![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.google.com\/imgres?imgurl=http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_8BVcGoREYwc\/SVcMrcziv1I\/AAAAAAAADVo\/nEZpQRzvYbM\/s400\/1970%2BNFL%2BLogo.gif&imgrefurl=http:\/\/fleersticker.blogspot.com\/2008\/12\/nfl-logo-variation.html&usg=__IHU70OHPoSFtyPQ74yZk6nto0uU=&h=400&w=310&sz=71&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=eOJaBSNdczFziM:&tbnh=164&tbnw=122&prev=\/images%3Fq%3Dnfl%2Blogo%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1045%26bih%3D583%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=438&vpy=194&dur=3118&hovh=255&hovw=198&tx=130&ty=133&ei=nb5xTJafA4P48AbVjJX3Cg&oei=nb5xTJafA4P48AbVjJX3Cg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=11&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0\"){kind=logo}
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.google.com\/imgres?imgurl=http:\/\/sportsjewerly.net\/sitebuildercontent\/sitebuilderpictures\/NFL-logo.gif&imgrefurl=http:\/\/sportsjewerly.net\/id66.html&usg=__rnHANIfs7ORweGtVgB6SqFQw5Is=&h=775&w=600&sz=22&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=zO7zNj3RoVqiUM:&tbnh=160&tbnw=124&prev=\/images%3Fq%3Dnfl%2Blogo%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1045%26bih%3D583%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=438&ei=nb5xTJafA4P48AbVjJX3Cg&oei=nb5xTJafA4P48AbVjJX3Cg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=11&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0&tx=56&ty=84\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Update (After Week 13):\u00a0 Back before the season started, as we do every year, Doogan and I played our little “preview” game, where we took turns picking teams and whether or not we thought they’d be better or worse than they were last year.\u00a0 Well, not it’s time to give a midseason update on our preview.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n Below are our original picks and our justification back in August, and below that, in italics, I’ll\u00a0add a little rundown of each team’s season through 12 games, where they stand going forward, and how Doogan and I did in our predictions.\u00a0 There may even be a random mention of the ancient Germanic tribes somewhere hidden in these italics.<\/em><\/p>\n AND…BELOW THE FIRST ITALICS IS THE FINAL STANDINGS AND THE SCORES FOR THIS YEAR’S NFL PREVIEW.<\/em><\/p>\n And, we are on the doorstep of yet another NFL season.\u00a0 And, you all know what that means:\u00a0 everyone’s favorite game…THE BSB NFL PREVIEW!\u00a0 Doogan won our first NFL preview<\/a>\u00a017-15, in 2008, but Bry responded with a come-from-behind 17-15 win in the 2009 version<\/a>.\u00a0 So, the 2010 preview is for the eternal bragging rights…for now.\u00a0 Doogan had the first pick in 2009, so Bry will go first here in 2010.<\/p>\n BRY 1 – St. Louis Rams – OVER 1 win:<\/strong>\u00a0 Doogan, let me warn you right now:\u00a0 judging by the first pick, this is going to be really hard this year.\u00a0 The last two first picks were easy with the Patriots coming off 16-0 and the Lions coming off 0-16.\u00a0 Nothing was easy, and I don’t think it’s just the first pick that’ll be hard.\u00a0 I had to start with the Rams.\u00a0 I still think that this might be the worst team in football, but 1 win is a ridiculous number, and the OVER is a gimme, right?\u00a0 Right?!?\u00a0 The Rams and the OVER was my first pick last year (OVER 2 wins), and they finished 1-15 to screw me, but unabashed, I’m going for it again.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 6-6 FINAL:\u00a0 7-9, POINT BRY, 1-0 DOOGAN 2 – Washington Redskins – OVER 4 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>It takes a ton of talent, not only on the field but also on the sideline and upstairs in the offices, to make a successful NFL team.\u00a0 But, if there are two men that are the most important in determining that success, it is the head coach and the quarterback.\u00a0 The Skins made big upgrades at both of those spots this year, with Mike Shanahan and Donny Mac.\u00a0 And they have enough talent at other spots to win half their games, even in a brutal division.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 5-7 FINAL:\u00a0 6-10.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 1-1 DOOGAN 3 – Detroit Lions – OVER 2 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>Working under a lot of the same logic as the above pick, I’ll take the Lions on the over.\u00a0 Head coach Jim Schwartz and quarterback Matthew Stafford were both new to their roles last year, but there’s reason to think that both will end up being capable at their jobs.\u00a0 Schwartz was a successful defensive coordinator, and he now has Ndamukong Suh, who could make an immediate impact on the D-Line.\u00a0 Stafford has an elite receiver in Calvin Johnson, and with a little progress on both sides of the ball, the Lions can win 4-5 games.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 2-10 FINAL:\u00a0 6-10.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 2-1 BRY 4 – San Diego Chargers – UNDER 13 wins:<\/strong>\u00a0 I’m not gonna lie, it’s hard to use my second pick on the UNDER for a team that is head and shoulders above anyone else in their division, but I’m going to, and I feel okay about it.\u00a0 The Chargers will win the NFC West, but I do not think they will win 13 games.\u00a0 They are not starting the season all that positively, with problems with two of their most important offensive players (Marcus McNeil and Vincent Jackson) to go along with lingering questions about their defense and perpetual questions about their head coach.\u00a0 They’ll probably win 10, but not 13.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 6-6 FINAL:\u00a0 9-7.\u00a0 POINT BRY, 2-2 DOOGAN 5 – Indianapolis Colts – UNDER 14 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>It’s a big number and it’s a tough schedule.\u00a0 Their division isn’t quite as strong as it was a couple years ago, but all three of the other teams are capable of beating the Colts if they have home-field advantage.\u00a0 Plus, Indy plays at New England and Philly and gets Dallas and San Diego at home.\u00a0\u00a0And even if they do manage to get towards the tail-end of the season with 12 or 13 wins, they’ll probably be able to rest their starters and take a loss or two.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 6-6 FINAL:\u00a0 10-6.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 3-2 BRY 6 – San Francisco 49ers – OVER 8 wins:<\/strong>\u00a0 I like the Indy pick, Doogan, and was debating between that and SD with #4.\u00a0 Now, at #6, I might be going out on a limb here, taking this team this early, but I honestly think that there is no way the Niners don’t find 9 wins this year.\u00a0 Their defense is just too good; Singletary is too good of a coach; and that division is just so, SO bad.\u00a0 Again, probably a “reach pick” at #6, but give me the Niners and the OVER.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 4-8 FINAL:\u00a0 6-10.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 4-2 DOOGAN 7 – Baltimore Ravens – OVER 9 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>For once I’m going to step in and take the over on a Baltimore team.\u00a0 It’s usually all you, Bry.\u00a0 With the rare turmoil going on in Pittsburgh, this squad looks like the clear-cut favorites in the AFC North.\u00a0 Maybe they’ve lost a little bit defensively, mostly because of age, but time has been good to them on the other side of the ball, where their young talent\u00a0is coming into its prime.\u00a0 Ray Rice is a star, the O-Line really gets the job done, Derrick Mason hasn’t shown much sign of\u00a0slowing down at 36-years-old, and now they have Anquan Boldin thrown in the mix.