Sporting News football magazine predictions

[Midswat]

Before I found the internets, I used to rely heavily on magazines for information. I subscribed to Sporting News and Pro Football Weelky. And I buy the $6 Season Preview magazines that outlined all 28, then 30, and of course 32 teams upcoming seasons.

I haven't gotten any magazines in probably 10 years or so. But I was at Rite Aid yesterday afternoon and I stopped at the magazine section when I noticed the Sporting News 2011 Season Preview magazine. Figured I'd take a look.

My first thought was that I thought it was a little ridiculous for these to put these magazines out considering the lock out, lack of free agency, etc etc. And as I began reading the team reviews, I quickly noticed they lacked any substance. They were mostly recaps of the last season, followed by general questions. Very little insight into the teams themselves.

Nevertheless, here is the Sporting News prediction for the NFC East in 2011:

1. Eagles, 13-3
2. Giants, 11-5
3. Cowboys, 7-9
4. Washington, 4-12

 

[bkeavs]

ESPN INSIDER Gary Horton's view on Dallas this year

Tom (Albuquerque)

Does Dallas have the firepower to make a deep playoff push this year or do they have too many holes?

Gary Horton (4:21 PM)

I think they are a very talented team. If Tony Romo plays healthy and with consistency, they will be a terrific offense. My biggest concern is their offensive line, which they're trying to rebuild, but they have just not been good enough in recent years. I think this is a team with more character than we think. For some reason, I expect this to be their year, where they finally play up to their level that we expect. That level to me is a deep playoff run.

 

[Jon88]

They predict us to go 9-7 every year.

 

[Cythim]

The only reason I buy magazines is because my kids sell them.


and if I take my cool electronic toys to work some jackass will steal it, break it, or cry to management so that it gets banned because they are jealous that they aren't smart enough with their money to be able to afford it as well.

 

[Midswat]

They predict us to go 9-7 every year.

I just edited that. I had it wrong. They had us 7-9.

 

[Theebs]

They predict us to go 9-7 every year.

I always feel like Ny, Philly or Dallas are capable of going 7-9 or winning the superbowl. Which makes no sense but I have felt that way for years.

and 9-7 does seem to pop up alot for us in these types of things.

 

[Rock Slamdance]

They predict us to go 9-7 every year.

Bullshit. The last 3 or 4 years all of the rags had us in the NFC Title game at least.

 

[Mr.Po]

Well 7-9 does beat 6-10.............

The wheels of progress are slowly turning

 

[superpunk]

These are always useless because they are basically rehashing of last years standings with one or two "surprise" teams thrown in. NFL rags are about a decade behind the times, the NFL is so much more fluid from year to year now.

 

[Midswat]

I agree they're useless. I was actually suprised to see it on the rack. I'm of the opinion that all print media is virtually obsolete nowadays.

 

[Jon88]

I used to love this time of year as a kid when the magazines were out.

12-4 was always my prediction, starting in 96 or around there. I was wrong every year.

 

[superpunk]

at least 12-4. If we have a rough season, unfortunate injuries, etc.

 

[Jon88]

at least 12-4. If we have a rough season, unfortunate injuries, etc.

They always let me down so I'm not predicting 12-4. I'll make my prediction after the first preseason game at the earliest.

 

[Midswat]

I think we're an 11 win team. I'm an all out homer.

I think coaching matters more in the NFL than in any other sport, and I am a big believer in Jason Garrett and his message, and I love the Rob Ryan hiring.

They've been running Jets Hard Knocks on NFL Network, and I love how Rex handles his players. They're supposed to be two peas in a pod.

I think some people sleep on a 6-10 record, and forget we started 1-7. We ended strong, and we're getting some studs back into the starting line up. Sure, we have holes, but every team in the league has holes.

So pencil me down as us going 11-5, with an opening day win against the Jets.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Bullshit. The last 3 or 4 years all of the rags had us in the NFC Title game at least.

BULLSHIT on you. You mean to say that when the Cowboys finished in Parcells' last season at 9-7 and the playoff loss to the Seahawks in the WC round, that the following offseason, people were saying that the Cowboys would be in the NFC Championship-Super Bowl for the upcoming season, all the while with a new HC, and the uncertainty of Romo being a first time full-time starter?

