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.
Showing posts with label Tennessee Titans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tennessee Titans. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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……..
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……..
Thursday, November 13, 2008
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!
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!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
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…..
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…..
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
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…
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…
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Top 10 NFL Teams week 7
Top Ten NFL Teams Week 7
After some interesting games I think we can see that nothing is etched in stone when it comes to the NFL. Just a few weeks ago I would have sworn that three teams out of the NFC East were guaranteed in the playoffs, but now, I am not so sure. I gotta tell you guys, right now ANYTHING can happen, there is no clear cut favorite to the playoffs. But how does that change the top 10 standings? Let’s find out:
#10 Arizona Cardinals (4-2)
We’re not sure if this is the real deal or as former coach Dennis Green once said, “they are who we THOUGHT they were”. But you’ve got to be impressed by how this team has played. Beating the Cowboys and the Bills are impressive at this point in the year, and losing to the Redskins isn’t so bad as one of 2 losses. I think it’s going to be a challenge for the Cardinals to get more than 8 wins, but certainly if healthy they can do it, and possibly see themselves in the playoffs…possible, but not guaranteed.
#9 New England Patriots (4-2)
I’ve got the Patriots higher than the Cardinals purely on experience. Yeah, we know they crushed the Denver Broncos, but we may be finding out that the Broncos are not exactly what we thought they were. Beating the Rams this week won’t really prove anything, but losing to them will say a lot. And remember the recent Superbowl history…the team that LOSES usually does not even make the playoffs… could the Pats be the next statistic?
#8 Atlanta Falcons (4-2)
Perhaps the surprise team of the year thus far, and in a pretty competitive conference, the Falcons are looking pretty good with a brand new quarterback. Losing to Tampa Bay and Carolina isn’t anything to be ashamed of, but with both being in your division that hurts a lot. Their schedule isn’t that easy, and have yet to play a very desperate New Orleans team. We’ll see if they can keep the magic going…
#7 Washington Redskins (4-2)
Just a couple of weeks ago, we thought this may be THE team of the NFC, now we don’t know anymore. A loss at the beginning of the year to the Giants was ok, but losing to the Rams looked very telling…but now we have to rethink that if the Rams turn to be pretty decent. Most of their games have been close, their average margin of victory being about 6 points. With a game against the Lions coming up, they ought to be able to pad their stats a bit.
#6 Buffalo Bills (5-1)
I am just not fully convinced that this is one of the top 3 teams in the NFL, but I will grant you that it is currently one of the top 3 teams in the AFC. With no division wins or games played, none of their wins come from any team over .500. And with their schedule, they could very well get a bye and lose the first game in the playoffs. The schedule is in their favor, but have we really seen the best of the Bills…or just bluff?
#5 Carolina Panthers (4-2)
This team is pretty good once they get the engine going, with very quality backs and receivers, I don’t see why this isn’t the number one scoring team in the world…not NFL but the world! It’s quite conceivable that the Panthers can win the next 5 games, or at least 4, but we’re not sure which team we will see. Losing to Tampa Bay and Minnesota shows that they are not quite the best teams in the NFC, but I don’t see how they can miss the playoffs. Games against the Cardinals, Raiders and Lions will let us know how much roar these Panthers really have.
#4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2)
It’s funny that just a few weeks ago we said that the NFC East would put 3 teams in the playoffs…now it looks like the NFC South has that distinction. Tampa Bay is on top, beating both Carolina and Atlanta. With a wounded Cowboys team coming up, if Tampa Bay wins this game, it might be the first of a 5-game winning streak, although technically it would be 7 since they won their last 2 games. Too early to crown the best in the NFL, even in the NFC, but it’s looking pretty good for them.
#3 New York Giants (5-1)
The defending Superbowl Champions are not out of this, not by a long shot, but one had to question their strength of schedule. Beating teams that had a losing record, and then losing to the Browns might be the start of something. Now the schedule turns into a completely different story. The next 9 games are against teams that have a very strong chance to get into the playoffs…these are not cupcakes. And 5 of those games are divisional games…this will not be easy for the Giants, and we’re going to see how the champs can defend that crown.
