2012 Indianapolis Colts Preview

2012 Indianapolis Colts

Are you feeling lucky? You might not be, but Twitter lord Colts owner Jim Irsay sure is. 2012 is the first year of the new chapter in Indianapolis. They have turned the page on the greatest player in franchise history, Peyton Manning, electing not to pay him the $28 million he would have been due. Instead, they used the first pick in the draft that they got from being absolutely pathetic in 2011 to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. Apparently, this kid is the highest rated QB prospect since Peyton himself. He’ll need to be, if he wants to be adored by Colts fans the way they worshipped 18. However, I think that people in Indy know what the situation is. They watched Peyton grow into a superhero, and realize that Andrew Luck will not bring greatness immediately. That being said, there is a new hope in Indianapolis for the future. Luck looks pretty sharp in preseason play and could mature into a star sooner rather than later. Anything that he can provide this year would be an improvement from the abysmal 2-14 season they recorded last year. A new era is beginning in Indy...let’s see how fast it takes to become a perennial contender once again.

Offense

I already talked a lot about Andrew Luck so I’ll move on from him now. The only thing I’ll say about him is that I think his addition already makes them the third best team in the division, ahead of Jacksonville. The rest of the offense is definitely a work in progress. Donald Brown is looking at the most important season of his career. With Peyton no longer taking snaps, the running game and short passing attack will be more important than ever. Brown will have to take charge and become a true number one running back. Anything less than 1,000 rushing yards will not be good enough. I do think he can get there though. He won’t be a superstar this year, but he’ll be a top 20 running back. As for the receivers, at least Reggie Wayne is still there. The vet will be a big security blanket for the young Luck, but it is yet to be seen how much he has left in the tank. Austin Collie meanwhile, seems to be one concussion away from his career ending; it’s getting scary. The wide receiver crew will definitely be a work in progress over the next few years to try and get talent around Luck. One spot that Indy does look promising in would be the tight ends. They used two draft picks on tight ends in this draft. One of those picks is Coby Fleener, the TE that their new QB threw to in college at Stanford, which means the chemistry is already there. It looks like New England might be starting a new trend in the NFL: two stud tight ends are unstoppable.

Defense

The Indianapolis defense has very low expectations in 2012. They still have the bulldogs on the edges rushing the passer in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, but how long will that last? They are both aging with big contracts, and this franchise is in complete turnover. Besides them, they do not have much more talent on this side of the ball. However, there are bright spots. First of all, new head coach Chuck Pagano is the former defensive coordinator of the Ravens, so his defensive credentials are solid. Also, the recent trade for cornerback Vontae Davis from the Dolphins was huge. They now have a very good, young corner to sure up the secondary and build a defense around. This unit will not be very good in 2012, but it should get better over the next few seasons. Remember, this team is a work in progress.

Schedule

Everyone knows the Colts were dreadful last year. 2-14 is not good in any way, shape, or form. However, they should not be that bad again. Things are definitely on the upturn in Indianapolis. Houston owns the division for now, but who knows how big their window is? Tennessee is a team that can definitely be a force the instant Jake Locker grows into a significant talent, if that happens. Those two teams will present problems to the Colts for this year and next year, but Indianapolis can be a division contender in as soon as three seasons. Look at Indy to contend for a playoff spot in 2014 or 2015. Unfortunately, they will experience some growing pains this season, but let’s see if they can conquer adversity.

Week 1: L at CHI (cut to Julius Peppers rubbing his hands together)

Week 2: W vs MIN

Week 3: W vs JAC (winning record!)

Week 4: Bye

Week 5: L vs GB

Week 6: L at NYJ

Week 7: W vs CLE

Week 8: L at TEN (CJ goes for at least 150 in this game)

Week 9: W vs MIA (Luck >>> Tannehill)

Week 10: L at JAC

Week 11: L at NE (probably by at least 20)

Week 12: L vs BUF

Week 13: L at DET

Week 14: W vs TEN

Week 15: L at HOU

Week 16: L at KC

Week 17: L vs HOU

I have the Indianapolis Colts finishing the season at 5-11. Better than how they did in Peyton’s first season, and a definite bright spot, jumping three wins up from last year. I hope the Colts personnel are wearing sunglasses, because their future is really bright right now. After a bold prediction, we got the Jacksonville Jaguars coming up next. Bonus question: who do you think will have a better year, in terms of stats and/or wins? Until next time.

Bold Prediction: Andrew Luck’s stats: 3,300 yards, 24 TDs, 17 INT, probable Offensive Rookie of the Year. Unless RGIII outplays has something to say about it.

2012 Houston Texans Preview

2012 Houston Texans

The Houston Texans have been a team close to my heart for many years now. I have been picking them to break out and make the playoffs over and over again, and last year they finally proved me right. A solid 10-6 season secured the Texans the AFC South title and a playoff berth, in which they won their first playoff game and were competitive in a loss against the Ravens. And they played their last few games with a rookie, no less, TJ Yates. This year, Matt Schaub is back, Andre Johnson is healthy again, and even though Mario Williams was hurt (and now gone), this defense immediately became one of the fiercer groups in the league. The Houston Texans are big favorites to win the South again, as they should be, and also one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. The only question for this team (besides health) is whether they can keep improving and show that they have the stuff that champions are made of. A division title would be unsurprising; but this year we are going to see exactly how high the ceiling for this team is.

