A wise man once said, “It takes a tough man to make a tender forecast.”
Anybody can make preseason predictions. It’s fun and easy. You can say whatever you want and there’s essentially nobody that can really question you because every argument ends in, “Well, I guess we’ll just have to see what happens.” Well, we have seen what happened, thus, let it continue.
Back in September I gave 2 different lengthy columns detailing my predictions for both the AFC and NFC. Some of those came out great while others were… well… lets just take a look.
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys
What I thought: 10-6, first in division, 3 seed
What they did: 6-10, third in division
What I said: “Romo seems to be improving after putting up career high numbers last season…they will need to improve on a pass defense that ranked 20th in the league last season.” – He didn’t (poor start, season ending injury in week 7) and they didn’t (dropped to 26th).
Season high point: Saying goodbye to Wade Phillips
Season low point: Saying goodbye to Wade Phillips’s face.
New York Giants
What I thought: 9-7, second in division, 6 seed
What they did: 10-6, second in division
What I said: “Hopefully their injuries from last season will be a thing of the past.”– Even more so than last year, the Giants were ravaged by injuries to key men on both sides of the field, which ultimately eliminated any shot at playoff contention.
Season high point: The banter at the O’Hara Thanksgiving dinner.
Season low point: Signing Matt Dodge.
Philadelphia Eagles
What I thought: 8-8, third in division
What they did: 10-6, first in division, 3 seed
What I said: “The Eagles have numerous question marks, most significantly with LeSean McCoy at Running Back and Kevin Kolb at QB.” – Rather than questions marks at the two positions, Phili had exclamation points. Vick emerged ahead of Kolb and produced a season worthy of second in MVP voting while McCoy looks like the next Brian Westbrook.
Season high point: Kevin Kolb’s week 1 injury.
Season low point: Mike Vicks’s week 4 injury.
Washington Redskins
What I thought: 7-9, fourth in division
What they did: 6-10, fourth in division
What I said: “Can Donovan McNabb revitalize his career in Washington? I think not… Will Albert Haynesworth learn to play nice with coach, Mike Shanahan, and perform like his days in Tennessee? Again, I think not.” – Let’s just call that an Überbingo.
Season high point: Consecutive wins against the Eagles and Packers.
Season low point: Seeing Rex Grossman play quarterback.
NFC WEST
San Francisco 49ers
What I thought: 10-6, first in division, 4 seed
What they did: 6-10, third in division
What I said: “Perhaps I’m delusional, but I believe Alex Smith will have a pretty good year in 2010.” – Perhaps? Really?
Season high point: Remaining in the playoff hunt until week 16.
Season low point: No more notable Singletary soliloquies.
Arizona Cardinals
What I thought: 6 – 10, second in division
What they did: 5-11, fourth in division
What I said: “Goodbye Kurt Warner, goodbye post-season.” – Apologies to Larry Fitzgerald.
Season High Point: Tie! Remaining in the playoff hunt until week 15 and THIS
Season Low Point: Going winless from October 11 to December 11.
Seattle Seahawks
What I thought: 6 – 10, third in division
What they did: 7-9, first in division, 4 seed
What I said: “Honestly, Seattle, who the hell knows what you’re going to do this season?” – Who could have possibly said, “Win the division with a 7-9 record!”
Season high point: Remaining in the playoff hunt until wildcard weekend.
Season low point: Heading a division with an overall point differential of -322 (This is the worst ever by a 4 team division. Numbers 2-4 on that all time list? NFC West, NFC West, NFC West).
St. Louis Rams
What I thought: 3 – 13, last in division
What they did: 7-9, second in division
What I said: “On the Brightside, St. Louis gets to play Seattle and Arizona twice.” – They went 2-2 but 3-1 would have made them playoff bound.
Season high point: Remaining in the playoff hunt until week 17.
Season low point: Losing to Seattle in week 17.
