Picks to win NFL Divisions

[theDetroitKid]

A buddy and I have a series of NFL bets going, one of which is to pick the winners of each division. I would like to hear some thoughts on some of the tougher divisions such as the AFC west or the NFC North.

[ligastar]

[ QUOTE ]
A buddy and I have a series of NFL bets going, one of which is to pick the winners of each division. I would like to hear some thoughts on some of the tougher divisions such as the AFC west or the NFC North.

[/ QUOTE ]

NFC North
I have the Panthers going to the Super Bowl. Delhomme is underrated (2004: 3886 yds, 29 TDs, 15 INTs ... this after Steve Smith missed most of the season), DeShaun Foster is back healthy and their D is nasty. Also remember that the Falcons have NEVER had back-to-back winning seasons in the franchises history.

AFC West
I can't add any insight here.


Greg H.

[STG]

Last time I looked Carolina was in the NFC South....
It kills me to say Minnesota will win the NFC North.
AFC West will be San Diego. LT will be unstoppable this year!

[LargeCents]

The NFC North looks like a no brainer in Minnesota. Green Bay is going to be down this year. Chicago has already lost their starting QB for much of the season. Detroit has an outside chance if Harrington can finally come of age, Garcia is not an answer.

AFC West is tougher. Denver is always solid, I don't see why not this year. KC has potential, but still no defense. Raiders, you never know. But, I'll stick with San Diego. Last year was no fluke. SD is solid all around and has the best chance to pull out of this years divisional dogfight.


Here's the SD schedule:
Sep 11 Dallas 4:15pm
Sep 18 @Denver 4:15pm
Sep 25 N.Y. Giants 8:30pm
Oct 2 @New England 1:00pm
Oct 10 Pittsburgh 9:00pm
Oct 16 @Oakland 4:15pm
Oct 23 @Philadelphia 1:00pm
Oct 30 Kansas City 4:05pm
Nov 6 @N.Y. Jets 1:00pm
Week 10 BYE
Nov 20 Buffalo 4:15pm
Nov 27 @Washington 1:00pm
Dec 4 Oakland 8:30pm
Dec 11 Miami 4:15pm
Dec 18 @Indianapolis 1:00pm
Dec 24 @Kansas City 1:00pm
Dec 31 Denver 4:30pm

Some tough road games, but at least they aren't playing at Denver, NYJ or NE in December. If they can split on the road, a home sweep is feasible. They'll probably end up 11-5 or 10-6 just eeking out the division on tiebreakers. The last game against Denver might be essentially a playoff game. When's the last time Denver has won a playoff game?

[callicles]

My Picks are:
NFC EAST: Eagles
WEST: Rams
NORTH: Vikings
South: Panthers

AFC EAST: Patriots
WEST: Chiefs
NORTH: Ravens
South: Colts

I would not put money on all these teams just who I think will probably win the divisions.

[Sluss]

AFC West
I've been back and forth on this division, but now that it looks like Antonio Gates will be in camp I'm starting to really like the Bolts. Tomlinson is just a stud and if he stays healthy will have a big year. McCardell has really helped the offense out a lot and it even looks like Drew Brees has that same confidence in the preseason. Thier defensde keeps getting better and better and I think is really turning into a strength like most Wade Philips defenses do.

NFC North

This is a really tough division to handicap. The Packers lost both guards and look like they are going to have a hard time running the ball, leaving things open for Farvre to make more mistakes. They do open with a pretty easy first half of the year. The second half includes games at Philly, at Atlanta and at Baltimore.

The Vikings just don't look as good to me as everyone thinks the are. Their offense looks weaker to me. I think Burrelson will struggle when teams are actually paying attention to him. Culpepper is a good QB, but defensive players are learning that it is really easy to make him fumble. Mike Tice is their coach. They seem set on starting Michael Bennett over the much more talented Mewelde Moore. With their schedule I still see them as an 8-8, 7-9 team.

The Lions have great potential. Their offense is stacked with good young players. Their defense has really inproved. The biggest problem is how healthy will they be? And will they just not live up to expectations like they don't every year. They have a mediocre schedule with some tough home games against Baltimore, Atlanta and Arizona. Plus they have to go to Green Bay in December.

