~NFL Season 02-03 Predictions~

Curtis Martin is one of the best backs in the game. Shaun Alexander had a breakout year last year, and sure, he\'s good, but he\'s not better than Curtis Martin. Vinne Testaverde is a better quarterback than Trent Dilfer STATWISE. They both win games, and Trent Dilfer did have that one Raven defense behind him...I heard they were pretty good (gotta love being mellowdramatic).

Boston and Jenkins over Moulds and price? Well, I\'m sorry, but Rob Johnson couldn\'t even get the ball to his boys, while Plummer could at least throw. Moulds was one of the best WR\'s in the game before Flutie left, he was nothing with Johnson. Bledsoe can get him the ball, and I expect for him to return back to form in a big way.

As for Shockwaves here, you use the talent factor when it\'s useful, you use the "they\'re winners" card when it\'s useful, saying that "it\'s not all about talent" when all you judge the St. Louis over the Niners subject IS Talent. *shrugs*

See Yuz.

It\'s a combinations of talent and chemistry.  Why wouldn\'t I use both?

Because basically you\'re contradicting yourself when you shove off one of the two for one argument, but then bring it back and shove off the other in another argument. You\'re not consistent in your ways, basically

See Yuz.

The AFC East is full of contenders. The Pats are defending champs and have gotten better(on paper) during the offseason. The Dolphins have one of the most well-rounded teams in football. The Jets may have some holes on both sides of the ball; but they still have a chance to take the division. The Bills are a darkhorse with the addition of Bledsoe; they have the receiving corp to compliment his cannon. The NFC West has some the Rams and Niners. The AFC East is a better division than the NFC West, hands-down. My breakdown of the two divisions:

AFC East:
- Pats -
World Champions and they have done nothing but improve their team during the off-season. They needed a nice end for those short situations and they got the best end in the draft. They had an excellent defense and they made it that much better with the addition of Victor Green.

- Fins -
Always contenders and they have filled their major gap at running back. They have a strong defense with arguably the best CB pair in the league and a wicked D-Line anchored by Taylor. Offense is decent but nothing to write home about. Could change with "The Dreaded One" in the backfield.

- Jets -
Defense is still strong, offense will continue to sputter. Take out Curtis Martin and that Jets tenacity and you have a good version of the cardinals/seahawks.

- Bills -
Bad team + Bledsoe = Less Bad team

NFC West:
- St. Louis -
Best offense in football; but as NE demonstrated, they can be stopped. Look for a lot of teams to try to emulate NE\'s schemes against STL. Look for STL to still embarass people.

- San Francisco -
The same formula that we\'ve seen over and over again. Above Average QB + Above Average WR + Above Average RB + Above Average Defense = Above Average team.

- Seattle -
Really all they have going for them is their Running back and some good Defensive players.

- Arizona -
Plummer + Boston = Touchdown
Rest of the team = trash

Originally posted by Gohan

- Arizona -
Plummer + Boston = Touchdown
Rest of the team = trash

I dunno why, but I found that funny. Probably because I live in AZ.


The Cards might not be that bad if they actually had an O-Line. Plummer rarely gets time in the pocket, and that\'s when he makes bad decisions and throws an INT. But when he gets the time he\'s a decent QB.

One of my all time favorite quotes from ESPN the Magazine:

"Remember when we had Jake Plummer on our cover?  We\'re sorry about that"

Gohan-

Always contenders and they have filled their major gap at running back. They have a strong defense with arguably the best CB pair in the league and a wicked D-Line anchored by Taylor. Offense is decent but nothing to write home about. Could change with "The Dreaded One" in the backfield.

Whoa..whoa...whoa... Their defense is good, not great. Taylor had one big year, but last year was a no show. And wasn\'t the secondary banged up last season?

Really all they have going for them is their Running back and some good Defensive players.

And Trent Dilfer... and Mike Holmgren... And just as much tenacity as the Jets.
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ROL -

Curtis Martin is one of the best backs in the game. Shaun Alexander had a breakout year last year, and sure, he\'s good, but he\'s not better than Curtis Martin.

I say after this season Shaun Alexander will prove you wrong.

Vinne Testaverde is a better quarterback than Trent Dilfer STATWISE

They are equally skilled if you ask me... I\'ve seen both of them play and they have similiar styles. Although I give the edge to Dilfer for him leading the Ravens offense into the Superbowl.

