Top 10 NFL teams OCT 29th

Top 10 NFL teams, Oct 29th

Ok, so I am a little late, sue me.

Anyway, as we get into the 8th week (7th for many) we see that the list of undefeated teams has dropped by one. So three teams remain undefeated, and they are obviously on the top 10 list.

But there is only 1 team with one loss, so obviously they are on the list too. However, there are 9 teams with 2 losses, so I had to decide who would not make it on my list. I am not putting any team with 3 losses on this week, maybe next week, but not this week.

Before I start with the top 10, let me share with you two teams that didn’t make it and why:

Green Bay Packers 4-2: Yeah, we know about the huge game this weekend when Brett Farve comes back home, but I am not convinced that this is a top 10 team. If they beat the Vikings, then they are in because their record would be 5-2, but there have been some questionable games thus far. Their only quality games thus far was against the Bears, which is now falling down to average, and vs. the Bengals and Vikings…both they lost.

Philadelphia Eagles 4-2: To be honest, I thought they would beat up the Redskins more than they did. The defense of the Eagles looks great, the offense needs a little help, and with an injury to Westbrook, this team looks weaker. I could put them on if I had one more spot, but I just need them to beat a quality team before I can do that.

And so, the top 10:

#10 Atlanta Falcons 4-2 Losing at Dallas hurt the team, whom I had as #6 last week, but I can’t discount this young team’s potential. Their schedule has been pretty hard, and to only lose 2 games is very good, yet coming up they have games against the Saints, Giants and Eagles, with a few softer ones sprinkled in. It may be hard for them to stay here and not get bumped out.

#9 Arizona Cardinals 4-2: I gotta tell you, I am not too impressed with NFC West teams, but for Arizona to travel across the country, and beat the Giants says a heck of a lot for the Cardinals. This to me could be a signature win for the team, and I have them as perhaps the 4th best NFC team in the NFL….maybe 3rd best.

#8 New York Giants 5-2: The Giants drop 3 spots for losing at home to the Cardinals, and now some start to wonder how good this team really is. Their previous 5 wins were against lesser opponents, and now having lost to the Saints and Cardinals changes how we may have to see the Giants… are they the real thing?

#7 Cincinnati Bengals 5-2: These cats are still in the mix, and after beating the Bears they have proven that this may well be a team to keep an eye out for. With the Ravens and Steelers coming up back to back, this may well define whether this team will be in the playoffs or just making cheap noise…we will know soon enough.

#6 Pittsburgh Steelers 5-2: Seems the defending champs are clawing their way back into the mix. Just last week I had them #10, and the week before that not ranked, but that win over the Vikings certainly put them back in. It proves that losing a couple of games early means nothing if you can rebound. The Steelers are certainly looking to get some “get back” from the Bengals, which comes up soon enough.

#5 New England Patriots 5-2: I am just not ready to bail out on the experience that this team has, and at 5-2, they are clearly in the hunt. I had them at #7 last week, and #9 the week before that. Winning their last two games will do that, but then again, beating the Titans and Buccs really doesn’t mean much….did anybody watch that Pats/Buccs game in London? I didn’t

#4 Minnesota Vikings 6-1: Since this is the only team with one loss, I can’t drop them too much further than this. I had them #3 last week, but the week before I had them #4, so this is about average. Losing to the defending Superbowl Champs in their home is a tough assignment, but this week when the travel to Green Bay, it will tell us much more. If Minnesota wins that game, they will have a lockdown on the division, and all but guaranteed to the playoffs. The way they are playing, I see them as the 2nd best NFC team in the league.

#3 Indianapolis Colts 6-0: For the Colts to be here, I am implying that they are the weakest undefeated team so far. Beating the Jags didn’t prove much, but the Miami game was pretty interesting. Handling the Cardinals in their house is nice, but beating Seattle, Tennessee and St. Louis does not prove much. With maybe 4 games left of some caliber, the Colts could easily rack up 10-12 wins, maybe more. I just need to see them against a tough opponent…say New England in about 3 weeks….

#2 New Orleans Saints 6-0: YES, my hometown, my place of birth, finally we are in there like swimwear! There is still a lot of work to be done, because 6-0 does not put you in the Superbowl…ask Tennessee about that 13-0 record that vanished. But I gotta tell ya, this record has been with merit. Factor out the Lions (please) and you see that this is indeed a tough schedule, beating the Eagles, Jets, Giants and Dolphins. To me, right now, this is the best NFC team in the league and seems to run with the belief that they will GLADLY give you 30 points…as long as they score 40.

#1 Denver Broncos 6-0: I thought a moment of whether the Broncos should be #1 or #2, but either way, if it ends like that, both would meet in the Superbowl. The Broncos beat Cincinnati in their house, dumped the Cowboys, beat the Patriots and stopped the Chargers…that is a good list of opponents. And I think this team is on a mission, yet I can’t help shake the feeling that the newness of it won’t last. With games against the Ravens, Steelers, Chargers, Giants, Colts and Eagles, there is NO way they are going undefeated…just not gonna happen, but four of those teams are AFC foes they need to gauge themselves against, so we will know the truth from those games.

So there ya have it, my top 10 as we slide into Halloween weekend. Have fun!

Top 10 NFL teams, week 7

NFL Top 10 teams, week 7

So after 6 games for most of the NFL teams, much has been learned. We have now 4 undefeated teams, two with one loss, and nine with 2 losses. My math tells me that makes 15 teams, meaning I have to trim the fat with 5 teams in order to make my top 10 list.

That meant I had to drop 5 teams with 2 losses, and right off the bat I got rid of the NFC West teams, Arizona and San Francisco. To me, this is a very weak division, and any team with 2 losses out of there is not worth of a top 10 ranking. Yeah, I know the Cardinals got to the Superbowl last year, but a lot of that was built off this weak division.

So without further delay, let’s crank up the NFL top 10 teams, starting with one that missed the cut:

Dallas Cowboys: At 3-2, they are certainly in the mix, but nobody is predicting them to right the ship and have the successful season they thought they would have. It would seem that Emmitt Smith was correct in saying that this team may not win more than 7 games. It seems that “America’s Team” is on pace for that, although mathematically they are on pace for 9 wins….not sure if they can get that though.

#10 Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2): The defending Superbowl champs was not on my list last week, and barely makes it this week because they do have a winning record, and I felt they were better than 5 other 2-loss teams. You still have to give this team a chance, and with four wins they still have a little work to do. Beating the Browns does not make for so much of an argument, but they are one of 3 teams at this moment with a 4-2 record.

#9 Chicago Bears (3-2): Last week this team was #8 on my list, and I didn’t drop them far because they lost to the Atlanta Falcons, which is a pretty decent team. I am not fully convinced that this team can make the playoffs, but we will learn much when they play the Vikings. Between the Bears, Vikings and Packers, this could get interesting as a few losses may be traded around.

#8 Cincinnati Bengals (4-2):Well, back down a bit to reality, with a loss to Houston. Yeah, they fell hard from the second best team in the NFL to the 8th, but that still gets them in the playoffs in my book. The Bengals rode that high of winning for awhile, and I think they are not through yet. But losing to a team they should have beaten, if they are who we think they are, can make a cross check on whether this team is indeed an elite team, or a good team.

#7 New England Patriots (4-2): Are we seeing the beginning signs of a team that is about to go in a southern direction? Is the world coming to an end with the Pats losing two games already? Well, the dismemberment they put on Tennessee in the snow shows that this team is not done yet, and is still strongly in the hunt for the AFC Champs. The Patriots are still a heavy favorite, but after losing many key members, the armor is starting to crack…perhaps one reason they went back to get Junior Seau, who is quite ancient in football terms. Still, this is still an elite AFC squad, whether they have 2 losses or none. It just so happens they have two now… and I am sure it won’t be the last loss this year either.

#6 Atlanta Falcons (4-1): There is much to be said for this team, and with only one loss, to the aforementioned Patriots, this is indeed a quality team. And consider they just beat the Bears, so they are surely a good squad. But the Bears was the first quality opponent they have beaten, so they are as good as their record. But when they meet the Saints…and they will, we will learn how good this 4-1 record is. In fact, they have to play twice, so this will be two very tough games between two teams that seem poised to make a strong run in the NFC.

#5 New York Giants (5-1): To me, this is, right now, the best one loss team in the NFL…but that’s not saying much since there are only 2 teams with one loss. The Giants lost to the Saints bad, which was in fact the first REAL team they played this year. I do think that the Giants are more experienced than the Falcons, but the big loss they suffered made them quite touchable. With division games against the Eagles, Cowboys and Redskins, it is now a question if this team really is as good as we think. Time will tell.

#4 Indianapolis Colts (5-0): For me to put them here says that right now, I think the Colts are the weakest undefeated team in the NFL. I gotta tell you, beating the Jags, Dolphins, Cardinals, Seahawks and Titans cannot make you the best team. Of all those teams, only the Cardinals has a legit shot of even making the top 10. Who, if anybody, can challenge the Colts? Or maybe the other question is, how good are the Colts since they have not played anybody yet? Didn’t we think the same of the Giants until they met with a real team? For me to have them here means I think the Colts could be in the AFC Championship game, but I am not totally sold on it just yet….need to see them win against quality opponents.

