Why wait until training camps open to preview the upcoming NFL season?
While legitimate sports news sources will wait to provide the most accurate reports, this site will go right ahead and plow through all 8 divisions with projected standings and fearless predictions.
AFC EAST
1. Your New England Patriots
Outlook: So I guess picking up the three best available wide receivers and the best defensive free agent means that we’re going with the Yankee mentality this year: Anything less than winning it all is a failure.
Key Player: Most would say Randy Moss, and whether or not he will have a positive or negative impact on and off the field blah blah blah. Listen, Tom Brady got this team 10 minutes away from the Super Bowl with Bugeye Caldwell as his top target. Moss needs this team more than they need him, and with coach Bill Belichick and Brady in complete control of that locker room, he will conform. The key player for the Pats this year will certainly be sophomore running back Laurence Maroney, as we see whether or not he can be effective as a featured back.
Game to Watch: 11/4 @ Indianapolis…for the first time in this young rivalry the pressure is on the Patriots.
Madden Implications: With the right side triangle of Moss (we used to ban the Vikings when he could catch everything), Maroney, and super fast tight end Ben Watson, not to mention the best defensive front 7 in the game, we could be looking at the greatest Madden team ever.
2. New York Jets
Outlook: They weren’t as busy this off-season as the rest of the AFC Beast, but they were able to replace recently retired Curtis Martin with ex-Bear Thomas Jones. With Mangenious at the helm the Jets are looking at another 10 win season and possible playoff berth.
Key Player: MLB Jonathan Vilma leads the defense while 2nd year guys Nick Mangold and D’Brickashaw Ferguson anchor a young offensive line. The key player however is 31-year-old Chad Pennington, who needs to stay healthy, since backup Kellen Clemens has only thrown 1 pass in his NFL career.
Game to Watch: 12/30 vs. Kansas City…this week 17 match-up could easily determine a playoff spot for both bubble teams.
Madden Implications: Vilma is always fun to roam with and Jones is a good addition, but the real virtual star on the team is La-la-la…Laaaveranues Coles, whose speed is usually around 96. Get it to him in the open field and put 6 on the board.
3. Miami Dolphins
Outlook: Even if the Miami Dolphins’ defense plays out of their minds like they did last year, the O still need to put points on the board. The big question is whether or not Trent Green (who still may be somewhat concussed) will be able to lead what was a struggling ‘06 offense that didn’t do much to improve their less than stellar line. Waiting in the wings at QB is 2nd round pick John “Big Love” Beck out of Brigham Young, who might see some time by week 12 if the season is already in the tank. (And yes, I am going to do everything I can to make “Big Love” catch on as the Utah rookie’s nickname).
Key Player: There is some pressure on top pick Ted Ginn Jr. to make ‘Phins fans forget that the team passed on Brady Quinn to take him, but he isn’t even going to be a starter. The most important player for Miami could be Zach Thomas. The pro bowl middle linebacker is entering his 12th season and needs to show that he can still lead a dominant defense.
Game to Watch: 9/23 @ NY Jets…a big divisional road game to kick-off a “must-win” stretch of the Raiders, Texans and Browns.
Madden Implications: A host of solid WRs: Chris Chambers, Marty Booker, Ginn, and the ever-dangerous-as-long-as-its-not-real-life Az Hakim. Now only if the game would let you put Jason Taylor at tight end.
4. The Mighty Bills of Buffalo
Outlook: Like a Buffalo weather report: mostly bleak with a chance of a flurry. A rookie starting middle linebacker, a rookie starting tailback, and J.P. Losman (right) at the helm is not a winning formula.
Key Player: Speedster Terrence McGee leads a solid, young secondary. Look for him to bounce back after a quiet 2006 season, both in his interception numbers and his kickoff returns.
Game to Watch: 9/16 @ Pittsburgh…should be won in the trenches, a big road test before heading to Foxboro.
Madden Implications: Do not use this team. I don’t care if you’re from Buffalo, hell I don’t care if your father owns the team, pick another squad. Whoever dons the Peerless Price jersey on next year’s Madden Nation will be kicked off the bus before you can say “THIS IS HOW WE DO!!!”
AFC NORTH
1. Baltimore Ravens
Outlook: Willis McGahee should fit in nicely with the run-first Ravens, and with an aging but healthy Steve McNair the offense should be better fit to compete with the high scoring Bengals. The story of this team, as always, is their defense. They seem to lose key front-7 guys every year but remain strong. Why? Ray Lewis.
Key Player: With the loss of stud pass rusher Adalius Thomas, it will be up to 5th year D-end Terrell Suggs to get in the faces of Carson Palmer and Ben Roethlisberger.
Game to Watch: 12/3 vs. New England…if they want to be the top team in the East then they need to take down the Pats at home on Monday Night Football.