\u00a0 They have the makings of a 12-win team.\u00a0<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 8-4 FINAL:\u00a0 12-4.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 5-2 BRY 8 – Minnesota Vikings – UNDER 12 wins:<\/strong>\u00a0 This is getting kind of tough already, but I’m okay with this pick at #8.\u00a0 Despite their immense talent on both sides of the ball, there is just too much working against the Vikes right now.\u00a0 Percy Harvin is a major question mark with, apparently, very <\/em>serious migraines (doesn’t sound like fun); Sidney Rice hasn’t been on the field all offseason; Chester Taylor is gone; and, oh by the way, their quarterback is FORTY.\u00a0 I think they’ll still be good and still be a contender for the NFC title, but I don’t think this the best team in their own division, and when has a second-place team ever won 12 games?\u00a0 Give me the UNDER.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 5-7 FINAL:\u00a0 6-10.\u00a0 POINT BRY, 3-5 DOOGAN 9 – Arizona Cardinals – UNDER 10 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>With the departure of Kurt Warner, the Cards have decided to remake their offense.\u00a0 Anquan Boldin is also gone, and Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca has been added to the O-Line.\u00a0 It’s not necessarily a bad idea to put more focus on the running game, considering that Matt Leinart is no Warner, but that certainly doesn’t mean the offense will be better, either.\u00a0 Also, Karlos Dansby, a really underrated linebacker, is gone to Miami and Antrel Rolle, a playmaking safety, is a Giant.\u00a0 It seems like they went into the offseason with a plan, but it’s hard to make up for a big downgrade at the QB position.\u00a0 They’re heading for a losing season.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 3-9 FINAL:\u00a0 5-11.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 6-3 BRY 10 –\u00a0Oakland Raiders – OVER 5 wins:<\/strong>\u00a0 Okay, this is stupid.\u00a0 I admit it.\u00a0 I’m dumb.\u00a0 We have now done this preview three times, and all three times, I have taken the Raiders and the OVER.\u00a0 I even said, in last year’s wrapup of my incorrect pick of the Raiders and the OVER, that someone (probably me) would be stupid enough to take the Raiders and the OVER again in 2010.\u00a0 Well, I was right.\u00a0 But, let me try one more time to explain why I think that the Raiders will win more than 5 games for the first time since their trip to the Super Bowl.\u00a0 Jason Campbell is a gigantic <\/em>upgrade at quarterback over JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski.\u00a0 Also, last year, their defense was pretty good, and it’s very young, so you’d have to expect that it at least remains as good, if not improves.\u00a0 Throw in a really weak division, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for…dare I say it…8-8?\u00a0 Maybe.\u00a0 But, I don’t see them going 5-11 AGAIN.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 6-6 FINAL:\u00a0 8-8.\u00a0 POINT BRY, 4-6 DOOGAN 11 – Kansas City Chiefs – OVER 4 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>It’s rare for me to feel this good about a pick once we’re through the top ten.\u00a0 As far as the roster goes, there isn’t a huge difference here, but they did make some upgrades on the O-line, and Thomas Jones was brought aboard to share the load with up-and-comer Jamaal Charles in the backfield.\u00a0 Maybe more importantly, they added Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel as coordinators.\u00a0 They may not be the masters they looked like a few years ago, but do both have multiple championship rings in their current role.\u00a0 Finally, the schedule is a cake-walk.\u00a0 Not only do they play in an underwhelming division, but they play the NFC West out of conference, and they also get the Browns and Bills.\u00a0 I’ll call them for 7 wins.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 8-4 FINAL:\u00a0 10-6.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 7-4 BRY 12 – Denver Broncos – UNDER 8 wins:<\/strong>\u00a0 This is tough because I’m not as bullish on KC as Doogan is, so I think that the AFC West is a bad division.\u00a0 But, part of it being a bad division is because it includes the Denver Broncos.\u00a0 This team looked really bad in the last 10 games of the season last year, and they lost their only two true stars on either side of the ball in Brandon Marshall (to a trade) and Elvis Doumerville (to injury).\u00a0 The defense is old and not very good, while the offense has very few weapons surrounding a trio of bad quarterbacks.\u00a0 Whether it’s Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn, or Tim Tebow, this is nowhere near a .500 team.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 3-9 FINAL:\u00a0 4-12.\u00a0 POINT BRY, 5-7 DOOGAN 13 – Carolina Panthers\u00a0– UNDER 8 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>This team is similar to the Cardinals in that they’ve made a concious move to let some veterans walk and get younger.\u00a0 Maybe not a bad idea for the future of the team, but it looks like their plan is to take one step back before trying to take two forward.\u00a0 Julius Peppers and Muhsin Muhammad are gone (as well as Jake Delhomme, but that’s probably a good thing right away).\u00a0 Coach John Fox is a lame-duck, in the last year of his contract and no negotiations in sight.\u00a0 The rebuilding has begun in Carolina.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 1-11 FINAL:\u00a0 2-14.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 8-5 BRY 14 – New Orleans Saints – UNDER 13 wins:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes, the defending champs are still incredibly talented, but I’m willing to take my chances on the fact that they will not repeat their 13-3 regular season.\u00a0 The schedule is a bit harder, and they are scrambling to find any semblence of a running game.\u00a0 Plus, their defense was off-the-charts fortunate last year with takeaways (many for touchdowns).\u00a0 I LOVE them at 13:1 to win the Super Bowl (the Vegas odds), but I do not like them to win 13+ games again, especially with an up-and-coming Atlanta team.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 9-3 FINAL:\u00a0 11-5.\u00a0 POINT BRY, 6-8 DOOGAN 15 – Cincinnati Bengals – UNDER 10 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>Ah, you stole my next pick there, Bry.\u00a0 This Bengals team will be an interesting one to follow this year.\u00a0 They shocked people (including me) in the first-half of last season, beating the Steelers and Ravens twice each and winning in Green Bay.\u00a0 But they weren’t the same team in the second-half, culminating with a home playoff loss to the Jets.\u00a0 Their biggest weakness last year, ironically based on what they were a few years ago, was the passing game.\u00a0 They’ve added T.O., Antonio Bryant, and rookie Jordan Shipley to team with Ochocinco in the receiving corps, which should help, as long as T.O. and Ocho\u00a0can keep some semblance of sanity.\u00a0 BUT, can Cedric Benson duplicate his great season?\u00a0\u00a0Is this defense really as good as it played for much of ’09?\u00a0 I kind of doubt it.\u00a0 And the schedule will do them NO favors: road games\u00a0vs. the Colts,\u00a0Pats, Ravens, Jets, Steelers, and Falcons, as well as visits to Cincy by the Saints and Chargers.\u00a0 Really brutal.\u00a0 Too many obstacles to overcome here, too many question marks, they’re heading for 7-8 wins.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 2-10 FINAL:\u00a0 4-12.