Offense

The formula is simple: run. The Texans have the best running back tandem in the NFL in my opinion, as Arian Foster and Ben Tate have great chance to each break 1,000 yards this season. I think that they will accomplish this rare feat, because they both have great talent, and Houston will run all day on opponents. Arian Foster is my boy, and I think he will have a huge year, breaking 2,000 yards from scrimmage. The question on this offense is the passing game. Matt Schaub is no doubt talented, but is he ready to lead this team to the Super Bowl? I think that he is, but by no means does that mean that I think he will. This offense is still incomplete, because of the lack of depth at wide receiver. They have a physical freak in Andre Johnson, but recently the injury bug has hit him, and it is questionable whether he will return to his elite status. If he does get hurt, there isn’t a lot of talent after him. Who are they going to throw to, Kevin Walter? What about their seemingly always injured tight end, Owen Daniels? No, it seems that if Andre goes down, the passing attack will go down with him. But still, there is no question that this offense will attack through the running game.

Defense

In 2010, this defense was a laughingstock, sporting the then-worst passing defense the world had ever seen. This is mostly forgotten now though, for two reasons. One, the Patriots and Packers had embarrassing defenses themselves last year, but they could afford it because of their supreme offenses. But second, and more importantly, under the direction of Wade Phillips, the defense completely turned itself around and became a force to be reckoned with. They have studs at every level, with JJ Watt anchoring the defensive line, Brian Cushing leading the linebacking crew, and Jonathan Joseph holding down the secondary. This unit had a remarkable turnaround last year, and should be primed for another outstanding campaign, but this time, no one will be surprised by them. The loss of Mario Williams could hurt, but he was injured a lot of last year anyway, so they are used to playing without him. The Houston Texans are arguably the most complete team in football on both sides of the ball, and we’ll see if they will show it in 2012.

Schedule

The 2011 Houston Texans finished 10-6, a mark that could have been even better if many of their star players had not been injured, but a record that nonetheless helped them win the division without any real threat. This team is different than the rest of the elite teams throughout the league because not only do they have the ability to outscore teams, but they can shut them down as well. We’ll see if that ability can translate to the field this year.

Week 1: W vs MIA

Week 2: W at JAC

Week 3: L at DEN (they’re going to get Peyton-ed)

Week 4: W vs TEN

Week 5: W at NYJ

Week 6: W vs GB

Week 7: W vs BAL (HUGE game)

Week 8: Bye

Week 9: W vs BUF

Week 10: L at CHI (sleeper Super Bowl matchup?...)

Week 11: W vs JAC

Week 12: W at DET

Week 13: L at TEN

Week 14: L at NE

Week 15: W vs IND

Week 16: W vs MIN

Week 17: W at IND

The way I see it, this team could go 12-4. However, this is the ceiling of what their season could be; I can see another loss or two in that three game stretch against NYJ, GB, and BAL. They finish with a cupcake last three games, with two against Indy and one against lowly Minnesota. They will also have great experience against top teams, with battles against DEN, GB, BAL, CHI, and NE. There are certain games that jump off the page to me this year, and that Week 7 game is one of them. The matchup with the Ravens is one that I think will decide the number two seed in the AFC playoffs this year. Houston has the advantage at home, and I think they will pull it off. My next preview will be for the Indianapolis Colts, in the first year of their new era. Comments and feedback are appreciated! Time for that bold prediction.

Bold Prediction: Arian Foster and Ben Tate will each rush for 1,000 yards this season.

2012 Pittsburgh Steelers Preview

2012 Pittsburgh Steelers

The 2011 Pittsburgh Steelers ended their season in the worst possible way for me: an overtime playoff loss to Tebow and the Broncos. I do not think this because I was heartbroken for the Steelers; I’m glad they lost. But that loss singlehandedly brought Tebow-mania to New York and has resulted in endless coverage on ESPN of him and the Jets, and it is doing bad things to my sanity, even as a Jets fan. They did still go 12-4 last season, though, and were still one of the dominant forces in the NFL. It seems like every year I predict them to fall off and they never do. Have I learned my lesson this year? Absolutely not. Down with Pittsburgh! I will be right one of these years about a falloff; why not this one? New offensive coordinator, Wallace potentially rusty after holding out, Mendenhall hurt still, bad offensive line, aging defense, better competition, harder schedule...the reasons go on and on. I think that this will be the year of the melting steel. Not on a grand scale though; I have no doubt that Pittsburgh will be in playoff contention at the end of the season. But as you can guess, I am skeptical about if they can get back...

Offense

I will never question the heart, toughness, and skill of Big Ben Roethlisberger. I can question his motorcycling ability and irresponsible actions with women ability to stay upright in the pocket, however, as he has pretty much been a punching bag for opposing defenses the last few years behind a line that can’t protect him. He won’t put up great numbers, especially switching offensive schemes with the arrival of Todd Haley this year, but he still has the grit to grind out a win. The running game is suspect, with Rashard Mendenhall trying to recover from his ACL injury. Isaac Redman will fill his shoes for now, but that can’t be the long term solution. At receiver, I’m still not high on Antonio Brown as a top receiver, and until Mike Wallace shows up to camp, that’s what he’ll be. And when he reports, who knows how Wallace will perform after missing so much time? This offense could be in for a struggle this season.

Defense

How vaunted can the fearsome Steelers’ D be this year with all the changes to this unit? I think they can still get the job done to a point, but one day the age has to catch up with them, doesn’t it? As long as Troy Polamalu is still flying around like a crazed wildebeest with his dreadlocks flashing through the air, this unit will be one to be reckoned with. They also still have a ferocious linebacking core, as usual, headlined by LaMarr Woodley, Larry Foote, Lawrence Timmons, and potentially the scariest man alive, James Harrison. The Pittsburgh defense will still be great, but their success will come down to turnovers, because if they have to be on the field for a long time, they will get exposed. Even the Steelers defense is vulnerable. Watch out for Week 2: The Return of Tebow.

Schedule

The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a 12-4 season in which their only losses came from both games against the Ravens, and on the road against Houston and San Francisco. In other words, really good teams with really good defenses. They of course fell in the first round of the playoffs in dramatic fashion, so a bounce back year could be in store for us. However, I feel that this team will dip the other way in the win column...down into playoff uncertainty. They have to have a horrible feeling starting out in Denver. It’s the scene of the crime from last year, except his time they have to go up against Peyton...good luck. The early bye week could be rough for late in the year.

