Forecasting '06

Another season means another round of predictions on everything from league MVP to first coach fired. Not here though. Our national NFL columnists, Jason Cole and Charles Robinson, are limiting their takes on the biggest sleeper teams, most overrated squads and the Super Bowl picks.

Oh, and they take a couple of swipes at each other in the process.

SLEEPERS

Cole: The very nature of the NFL means that there really aren't any "sleepers." Everybody has a chance from year to year. That said, there are some teams that look like they are really going to struggle. The New York Jets, Tennessee, Houston, Oakland, New Orleans, San Francisco and Green Bay all look like they are going to be in the running for April's trophy (the No. 1 pick in the draft) rather than the one named after Vince Lombardi. That leaves a number of teams who have the requisite talent to compete if they can overcome some rather significant issues.

Arizona is going to be an obvious pick for many fans, particularly those who like to watch a lot of passing. The problem is that the defense is just not very stout and going through the AFC West for non-conference games won't be easy. The Eagles should rebound from the devastation left by Hurricane Terrell in 2005. Then again, how can a team that made the Super Bowl in the 2004 season be a true sleeper? Likewise, Atlanta has all the talent in the world. If Michael Vick ever truly applies himself to his craft, the Falcons can be dangerous.

But if you're looking for a team that didn't make the playoffs last year and could really get on a roll, it's San Diego. The Chargers have the best front seven in the NFL. The secondary will get better. On offense, running back LaDainian Tomlinson and tight end Antonio Gates are arguably the best players at their respective positions. They need to milk another season out of Keenan McCardell and get some play at left tackle to allow new starter Philip Rivers to be comfortable. The schedule has some brutal elements (Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cincy, Seattle and the AFC West), but all the talent is there for coach Marty Schottenheimer, who is under a lot of pressure to win because of his problematic relationship with general manager A.J. Smith.

Robinson: Unlike Jason, I'll try not to bore you with my philosophical musings and just answer the question. "The very nature of the NFL … ." Thank you, Professor Cole. Anyway, I like the Vikings to win the NFC North despite the fact that they've lost a playmaker (Koren Robinson) and a first-round pick (Chad Greenway), and are hanging their hopes on a 38-year-old quarterback (Brad Johnson) and a running back (Chester Taylor) who has yet to prove he can carry the load. For my money, Minnesota has it where it counts – on the offensive and defensive lines, and in a secondary that has a pair of cornerbacks who should be one of the best tandems in the NFC. And after seeing Johnson in person this preseason, I think he's a perfect fit in Brad Childress' scheme. Even second-year wide receiver Troy Williamson looks like he's made some big strides since last season. Another factor in the prediction – Rex Grossman and the Bears' offense hasn't looked much better than what we saw last season. Even the defense seems to be a little flat. I still think the Bears will push for the playoffs, but I like Minnesota to be more consistent on both sides of the ball.

MOST OVERRATED:

Cole: We'll grant Robinson a certain expertise in this category. Who better than him to understand what it is to be overrated? Still, at this time of the year, there are always many candidates for this title because just about everybody thinks they are in the running for the Lombardi. Then reality – AKA the season – hits and all the flaws that fans, coaches and media ignore are exposed.

Jacksonville gets some consideration after its 12-4 season obviously built hope for this year. The defensive line is the best in the league and just about every other position is stunningly deep. They need a receiver to come through, which is a serious question. Likewise, people who are anointing Miami as a Super Bowl contender are getting ahead of themselves. Hey, winning six in a row is nice anytime you can do it, but the streak wasn't loaded with serious contenders. Cincinnati deserves consideration as well. As good as the offense is, it's thin and the defense is only good if the team is playing from a lead. Washington and the Giants look susceptible to big falls this season, but anybody who plays in the NFC East is going to have a rough go.

But the big winner (is that the right way to put it?) in this category is Chicago. The Bears won the NFC North going away last season and probably will again this year. But barring incredible development by quarterback Rex Grossman (sorry, Brian Griese isn't a real alternative), the Bears are again looking at an early exit from the playoffs. The other problem for the Bears is that their secondary is weak and doesn't get tested in their excessively weak division.

Robinson: Unfortunately, I agree with Professor Cole on this one. At least partially. But rather than his buckshot method of picking a half-dozen overrated teams, I'll settle on one. Washington might be a little more overblown than people want to admit. Don't get me wrong, the Redskins have plenty of talent and one heck of a coaching staff. But they play a brutal schedule and I don't like their depth. Practically the entire first-team defense is one injury away from significant problems, and the unit is already fighting off the bug in the preseason. And now that Shawn Springs is already on the shelf indefinitely, that unit's potential problems scare me. The depth on the offensive line isn't so great, either. And I'm not 100-percent sold on Mark Brunell replicating last season, when he threw a career-high 23 touchdown passes – even if he is playing in Al Saunders' offense. It was interesting to see the coordinators blame the preseason failings on their limited schemes selection. That could come back and bite them later, especially on an offense that doesn't seem to have a shred of chemistry early on.

SUPER BOWL PICKS

Cole: Having correctly picked the Denver win over Green Bay and the New England win over St. Louis in the respective Super Bowls between those teams and even the 1989 earthquake that briefly put the San Francisco-Oakland World Series on hold, I'm so obviously qualified to make this call that it's silly. Young Robinson, of course, is trying to sell some matchup about Baltimore and Seattle. Really, the only thing those teams have in common is being the respective home cities of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in the romantic comedy "Sleepless in Seattle." As for Robinson, he's merely dreaming about that matchup. Or maybe he just has a subconscious crush on Meg. Or maybe … oh, never mind.

Truth is, as much as I like to take underdogs, this season is about favorites who finally achieve their goals. In this case, Indianapolis, quarterback Peyton Manning and coach Tony Dungy will finally achieve their destiny. They'll take a slight step back from their 14-2 finish last season in the regular season, but will make the most of home-field advantage in the playoffs. In the NFC, Carolina will ride its rugged defense and improved offense (hey, Keyshawn Johnson has to help) to arrive in Miami. Under a sultry and windless February evening at Dolphin Stadium, the Colts will win a title. OK, you can call me a hopeless sentimental writer, too. But if anyone deserves to win a title, it's Dungy.

Robinson: Listen to this guy. The only thing he's obviously qualified for is wearing a bow tie and spending his Saturday nights studying a copy of the periodic table of elements. Oh, and speaking of your Saturday nights, congratulations on that 10-year anniversary edition of "Sleepless in Seattle" finally paying off. Glad to see you got some run out of that in print. And yes, I am picking Baltimore and Seattle to meet in the Super Bowl. It's unconventional, but I'm willing to take the heat. Seattle wasn't a tough choice to make, even with Carolina making so many free agent strides. I like the addition of Julian Peterson to a young defense that I think is going to take a big step this season. And I think the offense will be just as good as last season, even with the loss of Steve Hutchinson and Joe Jurevicius.

As for Baltimore, I'm banking on Jamal Lewis staying healthy all season – which would do wonders for Steve McNair with that shaky offensive line. I think we're going to see Baltimore control the ball far better under McNair and consistently make first downs. And I like the blitzing defense, which is exactly what keeps knocking Peyton Manning out of the playoffs. Speaking of Manning, are you still riding that horse in Indianapolis? How many years have you picked them to win the Super Bowl now? Three straight? Check the calculator again, professor.