Football Predictions for 2008
By Edwin Learnard
2008 AFC Preview
The San Diego Chargers are ready to emerge from the AFC pack and make a strong run for the Super Bowl. Even with a post-season depleted squad last year they did everything but come out of the AFC. Standout, RB LaDainian Tomlinson returns(1,474 YDS,15 TDS).The Chargers were 5th in points scored last year with 25.8 per game. This year bodes a slightly weaker schedule for the Chargers which they will surely benefit from. The New England Patriots are primed to win their 6th consecutive AFC East title. One reason is they kept their offensive nucleus together including QB Tom Brady(NFL record 50 TD passes)and WR Randy Moss(98 REC,1493 YDS,23 TDS).They have a revamped secondary, but Bill Bellichek will have them playing great defense and should be in the thick of things in the AFC. The Indianapolis Colts should have no trouble winning the AFC South this year, although they did not make many transactions to improve their team; you may not need to when you have Peyton Manning at QB, Marvin Harrison at WR, and Reggie Wayne at WR. Their offense was 5th ranked in the NFL last year (358.7 yds./game).Their defense was no.1 in points allowed (16.4/game). If it ain't broke, don’t fix it.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are still the team to beat in the AFC North, (even with the hardest schedule in the league) with the Cleveland Browns closing the gap. The Steelers have improved an already solid offense (24.6 pts. /game-10th in NFL) with the acquisition of draft picks Rashard Mendenhall (RB) and WR Limas Sweed. QB Ben Rothlisberger and underrated WR Hines Ward return. The Cleveland Browns are ready to ascend to the next level and get in as a wild card. Ever improving TE Kellen Winslow and the 8th ranked offense in the NFL should only get better. Romeo Crennel is an outstanding coach and has the team moving in the right direction.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will get the final playoff spot mainly because of their tenacious defense. They recently added Derrick Harvey, a solid DE draft pick. The Jaguars defense was ranked no.10 in PA (19.0) per game. David Garrard returns as the starting QB and boasts one of the best TD to INT ratios (18-3) in the league.
The Bills, Titans, Texans, Chiefs, and Broncos will be competitive, but will fail to make the playoffs. The Jets, Dolphins, Ravens, Bengals and Raiders will be in rebuilding mode.
My predictions for the AFC Playoffs are as follows.
1st Round: No. 3 Colts over no. 6 Jaguars
No. 4 Steelers over no.5 Browns
2nd Round: No.1 Chargers over no.4 Steelers
No.2 Patriots over no.3 Colts
AFC Championship: No.1 Chargers over no. 2 Patriots
NFC Preview:
The Dallas Cowboys figure to be the supreme team in the NFC. They have an over-abundance of talent, which includes QB Tony Romo and WR Terrel Owens. They added CB Pacman Jones, which should make this team stronger and lead them to win the NFC East. The Vikings are a team on the rise and should improve upon last year's 8-8 record and win the NFC North. Adrian Peterson (1,341 YDS, 12 TDS) is arguably the best running back in the NFL. The only deficiency on this team may be the sporadic play of QB Travis Jackson. The New Orleans Saints will win the NFC South. RB Reggie Bush should be more consistent this season and QB Drew Brees should also have a solid season. The acquisition of LB Jonathan Vilma and CB Randall Gay should immensely improve their defensive line.
The Seattle Seahawks should win a rather weak NFC West as their loss of Shaun Alexander will hurt them somewhat. The fact remains they should win the division by default because the rest of the teams are simply not that good. QB Matt Hasselbeck has quietly become one of the better QB's in the league (3,966 YDS, 62.6 completion percent, 28 TDS, 12 INTS). LB Lofa Tatupu spearheads a defense that was 6th in PA (18.2).
The New York Giants want to prove that last year's Super Bowl run was not an aberration. They retained most of their players including QB Eli Manning (3,336 YDS,23 TDS,20 INTS) and WR Plaxico Burress (70 REC,1,025 YDS,12 TDS). The loss of Michael Strahan will be felt, but won't hurt them very much as they are still a force to be reckoned with and will snag the 5th NFC playoff spot (1st wild card). The Giants were 7th in the NFL in defense (305.0 yds./game).The Green Bay Packers will most likely not have Brett Favre as their starting QB this season. Assuming he does not return to Green Bay, he would be replaced by Aaron Rodgers. I believe the team is still a playoff team, but will not go as deep as they did last year. They were 2nd in the NFL in offense last season (370.7 yds. /game). That ranking will probably not be as high this year. RB Ryan Grant (956 YDS, 8 TDS) and WR Donald Driver (82 REC, 1,048 YDS, 2 TDS) return to the playing field this season. I expect the Panthers, Eagles, Redskins, Cardinals, Rams, and Bucs to be respectable and mediocre this playing season while the Lions, Bears, Falcons, and 49ers will struggle to make the grade.
My predictions for the NFC Playoffs are as follows.
1st Round: No. 3 Saints over no. 6 Packers
No. 5 Giants over no.4 Seahawks
2nd Round: No.1 Cowboys over no. 5 Giants
No. 2 Vikings over no. 3 Saints
NFC Championship: No.1 Cowboys over no.2 Vikings
In the Super Bowl, I predict the San Diego Chargers will defeat the Dallas Cowboys to win their first ever Super Bowl Championship. Tony Romo and Terrel Owens put up good numbers, but it is not enough to thwart Ladainian Tomlinson and company from winning pro football's ultimate prize.