Madden Implications: Always a top team. Still one of the best defenses in the game (filthy secondary) and with Todd Heap and McGahee they can move the ball. If you play a slow, methodical, ball-control style of Madden then they are a great choice.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
Outlook: The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers hired a new head coach George Bush was in office. Not the Will Ferrell Bush, the Dana Carvey Bush. The key to the season will be how the team responds to rookie skipper Mike Tomlin and whether or not Roethlisberger can come all the way back from a disastrous (motorcycle accident/appendectomy/75.4 QB rating) 2006 campaign.
Key Player: This experienced defense is led by the highest-paid safety in the league, Troy “Don’t Call Me Fatu From The WWF” Polamalu, whose newly-inked deal also makes him the highest paid Steeler ever. He is generally a run stopper but will need to play back more if the Steelers want to improve on their 20th ranked pass defense of a year ago.
Game to Watch: 12/16 vs. Jacksonville…look for both teams to come into this Week 15 battle at 9-5 or 8-6 and fighting for a wild card spot.
Madden Implications: Fun team to play with. Great run-stopping defense and lots of speed on offense, with Willie Parker, Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. Look to throw to Parker out of the backfield and TE Heath Miller in the red zone.
3. Cincinnati Bengals
Outlook: As long as they can keep all or most of their starters out of jail they should be able to improve on last year’s 8-8 season. Carson Palmer is healthy and that is very bad news for the rest of the division. Look for them to score a lot of points but struggle to keep their opponents off the scoreboard. They allowed a league-worst 238.6 yards per game through the air last season.
Key Players: Capable yet underachieving corner Deltha O’Neal and 2nd-year D-back Johnathan Joseph need to cover more grass while smoking less of it if this troubled team is going to make a playoff run.
Game to Watch: 9/10 vs. Baltimore…if they’re going to make a run at the division they should win the opener at home against the defending North champs.
Madden Implications: Excellent choice if you want to run up the score on some chump. Rudi Johnson can pound the ball and keep 7 or 8 guys in the box while you send Chad Johnson and T.J. Whosyomamma (the best 1-2 punch at WR east of Indianapolis) down field for touchdown after touchdown.
4. The Mighty Browns of Cleveland
Outlook: They had the best draft of any team in the division. What does that mean for this season? Probably not a lot. Brady Quinn didn’t wow anyone at mini camp and should only see time if the season is lost. Joe Thomas joined a solid offensive line and will block in front of newly-acquired Jamal Lewis, a running game that will be the highlight of the Browns attack.
Key Player: In Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 defense its up to the right outside linebacker to rush the quarterback, and no Brown did it better last year than Kamerion Wimbley. His 11 sacks as a rookie was most on his team by more than 6, and if the Browns have any chance at making a playoff run he can’t afford a sophomore slump.
Game to Watch: 9/9 vs. Pittsburgh…the Browns host all 3 of the aforementioned North teams in the first 4 weeks of the season, and need to win at least 2 if they’re going to contend in a tough division. Why not win the opener in front of a raucous crowd that hates everything black and gold?
Madden Implications: Lewis is always a beast but you can’t win a Madden game with Charlie Frye at QB. Try starting Quinn, maybe you’ll get lucky and they will overrate him.
AFC SOUTH
1. Indianapolis Colts
Outlook: Expect a let down after a magical Super Bowl season. They have always been able to throw all day, but last year’s Indianapolis Colts ran the ball and played defense too. Those two areas took hits in the off-season, with the loss of runner Dominic Rhodes and linebacker Cato June. They still have two of the most dynamic defenders in the game in Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders, and a Peyton Manning-led offense that shows no signs of slowing down. 12 wins is by no means a stretch.
Key Player: The Colts snagged THE Anthony Gonzalez with the last pick in the 1st round of the ‘07 draft, who should slide right into the Brandon Stokely role as a slot receiver.
Game to Watch: 9/6 vs. New Orleans…the Colts have 4 really tough games: @ San Diego, @ Jacksonville, home for New England and then @ Baltimore, but opening the NFL season at home against the high flying Saints (America’s new team) will be a big deal for them. It’ll be interesting to see how the Dungy Bunch handles the emotions.
Madden Implications: Would you rather have Marvin Harrison or Randy Moss? I’ll take the taller one, which means the Colts will have only the 2nd best offensive attack in the game. And unless you consider Joseph Addai a legitimate ground threat they have to be considered a one-dimensional team.
2. Tennessee Titans
Outlook: The team improved to 8-8 last season after a 4-12 job in 2005, and they should improve to a winning record and possible playoff birth in ‘07. Vince Young will only be better this year and if any coach can get the most out of a youthful team its Jeff Fischer.
Key Player: The Titans plucked corner Nick Harper from the division rival Colts, and he will need to step up and fill the shoes of the suspended Pacman Jones (left, 51 tackles, 4 INTs last season). Hopefully Harper can fill the void on the field, but we all know that nobody can make it rain like Pacman off of it.
