Fitzgerald gets his coach back and a new QB...but is it enough for a championship?
Ladies and Gentlemen it's almost time for the greatest time of year! Football season! And with football season almost here it becomes my job to give you the most detailed of predictions! Who will be the biggest surprise/disappointment?? Who will win MVP?? Who will further their legacy with a SFL Championship?? All of that and more in the article below!
Season 1 Predictions
MVP -- QB Eli Manning, NYG
The difference between a championship caliber team and just a playoff team is narrowed down to one key factor: the QB. Just ask coach Cypher Simile who won his first championship after struggling his first year with then rookie QB Jake Locker to be a playoff team and then jumping all the way to his first SFL title the first year he had Eli Manning under center. Coach Mitch will figure out really early that having a great QB will give your passing game and offense in general a lot of confidence. That coupled with the fact that Eli has Hakeem Nicks and a newly paid Victor Cruz should mean that NYG will be in the playoff hunt year in and year out for all of Madden 25.
Runner-ups -- QB Matt Ryan, ATL; HB Adrian Peterson, MIN; QB Andrew Luck, IND
Offensive Player of the Year -- QB Matt Ryan, ATL
Listen, I know this isn't much of a surprise but honestly who can stop Matt Ryan?? He has too many weapons. WAY too many if you ask me. Roddy White, Julio Jones, Harry Douglas, Tony Gonzalez, Steven Jackson, Jacquizz Rodgers...Lord have mercy on the NFC South. I truly and honestly feel that we will see numbers from Matt Ryan that we have never seen before. I'm talking 6,000+ yards and 40+ touchdowns with less than 10 picks.
Runner-ups -- HB Adrian Peterson, MIN; QB Eli Manning, NYG; WR Calvin Johnson, DET
Defensive Player of the Year -- Terrell Suggs, BAL
With the departure of LB Ray Lewis and FS Ed Reed, the defense's fate lies soley in the hands of LB Terrell Suggs. He does receive a little help with the addition of DE Elvis Dumervil but that's about it. Expect to see Suggs in the opponents backfield more times than naught this year and having a say so in every snap that Suggs is on the field for. I'm predicting Suggs goes off Year 1 with over 80+ tackles, 15+ qb tackles, and at least 5 FFs. The Ravens' defense will need all of that and more from Suggs to continue their dominant ways
Runner-ups -- DE Jared Allen, MIN; DE/OLB Mario Williams, BUF; DE/OLB Demarcus Ware, DAL
Offensive Rookie of the Year -- QB E.J. Manuel, BUF
No offensive rookie will have a greater impact on their team's future than E.J. Manuel. Period. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. If E.J. sinks, Buffalo sinks. If E.J. swims...then look out AFC East! Coach Ashton Kusher got the most out of then rookie QB Andrew Luck last year so don't be surprised if Ashton turns E.J. into a bonafide stud before the season is over. E.J. Manuel has the offensive support with Stevie Johnson, speed demon T.J. Graham, and the running back duo of Fred Jackson & C.J. Spiller. As long as Coach Ashton Kusher keeps E.J. Manuel upright and out of harms way then E.J. should thrive in Buffalo.
Runner-ups -- WR Tavon Austin, STL; WR Cordarrelle Patterson, MIN; QB Geno Smith, NYJ
Defensive Rookie of the Year-- CB Xavier Rhodes, MIN
Now you guys knew a Vikings player was going to be #1 somewhere in these predictions. But who would've thought that FSU would sweep the rookie awards. Xavier Rhodes was the one cornerback in this year's draft that scouts claim had the most "NFL ready" abilities. Outside of Chris Cook the Vikings don't really have any cornerbacks. And with big play targets in that division (Megatron, Randall Cobb/Jordy Nelson, and Brandon Marshall) Coach AC Knows is going to need Xavier Rhodes to become a premier corner sooner rather than later. But with how Coach AC Knows coaches his defense..don't be surprised if Xavier becomes the best corner in the SFL.
