The Crystal Ball Predicts the Upcoming 2008 NFL Season

Greetings, fellow football fanatics!  It is time for another exciting NFL season.  Pretty soon, the leaves will change colors as 32 NFL Teams will be fighting to capture the prestigious Pete Rozelle Trophy -- the ultimate prize for winning Super Bowl XLIII.  The Crystal Ball is excited about the upcoming campaign & has some 2008 predictions to share with all of Ownersboxsports.com's fine members. To find out what will happen over the next five months, pay very close attention to what you are about to read.

"The Crystal Ball's 2008 NFL Forecast":

NFC East

1.) Dallas (11-5) -- This is the most talented team in football's toughest division.  They will ride their numerous offensive & defensive playmakers to the top of the NFC East.

2.) NY Giants (10-6) -- The loss of Osi Umenyiora greatly hurts their chances to overtake the Cowboys.  To defend their title, they will have to do it through the Wild Card route again.

3.) Philadelphia (9-7) -- The Crystal Ball actually forecasts a healthy Donovan McNabb in 2008.  However, this team needs a dependable WR option to overtake Dallas & the Giants.  The potential emergence of De Sean Jackson could help the Eagles surprise.

4.) Washington (7-9) -- The best last-place team in the NFL.  I'm just not sold that HC Jim Zorn was the right man for the job.  A healthy Clinton Portis is a must if they are to be a serious contender.

NFC South

1.) New Orleans (12-4) -- The Saints are only 2 years removed from the NFC Title Game.  Look for MVP candidate Drew Brees to carry this team to the NFC's best record.

2.) Carolina (10-6) -- It's now or never for Coach John Fox.  The Panthers will use a potent 1-2 rushing attack with D'Angelo Williams & rookie Jonathan Stewart to secure a Wild Card berth.

3.) Tampa Bay (7-9) -- This team simply has "average" written all over it.   The Bucs did not find the necessary offensive playmakers in the offseason to be a serious contender.

4.) Atlanta (4-12) -- First year QB Matt Ryan will take his lumps on a bad team.  It will take a few years before this franchise can overcome the disastrous ending of the Michael Vick era.

NFC North

1.) Minnesota (11-5) -- The Vikings will ride their talented running game & defense to an NFC North Title.  Their major question mark at QB will keep them from a really special season.

2.) Green Bay (8-8) -- Is there anyone in a more difficult situation than Aaron Rodgers?  I look for Rodgers & his Packers to have their ups & downs in a topsy-turvy season.

3.) Detroit (8-8)  -- Kevin Smith will be a Rookie of the Year candidate for the improved Lions.  Calvin Johnson will also take a big step up.  However, it won't be enough for a winning record.

4.) Chicago (5-11) -- Simply put...neither Kyle Orton nor Rex Grossman is the answer. 

NFC West

1.) Arizona (9-7) -- The best team in the worst division.  Coach Wisenhunt will figure out that Kurt Warner is the man to lead the Cards to a rare playoff berth.

2.) Seattle (8-8) -- See Tampa Bay above.  Coach Holmgren's final season won't be a memorable one.  This team has WR injury problems & Shaun Alexander isn't around any longer.

3.) St Louis (6-10) -- The Crystal Ball does not like the way Marc Bulger has played in the preseason.  Steven Jackson must have a monster season if they are to contend in the West.

4.) San Fran (5-11) -- The Crystal Ball also does not like the fact that QB J.T.O'Sullivan has played for 7 teams in 7 seasons.  Mike Martz should improve things a little, but this is still a bad offense.

 NFC Wild Card Playoffs:  NY Giants over Arizona;  Carolina over Minnesota

NFC Divisional Playoffs:  New Orleans over Carolina;  Dallas over NY Giants (REVENGE!)

NFC Championship:  New Orleans over Dallas

 Now...on to the AFC Forecast:

AFC East:

1.) NY Jets (11-5) --  Am I a homer?  Maybe.  However, the Jets have made significant improvements through free agency in 2008.  Brett Favre was the final piece of the puzzle.   Teams with good offensive lines win divisions.  Alan Faneca & Co. bring the Jets a surprising AFC East crown.

