IT WAS A WIN BUT...

Packers' Offense Shine While Defense Struggles in W over Bears

 

There may have been a few nervous ticks during the Green Bay Packers opener against the Chicago Bears. The Pack opened with a 31 – 23 win over the Bears that showed either the unevenness of the early season or a portent of things to come with another shaky defensive outing against the run. The game’s outcome wasn’t truly decided until Bears QB Jay Cutler did what Jay Cutler usually does that let Clay Matthews do what Clay Matthews usually does. Cutler threw an ugly, untimely pick late after looking impressive through the early parts of the contest. Matthews was the recipient and once again stepped up at a key time to make a huge splash play in a game.

In many ways it was an uneven performance laced with good news/ bad news for Green Bay. The

good news – the Packers won behind an offense that was hitting on all cylinders and MVP QB Aaron Rodgers was almost perfect completing 18 of 23 passes for 189 yards and 3 TD’s. Better news for Rodgers was James Jones stepped right in and contributed mightily in his first game back as a Packer chipping in with key catches and 2 TD’s. RB Eddie Lacy not only showed his bull rushes he also demonstrated great patience behind his offensive line waiting for holes to open. Lacy added soft hands highlighted by a Brett Favre-esque flip/ shovel/ layup of a pass from Rodgers over the head over the Bears Jared Allen for a 1^st down pick up early.

The bad news was familiar. Once again it was an undermanned defense that gave up far too many yards to RB Matt Forte and made Cutler look like an All Pro. Forte ran for 141 yards on 24 carries for 141 yards with 1 TD and Cutler was 18 of 36 good for 236 yards, 1 TD but it was the late INT he tossed that was snagged by Clay Matthews that helped to extinguish the Bears chances.

And the Bears had their chances. Forget about what is on paper. The Bears came out intent on proving they are no one’s doormat and for a while they were taking it to Green Bay. Mike McCarthy will undoubtedly have some harsh words for a team that took too many penalties far too often. Sam Shields in particular had a brutal day being flagged after the Pack D had stuffed a goal line attempt by Chicago that resulted in a field goal, but Shields jumped the gun on the kick and gave the Bears another shot that wasn’t squandered in the 2^nd period as Forte swapped the FG for a TD. The drive was also extended by two foolish holding penalties on Nick Perry and Mike Daniels. The renewed chance gave Chicago a score the defense did not deserve. The overall 10 penalties for 74 yards will get McCarthy’s Irish blood boiling.

The offense was not exempt in the penalty fest. After driving to the Bears 8 the Pack was hit for

penalties by LT David Bahktiari and RT Bryan Bulaga that took a goal shot to a 3^rd and 28. After Rodgers hit the injured Randall Cobb for 10 yards Mason Crosby hit a 37 yard FG in the 2^nd period to close the knot the game up at 10. Robbie Gould’s late FG sent the Bears into the locker room with a 13-10 lead.  Chicago had Green Bay’s full attention and the malaise the Pack had in the first half was a key factor.

Aaron Rodgers was born for moments like this. Green

Bay began the 2^nd half with the ball and Rodgers methodically marched the Pack down the field in 3 minutes that ended with Rodgers hitting Jones on a slant for a lead they would not relinquish. Gould hit another FG to narrow the margin to 17 – 16 but once again Rodgers showed why he is the reigning MVP. He led a 48 yard drive that lasted but 1:46 the ended when Lacy barreled into the end zone that gave the Packers some breathing room.
 

Give the defense this much – while they were undermanned with linemen Datone Jones (1 game)

and Letroy Guion (3 games) out due to suspensions and S Morgan Burnett out with a strained calf muscle it was a gritty group that stepped it up in the second half and down the stretch. When the Pack took control of the game offensively behind Rodgers in the 2^nd half the D also responded in kind. After leaking throughout the first half the defense surrendered 1 first down until the Bears final possession with the game out of reach. While Green Bay lost the time of possession battle the Packers did not turn the ball over. When the defense needed a big play it was Jay Cutler doing what Jay Cutler does best and the Packers’ defensive star shining brightest when it was needed most. Clay Matthews’ pick of Cutler when the Bears were driving was the veritable dagger at that juncture. As TE Martellus Bennett tried a seam slant Matthews had already broke for the ball before Cutler released it. Matthews showed great anticipation all afternoon and could be found running many plays down from behind.  Leading 31 – 16 the Packers felt they could breathe easy.