Runner-ups -- DE Ezekial Ansah, DET; SS Matt Elam, BAL; CB Dee Milliner, NYJ
Rising SFL Star -- QB Carson Palmer, ARI
Quick! Somebody que Chris Jericho's return music! Because that's exactly what's about to happen down in Arizona. Coach Marvin knows how to get the very best out of small time QBs. And Carson is not small time by any means. Yes he had a down season in Oakland but check this...Carlson Palmer
IS an upgrade from Kevin Kolb and that makes Arizona EXTREMELY dangerous. Mark my words. Carlson Palmer will be in the top 5 for passer rating and will rank in the top 10 for tds AND ints (as in he won't throw too many). Larry Fitzgerald rejoice! You get your QB you wanted AND your coach back.
Runner-ups -- QB Sam Bradford, STL; QB Christian Ponder, MIN; WR Stevie Johnson, BUF
Falling SFL Star -- WR Stephen Hill, NYJ
The thrill is gone in New York! Coach im ur pops has packed his bags and headed to St. Louis and left NYJ to be coached by Coach Trutest. Coach Trutest is no pushover by any means. But there is no way in H.E.double hockey sticks that Stephen Hill reproduces his [insert moniker here] stats that he posted all of last year's Madden. Will he get his stats? Yes. But there isn't any reason to fear this man any longer.
Runner-ups -- QB Robert Griffin lll, WAS; WR Travis Benjamin, CLE; OLB Brian Orakpo, WAS
Owner who needs to win....NOW -- Coach Illnyill
The only reason Marvin needs to win now is because Year 1 may be the only year that he can sneak by some of the better teams in the NFC (a la Coach Cypher Simile). Not because of his abilities as a coach and owner...but because people FORGOT how good Marvin is. I, personally, have not forgot how efficient and smart Marvin plays. Year 1 he could shock and surprise a lot of owners enroute to a championship. But once people remember how good of a coach/owner he is then Marvin is going to have to go back to using strategy to overcome his opponents.
Runner-ups -- Coach ForL3af, GB; Coach Mitch, NYG; Coach Rudy G, KC
THE Darkhorse team to watch -- Dallas Cowboys
Listen to me. I've been playing this guy in Madden, NCAA...you name the game and we've competed against one another. Every single game gets more and more difficult to win against him. If Madden is anything like NCAA is this year in terms of routes and plays that work then the Cowboys could end up shocking more than enough teams on their way to a playoff berth.
Runner-ups -- Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers
STILL on the back of a milk carton
The best QB in the league for Lord knows how long...one of the more explosive offenses in the game...a good defense...and just barely making it to the playoffs?? No offensive accolades??
Bold print denotes playoff team
Season Predictions
NFC
North
1)
Minnesota Vikings
2)
Detroit Lions
3) Green Bay Packers
4) Chicago Bears
South
1)
Atlanta Falcons
2) Carolina Panthers
3) New Orleans Saints
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
East
1)
New York Giants
2)
Dallas Cowboys
3) Philadelphia Eagles
4) Washington Redskins
West
1)
Arizona Cardinals
2) St. Louis Rams
3) San Francisco 49ers
4) Seattle Seahawks
AFC
North
1)
Baltimore Ravens
2)
Cincinatti Bengals
3) Cleveland Browns
4) Pittsburgh Steelers
South
1)
Indianapolis Colts
2) Houston Texans
3) Tennessee Titans
4) Jacksonville Jaguars
East
1)
Miami Dolphins
2)
New England Patriots
3) Buffalo Bills
4) New York Jets
West
1)
Kansas City Chiefs
2) San Diego Chargers
3) Oakland Raiders
4) Denver Broncos
AFC/NFC Title Games
Atlanta Falcons vs.
New York Giants
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens
SFL Super Bowl Champion
Kansas City Chiefs vs.
New York Giants