NFL- Sip Style

I didn't write an NFL preview last week because I thought it would take too long. A lot changes in a week.

Sip has a little bit more free time (salt), there isn't a whole lot going on in New Mets land and after a solid opening weekend gambling, going 3-1, I now feel fully confident that I have the NFL completely pegged.

Here we go.

AFC East

Pats- 10-6
Dolphins- 9-7
Bills- 5-11
Jets 5-11

This is the worst division in football hands down. Much has been discussed of the Pats. They have lost Willie Mcginest, the heart of their team, to the Browns, and just yesterday Deion Branch. Fortunately for them, they have 6 games in-division of which they should win at least 5.

I have Culpepper and Ronnie Brown on my fantasy team. They should be ok. I just don't see a lot of gelling in Miami.

The Bills start JP Losman. My good pal from the U, big Harnsy, told me the kid was a D Wod back in high school. Thats enough for me.

The Jets suck. Don't get excited about one good game out of the Chad. They beat a team with Kerry Collins as their top offensive weapon. Barely.

AFC NORTH

Bengals- 13-3
Steelers- 11-5
Ravens- 10-6
Cleveland 6-10

To the contrary, this may be the best division in football. Without a compliment to Willie Parker, the Steelers running game scares me. That dude could die by week 5. The Bengals are ready. Everyone knows about the offense. Like the Colts last year, they are a young defense that is now a year older playing under a genius defensive mind.

The Ravens are hype city after the thrashing of the Bucs. I still don't know. But I can't talk shit cause J Schubes would kill me.

As for the Browns, this team is close. The weapons are in place. If this team was in the AFC east they'd be an 8 or 9 win team.

AFC SOUTH

Colts- 14-2
Jags- 10-6
Tenn- 4-12
Houston- 3-13

I think the Colts reminded us of two things on Sunday night. One, their D is pretty solid, a very nice complement to a dominant offense. Two, Peyton is Peyton. That team couldn't run the ball a lick and they still put up 26 points in Giants Stadium. This isn't the postseason, guys.

Plus, these dudes have Marc Boerigter -- good for at least 13 TD's this year. TRUTH.

As for the Jags. No, guys, they are not a sleeper. A solid D and great coaching will get you far, but not far enough when your skill players are Byron Leftwich, Ernest Willford and Fred Taylor.

Tennessee and Houston just stink.

AFC West

Chargers- 11-5
Chiefs- 10-6
Broncos- 9-7
Raiders- 0-16

The Chargers showed some last night. Rivers can make a throw if they need him to, but Schotty wants the ball in LT's hands. Smart. That D really gets after the QB and if Quentin Jammer can emerge from bust city they should be able to stop some dudes.

Before Trent Green went down I had the Chiefs as a 12 win team. Same thing as Bengals. Great O, young D getting better under smart coach. After that hit, though, who knows. Im just praying they make a move for one of Kelly Holcomb or Billy Volek.

As for the Raiders, it kills me I didn't give you guys this one before last night. Some of my close friends got it though. This team is the worst team ever. Their offense is terrible and their defense is terrible. Their one good player will quit on the team by week 3. This was my opinion from watching 1 quarter of preseason football. Last night did a lot to confirm.

NFC East

Eagles- 12-4
Giants- 10-6
Cowboys- 7-9
Redskins- 3-13

No reason why the Eagle's aren't back. If Donovan and westbrook are healthy, there's no reason why this team doesnt return to 2002-2003 form. The D is there. They have a 4th place schedule.

I love my G-Men. It seems like both their O and D are above average. But neither is dominant enough yet to make them anything more than a 10 win team. Tiki's years have to be winding down so we need young Eli to become Peyton, and fast.

The Cowboys already have enough shit going on, Bledsoe vs. Romo, TO, Parcells vs the World, that this team should implode by week 8.

Doesn't it feel like year 2 in Philly with TO? There never was a honeymoon. This whole situation spells disaster.

As for the Skins. Man do I love Skins fans as people, but hate them as fans. This team SUCKS. They are too many decent pieces that will be unable to gel. You can run on this team, read CHESTER TAYLOR, and their offense is just bad.

NFC NORTH

Bears: 11-5
Vikings: 10-6
Packers- 4-12
Lions 4-12

Another shitty shitty division. Rex Grossman's performance on Sunday should be no indication of the sesaon. He did it against the Packers. But if he isn't terrible, their ground game and D is good enough to win 11-12 games.

The Vikings could be ok. They won't be bad, I guess. But 10 wins for a Brad Johnson QB's team is all I can give them.

The Pack and the Lions Stink.

NFC SOUTH
Carolina Panthers- 11-5
Atlanta Falcons- 10-6
Tampa Bay Bucs- 8-8
New Orleans Saints- 6-10

For those of you who didn't get a chance to see Reggie Bush on Sunday, too bad. This kid is worth the price of the Sunday Ticket.

As for the Panthers and Falcons, A lot of freak things happen on week 1. The Panthers are still the class of this division. John Fox is too smart and the D is too good.

The Bucs aren't as bad as their loss to the Ravens. But they aren't as good as last year's playoff team.

NFC West

Seahawks- 11-5
Rams- 8-8
Cardinals- 8-8
49ers- 5-11

The single most impressive thing to me on Sunday was the development of Alex Smith. The kid almost looked like a real NFL QB. Of course he was doing it against the Cards. As cool of a fantasy team as the Cards are, that team isn't very good. The 8 wins is a reult of playing in a shit division where they could win 3 or 4 games.

Same thing for Seahawks. Shitty division gets them 11-12 wins. Just like last year. But even last year they weren't that good.

As for the Rams. I hate them cause Simmons likes them. Did I tell you guys that the Mets are my sleeper in '06.

The Playoffs:

AFC

Byes: Colts, Bengals

Pats V Steelers- Steelers 20-16
Chargers v Jags- Chargers 17-4

Colts v Steelers- Colts 28-17
Bengals v Chargers- Bengals 31-13

Colts v Bengals- Bengals 24-14

NFC

Byes: Eagles, Seahawks

Bears v Giants: Giants 16-3
Panthers v Falcons: Panthers 21-6

Giants v Eagles: Giants 49-0
Panthers v Seahwaks: Panthers 22-7

Giants v Panthers- Giants 17-6

Super Bowl: Giants 20-19

Why not right?

This wouldn't be Y2K if i didnt have the men in Blue winning it all.

Sorry to say but in reality I like a Bengals v Eagles Super Bowl, with my good pal and fantasy QB Carson Palmer taking the whole thing.

There is too much talent there, that has had a few years to mature along with a rising superstar of a coach in Marvin Lewis. They opened at 16:1 guys, could be some serious value there.

One thing is certain.

With football back, and baseball meaning something, life is very, very good.

VCD,

SM