Checkin’ in on NFL predictions Comments
Last week: 13-3
Final regular season record: 172-84
I’m satisfied with my regular season record. I correctly picked two-thirds of the games and didn’t have a losing week all season.
In a column I wrote just before the season started, I made predictions for the season.
Let’s re-visit those:
“Kansas City quarterback (and career bench-warmer) Matt Cassel will have a disappointing season.” His 2009 stats: 2,924 yards, 16 TD’s, 16 INT’s, 55 percent passing, 69.9 QB rating for the 4-12 Chiefs. Yeah, I’d consider that disappointing.
“Houston will be this year’s surprise team.” The Texans missed out on the playoffs, but finished with a 9-7 record, their best finish in franchise history. There were several games throughout the season that they could have easily won. They could have finished at 11-5 and proved me 100 percent right. But they didn’t, and I’m just partly right. I’ll take it.
“Brett Favre will make the Minnesota Vikings better.” Although they’ve faltered as of late, the Vikings finished 12-4 and have a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Check.
“Fantasy football will become more important than actual football, at least for me.” My favorite team, the Seattle Seahawks, are in the crapper right now. And I won two of three fantasy leagues. So yeah, I’d say that was a correct prediction.
“New England will beat Minnesota 34-24 in Super Bowl XLIV.” We’ll see. Can’t say I still feel confident about it, but that’s my pick and I’m sticking to it!
Playoff picks:
Saturday
Jets at Bengals: Three of the four first-round playoff games are rematches from last week. That’s quite the coincidence. New York destroyed Cincinatti’s scrubs 37-0 last week and that can’t be any kind of confidence booster for the Bengals. Even so, they’re facing a rookie quarterback at home. Give me the Bengals.
Eagles at Cowboys: Both teams are 11-5, but the Cowboys are obviously the hotter team right now. I’m taking Dallas, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Philly wins either.
Sunday
Ravens at Patriots: New England’s playmaker, Wes Welker, was injured last week and is lost for the playoffs. That’s definitely going to be a factor, but I still see the Patriots getting the job done. I’m taking New England.
Packers at Cardinals: I like both teams. This is a complete guess. I’ll take Arizona, even though they play poorly at home.
