This season should not fall short of being thoroughly entertaining and historical including the ushering in of new eras while saying good-bye to old ones.
New regimes are beginning in Atlanta, Washington, Miami, and Baltimore.
Mike Holmgren will be leaving the city of Seattle where he transformed the Seahawks into a winner during his 10 year tenure. Ex-Falcons head coach Jim More Jr. will succeed him in 2009. Indianapolis head coach Tony Dungy will also be coaching his last season with the Colts with assistant coach Jim Caldwell waiting in the wings and the team ushering in their new home, Lucas Oil Field.
It's hard to believe, but this is the last year that the Dallas Cowboys will play their home games in Texas Stadium. This rustic antique has housed some of the greatest moments in team and NFL history, but it will soon be an empty and eerie shell. Next year, Dallas will play in their breathtaking coliseum that could seat the whole city of Roanoke, Virginia.
What about those coaches who may not realize that this is their last season? Heading into Week 1, hot seats will already be warm for St. Louis' Scott Linehan, San Francisco's Mike Nolan, Tampa Bay's Jon Gruden, Oakland's Lane Kiffin, and the Bengals' Marvin Lewis. A non-winning season and/or a missed playoff berth just might cause these coaches to seek employment...maybe sooner than later.
Also this season, all eyes will be on the Patriots to see if they can go undefeated again while many wonder if the Giants can repeat or at least go deep in the playoffs to prove that last season wasn't a hoax.
Who will be the Cinderella team of 2008? Which rookie will catch everyone's eye and play like he's a veteran? Which team(s) will think they are operating on a solid foundation only to realize that they're on a thin sheet of ice as the losses just keep piling up?
No one knows the answers, but the journey to find them out begins September 4th.
- Washington Redskins at NY Giants: NBC, 7pm EST, Thursday Night - The NFL scheduling committee didn't show Jim Zorn much hospitality by bringing him to New York for his first game as an NFL head coach and facing the world champions. His offense will face a Giants defense that is banged up, but still aggressive and smothering. EDDIE'S PICK - NY GIANTS
- Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons: FOX, 1pm EST - When you first glance at this vomit-inducing contest, Detroit would be the default choice given Atlanta's recent history of being a disabled franchise. But, I chalk this one up to the 12th man. The crowd should be out in full force with the throttle all the way forward as new coach Mike Smith and QB Matt Ryan look to start the year on the right foot. EDDIE'S PICK - ATLANTA
- Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills: FOX, 1pm EST - Airline miles are going to pile up for these Seahawks players as they will be traveling east eight times this year, and it starts with a visit to Buffalo to face a Bills team that appears to have finally found their future general in Trent Edwards. This battle has the elements to be very entertaining to watch. EDDIE'S PICK - SEATTLE
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints: FOX, 1pm EST - Or, will it be in Tampa? Reports are surfacing that this opener will be in Tampa due to Hurricane Gustav, and that the next game between these two divisional foes will be in New Orleans. Either way, the Saints are more talented than the Bucs going into 2008, and I don't think it will matter where they play. EDDIE'S PICK - NEW ORLEANS
- St. Louis Rams at Philadelphia Eagles: FOX, 1pm EST - There's a renewed sense of expectancy in Philly as McNabb and Westbrook appear to be quite healthy. Only the Super Bowl will satisfy and the first challenge to get there are the Rams who have a happy RB in Steven Jackson to go along with an aging offense, and a defense that is still quite suspect. EDDIE'S PICK - PHILADELPHIA
- Carolina Panthers at San Diego Chargers: FOX, 4:15pm EST - When the Panthers' top weapon, WR Steve Smith, clocked his team mate, that pretty much sealed the outcome of this game. Smith was suspended by the team for the first two games which means defenses can now stack the box and contain Carolina's running game. The Chargers should roll at home. EDDIE'S PICK - SAN DIEGO
- Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers: FOX, 4:15pm EST - What can you say? San Francisco is like that collection of guys in the old black-and-white film clips that keep trying to fly by jumping off of roofs and running down mountain sides with wings of tin foil. They keep trying different materials and approaches, but nothing is working. EDDIE'S PICK - ARIZONA
- Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns: FOX, 4:15pm EST - Yes, Dallas has problems at wide receiver as well, but Terrell Owens is still on the playing field. The rest of the Dallas offense including Tony Romo, Jason Witten, and their two-back assault will be facing a Cleveland defense that has weaknesses at cornerback and pass rushers. Not a good combo. EDDIE'S PICK - DALLAS
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans: CBS, 1pm EST - If you enjoy games that maintain high levels of physicality, then this battle is for you. Both defenses enjoy brain-altering hits that leave you disillusioned, and both offenses are grounded by the running game. Last year, Tennessee opened the year with a win in Jacksonville. Let's see if the Jaguars can return the favor. EDDIE'S PICK - JACKSONVILLE
- NY Jets at Miami Dolphins: CBS, 1pm EST - There's a unique level of expectancy and excitement when Bill Parcells moves into your neighborhood. This Dolphins team now has a brand new identity and level of discipline that should put a much better product on the field. They open the year welcoming their division rivals who have a new QB in Brett Favre while their old field general, Chad Pennington, leads the Miami charge. EDDIE'S PICK - MIAMI
- Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots: CBS, 1pm EST - Everyone in New England can breathe a sigh of relief. Tom Brady is going to start this home opener vs. a Chiefs team that ranked in the top five in nine different defensive categories last season. It's been eighteen years since the Chiefs won in New England. EDDIE'S PICK - NEW ENGLAND
- Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers: CBS, 1pm EST - When you look at the talent level of each team, you don't need much time to realize that this is like picking up a grizzly cub with the mom 10 feet away. Ironically, when the Texans were an expansion team in 2002, they beat Pitt in Heinz Field 24-6. This game will be much different. EDDIE'S PICK - PITTSBURGH
- Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens: CBS, 1pm EST - This pre-season has been bizarre for rookie Joe Flacco who started out on the bench as the #3 QB. One shoulder injury and stomach flu later, Flacco was thrust into the #1 role and hasn't let go. He faces a Cincy team that is porous on defense, but will go to the air often against this Ravens secondary that gave up 27 TD's last season. EDDIE'S PICK - CINCINNATI
- Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts: NBC, 8:15pm EST, Sunday Night - I think we all remember what happened the last time these two teams met. The Colts begin their quest for another world championship in their brand new home, Lucas Oil Field, as Tony Dungy's farewell tour begins as well. It will be very hard to puncture through this atmosphere. EDDIE'S PICK - INDIANAPOLIS
- Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers: ESPN, 7pm EST, MNF - Remember back in the day when this match-up would make your blood simmer? The Aaron Rodgers era begins in Lambeau vs. a Vikings team that very well be primed to make a Super Bowl run. This game was to feature a half-time presentation retiring Favre's #4. Yeah, that's not happening. EDDIE'S PICK - MINNESOTA
- Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders: ESPN, 10:15pm EST, MNF - Yes, you're reading that right -- a second MNF game that will end on Tuesday. The Raiders hope they have a rejuvenated and healthy JaMarcus Russell to quarterback this team whose offense has the firepower to rack up some long-awaited points. They face the much-hated Broncos who are 8-2 vs. the Raiders since 2003. EDDIE'S PICK - DENVER
I will post the STANDINGS next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment