With half of the NFL season in the book, Bringing the House examines each of the 32 teams in the NFL. How has each team performed and what should fans of each team look forward to in the second half of the season? Rankings are not a direct reflection of win-loss records. Instead, we look at multiple factors, such as quality of wins/opponents, remaining schedule, and personnel, in hopes of a more holistic outlook. Feel free to leave comments!
Tier 6: Playing for the Draft
32. Buffalo Bills (0-7, up)
Despite the fact that the Bills are the only winless team in the league, these guys are a couple of plays away from being a respectable 3-4. There was a stretch during the season in which the Bills got blown out no matter who they played. But they have since turned it around, despite what their record might indicate. Two weeks ago the Bills almost pulled off the upset of the season when they took the Baltimore Ravens to the wire in a 37-34 overtime loss (instead, the upset of the year honor goes to the Cleveland Browns who traveled to New Orleans and roughed up the Super Bowl champs 30-10). Then last week, the Bills took another tough team, the Kansas City Chiefs, into overtime, but again took the short stick in a 13-10 loss.
Bringing the House predicts that the Bills will win their first game THIS SUNDAY versus the overrated, but now properly rated (because they stink), Chicago Bears. Not only that, but I predict that they will also defeat the Lions the week after that to put together an unforeseen two-game win streak.
For those of you who don't follow Buffalo football--and I imagine there are plenty of you--quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is the best quarterback east of Lake Erie not named Eli Manning or Mark Sanchez. If you're a fantasy football player and are tired of Brett Favre's shenanigans or have suffered a tragic injury and are in need of a new quarterback, check your waiver wire for Fitzpatrick.
31. Carolina Panthers (1-6, down)
I bet the Panthers will end this season with the worst record in the entire NFL. Looking at the team's remaining games, I cannot spot one matchup that I think they will win. Can you?
The Panthers have actually played decent defense so far this season (5th in opponent passing yards per game, 21st in opponent rushing yards per game), but the offense has been absolutely nonexistent. The problem at quarterback is well documented; neither Matt Moore nor Jimmy Clausen is getting the job done. I personally think they should throw Clausen in there, let him struggle and hope that the experience builds character and a foundation for his future.
But what about their run game? The two-headed monster of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart has been one of the most feared duos in recent years, but they have pretty much disappeared this season. If I told you, before the season started, that neither Williams nor Stewart would have a single 100-yard rushing performance through the first eight weeks of the season, you would have called me crazy. But as I look at each player's stats this very second, that is precisely the case. In fact, Stewart has not even rushed for over 50 yards in a game yet this season. Equally pathetic/surprising, the two have only combined for two rushing touchdowns so far. Say what you want about how the poor quarterback play disrupts the run game, but I expect more than that from Williams and Stewart no matter who is under center.
30. Dallas Cowboys (1-6, down)
I will bet anyone that the Cowboys do not finish this season with more than three (3) wins. If you want to take the bet, let me know.
I'm tired of hearing about how talented the team is; I think desire/effort/motivation is part of talent, and the Cowboys players lack all three of those attributes. The Dallas Cowboys have literally become a sideshow in the NFL. Now I will admit that I thought the Boys could turn it around, but I'm officially off the bus.
You can place the blame on anyone you want. Most people put the bulk of it on head coach Wade Phillips. I won't argue with that. All I know is that the team could not run the ball even if their season depended on it (oh wait, it does), the quarterback play is completely unreliable, and the receivers lack consistent focus.
Tier 5: Playing for Pride
29. Cleveland Browns (2-5, even)
28. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5, down)
Cincy is one of the more disappointing teams this season, but we could have seen this coming. The Bengals are just a plagued organization, much like the Los Angeles Clippers. Quarterback Carson Palmer is no longer anelite above-average quarterback, and the run game that appeared out of nowhere last season disappeared just as fast. The defense has never been there and still isn't. The Bengals have lost four straight and the schedule only gets tougher from here.
As for the Browns…well, they're the Browns.
27. Denver Broncos (2-6, down)
Speaking of losing four straight, the Broncos have done the same and could not have asked for a bye week any sooner. They have a huge showdown with their rival Chiefs in two weeks, but this team's season might already be over. Kyle Orton has played surprisingly well all season and will likely continue to put up nice numbers, but in meaningless games.
26. Arizona Cardinals (3-4, down)
The only thing going for the Cards is that they play in the weakest division in the league. They started the season 3-2, but have lost two in a row since. The team needs help at quarterback, where Derek Anderson and Max Hall both struggle, and at wide receiver, where Larry Fitzgerald's amazing talent is being swallowed by triple coverage. The dramatic drop off from last season really makes one realize how greatformer MVP star dancer Kurt Warner really was.
25. Chicago Bears (4-3, down)
I never bought Chicago's fast 3-0 start, and now everyone is finally starting to catch on. The Bears are PRETENDERS. Trust me.
