I don't think its a coincidence that one of the worst days of the year (the end of summer) is followed by one of the best (the kickoff to the NFL season). Needless to say, we at Millennium are extremely excited about having the NFL back in our lives and will be sharing our opinions on it with you. For our season preview I decided to send five 'big picture' questions (from the whole league) to Luka and Cabrock and have them offer their takes on them. In addition to the 'big' five, I also posed three questions about our regular season opener between bitter rivals the Dallas Cowboys and the defending Superbowl champions; the New York Giants. We begin our discussion with one of the biggest stories of last year: Tebowmania.
What are your thoughts on Tim Tebow and his new team, the New York Jets? Will Tebow thrive in the specialty role that Rex Ryan plans to use him in (short, goal-line situations)? Will the media circus make this team implode? Is the Sanchize even a good quarterback?
Luka:
First let me just say one thing, FOOTBALL!!!. These last few weeks after The Olympics have been rough but with the season set to kickoff tonight I can hardly wait. However being an Eagles fan I would have probably been more excited with any other two teams (except the Browns and Dolphins) kicking the season off. I can't stand the Giants or the Cowboys so I'm interested to see who I end up rooting for tonight.
I'm a Tebow guy. Ever since I lost money betting against him in his first miracle win of the season last year I've grown to like him and his goofy style of play that leads to Disney-style endings week after week. That being said I don't think there's a worse pairing than Tebow and the Jets. The Jets anemic offense mixed with the New York media combined with the lack of faith Jets fans have in Mark Sanchez can only lead to one of the more distracting, side-show filled professional sports teams of recent memory. Because of this I either see the Jets being bad (more likely even though their defense is still solid) or riding a sports-movie inspired script to the playoffs. Think about it, the tough takes no shit coach, the defense that doubles as the heart of the team, a talented but lacking in confidence starting QB, and a heavily religious back-up QB that carries the team to the promised land on and off the field. I can already hear someone, somewhere writing up the script. In all seriousness though, I hope Jets fans are happy with 6-10 this year.
Daki:
Have to say that I am very disappointed that I forgot the obligatory FOOTBALL!!! in all caps and with exclamation points, not a good start for me. I too am a Tebow guy and I honestly think that he will take over the starting role from Sanchez around week 6. The Jets are too good defensively and play in a division that is too weak (other than the ever present Patriots), for them to be that bad. I can see them being a very respectable 8-8 this year, with lots of trash-talk from Rex Ryan and a lot of team prayer sessions following the game. Gotta say I love the movie pitch, but you forgot to include the rival team (the Giants?) embarrassing our protagonists (leading the tough-takes-no-shit-coach to finally start the religious QB) and then losing to them at the end with guys saying things like: "You guys are alright!"Actually, can this happen in real life?
Cabrock:
Guess who’s back? It feels good to finally be writing about football again :’)
For some reason, today has been one of the more busy days of the summer so I wont be writing an overly long article, but hopefully there’s some insightful tidbits in here. Anyways, lets get to the questions:
We all know I hate Tim Tebow; that’s not even a discussion. However, this is probably the one role I can see him thriving in. In college, Tebow was Superman and shit on most of the NCAA. However, in my opinion, the best Florida team during the Tebow years was the season that Chris Leak was the starter and Tebow contributed as the “change of pace” QB. People give Rex Ryan too much credit. He got his job by excelling as the D-coordinator of the ferocious Ravens defence. When you really think about it, my little sister could have walked in on Sunday and said “everyone stand in front of the guy in front of you” and the Ravens wouldn’t have allowed more than 20 points per game. Rex talks way too much shit and consistently fails to back it up. I wouldn’t say the Sanchize is a franchise QB, but I feel like he could be a solid starter that could run a simple offense if given the opportunity. Basically, I don’t have much hope for the Jets. I think they go 7-9 this season and a lot of people lose their jobs in the offseason.
