NFL Preview: New York Giants

Eli Manning is a tough cookie – never thought I’d say that, but his reaction to being seriously bloodied in a preseason game a fortnight ago was truly heroic. Sure, it was only a cut, but he was willing to play through the pain – even suggesting a modified helmet that could fit over his stitches.

That’s what I like to see.

He wants to lead by example. The shock winners of Superbowl XLII, the Giants have since done diddlysquat. That needs to change soon if they want to hold on to their better players, and they look to have done well with the signing of undrafted free agent, Victor Cruz, who caught 3 TD passes in their first preseason game.


But here’s the rub: they occupy one of the four least envied slots in the league, having to play powerhouses Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington twice a piece.

Okay, Philli aren’t the perennial NFC Champs losers they were, but with Kolb and a host of young go-getters they are rising in everyone’s estimation. Washington now have Donavon McNabb, and seem to be getting through to Albert Haynesworth, who, to me, is starting to look more and more like a piggy bank by the day. And as for Dallas…well, if they don’t win a Superbowl soon they might rival the Bills of the Early nineties as the best team to never get over the line.

So where do the Giants wind up in this group? Due to the toughness of the NFC East schedule, by virtue of the intra-divisional games, I actually think only one team – the division winners – will make it out of this group and into the playoffs, even though you could argue that any one of these teams is playoff calibre.

I think the giants might finish second with a 10-6 record, tied with Philli and a game up on Washington, and I don’t think it’ll be enough. I think the Wild Cards will come from the North (Packers/Vikings) and South (New Orleans/Atlanta).

Second in the East and an early bath…sorry boys…


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NFL Preview: New Orleans Saints

What can be expected of the current World Champions? Drew Brees, MVP QB from last seasons Superbowl, must contend with the Madden Curse after being selected as the cover-athlete for the 2011 version of the popular game, and to add to his woes, at least two of his three division rivals are getting better.

The Panthers have gone with youth at QB and I think a shake-up is what that team needed. Shipping incumbent starter, Jake Delhomme, to the Browns might have seen like an ignominious parting of ways with the man who led the franchise to its only Superbowl, but he had been far from his best for many years. Matt Moore offers the team a vitality that the talented cast was lacking.


To make matter worse for Brees and co, the Atlanta Falcons, marshalled by Matty Ryan, look to be making strides.

After Ryan’s stellar first season, last season was a letdown, but an expectable sophomore-slump. This year, however, they will be eager to claim the scalp of last year’s victors.

So can New Orleans hold off the challenge and make it out of their division? Yes, I think they can. To be honest, I think both the Falcons and the Saints will get out of this one and make it to the playoffs along with the Cowboys, Packers, Vikings and 49ers.

Who knows what will happen over 17 weeks of regular season action, but expect this: New Orleans will not relinquish their status as No. 1 without a fight. For years they languished in the doldrums; existing in a pit of despair; passions fuelled by false dawns aplenty… And then it happened – they won! And now they’ve got a taste for it, don’t imagine they’ll fade into obscurity.

Sean Peyton is an awesome coach – his influence cannot be overstated. He gets the best out of a group of players, many of whom playing out of their skins just to thank him for giving them a shot. We’re yet to see Reggie Bush perform at the level of which we know him to be capable. Maybe this is his year?

If it is, watch out…


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NFL Preview: New England Patriots

Brady’s back and his bunch is looking well-oiled.

Disgusting as it sounds, the Patriots in full flight are anything but to behold. With Wes Welker returning from a busted knee, and all star super-stud Tom Brady feeling good about the completion of his lengthy rehabilitation, this team will duke it out with the Jets for the right to call themselves top-dog in the AFC East.


A few months ago I wrote an article on this blog about how tough it was to succeed in the AFC East these days. The Jets are, without any doubt in my mind, the most rapidly improved team in league under Rex Ryan. After last years surprising and, in many ways, fortunate journey to the AFC championship game, the Jets were expected to sink back into mediocrity, but that has not happened. This means the Patriots will have to be in fine fettle to force an emergency landing in New York.

The old guard have gone, and a new dawn is upon the fans at Foxboro. Vrabel is a Chief (sounds a bit rude that, doesn’t it), Bruschi (my hero) is putting his feet up after three well-earned Superbowl victories and an undefeated season, Vinitieri is a Colt and almost everyone else from the dynastic rule of New England is either preparing to call it a day or sitting on the sidelines as Belichick’s young protégés move up through the ranks.

Never underestimate a team coached by BB. New England will have to fight tooth and nail for the win in this division, but I can’t help but think their experience could be the deciding factor.

