2010 NFL Playoff Predictions
AFC Wildcard
(6) Ravens over (3) Bengals
(5) Jets over (4) Patriots
NFC Wildcard
(3) Cowboys over (6) Vikings
(5) Falcons over (4) 49ers
AFC Divisional Playoffs
(1) Colts over (6) Ravens
(5) Jets over (2) Chargers
NFC Divisional Playoff
(1) Saints over (5) Falcons
(2) Packers over (3) Cowboys
AFC Championship Game
(1) Colts over (5) Jets
NFC Championship Game
2) Packers over (1) Saints
Super Bowl XLV
Packers 34 Colts 24
Individual Awards
MVP- Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
Offensive Player of the Year- Drew Brees, QB, Saints
Defensive Player of the Year- Patrick Willis, LB, 49ers
Offensive Rookie of the Year- Ryan Mathews, HB, Chargers
Defensive Rookie of the Year- Eric Berry, S, Chiefs
Comeback Player of the Year- Wes Welker, WR, Patriots
MVP- Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
Offensive Player of the Year- Drew Brees, QB, Saints
Defensive Player of the Year- Patrick Willis, LB, 49ers
Offensive Rookie of the Year- Ryan Mathews, HB, Chargers
Defensive Rookie of the Year- Eric Berry, S, Chiefs
Comeback Player of the Year- Wes Welker, WR, Patriots
Five Quick Questions and Answers About the 2010 Season
1. What is the most overlooked free agent departure of the offseason? Running back, Chester Taylor, who left the Minnesota Vikings for the Chicago Bears. He was the consummate safety valve for Brett Favre and a key playmaker on third down. He may not have gaudy stats but he was a steady, heady professional that has a knack for stepping up big on third downs.
2. Will Ben Roethlisberger’s four game suspension hurt the Steelers playoff chances? It kills them. They play in one of the toughest divisions in football. He will miss games against the Falcons, Titans, Bucs, and Ravens. They will enter their week five bye week with a 1-3 record. Roethlisberger will return in a game against the Browns (who beat the Steelers the last time they met) and then they will have three consecutive road games against the Dolphins, Saints, and Bengals. This is a team destined to watch the playoffs from home this year. Yes they have veteran leadership and great coaching but the “suspension” hole will be too big to dig out of this season.
3. Will the Oakland Raiders finally be competitive? Yes, the Raiders (yes, the Raiders) will finish second in the AFC West this year. The fact is this is a team that can run the ball and stop the run which makes them competitive in every game. Nnamdi Asomugha can shut down one side of the field in man situations allowing the defense to get creative with blitz packages. Also, the arrival of a competent quarterback, Jason Campbell, will help to keep defenses honest and allow for better management of the offensive game plan. Despite the lunacy of Al Davis this team will be competitive.
4. Are there holdouts that should have been worrying teams (and the media) more than the now resolved Darrelle Revis holdout? Absolutely, Marcus McNeil, left tackle, of the Chargers and Logan Mankins, guard, of the Patriots are two huge gaping holes in the offensive lines for those two teams. The Chargers are compromising their ability to protect their top flight quarterbacks and create running lanes on one side of the ball. These are huge issues for these teams that need to be resolved as soon as possible as they could have dramatic impact on these playoff caliber teams.
5. Name one rising star and one fading hero for the 2010 season? The rising star will be Kevin Kolb, QB, of the Philadelphia Eagles. He played well in the two games that he played last year in McNabb's absence and with the precision passing attack of the Eagles he will be able to capitalize on his accuracy, quick release, and cool demeanor. His receivers, while gnat-like, will help him out by running good, sound routes and getting yards after the catch. Overall the Eagles will take a step back but Kolb will take a step forward as a star in this league. Ironically, the fading hero will be Donovan McNabb. I like Donovan but I do not like the Washington Redskins as they are fatally flawed offensively. I think that offensively they have a weak group of receivers and the offensive line is not impressive. The running game will be so-so and is built upon the legs of two aging running backs in Clinton Portis and Larry Johnson. This spells disaster for McNabb particularly in light of his durability issues over the past few seasons.
1. What is the most overlooked free agent departure of the offseason? Running back, Chester Taylor, who left the Minnesota Vikings for the Chicago Bears. He was the consummate safety valve for Brett Favre and a key playmaker on third down. He may not have gaudy stats but he was a steady, heady professional that has a knack for stepping up big on third downs.
2. Will Ben Roethlisberger’s four game suspension hurt the Steelers playoff chances? It kills them. They play in one of the toughest divisions in football. He will miss games against the Falcons, Titans, Bucs, and Ravens. They will enter their week five bye week with a 1-3 record. Roethlisberger will return in a game against the Browns (who beat the Steelers the last time they met) and then they will have three consecutive road games against the Dolphins, Saints, and Bengals. This is a team destined to watch the playoffs from home this year. Yes they have veteran leadership and great coaching but the “suspension” hole will be too big to dig out of this season.
3. Will the Oakland Raiders finally be competitive? Yes, the Raiders (yes, the Raiders) will finish second in the AFC West this year. The fact is this is a team that can run the ball and stop the run which makes them competitive in every game. Nnamdi Asomugha can shut down one side of the field in man situations allowing the defense to get creative with blitz packages. Also, the arrival of a competent quarterback, Jason Campbell, will help to keep defenses honest and allow for better management of the offensive game plan. Despite the lunacy of Al Davis this team will be competitive.
4. Are there holdouts that should have been worrying teams (and the media) more than the now resolved Darrelle Revis holdout? Absolutely, Marcus McNeil, left tackle, of the Chargers and Logan Mankins, guard, of the Patriots are two huge gaping holes in the offensive lines for those two teams. The Chargers are compromising their ability to protect their top flight quarterbacks and create running lanes on one side of the ball. These are huge issues for these teams that need to be resolved as soon as possible as they could have dramatic impact on these playoff caliber teams.
5. Name one rising star and one fading hero for the 2010 season? The rising star will be Kevin Kolb, QB, of the Philadelphia Eagles. He played well in the two games that he played last year in McNabb's absence and with the precision passing attack of the Eagles he will be able to capitalize on his accuracy, quick release, and cool demeanor. His receivers, while gnat-like, will help him out by running good, sound routes and getting yards after the catch. Overall the Eagles will take a step back but Kolb will take a step forward as a star in this league. Ironically, the fading hero will be Donovan McNabb. I like Donovan but I do not like the Washington Redskins as they are fatally flawed offensively. I think that offensively they have a weak group of receivers and the offensive line is not impressive. The running game will be so-so and is built upon the legs of two aging running backs in Clinton Portis and Larry Johnson. This spells disaster for McNabb particularly in light of his durability issues over the past few seasons.
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