Football Season (USA)

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » August 19, 2003, 1:22 pm

So... not only is this the FIRST POST but lets put some ideas down on who will be in the Super Bowl this year... and don't ANYONE say "the Cowboys, ert"

Marb

<edit> damnit, Fair posted while I was typing, second post...

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » August 19, 2003, 1:28 pm

I have been out of the loop in terms of pro football for several years now. This is one of the reasons I encouraged this forum. I would like to read some discussions that hopefully prompt me to do some of my own research and perhaps get back into the game a bit.

Who is favored this year? Who is the underdog? Which team is your personal pick and why?

Post by **Sylvus** » August 19, 2003, 1:31 pm

I was going to go with the Falcons, then Vick broke his leg. It's still relatively early though, he'll probably be back in by week 3 or 4.

I think Peerless Price and Michael Vick are going to be putting up some big numbers this year.

Raistin · Post by **Raistin** » August 19, 2003, 1:38 pm

I think the Redskins will have a break out year. Its about time for them to anyways!

Shanter · Post by **Shanter** » August 19, 2003, 2:02 pm

The falcons have a great 2nd QB in Doug Johnson, so don't count them out.

I think the lions are going to do better this year.

I hate the bucs, so i hope they go 0-16

I also hope the Redskins can win some more games this year, I'm a huge Spurrier fan

Post by **Xouqoa** » August 19, 2003, 2:17 pm

I think the Bucs will repeat. I don't see any reason why they won't.

If anything, they're bigger and faster this year than they were last year!

Sadly, I am a Packer fan... but I can always hope for an upset! =D

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » August 19, 2003, 2:55 pm

Falcons will win week 1 and 2 without Johnson.

They are playing 2 teams only a fucking dipshit would like. Cowboys and Redkins.

Doug Johnson didnt like Spurrier at Florida, and this will be a good chance for him to give him some big boy payback.

The Bucs will beat the Vick-less Falcons in week 3. (yay the game i got tickets to...

)

But from there Vick will be back hopefully, and the Panthers in week 4 will only have 1 half to chase Vick, cause he'll be on the bench in the 3rd quarter resting after putting up 35 on their sorry asses in the first half.

As for the superbowl, i'm not sure yet. I have questions about the Falcons O-Line. Next year may be a better year for them than this one. But Vick may be ready to really have a great year.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 19, 2003, 3:07 pm

Bucs are the team to beat.

Cincinnati looks like they'll be much improved and have a change of attitude. I haven't lost my mind, but I see them going 8-8.

The Cardinals (my team, eat me you frontrunning, bandwagoning ho's.) suck this year and will be lucky to go 7-9.

I suppose the biggest surprise will be a competitive Bengals team. I'm not a fan, but from playing Fantasy Football and getting NFL Ticket on DirecTV, I see a lot of games from all teams.

Elidain · Post by **Elidain** » August 19, 2003, 3:32 pm

I have a feeling St. Louis is going to strong year after last years shitty season. Who knows I'm a Giants fan so who knows what I can look foward to.

Gzette · Post by **Gzette** » August 19, 2003, 4:21 pm

I would say eagles, but they never seem to be able to pull it off. I think the giants will look super awesome this year. I'm rooting for the Dolphins though.

Bocc · Post by **Bocc** » August 19, 2003, 5:30 pm

Kelly Holcomb and the Cleveland Browns!

Soreali · Post by **Soreali** » August 19, 2003, 5:39 pm

Once I get the powers, I post a sticky for a contest.. You put down your team. If they make it to the playoffs, you win 1000VV.. If they win the bowl, you win 5000VV.

Keep an eye out

Homercles · Post by **Homercles** » August 19, 2003, 6:44 pm

Winnow, I like the way you think. My Bengals will still suck, but at least they'll play with enthusiasm this year. I dont see them going 8-8. Theyre schedule strength is amoung the top half of the league. For some reason they play the Raiders. I still cant figure it out.

The Bengals have been so bad for so long. Theyve had so many top draft picks. Theyve got some talent, they just havent been developed or coached. Lewis will help realize that talent and the Bengals will suprise people this year.

Superbowl Pick
St Louis vs KC. Who wouldnt want to see that match up? That game would be higher scoring than an NBA game.

Alfan · Post by **Alfan** » August 19, 2003, 6:53 pm

Johnson has only had 190 career passing attempts in the NFL and supposedly runs like he is in sand. Can the Falcons adjust their O quickly enough to compliment his strengths instead of Vicks? I'm not so sure. Vick is out for at least 6 weeks and week 8 is a bye--I should think the Falcons are probably dead in the water.

-Alf

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » August 19, 2003, 7:23 pm

Bucks-St Louis will decide it for the nfc, Raiders and (longshot pick) Bills in the AFC, final score Bucks 24 Bills 17

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » August 19, 2003, 8:49 pm

Well I live in Ohio so if I don't support Cleveland here I'd be gutted and hung from the nearest flagpole... But anyway, Holcomb will falter and fail!

Rams are looking deadly. Tampa Bay are well.. Tampa bay. Anyone who writes them off from the race is an idiot. Falcons would have owned with Vick, he is simply amazing although has yet to show he can really throw. Now I will be surprised if they make the play-offs. He wont be fully recovered this season. Raiders.. well we can hope, they are a fun team to watch.

I just hope Packers and Vikings will be among the top teams. Favre is quite possibly my favourite player of all time.

Shanter · Post by **Shanter** » August 19, 2003, 8:52 pm

Here are some of my predictions:

Teams that will make the playoffs (no ifs/ands or buts):
1. Tampa Bay
2. Green Bay
3. San Fransisco
4. Philadelphia
5. Oakland

These teams are just too good not to get in, and if they don't get any key injuries will make it to post-season

The other teams:
1. Atlanta
2. Miami - I think they are going to blow their division away, they will have a great year (it's been too long for them)
3. Pittsburgh
4. Kansas City - Pray that Holmes can make it through the season

It's tough to see any real winner in the AFC divisions (East, South, and West), there's just a lot of talent in those teams.

Super Bowl: Tampa Bay vs. Miami - repeat champs

Jice Virago · Post by **Jice Virago** » August 19, 2003, 11:31 pm

GB, SF, Phi, and TB will win their divisions.
Cle, NE, Den, and Ind will win their divisions.
Atl, SL, NYJ, and Ten will be the wild cards.

Assuming normal injuries over the course of a year, I expect a Tampa win over New England in the superbowl. If the Packers or Broncos are able to avoid their normal injury plague they might go all the way also.

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » August 19, 2003, 11:42 pm

Bocc wrote:Kelly Holcomb and the Cleveland Browns!

I have to agree to this. Green is turning into a hell of a HB and Holcomb really is kicking some ass. Not sure if they will make the Superbowl but I bet they do damn well this year.

I too am a big Packer fan but from what I have seen in the preseason I am more than a little worried. Our 4th string can beatup any other team's 3rd string but out starters just don't seem to be doing well against the other team's starters. Not only that but we are already getting nailed by the injury bug. Brown and Westbrook are both out for the season.

Miami picked up Jr. Seau in the off season so look for their defense to make a greater impact this year.

Priest Holmes will get his big ass signing bonus and end up like Antonio Freeman.

Shanter · Post by **Shanter** » August 19, 2003, 11:57 pm

Don't think preseason means anything, anyone remember Miami going 0-4 preason, then undefeated in the season? Most preseason is coaches putting in all of their players and seeing who can do what.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » August 20, 2003, 10:19 am

Teams that are winning in the preseason are usually the teams that have to play starters because a new system, lots of rookies/free agents, ect.

