NFL: Bold Predictions for Week 17 and Beyond
Although we are coming to the conclusion of the 2010 NFL regular season, the questions and concerns for teams are still on the table. There will be the lucky teams still fighting it out in January for a trip to Dallas. While other teams will be examining where things went wrong and what the future holds.
With so many questions left to be answered, and so many things still at stake, let’s take a look at these bold predictions for Week 17 and beyond.
1.Brett Favre Is Done
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This prediction would be a little more bold had he not taken such a beating this year. However, this is Brett Favre and he’s never a lock for retirement. But the prediction here is that he’s done for good.
Whether he plays on Sunday is a moot point. He got that fine in the Sterger case because Goodell didn’t want to suspend a great player for the end of his career. Favre will root on Joe Webb and head back to Hattiesburg.
2.Rex Ryan Comments on the Foot Fetish
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With pictures and videos seemingly unearthed everyday of Rex and his wife’s lovely feet, the time to make a statement on it has come. It’s not that he’s shouldn’t have privacy, it’s that the privacy went out the window when they put them on the web.
Ryan doesn’t want to be a distraction, so he’ll make a statement and hope it goes away.
3.The Jets Don’t Make It out of the First Round
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It was supposed to be a storybook season for Rex and company, but it’s been one hardship after another. Once the Patriots spanked them on MNF, it was all downhill. The guess is they’ll have to face the Colts in the first round, and Peyton Manning showed us last year he could beat them.
Don’t expect the Colts to advance far in the playoffs, but they are good for an upset. Say goodbye, New York.
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4.The Packers Make It Into The Playoffs and The NFC Championship Game
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The Packers are rolling at the right time. The Bears have nothing to play for, but the pride of keeping the Packers out of the playoffs. That's not enough for Lovie to play his starters for four quarters. Unless the Packers lay an egg they'll win.
And when they get into the playoffs, they'll be be tough to beat. They have a tough defense, and Rodgers is one of the best young quarterbacks in the game. They'll stop just short of the Super Bowl.
5.The Giants Miss the Playoffs and Coughlin Gets Fired.
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Washington is a mess right now, so the Giants will win(albeit close) against the Skins. The Bears have nothing to play for so they’ll lay down for the Packers and the Giants miss the wildcard. It just feels like the Coughlin era is over and you can bet the Giants brass feel it too.
Look for them to can Coughlin and start wooing Cowher immediately.
6.Tebow Wins His Final Game and The Starting Job In Denver
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The football Jesus wins Denver’s final home game. Tebow doesn’t seem like the guy you want to build around, but Denver won’t see it that way. He’s so marketable, and they’ll claim that he has the intangibles. Regardless of whether or not he’s the right guy for the future of Denver doesn’t matter.
He’ll be there guy for the future and that’s all Kyle Orton needs to know.
7.Kyle Orton Lands in Minnesota
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No one has the right to be more bitter in the NFL than Kyle Orton. Everyone claims they get no respect, but Orton is the only guy who has the storyline to back it up. He’s the Trent Dilfer of the NFL. Well, this offseason he gets a chance in Minnesota. They won’t want to entrust that talented team to a draft pick, or the shaky Joe Webb.
They bring in Orton because he’ll manage the game, and with that talent that’s all they’ll need…for now.
8.Michael Vick Gets Bounced in the First Round, But Gets A Bigger Payday
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It’s been a storybook season for the fallen QB. He got some MVP love and put his team into the playoffs. He reclaimed his status as the most exciting guy to watch. Still, all that magic won’t be enough to get him past Green Bay. The Packers are getting it together, and are dangerous. They’ll study the Bears and Vikings blueprint on how to contain Vick. They’ll bring the pressure with a good D-line and Vick will struggle to escape.
But Vick will have the last laugh. Philadelphia has found themselves a quarterback, and they’ll pay Vick accordingly.
