NFL Preview

In the distance I can hear the sound of linemen helmets banging head-on, the sound of a linebacker's shoulder pads crunching into a running back's motoring legs. NFL Football is upon us and I can barely contain myself. Football is easily my favorite sport, the anticipation of keeping up with all the league's matchups every Sunday is part of the reason it's so popular here in the US. It also makes for great fantasy football (Next blog to come).

I'm not a betting man, but if I were to throw down some dough, here are my projected standings, playoffs and Superbowl winner:

AFC East

New England - X
New York Jets
Miami
Buffalo


AFC North

Pittsburgh - X
Baltimore - X
Cleveland
Cincinnati


AFC South

Colts - X
Titans - X
Texans
Jaguars


AFC West

San Diego - X

Kansas City

Denver

Oakland

Playoffs

NE - Bye
Pitt - Bye
SD Def Tenn
Indy Def Bal

SD Def Pitt
Indy Def NE

Indy - AFC Champs

NFC East

Philadelphia - X
NY Giants - X
Washington
Dallas

NFC North

Chicago - X
Minnesota - X
Green Bay
Detroit

NFC South

Carolina - X
New Orleans
Atlanta
Tampa Bay

NFC West

Arizona - X
Seattle
San Francisco
St. Louis

Playoffs

Philly - Bye
Carolina - Bye
Giants Def Chicago
Minny Def Arizona

Philly Def NY
Minny Def Carolina

Minnesota - NFC Champs

Indianapolis Colts - Superbowl Champions - Peyton Manning gets his 2nd MVP

No Dungy? No Marvin? No problem. Manning takes full control over this team and cements himself as one of the greatest QBs of all time. Anthony Gonzalez has learned from Harrison and will take over his WR role in stupendous fashion. The two-headed monster of Joseph-Addai and Donald Brown will provide a solid running game, and Dallas Clark will be the X-Factor in the passing game. The defense just needs to hold teams to 17 points or fewer and I think they may even be improved. As long as Dwight Freeney is healthy and leading by example, this defense will be tough. Indy is always in the running for the Championship and I just have a feeling that it works out for Manning again.

Being an Eagles fan, I am very excited for the prospects of seeing McNabb and Company back in the big game, however, I'm also a realistic Eagles fan and if we look at the trend over the years, the party ends in the NFC Championship game.

Say what you want about Michael Vick, but from a pure football standpoint, he brings something to the Eagles that will put serious fear into their opponents. It was almost as if teams were waiting for Vick to be out of football before they introduced the wildcat offense. This offense was made for him, and now that Vick's out of jail and almost reinstated, the Eagles will benefit from taking the chance on him.

The Thursday night matchup between the Titans and Steelers can't come soon enough. The season is almost upon us and I'll be sky high with my Eagles until the inevitable NFC Championship game. But hey, we can all dream right?

R.I.P. - Jim Johnson