If the Dolphins can keep Fiedler's fragile, Ivy League ass healthy (or Brian Gresie returns to his old Bronco form) they have a good shot. Ricky Williams is a fucking beast, and he's faster and stronger than last year. Apparently, the environment in Miami agrees with him.

The Bucs are undoubtedly the team to beat. The defense remains intact and Warren Sapp is in the last year of his contract. You can believe that he wants to put up massive numbers so he can get that fat contract to close out his career. Even though the offense is still lacking speed, I don't see them doing anything but getting better.

The Falcons are a pipe dream without Vick. If Doug Johnson does anything good there, I'll be suprised.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » August 20, 2003, 10:42 am

Shanahan is taking a lot of stock in Plummer. Can Plummer succeed in a rabid football town? I think so!

Rod Smith, Easy Ed and second-year WR, Ashley Lelie are all premier targets. Add in Shannon Sharpe and you have quite a combo with Jake's scrambling ability.

Let's not forget last year's rookie of the year, Clinton Portis who rushed for over 1500 yards in 12 games.

Broncos still hurting in the secondary though, so will need to really step up if they want to break up the short yardage game that so many teams used against them last year.

Fallanthas · Post by **Fallanthas** » August 20, 2003, 11:24 am

Rams go all the way. They focussed a lot of attention on their offensive line during the off season, and they have two new backs that are dynamite.

If you saw the Monday night game against the Bucs you got to see a preview of the playoff for the division.

Ogbar · Post by **Ogbar** » August 20, 2003, 11:34 am

Last year at this time, I picked the Titans and the Eagles - at least they both made the championship game.

Bucs look good (monday's loss to the Rams aside), so I will go with them. In the AFC, I think my Pats will be improved, and in the playoffs - but I cant pick them. Despite my hate for "the fish", I think they have all the pieces to go far.

Bucs over Dolphins

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » August 20, 2003, 3:13 pm

A healthy Kendrell Bell and Troy Polamalu will carry Pittsburgh. Too many people will worry about Joey Porter and that will open things up for Jason Gildon to have a big year. They are going to play more bump and run coverage and shut down those dink passes that killed them last year. Teams are going to have to throw deep or run the ball to beat that defense.

I am going out on a limb and saying that neither Zerouwe nor Bettis will end this season as their star running back. Verron Haynes is my sleeper as their next HB. Maddox should have a good year with more experience with his receivers and the addition of Riemersma from Buffalo. Too many weapons in that passing game. They should be able to bring in a fresh Bettis and Mark Bruener late in the games to pummel tired defenses in games that are close.

I am taking a Pitt vs Tampa Super Bowl. Pitt to win.

P.S. The Bengals will continue to suck and will not cease to do so until Mike Brown has been tossed into the river wearing concrete shoes and all the bad contracts he has given out stuffed into his gaping mouth.

Morgrym · Post by **Morgrym** » August 20, 2003, 3:22 pm

My money is on Tampa and being a long time fan, all I can say is it's about fucking time.

However, something is brewing in Denver...

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » August 20, 2003, 4:11 pm

Morgrym wrote:However, something is brewing in Denver...

That is referred to as "crack" in the rest of the U.S. Jake Plummer? WTF?!!?!?

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » August 20, 2003, 4:24 pm

i was going to say "Coors"

Deward · Post by **Deward** » August 20, 2003, 4:59 pm

If anyone can "fix" jake plummer then it is Shanahan. I still don't see Denver winning that very tough division though. I am going with a long shot and choosing San Diego to win. LT and Drew Brees have both matured fairly nicely and they made some upgrades in the offseason on their receivers. Their defense is very young though.

I think Oakland's age will finally catch up to them and they don't have Gruden to coax them through another year. I think they coasted last year on pure talent but it won't be the same this year.

Cleveland with a healthy Holcombe could win 10 games but that division is going to be a tight and tough race.

New England is still very strong and I don't remember them losing much in the offseason and but seem to recall them getting several good players. Buffalo is looking good if they keep feedig that rock to Henry and make sure they don't lose his confidence with that ass-tastic draft of McGahee.

