The NFL season officially kicks off tonight with the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts taking on the 2006 Cinderella New Orleans Saints, and the answer to “Are you ready for some football?” is probably a sarcastic “duh” for many fans. As you countdown to tonight’s kickoff here are some predictions for the 2007 season.
The Colts will start out 0-1 in a showdown of the No.1 and No. 3 ranked offenses from 2006, the Saints will come out on top. Sure, it’s on the Colts’ home turf and Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the game, but when Saints head coach Sean Payton has this much time to lay out an offensive game plan, I’ll take him against that lackluster defense.
ZZZZZZ
Looking for a sleeper team? Just head out West to one of the most successful franchises in NFL history: the San Francisco 49ers.
The offense has a former No. 1 pick entering his third season at quarterback (Alex Smith), last year’s third leading rusher (Frank Gore) and a brilliant head coach in Mike Nolan. On the defensive side they picked up cornerback Nate Clements via free agency and drafted lightning quick linebacker Patrick Willis, and their new 3-4 defensive scheme will help in stopping Shaun Alexander, Steven Jackson and Edgerrin James, who are all in their division.
Another team to keep an eye on is Jacksonville, who has had a playoff caliber defense for quite some time and will now see some offense courtesy of new quarterback David Garrard.
Crash and Burn
From sleeper to dud, look for the New York Giants to struggle considerably this season with a win total somewhere near the five to six range. True, this pick isn’t going out too far on a limb, as they lost Tiki Barber to retirement, but they were a playoff team last year and if they finish with six wins, it will be a long fall.
NFC North: the laughing stock of the league
Chicago’s defense is the class of the NFL, and they’ll repeat as NFC North champs just because there isn’t much else there.
Call me crazy, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Minnesota defense and young offensive players (QB Tarvaris Jackson, WR Troy Williamson and RB’s Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson) provide a bit of a scare.
Sticking with laughing stocks …
As much as I want to believe Jon Kitna’s 10-win prediction, I just can’t. Don’t get me wrong: The Lions’ offense will be one of the most exciting in all of football, but that defense? Ouch. They gave up 345 yards a game last season, and that was with Dre’ Bly. True, a lot of their losses came due to fourth quarter meltdowns last season, and with a year under their belt in Mike Martz’s offense, I suppose it isn’t impossible to see an improvement.
Still, the highest I can go is a 6-10, but look for their final record to be 4-12 with wins coming against the Raiders, Redskins, Buccaneers and Chiefs.
It’s LT’s world
We’re just lucky enough to be watching one of the greatest running backs of all time.
LaDainian Tomlinson will once again win the MVP award, because quite simply, he is the best player in the game.
The winners
AFC Division winners: New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts. Wild Cards: Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars
NFC Division winners: Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints. Wild Cards: St. Louis Rams, Dallas Cowboys.
Support student media!
Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
LT’s going to Disney World: Tomlinson rushes for two touchdowns and catches another as the Chargers win the Super Bowl over the Saints 38-17.
Cash Kruth is a State News sports reporter. Reach him at kruthcas@msu.edu with your NFL predictions.
Discussion
Share and discuss “Here's what to expect this NFL season:” on social media.