Sticking to the AFC, a lot of people feel that the Houston Texans would have made the Superbowl last season had it not been for injuries. This notion is heavily supported by the fact that the Texans came close to beating the Ravens with a third-string QB. So guys, are the Texans for real? Or was their success last year smoke and mirrors?
Luka:
Don't we hear this same Texans story year after year? We get roped into the hype only to be disappointed. So for this year I'm not buying it. They will win their division because it's of NFL Europe caliber (Colts, Titans, and Jaguars..) but I don't see them advancing too far into the playoffs when they have to play other battle-tested AFC opponents such as the Patriots, Ravens, and Steelers.
Daki:
While I do agree with you, can we keep in mind that these 'battle tested' teams might be living off of old glory? The Patriots have now choked away two Superbowl's, the Steelers might as well start Robocop at QB (he is healthier than Big Ben, and that's before the surgery to make him a robot) to actually get production, and the Ravens? Had they not won the Superbowl in 2000 they would be known as the underachieving team of the century. They haven't even been to the Superbowl since! Having said all of that, there is no way in hell I am betting against any of those teams against the Texans, that is however, until the team from Houston shows me otherwise.
Cabrock:
There is not a single doubt in my mind that last season’s Texans would have made the superbowl and potentially have won the title had it not been for Matt Schaub’s injury. I don’t even wanna think about what would have happened if both Schaub and Andre Johnson managed to stay healthy... To answer your question Daki, I’ll have to respond to Luka’s point. The reason it seems like there’s always hype around the Texans is because, for the past 3 years, they’ve had a really talented team! I can’t remember the last season that Scaub played all 16 games, but I promise you that if he manages to stay healthy this season, the Texans are going to be a force and a superbowl contender. The D is too tough and the offense is too talented for this team to not make a deep playoff run.
Moving over to the NFC, it seems that it has become the new power conference with teams like the Eagles, Giants, Packers, Saints, 49ers, Falcons, Bears,Cowboys and Lions all laying claim to contender status. Is it possible that the NFC winner will be the team that peaks the latest? Also, can last year's disappointing teams from the NFC East, the toughest division in Football, the Eagles and Cowboys recover and live up to the hype surrounding them? Will Andy Reid ever figure out how to coach a proper 2-minute drill?
Luka:
If recent history tells us anything then yes, you want to peak in the last few weeks of the season and ride that momentum all the way to a Super Bowl (cut to the 2010 Packers and 2011 Giants nodding happily). The Cowboys haven't even started the season and are already battling injuries to key players which is never a good sign; while the Eagles and their fans are dreading injuries or rather a Mike Vick injury that will most likely send the season crashing down. Therefore both teams have the talent to make noise in the playoffs, whether or not their rosters can remain healthy is the question. The next few sentences will be written in full-blown delusional Eagles fan mode. THERE'S NO WAY WE DON'T MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR. WE'RE LIKE THE HEAT, FIRST YEAR TONS OF PRESSURE AND NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT. SECOND YEAR, LESS PRESSURE AND A CHAMPIONSHIP. EVEN IF VICK GETS INJURED, NICK FOLES KILLED THE PRESEASON! THEY FINALLY MOVED NNAMDI BACK TO THE SIDELINE, WATCH OUT REVIS. YOUR 2012 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION, THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES!!!. As for the Reid question, the question is too depressing to warrant a response. Moving on.
Daki:
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the team that gets red hot towards the end will not beat the team that has played well all season. I think that after the Giants run last year, everyone will be weary of these teams and not take them for granted. I also think that teams are too good this year to throw it away by playing well below their usual standard (see Packers of last year, and Kyle Williams). The NFC is really stacked this year and any potential playoff match-up could be an epic, I think teams will really want to solidify home-field advantage and slow starts will not enable them to do so. The fact that this is also the first season (since Steve Young was in his heyday) that my beloved 49ers are expected to contend, makes me very nervous, as any road to the Superbowl will be tough. With all of that said, I can't wait to see how the NFC will play out, and I expect a lot of shuffling at the top of the standings in the last 5 weeks of the season. As for Andy Reid? Look for him to piss away a first round bye by running out of time-outs in the third quarter of an important division game.