#2 Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1)
If there was any question on the test the Giants have, it starts here. These two teams play this weekend, and I put the Steelers here because their single loss came to a quality team (Eagles). Yet the Steelers have had a pretty soft schedule too. I might counter that by saying that the wins against Cincinnati, Cleveland and Baltimore were divisional wins and always tougher than you think. But injuries have me concerned about how this will really play out. It just seems that the best team may not necessarily be the BEST team, just the healthiest at the right time. If Pittsburgh can weather through this game vs. the Giants…it really doesn’t get much easier.
#1 Tennessee Titans (5-0)
I said it last week, I say it again, this is only by default. I know this is a quality team but they are the only undefeated team in the NFL, so I place them here. I might give them 4 more guaranteed wins with the schedule they have, but now they have to earn the other wins. Jacksonville was the best team the Titans had thus far, and that was AT home, winning only by 7. Wins over the Bengals, Texans and Chiefs don’t give you playoff points, but it’s not Tennessee’s fault. Their schedule is still soft, but there are some games that will allow us to see how tough these guys REALLY are. They are almost a shoe-in for the playoffs simply because the schedule isn’t that tough. And an 8-8 record might get them in, a 9-7 COULD get them a bye. We’ll see.
Anyway, that’s it for now, check out my blogs on blogspot since I tend to blog more there than my others. Later!
After some interesting games I think we can see that nothing is etched in stone when it comes to the NFL. Just a few weeks ago I would have sworn that three teams out of the NFC East were guaranteed in the playoffs, but now, I am not so sure. I gotta tell you guys, right now ANYTHING can happen, there is no clear cut favorite to the playoffs. But how does that change the top 10 standings? Let’s find out:
#10 Arizona Cardinals (4-2)
We’re not sure if this is the real deal or as former coach Dennis Green once said, “they are who we THOUGHT they were”. But you’ve got to be impressed by how this team has played. Beating the Cowboys and the Bills are impressive at this point in the year, and losing to the Redskins isn’t so bad as one of 2 losses. I think it’s going to be a challenge for the Cardinals to get more than 8 wins, but certainly if healthy they can do it, and possibly see themselves in the playoffs…possible, but not guaranteed.
#9 New England Patriots (4-2)
I’ve got the Patriots higher than the Cardinals purely on experience. Yeah, we know they crushed the Denver Broncos, but we may be finding out that the Broncos are not exactly what we thought they were. Beating the Rams this week won’t really prove anything, but losing to them will say a lot. And remember the recent Superbowl history…the team that LOSES usually does not even make the playoffs… could the Pats be the next statistic?
#8 Atlanta Falcons (4-2)
Perhaps the surprise team of the year thus far, and in a pretty competitive conference, the Falcons are looking pretty good with a brand new quarterback. Losing to Tampa Bay and Carolina isn’t anything to be ashamed of, but with both being in your division that hurts a lot. Their schedule isn’t that easy, and have yet to play a very desperate New Orleans team. We’ll see if they can keep the magic going…
#7 Washington Redskins (4-2)
Just a couple of weeks ago, we thought this may be THE team of the NFC, now we don’t know anymore. A loss at the beginning of the year to the Giants was ok, but losing to the Rams looked very telling…but now we have to rethink that if the Rams turn to be pretty decent. Most of their games have been close, their average margin of victory being about 6 points. With a game against the Lions coming up, they ought to be able to pad their stats a bit.
#6 Buffalo Bills (5-1)
I am just not fully convinced that this is one of the top 3 teams in the NFL, but I will grant you that it is currently one of the top 3 teams in the AFC. With no division wins or games played, none of their wins come from any team over .500. And with their schedule, they could very well get a bye and lose the first game in the playoffs. The schedule is in their favor, but have we really seen the best of the Bills…or just bluff?
#5 Carolina Panthers (4-2)
This team is pretty good once they get the engine going, with very quality backs and receivers, I don’t see why this isn’t the number one scoring team in the world…not NFL but the world! It’s quite conceivable that the Panthers can win the next 5 games, or at least 4, but we’re not sure which team we will see. Losing to Tampa Bay and Minnesota shows that they are not quite the best teams in the NFC, but I don’t see how they can miss the playoffs. Games against the Cardinals, Raiders and Lions will let us know how much roar these Panthers really have.
#4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2)
It’s funny that just a few weeks ago we said that the NFC East would put 3 teams in the playoffs…now it looks like the NFC South has that distinction. Tampa Bay is on top, beating both Carolina and Atlanta. With a wounded Cowboys team coming up, if Tampa Bay wins this game, it might be the first of a 5-game winning streak, although technically it would be 7 since they won their last 2 games. Too early to crown the best in the NFL, even in the NFC, but it’s looking pretty good for them.
#3 New York Giants (5-1)
The defending Superbowl Champions are not out of this, not by a long shot, but one had to question their strength of schedule. Beating teams that had a losing record, and then losing to the Browns might be the start of something. Now the schedule turns into a completely different story. The next 9 games are against teams that have a very strong chance to get into the playoffs…these are not cupcakes. And 5 of those games are divisional games…this will not be easy for the Giants, and we’re going to see how the champs can defend that crown.
#2 Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1)
If there was any question on the test the Giants have, it starts here. These two teams play this weekend, and I put the Steelers here because their single loss came to a quality team (Eagles). Yet the Steelers have had a pretty soft schedule too. I might counter that by saying that the wins against Cincinnati, Cleveland and Baltimore were divisional wins and always tougher than you think. But injuries have me concerned about how this will really play out. It just seems that the best team may not necessarily be the BEST team, just the healthiest at the right time. If Pittsburgh can weather through this game vs. the Giants…it really doesn’t get much easier.
#1 Tennessee Titans (5-0)
I said it last week, I say it again, this is only by default. I know this is a quality team but they are the only undefeated team in the NFL, so I place them here. I might give them 4 more guaranteed wins with the schedule they have, but now they have to earn the other wins. Jacksonville was the best team the Titans had thus far, and that was AT home, winning only by 7. Wins over the Bengals, Texans and Chiefs don’t give you playoff points, but it’s not Tennessee’s fault. Their schedule is still soft, but there are some games that will allow us to see how tough these guys REALLY are. They are almost a shoe-in for the playoffs simply because the schedule isn’t that tough. And an 8-8 record might get them in, a 9-7 COULD get them a bye. We’ll see.
Anyway, that’s it for now, check out my blogs on blogspot since I tend to blog more there than my others. Later!
Monday, October 13, 2008
NFL Best teams, week 6
Top 10 NFL Teams: Week 6
Just finished watching the Cleveland Browns knock off the New York Giants, so now there is only one undefeated team in the NFL. But with so much going on, it is nearly impossible to say who is really number one, let alone the top 10. But let’s give it a shot:
#10 Buffalo Bills 4-1
This was the spot these same Bills had last week, and you’d think I might have moved them up a spot or two…not so. I am still not convinced that this team is even good enough to make the playoffs considering they had a very soft schedule. With a team that has a very soft schedule and losing recently to the Cardinals, the jury is still out on the Bills. I am just not convinced that this team is the elite of the AFC.
#9 Arizona Cardinals 4-2
This team has a history of flopping, as well as providing us with one of the best quotes in football, by former head coach Dennis Green. Still, with wins over the then undefeated Bills, and just recently over the Cowboys, there just might be something to this team. With a high scoring offense and a weak division, dare we say that Arizona is playoff bound?
#8 Carolina Panthers 4-2
I don’t understand how a team with potent weapons in receivers and running backs should be losing, but losses to the Vikings and the Buccaneers raises some questions. They score about 20 points more than they allow, which breaks down to about a field goal difference per game. Close games for a team with such a promising offense could spell trouble.
#7 Denver Broncos 4-2
At the beginning of the year, I thought for sure that this was almost a lock for the postseason, and maybe the AFC Championship. I just don’t get it, this team beats quality teams like Tampa Bay and San Diego, whips up on the sad-sack Raiders, but loses to the Chiefs and the Jaguars. You just don’t know what you’re getting from the Broncos. With games upcoming against the Patriots and the Dolphins, we’re gonna see if this is a contender or a mid card team.