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 9-6 BRY 16 – Miami Dolphins – OVER 7 wins:<\/strong>\u00a0 I know this division is tough with the Jets and Pats, but I really like this Dolphins team.\u00a0 Parcells’ ability to evaluate talent cannot be overstated, and he has now had three years to rework this roster.\u00a0 Plus, I believe in Tony Sparano, and I actually really believe in Chad Henne, for some strange reason.\u00a0 They also probably made one of the best offseason acquisitions in Brandon Marshall.\u00a0 I like this team for somewhere in the neighborhood of 9 wins.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 6-6 FINAL:\u00a0 7-9.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 10-6 DOOGAN 17 –\u00a0Cleveland Browns – UNDER 5 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>Alright, this just got real hard.\u00a0 This could be one of those statments that comes back to haunt me, but I doubt it:\u00a0 this team stinks!\u00a0 Kudos to Eric Mangini for getting his team to play hard at the end of a lost season in ’09 (they won their last 4 after a 1-11 start), but I just don’t think that finish was a harbinger of things to come.\u00a0 Yes, they may have found a nice running back in Jerome Harrison, but Jake Delhomme probably won’t be much of an upgrade at QB.\u00a0 The defense is a mess, and it doesn’t help that arguably their most talented player on that side of the ball last year, LB Kamerion Wimbley, is gone to Oakland.\u00a0 2 wins is very possible.\u00a0 At least the Cleveland fans can look forward to basketball season, oh wait….<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 5-7 FINAL:\u00a0 5-11.\u00a0 POINT BRY, 7-10 BRY 18 – Atlanta Falcons – OVER 9 wins:<\/strong>\u00a0 Ooh, Doogan, you throw that jab at Cleveland right after I picked Miami and the OVER?\u00a0 Rough.\u00a0 Anyway, you’re right in that this has gotten real tough.\u00a0 I’m going to take the Falcons because I think that the Bucs stink, the Panthers are mediocre at best, and the Saints will not be 13-3.\u00a0 Plus, the Falcons have a somewhat easier schedule than a year ago, and their young quarterback is a year older.\u00a0 I’m not usually big on the “sleeper” that everyone has, but I do think that this team is going back to the playoffs this year, which probably means at least 10 wins.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 10-2 FINAL:\u00a0 13-3.\u00a0 POINT BRY, 8-10 DOOGAN 19 – Tennessee Titans – UNDER 8 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>I’ve always been\u00a0a Jeff Fisher fan, and of course I’m a Chris Johnson fan, but everybody knows that this league is all about the passing game right now.\u00a0 Vince Young continues to show potential, but I don’t trust him to ever put it together, and especially not with his current corps of receivers.\u00a0 Making matters worse, the defense ranked second-to-last against the pass last year, and didn’t make any major changes to improve.\u00a0 If you can’t throw the ball effectively and you can’t stop the pass, you don’t win half your games in the NFL in 2010.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 5-7 FINAL:\u00a0 6-10.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 11-8 BRY 20 – Chicago Bears – OVER 7 wins:<\/strong>\u00a0 Jay Cutler had a really bad year last year, but I’m not convinced that he’s a really bad quarterback.\u00a0 We will find out this year, though,\u00a0because he’s operating under the Mike Martz system, so it’s boom or boost for the Chicago passing attack (why a team with an outside stadium in the “Windy City” hires a guy like Mike Martz is beyond me, but hey, at least half of their division plays in a dome, right?).\u00a0 Plus, the Bears defense should be greatly improved, considering their two best defenders are brand new from last year’s defense.\u00a0 Brian Urlacher is back from missing the entire 2009 season with an injury, and say what you will about whether he’s worth the money, there is little doubt that Julius Peppers is still a stalwart defensive lineman.\u00a0 The only reason it took me this long to make this pick is because their division is really good, but I still think the Bears are at least a .500 team this year.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 9-3 FINAL:\u00a0 11-5.\u00a0 POINT BRY, 9-11 DOOGAN 21 – Jacksonville Jaguars – UNDER 7 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>Somewhat similar to the Titans.\u00a0 They have a star back in Maurice Jones-Drew (though he’s no Chris Johnson), but the passing game is underwhelming, with a very average QB in David Garrard and not many weapons to use.\u00a0 And, this team was really built on solid defense for a lot of years, but that is no longer the case; the Jags ranked 27th in opponent passing yardage in ’09.\u00a0 The nail in the coffin for their quest to get 7 wins is probably the fact that they have to matchup with the NFC East out of conference.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 7-5 FINAL:\u00a0 8-8.\u00a0 POINT BRY, 10-11 BRY 22 – Buffalo Bills – UNDER 6 wins:<\/strong>\u00a0 I’ve been staring at this pick for about 10 rounds now, and I’m finally ready to pull the trigger.\u00a0 To quote Doogan quoting me “this team stinks.”\u00a0 No, seriously, they are really bad.\u00a0 I have to imagine that they’ll go no better than 1-5\u00a0in AFC East games, which means that to beat me, they would have to play .500 ball against the rest of their schedule.\u00a0 I’m not sure if this team even goes .500 in an SEC schedule, let alone an NFL schedule.\u00a0 The more I think about it, the more I like this pick for being this late in the game here.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 2-10 FINAL:\u00a0 4-12.\u00a0 POINT BRY, 11-11 DOOGAN 23 – Dallas Cowboys – UNDER 11 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>The usual disclaimer here: it’s very hard for me to be unbiased about this team.\u00a0 But, this organization hasn’t responded well to high expectations of late.\u00a0 After 12 wins in ’07, they dropped to 9 in ’08.\u00a0 They came on strong at the end of last year to win the division, and now I’m sure the Dallas fans are expecting nothing less than a title.\u00a0 I don’t think Wade Phillips is up to the job.\u00a0 I’m not sure that Miles Austin can repeat what he did last year, and I don’t know where they make up for that production in the passing game if he can’t.\u00a0 And they have to handle a tough schedule.\u00a0 Besides the 6 divisional games, they also have road games at the Colts, Packers, and Vikings, and the Saints play in Dallas.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 4-8 FINAL:\u00a0 6-10.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 12-11 BRY 24 – New York Giants – UNDER 8 wins:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, Doogan, since you took the bait on your team with “an unbiased hatred,” I guess I have to take mine, as well.\u00a0 Same disclaimer here for me and the G-Men.\u00a0 I have said a hundred times now, “If the Giants were playing a game against North Korea, I’d be rooting for Kim Jong-Il and the boys.”\u00a0 That being said, there are serious question marks about this team.\u00a0 I know that a lot of “experts” actually like them to bounce back and have a good season,\u00a0but I don’t see it.\u00a0 Let’s break it down a little here and tell me where I’m wrong.\u00a0 Eli is not as bad as I make him out to be, but he’s NOWHERE NEAR a star in this league.\u00a0 The O-line has gotten very old very fast.\u00a0 Brandon Jacobs is just about completely washed up because of the punishment he’s taken over the years.\u00a0 And, I don’t see why everyone loves this receiving corps.\u00a0 They’re “okay,” I guess, but nothing special.\u00a0 Now, on the other side.