The Raiders, who picked up the league’s most dangerous receiver in Randy Moss during the off season, should be able to put some points on the board. The question is, will they be able to stop anyone? My guess is, not many. The Denver Broncos seem to have taken a step backward since last year. They allowed guys like Kennoy Kennedy and Kelly Herndon slip away in their secondary, but used their first three draft picks on cornerbacks. They also brought in the Cleveland Browns entire defensive line; a line that wasn’t that good while in Cleveland. On top of that, Jake Plummer is very inconsistent, and they traded away their 1,000-yard rusher for the second offseason in a row.
Projected Finish:
Kansas City Chiefs (10-12 wins)
San Diego Chargers (10-12 wins)
Oakland Raiders (7-9 wins)
Denver Broncos (7-9 wins)
NFC East
As long as they continue to coexist as a team, the Eagles are still the cream of the NFC. They suffered through a tumultuous off season, but Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens, despite their public feud, are a very dangerous combination. However, if something were to happen to Owens, the club will be relying on a bunch of unproven players at wideout. The Eagles are also one of the best-coached teams in the league and they still have one of the better defenses in the league. The Redskins also have a very stout defense, but the offense doesn’t look a whole lot better than last year. Their offensive line should play better this year, but there are serious unanswered questions at quarterback. The defense should keep them in a lot of games, but Patrick Ramsey has got to finally step up and take control of this team if they are to compete for the playoffs.
The Cowboys appear to be improved on defense, but there are a lot of new faces and a new 3-4 system being implemented. They also brought in Drew Bledsoe at quarterback, but inability to avoid the pass rush could be a major stumbling block if the offensive line doesn’t give him adequate time to throw the ball. The Giants are obviously committed to Eli Manning, and much of their success will depend on their second-year quarterback stepping things up from his rookie season. The addition of wide receiver Plaxico Burress gives Manning a big target who can get downfield, and the offensive line was upgraded with the addition of right tackle Kareem McKenzie. Defensively, they must stop the run better, but they have the potential to make a playoff run if Manning continues to get better.
Projected Finish:
Philadelphia Eagles (10-12 wins)
Dallas Cowboys (7-9 wins)
New York Giants (7-9 wins)
Washington Redskins (7-9 wins)
NFC North
With no clear-cut favorite --because no one in the division is really that good-- this division is as wide open as any in the league The Packers defense looks very below average again. The Vikings have developed serious questions on the offensive line and at running back. The Bears are starting a rookie quarterback. And the Lions offense failed to score a single touchdown in four preseason games.
Generally, I don’t go against a team with No. 4 Brett Favre at quarterback. He put up great numbers by any standards again last year, but there are problems on this team that just won’t go away. The defense is a big concern, especially after struggling against the run and generating little pass rush in the preseason. And there are problems on the offensive line and in the run game as well. And talk about problems on offense; the Lions have looked pathetic despite burning another top-10 draft selection on yet another wide receiver when there were much more pressing needs that could have been filled. And now that backup QB Jeff Garcia is on the shelf for an extended period, the pressure falls squarely on Joey Harrington, who has proven in the past that he is not good under pressure.
A couple weeks ago, I had the Vikings pegged as the favorite, but with Pro Bowl center Matt Birk out for the season, their offensive line is in a state of flux as they shift personnel at the three interior line positions. And they continue to struggle to find a No. 1 running back who can stay healthy. The defense, which looks good on paper, is breaking in six new starters, including all three linebacker positions, which could make for some early-season confusion.
