Oh how I wish there wasn't anything Favre could use as an excuse for this game. If this game is half as intense as the NFC Championship game, then Favre might not make it through the entire season. There is bad blood between the two teams and there is a good chance that the game goes down to the wire. I think both teams will test the secondaries early and often. The Saints are starting a second year player and the Vikings are down to their rookie CB starting on one end. The Vikings are one of the few teams with the pass rush needed to disrupt Brees' rythym, so look for them to take full advantage of this fact. I highly doubt we will have another overtime finish, but below are a few assumptions with this game.
-AP is utilized early and often. The Vikings probably want to run the ball as often as they can to prevent any rough hits on Favre. AP has to make up for his mistakes from the NFC Championship, so look for him to run like his rookie year.
-The Saints backfield disappoints. I do not think their running game will be much of a factor in this nailbiter.
-One QB throws for over 300 yards. I assume this will be Brees since his running game won't be as effective and the Vikings can probably be picked apart due to their current roster.
-Saints win it by at least 7. Hangover or no hangover, I believe the Saints will have enough firepower to get the job done. As strange as it sounds, it almost seems like they are going under the radar with everyone talking about the Vikings and the 'Boys to represent the NFC.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Preseason Rankings
Below are my preseason rankings (which are essentially worthless). With the season starting this Thursday, we can finally get back to real football.
1) Baltimore Ravens - While I have many questions about their secondary depth and Ed Reed missing the first six games on the PUP list, I cannot discount the growth of Joe Flacco and Ray Rice. Both are entering their third years in the league, and have all of the pieces in place to make a huge run in the playoffs. Flacco has one of the most consistent receivers in the league at his disposal as well as one of the best defenses in the game.
2) Indianapolis Colts - I would love to have them ranked #1 overall, but despite what Manning says, that defense scares me .. and not in a good way for Colts fans. Of course, I am just going off of the preseason, but they have missed plenty of tackles and have been racking up injuries with some key players not named Bob Sanders. Either way, as long as Manning is healthy, this team will be in the playoffs and putting up substantial points.
3) New Orleans Saints - They still have all of the pieces they need to make another SuperBowl run, but I am not sure if their revised backfield will have a similar impact, nor am I fully confident yet in Malcolm Jenkins as the heir to Darren Sharper this year. This team was so frightening last year due to their turnover to TD capabilities, we will need to see if they can still provide that.
4) Minnesota Vikings - First off, I do NOT think Favre will have anything close to the year he had in 2009. He will definitely be an improvement over Jackson, and the team still has AP and that pass rush. I easily could have ranked them 8th, but I noticed that this team has a surprising amount of depth from young players as their reserves seemed to dominate in the few games I saw this preseason. Plus they essentially have four throw away games with the Bears and Lions. Sure both teams put up a fight on both occassions last year, but I am still not sold.
5) Green Bay Packers - I feel like this still might be too high for them, but I am a sucker for high powered offenses and Aaron Rodgers is my fantasy stud as he has won me the last two leagues I played in. I think that many are forgetting their defensive issues in the front seven, but they have a lot of young talent that can only get better with more playing time. I am slightly worried about their secondary depth for the first few weeks of the season given that they are missing two key components. Luckily, we all know Rodgers can put up 50 points in order to clean up the mess, plus TE Finley is an absolute beast and may lead the league in receiving for TE's this year.
6) New England Patriots - Their defense is questionable, but now that Brady is fully recovered from his ACL injury, I think they can approach their 18-1 offensive again. If the young players step up on defense, then look for this team to go deep into the season
7) Dallas Cowboys - I am not ranking them this low because I despise the Cowboys, in fact, I honestly do not think they are clicking like they should be for a team everyone expects to be in the Superbowl. They were able to score one offensive TD all preseason with the first team and that came from the 20 yard line, so they didnt have much field to work with. The running game has not be good and the offensive line definitely has major issues. All signs of a team about to struggle. It may all be a smokescreen and the team will go 19-0, they definitely have the talent to do so.
