2010 NFL Regular Season Thread

[burn_baby_burn]

Its the most wonderful time of the year. NFL Kickoff begins this coming week.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pagal4321]

Finally the off-season, training camp and the preseason are done. Some REAL game action starts in 6 days!!

[burn_baby_burn]

I'm excited that the Chiefs will be on Monday Night Football for the first time in ages. However it stinks to have to wait till next Monday at 8pm to watch their first game.

Still at this point they are tied for the lead in the AFC West, the proudest division in all of sports.

[Montana Moe]

Saints

[Beerfest]

Lets go Packers.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Brian Dawkins says BRING IT!

[OILFAN #81]

COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lets go INDY! Can't wait until a week from tomorrow.

[Badabing]

BENGALS!
Can't wait to see Ochocinco/Johnson and Owens together in a real game.

[KTown]

Its time for the Dolphins to take back the AFC East just like the 90s

[nik-]

At least I have something to look forward to this year

[Sylvanfan]

Well here goes my assessment on the Chiefs. They're still 1 year away from being able to threaten for the playoffs, and I think they still need 2 in order to legtimately challenge the Chargers as well as the other teams for the AFC West.

Offence:
Last year the Chiefs started the season dreadfully poor on the offensive side of the ball. Likely due to the fact that Todd Haley gassed Chan Gailey just prior to the end of training camp and tried to be OC and HC. The Chiefs offence was actually respectable in the second half as their sacks allowed were half of what it was in the first 8 games (15 in the final 8 vs 30 in the first 8). They had at least 220 yards in every game and went over 318 in 4 of the final 8 after being held to less than 220 total yards 4 times and only going over 305 once in the first 8 games.

For this year I look for the Cheifs to be one of the better running teams in the NFL. Their line seems to be a pretty good run blocking unit, and the tandem of Charles and Jones along with a few runs by Dexter McCluster should net them at least 2200 yards on the ground. The one thing that will impact their running is the fact that they'll likely be playing from behind a fair bit which will force them to throw the ball more than they'll like. If they are a team who run the ball a lot, I think that will mean they've won a lot more than anyone expected them to.

In terms of passing they're still a pretty weak unit. The line still isnt' great at pass protection, and the noodle armed Matt Cassel doesn't really scare NFL defences with the threat of the deep ball. Dwayne Bowe needs to get his head on straight and get back in the form he showed his first two years in the league. If he plays better, and if McCluster can be a shifty slot receiver and Charles can break a few out of the backfield the Chiefs may be able to put up 3500 yards through the air. Charlie Weiss despite his shortfalls at Notre Dame can still design a pretty good offence, and he'll know how to make use of what he has to work with.

Defence:
Again the Chiefs have gone to the vault of New England co-ordinators past to solve another woeful unit with Romeo Crennel. The Chiefs have spent a few early draft picks in the past 3 drafts in the secondary. The group of Eric Berry, Brandon Flowers, Brandon Carr, Javier Arenas, and Kenny Williams have all come from those drafts. With a bit more experience I think this could develop into a real strength for the Chiefs. Certainly they'd benefit from having a beast like Jared Allen terrorizing QB's, but thanks to Carl Peterson they don't.

Which brings me to the front 7 which is the big questionmark. Glen Dorsey and Tyson Jackson were both high draft picks. Ends in a 3-4 defence don't usually put up much for stats, but they need to clog up the line and let the guys behind them make plays. So this is a make or break year for them as Dorsey is a 3rd year guy and Jackson is a second year guy, and both were outplayed by Wallace Gilberry last year. At linebacker, Tamba Hali is the only thing they have resembling a pass rush and he should still be the bookend of Jared Allen in a 4-3 if you ask me. Simply put without a great nose tackle, and playmaking Linebackers who are suited to be 3-4 backers this unit is a big time weakness.

Special Teams:

I think the Chiefs may be able to do quite well here and likely stick around a few games due to this. Dustin Colquitt is a very good punter (he gets a lot of chances to kick the ball), and Ryan Succop had a very good rookie season although his pre-season was pretty dicey. The additions of Javier Arenas and Dexter McCluster should give the Chiefs a return game again which has been lacking for the most part since 2004 when Dante Hall was still somewhat effective.

