Tonight’s opening Hall of Fame game match up features two teams that are due to answer some questions. At the top of that list of questions is how Terrell Owens will fare in his Bill debut, and how the first team Titan defense will fare without Albert Haynesworth. Both of these questions will not likely be answered in the NFL Hall of Fame Game, but we might get a glimpse. Owens is slated to play.
Given that the teams will be using very sporadic first team players, one must look at the second units when determining the outcome. For this reason, I would go with the Titans here. The Titans do still have Vince Young at quarterback, and he is still quite talented. Not only that, he is the number two man on the totem pole now, and he will want to prove himself. Given this, he will be tough against Buffalo.
Buffalo will be facing an uphill battle with Ryan Fitzpatrick and others at the quarterback position the majority of the game. This is especially true against even the second team Titans defense. They are no slouch to be sure. It will be fun to watch Terrell even in limited action.
Titans will win.
Season Record: 0-0
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The NFC East has a long and storied history, so it seems appropriate that they be the first division that I predict. NFL picks and predictions specializes in picking NFL football games, but we would be remiss without predicting the NFL’s season as a whole. Since this is the case, I will be predicting each of the divisions day by day, and will finish it off with an overall pick for the year’s conferences and playoffs as well.
The NFC East is going to be very interesting this year. No less than three of the four teams have a legitimate shot at winning the division, and the Redskins could even surprise if the stars align right. You never know with the NFC East. Here are the four teams, and the order I think they will finish in during the NFC regular season:
The Dallas Cowboys – Dallas is far from my favorite team and they are entering a year that will be interesting to watch. They have some questions to be answered, such as their secondary and replacing the ever present Terrell Owens. They also have one of the finest running back tandems in the league. Tashard Choice, Marion Barber, and Felix Jones is a load for any team. I think Dallas will put it together this season, and Romo will have his finest season. Dallas goes as the running game goes, and they can not seem to miss with this group.
The Philadelphia Eagles - The Eagles are the en vogue pick this year in the NFC East, but the truth is they are still a bit unpredictable. The reason? Superstar running back Brian Westbrook is breaking down. He is just too fragile at this point to put them in the upper echelon. If the Eagles get a ton of production from him, however, this might send the Eagles to the top.
The New York Giants - Plaxico leaving the Giants will hurt much more than Giant’s fans had hoped. They are without a doubt a talented group, but they will be in trouble in the passing game. There is always that chance that they bring in someone, or somebody steps up on the roster, but I do not see it happening.
The Washington Redskins – Washington still suffers from the quarterback position and Clinton Portis has got to slow down. Portis amazes every year, and he certainly could do so again this season. Campbell is just not going to take the Redskins any further than he already has. He has some great qualities, but the inconsistant nature is killing the Skins. Defense is suspect in DC this year as well.
Pre-Fantasy Football Draft Musings – What I Want
Tonight is my NFL fantasy football league draft and I am anxiously hoping to accomplish a few things. I want this year’s team to be well rounded. The draft is a head to head draft with only ten teams, so I assume that there will be plenty to choose from. Still, it is important to get the jump on the league with a good NFL fantasy football draft.
Each week, along with my regular NFL picks and predictions I am planning to also let you experience my NFL fantasy league experience. You can see the ups and downs, as well as the thinking that I put into my league. For those that are new to NFL fantasy football, you might learn a few things. For those that are not new to NFL fantasy football, you can laugh at me for kicks. (It is always fun to play Monday morning quarterback.)
Going into the draft, I am hoping to draft two solid running backs with my first two picks. I am hoping to get DeAngelo Williams rather cheaply. And I want a balanced team that has depth. Those are my three major goals. I do not yet know what position I will be drafting in so it makes it hard to target much else. I am very much a “get a good quarterback after your running back is settled” kind of fantasy drafter. I believe in the power of the running game.
Some players I would like to get (other than the obvious players):
DeAngelo Williams
Matt Ryan (If cheap)
Roy Williams (should be a steal after last year)
Steve Smith (an annual target for me)
I will post with my actual fantasy football team and the results tomorrow and let you know how I did. Wish me luck NFL Football friends!
michael vick
In all of my days, I never dreamed there would come a day when I would think that Terrell Owens made any sense. Just considering that possibility seems foreign to me. Truthfully, I must say that I agree with alot of what he said about the Michael Vick situation. It still rings as shallow to me coming from Owens, but it is at least grounded in reality which is a big step for the Buffalo star receiver.
In case you didn’t know, Michael Vick, former NFL football star, is recently released from prison and allowed to pursue a return to the NFL. He had just been in prison as a result of helping to run and fund a dogfighting ring. He served a prison sentence, and then was on house arrest for a long time. He also lost his entire fortune made from playing NFL football and endorsement deals.
Now, commissioner Roger Goodell is looking like he is going to accept Vick back, but give him a four game suspension to start the NFL season.
To me, that is really kicking a man when he is down. I understand that Goodell wants to swing a big stick. I get that. Really. I was the first to stand up and say that Vick should be punished. The bottom line is that Vick was punished. Does it really matter if it was mandated by Goodell or not? Should societies punishment not be strong enough?
Why does it even matter? Well, for one thing not many NFL teams are going to want to take on Vick given the situation in the first place. When you tack on a four game suspension to start the season, then Vick is even less attractive as a worthwhile investment. He already has a huge challenge in front of him.
I am not a Michael Vick fan. I am not a Terrell Owens fan. But I do think that Goodell is being rather idiotic here. Give the man a chance in full, or give him no chance at all. If you are going to suspend him, you should just enforce the lifetime ban. Otherwise, give him a zero tolerance policy, and let the man play football.
Tony Romo is about to experience life without Terrell. The former Dallas Cowboy All Pro is gone, and Romo may not yet realize just how good he was. Make no mistake, Owens was a major distraction. He will likely be addition by subtraction overall. Still, the Cowboys have to replace double digit touchdowns somewhere, and Jason Witten can not do it by himself.
Who are the potential replacements? Dallas did sign a great wide out in Roy Williams, but he disappointed a bit in his brief stint with the Cowboys. Williams has not shown he can be the main man in the offense, but that could change with Owens gone. Williams is a special talent.
Patrick Crayton is a great receiver in situations, but he is no number one man. He makes the perfect second or third receiver, and will be effective in any role he is asked to fill.
The real wild card for the Cowboys receiving corp is going to be Miles Austin. This guy can burn and will likely be asked to pick up a ton of slack. Is he ready for that? Maybe, and maybe not. We will have to wait and see. The guy has only 18 catches …. ever.
Witten will be as reliable as ever, and will pick up some slack. The problem with Witten is that Owens actually opened the lanes for him. Nobody really knows that better than Witten, and he is likely going to miss Owens secretly if not openly.
The answer to whether the Cowboys can survive the after-Owens effect is still yet to be answered. Knowing Jerry Jones, he just might swing a signing before all is said and done.