8) San Diego Chargers - I was thinking of ranking this team much higher, but there will definitely be many questions surrounding this team. For instance, how effective will the defense be? I feel like there are still many questions about this once potent defensive team. Many people are mentioning the Jackson holdout, but Rivers is a dominant quarterback. If Eli Manning, whom I consider to be a far worse QB, can survive losing Burress then I think Rivers can "manage" with Antonio Gates and Co.
9) New York Jets - I love Rex Ryan, his defense and swagger. Sadly, the pretty much put it all on the table for this year, and I do not think Sanchez will be able to handle the pressure. The guy is definitely not going to be able to lead this team to a Superbowl win this year, maybe in the future but not now. He definitely ended the season well, so hopefully he carries that momentum over to this year. I just don't buy all of the talk that the Jets will win .. maybe if they pay Revis but even then it seems doubtful.
10) Cincinatti Bengals - Their defense actually seems to be continuing their successful year from last year, and if Palmer can control the two divas he has at WR, then I think this team could thrive again. I highly doubt the run the table against the division again, but they should be in the hunt for a wild card.
11) San Francisco 49er's - Their defense should definitely be improved from last year, which should make them a frightening force. The two first round picks on the O-line should pave the way for Frank Gore to have a huge year and for Alex Smith to have enough time to complete his passes. I am still not sold on the passing game, but if Smith can't get the ball to Vernon Davis and Crabtree, then he has no reason to stay in this league.
12) Atlanta Falcons - I have serious concerns with their secondary again. Robinson seems to be injured all of the time lately, and this leaves a gaping hole in their defense. I love the addition of Weatherspoon, so I could see an improvement in the run defense, but this is a passing league and they deal with Brees twice a year, without a stout secondary, this team will not advance far.
13) Philadelphia Eagles - I consider the Eagles a wild card team assuming Kolb can pick up where he left off last year. The defense is vastly better than it was last year. Luckily, the team has not found any major injuries, so the defensive leaders are present. The run defense looked terrific this preseason, so it will be interesting to see how the team does during the regular season. On offense, can the young players step up and contribute right away? It seems to me that this team will live and die with DeSean Jackson. He will be extremely involved with the offensive gameplan, so they better hope his back injury does not linger into the season. Without Jackson this team will have almost no chance of making the playoffs.
14) Houston Texans - Pass offense is top five in the NFL. Run offense is very questionable with a player who somehow fumbles more often than AP. Defense keeps getting better, but the secondary needs to step it up. Can they replace Robinson? Can they finally beat the Colts and get into the playoffs? They have Andre Johnson so anything is possible.
15) New York Giants - Healthy Eli, revamped defensive line, new weapons in the secondary. This team could very well win the division, but I haven't seen anyone step up on offense besides Victor Cruz and Ahmad Bradshaw. If they can put it together consistently on offense, then look out NFC East.
16) Pittsburgh Steelers - I rank them at 18 assuming that Tomlin allows Dennis Dixon to start. He inserts a level of skill that Charlie Batch cannot even dream to compete with. He has speed, accuracy on the run, and a strong arm. Batch has accuracy ... in the pocket ... with a team that cant pass protect ... Using Dixon will help keep this team from falling to 0-4 in the absence of Big Ben. The team might not want to utilize Dixon since the fan base may want a shift to Dixon if he excels in order to be done with Big Ben once and for all (which would be moronic to dump a two time Superbowl winner).
17) Washington Redskins - I fought the urge to put this team in the top ten. Their defense was there last year, it was just an inept offense that kept the team down. McNabb is world's better than Campbell, but now he has no one to throw to like he did early in his career. If you remember those years, he only led his team to four NFC Championship games and one Superbowl .. so maybe it is a good think for Skins fans that he has a dominant defense and no WR talent. Sadly, he cannot run like he used to, so he will need some players to step up and help him out. Enter Chris Cooley, Fred Davis, and Anthony Armstrong.
18) Miami Dolphins - They can't live and die by the Wildcat anymore if they want to properly develop Chad Henne. He has a rocket arm, so the team should take advantage of his strengths and his new weapon in Marshall. Like most of my picks, I am worried about their defense as a whole. There are major changes all over, so how the new players transition will greatly impact their season. They have the primary advantage of being overlooked, so this could help them get past the Jets or Pats.
