Football 2009 Season Predictions

Amnorix · 09-14-2009, 11:05 AM

Well, I'm about three days late in posting this, but c'est la vie. Here are my thoughts on the 2009 season, with primarily an AFC East point of view, but generally trying to include other divisions in my thoughts.

1. New England Patriots. With Tom Brady back the Patriots are close to an automatic lock to win the AFC East and a very serious threat at the Super Bowl. The key factors to look for on the Patriots are, first, how the defense responds to losing many years of veteran leadership and skill in losing Tedy Bruschi, Richard Seymour and Rodney Harrison, among others. Jerod Mayo should continue his progress towards becoming a truly elite NFL LB. If he continues as he has, he's the next Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher. He has tremendous speed and strentgh, and by all reports puts in tremendous video time and has the heart to be great. Second, how much does the Patriots defense, which is likely to be shaky early in the year, come along as the season goes and the new parts fit in together. Another hidden factor is the tremendous turnover in BB's coaching staff and how well BB manages the loss of Pioli and all these coaches and players will be the key to the season.

2. AFC East. The entire AFC East had it easy last year, with a very soft schedule. This year it's much, much harder. Look for the Dolphins, who had the softest of the soft schedules, and surprised some teams iwth the Wildcat, to take a huge leap backwards. I dont' expect them to win more than 6 games. The Jets may take some time to put the pieces together, with a new coach and a new QB, but have some talent. They are the most serious threat to the Patriots for the division crown. Buffalo has some skill at WR and their QB isn't bad, but their OLine is a joke so will the QB have time to get the ball into the hands of TO and Evans? Their special teams and tenacious defense will keep them in some games regardless.

3. AFC West. The entire division is rather a mess, as you guys here know, with only the Chargers having much above-average talent. I think the Chargers win the division easily (3 games at least, with no one else going better than 8-8), but with the usual curse of Norv Turner and a lack of heart at times, I dont' see them as a serious threat for the AFC crown.

4. NY Football Giants. The Giants, with the various off-field distractions from last year behind them, are most likely the class of the NFC. I foresee at least the NFCC for them, if not a SB appearance. A Pats-Giants rematch could well be in the making.

5. Dallas Cowboys. Love 'em or hate 'em, you can't ignore them. Romo has yet to take the next step, however, and it's hard to see why this team should leapfrog the Giants or even the Packers and go deep in the NFC playoffs. Look for the coach to get the axe, and for Jerry Jones to try to bring in some "name" coach like Gruden or Holmgren to try to make a dent in the playoffs for the first time since the Clinton administration.

6. Da Bears. With Jay Cutler and a tenacious defense, they could.....wait, what's that? Urlacher's out for the season. Oh @#$^%, never mind, they're toast.

09-14-2009, 11:05 AM	Topic Starter
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	2009 Season Predictions Well, I'm about three days late in posting this, but c'est la vie. Here are my thoughts on the 2009 season, with primarily an AFC East point of view, but generally trying to include other divisions in my thoughts. 1. New England Patriots. With Tom Brady back the Patriots are close to an automatic lock to win the AFC East and a very serious threat at the Super Bowl. The key factors to look for on the Patriots are, first, how the defense responds to losing many years of veteran leadership and skill in losing Tedy Bruschi, Richard Seymour and Rodney Harrison, among others. Jerod Mayo should continue his progress towards becoming a truly elite NFL LB. If he continues as he has, he's the next Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher. He has tremendous speed and strentgh, and by all reports puts in tremendous video time and has the heart to be great. Second, how much does the Patriots defense, which is likely to be shaky early in the year, come along as the season goes and the new parts fit in together. Another hidden factor is the tremendous turnover in BB's coaching staff and how well BB manages the loss of Pioli and all these coaches and players will be the key to the season. 2. AFC East. The entire AFC East had it easy last year, with a very soft schedule. This year it's much, much harder. Look for the Dolphins, who had the softest of the soft schedules, and surprised some teams iwth the Wildcat, to take a huge leap backwards. I dont' expect them to win more than 6 games. The Jets may take some time to put the pieces together, with a new coach and a new QB, but have some talent. They are the most serious threat to the Patriots for the division crown. Buffalo has some skill at WR and their QB isn't bad, but their OLine is a joke so will the QB have time to get the ball into the hands of TO and Evans? Their special teams and tenacious defense will keep them in some games regardless. 3. AFC West. The entire division is rather a mess, as you guys here know, with only the Chargers having much above-average talent. I think the Chargers win the division easily (3 games at least, with no one else going better than 8-8), but with the usual curse of Norv Turner and a lack of heart at times, I dont' see them as a serious threat for the AFC crown. 4. NY Football Giants. The Giants, with the various off-field distractions from last year behind them, are most likely the class of the NFC. I foresee at least the NFCC for them, if not a SB appearance. A Pats-Giants rematch could well be in the making. 5. Dallas Cowboys. Love 'em or hate 'em, you can't ignore them. Romo has yet to take the next step, however, and it's hard to see why this team should leapfrog the Giants or even the Packers and go deep in the NFC playoffs. Look for the coach to get the axe, and for Jerry Jones to try to bring in some "name" coach like Gruden or Holmgren to try to make a dent in the playoffs for the first time since the Clinton administration. 6. Da Bears. With Jay Cutler and a tenacious defense, they could.....wait, what's that? Urlacher's out for the season. Oh @#$^%, never mind, they're toast.
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