Predictions...

[Angry Pope]

Your Guide to the 2006 NFL Season

By Tony Moss


Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Good luck keeping all of this straight.

Monday Night Football isn't on ABC anymore, it's on NBC. And it's on Sunday now. Madden and Michaels are also on NBC, and also on Sundays, and so is Cris Collinsworth, who used to be on FOX.

ESPN still has the less-important primetime game, but it's on Monday nights now, and Mike Tirico, Joe Theismann, and Tony Kornheiser are in the booth. Paul Maguire is now pretending to be an expert on the college game for ABC, and Mike Patrick is teaching at the Brent Musburger School of the Overenthusiastic Arts.

FOX and CBS have kept hold of the Sunday afternoon games, but James Brown left the FOX studio for CBS. Joe Buck will now host the pregame show on FOX, but he won't be doing halftime or postgame, which belongs to the immortal Curt Menefee.

Let's see, what else?

Two Monday night games in Week 1, but only in Week 1.

Three Thanksgiving games, including one on NFL Network in primetime. Thus begins NFL Network's eight-game Thursday-and-Saturday-night schedule, which will consist of Bryant Gumbel on play-by-play (maybe, if he agrees to toe the NFL company line) and Collinsworth, who must have a righteous collection of network coffee mugs, doing the color.

Oh, and beginning in Week 10, NBC can pull the best game on the Sunday afternoon schedule into primetime, which should go over well at FOX and CBS, since television executives love handing over highly-rated programming to their competitors.

Got all that? Great. Now before you spend the next four months or so fumbling with the remote, better take look at the potential football activities of the league for which you'll be furiously searching.

Below are all of The Sports Network's unsolicited predictions, awards, and trends for the NFL's 87th season, beginning with our projected league standings. Full preseason previews of all 32 league teams are available under the "Season Previews" banner on the left side of the Sports Network home page:

NFC East

1. Philadelphia (10-6)
2. N.Y. Giants (10-6)
3. Dallas (9-7)
4. Washington (7-9)

NFC North

1. Chicago (10-6)
2. Detroit (8-8)
3. Green Bay (6-10)
4. Minnesota (5-11)

NFC South

1. Carolina (12-4)
2. Atlanta (10-6)
3. Tampa Bay (7-9)
4. New Orleans (5-11)

NFC West

1. Seattle (11-5)
2. Arizona (8-8)
3. St. Louis (7-9)
4. San Francisco (5-11)

NFC Wild Card Round: Philadelphia over Atlanta, N.Y. Giants over Chicago
NFC Divisional Playoff: Carolina over N.Y. Giants, Philadelphia over Seattle
NFC Championship: Carolina over Philadelphia

AFC East

1. New England (10-6)
2. Miami (8-8)
3. N.Y. Jets (5-11)
4. Buffalo (4-12)

AFC North

1. Cincinnati (11-5)
2. Pittsburgh (10-6)
3. Baltimore (7-9)
4. Cleveland (6-10)

AFC South

1. Indianapolis (12-4)
2. Jacksonville (8-8)
3. Houston (5-11)
4. Tennessee (4-12)

AFC West

1. San Diego (11-5)
2. Denver (10-6)
3. Oakland (8-8)
4. Kansas City (7-9)

AFC Wild Card Round: San Diego over Denver, New England over Pittsburgh
AFC Divisional Playoff: Indianapolis over New England, Cincinnati over San Diego
AFC Championship: Indianapolis over Cincinnati
Super Bowl: Indianapolis over Carolina


cont'd...

 

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

OFFICIAL AWARDS

Most Valuable Player: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis
Offensive Player of the Year: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis
Defensive Player of the Year: Shawne Merriman, San Diego
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Reggie Bush, New Orleans
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Michael Huff, Oakland
Coach of the Year: Andy Reid, Philadelphia
Comeback Player of the Year: Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia

BREAKOUT PLAYER -Cedric Benson, Chicago. Don't fight it, because it's going to happen. Thomas Jones is going to be a backup as soon as Benson is healthy, and when the No. 4 overall pick out of Texas does finally get on the field, he's going to be a stud. With his perfect combination of balance, power, speed, and vision, Benson will be this year's Larry Johnson.