NFC NORTH
Green Bay Packers
What I thought: 12-4, first in division, 1 seed
What they did: 10-6, second in division, 6 seed
What I said: “The Green Bay Packers will be the best team in the NFC in 2010… Anything less than a deep playoff run from this team should be viewed as a disappointment.” – Remains to be seen how far they will go, but they certainly showed moments of dominance.
Season high point: Going into Minnesota and defeating the Favre-led Vikings 31–3.
Season low point: 3 of 6 losses to teams with sub-500 records.
Minnesota Vikings
What I thought: 10-6, second in division, 5 seed
What they did: 6-10, fourth in division
What I said: “I expect Favre to suffer an injury at some point this season, most likely from some 300-pound freak, rushing from his blind side and sacking Favre hard enough to end his days as a professional quarterback.” – The only thing I got wrong was the weight of the “freak.” Arthur Moats is 250 pounds, not 300.
Season high point: Firing Brad Childress
Season low point: Starting a WR at QB.
Chicago Bears
What I thought: 6 – 10, third in division
What they did: 11-5, first in division, 2 seed
What I said: “Julius Peppers may have been the biggest free agent of the off-season, but his presence in Chicago is not enough to transform the Bears into a winning team.” – Julius Pepper may have been the biggest free agent of the off-season. His presence in Chicago is enough to transform the Bears into a winning team.
Season high point: Ending the debate over the most dangerous player in football
Season low point: “Cutler drops back, can’t find anyone, and is SACKED!” (X52).
Detroit Lions
What I thought: 5 – 11, fourth in division
What they did: 6-10, third in division
What I said: “Bringing up the rear for yet another year are the Detroit Lions. However, the defense will be improved after a solid draft.” – Rookie Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will be a top 5 defensive player by next season’s end.
Season high point: Finishing outside of the 4 spot.
Season low point: Yet another losing season.
NFC SOUTH
New Orleans Saints
What I thought: 12 – 4, first in division, 2 seed
What they did: 11-5, second in division, 5 seed
What I said: “The only reason I can believe that the New Orleans Saints will struggle this season is the appearance of Drew Brees on the cover of Madden.” – He was miraculously able to defeat the curse… or at least so far.
Season high point: As a number 5 seed, being a 10 ½ point favorite in wildcard weekend.
Season low point: Losing by a combined 23 points to Arizona and Cleveland.
Atlanta Falcons
What I thought: 9 – 7, second in division
What they did: 13 – 3, first in division, 1 seed
What I said: “There are many signs that point to Atlanta competing for the division with New Orleans… there is Roddy White, who has quietly had 3 straight seasons of 80 plus catches and 1100 plus receiving yards… Atlanta is my dark horse to make some noise in the NFL this season.” – Roddy White won’t go quietly anymore. He has emerged as arguably the NFL’s best wide receiver.
Season high point: A new tradition
Season low point: I’m sure there was a Falcon who took a trip to the dentist.
Carolina Panthers
What I thought: 7 – 9, third in division
What they did: 2 – 14, fourth in division
What I said: “Jimmy Clausen, Matt Moore, and/or Tony Pike have no business starting at quarterback in the NFL this season, yet, one or more of them will.” – Add to that list Brian St. Pierre, and you can explain why they finished dead last in passing yards/game.
Season high point: Securing the number one overall pick with 31-10 shellacking in week 17.
Season low point: The season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What I thought: 4 – 12, fourth in division
What they did: 10 – 6, third in division
What I said: “Anything more than 5 wins for the Bucs is a sign of the apocalypse.” – 2012 is rapidly approaching.
Season high point: Development of offensive stars Josh Freeman, LeGarrette Blount, Kellen Winslow, and Mike Williams.
Season low point: Watching the 7-9 Seahawks take their final playoff spot.
