Moon's 2007 NFL Preview
It has been more than three months since I gave a crap about anything in the world of sports. When the Phoenix Suns went down to the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, it was a personal sports Sunset.
The sun is now rising. The NFL season begins Thursday night.
The NFL has developed into my favorite sport/league. It is easy to casually follow every team in the league and grasp league-wide developments. It is easy to get behind a single team and follow it closely. It gives us fantasy football, an amazingly entertaining endeavor. It gives us limitless gambling opportunities, with or without rake. Already I am committed to at least three different pools.
Besides all that, the game itself is certainly one of the world's best. The only game I find comparably entertaining is basketball, but the NBA's structure and residual entertainment value leave it far behind the NFL.
Don't consider this a legitimate NFL Preview. I'll leave that to the professionals. This is merely an attempt to document some picks, provide a gambling primer, and perhaps throw a nugget or two of information to those fans more casual than myself.
The preseason power rankings, as I see them:
The Dregs
On paper, this is one of the worst offenses in NFL history.
I will bet right now Romeo Crennel does not make it through the season with a job in
This team has one good player – who happens to be one of the five best players in the NFL – and he’s likely to get injured.
29. Packers
Ugh. Finally the end for Favre.
28. Raiders
They have some talent at the skill positions but not much else.
27. Buccaneers
4-12? 5-11? 6-10? Those three seem more likely than everything else combined.
Underachie
vers
26. Dolphins
I predict a carbon copy of ’06: a disastrous start hallmarked by atrocious “big name” QB play; a quiet, efficient turnaround led by the defense and coaching; an ultimately forgettable season.
25. Giants
On paper, this team should be much better than 25th in the league, but it just hasn’t been meshing and this year, with no more Tiki, the bottom falls out.
24. Redskins
redskinsaresucky
23. Texans
Some random team that appears to be just dreadful will make a surprising run and go 11-5 or something. I don’t think it will be the Texans.
Scrappers
22. Titans
A mild regression. Honestly I’m much more interested in this team’s fantasy profile than its win-loss record. This is the team second most likely to have a December OT game against the Dolphins, Chiefs, Texans, etc called by Don Criqui.
21. Bills
At the end of ’06 I was all ready to pick the Bills as a sleeper, but some poor offseason work has them back in “start the season 3-7, finish 4-2 to give the fans hope for next year” mode. This is the team most likely to have a December OT game against the Dolphins, Chiefs, Texans, etc called by Don Criqui (who is in fact a native of Buffalo).
20. Falcons
You were wondering where I would rank them. These “left for dead” sort of teams usually seem to pull together and overachieve. They will surprise a few teams early and might even contend for a playoff spot.
19. Jets
Just not enough talent to overcome a tough schedule. Throw this team in the NFC North and they go 10-6.
NFC Also-Rans
18. Cowboys
The Cowboys, while talented, are coached by Wade Phillips.
17. Niners
This is one of the hardest reads. I could see anything from 3-13 to 12-4. Also a very difficult fantasy read. I do know the NFC West is going to give us a bunch of exciting, high-scoring games and a fierce battle for the division title.
16. Bears
Everything about this team screams “Post Super Bowl Loss Letdown Season” that we’ve seen recently from the league’s runner-ups.
15. Seahawks
A rough sec
ond-half schedule (and lack of talent) will likely derail this team after an over-hyped start.
14. Lions
This team is going to win ten games. Look at this offense, then look at this schedule. This is the breakthrough season, though they won’t actually be as good as their record indicates.
13. Rams
This roster is like a store for fantasy football owners. But the defense looks shaky, the schedule is surprisingly tough, and the coaching staff unproven.
12. Cardinals
The Breakthrough, part II.
11. Eagles
Definitely a team to fear. As usual, they will be their own greatest enemy. Possibly the most dangerous team in the NFC and the biggest threat to the AFC.
10. Panthers
Loaded, compared to the rest of the NFC.
Potential Threats
9. Jaguars
These guys really should be better, shouldn’t they? Run the ball, stop the run, and everything else follows, right? Yet they always miss the playoffs.
8. Broncos
Their easiest schedule in years. They’ve had better teams that missed the playoffs.
7. Bengals
Wow, this defense sucks. You’d think they’d do something about an obvious problem. Like, if there was a broken pipe spewing sewage into your house, you’d get that fixed, right? Sooner rather than later?
Contenders
6. Saints
Barring injuries, there is no reason to think this offense won’t be completely terrifying. The schedule bookends with road dates at Indy and Chicago but they’re the preseason favorite in their middle fourteen games.
5. Chargers
A top-two team on paper, but there has to be some fall-off from bringing in Norv Turner (proven unsuccessful coach) to replace Marty Schottenheimer (proven successful can’t get over the hump coach).
4. Colts
Been there, done that, go back to choking please.
3. Ravens
Signing Willis McGahee was the best move any team made in the offseason. This team was one player away last year and now that player has arrived.
2. Steelers
Polamalu. Roethlisberger. Parker. Ward.
1. Patriots
On paper, the greatest team in the history of football.
posted by GnightMoon @ 8:47 AM
11 Comments:
I have to strongly u disagree with you about the Giants. Tiki Barber leaving is going to be a huge positive (addition by subtraction). Eli has looked down right amazing in the preseason and this team has really rallied around Coughlin. We shall see though
If I thought Eli manning ever looked good in the NFL I'd probably post anonymously too. The Giants will take it in the chute this year, along with my Falcons.
This comment has been removed by the author.
sorry for double post. Great point Brad. haha the Giants will be terrible this year. I like your list and don't disagree in many spots except the Chargers should be higher and saying the Patriots are the best team on paper ever is a little ridiculously strong. Lets slow down a little.
That's pathetic, the Rockies are having their best season in at least a decade.
"The Rockies are having their best season in at least a decade" ...doesn't really support your argument does it?
Lions are still placed too high.
And whoever said Tiki leaving is a good thing is a moron.
Dude - skins at 25?? There are several teams that you've ranked ahead of them that look significantly worse. Texans, Falcons, please.
Zaxel
Your Bengals commentary is right on the money and very poignant because I just left a house which had an untreated leaking pipe which led to deathly mold in a bedroom. The smell of that room is similar to the Bengals defense, which is confusing to me considering Marvin Lewis was a defensive genius in Baltimore.
The Vikes do not need offense with a defense that scores consistently...
Wow even after the first week totally dismantles your predictions, I would of went against about 80% of them and would still be willing to place a bet against more than half of your predictions. E-mail me at ventaboutpoker@yahoo.com and let me know if you're interested.
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