NFL Best teams Oct 7th 2008

Top 10 NFL Teams this week

As of Tuesday, October 7th, I wanted to weigh in on the top teams in the NFL, and that may be in the horizon for those particular teams. This has been a very interesting year so far, where injuries have shaped the destinies of several teams, and key players and coaches have created success or created failure for their franchise.

Before I continue, I wanted to remind some of you to check out my blogs on the greatest running backs ever…a few of these NFL teams could sure use one now…

#10 Buffalo Bills (4-1)

There is a phrase that Dennis Green once said that made him famous after his team (Cardinals) lost to the Chicago Bears…”they are who we THOUGHT they were!” The Bills started off great, but the teams they have faced were 4-13, including wins over Seattle, Oakland and St. Louis. A lot of people wondered if this team was “for real” and this seemed to be proven when the Cardinals blew them out the water 41-17. The Bills are actually on pace to go 10-6 with the teams left on their schedule, which could put them in the playoffs. I think the key games are the ones with the Jets. The problem with the Bills is that they are +22 on the points, which averages out to just over a field goal a game…makes for some mighty tight games….

#9 New England Patriots (3-1)

This team might be in more trouble than we can imagine. Their “points for” and “points against” are dead even at 79...this shows that the Pats are a very low scoring team, tied for 23rd in the NFL at this moment. When you do the math, that is about 20 points a game. That isn’t bad, especially since your defense seems to be holding their own, but barely beating the Chiefs isn’t impressive and that close game vs. the 49ers wasn’t either. The Pats better find out how to turn the turbo boost on, or they may be in some trouble.

#8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)

The Buccs are on this list because they have had one of the toughest schedules so far. After an emotional loss vs. the Saints in New Orleans, this team has defeated Atlanta, Chicago and Green Bay, before losing to the Broncos. They have a very good chance to split the next 4 games because they should beat the Chiefs and Seahawks, but I don’t know about the Panthers and the Cowboys. If they steal one game from the latter two, this might be a team you have to reserve in the playoffs. We’ll see what they are really about when they play Carolina this weekend.

#7 Denver Broncos (4-1)

Losing to the hapless Chiefs was pretty devastating to the team, and then there is the fact that most of their games have been very close. The Broncos may be the second highest scoring team in the NFL, but they also GIVE almost as much as they score. When you look at the teams with more points given there is a disturbing trend. Kansas City…bottom of the division. Houston…bottom of the division. St. Louis…bottom of the division. New Orleans…bottom of the division. Detroit…bottom of the division. If the Broncos don’t find some defense soon, they may well end up with these teams. With the Jaguars, Pats and Dolphins, this could be very interesting.

#6 Carolina Panthers

This team has a very dangerous scoring package and a very good defense that does not give up a lot of points. Yeah, I know they crushed the Chiefs but they still have some very strong points. You still have to wonder about that loss to Minnesota, in that it may have shown some flaws but this team has a very good chance to see post season play. It is quite possible they could win 4 of their next 5 games and be one of the best teams in the NFL. Barring injury, this COULD be one of the elite teams in the league.

#5 Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1)

I actually thought about moving this team down a peg or two, because there may be cracks in the armor. They have escaped but the skin of their teeth in several games, and injuries might be catching up with them. Their next game is against the Bengals, which few see them losing. But after that, there is a tough run against the Giants, Redskins and Colts before seeing the Chargers. This will not be easy, and in a conference with a lot of ups and downs, the Steelers might be looking at a tough road to stay above water.

#4 Tennessee Titans (5-0)

The only current 5-0 team may be flying high with one of the best defenses in the NFL, but you may ask why I don’t have this team #1 or #2. I’ll give you that the 17-10 win vs. the Jaguars is a quality win, but wins over the Bengals and Texans were not. Yes you have to play the teams on your schedule but these teams don’t add to the idea of the Titans being the best team, even at 5-0. Beating the Vikings does not help much, but the close win vs. the Ravens does add a nice feather to their cap. It is POSSIBLE this team could win the next 3, seeing that they are playing the Chiefs, then a questionable Colts team, and then the Green Bay Packers, who may be having quarterback issues. If they come out of this 8-0...then they have proven themselves as a SERIOUS threat in the AFC.

#3 Dallas Cowboys (4-1)

Did the game against the Bengals send up warning flares? Coming off a loss to the Redskins just the week before, and a close game vs. the Eagles two weeks prior to that, is this really the team we thought was going to the Superbowl? They were almost a lock on that, but now there are some questions in the air. They are still guaranteed in the playoffs, barring injury, but is this the potential NFC Champions? Still, they have only one loss, and with games against the Cardinals and Rams, they should emerge 6-1 before playing the Buccaneers. But if they lose either of those two games before the Bucc game, there may be chaos in Dallas.

#2 Washington Redskins (4-1)

Can we call this “lightning in a bottle” or is this for real? We cannot ignore that their only loss came to the current Superbowl Champs, and they recently handed the Cowboys their only loss. So we cannot ignore that as of this date, this team is pretty good. Add on to this that they will be playing 3 of the worst teams in the NFL coming up and you may be looking at a 7-1 team before they see the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Redskins’ next three games are against the Rams AND Browns, both at home, and then they travel to play Detroit. Combined these teams are 1-11. Christmas comes early for the Redskins and by early November the media might be singing the praises of this team and punching tickets to the Superbowl…but who ever went to the Superbowl on a 7-1 record?

#1 New York Giants (4-0)

You have to give the defending champs the number one spot if they are undefeated. There are only 2 teams left in the NFL that are in this class, and the Giants have proven themselves to be a very good team. This team allows under two touchdowns per game, so if your offense can’t dance, you better not come to the club. The problem however, is that this team has played some very bad teams. Sure they beat the Redskins at the beginning of the year, but after that they beat the Rams, Bengals and Seahawks…none of which is scaring anybody in the NFL. Then they’ve got the Browns and the 49ers. It is just too early to say this team is great, because they can be 6-0 and not proven a thing. Remember, they still have to play Dallas TWICE, and the Eagles twice as well as a rematch against the Redskins. Throw in the Steelers, Ravens and Panthers and you might be looking at a team with 6 losses at the end of the year.

So nothing is really set in stone yet, I mean come on, we’ve barely cut a quarter of the season out. Nobody is going undefeated, so we know those guys on the 1972 Dolphins will be popping corks soon, probably early November. Right now, the NFC looks very tough with any of 4 teams that could make it to the NFC Championship, and the AFC is really up in the air. There are teams not on this list that could make some noise before all is said and done. We’ll see how it unfolds.

Anyway, gotta jet…hmmm Jets….Brett Farve….Green Bay Packers…2 wins, three losses…mistake?