9.Vick wins Comeback Player of the Year
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You could debate this all day. There are a number of guys(most notably Wes Welker) who might be more deserving of the award, but the award isn’t always about injuries. It’s about stories. It’s about redemption. Vick has not just turned his career around, but his life as well.
His story is an inspiration and voters will notice that above all else.
10.Kevin Kolb Will Wind Up in Arizona
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Vick is happy with the Eagles, but Kolb won't be. The Eagles know that Kolb is at his highest trade value right now. Arizona knows they are a quarterback away from being in contention in the NFC West. Look for them to offer up a second and fourth round pick.
The Eagles love to stock pile draft picks and Reid knows he can groom another young quarterback with ease.
11.Atlanta Misses out on the Super Bowl
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Atlanta will be in the driver’s seat in the NFC. It’s the position they want to be in. Matt Ryan has a gaudy win loss record at the Georgia Dome. But their loss in week 16 to the Saints is like the scene in Rocky IV where Rocky cuts Ivan Drago.
They can be beat there now. Don’t be surprised when Green Bay does it.
12.Jim Harbaugh Agrees to Coach the Carolina Panthers
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It’s no secret around the NFL that Jim Harbaugh wants in. Carolina is the perfect fit. San Fran lacks a QB. New York will look for a more high profile coach, and Dallas is too much Jerry Jones for a head strong guy like Harbaugh.
However, Carolina seems perfect. They have a good core of players and they won the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. Look for Harbaugh to go to Carolina, draft Luck, and build from there.
13.The Saints will go back to the Super Bowl.
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Two months ago many would have scoffed at this idea. However, with Chris Ivory and Reggie Bush back and getting healthy, the Saints can make a run at it in a particularly weak NFC. It would be even more encouraging if the Saints were taking the ball away like they did last year, but they defense is playing better.
The Saints will head back to the Super Bowl.
14.The Steelers Continue To Be Cursed by New England
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The Steelers know how to beat the Ravens and they won’t be scared by Peyton Manning. They’ll get to AFC title game, but New England will again be too much for them. It’s hard to say why the Steelers can’t beat Brady. Sometimes a guy just has a team’s number.
The Steelers are certainly talented enough to pull off an upset, but don’t count on it.
15.Marvin Lewis AND Carson Palmer Get Fired
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Yes, it’s true. Quarterbacks don’t get fired.
But something has to give in Cincinnati. The Bengals continue to be disappointing. There are three reasons for that: Marvin Lewis, Carson Palmer, and a culture of failure. Since you can’t erase the culture of failure all by itself, getting rid of Palmer and Lewis will be a good start.
Look for them to can Lewis and start looking for a new QB in Cincy.
16.Eric Mangini Keeps His Job
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This might be a stretch, but the Man-Genius deserves some consideration for sticking around. Cleveland has been miserable forever, but with Colt McCoy, Peyton Hillis, and Joshua Cribbs, there is reason to hope. Mangini hasn’t done a bad job with the team and Holmgren will see that.
Without a marquee coach in his sights, it’s unlikely he’ll dump Mangini.
17.Tom Brady Wins The MVP
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This isn’t a prediction. This is a fact. After the Eagles loss to the Vikings on Tuesday, Brady sewed up the MVP. The only shocking thing that can happen is if Brady doesn’t win the MVP.
18.San Francisco Nabs McNabb
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Troy Smith? Alex Smith? Joe Montana and his new Shape-Ups? The bottom line is San Fran is a capable team that is a quarterback away from challenging for the NFC West. They’ll need a new head coach first, but once they get that settled, they set their sights on an unhappy McNabb in Washington.
19.New England Wins The Super Bowl
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It’s fashionable to pick against the best team and predict an upset, but it’s hard to do with a New England team that is playing this well. There isn’t a better big game QB than Brady and if they face the Saints they’ll be well prepared. The Saints thrive on takeaways and New England doesn’t offer many opportunities to get them.
Expect New England to win and win easily. Make that four for Brady and Belichick.
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