[NewYorkFNJets]

2003 NFL Predictions

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

AFC East
1.)NEW YORK 11-5 Pennington's sophomore year as starter will be a battle for respect.
2.)MIAMI 10-6 QB controversy could damage Phags Super Bowl hopes.
3.)NEW ENGLAND 9-7 Very dangerous team if their revamped defense can gell.
4.)BUFFALO 9-7 Have worked very hard to improve and looks like a contender.

AFC North
1.)BALTIMORE 9-7 Will run away with division if a solution to their QB problem comes along.
2.)PITTSBURGH 8-8 Maddox must prove he isn't a one year wonder, and the Bus must show he has gas left in the tank.
3.)CLEVELAND 4-12 Depleted defense + QB controversy + playoff schedule = Break out the paper bags!
4.)CINCINNATI 4-12 New coach and free agent improvements give hope to the Queens City.

AFC South
1.)TENNESSEE 10-6 Eddie George isn't getting any younger, but team can rely on McNair's toughness.
2.)INDIANAPOLIS 8-8 Could get lost in the pack in a tough AFC.
3.)JACKSONVILLE 6-10 Del Rio must prove he can coach...Brunnell must prove he still has it.
4.)HOUSTON 4-12 Opposing defenses will look to once again break the sack record on poor Carr.

AFC West
1.)OAKLAND 11-5 Old bastards not yet ready to pass torch on to 35-and under crowd.
2.)KANSAS CITY 9-7 Powerful offense helps make up for anemic defense.
3.)DENVER 8-8 Is Plummer as good as advertised? I say no.
4.)SAN DIEGO 8-8 Parity sure is a pain in the ass, huh?

Division Champions
New York Jets(1), Baltimore Ravens(4), Tennessee Titans(3), Oakland Raiders(2)

Wild Card Teams
Miami Dolphins(5), New England Patriots(6)

Wild Card Round
New England 20, Tennessee 17
Miami 27, Baltimore 10

Divisional Playoffs
New York 31, New England 17
Oakland 35, Miami 14

AFC Championship
New York 24, Oakland 20

AFC Champions
New York Jets

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

NFC East
1.)PHILADELPHIA 10-6 Eagles aren't getting any better and may be running out of Super Bowl chances.
2.)NEW YORK 10-6 Last year's surprise team is only better this year.
3.)WASHINGTON 7-9 Expectations are high, but chemistry will be a major issue.
4.)DALLAS 6-10 Good luck, Bill.

NFC North
1.)GREEN BAY 11-5 Playing in one the NFL's weakest divisions makes them seem better than they are.
2.)MINNESOTA 7-9 Offense looks promising, but young defense could be downfall. Playoff team if Denny Green was still head coach.
3.)DETROIT 5-11 Don't be surprised to see huge numbers from Harrington/Rogers duo.
4.)CHICAGO 4-12 Kordell struggled to win in Pittsburgh, where he was surrounded with talent.

NFC South
1.)TAMPA BAY 12-4 The best, until proven otherwise.
2.)ATLANTA 11-5 Young team looks poised for a run deep into the postseason.
3.)CAROLINA 8-8 Under-rated team could probably win one of league's weaker divisions.
4.)NEW ORLEANS 7-9 Won't be in position to choke down the stretch this year.

NFC West
1.)SAN FRANSISCO 10-6 After idiotic head coaching change, may soon be on the way down.
2.)ST. LOUIS 9-7 Season is riding on the shaky health of Faulk and Warner.
3.)SEATTLE 7-9 Perreniel underachievers expected to do big things. We all know better.
4.)ARIZONA 4-12 Will be lucky enough if Emmitt's legs can carry them to a .333 season.

Division Champions
Philadelphia Eagles(3), Green Bay Packers(2), Tampa Bay Buccaneers(1), San Fransisco 49ers(4)

Wild Card Teams
Atlanta Falcons(5), New York Giants(6)

Wild Card Round
Philadelphia 20, New York 17
Atlanta 38, San Fransisco 21

Divisional Playoffs
Tampa Bay 17, Atlanta 3
Philadelphia 23, Green Bay 16

NFC Championship
Tampa Bay 17, Philadelphia 6

NFC Champions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

SUPER BOWL XXXVIII
New York Jets vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Score By Quarters:
1 2 3 4 OT F
NYJ 7 0 3 10 - 20
TB 3 10 3 21 - 37

Super Bowl XXXVIII MVP:
Keshawn Johnson, WR, Tampa Bay

NFL MVP
Michael Vick, QB, Atlanta

Offensive Player of the Year
Priest Holmes, HB, Kansas City

Defensive Player of the Year
Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore

Offensive Rookie of the Year
Charles Rogers, WR, Detroit

Defensive Rookie of the Year
Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh

Head Coach of the Year
Dan Reeves, Atlanta

Head Coaching Exits
Dick Vermeil, Kansas City
Dick Jauron, Chicago
Jim Haslett, New Orleans
Mike Martz, St. Louis
Mike Holmgren, Seattle
Dave McGinnis, Arizona