NFL 2010 Preseason Predictions - AFC South

Visit "All World All Sports"

-Digger's Daily-

AFC Conference Champion Indianapolis Colts (14-2) completely dominated South division rivals (6-0). Houston and Tennessee had big second half surges for respectability. Jacksonville could be seeking relocation if season ticket sales continue declining. The Colts remain South's team to beat. Titans and Texans aim to challenge for wild card.

1) Indianapolis Colts I'll be the first to admit not thinking Indy would have a cake walk season. They could easily have gone 16-0 if it wasn't for a coaching decision to bench starters midway through game 15. Terrible, terrible decision. A perfect season and momentum was theirs for the taking. 2010 should produce another division title. Manning returns with a team greatly strengthened on draft day. Excellent selections addressing team needs: defense. Will we be treated to another New Orleans vs Indianapolis Super Bowl?

2) Tennessee Titans They were the terrible Titans during first six games of 2009 (0-6) before Vince Young took over in game seven. He resurrected the Titans season and his own career finishing the year 8-2. Tremendous coaching staff knows full well how to get every ounce from players. Sensational ground attack opens up passing game. Defense was taxed early but settled down once offense started chewing up the clock. If they're able to beat Indy at least once then Titans will be right in the thick of a playoff race.

3) Houston Texans Houston fans can only wonder what could have been in '09 if the running game showed up? These guys played tight games all year long. Things were looking up when they reached 5-3 right before dropping 4 in a row effectively knocking them out of playoff contention. Strong draft netted a highly ranked gamer in DB Kareem Jackson (Alabama). 2nd rounder Ben Tate (RB, Auburn) has a bright future if he can handle NFL speed. Texans are a good team getting better season after season. 2010 is a key year.

4) Jacksonville Jaguars Vic Ketchman of Jaguars.com calls this the "save the whale" juncture in team history. Jacksonville's fan base is diminishing rapidly. If season ticket sales don't pick up dramatically then Jags brass will seek relocation. Team play and conduct has not been inspiring in recent years. Draft grabbed solid defenders. This is a team in a little turmoil surrounding coach Del Rio and QB situation. Division rivals getting stronger. Jags lack of ticket sales straining management ability to secure core players to long term deals. Get ready for local blackouts in Jacksonville. Good news as Gators, Seminoles, Dolphins and Bucs are on local tv.

Super Bowl XLIV: Colts vs Saints

Visit "All World All Sports"

-Digger's Daily-

Super Bowl XLIV promises to be a fast paced shootout featuring two of NFL's top offenses. Peyton Manning vs Drew Brees. Each team might score 30+ points. On paper, I'd say these two teams will set a new Super Bowl record for points scored. Big scoring plays should be plentiful.

Peyton Manning, Colts - 4 NFL MVP's, 1 Super Bowl Championship, 50,000+ career passing yards, 366 TD's, lifetime 95.2 passer rating. Colts win or lose on his golden right arm. He calls most Colts offensive plays. He'll need 400 yards of precision passing to win.

Drew Brees, Saints - 2009 NFL best 109.6 passer rating, 4 consecutive 4300+ yard seasons, 15-2 as starter in '09 (includes 2 playoff wins), threw TD's to 10 different players.

Prediction: Weather will cooperate. Clear skies, 60 degrees predicted. Both teams come out firing. Ball control is key. Interrupting passing patterns key for both defenses. Protecting the ball extremely important for offenses. Saints take first half lead into locker room, 28-24. Saints lead at end of 3rd quarter, 38-31. Manning dominates 4th quarter.... Colts win, 45-41.

Indianapolis Colts Ready for Super Stampede

Visit "All World All Sports"
-Digger's Daily-

Rookie head coach Jim Caldwell and his Colts have played clutch all season long. Indianapolis is one win from their second Super Bowl victory in four years (2006). Ironically, their opponent Sunday was one win from becoming the Colts opponent in the '06 game.

Indy rises and falls on the right arm of future Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning. He's the Commander in Chief. His ever changing signals at the line keep defenses guessing. Even when they guess right Manning finds a way to get the job done. Fourth quarter comebacks are his specialty. Indy had plenty of close calls but usually found a way to victory (14-2). Playoff football has been near perfect with convincing wins over stingy Baltimore and New York.

How can the Colts slow down New Orleans? It won't be easy. Sentiment from fans seems to be on the Saints side. Hardly anyone I know seems to be rooting for the Colts. We should be treated to a great Super Bowl this weekend. Here's what the Colts must do to bring home another Lombardy Trophy....

Keys to Victory - Offense: Patience. Patience not to abandon running attack. Patience by Manning when passing lanes are jammed. If the Colts line can open up running lanes then Manning will have plenty of opportunities to lead long time consuming drives. Offense must protect the ball at all costs.

