i think people are getting excited, obviously.

i think the texans are the favorite to win the division, but they stil lhave to actually win it. the colts' defense is not a playoff caliber defense. they cannot defend the run, and their two best defensive players are one demensional. freeney and mathis are 2 of the best in the league at rushing the passer, but they are terrible at defending the run. the texans could still screw this up and lose, but there is no reason on paper that this game should be close. the o-line for teh colts is terrible, and the only reason they haven't been completely exposed in the past is because manning gets rid of the ball so fast. collins is a down the field passer who needs the run game to be going well to be effective as a passer. the colts have not had a good running game since their super bowl season. without manning, they are a 6 win team

I think this is the understatement of the year.

While I am excited about the prospects of the season without Manning, I was excited WITH Manning playing as well. I believe that this team will be competitive on a week in and week out basis, save for a stinker or two. How the ball bounces remains to be seen. As we saw last year, it NEVER bounced our way. To lose 5 games in the last two minutes is a combination of poor management, and just plain ole dumb luck.

In the last twenty years ~45% of all the NFL regular season games were decided by 7 or less points and ~25% of the football games were decided by 3 or less. To think that we are going to just walk into the playoffs with a division crown is a little far fetched. It is an Any Given Sunday league, and while on paper it looks to be ours for the taking, they still have to play the games.

That said, I still believe we will win this week, thinking in the 28-21 range for the W.

Uber excited to get this thing rolling! :D

i actually think the score will be something more like 31-17

this probably puts the colts out for the year

As much as I enjoy hating on the Colts, it would be really sad if this becomes a career ending injury that never heals properly despite the surgery.

I had a friend who died from complications to spinal surgery. Even the best in that field aren't always successful.

I hope he's able to come back, just not against us.

At 35, he's had a very long NFL career relatively speaking. On the other hand 35 years old is a very young person with well over half of your life remaining according to current life expectancy tables. And Peyton Manning more than almost any other football player surely could have a very successful and very prosperous life after his football playing days are over, in and/or out of the world of football.

Are we gonna do that guess the weekly winner contest this year?

Are you asking about the suicide game? Where everyone picks a team to win, you can only pick that team once a season, and we see who is the last man standing?

I looked for the old thread of this yesterday, but I could not find it. I'm ready to play.

Last year's contest is in the Other 31 Teams Forum. Here's the link: http://www.inthebullseye.com/forums/...ead.php?t=1120

Bob ran it last year. Bob, do you want to run it this year?

Keith: still onboard with the grand prize?

I suppose one of us could start it and Bob can either take over or pass it to another....

Someone want to go ahead and start the thread?

I'll take Green Bay.

Whoever wants to run it, I'll send the winner a free ItB t-shirt, size XL, shipped anywhere in the U.S.

Thanks Keith! I started the thread in the Other 31 Teams Forum...

The real stunner will be if the Colts have one of the worst records this season and draft Andew Luck next year!!

Man, is this thread beautiful to see.

I'm not overzealous or anything, but I'm confident. Excited to see what Wade Phillips can do. Also excited to see how Ward and especially Tate will fill in for Arian.

Ahhhh just a few short hours left!

he appears to have been slightly off on his prediction

Yep, and good for the Texans. Just for clarity sake, the quote was made by Walter of walterfootball.com and not me.

Walter is a good handicapper and I have much respect for him. Think it's hard picking the Texans correctly every week, try picking all 16 games.

He was dead wrong on this one but he'll get it together before the year is over. Let's just say that if you bet a $1 (or "unit" as he calls them) every time he advises, at the end of the year, you would be able to afford a nice night out on the town....