Predicted Order of Finish
1) Pittsburgh Steelers - Should win more games than last yr.
2) Baltimore Ravens - Flip a coin with Tenn for last playoff spot.
3) Cincinnati Bengals - Could finish .500 or better.
4) Cleveland Browns - Fewest wins in league is possible.
Impact Veteran Newcommers
Laveranues Coles - Bengals
5 Rookies Who Could Blow Up
Michael Johnson, DE (3rd, Georgia Tech) - Bengals
Michael Oher, OT (1st, Mississippi) - Ravens
Rey Maualuga, ILB (2nd, USC) - Bengals
Brian Robiskie, WR (2nd, Ohio State) - Browns
Mohamed Massaquoi, WR (2, Georgia) - Browns
5 Fantasy Winners
Santonio Holmes, WR - Steelers
Steelers Defense
Carson Palmer, QB - Bengals
Derrick Mason, WR - Ravens
Ravens Defense
5 Fantasy Losers
Willie Parker, RB - Steelers
Braylon Edwards, WR - Browns
Willis McGahee, RB - Ravens
Joe Flacco, QB - Ravens
Jamal Lewis, RB - Browns
5 Fantasy Team Make-or-Breakers
Cedric Benson, RB - Bengals
Bengals Defense
Chad Johnson, WR - Bengals
Hines Ward, WR - Steelers
Rashard Mendenhall, RB - Steelers
End Game
Cincinnati is closer to Baltimore than Baltimore is to Pittsburgh going into the season. The Bengals have quietly built a roster of college winners with talent. Baltimore's running game doesn't dazzle and if forced to throw to win I don't like those odds. While in Cleveland it has been proven many times over that QB controversies don't pay. They have no chance until a quaterback is chosen once and for all. As for Pittsburgh. Another division title seems likely. However familiar foes, SD and NE, await come playoff time.
Nice synopsis of the division. I am glad to see you are not as quite as big on the Bengals and Carson "I have won absolutely nothing and is very overrated" Palmer. Yes the Bungles do have talent but not a very good coach and even less of an organization. They and their quarterback are pretty insignificant to me. The Browns are the Browns but have good offensive talent.
ReplyDeleteI think Baltimore has a good qb but not enough recievers. Their D is the 2nd best in the division but one year older. Baltimore and Pittsburgh will go down to the wire for the division. Pittsburgh slapped that team silly last year beating 3 times in a row though it hard to keep spanking a team so I suspect they will each take their home games.
If Pittsburgh can stay focused, i.e., hungry and keep the "lying bitch" distraction to a minimum, they could be right back in it. Mendenhall needs to stay healthy and show he can ball and Sweed needs to simply hold on to the ball. Parker is in a contract year so I would not sleep on him, I look for a pretty big year for him. Heinz may start to tail off a bit this year but look for Miller to have even more of a roll. Speath to add even more and the O line has to play with drive, moxy and a want to protect their qb as they are not the best group out there but proved good enough to win it all last year. They have a qb who can buy time so that is on their side.
We all know what the #1 defense in the NFL is and does so I won't even comment. Well, maybe to words. Dick LaBeau!