I can smell it in the air, pig skin and BBQ...its that time of year again...and the first kick off is just 3 days away as the NFL Season kicks off in New Jersey at the Meadowlands with the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants take on division rivals the Washington Redskins.
The NFL announced today that every team will be honoring the late Gene Upshaw with a patch reading GU and his number 63 for the entire season. Upshaw’s Wife and children will be on hand for the opening coin toss at Giants Stadium. The Raiders, who Upshaw played for will be honoring him with a video tribute and a patch painted on to the field.
On to a more lighter note as football nears its time to look at some of the teams that will be making noise and reacting to what they did in the offseason.
Let’s break it down by division. In the AFC East I don’t know if you guys hear but some guy name Favre is now wearing green and white. The addition of Brett Favre instantly catapulted the Jets from an 8-8 team to an 11-5 team and contender for the playoffs via the wild card. Because don’t forget they have the team that lost in the Super Bowl the Patriots. With the loss of Donte Stallworth in the off season to the Browns, Randy Moss and Wes Welker will be targeted on more. But with Brady under center they have nothing to worry about. They will go 14-2 and dominate the AFC once again. But their biggest concern should be their defense. This week the cuts were in and John Lynch didn’t make the team, the potential HOF'er is now job less as he just couldn’t keep up with the Pats.
In the AFC West the Chargers still reign supreme and that will not change this year. But there is a new fighter in the Oakland Radiers. The Raiders made huge moves in the offseason stabilizing their defense and making it the best in the league. Al Davis lured in Deangelo Hall, Javon Walker and drafted Darren McFadden adding more explosiveness to their offense which has struggled in recent years. The Broncos have a great defense but a very suspect offense. Yes Mike Shanahan teams are known for dynamic no name running back getting it done, but with only 1 solid WR in Brandon Marshall who is suspended for the first game of the season it will be tough for them to win games. The Cheifs have serious QB and total offense troubles. Besides Dwayne Bowe the offense is dry. Sure Larry Johnson is there but hes been ridden like a dessert mule and who knows when he breaks down.
The Crazy AFC North which always goes down to the wire, this year I feel will be a little different. The Steelers have upgraded their team and I feel are hands down the best team in the division. Adding Limas Sweed the 6'4 wide receiver and Rashard Mendenhall added to an already dominant backfield with Willie Parker, the Steelers will run away with the division. The Ravens defense is solid it has been for years, but with a first year starter at QB and no play making WR this will be another tough year for them. The Bengals will have a great offense, with TJ and Chad Johnson and Carson Palmer, the Bengals offense wont have trouble. That defense though, that’s another story. The Bengals have cut RB Rudi Johnson and now have a large void in their RB spot.
The tough AFC South has been dominated by the Colts for years, as Peyton Manning has lead the Colts to the playoffs, and Super Bowl all out of the AFC South. This year should be no different as Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Dallas Clack and Anthony Gonzalez round up a stellar receiving corps that should take the Colts to the playoffs again. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the team the Jets will be fighting for the wild card. The Jaguars have added some wide receivers to help QB David Garrard. Jerry Porter, Troy Williamson, add that to Reggie Williams, Mercedes Lewis at TE and a running duo of Fred Taylor and MJD, the Jags will be a force to be dealt with. Other teams in the division the Titans and the Texans each have their troubles. The Titans have added Alge Crumpler but have not improved their defense or other WR to become a true contender. RB Lendale White needs to prove he can get it done again as draft pick and lightning quick RB Chris Johnson could see significant time as well. The Texans still have Matt Shaub and Andre Johnson but that is about it. It seems like they are the footballs version of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Well that’s the breakdown of the AFC; it will be a tough division with a lot of drama. Look to see the Steelers, Colts, Pats, and Chargers to come out of the AFC with the Jets, Jaguars, Browns and Raiders fighting for the wild card. NFC Breakdown next, stay tuned.
The NFL announced today that every team will be honoring the late Gene Upshaw with a patch reading GU and his number 63 for the entire season. Upshaw’s Wife and children will be on hand for the opening coin toss at Giants Stadium. The Raiders, who Upshaw played for will be honoring him with a video tribute and a patch painted on to the field.
On to a more lighter note as football nears its time to look at some of the teams that will be making noise and reacting to what they did in the offseason.
Let’s break it down by division. In the AFC East I don’t know if you guys hear but some guy name Favre is now wearing green and white. The addition of Brett Favre instantly catapulted the Jets from an 8-8 team to an 11-5 team and contender for the playoffs via the wild card. Because don’t forget they have the team that lost in the Super Bowl the Patriots. With the loss of Donte Stallworth in the off season to the Browns, Randy Moss and Wes Welker will be targeted on more. But with Brady under center they have nothing to worry about. They will go 14-2 and dominate the AFC once again. But their biggest concern should be their defense. This week the cuts were in and John Lynch didn’t make the team, the potential HOF'er is now job less as he just couldn’t keep up with the Pats.
In the AFC West the Chargers still reign supreme and that will not change this year. But there is a new fighter in the Oakland Radiers. The Raiders made huge moves in the offseason stabilizing their defense and making it the best in the league. Al Davis lured in Deangelo Hall, Javon Walker and drafted Darren McFadden adding more explosiveness to their offense which has struggled in recent years. The Broncos have a great defense but a very suspect offense. Yes Mike Shanahan teams are known for dynamic no name running back getting it done, but with only 1 solid WR in Brandon Marshall who is suspended for the first game of the season it will be tough for them to win games. The Cheifs have serious QB and total offense troubles. Besides Dwayne Bowe the offense is dry. Sure Larry Johnson is there but hes been ridden like a dessert mule and who knows when he breaks down.
The Crazy AFC North which always goes down to the wire, this year I feel will be a little different. The Steelers have upgraded their team and I feel are hands down the best team in the division. Adding Limas Sweed the 6'4 wide receiver and Rashard Mendenhall added to an already dominant backfield with Willie Parker, the Steelers will run away with the division. The Ravens defense is solid it has been for years, but with a first year starter at QB and no play making WR this will be another tough year for them. The Bengals will have a great offense, with TJ and Chad Johnson and Carson Palmer, the Bengals offense wont have trouble. That defense though, that’s another story. The Bengals have cut RB Rudi Johnson and now have a large void in their RB spot.
The tough AFC South has been dominated by the Colts for years, as Peyton Manning has lead the Colts to the playoffs, and Super Bowl all out of the AFC South. This year should be no different as Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Dallas Clack and Anthony Gonzalez round up a stellar receiving corps that should take the Colts to the playoffs again. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the team the Jets will be fighting for the wild card. The Jaguars have added some wide receivers to help QB David Garrard. Jerry Porter, Troy Williamson, add that to Reggie Williams, Mercedes Lewis at TE and a running duo of Fred Taylor and MJD, the Jags will be a force to be dealt with. Other teams in the division the Titans and the Texans each have their troubles. The Titans have added Alge Crumpler but have not improved their defense or other WR to become a true contender. RB Lendale White needs to prove he can get it done again as draft pick and lightning quick RB Chris Johnson could see significant time as well. The Texans still have Matt Shaub and Andre Johnson but that is about it. It seems like they are the footballs version of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Well that’s the breakdown of the AFC; it will be a tough division with a lot of drama. Look to see the Steelers, Colts, Pats, and Chargers to come out of the AFC with the Jets, Jaguars, Browns and Raiders fighting for the wild card. NFC Breakdown next, stay tuned.
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