19) Tennessee Titans - CJ will not have another year like he did last year. Vince Young will possibly get this team to second place in the division, but their lack of WR depth (Britt is also inactive for an unspecific amount of time) and suspect defense have me skeptical of even matching last year's 8-8.
20) Carolina Panthers - I would not be surprised to see Clausen under center by the end of the year. Fox is in the final year of his contract, so if the season looks to be going down the drain, then maybe he can showcase Clausen and try to save his job. If they just constantly run the ball with Williams and Stewart, then this team could be deadly. They have a majority of the same talent from their 13-3 year, so they just need to get back to running the ball and controlling the clock.
21) Oakland Raiders - I have seen Jason Campbell play plenty of times before, and with the weapons he has at his disposal, I instantly see this team becoming a threat to the other teams in its division. If the scrubs at QB could get this team five wins, imagine what a decent QB could do with a revamped defense.
22) Jacksonville Jaguars - The defense has plenty of questions and they just shipped off their best defensive player to the Bengals. I love MJD, but he is currently injured and Garrard has no one to throw to .. I wouldnt be surprised to see this team sitting at the bottom of the rankings by year's end.
23) Arizona Cardinals - I think they made a huge mistake by letting Leinart go. Anderson should not be playing, but then again he has some great talent to throw to. Word is that Coach Ken likes Max Hall, so there is a very good chance he could be starting early this season if/when Anderson struggles.
24) Detroit Lions - While this ranking may seem high, consider a few things. Megatron, Best, Stafford. if you factor in the other WR and TE's on the roster, then you will notice that this offense suddenly seems potent. I think the O line will be significantly better compared to last year as they upgraded their left guard position finally. Stafford showed us all his grit last year, and I think he will continue to improve this year leading to many more wins.
25) Denver Broncos - Kyle Orton has looked great in the preseason, but the Denver D has not. They lost their best pass rusher early in the offseason, so hopefully some of the younger guys like Robert Ayers can step up. Their secondary is also one of the oldest I can think of in the league, so they might be a risk. The offense should be average to above average, but the defense might not be able to stop many teams.
26) Chicago Bears - The defense is getting much older and I can't really believe that it will be able to keep this team in games any longer. If Cutler continues to throw into double or triple coverage, then look for the Bears to possibly be the worst team in the division. And i know Bears fans will disagree but I question Cutler's love for the game. He reminds me of a spoiled girl who can't get what she wants. You know, the type that complains about what other people said or promised and continues to argue until she gets what she wants.
27) Seattle Seahawks - I haven't seen their defense play since last year, so I am not sure if it has improved at all .Given that Carroll is a defensive mind, I would hope that it has improved. Given that the Cardinals are inept and let go of Leinart, the Seahawks might be able to contend for second place in the worst division in football, but that isn't too bad. Earl Thomas figures to help solidify the horrendous secondary, and if the O line can keep Hasselbeck on his feet, then look out NFC West.
28) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - The defense does not look that great minus the two starting corners. Talib and Barber are a great tandem and the addition of McCoy should have a great impact. The rest of the defense is an unknown to me. Freeman could definitely have a great year this year except he has no one to throw to. New draft picks for the WR position should have an immediate impact since there is no other competition for them.
29) St. Louis Rams - Bradford has been sharp the last two games and is now the starter. Sadly, he lost his number one WR and has a horrible O line and defense. In two years, this team could finally be thinking a return to the playoffs.
30) Kansas City Chiefs - Eric Berry is an incredible player. I focused on the first half of the Eagles-Chiefs preseason game and it seemed like he was involved in every single play. He set the tone immediately in the game and took out the Eagle's best player like it was nothing. If the rest of the defense steps it up and the overvalued defensive line filled with top five picks will live up to their potential, then the Chiefs may win quite a few games this year.
31) Cleveland Browns - I see nothing about this team that inspires confidence. They have a few great players, but a majority of the team put together by Holmgren were scraps from other teams. I expect another early draft pick. Hey, at least they have one of the best LT's around.