Keys to Victory - Defense: Dwight Freeney, Dwight Freeney, Dwight Freeney. Everyone has left Indy for dead without defensive star Dwight Freeney. All inquiring minds want to know if the Colts can step up? Rumors now speculating he'll play but there's no way he'll be effective in a fast paced game with a bum ankle. Colts only chance slowing down Brees is to keep plays in front of them... don't allow speedy Saints WR's to roam downfield. Saints run best from spread formations. Colts D doesn't match up well vs NFL's #1 offense. They only faced one, maybe two, high powered attacks all season. Saints fast pace could overwhelm these guys. Winning the turnover battle is the biggest key to slowing down Brees & Co. Lack of turnovers will most likely spell defeat.

Keys to Victory - Special Teams: Nothing exciting to write home about when it comes to Colts special teams play. They're not great at covering kicks. Not so hot returning punts and kickoffs. I'm expecting Saints returners to create great field position if given chances. Punter Pat McAfee really needs to angle kicks and keep New Orleans pinned deep. Advantage Saints.
Stay tuned for Super Bowl predictions.

Who Dat Saints Chase 1st Super Bowl

Visit "All World All Sports"


-Digger's Daily-

Who Dat? New Orleans Saints (13-3) players are having the football season of their lives. A franchise best 13 wins, first NFC title, energized their rebuilding city, and now, a chance to win their very first Super Bowl. New Orleans football history is filled with highs and bag-headed lows since the Saints began play in 1967. They're riding a high now. Is it their time to win it all?

Head coach Sean Payton has all systems firing. A prolific offense led by Drew Brees and an opportunistic defense capable of making game changing plays. His biggest challenge on Sunday will be keeping his young team focused. Which way will he go with game planning? Will it be a big play day of stretching wide receivers deep down field vs an Indianapolis defense deficient in pass coverage? Or, will he choose a more patient time consuming strategy aimed at keeping Peyton Manning off the field of play?

Keys to Victory - Offense: Line needs to play huge. If Brees has time to find streaking receivers then they can score 45+ with quick strike plays. Who will be the go to guy at running back? Reggie Bush is getting all the press this week. His speed will open up great matchups out of the backfield on passing plays. Saints wide receivers are fast. They must avoid drops as every missed opportunity could soon become a game changer. Brees - one never knows how a QB will handle "The Big Game" pressures? He needs to stay calm and not force throws. Protect the ball at all times.

Keys to Victory - Defense: Is there really any way to contain Peyton Manning? There's only one way I see New Orleans being able to slow down the Colts offense. The defensive line has to disrupt Manning's timing. Stunts, bull rushes, zone blitzes, all of the above. Every once in a while he'll force one and New Orleans defensive backs will have to come up big. Keeping the defense fresh (stamina) is huge for both teams. This game could turn into a shoot out. Whichever teams D gets burnt first will spell doom and gloom.

Keys to Victory - Special Teams: Reggie Bush always seems one play away from breaking off a long touchdown. Last season he returned 3 punts all the way. None in 2009 with a low 4.8 average/return. Kickoff returns will be handled by Courtney Roby who boasts as 27.5 average. Thomas Morstead hopes not to be used but will be ready to boom a few punts when his number is called. Place kicking is a potential hazard. Garrett Hartley is unproven. Get ready for pressure kicks kiddo.

NFL Divisional Playoff Predictions

Visit "All World All Sports"

-Digger's Daily-

Green Bay vs Arizona was quite the show last Sunday. Cards won 51-45 on a defensive play in OT! So how will Arizona vs New Orleans shape up Saturday afternoon? Will Favre & Co. be too much for red hot Dallas to handle? Jets D vs a Chargers team on a mission? Is Peyton ready for more 4th quarter heroics vs a stingy Ravens D? Time to toss my two cents into predicting this weekends games.

(Saturday)
Cardinals @ Saints: Arizona's coming off a thrilling OT win vs Green Bay, 51-45. Was it a preview for what's next? At times, the Saints can score at will. Both teams have top notch QB's and WR's. Defensive edge is probably says advantage Saints. Take your pick in this one. New Orleans should win but we're talking about the still not respected Cards who surprised everyone last year by coming within one play of winning the Super Bowl. Not many gave them a shot last week. Not many are giving them a shot this week. Guess what? They'll put up points again.Arizona 38 New Orleans 34

Ravens @ Colts: MVP Manning's 4th quarter performances have been nothing short of spectacular. He'll have his hands full against a very aggressive Ravens defense. These teams squared off back on November 22nd. Indy won on a late 4th qtr field goal, 17-15. I'm thinking it'll be another very tight game.
Indianapolis 24 Baltimore 20

(Sunday)
Cowboys @ Vikings: Here's my favorite matchup in this round. Dallas is red hot. Romo's looking great and Dallas defense has played especially well in three consecutive contests. Minnesota has weapons at every offensive position with plenty of depth to boot. Vikings defense is equally tough. Favre had been struggling down the stretch until unleashing hell vs Giants. Minnesota is too tough at home. Adrian Peterson will have a huge statistical game leading the Vikes to victory.
Minnesota 33 Dallas 27

Jets @ Chargers: Jets defense is NFL's best. They can shut down anyone. On Sunday, New York's D needs to score points too. San Diego's offense is too good. Jets offense not good enough to keep up. Turnovers is the key. Chargers win but never bet against the Jets. They're not here by accident.
San Diego 23 New York 10

(www.allworldallsports.com)