Packers may go 8-8 if they are lucky. I just don't see anythign there this year. Favre will win the close games but that defense is horrific. Chicago won't be playign on the road every week and they are healthy so they may get back to their form of two years ago when they went 12-4 I think.

St Louis is looking like the team of old and Kurt is looking really good. Even if Kurt goes down then Bulger is ready to take over. Faulk is the only question mark. They beat up on the Bucs pretty handedly this preseason.

My overall picks in the superbowl: Philadelphia or St. Louis v. New England with NFC winning finally.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » August 20, 2003, 5:00 pm

But voro, coors and crack are synonymous.

Arsecn · Post by **Arsecn** » August 20, 2003, 5:01 pm

Go Phins!

Fallanthas · Post by **Fallanthas** » August 20, 2003, 6:39 pm

Deward,

No Faulk would be a hug loss, but did you see the work Harris did Monday night in his place?

You'd have to break his kneecaps to tackle that kid. I know he is trying for a slot as a starter, but his effort was impressive nonetheless.

Phugg_Innay · Post by **Phugg_Innay** » August 21, 2003, 12:49 am

Jice was obviously hitting the crack pipe , Denver win ???? No fucking way in hell.

Thats it on that , but my side note is that Tampa is a 1 hit wonder. The ONLY reason they won the Superbowl was because it was against the Raiders ( of which he ie: Gruden brought back from the dead). If it were just about any other team in the AFC they would'nt have won it.

I cant WAIT !! as my 3yr old nephew says ( while wearing a raider jersey)
Feeeeeellllllll tttthhhheeeee PPPPAAAIIINNNN (said from deep in the diaphram)

*edit* btw did anyone else notice how damn Good Fargas was running the ball ??

Traz-KOE · Post by **Traz-KOE** » August 21, 2003, 1:37 am

San Francisco all the way!

Ok, probably not, but I have to stand by my team, even when they do stupid things like hiring players/staff even the Seahawks rejected.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » August 21, 2003, 8:04 am

Fargas was impressive, as were lots of rookies. Leftwich, Palmer, Simms etc all did excellent jobs. Palmer has to start for the Bengals for goodness sake!

Personally I think it will be a very even season, and one that will be interesting to follow. There are some new combinations out there that we might hear named lots of time (one example: Carr/Johnson in Houston).

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » August 21, 2003, 9:12 am

Tampa doesn't have a running game to speak of imho, thus making them one dimensional and reliant on their defense to score points. Keyshan Johnson? Will he get any TD's this year? Will they even pass him the ball?

Jice Virago · Post by **Jice Virago** » August 21, 2003, 6:26 pm

Its Cliche, but its true. Defense is what wins championships. Tampa Bay doesn't just beat teams, they beat them up. There is an interesting statistic on Tampa in that the vast majority of teams (other than GB and Atl for some reason) tend to lose the week following a game with TB (aka the Tampa Bay hangover). The only team in the last 20 years to win a championship without a dominating defense has been the Rams, and their defense wasn't a complete pushover. Tampa wins games because their offense grinds people down and their defense absolutely pounds the other team, which is exactly how they stuffed Atl last year.

The reason I see Denver winning their division is they have an enourmous home field advantage and probably the most balanced team in all of football. Their division opponents are all going to have defensive issues this year, which should assure them 6 wins in their division. The vast majority of their non-divisional games are against pushovers as well. Another thing to look at is that for the first time in his career, Plumber has a reasonable Offensive Line and a TE that is worth a shit. Only real obstacles to their success will be how fast Plumber adapts to their system and how many injuries get them down the road. They will probably not win it all because of injuries, but they really know how to kick it in the ass down the stretch. If SD's defense doent brain fart from Jr's absence of leadership (much as GB did when Butler retired), they will win the division instead. Oakland and KC have no chance. Oakland shot their wad last year and TB exposed Gannon on national TV for the shell shocked pussy he is. KC's play is far too inconsistant to go the distance.