32) Buffalo Bills - They simply have way too many holes. If they had 22 different CJ Spiller's then I would be confident with this team. They lost on of their best defensive players this year when he decided retiring five years too early was better than finishing his contract with the team .. that says plenty to me about the current state of affairs. There is definitely some young talent that will keep this team competitive in about five games this year. This is a lost season for them, they need to put all of their chips in for next year to get the first pick and get their QB.
1) Baltimore Ravens - While I have many questions about their secondary depth and Ed Reed missing the first six games on the PUP list, I cannot discount the growth of Joe Flacco and Ray Rice. Both are entering their third years in the league, and have all of the pieces in place to make a huge run in the playoffs. Flacco has one of the most consistent receivers in the league at his disposal as well as one of the best defenses in the game.
2) Indianapolis Colts - I would love to have them ranked #1 overall, but despite what Manning says, that defense scares me .. and not in a good way for Colts fans. Of course, I am just going off of the preseason, but they have missed plenty of tackles and have been racking up injuries with some key players not named Bob Sanders. Either way, as long as Manning is healthy, this team will be in the playoffs and putting up substantial points.
3) New Orleans Saints - They still have all of the pieces they need to make another SuperBowl run, but I am not sure if their revised backfield will have a similar impact, nor am I fully confident yet in Malcolm Jenkins as the heir to Darren Sharper this year. This team was so frightening last year due to their turnover to TD capabilities, we will need to see if they can still provide that.
4) Minnesota Vikings - First off, I do NOT think Favre will have anything close to the year he had in 2009. He will definitely be an improvement over Jackson, and the team still has AP and that pass rush. I easily could have ranked them 8th, but I noticed that this team has a surprising amount of depth from young players as their reserves seemed to dominate in the few games I saw this preseason. Plus they essentially have four throw away games with the Bears and Lions. Sure both teams put up a fight on both occassions last year, but I am still not sold.
5) Green Bay Packers - I feel like this still might be too high for them, but I am a sucker for high powered offenses and Aaron Rodgers is my fantasy stud as he has won me the last two leagues I played in. I think that many are forgetting their defensive issues in the front seven, but they have a lot of young talent that can only get better with more playing time. I am slightly worried about their secondary depth for the first few weeks of the season given that they are missing two key components. Luckily, we all know Rodgers can put up 50 points in order to clean up the mess, plus TE Finley is an absolute beast and may lead the league in receiving for TE's this year.
6) New England Patriots - Their defense is questionable, but now that Brady is fully recovered from his ACL injury, I think they can approach their 18-1 offensive again. If the young players step up on defense, then look for this team to go deep into the season
7) Dallas Cowboys - I am not ranking them this low because I despise the Cowboys, in fact, I honestly do not think they are clicking like they should be for a team everyone expects to be in the Superbowl. They were able to score one offensive TD all preseason with the first team and that came from the 20 yard line, so they didnt have much field to work with. The running game has not be good and the offensive line definitely has major issues. All signs of a team about to struggle. It may all be a smokescreen and the team will go 19-0, they definitely have the talent to do so.
8) San Diego Chargers - I was thinking of ranking this team much higher, but there will definitely be many questions surrounding this team. For instance, how effective will the defense be? I feel like there are still many questions about this once potent defensive team. Many people are mentioning the Jackson holdout, but Rivers is a dominant quarterback. If Eli Manning, whom I consider to be a far worse QB, can survive losing Burress then I think Rivers can "manage" with Antonio Gates and Co.
9) New York Jets - I love Rex Ryan, his defense and swagger. Sadly, the pretty much put it all on the table for this year, and I do not think Sanchez will be able to handle the pressure. The guy is definitely not going to be able to lead this team to a Superbowl win this year, maybe in the future but not now. He definitely ended the season well, so hopefully he carries that momentum over to this year. I just don't buy all of the talk that the Jets will win .. maybe if they pay Revis but even then it seems doubtful.
10) Cincinatti Bengals - Their defense actually seems to be continuing their successful year from last year, and if Palmer can control the two divas he has at WR, then I think this team could thrive again. I highly doubt the run the table against the division again, but they should be in the hunt for a wild card.
11) San Francisco 49er's - Their defense should definitely be improved from last year, which should make them a frightening force. The two first round picks on the O-line should pave the way for Frank Gore to have a huge year and for Alex Smith to have enough time to complete his passes. I am still not sold on the passing game, but if Smith can't get the ball to Vernon Davis and Crabtree, then he has no reason to stay in this league.
12) Atlanta Falcons - I have serious concerns with their secondary again. Robinson seems to be injured all of the time lately, and this leaves a gaping hole in their defense. I love the addition of Weatherspoon, so I could see an improvement in the run defense, but this is a passing league and they deal with Brees twice a year, without a stout secondary, this team will not advance far.
13) Philadelphia Eagles - I consider the Eagles a wild card team assuming Kolb can pick up where he left off last year. The defense is vastly better than it was last year. Luckily, the team has not found any major injuries, so the defensive leaders are present. The run defense looked terrific this preseason, so it will be interesting to see how the team does during the regular season. On offense, can the young players step up and contribute right away? It seems to me that this team will live and die with DeSean Jackson. He will be extremely involved with the offensive gameplan, so they better hope his back injury does not linger into the season. Without Jackson this team will have almost no chance of making the playoffs.
14) Houston Texans - Pass offense is top five in the NFL. Run offense is very questionable with a player who somehow fumbles more often than AP. Defense keeps getting better, but the secondary needs to step it up. Can they replace Robinson? Can they finally beat the Colts and get into the playoffs? They have Andre Johnson so anything is possible.
15) New York Giants - Healthy Eli, revamped defensive line, new weapons in the secondary. This team could very well win the division, but I haven't seen anyone step up on offense besides Victor Cruz and Ahmad Bradshaw. If they can put it together consistently on offense, then look out NFC East.
16) Pittsburgh Steelers - I rank them at 18 assuming that Tomlin allows Dennis Dixon to start. He inserts a level of skill that Charlie Batch cannot even dream to compete with. He has speed, accuracy on the run, and a strong arm. Batch has accuracy ... in the pocket ... with a team that cant pass protect ... Using Dixon will help keep this team from falling to 0-4 in the absence of Big Ben. The team might not want to utilize Dixon since the fan base may want a shift to Dixon if he excels in order to be done with Big Ben once and for all (which would be moronic to dump a two time Superbowl winner).
17) Washington Redskins - I fought the urge to put this team in the top ten. Their defense was there last year, it was just an inept offense that kept the team down. McNabb is world's better than Campbell, but now he has no one to throw to like he did early in his career. If you remember those years, he only led his team to four NFC Championship games and one Superbowl .. so maybe it is a good think for Skins fans that he has a dominant defense and no WR talent. Sadly, he cannot run like he used to, so he will need some players to step up and help him out. Enter Chris Cooley, Fred Davis, and Anthony Armstrong.
18) Miami Dolphins - They can't live and die by the Wildcat anymore if they want to properly develop Chad Henne. He has a rocket arm, so the team should take advantage of his strengths and his new weapon in Marshall. Like most of my picks, I am worried about their defense as a whole. There are major changes all over, so how the new players transition will greatly impact their season. They have the primary advantage of being overlooked, so this could help them get past the Jets or Pats.
19) Tennessee Titans - CJ will not have another year like he did last year. Vince Young will possibly get this team to second place in the division, but their lack of WR depth (Britt is also inactive for an unspecific amount of time) and suspect defense have me skeptical of even matching last year's 8-8.
20) Carolina Panthers - I would not be surprised to see Clausen under center by the end of the year. Fox is in the final year of his contract, so if the season looks to be going down the drain, then maybe he can showcase Clausen and try to save his job. If they just constantly run the ball with Williams and Stewart, then this team could be deadly. They have a majority of the same talent from their 13-3 year, so they just need to get back to running the ball and controlling the clock.
21) Oakland Raiders - I have seen Jason Campbell play plenty of times before, and with the weapons he has at his disposal, I instantly see this team becoming a threat to the other teams in its division. If the scrubs at QB could get this team five wins, imagine what a decent QB could do with a revamped defense.
22) Jacksonville Jaguars - The defense has plenty of questions and they just shipped off their best defensive player to the Bengals. I love MJD, but he is currently injured and Garrard has no one to throw to .. I wouldnt be surprised to see this team sitting at the bottom of the rankings by year's end.