Week 1: L at DEN (start this year like they ended the last one)

Week 2: L vs NYJ

Week 3: W at OAK

Week 4: Bye

Week 5: W vs PHI

Week 6: W at TEN

Week 7: L at CIN

Week 8: W vs WAS

Week 9: L at NYG

Week 10: W vs KC (watch out for the Chiefs!)

Week 11: L vs BAL

Week 12: L at CLE (classic trap in between BAL games)

Week 13: L at BAL

Week 14: W vs SD

Week 15: W at DAL

Week 16: W vs CIN

Week 17: W vs CLE

9-7 for the Pittsburgh, even after winning their final four games...which means no playoffs for the mighty Steelers. Even if they win that CLE game I have them losing, they will have another loss somewhere to make up for it, either against TEN, or SD, or DAL, or wherever. I could very well eat my words for this prediction, but I don’t see more than nine wins for Steel City this year. Let’s see what they’re made of. After a bold prediction, I’ll recap the AFC North in case you missed anything. Up next is the AFC South, starting with the Houston Texans. Until next time!

Bold Prediction: The Pittsburgh Steelers will win nine games or less and not make the playoffs this season. Also, no Steeler will have double digit sacks this year.

AFC North recap:

BAL: 11-5

PIT: 9-7

CIN: 8-8

CLE: 3-13 

• Torrey Smith explodes onto the scene with over 1,100 yards and 7+ TDs
• The Steelers fall off and miss the playoffs
• The Bengals also slip but show they can beat quality teams
• Cleveland will have the first pick in the 2013 NFL draft

2012 Cleveland Browns Preview

2012 Cleveland Browns

I need to begin this preview with a statement that many sports personalities have said, and I have to say I agree with it: “God hates Cleveland”. This can be interpreted in many ways, depending on what, if any God or gods you believe in. But the fact is, there’s something about Cleveland that provides comic relief to sports fans. There are two kind of teams from the Ohio city: losers, and good teams that always manage to find heartbreak and/or despair and/or unfulfilled potential (see LeBron James whole career with the Cavs and 2007 Indians up 3-1 in ALCS). That being said, I have good news and bad news for Browns fans. The bad news is, that this team will be one of those in the “losers” category. The good news is, I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance at least you won’t have to get your hopes up! I did like the Trent Richardson pick, and I think that there is potential to be found there. However, I disagree greatly with the Brandon Weeden selection, towards the end of the first round. But I’ll get to that. After a 4-12 season, Cleveland is looking for a rebound. It might come sometime soon, but I don’t see it happening this year. Sorry, Cleveland. God might or might not hate you, but someone powerful definitely does.

Offense

I’ll start with the positive, in the form of the beast that is Trent Richardson. The number three pick out of Alabama is a centerpiece to build a franchise around, which not many running backs can be anymore. He should provide a nice spark with his explosiveness and brutality together in one, and if he can stay on the field, can provide ten years of production. He should really hope the O-line can stay upright though. Now...to the passing game. Any time you have Greg Little as your main outside threat, you are basically threat-less. I am somewhat of a fan of Travis Benjamin though. I watched him at the University of Miami (my favorite NCAAF team), and this guy can absolutely fly. Some polishing up is needed but he is a true speedster. There is some talk about tight end Jordan Cameron becoming the next Gronk or Jimmy Graham, sooner rather than later, but those are high hopes. Finally, the quarterbacks. I was not a fan of the Browns selecting QB Brandon Weeden with their second pick in the first round. He is about to be 29 years old, so his upside is limited. I do not think that he is a bad player, but I did not like the pick. Even if he is average out of the gate, what is there to gain from him? I would have rather liked to see the Browns take another weapon, either outside or even on one of the lines to boost that area of the team. Give Colt McCoy one more shot at QB. If he succeeds, great. If not, then they would probably be awful, have a great pick, and either get Matt Barkley out of USC or another signal-caller that you can build a team  around with Richardson for the next twelve years. With Weeden, by the time he grasps the feel for the NFL, he could be 32 years old and near the end of his prime. Not a great deal for a first round pick. Now, if he plays well, then all the best to him. But remember, this is Cleveland.

Defense

The Browns defense actually isn’t too bad, relatively, anyway. They don’t have much of a defensive line, but linebacker D’Qwell Jackson is a tackling machine in the middle of the field. Also, the secondary has some ability, with Joe Haden, Sheldon Brown, and TJ Ward. This unit is by no means a terrifying squad, but they are good enough to keep Cleveland in some games over the course of the season. There’s not much else to say about them. If they don’t play well, then forget about this season, because I don’t think that the offense will be able to put up 20 points a game consistently. Simple as that. Defense and special teams are the substance of this team, and we’ll see if Weeden and the offense are good enough to put some W’s on the board.

Schedule

While the Cleveland Browns finished at an ugly 4-12 last season, I’ll give them some credit. Six of the twelve they lost were one possession games. If they could have pulled out half of those wins, we’re looking at a 7-9 record, which is not terrible by any means. They would have been just two games out of the playoffs! But the fact is, they could not find ways to win those games. Can they do that this year?

Week 1: L vs PHI

Week 2: L at CIN

Week 3: L vs BUF (winnable)

Week 4: L at BAL

Week 5: L at NYG

Week 6: L vs CIN (also winnable)

Week 7: L at IND (still winnable)

Week 8: W vs SD (one of those Charger nap games)

Week 9: L vs BAL (one possession)

Week 10: Bye

Week 11: L at DAL

Week 12: W vs PIT

Week 13: W at OAK (winning streak!)

