2005 Early Predictions - Walter's Football Site

Joey · Status: Offline

2005 Early Predictions

Walter · Status: Offline

Jets and Saints? Oh man, what makes you pick them to go to the Super Bowl? I don't think the Saints will ever make it with Jim Haslett. The Jets? Maybe. But they have to get past the Patriots. I think New England keeps on winning until Belichick or Brady leave.

Joey · Status: Offline

I think the Saints even with Jim Haslett will win it next season. The Panthers cant beat the Falcons, and struggle against the Saints so that knocks them out. The Falcons and Saints usually split the season series, while Tampa Bay is going to be bad enough for the Saints to sweep them, but the Bucs still have the formula to beat Michael Vick. So I think that leaves the Saints to win their division, and I think who can stand up to them in the playoffs? Lions, Giants, Cowboys, Cardinals, or Bears? I dont think so. And then I put it just like it would happen. Once the Saints play real competition in the NY Jets they get annihlated.

Walter · Status: Offline

Well, if you're talking about teams sweeping other teams, it will be the Falcons who sweep the Saints. They split this year because Michael Vick didn't play. Aaron Brooks has never won a game against his cousin. It won't happen because Brooks just doesn't have the heart or the guts to overcome adversity-or win a division. If you've noticed over the years, the Saints are always terrible at home. They tend to road-split with almost every team. Jim Haslett is a loser of a coach and will never lead New Orleans past the second-round of the playoffs. The Saints need too much; offensive linemen, defensive ends, linebackers, a #2 cornerback and two safeties.

Joey · Status: Offline

Haslett is a terrible coach, but I think Jim Mora Jr. is worse. He might as well have conceded the game this year, because he wanted the Saints to make the playoffs, because as you said they are friends. The Falcons will not sweep the Saints this year, or any other year while Jim Mora and Jim Haslett are the coaches of those clubs. I think the Bucs pull off a shocking sweep of Atlanta. This year they split because Falcons were on a roll and believed in themselves, after being the first team to lose to Philly in the NFC Championship, they will be depressed next season, and I say the Bucs do a 49ers sweeping the Cardinals type of sweep on the Falcons. And Like I said Panthers struggle against the Saints, and never beat Michael Vick, so the Saints win the NFC South.

Walter · Status: Offline

I think the Panthers win the South next year. They finished with a 6-2 record, they will get a number of injured players back, and they'll have an early-first round pick. I think the Saints finish 8-8 again, as they have a habit of doing. I think they manage to beat the Falcons if Vick isn't playing. Brooks will never beat his cousin. However, I agree with the Tampa sweep over Atlanta. They clearly dominate Vick.

Joey · Status: Offline

Yeah, I thought that with the way Michael Vick stepped up his game, and how Tampa has lost John Lynch, Warren Sapp, and the others I figured last year would be the year. Guess not.

Thats a big "If" Walt, I doubt Vick will go down, and I believe the Falcons will win both games over Carolina.

-- Edited by Joey at 14:16, 2005-01-31

fricko · Status: Offline

interesting picks.... i am curious about a few things. how can you pick the jets over the pats? they were by far the best team in the nfl this year (even if they miraculously lose the superbowl) and the biggest name they are losing is vinatieri. i like the choice of the cards in the west. it's surprising given that last year they were one of the worst teams in the nfl. i've gotta agree with walt and say that the saints will never get anywhere until their stadium is ritualistically burned by a shaaman and charred earth is cleansed with the blood of jim haslett. finally, and i think you should really see this one coming, you have the eagles LAST in the NFC East. LAST. how? i'm not sure if you were watching, but the eagles are the best team in the nfc and they're probably not going to lose that many people. so what's going to change? i fail to believe that all three teams are going to improve that drastically. they were all sub-.500 teams. i really am curious as to how you came to this conclusion.

Joey · Status: Offline

I wrote this before the NFC Championship, when I was thinking the Falcons were going to win, so now I think the Eagles will finish ahead of the Redskins and be in a dog fight with the Cowboys and Giants for the NFC East title.

Jets are a team that will be up beat, they are thinking "If it wasnt for out kicker we would have had a shot at the super bowl. I say that the Jets with the easier schedule win at least one game more than New England, and I think that the Patriots will lose to the Jaguars in the playoffs. The Jags defense is as good if not better than New Englands. I also say that the Patriots lose Tedy Bruschi this offseason.