#6 Dallas Cowboys 4-2
In truth, I should put this team even lower not just because of the record, but also of the results of injuries. I cannot say in truth that the Cowboys are the 6th best team in the NFL with their quarterback injured and other players. We also don’t know what off field incidents will bring to the team as well. Losing to the Redskins at home was embarrassing enough, but losing to the Cardinals is a punch in the eye socket. This team is in some trouble and I see another loss or two in the next month. But with everybody in the NFL being hurt in some shape or form, maybe it balances out for the Cowboys.
#5 Washington Redskins 4-2
Just a week or two ago everybody was blowing kisses to the Redskins, calling them the elite team of the league. But the NFL has a way of learning new coaches, and sometimes teams that are mid card are not used to the press they read about themselves. Could it be that the Rams, under a new coach, mixed things up and caught the Skins off guard… or was the Redskins just too cocky? Welcome back to earth guys.
#4 New York Giants 4-1
I’ll be honest, I was not really impressed with their 4-0 record. They catch a new coach on his first regular season game in the Redskins, then proceed to beat three teams that 2-14 combined before losing to a team that was 1-3. I had to rank them high earlier because they were the defending Superbowl Champs and undefeated, but now I don’t have to. As with the Redskins, welcome back to earth.
#3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-2
I have been impressed with this team, and they have played the toughest schedule of the previous teams on this list. While everybody is playing the cupcakes of the NFL, the Buccs were playing MAN games. They lose an emotionally charged game in New Orleans against the Saints, I can live with that. They beat the Falcons who are suddenly looking pretty good, then knock off the Bears and Packers back to back. They lose a close game vs. Denver AT Denver and crush the Panthers. This team is good. Watch out for these cats.
#2 Pittsburgh Steelers 4-1
I almost regret putting the Steelers here but the other teams did poorly so they had to move up. Their strength of schedule is soft and even with that they escaped some games. The Brows, Ravens and Jaguars wins were by one possession so I am just not fully convinced that these guys are the ones to beat. The AFC is really up for grabs this year, and the healthiest team is going to take it…not the BEST team. That could be the Steelers…oh wait, they have injuries too!
#1 Tennessee Titans 5-0
I’d like to put an asterisk here, because I have to put them here ONLY because they are the only undefeated team left, and they were #4 on my list last week. With the Giants, Redskins and Cowboys losing, Tennessee gets the #1 spot only by default. Wins over the Jaguars (3-3) and the Vikings (3-3) are decent, but beating the 0-6 Bengals and the 1-4 Texans isn’t saying much. The win over the 2-3 Ravens is quality but we all know the Ravens don’t believe in scoring. Overall this is a decent record…well, who are we kidding, it is a great record. Any team will take a 5-0 start. But it is misleading that they are seen as the best team in the NFL. And with the Chiefs coming up next, they could look like a Superbowl contender. But after that Kansas City game, we’re gonna REALLY see what the Titans are really about. Four very interesting games will show us if, as a coach once said, you are what we THOUGHT you were!
So that’s my top 10. I actually wanted to put the Colts on the list, but if I had a top 11, they would be there. I also had to pinch off the Patriots, and that loss clearly shows that the AFC is up for grabs. Heck, the NFC is too. I guess my early thoughts for the Patriots vs. the Cowboys is over rated. But there are 10 weeks left to go, anything can happen. Let’s keep watching and see…
Just finished watching the Cleveland Browns knock off the New York Giants, so now there is only one undefeated team in the NFL. But with so much going on, it is nearly impossible to say who is really number one, let alone the top 10. But let’s give it a shot:
#10 Buffalo Bills 4-1
This was the spot these same Bills had last week, and you’d think I might have moved them up a spot or two…not so. I am still not convinced that this team is even good enough to make the playoffs considering they had a very soft schedule. With a team that has a very soft schedule and losing recently to the Cardinals, the jury is still out on the Bills. I am just not convinced that this team is the elite of the AFC.
#9 Arizona Cardinals 4-2
This team has a history of flopping, as well as providing us with one of the best quotes in football, by former head coach Dennis Green. Still, with wins over the then undefeated Bills, and just recently over the Cowboys, there just might be something to this team. With a high scoring offense and a weak division, dare we say that Arizona is playoff bound?
