Out on a Limb
Fantasy Football Predictions

Special Edition

Welcome to our second season here at "Out on a Limb" where we'll predict the results of the games each week. As the column is normally released on Fridays, we're going to start the year off with a single spotlight on Thursday's opener before predicting the rest of the weekend's games tomorrow night.

Jets at Redskins

Coaching: The pressure will be on "The Ball Coach" to show that last year was a fluke. The former offensive czar amongst college coaches entered the NFL last season with one of the top backs in the league and tried rebuilding the passing game with a bunch of former Gators, only to find that his team finished 25th in scoring, 21st in passing offense, and 19th in total offense. With defensive guru Marvin Lewis now wearing the headset in Cincinnati and Stephen Davis a little further south in Carolina, Steve Spurrier better find some ways to put some points on the board if he doesn't want this to be a long season. While Herman Edwards lost a huge key to his offense in Chad Pennington, he's proven in his first two seasons as a head coach that he's one of the best motivators in the game, and the Jets should be ready to play regardless of all the changes the team underwent in the offseason. Edge: Jets

When the Jets have the ball: Without Pennington, the team loses their most important player, but Vinny Testaverde should be ready to lead this team. Vinny was their starter entering last season, and he certainly knows the offense well enough. Age is the biggest factor here, as he'll turn 40 in mid-November. Curtis Martin and Lamont Jordan should both see plenty of carries in what figures to be a conservative run-first offense until Pennington returns late in the season. Although they lost Lavaraneus Coles, the team still has three solid wideouts in Santana Moss, Wayne Chrebet, and Curtis Conway. Anthony Becht leaves Testaverde with another nice, big target in the red zone.

The Redskins still have phenomenal personnel on the defensive side of the ball, and they should be able to give the Jets some fits. Champ Bailey and Fred Smoot could be brutal on the J-E-T-S if Testaverde decides to show his old color blindness from his first few seasons in the league with Tampa Bay, while Lavar Arrington should have little trouble getting pressure on Vinny in the pocket. Edge: Redskins

When the Redskins have the ball: Second year QB Patrick Ramsey should have some opportunities to hit his new target in this one. Laveranues Coles is going to want to have a big game against his old team, and should come open underneath a lot against a Jets secondary that loves to sit back in zones. Trung Canidate can fly, but he should be ready to begin his pursuit of the single season record for fumbles if Spurrier sticks with him over rookie Ladell Betts all season. Betts will give them a nice change of pace who can pound the ball a little more than Canidate.

The Jets will sit back in their vaunted Cover 2, allowing a lot underneath. While most passing games will have problems with this, Spurrier seems to enjoy throwing underneath and letting the receivers do the work after they've caught the ball. Look for the Jets to have trouble stopping the short pass and the run in this one, as Ramsey should find Coles for at least one touchdown. Edge: Redskins

Special Teams: This has been an edge for the Jets for so long, but the edge moved to Washington during the offseason. With place kicker John Hall and return man Chad Morton added to the 'Skins roster from the Jets in the offseason, the Redskins will have one of the better special teams units in the league, while the Jets are starting anew. Edge: Redskins

Intangibles: The Redskins are at home, although most of their players are more used to calling the Meadowlands home. Call it a hunch, but the Jets will buy into Herman Edwards' even more now that they've lost half of their players during the offseason after winning the AFC East last season and their star quarterback is hurt. Edwards is just the kind of guy who will find a way to make that team thrive despite the adversity. Edge: Even

Crystal Ball: As much as I'm sold that Edwards will lead the Jets to a respectable season, this game just doesn't add up for the Jets. The Redskins like to put a lot of pressure on the passer, which should lead to a few picks from old man Vinny, while Spurrier will be out to prove that he can find a way to move the ball in the NFL. Redskins 27, Jets 16

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