Game to Watch: 12/30 @ Indianapolis…a Tennessee playoff birth might be on the line in this week 17 contest, while Indy will most likely have already clinched. Vince should take advantage of the turf and run all over a complacent Colts’ D.
Madden Implications: Young is the new Vick, so make sure you spy him if you’re playing against the Titans. I recommend putting a fast safety at linebacker to shadow the speedy QB.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
Outlook: Byron Leftwich is supposedly their guy at QB, but with David Garrard always staying loose and the team talking with Daunte Culpepper it doesn’t seem like they have much confidence in Leftwich. Hopefully for Jags fans the annual quarterback controversy won’t hurt Jack Del Rio’s squad, which is built around a solid defense and the 2-headed running attack of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew.
Key Player: Jacksonville probably has the best three-man middle of any defense in the league. 6-6, 300 lb. Marcus Stroud and 6-7, 325 lb. John Henderson get a lot of recognition at the D-tackle positions but their best player may be middle linebacker Mike Peterson. While the 31-year-old Peterson is coming off an injury plagued season (only playing in 5 games last year) he looks to return to his ‘05 form, where he ranked 9th in the NFL with 132 tackles.
Game to Watch: 11/11 @ Tennessee…If they want to make the playoffs they probably need to beat the Titans twice.
Madden Implications: The 6′6” Matt Jones can go up and get some balls, always a good thing if you need a late score. MoJo can fly and I have a feeling they will make him sick this year, and you can platoon him with Fred Taylor so fatigue shouldn’t be an issue.
4. The Mighty Texans of Houston
Outlook: The Texans have never had a winning season, and I can’t imagine that changing this year. Their fans are excited about the addition of Matt Schaub (who has never been an NFL starter) and Ahman Green (entering his 10th year), but neither will be able to save this lackluster offense.
Key Player: Anthony Weaver was a disappointing free agent signing acquisition for Houston last year, but he will need to step up and lead a very young defensive line. The front four has an average age of 23 and features 2 promising youngsters in Mario Williams and Amobi Okoye.
Game to Watch: 10/21 vs. Tennessee…its always fun to watch the Houston faithful cringe as Vince Young displays his talent and shows them what might have been.
Madden Implications: There are about 29 teams that I would rather play with, but WR Andre Johnson is fast as hell. Sure, he’ll be double teamed, but give it to him anyway, its your only hope.
AFC WEST
1. The San Diego Super Chargers
Outlook: How does a team improve on a 14-2 season? Win a playoff game. Martyball is out in southern Cal and Norv Turner is at the helm, partly because of Schottenheimer’s perceived inability to win in January. I’m not sure how bringing in Turner (1-1 career playoff record) will solve that problem, but this team is so stacked with talent that Rick Moranis could lead them to a division title.
Key Player: Take your pick. They have arguably the game’s best all-around player (LaDainian Tomlinson), best tight end (Antonio Gates), best defender (Shawne Merriman, right), and a quarterback with the 4th best rating in the conference last year (Philip Rivers). I’ll go with the anchor of the defense however and say that nose tackle Jamal Williams is the key guy on a squad that allowed an average of less than 19 points per game last year.
Game to Watch: 11/25 vs. Baltimore…it will be interesting to see if LT and company can move the ball against a run defense that ranked 1st in the AFC last season.
Madden Implications: Besides that Pats this will be by far the most fun team to use. LaDainian can do it all, Gates is a monster and Merriman is the fastest pass rusher in the game. The only way to stop them is to run a double TE with 8 in the box and force Rivers to beat you.
2. Kansas City Chiefs
Outlook: They will go as far as stud running back Larry Johnson takes them. Coach Herman Edwards has built this team to pound the ball and play good defense, and if healthy thats what they’ll do. By plucking linebacker Donnie Edwards from San Diego in the off season they hope to improve a defense that ranked last in the division last year.
Key Player: Left Guard Brian Waters is one of the best in the business, and the main blocker for #27. He leads an experienced O-line which is performs well every year and is the key to Chef success.
Game to Watch: 12/30 @ NY Jets…Herm Edwards returns to the Meadowlands for a showdown of 2 potential 9 or 10 win teams.
Madden Implications: Not much of an air attack except for Tony Gonzalez, but their defense is improved and LJ will break tackles all day long.
3. Denver Broncos
Outlook: This will be an interesting year for the Mile High club. They have spent the off-season mourning the loss of defensive back Darrent Williams, who died in a New Year’s Eve drive-by shooting, and will start the season with a 2nd-year QB in Jay Cutler. While Cutler showed promise at the end of last year he is by no means a finished product, and Broncos fans might need to prepare themselves for a bit of a rebuilding year. This is still a very solid team though, and 9 wins is by no means a stretch, even in a tough division.