I cant say much more about the Saints, thats my story until further notice and Im sticking with it.

Walter · Status: Offline

The big "IF" i mentioned dealt with the Saints vs. Falcons, not Panthers vs. Falcons. I said Michael Vick will never lose to his cousin, Aaron Brooks.

Jacksonville has a great defense, but I wouldn't call it better than New England's. The Jaguars need some help with their corners and defensive ends.

Joey · Status: Offline

I just realized that, but I think that the Saints will win even if Vick is playing, but even if they dont they would be able to manage with the losses to the Falcons, I have the Falcons finishing 8-8 and Saints 13-3. I didnt write that, but even if that happens the Falcons will be 10-6 and the Saints 11-5, the Saints would still win.

Walter · Status: Offline

I was talking to one of my friends who is from New Orleans and is a Saints fan. He's a journalism major like me and he says he can't wait to work for the papers in New Orleans so he can bash the Saints all the time. He said: "so, who is going to underachieve this week?" That's what the Saints do. They have underachieved and will continue to underachieve. Why do you think 2005 will be any different? They have all the talent in the world and should have been in the NFC Championship the past few years, but they didn't even make the playoffs. Jim Haslett is a joke and all Aaron Brooks does is choke. The Saints will never reach the Super Bowl under this regime.

Joey · Status: Offline

You would have said the same thing to someone telling you that the Saints would be 4-1 in December this year. They have snapped out of it. After beating us and winning 3 games in a row. They made bold statements claiming that they were much better than the Carolina Panthers. Everyone was telling them that they were going to get smacked around and they killed the cats. They have woken up and I think next year with the confidence they have gained they come out with like a 9-0 record to start the year. Have an okay midseason then finish strong.

Walter · Status: Offline

The Saints will never start out 9-0. Sure, they finished strong, but there was no way they were making the playoffs. I could actually see them starting with a 5-1 record or something, and then collapsing in December again. They don't have the defense, so they will never win in the playoffs. And, their offense is too erratic to make the playoffs. It's not happening.

Joey · Status: Offline

They have the talent on Defense they just have to snap out of their under achieving attitude, which I believe that they have.

Walter · Status: Offline

No, they have no talent on defense. Their defensive line stinks. Their linebackers stink. Their secondary stinks. The only players worth mentioning on that defense are Darren Howard, Mike McKenzie and maybe Ashley Ambrose.

Joey · Status: Offline

Bellamy is good, and Will Smith will develop into a good player this year. If they keep Bellamy they will have 5 players that are good, that is half of the people on their defense!

Walter · Status: Offline

I'll give you that Ashley Ambrose and Jay Bellamy are slightly above average. Will Smith hasn't developed into a good player yet. That's three solid players and two above average players on defense. The problem is, the rest of their players stink. Their coach stinks. Their stadium is trash. They will never advance as far as the NFC Championship game. I even doubt they can finish above third place in the NFC South.

Joey · Status: Offline

Carolina cant beat Atlanta, New Orleans can beat Atlanta, even though you keep saying they cant, so Carolina is eliminated. We all know Tampa dominates Atlanta, despite being so bad they wont get out of the cellar so Tampa and Atlanta are eliminated. New Orleans is better than everyone else I have in the playoffs, so they make the Super Bowl Ive said this a million times.

Walter · Status: Offline

How can you say New Orleans can beat Atlanta? They have just as much a chance as the Panthers beating the Falcons. Aaron Brooks has never beaten his cousin, which is a huge monkey on his back. Brooks does not seem like the type of player to overcome adversity. Fine, even if the Saints somehow go 4-2 in divisional games, I don't think they will make the playoffs. They will find some way to lose. They always do and they always will.

Joey · Status: Offline

Saints schedule

NY Giants: L
St. Louis: W
Tampa Bay:W
Tampa Bay: W
Carolina: W
Carolina: W
Atlanta: W
Atlanta: W
Minnesota: W
Green Bay: W
Detroit: W
Chicago: W
New England: L
NY Jets: L
Buffalo: W
Miami: W
Saints finish 13-3

That is an easy schedule, they will at least make the playoffs.
What is this "They always lose" crap, they finished really strong and if it werent for St. Louis winning in OT they would have made the playoffs. That will make them mad, Deuce McCallister and a matured Aaron Brooks will lead the Saints to victory next year.