Forget about it. Nothing comes easy for the Packers when the Bears are involved.

In spite of Matthews heroics Cutler stormed the Bears back late with an impressive 72 yard drive that ended when TE Martellus Bennet hauled in a 24 yarder to close the gap to 31 – 23. Now it was time for the Nervous Nellies to show up and gnaw on their fingernails. The TD only meant that Green Bay would have to face the first meaningful onside kick since the disaster in Seattle last year when Brandon Bostick blew the Pack’s shot at a Super Bowl by misplaying the ball. The funk and stench of that play has hung over Green Bay like a fog on a cold day over Lake Michigan. As the fans covered their eyes with the thought of impending doom the Packers executed the retrieval of the kick flawlessly and finally everyone could breathe a bit easier.

Critics will agonize over the penalties and damn the defense for what appeared to be a soft showing but the inescapable fact is Green Bay is 1 – 0 not just overall but in the division also. The D was

missing 4 key contributors in Jones, Guion, Burnett and ILB Sam Barrington who went out with an ankle injury. Chicago proved to be a worthy and stout opponent and under John Fox they could be better than anticipated.

For Green Bay the reunion of Rodgers and James Jones could not have been scripted any better. Jones’ magnificent TD grab when Bears DB Alan Ball was literally in his face has got to make Giants QB Eli Manning shake his head while he wonders how the hell the Giants ever released Jones. Jones’ presence will help ease newcomers Jeff Janis and Ty Montgomery into the lineup and Montgomery flashed in the return game. The promise of Montgomery’s potential was evident and Green Bay now gets to focus their complete and undivided attention on the Evil Empire from the Emerald City.

Seattle/ Green Bay in week 2… a potential preview? We’ll see.



LET THE GAMES BEGIN

Pack Opens Their Season in the Windy City

 

Enough with Deflategate. No more litigation, gnashing teeth over the 53^rd man on the roster, no “why didn’t we get a free agent” or “they drafted WHO??” No sir… out away the superfluous nonsense, the drivel that drives us insane in the offseason and get out the jerseys and fire up the gas grills in the parking lot.

Football is back and the Pack is raring to go. And Chicago is going to the Super Bowl.

The Bears’ Super Bowl will take place on opening day however. Facing the mighty Packers Chicago and their fervent followers have no shot at January so their Super Bowl will be played against Green Bay. As woeful as the Bears appear on paper there is little else to inspire Bears hopefuls other than laying a loss on the Pack.

The 2105- 16 Green Bay Packers open the campaign against their longtime divisional rivals the

Chicago Bears in the Windy City. Ordinarily a game of this magnitude would be played deeper in the season so the timing seems a bit quirky. The Bears will come limping in to face a team that is superior on both sides of the ball. But that will mean zip when they square off on Sunday.

The grand Marc Trestman experiment is over and John Fox’s tenure in Denver was cut short last season also. The defensive minded Fox has a track record of winning in his stops in the Mile High City and in Carolina and the Bears brass is hoping he can do the same for what has become the doormat of the NFC North. Every team in the division has improved and will be competitive.

Except Chicago.

The Bears have fallen upon hard times and have not exactly drafted well or made great personnel decisions. Last year they felt Julius Peppers was too old and had lost too much so the cut him loose and signed FA Jared Allen. In retrospect the Bears have to be kicking themselves for that move as Peppers was rejuvenated in Green Bay while Allen had one of the lowest sack totals he’s had since he entered the league with Kansas City.

It looked for a while like the Bears were going in the right direction. They drafted Alshon Jeffery and paired him with Brandon Marshall and with resurgent TE Martellus Bennett Da Bears had the makings of a nifty aerial attack. With all purpose workhorse Matt Forte running the ball the Bears could have been a decent outfit. Should have been a decent outfit. But Marshall was shipped off the Jets and 1^st round WR Kevin White is out with injuries. And as long as Jay Cutler is running the show the Bears time and again shoot themselves in the foot. It was only 2 scanty years ago the Bears had the Pack on the ropes in the final game of the season.

