DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Who implodes? Who soars?

OK... Every year we see at least one or two teams implode... and one or two teams rise from the ashes... This last year...

Promising teams that fell apart:
St. Louis
Chicago
Baltimore

Teams that really came out of nowhere:
Cleveland
Green Bay

For this coming year... who do you predict goes up? Who goes down? My predictions...

Teams that fall apart:
Pittsburgh
New England

Teams that come up:
Oakland

What are your thoughts?

I'd add San Fran to your list of teams that fell apart. They had a lot of momentum coming into this past season and fell apart.

For teams that come up, I'd put:
Vikings
Bengals (if they keep shaping up)

It's pretty early but I'll play along.

Promising teams that will fall apart:
1. Tennessee
2. Tampa Bay
3. Seattle

Teams that will come out of nowhere:
1. Arizona
2. St. Louis
3. Oakland

I don't think San Fran belongs on the list... they went from a 7-9 season to 5-11. I'm talking power play off teams really falling apart big. San Francisco just didn't live up to the hype.

I gotcha.

Then in terms of disappointment, I'd also like to add Tennessee.

Teams who Implodes:
1. Seattle- I really don't know how they are that good...excpet that their division is terrible. I dont' know if they will be all that good this year.

2. Giants- I think this is almost a gimme. There is no way this team is as good as they showed in the Super Bowl. Sure they played...perhaps the perfect game, but let's be honest, it's because they got hot. This team will implode at some point this season.

3. Tennessee- They have no offense...none, zip, nada, zilch. They had an awesome defense, but they are one underperformer or injury away from being just a decent defense. Unless Vince Young decides to actually become a QB, this team will probably fail.

Teams who Soar:
1. Buffalo- I love the makeup of that team. They have a very solid defense and their offense could come together at any time. They really look, right now, like we did at this time last year.

2. Texans- I also really like this team. They have a stud D-line with Mario Williams and...the name escapes me right now but the very, very young DT. They have a great WR and a pretty good QB to boot. If they could get that O-line together, they could MAYBE get a WC birth.

3.NO Saints- If this team's defense actually plays up to their talent, they have a scary good team. I expect them to move to the top of that divison...because the rest of the teams don't impress me.

I think last year you needed to add New Orleans.


This year, teams to watch for will be Arizona and Minnesota

Teams that could fall apart will be Pittsburgh (because we're going to hand it to them), and Tennessee. They didn't do anything IMO to keep them a playoff team. Their division is tough enough as it is, and there's a couple other teams on the rise.

I like your post. It's about time to rattle the expected divisional outcomes.

To fall apart:
I like Pitt & Tenn here, but one coudl agrue with our tough schedule & all the hype and high profile games we just recieved, we could fall into this catagory as easily as Pitt.

On the Rise:
I said Cards last year so I'm afraid to give it to them this year. plus just read Boldin want to be traded web page

I like Minn in this catagory as well as most of you.
I don't like the Oakland pick, i still think there a ways away.
I'd like to agree with Buff' but I don't think there ready yet either.
For some reason, I think the Jets could come back a bit and be a tough team to play.

I think we could easily implode with our schedule. If we come out of the gate sub .500 in the first month it could mean trouble. I have really high hopes for this season, but our wins last year came against pretty bad teams and this year they are going to have to come against some VERY good ones.

Not trying to drag anyone down, just being realistic. I'm as pumped as ever for this season to start, I just hope all the hype is for real!

I dont think they will "implode". But i do not think the Giants will make the playoffs this season. I think they played beyond their abilities last year.

Quote:

---

In 2006, the year after Katrina, they got lots of attention and Reggie Bush and against a very weak schedule they finished .... 10-6. A media darling was born.

The following season (last year) the hype machines were fired up and the schedule got markedly tougher... and they fell to 7-9.

They were a one-hit-wonder because of their weak schedule... and if we don't take the next step we WILL be the exact same thing

---

I think the only thing we need to worry about is the next step in our division. That will get us in the playoffs.

Promising teams that fall apart:
Washington
Tampa

Teams that really came out of nowhere:
Minnesota
Miami

Just in our own division...

who implodes? The Bengals. Well, they already have, but I can't see it getting any better down there. What a mess. They are easily my pick for last in the AFCN this year. Bengals fans will never acknowledge it, but they have to be SO frustrated, or at least should be. I thought they had a really solid group a couple years ago.

I think the Ravens are a very underrated team. I'll stop just short of saying they will soar because of quarterback issues, age of the team, and the coaching change. But there is still a lot of talent on that team, particularly on the defense, and anybody who says differently is kidding themselves. I'd still probably rate them as the third best team in the division, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if finish first or second.