With a fully fit Brady at the helm, more running backs on the depth chart than you can shake a stick at, and a pair of Pro Bowl receivers, you can expect them to do well. I think an 11-5 record is likely, but I think that might tie them with the Jets. 12-4 should wrap up this division, but that’s a long way from September and with so many stars coming off injuries they’ll need to take it week by week.


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NFL Preview: Minnesota Vikings

Well, it finally happened – as of August 18th 2010 Brett Favre has announced his official retirement from the NFL…effective as of February 2011, all going to plan.

The storied QB, whose career began in Atlanta, whose name was made in Green Bay and whose farce has played out in the media spotlight will definitely step-down following what will be his twentieth season playing at the highest level.

Favre’s return bodes well for the Vikes who, without him, were looking at either Sage Rosenthals of Tavaris Jackson to start in his place. Rosenthals in particular has been impressive when called upon and Jackson occasionally phenomenal, though occasionally phenomenally bad. With either man in charge, the Vikings go from being one of the favourites to win the Superbowl they should’ve picked-up last year, to a good, but middling team.


Favre’s presence forces opponents to think carefully about the packages they show. His experience is unrivalled and his boyish recklessness, now tempered with a maturity quite uncharacteristic of the man in his heyday, has seen him become a more potent weapon than ever.

Let’s hope young Percy Harvin can get his migraines under control, the entire D-line stays off Star Caps (performance enhancers) and possibly the greatest running back in the game right now, Adrian ‘All day’ Peterson, finds form and gets him fumbling issues under control.

Prediction? Well, this team’s got it all with pro Bowl talent all over the field. Superbowl or bust, boys, Superbowl or bust…


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NFL Preview: Miami Dolphins

Gotta love the Dolphins now Big Bill Parcells has control over the team. Sparano is a quality coach – really good. His comfort with Parcells’ position above him is laudable, in much the same way Mangini suffers Holmgren’s presence in Cleveland. You do get the impression, though, that the Dolphins’ almost unique arrangement is somewhat more harmonious.


It shows on the team, too. The Dolphins have come from being the woeful side that went 1-15 in 2007, to 11-5 in ’08 and then losing three in a row to finish a disappointing 7-9 last year. With that late-season collapse excluded from memory, this is a young team with a real shot of making a move this year. Unfortunately, the emergence of Chad Henne at starting QB, and the signing of Brandon Marshall to catch everything thrown his way, have come in a year that figures to be dominated by the resurgent Patriots and the hard-hitting, trash-talking Jets. Next year the Dolphins should dive into the elite.

This year I reckon they will finish 9-7 and miss the playoffs, but Marshall should compile his fourth consecutive 100 catch season and make it to the Pro Bowl.


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NFL Preview: Kansas City Chiefs

This has to be Matt Cassels year. If he fails to produce and, in doing so, consigns the Chiefs to another agonising year, he will officially be written off as a bust.

Personally, I think it’s a bit harsh to scrap a player’s career after two seasons failing to perform at a duff club. He only has one decent target in Dwayne Bowe now that Anthony Gonzalez has flown off to the falcons. How can Cassel be expected to lift this team without significant motivational input from the coach? This is an exceptionally young team and they need to find an identity amongst themselves before they will gain the ability to fell better opponents.


Young guys playing with heart and fuelled by raw emotion and a determination to prove their worth can be a tough force to beat. The Chiefs should adopt this approach and spend camp firing up the players’ self belief.

They lack big names – especially on defence. But if that unit can work out a way to slow down opposing offences and tighten up in the red-zone the spunky offence might find a few points through sheer grit.

I really hope that Cassels comes through this year. He was superlative for the Patriots when Brady went down in ’08, leading the team to an 11-5 record and only missing out on a spot in the playoffs due to unbelievable competition that year.

He is not a bad QB, but if he doesn’t fare well this year, maybe the Chiefs weren’t the team for him.


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NFL Preview: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars are experiencing something of a slump in fortunes. They are, and always have been, an odd team in this respect: never have they had any true stars; real game-breakers; franchise names; Hall of Fame candidates, and yet they’ve always been relatively competitive.

The arrival of Maurice ‘Mighty Mouse/Pocket Hercules’ Jones-Drew has given them a star, but despite his enormous impact, his efforts have done little but keep them afloat.


Nothing much has changed in Florida this offseason, and although the Colts (the perennial winners of their division) appear just as stationary, the Titans and Texans are getting better if training camp is anything to go by.

What does this mean for the Jags?

A long year that ultimately costs Jack Del Rio his job…

If they win more than 7 games I will be gob-smacked. Prediction: 6-10 and bottom of the division, a brace of games behind the Titans.


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