Then came the now infamous ‘48’ play. 4^th and 8 from the 48 and 46 seconds left when Aaron

Rodgers heaved a rainbow that a wide open Randall Cobb snagged for the shot that permanently sunk the Bears and has carried through till the present day. It was a blow from which the Bears never recovered.

Their once stout, once proud defense is in tatters and bears little resemblance to the ferocity the Bear once had. CB’s Charles “Peanut’ Tillman is gone. Tim Jennings is gone. The only player of merit left in the defensive backfield is Kyle Fuller and he isn’t enough to handle the likes of Aaron Rodgers. What’s worse is the Bears no longer have a pass rush. And forget about their linebackers – Brian Urlacher has long since retired and Lance Briggs is gone as well. This dense truly warrants a scorecard to know who is even on the field.

Chicago still has the ability to post points. And as long as Cutler is in there they also have the ability to throw the ugliest and most untimely picks as well. Cutler has been booed mercilessly at home and hasn’t much helped his own cause by continually forcing the ball into too tight coverage. Trestman couldn’t’ cure his woes and now Fox will find out very quickly Cutler isn’t Peyton Manning.

The thought of opening against the Pack will undoubtedly motivate the Bears. With the Seattle Seahawks next on the slate Chicago is really kinda hoping the Pack looks past them and has already begun making plans for next week.

That just ain’t gonna happen.

In spite of the loss of WR Jordy Nelson the Packers are still loaded offensively. The biggest key after

the stars is the complete return of an offensive line that has done nothing but improve every season since Mike McCarthy took over. Ted Thompson snagged 2 of the biggest names in free agency in the off season also. Huh? How is that possible?

WR Randall Cobb and RT Bryan Bulaga were easily 2 prime targets for many teams who came courting. If there was a better FA WR than Cobb last year please step forward. By retaining Cobb and Bulaga for less money than was being offered to them Thompson’s resigning his own trumps whatever anybody did in signing other free agents and is a move that should not go as unnoticed as it did.

James Jones is making a return to Titletown in Nelson’s absence. He knows the system, the playbook and Rodgers. “There are only a few calls and signals that are different (than before) so it’s just a meter of getting the timing down again’ said Jones upon his return. Rodgers is the great equalizer that can alone offset Nelson’s loss. This is no way an attempt to downplay Nelson’s value or ability but Rodgers has made great receivers out of players who have politely struggled elsewhere after they have departed (Greg Jennings and even Jones).

Davante Adams had what McCarthy labeled a terrific camp and is poised to step into the #1 spot

opposite Jones and allow Cobb to be moved around the field as McCarthy likes. The pressure of being the #3 WR has been lifted from promising rookie Ty Montgomery and 2^nd year man Jeff Janis will finally get a chance to show he belongs on the 53 man roster. Janis has been brilliant in August posting 5 TD grabs over the past 2 per seasons but now has to translate that to the games that matter.

As Rodgers redefines his passing power structure having Eddie Lacy makes the task that much easier. A brute of a RB Lacy and James Starks will likely see many carries on Sunday. As the receivers finds their way expect the Pack to come out running. If Lacy gets going Rodgers could have a field day with his play action prowess.

The biggest question mark remains the Packers ability to stop the run. They were gouged repeatedly by Philadelphia in the preseason and it wasn’t the bottom of the roaster. Most disturbing was that it came against the #1 D. While several key components were out (Peppers and Clay Matthews) the Pack cannot afford to let Forte get rolling. The inside linebackers are in flux and Matthews will be moved in and out with Nick Perry and Mike Neal picking up the slack outside when Matthews moves inside.

Perry has not quite lived up to his draft position. A former 1^st round pick Perry is in a contract year

and will need to finally break out. Rookie ILB Jake Ryan may see some time inside and could help down the road,. The other question marks have to do with how well #’s 1 & 2 rookie CB’s Demarious Randall and Quentin Rollins can fill the void left by Tramon Williams and Davon House. Casey Hayward is healthy and becomes the #2 CB behind Sam Shields who had an off year last year. S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix did nothing but improve steadily throughout last year. He and a healthy Morgan Burnett provide veteran stability in the back of the D.

Chicago would love to start the season with a bang. It just won’t happen. Mike McCarthy has said he wants to open fast and open strong. He is a man with a plan and a man of his word.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  GREEN BAY 31 

 

 

 

 

  Chicago  13  



GENTLEMEN... START YOUR ENGINES!!

