2:32 PM
Football
1. Let's assume the Cleveland Browns lose all four games to the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. Let's also assume they win all the games they should, but lose to the Houston Texans. and St. Louis Rams, teams that may or may not be better than them. Bingo. 10-6.
Now let's assume that they improve so much that they split with the Ravens and the Steelers. This would allow them to lose to the Texans and Rams, as well as to the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans. Bingo 10-6.
While 10-6 seems to be the best the Cleveland Browns can do, both 8-8 and 9-7 certainly seem feasible, and both would be considered an excellent move forward for the up-and-coming team.
The offenses will continue to improve, with Colt McCoy, Joe Thomas, Payton Hillis and Benjamin Watson getting better throughout the season. The defense, led by Scott Fujita, Phil Taylor, TJ Ward and Joe Hayden, will also improve.
Unfortunately, the Browns won't make the playoffs, as both the Ravens and Steelers will have the same or better records, and both will be better than the Browns in any tie breaker.
2. We could be wrong, but the Baltimore Ravens' defense is old. Ray Lewis is good, but the defense is no longer the NFL's best. Look for the Ravens to go 10-6, same as the Browns.
Assuming the Ravens split with the Browns and Steelers, lose to the New York Jets, the Indianapolis Colts after Payton Manning returns, the San Diego Chargers, and one team they should beat, then the Ravens will be 10-6.
Joe Flacco is a good quarterback, but his receiving corp is not as good as it could be, and his running backs are overrated. But, at 10-6, the Ravens will make the playoffs.
3. The Cincinnati Bengals will win only 2 games this year, beating the Carolina Panthers and the Buffalo Bills. Andy Dalton will be a pleasant surprise. Mike Brown will be highly criticized for not trading Carson Palmer (or at least for not creating an environment where a quarterback like Carson Palmer would want to play). Look for spectacular catches from A.J. Green and for Cedric Benson to have a decent season after he gets out of jail. But, the defensive is as porous as the Niagara Falls.
In the "you heard it here first" department, if the Bengals get the first pick in next year's draft, Andrew Luck will pull an Eli Manning and tell the Bengals that if they draft him, he won't play for them. Mike Brown will stand on principle, draft him, and then have two quarterbacks who refuse to play for him!
4. The Pittsburgh Steelers are good but are due for a letdown. Ben Roethlisberger doesn't have the "me against the world" mentality this year that helped him so much last year. So, we're expecting the Steelers to have a similar season as the Ravens and end up at 10-6.
It would not be inconceivable for the Steelers to split their games with the Browns and Ravens. And it would not be surprising if they lost to the New England Patriots. And, losing to some highly motivated, upstart team like the Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals or Kansas City Chiefs is also possible if the Steelers are having a downer year. So, don't be surprised if the Steelers match the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens at 10-6.
But, also, don't be surprised if the Pittsburgh Steelers go 14-2. But, they would have to beat the "We lost the Super Bowl funk" that is typical. In any event, they will make the playoffs.
Get the latest Cleveland Browns news and Cleveland Browns videos on our site - http://sportadore.com
By James D. Silver
Now let's assume that they improve so much that they split with the Ravens and the Steelers. This would allow them to lose to the Texans and Rams, as well as to the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans. Bingo 10-6.
While 10-6 seems to be the best the Cleveland Browns can do, both 8-8 and 9-7 certainly seem feasible, and both would be considered an excellent move forward for the up-and-coming team.
The offenses will continue to improve, with Colt McCoy, Joe Thomas, Payton Hillis and Benjamin Watson getting better throughout the season. The defense, led by Scott Fujita, Phil Taylor, TJ Ward and Joe Hayden, will also improve.
Unfortunately, the Browns won't make the playoffs, as both the Ravens and Steelers will have the same or better records, and both will be better than the Browns in any tie breaker.
2. We could be wrong, but the Baltimore Ravens' defense is old. Ray Lewis is good, but the defense is no longer the NFL's best. Look for the Ravens to go 10-6, same as the Browns.
Assuming the Ravens split with the Browns and Steelers, lose to the New York Jets, the Indianapolis Colts after Payton Manning returns, the San Diego Chargers, and one team they should beat, then the Ravens will be 10-6.
Joe Flacco is a good quarterback, but his receiving corp is not as good as it could be, and his running backs are overrated. But, at 10-6, the Ravens will make the playoffs.
3. The Cincinnati Bengals will win only 2 games this year, beating the Carolina Panthers and the Buffalo Bills. Andy Dalton will be a pleasant surprise. Mike Brown will be highly criticized for not trading Carson Palmer (or at least for not creating an environment where a quarterback like Carson Palmer would want to play). Look for spectacular catches from A.J. Green and for Cedric Benson to have a decent season after he gets out of jail. But, the defensive is as porous as the Niagara Falls.
In the "you heard it here first" department, if the Bengals get the first pick in next year's draft, Andrew Luck will pull an Eli Manning and tell the Bengals that if they draft him, he won't play for them. Mike Brown will stand on principle, draft him, and then have two quarterbacks who refuse to play for him!
4. The Pittsburgh Steelers are good but are due for a letdown. Ben Roethlisberger doesn't have the "me against the world" mentality this year that helped him so much last year. So, we're expecting the Steelers to have a similar season as the Ravens and end up at 10-6.
It would not be inconceivable for the Steelers to split their games with the Browns and Ravens. And it would not be surprising if they lost to the New England Patriots. And, losing to some highly motivated, upstart team like the Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals or Kansas City Chiefs is also possible if the Steelers are having a downer year. So, don't be surprised if the Steelers match the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens at 10-6.
But, also, don't be surprised if the Pittsburgh Steelers go 14-2. But, they would have to beat the "We lost the Super Bowl funk" that is typical. In any event, they will make the playoffs.
Get the latest Cleveland Browns news and Cleveland Browns videos on our site - http://sportadore.com
By James D. Silver
0 comments:
Post a Comment