Boston and Jenkins over Moulds and price? Well, I\'m sorry, but Rob Johnson couldn\'t even get the ball to his boys, while Plummer could at least throw. Moulds was one of the best WR\'s in the game before Flutie left, he was nothing with Johnson. Bledsoe can get him the ball, and I expect for him to return back to form in a big way.

I understand Moulds used to be good, but I\'m looking at the present here. Plummer like to go deep to Boston and we have yet to see what Bledsoe will do in Buffalo.

Originally posted by Vapor Snake
Whoa..whoa...whoa... Their defense is good, not great. Taylor had one big year, but last year was a no show. And wasn\'t the secondary banged up last season?

I\'d say great.  They had problems, like a banged up secondary last year.  Despite that, they still had the 3rd ranked defense in the AFC.

Originally posted by Vapor Snake
And Trent Dilfer... and Mike Holmgren... And just as much tenacity as the Jets.

Trent Dilfer did nothing before that one year in Baltimore, and then he actually did little.  He just had to stay out of the way.  Lewis and the Defense ran the show.  Holmgren has not done much since he got to Seattle.  He was the coach, afterall, that was sure that Hassleback would pan out :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Vapor Snake
I say after this season Shaun Alexander will prove you wrong.

He would have to have one hell of a year to beat Martin.  Martin was the 2nd ranked rusher, and one of the very best players in the AFC last year.  Alexander is good, but he needs to prove himself more.  Martin was a pro bowler last year.  Hell, he\'s one almost every year.

Originally posted by Vapor Snake
They are equally skilled if you ask me... I\'ve seen both of them play and they have similiar styles. Although I give the edge to Dilfer for him leading the Ravens offense into the Superbowl.

They aren\'t close to equally skilled.  Vinny is a multi time pro bowler.  He has a better arm, by far, and can make things happen.  Trent can\'t.  He didn\'t lead them to the super bowl.  He tagged along.

Originally posted by Vapor Snake
I understand Moulds used to be good, but I\'m looking at the present here. Plummer like to go deep to Boston and we have yet to see what Bledsoe will do in Buffalo.

Moulds didn\'t used to be good, Moulds IS good.  He just had a quarterback last year who really could not use him.  He could be a pro bowler again with Bledsoe on the team.  And Price is a solid 2nd WR.  Much better than what the Cards have.

Peerless Price had 3 good games that I recall.

He did total about 900 yards receiving, and had 7 TDs.  He also had 16.3 yards per catch.  Not bad stats.  He did have 3 huge games, but had some other solid games too.

Originally posted by shockwaves
One of my all time favorite quotes from ESPN the Magazine:

"Remember when we had Jake Plummer on our cover?  We\'re sorry about that"

Jake Plummer can be a decent QB if there was a decent O-Line in front of him. He just makes bad decisions under pressure.


Jake Plummer 0wned your ass when he was at ASU.

Originally posted by Fayded



Jake Plummer can be a decent QB if there was a decent O-Line in front of him. He just makes bad decisions under pressure.


Jake Plummer 0wned your ass when he was at ASU.

I\'m sure Tony will enjoy this...the Classic Fayded vs. Shockwaves feud. 1996 Sugar Bowl, #2 Arizona State vs. #5 Ohio State. Arizona State takes the lead with about 3 minutes left on a Jake Plummer QB sneak into the end zone, and he was pumped. Ohio State, With Joey Germaine, goes right down the field, and scores the Game Winning touchdown with about 45 seconds left in the game, killing the huge chance that Arizona State had at the National Title. #1 Florida State lost to #3 Florida in the Sugar Bowl, and Florida ran away with the National Title. The reason Florida got to #3 in the polls and ended up in the sugar bowl? Nebraska lost 37-27 to Texas in the Big XII Title game. Nebraska\'s 1 loss before then? A 19-0 Thumping from Arizona State in Tempe, Frost threw the ball in the end zone on option plays 3 times, going for 3 safeties.

See Yuz.

AFC division winners will be Patriots, Steelers, Titans, and Chargers.(eh, the bolt is back)

Wild cards:  Dolphins and Raiders

NFC Division Winners will be Redskins, Saints, Packers, and Rams.

Wild cards: Eagles and 49ers(maybe bears)

I remember when the Redskins spent all that dough rebuilding their team last year and we\'re called the Million Dollar Men and ended up sucking a nut.

That was two years ago actually.  When they had Brad Johnson at QB still, and got people like Bruce Smith.  They did under achieve though.