 

Our Annual Predictions of Where Every team Will Finish

 

As the kickoff for the 2105-16 NFL season draws closer we take a look at the entire NFL and make our annual case for the risers and fallers and where they’ll finish.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

We might as well address the giant elephant in the room first. Jordy Nelson, the Pack’s leading receiver and Aaron Rodgers’ favorite target is out for the year. In a non-contact freak land after a leap he has made at least a thousand times in his career Nelson blew out his ACL in preseason. So does that diminish the Pack’s chances of going deep in the season and post season?

It will hurt but as long as Rodgers is under center the Pack will be a clear and present danger. Randall Cobb is back but won’t necessarily fill Nelson’s #1 position. Cobb and Nelson are completely different body types and Cobb is far more effective used in various formations and primarily from the slot. 2^nd year man Davante Adams has the size but not the speed of Nelson and is poised to have a breakout year after finishing strong in his rookie campaign. James Jones rejoins the Pack after being cut by the Giants and Raiders. Jones’ veteran presence will help take the strain off Rodgers, Cobb and Adams and help rookie Ty Montgomery and Jeff Janis who put up 5 TD’s in the past 2 preseasons. Janis has a Nelson-esque physique at 6’ 3” and 215 lbs and does possess great speed. He’ll have to become a more complete receiver in practice to earn Rodgers trust.

TE Richard Rodgers may take over the #1 spot from incumbent Andrew Quarless and should also become a bigger weapon. At 6’ 4” Rodgers should increase his 20 catch rookie year and be more visible to the other Rodgers. With the reigning NFL MVP at the peak of his game Arod will make almost any receiver look better.

A huge ace in the hole will be RB Eddie Lacy. Lacy has exploded onto the NFL scene and has added pass catching ability out of the backfield. Shouldering the load with James Starks the Pack could become more reliant on the running gamer early until the WR’s find their footing. The running game could be formidable with the entire OLine returning intact. Mike McCarthy has called the group of David Bahktiari, Josh Sitton, Corey Linsley, T.J. Lang and Bryan Bulaga the best group he’s had in Green Bay and the rest of the league is finally starting to notice he is in fact correct.

The looming questions will be on defense. How well can the D stop the run? Will the gaps at ILB left after A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones were released by adequately filled? Will Clay Matthews make last seasons move to the ILB slot permanent? Is the defensive line good enough? Are rookies Demarious Randall (1^st round) and Quentin Rollins (2^nd round) be good enough soon enough to replace departed CB’s Tramon Williams and Davon House? DT B.J. Raji is back after missing all of last year with a biceps tear and DE Mike Daniels will help to anchor the line but the likes of Josh Boyd, Mike Pennel, Datone Jones and Letroy Guion will have to step it up. Both Jones (1 game) and Guion (3 games) have suspensions to start out the season. Rookie Jake Ryan (4^th round) could see the field but will he be an answer? Nick Perry has been solid but more has been expected of him and in a contract year could he elevate as Mike Neal has? Julius Peppers has been the shot in the arm the D needed and he returns. Last year the Packers D closed very strong.

How well they start and also stop the run determines how far this team can ultimately go.

PREDICTION – 11-5/ 1^st Place NFC North/ 2^nd Seed NFC/ 1st Round Playoff Bye

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Head Coach Mike Zimmer has brought some bite and ferocity back to the Twin Cities. The Vikes finished very strong last year and are on almost everyone’s’ short list of most improved team. We don’t disagree. The Vikes will depend on QB Teddy Bridgewater to not have the dreaded sophomore slump and the return of RB Adrian Peterson should help keep the defenses guessing. Former Packer WR Charles Johnson looks like he’ll supplant the hugely disappointing Cordarelle Patterson and give Teddy B a nice target. Will import WR Mike Wallace find his head in the North? Zimmer hopes so.

