One Game Out: NFL Mid Season Review

The cool thing these days is to say the level of play in the NFL is low and there are no good teams. I think this is a good thing.

First, there is the great stories of the possibility of the Patriots shoving the 72 Dolphins champagne bottles up their ass. That is exciting. There is nothing more agonizing than every season having to hear Dan Dierdorf or some other "color commentator" talk about some old crusty guys who once wore aqua. In my mind the only good thing the 72 Dolphins have accomplished is Larry Csonka's illustrious broadcast career on American Gladiators.

Second, on the other side of the spectrum the St. Louis Rams, and more likely I hope, the Miami Dolphins are giving the immortal 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at that time playing in the AFC West) a run as the only team ever to win ZERO games. Should be interesting.

Look at this guy! Truly a swashbuckling buccaneer!

Third, it seems like more teams have a chance. Now more than ever, with the exception of the Patriots and Colts, any team can really beat any team. That is exciting.

So back in September I brought up the interesting statistic (always ignored by experts) that three last place teams every year become playoff teams. This year at the halfway point the prediction would work swimmingly. If the playoffs started today the Browns, Bucs, and Lions would all count themselves among the playoff teams. I predicted the Texans, Redskins, and Bucs. I still think the Skins are possible, but was off on the Lions. As for the Texans, I think absent the Andre Johnson injury they could legitimately two wins better.

Another nugget I brought up was that in the first couple games the Ravens of Baltimore were outscored 35-16 in the fourth quarter. As evidenced by the game in Pittsburgh, and to a lesser extent against Buffalo, the Ravens now routinely get outscored in all quarters.

In other less solid predictions I hailed Shaun Alexander for not going soft after his only good game of the season. He has done nothing but suck since I praised him. I was also very hard on the Saints, saying basically that they sucked. After winning four in a row they are making believers out of most and are a high mover in most power polls, but I'm still not buying it. I say an 8-8 finish and the Bucs still taking the South.

So after keeping it real with my early season notes and predictions here's what I expect to see in the second half of the season:

1- The NFC West division winner will have at best an 8-8 record. Don't be surprised if its the Cardinals.

2- Though people are starting to ride the Lions hard they still have two games against the Packers, Giants, Cowboys, and Chargers still on their schedule. If the Lions are going to make the playoffs they are going to earn it.

3- Adrian Peterson runs too high. He is creating a media frenzy now, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him on the injury report before the end of the season.

4- Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid are in their last season in Philadelphia.

5- No team in the AFC South will finish with a losing record (Texans, Titans, Jags, Colts).

6- If the Patriots are undefeated going into the Giants game in Week 17 Time Warner will burn for not allowing people to watch NFL Network.