Cabrock:
The way I see it, the NFC teams are all pretty much set. All the teams you’ve listed and that you’ve been hearing everyone rave about all offseason are going to make the playoffs. Sure, there’s going to be a surprise team or 2, but the core of the NFC playoff picture is pretty much set. It’s because of this that I don’t have too much hope for the Eagles or Boys this year. The Eagles have the talent but football’s about more than that. They have a chance to be great but this is a team with way too many injury prone stars to have full faith in. I could see them earning a playoff spot though. The Cowboys on the other hand make me sick. This team has been in “now or never” mode for the past 5 or 6 seasons. They have talented players but shitty schemes and never perform when it matters most. I hope Tony Romo loses his job and Jerry Jones tries to shake things up a bit so that America’s Team can stop disappointing in December and January. I’m not even gonna address that Andy Reid question. He’s a hell of a coach and looks like a cartoon character. That’s all I could ever ask for.
Perhaps one of the most polarizing stories of this upcoming season will come from the Mile-high city where Peyton Manning now presides. Any team with a healthy Manning can be a dangerous one, but was the gamble worth it? Furthermore, do you guys think that Peyton will play the whole season? And if he does, will the Broncos make the playoffs and even contend?
Luka:
Peyton Manning in a full body cast >>> Tebow at the quarter back position. However Manning and the Broncos won't be playing the Jets and Tebow for 17 weeks and because of this I really hope that Peyton can stay healthy for the whole season. The odds of that happening though are unlikely as neck injuries are not something that can be recovered from easily and you have to wonder how many surgeries Manning's neck can take before he decides to hang it up. Best case scenario is that Peyton remains healthy, shows Denver what an NFL offense looks like with a real QB, the defense remains as impressive as they did at the end of last year and the Broncos easily make the playoffs where as we've seen from the last two years, anything can happen. Worst case scenario is an early Manning injury leads to Caleb Hanie taking the reins as all of Denver falls into a city-wide depression. Can't wait to see how this turns out. Definitely one of the best stories this season.
Daki:
I really question whether or not Manning knew what he was doing by going to Denver. Where he could have gone to the 49ers or Ravens (teams literally half a play away from the Superbowl last year, and with top 5 defenses, something Manning never had in his career, and with explosive offensive options-especially in San Francisco). The Bears, or Jets, he chose Denver?! I get that the division is very weak, and that the Broncos could make the playoffs with a 6-10 record but the reality is that the Broncos just don't have enough talent to compete with the best AFC teams. The Broncos will definitely have a lot of buzz and media attention around them, but sadly will have nothing to show for the move. I do however think that Manning will put up stellar numbers.
Cabrock:
Manning is the greatest QB to ever play the game. That isn’t even debatable in my opinion. However, asking what will happen to him if (re: when) he gets hit is like asking what would happen if you jumped out of a spaceship, took off your spacesuit and tried to pee in space: people have guesses based on scientific theories and shit, but no one really has any idea what the hell they’re talking about. He might get popped and get right back up and call 17 audibles before throwing a simple slant route or his head might literally be ripped off of his neck. Only time will tell. That being said, if Manning plays at least 14 games this season, this team is cruising to the playoffs and will be a contender (IFFFFF he’s healthy and playing at least 80% of the way he used to play for the Colts).
Lastly, lets have your picks for the AFC and NFC winners, a team you think will disappoint, a team you think will surprise, a sleeper, and a Superbowl champion.
