[Mid-depth_Reporter]

Which of the teams that finished under .500 in 2005, do you think stand the best chances of breaking through into a winning season and even the playoffs in 2006?

I would think that Philadelphia has the best chances, just because they've been so good every year before this year. They finished 6-10 last year and they just seemed to play differently last year. Maybe because T.O. killed the team chem, or that McNabb was playing through the toughest injury he's ever played through. And many other players were injured or down, too. But, they're a lot better than 6-10.

They should be back in the hunt next year.

[Wizard of Os]

Gut reactions:

--Houston could go over .500 with Reggie B and at least one decent OL.

--Cleveland looks fantastic with some swell free-agent additions. They'll beat .500 no problem.

--Philadelphia won't. Forget it, they're done.

--After choosing Dallas to be in the 'Bowl last year (and putting my mouth where my mouth is in Vega$ no less), this year i pick them to fall apart, finishing well below .500. This of course means that they'll be in the NFC Champsionship at least.

--Arizona won't. They'll start the year at, say, 5-1 and finish 7-9. Anquan Boldin will finally demand the trade he's doubtlessly been jonesing for since he was drafted.

--whoever starts Daunte Culpepper will finish below .500, but will be over .500 in games he doesn't play.

--Green Bay will finish below .500 again, thanks to their stubborn insistence that Brett Favre's play is still at 1995 level.

--Jacksonville, blessed with a cake schedule in 2005, will sink well below .500.

--against conventional wisdom, i'm taking the Dolphins to fall below .500 as well.

--and, finally, to balance out all this negative karma i'm throwing out, i'll got with the Falcons to improve on their 8-8 finish. Vick's got to show his complete game some year.

(Incidentally, if we talk about teams finishing above .500 as opposed to below .500, does that make us optimists or pessimists?)

Cheers.

[Lefty Noob]

After the weekend, Arizona and Cleveland should top .500, but need a few more pieces to be playoff contenders.