People can judge me all they want, but only God can judge me.

In keeping with last season's weekly previews, this year's will begin with a quote from a different player every week. This one comes from Travis Henry, in response to the leaking of the fact that he has nine children with 9 different women. WOW. Check out the article here: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070827/SPORTS11/70827008/1038/ENT03. Anyways, its a new season, and keeping with last years work, I will do game previews on a weekly basis. And yes I know I forgot to do all the divisions for my preseason preview but that was too much work, and I didn't have time for that with soccer preseason. I'll do my playoff predictions at the end. Anyways last year I went 42-38 in my picks, so over .500, and I went 37-43 so hopefully this year I will fare better over the course of a full season. But there will be no betting prior to the end of soccer season as that's illegal and could get me in big trouble. Anyways lets get the picks going.



Thursday 8:30 EST
Saints @ Colts
The Saints are one of two popular picks to win the NFC this season, and with the #1 ranked offense last year they should be. Reggie Bush can only improve, and with Drew Brees having a second year in this system he should have an even bigger year. The Colts are not a popular pick to repeat despite the strength of their squad, but I think they'll still have a fairly succesful year. In the first game of the 2007 NFL season, I do like the Colts however. I think that in this game that will most likely be a shootout, the Colts will win solely as a result of their home field advantage. I feel that in Week 1, that will make the most difference. But I think the game will be close, with a late Vinatieri field goal possibly deciding the game. That sounds about right.
Prediction: Colts, Saints +6 1/2

Sunday 1:00 EST
Chiefs @ Texans
Two teams that I see going in different directions this year. I like the Texans to have a definite up year this year, and I think the Chiefs could be in big trouble with Larry Johnson having gotten 400+ carries last year. Herm Edwards says he'll not use LJ as much earlier, to keep him healthy and away from injury, but then their team sucks. I mean without LJ this is a real bad team. It remains to be seen if Huard can be a real QB for a full season and their defense lacks talent. On the other hand, I like Matt Schaub and the Texans this year, and feel that this is a team that could reach the .500 plateau with a little luck. I expect this to be pretty low scoring, with the Texans prevailing in the end.
Prediction: Texans, Texans -3

Broncos @ Bills
The Broncos are a team that I feel should be playing with a little chip on the shoulder and extra motivation considering the offseason they had, and I think they will actually have a pretty solid season out west. The Bills on the other hand were a team at the way up at the end of last year, and are a team that I feel is just a big question mark this year. In this game, I go with the coaching, experience, and talent of the Broncos over the youth and potential of the Bills. The Bills won't be bad this year, but they are not beating the Broncos in week 1, however they have been known to pull off the big win in week 1. See two or three years ago.
Prediction: Broncos, Broncos -3

Steelers @ Browns
The Steelers are one of my least favorite teams (Ben Roethlisberger eats my bunghole) but they do have talent in certain positions. The Browns are a team with a lot of question marks at a lot of big positions, but I think they could surprise people a little this year. I don't think Charlie Frye is as bad as everyone makes him out to be, and I like the Edwards-Winslow combo. I am also curious to see what Jamal Lewis can do this year. The Steelers on the other hand, I expect to be the same-old Steelers team they are every year. Lots of running and defense, and lame ball protection by Gay Ben. I am taking the upset in this game for week 1, as I like the Browns at home (see the trend here) in this big rivalry game.
Prediction: Browns, Browns +5 1/2

Titans @ Jaguars
Now in my preseason previews of conferences I did, I said I liked the Jags this year. Cancel that. I liked them with Byron Leftwich; I do not like them with Steven Gerrard or whoever at QB. This game now gets won on the old VY factor, so I am picking the Titans and VY to pull off this big upset in week 1. If Vince Young was not on the Titans, the Jags would be the pick, if Byron Leftwich was on the Jags, I would like them in this game easy.
Prediction: Titans, Titans +6 1/2