The Bears have a great defense and a horrible offense. I really think all they need is a quarterback who make no mistakes and just grinds the clock away. I'm not sure they have that on the roster and Chad Hutchenson just keeps turning the ball over and you just see that look on the defense's face. The "Great...looks like we have to try and win this by ourselves" look. The only thing the Bears really have going for them is a very easy opening schedule.
at Washington
Detroit
Cincinnati
BYE WEEK
at Cleveland
Minnesota
Baltimore
at Detroit
at New Orleans
San Francisco

[theDetroitKid]

Thanks for the help guys here are my current picks
NFC North
Lions
NFC South
ATL
NFC West
This is tough - but i think the rams
NFC East
Cowboys ( im crazy - know)
AFC North
Ravens (have them in the superbowl)
AFC South
Colts
AFC WEST
San Diego
AFC East
Jets

NFC wildcard teams
Panthers and Vikes
AFC wildcard teams
KC and Pittsburg

[TonyS0pran0]

NFC North = Detroit

AFC West = Chargers

SHIP IT

[2+2 wannabe]

the chiefs are probably not even the second best team in their division

[Sluss]

[ QUOTE ]
the chiefs are probably not even the second best team in their division

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm expecting a pretty good year out of the Chiefs. Their defense really seems improved this year. Derrick Johnson is an absolute animal. The secondary is old, but if they stay healthy they should be pretty good. Probably 9-7, 10-6 which could be first or second in that division.

NFC North is Vikings or Lions for sure.

Packers were pretty bad last year and they only got worse.

Bears I like but were in a rebuilding situation anyways, it sucks though considering grossman is out.

Detroit is a pretty underated team, Kevin Jones is going to have a great season, I think. They have great young receivers obviously but a less than average QB and a decent at best Defense worries me.

Minnesota has a worse offense then last year because of moss of course, but last year they had Jimmy Kleinsasser out who is a great addition to their offense, they also have a much better defense as we know, better than average to say the least.

[Sluss]

[ QUOTE ]
they also have a much better defense as we know, better than average to say the least.

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm not sold on the Viking's defense.

I never thought Smoot was good. He's flashy, comes up with some picks, but has never been a good cover man. Just because he acts like Deion doesn't mean he can cover like him. Winfield is a good physical corner, of course all of the rules hurt physical corners.

Their D line was improved last year. Johnstone and Williams were good. James has looked a little overmatched this preseason. I wouldn't say they are even top ten in the league.

I'm not sure when I missed Napoleon Harris becoming a top five linebacker. But, acording to everyone singing this defenses praises he was the Ray Lewis of the West Coast. EJ Henderson has always been a tackle machine and should get his fair share, but he has never been a real playmaker.

All and all I think their defense will be better, it can't be much worse. I just don't see the Purple People Eaters out there.

[ QUOTE ]
They have a mediocre schedule with some tough home games against Baltimore, Atlanta and Arizona .

[/ QUOTE ]

You cannot be serious.

P.S. Go Pack Go!

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
They have a mediocre schedule with some tough home games against Baltimore, Atlanta and Arizona .

[/ QUOTE ]

You cannot be serious.

P.S. Go Pack Go!

[/ QUOTE ]

In case you haven't noticed AZ is definetaly the "sexy" pick of the media. They have improved dramattically over the last 2 years.

[Sluss]

Meh, after watching Arizona's first two preseason games I don't feel as confident that they will be posing a tough game for anyone. /images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Arrington has some fumblitis and Warner looks like the Kurt Warner of old. Of course by old I mean the scared QB that had happy feet and rushed every pass.

[Bizarro George]

[ QUOTE ]
NFC North
I have the Panthers going to the Super Bowl. Delhomme is underrated (2004: 3886 yds, 29 TDs, 15 INTs ... this after Steve Smith missed most of the season), DeShaun Foster is back healthy and their D is nasty. Also remember that the Falcons have NEVER had back-to-back winning seasons in the franchises history.


[/ QUOTE ]
What does Atlanta never having back-to-back winning seasons have to do with anything. Last I checked, those old teams aren't playing for Atlanta. And if you want a more relevant stat, consider that Carolina has never beaten Vick.

[McGahee]

I hate siding with popular opinion, but I really like Minnesota in the NFC North. They should be vastly improved defensively.
I was kinda looking forward to betting against the Packers for most of the season - ya know - thinking that they'd be last year's Titans and that the oddsmakers would give them too much respect for the first 2 months of the season. But then I was unpleasantly surprised to see that they're underdogs in Detroit Week 1 - so I guess most people are in agreement.