Detroit
If you look at the NFL Preview magazines, some have the vaunted Lion receiving corps at a 7 out of 10, and they're right. This underachieving bunch has Roy Williams and Scottie Vines, and the rest are off to terrible starts. That's right, I said Scottie Vines. Corey Bradford should help (I guess), but right now Charles Rogers is listed behind perenial all-stars Glenn Martinez and Mike Furrey on the depth chart.
Will this be Kevin Jones' breakout year? I think with Kitna (no way do they go with McCown) at the helm, I think they will finally get some consistency. As one of 10 new coaches in the league this year, look for them to involve KJ a little bit more.
I saw this team quite a bit last year, and here's a true story. Everytime they're on TV, my wife goes "Awww, I feel bad for them."
Now let's talk defense. The secondary is solid (again), with Bly and Kennedy leading the way. Terrence Holt is no slouch. Shaun Rogers is a true Pro Bowler on the line, and if Boss Bailey stays healthy, he will be the force that they expect from him.
And a short tribute to Jason Hanson. He's a great man.
Prediction: 7-9 (lose 3-way tiebreaker with Minnesota and Chicago) If this prediction holds true, this will be the most wins for them in about 6 or 7 years, I think.
Houston (sorry i was too lazy to do it yesterday and that Madden came out)
Offense: Well, its interesting times ahead. The Bush movement will really tell how these guys did. Carr sucks and will probably be cut in 3 years. I dont care if he doesnt have protection, he still needs the throw the ball. Not very good numbers. I always thought they should of traded down and got Lienart. But thats just me. WR core is definitly an upgrade with Moulds over who cares. Davis is good RB and if everybody saw how he played against the Colts, you can somewhat understand the reason. Offensive line still blows chunks and good of been helped by drafting Ferguson.
Defense: Not bad, not bad. D-Line is good, even without the addition Williams. LB core is alright. Greenwood is meh and Coward is old. Robinson though is a good DB. Overall, the defense will have to win the games.
Prediction: 4-12.
Detriot
Offence: Kitna and McCown are easy upgrades over The Bust. Kevin Jones has the ability but somewhat went back a lil last year, but I can see him being Martz little Faulk. WR core can be good also. Williams will have a break out year while druggie will fall even more. Bradford though, can maybe do something? Whatever happened to Mike Williams???
Defence: Hall and Rogers are beasts. Draft pick Ernie Sims, I feel, will do awesome things this year. Bailey will do good and secondary is pretty damn decent.
Prediction: 8-8 if QB situation improves.
Keep in mind, folks, that we'll be previewing one of the Big Boys tomorrow. That being said, I now present this team:
Tampa Bay
I don't care how successful they somehow seem to be, this team is atrociously painful to watch. If you like an off tackle extravaganza, a dump-off pass buffet, fans who have no clue the game is even going on, and uniforms that look like a mixture of every team's uniforms that someone puked on, then this is your team.
Strength: They have a cannon in the stadium.
Weaknesses: I don't know; I haven't been able to stay awake for any of their games. Hell, I even gave them a chance during their preseason game with the Jets a few weeks back. It was 0-0 at halftime, with the most exciting play being a Carnell Williams run for 2 yards.
I read some article somewhere where they were predicting the five stud QB's in five years. Simms was #5. 😘
I like Derrick Brooks. Other than that, I get nauseated whenever one of their games is on. It's like I can feel the humidity from my living room.
All together now: Bring back the orange uni's! Bring back the orange uni's! Bring back the orange uni's! Bring back the orange uni's! Bring back the orange uni's! Bring back the orange uni's! Bring back the orange uni's! Bring back the orange uni's!
Reason being? I got pissed when this team got good a few years ago. I kind of like having the same teams year in and year out sucking so bad. Can you tell I'm a spiteful Pittsburgh Pirates fan?
Prediction: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........
Tampa Bay
Offense: I dont know why people give Simms that much credit. Galloway was kinda of annoying if your an Cowboys fan, and Clayton is a pretty good WR also. Cadilliac Williams is good RB.
Defense: Same old TB defence with 80 year old Brooks and Rice. One year these guys will finally get old and maybe its this year hmmmm. Pretty much what you got last year, is what they have this year.
Prediction: 5-11
So I decided to have fun with Madden and our litte competition.
So I simmed the whole season and here is what I got (just remember that some teams were a tad different
Heres what I got"
AFC EAST
Buffalo
Miami
Patriots
Jets
AFC North
Baltimore - Bye#2
Pittsburgh - Wildcard
Cincy
Cleveland
AFC South
Jacksonville - Bye#1
Indy - Wildcard
Houston
Tennesse
AFC West
Kansas
Oakland
San Diego
Denver
NFC East
Giants - Bye#2
Dallas - Wildcard
Philly
Washington
NFC North
Green Bay - Bye#1
Minnesota - Wildcard
Detriot
Chicago
NFC South
Atlanta
Carolina
New Orleans
Tampa Bay
NFC West
Seattle
Arizona
ST.Loius
San Fransisco
Playoffs
Wildcard:
Buffalo over Pittsbrurgh
Indy over Kansas
Dallas over Atlanta
Seattle over Minnisota
Division:
Jacksonville over Buffalo
Indy over Baltimore
Green Bay over Dallas
Seattle over New York (52 points!!!)
Conference:
Jacksonville over Indy
Green Bay over Seattle
Superbowl
Green Bay over Jacksonville
MVP Offense - P Manning
MVP Defense - M Vrabel
ROY OFF - R Bush (with Cutler behind him)
ROY DEF - Demeco Ryans ( with Whitner behind him)
Leading Rusher - C Portis (with 2154 yards yowsers)
Well, the game takes in account the player's ratings, but doesnt take in account alot of problems that could arise, like injuries and stuff like that.
It also doesnt take in account coaching too, which if a team like Indy loses a key player, Dungy can still do a decent job and win games.
And the game doesnt account alot of players like Favre who had a storied career.