Panthers @ Rams
This game is between two teams, that I honestly see are right at about the same skill level. They both have talent, seem to underperform just a slight tad, and rely on big playmakers. Steve Smith could have a big game here, and I expect the Panthers to get him involved early and often. The Rams will rely heavily, if they are smart, on Steven Jackson, as Torry Holt doesn't seem to be entirely healthy yet. I like the Rams at home to win this one, and I expect both of these teams to finish at about the same mark this year.
Prediction: Rams, Rams -1 1/2

Eagles @ Packers
As much as I would love this season to be a swansong happy ending for #4 (partly for selfish fantasy reasons), I don't see it happening. The Eagles must focus on protecting Donovon McNabb for the early part of the season, but I think he needs to prove to himself at the start that he is healthy and ready to go for the full season. This is a big year for him, with the Shegles taking Kolb with their second round pick, and I feel the pressure to win is high this year. I like the Eagles in this one, which isn't a tough pick, but I think this could be a blowout.
Prediction: Eagles, Eagles -3

Falcons @ Vikings
This could have been kind of a tight game a little while ago, with Tavaris Jackson and Michael Vick facing off, but then Vick decided to castrate the public's opinion of him. I mean he could have honestly taken out his penis and peed on a disabled woman's face and people would have been in less of a furor than with the dogfighting. Now this is simply a pretty boring matchup. I really want to see what Tavaris Jackson can do (I am not expecting much) as well as Adrian Peterson, and to be honest I hope the Falcons tank cause I am so fucking sick of Joey Harrington and if they win a couple games early, that will be all that we hear about. And you know what, I think they are gonna win, and that's exactly what will happen in week 1.
Prediction: Falcons, Falcons +3

Dolphins @ Redskins
This is kind of a bizarre week 1 matchup, a replay of the Super Bowl of the Dolphins undefeated season, and these are two pretty mediocre teams. The Redskins are relying on an unproven kid at QB in Jason Campbell, while the Dolphins are relying on an old Trent Green, instead of a young Brady Quinn. I mean, can we talk about how bizarre that pick was, Ted Ginn at #9, are you kdding me. This isn't Madden, its the real world, you don't take sick over good. I like the Fish in this one for no apparent reason other than the fact that I think the Skins could be real bad this year, and the fact that I hate them and hope they don't succeed. Let's be honest, it's week 1, I don't have that much to go on other than my gut and last year a little, so some of the picks are gonna be influence by my own hopes.
Prediction: Fish, Fish +3

Patriots @ Jets
I am not sick of all the Pats talk quite yet, but I know that it's coming, and I got a kid in my dorm who's a lacrosse player and a huge Jets fans who I talk a lot of shit with, so I am gonna have to be rooting for the Jets in this one. The Pats are unquestionably the most talented team in the league this year in my opinion, and the Jets have a lot to prove. I do feel that the Pats will be hurt at some point early on by the losses of Rodney Harrison and Richard Seymour, but not in week 1. And really was it that surprising that Rodney Harrison was found to be using HGH? I mean of any football player, I would say he would definately be in the top 5 for steroid usage.
Prediction: Pats, Pats -6 1/2

4:15 EST
Bucs @ Seahawks
These two teams actually played each other in the last game of the season last year (I think, I am too lazy to check to make sure) and I expect the result to be the same- the Seahawks will win. I think the Seahawks may be better than last year, to the dismay of all you Niners fan, but I expect guys like Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck to play a little better this year. The Bucs are a pretty mediocre team in my book, and did not do nowhere near enough this offseason to address their multiple issues, even though they now have 1,000 QB's. I like the Seahawks to win comfortably in this win, and I expect Shaun Alexander to start off this year's campaign with a bang.
Prediction: Seahawks, Seahawks -6

Bears @ Chargers
This matchup I am actually finding kind of intriguing the more I look out. Look I know everyone thinks that the Bolts will probably smash on the Bears in this one, and there definately is that chance, but for some reason I think this could be a really good, fun, and interesting matchup. I can't quite explain it, it's just kind of a gut feeling. I think Rex Grossman sucks, and I love it how he is challeging all the haters or whatever he's doing, but I think the Bears defense could step up with a huge performance in this one to keep this game close. I am gonna pick the Bolts, but won't be surprised if it's close or the Bolts pull the upset. I am also pumped to see the new jerseys for the Chargers, the White Helmets are fucking money.
Prediction: Chargers, Bears +6 1/2

