NFL Preview 2011
Posted on Thursday, September 8, 2011 in NFL
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
To All NFL Fans,
The lockout ended and we had a full preseason other the annual Hall of Fame game. Now the regular season is upon us and we preview the 2011 NFL season. The Green Bay Packers, last year’s Super Bowl Champions, opens up as the favorite to repeat this year according to many analysts. Only seven times in the history of the game (New England was the last in 2005) has a team repeated as Super Bowl Champions. It is the Patriots once again that Las Vegas lists as the odds on favorite (5:1) to win it all this year. The Packers are a close second in at 6:1 odds.
Some story lines of interest to start the NFL season: The Indianapolis Colts will open the season for the first time in 209 games without Peyton Manning under center. In that same span, the Chicago Bears have had 17 different starting quarterbacks. The Colts have also had some media interest as of late because of former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. The former Ohio State Buckeye’s National Championship coach is joining the Colt’s staff and requested a 6 game suspension, one more than much maligned Terrelle Pryor received from Roger Goodell. Another closely watched team is the Dallas Cowboys. The Boys have hired Rex Ryan’s brother Rob to crank up the defense and help get the Cowboys back to prominence. The quarterback situation has been much discussed in Denver as a preseason storyline. Tim Tebow started camp as the heir apparent to John Elway and ended it as the third string QB behind Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn.
In the AFC, the team that looks to challenge the Patriots is the San Diego Chargers. Phillip Rivers appears ready to make the jump as a top tier quarterback and lead his team to the promised land. In the Central Division, perennial powers Pittsburgh and Baltimore will fight for the title, with an improved Cleveland Browns team as a potential sleeper. Pat Shurmer’s west coast offense is a perfect fit for Colt McCoy. Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets should be in the mix all year long as they try to get past the AFC Championship game this year. The Houston Texas are a team that with some breaks could make some noise as well.
In the NFC, a team in the Packer’s owned Central Division, the Chicago Bears, have title hopes if Jay Cutler can play at a high level all year long. The New York Giants plan on being in the mix, but they will have to overcome numerous defensive injuries. If Micheal Vick puts up MVP type numbers again, the Eagles like their chances of dethroning Green Bay. Atlanta and New Orleans, out of the South division, look to be contenders in the NFC as well.
Enjoy the season,
Matthew “Bubba” Harris
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look good