Season Opener Eve: All My Predictions

[patmoran2006]

Not gonna forecast records, I’ve already done that..
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
But here goes my picks for this season
<o:p></o:p>
AFC
East: <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place>New England</st1:place>, <st1:City><st1:place>Miami</st1:place></st1:City>, <st1:City><st1:place>Buffalo</st1:place></st1:City>, Jets
North: Cinci, <st1:City><st1:place>Baltimore</st1:place></st1:City>, <st1:City><st1:place>Pittsburgh</st1:place></st1:City>, <st1:City><st1:place>Cleveland</st1:place></st1:City>
South: Indy, Jags, <st1:place><st1:City>Houston</st1:City>, <st1:State>Tennessee</st1:State></st1:place>
West: KC, <st1:City><st1:place>Denver</st1:place></st1:City>, <st1:City><st1:place>San Diego</st1:place></st1:City>, <st1:City><st1:place>Oakland</st1:place></st1:City>
<o:p></o:p>
Wildcards: <st1:City><st1:place>Miami</st1:place></st1:City> and Baltimore
AFC Championship: <st1:place>New England</st1:place> over Indy
<o:p></o:p>
NFC
East: <st1:City><st1:place>Dallas</st1:place></st1:City>, Philly, <st1:place><st1:City>Washington</st1:City>, <st1:State>New York</st1:State></st1:place> (every team will be at least .500)
North: <st1:State><st1:place>Minnesota</st1:place></st1:State>, <st1:City><st1:place>Chicago</st1:place></st1:City>, <st1:City><st1:place>Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City>, <st1:City><st1:place>Detroit</st1:place></st1:City>
South: <st1:City><st1:place>Carolina</st1:place></st1:City>, <st1:City><st1:place>Atlanta</st1:place></st1:City>, <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Tampa</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>Bay</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, <st1:City><st1:place>New Orleans</st1:place></st1:City>
West; <st1:place><st1:City>Seattle</st1:City>, <st1:State>Arizona</st1:State></st1:place>, Rams, SF
<o:p></o:p>
Wildcards: Philly and <st1:City><st1:place>Atlanta</st1:place></st1:City>
NFC Championship: <st1:City><st1:place>Carolina</st1:place></st1:City> over <st1:City><st1:place>Dallas</st1:place></st1:City>
<o:p></o:p>
Super Bowl: <st1:City><st1:place>Carolina</st1:place></st1:City> over <st1:place>New England</st1:place>
<o:p></o:p>
OTHER PICKS
<o:p></o:p>
MVP
AFC: Larry Johnson, KC (Carson Palmer close second)
NFC: Jake Delhomme, Car
<o:p></o:p>
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR
AFC: Ed Reed, Baltimore (he’s baaaack)
NFC: John Abraham, Atlanta
<o:p></o:p>
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
AFC: <st1:place><st1:City>Laurence Maroney</st1:City>, <st1:State>NE</st1:State></st1:place> (Easily)
NFC: <st1:City><st1:place>Vernon</st1:place></st1:City> Davis, SF
<o:p></o:p>
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
AFC: Michael Huff, <st1:City><st1:place>Oakland</st1:place></st1:City>
NFC: AJ Hawk, <st1:City><st1:place>Green Bay</st1:place></st1:City>
<o:p></o:p>
SLEEPER TEAMS
AFC: <st1:City><st1:place>Houston</st1:place></st1:City> (will win 6-7 games)
NFC: <st1:State><st1:place>Minnesota</st1:place></st1:State> (everyone picks <st1:City><st1:place>Chicago</st1:place></st1:City> to win the North)
<o:p></o:p>
FLOP TEAM:
AFC: <st1:City><st1:place>Denver</st1:place></st1:City>
NFC: NY Giants
<o:p></o:p>
COMEBACK PLAYER OF YEAR
AFC: Takeo Spikes, <st1:City><st1:place>Buffalo</st1:place></st1:City> (How can I not?)
NFC: Terrell Owens, Dallas
<o:p></o:p>
MOST UNDERATED THING
AFC: Steve McNair (if he can stay healthy)
NFC: <st1:City><st1:place>Dallas</st1:place></st1:City>’ defense
<o:p></o:p>
MOST OVERATED THING
AFC: Jake Plummer
NFC: Drew Brees (have fun without Gates or good WR’s)
<o:p></o:p>
WILL BE STARTING SOONER THAN YOU THINK
AFC: Jay Cutler (who some teams are going to regret not drafting)
NFC: Matt Leinart (who’s the beneficiary of a perfect situation).. Also, expect Aaron Rodgers sooner than later.
<o:p></o:p>
WHO COULD BE THIS YEAR’S <st1:City><st1:place>CHICAGO</st1:place></st1:City> BEARS
AFC: <st1:City><st1:place>Baltimore</st1:place></st1:City>
NFC: Rams
<o:p></o:p>
BREAKOUT YEARS
AFC: Ben Watson, <st1:place>New England</st1:place> (I gotta also include Lee Evans here)
NFC: Chris Simms, TB and Donte Stallworth, Philly (tie)
<o:p></o:p>
DON’T GIVE UP ON
AFC: JP Losman, <st1:City><st1:place>Buffalo</st1:place></st1:City>
NFC: Alex Smith, SF
<o:p></o:p>
YOU CAN GIVE UP ON
AFC: <st1:country-region><st1:place>Chad</st1:place></st1:country-region> Pennington, Jets
NFC: Michael Vick, <st1:City><st1:place>Atlanta</st1:place></st1:City>
<o:p></o:p>
ITS NOW OR NEVER (Your likely last hurrah)
AFC: Trent Green, KC
NFC: Drew Bledsoe, Dallas and Mark Brunnel, <st1:State><st1:place>Washington</st1:place></st1:State> (Tie)
(I’m not even counting Favre)

<o:p></o:p>
PUT UP OR SHUT UP
AFC: Willis McGahee, <st1:City><st1:place>Buffalo</st1:place></st1:City>
NFC: Plaxico Burress, Giants