Nfl 2010/11

It's not that far away...I thought I'd start this thread off with the most intelligent article on football that I have ever read.
NFL Expert Ranks Green Bay Number One In Power Ranking

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla -- I'm playing the Stadium Course here at Sawgrass today, as part of the annual Tom Coughlin/Jay Fund tournament benefiting cancer-stricken kids and their families. Over/under on the number of balls I put in the drink at 17: 17.
Great, classic Coughlin scene last night at the dinner and auction at the Sawgrass TPC Clubhouse, as the Giants' head coach welcomed everyone. There were moving tales of brave kids and their families battling cancer. Coughlin had just told the story of a child looking up at his parents when the cancer diagnosis came in, saying, "Am I going to die?''
And from the back of the audience:
"BRRRRRRRING!'' "BRRRRRRRING!''
Someone's cell phone.
Without breaking verbal stride, Coughlin said into the mike: "All right. That's at least a $5,000 fine right there. Just write the check right now.''
Pretty good for Coughlin. Pretty good for anyone in the middle of something emotional.
So before I go out this morning, let me embarrass myself by ranking the NFL one through 32. That's not being overly modest -- just realistic. I stink at this. In fact, my recommendation if you really want to find out what's going to happen in the NFL this year is to take a bye on this column. Last year, I really distinguished myself. Picked the Bears to make the Super Bowl. Picked the Saints 24th in the league, which was a point of some contention all season, right up to the moment 30 minutes after the Saints won the Super Bowl and Sean Payton walked up to his podium to meet the press after the game, saw me, and said: "Not bad for number 24.''
But I press on -- stupidly or intrepidly, not sure which, keeping one statistic in mind. Twelve teams make the playoffs each year. In the past five years, check out the turnover from the previous year. How many different teams made the playoffs compared to the year before:
2005: 7.
2006: 7.
2007: 6.
2008: 7.
2009: 6.
So for five straight years there's been at least a 50-percent turnover in the playoff teams. Remember that as you throw crap at your computer when you see I don't have New England making the playoffs, but I do have Carolina in the big dance. There's not quite the same high number of playoff changes (I have five of 12 different from 2009), but I do have five of eight division winners changing.
1. Green Bay. It's not just the maturation of Aaron Rodgers. It's the carryover from a fluky end to 2009 (the weird playoff loss at Arizona) and the fact that only one team in football -- New Orleans -- had a better point differential than the Pack's plus-164 last year. I like Jermichael Finley to become a great player in his second starting season. I don't trust the pass-rush (where Clay Matthews is the only real thing), and I worry about two of the top three corners coming off ACL surgery, and aging. But the defensive front is formidable, and a very good match for the good run teams of the NFC North. I also like Weeks 2 through 5 on the schedule (Buffalo, at Chicago, Detroit, at Washington), which sets up for a strong start.
2. San Diego. I didn't like how much the Chargers traded to get Ryan Mathews (the 28th and 40th picks in a strong draft) when they probably could have gotten him for less, but that doesn't mean I don't like what Mathews is going to do. I think he'll be the offensive rookie of the year. He has everything a good back needs -- opportunity (he should get 320 carries if healthy), playing from ahead a lot, and a good offensive line. And did I mention Philip Rivers will throw for 4,500 yards and contend strongly for MVP?
As with Green Bay, I don't know where all the pass-rush will come from, but the Chargers are relying heavily on Larry English to break out of his freshman slump and give it to them -- and hope that, in a salary-drive year, Shawne Merriman can give the franchise one last productive year. It's more likely, I think, that Shaun Phillips has seven to 10 sacks and provides cover for English. I like the Chargers to go at least 5-1 in the division, which gives them an edge over the other three division winners, setting them up for home-field in the AFC playoffs.
3. Baltimore. I think the Ravens have hit a few home runs this offseason, and those moves could carry them to the AFC Championship Game. I like the remake of their receiver corps. Anquan Boldin won't make it through 16 games healthy, but he'll give Joe Flacco a good, physical target for 12. Donte' Stallworth will be reborn as an effective third or fourth wideout, with the speed at the position the Ravens haven't had. On defense, I wish I saw something better at cornerback than waiting for Lardarius Webb to come back from knee surgery sometime this summer so that the starting corners opening day aren't Chris Carr and Domonique Foxworth. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison obviously has to be hoping for it to be third- and-long so often (with a great run-stuffing front) that he doesn't have to worry about the more than occasional coverage error downfield.
4. Indianapolis. I see no reason, either in the competitive level of the division or in the Colts' slippage, for Indy to regress. Manning will be Manning, and he has the young weapons to be good as long as his body will hold up now, even if one of his valuable pieces like Reggie Wayne breaks down. They've backstopped everywhere on the roster pretty effectively, and last year got two kid corners the kind of experience under fire that will serve them well going forward at a position Bill Polian uses interchangeably. Third-round pick Jerraud Powers played as effectively as any other rookie corner in football last year, and Indy's set with him and Kelvin Hayden, with Jacob Lacey in relief there. The Achilles heel, again, could be San Diego. The Chargers are a major matchup problem for Indianapolis, and even with some upheaval in San Diego, the AFC still could come down to Indy having to win at San Diego to make it to the Super Bowl.
5. New Orleans. The Saints face a daunting task: Only four times in the last 20 seasons has a team repeated as Super Bowl champ (San Francisco in 1990, Dallas in 1994, Denver in 1999 and New England in 2005). The Saints will surely score enough to win again. The question is whether defensive coordinator Gregg Williams can tread water in 2010, because I think that's all he's going to have to do. New Orleans doesn't have to be in the top 10 in defense -- the Bills allowed 15 fewer points last year, the 49ers 60 -- but Williams, again, will have to find a way to get pressure with middling front-seven talent and make sure the Saints don't have to score in the 30s every week to win.
vMore teamsv
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/b49Jd​