\u00a0 This defense was one of the worst in the entire league last year.\u00a0 Yes, Bill Sheridan was a joke as a D-coordinator and Perry Fewell is a pretty\u00a0big upgrade, but do we really think that the D-coordinator is gonna be the difference?\u00a0 Really?\u00a0 The linebacking corps\u00a0was downright abysmal last\u00a0year and the only change is that they LOST their only reliable linebacker, Antonio Pierce.\u00a0 The D-line once led them to a\u00a0shocking Super Bowl title, but Osi is unhappy and unproductive, Justin Tuck was much better when he\u00a0wasn’t double-teamed, and this Pierre-Paul guy is a\u00a0total project.\u00a0 They did add Antrelle Rolle to the secondary, which is a good addition (albeit an overpaid one), but he’s not exactly Bob Sanders or Darrelle Revis, and the rest of the group is barely average.\u00a0 A\u00a0brutal division and a tough out-of-division schedule equates to\u00a0no more than 6 or 7 wins for the most overrated team in\u00a0football year in and year\u00a0out.\u00a0 Now,\u00a0THAT\u00a0was unbiased analysis…<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 8-4 FINAL:\u00a0 10-6.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 13-11 DOOGAN 25 – New York Jets – OVER 9 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>OK, I guess this is the hyped team this year that neither of us wanted to “take the bait” on, but here I go.\u00a0 Obviously, the Darelle Revis holdout is a factor in waiting so long to make this pick.\u00a0 The fear of the overhyped team also plays in, of course.\u00a0 They feel like they could very well be this year’s version of the Bears last year.\u00a0 BUT, I think they’re going to win 10 games, so I’m barely going OVER.\u00a0 Revis would be a huge loss, but this was the best defense in the game last year, so they’ll still be very good there, even without him.\u00a0 On offense, Shonn Greene should have a big year running behind a really good O-Line, and Mark Sanchez has some new weapons, mainly Santonio Holmes.\u00a0 Laveranues Coles, a good teammate and\u00a0wily veteran,\u00a0also returns for his third stint with the Jets.\u00a0 They also catch some breaks with the schedule, as their only tough road game out of the division is at Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 9-3 FINAL:\u00a0 11-5.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 14-11 BRY 26 – Pittsburgh Steelers – OVER 9 wins:<\/strong>\u00a0 Actually, Doogan, Revis wasn’t the reason I passed on the Jets so many times, it was Sanchez.\u00a0 I’m not a believer yet.\u00a0 But, still, if I was forced to make a pick, I would have taken the OVER as well, so it’s not a bad pick, especially this late.\u00a0 Anyway, I’m going to take the Steelers and the OVER here, for a couple of reasons, most notably, it’s getting really hard to find any picks I’m confident in with the teams left.\u00a0 But, more so, I look at this team–two years removed from Super Bowl champs, with pretty much the same team.\u00a0 Yes, I know that Big Ben is probably going to be out for the first four games, and I think they’ll go 1-3 in those 4, with their only win coming against Tampa Bay.\u00a0 However, I think that when Ben gets back, this will be one of the best teams in the league, so I can totally see them going 9-3 with a full team.\u00a0 Plus, they were 9-7 last year (including bad losses to Cleveland and Oakland).\u00a0 The losses?\u00a0 Santonio Holmes and 1\/4 of Big Ben.\u00a0 The additions?\u00a0 Troy Polamalu.\u00a0 The best safety, maybe in NFL history, is a full win better than a #2 wideout and 4 games without a QB.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 9-3 FINAL:\u00a012-4.\u00a0 POINT BRY, 12-14 DOOGAN 27 – Philadelphia Eagles – UNDER 11 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>Well, if the Birds have sat there until this late in the draft, that probably means that neither of us could talk ourselves into taking the OVER, which probably means that this is the right way to go.\u00a0 I do have confidence in Kevin Kolb.\u00a0 And saying that has more to do with my confidence in the QB evaluation of Andy Reid, as well as\u00a0the talent of DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Brent Celek.\u00a0 I do have some concerns about LeSean McCoy and the running game, in general.\u00a0 Also,\u00a0the defense imploded\u00a0in those two losses to Dallas to end the season.\u00a0 I’m hopeful that Stewart Bradley and Ernie Sims can stabilize the linebacking corps, but I’m still\u00a0skeptical.\u00a0 And the lost starter that I feel like we\u00a0might not have the right replacement for isn’t Donovan McNabb, but Sheldon Brown.\u00a0 Can Ellis Hobbs\u00a0get the job done?\u00a0\u00a0Will Nate Allen be ready to be a reliable\u00a0safety from Day 1 in the league?\u00a0 I like the team, but all those variables combined with playing in such a tough division means I have to go UNDER.\u00a0\u00a0If the four teams beat each other\u00a0up enough, 10 wins could mean the top of the division, and hopefully that will be\u00a0where the Eagles end up.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 8-4 FINAL: 10-6.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 15-12 BRY 28 – New England Patriots – OVER 10 wins:<\/strong>\u00a0 Ya, Doogan, I think you picked the right side on the Birds, but I also agree that 10 wins is certainly a possibility and that could win the division, but I definitely don’t see 12.\u00a0 As for this next pick, I’m just going to go with my gut here, and my gut always tells me that quarterbacking, coaching, and line play is what wins in the modern-day NFL, and the Patriots most certainly have the first two in spades, and the line play is still really good.\u00a0 I actually think that this offense might be poised for a huge breakout season because Brady is now two years removed from the ACL injury (usually a two-year full recovery) and Welker is back and looking relatively good.\u00a0 The defense is not really anywhere near where it was when this team was dynastic, and the running game gives me pause, but I still think this team is heading for 11+ wins and another AFC East title.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 10-2 FINAL: 14-2.\u00a0 POINT BRY, 13-15 DOOGAN 29 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – OVER 3 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>Obviously, this is a bad team.\u00a0 An organization revered for its talent in the front seven on defense has VERY little to speak of there anymore.\u00a0 Their starting wide outs this year are Reggie Brown and a rookie 4th-round pick, and Josh Freeman will be the one attempting to get them the ball.\u00a0 So, why go OVER?\u00a0 Mainly, of course, because 3 is a low number.\u00a0 But, also, some positives:\u00a0 Cadillac Williams running the ball.\u00a0 Kellen Winslow finally living up to his potential at tight end.\u00a0 Ronde Barber and Aqib Talib at the corners.\u00a0 And also, the schedule.\u00a0 They actually played a real tough schedule last year, and two of their wins were\u00a0over the Packers and the Saints (in New Orleans).\u00a0 This year, they have home games against the Browns, Lions, Rams, and Seahawks.\u00a0 They\u00a0should be able to take\u00a0two or three of those, then they\u00a0just have to steal one or two from their other 12 games.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 7-5 FINAL: 10-6.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 16-13 BRY 30 – Seattle Seahawks – OVER 5 wins:<\/strong>\u00a0 I struggled with this one, but eventually went with the Seahawks and the OVER here.\u00a0 I don’t think this team is very good, but this division is really bad, and 6 wins is not a lot in this league.\u00a0 Pete Carroll is here and, despite his “ethics,” he is a good coach and there is a little bit of talent on this team.