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.
Prediction:
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.
Ok. I am pretty much over the whole Michael Vick thing. But this is simply too much…
Newport News, Vick’s hometown, is throwing a celebration in honor of Vick on August the 8th according to Fox news. Yes, a celebration. Andrew Shannon, who is president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Newport News is heading this up, and he says it is to promote the doctrine of nonviolence. And Vick is the guest of honor?
A returning felon is getting a celebration. A returning violent felon (against dogs at least) is going to be their poster child for “a doctrine of nonviolence?” Did I miss something here?
Do not get me wrong. I feel that Michael Vick should be allowed another chance in the NFL as I stated here. I feel that the man served his time and should be allowed another chance at making things right. But isn’t this just a little bit rediculous? Could they not find a better example of non-violence to celebrate? Has he really proved himself already having just gotten released from custody a couple weeks ago?
This is one event that I could understand PETA screaming at. I might even pick up a sign or two myself. That said, I feel that asking Vick to come home to a celebration is kind of like asking Pacman Jones to go to an anti-stripper rally. It is a joke and offensive as hell all at the same time.
What do you think about this? I would love to get some opinions for or against.
When everybody’s fantasy football draft rolls around, it is not likely that tight ends will be at the top of everyone’s draft list. That is logical considering even the best tight ends do not even come close to contributing what a quarterback or running back will provide. Still, the 2009 NFL football season will have some tight ends that will challenge the wide receivers of the league.
This season, there will be at least five of them that you can expect to fill your fantasy scorecard week after week. Here they are:
Jason Witten – Witten already was putting up pinball type numbers for the Dallas Cowboys before Terrell Owens left, and now he is going to be targeted even more. Add to that the fact that the Cowboys have a super running attack and you start to see how Witten is set for a career year.
Dallas Clark - Clark is another example of addition by subtraction. Harrison is no longer there for Manning to throw to, and Clark should pay the dividends. Reggie Wayne will still be the man, but Clark will likely be the primary number two in crunch time.
Antonio Gates - Gates is an unquestioned beast when he is healthy and it appears that he is finally there. Offseason foot surgery solved a long standing problem and that probably means bad news for the rest of the AFC. Phillip Rivers will be throwing to him early and often.
Kellen Winslow - Winslow is set to finally fulfill the potential that he has been missing out on for years. He should be near the top of your tight end list if for no other reason than he is sure to be a security for…..whoever is Tampa Bay’s quarterback.
Tony Gonzalez – Matching Gonzalez with Matt Ryan is a match made in heaven. Not only will Gonzalez give Mattie Ice a new target, but he is the perfect compliment to the Atlanta offense. They will feed Michael Turner, and then play action pass all day long. Hello Tony Gonzalez!
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.
