Midseason Ranterback

Yes, comrades, we're halfway through the season already. Most team have 8 games under their belt, even a few have 9 (but they're off this week). Some have surprised and some have disappointed. Some have done both (New Orleans, which continues to haunt me).

I know I made a bunch of pre-season predictions, but here are my updated ones:

1. Dallas is going to win the division and have the best record in the NFC. I know, I hate it, but they're way above the rest of the NFC offensively. No late-season turmoil in the NFC east this year.

2. Green Bay is going to cool down a little, but will be the sentimental favorite going into the playoffs.

3. Seattle will win the NFC west with 9 wins. Meh. They've done it before. They will then shock the Cowboys in the playoffs again.

4. Detroit and the Giants will make the playoffs, making me look downright retarded, but they aren't going anywhere.

5. New Orleans will win their division with surprising ease and upset Green Bay, then shock Seattle to reach the Super Bowl. Why? They look like a team that's figured it out and will make a run in the second half. Those teams are always dangerous.

6. We all know whom experts see as the top two teams in the AFC (and in what order), but Pittsburgh is a solid number three and will prevent a New England-Indy rematch from happening.

7. But no Blitzburgh Super Bowl. I just hope they got some ideas from the Colts almost beating the Pats. As I do everyone else....

8. San Diego will win the AFC west with 9 games, but no playoff success. They should fire Norv, but will be too embarassed about the whole Marty thing to react.

9. Cleveland and Tennesee will win wild cards, once again proving me stupid. Jacksonville will get close but no Garrard will cost them soon.

10. New England kills Nawlins in Flanuary. I hope not, but that's my call.

Oh, and Philly will go 6-10 and people will call for Reid to step down. Big surprise....

As for me? I think I've reached my breaking point here. I hate to jump on the blame-the-coach bandwagon as unreasonable fans are wont to do, but seriously, this team is dead. They have no life. Their playcalling has fallen off the face of the Earth the past few years. Remember when they first started to show life under Reid back in 2000? They opened up that season with an onside kick against the Cowboys, and never looked back. They were aggressive and showed innovation, getting far without any playmakers for McNabb at all.

Flash forward to Sunday night. They looked dead, as they have recently. They had no aggression or innovative calls. They meagerly half-assed a comeback attempt by slowly dumping the ball off to Westbrook for short gains. It looked at time like they weren't trying. You couldn't say that several years ago, but now, it's happening regularly.

Who changes that? The coaching staff, mostly. The front office, too.... by getting new coaches and players.

I hate to say it, but I don't think they care about Reid anymore. Once players lose their passion for a coach, it's near impossible to get it back. He has this lame-duck mood and body language, even though he refuses to step down. Well, when everyone looks like that, changes must be made. It's time.

Do everyone a favor and leave, coach.