Prediction Time

[SmootSmack]

Post your 2006 predictions here. I'll lock this thread Thursday afternoon, we can look back on our picks come February. Here are mine. Yours don't have to be as detailed

NFC EAST:

Redskins (11-5): I see something like 5-3 in the first half and 6-2 in the second half. Andre Carter will have a monster year...I hope

Cowboys (10-6: Wild Card): Parcells, Bledsoe, Glenn and TO could all be gone after this year so they'll feel the pressure to win now

Giants (8-8): The over/under on when LA starts complaining about lack of playing time is week 6

Eagles (7-9): They're healthier and they're better. But it's still not good enough to be better than 4th in this division

NFC CENTRAL:

Bears (14-2): I really like their QBs. Griese is a solid veteran. Grossman I think can be great. He's got to stay healthy though. And get his confidence back. It may be too late but I'll blindly keep the faith (not much longer though)

Vikings (7-9): Won with a lot of smoke and mirrors last year. I mean a lot of teams did, but I just don't see this team improving upon last year.

Packers (5-11): Favre will throw his 20 TDs and his 25 INTs, but it's the defense that will kill this team. Unless Woodson can stay healthy, which he can't

Lions (3-13): I could see a clash of personalities with Marinelli and Martz

NFC SOUTH:

Panthers (12-4): Reminiscent of the best Gibbs' teams of the 1980s. Very balanced, no glaring weakness. I think those Redskins were the model for this team

Falcons (9-7): Michael Vick will single-handedly win 10 games for them (that's for you TMC!)

Bucs (8-8): I think a lot of key players on this team are going to suddenly go from "experienced" to just "old"

Saints (6-10): Ask me about them again in '07, they'll be much better then

NFC WEST:

Seahawks (10-6): Never mind that Super Bowl loser jinx or the Madden jinx. Seattle and Shaun Alexander will break them both

Rams (10-6: Wild Card): My sleeper team! I really like the moves they made this offseason.

Cardinals (8-8): Leinart is starting by week 9.

Niners (4-12): I don't know why they think Nolan and Norv can lead them to greatness


AFC EAST:

Patriots (13-3): I like their last minute move to get Doug Gabriel. He'll stretch the field

Dolphins (10-6: Wild Card): This is everyone's AFC darling it seems. They'll be good but not better than NE.

Bills (5-11): They avoid the cellar thanks to the Jets

Jets (3-13): They should have just named Kellen Clemens the starter from day one. They're going nowhere

AFC CENTRAL:

Bengals (11-5): For all the talk, deservedly so, about Palmer and Chad Johnson, people tend to overlook the consistently solid Rudi Johnson

Steelers (10-6: Wild Card): They'll stay competitive like they always do

Ravens (7-9): Can McNair stay healthy? If he can't the Ravens won't come close to 7 wins

Browns (6-10): Don't be fooled by the record. This team is moving in the right direction

AFC SOUTH:

Colts (12-4): I used to think the Colts would miss Edge, but now I'm starting to think Edge will miss the Colts

Jaguars (8-8): The defense is awesome, the offense is young but improving. They'll take a step back this season though

Texans (5-11): They did the right thing by hiring Gary Kubiak. But how many times will they be close to turning the corner and actually turn the corner? This will be a breakout year for Carr though

Titans (3-13): They're probably my second favorite team in the NFL, but they're not that good right now and they have a killer schedule

AFC WEST:

Broncos (12-4): Who will be their leading rusher? Mike Bell? Tatum Bell? Patti LaBelle?

Chargers (9-7): Will earn the distinction once again of best team not in the playoffs

Chiefs (5-11): Yeah I'm picking them to crash. Am I the only who's noticed this offense no longer has Vermeil, Saunders, Tony Richardson, and perhaps most importantly Willie Roaf?

Raiders (0-16): It's bound to happen at some point, and I'm calling it now. The Raiders don't win a single game this year

NFC Championship: Redskins over Bears
AFC Championship: Colts over Pats
Super Bowl XLI: Redskins 27, Colts 20 (so I'm biased, so what?)