2.) New England (10-6) -- Losing the Super Bowl & the perfect season last year is a major psychological hurdle for this aging team.   After a blistering start to the 2007 campaign, the Patriots looked merely mortal in their last six games.  Their impressive 5-year AFC Title run comes to an end.

3.) Buffalo (9-7) -- Watch out for this sleeper team.  They have an underrated defense & some offensive playmakers.  Can Trent Edwards stretch the field?  That's the big question.

4.) Miami (4-12) -- The Dolphins are in rebuilding mode, but look for them to be more competitive in 2008.  They still have too many glaring holes to do much better than 4 victories. 

AFC South:

1.) Indianapolis (12-4) -- Origiinally, the Crystal Ball liked Jacksonville.  However, Marvin Harrison looks healthy thus far, and we just can't go against Peyton Manning until proven otherwise.

2.) Jacksonville (11-5) -- The perennial bridesmaid in the AFC South.  To get to the next level, they have to be more competitive head-to-head with Indy & their suspect WRs must step it up.

3.) Houston (9-7) -- Like Buffalo, this team is another sleeper.  When Andre Johnson was healthy, this team could compete with anyone.  Look for AJ to have a strong year & lead the Texans to the franchise's first winning record.

4.) Tennessee (6-10) -- The passing game is a complete disaster.  This spells trouble in the AFC's toughest division.   Justin Gage as your #1 WR?  Ouch!

AFC North:

1.) Pittsburgh (10-6) -- The Crystal Ball also changed its mind about this division.  Cleveland has looked miserable in the preseason.  Pittsburgh's superior defense & the emergence of 3rd. year WR Santonio Holmes gives this storied franchise another division crown.

2.) Cleveland (8-8) --  The Browns will not sneak up on anyone this season after last year's 10-6 record.  Their defense won't be good enough to improve upon that record.  To have a chance, Derek Anderson & Co. will need to score a lot of points.

3.) Cincinnati (6-10) -- Marvin Lewis, it was nice knowing you.   Re-signing Chris Henry shows  how desperate this franchise is...and why this franchise is one of the NFL's worst.

4.) Baltimore (5-11) -- A bad QB, bad WRs, and a first-year unproven head coach.  This spells a last- place finish for the Ravens.  The emergence of Ray Rice will have their fans looking at a brighter future, however.

AFC West:

1.) San Diego (13-3) -- Shawne Merriman's decision to play in 2008 may not be a wise long-term move, but it could inspire his teammates this season.  Look for the LT & the Chargers to dominate a weak division & earn the AFC's best record.

2.) Denver (9-7) -- The days of the dominant Denver running game are gone.  This defense looks fairly pedestrian as well.  The emergence of Jay Cutler & four games with KC & Oakland are the only reason this team achieves a winning record.

3.) Oakland (5-11) -- JaMarcus Russell will have further growing pains in 2008.  D-Mac will help the cause, but the passing game still lacks a playmaking WR.  Javon Walker isn't the answer, and it will lead to another miserable season in the Bay Area..

4.) Kansas City (3-13) -- The Chiefs are in complete rebuilding mode.  They have no viable complimentary WR option for Dwayne Bowe, and their O-line needs to be rebuilt.   Brodie Croyle is the starting QB.  Enough said.

AFC Wild Card Playoffs:  NY Jets over New England ; Jacksonville over Pittsburgh

AFC Divisional Playoffs:  San Diego over Jacksonville; Indianapolis over NY Jets

AFC Championship:  San Diego over Indianapolis

Super Bowl XLIII:  San Diego 34  New Orleans 31 -- It should be a great ending to a great season!

NFL MVP:  Drew Brees   NFL Rookie of the Year: Jonathan Stewart   NFL Coach of the Year: Sean Payton

Fantasy Football Predictions:

Fantasy Stud:  Drew Brees, NO -- 4,800 yds,  33 TDs  11 INTs

Fantasy Dud:  Willis McGahee, Baltimore -- loses his starting job to Ray Rice by early October

Fantasy Sleeper:  Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh -- He's in that magical 3rd. season at WR

One final Crystal Ball Prediction:  The 2008 NFL Season will be fun to watch! 

I hope everyone enjoys the games this year, and I look foward to publishing my 2008 weekly forecasts on this site.

Joe McElhone (a.k.a. jetsjetsjets)