Re:delete agrees with ESPN NFL predictions for the upcoming 2006 season.
Updated: Apr. 11, 2006, 12:28 PM
SportsNation: NFL Optimism AboundsSportsNation
Packers fans must think it's 2004.
When you ask fans of a team to assess their team's chances prior to any given season, you are more than likely going to receive a more optimistic forecast than from an impartial source.
We asked SportsNation to go through their favorite team's 2006 schedule game-by-game and decide which games they will win and lose. There are many observations to make from the results, but one thing is abundantly clear: SportsNation is full of homers! While parity certainly reigns supreme in the NFL these days, only three teams came up with losing records in the poll (all in the AFC).
Before we dissect SportsNation's brains to see exactly what is going on up there, here's "Exhibit A" - a look at how SportsNation feels the 2006 NFL standings will end up.
We've included a quick statement on what we think about your predictions. Don't take it personally, please:
SportsNation's 2006 NFL Predictions
AFC East SN Prediction Reality
Miami 12-4 Nick Saban is quickly turning this team around.
New England 11-5 Unless healthy, hard to imagine an improvement over 2005.
Buffalo 9-7 Can the Bills win? Or will their QB be J.P. "Loss-man"?
New York 9-7 Too many question marks to forecast winning season.
AFC North SN Prediction Reality
Pittsburgh 15-1 Can they win 15 games for second season in a row? No.
Cincinnati 12-4 Is 12 wins possible? Only if Carson Palmer is healthy.
Cleveland 9-7 At least this team appears on the rise.
Baltimore 7-9 Even SportsNation forecasts only a one-game improvement.
AFC South SN Prediction Reality
Indianapolis 15-1 Last year's machine "only" went 14-2.
Jacksonville 15-1 Playoff team? Sure. But 15 wins? Please.
Houston 7-9 Reggie Bush and Eric Moulds could make this a possibility.
Tennessee 7-9 In a word . . . no.
AFC West SN Prediction Reality
Denver 14-2 Broncos could lose at least two games in the division alone.
Kansas City 13-3 Highly doubtful with aging, injury-susceptible roster.
San Diego 10-6 If Philip Rivers is the next Bernie Kosar, 10 wins is possible.
Oakland 10-6 Bay Area water may be contaminated, causing hallucinations.
NFC East SN Prediction Reality
Dallas 14-2 Very solid team, but Bledsoe could lose two games on his own. Washington 13-3 Another big jump in wins is unlikely.
New York 12-4 12 wins doesn't even get you to NFC playoffs in BizarroNation.
Philadelphia 9-7 This could be one of the couple teams we'd take the ''over'' on. 
NFC North SN Prediction Reality
Chicago 13-3 13 may be too many, but who forecasted 11 wins last season?
Minnesota 12-4 Double digits should thrill new head coach Brad Childress.
Detroit 10-6 Wow. Harrington is out and suddenly the Lions are contenders?
Green Bay 10-6 Favre or no Favre, this is 2006, right?
NFC South SN Prediction Reality
Carolina 14-2 Very dangerous, but a tough division to reach 14 wins.
Tampa Bay 14-2 Chris Simms is still learning Gruden's system. No chance.
Atlanta 12-4 Certainly possible if Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn are healthy.
New Orleans 9-7 Drew Brees for Aaron Brooks is an upgrade, but nine wins?
NFC West SN Prediction Reality
Seattle 14-2 Formerly pessimistic Seattle fans have turned over a new leaf.
St. Louis 10-6 In this division it would seem anything is possible.
Arizona 8-8 A championship contender . . . if this were Arena Football.
San Francisco 8-8 See Oakland above. An improvement in "wins" from last year! 
