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thoughts and observations |
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Michael Bicknell
September 7, 2001
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THE TEAMS (in order of predicted finish)
AFC EAST
COLTS - Defense better step up, because this is no sure thing.
DOLPHINS - Improved on offense, but slight decline possible on defensive front seven.
JETS - Watch out, it's there on offense, but defense needs to be seen.
BILLS - Better than most think, but not good enough on either side for playoffs.
PATRIOTS - Poor Drew. Poor, poor Drew.
AFC CENTRAL
RAVENS - The defense will not have to be as good, because the offense will be fine.
TITANS - I don't buy into this being their year. McNair has a lot to prove.
STEELERS - This team will surprise. Offense should be best in the last few years.
JAGUARS - Just not enough depth. Not what they were by a longshot.
BROWNS - Could suprise with better offense and defense, but have a ways to go.
BENGALS - Will be better, but consistency may be their downfall.
AFC WEST
BRONCOS - Raiders just cannot beat them, and that will be the difference.
RAIDERS - Could Gannon start seeing the injury bug? Better hope not.
CHIEFS - Vermeil will cry them to a better record. More talent than meets the eye.
CHARGERS - Will shake some things up, but not enough to get them higher.
SEAHAWKS - Old talent on defense isn't the key. Ask the Redskins. Offense is okay.
NFC EAST
EAGLES - They will beat the Giants, and several others. The Donovan Show.
REDSKINS - Never discount Schottenheimer. He'll have them in the thick of things.
GIANTS - I expect a dropoff. That's their pattern. Will have some nice showings.
CARDINALS - Improvement will be seen, just not enough to make them a threat.
COWBOYS - Will be fortunate to win four. That's not anywhere close to ten, Jerry.
NFC CENTRAL
BUCCANEERS - Not so sure they can do it. Need some good fortune.
VIKINGS - If they could only find a defense, this team would be scary.
PACKERS - Never discount a team run by Favre. Defense will be much improved, too.
LIONS - Need to get their house in order before toppling too many opponents.
BEARS - Will surprise a few teams. Good defense, but offensive questionmark.
NFC WEST
RAMS - They play, therefore they go fast. The defense will be good enough.
SAINTS - Solid, but don't have the Rams speed. Can secondary hold up?
49ers - Rapidly improving, but offense has some unsure areas.
FALCONS - Will play good football, but outmatched by division opponents.
PANTHERS - Better than the Cowboys, but not by a lot.
OFFENSIVE MVP
QB Kurt Warner, STL
Forget about the concussions. Well over 4000 yards, and over 40 TDs.
DEFENSIVE MVP
MLB Ray Lewis, BAL
Did you know he had a hip problem from a childhood accident? They fixed it. Scary, huh?
AFC SURPRISE TEAM
New York Jets
Don't be surprised to see them in the thick of the playoff race. They're pretty darned good.
NFC SURPRISE TEAM
Green Bay Packers
They could finish even with both the Vikings and Bucs. If so, lookout in the playoffs.
AFC PLAYOFFS
Colts, Dolphins, Ravens, Titans, Broncos
Broncos and Ravens should square of in the title game. Broncos will clean their clocks.
NFC PLAYOFFS
Eagles, Bucs, Vikings, Rams and Saints
The show must go on. The Greatest Show On Earth, that is.
SUPER BOWL
Broncos versus Rams
I don't care what anyone says, the Titans and Ravens would not match up as well against the Rams as the Broncos. The Titans were fortunate in their Super Bowl, because the Rams bogged down often in the redzone. That game could easily been a blowout. The Ravens have a great defense, too, but it would be hard for them to cover ground on that offense. The same will happen when either of the two meet the Broncos. This Super Bowl should be an offensive game, and should be a high scoring shootout. At that stage, the Rams defense will have grown enough to slow the Broncos enough. The Broncos defense is not exactly youthful, and the secondary is still questionable. That should catch up to them.
CHAMPIONS
St. Louis Rams
That defense will be good, and when it's good enough, this team is too tough to beat. Anyone that beats them after mid-season will likely be too tired to celebrate the win.
BEST FANTASY SITE
Skill Positions Dot Com
Did you expect me to say anyone else?
That's it! That's my predictions. I can rest assured of the fact that I cannot be anymore wrong than I was last year. And I also know that no one else will be anymore right. See you next week.
Moving on...
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THINGS I KNOW:
Dallas and Arizona twice? Be still my beating heart.
Terry Glenn does not like Bill Billichick. Neither does Drew Bledsoe.
This week against the Rams was not a good time for Troy Vincent to injure his knee.
Mobile quarerbacks are hot, because they're are not enough pocket passers around.
The fullback position is in serious jeopardy, but so was the tight end once.
THINGS I CAN PREDICT:
We won't miss the regular referees. When mentioned, we'll all say, "who?"
Fred Taylor will lead the league in rushing.
Jerry Jones will clean house after the season, but the Cowboys will suck again next year.
Chris Chandler will be forced into retirement from post concussion syndrome.
The Rams and Bucs game will be suspended as the two defenses take place in a WWFfree-for-all at the fifty-yard-line. Lovie Smith beats Tony Dungy to call the winner.
Mike owns and publishes SkillPositions.Com, along with a big, expensive, and talented staff. Don't use this work without permission in writing. Mike has been known as the world's only living heart donor. He also thinks morals are paintings on walls, and scruples are money in Russia.
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