Under. This team made positive steps last season, the first at .500. Matt Schaub proved he could be a number one in the league, and he and Andre Johnson proved to be a terror for opposing secondaries. Still, it won't be enough to compete in the toughest division in football. If they didn't have to play the Colts, Jaguars, and Titans twice each, they might have a chance at the playoffs. Glazing over the stats, it's quick to notice that the Texans finished exactly the way they played. Mediocre. Their 8-8 record is indicative of their 24th ranking in yards allowed, and 14th finish in total offense. There's nothing about this team that jumps out aside from Schaub, Johnson, and the number one overall draft choice in 2005, Mario Williams. Williams has proved that he was absolutely the right choice in that draft. The Texans got a lot of flack for taking Williams over 'sure-thing' Reggie Bush. Last season Williams rewarded Texan brass with 14, count 'em 14, sacked lunches. This year, the Texans have added veteran Rosie Colvin, from the Patriots. Colvin may be up in age, but a few seasons in New England for a linebacker, is like spending a few years in Tibet for a monk. You learn a few things. Mario Williams is going to be for this team, what defensive ends like Jason Taylor and Michael Strahan were to their teams. Defensive ends who completely carry the workload of a defense for years. Dominant defensive ends are hard to come by, and can make entire defensive units more effective.
The problem for this team is that they don't have a running game, and they can't stop the run. Last season they only averaged 99.1 yards per game, rushing. They allowed 114.1, which was 19th in the league. With only the additions of Steve Slaton and Chris Brown to their group of already mediocre running backs, look for Houston to continue to struggle. I see them struggling a bit in Gary Kubiak's second year as head coach, but not being a pushover. For Texans fans, while the record may look negative, it will be a positive season in many respects. This team is only a few key players away from making the leap to the playoffs.
Prediction: 6-10
3. Tennessee Titans (Bodog Over/Under: 8)
I'm not big on the Titans. I thought they were a little bit on the flukey side last season, and I didn't think they deserved to make the playoffs over the Browns. When I think of them, and I try to instantly come up with a number for their record, I usually land on 8-8. But, when you examine some of the numbers and you take a look at the schedule, out of nowhere you find yourself looking at 11 to 12 wins for Jeff Fisher's bunch. I'm going with Over, and over in a big way.Last season, the Titans ranked in the top 10 in every major defensive team stat. They finished 5th in yards allowed per game and in rushing yards allowed per game. Albert Haynesworth is the reason why. The guy is an absolute animal. If you watch him play, he completely negates any sort of running game for the opposition. He's one of those defensive tackles, I've always wished played for the Giants. When Fat Albert is on the field, you know the team has to throw the ball. Scary thing is, he can collapse the pocket too, and often forces good quarterbacks into making bad throws. Last season the Titans allowed 18.6 points per game, good for 8th in the NFL. When Haynesworth was out, the Titans allowed over 31 points per game. One player can sometimes be that important, especially on the line. The defense this year boasts the addition of Jevon Kearse, aka The Freak. Kearse is a shell of the player that was drafted by the Titans, and Titans fans shouldn't expect too much from him. But if he can play a full season, he will be enough to create some extra havoc with Haynesworth.
The question marks come into play when you look at Tennessee's offense. The bus starts and stops at Vince Young's feet. I constantly hear about how much of a winner Vince Young is, mainly because they Titans won a lot of close games, and you didn't see Young giving games away too often. In reality, you can't say he won much either. The Titans finished last season with a woeful 179.9 passing yards per game. Tack that on to VY's 9 touchdown, 17 interception season last year, and I start to really doubt this young man's ability. People still swear by his ability to throw the deep ball, and the fact that he is relatively accurate. The jury is still out on Young, but this is the year for him to step it up and make this a more complete team. The running game is there for him to use, too. His own rushing abilities coupled with LenDale White's proved to be enough for the Titans to finish 5th overall in rushing yards. This season they add super speed back Chris Johnson to the attack. I like this team to do good things, but we'll know how good of a decision that is once we get a look at Vince Young. Their extremely cushy schedule, outside of the division, will give him ample opportunity to realize that growth.
