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While I don't expect the Browns to make the playoffs I think they will be vastly improved and finish around 6 - 8 wins. Delhomme has far exceeded my expectations with his play in the pre season and looks to be a huge upgrade. Ben Watson and Peyton Hillis also have been pleasant suprises.
My biggest short term concern is lack of speed in the front seven. Unless Ryan has been purposly holding back and playing vanilla we are going to struggle to get to the passer and any semi decent QB is going to carve up the Browns D.
I love the morons who think losing players like Brady Quinn and Braylon Edwards are mistakes for the Browns... Just goes to show that there are a ton of people who get all their sports knowledge from ESPN and spout off opinion before actually watching a team or doing research.
In the end I think the Browns may slighty improve record wise to just below .500 but until we add some speed at LB and WR we aren't going to be a playoff contender. We also need to figure out the long term QB situation.
Of all the teams on the list I think Detroit has the best upside. I like Stafford, Johnson and Best. Nice threesome.
I think the Raiders will be the surprise team of the year. Their defense looks pretty good. If Campbell can give them some decent QB play, they could surprise.
The Bills will also surprise some people. CJ Spiller will be a stud.
It wouldn't suprise me one bit. I think they may have hit on Stafford. Javid Best and Kevin Smith at RB, Calvin Johnson Nate Burlson and Bryant Johnson at WR and Sheffler/Pettigrew at TE is a very nice supporting cast.
I think the Raiders will be the surprise team of the year. Their defense looks pretty good. If Campbell can give them some decent QB play, they could surprise.
The Bills will also surprise some people. CJ Spiller will be a stud.
I agree with all three of these predictions. Bradford will learn much, but Jackson will carry the load as usual for the Rams (and it will be nowhere near enough, as usual). I was really hoping that Buffalo would make a move for Campbell, but instead the Raiders will benefit in that catagory. I think the Raiders may have the potential to finish 9-7 this year if Campbell can stay healthy.
Now for my Bills. Spiller is an absolute stud! I say he will be offensive rookie of the year. But the AFC East is just a sick division to compete in if you do not have a franchise QB. Edwards needs to have a breakout season and Jackson, Lynch, and Spiller need to be superhuman if the Bills expect to break .500 this season. Their schedule is fairly brutal.
After one game, all my nominees, save for Tampa, who beat the Browns, lost. None of them really looked good in doing it either, with the possible exception of the Lions. After watching the Carolina Panthers yesterday, however, I am wondering if I shouldn't have also put them on the list. The only reason they didn't lose by more is because the Giants committed 4 turnovers. It's not often to watch a team perform as poorly and still win by 31-18.
Oh yeah, the Bills are awful. They were the winners of this poll, and after one game, deservedly so. To gain 155 yards of total offense is pitiful. If you are one of these other teams, you can come away a positive aspect, but I just don't see anything redeeming right now from the Bills, other than the fact that their overall defensive performance was adequate.
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