Walter · Status: Offline

It's tough to predict wins and losses right now because there will be look-ahead games and sandwich games and such. Keep in mind that the Saints are mysteriously better on the road than they are at home. They cannot win home games. Consequently, they road-split with Carolina and Tampa Bay. But, for the sake of things, I'll simulate like you did:

NY Giants: W
@St. Louis: W
@Tampa Bay:W
Tampa Bay: L
@Carolina: W
Carolina: L
@Atlanta: L
Atlanta: L
@Minnesota: L
@Green Bay: W
Detroit: W
Chicago: L
@New England: L
@NY Jets: L
Buffalo: L
Miami: W
Saints finish 7-9

Joey · Status: Offline

Buffalo is about to make a huge mistake in letting go of Blesoe, no way the Saints lose that game.

Chicago, though alot better than they have been in the past, is not ready to contend with a team like the Saints.

I doubt that the Saints lose in Minnesota, but that one is possible so I will let you keep it like that.

They wont lose to Atlanta twice, they will win one of those games, because even if you say it is no different than the Panthers inability to beat Vick, it is. You can point to a reason why the Panthers dont win, they dont have the speed to keep up with Vick, there is nothing to point to for why the Saints constantly lose to Vick, curses like that are always broken (Red Sox v.s Yankees, Buccanneers v.s Eagles etc.)

Like Minnesota, I cant prove that the Saints will beat them, so I will not argue that one.

You know that the Saints will beat the Buccaneers, come on you know that the Bucs can no longer beat anyone in the NFC South other than the Falcons.

-- Edited by Joey at 15:28, 2005-02-15

Walter · Status: Offline

Yes, Buffalo made a huge mistake. Yes, it will cost them. No, they will not lose to the Saints. That great defense will shut the Saints' erratic offense down, and New Orleans will allow more than 150 rushing yards to Willis McGahee because they cannot stop the run.

Actually, if Chicago makes the right moves this off-season, they will be better than the Saints. They could win NFC North next year.

I say the Vikings beat the Saints because they always beat the Saints.

Brooks will only beat the Falcons if Vick is injured. Otherwise, sweep. It happened in 2002, and it would have happened last year if Vick played.

The Saints should beat the Buccaneers twice. The Sants should beat a lot of teams. But, they often beat themselves with dumb throws by Aaron Brooks, dropped balls by the receivers, their terrible defense and bad coaching by Haslett. C'mon, this team is the laughing stock of the NFL. In the words of Chris Berman: "These are the New Orleans Saints." (he said that when Aaron Brooks threw backwards against San Diego last year).

-- Edited by Walter at 05:41, 2005-02-17

Joey · Status: Offline

Not anymore. They have heart now they found it at the end of last season. You keep saying that their biggest problem is underachievment. After their run that fell just short because of a stupid playoff rule last year, they found their heart and you'll see next season.

Walter · Status: Offline

They didn't find anything. Their "new-found heart" was a result of no pressure upon them. I do think the Saints may start off something like 6-2 next year, but they will fade down the stretch. They always do when they're expected to do well.

Joey · Status: Offline

This is such an ignorant argument. You have no proof or facts youre just saying they will falter. I want some dap when the Saints make the playoffs.

Walter · Status: Offline

You'll get your can of dap if they make the playoffs. But, they won't. I have your proof and facts right here: They faded in 2001. They had to win one of the following games in 2002 to get into the playoffs: vs. 6-10 Vikings, at 2-14 Bengals, vs. 7-9 Panthers. They lost all three and missed the playoffs. They sucked in 2003. They sucked in 2004. They have always and will always underachieve as long as Jim Haslett is the head coach in the Big Easy.

Joey · Status: Offline

That was before they came back last year and finished strong. Their underachieving ways are over. End of story.

Joey · Status: Offline

Working out more and more for my Saints pick. Falcons are way over the cap and have several needs, Panthers lost possibly their best player, the Bucs are well, the Bucs. Leaving the Saints the uncontested champion of the NFC South. I cant wait until you see it next January. I would bet almost anything on it.

-- Edited by Joey at 17:33, 2005-02-25