 

I read that too. Green Bay has a good team and should do well, but I was surprised that he ranked them #1. But to be honest, ranking NFL teams in May is pretty much a waste of time. Aaron Rodgers (or Manning or Brees or Romo or Rivers or...) could blow out his knee in a June mini-camp and completely change their chances.

 

I totally agree but it did make me feel better.

 

According to www.pro-football-reference.com, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the NFL's all-time leader in career passer rating.
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/93901794.html

 

Should be an interesting season, i just hope the patriots continue to struggle. I think the AFC east should however produce two playoff teams(jets/dolphins) and the NFC north(packers/vikings). I know its only may but predictions are fun...Go Cowboys!

 

Amen to that!!

 

Minnesota Vikings' Brett Favre had surgery on injured left ankle

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5209161&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines

You know what that means...

 

vikings win the division again

 

I'm not so sure but I guess we'll see.

 

Anyone can make a power ranking prediction in May. For it to actually be a reality is another thing. I hope for Packers fans that the offseason moves on the offensive line pay off. Aaron Rodgers leads all quarterbacks with the most yards rushing-behind the line of scrimmage.

Seahawks football rules(I know, but I can dream can't I?)

 

^
Now, that's funny.

 

I've been rooting for Aaron Rodgers since Favre left. i wanted to see him come from his shadow and just dominate. so far he's done that. i'm really hoping they take the division this year.

but honestly it's not gonna really matter cause the Saints are taking it all again this year! WHO DAT BABY!!

 

You think Leinart can pick up where Warner left off? I'm not convinced yet.

 

Me too.

 

This guy wrote a great article. This is a part of it and basically sums up my feelings on Favre.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/395107-brett-favre-a-true-story-of-love-and-hate

 

After 8 years of below mediocrity play the Raiders look to have finally made some strides back to average!

May this season bring .500+

 

They are moving in the right direction but I think six wins will be the most they muster this season.

On a side note I hope Al Davis doesn't get a penny from JaMarcus Russell plus I hope he loses some in the process. Nobody put a gun to his head and forced him to pay Russell a ton of money.