Packers are going to be playing their hearts out this year, I think. Mainly, this is because it is probably Favre's last year I would expect and if not next year will deffinitely be it for him. They have two years to make it in and win it and probably more emotion than any team in the league this year. I am a packer backer, but I think were going to get key injuries late in the season that kill us in the playoffs. In fact, I expect Tampa to be the team that knocks us off. For the Pack to go the distance, they need to stay healthy and we need to be strong against the run in tight games, which is going to be difficult. The only real bright spot for us is we have what is now the softest division in all of the NFL, though we will probably fuck up in Detroit and Minnisota because of the Favre Dome curse.

Patriots are young, hungry, and completely intact from last year. Thier sophmore Jinx is over and everyone is clicking for them right now. There really isnt much more to say about them, other than they need to pace themselves and turn it on at the end of the season instead of going full balls out early. They have a couple out of division games that are tough, but quite winnable. Their biggest obstacle will be the Jets, but people are going to be ready for the Jets this year which will drastically change their luck this year. Dolphins are screwed until they get a descent QB and Feidler is not it. Until they get a real leader on offense, expect them to continue to shoot themselves in the foot. Bills are saddled with too tough of a schedule to go anywhere this year with their current roster.

Now Phugg, if you could provide a more convincing argument than "Jice is on crack" I would love to hear it.

Phugg_Innay · Post by **Phugg_Innay** » August 21, 2003, 8:46 pm

Jice , man , it wasnt an attack on you , but the coment on Denver.
Now on to my high horse ~lol~ . I gave Tampa credit , they were good and still are good , not great by any means though.
I am a Raider fan so I could really care less about most other teams out there. All I hear from the media is how the Raiders are an "OLD TEAM" . They are Wrong !! Yes they have some great veteran players and they are in key positions. The rest of the team is very young in fact. The staff has a lot of very good rookie - 4th year players in there. The core of the team stayed together and with the newer talent they have it will be very fun to watch.
Denver on the other hand was Great. Its a very hard thing to try and rebuild after you loose key players like they did, ie: Tyrel and Elway. I hope Plummer can do some great things with them. Thats it for now , running out of thought.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » August 22, 2003, 11:10 am

Most of Denver's losses last season were very close games. The biggest weakness for them was the inability to stop the short passing game. Gannon exposed and exploited this with his screen passes and short curl, hook and crossing patterns.

Other teams watched the tape and used the exact same tactic. This needs to be countered this year by keeping pressure on the QB (ie 8 in the box, stunts, etc.), having the CBs pop the recievers in the nose at the line to throw them off, and having the DEs and LBs aware of receivers in short yardage patterns.

On the other side, if Denver receivers can adapt to Plummer, who is a roll-out passer--and continue their dominating run game, they will be very successful. However, in order for Plummer to be protected, the O-line, which is one of the smallest(but fastest) in the league, will need to keep in synch with Jake and read the defenses for the rollout and keep Jake on his feet to do what he does best--MAKE PLAYS.

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » August 22, 2003, 11:48 am

After watching preseason games and a few practices...my pick for this years super bowl are the Rams vs. The Steelers.

I don't see tampa bay repeating last year. They did need some luck in the playoffs, they were not totally dominent like the rams of a few years back.

Well, that's my gut feeling, but no doubt I'll be wrong, wrong, wrong.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » August 22, 2003, 3:36 pm

Phugg_Innay wrote:I am a Raider fan so I could really care less about most other teams out there. All I hear from the media is how the Raiders are an "OLD TEAM" . They are Wrong !! Yes they have some great veteran players and they are in key positions. The rest of the team is very young in fact. The staff has a lot of very good rookie - 4th year players in there. The core of the team stayed together and with the newer talent they have it will be very fun to watch.

Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, and Rich Gannon all looked like old, old men after getting pounded by the Bucs defense last Super Bowl. I'm sure that they'll tear ass though most of the AFC, but against teams like the Eagles, the Bucs, the Dolphins, they will get worked.

I hope I get to see a couple more Steelers games this year. I'm amazed that Cowher and Co. have adapted their offense this quickly to the talent they have. I mean, they were doing genius things on the defensive side considering that a lot of their talent departed every year, but now the smoke and mirrors happens on both sides. It's like the fucking Emerald City I tell you!

Fallanthas · Post by **Fallanthas** » August 22, 2003, 4:03 pm

It's gonna be interesting to see how Martz handles QBs this year.

On one hand, you have the two time Superbowl star that can throw a football through the window of a car doing 40 MPH fifteen yards away, every time. He turns every player, including half the offensive line into a scoring weapon. On the other hand, you have a younger QB who has a long-distance passing game that has to be seen to be believed. If the ball has more than 20 yards of air under it, it's gonna complete.

Problem is, the rest of the league has a pretty good idea what strategy you are going to favor based on which QB you field!

Gonna be an interesting year.

Crav · Post by **Crav** » August 22, 2003, 11:43 pm

Well the Cowboys, my team, won't win it, but at least you won't have one of the players arrested on coke charges. Hopefully they actually do a decent job of developing some of the young defensive talent. The offense is going to suck, but hopefully some of the younger players that will still be there next year will develop some.

I think the Steelers are going to win the AFC, I like the Dolphins cause of Wanstedt's D, Norv Turner's offense and Ricky (Hook'em Horns), but I think the Steelers are finally gonna get it together and win the AFC. In the NFC I think Tampa Bay will repeat, mostly I say this because the only teams that can beat them in the playoffs are the Rams, Eagles and the Packers. However, all of those teams have an up hill battle trying to beat them. The Rams will lose Faulk sometimes during the year and he will be banged up by the time they are in the playoff. Getting rid of Trung Canidate was a mistake in my opinion, Faulk has only made it through 16 games in a season 4 out his 9 years, and without him the Rams have no chance of beating the Bucs. The Eagles lost a lot in the offseason mostly in the form of Hugh Douglas and the whole Duce Staley problem is not going to help them. I think if the Packers can win the division and have home field against the Bucs they can win, but I don't think they will.

So in the end I think the Steelers will beat the Bucs in the Super Bowl.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » August 24, 2003, 11:37 pm

GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » August 24, 2003, 11:46 pm

Almost time for football, dammit!!!

Xyun · Post by **Xyun** » August 25, 2003, 12:59 am

Any team who wants to win the superbowl will have to go through this

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » August 25, 2003, 8:48 am

If all they have to do is go through a web site that should be pretty easy.

Chad Pennington is out for 12 weeks. He fucked up his wrist and hand. So Testy is taking over again.

Denadeb · Post by **Denadeb** » August 25, 2003, 10:54 am

The one team not mentioned at all is the Saints. They are one of the most potent offenses around and if there deffense is any better this year they will be a team to watch. The NFC South is deffintly going to be a strong division again this year with Tampa, Atlanta and New Orleans.

I'm hopeing my team will do better this year but the Colts always seem to fuck it up some how. They have one of the best receivers ever in Marvin Harrison and a good running back and quaterback. Ah well I can hope can't I.

Fallanthas · Post by **Fallanthas** » August 25, 2003, 1:40 pm

and without him the Rams have no chance of beating the Bucs

Care to bet on that?

Yeah, it was preseason, but they rolled Tampa up with ease and Faulk never put a jersey on.

Crav · Post by **Crav** » August 25, 2003, 10:11 pm

Yea and the Cowboys lost to the Steelers by 1! The only game in the preseason that might be used as an indicator is the last one and usually that's only intense for the first 2 or 3 quarters.

VeeshanVault

Football Season (USA)

Football Season (USA)

HOPE FOR 2003-04!!!!!

and more!!! :P