Okay, so the Giants just completed another improbable playoff run and capped it off the same way they did last time. This Tom Coughlin guy might have an idea of what he's doing. Just don't expect too much in the regular season. But before all that happened, way back in September, this here space made some predictions. I predicted every division from top to bottom, and included wildcard picks, conference championship game matchups and winners, and the Super Bowl. These were sure to be as wrong as possible and now it's time to face the music. So, without further adieu, here are the results:
NFC West
I don't think anyone expected Harbaugh's first season in the Bay to go this well. I thought they would be better, but not this much better. Alex Smith really showed something this season and quieted a lot of his critics. The Rams, on the other hand, were a disappointment to me. I thought they would build off the limited success they had last year and take another step. Ahem, I stand corrected. Another top draft choice awaits the Rams. Arizona was about where I expected them record wise, but ended up an after thought to the 49ers great season. Seattle is as puzzling as ever and no one knows what they're going to get from Pete Carroll's group from week to week.
NFC North
Nailed it. It seems about right that the division I follow closest ends up being the most accurate of my predictions. Nothing much needs to be said here but on a Lions note, I was very pleased with the way this team played as a whole this season and am looking forward to a better team next year (hint: fix the damn secondary!).
NFC South
Alright, I was backwards with the top half and the bottom half of the division here, but pretty close. The Falcons took too long to figure things out and never really threatened the Saints for the division. Carolina was way better than I thought and I'm not ashamed to admit that is because I woefully underrated Cam Newton. I didn't think they guy could play in the league. I was obviously very wrong about that. Props to you Cam. Tampa took a step back and now will have a new coaching staff as Greg Schiano comes in from Rutgers. That seems like a reach to me, but then again, Cam Newton.
NFC East
Not too far off here, although the Eagles really had us all fooled this year didn't they? Further proof that you can't go buy a championship I suppose. They started playing better towards the end of the year, but they were already relegated to spoilers by then. Of course, we know what happened with the Giants. Amazing how they can sleepwalk their way through the regular season and just turn it on in the playoffs. A tip of my cap to Coughlin and his staff as well as the players.
The wildcards I picked were New Orleans and Detroit and that was close as Atlanta and the Saints switched spots. Overall, I had four out of six of the playoff teams correct. I did manage to leave out the eventual World Champions though. Whoops.
AFC West
This division blows. And I have no desire to comment about Tebow either. The media talked about him enough for the rest of this lifetime already.
AFC North
Whiffed on the Bengals this year, as they were much stronger than I anticipated. This is arguably the strongest division in the league and it fielded both AFC wildcard teams. Pretty close on this one. Baltimore may be seeing its window close. Ray Rice and Flacco are both still young but the heart of this team, its defense, is aging. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and company are at the twilight of their careers and this may have been their best shot at getting another ring before it's all over for them. A missed chip shot from Billy Cundiff may be as close as they get again. The Steelers are maybe the most consistently strong team in the league, but they once again show that they have trouble closing the deal. Losing to Denver was embarrassing.
AFC South
Pretty close here as well. The Texans were the best team in this division and they capture their first division title in franchise history. Tennessee made a run at it but couldn't quite get there. I wonder what the Texans would have been capable of if Schaub and Andre Johnson had been healthy all season (not to mention Arian Foster's hamstring). If those guys can come back healthy next year, this could be a very dangerous team. The Colts wrap up the #1 pick in the draft. Is the end of the Peyton Manning era imminent in Indy? Interesting off season storyline.
AFC East
Another division that was pretty close to what I expected. The Pats ran away with this one (again) and the Jets are kind of a side show with all their locker room and press conference BS. I can't stand Rex Ryan and any time he has to eat his words, I'm lovin' it. The Bills showed some flashes this year, but couldn't really put it together after the first few weeks. Miami is still not so good.
I had Pittsburgh and the Jets as wildcards. Switch the Jets for the Bengals in reality. Four out of six here as well.
The championship games were where things really got off track for me as I had one team correct in each league, but did not have either team that actually ended up winning the game. Thus, I oh-fer'd the Super Bowl. I had the Ravens over the Packers. Not too shabby overall but I don't think Vegas will be calling anytime soon to ask my opinions.
Now for the depressing part. We are 200+ days away from an actual football game. College Football starts in earnest on September 1st and the NFL a week or two later. So very sad.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.