#3 Minnesota Vikings (6-0): Well, well, where are all those Brett Farve nay-sayers now? I know it is still early, but I am sure right now the Packers are wondering why they let Farve walk away. Now last week’s game was too close, showing me that the Viking defense can be suspect, and I am not sure if they can continue to win games like that. But with a very experienced quarterback, and a great running back, they are as good as any team in the NFL. Yet right now I think they are the third best team, meaning I could not put them in the Superbowl, because I think there is a better NFC team out there…

#2 New Orleans Saints (5-0): I had the Saints as the third best team in the NFL, but the best NFC team, that has not changed. Beating the Giants the way they did clearly proves that this is a very good team, and seems to be on a mission to bring the Superbowl Trophy to New Orleans…the place of my birth. Of all the teams, I think the Saints have, so far, the toughest schedule, and has sliced through it all. They have yet to play the Falcons, so we will see them face each other twice, and they also play the Patriots this year. Can they continue to go undefeated? Who can say, with such a high maintenance offense? If they stay healthy, I see them winning at least 12 games, maybe more.

#1 Denver Broncos (6-0): With the win over the Chargers, this puts the Broncos miles ahead of everybody else in their division…but who are we kidding? Between the Raiders, Chiefs and now the confusing Chargers, the Broncos may have already locked in their bid to the playoffs. But this team has overachieved like few could believe. Beating the Patriots and Cowboys are indeed quality wins, and the Chargers were average as well. It seems to show that sometimes when an organization flips as much as they have, it is hard to prepare for them. This is a new animal that the rest of the NFL has to solve, and until they do, the Broncos will keep winning…I mean come on, you see them losing to the Chiefs or Raiders? They are almost assured of 3 more wins. But with games ahead vs. the Ravens, Steelers, Giants, Colts, Eagles and a second game vs. the Chargers, this could get interesting.

So there you have it, my 10 best teams in the NFL. That would imply that I think the Broncos will play the Saints in the Superbowl…not necessarily. Let us not forget that the Titans had a perfect record for 13 weeks, and then the bottom fell out. Four undefeated teams remain, and I see none of them going perfect… the 1972 Dolphins might as well crack that champagne now. But there is much parity in the NFL, so any team has a shot…well, other than those that are winless now.

Until next week…

NFL Top 10, after 5 (2009)

NFL Top 10, after 5

Had to do some changes here because of some great NFL games over the weekend.

I will jump right into this, since I took sometime to look at these teams. To make the top 10, I had to look at the 5 undefeated teams, the 4 teams with one loss, and also I had to look at 9 teams with 2 losses. Anywhere from 5-0 to 2-2 could have made my top 10 list. But after much debate and a few cups of coffee…and a DELICIOUS honey bun, here are my top 10 teams…

But wait! Before I begin, let me share with you one team that didn’t make the cut:

Philadelphia Eagles: Technically speaking, as a 3-1 team they should have been on the top 10, but I can’t put them there yet. They are just outside, looking in. Yes, the record is nice, but beating the Panthers, Chiefs and Buccaneers does not show a power in the NFC. Losing to the Saints is nothing to be ashamed of, but one wonders if this team is really healthy.

Now, let’s countdown the top 10:

#10 Baltimore Ravens: Oh what could have been if they had beaten the Patriots awhile back. At 3-2, I still think this is a very strong team, with a key win over the Chargers. Their losses come to the Patriots and the Bengals, both of which they were in. A few calls here or there and these same Ravens could be 4-1, maybe even 5-0, but there is much more games to play for these guys.

#9 New England Patriots: Is the king dead? Two losses in one year with Tom Brady? I still have this team in the top ten because they beat both the Ravens and the Falcons, two good squads. Losing to the Broncos may be the changing of the guard, but nobody has really man-handled the Pats yet. Still many more games to go, and experience is on their side.

#8 Chicago Bears: I rank this 3-1 team pretty low because their wins over the Steelers may SOUND good, but Pittsburgh seems to be struggling. Also, beating the Seahawks and Lions does not make front line news. Losing to the so-and-so Packers isn’t that great either. Beat the Vikings and then we are talking….

#7 Atlanta Falcons: I put the Falcons ahead of the Bears, even though both are 3-1 for a couple of reasons. Their loss to the Patriots is more credible than the Bear’s loss. And the Falcons beat the 49ers, a decent team, and the Dolphins, who are not so bad as some think. They have yet to play the Saints, and must see them twice. We will know much more about the Falcons then.

#6 Indianapolis Colts: Yeah, I know they are 5-0 and everybody is talking about how great Manning is, and I agree…but have you seen their opponents? The Colts beat the Jaguars, the Dolphins, the Cardinals, Seahawks and Titans…how many of these teams have a winning record? At this point, NONE. We have not seen the Colts truly tested, and until we do, I can’t put them any higher unless other circumstances change. A good team, yes, and by my list the THIRD best team in the AFC.

#5 New York Giants: Yes, another 5-0 team ranked lower than many thought. Last week I had them #1, but when you look at the body of work, and with Manning slightly injured, this could be a problem. Their wins are over the very troubled Redskins, the confusing Cowboys, the hapless Buccaneers, the lowly Chiefs and the “what the heck” Raiders…hardly a strong case for to be the best team in the NFL.

#4 Minnesota Vikings: Last week I had them #6, but the last three weeks they have beaten teams that are at least .500. This includes the Cardinals, Packers and 49ers. Minnesota is playing a tougher competition (though not by too much) than the Giants and the Colts. We know this will play itself out, but right now, I think Brett Farve and AP are worth the top 4 ranking.

#3 New Orleans Saints. I dropped the Saints one spot from last week simply because they are 4-0, not 5-0 like other teams. But I also dropped them one spot becaue their wins over the Lions and Bills don’t seem like so much, and the Eagles are not on my top 10 list. So their only big win was over the Jets, but they didn’t make my list this week either. Still I have them, as of now, as the best NFC team…Superbowl bound?

#2 Cincinnati Bengals: This 3-1 team is playing better than most 4-0 or 5-0 teams, and the wins prove it. I vault them up from #9 to number 2 because their body of work is impressive. They beat the Packers, who are at .500, they beat the defending Superbowl champs in the Steelers, they beat their rival the Browns (ok, not the hardest thing to do) and they beat the Ravens, who I have as #10 on my list. Their only loss comes to the….

#1 Denver Broncos: At 5-0, who would have thought that? I had the Broncos at #3 last week, even then believing they were the best AFC team, now they may well be the best team period. They beat the Bengals and the Patriots, two very quality wins. And let’s face it folks, with the Raiders and the Chiefs in the division, they seemed to be assured of at least 4 more wins. But the Chargers could make it interesting. Still, right now, who can deny the Broncos?

So that’s my list right now, always subject to change as the weeks go on. Now let’s have some fun this weekend with more football!!!!

Top 10 NFL teams, after 4 weeks

NFL Top 10 after week 4!

I think I missed a week, so I better jump right in this one….

There were a lot of questions asked and answered after the Monday Night Game, in which Brett Farve showed why he is one of the best quarterbacks in the league… and why Green Bay management screwed up big time.

But that’s another blog, we have to decide who are the top 10 teams in the NFL as of this week, after many teams have played 4 games, some having played only 3 games.

When I looked over my list, I saw that there are currently 5 teams that are 4-0, and then there are 6 teams that are 3-1. That technically should make up my top 10, but we shall see. I also noticed that there are 2 teams that are 2-1, and 7 teams that are 2-2... Could they possibly make the top ten?

First off I had to eliminate a few teams from my list, which include the following:

Philadelphia Eagles: As long as McNabb is injured this is not the team to beat, even at 2-1 their wins were over the hapless Panthers and the Chiefs. We have to wait and see what happens as the season goes on.

Pittsburgh Steelers: At 2-2 I know they had a good win over the Chargers, but two losses to the Bears and Bengals hurts bad. And here too, they have injury issues. Seems to imply more and more that the best teams are the healthy teams.

San Francisco 49ers: yeah, a 3-1 team is not on my list, but only because I had to drop one of them. In effect I am saying that the 49ers, at this point, are the weakest 3-1 team in the NFL. Yeah, I know they beat the Cardinals, Seahawks and Rams, but where are these teams now? Not any real quality wins yet. But they won enough to get Michael Crabtree to sign…but will they get better with him?

So, let’s get into those top 10, shall we?

#10 New York Jets: At 3-1 there is a lot of fanfare for the Jets, especially after beating the Patriots. This clearly is a team to watch out for, but they have more division games to play, and beating the Texans and the Titans at this point really isn’t saying a lot. But any team that can beat the Pats gets my vote.

#9 Cincinnati Bengals: I almost forgot to put these guys on the list, I forgot that they were winning. A loss to the Broncos seemed to put them in a bad light, but winning three straight games over the Packers, Steelers and Browns isn’t so bad. Some may argue that at this point, neither is a really solid quality win, but anytime you beat the defending Superbowl champs and the Packers, that is saying something.

#8 Baltimore Ravens: Another 3-1 team that has shown that they can score, even with a loss to the Patriots. I think if the refs had not been so careful to make sure Tom Brady’s dress was on right, this game could have gone the other way. The Ravens were always a threat with their defense, and now with some offense, they look awesome. But beating the Chiefs and Browns isn’t saying too much, and the Chargers may not be the team we thought they were. Still, these guys are in the hunt.

#7 Chicago Bears: Who woulda thought that they would be 3-1 after the way they started the season? But beating the Steelers is a nice feather in the cap for Da Bears. The problem here is that their other wins were over the Seahawks and Lions…ugh. And losing to the Packers hurts them in their own division. But like the Ravens, this team has a great defense…but like the Eagles and Steelers, they also have very key injuries.