Their first three victories were decided by an average of 5 points; one came against a team that got off to a slow start (Packers), one against a team that has since become dangerous (Lions), and one against a complete joke (Cowboys). Three unimpressive wins.
Since then, the Bears are 1-3 with their lone win coming against the Panthers. Even worse, one of those losses came at home against the Seahawks. Yes, you read correctly: at HOME, against the SEAHAWKS. The Seahawks are so bad on the road that they might as well not even travel--just chalk up a loss. They are a completely different team on the road than they are at home. Yet the Bears somehow lost at majestic Soldier Field. Jay Cutler is back to true form giving interceptions away like they are Halloween candy; Matt Forte, to the chagrin of yours truly, his fantasy owner, has forgotten how to run the ball; and their receiving corps is just as pedestrian as I knew it would be going into the season, despite the fantasy geeks shoving Devon Aromashodu down our throats (who in 5 games has just 7 catches).
24. San Francisco 49ers (2-6, up)
Everyone's pick to win the NFC West and lock up a top playoff spot, the 49ers got off to a terrible 0-5 start before righting the ship against Oakland in mid-October. To be fair, a lot of their losses thus far have been extremely close: by a field goal to the Saints, by two to Atlanta, by a field goal to Philly, and by a field goal to the Panthers. The Niners have officially handed the reigns over to Troy Smith, who pulled through with a victory last week against the Broncos. The Niners get a timely bye this Sunday and embark on a second half that looks very favorable. They play two games against St. Louis, two against Arizona, and one against each of Seattle, Tampa, Green Bay, and San Diego. They could reasonably finish the year 8-8 and in decent position to win the NFC West.
Tier 4: Hung Jury
23. Detroit Lions (2-5, up)
Don't be fooled by the Lions' 2-5 record. They play hard and are tough to beat. If you don't bring you "A" game, they'll send you home with a loss--just ask the Redskins who dropped a 37-25 decision last weekend.
The Lions' five losses were decided by an average of 6.4 points, including two losses decided by a field goal or less. They have won two of their past three and Matthew Stafford is back and healthy. Looking ahead, this team could spoil a lot of other teams' hopes of salvaging their poor starts (Dallas in Week 11, Green Bay in Week 14, Minnesota in Week 17).
22. Minnesota Vikings (2-5, even)
In our preseason predictions, we said that the Vikings would miss the playoffs this season. We did not think, however, that they would do it in such dramatic fashion. The Vikings are reeling, yet many have not given up on them. The Randy Moss trade and subsequent release is as bizarre a turn of events of you will see in the NFL. We would not be surprised if this team turned it around or if they fell into the abyss--they are completely unpredictable at this point.
21. Seattle Seahawks (4-3, even)
20. St. Louis Rams (4-4, up)
Before the season, nobody expected either of these teams to be vying for first place halfway through the season. But in a season filled with parity, the Seahawks and Rams sit atop the NFC West with a combined record of 8-7. I think the Rams will finish above the Seahawks by the end of the season, simply because they have a higher ceiling based on talent and because the Seahawks cannot win on the road.
19. Washington Redskins (4-4, down)
The Skins don't really do anything great. They are limited on offense because they lack great players at the skilled positions and they are mediocre on defense and special teams. So far this season they have looked like a good team on some days and a completely different team on others. If you combine that with the recent Donovan McNabb-Mike Shanahan controversy, trouble may be brewing in Washington. I doubt the Skins have enough to make the playoffs, especially considering the division in which they play.
18. San Diego Chargers (3-5, up)
The Chargers are a perfect example of how numbers/statistics lie to us in football. They currently rank 1st in passing yards per game, 1st in opponent's passing yards per game, and 2nd in opponent's rushing yards per game. They also rank 15th in opponent's rushing yards per game. Sounds like numbers fit for a first-place title contender, right? Wrong.
The Chargers got off to a mediocre 2-2 start and then dropped three straight games each by one score. They managed to salvage a 33-25 victory last week at home against Tennessee to keep some hope for this season alive. But the upcoming showdown in Houston is likely a make or break game for San Diego. Nobody doubts that the team has the talent to win; they have one of the top quarterbacks in the league and a future Hall of Famer at tight end. But eventually they have to put everything together and get some wins because the upstart Chiefs don't look like they will let up at all.
32. Buffalo Bills (0-7, up)
Despite the fact that the Bills are the only winless team in the league, these guys are a couple of plays away from being a respectable 3-4. There was a stretch during the season in which the Bills got blown out no matter who they played. But they have since turned it around, despite what their record might indicate. Two weeks ago the Bills almost pulled off the upset of the season when they took the Baltimore Ravens to the wire in a 37-34 overtime loss (instead, the upset of the year honor goes to the Cleveland Browns who traveled to New Orleans and roughed up the Super Bowl champs 30-10). Then last week, the Bills took another tough team, the Kansas City Chiefs, into overtime, but again took the short stick in a 13-10 loss.
