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A question before I get into the thread.

How early can people buy Super Bowl tickets?

Ok, now the real thread!

The Indianapolis Colts are now the Super Bowl Champions.

Who are the early favorites to make it to next years Super Bowl, and who are the favorites to win it?

Here's a few of my picks!

AFC

1. Indianapolis Colts- They're not really losing anyone big, and they can only get better, right? If their defense can be as good as they were in the playoffs for next season, they should dominate. And now there is no pressure on Manning.

2. New England Patriots- Free agent signings and the Draft will be crucial. They NEED to get younger on defense and NEED better receivers. If they can do that, they should be able to match any team on any field. Also... Mr. Belichick needs to wear a suit from now on...

3. Pittsburgh Steelers- They were fantastic the second half of the season and if they wouldn't have been plagued by the injuries to QB and other areas they would have probably made a run for a repeat.

4. San Diego Chargers- Philip Rivers can only get better... but he needs receivers. They have a VERY solid team, but they need to be smarter.

5. Baltimore- They need a better offense. That's it.

NFC

1. New Orleans- They have far and away the best offense in the league. They just need to toughen up on defense and learn to hold on to the ball.

2. Philadelphia- I really think Garcia is going to leave... which means if McNabb gets hurt AGAIN they won't be in good shape at all. But if he can stay healthy, they should be on top of the NFC.

3. Dallas- If not for a botched field goal... I think they could've beat Chicago... It's all on their defense next year, their offense should be great.

4. Atlanta- New coach, plus Vick gets to run offense. WATCH OUT! And they're probably gonna draft some corners to help out Hall.

5. Green Bay- Favre's last season, I guarantee it. He'll want to break records, he will. They'll make it to the playoffs. Oh, and Favre wants Moss... he'll probably get him... then BAM!

6. Chicago- I think they should go get Garcia. They won't win with Grossman.

AFC

1. Colts - Yeah, the champs, and now Manning has found his playoff groove

2. Chargers - Marty still sucks, but they're an excellent team. I don't see a Seahawks situation coming to them.

3. Patriots - It's the Pats. Nuff said.

4. Broncos - They'll rebound... No idea what the hell happened in the second half of this year.

5. Dolphins - Surprise of the year? I see them doing next year what they were supposed to do in this one.

NFC

1. Philadelphia - They're a winning team again

2. Chicago - They went 13-3 and made it to the Superbowl with Rex Grossman. Since I assume they'll replace him, they could be unstoppable. Only reason they aren't #1 is because he hasn't been replaced yet, don't know who the quarterback will be.

3. New Orleans - First year back from Katrina destiny factor will wear off a bit, still solid

4. Seattle - Still have Hasselbeck and Alexander... if healthy, they'll do fine.

5. NY Giants - Eli is slowly improving. Should do good again.

Broncos? I know what happened... Jay Cutler...

AFC

1. Patriots - After the embarassing way they lost to the Colts, they'll be back next year. I believe they are in a little bit of salary cap trouble, but they cut some players they don't need. They won't be losing anyone vital to the team this year, unlike an Adam Vinatieri and they should improve some of their needs through free agency. Oh yeah, they have Tom Brady.

2. Colts - They're the champs and the team to beat, but their salary cap situation along with the number of free agents they have, might ruin some of the balance and talent on the team. That saying, they have a bright future in Joseph Addai at running back, and they have someone named........(Checks pad) Manning? Is that right? Peyton Manning?

3. Jets - They went 10-6 when they were supposed to be in a rebuilding stage. Man-Genuis (Hardy har har har) is obviously doing something right over there and his players love him now. If they can get some more talented players on the team.........

4. Chargers - Biggest mistake they've made thus far is their indecision towards Schotenheimer. They extended him by one season? Shows a lot of confidence huh? That saying, they're still a very talented football team and one to watch out for.

5. Dolphins - If their denfense shows up in almost every game like they did against the Bears..........

I'll write up the NFC later.

I haven't felt confident in a Packers team for awhile. With the four wins in a row to end the season, with a big W against the Bears in Chicago, some of the confidence has been restored. The defense was very impressive the last couple of games, with the offense still looking lackluster. It all comes down to free agency. The Pack have a decent amount of money to play with and signing a safety, running back, and wide reciever are a must. I don't really trust anyone in this year's draft to fill those position (save guys who won't fall to us), and a trade for Moss seems highly unlikely. So are they SB contenders? Probably not. Can they surprise some people though? Certainly. The team is the youngest in the league and getting to .500 to finish the season probably gave them the feeling they can do so much more next year with all the experience they gained. If Favre can play with his head on straight and keep his mistakes limited, which he did much better this year, it can be another improving year for the Pack in 2007. And then we can talk about the SB in 2008 when Favre comes back for his last season.

Agree on the team, just horrible reasoning. Manning is not the reason why the Colts won in the playoffs (7 interceptions). They won because the defense found their stride. A defense that might easily come apart due to free agency.

NFC

1. Seahawks - If everyone stays healthy, they're basically the same team that made it to the Super Bowl last year, just with Deion Branch.