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 6-6 FINAL: 7-9.\u00a0 POINT BRY, 14-16 DOOGAN 31 – Green Bay Packers – UNDER 11 wins:\u00a0 <\/strong>Like the team.\u00a0 Aaron Rodgers should have another huge year.\u00a0 I’m just gonna go UNDER because that’s easier with the 11 number, also their road schedule is pretty brutal.\u00a0 7 of their 8 road games could be pretty tough.\u00a0 And, there are some concerns with the defense.\u00a0 They were good last year and they have a lot of talent, but they were also inconsistent for some reason, giving\u00a0up 51 points to the Cardinals in their playoff loss, and 500 yards passing to Ben Roethlisberger a few weeks before that.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 8-4 FINAL: 10-6.\u00a0 POINT DOOGAN, 17-14 BRY 32 – Houston Texans – UNDER 9 wins:<\/strong>\u00a0 So, I guess the Texans are the hardest to predict a change in, huh?\u00a0 It makes sense, they look very much like a 9-7 team.\u00a0 But, judging by history, I think it’s more likely that they’ll be 8-8 than 10-6 (you know, because they’ve never been 10-6 and they were 8-8 for\u00a0back-to-back\u00a0years before last year).\u00a0 They do have weapons with the best receiver in the league and maybe the most underrated quarterback.\u00a0 But, they are losing Brian Cushing for four games off the defense, and I just don’t think they have 10-win talent.\u00a0 Plus, I don’t think Kubiak is a very good coach.<\/p>\n Through Week 13:\u00a0 5-7 FINAL: 6-10.\u00a0 POINT BRY, 15-17 Update (After Week 13):\u00a0 Back before the season started, as we do every year, Doogan and I played our little “preview” game, where we took turns picking teams and whether or not we thought they’d be better or worse than … Continue reading
\n<\/em>Quarterback is the most important position in sports, and it looks like the Rams found themselves a good one in Bradford.\u00a0 Also, the second year under a good coach, Steve Spaguolo, may be reaping the benefits now.\u00a0 Granted they play in probably the worst division in the history of the NFL, but the Rams may well be heading towards a home playoff game.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe emergence of Sam Bradford gets Bry off to a good start.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThey are better than last year with a new coach and new QB, but how much better?\u00a0 Obviously, they have already gone over their win total, but, if you can believe it, there may be even more dissaray this year in Washington than last year’s 4-12 team.\u00a0 The QB is old and looks it.\u00a0 The coach is not getting along with his team.\u00a0 And, their best defensive player has just been suspended for the rest of the season for refusing to go into the game when his number was called.\u00a0 Trouble in the Beltway.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nMaybe not the safe pick Doogan expected here at #2, but he does get the point and that’s all that matters.\u00a0 In actuality, I’m sure Doogan is really happy with this result, as the Skins were terrible and aren’t looking any better, and he still got this point with the over.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nI’m about to drop one of the most overused sports phrases, but I don’t care.\u00a0 Are the Lions the best 2-10 team in history?\u00a0 They are a couple plays away from 6-6 and have given some of the NFL’s best teams legitimate scares.\u00a0 This team is on the road to being pretty good with some big-time players to build around on both sides of the ball.\u00a0 I think Jim Schwartz is doing a great job and the wins will come.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nDid anyone else not realize that the Lions won 4 in a row to end the season?\u00a0 Well, they did, and with it gave Doogan an easy point here at #3 and the overall lead.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nI put $20 on the Chargers to win the Super Bowl at 30-1 odds when they were 2-5.\u00a0 While I would still make that same bet today, I would have felt MUCH better about it had they not crapped the bed against Oakland this week.\u00a0 They now sit two games behind KC in the West, and the AFC wild card is not exactly out there for the taking.\u00a0 This team probably needs to win out for a shot at the playoffs, otherwise, the AFC teams can breathe easier knowing that one of the best teams in the league may not be playing come January.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nA pretty easy pick here for Bry at #4, as the BSB’ers remain perfect through 4.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAfter 500 years of hegemony, the Roman Empire, as the world knew it, fell in 476 AD thanks to a successful revolt\u00a0by the tribes of Germanic peoples,\u00a0united and led\u00a0by Odoacer.\u00a0 However, though the world viewed this as its devastation, the Roman Empire actually built itself back up and spent the next 1,000 years with wealth and power nearly as equal to that which they enjoyed prior to their “demise” in 476.\u00a0 Well, 2010 in Indianapolis feels, to me, like 476 AD in Ancient Rome.\u00a0 Everyone is throwing dirt on the grave of Peyton Manning, and they will probably miss the playoffs this year, but would anyone be surprised if they were 14-2 again next year?\u00a0 I won’t and neither will anyone reading this because you will all remember how I weaved the Fall of the Roman Empire into the Race for the AFC South.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThere are two streaks that I have seen in my lifetime that I find absolutely astonishing that do not seem to get much press at all.\u00a0 Most amazing BY FAR is Roger Federer’s streak of TWENTY-THREE consecutive Grand Slam semifinal appearances.\u00a0 Absolutely astonishing.\u00a0 But, second to that is the streak that ended this year – the Indianapolis Colts, in a sport of arbitrary injury and widespread parity, went 7 consecutive years without losing more than 4 games.\u00a0 That is incredible.\u00a0 12-4 or better for 7 straight years!\u00a0 Wow.\u00a0 They did, in 2010, finish their 9th straight year with double-digit wins, winning their final 4 games to get to 10-6.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nWith all the talk of the disappoinment in Dallas, Minnesota, Cincinnati, and Arizona, I kind of think that the fans of the San Francisco 49ers have to be in the discussion for most letdown fanbase.\u00a0 This team was poised to enter the upper echelon of NFC teams.\u00a0 They were led by a fiery and seemingly talented up-and-coming coach.\u00a0 But, what happened?\u00a0 They are 4-8; their coach is on the hot seat; and, they can’t even win the worst division in the history of the NFL.\u00a0 They are probably going to watch the St. Louis Rams host a playoff game that absolutely should have been theirs.\u00a0 Then again, these fans are probably fans of that World Series winning baseball team, too, so it’s hard to muster up too much sympathy.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAnd another streak ends, as the first missed pick comes at #6 here as Bry has too much faith in the 49ers.\u00a0 Doogan takes the lead.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAfter a brutal, brutal loss on Sunday night to their arch-rivals, the Ravens are all of a sudden full of question marks.\u00a0 They are a full game behind the Steelers in the AFC North, but the good news is that they are 2 games clear of the closest contender for the wild card.\u00a0 They should be okay, playoff-wise, but are now staring at a wild card.\u00a0 By the way, how great are the Steelers-Ravens games?\u00a0 They are my favorite non-Eagles games to watch every year.