Thursday, September 08, 2005

Are you Ready?

The NFL season begins tonight with Monday Night Football (special Thursday edition). I don't like the way they've started the season with these Thursday night games the last few years, and I always liked starting it on Labor Day weekend, but I can't complain much, because no matter how it starts, the NFL season is about the best thing going for entertainment purposes. Whether it's the games themselves, the fantasy football, the pools, or just all the surrounding news and analysis, I can't get enough of the NFL.

Being a Cowboy fan, the last several years that my excitement has been dashed pretty quickly by bad teams and poor play, and even in 2003 when they managed to squeak back into the playoffs, it just wasn't quite as exciting as it should have been because they were just lacking something, which was exposed in the playoffs by Carolina. Anyway, this season I'm pretty excited, Drew Bledsoe isn't the best QB in the world, but I think he's a pretty clear upgrade from Vinny. And if Julius Jones can run the ball anything like he did in the second half of last season, the offense should be much improved. The defense was a big mess last season after leading the league in 2003, but with the switch to the 3-4 and the additions both from free agency and through the draft, they should be in pretty good shape. The optimist in me says that if everything goes well, they can contend with Philadelphia for the division, but more realistically, they should be at least fighting for a wild card spot.

Who else is excited, and who is your team, and what do you think their chances are this year?

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16 comments:

MDC said...

Worried about Kyle Orton, but hopelessly optimistic for the Bears as usual. Curious about your thoughts on new Cowboy Peerless Price. I picked him in a late round in my second fantasy draft last night in hopes that he could surprise people in a change of scenery.

Blogger said...

I'm a big Houston Texans fan. I think they are going to make a run, but ultimately will not make the playoffs. The offense should be much improved (assuming they can keep Carr off his back), but the defense is probably a year away.

John Howard said...

I like Peerless Price. I know he didn't do as well as expected in Atlanta, but I think playing WR with Vick is a completely different game. He made a name for himself with Bledsoe in Buffalo, so I expect him to do well with him in Dallas. The only thing I would be worried about with him is that I think he is currently only the third WR, so he may not get as many receptions as he would otherwise.

John Howard said...

I didn't realize there were any big Houston Texans fans. Also a warning, you may be banned if you ever mention the Texans first game on here.

Ace Cowboy said...

You know where I stand...couldn't be more excited for the Jets to win the Super Bowl. Seriously.

John Howard said...

You're not that guy with the fireman's helmet, are you?

Seriously, though, I think the Jets can be pretty good. I definitely wouldn't pick them to win it all, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them in Detroit.

MDC said...

Nobody's mentioned the new expansion team in Texas, the Saints...

John Howard said...

It would be a great story if they can do anything, but I don't see it.

The Disgruntled Chemist said...

I'm very worried about the beginning of the J.P. Losman era in Buffalo, but I'm also very excited to see what Willis McGahee can do this season.

I'm not an optimist to the extent that I think they'll make the playoffs, but I won't rule it out. I'm counting on a winning season for sure.

I'm also counting on kicking Rob the dirty liberal's ass in our fantasy football league.

John Howard said...

I'd be worried about that too, Chemist. I still don't know why they traded up to get that guy. But they probably know more than I do. Either way, I'm glad they did, because it gave the Cowboys some extra picks, moved them down to where they got Julius Jones, and paved the way for the release of Bledsoe, so it all worked out well for me.

The Disgruntled Chemist said...

Well, I have to say that I wasn't heartbroken about the release of Bledsoe. He's a good quarterback, but he was never really the same after that whole almost dying on the field thing. Plus, Buffalo's offensive line sucks - we need someone who can move around back there, and that ain't Bledsoe. But behind a better line where he gets some time in the pocket, he might be ready for a resurgence.

John Howard said...

Yeah, I hope so. He has a familiar coach and familiar targets at wide receiver, so hopefully that will help.

Scott G said...

I am more of a college football fan and was greatly distresses last weekend when the Iowa game wasn't televised here.

I also am a Cowboys fan, but have learned over the past couple years to find other interests during the season

John Howard said...

Iowa? They don't actually send cameras to those games, do they?

The Cowboys should be a lot more fun to watch this year, regardless of where they finish. Because they do have people who can make a few plays.

Scott G said...

They run the telegraph transcripts across the bottom of the screen. Like when Iowa kicked Florida's ass a couple of years ago, we used an abacus to tally the score.

I like Jones and hope the Cowboys are better. I just got spoiled by Aikman, Irvin, and Smith

Anonymous said...

They did beat Florida, didn't they? Was that Spurrier's last game, or the last game of his era? I forget, since I don't really like UF.

It was easy to get spoiled by those guys.