The Road To Superbowl XL

[Stephen]

Well Superbowl XL will be in Detroit next year. I am curious who everyone thinks will do well.

AFC Powerhouse teams

Indy
New England
Pittsburgh
San Diego


AFC Wildcards who might shock people

Cinn Bengals (dont be shocked if they make the playoffs)
Houston
Jets


NFC Powerhouse teams

Philly
Atlanta
Minnesota
Seattle

NFC Wildcards

Cowboys
Saints
Tampa Bay


In the end, I think NE will shock the world and win a record setting third superbowl in a row. I think they will beat another tough Philly team. Then again, if anyone can beat NE its Philly. A few plays going other ways and this Superbowl aftermath would be a lot different. My next question is, who in the AFC can knock the Pats out of the playoffs? I don't think the Colts have what it takes. Maybe if they up there D a bit in the offseason. I think Pitt has a shot if they can keep Bettis. So, whats everyones early picks for Superbowl XL?

[Roy Mustang]

In the end, I think NE will shock the world and win a record setting third superbowl in a row.

I don't know if the NE will be the same next year. Since you have the offensive coordinator Charlie Weis leaving to coach Notre Dame and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel maybe going to take the head coaching job at Cleveland Browns. I think Bill Belichick will pick the right people for the job again to make NE great, but I just don't see them doing as well next year.


Wingzero22

[Stephen]

Weis and Crennel were nothing before Belecheck made them famous in NE. I think Belicheck is good enough to take waterboys and make coordinators. The only thing I see hurting NE is losing Ty Law to free agency..and that probably won't even matter since they won a Superbowl without him. I am not a Pats fan...I am a Raiders fan...but sadly it looks like NE is going to rule the NFL for quite some time.

[glitch1501]

go bucs! (hopeful!)

[Ashley]

Well, I don't know enough about teams overall (you haven't trained me enough, Shatterheart-sensei) but I know who I'd LIKE to make it to at least the playoffs. Pittsburgh because I think Rothlisburger has an incredible amount of potential, likewise for Indy's Colts, and of course I'd die happy if Houston knocked off NE. I know there's a snowball's chance in mexico that will happen but still....'twould be nice.

I will be interested to see how Turner takes the Raiders this season as far as coaching and changing up the players. Hopefully we can restore them to glory?

And I wouldn't mind watching T. Owens, especially if he gets traded. After watching him play a gut-wrenching game in the superbowl, I'm convinced he's got the stuff that makes a truly great player. I hope he gets traded out somewhere with a team that will really flourish.

[Stephen]

Um...he just got traded....and the team just made it to the Superbowl...I don't think TO needs a trade. The Eagles will be back to the big game soon enough.

[termyt]

TO would be better if he kept his mouth shut. He has tremendous skill, but he is often a distraction to his teammates. Receivers like Owens and Moss will forever be hindered by their own pursuit of glory. Give me a team player like Hines Ward any day.

The Pats will miss their lost coordinators, but as long as they are replaced well, they won't necessarily miss a beat. They will certainly be in the running next year.

I will hold out hope for my Steelers. Being a fan, there’s no way I’m picking against them this early.

There are some teams worth watching though. The up and coming, so to speak.

First, the Detroit Lions. They’ve had two very good draft classes in a row and this franchise finally seems to be headed in the right direction. They were very impressive to watch this year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them still deep in the hunt late in the season next year.

Second, the much maligned Bengals of Cincinnati. For the first time since they were embarrassed by the 49ers in the Super Bowl, this team finally looks like a professional football team again. They are a solid wild card contender.

Third, the Huston Texans. It’s time for this expansion team to show us what they have. This is the year that will show us whether they are contenders like the Panthers or pretenders like the Jaguars.

Finally, although they won’t be contenders next year, I’m going to keep an eye on the Cleveland Browns. In spite of being a life-long Steelers fan, I’d like to finally see my home town team give us something to root for.

[Zedian]

I look for the Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders to all improve this year. Take it, they won't be superbowl contenders, they will make the playoffs at least.

I see Greenbay, Tampa Bay and Seattle all falling apart this season.

