"We'll Focus on the NFL"

Please excuse my temporary "hiatus", it's good to be back. Now that College football is pretty much over, and that the BCS whining is over (we are of the strong opinion here that the BCS DID get it right, so much so, it's not even worth a post to defend such--though, we have legit reasons)-- the NFL is what dominates sports center. Despite our SEC bias and CFB prejudice, we have to admit that the NFL is what america is all about. The rest of the country is of the opinion that the NFL is the best sports out there. Not here to debate that, but to ride that opinion with my own thoughts on this years season and what i presume will happen in the post-season.

Prelimiary Comments: Being a good "Van Tillian", I acknowledge these are not facts, but my interpretation of the facts due to prior convictions. This is what I bring into any NFL discussion: I strongly HATE the Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers---all these teams are over-hyped by media and would have never made it to the superbowl had they played in the AFC, the media continually talks about these teams in blatent contradiction to their records. Secondly, I know that Tom Brady is whiner who has ridden the coat tails of a great defense and some luck-still i acknowledge he's a winner. Bill Billicheck is the NFL anti-christ, evil and easily despised. I loath the NE patriots. I am a Colts fan and a Titans fan (which is kind of absurd b/c they are in the same division), i have lots of respect for almost every team i don't hate.

NFC: Nothing creative about this, but the NFC is terrible. I was one though, that strongly laughed at all the ESPN analysts who predicted the Carolina Panthers winning the NFC, I actually called ESPN radio in August and told Sean Salsbury that he was absurd for picking Carolina- he said call back in January and "We'll talk then"...Sean, i have the number on speed dial . I've always thought Jake Delhomme sux - he got lucky 1x. The Seattle Seahawks were the WORST team the NFC has ever sent to the super bowl, Matt Hasselback is not good and Shaun Alexander is soft. The thing about the NFC is that the media refuses to acknowledge the good teams and keeps trying prove why teams like Carolina and Seattle are just about to turn the corner. Chicago is good, New Orleans is good, Dallas is good...there you go.
playoffs - I think Philadelphia and the Giants will get the Wild Card's due to a process of elimination. I'm not sure how the bracket will look, more than likely Dallas will have to play Chicago in the 2nd round. New Orleans will make the NFC championship game b/c they will likely play Seattle or Philadelphia--both are terrible. Tough call, but to me Super bowl team will either be Dallas or Chicago winner--I'll go with Chicago at home. Chicago's D in that Cold weather will be so tough. Dallas has best chance to knock them off in those conditions. Sorry, no New Orleans this year.

AFC: This has been strange, things change like crazy. Earlier in year it seemed Denver and Indy were clearly best teams. Baltimore has come out of nowhere and is not being talked about enough. NE still hangs around, but are not impressive. San Diego is good b/c of steroid pumping Merriman and LT--who is just plain sick! Indy won't make it far with their defense, too much to ask of Manning. NE would maybe win NFC, but whaaawhaaa they won't get teams at home in the snow, so they lose. Cincinatti will make Playoffs, and could make a strong run, though having to play all away games will be difficult. AFC championship game will be Baltimore over San Diego in San Diego, I like Steve McNair's experience and Baltimores D to 'contain' LT, slow him down just enough.


Super Bowl: Baltimore scores a late TD and beats Chicago 17-13. Ed Reed is super bowl MVP

NFL MVP: Ladanian Tomlinson...no voting will actually be neccessary.

Coach of the Year: Eric Mangieni, NY Jets.

Other thoughts: Philadelphia will find a way to blame their playoff loss on T.O., who will then make his case for MVP. T.O. will then demand he be traded; New England in a perpetual state of whining will sign T.O. for the first ever 1/2 season contract promising payment upon performance. Tom Brady whining about missing the Super Bowl will boast to the media that "At least Indianapolis didn't make it!". Continuing loyalty to theirselves, Billichick will cut T.O. and then Brady, believing that Vinny Testaverde can carry his team all the way while saving him tons of $$.....stranger things have happened eh???