Key Player: Newly aquired corner Dre Bly will have to step in for Williams. Playing opposite Champ Bailey means that nearly every downfield pass will be to his side.
Game to Watch: 11/11 @ Kansas City…the Broncos haven’t won in KC since an overtime thriller in 2002. They play in Indy and in Chicago, and if they’re to make the playoffs they need to win some road games, especially in the division.
Madden Implications: Cutler has a cannon and some good targets (Javon Walker being one), they can run the ball with any of 3 guys and they always have a solid defense. Good team to use against a Vick or Vince Young since they have fast linebackers.
4. The Mighty Raydas of Oakland
Outlook: After a 2-14 debacle last year there is nowhere to go but up. Number 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell is a year+ away from helping the team and for some reason the Raider brass didn’t add enough off-season talent to an offense that ranked dead last in the NFL last year. They did, however, have the best passing defense in the land in ‘06, and will look to the defense to carry them to a semi-respectable season. This team has a 6-win ceiling, and 6 is pushing it.
Key Player: Lousville RB Michael Bush may have been the steal of the draft as the 100th pick, but he is sitting at 4th on the depth chart. Former Colt Dominic Rhodes will be key to Oakland, as they will need a solid running attack to balance with their defense. The passing game is a lost cause. To be honest though, when your offense is this bad the most important guy on your team is the punter, and the Raiders have the best in the business in Shane Lechler.
Game to Watch: (If you have to watch a Raiders game) 10/14 @ San Diego…some people don’t realize this, but the Raiders have the biggest homefield advantage of any team in the NFL. That is, if they leave Oakland and drive south. When the Black and Silver play in San Diego all of the LA gansters fill the stands and intimidate the crap out of the laid back Charger faithful.
Madden Implications: Hopefully they made top pick Russell better than real life. If not it could be a long game. You have Warren Sapp on D, but he certainly doesn’t do what he used to do. Bright spot: Lechler should have another 99 rating this year.
NFC EAST
1. Philadelphia Eagles
Outlook: They remind me very much of the Patriots in the last 6 years: Great coach, great quarterback, passionate fans, consistent winning. Despite frequent personnel change the Eagles and their west coast offense seem to be mainstays atop the NFC East. Philly has won 12 or more games in each of the past 3 seasons in which Donovan McNabb has been healthy. While there are no guarantees that he will start 16 games in ‘07, he should be ready to go in the opener. The biggest question on defense is whether or not recent acquisition Takeo Spikes, entering his 10th season, can still be a 120-tackle-a-year guy.
Key Player: Brian Westbrook may be the most underrated offensive player in the NFL. He has gained 1,000 all-purpose yards in each of the last 4 seasons, accumulating 1,916 yards rushing and receiving last year. At only 27 years old he is poised to have another huge year, as a runner and as McNabb’s top target.
Game to Watch: 11/4 vs. Dallas…Philly fans get another crack at TO. It will be fun to watch as well as an important divisional game. Despite the top-to-bottom strength of the NFC Beast the Eagles really need to get their wins in the division, since their schedule also includes Chicago, Seattle and trips to New England and New Orleans, two nearly impossible places to win.
Madden Implications: Hopefully for Iggle users McNabb will still be able to run. If they demobilized him with a 79 speed rating then they won’t be the Madden team they used to be. You still have Westbrook though, who is the best guy to throw to out of the backfield not named Reggie Bush.
2. Dallas Cowboys
Outlook: These guys have to be the wild card team in the NFL, and I don’t mean that in a 5th or 6th playoff spot type of way. NOTHING that this team will do this year will shock me, especially not after I saw this. I’m all out of shock. They could go 13-3 or 3-13, I have no idea. They have committed to team-killer Terrell Owens, which seems idiotic, but he did lead all NFL receivers in touchdowns last season. They hired coach (puppet) Wade Phillips to replace Bill Parcells (overrated), but it looks like owner Jerry Jones (egomaniac) is the one calling all the shots. Like I said, who knows???
Key Player: In all honestly, these guys have a very good team. Their running back situation sucks for fantasy owners, with carries split between Julius Jones and Marion Barber III, but should be solid in real life. Romo has plenty of capable targets and an experienced O-line that doesn’t have a guy who has been in the league less than 6 years. Defensively they’re fast as hell, featuring pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware, whose 11.5 sacks last season were better than any other linebacker not named Shawn Merriman. Roy Williams and Terrence Newman lead a strong secondary that must improve from last season, when they allowed 25 touchdowns through the air.
However, when all is said and done, the key player for the Cowboys is Tony Romo. We can’t necessarily expect another 95.1 passer rating from him, but the main question is whether or not he will return to Pro Bowl-form or let his famous fumble in Seattle define his career? If he does in fact struggle don’t be shocked to see new coach Wade Phillips go to veteran Brad Johnson, and leave Romo livin’ in a lonely world.
