1. Oakland would challenge the Chargers in the AFC West.
2. Sam Bradford would be compared to Tom Brady.
3. Houston would finally make the playoffs.
4. Tim Tebow would start a game.
5. Green Bay would beat Baltimore in the Super Bowl.
Starting with a complete miss, the Houston Texans were once again a disappointment. The offense was even better with a renewed running effort behind Arian Foster. Andre Johnson missed time this year, and really hasn't been healthy while playing with a high ankle sprain. He has still managed to be productive, and gave us the highlight of the year when he pounded Cortland Finnegan with a haymaker to the back of the head. Unfortunately for Houston, there was a sharp decline in the secondary allowing teams to throw all over them. They lost a few heartbreakers at the end of the game including an answered hail mary in Jacksonville, but it was evident early in the season they would once again fall short of their playoff hopes.
Another miss was my Super Bowl prediction with Green Bay all but eliminated from the playoffs. I cannot remember another team having as many high profile injuries as the Packers suffered this season. It started in the first quarter of the season when they lost running back Ryan Grant for the year instantly making them one dimensional on offense. It seemed like every week they lost another piece of their team. You can never predict injuries and the Packers were just unlucky. I still have a chance to get half of the equation right as the Ravens are still battling for a playoff spot, and look like they can beat anyone on any given Sunday.
I was partly accurate when I thought the Chargers would be challenged for the AFC West crown which has basically been handed to them four years straight. Oakland was certainly more competitive this season, and managed to sweep the series with the Chargers, but San Diego's biggest competition comes from the surprising Kansas City Chiefs who still hold a half game lead over the Chargers down the stretch.
I haven't heard anyone comparing Sam Bradford to Tom Brady, but that might have something to do with the fact Brady is once again playing like the best player in the NFL. The Patriots look unstoppable at this point in the season, and there is no debate who the odds on favorite for the Super Bowl is. For his part, Bradford has received tons of praise and will most likely take home Rookie of the Year honors when the season in over. He took a hopeless St. Louis team with a decimated receiving corps and led them to six wins so far this season which is good enough for first place in the atrocious NFC West. Rams fans have been ecstatic with his play this season, and there is reason to be optimistic towards the future. I give myself partial credit.
And for one prediction I was dead on accurate with: Tim Tebow is set to start his first game this week for the Denver Broncos. Even with Kyle Orton putting up nice numbers this season, the disappointing record has led the Broncos to give their fans an early Christmas present with Tebow. Orton has bruised ribs, but the Broncos claim Tebow's talent has helped him get this opportunity, not an injury to Orton. Tebow has made some goal line appearances this season and scored a few touchdowns, but Sunday will be a big step in his progression. If I may build on this prediction and make another, unless Orton really needs to rest, Tebow will start but not finish the game. As much fun as the first half will be, eventually the coaches will want to try to get an elusive win and stick Orton back in the game. Hopefully Tebow can hold back the tears when he is jerked from his first start.
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