2006 NFL Playoff Picture: What Teams Are in It
Eight of ten NFL teams that made last
year’s playoffs are expected to again fight it out for a trip to Super
Bowl XLI in Miami.
The main contenders, determined by
several online online
sportsbooks, pro football experts and strength of schedule, presented
David Letterman style are this baker’s dozen:
13. Cincinnati Bengals, 18-1, could
win 10 games, but schedule isn’t easy: Pittsburgh twice, New England and
Carolina at home, and Indianapolis and Denver away. A healthy Carson Palmer
will make the difference and extending blindside quarterback protector
Levi Jones’ contract helps, but the Steelers once again stand in the way.
12. Miami Dolphins: 17-1, must win
10 to secure Wild Card berth. The team closed ’05 with six consecutive
victories. Daunte Culpepper and Joey Harrington are necessary upgrades
at quarterback. Strengthened offensive line should allow aging defense
enough breathers to be more effective. Nick Saban’s new offensive and defensive
coordinators and a shored up secondary are a big plus, but the schedule
is no pushover: road games against Pittsburgh, Chicago and Indianapolis,
New England twice and Kansas City at home.
11. New York Giants: 16-1, expected
to win nine games, but will that be enough to make the playoffs? Defensive
free agents led by former Dolphin cornerback Sam Madison must perform from
the start. Improving Eli Manning can make a big difference, but must avoid
quarterback miscues.
10. Chicago Bears: 15-1, should easily
win nine games and dominate NFC North like in ’05 when the rest of the
division’s composite record was 18-30. Free agents bolster the special
teams unit, Brian Griese will keep Rex Grossman on his toes at quarterback
and three defensive backs assure depth in secondary. Schedule favors Bears
with only tough games at home against Seattle and Miami and away at New
England.
9. Washington Redskins: 14-1, face
season of ‘ifs’. Playoffs attainable if Mark Brunell has one more solid
year, if Jason Campbell can step in at quarterback when needed, if Santana
Moss can continue putting up great numbers and if receivers Randle El and
Brandon Lloyd can perform. Wild card berth within reach if Redskins do
as well as last year’s 5-1 against NFC East rivals. Toughest game is at
Indianapolis.
8. San Diego Chargers: 14-1, are
in three-way battle in AFC West. Philip Rivers must minimize mistakes in
starting role, but receiving corps is weak. LaDanian Thomas anchors ground
attack while the defense is sound except for a secondary that must improve.
Toughest games: Denver twice, Pittsburgh at home and Seattle away.
7. Denver Broncos: 13-1, probably
only 11 victories needed to win AFC West. Another 8-0 at home can lead
to 13-3 repeat. Second solid season by Jake Plummer should lead to conference
showdown against Steelers, one of two tough regular season contests, at
Pittsburgh and New England. Difficult home games: Indianapolis, Seattle
and Cincinnati.
6. Seattle Seahawks: 10-1, can again
go unbeaten in NFC West since three rivals were 15-33 in ’05. Unbeaten
at home, Seahawks’ schedule favors repeat of 13-3 record and return to
Super Bowl. Most formidable opposition: Chicago and Denver away and San
Diego home, but the Super Bowl runners-up haven’t done well the following
season finishing with losing records the last five straight years.
5. Carolina Panthers: 10-1, could
win 11 games again with addition of Keyshawn Johnson to lessen pressure
on ace receiver Steve Smith. Running back DeShaun Johnson and linebacker
Dan Morgan must bounce back from injuries. Doing well on the road is a
good omen since Carolina plays at Cincinnati and Washington. Toughest home
games: Cowboys, Giants and Steelers. Check out the futures line at your
favorite sportsbook
for a killer potential win.
4. Dallas Cowboys: 9-1, posting 10
to a dozen victories within reach since they missed playoffs because of
two last-minute losses. Receiver Terrell Owns will make Drew Bledsoe better
and kicker Mike Vanderjaqt vastly improves floundering kicking game. Only
question mark: offensive line. The two tight end, two receiver, one back
offense will improve running game. Toughest games are at Carolina and home
against possible Super Bowl foe Indianapolis. Just might play the Colts
again on Feb. 4, 2007.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 9-1, only
Super Bowl winner with a pair of back-to-back championships could win 11
or more games. Although losing running back Jerome Bettis to the TV broadcast
booth and Randle El to Washington, offensive weapons remain in place as
well as bulk of the defense. If Ben Roethlisberger shows no ill effects
from his motorcycle mishap, the Steelers can journey to the ninth Super
Bowl in South Florida.
2. New England Patriots: 8-1, can
take AFC again despite free agency losses because of easier regular season
schedule than last year when it lost to three playoff teams, but defeated
Steelers. The defense will be stronger. Hardest tests are at home: Denver,
Chicago and Indianapolis. The B & B combination of coach Bill Belichick
and quarterback Tom Brady hoping for fourth Super Bowl victory in six years
makes this an exciting proposition for spoorts
betting.
1. Indianapolis Colts: 11-2, lost
two key cogs on offense, but defense continues to improve – last year to
11th from 29th in ’04. When the Colts reeled off 13 consecutive wins in
’05, it appeared they might go undefeated, but coach Tony Dungy rested
the offense that, thanks to Peyton Manning, was third overall, first in
passing and fourth in receiving. Two losses in a row quickly brought back
starters for final season victory.
Mike Vanderjaqt went to the Cowboys,
but Colts signed clutch Super Bowl kicker Adam Vinatieri whose last-second
field goals won two of New England’s three Super Bowls and was margin of
victory in the other.
The running game, 16th last season,
lost Edgerrin James to Arizona, but drafted LSU tailback Joseph Addai fits
in quite nicely. Faster than James, he runs well between tackles, fights
for extra yardage and is hard to bring down. Just the guy you need when
football betting
is involved.
Indianapolis last year defeated main
AFC South challenger Jacksonville twice and New England and Pittsburgh
during the regular season before losing to Steelers by three points in
playoffs. Toughest games in ’06: at Denver, New England and Dallas which
could be a preview of the Super Bowl.
And the Super Bowl winner is: Colts
27, Cowboys 21. Thanks goodness for online
gambling – Get you future bets in today.
Greg Melikov
Sports
Betting
Article Source:
Amazines.Com
