Top 10 NFL Teams week 7

Top Ten NFL Teams Week 7

After some interesting games I think we can see that nothing is etched in stone when it comes to the NFL. Just a few weeks ago I would have sworn that three teams out of the NFC East were guaranteed in the playoffs, but now, I am not so sure. I gotta tell you guys, right now ANYTHING can happen, there is no clear cut favorite to the playoffs. But how does that change the top 10 standings? Let’s find out:

#10 Arizona Cardinals (4-2)

We’re not sure if this is the real deal or as former coach Dennis Green once said, “they are who we THOUGHT they were”. But you’ve got to be impressed by how this team has played. Beating the Cowboys and the Bills are impressive at this point in the year, and losing to the Redskins isn’t so bad as one of 2 losses. I think it’s going to be a challenge for the Cardinals to get more than 8 wins, but certainly if healthy they can do it, and possibly see themselves in the playoffs…possible, but not guaranteed.

#9 New England Patriots (4-2)

I’ve got the Patriots higher than the Cardinals purely on experience. Yeah, we know they crushed the Denver Broncos, but we may be finding out that the Broncos are not exactly what we thought they were. Beating the Rams this week won’t really prove anything, but losing to them will say a lot. And remember the recent Superbowl history…the team that LOSES usually does not even make the playoffs… could the Pats be the next statistic?

#8 Atlanta Falcons (4-2)

Perhaps the surprise team of the year thus far, and in a pretty competitive conference, the Falcons are looking pretty good with a brand new quarterback. Losing to Tampa Bay and Carolina isn’t anything to be ashamed of, but with both being in your division that hurts a lot. Their schedule isn’t that easy, and have yet to play a very desperate New Orleans team. We’ll see if they can keep the magic going…

#7 Washington Redskins (4-2)

Just a couple of weeks ago, we thought this may be THE team of the NFC, now we don’t know anymore. A loss at the beginning of the year to the Giants was ok, but losing to the Rams looked very telling…but now we have to rethink that if the Rams turn to be pretty decent. Most of their games have been close, their average margin of victory being about 6 points. With a game against the Lions coming up, they ought to be able to pad their stats a bit.

#6 Buffalo Bills (5-1)

I am just not fully convinced that this is one of the top 3 teams in the NFL, but I will grant you that it is currently one of the top 3 teams in the AFC. With no division wins or games played, none of their wins come from any team over .500. And with their schedule, they could very well get a bye and lose the first game in the playoffs. The schedule is in their favor, but have we really seen the best of the Bills…or just bluff?

#5 Carolina Panthers (4-2)

This team is pretty good once they get the engine going, with very quality backs and receivers, I don’t see why this isn’t the number one scoring team in the world…not NFL but the world! It’s quite conceivable that the Panthers can win the next 5 games, or at least 4, but we’re not sure which team we will see. Losing to Tampa Bay and Minnesota shows that they are not quite the best teams in the NFC, but I don’t see how they can miss the playoffs. Games against the Cardinals, Raiders and Lions will let us know how much roar these Panthers really have.

#4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2)

It’s funny that just a few weeks ago we said that the NFC East would put 3 teams in the playoffs…now it looks like the NFC South has that distinction. Tampa Bay is on top, beating both Carolina and Atlanta. With a wounded Cowboys team coming up, if Tampa Bay wins this game, it might be the first of a 5-game winning streak, although technically it would be 7 since they won their last 2 games. Too early to crown the best in the NFL, even in the NFC, but it’s looking pretty good for them.

#3 New York Giants (5-1)

The defending Superbowl Champions are not out of this, not by a long shot, but one had to question their strength of schedule. Beating teams that had a losing record, and then losing to the Browns might be the start of something. Now the schedule turns into a completely different story. The next 9 games are against teams that have a very strong chance to get into the playoffs…these are not cupcakes. And 5 of those games are divisional games…this will not be easy for the Giants, and we’re going to see how the champs can defend that crown.

#2 Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1)

If there was any question on the test the Giants have, it starts here. These two teams play this weekend, and I put the Steelers here because their single loss came to a quality team (Eagles). Yet the Steelers have had a pretty soft schedule too. I might counter that by saying that the wins against Cincinnati, Cleveland and Baltimore were divisional wins and always tougher than you think. But injuries have me concerned about how this will really play out. It just seems that the best team may not necessarily be the BEST team, just the healthiest at the right time. If Pittsburgh can weather through this game vs. the Giants…it really doesn’t get much easier.

#1 Tennessee Titans (5-0)

I said it last week, I say it again, this is only by default. I know this is a quality team but they are the only undefeated team in the NFL, so I place them here. I might give them 4 more guaranteed wins with the schedule they have, but now they have to earn the other wins. Jacksonville was the best team the Titans had thus far, and that was AT home, winning only by 7. Wins over the Bengals, Texans and Chiefs don’t give you playoff points, but it’s not Tennessee’s fault. Their schedule is still soft, but there are some games that will allow us to see how tough these guys REALLY are. They are almost a shoe-in for the playoffs simply because the schedule isn’t that tough. And an 8-8 record might get them in, a 9-7 COULD get them a bye. We’ll see.

Anyway, that’s it for now, check out my blogs on blogspot since I tend to blog more there than my others. Later!