NFL Playoff Picture

We’re through Week 6 of the NFL season, which means it’s time to start making some playoff predictions. Instead of predicting who will make the playoffs, we will focus on disappointing teams who won’t make the playoffs.

Let’s begin with the New York Jets. This is a team that was on top of the world for the past two seasons. Well, at least for the Jets. They weren’t Super Bowl Champions, but they did make the AFC Championship Game two years in a row, which is impressive. During those two seasons, Rex Ryan was unique and fun. However, when teams like this start losing, the players and fans get sick of the coach.

Rex Ryan might not realize how much danger he’s in. New York is not a forgiving city. Win now or get lost. Unfortunately for Rex, his team only has a 3-3 record and they’re about to play the San Diego Chargers. Look for 3-4, more drama in the locker room and doubt to begin to seep in. Once that snowball starts rolling in New York, it’s nearly impossible to stop. Don’t overvalue the Jets’ win against the Dolphins. The Dolphins are the worst team in the NFL. Needless to say, the Jets will not make the playoffs.

The Steelers are 4-2. Therefore, it might seem odd to [...]

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The 2010 Kansas Chiefs proved that management’s recent roster moves and coaching hires are paying off. The team finished the regular season with 10 wins and 6 losses, won the their division, and made it into the playoffs. The defense was average by NFL standards and has a great chance of improving in 2011, if management can fills holes along the defensive line and at linebacker.

The 2010 Kansas City defense allowed 330 yards per game, ranking it 19th in the National Football League. The pass defense ranked 17th, surrendering 220 yards per game and the rush defense gave up 110 yards per game, placing it 19th in the league. Look for each of these numbers to improve slightly in 2011.

The stars of the 2010 Kansas City defense were linebackers Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson, along with safety, Eric Berry, out of the University of Tennessee. All three players are young with several productive years left, barring injury. The 28 year old Johnson led the Chiefs with

121 total tackles. He also has one interception, one sack, and 8 tackles for a loss. The 27 year old Hali is a star, leading the team with 14.5 sacks from his outside linebacker spot. He was a beast off the edge. Eric Berry has great potential at safety. The 22 year old is a rising star at his position. Look for him to continue to be terrific and make many pro bowls in the future. Last season, he had 92 tackles, led the team with 4 interceptions, and also had two sacks.

The Chiefs will most likely pursue help on the defensive side of the ball in the upcoming draft and free agent signing period. So far, they have not suffered any major losses on the roster. They may be interested in drafting a player like Phil Taylor out of Baylor. He is a run stopper at nose tackle. They could also look at a guy to play opposite Jamba Tali. A solid outside linebacker/defensive end could take a lot of the pressure and double teams off of Tali, allowing him to work in more space.

The prediction for this team is that its defense will improve and will rank in the low teens in total defense, rush defense, and pass defense. Progress will be incremental. The Chiefs will have more talent and knowledge of the system.

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When it comes to professional sports, it’s not often that you see a lot of change in regards to winning and losing organizations. In the NFL, it takes years, if not decades, to reach new levels of success. It’s a matter of the virtuous cycle versus the vicious cycle. Talented players might want big contracts, but the also want to win. They’re not likely to change from a winner to a loser – unless they see a lot of potential. This leaves bad teams scrambling to make progress. This is no different in the AFC North heading into the 2011-2012 season. However, the AFC North will have a few surprises.

If you’re not familiar with the AFC North, it consists of the Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Cleveland Browns. For the past 10 to 15 years, this division could be split in half between successes and failures. The Ravens and Steelers have had success and the Bengals and Browns have failed. This season should be similar, but the gap will begin to close.

The Ravens have featured one of the best defenses in the NFL for over a decade. However, the defense is now very old and the team is

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If you want to watch an NFL team on the rise in the 2011-2012, there is not better option than the Detroit Lions. They are young, talented, and hungry. They have a talented and intelligent QB in Matthew Stafford as well as a more-than-reliable backup in Shaun Hill. They also have explosive WRs – Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew, and Nate Burleson. On top of that, their defense is becoming a forced to be reckoned with. The only ingredient that remains is the running game. How good will their running game be next season?

Prior to last season, the Detroit Lions had been a model of inconsistency in the NFL. The only thing they could do consistently was lose. But last year was a turning point. With a new coaching staff and a stellar late-season run, they are bound to be playoff contenders next season. And instead of changing running backs faster than someone changes a pair of socks during a hot summer, the Lions have chosen to stick to a primary running back. That primary running back is Jahvid Best. He’s fast, coordinated, and a great receiver out of the backfield. His only weakness is his size. He’s not small, but he’s not the kind of guy who’s going to break a lot of tackles, either. But the bottom line is

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If you pay attention at all to sports you have heard about the NFL owners and NFL players being in discussions about their CBA. The owners decided last year that they would opt out of the current deal and are looking to lockout the players if they cannot reach a deal any day now. The problem with this is that there is 9 billion dollars in revenue that they are fighting on how to divide.

Wait just think about that amount. 9 BILLION DOLLARS! In a country that has serious financial problems we have a set of owners that are complaining that they are not getting enough of the percentage of 9 BILLION DOLLARS. The past deal that they opted out had the owners taking 1 billion off the top before there was any split to the players. You would think they would at least want to keep the money coming in while both sides are under negotiations.

Well off my complaining but what is going to happen hear? The players hit a striking blow when the courts decided that they would not be able to acquire TV money if there are no games next year. Also the players are holding on to decertify as a union so they will be able to sue the owners in the courts. This was done back in 1989 and after a new CBA was founded they re-certified. So what does this all mean?

It means that we have a long summer of listening to multimillionaires and billionaires complain. While the March deadline seems like a huge obstacle its not going to be dramatic as it seems. First of all there still will be a draft in April so everyone will get their spring football fix. Once that is done and if there is a lockout we will miss mini-camps and into camp. Most people don’t truly

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So the Packers are celebrating. They have won the Super Bowl, and their victory was huge 31 to 25 over the Steelers from Pittsburgh. But it’s not that they figure this out to celebrate now, some other players have been praised too, that’s great.

Only yesterday Aaron Rogers have been made the Super Bowl’s championship quarterback. And he’s the games MVP too. Let’s face it Brett Favre, his predecessor at the Green Bay Packers as never had a chance to win the honour.
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There seems to be a lot of stir in the Giants’ camp recently. Only this week some players, ok, let’s name them, Eli Manning and Antrell Rolle have exchanged their opinions about their head coaches style of work.

Now it seems that Ahmad Broadshaw is making the news with his statements of wanting to stay in New York for another season.
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I bet every rookie dreams of playing in the Super Bowl. Oh come on, any college football dude you ask will tell the same, I am sure. Only a handful are given a chance though, and for some, by a struck of bad luck, even though that they had a chance, they still won’t play.

I am afraid this may happen to Maurikce Pouncey. This Steelers man is praised for his skills by practically everyone. If you watch any commentaries on the telly, or read them in the papers you will see that he seems to be the only man the Steelers can put out as a match for Green Bay Packers guys.

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Let’s face it, when it comes to football a good preparation and skills are not enough. Without a good game plan set a teams chances of winning are somewhat slim.

But contrary to what everyone thinks, that tackling, passing and running are the key of the game, the reality is quite the opposite. It is the offensive and defensive formations that are the key elements of any football game.

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