2. New Orleans Saints - With experience comes confidence. The Saints did not have enough of each last year.

3. Chicago Bears - The defense alone will get the Bears into the playoffs. If they pick up a QB off the free agent market (I can't believe I'm saying this, but Drew Bledsoe) they've got a good chance to get back to at least the NFC Championship.

4. Dallas Cowboys - Get a snap holder. If they had one this season, they probably make it to Chicago. Maybe, maybe not.

5. Green Bay Packers - To continue what BTTF said, they've got all the money in the world. They just need to know how to spend it. They'll be a playoff team next season.

What I meant is that Peyton won't choke anymore, he has no reason to. They'll be as strong in the playoffs as they are in the regular season.

But he threw seven picks! If the Ravens had any semblance of an offense, we would of been looking at a Pats/Ravens AFC Game. That saying, now that he's won, he at least knows that he's not doomed to be an annual "close but no cigar".

The difference between the Colts of old and the Colts of new is that the defense worked when it needed to. Manning has been able to control a game whenever he's needed to, but they didn't win because of him.

teams that'll make the playoffs and the Winner of SB 42.

AFC
Colts (Super Bowl Winners) yep...REPEAT!!!
Chargers
Patriots
Ravens
Broncos
Jets

NFC
Saints (Super Bowl Losers)
Cowboys
Bears
Eagles
Seahawks
Packers

Yeah, he choked a bit this year. But now he has a Superbowl... the pressure's gone (or at least I think it'll be)... Besides, I think he played well enough when it counted, with the NE comeback and then cruising in the SB. I don't think he'll ever be someone who thrives in the playoffs, but he should be serviceable from now on.

Absolutely. I think after this year though, it'll go back to the way it was. Not because I'm a Pats fan and want it that way (:sweat:) but because of free agency. Unless the Colts pull a miracle with the cap situation they're in, the defense is going to be weaker. And despite what Sean Salisbury says, a great defense always beats a great offense. It would've happened it again this time if it weren't for Rex Grossman. The Colts played very conservatively last night, and it almost cost them.

So the pressure is off Manning. But it might end up being a wash next year.

CHARGERS, BITCHES!!

........

Chargers and Bears, which is what I it should have been this year.

(As always, this is only what I want, and quite possibly not what I'd come up with had I thought about it logically)

Pats get 2 (late) first round picks this year thanks to the trade with Seattle. Let's go for #4!

The Pats could trade both of those picks and a receiver for Oakland's pick... and then get Calvin Johnson!!!

YEAH!!!

All about the pats next year!!!!

AFC:

1). Patriots spending big bucks in FA so they're making a serious run for it this year.

2). Chargers have one of the greatest (will be the greatest in a few years if he stays healthy) RB in football, and he's in his prime.

3). Colts will always be contenders with Peyton at the helm, the question will be their defense.

NFC:

1). Doesn't matter, they going to get schooled by the AFC yet again.

I believe the Patriots have signed every Free Agent avaiable this offseason. Today they signed recievers Donte Stallworth and Kelley Washington.

So let me cover everything here.

• 4 Yards away from going to the Super Bowl in last year's AFC Championship Game.
  
  Offseason Moves
• Sign linebacker Adalius Thomas
• Sign tight end Kyle Brady
• Sign backup running back Sammy Morris
• Trade for wide reciever Wes Welker
• Sign wide reciever Donte Stallworth
• Sign wide reciever Kerry Washington

With Corey Dillion leaving, their only hole now is at running back. However, if Lawrence Maroney can have the same type of first half, but throught the entire season and can stay healthy, they'll be fine. That saying, they've won without a running back before.

Right now, I don't see how anyone can say they aren't the frontrunners to win the whole thing again.

The Patriots are going undefeated.

Time for an update.

Day 1 of the draft is winding down.

Here are my new ranks!!!

AFC:

1. New England- A major upgrade in WR's and defensively.

2. Pittsburgh- Big Ben should be fully recovered. Their offense is still great, and now their defense should be that much better.

3. San Diego- Still very elite, and hopefully smarter than last season.

4. Jets- Just have an odd feeling about them next year.

5. Baltimore- They still need to improve their offense.

NFC:

1. New Orleans- The highest powered offense gets an even bigger boost.

2. Philly- With a great backup, they should be fine, whether McNabb gets hurt or not.

3. Atlanta- Same thing with the Jets, just an odd feeling.

4. Dallas- They don't seem as strong as I thought.

5. Chicago- By getting Olsen, they can keep Rex for a while...

Uh, the Colts??

I see them dropping off, they'll still make the playoffs, but I don't think they have a shot to repeat

I may have to reconsider Indy...

They had a HELLUVA third round.

new england 16-0

their offense is stacked to put up 30+ points a game, while their offense which averaged like, 12 points a game, has added adalius thomas. their the most balanced team in the nfl, cepot instead of being GREAT on defense and GREAT on offense, its more like INCREDIBLE/FUCKNIG RIDICULOUS. If they live up to their potential, they may just be the greatest nfl team ever assemlbed.

Here is the Patriots current WR Depth Chart:

Randy Moss
Donte Stallworth
Chad Jackson
Wes Welker
Reche Caldwell
Jabbar Gaffney
Kelley Washington
Troy Brown

Just the top 2 makes it fantastic.

Randy and Donte should get 3000 yards together.