Prediction: 11-5
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (Bodog Over/Under:10)
Over. This team is really good. Their schedule is really easy. In fact, if you told me that this team was going to win 14 games this year, I wouldn't think you were crazy at all. Offensively, the Jags are just nasty. Last year they finished 7th, 2nd, and 6th in yards/game, rushing yards/game, and points/game respectively. Maurice Jones-Drew is pure speed on cleats. He and Fred Taylor are an absolutely devastating one-two punch for any team to handle, and last season they proved that with 149.4 rushing yards per game. One of the stats that I found remarkable when I was digging around this club was that Jack Del Rio hasn't finished below .500 since his first season in charge. That was 2003. Since then he's missed the playoffs twice, and bumped into the New England Patriots twice. Meanwhile teams with 8-8 records are making charges into the second round in the NFC. It's a little unfair, and unfortunately for Del Rio, the Jags play with the Colts. So, as good as the Jaguars do, the Colts will probably do at least a game better.That doesn't mean that the Jaguars aren't worth your time though. MJD and Fred Taylor will devastate running backs, and David Garrard is a top-10 quarterback in the NFL. The Jaguars have been looking for the reincarnation of Jimmy Smith since he left the club, and add Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson to the mix. Williamson is, for the most part, an unnecessary addition, and will only be used as a deep threat. Porter, though, will find himself as the first or second choice for Garrard, and he has the tools to be that good. We'll see if Porter can stay healthy, long enough to take this team to a division title.
The Jaguars defense, while much hyped-up and bally-hooed, leaves a bit to be desired. They don't finish in the top-10 in any major defensive categories, and lack some of the playmakers that a defense really needs to be effective. The addition of Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator, changes some of those things. Williams is best known for architecting one of the better defenses in football over the last few years, over in Washington. While not talked about much, the Washington defense carried a football team that had no other real positives, into the playoffs twice over the last three years. Williams brings those defensive schemes to a talented, yet directionless Jaguars squad. I think it's good enough to bolster the Jags defense up into the top ten, and make this team one of the league's elite. A schedule that even Ohio State would find easy, helps the Jaguars out into finishing with their best record since 2006.
Prediction: 13-3
1. Indianapolis Colts (Bodog Over/Under: Doesn't Matter)
Over. THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE. YOU WANNA CROWN 'EM? GO !$*%'N CROWN EM! If you think Peyton Manning just watched Tom Brady's highlight reels from last season, and just said, "Eh, no biggie." You're out of your mind if you believe that. This is the best team in the league. Here's another item to chew on, if you believe for a minute that Peyton Manning isn't playing in the season opener, again you're out of your mind. This is Peyton #!@%*!@ Manning, he's playing the opener at his new stadium. He's playing in it, and he's probably going to throw for 3 touchdowns. For some reason, people are choosing to doubt the Colts. Like they're washed up and no good. I'm sorry, are you watching a different team? This is the team that finished second best in the league, without Dwight Freeney or Marvin Harrison, right? Now, they're healthy again, ready to play, and people think they will finish worse? They have one of the best coaches in football, in Tony Dungy, and the most brilliant mind in football, in Peyton Manning. Bob Sanders is an absolute freak of nature in the secondary, and Dwight Freeney is arguably the best defensive end in football. That paragraph was a lot of anger, but I just get annoyed when people don't give the Colts their proper due respect. The Colts finished first overall in points allowed per game last season, and third in yards allowed. Yet I constantly hear people disrespect the Colts' defensive abilities. Tony Dungy's Cover Two system not only works, it's damn near flawless. When was the last time a Tony Dungy team finished below .500. Don't worry, I'll wait. Haven't come up with it yet, have you? It was 1996, his first year coaching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The last time Dungy had less than 12 wins in a season, was 2002. A big part of that is Peyton Manning, but not enough credit is given to Dungy when people discuss best coaches in football.
With all that said, I think Peyton has a phenomenal season. He may not put up 50 touchdowns like Brady last season (Just don't forget that it was Peyton's 2004 record of 49 touchdowns that Brady broke in the first place), but Manning will be in the 35+ range. He's also good for 4,000 yards plus airing the ball out, and you know Joseph Addai is a stud on the ground. Marvin Harrison is as healthy as ever, and even at 75% is one of the 10 best receivers in the game. And if you don't think that's accurate you're an absolute fool. This is the best receiver since Jerry Rice we're talking about, show some respect. There are only two real roadblocks in the Colts' way, hosting New England in week 9; and away to San Diego in week 12. Other than that, their schedule is smooth sailing. 2005 was the year that Indy rattled off 13 straight before losing at home to San Diego, this year they don't stutter.
