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1
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Giants
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14-6†
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The champs are on a winning streak of 11 games in contests played away from home (an NFL record)
including their Super Bowl victory in Arizona.
Strahan, Wilson, and Mitchell depart from the defense.
Tuck, Knight, and Phillips are ready to step in.
Boss takes over for
Shockey. The Giants are solid all around and have nice depth at running back with
Jacobs, Bradshaw, and Ward.
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2
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Patriots
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18-1†
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New England hopes the losses of Asante Samuel, Randall Gay, and Rosevelt Colvin
can be compensated for by a
healthy Richard Seymour,
and a speedy Jerod Mayo putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
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3
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Cowboys
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13-4†
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Swept the Giants in the regular season but couldn’t beat them in the playoffs.
Added Zach Thomas and Jones to their defense. Dallas is stacked on both sides of the ball.
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4
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Chargers
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13-6†
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Beat the Colts twice last season (once in the regular season and
once in the playoffs), including picking off Peyton Manning 6 times in the regular season matchup.
Hung tough with the Patriots in the AFC championship game while LT was hobbled on the sidelines.
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5
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Colts
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13-4†
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The Colts surrendered the fewest points in the NFL last season, and that
was with Dwight Freeney missing the last 7 games.
Lost twice to the Chargers including in the divisional playoffs at home.
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6
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Vikings
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8-8
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The league’s top rushing defense and top rushing offense
are in Minnesota. The addition of sack machine Jared Allen should
do wonders for what was the league’s worst pass defense. That leaves the offensive passing game
as the only real question mark. The addition of Bernard Berrian will help.
But the rest is up to Tavaris Jackson.
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7
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Jets
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4-12
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Favre brings what the Jets have been missing in the passing game.
Someone who can deliver the deep ball without it taking forever to arrive.
Don’t underestimate the contribution a blocker like Faneca can bring.
Signing Damien Woody at right tackle also helps.
In addition to better passing, the Jets should be able to run in 2008.
Meanwhile, Kris Jenkins should improve their run defense.
Two years removed from the postseason, the Jets are playoff caliber again…
But beware. The Jets open in humid Miami, then they play the Patriots and the Chargers.
They could be (1-2) or worse if they can’t beat the heat in Miami before
stepping up to run most of the table.
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8
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Titans
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10-7†
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Tennessee came close to beating the Chargers twice last season,
but lost both times in heartbreaking fashion
including
at San Diego in the wild card playoffs.
The addition of Alge Crumpler should pay dividends.
The Titans can run. The Titans can play defense. The Titans can win.
The Titans can make the playoffs again.
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9
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Browns
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10-6
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The Browns just missed qualifying for the playoffs in 2007. This off-season they added
Donte’ Stallworth to an already potent passing attack.
But more importantly they upgraded their defensive line by
signing
Corey Williams (Green Bay) and Shaun Rogers (Detroit), each with 7 sacks last season.
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10
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Jaguars
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12-6†
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David Garrard has his work cut out for him because
center Brad Meester will miss the start of the season, and the wide receiver unit is in
shambles. Nose tackle Marcus Stroud shuffled off to Buffalo.
But the Jags are still a potent squad likely headed for double digit wins.
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11
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Packers
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14-4†
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Without Favre
how solid are the rest of the Packers really?
We’re about to find out.
Not being able to keep Corey Williams hurts too.
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12
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Redskins
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9-8†
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Split with the
Giants and Cowboys last season. Almost swept Dallas. Almost won in Green Bay.
Only surrendered 310 points, and a zillion of those came in one game
against New England. Now they add Jason Taylor to go with Andre Carter
creating a strong pass rush. But will it be enough to get by the offensive lines
of the Cowboys and Giants? Maybe. Maybe not. Stay tuned.
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13
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Steelers
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10-7†
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Last season Pittsburgh lost a bizarre wild card game to Jacksonville
after coming back from down 18 points to take a fourth quarter
lead only to see it slip away in the final moments.
This off-season Alan Faneca departed for the Jets.
We don’t like it one bit and think their offense will suffer.
But the Steelers can play defense… Ranked #1 last season.
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14
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Buccaneers
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9-8†
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Last season the Buccaneers lost at home in the wild card round
to the eventual Super Bowl champions, New York Giants.
With one of the top defenses in the league,
Tampa Bay can hang with most teams and are a threat to
win the NFC South again. Although their offense leaves
something to be desired.
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15
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Seahawks
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11-7†
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Julius Jones is in at running back. But WR Hackett is gone, Engram is hurt,
and Branch won’t be back in time for the start of the season. A lot of pressure will be on Seattle’s offensive line
to compensate for a depleted receiving core.
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16
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Eagles
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8-8
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Donovan McNabb is healthier than last season. But the Eagles are weak at receiver.
Asante Samuel will help defend against T.O and Burress.
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17
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Saints
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7-9
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Great offense. But seriously… What’s on the other side of the ball?
The sub .500 finishing Saints have to earn their way up the power rankings.
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18
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Bears
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7-9
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Here’s to a much healthier defense. But can their offense score?
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19
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Texans
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8-8
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On the rise but in a tough division.
Injuries got the best of the Texans in 07.
Can their stars remain intact for a whole season?
Stay tuned.
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20
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Panthers
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7-9
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If Delhomme’s elbow is fixed after surgery, and he can make it through the season,
then Carolina could make a move. Especially with the receiving core bolstered
by Hackett. Unfortunately Steve Smith is out 2 games via team suspension.
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21
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Broncos
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7-9
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The Broncos slipped from perennial contenders to a sub .500 team mostly due to weakness
on both lines.
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22
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Bills
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7-9
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7 wins last season was a feat considering Buffalo’s poor statistical showing.
This off-season added run stuffing Marcus Stroud from the Jaguars and OLB Kawika Mitchell from the Giants
to the leagues 31st ranked defense.
But the Jason Peters holdout is unnerving for an offense that ranked 30th in 2007.
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23
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Ravens
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5-11
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Defense can carry the Ravens only so far with offensive woes.
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24
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Cardinals
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8-8
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We don’t see Matt Leinart giving the Cards the best chance to win.
Kurt Warner is the better quarterback for this team.
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25
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Bengals
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7-9
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Regardless of whether or Chad Johnson was going to play or not, the last thing the Bengals
needed was to draft 2 receivers with their first 4 picks. The first thing they needed
was more defense. A lot more.
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26
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Lions
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7-9
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Trying to turn around the league’s bottom ranked defense while balancing out
the offensive play calling.
Two large projects.
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27
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Raiders
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4-12
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Stacked with running backs so decided to grab yet another one in the first round–
when it’s their defensive line that’s ailing most.
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28
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49ers
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5-11
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Hoping Mike Martz can turn around an offense
that was held under 200 yards way too many times last season.
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29
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Rams
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3-13
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Weak at offensive line and receiver. And gave up the second most points
in the NFL last season.
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30
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Chiefs
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4-12
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Traded 15 1/2 sacks from Jared Allen for a brighter future.
Key word, “future”.
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31
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Dolphins
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1-15
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It would be nice to see Ronnie Brown regain the terrific form he showed before he
was lost for the season. Bill Parcells and Chad Pennington are in. A whole lotta players are out
including Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor.
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32
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Falcons
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4-12
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Offensive line woes spell trouble for
Ryan, Turner, and White.
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