#8 Carolina Panthers 4-2
I don’t understand how a team with potent weapons in receivers and running backs should be losing, but losses to the Vikings and the Buccaneers raises some questions. They score about 20 points more than they allow, which breaks down to about a field goal difference per game. Close games for a team with such a promising offense could spell trouble.
#7 Denver Broncos 4-2
At the beginning of the year, I thought for sure that this was almost a lock for the postseason, and maybe the AFC Championship. I just don’t get it, this team beats quality teams like Tampa Bay and San Diego, whips up on the sad-sack Raiders, but loses to the Chiefs and the Jaguars. You just don’t know what you’re getting from the Broncos. With games upcoming against the Patriots and the Dolphins, we’re gonna see if this is a contender or a mid card team.
#6 Dallas Cowboys 4-2
In truth, I should put this team even lower not just because of the record, but also of the results of injuries. I cannot say in truth that the Cowboys are the 6th best team in the NFL with their quarterback injured and other players. We also don’t know what off field incidents will bring to the team as well. Losing to the Redskins at home was embarrassing enough, but losing to the Cardinals is a punch in the eye socket. This team is in some trouble and I see another loss or two in the next month. But with everybody in the NFL being hurt in some shape or form, maybe it balances out for the Cowboys.
#5 Washington Redskins 4-2
Just a week or two ago everybody was blowing kisses to the Redskins, calling them the elite team of the league. But the NFL has a way of learning new coaches, and sometimes teams that are mid card are not used to the press they read about themselves. Could it be that the Rams, under a new coach, mixed things up and caught the Skins off guard… or was the Redskins just too cocky? Welcome back to earth guys.
#4 New York Giants 4-1
I’ll be honest, I was not really impressed with their 4-0 record. They catch a new coach on his first regular season game in the Redskins, then proceed to beat three teams that 2-14 combined before losing to a team that was 1-3. I had to rank them high earlier because they were the defending Superbowl Champs and undefeated, but now I don’t have to. As with the Redskins, welcome back to earth.
#3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-2
I have been impressed with this team, and they have played the toughest schedule of the previous teams on this list. While everybody is playing the cupcakes of the NFL, the Buccs were playing MAN games. They lose an emotionally charged game in New Orleans against the Saints, I can live with that. They beat the Falcons who are suddenly looking pretty good, then knock off the Bears and Packers back to back. They lose a close game vs. Denver AT Denver and crush the Panthers. This team is good. Watch out for these cats.
#2 Pittsburgh Steelers 4-1
I almost regret putting the Steelers here but the other teams did poorly so they had to move up. Their strength of schedule is soft and even with that they escaped some games. The Brows, Ravens and Jaguars wins were by one possession so I am just not fully convinced that these guys are the ones to beat. The AFC is really up for grabs this year, and the healthiest team is going to take it…not the BEST team. That could be the Steelers…oh wait, they have injuries too!
#1 Tennessee Titans 5-0
I’d like to put an asterisk here, because I have to put them here ONLY because they are the only undefeated team left, and they were #4 on my list last week. With the Giants, Redskins and Cowboys losing, Tennessee gets the #1 spot only by default. Wins over the Jaguars (3-3) and the Vikings (3-3) are decent, but beating the 0-6 Bengals and the 1-4 Texans isn’t saying much. The win over the 2-3 Ravens is quality but we all know the Ravens don’t believe in scoring. Overall this is a decent record…well, who are we kidding, it is a great record. Any team will take a 5-0 start. But it is misleading that they are seen as the best team in the NFL. And with the Chiefs coming up next, they could look like a Superbowl contender. But after that Kansas City game, we’re gonna REALLY see what the Titans are really about. Four very interesting games will show us if, as a coach once said, you are what we THOUGHT you were!
So that’s my top 10. I actually wanted to put the Colts on the list, but if I had a top 11, they would be there. I also had to pinch off the Patriots, and that loss clearly shows that the AFC is up for grabs. Heck, the NFC is too. I guess my early thoughts for the Patriots vs. the Cowboys is over rated. But there are 10 weeks left to go, anything can happen. Let’s keep watching and see…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
