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Fan-Sided Predicts the NFL Season, Team by Team
Spotlight Series posted 9/3/2008 from ballhype.com
When looking at the full wisdom of 32 die-hard fans, it's not surprising a consensus similar to the national view would come into sight. Here is the composite ranking:
1. New England
2. San Diego
3. Dallas
4. Indianapolis
5. Jacksonville
6. Pittsburgh
7. New Orleans
8. Minnesota
9. NY Giants
10. Cleveland
11. Philadelphia
12. Seattle
13. Green Bay
14. Washington
15. Tennessee
16. NY Jets
17. Houston
18. Tampa Bay
19. Carolina
20. Denver
21. Buffalo
22. Arizona
23. Cincinnati
24. Baltimore
25. St. Louis
26. Chicago
27. Detroit
28. San Francisco
29. Oakland
30. Miami
31. Kansas City
32. Atlanta
Only one blogger rated New England outside the top five (Eagles rep Inside the Iggles, who stuck the Pats #9). But only nine of the bloggers stuck NE at #1. The Chargers hit the top spot on 10 ballots. Indianapolis vote six #1 votes and Dallas took three. Green Bay (from Bills blogger Buffalowdown), Jacksonville (from Saints blogger WhoDatDish), Seattle (from Seattle blogger 12th Man Rising) and the Giants (from Giants rep G-Men HQ) also earned first-place votes.
Bringing up the rear, Atlanta earned 15 last-place votes. Oakland got four, Kansas City took two and Miami grabbed three. Maybe the most interesting note: not a single blogger rated their own team as one of the worst three in the league. Falcons blogger Bloggin Dirty put Atlanta at #15. Chiefs rep Arrowhead Addict had Kansas City at a modest #29. Oakland blogger Just Blog Baby has the Raiders at #18. Miami rep Phin Phanatic has the Dolphins at #24.
How biased was the group as a whole? The average place the bloggers stuck their own team -- a figure you'd expect to be around #16 -- came in at #11. It's understandable that fans would be optimistic about their teams. Some went a bit beyond optimistic -- the aforementioned 12th Man Rising had the 'Hawks at #1, only one other blogger (Minnesota rep The Viking Age) had Seattle in the top 5.
Most pessimistic blogger? The Viking Age slotted Minnesota at #10; the group as a whole voted the Vikes in at #8.
Several teams showed a lot of range. Seattle has its self-induced #1 vote, but also had two #25 votes (from Bear Goggles On and Sidelion Report). SF, with three last-place votes, got two nods to the Top 10. The Giants, though: no one knew what to do with them. Voting occured just after Osi Umeniyora suffered his season-ending injury. In stark contrast with the #1 vote from G-Men HQ, Bear Goggles On rated the Giants at #27. Five others (Blogging Dirty, Bengals blogger Stripe Hype, Sidelion Report, The Viking Age and Bucs blog The Pewter Plank) stuck NYG in the 20s.
What about bitter rivals? Did hatred shape opinions? Our New England rep slotted Indianapolis at #10, six spots below the consensus. Colts blogger Naptown's Finest kept the Pats high at #2. Dallas blogger The Landry Hat relegated the 'Skins to #26, 12 spots below the consensus. But Washington blogger Riggo's Rag allowed the Cowboys the #4 spot. Did the Favre move help Jersey in Green Bay's eyes? Packers blog Lombardi Ave rated the Jets #17, which was roughly the same as where the average vote fell.
Here's a full accounting of our voters. Feel free check out a spreadsheet with everyone's ballot here.
Raising Zona | Blogging Dirty | The Ebony Bird | Buffalowdown
Cat Crave | Bear Goggles On | Stripe Hype | Dawg Pound Daily
The Landry Hat | Predominantly Orange | Sidelion Report | Lombardi Ave
Toro Times | Naptown's Finest | Black and Teal | Arrowhead Addict
Phin Phanatic | The Viking Age | Who Dat Dish | G-Men HQ
The Jet Press | Just Blog Baby | Inside the Iggles | Nice Pick Cowher
Bolt Beat | 12th Man Rising | Niner Noise | Ramblin Fan
The Pewter Plank | Titan Sized | Riggo's Rag