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nDoogan consolidates the break (in tennis parlance) with a nice pick here on a truly great franchise.\u00a0 I hate their fans, I despise their owner,\u00a0and I’m jealous of their Super Bowl, but this team flat-out wins.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nObviously, these guys are one of the most disappointing stories of the 2010 season.\u00a0 So much has been said, on so many levels about the mess in Minnesota, that I don’t need to belabor it.\u00a0 All I can say is this:\u00a0 they are a MUCH better team when the offense goes through Adrian Peterson, not the quarterback.\u00a0 We’ll see if they understand that or, more importantly, have the ball to tell the old man that.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nBry redeems himself a little from the SF blunder by nailing this pick, as the Vikes only win half as many as they did a year ago.\u00a0 This franchise is in complete disarray.\u00a0 I guess that’s what you get when you sell your soul to the Favre.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nWith all due respect to the Carolina Panthers and the Buffalo Bills, this is BY FAR the worst team in football.\u00a0 Now, I really dislike Kurt Warner, but the dropoff at the QB position is staggering.\u00a0 I also think that the loss of Anquan Boldin (as mentioned above by Doogan before the season) has really had an affect on this whole offense more than people realize because it’s hidden by the awful QB play.\u00a0 This team is just abysmal.\u00a0 I’m not really sure how they won 3 games.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nA great pick here for Doogan, as it’s hard to imagine how this pick lasted until #9 looking back on it.\u00a0 But, that’s why these previews are interesting to look at – I guess it wasn’t completely obvious that this team was this bad…though, it should have been.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe Raiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-ders.\u00a0 For the first time since Rich Gannon led them to the Super Bowl in 2002, the Raiders will finish with fewer than 11 losses.\u00a0 That’s an unbelievable streak in the era of parody in the NFL, but it’s finally over.\u00a0 Oakland is still 2 games back of true playoff contention, but who knows?\u00a0 They have gone old-school and figured out that pounding the ball down people throats on the ground and playing solid defense actually might win in this league.\u00a0 Go figure!<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe Raiders finally come through for Bry, finishing at .500.\u00a0 Weird stat of the day:\u00a0 The Raiders were the only team in football to sweep their division…and, they are the only team in NFL history to sweep their division and NOT make the playoffs.\u00a0 Only the Raiders.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nDoogan nailed the Chiefs in his preview, but actually went too conservative in his calling for 7 wins.\u00a0 I mentioned above how the Raiders are winning with the tried and true mentality of running the ball and stopping the run…well, the Chiefs are better at both things, which is why they’re now 2 games clear of anyone else in this division.\u00a0 And, with a somewhat light schedule (after this week’s game in San Diego), they are looking good to earn themselves a playoff game at Arrowhead.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nDoogan nails another one, as he continues to be red-hot in this year’s preview.\u00a0 A nice season for KC, despite bowing out pretty noiselessly in the playoffs.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nJosh McDaniels has been fired.\u00a0 Some of the Bronco fans are calling for Tim Tebow to replace one of the most prolific passers in the NFL.\u00a0 The defense is old and slow.\u00a0 This team is a total mess, and unless you believe in Tebow (I do not), then there isn’t much help on the horizon for one of the more proud franchises in this league.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nBry continues to keep pace with a red-hot Doogan, as the BSB predictors are now 11-for-12 on the year.\u00a0 How did we all enjoy the McDaniels Era?<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAs Doogan said, “the rebuilding has begun in Carolina,” and it looks like it might start in earnest this offseason, as they weight their options with the #1 overall draft pick.\u00a0 This team is really bad.\u00a0 Does anyone remember them having the Giants on the ropes in Week One?\u00a0 I do.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nDoogan stays perfect without sweat here, as the Panthers are the worst team in football in 2010.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nHow can the defending Super Bowl champions start 9-3 and be completely under the radar?\u00a0 I’m not sure, but it’s happening right now.\u00a0 This team is clicking and is going to be a really tough out in the NFC playoffs yet again.\u00a0 In fact, they are a 29-yard missed field goal away from having the best record in football.\u00a0 Incidentally, I wonder if people know just how close this team is to being 12-0.\u00a0 We mentioned the 29-yard missed field goal\u00a0in OT against Atlanta that cost them a game, but their other two losses were both of the head-scratching variety – at Arizona, where they gave up four TDs that were neither rushing or passing, and a strange home loss to Cleveland.\u00a0 If they were to take care of those two bottom-feeders, there would be a much different public perception of the Saints right now.\u00a0 Either way, I’m terrified of them in the NFC playoffs.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nBry has still only missed the Niners pick, as he hits another one here with the Saints taking a small step backwards.\u00a0 Then again, if you compare the playoff runs of last year’s team to this year’s, you might think it was\u00a0 a HUGE step backwards.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nHow is this possible?\u00a0 How did this happen?\u00a0 The Bengals – a pretty common sleeper pick by many to have a fantastic season – have now lost 9 in a row and sit at 2-10.\u00a0 It’s uncanny how bad they’ve been since taking care of Baltimore in Week Three.\u00a0 I don’t know what else to say about this team, other than, “wow, yet again, I’m thankful that I’m not a Bengals fan.”<\/em><\/p>\n
\nRed-hot Doogan is not even breaking a sweat with this picks, as he nails the Bengals pick by 6 games at the #15 spot.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIf the Dolphins had taken care of Cleveland at home last week, they would\u00a0have been right in the thick of this AFC playoff race, despite no one saying word one about their postseason chances.\u00a0 They’ve played a brutal schedule, but they get a break in Weeks 15 & 16, so if they were able to get 7 wins up to that point, they’d have a shot.\u00a0 But, now it’s unlikely, especially with the questionable handling of the quarterback position.\u00a0 I like Sparano, but I’m not sure what he’s doing with Chad Henne.\u00a0 Anyway, they are still alive at 6-6, with two really tough games and two very winnable games left.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe ‘Phins lose their final 3 games to crush Bry here and give a big point to Doogan.\u00a0 Judging on how he’s been picking, this could be a tough one to overcome.\u00a0 As for Miami – is anyone else absolutely baffled by the awfulness of Chad Henne?\u00a0 I thought he was going to be a solid NFL quarterback, but it turns out he absolutely stinks.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nWell, Doogan, I’m not sure it’s coming back to haunt you, but this team doesn’t stink.