Game to Watch: 10/14 vs. New England…hopefully for Da Boys the game won’t turn into Belichick vs. Romo in a battle of minds. The Pats haven’t played in Dallas in forever and this is a perfect opportunity for them to show the world that they’re for real. Or for Romo to throw 4 picks show the world that they can in fact stop believin’. Whichever.
Madden Implications: I hate to say it, but you can never count out a team with TO. Personally, I would bench him out of principle, but what would that accomplish? They have plenty of play makers on defense and platoonable running backs who will both ranked in the high 80s if not low 90s. A borderline top 10 team.
3. New York Football Giants
Outlook: This is the team with 100 story lines. I’m not sure if the New York writers got lucky or if the Big Apple media focus has perpetuated all the sub-plots, but Xs and Os seem to be the farthest thing from everyone’s mind when discussing the 2007 Giants. Will Eli ever get out of Peyton’s shadow? Will Michael Strahan report to camp or retire? Who will fill the shoes of the departed Tiki Barber? Will Tiki be able to fill Katie Couric’s shoes? What is the relationship like between head coach Tom Coughlin and his son-in-law, guard Chris Snee? What will Jeremy Shockey say next? So many questions, so few answers. Sure they could put together a solid season, but they could also go 6-10. This division is very much up in the air.
Key Player: I’d love to give the nod to 4th round draft pick Zak DeOssie, but anybody who I can beat in beirut isn’t quite a “key player” yet. Someday though. The G-Men ranked 28th in the league in pass defense in ‘06, and while I love to put the onus on the secondary I need to call out Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora. Osi only had 6 sacks last, but seemed to be doing that stupid fade away jump shot thing all the time. If the Giants are going to improve on last year’s 8-8 season they need to get to the quarterback, and Strahan might not be there to help. A .500 record won’t get them a playoff birth this year, even in the JV NFC.
Game to Watch: 12/2 @ Chicago…to be the best in the NFC you need to go through the Midway. The Bears came into the Meadowlands last season and won by 18, so if Eli and Co. can’t get up for this one then they’re in the wrong business.
Madden Implications: Just for kicks you should sub out Eli for 300 lb. QB Jared Lorenzen. So what if hes never thrown a pass professionally, he looks hilarious, especially on a big TV. Seriously though, Brandon Jacobs is a beast in the game (just be careful of fumbles) and Plaxico Burress can pull down jump balls. They should have a better defense than in real life too, all in all not a poor choice.
4. Washington Redskins
Outlook: As always the Skins look great on paper. I suppose thats what happens when an owner puts together a real life fantasy football team. They added free agent middle linebacker London Fletcher as well as 6th overall pick La’Ron Landry to play alongside Sean Taylor in the defensive backfield. Their offense is stacked, featuring an experienced O-line, speedsters Santana Moss, Brandon Lloyd, Antwaan Randel-El and James Thrash, a versatile tight end (Chris Cooley), and a deep group of running backs led by Clinton Portis. The only question is whether or not 3rd year quarterback Jason Campbell (76.5 passer rating in 7 games last season) can lead them, or if Mark Brunell (36 years young) will take over.
Key Player: Maybe its because Fletcher stands only 5′10”, or maybe because he is the only active NFL player from John Carroll University, but somehow he was able to fly under the radar during the first 9 years of his career. I’m not saying that nobody has heard of him, but how many people know that he has averaged 140 tackles a season from 2000 on (a better average than Ray Lewis)? As much has London will help the Redskins on the field, he will most likely do his best work in the locker room, where he is a proven leader. On a team with many “stars”, young guys and misfits, they will need his leadership.
Game to Watch: 9/17 @ Philadelphia…early in the season, Monday Night Football, perfect stage for a tempo-setting road victory over the class of the NFC.
Madden Implications: There is no larger discrepancy between an NFL team and their Madden portrayal than Washington. They have big names (and big ratings) at every position. Go big and pound the ball with Portis off Chris Samuels, or spread it out with 4 solid wide outs. When on defense make and sure you use the hit stick with Taylor, it was made for him.
NFC NORTH
1. Minnesota Vikings
Outlook: They had the best run defense in the league last year, and there is no reason for them not to have a repeat performance. Since Rex Grossman is at the helm for their main competition, I don’t see their mediocre pass defense hurting their chances at a division title. They only scored 17.6 points per game last season but hope that 7 overall pick Adrian Peterson will help their rushing attack, which will have to do a lot of working seeing that starting QB Tarvaris Jackson has never won an NFL game.
Key Player: The running back battle between Peterson and Chester Taylor will get the headlines, but the real stud on the team is all-world left guard Steve Hutchinson, who can absolutely dictate a running game.
Game to Watch: 12/30 @ Denver…its never easy to play in the Mile High City, let alone in December with a possible playoff birth or divisional title on the line. Should be a great battle between Minnesota’s run D and the Broncos’ storied ground attack. (Another one to watch is 10/14 @ Chicago…they will be coming off a bye week and have a great opportunity to steal a road win and take control of the division).
