Yeah, I guess we gotta do this one too.
So where did I screw up back in August-early September?
Again, I do not recall making any effort to make the "numbers work", for 256 wins and 256 losses.
AFC East:
New England (Predicted 12-4, Went 12-4!): A bit surprised, but Old Reliable is being brought out of the mothballs for another one, probably to be the "face" to Seattle's "heel" in Super Bowl XLIX.
Jets (Predicted 8-8, Went 4-12): Rex Ryan IS being fired tomorrow, as is the GM. This is going to be an abject blood-letting of firings and resignations tomorrow among teams who did not make the playoffs, and this joke of a franchise needs one of the biggest house-cleanings outside Cleveland.
Miami (Predicted ~8-8, Went 8-8!!): Yep, the ol' 8-8 melange for Miami again.
Buffalo (Predicted 4-12, Went 9-7): The NFL paying it's respects to Ralph Wilson, and paying it's thanks to the owner of the Sabres for keeping the team in Buffalo, for reasons I do not understand.
AFC North: Three teams in the playoffs from here.
Cincinnati (Predicted 11-5, Went 10-5-1): And a BAD 10-5-1 at that!
Baltimore (Predicted ~8-8, Went 10-6) and Pittsburgh (Predicted ~8-8, Went 11-5): Both teams did more than expected, and one has to wonder if the moving up of Thug Life in the NFL has resulted in at least mini-pushes for both of these franchises.
Cleveland (Predicted 6-10, Went 7-9)... somehow. Be that as it is, Cleveland is probably going to be Ground Zero for one of the biggest explosions in the NFL in the early off-season. I cannot see the owner keeping the GM, Manziel, Gordon, or much of anything else that took a promising season in Cleveland and blew it to shreds.
AFC South:
Indianapolis (Predicted 11-5, Went 11-5!): Andrew Luck is still money for the NFL, until better options come along (all of which exist outside the AFC South).
Tennessee (Predicted 7-9, Went 2-14 and the #2 Draft Pick): Ouch. Fire Mike Munchak and the coaching staff last year after 7-9, and now you have to do it all over again. Take much of this roster with it. Seriously. Tennessee, as a market, has less to offer a corporate/thug NFL than Green Bay!
Houston (Predicted 6-10, Went 9-7): I guess someone had to win some games in that division other than Indy!
Jacksonville (Predicted 3-13, Went 3-13!!): And that wasn't even last in the division. Now, the problem is, with no team going to LA, chances are Jacksonville is stuck and in more ways than just it's present location!
AFC West
Denver (Predicted 11-5, Went 12-4): Well, the Manning Express rolls on, and he's probably coming back next year.
San Diego (Predicted 10-6, Went 9-7)... somehow. Many believe some of that was a push for a new San Diego stadium, especially now that the LA option is off the table.
Kansas City (Predicted 8-8, Went 9-7) I didn't do that badly on the AFC, I see.
Oakland (Predicted 4-12, Went 3-13): For what I have to hope is the last season of football in a decaying city. Move the team, change the name, legacy, and reputation. Flush this franchise to a new start in San Antonio as the Wranglers or something to that effect.
Playoff order:
Predicted: NE, DEN, IND, CIN, SD, NYJ (the last in an 8-8 mess)
Actual: NE, DEN, PIT, IND, CIN, BAL
Not too bad, but could've been slightly better.
NFC East
Philadelphia (Predicted 10-6, Went 10-6!)... and out of the playoffs. Now, will they make the same mistake Chicago made, and hasn't recovered from? Nike U is paying dividends in Philadelphia, and the push will continue as long as Nike U has an arm in there.
Giants (Predicted 9-7, Went 6-10): And that should FINALLY do it for the coach. There have been several years that the Giants have come within about one more loss to firing Tom Coughlin, then they inexplicably rally. This year, no rally came.
Dallas (Predicted 7-9, Went 12-4): One of my biggest misses. That said, one really has to wonder if this is finally the year the corporate end of the NFL gives Romo and Jerry Jones the push many believed they were going to get for a while. Cooperation on certain "league issues" came into play here.
Washington (Predicted 4-12, Went 4-12!!): Change the nickname, or that team is never relevant again. Also, only one of the coach and Mr. Griffin III are staying, at maximum.
NFC North
Green Bay (Predicted 10-6, Went 12-4), and it won't matter a damned bit. Season ended in Week 1, period. Making them sacrificial lambs for the SeaThugs basically set the entire season in motion. Either Rodgers or Romo is going to have their career significantly shortened, if not ended, by the Thugs in these playoffs. The NFL has another plan, Packers fans, and you ain't gonna like it. Better Dallas comes to Lambeau and beats you than you have to suffer another run like you did against the Cowboys in the 90's.
Chicago (Predicted ~8-8/9-7, Went 5-11): How'd firing Lovie Smith go for you guys??? That's going to be the scene of another of the biggest explosions this early off-season.
Detroit (Predicted ~6-10/7-9, Went 11-5): Another of my bigger misses, and that's easy: Basic Thuganomics in the NFL. A little surprised the Packers went over this week for the division. Detroit, given Goodell's vision, might actually have been a better choice.
Minnesota (Predicted 5-11, Went 7-9????): Wow, didn't see that one coming, especially after the Adrian Peterson debacle!!!
NFC South, U-G-L-Y, You ain't got no alibi...
New Orleans (Predicted 11-5, Went 7-9): There are some serious problems in all four of these franchises. New Orleans may have been so gutted from Bounty-Gate that they might not recover for several more years, and that's even WITH the star power of Drew Brees.
Carolina (Predicted 10-6, Went 7-8-1, and won the division): For the second time, we have a team with a losing record winning the division. Now, can they beat Arizona? My guess: $Cam will find a way.
Atlanta (Predicted 8-8, Went 6-10): Another place where I could see some major fire.
Tampa Bay (Predicted 5-11, Went 2-14 and will draft Rapeis Winston with the #1 pick): They either need to get someone down in Tampa and figure out if that's a savable franchise or move the team... Dysfunction and incompetence all over the place.
NFC West
Seattle (Predicted 13-3, Went 12-4): Still got the #1 seed, and that's all that matters. Definite Dysfunction in the SeaThugs, and, as I've been told by others as well, I think the league tapped some shoulders in Seattle and showed them pictures of them holding two consecutive Lombardis. The only remaining question, IMHO, is how many quarterbacks do they take out to get the second one? There's an appetizing list...
Arizona (Predicted 11-5, Went 11-5!!): And I even got their playoff position right! And the reason, probably, too...
San Francisco (Predicted 7-9, Went 8-8): There's problems on both sides of the Bay that I think the NFL needs a look into. This situation in San Francisco has gone from toxic to ridiculous. Harbaugh is gone, and I think they may (only figuratively) only be able to get Joe Schmo from the stands to coach them every week -- no one's going to want that job!
St. Louis (Predicted 5-11, Went 6-10): See Jacksonville, but a bit better of situation.
Predicted Playoff Order: SEA, NO, PHI, GB, ARI, CAR
Actual: SEA, GB, DAL, CAR, ARI, DET
So a few more goofs in the NFC.
NE isn't going to the SB. I don't think that they are allowed. The other owners probably wanted something in exchange for having to cover up the Spygate thing, and they probably told Roger to keep NE from winning a ring as long as Brady, Belicheat, and Ernie Adams are there.
ReplyDeleteFun fact: Since the spring of 2008(when whatever was handed down was finalized), the Pats have only been to one SB (and that's because Lee Evans had the ball knocked out of his hands in the end zone), and have lost three home playoff games (we are looking at four this year). Before Spygate (from 01-07), they never lost a home playoff game.