\u00a0 In fact, they are playing a tough brand of football that should scare the teams left on their schedule, and, call me absolutely crazy, but they are not entirely out of the playoff race.\u00a0 Obviously, they would have to win out to even have a chance and they are left with Baltimore and Pittsburgh on their schedule, but the other two games are winnable (@Buf, @Cin) and they get both of the big boys at home.\u00a0 Just sayin’…<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIt takes two head-scratching wins (over New Orleans and New England in back-to-back weeks) to <\/em>just barely end this impressive streak for Doogan.\u00a0 Bry takes the point here, as the Browns hit their number.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nOn paper, I don’t see the best team in the NFC residing in Georgia, but, to use another awful, overused sports cliche, “they don’t play these games on paper.”\u00a0 One of the most amazing stats I’ve heard this year is that the Falcons have 6 wins this year in which they have trailed in the fourth quarter – with 5 of them coming after trailing with less than five minutes to play.\u00a0 That is amazing and tells me two things:\u00a0 (1) they really know how to win, and (2) they probably aren’t quite as good as their record makes them appear.\u00a0 I’m not sure whether that makes them scary or overrated come playoff-time (or maybe both), but it is an incredible statistic.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nBry has a nice pick here at #18, as he cruises to the point with the Falcons.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nHere is what I have learned from watching the Titans this year:\u00a0 to win in the\u00a0NFL, you need (1) a good quarterback, and (2) a mentally stable quarterback.\u00a0 I believe that the jury is still out as to whether or not Vince Young is good, but I think we can officially rule him highly combustible from the mental side of it.\u00a0 If Jeff Fisher can’t make it work, I pity the fool who tries to do it again next year.\u00a0 And, I pray that Mr. Fisher does not end up in the NFC East.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nDoogan gets right back on the horse by nailing a good pick with Tennessee here at #19.\u00a0 What happened to the Titans?\u00a0 They should not be a 10-loss team with that kind of talent.\u00a0 Well, maybe they should, considering their nightmare at the QB position.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nI rarely show outward pride about a preseason prognostication (mostly because they never really bring about anything about which to be proud), but this one I’m going to.\u00a0 I feel like I was the only one outside of Illinois that actually believed in this Bears team this year.\u00a0 Now, don’t get me wrong, I didn’t have them in the hunt for a first-round bye, but I saw them as a 9- or 10-win team.\u00a0 And, they are doing just that with a great defense and employing a quarterback that somehow just stopped turning the ball over.\u00a0 Now, they still may come crashing back to earth because of their remaining schedule, but until they do, we have to consider this team a true contender.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nBry gets an easy one here at #20.\u00a0 This is the one I am most proud of, as I was one of the few people who thought the Bears could really compete this year.\u00a0 In retrospect, I wish they weren’t competitive because they stole the coveted #2 seed from the Birds.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nSo, if you told me, at the beginning of the season, that half of the NFL divisions would\u00a0be led by the Bears, Chiefs, Rams, and Jaguars, I probably would have laughed in your face and somewhat politely asked you to leave the sports talk to those who know what they’re talking about.\u00a0 But, that is what is going on right now.\u00a0 The Jags still have some work to do if they are going to pull out a surprising AFC South title, as they\u00a0travel to Indy in Week 15 and to Houston in Week 17.\u00a0 But, so far, they are winning games the old-fashioned way – by pounding the ball down the defenses’ throats with one, single, workhorse back.\u00a0 It’s a tried and true recipe that may or may not be obsolete.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nBry has hung in their long enough and weathered the storm and now they are back on serve, as Doogan barely misses with the Jags.\u00a0 I am still unsure as to how this team was in the playoff picture for so long, but they always seem to hang around, and they did it again this year.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIn the past, we have seen Bradshaw to Swann, Montana to Rice, Manning to Harrison, and Brady to Moss.\u00a0 But, it’s time for them all to take a back seat to Fitzpatrick to Johnson.\u00a0 Okay, well not exactly the same thing, but how good have these two been, coming from complete obscurity.\u00a0 Ryan Fitzpatrick is from the football factory named Harvard, and Stevie Johnson is so out of nowhere that even Waters, the owner of The Dix (a fantasy football team with 30 roster spots made up entirely of guys named “Johnson”), had never heard of him – and didn’t have him on the roster – until he started scoring multiple TDs every week.\u00a0 All I hope (and, I actually hope for good things for the Bills franchise) is that this isn’t fool’s gold.\u00a0 I hope that either Ryan Fitzpatrick is a solid quarterback around which they can build OR that they realize it now that he is not and address that void with self-honesty.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAnd, it’s a brand-new ballgame, folks.\u00a0 Bry hits on the Bills here (kind of surprising they lasted until #22) and ties up the score with 10 points left to be awarded.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIn all the years with all the sports that we do these previews, I’m not sure that we’ve had such a prophetic paragraph on a team’s season before it ever got started.\u00a0 Doogan talked about the Cowboys not responding well to success, Wade Phillips not being up to the job, and Miles Austin not repeating what he did last year.\u00a0 He nailed all three, as the ‘Boys have stumbled and bumbled their way to 4-8 this year.\u00a0 And, it is glorious!\u00a0 Honestly, how great is it that this is the year that the Cowboys are terrible – with all the talk about “hosting the Super Bowl?”\u00a0 Just fantastic!\u00a0 Thank you, football gods.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nDoogan takes the lead back with authority, as he absolutely nails this 23rd pick.\u00a0 Picks this late should not be this easy…or this awesome!<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIt’s pretty strange to me to see the Giants keep winning ugly and have the experts all over them like they are legit Super Bowl contenders.\u00a0 They have been decent, and they have won the games they’ve supposed to have won, but when your best wins are home games against Chicago and Jacksonville, it’s hard to really talk Super Bowl, right?\u00a0 Or, am I just biasd?\u00a0 I do have to say, though, that this defense is WAY<\/span> better than I thought it was going to be, and Antrelle Rolle has been utterly dynamic in the secondary.\u00a0 I didn’t think the D-coordinator could make THAT much of a difference, as they have gone from one of the worst D’s in the league to one of the best, seemingly overnight.\u00a0 Looks like the blind hatred for Big Blue has bit Bry in the backside once again…<\/em><\/p>\n
\nBry’s blind hatred of all things New York Giants-related bites him again, as Doogan regains the lead.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n