Up: Houston, Saints

Down: Indy, GB, Seattle

I don't care how good the other teams are, I'm tired of everyone not giving the Browns a chance to win the SuperBowl this year. This is the NFL not minor leagues, there is not supposed to be easy competition by your opponent. You start the Browns off 4-0 and they will be in the driver seat to win the division.
I've been wanting to say some things that will have to be going right for the Bronws to get to 4-0 for their first 4 games, I've seen alot of football, we all have and few starts to an NFL season and if there is a 4-0 team it is going to have some symptoms of things going right. Here is a list of what I think needs to go right to get the Browns off to a 4-0 start.
First side note, ( They weren't all easy teams the Browns beat last year, if you look back at it week by week the Browns were in the division race, they were 3-1 in playoff qualifiers, they could have been knocked out of contention alot sooner than they were and they finsished 4 games over 500)

to be 4-0 The quarterback situation is going to have to be settled. Right now In my opinion I have to consider it Derek Andersons job, with competition coming in pre-season.
To be 4-0 Braylon Edwards is going to have to be playing like a superstar, and Kellen Winslow is going to have to be scoring touchdowns. Like it or not these are the top two receivers going into this season and they have to perform to get victories in the first 4.
To be 4-0 the freaking defense is going to have to do something to win the games, not just show up, I don't care how many stars names are taking the field, they have to make plays, and that means game changing plays, and they have to scrore when they get turnovers.
Your pretty much going to have to be in the + ratio on turnovers because this is the NFL

to be 4-0 The offensive line is going to have to playing as one unit, not a bunch of individuals, and it is going to have to play well as a team.

The runningbacks are going to have to be averageing about 117 yards + a game , and you're going to have to see runs first downs on passing down situations.
Despite the coaches saying the defense will be basic this year they're going to have to pressure the oppoinents quarterbacks, and the DB's are going to have to make it tough to complete a pass.

The Quarterback, or actually the TEAM, the 53 man team is going to have to take it on itself , individually as a unit to answer, that is to Be the first to score after the other team scores on you, thats what teams do, I call it to answer a score, and it means your team is still competitive in the game.

It would be so sweet to see a 4-0 Browns team in charge of the division that I'm going to focus on it till the season starts.
Dallas, Pittsburg, At Baltimore, At Cincinnati and then Monday night the Giants come to town,
For the Browns to be 4-0 to start the season they need to get teamwork down to a science. defense doesnt win championships Teams do.

defense doesnt win championships, said by Mike Ditka, Micheal Irvin, I'm watching for others.

to be 4-0

we are going to have to score more points then the teams we play... everygame

Risers:
Texans
Cardinals
Bills


Fallers:
Giants
Titans
Colts

If the other team scores more than we do, they could really make some trouble for us.

Shoot, we could even lose the game.

Damn, that might have a negative impact on our record.

You two are crazy. That isn't going to happen. :sigh:

Three teams that missed the playoffs that will make them this year

Oakland (4-12) - Al Davis went on a huge spending spree to start to win immediately. In the end, it might cripple the team but for now, the Raiders are poised to make the jump. McFadden was the biggest immediate impact player in the draft and their defense should recover from last year's slips.

New Orleans (7-9) - The Saints had a great deal of bad luck working against them last year but they still have the tools to be very competitive, especially in that awful division. I expect them to acquire Shockey and they made several moves to improve their defense. They underachieved last year but should coast to the South title this year.

Minnesota Vikings (8-8) - Their running game is outstanding and their defense is rock solid as well. So long as T Jack doesn't stink to high heaven again, they should do well enough to lock in a playoff spot.

Three teams that made the playoffs that will miss them this year

Green Bay Packers (13-3) - This was a team that absolutely no one expected to do well last year that excelled, in large part due to Brett Favre willing the team to win and the defense outplaying all expectations. Rodgers will have trouble living up to expectations, Ryan Grant might end up being a bust and their wideout corps, which benefitted from Favre, could regress. I don't expect them to be a Top 10 defense again either.

Tennessee Titans (10-6) - I'm convinced that year in and year out, this is one of the most overrated teams in the NFL. Their running game is a handful of question marks, they didn't draft a single WR to help Vince Young out and Young himself isn't that good of a quarterback yet. Good luck putting up points.

Seattle Seahawks (10-6) - The only reason they made the playoffs is because they played the NFL's easiest schedule. Period. Their passing game was a problem last year and I don't see how putting two mediocre backs together (Jones and Duckett) will equal success. Their defense will still be decent but despite their record, they just aren't that good.

I don't think Oakland will make the playoffs. Russell will be starting more than likely. There will be an adjustment period for sure as I didn't feel he was the sharpest guy in college. Add to the fact that San Diego is going to win that division. Which means that they'll have to wild card in. The AFC North (and possibly south) will be sending two teams to the playoffs. And I think the rest of the field is a stronger bet than the Raiders to get the other wild card birth. I only see 6 maybe 7 winnable games on their schedule.

...AND, if you can get pressure on the QB the way they did, that ain't so bad either. And on the other side of the ball the monkey's off Eli's back. He's proven now and that does a lot for a guys confidence.

I'm not into predictions but I'd think they'll have a very good season.

We don't like to give a QB a chance around here. But in NY Eli struggled a few seasons and was just about to be proclaimed a bum when he stunned the world in last years playoffs culminating in being the superbowl MVP.

...and shut Tiki Barber up to boot.

Give a guy $4.00 and he can buy a gallon of gas. But give a guy a chance and he can turn golden.