Luka:
Disappointing Team: The Chicago Bears
Surprise Team: The Buffalo Bills
Sleeper: The Seattle Seahawks
AFC Winner: New England Patriots
NFC Winner: Philadelphia Eagles (with my heart) Green Bay Packers (with my head)
Super Bowl Champion: New England Patriots
Daki:
Disappointing Team: The New Orleans Saints
Surprise Team: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sleeper: The The Chicago Bears
AFC Winner: New England Patriots
NFC Winner: San Francisco 49ers (with my heart) Green Bay Packers (with my head)
Super Bowl Champion: New England Patriots
Cabrock:
This last section I don’t like at all. Asking for end of the year picks before the first game of the season is like asking me who you’re going to end up marrying. There’s really no way to make an even
accurate estimate. That being said:
Disappointing Team: The Carolina Panthers
Surprise Team: The Seattle Seahawks
Sleeper: The The Kansas City Chiefs
AFC Winner: The Houston Texans
NFC Winner: The Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl Champion: Houston Texans
Now that we have the league-wide questions answered, lets tackle some questions about tonight's game.
The 2003-2004 New England Patriots were the last team to successfully defend their title and repeat as champions. Do you guys think that the Giants are capable of doing that this year?
Luka:
The Giants are certainly capable of defending their championship. They have a great coach, a fast swarming defense, talented play-makers on both sides of the ball, a (it pains me to say this) very clutch QB in Eli Manning, and a special ability for puling wins out of their ass when needed. Even with all of these positives I don't think we'll be seeing a repeat champion this year. First, the Giants schedule is the hardest in the league (by last year's opponent's winning percentage) so they will have no easy weeks where wins could be guaranteed. Second, because they are the defending champions, each team they face will want to play their best against them making each game that much harder. After all it is easier to climb the mountain than to remain on top of it for a whole year (sports-wise). So if i had to predict I would say no to the defense of the title but because of the distracting shit-show that is the Jets, the Giants have managed to remain under the radar thus far. A feat previously unheard of for a defending champion. Honestly who knows with this team? They could go 0-16 or 16-0 and I wouldn't be surprised. Let's just go to the next question.
Daki:
Just like in 2008 (a really wacky year in the NFL by the way, an 11-win team missed the playoffs, and the Cardinals made the Superbowl) I expect the Giants to have an excellent regular season, and then choke in the playoffs. However are they capable of contending and repeating? Absolutely! They have a lot of the 2002 Lakers in them (not a compliment).
Cabrock:
Because I spent the whole day moving in for school, I didn't have time to get to these, so I will keep them very brief. For this one: Yes.
Every year the Dallas Cowboys get hyped up by the media as a contender only to fail spectacularly. Is this the year they live up to the hype and at least make the playoffs?
Luka:
They're too injured and in too tough of a division. They won't make the playoffs and then people will blame every single person on the staff except for Jerry Jones who constructed the under-achieving, over-hyped team in the first place (think Brian Burke and the Toronto Maple Leafs). We've seen this movie from the Cowboys the last few years so no one should be surprised when we see this happen at the end of this year.
Daki:
This team has not been relevant since the mid 90's but I think they will scrape a playoff appearance, win a game and then Tony Romo will fumble away a kneel-down, adding to his 'greatest hits' choking collection.
Cabrock:
Read what I said above, no playoffs for America's team.
The line on tonight's game is Dallas +3.5 Who do you guys have?
Luka:
I'm taking the Giants even though for about as long as I can remember, every time a team gets its championship rings or opens up a new stadium, they get crushed by the visiting team. This feels too much like a game where Romo and the 'Boys outplay the Giants for 3/4 of the game before a killer mistake in the fourth leads to an Eli Manning late game drive for the win (every Patriots fan just threw up a little). Also, no matter what the over/under is for number of times Rob Ryan is shown on the sidelines. I'm taking the over.
Daki:
Giants win, but don't cover the spread. At least 80 shots of Jerry Jones.
Cabrock: Giants win and cover.
Hopefully you enjoyed reading our preview, there will be plenty more NFL: Big picture features from us once the season starts rolling (and a lot less during exams) Cheers!
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