Madden Implications: The idea of playing with Jackson does not thrill me, and neither does the fact that his backups are Brooks Bollinger, Drew Henson, and rookie Tyler Thigpen. If you must play with the Vikings here is what I would do: bet your opponent $10 (try and get 2-1 odds or something) that you can win without throwing a pass. Pound the ball, punt your heart out, and try and get a score on defense. Trust me, its the only way to make the game fun.
2. Chicago Bears
Outlook: Chicago has basically the same team this year that went to the Super Bowl last year and with 9-2 odds are the favorites to win the NFC. So why don’t I think they’ll even win their division? Three reasons:
1. They have a much tougher schedule this year. 2006 was a cake walk, with their only real non-conference tests being New England, NY Jets and Miami, and they dropped 2 of those. This year they need to play @ San Diego, @ Seattle, @ Philly and are hosting the Broncos, Saints, Giants, Cowboys and Chiefs. I don’t see them finishing better than 10-6.
2. They got lucky last season. I’m not saying that their 13-3 season and Super Bowl run was a fluke, but the ball certainly bounced their way. They had that crazy comeback in Arizona on Monday Night, almost blew a big lead at home against Tampa Bay, and were lucky to win their first playoff game against Seattle in overtime.
3. Rex Grossman is their quarterback. He had a 73.9 QB rating last season. He threw 20 interceptions. Brian Griese is breathing down his neck. He won’t last until Thanksgiving.
Key Player: The Bears took a blow when defensive tackle Tank Johnson was suspended by Sheriff Goodell, but have a healthy Tommie Harris back after losing him for last season in week 13. Chicago runs a defense called the “Tampa 2″, which is a Cover 2 Nickel package. The most important players for this to work are the pair of linebackers, Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, as they are responsible for covering a lot of ground. Urlacher is the best in the business, but he will be the first to admit that it is Briggs who is the key to their defensive success. It was looking for a while like he and the team would not be able to come to an agreement, he even promised that he would never again wear a Bears uniform when they threatened the franchise 
tag, but thankfully for Windy City fans the pro bowler signed a 1 year deal on July 25th.
Game to Watch: 12/17 @ Minnesota…this Monday Night showdown will most likely decide the division.
Madden Implications: We all know how good their defense is, and you can always bench Grossman. The real story with ‘da Bears in Madden is returner/corner/wideout Devin Hester (left). It is rumored that he is the first player to break the 100 rating scale, with a speed rating of 101. I don’t care who you are, thats going to be a lot of fun.
3. Detroit Lions
Outlook: In recent history the Lions have been members of the Arizona Cardinals school of success: Ignore your defense and line, load up on young talented wide receivers, and hope for the best. Detroit has finally changed their ways and beefed up other areas of the team, but you couldn’t help but chuckle when Matt Millen was basically forced to draft “the best player available” Calvin Johnson. Hopefully for Lions fans Johnson won’t be another Charlie Rodgers/Mike Williams bust.
The team also drafted former WVU Mountaineer Drew Stanton to be the quarterback of the future, so Jon Kitna looks like a lame duck, but don’t be surprised if Kitna has a solid year, especially in terms of fantasy football. He certainly has the weapons (Roy Williams, Mike Furrey and Johnson) to do it.
Key Player: They have a nice set of skill players but it will be another crappy season if they let Kitna get sacked 63 times, as they did last season, the most in the NFL. Left tackle Jeff Backus, who is supposed to be protecting the QB’s blindside, needs to start earning the $40 million contract that he signed last off-season.
Game to Watch: 9/9 @ Oakland…they open up against the only team in the league worse than them last year. Sad thing is, they probably won’t be favored, seeing that the only thing they can do is pass and the only thing the Raiders can do is stop the pass. Could be a long season.
Madden Implications: Who cares about this team’s many flaws? They are a perfect video game team! Johnson’s a freak, Furrey is huge and Williams is a top 10 receiver. Go nuts.
4. Green Bay Packers
Outlook: I believe that Brett Favre should have either retired or gone to a contender about 3 years ago, but theres no point in dwelling. Like West Virginia with Robert Byrd, they’re stuck with him until he decides to hang up his cleats. They’re a team in limbo, not sure if they should rebuild or reload. They had the 8th best offense in football last season, but failed to improve it in the off-season, drawing criticism from #4. Even with an improving defense, I don’t see Green Bay making a run in a division that is no longer the weakest in football.
Key Player: Favre’s main target Donald Driver is probably their best player, but for the Pack to do anything in the North they need to have a great defense. 2nd year linebacker A.J. Hawk needs to step up and inject the team with a shot of energy. He is a smart player with the potential to be a great locker room guy.