#6 Minnesota Vikings: Some are gonna fry me for this, because this means I have a 3-1 team ranked ABOVE a 4-0 team. This also means I think the Vikings are the weakest 4-0 team in the NFL. I submit to you that this is a good team, and for what it is worth, I am personally rooting for Farve, but beating the Browns and Lions isn’t saying too much. Beating the 49ers is great, but it took the last play to do it, and the Packers game could have been high emotion for Brett Farve. I know, they are all still wins, but I just think that there are 5 other teams that are better than the Vikings at this period in time. Another win could change my mind, but it still depends on what the other 5 are doing.

#5 Indianapolis Colts: This 4-0 team had me comparing with the Vikings, and what it came down to was quarterbacks. I could have easily put the Colts and Vikings tied, but I thought about who, in the course of a game, would I most likely want on my team. Peyton Manning or Brett Farve? This was very hard, and I love both, but I had to edge with youth. Both have great experience, but I think I want Peyton Manning just a sliver more than I want Farve…neither is a bad choice, I just thought the Colts were a bit better…but again, not by much at all.

#4 New England Patriots: Yep, I put this team above some 4-0 teams because this is one of the best teams in the NFL the last 10 years. We all know how they lost to the Jets, but the Patriots have defeated the Bills, Falcons and Ravens, ALL are pretty good. Few other teams can say that right now. Considering their strength of schedule, I believe at this point the New England Patriots are one of the 4 best teams in the NFL. Better than the Colts, well, that would be a good matchup, but I do think better than anybody else on the list…and mind you, they play the Jets again this year.

#3 Denver Broncos: This is odd, having them here at this time of the year. But they are 4-0, with wins over the Bengals, Browns, Raiders and Cowboys. But I think this might be short lived. Beating the Bengals at the beginning of the year is great, since we see that at this moment the Bengals are actually good. But the Browns, Raiders and Cowboys…well, they can’t all be steaks. But consider their division, and already at 4-0, they could run a bunch of games by the end of the year…maybe 12 wins?

#2 New Orleans Saints: Oh yeah, my HOMETOWN! Finally I can break out my Saints hat and wear it with pride. At 4-0 the Saints have knocked off the Lions, Eagles, Bills and Jets. Now, outside the Lions, that is a pretty good trio. This team is like a Ferrari with a turbo boost, and a defense that can hold it’s own. I know it’s still early, and with division foes like the Falcons still yet to play, and a Carolina team many expect to find a way to rebound, it’s not locked up for the Saints yet…but it is looking good.

#1 New York Giants: One guy on ESPN said this about the Giants, that he felt they were better because they already have 2 division wins under their belt. Well, so does the Vikings. But come on, the Lions don’t count….no jokes about the Redskins yet. Still, the Giants have everything in place to prove that they are one of the best teams in the NFL, and with the Redskins faltering, the Eagles banged up and the Cowboys confused, this could be a run for them. They do have some key injuries, including Eli Manning, but if they can put a healthy team on the field, they may well be in the Superbowl at the end of the year.

So that is my top 10 for now, this can change easily from week to week, and as teams get healthy…or lose players. We shall see.

NFL Top 10, week 2

ANFL Top 10, after Week 2

There are a lot of questions about this year’s NFL teams, which makes it very interesting. Key injuries, surprise wins, surprise losses make this very interesting, and it’s only after week 2. So how in the world can we possibly make a top 10 after only two games?

Easy! We just force one!

To be honest, this isn’t fair to make a top 10 this early, but just for the sake of argument, I wanted to see if I could create a top 10 of the NFL teams this year. The easy thing to do is to simply assume that every 2-0 squad is immediately credible, but that may not be so much the case. But it’s our starting point as we begin to name the top 10 NFL teams, as of the end of week 2:

Before we begin, we need to first make a list of all the 2-0 teams:

Giants, Vikings, Falcons, Saints, 49ers, Jets, Colts, Ravens and Broncos. That’s the list of 9 teams that are currently undefeated…so it might be assumed that all 9 should be in the top 10, right?

Maybe.

But this also means we must include some 1-1 teams, and right now they number 14, meaning we have to decide the ten best teams out of over 20, as of only the second week of the season.

Ugh.

Well, after doing my math, I came up with my top 10, but before I do, let me start with the team that just missed out on the cut, and why:

MISSED CUT: Minnesota Vikings 2-0

See, technically the Vikings should have made it, since there were in fact 9 undefeated teams, but I looked at all the other teams that were 2-0 and 1-1 and to be honest, I can’t place the Vikings as a top 10 team, not yet. Beating the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions proves nothing, even though the Vikings do score 28 points to the good. But until they beat tougher foes, I can’t put them on the top 10, not yet.

#10 Buffalo Bills (1-1)

This team SHOULD have been 2-0, with that wacky loss to New England, and their win over Tampa Bay has them 12 points more than they give up, not bad for a 1-1 team. We saw that the Bills may just be as good as advertised, but how long before Mouth Almighty, Tongue Everlasting (TO) starts to undermine the team? As long as they are winning he will be quite…but another loss or two, watch out for fireworks.

#9 Chicago Bears (1-1)

To me this might be the best 1-1 team in the NFL, having lost to the Packers but beating the Superbowl Champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The question here is all about the quarterback, who plays kinda like a werewolf. You just never know what you’re going to get out of Cutler, and with the defense wounded, this could cause some problems as the season goes on. One would have to think that the Bears will lean heavily on an already limping defense, but they are good enough to get the job done.

#8 Denver Broncos (2-0)

I very nearly wanted to place the Broncos even lower, because their two wins are based off beating the Bengals and Browns…and how much noise did THEY make last year? But I was more impressed with their wins than over 2-0 Minnesota, even though the Broncos scored 26 points more than their opponents, while the Vikings scored 28 points more. But between those two, I gave the nod to the Broncos because well, ANYBODY can beat the Lions…

#7 Indianapolis Colts (2-0)

There is a lot of transition going on with the Colts, and one wonders if they can hold serve in their own division. With wins over the Jaguars and the Dolphins, they Colts look ok, but of all the 2-0 teams in the NFL at this moment, the Colts have the slimmest margin of points over their opponents, with a +6. That’s hard to figure out when you have Peyton Manning, and something they better fix soon or they won’t remain undefeated for long.

#6 San Francisco 49ers (2-0)

I realize this might be a bit premature, but hey, it’s only the second week. I put the 49ers here because they won two division games already, one over the Cardinals, who just came off a Superbowl loss. But many have questioned the strength of the NFC West, and I am one of them. They do manage to score 17 points more than their opponents in total, which kinda splits it to like 8 points a game. I don’t think they’ll get any better IF they sign Michael Crabtree (greedy rascal), but I also don’t see this perfect record going too much longer either. Still, two wins over division foes isn’t bad.

#5 New Orleans Saints (2-0)

Talk about 5 hour energy! My home town is racking up the points, having the highest point differential in the NFL after 2 weeks. The Saints have scored 44 points more than their opponents, which averages to like 22 points MORE per game than the opponent. This is a high maintenance machine, but I placed it at number 5 because well, you did beat the Lions…ho hum….and you also beat a wounded Philadelphia team. That does not mean the Saints are a joke, you can’t score tons of points unless you are good, but we will see when they play tougher competition.

#4 Baltimore Ravens (2-0)

People are still talking about that Ray Lewis hit at the end of the game…wow, what a STOP! And beating the Chargers in their house means the Ravens mean business. Add to this some offensive attacks and you may have a pretty tough team in Baltimore. I placed them here because of the impressive win over the Chargers, but not any higher because one of their wins was against the Chiefs, who wasn’t exactly burning up the charts last year. The Ravens average about 10 points more than their opponents per game, which is pretty impressive since the Ravens aren’t known for their offense.

#3 New York Jets (2-0)

Wow, who woulda thought… well, somebody did. And right after Brett Farve left them too. At 2-0 the Jets are one of the top 5 scoring teams in the NFL. They have 24 points total more than their opponents, which averages to about 12 points per game more than teams they play. With wins over the Texans and the Patriots, all eyes look to the AFC East and this team to make noise. They look for real, but one wonders…beating the Texans isn’t saying too much, and is this a down year for the Pats? If so, are the Jets as good as the record… or just Jesting…..

#2 Atlanta Falcons (2-0)

There is no more mystery about Matt Ryan, and the Falcons have beaten the Dolphins and the Panthers…two teams that were decent last year. There is a lot of promise for the team, and with offensive weapons it is likely to see this team hovering near the playoffs by the end of the season. But is Carolina just that bad this year, and what of the Saints? Can Atlanta best the Buccs twice? Lots of questions, to be answered as the year goes on.

#1 New York Giants (2-0)

So if things go the way I said, then the Jets and Giants meet in the Superbowl, right? Well, that’s way too early. But the Giants are good, and it is always a good sign when you knock down two of your division rivals. Beating the Redskins and the Cowboys are always good signs, but they play hard games. Their +8 point differential over 2 games means they are winning on an average of only 4 points…one possession. They have yet to play the Eagles, and if they are healthy, it could be a fight. Missing a very key receiver could be a problem, one they have to adjust to quickly, but it seems they are doing ok.

So that’s my list of the top 10 teams of the first two weeks, you notice I didn’t add in the Pittsburgh Steelers. I didn’t put them in because with a loss to the bears, and a win over the Titans, it wasn’t really saying too much. The Steelers are struggling with offense, and with a key injury on defense, that could be a problem too.

I also didn’t put the Patriots on the list because by many accounts, they OUGHT to be 0-2. They didn’t win that Buffalo game, the Bills GAVE that to them. Yeah, I know a win is a win, but it was not very impressive.