PREDICTION – 10- 6/ 2^nd Place NFC North/ Playoff Wild card

DETROIT LIONS

Jim Caldwell came in and added a sense of quiet discipline to the NFL’s wildest bunch. QB Matthew Stafford had a terrific year and although the tread is starting to show on WR Calvin Johnson he and Golden Tate still make DB’s cringe. Rookie RB Ahmer Abdullah looks explosive and teamed with Joique Bell could give the Lions more depth to take the strain off Stafford. The Lions were hurt by the loss of DT Ndamukong Suh (Miami) and Nick Fairley (St. Louis) but still have LB DeAndre Levy who packs a wallop. While CB Darius Slay and S Glover Quin had good years last year they may be hurt by the loss of the ferocious pass rush.

PREDICTION – 9-7/ 3^rd Place NFC North

C

HICAGO BEARS

What kind of a mess did John Fox inherit? As long as scatter armed QB Jay Cutler remains in Chicago the Bears chances of success are the equivalent of Roger Goodell and Tom Brady having a man crush on each other. WR Brandon Marshall is gone (New York Jets) and rookie WR Kevin White is injured already. RB Matt Forte is the only reliable part of the Bears offense.  Cutler has been nothing short of a turnover machine in the Windy City and all Fox’s defensive pedigrees won’t help fix what looks to be a simply awful defense. It could be a long year in Chi-town but hey – it will be the home of the draft next April. And the Bears should be picking pretty high again.

PREDICTION – 5- 10/ 4^th Place NFC North

NFC EAST

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

The Grand Experiment enters its’ 2^nd run in Philly. Mad Scientist or Mad Man Chip Kelly has gutted and overhauled the Birds roster top to bottom and gotten rid of what he perceived to be dead weight. Philly fans howled when LeSean McCoy was sent shuffling off to Buffalo and cried when WR Jeremy Maclin was dispatched to Kansas City and moaned when G Evan Mathis and Nick Foles were sent packing. But the future of pro football may be taking wing in the City of Brotherly Love. At first some of the racist carping being done by those he got rid of made some ripples but what Kelly has envisioned is entirely new altogether. Kelly is looking for interchangeable parts to play football much like pro hockey is played with rotating lines to keep legs fresh and defenses guessing. DeMarco Murray will NOT (write that down) see the touches or the yards he had last year in carrying the Cowboys but with Ryan Matthews (San Diego) and Darren Sproles he won’t need to. Sam Bradford has looked sharp all summer and if he stays healthy Philly could be tough.

PREDICTION – 10- 6 1^st Place NFC East/ Playoffs

DALLAS COWBOYS

Was last year a fluke? Jerry Jones didn’t open the purse strings for Murray and let him skate to a division rival and then says with a straight face he expects Darren McFadden and Joseph Randle to be as good as Murray. Oh, the offensive line still looks stout. But McFadden? Really? Sorry Jerry – last year WAS a fluke. But the good news for ‘Boys fans is the G Men and the RG3’s play in the same division so they won’t finish worse than 2^nd.

PREDICTION 9-7 2^nd Place NFC EAST

NEW YORK GIANTS

2^nd year man Odell Beckham Jr. is the newest flavor of the month in the NFL and has started getting pissy in preseason about the tight coverage he will no doubt see. Eli Manning is back and not much else in NY. Will Beckham flash or flop this year with more scrutiny? The hard money is on a sophomore slump.

PREDICTION 7 – 9/ 3^rd Place NFC EAST

WASHINGTION REDSKINS

News Bulletin out of our Nations’ capitol… Head Coach Jay Gruden is the first coach to be sacked in the NFL this year. After playing spin the bottle between Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins RG3’s concussion (**cough cough**) has meant Gruden kisses Cousins and RG3 is back on the bench. Do they even play football in DC any more? ‘Skins fans long wistfully for Jay Schroeder.

PREDICTION – 4- 12/ 4^th Place NFC EAST

NFC SOUTH

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

This is the default division. Someone’s gotta win it and someone’s gotta get to the playoffs. That’s the best that can be said. Drew Brees is back sans Jimmy Graham, sans Reggie Bush and sans any chance of doing more than being competitive. It isn’t enough. The “It Might As Well Be Us” Award in this division goes to Brees and Co.

PREDICTION 9-7- 1^st Place NFC SOUTH/ Playoffs

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Cam Newton almost made believers of folks last year. Almost. We’re still not buying the hype and now with WR Kelvin Benjamin lost and Cecil Shorts gone Newton’s options are 1) throw it to TE Greg Olsen (a lot) or 2) run like hell. Brittle Jonathon Stewart is the lead back but there isn’t much to fear here.

PREDICTION 8 -8/ 2^nd Place NFC SOUTH

ATLANTA FALCONS

Head Coach Mike Smith is out and barely anyone took notice. As vanilla as a coach in the NFL Smith’s reign of mediocrity comes to an end and in spite of Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White there isn’t much on the other side of the ball to strike fear into an opponent.

PREDICTION 7 – 9/ 3^rd Place NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Let the Jameis Winston era begin. If you believe the hype this kid is the next Aaron Rodgers. Better hold on to that thought. Yeah the kid has an arm but his arm isn’t the question – it’s his head. How quickly and can he adapt to the NFL? Will he keep his nose clean and in the playbook? The Bucs will be interesting but they are a few years away from being taken for real.

PREDICTION – 5 - 11/ 4^th Place NFC SOUTH

NFC WEST

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

This may be the toughest division in the NFC and right behind the AFC Central. Russell Wilson finally got a new deal and also a new TE for Christmas in Jimmy Graham. It cost the ‘Hawks a 1^st round pick but the greater cost may be the loss of Max Unger from the OLine, a move that while securing Graham may hurt Wilson and Co. more. RB Marshawn Lynch had to be talked into returning. S Kam Chancellor is poised for what he says is a long holdout with 3 years remaining on the deal he signed just 2 years ago. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown but with their D Seattle can run long and deep.

PREDICTION – 12 – 4 1^st Place NFC WEST/ 1^st Seed NFC/ PLAYOFF BYE

ARIZONA CARDINALS

There’s some doings out in the desert. Bruce Arians has done a masterful job of turning the Cards into the real deal. QB Carson Palmer is back from a season ending knee injury and leads what could be a potent attack. Aging Larry Fitzgerald is more than just a fading name and with Michael Floyd and speedy John Brown the Cards will put up some points. The defense is a no name group led by Patrick Peterson and Tyrone Mathieu and is robust. This year they make the playoffs.

PREDICTION – 10-6/ 2^nd Place NFC West/ Playoff WILD CARD

ST. LOUIS RAMS

The offensively challenged/ defensively stout Rams need a coach named Sigmund Freud to help them figure out their own identity. They gassed Sam Bradford for Philly’s Nick Foles and absolutely no one can guess what will happen. WR is a thin position even with 115 lb. blazer Tavon Austin in the lineup.  The likes of Kenny Britt and Chris Givens are underwhelming even with a ferocious front 4 of Chris Long, Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers and Robert Quinn. Add Nick Fairley in and the Rams can stop anyone. But they equally cannot outscore anyone either.

PREDICTION – 9-7/ 3^rd Place NFC West

SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

Has any team fallen as far or as fast as the Niners? Once pounding on the door of the Super Bowl with a stellar lineup and 11 draft picks this has been an unmitigated disaster of an off season in the city by the bay. QB Colin Kaepernick was exposed as a weak armed QB with a strong pair of legs and just about anyone associated with San Fran last year is gone, traded, suspended or incarcerated. Jim Harbaugh? Out. Michael Crabtree? Gone. Aldon Smith? Justin Smith? Frank Gore? Chris Borland? Things are so bad that 27 year old Australian rugby star Jared Hayne made the 53 man roster. The Niners star has fallen that far.

PREDICTION 6 – 10/ 4^th Place NFC WEST

AFC

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Did anybody really think Tom Brady and the rest of the renegade Patriot mob wouldn’t outmaneuver Roger Goodell and the long arm of the law? Without a 4 game early season vacation hanging over his head the defending Super Bowl champs now have not just a chip on their shoulder but a whole lumber yard. Bill Belichick knows how to motivate his squad, and when the Pats have something to prove they deliver.  New England may be challenged more this year than in year’s past but they’re still the Patriots. The more things change, the more they say the same.

Prediction – 11-5/ 1^ST Place AFC EAST/ 1^st Round Playoff Bye

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Former Packer coach Joe Philbin has to be feeling the Miami heat this year. The Fins imported Ndamukong Suh and expectations are running high in south Florida. In his tenure the Dolphins have been the model of mediocrity and in the suddenly ultra-competitive AFC East that won’t get it done. Will Miami have enough to get into the playoffs? Yeah. QB Ryan Tannehill continues to grow and Miami takes a big step forward.

