[nero THE zero]

I think going through the schedule is an exercise in futility. Before last season everyone was marking down Denver and New Orleans as losses and Atlanta as a win. The NFL is just too fluid to make any predictions (any bookie in Vegas can tell you that.) And, even if you do have a good grasp on what should happen, there will be games we should lose that we win, and vice versa.

What I think we can get out of the schedule right now is the fact that while our schedule is front loaded with road games, we have a midseason stretch of 3 home games in a row and 3 out of 5 home games in December. If, like me, you already know we will be playing in the playoffs for the first time next year, you have to be happy with the opportunity to play more games at home to end the season. That's where momentum counts the most.

With that being said, I, like most of you, think the two keys to next season are injuries and turnovers. Last season everyone focused on the number of injuries that we have had in our brief existence. While that is unfortunate, I think what really hurt us last year was the people that got hurt. Our starting QB, RB, #1 WR, and #1 CB all missed significant time. Additionally our DROY, pro-bowl MLB played injured the majority of the season and our OL was patchwork at season's end.

We will have injuries next season. I just think we have to get lucky and avoid serious injuries to our best players like what happened last season. Additionally, we have to swing that turnover margin. The turnovers and lack of running game led to short fields and lopsided TOP for our defense and that really hurt their performance. Our defense is young and talented but by keeping them on the field so much we are not doing them any favors.

If we can stay relatively healthy and have a positive turnover margin heading into the playoffs I think we will be in very good shape to make a run.