Week 14: L vs KC

Week 15: L vs WAS

Week 16: L at DEN

Week 17: L at PIT

No. They cannot win close games this year. 3-13 is not pretty. I think they could surprise teams in some games though. They have possible wins against BUF, CIN, IND, KC, and WAS also. Either way, I don’t see too many wins from Cleveland this year. Maybe next year, Browns fans. Next team up: Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bold Prediction: The Cleveland Browns are on the clock. #1 pick next April!

2012 Cincinnati Bengals Preview

2012 Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals exceeded a lot of expectations in 2011, especially mine. When a team starts a rookie quarterback and number one receiver in a tough division like the AFC North, you would think that the upside is limited. However, the Bengals, led by TCU product Andy Dalton and stud wide out AJ Green out of Georgia, not only held their own but were one of the biggest surprises of the season. Cincy finished the season with a winning record at 9-7 and securing the number six seed in the AFC, and the final playoff spot in the conference. They ended up losing in the first round to Houston as was expected, but the immediate progress they showed in this new age cannot be ignored. They did all this in spite of a head coach that has kept his job despite never winning a playoff game in his entire tenure, Marvin Lewis. If the Bengals can continue the new success that his team has found, then good for him. However, if they don’t, then it might be time for a new change at the top to grow along side the new era that this football team is diving into. For the record, I don’t see Marvin Lewis being fired this year, as long as the team remains functional.

Offense

As I introduced before, this offense has undergone a complete makeover, now being led by now sophomore quarterback Andy Dalton, coming off a solid rookie season. Dalton is one of those kind of quarterbacks that will never get the credit he deserves because he won’t be a fantasy stud, but simply knows how to win and get the job done. This is not unlike some other QBs in his division, namely Big Ben and Joe Flacco. Andy basically has one dangerous target outside in AJ Green, and not much else. We’ll see if tight end Jermaine Gresham is used more effectively to make up for the lack of talent on the perimeter. The Bengals also felt comfortable enough to let running back Cedric Benson depart to Green Bay, and have now turned to former Patriot BenJarvus Green-Ellis to spearhead the rushing attack. BJGE is a guy who, if given enough carries, can absolutely be a 1,000-yard, 10 touchdown back. He is durable and is money in the bank at the goal line. The Law Firm doesn’t turn the ball over, ever. This upgrade at running back could be very significant.

Defense

The Cincinnati defense has made huge strides over the last couple of years, and, like the quarterback, do not get as much credit as they deserve. It looks like they have found a premier pass rusher in Carlos Dunlap, who has had questionable character issues in the past but can definitely perform on the field. They also have a solid cornerback tandem in Leon Hall and Nate Clements. The Bengals have a nice group of linebackers as well. Cincinnati is set up with a group that can potentially give up less than, say, 22 points per game; it just depends on whether they can force enough turnovers to be considered a top-tier defense. They do everything well, but now we’ll see if they can take the next step as a complete unit.

Schedule

The Cincinnati Bengals finished at a nice 9-7 record last season, making the playoffs. At face value, that looks satisfactory to say the least, but when you look at the schedule in detail, some big numbers pop out. For example, do you know how many of their nine wins came against teams that did not make the playoffs? All of them. Nine. The Bengals finished 9-0 against teams that did not make the postseason last year. Now, what about their record against playoff teams? 0-7. No wins. Four of those losses were against the Steelers and Ravens. What does that tell us about this team? That they still have a long way to go before they are serious contenders. They took care of all the inferior teams, but when they were matched up against a quality team, Cincy couldn’t win once, in seven tries. The 0-4 against Pittsburgh and Baltimore shows that they aren’t ready to compete in this division yet. This year they have a harder schedule. One of two things will happen: either the Bengals will take the next step and start beating these superior teams, or else they will take a step back against a tougher slate of opponents and miss the playoffs. Here’s how I see it playing out.

Week 1: L at BAL

Week 2: W vs CLE

Week 3: L at WAS

Week 4: W at JAC

Week 5: W vs MIA

Week 6: W at CLE

Week 7: W vs PIT

Week 8: Bye

Week 9: L vs DEN

Week 10: L vs NYG

Week 11: L at KC

Week 12: W vs OAK

Week 13: L at SD

Week 14: W vs DAL

Week 15: L at PHI

Week 16: L at PIT

Week 17: W vs BAL

I think the Cincinnati Bengals will finish at 8-8. This is a game worse than last year, but with a tougher schedule, they will actually make some improvements. These include beating teams like PIT, BAL, and DAL, showing that they are learning how to win close games against tough teams. While I’m looking at no playoffs for Cincinnati, by no means does that mean it was a lost season. After a bold prediction, I’ll preview the Cleveland Browns. Browns fans...you might want to skip that one.

Bold Prediction: Rookie wide receiver Mohamed Sanu will be the second most productive WR on the team, with 45 rec, 500 yards, and 3 touchdowns.

2012 Baltimore Ravens Preview

2012 Baltimore Ravens

I am simply Wacco about the Baltimore Ravens this year. I am not going to say how far they will or will not advance in the playoffs, but they will be there, and hopefully will make some noise. After all, Joe Flacco pulled an Eli this summer and said he was an elite quarterback. Shouldn’t we just hand them the Lombardi Trophy? I love Ray Rice and think he can have a repeat performance of what he did last year. He’s paid, he’s happy, and now he’s simply hungry for a championship. And this defense feels like they might have one big run left in them. After all, if there was one person I would want in my foxhole, it would probably be Ray Lewis. He is a leader of men, and will have this team ready to play. The one major concern is basketball superstar Terrell Suggs and his torn up knee. Either way, this team looks primed for a huge year, and they are determined after the disappointment against the Patriots. It remains to be seen, however, if this team has it in them to take the next step.

