2008 NFL Predictions, Version 3: End of Training Camp

Well training camps are over and teams are into normal practice regiments preparing for the season opener, which is just over a week away. Team trotted out their healthy starters for 3 quarters of the most recent preseason games and they proved to enlighten the public on who's for real and who should be ready for 2009. My updated predictions reflect my feelings on how teams will perform based on training camps and preseason games. Weaknesses have been exposed and some have been fixed. How will the season play out? For the evolution of my predictions, refer to version 1 and 2.

AFC
North
Team	Win-Loss	Δ Win-Loss	Notes
Steelers	10-6	±0
Browns	9-7	-1
Ravens	6-10	±0
Bengals	5-11	±0
South
Team	Win-Loss	Δ Win-Loss	Notes
Jaguars	11-5	±0
Colts	11-5	±0	Wild Card
Titans	7-9	-1
Texans	7-9	+1
East
Team	Win-Loss	Δ Win-Loss	Notes
Patriots	12-4	±0
Jets	10-6	+1	Wild Card
Bills	7-9	±0
Dolphins	6-10	±0
West
Team	Win-Loss	Δ Win-Loss	Notes
Chargers	11-5	-2
Broncos	7-9	±0
Raiders	5-11	±0
Chiefs	3-13	±0
NFC
North
Team	Win-Loss	Δ Win-Loss	Notes
Vikings	10-6	±0
Packers	9-7	-1
Lions	7-9	+1
Bears	3-13	-1
South
Team	Win-Loss	Δ Win-Loss	Notes
Saints	11-5	+1
Panthers	10-6	+1	Wild Card
Buccaneers	9-7	±0
Falcons	5-11	+2
East
Team	Win-Loss	Δ Win-Loss	Notes
Cowboys	12-4	+1
Eagles	10-6	±0	Wild Card
Redskins	7-9	-2
Giants	7-9	±0
West
Team	Win-Loss	Δ Win-Loss	Notes
Seahawks	9-7	±0
Cardinals	8-8	±0
Rams	7-9	±0
49ers	5-11	±0

2008-2009 NFL Playoffs
Wild Card Round
AFC
(6) Jets	(3) Chargers	(3) Chargers, 26-14
(5) Colts	(4) Steelers	(5) Colts, 27-17
NFC
(6) Eagles	(3) Vikings	(3) Vikings, 20-13
(5) Panthers	(4) Seahawks	(5) Panthers, 24-20
Divisional Round
AFC
(5) Colts	(1) Patriots	(1) Patriots, 31-30
(3) Chargers	(2) Jaguars	(2) Jaguars, 17-14
NFC
(5) Panthers	(1) Cowboys	(1) Cowboys, 38-20
(4) Vikings	(2) Saints	(2) Saints, 35-24
Conference Championships
AFC
(2) Jaguars	(1) Patriots	(2) Jaguars, 27-24
NFC
(2) Saints	(1) Cowboys	(1) Cowboys, 31-21
Super Bowl XLIII
Cowboys	Jaguars	Cowboys, 23-20

A lot has changed since version 2. The Browns have been dropped in the AFC North, mostly due to the difficult schedule they will face in the regular season and their inconsistency so far this preseason. The injury to Derek Anderson has revealed that Brady Quinn isn't ready, too. The Steelers are the Browns only threat as the Ravens and Bengals look like 5 or 6 win teams.

I have not liked the way the Titans have been playing. The lack of improvement by Vince Young has to be disappointing. The Titans may struggle this year. I still foresee a strong Jaguars team capable of toppling the Colts, who have injury problems of their own. Not only is Peyton Manning hobbled, the linebacker corp has been shredded and Bob Sanders and Dwight Freeney remain less than 100%.

The addition of Brett Favre to the Jets is capable of producing 1 more win but the Patriots will rule once again. I am not as high on the Bills as some are. Their line is porous, especially without Jason Peters. Rookie James Hardy has barely been on the field. Marshawn Lynch will see a lot of 8 man fronts until Trent Edwards opens up. The Dolphins will surprise some teams this year.

