ESPN writer John Clayton offers his 10 truths about the upcoming NFL season, including Big Ben growing up after his motorcycle accident and becoming a Pro-Bowler, Randy Moss having a successful second season with the Raiders, and the Panthers being the most talented team in the NFC. Some truths, however, I have a difficult time believing in.
Peyton Manning will have his best postseason thanks to the league’s recent rule change that allows quarterbacks to handle the balls prior to games. This is huge. Quarterbacks won’t be able to practice with them, but they’ll be given game balls early enough during the week that they’ll be able to rub them down and make them easier to grip. The process will continue through the conference championship games.
Slick footballs? One minor rule change will not put Manning and the Colts over the hump in the playoffs. They lost one of their stars in Edgerrin James, who has also proven to be a good pass-catcher out of the backfield. The Colts’ best shot at the Super Bowl came last season and they blew it. No matter what type of football Peyton uses, it’s hard to say he’ll automatically have his best postseason ever.
Brian Billick is on the hot seat, but his Ravens won’t fail this year. They should make the playoffs. The addition of Steve McNair gives Billick the quarterback credibility he’s needed for years. The Ravens have talent. McNair can throw to Todd Heap, Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton. Jamal Lewis is perhaps the league’s most talented big back, and he’s had a healthy, calm offseason. The defense is one of the best in the conference. The only question facing the Ravens is the play of the offensive line, and that’s where Billick will step up. He’ll introduce better offensive plays to protect the line and to protect McNair.
I’m having trouble buying into this Ravens hype. In my opinion, the addition of McNair doesn’t make them a shoe-in for the playoffs. McNair is definitely an upgrade over Boller (although who isn’t?) but he isn’t getting any younger and has had an iffy couple of years since his 2003 campaign. Add that to his injury history and the Ravens’ poor offensive line and you get question marks. It doesn’t matter how good their defense is if McNair goes down at some point in the season. They may very well push for a wild card spot in the AFC, but it’ll be tough with the Chiefs, Jags, Bengals, and Dolphins most likely fighting for the same thing.
