* NFC NORTH
Green Bay Packers: Brett Favre and Ahman Green are by far the best quarterback-running back combination in the league. With a little luck, Favre wins his second Super Bowl and retires.
Detroit Lions: Many people consider the Lions to be this year’s sleeper team. They have a lot of young talent at the skill positions. Receiver Roy Williams should make an impact. Detroit should have an elite offense in two years.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings finished 2004 a disappointing 3-7. Nothing says the trend will change.
Chicago Bears: New coach Lovie Smith knows this team will have to win on the strength of middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and the defense. But a team can’t win if the offense never scores.
* NFC WEST
Seattle Seahawks: “Playboy” has the Seahawks as Super Bowl champs. “Sports Illustrated” has picked them to get to the Super Bowl and lose to the Patriots. We believe the hype. Just not that much.
St. Louis Rams: The Rams are no longer the greatest show on turf. Marshall Faulk will probably be hurt before October, and Marc Bulger is shaky. But they still have enough talent for the playoffs, even if Mike Martz wants to play for a field goal on every position this season.
San Francisco 49ers: These aren’t your older brother’s 49ers. No Super Bowl. No playoffs. Not even expectations. Can anyone name three starters?
Arizona Cardinals: When Anquan Boldin returns in mid-October, the Cardinals, with rookie Larry Fitzgerald, will have the best young wide receiver combination in the league. At least this team has something positive going for it.
* NFC EAST
Philadelphia Eagles: Terrell Owens gives Donovan McNabb his first real target in the NFL. All in all, the team has improved, but we have it losing in the NFC championship for the fourth year in a row. Losing both starting cornerbacks will hurt in the end.
Dallas Cowboys: Quincy Carter’s maturation last season led the Cowboys to the playoffs. How much better would he have been this year? We’ll never know. Only Bill Parcells’ genius makes this team a contender.
Washington Redskins: The addition of Clinton Portis automatically makes this team a playoff contender, especially in the less talented NFC. Mark Brunell is not the answer at quarterback. The big question: Can the defense play to its potential?
New York Giants: The offensive line is terrible. Kurt Warner needs time to be effective. Bad combination.
* NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons: This will be the Mike Vick show. Running. Passing. Running some more. Few will have a scheme to slow him down. Until the playoffs, that is.
New Orleans Saints: The Saints have shown flashes of brilliance with this offense over the last four years. They finally put it all together, and the defense improves just enough to make the playoffs.
Carolina Panthers: The strength of this Super Bowl team last year was the running game and the defense – Jake Delhomme had more breaks than Evil Knievel. He won’t be so lucky this season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The defense is still strong. On offense, though, Joey Galloway might be the best weapon. At least we won’t hear Warren Sapp yapping from the Bucs locker room anymore.
* AFC EAST
New England Patriots: The Pats have not been defeated since a 20-17 loss to the Washington Redskins last September. The only notable difference in this year’s squad is the addition of Corey Dillon, a running back. So, a team that has won 15 games in a row has improved. Scary. Note to all teams, especially the Colts: Do not run up the middle in short yardage situations.
New York Jets: Last year, the Jets got off to a 1-4 start. This year should be different with Chad Pennington behind center for the entire season. Curtis Martin can still get the job done, and Santana Moss, with 1,105 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2003, is the most underrated receiver in the league.
Miami Dolphins: This team was our Super Bowl pick after they added receiver David Boston to a team that was 10-6 last year and just a 35-yard field goal from being 11-5. Now, the Fins have fallen off the radar and an 8-8 season would equal success. Smoke, Ricky, Smoke.
Buffalo Bills: The Bills kept intact a defense that ranked second overall last year and added standout cornerback Troy Vincent. A new coach and rookie weapon – Lee Evans helping Eric Moulds at receiver – should help Drew Bledsoe return to form.
* AFC WEST
Kansas City Chiefs: Priest Holmes’ goal this year is to gain 2,300 yards. Don’t think he’ll get there, but the Chiefs’ offense and Dante Hall will lead them to the Super Bowl.
Oakland Raiders: Let’s face it. The Raiders are not very good, except maybe at quarterback and offensive line. But the division is bad enough that they will finish second.
Denver Broncos: The trade of Clinton Portis brings the level of this team way down, even if the running scheme can still produce yards.
San Diego Chargers: Poor LaDainian Tomlinson. He has no help. At least we get to watch him with the ball on almost every play.
* AFC SOUTH
Indianapolis Colts: The football world takes Peyton Manning’s greatness for granted. With free agency threatening to break up the Colts’ core, 2004 could be Manning’s last chance.
Houston Texans: In David Carr’s third year at the Texan helm, the team has playoff potential, especially with Andre Johnson’s growth. They don’t necessarily have a better team than many other AFC teams, but hey, some team has to be our sleeper.
Tennessee Titans: How can we pick such a good team to finish third in its division? The loss of Justin McCareins could hurt, but don’t you think it’s time for Steve McNair to get banged up enough to have to miss several weeks?
Jacksonville Jaguars: Jimmy Smith is growing old at receiver. But rookie Reggie Williams should eventually fill his shoes. Byron Leftwich can lead this team into the playoffs, but not this year.
* AFC NORTH
Cincinnati Bengals: With apologies to the Ravens, the Bengals are the team to beat in this division. Number one pick Carson Palmer will handle the weight on his shoulder, ending a 14-year playoff drought for the Bengals. The Cincinnati receivers can flat-out fly.
Baltimore Ravens: Everyone’s pick to win the North. Except ours. While the running game will be strong – Jamal Lewis’ drug charges pending – we say that Kyle Boller can’t complete enough passes for the Ravens to win despite Ray Lewis and that defense.
Cleveland Browns: Lack of a running game will negate anything Jeff Garcia can give to the offense. He’ll quickly learn to look for probable rookie of the year Kellen Winslow Jr. over the middle. Winslow is, after all, a soldier.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Duce Staley should be a spark to the Steeler offense along with standout receivers Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress. But what else do they have?
10 LINGERING QUESTIONS
1. Can the Colts put it all together before the team is broken up by free agency?
2. How can Dave Wannstedt get the Dolphins to perform miracle trickswithout David Boston and Ricky Williams?
3. Will Mike Vick stay healthy and take his legend to the next level?
4. How many will the Patriots add to their 15-win streak?
5. Who will get the better of the Champ Bailey for Clinton Portis trade?
6. Jevon Kearse and Terrell Owens: missing pieces for the Eagles?
7. Can the Saints finally play to their potential and quit fumbling around?
8. Who will be this year’s surprise team? We say the Houston Texans.
9. How many games will it take before Eli Manning is thrown into the fire?
10. Will Brett Favre go out on top with a Super Bowl win?