Things will start shaking out as we go on, so surely these rankings are subject to change….tune in as we keep checking on that…

Top 10 NFL teams before Thanksgiving

Top 10 NFL teams BEFORE Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving tomorrow, I had to make a quick list of the top 10 teams in the NFL. And with some upsets happening, there clearly has been a change in the top ten… although personally I would have made such a change last week, if you read my last top 10 NFL teams. Nevertheless, let me share my top 10 NFL teams BEFORE the Thanksgiving games, which include three games.

The magic line this week is 7-4, and I have to trim the teams there. There are currently 6 teams with a record BETTER than 7-4, and 7 teams with said record. That means I have to cut 3 teams out. Those teams include, in no order, Colts, Ravens, Patriots, Cardinals, Falcons, Cowboys and Redskins.

In looking at those teams, one of the first teams I had to drop was the Ravens. They are a good team, but of the teams that are 7-4, this team had the weakest impression. I also had to drop the Redskins because they have been slipping lately, and I had to drop the Cardinals because even though they have a great record, they come out of the uber-soft division. I had to select 10 teams, not 14.

So, let’s start the countdown:

#10 Atlanta Falcons (7-4)

Even though they are in third place in their own division, it is a pretty competitive division. It will be hard for them to make the Wild Card, but there still is a chance. But I put them here because of their recent win over the Panthers, and they pretty much own the NFC North, beating both Green Bay, Chicago and Detroit. But their remaining games are not that competitive, but not totally winnable either. Games AT the Chargers and at New Orleans will quickly decide if they are going post season or not. And finishing the season against the Buccaneers, Vikings and Rams will mix in a few wins…and losses.

#9 New England Patriots (7-4)

We are not sure if that big win over Miami was a redeeming win for the AFC Champs of last year. A loss to the Jets clearly makes them touchable, as if we didn’t already know that with a star player out. But the Patriots have three quality games left, the next against Pittsburgh, then a west coast trip to play Seattle and Oakland, before dragging the Cardinals back across the country to play before ending it with Buffalo. Dare we say they can win 3 straight before the final game against the Bills? We know they are not the team of last year, but they are clearly in position to get in the Wild Card, if not even take back the AFC East position.

#8 Dallas Cowboys (7-4)

I know they play Seattle tomorrow, and few expect them to lose, but I have them here because they narrowly edge out Washington. The win over the 49ers was not impressive, that is NOT a good team anyway. But a win over the Redskins the week before may have saved the season for them. If healthy, this can be a great team, and maybe back to where we thought they should be…contending for the Superbowl. The Cowboys’ last four games will be brutal, so they better savor Thanksgiving and the Seahawks, because games vs. the Steelers, Giants, Ravens and Eagles will not be fun.

#7 Indianapolis Colts (7-4)

For me to put the Colts here means that I think they are the best 7-4 team in the NFL. After a rough start, they have won 4 games in a row, including wins over the Patriots and the Steelers. This was one of the favorites to win the AFC this year anyway, and it looks like they got some of that swagger back. And with four games against losing teams, they can be 11-4 before they meet the Titans at the end of the year. I think the Colts can beat the Browns, Bengals, Lions and Jaguars, and if so, might make for a pretty interesting game vs. the Titans at the end of the year. This folks, could be a HUGE game, one that just might have some heavy implications in the AFC race.

#6 Carolina Panthers (8-3)

I should put this team lower, because the signs seemed to be there of how maybe this was NOT the team we thought it was. You simply cannot struggle against poor teams like the Raiders and the Lions before some weakness is shown. This seemed the case when they played the Falcons. Granted they beat the Falcons earlier, but with playoff spots on the line, you can’t be playing around. The Panthers’ final five include going to a desperate Green Bay team, at home vs. the Buccs and the Broncos, and going on the road to play the Giants and the Saints. None of these games are easy, and several of these teams are in great need of making a final push. If Carolina is not careful, they can find themselves on the outside looking in, in short order.

#5 Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)

There are four teams in the NFL with an 8-3 record at this moment, and the Steelers are one of them. If you named the top 3 AFC teams in pre season, one might say the Patriots, Colts and Steelers, but you can argue for the Chargers as well. But the Steelers have not looked like the best team, just a good one. The problem here is that Pittsburgh does not have a lot of quality wins, and with the Ravens hot on their trail, they cannot afford too many slipups. A secondary problem is their schedule: Patriots, Cowboys, Ravens, Titans. This is not a favorable schedule for the Steelers, and oh by the way, three of those games are away. Hard times come for the Steel City.

#4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-3)

This is odd, because in retrospect I could have moved the Bucs down a spot, maybe two. I mean, sure they beat Carolina, Atlanta, Green Bay and Chicago, but they also had a pretty soft schedule too, and lost to Denver, New Orleans and Dallas. What makes them so good at #4? I put them here because you Tampa Bay does not play easy. In their three losses, none were more than 4 points. They have lost 3 games by a total of 11 points. This means the Bucs are ALWAYS in the game. Their next 3 games will be a true test and they need to distance themselves in the division. They play the Saints, Falcons and Panthers before ending the season with the Chargers and Raiders. We will see if this team can finish off the NFC South and get to the playoffs.

#3 New York Jets (8-3)

Beating the formerly undefeated Titans was a statement for this team, one the management of Green Bay is personally fearful of. We see that an old quarterback still has it, and has brought the Jets to new heights not seen in years. Yes that loss vs. the Raiders was bad, but how did they recover? A win over the Chiefs seemed a scare, but then a crushing blow to the Bills, then Rams before outstanding wins over the Patriots and Titans, back to back. This is a credible team. And yet, the schedule gets a lot softer, which could be a problem. The Jets had problems against lowly Oakland and Kansas City, how will they fare against the 49ers, Seahawks and Dolphins. Mix in a rematch against the Bills and a game vs. the Broncos, and you still have to be careful. Nothing is guaranteed for the Jets, but they do look pretty good.

#2 Tennessee Titans (10-1)

Ok, we can now say what I have been believing for weeks, this was not the best team in the NFL. A very good team, yes but best, no. And yet, we saw it coming weeks ago. Yes they had a soft schedule but the overtime win over the Colts should have been a sign. Close wins at Chicago and at Jacksonville should have been other signs that this team was good, but maybe not so great. The Jets proved that this team was not perfect and beat them in their own home…bad. With games vs. the losing Lions, the bad Browns and terrible Texans, they can get back on schedule, unless these teams have figured the Titans out. If not, then it is likely the Steelers and Colts will by the end of the year. We shall see.

#1 New York Giants (10-1)

Well well, looks like the state of New York could have a personal Superbowl. This is a very good team, and has had several hard games, and as the defending Superbowl Champs, it seems fitting to have them here. Unstoppable, I am not buying into that yet. That Arizona game showed some interesting things about the Giants, and with upcoming games against divisional foes, they will be hard pressed to beat the Redskins, Eagles AND Cowboys back to back to back. Then after that, they get Carolina (if they show up) before ending the season with Minnesota, a team that would like to get into the playoffs. None of these teams are easy, but a true champion can get through it. Who better?

Well, that takes care of my list, wishing you guys the best Thanksgiving, and here’s hoping your teams win.

NFL top 10, week 11

NFL Top 10 Teams, week 11

Lots of things stay the same, but we are slowly learning a little bit more of who the best teams are. We are also seeing that some of the teams that started out great are faltering, and a couple of teams that fell on their face have been slowly waking up. But are those teams on the top 10? Let’s find out.

This week starts out kinda tough, because there are 8 teams that are 6-4, but of those eight, I only have room for 3 to fit in my top 10. With seven teams with better records, I have to allow them place. So now I have to decide which of these 6-4 teams are worthy to get in the top 10.

This was pretty tough, and there are some quality teams that are not on the top 10, but that tells you how tough the second half of this season is going to be just to make the wild card. But I digress…

#10 New England Patriots (6-4)

This could be the last time I put the Patriots here based on merit and last year’s loss in the Super Bowl. They are still the AFC Champs, and until someone knocks them out, the are still there. But a 6-4 record will not hold up long with teams like the Ravens, Broncos and Dolphins looking at that playoff spot. The loss to the Jets hurt them but they must recover quickly and play the Dolphins and the Steelers back-to-back. Few see them winning both…some see them winning neither.

#9 Indianapolis Colts (6-4)

It has been awhile since the Colts made my top 10, and it seems that they could be getting back into form. I had to put the Colts on the list this week because they have had a tougher schedule that most teams, and still have a winning record. That includes wins over the Ravens, Patriots and Steelers. Those are quality wins, in addition to being on a 3-game winning streak after losing to the Titans. With the next 5 games vs. losing record teams, the Colts can see 10 wins before seeing the Titans at the end of the season. Ten wins should get them in the playoffs, don’t you think?

#8 Arizona Cardinals (7-3)

Logic dictates that a 7-3 team should be ranked ahead of a 6-4 team, but I don’t agree so much with this situation. I would love to see the Cardinals do well, and their record certainly shows that, but in a division that just stinks, you can’t help but win 6 games. But you add on wins over Dallas, Buffalo and Miami, and you still have a pretty good team. All their losses came from quality teams, so this is indeed a good squad this year. They have a big game vs. the Giants before they face the Eagles, some think they need to steal one of those to stay in the top 10, but they place is likely assured since they will win the NFC West.