Game to Watch: 10/29 @ Denver…coming off a bye week they will have plenty of time to prepare for this Monday-nighter in the altitude. Favre has a flare for the dramatic and tends to put up big numbers on MNF.
Madden Implications: Unimpressive…Brett is still Brett, but not really, and a lack of a running back will kill you. They have some players on D who tend to be better in theory, like Charles Woodson and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (member of the Fuamatu-Ma’afala Hall of Fame), so thats a plus. Spread the field with Driver and hope for the best.
NFC SOUTH
by guest writer “The Mouth of the South” Karaoke Craig Juer
1. New Orleans Saints
Outlook: The Saints spent all of 2006 answering the question, “Are they for real?” After convincing the rest of the league that they were, indeed, “for real,” they can look forward to starting that process over again in 2007. The Saints went 10-6 and won the NFC South in what was very much a down year for the division. Consider that seven of their wins a year ago came against the following teams:
Key Player: In an offense with so many playmakers – including Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister and Marques Colston – it will be up to Devery Henderson to replace new division rival Joe Horn (now with the Falcons) and keep defenders from shading too much on Colston.
Game to Watch: 9/6 @ Indy…it will be a great sign for N’awlins if the Saints manage not to get blown out by the defending champs in what will likely be a Week 1 track meet. If the defense, which greatly exceeded expectations a year ago, gets shelled, it will be discouraging but not necessarily surprising.
Madden Implications: Every time I play with the Saints, Bush will probably get about 45 touches divvied up between screens, pitches, counters and “FB fake/HB toss.” Also, I will probably go 1-for-9 on fourth down conversions and lose.
2. Carolina Panthers
Outlook: It’s hard to overstate how disappointing the Panthers’ 2006 season was considered. Favored to reach the Super Bowl and a mortal lock to make the playoffs,
Key Player: Left tackle Travelle Wharton isn’t the only player coming off a major injury (see: Dan Morgan, Justin Hartwig, Mike Rucker), but his absence or underperformance would lead to another season of a makeshift offensive line. Without Wharton, either left guard Mike Wahle or right tackle Jordan Gross has to man the LT spot, which lessens each player’s effectiveness and creates a new vacancy elsewhere on the line. At least Wharton can ease back into things by lining up against a player (Rucker) who’s also rehabbing a torn ACL. Sweet.
Game to Watch: 10/14 @ Arizona…This is a crucial early-season game for the Panthers. With a road trip to
Madden Implications: Did the makers of Madden ’08 even bother changing anything about the Panthers’ No. 2 receiver besides the name? Out: Keyshawn Johnson, 6-4, College-USC, CTH 95, AWR 95, SPEED 80…In: Dwayne Jarrett, 6-4, College-USC, CTH 95, AWR 95, SPEED 80. Or something like that.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Outlook: The Buccaneers didn’t take many steps forward after a 4-12 season in 2006. They have to be considered a rebuilding team, but don’t seem to have much of a long-term plan on defense, where they keep getting older, or quarterback, where they continue to stockpile mediocre players. Jeff Garcia might be able to will them to a few wins, especially against the Falcons, but otherwise
Key Player: As I alluded, Garcia is all that’s standing between the Bucs and another 4-12 season. Best-case scenario, in my opinion, is a Garcia-powered 8-8 finish. Gaines Adams, Cadillac Williams and any cameos by biracial Polish-Italian-American MAC-schooled fourth-string quarterback Bruce Gradkowski will be fun to watch, but all the Bucs’ hopes are pinned to Garcia.
Game to Watch: Dec. 23 @ San Francisco…If the Bucs’ season is at all salvageable after Week 12, this will be the last game in a stretch (@ Houston, vs. Atlanta, @ 49ers) that ought to keep optimists hopeful. And since
Madden Implications: If you insist on playing as the Bucs in Madden, you are probably obsessed enough about them to know that they’re going to be awful. Draft a new roster, dude. At least the uniforms will be pretty sharp.
4. Atlanta Falcons
Outlook: D’Angelo Hall is arguably a far better football player than Michael Vick, and yet because Vick is a quarterback and Hall isn’t, Vick’s likely absence (or, at least, divided attention) will hurt the team far more than Hall’s would if he were in similar legal trouble. And because of how unique a player Vick is, no team lives and dies by its quarterback’s effectiveness as much as the Falcons. In other words, the Dirty Birds are faced with the possibility of enduring an awful, tedious, frustrating, long season. At the very best, I see it going “not as badly as everyone expected.” Bobby Petrino was brought to
Key Player: As bad as he’s been in his career, Joey Harrington (55.2 completion pct., 72-77 TD-Int ratio) has managed to average 13 starts a season in five years. So…at least he’s not rusty. He’s still bad, though.
Game to Watch: 11/18 vs. Tampa Bay…It’ll be interesting to gauge the state of Atlanta’s home-field advantage at this point in the season, depending on Vick’s legal status/Harrington’s ability-to-play-quarterback status. I get the impression it won’t be quite so trendy for Atlanta fans to rally behind Vick at this point, especially if the “…until proven guilty” part of the judicial process is more imminent.
