For each and every of the past 15 seasons, five teams made the playoffs who were not there the year before. Hard to argue that will not happen again. The question is which ones? Last year, in the AFC, we had Pitt, Pats, Jets, Balt, Indy and KC. In the NFC, it was GB, Da Bears, NO, Atlanta, Philly, and Seattle. Who will be out this year? Who will be in? I only care about the AFC, and how our Dolphins can make it to the playoffs. Here's what I'm thinking. Pitt and Pats have basically stayed the same, which is VG and the top two teams in the AFC. KC was 2008 Miami, will likely follow with the same kind of year. Indy has problems with Peyton's injury, not what they were. Balt is older, not better, still a good team. Jets got a bit worse, will not have the same luck as last season. SD was #1 in O and D, still missing the playoffs. They should be a lock this year. Houston got better, believe they will finally win their division. IMO, that would leave our Dolphins having to beat out Indy, Balt, or the Jets for one of two playoff positions. I believe that our overall team talent will do that, and that we will be a playoff team this year. Your thoughts?
That's an interesting way of looking at it, and would certainly love for this to be the case. However, even if the Colts and Ravens are on the slide, they've still got a good track record in recent years of being very stable playoff contenders, and that's hard to unseat... KC are also interesting, and their game against us could be pivotal. I am with you on the Jets though; unbelievably lucky last year.
I think we certainly have the overall talent on the defensive side, provided there's not a major slip in year two of Nolan's defense. Defensively, I think we're a playoff team. We have some pieces on offense like Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess, Anthony Fasano, and Jake Long, but I think there's still way to many question marks. How will Chad Henne really be? Is our running game going to hold up with Reggie Bush (missed 16 games the past 3 seasons, for the record, that's way more than Ahmad Bradshaw and many were concerned with his injuries), a rookie, and Lex Hilliard? Is that same running game going to hold up behind an offensive line with a rookie center, a player learning a new position (Carey), and someone coming off injury and an awful 2010 (Colombo)? Will Brian Daboll get Wildcat Fever and kill off drives/Chad Henne's rythm? Will the new offense even work? I'll reserve judgement until I've seen a few regular season games, so I won't make a prediction now, but I think Kansas City, Indianapolis, and Baltimore all have better offenses, at present, than the Dolphins do.
I try to be fair in looking at the teams we are chasing, and do not see any "overall" talent difference. I'm open to be corrected but, just don't see it.
The steelers have a tendancy to follow great years with sub par 8-8 or 9-7 years. I think its a big possibility they miss the playoffs.
I expect either Baltimore or Indy to slide, but probably not both. I see Houston + one of them making the playoffs. I don't believe the hype with SD's defense, but their offense can still carry them to the playoffs. even though the patsies were 14-2 last year, I don't see their transition to a 4-3 going very well. I can see them sliding down to a paltry 11-12 wins this season. Even though I bet money on the dolphins because the odds were so good, I can see us finishing 7th in the AFC.
I see our D as being SCARY AS HELL, and very close to dominating. I see our O as improved, as well as special teams, Clyde and Reggie will make a few game changers. I believe we will be a playoff team.
Peyton Manning alone makes that Colts offense more potent than ours. I think Joe Flacco and Ray Rice proved they were pretty good to us last year. Jamaal Charles is one of the most explosive players in the league, and they have Dwayne Bowe and Steve Breaston out wide. I think they're right up there as well. Matt Cassel had a pretty darn good year last year. Again, it goes back to the common denominator - the QB. You can't honestly say Chad Henne is better than any of those three - he's yet to prove it at all.
I honestly believe that Henne will be better than Cassel and Flacco this year. As to Peyton, only if he is wearing a neck brace. My belief in this year's version of Henne only goes so far.
