Sporting News season preview
 

NFC SOUTH
Panthers 10-6 Falcons 9-7* Bucs 8-8 Saints 7-9

Took it from another site. They have the Eagles over the Colts in the Superbowl. They picked us to finish worse than the Bucs.

RE: Sporting News season preview
 

I don't think the Eagles will get to the Superbowl this year. My picks are the Panthers vs. Ravens... I'm undecided on the winner, but it will be a very close game.

I don't care how good the Colts offense is... they can't play defense. Look at the defenses they have to go through... Jacksonville, Baltimore, Steelers, Jets, Miami, not to mention the Colt's owning defending Superbowl champs Patriots.

I think if the Colts get homefield, they make a run. It all depends on them getting homefield though. If they get the playoffs in a dome, not many teams will be able to stop them. Look at their first game against NE last year. Had it not been for wet conditions causing James' two red zone fumbles, and Peyton's red zone INT, they blow NE out. All these turnovers provided courtesy of the elements. Not to mention the fact on that last play before the field goal Peyton gets sacked when the TE slips and lets a man through unblocked, and Vanderjagt missed a FG he would make in a dome.

I don't see anyone stopping the Colts... there d is improving and you can't stop Manning. New England cracks so no one will be in the colts way... Yeah I'd go ahead and give them the Lombardi Trophy now, on paper that is... I know games must be played.

Eagles no way... its going to be a dark horse out of the NFC... could be anyone! Redskins, Vikings or Saints.

There is absolutely no way the Bucs are going to have a better record than us this year, that is just ridiculous.

I dont think these people pay the same amount of attention to the Saints as we do.......
We will compete with Atlanta for the South all season long...
Tampa...trash
Carolina...trash....
<ching>

Exactly. They probably just look at stats and ignore the big picture. Preseason predictions are useless. The season is way too dynamic.
I see this team finishing at best 11-5, and at worst 7-9.

I think Atlanta is over-rated, but they are a good team.
Tampa is living off of reputation alone. May be the most over-rated team in the NFC. Carolina is still the class of the division. They have the best defense, the best coaches, a solid run game, a decent passing game.

Panthers at 10-6
Saints at 10-6
Atlanta at 9-7
Tampa at 7-9

I have read all of the pro football early mags -- all of them have us 3rd or 4th in the division with an 8-8 or 7-9 record -- However all of them say the same things -- on paper we have the talent to compete but its all on AB's shoulders -- we will go as far as he takes us -- they mention his inconsistency and leadershiop problems -- as for the defense they all agree that our linebackers are our weakest point but that we have some young playmakers who could stand out --

All in all I think they picked us low because of our history -- safer to say we have the potential and talent to go deep into the playoffs and predict us to falter. If we make the playoffs they can say told you so -- if not they can say told you so -- So I don't think they actually are predicting our record based on what they believe

I agree Danno. Carolina will be resurgent, Atlanta will fall from grace (a la the Bucs and Panthers a year after a great run), and Tampa wil scratch and claw to hover around average. The Saints will be the Saints. I can see them going about two games in either direction of 8-8 or 9-7.

Saints
Pathers
Falcons
Bucs

Even though I disagree with these predictions from football analysts (purely because I love the Saints), I guess you can't really blame these guys for predicting last place finishes for the Saints, I mean what would make them think that this is going to be the year of the Saint?

When we are 5-0 and atlanta comes to town.

no doubt we are being picked there because of our history. we are 500 minus one year under has. even that year we started off horrible and built like a 6 or 7 game winning streak if i remember correctly. it seems to be all or nothing with has. we are either loosing or we are winning. wait that sounds stupid. you guys get what i am saying dont you. i mean i know you are either winning or loosing but we are either winning a bunch in a row or loosing a bunch in a row. does that make sense. im not sure

if i was impartial i would probably be picking the same.

Hmm... what a fickle division. Difficult to pick 'em.

Atlanta - One broke leg and they're toast?

Carolina - Decent offense. Above average defense. Depends which way the ball bounces?

New Orleans - The offense will, as unlikely as it sounds, take care of itself. Defense, Defense, Defense?

Tampa Bay - Expect them to be competitive. Could give division opponents the loss they just don't need?


I love it!



8)

I think our defense will really surprise many people at the start of the year. I agree that our offense will take care itself.
1 - SAINTS 11-5
2 - Car 10-6 (make the playoffs)
3 - Atl 9-7
4 - TB 6-10