslie Frazier, Romeo Crennel, Lovie Smith
Week 1 matchups:
Dallas at NY Giants - The Dallas defense didn't allow a single touchdown...during the preseason. The offense is healthy...except for their best WR and their all-pro TE. But they have some guy that has a babysitter entourage that can carry the team. The Giants have lost some key players on both sides of the ball this season. Mario Manningham who did much of nothing. Brandon Jacobs who also carried the ball...and promptly fell down. They still have the greater Manning, so I hope those two shiny new CBs on Dallas are ready for class, because summer is over and Eli's school of QBing is in session.
SUN, SEP 9
Indianapolis at Chicago - Brandon Marshall vs Vontae Davis and the Dolphins aren't even on the field. OK, not really a storyline. Andrew Luck begins his NFL career likely sitting on his ass courtesy of Julius Peppers and Lance Briggs. I don't see this game being very pretty. Chicago will running it down the throat of Indy. 220 yards rushing, calling it now. Also, diabetes.
Philadelphia at Cleveland - Similar to the last game, a rookie QB is going to be getting Baptized by a solid set of pass rushers. Chad Pennington Mike Vick Mike Kafka will be responsible for getting the Eagles off to the right foot this season. Here's to hoping Vick refrains from strapping a random Cleveland fan wearing a dog mask onto a rape table.
New England at Tennessee - Fun stat. Superbowl losers are a whopping 3-15 ATS (NE -4) in the first game following a superbowl loss. Those 15 teams probably weren't playing mediocre teams with a young QB that's played a handful of NFL snaps. Tommy Brady has no less than 4 elite pass catchers that would start on all 32 NFL teams. Best QB, best coach, best receiving corp...if they hit half their defensive draft picks, this team should be scary.
Atlanta at Kansas City - Matty Ice on the road sucks. Not only that, Arrowhead is a hell of a tough place to play. If there's any strength to the KC Chiefs, it's their secondary. Eric Berry is back after the early exit in 2011, Stanford Routt and Brandon Flowers should hold down the fort to give the first upset of the year.
Jacksonville at Minnesota - Is this real life? What a god damned QB battle. Gabbert vs Ponder. What a RB battle. No-knee Peterson vs No-show MJD. There's really nothing good to even say about this game other than I really hope you aren't getting this game in your region. I have no idea who the hell wins. Vikings assuming MJD isn't in uniform.
Washington at New Orleans - RGIII will get to spend 60 minutes trying to avoid cart-offs in his first game in the NFL. I think the Saints will be out to prove a point in their first game of the season, and they should be able to hold down fort fairly easily. I cannot envision a rookie going into NO right after a damned hurricane, on the heels of the the Katrina anniversary, and winning a football game. The Saints should shut this game down early.
Buffalo at NY Jets - Let's give the New York Jets a hand. In their 4th and final preseason game, they finally scored a TD. Unfortunately, now they get into the real games and face a much improved Buffalo defense bolstered with the addition of Mario Williams. It's too bad Wayne Hunter is now gone, I would have loved to seen Sanchez killed.
St. Louis at Detroit - This should be an incredible matchup, something many of us fantasy owners have been waiting for. Calvin Johnson vs The Madden Cover curse. Who comes out ahead? Can the cover take out megatron? I doubt it, so the next best thing will be the curse taking out megatron by proxy. Eliminating Stafford, thus eliminating Johnson. Detroit wins, Stafford goes on the IR.
Miami at Houston - Ugh. Miami actually has a pretty solid front 7, so I think they can hold their own against the stellar Houston running game. However, their best player in the secondary is a guy that wasn't even the #1 CB a week ago. Their best safety is a 7th round pick that almost went to prison. Then they have the Houston defense to content with. Miami isn't moving the ball here. At all. One TD for the Miami offense would be a huge shock for me.
San Francisco at Green Bay - The most overrated team of last year faces last years biggest underachiever. I see no reason why Aaron Rodgers won't take out his frustrations from last season's failed playoff run on the niners. I think Green Bay wins, wins big, and the Niners begin the season with their first of several losses. Alex Smith can't fool us two straight seasons.
Seattle at Arizona - Hurray Russel Wilson. Seattle is a dark horse for a lot of teams this year. I think they'll have one of the better defenses in the NFL and I think Wilson will prove to be the steal of the 2012 NFL draft. I picked them to win the division, but if they can't handle a terrible Arizona team, the future won't be looking very bright.
Carolina at Tampa Bay - Carolina destroyed TB last season in their two matchups. Now with a different coach and a different attitude, I think TB is ready for a turnaround. I don't know how soon, however. After adding some much needed pieces with all that damn cap space, TB has put themselves in a position to be competitive. Unfortunately, they play in what may be best division in the NFL. I think the Bucs home record should improve, but it won't begin here.
Pittsburgh at Denver -
They win...with Tim fucking Tebow. Now they have Manning.
MON, SEP 10
Cincinnati at Baltimore - Apparently Dalton's injury isn't severe, he expects to suit up for the season opener. Wish that were the case for the 65 other players injured for the Bengals in the preseason. I really think the Bengals can keep this game very competitive. I think Baltimore lost a bit on defense with Suggs. That hurts. I think they'll find a way to pull out a close win.
San Diego at Oakland - Maybe the Chargers have finally broken the mold last season when they won 4 of their first 5 tilts. Unfortunately, they also broke Ryan Matthews during the preseason. Now, Ronnie Brown will be getting the call. He may make a great backup for Phillip Rivers if last seasons' Rivers decides to take snaps, but a RB he is not. Carson Palmer played damn good football during the last few games of the seasons. I like that to continue into this season.