My picks for this week (they're pretty much the same as everybody else): 

The Packers do need a defense though.  What happened when they played a very balanced team with an excellent QB in the first round of the playoffs last year?  Yeah, you know what happened.  

Do I think that the Lions were a fluke last year?  That depends on your definition of fluke.  I don't expect them to go back to their days of being the absolute worst team in the league this year, but I don't expect them to go to the playoffs either.  Hate to break it to you; but a weak schedule, bad coaching by opposing teams early in the season, and a slew of injuries to the Bears last year are what enabled them to make the playoffs.  After starting off 6-0 last year (I think three of their wins were because of massive second half collapses by teams that played prevent defense), the Lions fell into a tie with the Bears at 6-3 after the Bears destroyed them 37-13.  The Bears went on to win the next game handily and their sixth game in a row.  Unfortunately, Jay Cutler got hurt and Matt Forte did I believe the next game.  They still would have went at least 11-5 if it weren't for the worst QB in the history of the world, Caleb Hanie, being under center.  They would have had an outside chance at reachinging the Super Bowl last year with Cutler and Forte returning and the Lions would have sat home again.  Are you forgetting that the Bears were in a competitive NFC Championship game the season before?  And yes they are greatly improved this year.  How, if they remain healthy does that add up to 9-7 and how after the Lions were massacred by the Bears 37-13 the last time that they met are you acting like the Lions winning both games over them this season is a forgone conclusion?  Sounds like to me that you are a long suffering Lions fan that saw a little success last year and has gotten delusional.  They are going to have a much tougher schedule this season and won't being playing the cream puff teams that they did last year.  10-6 isn't going to happen.  More like 8-8 or 7-9.  

BTW, Calvin Johnson isn't the greatest WR in football.  That's Larry Fitzgerald.

5000 yards for a QB isn't really a big deal when the rules of the NFL have been changed so the QB can hardly be touched without a 15 yard flag being thrown and when you throw the ball every single play like the Lions do.

I can see why someone would pick the Packers first, but I can't see how anyone can't see the Lions for what they are this year (barring injries).  A third place team.  Don't feel too bad about it though.  They're better than the Vikings.

Their receivers started dropping every $*#@-ing ball in sight?

Not bitter or anything. At all. Nope.

Regarding the refs, I'm not sure I side with them entirely on this one. They're already getting decent salaries for working just one day a week,twenty weeks a year. What justifies giving them more money, exactly? I understand the players wanting a bigger slice of the pie, but the refs aren't putting their lives on the line each play.  And if the only rationale is "because the NFL has the money," then shouldn't every other NFL employee, down to the folks who hawk peanuts, also get a comparable raise?

I doubt the NFL sees any particular set of refs as an essential part of the game. The replacements are bad because they're not accustomed to refereeing players at this level: they were bussed in with little notice from lower leagues. Time and experience will fix that, just as it did with the regular refs. And while there'll probably be more blown calls, there was already plenty of complaints regarding the regular referees.

Unless the replacements affect the NFL's bottom line (and I don't think they will), I don't see how the refs have much bargaining power. The season's about to start, and the NFL doesn't show any sign of blinking. What does that tell you about the refs' negotiating position?

Internet bro-fist!

 AFC East: Patriots
AFC North: Baltimore
AFC West: Denver
AFC South: Houston
AFC Wildcard: Pittsburgh
AFC Wildcard: San Diego
NFC East: NY Giants
NFC North:Green Bay
NFC West: 49ers
NFC South: Atlanta
NFC Wildcard: New Orleans
NFC Wildcard: Bears

AFC Champion: Houston, If Schaub and Andre are healthy Houston will be the better team. Hope of course Broncos

NFC Champion: San Francisco, they got a better receiving group now and have almost the exact same defensive starters.

Super Bowl Champion: San Francisco, even though Alex Smith is a crappy quarterback with small hands he has so much talent around him and one of the best coaches calling the plays. I bet Harbaugh is still angry Manning went to Denver.

 F the Packers.

That would be one one of putting it.  Another would be to say that the recievers were struggling to barely get their hand on Aaron Rodger's passes becauses he was highly inaccurate and had his worst game of the year.  He didn't like all of those Giants D-lineman in his face.

Anyway, Green Bay is yesterday's news.  Aren't you glad that the 49ers have a crack at them this week? 

Yeah amp, you cannot feel bad for the bandwagon fans = every Packers fan here. I know one of the more quiet fans might be from Wisconsin and support their own team.

I have actually been an Avalanche fan first and foremost for years and I was not as much of a fan of sports until last year because I was working and going to college. I only watched my college hockey team the CC tigers for a couple years. The message is not as much for you Rol because you have never lived in the USA. Do you see what is wrong with that t-shirt?

It is my attempt to make the thread more like GAF. Two  major ways to get conversation going to hype the season, trash talk and humor. The only other way is if people just talk about the game, which ends up being pretty boring. We have not started the season so I am trying to hype it in a way that will make the thread interesting.

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