AFC EAST
New York Jets
What I thought: 10 – 6, first in division, 4 seed
What they did: 11-5, second in division, 6 seed
What I said: “When you add on Kyle Wilson, the newest first round pick of the Jets, this secondary has the ability to be more than great, they could be historically great.” – Wilson had been a major disappointment thus far (although corners often start of slow) and it’s a major reason why offenses are having success when they spread the Jets out.
Season high point: Starting the season 8-2.
Season low point: Take your pick from the following: sexual harassment charges against Ines Sainz, Braylon Edwards’ DUI, injury to Kris Jenkins or Jim Leonhard, the “Wall,” losing to New England 45-3 on MNF, or losing 3 of their last 5 games.
New England Patriots
What I thought: 10 – 6, second in division, 5 seed
What they did: 14 – 2, first in division, 1 seed
What I said: “The offense is composed of big uncertainties… As for the defense, I was actually surprised last season at how well the unit performed… Yet, Brady and Belichick are still leading the franchise, which goes a long way.” – In a “rebuilding” year, Brady but forth his best season of his career and reestablished New England as the elite NFL team once again.
Season high point: Scoring 30+ points in 9 straight games.
Season low point: The lack of barbers in the Boston area.
Miami Dolphins
What I thought: 9 – 7, third in division
What they did: 7 – 9, third in division
What I said: “Chad Henne is on the verge of a breakout year.” – This may have been the single wrongest aspect of all my predictions.
Season high point: Going 6 – 2 on the road.
Season low point: Going 1 – 7 on the road.
Buffalo Bills
What I thought: 4 – 12, fourth in division
What they did: 4 – 12, fourth in division
What I said: “The Bills have the most unjustly difficult schedule of any team in the NFL. They not only have to play 6 games against the other 3 teams in the division, but they also must play Green Bay, Minnesota, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Pittsburg. Those are 11 possible losses right there.” – There were actually only 9.
Season high point: Finding a future quarterback (or at least I think they did).
Season low point: Falling to 3 different playoff teams in overtime.
AFC WEST
San Diego Chargers
What I thought: 11- 5, first division, 3 seed
What they did: 9 – 7, second in division
What I said: “I expect the San Diego Chargers to have another Charger-esque season.” – It looked to be like that for a stretch, but San Diego just couldn’t keep up with their injuries and mistakes.
Season high point: Having the first ranked past defense, fourth ranked rush defense, and second ranked pass attack.
Season low point: Having the first ranked past defense, fourth ranked rush defense, and second ranked pass attack, but failing to make the playoffs.
Oakland Raiders
What I thought: 8 – 8, second in division
What they did: 8 – 8, third in division
What I said: “Oakland with an 8-8 record may come as a shock to some.” – And it did.
Season high point: 8 wins!
Season low point: Lingering quarterback concerns yet again.
Denver Broncos
What I thought: 7 – 9, third in division
What they did: 4 – 12, fourth in division
What I said: “You have my least favorite head coach, Josh McDaniels, who always seems involved with some type of drama. Honestly, though, I flat out can’t stand him.” – Neither could anyone apparently.
Season high point: Freeing themselves with McDaniels.
Season low point: 4 wins.
Kansas City Chiefs
What I thought: 4 – 12, fourth in division
What they did: 10 – 6, first in division
What I said: “They do have some young talent on offense in Matt Cassel, Jamaal Charles, and Dwayne Bowe. I believe in 2 years they will be competing for the playoffs.” – Those 3 accelerated that playoff competition.
Season high point: Matching their highest win total since 2005
Season low point: Recording 2 division victories.
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
What I thought: 11 – 5, first in division, 2 seed
What they did: 12 – 4, second in division, 5 seed
What I said: “The Ravens have put themselves in a position to win a super bowl.” – No division title, but a super bowl win remains a strong possibility
Season high point: Suffering only 4 loses by a combined point total of 16 points and entering the postseason with the league’s second longest win streak.
Season low point: A persistent inability to fix Flacco’s ugliness.
