The View From the Crossbar

AFC East

According to the media Bobbleheads, the New England Patriots had the best offseason ever in the history of offseason in any sports, and that they have already won the Lombardi for this season. While it's true the Patriots will be a good team, afterall with Tom Brady as your QB and Bill Belichick as your coach, how can you not be, don't expect a runaway in this division. Mangini worked magic last season with the Jets, and it will be Mangini, who proves to be the more successful of the second year head coaches this season. Patriots meanwhile will get a 12-4 record, but it won't be as smooth as many think. Buffalo will struggle to 8-8 with JP Losman doing just enough to frustrate people as he'll have flashes of brilliance, and flashed of absolute horridity. Meanwhile in Miami the Dolphins will continue the trend that Nick Saban started of struggling early just to finish strong and give fans a hope for the future, after John Beck takes over at QB. The biggest difference is this hope will be earned.

1. New England - 12-4 (But 1-1 with the Jets, with both teams winning on the road).
2. New York Jets - 10-6
3. Buffalo Bills - 8-8
4. Miami Dolphins - 5-11

AFC North

This division will have a clear winner by Thanksgiving, and will have a surprise race for it's runner up. The Bengals, having put their offseason troubles behind them, with a curfew imposed will runaway with this division. However their defense will still cause people to worry about their postseason chance, which will give WR Chad Johnson plenty of opportunity to remind everyone that the Colts won it all last year without a defense, why can't they. In second place for the division it will be tightly contested, up until the beginning of December when the Steelers will pull away from the upstart, surprise Cleveland Browns, who after starting 0-3 switched to Brady Quinn, and then won 5 of 6. Meanwhile out in Baltimore, after having removed himself from it last year, Brian Billick will find himself back on the hotseat as his team struggles to a 4-12 record, and they move on without him in 2008.

1. Cincinnati Bengals - 13-3
2. Pittsburgh Steelers - 9-7
3. Cleveland Browns - 6-10 (Losing last 3 games of the season, right after the "Could they possibly make the playoffs" talk begins.)
4. Baltimore Ravens - 4-12

AFC South

Indianapolis wins this division, once again starting out by making everyone think they'll run the table. Meanwhile in Jacksonville Jack Del Rio's stunning release of Byron Leftwich doesn't seem to have too much affect on the team as it still fails to live up to expectations, and the Jaguars miss the playoffs. Everything will be pretty much the same, as the Jags dissapoint by once again not living up to what they should, and Del Rio is sent looking for new work. Meanwhile down in Houston new QB Matt Schaub, finds out what David Carr has known all along. Lying on your back sucks. But come the second half of the season Head Coach Gary Kubiak, finally installs his OL System (Cheats) that made Denver's line so good for long. However the Texans fall a field goal short of their first ever winning season. Tennessee finds Vince Young running into sophomore troubles, as Teams realize, he doesn't actually have any WR's to throw to and the Titans fall to 5-11.

1. Indianapolis Colts - 12-4
2. Jacksonville Jaguars - 8-8
3. Houston Texans - 8-8
4. Tennessee Titans - 5-11


AFC West

Norv Turner's first year in San Diego will have many wondering why he was ever considered a poor head coach. But then when you have the offensive weapons he has, your team better be good. However holes will start to show late in the year. New QB Jay Cutler will have Denver in the hunt late into the year, but they'll never seriously be considered a contender. Meanwhile Kansas City Head Coach, will start to flip flop between Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle at QB after they struggle when in the 5th Quarter of the season they hand the ball to Larry Johnson who runs for his only TD of the season. A 10 yard scamper that ends with Johnson hopping the last two yards after his leg falls off because he's already nearing 100 carries this season after his 400 plus last year. Oakland meanwhile will see Culpepper show flashes of his old self in the beginning of the season, before he returns to his true form and becomes the train wreck he is.

1. San Diego Chargers - 11-5
2. Denver Broncos - 9-7
3. Oakland Raiders - 5-11
4. Kansas City Chiefs - 3-13

NFC East

Head coach Andy Reid, in an attempt to prevent Philadelphia fans from getting their hopes up, devises a new strategy of just punting the ball on every play. Fortunately QB Donovan McNabb talks him out of it, and leads the Eagles to the leagues best record. Cowboy fans find that Tony Romo isn't exactly the guy who fumbled their season away last year, but he's also not the super stud he appeared to be for a 5 game stretch. Forced to come to the conclusion that he's a good but not great QB, Cowboy fans watch has their Defense helps them to a 9-7 record. However due to the fact that the Cowboys lost twice to bitter rival Washington led by the rotating RB Monster that is Clinton Portis, Roc Cartwright, and Ladell Betts, the skins win the tiebreaker and make the playoffs. Tom Coughlin doesn't even survive the entire season as he is fired after week 13, in which Eli throws another 4 interception game and the Giants limp home throughout the season.