Offense

For the past few years, the Baltimore offense has run, literally, through Ray Rice. He may be a little guy, but he is strong, physical, and tough. Rice is like a boulder rolling downhill when he gets a head of steam. He had over 2,000 yards from scrimmage by himself last year, and I expect more of the same. Joe Flacco also looks ready to continue to mature. He has Anquan Boldin (still arguably the toughest dude in all the NFL; he’s a bad man, with a great name) as a security blanket, along with Ed Dickson at tight end. However, I think the star of the passing game will be Torrey Smith, a speedster who had flashes of stardom last year. At best, he could have the kind of year Mike Wallace had a couple of years ago with the Steelers, with at least one deep bomb a game. At worst, he’s still a deadly weapon on the outside that could run by anyone but he drops passes and underproduces. If he and Flacco are on the same page this year...points can be scored in bunches, to put it lightly.

Defense

When you think of the Baltimore Ravens, what is the first thing that comes to your head? That’s right, your friend who was choking on a piece of chicken while watching the Ravens simultaneously choke away the AFC Championship a ferocious defense! This D has studs all around it, anchored by Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Haloti Ngata, Ladarius Webb, and the artist formerly known as T-Sizzle. Oh, and my new best friend Bernard Pollard, the Patriot Killer. While this group is aging, they have the veteran mindset of knowing how to get the job done, and executing. Lewis is arguably the most intimidating player of this generation at least, and Reed is potentially the greatest ball hawk of all time, and as long as both of those guys are on the field, I wouldn’t say that their window is closed just yet. However, the injury to reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs is devastating; it annihilates the pass rush unless rookie Courtney Upshaw can fill his shoes. Suggs, though, says that he will play this season, and if he believes it, then I do too. My thinking is that if he can come back in time to finish the regular season, it will give this unit a boost heading into the playoffs, and then, watch out.

Schedule

The Ravens finished last season at 12-4 and secured the second seed in the AFC heading into the playoffs, where they came within two mistakes in the final seconds of making it to the Super Bowl. They were able to sweep their division in which Pittsburgh and Cincinnati also made the playoffs which is very impressive, but three of their losses also came to Tennessee, Jacksonville, and Seattle, which, frankly, sucks. It happens when they get away from their game plan and have Flacco wing it around the field. They easily could have had 14 or 15 wins and taken number one seed, but they have a knack for losing games against inferior opponents. Let’s see what’s in store for them this year.

Week 1: W vs CIN

Week 2: W at PHI

Week 3: W vs NE (Pollard is rubbing his hands together)

Week 4: W vs CLE (for lunch: italian subs with a side of Weeden)

Week 5: L at KC

Week 6: W vs DAL

Week 7: L at HOU

Week 8: Bye

Week 9: W at CLE (see Week 4)

Week 10: W vs OAK

Week 11: W at PIT

Week 12: L at SD

Week 13: W vs PIT

Week 14: L at WAS

Week 15: W vs DEN

Week 16: W vs NYG

Week 17: L at CIN

I have Baltimore finishing this season at 11-5. The losses might not be in the right places but they will be sprinkled in there somewhere. I think that that Week 7 matchup in Houston is enormous, because as I will elaborate more in the HOU preview, that game could have #2 seed implications. Either way, the 2012 Baltimore Ravens will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming season, and we’ll see if they can redeem themselves and get to the promised land. Up next: the Cincinnati Bengals. Right after a bold prediction, of course.

Bold Prediction: Torrey Smith finishes this season with 1,100 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. Minimum. He’s got the speed to blow by safeties. And if the Pollard curse holds true...I’m looking at Aaron Hernandez as the latest injury victim.

2012 New York Jets Preview

2012 New York Jets

The word that will most likely sum up this coming season for the Jets is: “circus”. Mostly, as in a media circus. And we all know why. But I’ll get to that later. The 2011 New York Jets had a trying season. They tried to be a functional football team and failed. They ended up finishing 8-8, which is not bad if you look at it without context, but that would not be considered a successful season for a team coming off two consecutive AFC Championship Games and looking to take the next step forward. In the New York market, no less. And I, as every other New Yorker, will settle for nothing less than greatness. Luckily, another NY team was able to step up and take the crown, but that’s a story for another day. This current Jets team will once again try to run the ball down team’s throats and play solid defense. Whether they can perform as a team and get the job done will be answered in time. The fact that this year is make-or-break for the J-E-T-S. If they once again do not make the playoffs, Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan could both be out of a job, and this franchise will be turned upside down. But if this defense returns to form and the offense can be more consistent, this team looks like they have a chance to be playing in January.

Offense

Mark Sanchez, even though his yards and touchdowns were respectable, turned the ball over way too much last year. This is a huge year for him, as the whole world knows who is lurking over his shoulder. If he controls the ball more and STOPS HAVING SO MANY FREAKING THREE AND OUTS, then he should be in for a bounce back year. Shonn Greene and the running game couldn’t get it together, which would seem like a crucial ingredient for a ground-and-pound style of play. And the receiving core still is only average at best. Plaxico Burress had a pretty solid year but the demise of Santonio Holmes was scrutinized greatly, and Dustin Keller still hasn’t had that breakout year. With Plax gone, rookie Stephen Hill will have to step up and make some big plays. I think he will lead the team in receiving touchdowns this year, unless Sanchez finally utilizes Keller in a way that maximizes his potential. We’ll see if Tony Sparano can make an impact as the new offensive coordinator. One thing is certain: he will definitely have many wrinkles in his scheme, several involving Tim “How Many Games Can I Pull Out Of My Ass In One Season” Tebow. I will be quick on him, because he gets so much attention already. I am not a Tebow hater; I root for him, but I am absolutely sick of a certain sports network documenting every single move he makes. I’m talking to you, ESPN! We don’t need to know every time he takes a piss! Their noses are looking a little brown right now. And the season hasn’t even started yet. Anyway, I think he will be a contributor. He will probably lead the team in rushing touchdowns, and I’m expecting more than one trick plays out of the punt formation, whether he runs with it or throws it. And you know how many starts he’s going to make during the season? None! Zero! Zilch! It’s going to be a big squadoosh in the starts department. But, like I said, he will be an interesting cog in the offense this season. If the offense can put up 24 points a game, they will be a playoff team.

Defense

There’s a simple formula for the D to be a strong unit this year: Pass Rush = Top 5 defense. Period. The secondary can hold its own if Cromartie plays well, because there’s a pretty big island that takes up an entire half of the field. 70% of the Earth is covered by water, and the rest is covered by Darrelle Revis. If the Jets can get pressure on the quarterback, then they will force wild throws for the ball hawks to devour. If LaRon Landry stays healthy, he could be a deadly weapon in the box. Rookie Quinton Coples is going to have to play big to help this defense out. Rex Ryan is going to have to coach his heart out to get back to elite status with this bunch.

Schedule

Just like the rest of the AFC East teams, the Jets will be able to feast off an easy schedule outside of the division. If they take care of business against the easy opponents,   then New York has the inside track to the postseason. Even with all their struggles, they had an outside chance of making the playoffs in Week 17. Will they get there this year?

Week 1: W vs BUF

Week 2: W at PIT

Week 3: L at MIA

Week 4: W vs SF

Week 5: L vs HOU

Week 6: W vs IND

Week 7: L at NE

Week 8: W vs MIA

Week 9: Bye

Week 10: L at SEA

Week 11: W at STL

Week 12: W vs NE

Week 13: W vs ARI

Week 14: W at JAC

Week 15: L at TEN

Week 16: W vs SD

Week 17: L at BUF

By my count, that’s a 10-6 record for the Jets. This would tie them with the Bills for second in the AFC East, and could set up some interesting tiebreaker scenarios for possible wild card spots. We’ll see if 10-6 will be good enough to get the Jets into the playoffs. I sure hope so, but that’s my New Yorker showing. Here’s your bold prediction. Comments appreciated! Next preview: Baltimore Ravens and the AFC North.

Bold Prediction: Mark Sanchez will start all 16 games for the Jets, throwing 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns. Tim Tebow will lead the Jets in rushing touchdowns with 7, and possibly in yards as well. Stephen Hill will lead the team in touchdown catches with 8. Quinton Coples will have 9 sacks to lead the team. ESPN’s coverage of Tim Tebow will exceed 300 hours of air time over the course of the season.

So in case you missed anything, here’s a recap of the AFC East.

NE - 13-3

BUF - 10-6

NYJ - 10-6

MIA - 6-10

• Tom Brady will win MVP
• Fred Jackson leads the division in yards from scrimmage
• ESPN will keep its massive Tebowner
• The Dolphins struggle but show signs of the future under Tannehill

2012 New England Patriots Preview

2012 New England Patriots

I think that the best place to start when talking about the Patriots...is making it clear how much I despise them. Growing up as primarily a Jets and Colts (thank you for your greatness, Peyton) fan, New England has terrorized me over the years, but far less in recently. The best game I’ve ever seen was the 2006 AFC Championship Game, when Indy was down to the Pats 21-3 and ended up winning that game in the final minute, 38-35. I was jumping up and down in euphoria. After that, there was the famous “4th and 2” game, when the hoodie tried converting a fourth down in his own territory, only to have it backfire immediately with Peyton taking over and driving for a game-winning touchdown. Two years ago, the Jets finally got over the hump as they went into New England for the Divisional Game of the playoffs and won a huge game. And, of course, the last two Super Bowls that New England has played in, which have each resulted in a loss to my other New York team, the Giants. The first was especially important for me, because I saw the Patriots pursuit of perfection end in the most devastating way possible. That game made David Tyree basically the Aaron Boone of New York football. This past year, the Big Blue simply outplayed New England when it mattered most. Seeing the Patriots lose simply brings me the kind of extreme joy that only a fierce rival going down can supply.

My hatred of this team is more intense than any other; it surpasses that of the Red Sox, Heat, Spurs, and Blue Devils. However, that does not mean that I do not respect this organization. The New England Patriots do everything the right way; good ownership, a genius coach, and a Hall of Fame quarterback lead the way for a franchise that has been more than successful for over a decade. Their mantra “Do your job” has held true for all these years, and even the role players are able and willing to do whatever they can to have a positive impact. The Patriot way has not disappointed their radical fan base, and it is this continued success that makes this team so fun to hate. They rarely falter, and so when they do, it is gratifying that they look so mortal, so uncomfortable, and so vulnerable. So that being said, I will not let my New Yorker show too much and my loathing of the New England Patriots get in the way of being objective throughout this piece, which will be obvious as you continue. THE PATRIOTS SUCK AND I HOPE BERNARD POLLARD INEXPLICABLY INJURES ANOTHER PATRIOT AND PREFERABLY SCREWS UP BRADY’S KNEE AGAIN!!!!!!! Oh...uh...starting now with that objectivity thing.

Offense

There is not much to be said about the Patriots offense that people don’t know already. They are a well-oiled machine, and Belichick masterfully orchestrates his gameplans based on whatever opponent he faces that week to exploit the opposing defense’s weaknesses. They are led by The not-quite-so Golden Boy, Tom Brady who leads his bitchy short-passing offense that requires precision and exact timing. He also arguably had the quietest would-be record-breaking performance of all-time last year, as almost no one talked about him breaking Dan Marino’s passing record because of the excellence that is Drew Brees. It is a running back by committee, that is led by whichever name the hoodie pulls out of the hat on that particular day, whether it is Ridley, Vareen, Woodhead, newly-acquired Olympian Jeff Demps, or even Aaron Hernandez. The receivers are led by Wes Welker who is a virtual lock for 100 catches every year. We’ll see how the addition of Brandon Lloyd will play out; it seems he is just as likely to catch 30 passes as 80 in an offense that shares the wealth. And of course, there’s the pair of lethal tight ends that are virtually uncoverable. Aaron Hernandez is the human equivalent of a Swiss army knife. Then there’s the Gronk, who, along with breaking multiple records for a tight end last year, also single-handedly supplied my favorite quote of all-time last year, with his utterance of “Yo soy fiesta!” Gronkowski may still be a frat boy, but there is no denying his dominance on the field. He probably won’t repeat his performance from last year, but his combination of power and speed should get him at least 12-13 touchdowns this year. This unit should put up at least 28 points per game this year. Good luck, defenses.

Defense?

That was not an unintentional question mark. The question is deservedly out there whether the Patriots will in fact play defense this year or not. Their abysmal pass defense last year might have cost them a championship, albeit one that they were fortunate to get to in the first place (looking at you, Lee Evans and Billy Cundiff). The first round picks of Hightower and Chandler Jones should help this group out, but we’ll have to wait and see if the secondary can step up enough to get New England over the hump this year. That’s really what it comes down to: the offense is Super Bowl caliber, obviously, but can the defense go along for the ride?

Schedule

After going 13-3 last year, and absolutely dropping the hammer down and putting a shellacking on Tim Tebow and the Broncos, the Patriots were finally a little exposed in the AFC Championship Game when the Ravens choked their collective lungs out they defeated the Baltimore Ravens, and a lot exposed against the Giants in the Super Bowl. Even though their season ended unfavorably (for them), a cupcake schedule and increased talent should have them back in a similar position this season for another title shot. Let’s take a look at how I think their 2012 schedule will turn out.

Week 1: W at TEN

Week 2: W vs ARI

Week 3: L at BAL (BERNARD POLLARD ALERT!!!!)

Week 4: L at BUF (hopefully, but unlikely twice in a row)

Week 5: W vs DEN (hopefully not, if Peyton returns strong)

Week 6: W at SEA

Week 7: W vs NYJ

Week 8: W at STL

Week 9: Bye

Week 10: W vs BUF (if BUF wins first game, this will be a beat down)

Week 11: W vs IND

Week 12: L at NYJ (I would be very thankful on Thanksgiving)

Week 13: W at MIA

Week 14: W vs HOU (possible AFC Championship Game?)

Week 15: W vs SF (49ers have a good shot though, NE on short week)

Week 16: W at JAC

Week 17: W vs MIA

So it’s looking like another 13-3 season for the Pats. There might be one or two more losses in there somewhere, like HOU and SF back-to-back, or at SEA in between the Peyton game and the Jets. But overall, New England is looking at an easy regular season and probable #1 seed. But will they get back to the Super Bowl? I’ll leave you with a bold prediction as usual, but before I leave, here’s a message: If you read this and have comments or opinions or anything, feel free to comment! I would like feedback, whether negative or positive, I don’t care (well, I mean I hope it would be positive, naturally). Next preview...the New York Jets. Oy vey. See you then!

Bold Prediction: Tom Brady will win the NFL MVP award this year. That sound you hear is my pride crumbling. I think we’re looking at 4,500 yards and 35 touchdowns. Minimum. And best record in the NFL. Recipe for hardware.

2012 Miami Dolphins Preview

2012 Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins are clearly rebuilding, and will most likely not be contending for a playoff spot this year, but that does not mean that they are without talent and couldn’t make some noise this year in some way. The future, of course, is former Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill, the 8th overall pick in the draft this past year and the heir to the quarterback throne when he is ready. He might get his chance as soon as this year, but will have to earn the starting job. The Dolphins are also now led by  first-time head coach Joe Philbin, who had been enjoying a very successful tenure in Green Bay, working with Aaron Rodgers and Matt Flynn. We’ll see if the combination of Philbin and Tannehill will be successful down the road, but until that time, the Dolphins’ outlook for this season doesn’t seem too bright.

Offense

We know that Ryan Tannehill’s time will come, but in the meantime, the starting quarterback position is being battled for by David Garrard, and Matt Moore. Reports are that Garrard is leading the competition, and my only question is, why? I don’t know if Garrard has anything left in the tank; it sure didn’t look that way at the end of his time with the Jaguars. His mobility will be a shell of what it once was. He might be out-performing Moore in camp right now, but how far can one realistically expect Garrard to carry this team? Needless to say, my confidence in him is not very high. However, Matt Moore played respectably in the second half of last season. After a dreadful 0-7 start, the Dolphins won 6 of their last 9 games with losses only to the Cowboys, Eagles, and Patriots. With Matt Moore, there is more upside; he is a better athlete, and if he could make smart decisions, then maybe this squad could upset a few teams. But no matter who is throwing the football, this unit still has many problems. One of them being that their number one receiver is Chad Ochocinco Johnson, or whatever he is calling himself these days. Chad looked lost in New England, but maybe the warm weather and a fresh start will motivate him into looking like Cincinnati-Chad. But even if that were to happen, he would be their only down the field threat. The passing attack looks weak, to be nice. I do need to give some credit to the running game, though. Reggie Bush finally broke through, passing the 1,000 yard mark for the first time. If he and backup Daniel Thomas stay healthy, they could be a dynamic duo. But that is a big if. And opposing defenses could probably but eight men in the box all day. This offense could struggle.

Defense

While the offense for the Dolphins is potentially abysmal, the defense on this team is a quality bunch. Led by Cameron Wake, Karlos Dansby, and Vontae Davis, this group has multiple contributors that can impact the game. However, that doesn’t really matter if they are on the field for so long because the offense can’t control time of possession. While this defense isn’t extraordinary, they can do various different things to throw offenses off their game. This unit will probably be able to win one or two games themselves. We’ll see if they can create any other pass rush outside of Wake, though. A second legitimate pass rusher would do wonders for this defense.

