2010 NFL Preview

[NJTank]

You asked, you waited for it here it is

2010 NFL Preview

[Drakonius26]

Sadly, I agree with this preview. I can see the Patriots being eliminated on the final week of the season by either Cincinnati or Houston. The Leigh Bodden injury was even more devastating than the loss of Ty Warren, since his ball-hawking skills were one of the things that kept the Patriots in the playoff race last year. But the Vikings are vastly overrated, they have a great defense, but no Sidney Rice, and god knows what will happen with Percy Harvin this year. Besides, Brett's 40... and how long will he hold up with a sub-par line. I'd take the Packers over the Vikings in the NFC, just because I don't see them bowing out meekly to the Vikings this year. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a bitter Packers fan, and I'm grateful for what Brett did here for 16 years, but I see the Vikings, Jets, and Cowboys all being disappointments this year.

[DG_YouKnowWhatThatMeans]

The Vikings are 10-6, but the Packers are 11-5 and in second?

Oops Ill fix it my FTP uploader has been giving me problems.

Huh?

[officeglenn]

The Vikings are 10-6, but the Packers are 11-5 and in second?

Oops Ill fix it my FTP uploader has been giving me problems.

Huh?

I think Tank hit Edit, not Reply. He's a mod in this forum, remember.

[NJTank]

Yeah those buttons are right next to each other

[Lights Out]

Only 8 wins for my Bolts? And all because we let Antonio "I'm scared of contact now" Cromartie and LaDainian "The Fossil" Tomlinson go?

C'mon, man.

[dfwabel]

On some of the comments:

PHI: Your first sentence was the best opinion that you have had since I have been on this forum.

DAL: Last season they lost the least number of starters due to injury, but now they released Flozell Adams and already have two OL starters injured in Colombo and Kosier. Also, kicker David Buehler never kicked field goals in college, and was only the kickoff specialist last season.

DEN: Orton can manage a game, but just an average QB. In the NFL, that gets you nowhere. He also has little in terms of receivers to throw too.

GB: I remember two games with the Packers last year and both I saw a bad secondary. PIT threw for 472 against them and AZ went for 375 in the wildcard game. Al Harris is coming off a knee injury, Charles Woodson is a year older and Johnny Jolly, who led the NFL in passes deflected, is gone for the year from his violation of the substance abuse policy (codeine).

SF: Not mocking David Carr, but what has he ever done to be called "a good go to quarterback"? I do not know who the best #2 QB in the NFL really is. Maybe Vick by default with his talent.

[BBTV]

On some of the comments:

PHI: Your first sentence was the best opinion that you have had since I have been on this forum.

It's also one of the most inaccurate. Even if McNabb throws for 500+ yards and 5 TDs in every game this season, it will have no bearing on anyone's feelings toward Kolb. None.

Is the fan base impatient? Possibly. However, no matter what, not many will question the decision to get rid of McNabb, no matter how bad Kolb is (not that I think he'll be bad, but even if he struggles it won't matter.) People may pull for Vick to get a chance (not likely, but it could happen) but I don't think that many people will criticize them for what they did.

[rams80]

If the Rams win 3 games or fewer, Spagnuolo could easily end up on the firing squad.

[BlueSky]

Tank, I give you credit for your insight into the underrated Saints-Falcons rivalry. Just one example of how intense it is: back in the day a guy had a company making t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc., and the name of his firm was I Hate the Falcons Inc. In fact, I shot this pic at the 2006 'return to the Superdome' game. Crude but tells it all:

As far as drinking the Falcons kool-aid, I expect them to be better than last year and Ryan's a good QB but they've done nothing yet to justify all the love they're getting nationally. Some clown had Ryan as the NFL MVP for crying out loud! We'll see.