#7 Washington Redskins (6-4)

This spot was actually hard to place because it was the last spot available and I had to choose between the Redskins and the Cowboys. It was one or the other, and in several factors these two teams were pretty much dead even. They both beat each other, they have the same record, they both lost to the Rams. The only way I can justify the Redskins here is by the simple fact that I had them higher last week, and I didn’t want to drop them out of the top 10 completely. I still feel they are better than the Cardinals, and deserved to be higher than the Colts, who were not even ranked last week, and with the Pats slipping I had to at least acknowledge the AFC Champions one more week. But with 3 more quality opponents, we will see if this team can get to the playoffs. The Skins are showing some flaws in their armor…

#6 New York Jets (7-3)

If the playoffs started today, the Jets are in with this great record. It even creates the possible scenario of an all New York Superbowl….hmmm. But I worry about this team. Yes, this is the team that beat the Cardinals big… but didn’t they also lose to the Raiders? Yes this is a team on a 4 game winning streak, but wasn’t one of those wins just BARELY against the lowly Chiefs? Which team are we looking at? Their last six games will not be easy, beginning with the Titans, then with AFC West leader Denver, before facing the Bills and Dolphins once more. That AFC East title is not locked up yet, and neither is the playoff spot. Much work to do.

#5 Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)

Like the Jets, if the playoffs started today, the Steelers would be in, but with a one game lead over the Ravens, there is little margin for error. Unfortunately, the Steelers has one of the toughest schedules down the stretch. They face division foe Cincinnati, and then face the Patriots, then the Cowboys before another divisional confrontation against the Ravens. THEN you face the Titans before closing the season out against the Browns. If we can agree that no division foe is ever easy, then all of these games are big for the Steelers. And with very little margin for error, this could make the difference on winning the AFC Central or watching the playoffs from home.

#4 Carolina Panthers (8-2)

I know I should put them just a bit higher, but I can’t. Their recent track record leaves me wondering what this team is really about. They shut out Kansas City 34-0, fine. Then lose to Tampa Bay, a division foe. They beat the Saints, which is not having a good season, then barely beat Arizona at home when we all know that western teams traveling to the east coast almost NEVER win. Then there’s those two close games to the Raiders and the Lions. How can you barely beat these teams and still be great? With the next 5 games against teams scrapping to make the playoffs, we will see if the Panthers are as good as the record, or just paper champs.

#3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3)

I know the Buccs record isn’t better than the Panthers, but they did BEAT the Panthers, so I put them ahead. This is a team that, if they don’t win the division, they could steal a Wild Card spot from somebody. They’ve already beaten Atlanta and Carolina once, so they have an advantage, but they did lose to the Saints. They virtually own the NFC Central beating everybody except the Lions, and oh by the way that is who they play this week. This is a surprising team, not many are talking about them, and their schedule is favorable to will over 10 games. It might take 12 games to lock on a playoff bid, because they still have to play the Falcons and Panthers again, not to mention the Saints. Not many are taking notice, but they will soon.

#2 New York Giants (9-1)

I am VERY tempted to make the Giants the number 1 team because they are playing the tougher schedule, but their only blemish is that loss to the Browns, which prove that they CAN be beaten. Close games vs. the Bengals and Eagles, prove they are not completely dominant, but other than the Browns, nobody has put an “L” to the column. But the season is not over for the Giants, not by a long shot. Each of their last 6 games will be a battle. The Giants face NFC West leading Arizona, then 3 straight division games vs. the Redskins, Eagles and Cowboys, before facing NFC South contending Carolina and then finally the Vikings, currently in a 3 way tie in the NFC Central…oops, North. Even with a 3 game lead, that is not secure, so the Giants still have many wars to fight before they can be considered a lock in the NFC Playoffs.

#1 Tennessee Titans (10-0)

I am very tempted to switch these two teams, because I am STILL not convinced this is the best team in the NFL. The best AFC team…likely, but not the best NFL team. The Titans have only beaten 2 teams with a winning record, those being the Colts, who just recently jumped over .500 and the Ravens. I am sorry folks, I just can’t keep putting this team as the best, when they beat teams like the Chiefs, Jaguars, Bengals and the like. And with the Lions, Browns and Texans still coming up, they could easily win 13 games and get knocked out in the first playoff game they play. Yes they play the Jets, and finish the season against the Steelers and Colts, so we will see how great they really are. Undefeated season, I can’t see it. In a year where the AFC has been kinda down, it has been advantageous for the Titans to have 12 games in the AFC and only 4 NFC games, and none of those coming from the uber-competitive NFC East or the NFC South.

But having said all that, I still have to give them credit. They ARE undefeated, and as I said before, I cannot fault the Tennessee Titans for their schedule. It’s not the players fault, it’s not the coaches fault, it’s not the fans fault. They have to play the teams on their schedule. So for now, I leave them at number 1...but it will be limited.

So those are my top 10 teams of this week. If the playoffs were to start today, the NFC would have the Giants, Cardinals in for sure, with the NFC North scrapping for position and the NFC South with Carolina and Tampa Bay fighting for supremacy. This leaves a lot of things to happen in the next few weeks. In the AFC, we know the Titans would be in, along with the Jets, Pittsburgh and Denver, with the two wild card spots up for grabs between the Ravens, Colts, Dolphins and Patriots. Lots of things can still happen. We’ll see how that develops as time goes on.

Until next time……..

Top 10 NFL teams week 10

NFL Top 10 Teams, after week 10

Some things change, some things stay the same with the top teams in the NFL. As the season goes on, you see a bit of shuffling as the games become even more important. There MIGHT be two teams that the media has already put in the Superbowl, but even if you go with that, there are a lot of teams fighting for the chance to get to the playoffs. So let’s count down the top 10 teams of the NFL, as of the end of week 10, going into week 11.

Before I begin, I need to make one addition. Because there were so many 6-3 teams, it was tough for me to decide how to rank them, and because of that, one team had to be left out of the top 10. Rather than ignore them, I decided to add them on this week, making them the 11th best team in the NFL. So we will start there:

#11 Baltimore Ravens (6-3)

In the land of the 6-3 teams, this one probably ranks at the bottom. Why? When I look at the quality wins, I only see one, that being their win over Miami. I know the Dolphins are not the best team around, but they are quality this year. For the Ravens to beat them means something, but losing to the Steelers, Titans and Colts hurt. And with games against FIVE tough teams, it may be hard for the Ravens to make it to the playoffs. Imagine playing the Giants, Eagles, Redskins, Steelers and Cowboys, and tell me what you think?

#10 Atlanta Falcons (6-3)

Nobody saw this team rising the way they have this year, and it is possible that the Falcons can see the post season. With a 6-3 record, they have quality wins over Green Bay and Chicago, but some may argue the strength of that division. With losses to Tampa Bay, the Panthers and the Eagles, they are going to have a tough time winning their own division. They’ll get a chance since they play both Tampa Bay and Carolina again, with Denver also on the schedule. It’s possible we could see them in post season, so watch out.

#9 Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

The Steelers have had a rough year so far, losing to some of the better teams of the NFL, but also winning a couple as well. Wins over the Ravens and Redskins are big feathers in the Steelers chance to make a solid run in the playoffs. The problem isn’t whether they get in or not, it’s where they will be seeded. Losses to the Giants, Colts and Eagles make them touchable, and with games against the Patriots, Cowboys, Ravens and Titans will test these guys to decide if they are one of the three best AFC teams, or one that just limps in at the end.

#8 Arizona Cardinals (6-3)

This is one of those stories that you kinda root for, with the sudden success of these guys. Granted they come out of an uber-soft division, but they still have to win. They have quality wins over the Bills and the Cowboys, but also quality losses to the Jets, Redskins and Panthers. We’re going to see how good they are when they play the Giants, Eagles and the Patriots. If the Cardinals were an AFC team, they’d be a lock to the playoffs, but because they are in the NFL, that is not guaranteed. We’re hoping that this is a good team, instead of waiting for the other shoe to drop…and the Cardinals end up outside looking in.

#7 New England Patriots (6-3)

We know injuries are a major factor of why this team is where they are now, but the same can be said for many other teams. While the Pats have wins over Denver and Buffalo, both of those teams have taken a fall lately. With losses to Miami and the Colts, we see that this is a team that can be beaten. Many teams would love to have revenge on the Pats for their past success, and with games upcoming against the Dolphins, Steelers, Cardinals and Bills, every game might as well be either an AFC Championship or a Superbowl.

#6 Washington Redskins (6-3)

The Skins are slipping, after once being at the top of the NFC. In a very competitive conference, the margin for error is paper thin for any team. With key losses to the Giants and the Steelers, they can still rest on the fact that it takes the cream of the crop to beat them. Their wins over the Cardinals, Cowboys and Eagles are very credible, and we certainly would have had them higher if not for that loss to the Rams. But the Redskins’ schedule does not get easier by any means. They must face each of their division foes once more, and also face the Ravens. Playoff team? Maybe, if they can handle their business.

#5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)

I actually should have put this team even higher, but the strikes against this team the number of losses. Granted they lost to Denver and Dallas, but most will say those are quality losses. But of the 6-3 teams, the Buccaneers have defeated more quality teams than anyone else. This includes Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay and Carolina. If they can take care of business, they are easily in the NFC playoffs. They must face Atlanta and Carolina again, but we could see a 10-win season for Tampa Bay before it is all over…perhaps more than 10 wins. This is a pretty good team that will make a mark in the NFC this year.

#4 New York Jets (6-3)

I never thought I’d put the Jets as the best 6-3 team in the NFL, which is very odd. But in a year where the AFC is wide open, the Jets have just as good a chance at winning as anyone else in the AFC. Ok, so the pitiful Oakland Raiders beat them, I know, but they do have a quality loss to the Patriots, and have quality wins over the Dolphins, Cardinals and Bills. This is a team that may find themselves in control of the AFC East if they can beat the Patriots. And with remaining games against decent AFC teams, they have a strong shot into the playoffs. However, we can’t ignore the game vs. the Titans coming up, and they still have to beat the Patriots, Dolphins and Bills once more. I didn’t say it was easy, but the Jets seem to have the best shot at making this work and surprising the NFL.

