Showcase Showdown

2013: Year of the....

By Sports Eye View

So, we've finally made it!  Fantasy Football drafts are underway, training camps are done, most of the preseason is behind us and Opening Day of the 2013 NFL season is TONIGHT!!!!  Can you tell we're excited?!
 

To start off the year, Sports Eye View is going to pull out the cliche debate and argue what team is going to win the Super Bowl this year.  Like last time, we're going to get all four authors in the game, taking stabs at who will win the big game, but mostly at each other.  Let's do this thing!

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Ryan: Last year was the year of the Rookie Quarterback.  Andrew Luck, RGIII and Russell Wilson all made the playoffs after impressive rookie campaigns.  My thought?  2013 will be the year of the SOPHOMORE Quarterback.  These guys aren't going to slump like Cam Newton did his second year.  They are going to flourish beyond what anyone else could imagine.  My Super Bowl prediction is coming from this class of quarterbacks in Russell Wilson.  The dude's solid.  He is the leader of that team, and made a prolific run at it last year.  With Beast Mode Marshawn Lynch back in action again, the Seahawks will ride Lynch and Wilson on the back of the Seahawk defense to Lombardi Land.

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Eric: Ryan, I have to start off by saying I really like your pick and I do agree that the Seahawks are the team that come out of the NFC. What is their problem? They are going to have Bill Belichick's Patriots to worry about. Tom Brady is one of the best QBs of all time playing in one of the most brilliant offensive schemes of all time. Name one other team that could turn guys like Wes Welker and Danny Woodhead into stars. This year, there are many new faces in New England but the story will be the same. This year those breakout stars could be Kenbrell Thompkins, Zach Sudfeld or Danny Amendola. With a potentially deadly offense and an improved defense, I don't think anyone stands in the way of the Patriots this year.

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Caleb: Disclaimer - I hate the Giants with everything in my bones. I also realize it is about that time that they win a random Super Bowl against a much more talented Patriots team. They are not my pick but I'll say I told you so when Eli can barely hold the Lombardi with his skinny arms and droopy face. Moving on. San Francisco is going to win the Super Bowl. The most balanced team in the league, the Niners have legitimate star talent at every position. Last year the one position that they seemed to lack was a big receiver to balance out Crabtree and Manningham, then they got Boldin. Kap is said to have the biggest upside of any QB in the league today, Gore is still solid, Willis and Rogers run the best defense in the league and Vernon Davis showed in the playoffs that he is now ready to play football to his potential again. Wide-out injuries have them starting slow, but just ask the Giants if a slow start means anything in today's game.

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Ryan: So Caleb, your thoughts on the Giants beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl are based off of a random constant?  Interesting.  In that case, you can probably solve Pi.  I understand your arguement, and yes, the 49ers are a fantastic team.  So fantastic, in fact, that they are the reason no one sees the Seahawks lurking below them in the rankings.  When people think NFC West, they think the 49ers, it's how it's always been.  But, I think their reign is about to end.  Kaepernick is a great QB, but the problem is he knows it.  You don't see Russell Wilson kissing his flexed, tattooed bicep every time he scores a touchdown, even after he runs for 3 TDs in one game!  Wilson's humble antics make him the better leader, and the favorite to take not only the Lombardi Trophy home, but the Super Bowl MVP and Offensive Player of the Year award.  Can you deal with that?!  Oh, and Eric, Brady's hit the end of the road.  Peyton Manning will easily roll over that shoddy defense in the AFC Championship game, if the Pats even get there.

Eric: Shoddy defense? Are we making the mistake of assuming last year's numbers will directly translate to this year? New England looks to be turning it up a notch on defense. In the last couple years, they restricted themselves to using a 4-3 defense almost exclusively when in previous years, they found their success in mixing it up and using 4-3 and 3-4 packages. This year they look to be getting back on that track. Towards the end of last year, they found some consistency in their secondary with Devin McCourty, Kyle Arrington and Aqib Talib. Bill Belichick clearly has a lot of faith in that group as Arrington and Talib were both re-signed in the offseason, securing a group that has historically been a game of musical chairs for New England. As far as Brady hitting the end of the road, I think not. Were his numbers down last year? Absolutely, but not by much and there is a lot of reason to believe that his offense could turn it up this year. There are many new faces, but those new faces seemed to fit in very quickly in the system. Kenbrell Thompkins had a big preseason, Danny Amendola will effectively fill in the Welker-sized hole created in the offseason and Zack Sudfeld will be an excellent filler in that offense while Gronkowski heals up and once that happens, watch out! Steve Ridley and Shane Vereen are two dynamic backs that only add to Brady's options and make the offense too dynamic for any defense to be able to stop. In the end, I'll take Brady's skill and experience over Wilson and Kaepernick any day.

Caleb: Ryan, I have already solved Pi but I'll keep it to myself cause I know you can't count that high. Eric, while I love the upsides of Thompkins and Sudfeld, they are completely unproven. Sudfeld had 6 surgeries in college. What is stopping him from having two big games, getting hurt and sitting the rest of the year? The Patriots will win at least 11 games, but I would bet that Cincinnati (13 wins), Denver (13 wins) and Houston (12 wins) have better years in the AFC. Plus, they have the proven defenses to shut it down in playoff situations. NE could be winning games 35-31. Seattle is very good. I fully expect the Seahawks and Niners to play for the NFC title game in January. I think with a healthy Harvin Seattle could be the more dynamic team. Russell Wilson is a fantastic leader and great player but if he's an A, Kap is an A+. Gore ran for over 1,200 last year; Kap will run for over 700 this year. With the addition of Boldin, the Niners have an unstoppable offensive attack that will steamroll every team in the NFL. Add the best team defense in the league and this San Fran squad is primed for a trip back to the Super Bowl, and this time they won't go home empty-handed.

Well, that's a wrap.  You've heard our three predictions.  We REALLY want to hear from you now!!  Who's your team to beat this year? Do any of us have it right?  And please, feel free to rip us if our predictions make no sense at all!