Super Bowl XLI Predictions

Do you like underdogs to make it to the Superbowl in 2007? Well how about a 28-1 underdog to win it? With so much parity in the NFL, Ty Gaston from Tygaston.com has two nice underdogs, he feels, are strong enough to win the AFC and NFC Championships, and meet in the Superbowl.

Ty Gaston likes the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals to meet in February in the 2007 Superbowl!

Denver is currently 7-1 odds to win the AFC Championship and 13-1 to win the Superbowl.

Arizona is currently 12-1 to win the NFC Championship and 28-1 to win the Superbowl.

The Denver Broncos were 14-4 straight up and 12-5 against the spread last year, and made it to the AFC Championship game where they lost to the Steelers 34-17. Pittsburgh won't be nearly as strong as they were last year, Indianapolis QB Manning can't win the big game and Indy, lost several players who were key members last year. New England has not reloaded and the Bengals are a year away if their quarterback stays healthy. So why not the Denver Bronco's? They were the number 2 team in the league in rushing, 18th in passing, and had the number 5 offense overall in the league. They also had the 15th ranked defense in the league, BUT were number 2 against the rush. With the linebacker corps strong with Al Wilson, Ian Gold and DJ Williams, they added depth with defensive tackle Gerard Warren, DE Kenard Lang, Rookie Elvis Dumervile and DE Corey Jackson to strengthen up and intensify the pass rush. So the defense is set to stop all comers, especially with a fine secondary anchored by ALL WORLD Champ Bailey at corner and ALL PRO John Lynch at safety.

Mike Shanahan knows how to draft running backs. And boy does Denver have a good one in Mike Bell (Not Tatum) a 6'0", 220 pounder with speed to boot. By the start of the season I am sure this kid will be the starter ahead of Tatum Bell and Ron Dayne. Jake Plummer has a sure fire backup in rookie Jay Cutler, Cutler the most natural QB taken in the draft this year. Plummer was decent with 18 TD's and 7 interceptions last year, as Shanahan had Plummer play more short passes and roll-outs on offense than in prior seasons. Plummer had 2 fumbles and two interceptions in the AFC Championship and that was Denver's doom against the Steelers. Plummer will learn from that and be a much smarter quarterback this year. Plummer also has Rod Smith and Javon Walker to throw the ball to. And if premadonna WR Ashley Lelie gets his head out of his butt, they will have three powerful wide receivers. The only deterrent to this offense will be how fast promoted offensive line coach, and now Offensive Coordinator Rick Dennison can take over for Gary Kubiak's departure. Add Jason Elam as kicker to the agenda and the Denver Broncos will win the AFC and get to the Superbowl!

OK This is definitely a long shot, but damn it, this team is loaded on offense. Last year the Cardinals were number 9 in total offense in the NFL and check this out, NUMBER 1 in the NFL in passing, and dead last in rushing. Their turnover -11 margin crushed them and that is why they lost so many close games and were 5 wins and 11 losses. Edgerrin James addition from the Colts (1500 yards rushing, 4.2 yards per carry, 13 TD's, and a league leading 115 first downs) will move their rushing game from dead last in the NFL to the top 5. Kurt Warner got hurt last year but threw 64% completions before his season ending injury, and they drafted MATT LEINERT out of USC, and talk about the next coming of Ben Roethlisberger, MATT is just as talented and left handed as well, AKA Steve Young. If ever a quarterback is ready to come in and do the things Big Ben did in Pittsburgh, it's definitely Leinert. If he gets his contract settled and gets to camp, the Cardinals will be strong at QB, whether it be Leinert or Warner at the helm. Arizona got a huge tight end in Georgia's Leonard POPE at 6'7" with great hands. Add that to the best wide receiver tandum in the NFL, Boldin and Fitzgerald, and Arizona will once again lead the league in passing. Boldin and Fitzgerald were incredible last year with 102 and 103 catches respectively and 1400 yards a piece, with 17 TD's between them. These are the two best wide receivers in the NFL and the fastest as well. Who cares about T.O. in Dallas or Johnson from the Bengals when you have both of these kid's. This offense will SCORE, guaranteed!

The defense has added some exceptional talent in DT Kendrick Clancy, Bertrand Berry is a stud at DE, CB Antrel Rolle and Eric Green are future All Pro's. The defense is young but talented and they improved against the run last year going from 27th in 2004, to 11th last year. The DB's, corners and safeties will be much improved this year. As long as opponents don't score as much as I predict Arizona will score (30 ppg), these Cardinals are a huge surprise at 28-1 to get to and beat Denver in the Superbowl, February 5th, 2007!