#10 The Carolina Panthers

Jake Delhomme is a solid quarterback option, but for how much longer? If one goes to the Panthers 2008 page on Pro-Football-Reference, no one else threw a forward pass for the Panthers last year. That's not good with an aging QB.

1	Sep 13	PHI @ CAR	Bank of America Stadium	1:00 PM	FOX
2	Sep 20	CAR @ ATL	Georgia Dome	1:00 PM	FOX
3	Sep 28	CAR @ DAL	Cowboys Stadium	8:30 PM	ESPN
4	Bye
5	Oct 11	WAS @ CAR	Bank of America Stadium	1:00 PM	FOX
6	Oct 18	CAR @ TB	Raymond James Stadium	1:00 PM	FOX
7	Oct 25	BUF @ CAR	Bank of America Stadium	4:05 PM	CBS
8	Nov 01	CAR @ ARI	University of Phoenix Stadium	4:15 PM	FOX
9	Nov 08	CAR @ NO	Superdome	4:05 PM	FOX
10	Nov 15	ATL @ CAR	Bank of America Stadium	1:00 PM	FOX
11	Nov 19	MIA @ CAR	Bank of America Stadium	8:20 PM	NFLN
12	Nov 29	CAR @ NYJ	Giants Stadium	1:00 PM	FOX
13	Dec 06	TB @ CAR	Bank of America Stadium	1:00 PM	FOX
14	Dec 13	CAR @ NE	Gillette Stadium	1:00 PM	FOX
15	Dec 20	MIN @ CAR	Bank of America Stadium	8:20 PM	NBC
16	Dec 27	CAR @ NYG	Giants Stadium	1:00 PM	FOX
17	Jan 03	NO @ CAR	Bank of America Stadium	1:00 PM	FOX

Playing the NFC East is no easy task. Playing the AFC East is probably a heck of a lot easier. Let's assume for various reasons that is split 4 - 4, then within that division they face the Saints, Falcons and Bucs. There is NO reason this team should lose to the Bucs, but I think the Saints have passed the Panthers and the Falcons are way out and gone.

I know DeAngelo Williams and Stewart are beasts, but if everyone stacks the box, it truly does come down to Delhomme.

Honestly? The torch has been passed and it's time for the Falcons to own this division for about 4 - 5 years, maybe more depending on how good Matt Ryan can be. That will come later. For now?

Panthers 8-8, give or take a game or two

#11 The Baltimore Ravens

www.WeAreTheHecklers.com

Quoth the Ryan: Nevermore.

Rex Ryan's departure is either a really big deal or not that big of a problem. The defense still has Ed Reed roaming the backfield, Ray Lewis patrolling the middle and whatever happens to that defensive line every year is sure to be back. Now they have Delaware's own Flacco throwing the ball.

1	Sep 13	KC @ BAL	M&T Bank Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
2	Sep 20	BAL @ SD	Qualcomm Stadium	4:15 PM	CBS
3	Sep 27	CLE @ BAL	M&T Bank Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
4	Oct 04	BAL @ NE	Gillette Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
5	Oct 11	CIN @ BAL	M&T Bank Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
6	Oct 18	BAL @ MIN	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	1:00 PM	CBS
7	Bye
8	Nov 01	DEN @ BAL	M&T Bank Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
9	Nov 08	BAL @ CIN	Paul Brown Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
10	Nov 16	BAL @ CLE	Cleveland Browns Stadium	8:30 PM	ESPN
11	Nov 22	IND @ BAL	M&T Bank Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
12	Nov 29	PIT @ BAL	M&T Bank Stadium	8:20 PM	NBC
13	Dec 07	BAL @ GB	Lambeau Field	8:30 PM	ESPN
14	Dec 13	DET @ BAL	M&T Bank Stadium	1:00 PM	FOX
15	Dec 20	CHI @ BAL	M&T Bank Stadium	1:00 PM	FOX
16	Dec 27	BAL @ PIT	Heinz Field	1:00 PM	CBS
17	Jan 03	BAL @ OAK	Oakland Coliseum	4:15 PM	CBS

Much like other teams I saw, these games are either really winnable or going to be a fight. I see at least 8 wins at first glance:

Raiders, Bears, Lions, Browns, Bengals, Browns, Chiefs - and I threw in the others Bengals game for good measure. Now that defense should be good against Indy and Pittsburgh, but enough to win? Myabe one of the two. San Diego will be a hell of a trip - especially for that second game. The Pats will also be a challenge.

This team has talent and a lot of it, but is the coaching there? We'll see - at least on defense, but hey if it isn't there, maybe young Ray Rice and Joe Flacco can run and gun.

- Dave