Madden Implications: That “guy who isn’t a Falcons fan in real life but insists on playing with them in Madden” better have a set of big ones if he’s going to keep that up while Vick spends the entire season in
NFC WEST
1. San Francisco 49ers
Outlook: All four teams in this division could finish 8-8 and it wouldn’t surprise me. I put these guys on top because they have done everything right in terms of rebuilding. They used high draft picks on solid franchise players and improved themselves with veteran free agents. They are now in a position to contend, just 3 years after a 2-14 season.
Key Player: The Niners made corner Nate Clements the highest paid defender in the NFL this off season, and he now needs to show people hes worth the money. In a division with wide 
receivers like Larry Fitzgerald and Torry Holt, he will need to have a big year for San Fran to make it back to the playoffs.
Game to Watch: 11/10 @ Seattle…this will be the biggest test of the season for this young team: divisional rival, loudest stadium in football, Monday night.
Madden Implications: Frank Gore is a horse, so if you like to run these guys should be a good team to play with. They don’t have as many downfield playmakers as you might like, but Combine Freak Vernon Davis (left) will be big and fast and tough to stop.
2. St. Louis Rams
Outlook: Marc Bulger, Stephen Jackson and Torry Holt are the best QB-RB-WR trio in the NFC and are the main reason that the Rams’ offense was ranked 6th in the league last season. If they can keep their playmakers healthy and get some help on the defensive side of the ball they will contend in a wide-open division.
Key Player: The Rams allowed an NFC-worst 145.4 rushing yards per game last season. For the run D to improve, middle linebacker Will Witherspoon needs to lead by example. His 116 tackles last year was a career high, but without the help of outside backers Pisa Tinoisamoa and Brandon Chillar (who combined for only 96 take downs in ‘06) the Rams D could get run over again.
Game to Watch: 11/11 @ New Orleans…this will be fun to watch. If I were a betting man, which I am, I would take the over in this one. Two of the league’s most explosive offenses going at it on the turf, should be a slugfest.
Madden Implications: St. Louis has finally replaced Marshall Faulk, at least in a video game sense. Use these guys against teams like the Colts, Saints, Lions, Cardinals and Bengals, when you expect an offensive contest. Avoid them when playing teams that have good running games and defenses, like the Steelers, Ravens, and Jaguars.
3. Seattle Seahawks
Outlook: A team on the decline, but they still play in the NFL’s most raucous stadium. The ‘Hawks lost both games to San Fran in ‘06, but swept St. Louis. Finding a level of consistency (and health) will be the most important thing for this aging club. Even though I’m putting them 3rd, I would be shocked if they finished worse than 8-8.
Key Player: Seattle boasts two of the NFL’s best and most underrated linebackers in Julian Peterson and Lofa Tatupu. While it will be up to them to stop the run, the job of putting pressure on the quarterback falls on newly-aquired D-end Patrick Kerney. But who are we kidding, the key player for the Seahawks is their 12th man, all those crazy, cold, damp, football fans who bring the noise each and every Sunday.
Game to Watch: 10/7 @ Pittsburgh…lets see if these guys can still play smash-mouth football, at least better than they did against the Steelers in Super Bowl L.
Madden Implications: Still a great Madden team. Deion Branch and Nate Burleson are legit threats, while Shaun Alexander is dominant (as long as you turn injuries off). They don’t have any speed at tight end, so try going with 3 wide outs. Plenty of quick guys on defense too, led by blitz-worthy corner Marcus Trufant.
4. The Mighty Cardinals of Arizona
Outlook: They were a sexy pick last year but finished in last place…again. They were 2nd-to-last in the NFC in both rushing and overall defense, so basically the exact opposite of a smash-mouth football team (then again, with a QB as pretty as Matt Leinart you don’t want to go smashing mouths).
Key Player: We hear plenty about their playmakers, but in order to stay out of the basement they need their defense to step it up. Too bad there aren’t any guys on that squad to warranting “key player” mention. Thats why I’ve chosen Cardinals’ kicker Neil Rackers, who, after converting 40 of 42 field goals in 2005, had a down year in ‘06, connecting on only 28 of 37. Had Rackers hit just 1 extra field goal in each of Arizona’s losses last year they would have finished 9-7 instead of 6-10 and made the playoffs.
Game to Watch: 11/18 @ Cincinnati…Leinart vs. Palmer, or should we say, Trojan War II. Road test against a good team, but the Bengals might be dumb enough to let it become a shootout. If the spread is more than 6 I’d put money on the Cards.
Madden Implications: Not a strong overall team, but who cares, this is Madden. With Leinart at the helm, Edgerrin James in the backfield and Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin split wide, they are going to be fun to play with.
