2008 NFL Season Full of Unpredictability

No prophet in human history could have predicted that the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys would spend January in the comfort of their very own homes watching the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons compete in the playoffs. Anyone who claims that they nailed that prediction is lying through their teeth. However, it proves that the no NFL season mirrors the previous.

In 2007, the Patriots and Cowboys combined for 29 regular season wins versus only three losses. Meanwhile, the Dolphins and Falcons combined for five wins and 27 losses. Both franchises were in disarray entering a major rebuilding phase with a new assemblage of personnel. NFL analysts deemed the Patriots and Cowboys as the two most talented teams in the NFL by far. However, there is a reason why they play the games.

The Patriots suffered through a slew of injuries, most notably MVP quarterback Tom Brady who set a new standard for quarterbacks in 2007, as well as veteran safety Rodney Harrison, the heart and soul of the defense. The replacements did a commendable job, as Matt Cassel's performance was comparable to Brady's in 2001 after former Pro Bowler Drew Bledsoe went down with an injury.

The Patriots were not awful by any means, however. They won eleven games, but they struggled against their AFC rivals. Losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, and Indianapolis Colts put them in a bind when it came to the tie-breaker situation with the Dolphins, who thrived against the AFC, only losing to the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans. The Patriots season was a pleasure cruise when compared to the drama-filled setting in Dallas.

The Dallas Cowboys' 2008 season was similar to a soap opera. From the Adam 'Pacman' Jones debacle, to the Tony Romo injury, to the incident between Jason Witten and Terrell Owens that 'never happened', America's Team was in the news for the wrong reasons. Owner Jerry Jones had to vehemently defend coach Wade Phillips, insisting that his job was secure. The Cowboys finished the season with nine wins and seven losses, four games off from the previous season. They looked like amateurs in a 44-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, which was, in all sense of the term, a playoff game considering that the winner would play the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round.

The drama has only begun in Big D.

The Atlanta Falcons had a new coach, Mike Smith, as well as a rookie quarterback in Matt Ryan. Nevertheless, they were the most improved team, with the exception of the Dolphins. Michael Turner became the most brilliant free agent acquisition in recent memory and several players such as Roddy White and Jerius Norwood, emerged from mediocrity. Now the Falcons have a core of young players that may keep them among the NFC elite for years to come.

The Patriots and Cowboys were not the only disappointments in 2008, and the Dolphins and Falcons were not the only surprises. Other disappointments included the Cleveland Browns who fell from 10-6 to a measly 4-12. They were replaced by the Baltimore Ravens who improved from 5-11 to 11-5.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were supposed to be the team to dethrone the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South, but instead it was the Tennessee Titans enjoying the breakthrough. Even though the San Diego Chargers won the AFC West, they finished with an 8-8 record, and had to rally from a 4-8 record a month ago. If it were not for a total Denver Broncos December collapse, coaches and players would be under fire in southern California.

In the NFC, the Green Bay Packers finished with a 6-10 record, seven games off their 2007 results. The Seattle Seahawks owned the NFC West from 2004 to 2007; however, they posted a 4-12 record in 2008. The New Orleans Saints missed the post-season in 2007; however, many projected them to vastly improve in 2008. That did not happen and they finished the season with eight wins and eight losses. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals unexpectedly captured the NFC South and NFC West division titles.

NFL standings: http://www.nfl.com/standings