Russ' Midseason NFL Report

Russ, a History and Philosophy major from JMU, is here to give the keynote address for today. His topic for discussion is a midseason perceptions on everything that's happened so far this NFL season, as well as a look at what will happen the rest of the way.

Team by Team Observations

AFC East

Miami Dolphins- I love watching the wildcat.

New York Jets- Matt Sanchez eating a hotdog on the sideline during the Oakland game will be my memory of this Jets season.

Buffalo Bills- QB issues since Jim Kelly and the K Gun continues.

New England Patriots- Will the defense be good enough to make a run this year?


AFC North

Cleveland Browns- How can you regret hiring a coach before the midway point of his first season? You can be the Cleveland Browns.

Baltimore Ravens- Offense is on the way up, defense is on the way down.

Pittsburgh Steelers- With the running game coming along, absolute contender to repeat

Cincinnati Bengals- One win away from sweeping both the Ravens and the Steelers. No one predicted that.


AFC South

Indianapolis Colts - Just another year for Peyton Manning

Jacksonville Jaguars- Prediction: Jaguars will be out of Jacksonville in 5 years.

Tennessee Titans- With Chris Johnson running from the cops every week and defense becoming healthy, I wouldn’t be surprised if they get back to 8-8

Houston Texans- Steve Slaton has five lost fumbles on the season already. Fantasy bust.


AFC West

Denver Broncos- Bill Simmons was probably the only person to pick the Broncos as a sleeper this year. I bow to the Sports Guy.

San Diego Chargers- Sometimes its remarkable how fast running backs fall off once they hit 30. It happened to Eddie George, Preist Holmes, Shaun Alexander, and now Ladainian Tomlinson.

Oakland Raiders- As laughable as this whole organization is right now, does having Jeff Garcia as the QB make this team really competitive right now, or is it just me?

Kansas City Chiefs- Matt Cassel experiment looks to be a failure.


NFC East

Washington Redskins- Worst Owner in Sports.

Dallas Cowboys- High hopes now make it that more hilarious when Tony Romo chokes in December.

Philadelphia Eagles- What have the Eagles gained with the Michael Vick signing?

New York Giants- Easily the biggest disappointment so far with a terrible secondary and absence of a running game.


NFC North

Minnesota Vikings - Good team, but have had lots of luck so far as well. Not sold on a Super Bowl run.

Chicago Bears - Still looking for that franchise quarterback…

Detroit Lions - When/If the time comes, will there ever be a more jovial and content fan base in the history of sports than when the Lions finally win a Super Bowl?

Green Bay Packers - With a poor offensive line and an issue of holding on to the ball too long, Aaron Rodgers will be lucky to survive the season, which will disappoint fantasy owners across the country


NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Ironic that they wear the cream colored throwbacks the year that they are terrible just like many of those years with that uniform.

Atlanta Falcons – Explosive offense will lead them to the playoffs

Carolina Panthers- Delhomme has regressed to the point that Steve Smith is basically an afterthought in the offense.

New Orleans Saints- They can beat you running. They can beat you throwing. They can beat you with defense. Sounds like a Super Bowl contender to me.


NFC West
Arizona Cardinals - Jekyll and Hyde so far with a 4-0 road record and 1-3 home record

San Francisco 49ers - Alex Smith will determine what happens the rest of this season.

St. Louis Rams – Stephen Jackson is good. Everyone else….

Seattle Seahawks – Those green jerseys were the worst jerseys ever worn by an NFL team

Midseason Awards
MVP Offense – Drew Brees

MVP Defense – Patrick Willis

Comeback Player of the Year – Cedric Benson

Coach of the Year – Josh McDaniels

Fantasy MVP – Aaron Rodgers

Best Game – Minnesota 27 San Francisco 24

Worst Decision – Hiring a 70 year old bingo caller to be your offensive coordinator 6 games into the season



Predictions
AFC
East – New England Patriots
North – Pittsburgh Steelers
South – Indianapolis Colts
West – San Diego Chargers
Wildcard – Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos


NFC
East – Philadelphia Eagles
North – Minnesota Vikings
South – New Orleans Saints
West – Arizona Cardinals
Wildcard – Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants

Super Bowl – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints

Champions – Pittsburgh Steelers