Prediction: 16-0
(Before everybody comments and says I'm out of my mind for predicting a team to go 16-0, look at the schedule and tell me you think it's completely out of the realm of possibility. This team is that good, and you know what, if the Patriots did it, there's no reason they can't. Remember they were three games away a few years ago, you can easily argue that this team is better. Just think about it.)
6 comments:
OK I thought about it ur prediction for a second and then laughed my ass off. Then i said to myself, here goes falsehood sami making these ridiculous statements to test my football intelligence.You were blessed with seeing a nearly perfect season with the pats last year and now you wanna make ludicrous predictions.It felt like I was reading a skip bayless article with these absurd comments. First off, you failed to mention the jags having a legitimate shot of beating the colts which frustrates me. That week 16 game at jacksonville will be brutal.And you also fail to mention the steelers but i dont feel talking about them. So the colts have 5 tough games on their schedule. And the chargers have owned the colts their last couple of meetings so there's no chance the colts are going 16-0.
PS Ur outlandish comments forced me to reply before I sleep.
It may seem outlandish, but in a way I love it. Their schedule is moderate with a few big games mixed in. I thnk the Chargers have just gotten lucky and watched the Colts beat themselves in those games. There is elss pressure this year (not defending champs, plus they dont have the target on their back that the patriots do)
I almost want them to go 15-1 just so they are stronger in the playoffs. Manning will step up in a big way and rival Brady's season last year. Everyone wants to say they are going to run more, but does anyone recall that Manning calls the play from the line? If he wants to throw, he'll check down to a pass. He's going to play, he's going to dominate and he 's going to do it with a 75% healthy knee which will make him look more like a god when he limps off the field after game winning 4th quarter drives.
I'm only worried that the colts always have one or two games that are unreal especially against the Titans and Texans the last few years. How many parlays have been killed in those games.
I'll start with the most incorrect human being of all time. Mr. Bitches, if the only thing standing between Mr. Manning and perfection, have no doubt that he will achieve said perfection. The key to this team is that Peyton doesn't have to bear the entire load, he can, but he doesn't have to. He has one of the best running backs in football in Joseph Addai. Yes the Jags have consistently prsented the Colts a problem the last few years, but this Colts team is even better than the team that beats the Jaguars every other year. To say there is no chance at 16-0 is outlandish on your behalf. They finished 14-2 just 3 years ago, rattling off 13 in a row before an upstart Chargers club beat them in Indy.
Holler, I think you see my point exactly. It is a bit outlandish to predict a team to go 16-0, but I think we both see that Peyton is the type of competitor on a Jordan/Woods level. He needs to win, he needs to prove his dominance. There is nobody better in football at adjusting an offense to make the right play call every time (something Mr. Brady does NOT do), and he has a phenomenal team to lean on. 16-0 isn't easy, but this team has the chops and the schedule to do it.
PS If I'm ever compared to Skip Bayless again I will hunt you where you sleep. I know where you live.
I gotta say I love the Skip Bayless comparision. Let be honest here..the Colts will not go 16-0. It has happened twice in the history of the sport. To say a team went 14-2 means they r close to 16-0 isnt right. The Colts are really good, but I could never predcit a team to go 16-0 just like I didnt predict the Falcons to go 0-16.
I think the most outlandish thing you wrote was the amont of wins you gave this division. You have 3 teams winning over 10 games. I cant buy into the Jags winning 13 or the Titans winning 11.
Did you look at their schedules? Seriously, come up with 4 losses for the Jaguars, or come up with 6 for the Titans. You could, but you'd be stretching. And I didn't say 14-2 was the same as 16-0, I was pointing out they won the first 13 of that season, and that is comparable to going undefeated. It's only one game off the 'Phins record from '72. Don't bash it just because it seems you have to, there's logic behind it.
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