Same for the Vikings. Favre is already getting injections in his ankle and has already been crushed several times in the preseason. Think Gregg Williams' D isn't licking their chops? Fav-ruh starts off with the Saints, who played pinball with the guy last year and this time he won't have the whole off-season to recover, he'll have 9 or 10 days before Miami comes in and then there are 14 more games after that. To expect him to match last year's performance IMO is a huge stretch. In fact, Brett may be back to his turnover machine days pretty soon.

[DG_YouKnowWhatThatMeans]

The Vikings are 10-6, but the Packers are 11-5 and in second?

Oops Ill fix it my FTP uploader has been giving me problems.

Huh?

I think Tank hit Edit, not Reply. He's a mod in this forum, remember.

Huh. Weird. I had no idea the mods had such easy access to editing posts.

You learn something new every day.

[Gary]

I hardly think losing Kurt Warner will make the Cardinals 5-11. 8-8 or 9-7. But they have a good coach with a good defense to be 5-11

[Drakonius26]

I hate to seem uneducated when it comes to the NFC South, but how did a rivalry start between the Saints and Falcons, Bluesky? I know they both entered the NFL around the same time and have been in the same division for most of their history, but other than "Black Sunday" and the 1991 playoff game I can't remember a time when a game between the two meant something. It must be regional then...

No offense meant though, since I have nothing but respect for the Saints.

[BlueSky]

I hate to seem uneducated when it comes to the NFC South, but how did a rivalry start between the Saints and Falcons, Bluesky? I know they both entered the NFL around the same time and have been in the same division for most of their history, but other than "Black Sunday" and the 1991 playoff game I can't remember a time when a game between the two meant something. It must be regional then...

No offense meant though, since I have nothing but respect for the Saints.

It's no surprise and no offense taken, a lot of people apparently wonder the same thing because (to my surprise) there's a Wikipedia entry on it. Yes, it's regional, and yes, coming into the NFL a year apart helped. In the beginning it was like a college rivalry where one or both teams might not be very good and nobody but the fans cared about the game but if you beat your rival, it was a good season.

Like any good rivalry, there were pivotal moments. This one's apropos since we're at the start of a new season. Imagine you're a Saints fan (or player for that matter). It's 1973 and you're all charged up with hope and optimism and you come out at home ready to stomp on the Falcons. Um, no. Atlanta rolled 62-7. What's the losing coach say in the locker room after that for a season opener?

In 1978, the Falcons won 20-17 in New Orleans on what they called "Big Ben Right" (aka a Hail Mary) on the last play, then in Atlanta by the same score on a bitterly disputed pass interference call in the last minute (the NFL admitted a day later the ref blew the call).

The very next season, the first game was Saints-Falcons in the Superdome and was 34-34 going to OT. The Saints had to punt and the snap sailed over the punter's head. He tried to pass and it was intercepted at the goal line for a Falcon TD. Game over, 40-34 (they didn't kick the PAT).

Remembering the scores from the previous year's bitter losses, the N.O. newspaper headline the next day was simple math: 20-17 X 2 = 40-34

Of course the Saints have had their moments too. Steve Gleason's punt block in the 2006 'return to the Superdome' game was one of the most exciting (and loudest) times I've ever seen at a game. I remember it like it was yesterday. My wife was sitting next to me and it was so loud that I was yelling to her and later she said she couldn't hear a word, she only knew I was saying something because my lips were moving. It was unforgettable.

One time, way back when I had season tickets, the Saints scored on a fake punt and when I jumped up, the pregnant lady behind me was getting up too and we crashed together and her beer went all over her. I was totally embarrassed and trying to apologize and she said "Who cares? We're killin' them damn Falcons!"

I live near Atlanta now (ironically enough) so I can't wait for Dec. 27. MNF in the Georgia Dome!

[Drakonius26]

Yeah, I remember the Gleason block, and I completely forgot about that game... can't believe I did. Well, perhaps it's like the Patriots and Jets, a regional rivalry, but not a rivalry like the Patriots/Colts, Cowboys/49ers.

Funny how the Saints won their first trip to the Super Bowl by 14 points, and the Falcons lost their first trip to the Super Bowl by 14 points.