Schedule

Since the Dolphins play in the AFC East, they benefit from a favorable schedule this year, facing the AFC South and the NFC West. However, Miami might not be good enough to be the middle-of-the-pack teams such as Tennessee, Arizona, or Seattle, that would give them a few extra wins. Their own division is no joke either; they will probably go 2-4 tops facing their rivals. Here’s how I see it shaking out:

Week 1: L at Texans

Week 2: W vs Raiders

Week 3: W vs Jets

Week 4: L at Cardinals

Week 5: L at Bengals

Week 6: W vs Rams

Week 7: Bye

Week 8: L at Jets

Week 9: L at Colts

Week 10: W vs Titans (they will go 1-1 in Weeks 9 and 10, results could be flipped)

Week 11: L at Bills

Week 12: L vs Seahawks

Week 13: L vs Patriots (even though they have played NE relatively well at home)

Week 14: L at 49ers

Week 15: W vs Jaguars

Week 16: W vs Bills

Week 17: L at Patriots

By my count, that’s 6-10, the same record as last year. They haven’t made many improvements, and until Tannehill is ready, the Dolphins don’t look very promising. I do think Tannehill might get some starts toward the end of the season, maybe Week 15 on after losing 6 of 7 after the bye week. Can they maybe get some more wins if Chad Johnson returns to his old form? Yes. But overall, this team looks like a 6-10 team; not terrible, but also not good enough to win the close games, and beat tough opponents. I see the Miami Dolphins struggling in 2012. As I close here, I want to leave you with a bold prediction. The next team preview will be the New England Patriots. By the way, I’m from New York and I’m a Jets fan. I’ll try not to put too many insults in the Patriots post. Till next time, readers.

Bold Prediction: Reggie Bush will rush for 1,000 yards again this season. We’ll see if he can sustain his success this year. And if he can put 200+ on the Bills again.

2012 Buffalo Bills Preview

2012 Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills look like a team that could potentially could break out this season. They have come a long way under Chan Gailey in the past couple of years and if they continue to improve, we could be looking at a playoff contender. After a fast start last season that finally included a victory over the terrorizing Patriots, the Bills looked like a team to be reckoned with. However, they fell off in the second half of the season, with RB Fred Jackson getting injured and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick turning the ball over far too many times. A 6-10 record is not going to cut it in a “win-now” league. Buffalo has passionate fans who have endured so much devastation, and the Bills now own the longest playoff drought in the entire NFL. Is this the year they turn things around and possibly be playing in January again?

Offense

For the first few games of last season, the Bills offense was surprisingly dynamic. Ryan Fitzpatrick looked like the genius a Harvard alum is supposed to be, and Fred Jackson was leading the league in yards from scrimmage. When the aforementioned collapse of the season hit, things took a turn for the worst, but Buffalo showed great signs of improvement. They have what could be a two-headed monster at running back with Jackson and the emerging CJ Spiller, so the running game should be in top shape. If anyone besides Stevie Johnson could step up outside, then they would have a nice complimentary set of wide receivers. The key, of course, is for Fitzpatrick to make good decisions. If he limits his turnovers, the Bills could dominate time of possession, take leads into the fourth quarter, and let his new pass rushers go to work. Which brings me to...

Defense

The Buffalo Bills defense improved overnight during the offseason, and that could pretty much be summed up with two words: Mario Williams. The former number one overall pick signed an enormous deal with the Bills and will now be the face of that defense. This unit was atrocious at pressuring the quarterback last year, but with this new force on the outside, they will absolutely have more success in that area this season. All of a sudden, Buffalo has a defensive line of Williams and fellow free agent signee Mark Anderson on the outside, with the tank that is Marcell Dareus plugging up the middle. Put that in front of a solid linebacking core and a secondary bolstered by first round pick Stephon Gilmore and George Wilson, and this crew should be in the top half of the league.

Schedule

The Bills do benefit this year from an easy schedule, playing the AFC South and NFC West, and the Browns and Chiefs along with their division games. They could potentially win out the last seven games, so if they can survive early, they could be in for a good season. Here’s how I see it playing out, more or less:

Week 1: L at Jets

Week 2: W vs Chiefs

Week 3: W at Browns

Week 4: W vs Patriots

Week 5: L at 49ers

Week 6: L at Cardinals

Week 7: W vs Titans

Week 8: Bye

Week 9: L at Texans

Week 10: L at Patriots

Week 11: W vs Dolphins

Week 12: W at Colts

Week 13: W vs Jaguars

Week 14: W vs Rams

Week 15: W vs Seahawks

Week 16: L at Dolphins

Week 17: W vs Jets

The odds of me being right on every one of these games is nearly impossible, but in theory, I have the Bills finishing their season at 10-6, putting them in prime placement for a wild card spot. However, with several talented teams in the AFC, it is unclear whether this will be good enough to lock up a playoff spot. We’ll see if I have the Bills making the playoffs in my final standings edition before the season starts.

The 2012 Buffalo Bills could be a team to watch during the coming season. However, they had a fast start last year as well and ended up completely falling off the track. This year, I feel that the end of their schedule is easy enough that they could make a run for a Wild Card, and be incredibly hot heading into the playoffs, if they make it. Only time will tell if this team will finally reach success, but the future sure is promising. I’ll end this preview with my bold prediction for the Bills, as if having them winning ten games isn’t bold enough. My next will team preview will be the Miami Dolphins, as I make my way through the AFC East. See you soon, fellow sports fans.

Bold Prediction: Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller will combine for over 2,500 yards from scrimmage. I’m looking at a 1,600/900 split, give or take.