The Chargers are still the best team - hands down - in the west. The Chiefs showed me absolutely nothing against the Dolphins and they could be the worst team in the league this year. I've been saying that since the spring. Oakland is progressing and has a lot of talent but they need at least 1 more year. Denver is merely average. The Chargers drop has to do with some uninspired play thus far and some notable injuries. Losing Merriman for a few games will hurt but you also have to remember how bad Jamal Williams' knees are and the fact that offensive stars Antonio Gates, Philip Rivers, and LaDainian Tomlinson are all returning from injuries. Even without them though the Chargers are still better than anyone else in the West.

In the NFC I have liked what has been shown by the Lions. They are feisty and could be fighting for a wild card spot towards the end of the year. They must avoid a dreadful finish that crushed them last year. The Vikings have looked as I thought they would and should take the North division title. The Packers have been a little disappointing but I still have faith in Aaron Rodgers. The below average defensive line has me a tad worried, however. The Bears will be bad. They will fight with the Chiefs for the worst record in the league.

The Falcons may not be as bad as I originally thought. Their young players have shown improvement and Matt Ryan has performed admirably so far. They still won't compete in the South but they won't be a complete pushover like the Chiefs and Bears will be. The Panthers have look stronger than I originally thought, despite the lack of healthy receiving targets for Jake Delhomme. The new o-line and ground game will be a force. Watch out for them if Julius Peppers regains form. The Saints have a dynamic offense that has only gotten better. The defense, specifically the secondary, still concerns me. They will fight Carolina for the division title. I think the Buccaneers stumble a bit this year. Garcia is overrated and injury prone plus the ground game will suffer without Davin Joseph and Earnest Graham as the feature back.

The Cowboys look like the real deal and I definitely think Wade Phillips will get at least 1 playoff win this season. The Cowboys are the team to beat in the NFC. The Eagles are no pushover, especially if they perform the way they did against New England. Despite Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown being sidelined the team looked good on offense. And they proved the defense is more than capable of stopping a Brady-less Patriots team. The Eagles will surprise a few teams this year, too. The Redskins looked awful against Carolina. I had some hopes for them but I really ahven't liked what I have seen. They are an average team but I don't think they have enough talent to grab a wild card spot. I have had the defending Super Bowl Champions in last place in ever version. Anyone think they won't finish there? Last year was more about luck and scheme than talent. The shceme will be countered this season and they lost some of the best talent they had. Michael Strahan retired and Osi Umenyiora was lost for the year. Eli Manning, depsite his play in the playoffs, is nowhere close to the level his brother is at. This could be a ver disappointing year for the Giants.

The west is division filled with mystery and mediocre teams. While I think the Seahawks hold on another year, examing their roster doesn't leave me feeling that great. The o-line has never recovered from the departure of Steve Hutchinson and Matt Hasselbeck and the receivers are battling injuries. Fortunately from them no competitors have stepped forward. The Cardinals seems tuck in neutral and the disastrous play of Matt Leinart recently may have shaken some confidence. I still think they are a .500 team with the ability to fight Seattle for the division title. The Rams will have a bit of resurgence this season. Last year was an anomaly for them. They have too much offensive firepower to finish 4-12. I really wouldn't be shocked if they challenged for the division title either. The only team I am really down on is San Francisco. There is talent on paper but it hasn't been utilized correctly. J.T. O'Sullivan is a great story but do you really think he is the answer at QB? Can he produce more than 4 or 5 wins? They may get to 6 but anything higher than that should give Mike Nolan another year. They are some key pieces away (top WR, stable QB) from being a competitive team.

So there it is, my 3rd set of predictions. I was hoping to do 4 but I think this may be my final version, pending any drastic changes to a team prior to September 4th. Let football season begin!!!