The AFC will not have much turnover as far as playoff teams are concerned. Patriots, Steelers and Ravens, Colts, and Chargers are all pretty much locks to make it this year. Then you have the Jets, Chiefs, and Texans. After that would be your Dolphins, Jaguars, etc. I'll take any bet with a poster who thinks Indy's not making the playoffs. The AFC South is chock fulla mediocre-to-****ty defenses, and two of those teams have very underwhelming QBs as well (Titans and Jaguars). Both the Texans and Colts will go 5-1 in that division, imho. Miami needs a plethora of injuries to befall many of the AFC contenders for them to have a chance. These are things we know.
The only one we disagree on is The Ravens, who I see struggling to make the playoffs. The NO- Atlanta battle is a toss up. I give Miami a big edge over the Jags.
The wheels have to go on Lewis and Reed sometime, and I believe it will be this year. Henne to Marshall will be much better than Flacco to Boldin. MJD is all the Jags have. We have more. The Jags D is not close to what we have. I will be surprised if we are not the best in the NFL.
My 2011 Playoffs (New Teams BOLD): AFC EAST: New England AFC SOUTH: Indy AFC WEST: San Diego AFC NORTH: Pittsburgh AFC WILD1: Tennessee AFC WILD2: NY jets NFC EAST: Dallas NFC SOUTH: New Orleans NFC WEST: 49ers NFC NORTH: Green Bay NFC WILD1: Tampa Bay NFC WILD2: Philly
AFC: EAST: Miami WEST: San Diego SOUTH: Houston NORTH: Pittsburgh WC: New England WC: Baltimore NFC: EAST: Philadelphia WEST: San Francisco SOUTH: New Orleans NORTH: Green Bay WC: Tampa Bay WC: Detroit Make it 6 new teams that weren't in the playoffs last year's.
1. I think Matt Hasslebeck is going to really give them a lift. I also think Munchak is going to inspire the team to over-achieve. 2. I don't want to give the jets a playoff spot.
This rant is the first thing that came to mind when I read this post... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYKIcnj1MJY Thanks for the fond memories...a classic. Wait, I thought the Chargers were locks to make the playoffs last year...hmm.
The Chargers had arguably the strangest season we've ever seen. They finished 1st in offense and defense, yet missed the playoffs because they lost 4-5 games on special teams mistakes. They're still stacked, and now that they don't have to play the Ravens, Steelers, or Colts--I think they'll finish no worse than 11-5. No way in hell they have 2 awkward seasons like that in a row.
AFC East: Patriots North: Ravens South: Colts West: Chargers WC: Chiefs - I think they'll be better than last year. WC: Dolphins, Jets, or Jaguars. I don't know, don't trust the Texans defense. I don't really trust our offense, but I'll give the benefit of the doubt. Fins, Jaguars, and Texans do have a good shot to unseat the Jets, Chiefs or Steelers/Ravens. It's hard to think the Jaguars or Texans will take out the Colts for the division, but it's possible. Jaguars need an improved offense from 2010, Texans would need an improved defense. I think 9-7 could get at least one playoff spot. I only see the Raiders, Broncos and Bengals being "pushovers". Raiders could win 7 or 8 again though, so I think the standings will be closer and more muddled this year like 2002 and 2009 when a lot of teams still had a chance in weeks 16 and 17. NFC East: Eagles North: Packers South: Saints West: Rams WC: Falcons - I could see the Falcons and Saints both having 12-4 seasons. NFC South is the toughest to call for first place. WC: Lions
Both the Steelers and ravens are getting in easily. both may win 12 games. Have you seen their schedules? Not only do both get to beat up on the Ohio Sisters of the Poor 4 times, but they play the NFC West out of conference. so both play in a poor division and play the worst out of conference division. I presume that's about 8 wins a piece right there between them, assuming they split with each other both get to 9 wins easily.
.......but losing the familiarity of Heap & Mason. And it's uncertain how their defense will be affected by losing Gregg.
My darkhorse playoff team is the Buffalo Bills, they added talent, and love or hate Wanny, he can run a defense.