BREAKDOWN PLAYER -Mark Brunell, Washington. It's over. He'll be 36 by Week 2, he's looked uncomfortable in new coordinator Al Saunders' scheme, and you know the Redskins are dying to get Jason Campbell on the field sooner rather than later. Once he breaks down, and he will, the Redskins are likely to go in the tank in the NFC East, where the margin for error will be slight.

FIRST-ROUND FANTASY PICK YOU'LL REGRET -Edgerrin James, Arizona. James is running behind pretty much the same line that helped the Cardinals to a whopping two rushing touchdowns in 2005, just one off a dubious league record. Yes, he's better than J.J. Arrington and Marcel Shipp combined, and he'll probably have an okay year, but James' days of 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns were over the day he hopped a flight for the desert.

UNDRAFTED FANTASY PLAYER YOU'LL PICK UP -Marques Colston, New Orleans. Who? Colston is the seventh-round draft pick out of Hofstra who managed to make Donte' Stallworth expendable in New Orleans, and he's got "fantasy stud" written all over him. Colston is 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, he'll be drawing his opponent's second or third best corner due to the presence of Joe Horn, and defensively-challenged New Orleans will be throwing the ball a lot in the second half just about ever week. Remember all those cheap yards Anquan Boldin got as a rookie? Colston's going to get a ton just like that.

FIRST UNEMPLOYED QUARTERBACK TO FIND WORK IN 2006 -Jay Fiedler. Fiedler was just about back from the shoulder injury that shelved him for most of 2005 when the Buccaneers released him, and if he doesn't end up on someone's roster in '06, it will be a shock. He's started 60 games in the NFL, he's not as old as Vinny Testaverde, and unless you like Akili Smith, he's gotta be the best veteran out there.

FIRST QUARTERBACK TO LOSE HIS STARTING JOB IN 2006 -Kerry Collins, Tennessee That Collins ended up on an NFL roster in 2006 was a major upset to begin with, and the fact that he was given a better-than-even chance to start despite the regular season being roughly 10 days away was downright mind- boggling. But there's no way Collins will be good under those circumstances, and everyone knows he's just a caretaker for Vince Young anyway. We'll set the over-under at two starts.

THE DAY THE QUARTERBACK WORSHIP DIED -October 15th The Packers, Colts, and Patriots all have byes in Week 6, which means no Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, or Tom Brady. Check the ledges for network color analysts. Also, this is one of two weeks when six teams have open dates, which is really going to screw up your fantasy lineup.



TEAM THAT REALLY WILL BE THAT GOOD -Indianapolis. Probably best not to overthink this one. This was the best team in football last year, no matter what happened against the Steelers, and basically everyone returns. No Edgerrin James? Doesn't matter. Curtis Dickey could come back to play running back for this team and he'd still chew up yards due to the preoccupation of defenses with Manning and the passing game.

TEAM THAT WILL BE BETTER THAN EXPECTED -Oakland. Offering Al Davis and the Raiders praise is always done grudgingly, sort of like admitting some of those American Idol kids can sing. But the Silver and Black really improved themselves in the offseason, adding impact rookies like safety Michael Huff and linebacker Thomas Howard, changing the defensive scheme to something that has a chance to work, and installing a quarterback, Aaron Brooks, that doesn't appear completely washed-up. Look for Art Shell to win some games and surprise some people in his first year back with the Raiders.

TEAM THAT WON'T BE AS GOOD AS EXPECTED -Miami. Sure, the Dolphins were impressive last year, winning their last six games to finish 9-7. But only one of those wins, against the Chargers on the road, was what you would call quality, and there are still some major question marks on both sides of the football. Will Daunte Culpepper the Pro Bowler he was when throwing to Randy Moss, or will he be the guy who had 17 turnovers in six games before getting hurt last year? The o-line and secondary are shaky too. A close look reveals that the AFC East is still very much New England's division.

TEAM THAT WILL BE GOOD, BUT NOT THAT GOOD -Pittsburgh. Folks seem to forget that the reigning Super Bowl champs didn't even win the division last year, as that distinction went to Cincinnati. Then the Steelers lost two keys to their success, Jerome Bettis and Antwaan Randle El, in the offseason, while their franchise quarterback was involved in a serious motorcycle accident. The net effect of that turmoil doesn't mean Pittsburgh is about to go in the tank (their stifling defense will ensure that doesn't happen), but a serious favorite to get back to the Super Bowl? Nah.