Cincinnati Bengals
What I thought: 9 – 7, second in division
What they did: 4 – 12, fourth in division
What I said: “In 2010, I believe that once again the Bengals will be a good team, however, I expect them to fall a bit short of their 2009 accomplishment.” – By “fall a bit short” I mean, “Fly off a cliff 100 miles short.”
Season high point: They were 2 – 1 once.
Season low point: Earning my vote for worst team in the league.
Pittsburg Steelers
What I thought: 9 – 7, third in division
What they did: 12 – 4, first in division, 2 seed
What I said: “If Pittsburg can manage a 2-2 split over those first 4 games, then maybe they can reach the post season.” – Going 3 – 1 over that stretch secured their playoff spot.
Season high point: Sending Roethlisberger so far on the ugly scale he came back around to the attractive end.
Season low point: Going 2 – 4 against playoff teams.
Cleveland Browns
What I thought: 3 – 13, fourth in division
What they did: 5 – 11, third in division
What I said: “Their quarterbacks would be better served as the towel boys, the running backs are so poor that not a single one was drafted in my fantasy league, and their wide receivers were good enough last season to lead the team to dead last in passing offense. Their defense is tragic and head coach Eric Mangini is anything but qualified.” – Well at least Peyton Hillis proved me wrong.
Season High Point: With a record of 3 – 5, people actually thought they were good for the first time in I can’t even remember when.
Season Low Point: With a record of 5 – 11, people actually realized they were no good for first time in I can remember when.
AFC SOUTH
Indianapolis Colts
What I thought: 13 – 3, first in division, 1 seed
What they did: 10 – 6, first in division, 4 seed
What I said: “Manning is still one of the 3 best players in football and quite frankly, is the only one that matters on that team. Even if everyone else on the team got the flu, and they brought in the practice squad, I’d still take the Colts over half the teams in the league.” – Is that not exactly what happened?
Season high point: The calendar turning to 2011 marked the official release of the newest model of Caldwell, affectionately named Caldwell 3.0, the title being inspired by Caldwell’s incredible excitement and creativity. Previous models include the now outdated Caldwell and Caldwell 2.0. The Caldwell 3.0 has been called “less buggy” and “has better RAM” according to various users.
Season low point: Over a 3 game stretch, Manning threw 11 interceptions.
Tennessee Titans
What I thought: 9 – 7, second in division, 6 seed
What they did: 6 – 10, fourth in division
What I said: “Vince Young continues to prove that no matter what, regardless of his stats or anyone else’s, he is a proven winner. It’s usually never pretty, but the Titans can win games.” – Oh… about that…
Season high point: Suspension-free karma
Season low point: Managing to drive away a former R.O.Y. and probably doing the same for a great coach.
Houston Texans
What I thought: 8 – 8, third in division
What they did: 6 – 10, third in division
What I said: I’m including the entire thing since it was my favorite write up of any team. “This is the year the Texans make the playoffs… ok… next year is the year they make the playoffs… ok… next year? Well, I, along with many other football fans and analysts, have been claiming a Texan playoff run for the last few seasons. This is the year that I will not say that about the Texans, which means, of course, this is the year it will actually happens. So, then, I guess I am calling it then, which means, my predictions are knowingly wrong, but, no, I don’t think they will. Really, I don’t think they will. But maybe…” –
Season high point: The above high point as well as defeating the Colts in week 1.
Season low point: Earning a third of their wins in the first 2 weeks.
Jacksonville Jaguars
What I thought: 4 – 12, last in division
What they did: 8 – 8, second in division
What I said: “MJD can only do so much, and the star running back will have to play through, what I can only imagine being, another frustrating season.” – Garrard actually surprised people with his play, but it was indeed yet another frustrating season for Jones-Drew.
Season high point: The Hail Marry pass to defeat Houston.
Season low point: Playing their home games in Jacksonville.
-AW
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