Defense wins championships or, in this case a playoff berth. I cannot explain how excited I am about this year's D. There is no team in the NFL I see as being our egual. Even if our O is around average, I see the playoffs.
Also, Flacco is taking a lot of heat for absolutely sucking in the playoffs, and is upset over it. Henne is not the only young QB with feelings.
Landry is gone at FS. McGahee has been replaced by Ricky. Who's playing corner? And how long are Reed and Lewis going to remain top tier players?
I can't see us making the playoffs honestly. I don't think we can win the wild card with teams like Houston/Indy, Baltimore/Pitt, and the Jests in the AFC. Who knows though, hopefully I am wrong.
It's definitely possible but I still don't see us being a top 5 AFC team. Maybe things will fall our way though... would be nice to see a winning team again.
Because I believe our offense will be much improved due to the combination of much better play from Henne...and Brian Daboll's OC role.... Im picking us to win the division. I believe we have a better defense then the Jets...(although that could be parsing hairs...they have a good D.)
yeah hers my list in order of seeding North - Ravens 12+ wins West - Chargers 12+ wins South - Colts 10-11 wins East - Dolphins 10-11 wins WC - Patriots 10-11 wins WC - Chiefs 9-10 wins 1. Steelers wont make the playoffs SB runner ups have not made the playoffs in recent history sea has been the one diffrence and hey went 9-7 making the wildcard plus ravens will be the real deal this year. 2. Chargers will be back last year was off and they got better everywhere 3. Colts yeah their the colts no explanation needed 4. Fins will beat the jets twice and spit with the pats giving them tie breakers have them winning 9 games then atleast 4 in the division. only problems i see are pats twice jets twice chargers and the eagles but im going with 10 11 wins 5. Pats will still be good but not dominant losing the division to us after we stomp the jets in wk 17 6. Chiefs they will show their here but chargers are still the class of the division 1. East/South - Eagles/Falcons 12+ wins 2. South/East - Falcons/Eagles 12+ wins 3. North - Bears 10-11 wins 4. West - Rams 8-9 wins WC - Lions/Buccaneers/Saints - 10-11 wins WC - Buccaneers/Saints/Lions 10-11 wins 1/2. Eagles/Falcons these teams will be the kings of the crap NFC the 1 and 2 seed will prob come down to conference record between the two i believe Eagles will get the 1 but falcons can easily steal it. 3. Bears got better than the Packers just with the addition of Williams they will win the division again no prob 4. Seattle look like their going to run away with this division but i think Bradford is going to show that this is the Rams division now and forever WC. this ones tricky because i would put the Packers here and i very well think they will be in the playoffs this year(they been to 5 SBs winning 4 and have been to 2 in a row the previous 2 times could happen this year again) but with the lockout, them not practicing during said lockout, and the fact that i think the lions are going to be this years 08 Dolphins i have them missing out. this spot could also go to the Lions or Saints WC. Buccaneers would win the division but the falcons are in said division so yeah no chance all they have to do is beat the Saints and their in but same goes for the Saints SB - Ravens vs Eagles As much as i want the fins to be there and believe they will be(they will atleast get to the second round) this is the matchup i see
I won't make predictions until I see a few preseason games, but I do believe that the Ravens are a weaker team than they were last year and I'd be concerned about Manning's injury if I were a Colt's fan. The Steelers have the SB hangover thing working against them and the Jets were incredibly lucky last year in terms of T.O.s. Likewise, I feel the Chargers and Dolphins were incredibly unlucky. I haven't seen enough to make a reasonable guess, but I wouldn't say any AFC team is a lock.
I try to temper my enthusiasm to our D. However, if healthy, it may carry over to our O. Marshall and Henne on the same page, and getting along? Bess looking better than last year? Hartline, the same? Add in actually using Fasano as a receiver, and Bush? Some reason for thinking our O may actually be good? I think so.
In past years, there were scary good teams, who we could not beat. IMO, that is not the case this year. I do believe we have a more than fair chance of being in the playoffs.
