Big Time's 2007 NFL Picks: Saints, Patriots Look Like Winners

Here we go gang—another year of NFL football.

Before I size up 2007, let's review Big Time's picks in last year's column.

Highlights from a year ago...

1) The SAINTS would go to the NFC Championship—they did. (One of B.T.'s best picks ever!)

2) The defending champion STEELERS would not make the playoffs—they didn’t.

3) The PATRIOTS would lose in the first round of the playoffs—they lost in the AFC Championship.

4) Every team that needed a QB (mainly the DOLPHINS) would regret not going after Drew Brees—they did.

 

And now, without further ado, this year's picks...

NFC West

1) St. Louis: Steven Jackson is the absolute man! The Rams are suspect on defense, but they will score, and score, and score, and a score.

2) Seattle: Deion Branch was basically traded for a No. 1 pick and Randy Moss; the fourth-rounder the Patriots got for Branch went to the Raiders for Moss. Great deal for the Pats.

3) San Francisco: Everyone loves them; Big Time says they're a year away. And the Pats have their No. 1 pick.

4) Arizona: BAD team, great stadium—and a head coach who looks like Rich Kotite’s little brother. Enough said.

NFC South

1) New Orleans: The Phoenix Suns of the NFL

2) Atlanta: Everyone says they took a step back because of Vick; B.T. says “addition by subtraction.” I like Joey Harrington, who gets a chance after a raw deal in Detroit.

3) Carolina: This team needs a shrink...and it takes a guy who sees a shrink to know a team that needs a shrink. HAHA.

4) Tampa Bay: I’ve been saying Jon Gruden is overrated for years. Even with a healthy Cadillac Williams, the Bucs are going nowhere fast

NFC North

1) Detroit: Jon Kitna says the Lie-downs will win 10 games; B.T. says they win 12 games! Matt Millen bobbleheads sell at a record pace in Detroit—oh no, that’s Matt’s regular-sized head.

2) Chicago: Say it with me children—you can’t win in today’s NFL with a bad QB. Say it with me again—Rex Grossman is a bad QB. End of story, end of the Bears.

3) Green Bay: Will be better then people think, but they still have the second most overrated QB in the history of the NFL.

4) Minnesota: By Week Four, a Minnesota promoter will set up a steel cage match between Brad Childress and Bill Belichick. Tickets sales for the showdown exceed all Viking season ticket sales.

NFC East

1) Dallas: Jerry Jones is on the refrigerator magnet schedule sent to Cowboys season ticket holders. Even with Wade Phillips, his team is okay...in a division of losers.

2) New York Giants: Tom Coughlin takes the G-Men to the Wild Card, then gets canned at the end of the season.

3) Philadelphia: The Eagles have the MOST overrated QB in the history of the NFL. Pray for early snow Eagle fans—so you can pelt everyone wearing cleats at the Linc.

4) Washington: I’d pay to see Daniel “Punky Owner” Snyder crying in his luxury box. After Joe Gibbs goes back to the oval track, Snyder uses every dime he has to woo Bill Parcells out of retirement...and the whole process starts all over again.

AFC West

1) San Diego: Remember when Barry Switzer took over for Jimmy Johnson in Dallas? Same story—this team is so good that even Norv Turner can’t screw it up.

2) Denver: I want to say they're going to win the division, but all I keep thinking is that Mike Shanahan, the know-it-all mouse, gave Daniel Graham five million bucks a year. Daniel Graham—five mil a year? B.T. Barnum says there's a sucker born every minute—and he coaches the Mules.

3) Kansas City: Only because they share a division with the pathetic Raiders.

4) Oakland: What team can’t sign their No. 1 pick? That’s right Quiz Kid—the Raiders. What team cuts a third-round pick? You're right again—the PATHETIC RAIDERS.

AFC South

1) Indianapolis: Still can’t believe they're defending SB champs, Peyton dates a super model, Peyton impregnates an A-list actress...oops, that’s the league's other best QB.

2) Houston: Surprise, surprise, surprise. A year away. Will beat Indy twice—book that.

3) Jacksonville: Jack Del Rio cuts Byron Leftwich right before the season starts—who does he think he is, Bill Belichick? The team hates their coach—who do I think I am, Tom Jackson?

4) Tennessee: Vince Young is the absolute real deal. Too bad the Titans next best player (Pacman Jones) will be playing in the Nevada Penal League.

AFC North

1) Baltimore: Heavy D carries the Ravens to one more division title...and then the proverbial SB window slams down on Brian Billick’s head

2) Cincinnati: Chad Johnson’s act is old. The Romans had sacrificial lambs; the NFL has the Bengals to make the playoffs, then get killed in the first round.

3) Cleveland: Memo to Romeo Crennel—the sooner you make Brady Quinn your starting QB, the better chance you have of saving your job.

4) Pittsburgh: Chuck Noll and Bill Cower aren’t walking through that door, Steel Heads. The beginning of the end in the 'Burgh.

 

AFC East

1) New England: Randy Moss is a New England Patriot. I still can’t believe it. The only team that can beat the Pats is the Pats.

2)  Buffalo: Loved their draft—Posluszny and Lynch are the goods. The '07 Buffalo draft will go down as one of the best ever...and they come to Foxboro every year. Look out.

3) New York: Mangenius takes a step back. Love their D. Love their running game. But they're still the J-E-T-S

4) Miami: All you need to know is that they passed on Drew Brees last year and Brady Quinn this year. B.T. can only thank God as a Pats fan...although it's fun going to South Beach when the Phins are in the mix. They're lucky if they win four games.

NFC Playoffs

Bye: NO and Dallas

Wild Card: StL beats NYG, DET beats CHI

Divisional Round: NO beats CHI, Dallas beats StL

NFC Championship: NO over DAL

AFC Playoffs

Bye: NE and SD

Wild Card: DEN beats BAL, HOU beats IND

Divisional Round: NE beats HOU, DEN beats SD

AFC Championship: NE beats DEN

Super Bowl

NE beats NO