TEAM THAT WILL BE BAD, BUT NOT THAT BAD -Houston. The Texans would have to be in any reasonable conversation about the worst team in football in 2006, and last year's 2-14 record is a major reason why. Also, Domanick Davis is out for the year, the o-line is pretty much the same decrepit group that couldn't protect David Carr last year, and the defense has undergone a major philosophical shift. But we like some of the moves new head coach Gary Kubiak made, from bringing in Eric Moulds to offset Andre Johnson to hiring Richard Smith away from the Dolphins to coordinate the defense. They're not in the same class as the Colts or even the Jags in the AFC South, but they won't be the same punchless team they were a year ago.

TEAM THAT REALLY WILL BE THAT BAD -Tennessee. Where did it all go wrong for Jeff Fisher? One of the NFL's top-tier head coaches just a few years ago, Fisher now has the look of a desperate man. Signing a quarterback just before the start of the season with the idea that he might start should tell you everything you need to know about this team. The o-line is weak, the running back situation unstable, and the defense still has gaping holes. But hey, they have Vince Young.

LEADING TEAM IN THE BRADY QUINN SWEEPSTAKES -Buffalo. Is J.P. Losman the new Joey Harrington? You know, a former first-round pick who always looks like he's about to turn the corner, and never does? In fairness to Losman, he doesn't have the receivers or the line to be successful in Buffalo this year, which is why the Bills are going to lose a lot of games and end up with a top five draft pick. Of the other potential bottom-feeders (Jets, 49ers, Texans, Titans, Saints, Packers), Buffalo looks like the only one that would be in the market for a quarterback, which would land the franchise Quinn, the big, strong-armed, polished quarterback from Notre Dame.

LEADING TEAM IN THE ADRIAN PETERSON SWEEPSTAKES -New York Jets. Look for the Jets' running back situation to be a revolving door this season, with Kevan Barlow, Derrick Blaylock, and Cedric Houston all failing to emerge as No. 1 backs and Curtis Martin failing to fully recover from the knee injury that will shelve him for at least six games. Running back figures to be among the team's pressing needs when the draft comes around in April, and Peterson the 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior back out of Oklahoma, could be the first to go.

cont'd...

 

[Crossbones]

Ha...somebody has KC below the Raidahs...go figure.

 

[Angry Pope]

cont'd...

FIRST-YEAR HEAD COACH WITH A SHOT -Rod Marinelli, Detroit. The Lions don't have an overwhelming amount of talent (their quarterback is ex-Bengals backup Jon Kitna, for instance), but the NFC North is still pretty much up for grabs, Marinelli has good coaches (Mike Martz and Donnie Henderson) leading the offense and defense, and seems to have instilled a great deal more toughness and accountability than the team had under Steve Mariucci. If they get hot, it could be interesting in the Motor City for a change.

FIRST-YEAR HEAD COACH WITH NO SHOT -Sean Payton, New Orleans. Drew Brees and Reggie Bush will make the offense better, but otherwise, there is very little to recommend this team. The o-line is thin. The defensive front seven might be the worst in football. The No. 2 receiver is a seventh-round draft choice out of Hofstra. Plus, they play three of their first four on the road, and falling behind in a very good NFC South is certainly not advisable. It's going to take a while for Payton to get his feet on the ground in New Orleans.

COACH WHO NEEDS TO WIN THAT WILL -Marty Schottenheimer, San Diego. Schottenheimer looked he might not last the season back in 2004, when the Chargers promptly rallied around him, won the division, and extended his shelf life in San Diego. Now the expiration date again appears to be drawing nearer for the 62-year-old Schottenheimer, as a feud with general manager A.J. Smith and the fact that he hasn't won a playoff game in four years on the job have turned up the heat. But the Chargers have the talent to win in 2006, provided Philip Rivers can manage the offense, and should be able to do enough to keep their head coach intact into 2007, at least.

COACH WHO NEEDS TO WIN THAT WON'T -Brian Billick, Baltimore. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti gave Billick one more year to turn things around and prove that he hasn't lost a team that sleepwalked its way to a 6-10 finish in 2005. Formerly disgruntled Baltimore players like Ray Lewis and Jamal Lewis seem happy playing for Billick at the moment, but if and when the losing starts, they'll both be back to pointing fingers in the direction of the head coach. Steve McNair doesn't have enough left to help this team challenge the Bengals and Steelers atop the division, which means the losses are going to come, and so will Billick's pink slip.