#3 Carolina Panthers (7-2)

This is going to be interesting because the Panthers almost gave the Raiders the game last week, so you wonder how good this team REALLY is. Of their two losses, one came to Tampa Bay, and the Panthers have quality wins over the Bears, Falcons and Cardinals. But when you look ahead, they have a very tough road. They face the Falcons again, as well as Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Denver and the Giants. Five tough games, and this from a team that struggled against the Raiders…the jury is still out on these guys, but they do have great offensive weapons. We just don’t want to be flipping coins to decide if they will win or not.

#2 New York Giants (8-1)

I actually wanted to put the Giants at #1 because to me, their schedule has been much harder. They barely escaped the Eagles, but as they say, a win is a win. Putting aside the loss to the Browns, the Giants have had a tough road, and have won nearly every game. But the Giants have a very, VERY hard road ahead of them. They face the Ravens next, then the Cardinals. After that, they face divisional foes Redskins, Eagles and Cowboys, in that order, before facing the Panthers and the Vikings. Can ANY team get through that kinda schedule? A slide could put the Giants right out of the playoffs, so they must take great care the next several games. We don’t envy the Giants at all.

#1 Tennessee Titans (9-0)

Yes this is still the number one team by default, but I will give them a little more credit than last week. While the Titans have defeated the Bears and Packers and Ravens, they have yet to beat a team that is making a serious run into the playoffs. Against my #11 ranked Ravens, they win by 3. Against unranked Green Bay, a 3 point win in overtime and against unranked Chicago, a 7 point win. Wins nevertheless, but ones that let you know that this team is not made of steel.

The Titans play the Jaguars, in what could be a close game, even with a sub par team as the Jags. After that, they play the Jets before getting some super soft cream puffs in the Lions, Browns and Texans. Then they end the season against the Steelers and the seemingly improving Colts. Can they go undefeated…sure. Will they? No.

Their schedule isn’t as tough as the Giants and I really wanted to put the Titans in #2 but I cannot fault the Titans for winning the games on their schedule. They did exactly what they were supposed to do…win. And right now, they are the only team in the NFL with a perfect record. So they deserve the top spot…for now.

We’ll see how things shape up in a few days, see ya then!

Top 10 NFL Teams, week 10

Top 10 NFL Teams, week 10

Not to be confused, this is going INTO week 10, not after week nine, just wanted to make that clear.

As we get just past the half-way mark of the NFL season, there are still just as many questions to answer as the start of the season. It seems that the NFC seems to have a slightly stronger conference than the AFC, but there are still many games left to be played. So let’s jump right into this and count down the top 10 teams of the NFL as of the end of week 9, and heading into week 10:

#10 Baltimore Ravens (5-3)

This was kinda hard to start because when you look at the teams, there are currently 8 teams with a 5-3 mark, and that is where I start my countdown. There were some teams that were 4-4 and were on my list last week, but I think of the eight teams, the Ravens deserve to now be on this list. There are 4 teams on the top 10 that are 5-3, and the reason I have the Ravens here is because the only team of quality they defeated was Miami. With major games against the Giants, Eagles, Redskins, Steelers and Cowboys, their stay on this list is likely to be very brief.

#9 Chicago Bears (5-3)

What makes Da Bears better than the Ravens? Not much, except that their quality wins include Colts and Eagles. And the Bears kinda sit on top of their division, but this is not official. The thing here is the schedule for the Bears is not very challenging. Sure they have the Titans next, but they also have to play the Packers twice. This could be a playoff team that barely sees my top 10. Yet the schedule could have them moving up by default. Keep your eyes in Chicago, we really don’t know what to make of the Bears.

#8 New England Patriots (5-3)

The AFC Champs are still in the mix and are in a pretty tough division. I put the Patriots over the Bears and Ravens because they are still the AFC Champs until they fall under .500, and they do have quality wins over the Jets and Denver. I know some will question the strength of those two wins, so I won’t argue if you see differently. But the future for the Patriots may be rough. Games against the Bills twice (whom I have taken off my top 10), the Jets, Dolphins, Pittsburgh and the upstart Cardinals will be interesting to check out. The Pats can make the post season, but we are not fully sure if they are down for the count, or just wounded.

#7 Philadelphia Eagles (5-3)

For me to put the Eagles here means I think they are the best 5-3 team in the NFL. Remember there are 8 teams currently at 5-3, and I put the Eagles as the best of them. Why? I looked at their losses, quality losses to the Redskins, Cowboys and Bears. The Eagles also come out of a incredibly competitive division and they have key wins over Pittsburgh and Atlanta. This is a good 5-3 team, and I think the best 5-3 team in the NFL. But now the real test begins. They play the Giants twice, as well as the Ravens, Cardinals, as well as repeat games vs. Washington and Dallas. This might be the best team NOT to make the playoffs and their schedule is more brutal than the Pats, Ravens or Bears. Good luck Philly, you’re gonna need it!

#6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)

So now we move up to teams that have a strong record. Two teams have a 6-3 record, and I put the Buccs second of those two. Why? I think this is a very strong division, but a loss to the Saints and Denver hurt them. These two teams are not even on my top 10, so these are not quality losses…well, I know some will argue for Denver, so I take that back. But their third loss to Dallas once was quality, now has fallen off. This does not mean this is a bad team, I mean, they could easily have 11 wins by the end of the year. But I think there are a few other NFC teams that will give them a run for their money. If the Buccs can knock off the Packers or Panthers again, then we might be looking at a really tough team to be reckoned with.

#5 Washington Redskins (6-3)

The other half of the 6-3 teams, I put the Redskins here over the Buccs because I felt that the division was slightly stronger than the NFC South. Both are VERY good, so we are really splitting hairs, but I give a nod to the Redskins. A loss to the Rams might be hard to swallow, but you can’t fault them for losses to the Steelers and Giants. This is a tough team in a tough division, with many tough games left to play. Half of their remaining games are against teams on my top 10 list (Cowboys, Giants, Ravens, Eagles) and the other half is well…(Bengals, Seahawks, 49ers). A 10 win season will be a strong possibility, but how strong do they need to be to make post season?

#4 Carolina Panthers (6-2)

You can argue that this is a position by default, because Carolina and one other team is 6-2, meaning they are a game behind other teams. They sit on top of the NFC South only on this measure, because remember they lost to Tampa Bay. All things being equal, the Buccs SHOULD be on top, but that will be settled later. The argument here however, is that the Panthers have wins over only 4 teams over .500, and two of those are on my top 10 list. Games against the Lions and Raiders will make them look pretty nice at an expected 8-2, but is this smoke and mirrors? If you believe the Saints are getting better, then the last 6 games for the Panthers will be a very, very hard test to survive. All of those teams are good enough to make the playoffs if it started today…will the Panthers make it after those 6 games?

#3 Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

The win over Washington was exactly what the Steelers needed, proving that the AFC is still in the house and that they need not fear the NFC East anymore. Losing to the Eagles and Giants on an average of 8 points means they were in the game, but I have heard stories about the weak schedule of the Steelers. Wins over the Bengals, Texans, Browns and Jaguars have been sniffed at. The Steelers need more credible wins, and their schedule will give them a chance to prove it. We don’t know about the Colts, but we do know that the Pats, Cowboys, Ravens and Titans will be true tests for the Pittsburgh Steelers. As it stands in my book, the Steelers will get a first round bye, and it is hard to see another team to take that spot away from them, but there is still many more games to play. Could health be a problem for the Steelers….

#2 New York Giants (7-1)

The only one-loss team in the NFC, this was an easy choice. The defending Super Bowl Champs ought to be on this list if they have a winning record, and with only one loss, they should be at least this high right? But wait, some have questioned the strength of schedule. 5 of their first 6 games were against teams currently under .500. The first win of the year over the Redskins could have been different. The win vs. Pittsburgh was a quality win, but now that last win over the Cowboys might not be as impressive as we first thought. And then there’s that embarrassing loss to the Browns. The Giants are quite touchable, and the next 7 of 8 games will put the champs through the fire. Only the Minnesota Vikings don’t have a losing record, but they are even at 4-4. This means that at the moment, the New York Giants must play 8 straight teams that could get in the playoffs…there will be more losses, but how many?

#1 Tennessee Titans (8-0)

Well, here we are again, with the Titans at the top of the list. Nobody else is undefeated, so there can be no argument about this one…but we can debate the true strength. I know I sound like a scratched CD, but I am still not fully convinced that this is the BEST team in the NFL. I won’t argue it as of now, but I cannot say this is the team to get to the Superbowl….not yet. Their first 3 wins were against the Jaguars, Bengals and Texans…currently 7-18 collectively. Not impressive, but it’s not the Titan’s fault. The next 3 games were wins over the Vikings, Ravens and Chiefs. The Vikings seem to be getting it together, the Ravens actually have a winning record and the Chiefs…well…

Collective those records of those 3 teams is 10-14. And that win vs. a quality opponent (Ravens) was only by 3 points. The last two games were against the Colts and Packers, and I have to give that to the Titans. These are in fact quality wins, but close ones. The Tennessee Titans have proven their place at #1 by being undefeated.