PREDICTION – 10 – 6/ 2^ND Place AFC EAST/ Playoffs

NEW YORK JETS

The highlight of the Jets off season was now departed LB IK Enemkpali belting scattered armed QB Geno Smith in the mouth over a petty debt. New Coach Todd Bowles replaces the very bombastic Rex Ryan and has brought a few big names into the Big Apple. Brandon Marshall and Darrelle Revis are in but as long as the wildly inconsistent Geno Smith is around it won’t make a tinker’s damn bit of difference. As long as Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bryce Petty or the glass jawed Smith are under center Bowles is in trouble. So are the Jets.

PREDICTION – 9-7/ 3^rd Place AFC EAST

BUFFALO BILLS

And the Bills are now the New York Jets West. New coach Rex Ryan brought in LB IK Enemkpali as a reward for smacking the guy that cost him his job in the Big Apple. But the Bills are loaded defensively, have a great pickup in RB LeSean McCoy from Philly and an imposing D. But just like the Jets as long as Tyrod Taylor, Matt Cassel or E.J. Manuel are under center Ryan is in trouble. If and when the QB’s in this division can ever come close to Tannehill (forget about Brady) this will be the NFL’s most competitive and compelling division. Until then there will be a lot of .500 good but not great teams.

PREDICTION - 8- 8/ 4^th Place AFC EAST

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Loaded and deep best describes the Ravens. They are poised to make a serious run again and Joe Flacco has a killers look this year. Aging Steve Smith Sr. is in his farewell campaign and 1^st round WR Brashad Perriman will be exciting. But the strength in Baltimore is its’ imposing D. Their LB’s might be the best in the business with Terrell Suggs, C.J. Mosely, Elvis Dumerville, Courtney Upshaw and Arthur Brown. There will be some whacks delivered in Charm City year.

PREDICTION – 11 - 5/ 1^st Place AFC NORTH

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Holy backwards Batman! Since when have the smash mouth Steelers been an OFFENSIVE juggernaut? Try this year. Big Ben Roethlisberger is back and has a bevy of weapons to throw at. Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, Darrius Hayward- Bey and UDFA R Tyler Murphy look more like a track team at the WR position. LeVeon Bell will sit for 2 games but adds explosiveness to the Steeler attack. The biggest questions are on the defensive side. The Steelers have been playing a Round Defense for a while now (no corners) and there is much to question on the backside of the D. Pittsburgh will put up points undoubtedly. But they will give them up as well.

PREDICTION – 10 – 6/ 2^nd Place AFC NORTH/ Playoffs

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Head Coach Marvin Lewis’s sand is filtering thru the hourglass and if it doesn’t happen this year it may never happen at all in Cincy. Andy Dalton is the leader of an average team now in decline. A.J. Green is a very good WR but can’t seem to break into the ‘great’ category. The defense is aging and suspect. Look for the Bengals to begin the slide backwards this year in Lewis’ swan song.

PREDICTION – 9 – 7/ 3^rd PLACE AFC NORTH

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Mike Pettine is a solid coach. He is a defensive coach and therein lies Cleveland’s strength. The D gets a huge shot in the arm with 1^st rounder Danny Shelton who will step in and begin throwing bodies around in the first game. But the offense is a different story. How long can he tolerate Johnny Bench as a QB? Johnny Manziel is all hype and until he actually does something on the field in a meaningful game he will be little more than flash with no substance. So will the Brownies. The search for a real QB will begin in October.

PREDICTION - 6 – 10/ 4^th Place AFC NORTH

AFC SOUTH

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

This is Andrew Luck’s division and the rest of the teams in here are somewhere between a work in progress and downright awful. As if the Colts and Luck needed more firepower they tabbed speedster WR Philip Dorsett in the 1st round to go with blazer T.Y. Hilton and added aging but still more than capable vets in WR Andre Johnson and RB Frank Gore. Throw in TE Colby Fleener and the Colts have an embarrassment of riches offensively. There were eyebrows raised at Dorsett’s selection as many thought the Colts needed more help on the D than another toy for Luck to play with. CB Vontae Davis leads a group of no-namers that have to keep it respectable for Luck to outscore. In this division of mediocrity it won’t be hard.

