Throwing Knives: Kickoff Has Arrived

by BD, Sports Show On Mute

That's right people, the NFL season is finally upon us as the Saints and Colts kickoff tonight at 8:30 PM Eastern. I, unfortunately will be sitting in class for another hour or so after the opening points of the NFL season have been recorded. As you probably know, it's Thursday and that means I'm doing something a little different from the usual TK. Today's shtick? How about the NFL forecast? I'm going to toss out how I think each division will finish, who's taking home the personal hardware, and of course who will raise the Lombardi when it's all said and done. But first, apparently Keeley Hazel went somewhere, but she's back now, enjoy...

The Throwing Knives NFL Season Preview

NFC North
Chicago Bears
Green Bay Packers
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings

The Bears will once again run away with the North. They should sweep the season series with each team and I expect the defense to continue it's dominance. The Packers are the second best team in the division with an improved defense and a decent offense. They'll be very dependent on how many picks Mr. Favre throws and just how good Brandon Jackson can be. The Lions and Vikings both have major questions. Each on different sides of the ball. In the Lions case, they cannot stop anybody, be it in the passing or running game their not stopping you. The Viking defense is solid but Tavaris Jackson isn't ready to be an NFL QB and his growing pains will continue to the tune of a last place finish.

NFC West
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
St. Louis Rams
Arizona Cardinals

Your seeing that right, the 49ers are heading back into the postseason for the first time since 2002. With the additions of Nate Clements and Patrick Willis to the new 3-4 scheme's the defense will be improved from last season. A season in which they knocked off division winner Seattle twice en route to a 7-9 season. This year expect at least 10 wins as Frank Gore runs rabid through the NFC West and Alex Smith continues to improve. The Seahawks will once again baffle us as they'll struggle to take hold of the division despite superior talent. If the defense can actually live up to expectations this season the 'Hawks will win the division. The Rams still aren't there and the Cardinals still cannot stop a pee-wee team from putting up 35.

NFC South
New Orleans Saints
Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Atlanta Falcons

With the Saints multiple offensive options everyone knows it will be good, but what about the D? It should be better but it's still not great and as the Colts proved many times over you need a defense that can hold their to win the whole thing. The Panthers defense must avoid the major injuries that have plagued them over the past two season. The offense won't be great but DeAngelo Williams and Steve Smith will make plays as long as Jake Delhomme gets them the ball. Tampa Bay has no offensive line and a defense on the decline. After everything that's happened the Falcons season won't be much better than the off-season has.

NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Philadelphia Eagles
New York Giants
Washington Redskins

This one is somewhat of a toss-up now that Wade Phillips is coaching the Cowboys. He's not the most successful coach of all-time, ya know? But, I think the Cowboys have far too much talents not to win this division. Romo should be solid and TO will be quiet as Romo throws him the ball. As long as the secondary doesn't implode the Cowboys should win the division. The Eagles will be right in the thick of the Wildcard race with a somewhat healthy McNabb alongside dual-threat Brian Westbrook and Donte'-Stallworth-without-the-hamstring-problems Kevin Curtis. The Giants are going to be bad, the only question is whether or not they'll start out strong or just go right in the tank. The Redskins still suck unless Jason Campbell turns into Dan Marion all of a sudden.

AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cleveland Browns

The Ravens have no excuse not to win this division. They've added Willis McGahee, and if he can't run behind the line then I guess no one can. The Bengals offense will be explosive as usual but as always they won't be able to stop anybody. They need their defense to force turnovers like they did two years ago in order for them to have a shot at making any real noise this season. The Steelers will be good but I just don't think they're going to be able to leap the Ravens and Bengals in their first year under Mike Tomlin. The Browns still suck and aren't showing many signs of improvement.

AFC West
San Diego Chargers
Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders

The Chargers are among the class of the AFC and despite Norv Turners track record they have far too much talent not to win this division. Denver's defensive secondary is among the best in the league and the addition of Travis Henry to the offense is a big one. But, Jay Cutler will decide just how far this team goes in his first full season as the starter. Kansas City still won't have much of a passing game and LJ can't do it all himself. The Raiders defense is fantastic but regardless of who the QB their offense is terrible with that line.

AFC South
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
Houston Texans
Tennessee Titans

The Colts will once again struggle to stop the run with Anthony Mcfarland out for the season. The offense and Peyton Manning will remain among the best in the league as they win a number of high scoring shootouts. The Jaguars rushing attack is one of the best out there but as defense's adjust I'm not sure David Garrard can keep the Jags in games when they face off with high scoring offenses. Houston will be improved with Matt Schaub but not enough to make any real noise. The Titans will be hurt by the loss of Pacman Jones and Vince Young can't do it all by himself.

AFC East
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Miami Dolphins
Buffalo Bills

The Patriots were already one of the best teams in the league before adding Adalius Thomas, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donte' Stallworth. Not to mention Asante Samuel has signed his one-year deal and reported. None of the teams in this division are a threat to the Pats. The Jets return virtually the same team plus Thomas Jones. Who, if he can get past this calf injury should be a fantastic addition for an offense that relied to much on the weak arm of Chad Pennington last season. The Dolphins defense will win them a few games while the offense remains horrendous. The Bills may take third if Marshawn Lynch fits in as well with JP Losman and Lee Evans as the coaching staff thinks he will.

Playoffs Wildcard Round
Saints over Eagles
49ers over Seahawks
Bengals over Colts
Ravens over Broncos

Divisional Round
Bears over 49ers
Saints over Cowboys
Patriots over Bengals
Chargers over Ravens

Conference Championships
Bears over Cowboys
Patriots over Chargers

Superbowl
Patriots over Bears

Awards
MVP - Tom Brady
Defensive POTY - DeMarcus Ware
Offensive Rookie - Marshawn Lynch
Defensive Rookie - Adam Carriker

Thats it, thoughts? Criticisms?

Scoreboard - September 5th - 2007
MLB

National League
Cincinnati 7, New York 0
Atlanta 9, Philadelphia 8
Washington 6, Florida 4
Milwaukee 14, Houston 2
Chicago 8, Los Angeles 2
Pittsburgh 8, St. Louis 2
San Francisco 5, Colorado 3
Arizona 9, San Diego 5

American League
Cleveland 6, Minnesota 2
Oakland 6, Los Angeles 2
New York 10, Seattle 2
Toronto 6, Boston 4
Detroit 2, Chicago 1 F/11
Tampa Bay 17, Baltimore 2
Texas 3, Kansas City 2