But it does not quench the thirst of whether this is the BEST team. Of the teams they have beaten this year, only the Ravens seem to be the best, and that leaves a bit to be desired, considering the Colts this year and the Packers. With games coming up against the Jaguars, Browns, Lions and Texans, it seems like 4 more easy wins. The Titans seem to almost be assured a bye already. They do have to play the Bears, Colts, Steelers and Jets, so it is hard to see them go undefeated. If they beat the Bears this weekend, they could then string enough wins to have people wondering if this team CAN go undefeated. With such a soft schedule, they just might…but what does it mean to gain such a prestigious mark if you can’t win the Superbowl?

We shall see…..

Best NFL teams week 8

Week 8 Top 10 NFL Teams

It would seem that we have learned a little bit more about the NFL and the teams that are trying to get to the post season, but one thing that keeps all our guesses in check is the fact that the NFL is not always about the BEST team, rather the HEALTHIEST. And a lot of people may argue that, but you need not look any further than some of the best teams and the key players that are out either this week, the next two weeks, the next month or gone for the season due to injuries.

But regardless, you still have to play with the players on your roster, so we must still try to identify the best 10 teams in the NFL. Let’s get to it. This week is harder because there are 17 teams that have a winning record, and one team even at .500. There was a lot of shifting last weekend so we really aren’t much closer to knowing the best than the beginning of the year.

#10 Philadelphia Eagles (4-3)

This was pretty hard because there are a bunch of 4-3 teams out there. I counted 8 teams with this record and one with 4-4 (Saints). But after you get past all the other looking records, I HAD to pick one of these teams. I will not argue with anyone who debates this pick but I put the Eagles here because they are in perhaps the best division in the NFL. This is not a division where one team is perfect and everybody else is below .500, or where the best team is 4-3 and the others are right behind them. This is a very competitive division. The Eagles have lost to three teams currently over .500 and may well see post season action. But injuries have many worried how far this team can go, and at least 6 of their upcoming games are going to be true battles. We know only 3 teams at best from the NFC East are going to the post season, and right now this team is the odd man out.

#9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3)

I had this team in the top 5 last week, and thought they could beat the Cowboys, but as they say, that’s why they play the game. They took a quick fall but this does not mean they should be forgotten. The Buccs have lost 3 games, but each on an average of just over a field goal. Losing to the Saints by 4 at the beginning of the year in New Orleans is nothing to be ashamed of. Losing to Denver at Mile High Stadium by 3 points is not bad either, if you have to take a loss. Even losing to Dallas AT Dallas by 4 points isn’t the end of the world, although most would say that Tampa should have taken that. These are close losses that can be fixed. Nobody has blown them out the water, which shows this is a team that can stay in the game. Keep your eyes on this team, I smell post season for them.

#8 Dallas Cowboys (5-3)

The difference between this team and the Buccaneers is the simple fact that Dallas beat the Buccs last weekend, so that makes them better. Say what you want about those three losses, but at the time they lost, we thought these teams were pretty bad. When Dallas lost to the Redskins, people didn’t know how good the Redskins were. When they lost to Arizona, we didn’t know this could very well be a team we will see in post season. When they lost to the Rams, who knew they could have turned this team around. Now this does not completely defend those losses, but the more important issue is the injuries on the team. As I said at the top, sometimes the best teams are the healthiest, so one has to wonder about the Cowboys. 6 of their last 8 games are against teams that can get in the playoffs, and their very next game is against the Giants. A rough road to travel when you are not healthy.

#7 Buffalo Bills (5-2)

I’ll be honest, I am still not fully convinced of this team, but we cannot ignore the record. I understand that they cannot change the schedule, but this does not mean they get an automatic bye in the post season. And consider that to this point, they have only played one divisional game…and lost. Now they face the Patriots twice and the hungry Jets twice, as well as facing Miami again…I fear for the Bills, and not just because it’s near Halloween. They have a stretch where they play the Browns, Chiefs and 49ers, this could be a good point to fine-tune the team in the midst of a tough storm. People forget that the AFC East is pretty good, with the Pats, Jets and Miami. The Bills are going to have to step it up because it looks like the better teams are BETTER than the Bills.

#6 New England Patriots (5-2)

You can’t count out this team yet, there seems to still be some hope in them, and why not? Nobody has really locked down the AFC, and with so many teams within 2 or 3 games apart, there is hope for anybody. The Patriots come off a tough win against the Rams. If the NFC is indeed tougher this year, then the Patriots have been spared because they only play 4 NFC teams, one being the 49ers they recently defeated, as well as the turnaround Rams. With Seattle and Arizona, the latter at home, the Patriots won’t have to fear the NFC until the Superbowl…if they get there. But they will have their hands full playing teams like the Steelers, Bills, Dolphins and even a desperate Colts team. We’ll see how this turns out.

#5 Washington Redskins (6-2)

Eyebrows were raised when the Redskins lost to the Rams, but they have been forgiven since that same team beat the Cowboys. But two wins in the last 2 weeks does not really solidify them as the elite…I mean, they did beat the Browns only by 3, and the Lions only by 8. An elite team has to dominate the lesser foes, and they don’t come any lesser than those two teams this year. So there is question that maybe the league has figured the Redskins out. With a game vs. an injured Steelers team, we may still not know the true answer. But with upcoming games against the Giants, Cowboys, Eagles and Ravens, we will see all we need to see. We shall know if this is a playoff bound Redskins team, or a pretender. There is still many more games left to play.

#4 Carolina Panthers (6-2)

It’s odd that I have this team above the Buccaneers, since in head-to-head the Panthers lost to the Buccs. But this is a very good team when all cylinders are clicking. Many wondered if this was a team that played great one weekend, then forgot how to play the next weekend. The real question is that right now, the Buccaneers are the only real quality team the Panthers have played…and lost. Wins against the overachieving Cardinals, the struggling Saints, the hapless Chiefs, the upstart Falcons and others still has me wondering if this team is for real. But with only 2 losses, we cannot debate that. And with games vs. the Lions and Raiders, we won’t really learn that much more about them. But the last 6 games will really show the NFL what these Panthers are really about. We will see what we shall see very soon on this Carolina Panthers team.

#3 Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)

This team should be lower but you wonder if this team is still getting better or are they wore down with injuries. But how can you lower a team that lost only to the Giants and the Eagles? This is still a good team, and in the AFC, these guys have just as good a chance as anybody else to make the playoffs. And let’s not forget, this team has injury problems as well. With a very mixed schedule of decent teams and bad teams, we are going to see if Pittsburgh can be consistent in winning. One of the knocks on this team is the strength of schedule hasn’t really tested this team. The Texas, Browns and Bengals aren’t really great tests for a great team, but then again, we aren’t saying this team is great. With the Redskins, Cowboys, Patriots and Titans on the schedule, this will be a hard path to the post season for the Steelers…made even harder with injuries.

#2 New York Giants (6-1)

It appears the Superbowl Champs are still in the mix big time, and nobody else save one can challenge them on the winning record. The Giants are the only team with one loss, and last week defeated my #2 team in the Steelers. So they MUST be one of the best, right? Up until last weekend, I questioned the strength of the Giant’s foes, but after beating the Steelers I still want to see more. Consider this, 8 of the last 9 games that the Giants must play are against teams with a winning record. Up until last weekend, 1 of the 6 previous games was against a team currently with a winning record. It’s time we see what the Champs are all about. The NFC East is tough enough to get through, but add on the Ravens, Cardinals and Panthers and wow, this could get interesting.

#1 Tennessee Titans (7-0)

Is everybody on the bandwagon yet? This is the only undefeated team in the NFL at 7-0, and the reason the 1972 Dolphins have not sipped of the undefeated champagne. But again, I put this team here only by default, and that is not to insult the Titans. We have not really seen this team tested because only 1 team out of their 7 has a winning record, and their division is made up of teams all under .500. Yes they are a very good team, but I am not putting them in the Superbowl, I can’t even guarantee them that they will win the first game in the playoffs. They just have not played a tough enough schedule to say that now. And further, 4 of their last NINE games are against teams currently over .500. The schedule just isn’t showing that this is the best team in the NFL, but because they are undefeated, I must give them that respect. I also have to do so because it’s not the Titan’s fault that the Bengals, Texans, Colts and Chiefs are so bad this year. They play who is on the schedule, and they win. And because they are perfect so far, this makes them number 1.

So, that’s our look at the best NFL teams this week. I mentioned that there were 18 teams that were .500 or better, but if you add in teams that are just one game under .500, that adds on 6 more teams. This means you still have 24 teams in the mix… anything can happen…

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?

Greatest RBs ever...#11, #10, #9....

Greatest Rbs ever…#11, #10 & #9

This is getting pretty interesting as we count down the greatest NFL running backs of the current time…note I wanted to say of ALL time, but that technically is incorrect. We can never make a list of the greatest all time, because we are basing it on the idea that nothing in the future will change what we say.

If someone had done this list back in 1998, it would be different from what we have now, because some of the guys on the list were not at their prime. If this same poll was done in 1988, there would be some on the list now that wasn’t even in the NFL then. If this poll was done in 1968, some of these backs weren’t even BORN. So the idea of greatest of ALL time, or the greatest EVER is purely subjective.

I even say that against myself.

But let’s not confuse the idea of “great” with “favorite”. There are lots of backs that some older guys might have really liked. Emerson Boozer, John Brockington, Sam (the BAM) Cunningham, Chuck Muncie, numerous other guys might have been favorites of some of the older readers, but they may not have been amongst the greatest of all time.

I have lots of favorites that didn’t make the list, so I have to separate what makes a running back good, and what makes him great. With that in mind, let’s continue through the menu….