New England is still the favorite whereas the NFC is going to be once again...trailing behind all the talent the AFC has.

[mitsuki lover]

IMHO this is too early to be thinking of the XL Superbowl.Can't we just get over this last one first?

[Ashley]

In more NFL news, Oakland picked up Randy Moss fresh off Minnesota's playoff team, and Seattle dropped Jerry Rice. Ouch for the former #81. While I'm not even sure Rice would make a huge difference given his age for Seattle, I do think that Moss will be a great addition to Oakland. Not as great as a new quarterback *cough cough Collins sucks cough* but a good improvement anyway.

I wonder, has a team ever gone to the superbowl in their home town? Anyone know?

EDIT: Ok so shatterheart already posted about Moss. Blah, I'm tired so forgive me.

[Stephen]

I just read today that Jerome Bettis is staying in Pitt for another season. I will say this now. I really want the Steelers to win the Superbowl. Despite the fact that I have a fear in my mind lurking about NE doing it again....I think Pitt has a shot at it.

[mitsuki lover]

The big question that needs answering for the NFC West is what happened to the 49ers?They haven't been as competitive as they have been pre-the new
alignment.The past couple years have been mainly the Seahawks and
Rams.Hopefully the 49ers will get to being more competitive in the future.

[Stephen]

Well there going to get a good pic this year. More then likely there gonna pick that awesome young QB. His name escapes me at the moment. I give SF 3 years before there back in the top bracket. Ya just never know though.

[Zedian]

Are you talking about Aaron Rodgers...Matt Leinhart the QB of USC said he will stay his senior year at school.

The 49ers will get the number draft pick although that QB from Utah (Oh I forgot his name) sounds more promising...dunno. I heard this could be one the weakest drafts though.

Speaking of Seattle, they just released Rice, have they placed the exit sign for Shaun Alexander yet ?

There have been some big moves made of late, Moss to Minnesota and Bledsoe to Dallas.

[Ashley]

Moss to Minnesota

That's Moss to Oakland, I believe. And Bledsoe to Dallas? Wow didn't hear about that. I wonder if Houston will be picking up anybody decent.

[Stephen]

You mean Moss to Oakland And yes, I was speaking or Rodgers.

[Zedian]

Oh yeah I forgot, Moss to Oakland...duh me. And yeah, Bledsoe being reunited with the Big Tuna (Bill Parcells) was all over the sports news earlier this past week.

I would love to see Rice end his season with the Niners and perhaps with the new QB and maybe Shaun Alexander in the mix --doubt it will happen.

I miss the days of the Steelers (Ok so they're still contenders but still), Dallas, Oakland, Green Bay, Denver and San Francisco as the contending teams. Those were the days of football.

[aule1701]

ok philly gets it done next year aginst the jets thats right the jets go all the way due to Chad P getting all of his game back
but philly will be to good
i mean TO Macnabb westbrook are all sick
plus a greatly inproved running game with Richie and buckhalter coming back plus that d with trotter is nasty

[Stephen]

I still would not count out New England...as much as I hate seeing them win...

[aule1701]

I still would not count out New England...as much as I hate seeing them win...

i would NE will not the NE that was last year and Philly will be better as will some NFC teams and AFC teams
chargers
altanta
jets
steelers
all i think can beat NE

[termyt]

NE has lost a lot in the off-season. It will be hard to recover from that even if Billy-boy is all they say he is.

The Steelers will have a real shot, but only if they don't host the AFC Championship game. It appears that they can't win one of those if it's held in Pittsburgh. We'll have to wait and see what Rothlesburger has to offer in his sophomore season.

[Tommy]

NE rules and I`m not just saying that because i`m from NE it`s because:

They`re the best team ever and their skills are far superior to any other team and i`m surprized it took them so long to win the winning record and Super Bowl for that matter than again up until 2001 I`d have to say they stunk beyond reason, before 2001 I was a Jets fan but now i`ve seen the light. Well, my grandfather did used to play for the Jets so yeah but before he died he said he didn`t like the way they played anymore....... he was from Boston too.

I just wanna point out that I highly expect the Pats to win though I don`t care for them as much as the Red Sox. I`m a DIEHARD Sox fan.