RETIREMENT RUMORS YOU'LL GET SICK OF HEARING ABOUT -Those concerning Bill Parcells, Joe Gibbs, and Bill Cowher. No one expected Parcells or Gibbs to be in it for the long haul when they signed on in 2003 and 2004, respectively, so the pundits figure it's just a matter of time until the two 60-somethings hang it up. But neither has really achieved a heck of a lot in their latest positions, other than one Wild Card appearance each, and it doesn't seem logical that either would walk away before they make the serious Super Bowl run that doesn't appear imminent in 2006. The more likely defector would be Cowher, who has to be somewhat burnt out in his 15th year as an NFL head coach. Honorable mention in this category goes to Brett Favre, who could take the next reporter that asks him about retirement and tear his head from his shoulders.

BEST HOLIDAY GAMES -Denver at Kansas City (Thanksgiving), Philadelphia at Dallas (Christmas). We love the addition of a third Thanksgiving game, and hope it sticks around permanently. The Chiefs used to play on Thanksgiving when they were in the AFL, and should occupy the primetime slot on Turkey Day forever. We also like that this year's game features the division rival Broncos. Another division rivalry, Eagles/Cowboys, will be part of the Christmas afternoon fare, and has the potential to be an important late-season matchup for both teams.

MOST ANTICIPATED GAME -Dallas at Philadelphia, 10/8. T.O.'s return to Philly is going to be a circus. Enough said.

BEST PRIMETIME GAME -Indianapolis at N.Y. Giants, 9/10 Nice work by NBC in coming out of the Sunday night gate with the first-ever installment of the Manning vs. Manning rivalry. Two quarterbacking brothers + two good teams + primetime = compelling television.

WORST MONDAY NIGHT GAME -Minnesota at Washington, 9/11. It looks like the NFL and/or ESPN sensed this game was a clunker, because they took the unprecedented step of adding a second Monday night contest, Raiders/Chargers, to follow Vikings/Redskins. Based on the preseason, it looks like Washington might not score a touchdown until about Week 9, and the Minnesota offense isn't going to make anyone forget Randy Moss or Cris Carter either.

 

[Angry Pope]

TEAM THAT WILL BE BETTER THAN EXPECTED -Oakland. Offering Al Davis and the Raiders praise is always done grudgingly, sort of like admitting some of those American Idol kids can sing. But the Silver and Black really improved themselves in the offseason, adding impact rookies like safety Michael Huff and linebacker Thomas Howard, changing the defensive scheme to something that has a chance to work, and installing a quarterback, Aaron Brooks, that doesn't appear completely washed-up. Look for Art Shell to win some games and surprise some people in his first year back with the Raiders.

That to me is what a Coach Of The Year Award is all about, not a coach that already has high expectations (Andy Reid).

 

[JJws1976]

Angry Pope KC is not that bad of a team to finish in last in the AFC West they will at least finish 2ND not LAST in the West

 

[Angry Pope]

Angry Pope KC is not that bad of a team to finish in last in the AFC West they will at least finish 2ND not LAST in the West

I didn't write the article

 

[JJws1976]

oh ok Pope i thought you was giving your predicitions on the season

 

[Crossbones]

Benedict predicated the Raiders will be 12-4.

I predict the Chiefs at 6-10. Really they are going to have problems. The Raiders and Chiefs will be fighting it out for the cellar of the AFC West IMO.

 

[JJws1976]

Chiefs will go at least 10-6

 

[Rupert]

If they KC goes 10-6, that will be a shock. Edwards likes to change everything when he takes over. He likes to focus on defense and install a boring offense. He has a better RB than he's ever had, but he has probably the worst line in his history.

On defense the cupboard was bare and it had to be rebuilt. With a weaker offense and a defense in transition I'm not sure how you can predict 10 wins. I think Bones is right that we'll be fighting each other not to finish last.

Unless San Diego gets off to a fast start, which I doubt they will because they're breaking in a new QB and still have problems in the defensive secondary, they're going to be challenging KC and Oakland for last place.

Prediction, all three teams will be near 8-8. I'm optimistically predicting the Raiders go 9-7 so that leaves KC and SD at 8-8 or 7-9 depending upon how well they finish. But my optimism could be misplaced, allowing one of the other two to finish 9-7.

I don't think Denver will be as good as people expect them to be, but they'll probably finish 10-6 or 11-5 in part due to a stronger second half by each of the other three teams in the division.