This is actually long past due as the season ended quite a while ago. However, I have been in a football funk since the Packers won the Super Bowl (damn Packers), so now I have finally gotten over it and around to getting this post done. I swear, as soon as I get my next post up (I should really be focusing on the Bulls a lot more with the season they're having) I'll get the background changed.
Anyways, before the season started I put up predictions of the records I thought each team would finish with, and the playoff picture. Records, in my opinion, are damn near impossible to predict, so seeing how wrong I was about those will be a humorous endeavor to me. The playoffs and how some teams finished, however, is a different story. Personally, there were a lot of surprises here for me.
Pre-Season Predictions:
NFC North
Minnesota Vikings
Predicted Record: 10-6
Final Record: 6-10
The biggest surprise here was the Vikings. How does a team with Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson put up a sub-.500 record? Did you know they technically finished in last place because they tied with the Lions and the Lions owned the tiebreaker? From first to worst without a lot of personnel subtractions, that's disappointing. Injuries played a part, but I think the big story here is that Favre was on his way out even near the beginning of the season.
Detroit Lions
Predicted Record: 4-12
Final Record: 6-10
The Lions were also surprising. Ndamukong Suh was a standout, and the Lions got great production from Jahvid Best. I knew at the beginning of the season that the Lions would improve, but how much they improved is what surprised me most. They moved out of the cellar, and if not for injuries I think would have been even better. If they can stay healthy and have an offseason half as good as last year's then they will be a force.
Green Bay Packers
Predicted Record: 8-8
Final Record: 10-6
Oh, you're crazy predicting the Packers to go 8-8 everyone said at the beginning of the season. 13-3 everyone said they would go, easily. Oh really, you want to know how much I was off by? Two games, the same amount I was off by when I said the Bears would go 9-7 and get a wild card. Look, I've said all season that you are what your record says you are and I stand by that. Green Bay was a winning team, even without the Super Bowl 10-6 is nothing to snuff at. The way people have been talking about the Packers, though, and continue to talk about them you'd think they were the greatest thing to hit the field since the forward pass was invented. You know what this season proved to me? This is still the NFL, things are always going to be close and competitive, and no team is ever going to be as good as Green Bay's sycophants have made them out to be. But don't say I don't give credit where credit is due, they won the Super Bowl, they won four playoff games. It's hard to overestimate a team that does that, but somehow the sports media has managed to do just that.
Chicago Bears
Predicted Record: 9-7
Final Record: 11-5
And then we get to da Bears! Here's my big told you so moment, they were predicted to be third place at best, AT BEST. I said they would make the playoffs this year, I said they were going to go 9-7, and instead they went 11-5. If anything, I was listening to what other people were saying too much by making them the wild card pick. I took an attitude of tempering my expectations for each team against the general consensus, I think in the future I'll ease up on that, although I won't do away with it completely.
NFC East
Washington Redskins
Predicted Record: 8-8
Final Record: 6-10
Okay, I'll admit it, the NFC East has proven to be a big embarrassment for me this season. In my defense, a lot of things changed between when I made these predictions and when certain teams' fortunes began to change. The Redskins were looking good at times during the season. Ryan Torrain was looking like a beast of a running back, if he and Portis can stay healthy a full season the Redskins will be in good shape. They've got a lot of holes to fill, but they aren't as far removed from being competitive as many people make them out to be. Of course, if they could find some stability at quarterback they might look a lot better to more analysts.
Dallas Cowboys
Predicted Record: 10-6
Final Record: 6-10
I was pretty surprised by the Cowboys this season, but in my defense so was everybody else. Specifically, how did that defense fall off like it did? They retained a lot of the same players that played well for them the year before, but for some reason they just came apart. It looks like Jason Garrett has that unit back in line, though, so Cowboys fans have reason for hope. Frankly, I'd be more concerned about the offense. Their three-headed monster of a run game didn't get anywhere for most of the season, though that can be attributed in part to Wade Phillips. I think their biggest issue going into next season is the line, both in run blocking and protection.
New York Giants
Predicted Record: 14-2
Final Record: 10-6
I stand by prediction here for a number of reasons. Okay, maybe 14-2 was a bit unrealistic, but hear me out. One, the Eagles looked downright sorry at times, specifically before Vick was named the starter. Even after that they lost some close games, but my point is the Eagles had a great turnaround in large part because of a move that was made during the course of the regular season. Two, the Eagles won the division by tiebreaker, one more game and the Giants would have been champions. In fact, one more Bears' win and the Giants are in the playoffs while the Packers are out. I predicted the Giants would win the division because of their defense, and I wasn't wrong. Their defense played lights out, but injuries on offense kept them from winning some big games. A lot of teams can talk about injuries, but when a few points can mean the difference between a postseason berth and sitting at home I think injuries become much more of a legitimate excuse.
Philadelphia Eagles
Predicted Record: 3-13
Final Record: 10-6
Okay, like the Giants I was way off with the record. however, I still think the Eagles looked like a third or fourth place team without Vick. Their defense was, again, very underwhelming. They struggled at times stopping teams, and if not for Vick's ability to drive his team upfield they might not have won many of those games. A lot of people like Kevin Kolb, but with him under center I doubt that Philly makes the playoffs.
NFC South
Carolina Panthers
Predicted Record: 3-13
Final Record: 2-14
Wow, was I close on this one. To be fair to the Panthers, injuries did play somewhat of a role. Still, they were playing with basically nothing but young, unproven players. Even if DeAngelo stays healthy all season, you're still a one-dimensional team.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Predicted Record: 2-14
Final Record: 10-6
I attribute my mistake here to thinking that the Saints and Falcons could not be toppled by the Bucs. I was wrong, and I admit I underestimated this team. That being said, I did say they would finish in third place.
New Orleans Saints
Predicted Record: 14-2
Final Record: 11-5
I'll admit I might have underestimated Atlanta a little, but I sincerely thought New Orleans was going to be better, especially on defense. They showed flashes, Alex Brown and Will Smith are a great tandem, but needed a little more consistency. If they had stayed healthier at Running back they would have won more games, but enough to topple Atlanta? Who knows.
Atlanta Falcons
Predicted Record: 9-7
Final Record: 13-3
I'll admit they surprised me this season, especially their pass rush. Still, just when I was becoming sold on just how good they were, they go and put up a stinker at home against the Pack. I was right to have reservations, wrong on when and how strong.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Predicted Record: 8-8
Final Record: 5-11
Here is another case of me listening too much to other people. Still, their defense was impressive again this season. I guess I imagined Derek Anderson doing slightly better than he did. This team is still one QB away from the playoffs.
San Francisco 49ers
Predicted Record: 13-3
Final Record: 6-10
I'm calling this my biggest blunder of the offseason predictions. I still think this team had the talent to do a lot more, I just don't think Singletary was doing an effective job coaching. Don't give up on any of these players yet, not even Alex Smith. He's never going to be a franchise QB, but he's one that can win games, especially with a decent coach like Harbaugh behind him.
St. Louis Rams
Predicted Record: 2-14
Final Record: 7-9
How about those Rams? I never thought they would see a turnaround like that, my days of underestimating them are done.
Seattle Seahawks
Predicted Record: 5-11
Final Record: 7-9
I don't like calling teams lucky, again you are what your record says you are, but I really feel like the Rams had a good chance of knocking Seattle out on a couple of occasions. Pete Carroll had better not rest on his laurels this offseason because the Rams are itching to restore some credibility to this division.
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