I seem to remember quite differently. I remember the talk was the Eagles or Saints that would be representing NFC in the Super Bowl. The Saints had lost to the Seahawks in the NFC Championsip the prior year, and the Eagles had won the division the prior year and had lost to the Saints in the divisional round.

Nobody expected the Cowboys to go 13-3 in Wade's debut with Romo as a first time full-time starter; let alone not only win the division but have the #1 seed. The talk of Super Bowl began in about week 10, when the Cowboys had swept the Giants and they became 8-1. The Super Bowl talk came to a head in week 13 when the 10-1 Cowboys beat the Packers 10-1.

The following year in 2008, there was Super Bowl talk about the Cowboys but they ended up going 9-7 and missing the playoffs.

The following season in 2009, nobody was talking about the Cowboys being in the Super Bowl. In fact, they had all proclaimed that after the 2008 9-7 season, that the Cowboys had peaked and were on the decline. They had the Eagles winning the division, because the Eagles had made it to the NFC Championship and lost to the Cardinals.



You mean to sit up here and say that people were predicting the Cowboys would make the Super Bowl in 2009, after coming off a playoff-missing 9-7 record; and after losing 6 STARTERS: T.O., Greg Ellis, Zach Thomas, Anthony Henry, Chris Canty, and Roy Williams (Safety), in addition to Pacman and Tank Johnson, in the offseason?

Not the way I remember it. They had us at 7-9 like now, and in 3rd place, some had us in last place. Not single one had the Cowboys going 11-5 and winning the division and winning a playoff game, finally. No way we would be able to overcome the loss of T.O. Nobody saw Austin coming on like he did.


I personally find TSN and other publications guilty of lazy journalism. Where's the serious analysis of predicting the 1.) Eagles, 2.) Giants, 3.) Cowboys, and 4.) Redskins? Anybody can do that. Why bother to pay for that?

Serious analysis that could provide discussion would be that no team since 2004 has won the NFC East consecutively. A logical and consistant prediction(s) would be that the Redskins would finish last again, and the either the Cowboys or Giants would win the division, based on historical date.

7-9... for the Cowboys. Are they making a prediction that Romo will once again be injured? Has to be. Because if Romo is healthy and doesn't miss a game, then there is no way, that the Cowboys finish with less than double-digit wins. If Romo is healthy, there would practically be a guarantee that the Cowboys win the division.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

I think we're an 11 win team. I'm an all out homer.

I think coaching matters more in the NFL than in any other sport, and I am a big believer in Jason Garrett and his message, and I love the Rob Ryan hiring.

They've been running Jets Hard Knocks on NFL Network, and I love how Rex handles his players. They're supposed to be two peas in a pod.

I think some people sleep on a 6-10 record, and forget we started 1-7. We ended strong, and we're getting some studs back into the starting line up. Sure, we have holes, but every team in the league has holes.

So pencil me down as us going 11-5, with an opening day win against the Jets.

You are a homer, as am I, but I don't think your statement in bold is a homer statement. I say the same with the qualifier of Romo being healthy.

 

[NoShame]

I think we're a 5 win team with the roster we have right now.

Our OLine is shaky, DLine is thin, and we have no safeties.

Where we're strong we might have to cut players to get under the cap.. like WR and RB.

There's rumors we might have to cut Newman, that makes us thin at CB.

 

[Midswat]

I think we're a 5 win team with the roster we have right now.

You're just trying to fit in around here.

 

[superpunk]

I think we're a 5 win team with the roster we have right now.

Our OLine is shaky, DLine is thin, and we have no safeties.

Where we're strong we might have to cut players to get under the cap.. like WR and RB.

There's rumors we might have to cut Newman, that makes us thin at CB.

Remember when we won 5 games with Jon Kitna and Marc Columbo starting on offense, no Dez Bryant and Alan Ball doing paint-by-numbers in center field?

 

[NoShame]

You're just trying to fit in around here.

If that were the case I'd be saying we're gonna get 11 or 12 wins. Make it to the conference championship game. Jason Garrett gets coach of the year and we have 11 pro bowlers.