Spring Playoff Preview

It’s no secret that every year in the NFL, almost 50 percent of the teams that make the playoffs struggle the next season — and find themselves home in January. With the first wave of mini-camps over, it’s time to start talking about which 2008 playoff teams are bound for the postseason again, and which teams aren’t likely to make the cut in ’09.

PLAYOFF BOUND IN ‘09

AFC

Pittsburgh

I don’t ever bet against QB Ben Roethlisberger and I don’t ever bet against the Steelers’ defense — because they’re the best in the league at everything they do. I expect to see solid sophomore campaigns from WR Limas Sweed and RB Rashard Mendenhall, and I see injuries as the only thing that keeps the defending Super Bowl champs out of the playoffs. They’ll get in, but as for repeating, it will only happen if they can block for Roethlisberger.

San Diego

I used to think this team was soft — tissue soft — but the late-season run in ’08 and the return of RB LaDainian Tomlinson have me thinking playoffs again. With a healthy Shawne Merriman back at LB, plus some fresh legs from first-round pick Larry English at LB, this defense can one of the league’s best. Philip Rivers is a top-five QB, folks, and he’ll get them to January.

Baltimore

I know the Ravens aren’t flashy, and are even dull at times, but they’re always high on my list because they play fundamental football better than anyone in the league. They run the ball downhill with production, they tackle well on defense and they force turnovers. As long as they continue to play Ravens football — and QB Joe Flacco improves on his rookie season — they’ll be dancing in January. 

NFC  

Philadelphia

The Eagles made some nice additions with free-agent LT Jason Peters — whom I expect to see in the Pro Bowl after the season — and rookie offensive weapons WR Jeremy Maclin and RB LeSean McCoy via the draft. Replacing departed safety Brain Dawkins will be a challenge, but I don’t see the Cowboys or Redskins competing with the Eagles for 16 weeks. They’re playoff bound again, and Donovan McNabb will put up MVP-type numbers.

Atlanta

This team isn’t going to surprise anyone this season, but it doesn’t have to. The Falcons have weapons at every position on offense, and the addition of Pro Bowl TE Tony Gonzalez will make QB Matt Ryan even better. Yes, the NFC South is going to be tough, but I still see the Falcons getting in and playing on wild-card weekend again.

Minnesota

Brett Favre, anyone? We don’t know for sure if he’ll be wearing purple, but even if he isn’t, I would still pick the Vikings to win the NFC North with Sage Rosenfels at QB. Adrian Peterson is the best running back in the NFL. They added a much-needed offensive weapon to work the middle of the field in WR Percy Harvin, and their defense is the best in the division. If they do get Favre, I would call this team a Super Bowl contender.

NY Giants

I like the Giants to get in minus the fact that Eli Manning will have little to work with on the outside without Plaxico Burress in Giants blue. A strong downhill running game and a defense will get them in, but after that, I can't predict anything with this club.

TEAMS THAT DON’T MAKE THE CUT

AFC

Tennessee

Sorry, Titans fans, but as much as I pull for Kerry Collins over Vince Young, I don’t see him getting it done in 2009. This season, Tennessee won’t get past the Houston Texans (I’m already on that bandwagon), who I’m going to pick to win the division in August. The Titans’ defense lost Jim Schwartz to the Lions, and they don’t have enough weapons at WR to move the ball down the field.  This is a very good football team, but the division losses will get them.

Miami

The Dolphins aren’t going back to the playoffs, folks. They made a nice run last year, but you can’t count on Chad Pennington to produce two years in a row, and you can’t count on Joey Porter to be in the running for defensive player of the year again. Plus, Tom Brady is back and healthy, which means the Patriots own the AFC East.

Indianapolis

Head coach Tony Dungy is gone, offensive coordinator Tom Moore is thinking about retiring, defensive coordinator Ron Meeks is gone, and this team keeps getting older. They’ll be there until the middle of December, but as I mentioned above, the division is going to belong to the Texans -- and even with Peyton Manning, the Colts come up short. They can’t stay healthy on defense, and it looks like their run is coming to an end.

NFC

Arizona

Kurt and the Cards home in January? Besides the fact the Super Bowl losers always seems to struggle the following season, there’s too much off-the–field drama already in the desert. Warner is a year older, Anquan Boldin doesn’t want to be there, and I still can’t count on that defense to play at a high level every week.  They made a run in a weak division, but Seattle wins the West in ’09.

Carolina

This is based on the fact that the Panthers are going to have to get through the NFC South first, and with Gregg Williams running the defense in New Orleans and Matt Ryan going into his second season in Atlanta, I don’t see them getting enough division wins to qualify for the postseason. They can’t get Julius Peppers under contract, and Jake Delhomme just signed a new monster deal — something that will come back to haunt them.

Keep an eye on the National Football Post because I’m sure Michael Lombardi will have a thing or two to say about this soon…

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