From: aesr137@phobos.ucc.umass.edu (Karl Stapelfeldt)
Subject: More predictions for 1992
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 04:11:00 GMT


     After reviewing other reader's 1992 NFL predictions, I'm compelled to
post my own.  Save all flames (or accolades) for December.  I'm not bold
enough to predict playoff winners at this stage, but an all-Texas Super Bowl
is a distinct possibility.  Buffalo, Denver, and Chicago all slip a notch.
Miami and Minnesota improve.  

*,**,*** = 3 wildcards in each conference

NFC East

Washington      -  12-4    Great OL, WRs. Good QB, RBs. Defense solid except
                           for DBs. Gibbs best NFL coach without SBowl repeat
Dallas          -  12-4*   Strong offense IF #22 healthy. Good QB, WRs.
                           Improving DL. LB and DBs uncertain. Have skins #.
Philadelphia    -  10-6    Rush defense weakens, pass offense returns. 
                           New RB Walker won't succeed with team's bad OL.
N.Y. Giants     -   9-7    Rushing offense carries team. Good OL, RBs.
                           Defense wearing down. Better coaching needed.
Phoenix         -   6-10   Best team in the league under .500. Good QB,
                           WRs, LBs. Decent RBs. OL,DL questions. Keep Bugel.


NFC Central

Detroit         -  10-6    Still some missing pieces: full-time QB, another WR,
                           couple of OL, DL. #20 a gem. Must win on the road.
Minnesota       -  10-6*** New coaching lifts team. Good rushing offense, WRs.
                           Gannon good enough for now. Defense is OK.
Chicago         -   8-8    Creaky OL, injury-prone RBs. Decent QB and WRs.
                           Defense can't stop the better offenses.
Tampa Bay       -   5-11   Running game coming together, but no good QB.
                           Defense improving. Many close losses.
Green Bay       -   3-13   Shaky offense lacks talent at QB, RB, and OL.
                           Ordinary defense will be overworked this year.


NFC West

San Francisco   -  11-5   Great WRs. Rushing offense must improve. Good DL,
                          sub-par DBs. Won't get past 'Skins. Montana retires.  
New Orleans     -  10-6** Good but old LBs. DBs ordinary. Unspectacular offense
                          won't win any playoff games. Brittle QB, good RBs.
Atlanta         -   8-8   Almost no defense. Too many good WRs, good QB. No
                          good RBs. Glanvile a pinhead - what about defense?
L.A. Rams       -   4-12  Problems everywhere except QB & WR. DL poor; OL, RBs
                          can't carry for Knox. Defense allows many points. 


AFC East

Buffalo         -  11-5    Great QB, RB, WRs; OL inconsistent. Growing defensive
                           worries, esp. DL and S. Many shootouts this year.
Miami           -  11-5*   Great QB, WRs. Decent RBs, OL, TE. Rush defense still
                           a problem, pass defense improves. DL lacks talent.
NY Jets         -   8-8*** Steady defense carries this team. Offense uncertain;
                           reliable RB lacking, new QB needs time to learn.
Indianapolis    -   3-13   Good QB, terrible OL. No proven RB. WRs subpar.
                           Decent front 7 defensively, but DBs poor.
New England     -   3-13   Some hope for rushing offense. Defense poor,
                           DBs esp. bad. Overachievers in '91 - back to reality.


AFC Central 

Houston         -  12-4    Now or never. Top QB, good WRs, OL. RB depth a worry.
                           Strong defense. Must show they can win big road games
Cleveland       -   8-8    Good RBs, QB. Questionable OL,TE. Uneven defensive
                           talent, aged LBs. Best coach in the division.
Pittsburgh      -   6-10   Mediocre team across the board. Team lacks proven RB,
                           2nd WR, pass rush. Coaching a big question mark.
Cincinnati      -   4-12   Bad defense, esp. DL. Decaying OL. Good RBs. 
                           Underachieving LBs. QB uncertainty.

AFC West          

Kansas City     -  11-5    Very strong rushing offense. Defense solid except for
                           age at DB. Jekyll/Hyde QB Krieg will hold form.
Denver          -   9-7**  Decent defense needs better CB, DE. OL still a
                           worry, WR becoming one. Will #7's luck ever run out?
San Diego       -   8-8    Coaching change invigorates team. Decent defense,
                           good RBs. Stopgap QB. Easy schedule.
L.A. Raiders    -   7-9    Al's out of gimmicks. Pass offense/defense subpar.
                           QB problems: #13 stale, #12 raw. New LBs, S needed.
Seattle         -   5-11   Offense in trouble. OL shaky, unproven QB, RB.
                           Steady defense doesn't make the big play. 


                                Karl Stapelfeldt
                                biased fan of florida football teams
                                (and teams with one-time florida coaches)
                                but not those chicken gators
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro