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Draft Insiders’ Digest ’06 NFL Predictions
DraftInsiders.com predicts Baltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XLI
NFC
EAST
NEW YORK GIANTS 11-5 - Eli looks to take a huge step up this season and directs this potent attack. The secondary is up to playoff standards.
DALLAS COWBOYS 10-6 - T.O. is capable of taking them in either direction. Parcells is playing for this season and will not hesitate to improve club for playoff run.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 9-7 - Eagles want to prove they are among the best in league again. They are capable of winning East but McNabb must produce in big divisional games.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS 7-9 - Gibbs has his car ready to get out of town if they stumble like during the preseason. Brunell and Portis must prove durable for playoff run.
NORTH
CHICAGO BEARS 12-4 - Bears may walk thru this division and look for home field advantage for January. Offense must improve to win critical postseason games.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS 8-8 - Vikes are an erratic club that is capable of big wins or total self destruction. A .500 record may be the limit this season.
DETROIT LIONS 6-10 - New regime has their work cut out for them. New leaders on offense will dictate whether they can reach the .500 mark.
GREEN BAY PACKERS 5-11- Favre fades into the sunset with a weak supporting cast. The defense is not up to NFL playoff standards.
SOUTH
CAROLINA PANTHERS 10-6 - Panthers are among the best in the game but face a tough task to win here in probably the best division in the NFL.
ATLANTA FALCONS 9-7 - Falcons thinking title but star QB Michael Vick must show more maturity and consistency to spell the difference in this strong division.
TAMPA BAY BUCS 8-8 - Bucs are a solid club but that may not be good enough to get them back to the playoffs.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 4-12 - One of the worst organizations in sports. Even
Drew Brees and Reggie Bush will have a tough time improving this club.
WEST
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 11-5 - Holmgren has them as the class of this division. Young defense will determine if they can go all the way.
ST. LOUIS RAMS 8-8 - Rams look to potent offense to help them to return to the playoffs. Their changing defense is not up to playoff levels at this point.
ARIZONA CARDINALS 7-9 - Cards looking to step up this season. The Edge can be a boost for the O, but the defense has yet to show it can win vs top teams.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 4-12 - This club is still struggling to find an identity. They need many things to come together to even approach the .500 mark - highly questionable.
Divisional Champs
N.Y. Giants, Chicago, Carolina and Seattle
Wild Card Clubs
Atlanta & Dallas
NFC Championship
N.Y. Giants over Seattle. – G Men return to the Big Show.
AFC
EAST
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 11-5 - Pats looking to return to the show with the same offensive nucleus. Brady is primed for big effort but changing defense may dictate final fate.
MIAMI DOLPHINS 9-7 - Dolphins are improving but his destiny may hinge on how productive QB Culpepper is in this young offense. Defense is at playoff levels.
BUFFALO BILLS 6-10 - QB Losman must show consistency and play making ability for this club to even reach the .500 mark. Defense is a find unit with definite upside.
NEW YORK JETS 2-14- Jets turn the page with a new regime but have so many key questions that this season could see a major step back before longterm improvement.
NORTH
BALTIMORE RAVENS 10-6 - McNair puts the Ravens back in the show with sound
leadership for balanced offense. The defense is capable of dominant effort with help from O.
CINCINNATI BENGALS 9-7 - Palmer has the talent to be special NFL star and direct this big play attack. The defense is talented and young but needs to jell to challenge for title.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 8-8 - Steel men find out how difficult it is to repeat. Big Ben needs to make more plays with the Bus gone. Steel defense is still among best in the game.
CLEVELAND BROWNS 4-12 - Browns still in the growing process to gain respectability. QB Frye needs to take a huge step up to avoid another basement finish.
SOUTH
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 12-4 - Dungy has this defense playing better to join the most potent attack in the league. Winning the big one in the postseason has been an obstacle.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 9-7 - Fast emerging club must show it can win the close
game. Difficult first half schedule may be too much to overcome.
HOUSTON TEXANS 7-9 - This club will improve but they are probably two years away from competing for the playoffs.
TENNESSEE TITANS 6-10 - This club goes through the transition without QB McNair and a young developing defense. They will need time before being ready to return to playoffs.
WEST
DENVER BRONCOS 12-4 - Broncos are one of the class clubs in the AFC but must prove they can beat the top clubs in January to challenge for the title.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 10-6 - Rivers must show he can get it done at the NFL level. Young defense is improving quickly and should rank with the best in the conference.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 7-9 - Chiefs have bigger problems then advertised. Their offense will miss a few key vets while the defense has not played at playoff levels for a decade.
OAKLAND RAIDERS 4-12 - Raiders face their 4th nightmare season since their Super Bowl loss. The Raider nation hides deeper in the Black hole for at least another year.
Divisional Champs
New England, Baltimore, Indianapolis & Denver
Wild Card Clubs
San Diego & Cincinnati
AFC Championship
Baltimore over Indianapolis – Ravens show a top defense can stop a potent offense in big games.
Super Bowl XLI
Baltimore Ravens over N.Y. Giants
Ravens shock NFL with a repeat win in wild Super Bowl showdown with G Men.