For over a decade.

My only major contention with their “Senior Analyst” is that they have the Eagles ranked higher than us. Maybe Pat Kirwan forgot what McNabb looks like as he rides the bench. The Patriots are a toss-up to me; Brady could get gun shy or he could revert to 2007 form. The other teams slapped us around last year, so I’m fine with having to earn our number one rank one week at a time.

First off you put you put Baltimore BEHIND the Colts. First off, my big problem with everyone putting the Colts way up high is that they lost a ton of their coaching staff, starting with the top and thoroughly working through some major spots. Then they lost a staple on offense, not that that he was the same as he has been, but still not an easy thing to replace. It is lunacy to think that they not only will be the same, but better off? They will struggle, especially out of the gate.

Secondly to think the Eagles have not made huge strides in the offseason is incredible. They lost the NFC Championship game by 2 points. Dawkins left, and it hurts, but man have things worked out from there. Sean Jones should cover a good amount of ground there. Then add arguably the most talented young LT in the league, a great right tackle, the full back that was desperate needed, and then throw a number 1 receiver into the mix with the old number one entering his second year, plus a guy who can help Westbrook take some of the load off of his shoulders, that spells trouble. To base your prediction on one game in the previous season and ignore the rest? Seriously?? Also, the Giants haven’t done nearly that much since they managed to shoot themselves in the foot (or leg as the case may be). What upgrades to the WRs there are you talking about? doesn’t look like much.

Tennessee will be in a lot of trouble. Haynesworth was the linchpin to that D. to take him out of the mix makes a lot of shortcomings more vulnerable. Finnegan had a great year, but I would be surpirsed if he backs it up without someone in the opposing QBs. kitchen every other play. And who will be the QB? Seriously, think about the 2 names you would say. Really think about them. First clue, there are 2.

It’s tough to judge the season right now, that’s for sure. But speculation being what it is, you have to speculate using a good amount of reason. I’ve tried to predict all 32 teams records for a number of years and always find that things just don’t work out like that. I’m usually not even close, no matter the division (spare the Raiders). If you want a fun exercise try that one out, but remember to save your predictions.

They both have their wrinkles, but Rexx’s seem more fair.

First off, no way NE should be in the top 5 in Kirwan’s rankings. I think they are a #2 caliber team, but before the season starts, they should not be in the top 5. No team that did not make the playoffs last year deserves to be in the top 5. Tom Brady will turn that team around for sure and I expect them to be in M&T Bank stadium come the AFCC.

To einman77, it is fair to put the Colts at 3. They may have lost this and that, as I think that Dungy retiring will affect these guys a little, but they got a young and enthusiastic coach much like we did last year. Yes they lost Marvin, but he was not going to be a difference maker with Wayne and Gonzalez back there. They improved their running game vastly with the 1st round selection of Donald Brown who will now pair with Addai. They still have one of the top 3 D-Line’s in the game, watch out for Fili Moala, Haloti’s brother. Then Freeney, Mathis, and what I think is one of the most underrated secondaries in the league. Oh yea, they got the Manning guy. He is pretty good.

Now the Eagles. I am more unsure if they should be 8 rather than 3 like in Kirwan’s rankings. I really like what they did in the offseason, had one of the best this year. Yes, losing Dawkins to the Eagle fans and players is much like us losing Ray Lewis. Dawkins was the team leader hands down and one of the best safeties of all time. But, the Eagles had my favorite draft this year. Pairing Maclin with DeSean Jackson is going to be so sick to watch this year. Then adding McCoy to back up the most versatile RB in the league, Brian Westbrook. I also think that Cornelius Ingrum will step up big time for Phily.

Einman77, I understand where you come from with Phily not being worthy of #3, but is it because of what we did to them? I mean, they beat the best team in football last year, NYG, 2 times 1 of which was in the playoffs. McNabb is still IMO a top 5 QB in this league. He was able to make Chicken Salad with Chicken Shit on offense last year with Westbrook being hurt a good amount and not having a WR outside of Jackson.

I see the Titans honestly finishing 3rd, maybe 4th in their division. Haynesworth was their defense. He is the most dominating player defensively in the NFL, and losing him is huge. I think a lot of what their 2ndary was able to do was because of the pressure he brought. I see their defense falling out of the top 10. Houston is going to give the division a run for its money. If Schaub stays healthy, that offense is freaking scary. I am also a fan of their defense. They added my favorite LB in the draft, Brian Cushing, to play alongside the beast in Demeco Ryans. Their line is one of the elite in the league with Mario, Akoye and now Connor Barwin. I see a 10 win season and a wild card spot from Houston next year.

My rankings go like this:

Infinity: Cleveland Browns
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Detroit Lions

i’d put the falcons, titans, colts, pats and cardinals above the ravens within the the top 10 list simply because they can outscore us despite our D… with Chris Johnson, the titans had us looking for our jocks. we flat out can’t beat the colts and pats (and coaching doesn’t matter with the colts as payton calls the show anyway- dungie was along for the ride. the cardinals and their O would probably school us with our unoiled and misfiring O engine.

what are the ravens being based on? 4 games against ohio (thank god for this every year). 3 loses to pitt.. barely a split with tenn. an ass beating by the G-men. thrown into the Indy shredder. out of all years this #6 ranking is totally misguided. i believe we are high middle of the pack with our current O. the D keeps us from a 20+ ranking again.

Deservedly at number 1. Frank the Tank is going to do to Ray what Ray did to Mendenhall last year.

Can’t argue with much a Steeler fan says at this point….I would be singing a different tune if we had a receiver to balance mason. i’m done going there anymore…we will always ride the D and expect miracles from our QB. it was sad how many qb’s had to take the fall for our lack of receivers and coaching. 50% of a qb’s success is his receivers but they take the quick blame. this actually makes what Flacco did very impressive.

we never really had a stable O game plan over the course of last year. we never really knew who the feature back was game to game. outside of mason, flacco probably didn’t know who was going to be healthy at TE and other receiver. what’s crazy is that he will enter this season with the same uncertainty and be expected to repeat last years success. unfortunately, this formula will again come up short against the A-1’s.

i think we have always gotten the most out of our talent. this does not leave room for error. we rely heavily on turnovers and ed reed. what keeps us from A-1 status is that we can’t overcome mistakes against the better teams. we don’t have offensive “make-up” power against division leaders. not many teams do. what i love most about our team, however, is that we have a chance to win very game every week. when we go to MT stadium we expect to win. this is a great formula for the long, long run. i can’t ask for more than that. our conservative approach to free agency and the draft ensures years of success and A-2 performance. i struggle with the thought of risking that to be A-1 for just a few years with the possibility of spending years below .500 to make up for a hundred million dollar aquisition error.

We’ll leave the Orioles to the poor live preserver flinging free agent signings. we see how that road ends.

i accept this ravens team because we have the possibility to win. as long as the possibility is there, the beer is cold and the tailgate parties are awesome. if not being World Champion makes me bitter, that is the best bitter in the world.

id admit that but they had kyle boller to bust out with and didn’t. seriously though, their not bad. their serviceable. they’ll make some first downs and get the D some rest but they can’t be counted on to take it home with any consistancy.