Overall:
The Chiefs have an easy schedule and play in a bad Division. But even with those benefits I can't see them being any better than 8-8 and 6-10 is my official prediction. They need to improve their front 7, and if Cassel doesn't get it done this year, they'll need to axe him and find a real QB.

In

[transplant99]

Randy Moss whining yet again.

"When you have done so much and put so much work in, it kind of feels like I am not wanted,"

Says the guy that has stated he plays when he wants and has been seen leaving his team high and dry before the game ended.

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nfl...ory?id=5540944

[PIMking]

I'm a chiefs fan ( I don't know how in the hell I'm a chiefs fan but meh) We suck ass and I'm not looking forward to the season. Nothing like wasting a draft pick on a safety and another 4 win season coming our way.

[Sylvanfan]

Cory_Greenwood who was drafted 3rd overall by the Argo's in the CFL Canadian draft, got a free agent try out and made the Chiefs as a Special Teams guy. Not too often a guy goes directly from CIS to the NFL. Hopefully he can stick and continue to make an impression. Always good to see Canadian kids make the big league.

[troutman]

SI Predictions:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...s.1/index.html

Peter King thinks the Steelers will win the Superbowl (I'm not sure they will make the playoffs):

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...ail/index.html

ESPN Power Rankings:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings?year=2010&week=1

[troutman]

SI pundits playoff predictions:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...s.2/index.html

I don't agree with all this Packer love. Good team, but not Superbowl material IMO.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by troutman

SI pundits playoff predictions:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...s.2/index.html

I don't agree with all this Packer love. Good team, but not Superbowl material IMO.

Pretty much my opinion on the Cowboys as well.

[Pagal4321]

Originally Posted by troutman

SI pundits playoff predictions:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...s.2/index.html

I don't agree with all this Packer love. Good team, but not Superbowl material IMO.

Well it's the exact same thing as last year, all the pundits picked the Packers to dominate the NFC becuase they dominated the pre-season in 2009 as well.

I think they will win the division, but winning the Super Bowl is a bit ambitious.

[transplant99]

Yeah I dont think the NFC can be handed to anyone at this point. I certainly understand why they are picking the Packers as all the pieces are there if it comes together, and lets face it they have the most potent offense in the division by a mile when you consider the personel issues the Vikes face all of a sudden.

As with every team in football though there are question marks, and IMO a big one on the Packers secondary. Two pro bowlers and then a bunch of ifs/maybes. I do think that Dom Capers 2nd year with these guys will releive some of the coverage issues however, but alot of that will have to do with how good the LB's are at getting to the QB.

The biggest problem with them last year was a horrid O line but when they got healthy they were quite good and they have everyone back this year and have suplemented it as well. So no concerns there at all unless injuries start to mount again. I do worry about a team that carries more FB's than RB's into a season as well...if Grant goes down, so does their running attack (which was vastly overlooked last year BTW).

I see the Pack as very very similar to the Saints of a year ago though, and would not be at all surprised if they stay relatively healthy to see them winning the NFC. I dont get any of the Dallas "love" other than the fact that their division will be a whole lot weaker than in years past which should translate into them winning it...but what i saw of their 1st team offense this pre-season should have them really nervous.

The Saints will be strong again, the Falcons should be better as well and the Vikes have the maestro back but a weaker team than last seasons end so who knows. Beyond that only SF and the Giants are teams that could be really strong but have large question marks around core areas.

To me, barring major injuries, the NFC comes down to NO, GB and Atlanta...from there its a coin flip and who gets home field through the PO's.

[Bobblehead]

The SF Defense should be very strong. The only real soft spot they have on that side of the ball is at corner and if they can get to the QB like they were doing the last 4 games of last year then that makes the secondary look a whole lot better.

On the offensive side they should be better and get better as the season rolls along. They won't be prolific, but they should be better at controlling the ball. As the 1st rounders get better the line will have more confidence. Smith has already shown to make better reads under pressure but it remains to be seen if this still holds true in the regular season.

So I can see the Niners being a 10-6 team in the playoffs and scaring whomever they come up against.