TMS NFL Predictions and Picks 2008 Part 1

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It's that time of year again. As the NFL season nears, we here at TMS bring you our official picks and predictions for 2008. The Saloon brings you the staff picks for the season in a long drawn-out, misguided, convoluted fashion that only TMS can bring.

SEASON STANDINGS, STAFF PICKS (* denotes playoff contenders)

AFC EAST

	Chip	Jordi	Brant	The Gov	Funk	Dave	The Hund	LB
1.	NE*	NE*	NE*	NE*	NE*	NE*	NE*	NE*
2.	NYJ*	NYJ*	NYJ	BUF	BUF	NYJ	NYJ	NYJ
3.	BUF	BUF	MIA	NYJ	NYJ	BUF	BUF	BUF
4.	MIA	MIA	BUF	MIA	MIA	MIA	MIA	MIA

New England's dominance continues as Brett Favre's arrival improves the Jets, but not enough.

AFC NORTH

	Chip	Jordi	Brant	The Gov	Funk	Dave	The Hund	LB
1.	CLE*	PIT*	CIN*	PIT*	PIT*	PIT*	PIT*	PIT*
2.	PIT*	BAL	PIT	CLE*	CLE*	CLE	CLE*	CLE*
3.	BAL	CIN	BAL	BAL	CIN	CIN	CIN	CIN
4.	CIN	CLE	CLE	CIN	BAL	BAL	BAL	BAL

The Steelers are the favorite in the North but should get some competition from the Browns. Brant eagerly endorses the Bengals as Carson Palmer is his fantasy QB.

AFC SOUTH

	Chip	Jordi	Brant	The Gov	Funk	Dave	The Hund	LB
1.	IND*	IND*	IND*	IND*	IND*	IND*	IND*	IND*
2.	HOU	JAC*	JAC	JAC*	JAC*	JAC*	JAC*	JAC*
3.	JAC	HOU	HOU	TEN	TEN	TEN	TEN	HOU
4.	TEN	TEN	TEN	HOU	HOU	HOU	HOU	TEN

Everyone seems to like the Jags to make the playoffs, but not enough to give them the division. I'm the only asshole to not have them second.

AFC WEST

	Chip	Jordi	Brant	The Gov	Funk	Dave	The Hund	LB
1.	SD*	SD*	SD*	SD*	SD*	SD*	DEN*	DEN*
2.	DEN	KC	OAK	DEN	OAK	DEN*	SD	SD
3.	KC	DEN	DEN	KC	DEN	OAK	OAK	OAK
4.	OAK	OAK	KC	OAK	KC	KC	KC	KC

The Chargers will have another go at the playoffs with Norv Turner at the helm. Yeah, we'll see.

NFC EAST

	Chip	Jordi	Brant	The Gov	Funk	Dave	The Hund	LB
1.	DAL*	DAL*	DAL*	DAL*	DAL*	DAL*	WAS*	DAL*
2.	PHI	NYG*	WAS	WAS*	WAS*	NYG*	DAL*	NYG*
3.	NYG	PHI	NYG	NYG	PHI	PHI	NYG	PHI
4.	WAS	WAS	PHI	PHI	NYG	WAS	PHI	WAS

In an ultimate "Fuck you!" to logic and reason, The Hundley picks Washington to win the East. The Super Bowl champs get very little respect at the Saloon as only 3 of us pick them to make the playoffs.

NFC NORTH

	Chip	Jordi	Brant	The Gov	Funk	Dave	The Hund	LB
1.	GB*	CHI*	DET*	MIN*	MIN*	MIN*	GB*	GB*
2.	MIN	MIN	MIN	DET	GB	GB*	MIN	DET*
3.	CHI	GB	GB	GB	DET	CHI	DET	MIN
4.	DET	DET	CHI	CHI	CHI	DET	CHI	CHI

I'll give Jordi a pass since he's in Florida and may not actually be aware of hot horribly shitty the Bears are this season. A top defense and Adrian Peterson has made the Vikings a favorite in the North. We're split on whether the Lions will be any good or not. Maybe they will be decent, or maybe they'll continue their long, proud tradition of futility.

NFC SOUTH

	Chip	Jordi	Brant	The Gov	Funk	Dave	The Hund	LB
1.	TB*	NO*	NO*	TB*	CAR*	NO*	NO*	CAR*
2.	CAR*	TB*	CAR	CAR*	TB*	CAR	CAR	NO
3.	NO	CAR	TB	NO	NO	ATL	TB	TB
4.	ATL	ATL	ATL	ATL	ATL	TB	ATL	ATL

Aside from pretty much all agreeing the Falcons will completely suck balls, this is one of the most volatile divisions. Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Carolina are all picked to win the divison, and honestly I won't be the least bit surprised with any of them on top.

NFC WEST

	Chip	Jordi	Brant	The Gov	Funk	Dave	The Hund	LB
1.	STL*	SEA*	STL*	ARI*	STL*	SEA*	SEA*	SEA*
2.	ARI*	ARI	ARI	STL	ARI	STL	ARI*	ARI
3.	SF	SF	SEA	SEA	SEA	ARI	SF	SF
4.	SEA	STL	SF	SF	SF	SF	STL	STL

This god damn division can go to hell.

SUPER BOWL XLIII

Chip	Jordi	Brant	The Gov	Funk	Dave	The Hund	LB
SD over DAL	NE over DAL	IND over NO	ARI over SD	JAC over DAL	DAL over NE	IND over SEA	DAL over IND

I am able to see past my blinding hatred of Norv Turner and the Chargers enough to pick them as the Super Bowl winners. Of course I picked the Broncos to win it all so what the hell do I know? The Governor is very enthusiastic that the Cardinals can win their first league championship since the Truman Administration. Dallas appears to be the closest to a consensus pick to make the Super Bowl but only two of us have them winning it. Daft Funk picked Jacksonville to win, making him the only one to choose a Wild Card team selection.

Check back tomorrow for Part 2 where we give out our preseason awards.