The first week of the NFL preseason is usually a time for frustrated and deprived football fans to sample a quarter, or two, of what the meaningful games might look like in a month.
With this offseason’s lockout all but eliminating organized team activities, fans have added intrigue to witness a whirlwind preseason bring their favorite teams into regular-season form.
All 32 NFL teams are now rushing through the regular preseason process in a fraction of the normal time. The end of the lockout followed with sixth months of player transactions compressed into the first week of free agency. With that, the remaining evaluation time will force coaches and management to emphasize a closer l0ok at potential starters and impact players, as opposed to just building a deeper roster.
Thursday’s opening games, as well as the entire first week, may not portray that as players are still settling in after a long offseason. But I fully expect starters, mainly on the offensive side, to see an uncharacteristically high number of preseason snaps throughout the remaining three weeks.
Each of the 16 regular season contest is crucial in the league’s current state of parity, so finding chemistry with the flood of new additions will be a primary goal for quarterbacks in order to get off to a good start.
The only way to do that is by getting more reps with the expected regulars in the offensive huddle.
While a normal preseason can be a period of anxiety, anticipating the inevitable season-ending injuries, this year’s slate of exhibition contests brings a regular-season feel, and I’m more excited than ever.
Enough of the preseason talk — and on to the first of many regular season predictions.
Rosy’s 2011 NFL regular season predictions — Aug. 10
AFC
North: 1. Baltimore Ravens; 2. Pittsburgh Steelers; 3. Cleveland Browns; 4. Cincinnati Bengals
South: 1. Indianapolis Colts; 2. Houston Texans; 3. Jacksonville Jaguars; 4. Tennessee Titans
East: 1. New England Patriots; 2. New York Jets; 3. Miami Dolphins; 4. Buffalo Bills
West: 1. San Diego Chargers; 2. Kansas City Chiefs; 3. Oakland Raiders; 4. Denver Broncos
NFC
North: 1. Green Bay Packers; 2. Detroit Lions; 3. Chicago Bears; 4. Minnesota Vikings
South: 1. New Orleans Saints; 2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 3. Atlanta Falcons; 4. Carolina Panthers
East: 1. Philadelphia Eagles; 2. Dallas Cowboys; 3. New York Giants; 4. Washington Redskins
West: 1. San Francisco 49ers; 2. St. Louis Rams; 3. Seattle Seahawks; 4. Arizona Cardinals
2 comments
Jair says:
Aug 10, 2011
Rosy – with the addition of Kolb in Arizona and STL’s schedule to start the season… I disagree with your NFC West picks. I agree with SF winning the division but I would put STL in 4th as they just have a brutal first 6 games where they may go winless. YES, they are going in the right direction w/ Bradford and getting a little support for SJ with the addition of Cadillac Williams and Mike Sims-Walker, HOWEVER I just don’t think they are there yet. Seattle and Arizona will fight for the #2 spot in the NFC West. Keep writing Rosy! You’re the man!
Rosy says:
Aug 11, 2011
I agree that Kolb could help Arizona move up in the division, but the Cardinals’ lack of depth, especially on defense, makes me think that they are the most likely team to go winless in the division. With Seattle’s 7-9 record taking the division last year, I believe it will all come down to divisional records, and San Fran has the best chance to sweep its divisional contests. Seattle and St. Louis each have more complete starting lineups and depth, but I have no faith in either of Seattle’s quarterbacks. The Rams could have taken that division last year, but they also won some games they probably shouldn’t have. The 49ers will no doubt be a contender — they underachieved the last two years to just miss out on the playoffs, and I can’t see them (unbiased
having less than eight wins.