Before
we embark upon a new season, it only makes since to look at how the
last one ended. Russell Wilson's game-winning 35 yard touchdown pass to
Jermaine Kearse in overtime of the NFC Championship game will certainly
go down in history as one of the NFL's most memorable plays of all time.
While I'm not sure I agree with the league's decision to cancel the
Super Bowl, I do understand where they were coming from. Once those dogs
got loose on the field they just wouldn't leave; really Commissioner
Goodell was left with no choice. But that was last season, and we shall
dwell on it no further (NO FURTHER!). Let's move on to 2015 with a look
at my projected (exactly correct) records for all 32 teams (playoff
teams in ITALICS):
AFC East
New England 10-6
Buffalo 9-7
Miami 6-10
New York Jets 5-11
AFC North
Baltimore 11-5
Pittsburgh 10-6
Cincinnati 8-8
Cleveland 6-10
AFC South
Indianapolis 12-4
Houston 8-8
Tennessee 6-10
Jacksonville 5-11
AFC West
Denver 11-5
Kansas City 10-6
San Diego 8-8
Oakland 4-12
NFC East
Dallas 10-6
Philadelphia 10-6
New York Giants 7-9
Washington 3-13
NFC North
Green Bay 12-4
Minnesota 10-6
Detroit 8-8
Chicago 4-12
NFC South
New Orleans 9-7
Atlanta 8-8
Carolina 6-10
Tampa Bay 4-12
NFC West
Seattle 16-0
Arizona 8-8
St. Louis 7-9
San Francisco 5-11
As
you can see, I'm expecting traditional AFC powers Denver and New
England to take a bit of a step back this season, mainly because of Tom Brady's suspension and the fact that Peyton Manning apparently has no
feeling in his fingertips. Also, Gary Kubiak is the Broncos' coach. I
won't say that he was a bad hire, just uninspired ... and bad. In the
NFC I actually had trouble cobbling together six teams that I could
confidently put in the playoffs. Expecting big things from the Hawks,
but who else is looking solid? I'm not sure how I feel about Dallas or
Philadelphia, so let's just call them both 10-6 and let them go at it in
the Wild Card round. Speaking of the playoffs, here's how they're going
to shake out:
AFC
Wild Card Round
New England over Kansas City
Pittsburgh over Denver
Divisional Round
Baltimore over New England
Indianapolis over Pittsburgh
Conference Championship
Indianapolis over Baltimore
NFC
Wild Card Round
Dallas over Philadelphia
New Orleans over Minnesota
Divisional Round
Green Bay over Dallas
Seattle over New Orleans
Conference Championship
Seattle over Green Bay
Super Bowl 50
Seattle over Indianapolis
Place your bets accordingly.
Now
I know what you're thinking, "Erik, you think you're a real hot shot,
and rightfully so. I mean you did win a
world championship picking scores, and you have the gaudy trophy to prove it. And
don't get me started on your good looks. But sometimes I disagree with
you, and being the ungrateful punk that I am, I think I can do a better job picking
games." Well now you're in luck! I've started a pick 'em league on Yahoo
called HCM Challenge. Here's the info:
League ID: 27697
Password: picks
Join up and see if you can best a World Champion. You won't be able to, but it should be a real thrill for you to try.
As
usual, check back here every Friday for weekly picks (Thursday games
are posted on Thursday, otherwise that would be cheating). As a bonus,
I've managed to land a special guest analyst who will be lending his
expertise to the Sunday night game every week; not that I need the help,
but it should be interesting regardless.
Well alright, I don't
know about you, but I'm ready to rock. Let's do this! What's that? One
more week? Hmm. Well what are you guys up to for the next eight days?
Wanna hang out, er ..? Hey, wh-where ya going? If you're trying to leave
there's no door over there. In fact, now that I look around there are
no doors at all. Where are we? How do we get out? .....
HELP!!!
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