Making general predictions prior to the free agency period and the draft is not as impossible as it may seem. We know the teams that are currently in a position to lose many players on their roster………we know the teams that are in a re-building mode……….. and we know the organizations that are good at re-loading in a short amount of time. We know the teams that have high draft picks and regardless of who they draft, very few teams change their results on the field immediately due to the draft.
The Saints would be the exception to the rule this past season. They were able to change their fortunes in one season due to a coaching change, great FA acquisitions, and a spectacular draft. Who could be the 'Saints' in 2007?
Coaching changes and keeping players healthy are major factors also. The Jets made a 180 degree turn with a coaching change and by keeping their QB healthy all year.
Many young teams are continuing to re-build after hitting the depths of despair but there is no guarantee that these teams will continue to improve next season. Many young teams have 'breakout' years and then immediately take a step back the following year.
Having said all of this, here are my thoughts on each division and how they shape up as we look towards next season. In general, the NFC will remain the weak sister to the AFC next year. I don’t see the any organizations in the NFC taking humongous steps next year. The AFC will continue to dominate.
AFC EAST
New Dolphins Head Coach Cam Cameron
At this point, this looks like it could be a 3-team race between the Dolphins, Jets, and Patriots. I like the coaching move the Dolphins made. If they can solidify the QB position, they’ll be o.k. I expect the Jets to remain very competitive if Chad stays healthy (which is a big ‘if’). The Pats will continue to win a lot of games with Bellichick and Brady. The Bills are going to lose some impact players on defense most likely and I see them taking a step back next year.
AFC NORTH
New Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin
I see a 2-team battle for the North crown in 2007 between the Ravens and Bengals. The coaching change in Pittsburgh along with the roster losses lead me to believe they could be re-building for a couple of years. The Browns are still the Browns and have too many holes to fill in a short amount of time. The Ravens will keep most of their key players intact on both sides of the ball and the Bengals remain very talented and won’t have such a difficult schedule in 2007 so I see these 2 as the front-runners.
AFC SOUTH
Clash fan David Carr--Will he stay or will he go ?
The Titans and Texans are the only teams I can see that can give the Colts some competition in 2007 but the Titans could take a step back this year unless they make the right moves in free agency. Free agency is going to be crucial for them. The Texans ‘could’ be the Saints of 2006 if they make all the right moves in free agency and the draft and get spectacular play at the QB position somehow, either with Carr or a free-agent acquisition. The Jaguars are going to be re-building their roster. I don’t see them doing much.
AFC WEST
New Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner
The Chargers are going to come back to the pack without Marty and they may not be the most talented team in this division in the first place. The Chiefs have a lot of questions on offense, especially at QB. Their key skill positions on offense and defense are not getting any younger. The Raiders are still in re-building mode and I don't think Kiffin was the right choice. They should have kept Shell in the first place, though. That leaves this division for the taking by the Broncos. If Cutler lives up to the hype, they will win the division. They are the most talented team in this division, in my opinion, and with Marty gone, they once again have the best coach
NFC EAST
New Cowboys Head Coach Wade Phillips
The Eagles remain the favorite with solid coaching and talent on both sides of the ball. McNabb and Westbrook are coming back, which will always make their offense potent. The Cowboys will be average under an average coach. Don’t expect anything ‘super’ from them. Their talent is not over-powering on either side of the ball. The Giants have lost Tiki and will now be relying on Eli. They’re not as dangerous as they were. Coughlin 'may' have lost this team (depending on who you ask) and it will show on the field. The Redskins are the wild-card. If Gibbs can stabilize the QB position, they could be a surprise team and give the Eagles a run.
NFC NORTH
Brett Favre Returns in 2007
Bears by default once again. They have the most talent and best coaching, even with Rivera gone. The Packers are going to help Favre set a lot of records but they won’t win a lot of games with him under center. I would love to see what they could do with an offense that was not so focused on passing the ball a certain # of times each game. They have talent and should be improving. The Lions are still a team without talent and it’s hard to change that in one season. Their lack of success is an organizational issue at this point. The Vikings still seem to be a team/organization in disarray. It’s hard to win a lot of games that way. Their lack of talent at key skill positions on offense will hold them back until talent is put in those positions
NFC SOUTH
New Falcons Head Coach Bobby Petrino
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the Bucs are the only team that can give the Saints a run for the division in 2007. I believe Gruden is a good coach and if Simms or Rattay can step into the starting role and stay healthy, they have talent at a lot of positions and can win some games. The Panthers are in a state of flux after a very disappointing season. I don’t know if Delhomme is ever going to be the QB he once was. He doesn't make good decisions during the game and appears to have trouble reading defenses. It's almost as if D-coordinators figured out his weaknesses and he has been unable to adjust. I don’t expect anything spectacular out of a Falcons organization that has made several questionable decisions over the past couple of years. Without a top-notch running game, I can't see how the Falcons can score an adequate amount of points
NFC WEST
New Cardinals Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt
The Cards could improve if Whisenhunt is the right coach. No one knows at this point. They are still lacking on talent on both O-line and D-line and it's impossible to win a lot of games in this league when you lose the battle in the trenches. The 49ers are improving but, once again, they have major holes that will prevent them from being ‘super’. Free agency and the draft will be huge for them. This organization needs to decide if they are 'ready' to take the next step. I believe they are. This leaves the aging teams of the Rams and Seahawks. The Seahawks probably still have the most talent in the division and should be considered the favorites. The Rams still have Holt, Bruce, and Jackson and therefore can at least put some points up, but they, also, have some huge holes in many positions on the field that will prevent them from being 'super'.