PREDICTION – 12 -4/ 1^st PLACE AFC SOUTH/ 1^st Round Playoff Bye

HOUSTON TEXANS

Bill O’Brien was the unquestioned star of “Hard Knocks” this year and was a welcome sight after last year’s vanilla Mike Smith of the Falcons. OB has bite and a blunt honesty his players can respect. Their front 7 on D can play with anyone. Defensive POY J.J. Watt leads a potent attack with Jadeveon Clowney who missed most of last year with microsurgery. LB’s Brian Cushing, Whitney Mercilus and import Vince Wilfork only bolster a rugged defense. But the battle cry of mediocrity is the lack of a quality QB. Underwhelming Brian Hoyer was named the starter over underperforming Ryan Mallet. Neither has the look of a true leader. RB Arian Foster pulled a groin but expects to play this year. When? Who knows? Such is the fate of Houston. Improving, yes, but…

PREDICTION – 8-8/ 2^nd Place AFC SOUTH

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Gus Bradley has the Jags on the right track. QB Blake Bortles needs help and got some in WR’s Ace Sanders, Marquise Lee Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson. But the loss of Julius Thomas is going to hurt. Rookie RB T.J. Yeldon has been mostly inconsistent in preseason and the defense is a work in progress. CB Davon House comes in from Green Bay but won’t be enough to keep points off the board in bunches by opponents.

PREDICTION – 6 – 10/ 3^rd Place AFC SOUTH

TENNESSEE TITANS

Awful. Horrid. Terrible. Yes, sports fans, find whatever works because that describes Tennessee. 1^st rounder QB Marcus Mariota will start right off the bat leaving promising Zack Mettenberger in limbo. But when Mariota’s targets include Kendall Wright and Harry Douglas it will be imperative for 2^nd round stud WR Dorial Green- Beckham to develop very fast. This draft needs a few more defenders as the Titans have very few as it is.

PREDICTION - 4 – 12/ 4^th Place/ AFC SOUTH

AFC WEST

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

The Chiefs? Why not the Chiefs? Andy Reid is building Philadelphia west and has imported WR’s Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant to add to an anemic (and we are being kind with that assessment) passing attack. QB Alex Smith did the near impossible last year with 0 – ZERO – TD passes thrown to a WR last year. RB Jamal Charles still is a beast and will rack up yardage. But when Justin Houston leads the defense with Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson the Chiefs have as good a D as anyone. Don’t forget the Chiefs were the only team last year to topple both New England and Seattle.

PREDICTION – 10 – 6/ 1^st Place AFC WEST/ Playoffs

DENVER BRONCOS

The sun is setting on Peyton Manning’s glorious career. This is the last year before the bill comes due in the form of cap penalties before Denver enters a self-imposed ice age. The purging of high priced core vets has begun with the loss of Julius Thomas. Demarious Thomas is still their but Manning’s arm is sadly showing a loss of strength. And so the greatest regular season QB will go no proud but quietly into the good night as the Broncos get nudged out of the playoffs by Pittsburgh and Miami. Salary cap hell is right around the corner and if it doesn’t happen this year for Denver it will be a long time before it is even a notion in Denver again.

PREDICTION – 10 – 6/ 2^nd Place AFC WEST

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

The ‘Bolts may be the next best on the improved list behind Minnesota. QB Philips Rivers is back and has a few speedy wideouts. Torrey Smith jumps across from Baltimore and joins Keenan Allen, Malcolm Floyd and Stevie Johnson to make football fun is SoCal again. Much is hoped from Rookie RB Melvin Gordon and San Diego will light up a few scoreboards. But Rivers needs help on D to keep it from becoming a shootout every week. S Eric Weddle isn’t quite enough. San Diego will be better. But wait till next year.

PREDICTION – 9 -7/ 3^rd Place AFC WEST

OAKLAND RAIDERS

As bad as the Raiders were they are finally going in the right direction. Last year QB Derek Carr survived and fared better than expected. This year the Raiders have jettisoned aging WR James Jones and grabbed gifted WR Amari Cooper in the draft. The running game is anemic and as Charles Woodson enters the end of his career Oakland has begun by adding Kahlil Mack last year and should be able to keep restocking for the future. But the future is not now.

PREDICTION – 5 – 11/ 4^th Place AFC WEST