#11 Thurman Thomas: 47 points

There actually is a lot of irony here because history begs us to only remember winners…but how many running backs can say they led their team to the Superbowl FOUR times? Thurman Thomas is actually tied with the #10 on this list, but you’re going to get a lot of amens from Buffalo Bills fans on this one. One of the constants of the 1990s was Thurman Thomas scoring touchdown after touchdown and making the Bills a dynasty for that magical time in NFL history. A very classy player, and certainly a great back.

Why not higher? The difference in him being #11 and being in the top ten is paper thin, but a lot is based on his team accomplishments. As mentioned before, Thurman is tied with the next guy on the list, but if he had one just one of those four Superbowls, he’d been a lock for the top 10. He is on the list on each of the three characteristics of individual stats and has a great number in individual awards element. But the easiest answer to this question of why he is not higher is this: because there are indeed better backs coming up.

Why on the list? This is where many could argue about Thurman Thomas losing four Superbowls…after all, we only remember the winners right? That’s kinda perverted thinking because remember, the Superbowl is made up of the NFC AND AFC Champions… of which Thurman Thomas was a great part of many times. Many good or even great backs might get one shot at a Superbowl, even if they lose. Even though Thurman and the Bills lost 4, at least he GOT there…how many of YOUR favorite backs can even say that?

#10 Roger Craig: 47 points

Many times the difference in any tie I have will usually favor the great back that has greater team accomplishments. For this reason Roger Craig is in the top 10 list. Roger Craig is a pure definition of the word, “all purpose back” and proved it from the first year he entered the NFL. From start to finish, Roger Craig on any team he played for meant playoffs because you could count on his rushing as well as any other yards in any other way. The perfect TEAM player and an excellent back, you just cannot go wrong with Roger Craig.

Why not higher? Roger Craig had high marks when it came to team accomplishments, but he no longer ranks in any of the three characteristics of individual stats. He is not in the top 30 in yards, touchdowns and his yards per carry does not give him any points. The three elements must be in agreement for a back to be considered the greatest, and even though Roger Craig is clearly great, I could not put him any higher.

Why on the list? Roger Craig helped the San Francisco 49ers to three Superbowls, and won them all. They also went to an NFC Championship or two, so the resume of Roger Craig is very heavy. Again, one of the key elements of being great is being a powerful force in the team’s accomplishments. Granted he gets no points off my formula in the individual stats element, he still gets plenty of points in the individual awards element. Roger Craig has easily proven his worth to this list.

#9 Frank Gifford: 51 points

Another “old school” back that played before there was a Superbowl. The once-voice of “Monday Night Football” Frank Gifford is a legendary figure to the sport for winning, endurance and old school football. Much like Roger Craig, he had to wear a couple of hats, but he proved his credibility not just in the running back position, but in other positions as well. A true champion in every sense of the word, well before there was such a thing as a “Superbowl”. Old die-hards of the way the NFL used to be can stand up and be proud of Frank Gifford.

Why not higher? One of the first things that actually worked against Frank Gifford was the era adjustment. Because he retired in the 60’s that was 4 points off. If there was no era adjustment, he would still be about this same spot, or tied with #8 coming up. But as we continue to move up, we see that to be THE greatest, the numbers in all three elements must be higher. No one is going to question Frank Gifford in team accomplishments. He scored a 35 with that, which is up there with the best On that alone, he’d be in the top 5, but he also ranks barely on the top 30 with touchdowns and he does have a good yards per carry average. Frank Gifford is well decorated in individual awards, so yes, he is quite worthy.

Why on the list? Champions need great players, and Frank Gifford is one of them. Multiple trips to the NFL Championship game and a Pro-Bowl selection 8 times, there are few that can make claim to greatness as Frank Gifford can…in fact, according to my list, there are only a hand full of others that can boast greatness as well as Frank Gifford has. The New York Giants had a gem in this man.

So there you have it, three more on the list as greatest of all time, and oddly enough, the last two I listed were just as much a threat as a RECEIVER as they were a running back. I didn’t want to limit this to just a pure and absolute running back, because in the game of football sometimes you have to do more to help your team. This really is a solid point of what makes some of these guys great.

Before I go, let me share another name that didn’t make the list, and why. Remember, just because they didn’t make it does not mean they are great. I mean, who drew the line to say that the top 25 running backs are great? Why can’t it be 36, or 42, or 58? It’s just a nice clean number to work with, so don’t get upset at the rankings, it’s just some ramblings from a football fan.

Jamal Lewis: 20 points

This is interesting because he has an excellent chance of getting on the top 25 with just a few more accomplishments. Remember, the #25 back of all time (according to my insane formula) was Ladainian Tomlinson with 28 points. Now granted, with both being current in the NFL, LT could move up as well, but Ottis Anderson at #23 is not likely to move up any more.

A Superbowl Championship with the Baltimore Ravens adds a big star to his resume, and a pretty good yards per carry as well as being on the top 20 all time with yards helps too. If I did this ranking in 2010, he may very well be on that list, knocking somebody off. So this isn’t about why he isn’t on the list, it could easily be how soon he may be on that list.

Ok, let’s shut it down for a little bit, hope you can get some mileage out of this ranking. Remember, I am not doing this to degrade anybody, every one of these backs is a hero and a model to somebody, and we all have our favorites. Hope yours is on this list. Next time, we’ll cover a few more as we get even closer to the greatest of all time….

Gotta stop saying that, it isn’t quite accurate…

Later guys….

Best NFL teams this week...again

Top 10 NFL teams this week

Well, as of October 1st, 2008, I want to chime in on who I think the top 10 teams are in the NFL. I know ESPN has their power rankings, but I tried not to look at that on their ticker so I can make my own list.

By the way, if you have not read my blogs on the greatest running backs ever, check those out, I am up to the top 15 so I will be getting back to that soon.

Also, we have witnessed Monty Burns (Al Davis) finally firing his head coach. The way he went about it was, in my opinion, totally childish. How can an old man act like a 5 year old? I hope Kiffin sues him for 50 million dollars…well, we know he won’t get that much, but I hope he sues Al Davis and wins. And mind you, I am a Raider fan, but I do NOT like how horribly Al Davis has been running that team.

Anyway that is for another blog, here are my top 10 NFL teams this week:

#10 New England Patriots(2-1)

Yeah, they lost to Miami in bad fashion, but any team with one loss is still in the hunt, and this is still the AFC team that everybody remembers. I know there is serious quarterback issues and the team is struggling, but when the champ is down you better figure out how to knock him out, rather than just marvel at his wounds…lest you get knocked out yourself.

#9 Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)

I would have put these guys higher, much higher but they are going to have some serious issues with health. That means that at this moment, they are NOT as good as they should be. I was wondering that with all the running back problems that even my phone might ring to see if I can play. These guys are good, but nobody wins the Superbowl with injuries like this.

#8 Denver Broncos (3-1)

I would have put these guys lower, especially with that embarrassing loss to the Chiefs, but this is the NFL, every team is professional (so the theory goes). There are certainly some flaws with the Broncos, but I think they are in a better position than Pittsburgh, only slightly. The only quality team they beat was the Chargers, so they have a lot to prove.

#7 Buffalo Bills (4-0)

Yeah, I know these guys are one of 3 undefeated teams in the league, but the teams they beat are currently 4-11. They beat two teams that recently fired their coaches. When they get to 6-0 or 7-0, then we can talk about top 5. The season is still very early. I’m just not convinced that these are the real McCoys.

#6 Baltimore Ravens (2-1)

I know these guys lost to the Steelers, but with the defense these guys have, this is a very tough team to deal with. If they can just get a little more offense, these guys will be a serious threat. They give you only about 14 points a game if you are lucky, hard to beat a team in the NFL with just two touchdowns. But the also average just a bit more than that, which makes for close games.

#5 Washington Redskins (3-1)

With the impressive win over the Cowboys, everything looks to be shaping up for the Redskins. Their only loss came early, and fans can easily forgive that. But is this team really for real? They are in a very tough division, and they will be tested beyond those of mere mortals…ok that was corny, but they are pretty good.

#4 Tennessee Titans (4-0)

I am just not ready to make these guys the best team in then NFL. A close win over Jacksonville, and wins over Houston, Minnesota and Cincinnati are not really that impressive if you want to be THE best team in the NFL. It can get you to the playoffs, but not the Superbowl. We’ll see if this trend of winning continues for the Titans.

#3 Dallas Cowboys (3-1)

An embarrassing loss, and the media feeding of TO and his whining have put a damper on the team many thought was almost a shoe-in for the Superbowl. But you just can’t rule out major rivalries like the Cowboys vs. Redskins. This is a very tough division and I think each team will beat each other up, so this won’t be the only loss Dallas will receive.

#2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)

This might be temporary, but the Buccs seem to be pretty good. They beat some pretty decent teams in Chicago, Green Bay and Atlanta. I bet Warren Sapp would like to be there for one more year. But I wonder if the QB is going to last. Once the league gets the film on Griese, I fear they will have “figured him out”…ask Aaron Rodgers and Derik Anderson…

#1 New York Giants (3-0)

The Giants beat the Redskins, then piled the points on the Bengals and the Rams…not that impressive. But the defending Superbowl Champs get the nod because as a famous wrestler, Ric Flair, once said…

“In order to BE the man, you gotta BEAT the man”

So until somebody beats the Giants (and it may be sooner than you think) I have to give them considerations for being the best team in the NFL…the defending Superbowl Champs deserve that if they are still undefeated, right?

Anyway, that’s my list. Anybody watch that college football game on ESPN with Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee State…WHAT A GAME!

Anyway, gotta jet….