The NFL kicks off tonight, so it’s time once again to crack out the crystal ball. Let’s see if the tape-and-glue job holds up any better this year…
NFC North
Green Bay (10-6) – The good: The starters look dominant, especially that new-fangled 3-4 defense. The bad: If ANYBODY gets hurt, this season is lost. The ugly: Turkey Day in Detroit. The takeaway: A third-place schedule is just what the Packer faithful ordered.
Minnesota (9-7) – The good: AP, a stifling defense, and a serious upgrade at QB. The bad: That upgrade involves a head case. The ugly: Favre is suggesting that he won’t play the entire year, and Jackson/Rosenfels at 100% are not as good as Favre at 50%. The takeaway: It’s a yo-yo year.
Chicago (8-8) – The good: A shiny new QB. The bad: The defense is yet another year older. The ugly: Sophomore Slump is scheduled for Matt Forte. The takeaway: Bears fans; be thankful you get to play the Lions twice.
Detroit (1-15) – The good: No more curses, no more Millen, nobody has ever gone winless for two straight seasons in the NFL. The bad: No improvement on the field. The ugly: They’re so bad The Onion made fun of them. The takeaway: Their best chance of beating somebody is the trap game on Turkey Day.
And the rest of the NFL, with the minimalist approach:
NFC East:
New York Giants
Philadelphia (Wild Card)
Dallas
Washington
NFC South:
Atlanta
Carolina (Wild Card)
New Orleans
Tampa Bay
NFC West:
Arizona (by default)
San Francisco
Seattle
St. Louis
AFC North:
Pittsburgh
Baltimore (Wild Card)
Cincinnati
Cleveland
AFC East:
New England
Miami
New York Jets
Buffalo
AFC South:
Tennessee
Indianapolis (Wild Card)
Jacksonville
Houston
AFC West:
San Diego
Denver
Kansas City
Oakland
The Championship Game That Cannot Be Mentioned™:
Pittsburgh over Atlanta
The Week 1 picks will be up shortly.
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