(no subject)
Each year, everyone at my mother's place of employment makes a small wager very early on all the playoff teams for the upcoming nfl year, getting 1 point for every first round team you pick, 2 for every second round, 4 for each championship game team, 6 for each super bowl team, and 10 for the winner.
Now I have won this thing 5 of the past 10 years (playing usually around 10 or so others so 50% of friggin great). I would have thought I would have earned some respect by now, or at least not be called an outright moron. Here are my choices:
AFC 1st Round
- Kansas City
- Baltimore
- Cincinnati
- New England
NFC 1st Round
- Minnesota
- Arizona
- Seattle
- Philadelphia
AFC 2nd Round
- Kansas City
- New England
- Indianapolis
- Denver
NFC 2nd Round
- Arizona
- Seattle
- Carolina
- Dallas
AFC Championship Game
- Indianapolis
- Denver
NFC Championship Game
- Arizona
- Carolina
Super Bowl
- Denver
- Arizona
Winner: Arizona
Ok, so obviously there are some issues that other football fans have here. Yes I know I don't have the following teams going to the playoffs, I didn't forget about them.... ahem... Miami, NY Giants, Washington, Chicago, Atlanta, and most notably, Pittsburgh. All overrated, most overachieved last year. The one I struggled leaving out the most was Miami, but as much as I think Culpepper is still a very good quarterback, I think he'll need at least half a season to adjust and by that time New England will have run away with the division. Pittsburgh: too many subtractions, not even additions. And, if you're interested I think the Browns will be a better team but their record won't reflect it since they will be playing in a very very tough division.
That brings us to the teams that everyone thinks I'm crazy for including: Baltimore, Philadelphia, Minnesota, and most notably, Arizona. McNair will make a huge difference on a team that has already been talented enough to compete the past few years, though it will be tough to get out of that division. Philly was just as good last year as they've always been, they just has too many injuries and too many distractions. They won't be quite as good as they were two years ago, but good enough for the playoffs. Minnesota only lost one game in the second half last year, and while Brad Johnson doesn't have much left, he has enough depth at RB and WR to make plays, and most importantly, not make mistakes.
That brings me to my Super Bowl winner: the Arizona Cardinals. People know how good their offense was last year regardless of who the quarterback was. They have 2 of the top 5 best wide receivers in the league in Fitzgerald and Boldin. What alot of people didn't realize was that they also had a top 10 defense that has only improved in the offseason. So what was missing? First there was the revolving door at QB between McCown and Warner. The job is now firmly in the (fragile) hands of Kurt Warner with McCown signing elsewhere and his backup now being rookie Matt Leinart. Then there's the big one: they had absolutely no running game to speak of. Enter the best running back in the league (talent wise not numbers wise) in Edgerrin James. This balanced attack and depth on both sides of the ball will carry them all the way.
Book it.
Now I have won this thing 5 of the past 10 years (playing usually around 10 or so others so 50% of friggin great). I would have thought I would have earned some respect by now, or at least not be called an outright moron. Here are my choices:
AFC 1st Round
- Kansas City
- Baltimore
- Cincinnati
- New England
NFC 1st Round
- Minnesota
- Arizona
- Seattle
- Philadelphia
AFC 2nd Round
- Kansas City
- New England
- Indianapolis
- Denver
NFC 2nd Round
- Arizona
- Seattle
- Carolina
- Dallas
AFC Championship Game
- Indianapolis
- Denver
NFC Championship Game
- Arizona
- Carolina
Super Bowl
- Denver
- Arizona
Winner: Arizona
Ok, so obviously there are some issues that other football fans have here. Yes I know I don't have the following teams going to the playoffs, I didn't forget about them.... ahem... Miami, NY Giants, Washington, Chicago, Atlanta, and most notably, Pittsburgh. All overrated, most overachieved last year. The one I struggled leaving out the most was Miami, but as much as I think Culpepper is still a very good quarterback, I think he'll need at least half a season to adjust and by that time New England will have run away with the division. Pittsburgh: too many subtractions, not even additions. And, if you're interested I think the Browns will be a better team but their record won't reflect it since they will be playing in a very very tough division.
That brings us to the teams that everyone thinks I'm crazy for including: Baltimore, Philadelphia, Minnesota, and most notably, Arizona. McNair will make a huge difference on a team that has already been talented enough to compete the past few years, though it will be tough to get out of that division. Philly was just as good last year as they've always been, they just has too many injuries and too many distractions. They won't be quite as good as they were two years ago, but good enough for the playoffs. Minnesota only lost one game in the second half last year, and while Brad Johnson doesn't have much left, he has enough depth at RB and WR to make plays, and most importantly, not make mistakes.
That brings me to my Super Bowl winner: the Arizona Cardinals. People know how good their offense was last year regardless of who the quarterback was. They have 2 of the top 5 best wide receivers in the league in Fitzgerald and Boldin. What alot of people didn't realize was that they also had a top 10 defense that has only improved in the offseason. So what was missing? First there was the revolving door at QB between McCown and Warner. The job is now firmly in the (fragile) hands of Kurt Warner with McCown signing elsewhere and his backup now being rookie Matt Leinart. Then there's the big one: they had absolutely no running game to speak of. Enter the best running back in the league (talent wise not numbers wise) in Edgerrin James. This balanced attack and depth on both sides of the ball will carry them all the way.
Book it.