1. Philadelphia Eagles - 14-2
2. Washington Redskins - 9-7
3. Dallas Cowboys - 9-7
4. New York Giants - 5-11

NFC North

The weakest division once again proves why, and the Bears once again benefit. Though calls for the benching of Rex Grossman are heard throughout the season, Head Coach Lovie Smith sticks with him through the entire season and the Bears make the playoffs after going 4-2 in the division, but 5-5 against the rest of the NFL. Mike Martz manages to help the Lions be an explosive offense again this season, and WR Calvin Johnson puts in a serious bid for Rookie of the year, but the Lions only manage a 7-9 record. Brett Favre manages to break the record for most career interceptions by mid season, leaving him free to once again enjoy the "This could be his final game" moments that we have been treated to for the last 4 years. The big difference is, this time it's actually true as Favre retires in the offseason. Minnesota struggles with Tavaris Jackson, but sticks with him throughout most of the season, except for a 3 game stretch.

1. Chicago Bears - 9-7
2. Detroit Lions - 7-9
3. Green Bay Packers - 5-11
4. Minnesota Vikings - 4-12

NFC South

Last year's darling the New Orleans Saints, start the season making everyone think they'll just keep rolling. But right around mid season they are going to struggle. Reggie Bush will have a nagging ankle sprain, and their lack of WR depth will bite them as Marques Colston, already struggling as the #1 WR, will start receiving double teams. The Saints will win the division, but not by a whole lot over the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons however will take the opposit route starting slow and having everyone talk about how much the Dog Murderer is being missed. However after being 3-3 after the first 6 games the Falcons will go on a roll of winning games, that most will agree they shouldn't have won. 6 straight wins later all the bobbleheads will be talking about how well Joey Harrington has adapted to new coach Bobby Petrino's system. Carolina on the other hand will find themselves in full blown QB Controversy after David Carr comes in for an injured Jake Delhomme and actually plays well with an offensive line that keeps him upright. In Tampa new QB Jeff Garcia will play well, and the Cadillac will look like it's had a tuneup, but an aging defense will by Jon Gruden's undoing as he is out looking for a new job in '08.

1. New Orleans Saints - 10-6
2. Atlanta Falcons - 9-7
3. Carolina Panthers - 6-10
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 3 - 13

NFC West

The west runs away with the crown of most improved division as the St. Louis Rams and the San Francicsco 49ers battle it out for the division crown. The Rams take the title as Steven Jackson goes on to have a monster season achieving his goal of 2500 total yards from scrimmage. San Francisco however watches as Alex Smith, now in his 3rd year, completes his development into a top flight qb as he throws for more than 3500 yards and 25 TD's, with Gore the threat on the ground. Seattle suffers a bit do to age, and losing talent the last couple years. Alexander looks like the back he was prior to '06 but without the stud OL He used to have it doesn't equate to production off the field. Seattle misses out on a playoff spot in a tightly contested wild card tie-breaker formula. Arizona however hangs tough but just cannot manage to break through.

1. St. Louis Rams - 10-6
2. San Francisco 49ers - 9-7
3. Seattle Seahawks - 9-7
4. Arizona Cardinals - 7-9

AFC Playoffs

New England, Indianapolis, Cincinatti, San Diego. With Wild Cards New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers.

For the second year in a row the Jets meet the Patriots in the playoffs. However this time the Jets manage to beat the Patriots as the Patriots seem to be just a bit off with all the new additions to the team never having quite clicked during the season. The Colts dispatch of the Steelers, before running into San Diego. Cincinnati having homefield advantage takes care of the Jets and then removes eliminates the Chargers to make their 3rd Superbowl appearance.

NFC Playoffs

Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans, St. Louis Rams, with wildcards San Francisco and Atlanta

Rex Grossman strikes early, and he strikes often as the 49ers blowout the supposed vaunted Chicago Bears defense. Rams manage to outgun the Atlanta Falcons in a fire fight between two highly prolific offenses. The next week the defense, which although improved from last season, is still a problem area succumbs to Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett's old team as the Saints' Reggie Bush has close to 200 total yards from scrimmage. Meanwhile in the city of Brotherly Love, Donovan McNabb Breaks his own punter's leg, forcing Andy Reid to bypass the punting unit and the Eagles squeak out a victory over the Niners. With Eagle's punter still ailing Andy Reid is unable to punt in the last two minutes of the NFC Championship game, and unlike in the '06 Divisional when he did punt, the Eagles manage to win the game.

Super Bowl XLII

Throngs of media descend upon Arizona for the big game, mainly in the hopes that Chad Johnson doesn't keep him mouth shut. During the actual game it's a closely fought matchup with the Eagles managing to get a 10 point victory.

Awards
MVP: Donovan McNabb
Offensive ROY: Calvin Johnson
Defensive ROY: Eric Weddle
Offensive POY: Steven Jackson
Defensive POY: Champ Bailey
Coach: Marvin Williams

And Finally

A Prediction for tonight. The Colts begin their title defense tonight with a 10 point victory over the Saints 34-24