23) Arizona Cardinals - I think they made a huge mistake by letting Leinart go. Anderson should not be playing, but then again he has some great talent to throw to. Word is that Coach Ken likes Max Hall, so there is a very good chance he could be starting early this season if/when Anderson struggles.
24) Detroit Lions - While this ranking may seem high, consider a few things. Megatron, Best, Stafford. if you factor in the other WR and TE's on the roster, then you will notice that this offense suddenly seems potent. I think the O line will be significantly better compared to last year as they upgraded their left guard position finally. Stafford showed us all his grit last year, and I think he will continue to improve this year leading to many more wins.
25) Denver Broncos - Kyle Orton has looked great in the preseason, but the Denver D has not. They lost their best pass rusher early in the offseason, so hopefully some of the younger guys like Robert Ayers can step up. Their secondary is also one of the oldest I can think of in the league, so they might be a risk. The offense should be average to above average, but the defense might not be able to stop many teams.
26) Chicago Bears - The defense is getting much older and I can't really believe that it will be able to keep this team in games any longer. If Cutler continues to throw into double or triple coverage, then look for the Bears to possibly be the worst team in the division. And i know Bears fans will disagree but I question Cutler's love for the game. He reminds me of a spoiled girl who can't get what she wants. You know, the type that complains about what other people said or promised and continues to argue until she gets what she wants.
27) Seattle Seahawks - I haven't seen their defense play since last year, so I am not sure if it has improved at all .Given that Carroll is a defensive mind, I would hope that it has improved. Given that the Cardinals are inept and let go of Leinart, the Seahawks might be able to contend for second place in the worst division in football, but that isn't too bad. Earl Thomas figures to help solidify the horrendous secondary, and if the O line can keep Hasselbeck on his feet, then look out NFC West.
28) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - The defense does not look that great minus the two starting corners. Talib and Barber are a great tandem and the addition of McCoy should have a great impact. The rest of the defense is an unknown to me. Freeman could definitely have a great year this year except he has no one to throw to. New draft picks for the WR position should have an immediate impact since there is no other competition for them.
29) St. Louis Rams - Bradford has been sharp the last two games and is now the starter. Sadly, he lost his number one WR and has a horrible O line and defense. In two years, this team could finally be thinking a return to the playoffs.
30) Kansas City Chiefs - Eric Berry is an incredible player. I focused on the first half of the Eagles-Chiefs preseason game and it seemed like he was involved in every single play. He set the tone immediately in the game and took out the Eagle's best player like it was nothing. If the rest of the defense steps it up and the overvalued defensive line filled with top five picks will live up to their potential, then the Chiefs may win quite a few games this year.
31) Cleveland Browns - I see nothing about this team that inspires confidence. They have a few great players, but a majority of the team put together by Holmgren were scraps from other teams. I expect another early draft pick. Hey, at least they have one of the best LT's around.
32) Buffalo Bills - They simply have way too many holes. If they had 22 different CJ Spiller's then I would be confident with this team. They lost on of their best defensive players this year when he decided retiring five years too early was better than finishing his contract with the team .. that says plenty to me about the current state of affairs. There is definitely some young talent that will keep this team competitive in about five games this year. This is a lost season for them, they need to put all of their chips in for next year to get the first pick and get their QB.
First Things First
As you can probably tell, this is my first post. This is a pet project that I have been delaying for possibly three years, but with the economy and nothing else to do, I figured I may as well finally begin blogging about the thing I love most (football). I typically follow the NFL religiously and college football every so often. My primary goal will be to provide my amateur insight on weekly matchups every week. I will also throw out a preseason ranking even though those are always worthless it seems. My first actual football related post will be later on today, but until then, here are some quick facts that you probably don't give a shit about.
Favorite Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Favorite Player: Donovan McNabb
Favorite Rookie: Jahvid Best
Position I Would Play In A Pickup Game: RB/WR/CB
Anyways, look for something of value later on in the day.
Favorite Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Favorite Player: Donovan McNabb
Favorite Rookie: Jahvid Best
Position I Would Play In A Pickup Game: RB/WR/CB
Anyways, look for something of value later on in the day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)