Lions @ Raiders
You gotta love the NFL for matching up the two worst teams in the league last year against each other in week 1. I mean I am really jealous of you folks on the west coast who will get to watch this epic struggle. I wish JaMarcus Russel was playing, I am really curious to see what he can do this year, I think he is another one of the really intriguing players who will factor into this season and the next couple years. I expect Calvin Johnson to do fucking work this year and on into the future with Roy Williams, and I kinda wish they had a sick QB who I could root for so I could kinda bandwagon them. I don't really know why, but that sounds like an appealing idea to me right now. I think the Lions will win in this won, cause the Raiders really really blow. I like Namdi Asomuagh though. I'm pretty sure I butchered that spelling.
Prediction: Lions, Lions +1 1/2

Sunday 8:15
Giants @ Cowboys
Now we get to what I have been wanting to talk about for a long, long, fucking time. Honestly you should be glad that I didn't get to do the NFC East preview cause it would have been so fucking long cause I can talk about those teams forever and have a lot to say about the Giants this year. So now time to get some of it off my chest. First, I will start off saying now that I am picking the Giants to win this game. I feel like they have gotten a bad rap from the press, and part of that is definately deserved, don't get me wrong, but I think that they are a better team than people might give them credit for. I am saying this for the first time, and this is actually pretty true, I think you guys can vouch, but I actually feel that Eli Manning might make the jump a little bit this year. I'm saying it now, his preseason, and attitude going in this year has finally made me a believer. I like BJ at Tailback, and expect Ahmad Bradshaw to be the #2 guy by the end of year. The WR corps should be solid with Plax, a healthy Amani Toomer, Steve Smith (who had a great camp), and Sinorice Moss, whos got a lot to prove. The big questions will be the line and the secondary. The secondary could be bad, really bad. But Justin Tuck has had a huge camp and is an apt replacement for Stray, Osi has looked good, and the new scheme works much better with Pierce. Enough of that though. The Cowboys are the other popular NFC pick, but I think they could be one of the busts this year. Romo remains a question mark in my book, and I think Wade Phillips is probly better at eating than coaching, and will fuck with their talent this year. I can't bet, but I had a strong desire to put some scrilla on the Giants this year.
Prediction: Giants, Giants +6

Monday 7:00 EST
Ravens @ Bengals
Ok, I'm getting tired so I'm keeping it quick for this one. I like the Ravens in this one. I think their defense will stifle the Bengals offense and I think their offense will be able to put up points on the Bengals defense. Watch out for Willis McGahee, I see him doing big things this year.
Prediction: Ravens, Ravens +3

10:15 EST
Cardinals @ Niners
Now what everyone else who reads this blog might read instead of everything else. The Niners are kind of the hot bandwagon team this year, which is a bad sign considering those teams always tend to not live up to their preseason hype. Their talent is undeniable but sorry I put them a year away. Smith will have some problems without Norv Turner but I expect will have a decent year, and I think Frank Gore should too, if he avoids injury which is absolutely key. I still have big questions about their defense, and I think their run defense could be especially weak this year as I don't particularly think they have enough talent along the line (aside from and old BY) to run a 3-4. Now this whole thing will probably piss off everyone and Widukind especially, but I think the #2 team from this league this year and future wild card will be none other than the Arizona Cardinals. There is no denying their talent at the skill positions and I like the fact that they brought in Grimm and Wisenhunt from Pittsburgh. That was a pretty fucking astute move.
Prediction: Cardinals, Cardinals +3

Playoff prediction: Here are my predicted playoff teams in order of final standings by conference.

AFC: Patriots, Ravens, Chargers, Colts, Broncos, Bengals
NFC: Saints, Seahawks, Eagles, Bears, Cardinals, Cowboys

Go ahead everyone, rip into me and my picks. I know its coming. Michael I can't wait to hear what you in particular have to say about this.