\nIs it me or is this team a bit of a mirage?\u00a0 Even before Monday night’s complete thrashing by the Pats, this team looked like a complete smoke-and-mirrors 9-2.\u00a0 Let’s run it down quickly here.\u00a0 They lost a close game to a good Baltimore team in Week One and then rattled off\u00a0two solid\u00a0wins over New England at home and Miami on the road and then dismantled a bad Buffalo team in Week Four, beat Minnesota at home in Week Five, and edged Denver in Denver in Week Six.\u00a0 They it seems like they went on the bye and started tasting themselves.\u00a0 They came out of the bye and played a miserable game, getting shutout by Green Bay.\u00a0 Then they needed overtime in back-to-back weeks to beat Detroit and Cleveland.\u00a0 After that, they pulled out a miracle win at home against a mediocre Houston team, and then beat Cincy at home on Thanksgiving night, before the absolute thrashing they took from New England on Monday.\u00a0 I don’t think they’re very good…there I said it.\u00a0 And, they better take a hard look at themselves because they could be staring at 9-6 going into Week 17, as they have some tough games coming up.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIn a pick that probably should have gone earlier, Doogan picks up a nice late point.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIn the race to annoint the Falcons, Patriots, Jets, Ravens, and even the Eagles, as the best teams in football, people seem to forget about the Pittsburgh Steelers in this talk, and I’m not sure why.\u00a0 What do Baltimore, New Orleans, and New England have in common?\u00a0 One, they are great teams, and two, they are the only teams to beat the Steelers this year – and the Ravens did it against a Ben-less offense.\u00a0 If you put everyone at even money and said I had to bet on a Super Bowl champ right now, I would take the Pittsburgh Steelers, even with their offensive line in shambles.\u00a0 This team is for real and is not going to be an easy out for anyone come January.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIn another pick that seems like it should have gone a lot earlier, Bry picks up an easy point here late.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThere is enough about the Birds on this site so that I don’t really need to go into that much about them here, but all I can say is that I am downright <\/em>TERRIFIED of this team going 11-5 and missing the playoffs.\u00a0 And, this one would sting…bad…because I think they are one of the most difficult matchups in football right now and wouldn’t be shocked at all to see them put a historical run together.\u00a0 That being said, it also wouldn’t surprise me to see them lose at home in the first round because the wild card teams are going to be rather formidable in the NFC this year (New Orleans\/Green Bay\/N.Y. Giants).<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe Kevin Kolb-led Eagles falling to the Cowboys 14-13 in a meaningless Week 17 game gave Doogan a very important point here, as he continues to keep Bry at arm’s length leaves Doogan’s magic number at 2.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nHow good are Tom Brady and Bill Belichick?\u00a0 The answer:\u00a0 really, really f’ing good.\u00a0 This offense is off-the-charts good and so hard to defend, and Belichick is up to his old tricks of scheming up defenses to work with whatever personnel he’s got to work with.\u00a0 If not for their shoddy secondary, I’d say that this is clearly the best team in the NFL, and they might be even so.\u00a0 If they get homefield advantage in the AFC, we might be staring at #4 for Brady and Belichick.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nHo-hum, another 14-2 season for the Pats.\u00a0 Easy point for Bry, especially this late in the game.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nOne of the most pleasant surprises this year has been the Bucs, and they’re still kicking in this playoff picture.\u00a0 Yes, we’ve heard time and time again how they have yet to beat a team with a winning record, but they played Baltimore really tough in Charm City and gave Atlanta a game twice, including last week, where they had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter.\u00a0 Unfortunately, blowing that lead (and losing Aqib Talib for the season) might seal their fate here in the regular season, as they are clearly the third-place team in the South, so they’d have to hope for all the other wild card contenders fall down.\u00a0 But, either way, the future is bright in Tampa (which is shocking to me), as Josh Freeman and LaGarrette Blount look like the real deals.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nDoogan clinches at least a tie with absolute ease here, as he has a 7-game cushion on this pick.\u00a0 But, think about this – the line on them was THREE.\u00a0 And, we passed on them TWENTY-EIGHT times before Doogan finally took the over.\u00a0 And, they come in with a 10-win season.\u00a0 That should tell you about the job the Raheem Morris did with this Bucs team.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nI really don’t enjoy talking about the NFC West, so I’m glad that this is the last team from that joke of a division.\u00a0 The Seahawks have looked okay at times and downright putrid at times this year, which in the NFC West, is good enough for first place.\u00a0 The only problem here is that they could be staring at a division championship at 8-8 (or even 7-9), which you would just think, “well, whatever, they’ll just be an annoyance for the #1 wild card in the first round.”\u00a0 But, not necessarily, because they will host that game, and the one thing the Seahawks can do is play well at home.\u00a0 I’m rooting for the Rams just because I don’t want to see the Seahawks host a game during one of the best sports weekend of the year – the NFL Divisional Playoff Weekend.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nBry keeps his hope for a draw alive with this one – and, yes, they won the division with SEVEN wins.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nDid you know that all four of the Packers losses this year have been by exactly 3 points?\u00a0 And, two of them were overtime losses.\u00a0 They haven’t lost to a team worse than 5-7, and they have beaten an 8-4 team on the road\u00a0and a 9-3 team on the road.\u00a0 If they don’t make the playoffs (and they are in the thick of it with a tough finishing schedule), it will be a brutally tough pill to swallow for this team.\u00a0 This team is one of the best in football, but the NFC is going to have one very good team left out (to leave room for an NFC West team) this year, and it very well could be the Packers.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nYou can’t make this stuff up – Doogan clinches the 2010 NFL Preview title by picking AGAINST the eventual Super Bowl champions.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nEnough already, people.\u00a0 Fire Gary Kubiak…seriously.\u00a0 It’s hard to imagine that they still want this guy running their team when he leads them to yet another substandard season.\u00a0 This team has talent…at least on offense.\u00a0 They have been absolutely dreadful on defense – particularly, in the secondary, which has been a problem for almost the entire life of the franchise.\u00a0 But, there is no way that, in a down AFC South, that the Texans, with all their weapons, should be needing to run the table for a winning record.\u00a0 Unacceptable.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nBry ends with a meaningless win here to save some face, but Doogan wins the title and will go into next year as the defending champ.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"