We all want football season to start as soon as possible. So now that it’s August, we here at Pyle of List are tired of waiting. We have so much beautiful football inside us, it needs to be let out much like the musical creativity that resided inside Dirk Diggler. So we’ve devoted the entire month of August to football. BOOYAH!
A lot of blogs will beat around the bush with their NFL previews. We’re gonna give you what you want right away: our NFL picks.
Lunchbox
Why You Should Listen to Me: I’m good with numbers and statistics. I have this mental curse that causes me to figure out statistics and probabilities whenever I hear numbers about sports, the economy, fantasy stats, or just about anything else. I am an avid fantasy football manager too, which results in the scouring of too many box scores and local beat reports. I don’t think my girlfriend would be willing to call my obsession “mild”.
Why You Shouldn’t Listen to Me: I haven’t started reading much about the NFL yet for the coming season. I’m still pretty focused on MLB at this point. In addition, I’m waiting for all these roster changes (re: Brett Favre) and contract holdouts to subside so that I can read some useful training camp reports before I start committing myself to any grand proclamations. Also, my current job doesn’t allow me to read as much sports minutiae as it used to. I have all this work to do, and it’s really cramping my style.
2009 Super Bowl Champion: Indianapolis. The Colts are going to be a great team again this year. It seems that Marvin Harrison’s involvement in that Philadelphia shooting has rolled off his back. Dwight Freeney is expected to return from the PUP list soon. Joe Addai is going to be even better than last year (he’s the key here). And Peyton Manning is still Peyton Manning.
2009 Super Bowl Dark Horse: Carolina. I think it’s written somewhere that someone has to choose the Panthers as their sleeper pick every year. Well, this year I am that someone. Their defense is always a force to be reckoned with. Looking at his body of work, I think last year’s performance by Peppers was an abberation. The offense should be better without DeShaun Foster. DeAngelo Williams will be the tricky speed back and Jonathan Stewart should be a strong workhorse in the back field. The wide receivers behind Steve Smith aren’t much to write home about. That seems to be the biggest weakness for this team. Jeff King is a pretty good tight end. If the team can stay healthy and the WRs can produce, I feel good about their chances against anyone.
2009 Super Bowl Pretender: Dallas. Terrell Owens will turn 35 this season. Patrick Crayton is their second best wide receiver. Marion Barber has been great as a foil to Julius Jones. But he’s got to be THE guy now. I don’t know if he can do that. I know they’ve got Felix Jones. But Barber is going to be getting the lion’s share of the carries. It seems like he’s always fed off the stigma of being the “backup”. Plus everyone, including some of my co-writers, are all up on the Cowboy’s jock. It just seems like the expectations are too high for this team. Lastly, Tony Romo has been the guy that let the team down in the final games of the season in both 2006 and 2007 for Dallas. He’s not a cool operator.
Philguard
Why You Should Listen to Me: 7 months a year there is only one thing on my mind, football, specifically the NFL. From August to February, kids, wife and job all take a backseat to football on Sunday.
Why You Shouldn’t Listen to Me:I have this real huge blind spot when it comes to the NFL that resides in Dallas. I am a fan and see everything on the professional gridiron through a filter of silver and blue. And here’s why.
2009 Super Bowl Champion:Surprise. I’m going with the Dallas Cowboys. Tony Romo and Wade Phillips better put it together or things are going to get unbearable as a fan. The only concern is at Receiver and I get this feeling the Jerry will put together something for us there (like a deal with Detroit for Roy Williams)
2009 Super Bowl Dark Horse:The Titans. I’ll go out on a limb and point out that VY led them to the playoffs last year and picked up a top 10 receiving threat in the unfortunately named Algae Crumpler.
2009 Super Bowl Pretender:The Vikings. I’ve heard this as a dark horse candidate from several sources and maybe even a lock if they land Favre. Adrian Petersen will not have the same kind of year as last year and if they bring in Brett they bring a Madden curse upon the team…think about it.
JP
Why You Should Listen to Me: You like to get your analysis from someone that hasn’t watched a non-Super Bowl full NFL game in 2-3 years because he’s untainted by popular opinion.
Why You Shouldn’t Listen to Me: There are a whole host of reasons not to listen to me, including the fact that I’m one of the worst numbers guys out there. I don’t really do much research. I’m always the guy befuddled at the Fantasy Draft with minimal preparation. Most of all, I have an irrational love for Joe “You’ll Always Be Joey to Me” Harrington.
2009 Super Bowl Champion: San Diego Chargers. They showed me a lot in the playoffs last year, despite losing to the Patriots. Rivers earned a lot of respect playing with the injury and LT should have a chip on his shoulder after he spent most of the game on the sideline. With those two healthy, they can beat damn near anyone. Their defense is good as well and now they have more significant playoff experience under their proverbial belts.
2009 Super Bowl Dark Horse: Arizona Cardinals. With the media hyping up sleepers to ridiculous levels, the only way to pick a real dark horse is to pull one from your posterior. Contrary to popular belief, partying with underage girls actually makes him better. Remember his USC career? Jailbait is to Leinart as hair was to Samson.
2009 Super Bowl Pretender: The Minnesota Vikings, with or without Favre. Yes, they’re very good but have far too many unanswered questions. 1) Experience. When was the last time a team won the Super Bowl without having previous playoff experience and not qualifying the year before? 2) QB. Tavarias Jackson threw 2 INT’s in a no-pad, 7-on-7 passing league-style scrimmage. Usually the defense counts incompletions as wins when they have no contact and can’t hit the QB. An INT is practically a coup. And getting Favre might even be worse. He takes too many chances and has demonstrated some of the most primadonna behavior in recent memory, not to mention the media circus (can we start calling it something else? Media Fair? Media Tailgate?) that surrounds him. They need a game manager. 3) Adrian Peterson’s health. Yes he’s amazing, but I think he’s had an injury every year since he’s been a Freshman in college. I don’t expect him to hold up for the entire season, much less the playoffs.
DLamp
Why You Should Listen to Me: My “job” allows me to read a constant stream of information on the NFL. In fact, I just have 15 computer screens set up in front of me flashing information so fast that only someone of my supreme intellect can take it all in.
Why You Shouldn’t Listen to Me: I drink. A lot.
2009 Super Bowl Champion: Dallas Cowboys. Recently it’s been kind of a crap-shoot picking SB champs, so I’m bucking that tradition and gong with one of the clear-cut favorites. Jerry Jones has shelled out a ton of money and created a very good roster (even if they are missing a quality #2 WR) and I think this is the year Romo breaks his play-off “curse” if only because I’ve done the math and it looks like Jessica Simpson will be on her “curse” during SB week. Hell hath no fury like a QB with blue balls.
2009 Super Bowl Dark Horse: Philadelphia Eagles. For some reason I like the Eagles this year. Every three years or so Donnie Mac steps up and doesn’t go down for the count in the 4th game of the season. They’ve also shored up the defense through the draft and free agency. Will that patch work WR corps hold up? Who knows! Besides, catching the ball in football is totally overrated.
2009 Super Bowl Pretender: Jacksonville Jaguars. Sorry, I just don’t buy it. When was the last time a team with teal jerseys won the SB? Case closed.
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Cheers! Sandra. R.
To win, you’ve got to put the ball in the macram?. – Terry McGuire