Bringing the House predicts that the Bills will win their first game THIS SUNDAY versus the overrated, but now properly rated (because they stink), Chicago Bears. Not only that, but I predict that they will also defeat the Lions the week after that to put together an unforeseen two-game win streak.
For those of you who don't follow Buffalo football--and I imagine there are plenty of you--quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is the best quarterback east of Lake Erie not named Eli Manning or Mark Sanchez. If you're a fantasy football player and are tired of Brett Favre's shenanigans or have suffered a tragic injury and are in need of a new quarterback, check your waiver wire for Fitzpatrick.
31. Carolina Panthers (1-6, down)
I bet the Panthers will end this season with the worst record in the entire NFL. Looking at the team's remaining games, I cannot spot one matchup that I think they will win. Can you?
The Panthers have actually played decent defense so far this season (5th in opponent passing yards per game, 21st in opponent rushing yards per game), but the offense has been absolutely nonexistent. The problem at quarterback is well documented; neither Matt Moore nor Jimmy Clausen is getting the job done. I personally think they should throw Clausen in there, let him struggle and hope that the experience builds character and a foundation for his future.
But what about their run game? The two-headed monster of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart has been one of the most feared duos in recent years, but they have pretty much disappeared this season. If I told you, before the season started, that neither Williams nor Stewart would have a single 100-yard rushing performance through the first eight weeks of the season, you would have called me crazy. But as I look at each player's stats this very second, that is precisely the case. In fact, Stewart has not even rushed for over 50 yards in a game yet this season. Equally pathetic/surprising, the two have only combined for two rushing touchdowns so far. Say what you want about how the poor quarterback play disrupts the run game, but I expect more than that from Williams and Stewart no matter who is under center.
30. Dallas Cowboys (1-6, down)
I will bet anyone that the Cowboys do not finish this season with more than three (3) wins. If you want to take the bet, let me know.
I'm tired of hearing about how talented the team is; I think desire/effort/motivation is part of talent, and the Cowboys players lack all three of those attributes. The Dallas Cowboys have literally become a sideshow in the NFL. Now I will admit that I thought the Boys could turn it around, but I'm officially off the bus.
You can place the blame on anyone you want. Most people put the bulk of it on head coach Wade Phillips. I won't argue with that. All I know is that the team could not run the ball even if their season depended on it (oh wait, it does), the quarterback play is completely unreliable, and the receivers lack consistent focus.
Tier 5: Playing for Pride
29. Cleveland Browns (2-5, even)
28. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5, down)
Cincy is one of the more disappointing teams this season, but we could have seen this coming. The Bengals are just a plagued organization, much like the Los Angeles Clippers. Quarterback Carson Palmer is no longer an
As for the Browns…well, they're the Browns.
27. Denver Broncos (2-6, down)
Speaking of losing four straight, the Broncos have done the same and could not have asked for a bye week any sooner. They have a huge showdown with their rival Chiefs in two weeks, but this team's season might already be over. Kyle Orton has played surprisingly well all season and will likely continue to put up nice numbers, but in meaningless games.
26. Arizona Cardinals (3-4, down)
The only thing going for the Cards is that they play in the weakest division in the league. They started the season 3-2, but have lost two in a row since. The team needs help at quarterback, where Derek Anderson and Max Hall both struggle, and at wide receiver, where Larry Fitzgerald's amazing talent is being swallowed by triple coverage. The dramatic drop off from last season really makes one realize how great
25. Chicago Bears (4-3, down)
I never bought Chicago's fast 3-0 start, and now everyone is finally starting to catch on. The Bears are PRETENDERS. Trust me.
Their first three victories were decided by an average of 5 points; one came against a team that got off to a slow start (Packers), one against a team that has since become dangerous (Lions), and one against a complete joke (Cowboys). Three unimpressive wins.
Since then, the Bears are 1-3 with their lone win coming against the Panthers. Even worse, one of those losses came at home against the Seahawks. Yes, you read correctly: at HOME, against the SEAHAWKS. The Seahawks are so bad on the road that they might as well not even travel--just chalk up a loss. They are a completely different team on the road than they are at home. Yet the Bears somehow lost at majestic Soldier Field. Jay Cutler is back to true form giving interceptions away like they are Halloween candy; Matt Forte, to the chagrin of yours truly, his fantasy owner, has forgotten how to run the ball; and their receiving corps is just as pedestrian as I knew it would be going into the season, despite the fantasy geeks shoving Devon Aromashodu down our throats (who in 5 games has just 7 catches).
24. San Francisco 49ers (2-6, up)
Everyone's pick to win the NFC West and lock up a top playoff spot, the 49ers got off to a terrible 0-5 start before righting the ship against Oakland in mid-October. To be fair, a lot of their losses thus far have been extremely close: by a field goal to the Saints, by two to Atlanta, by a field goal to Philly, and by a field goal to the Panthers. The Niners have officially handed the reigns over to Troy Smith, who pulled through with a victory last week against the Broncos. The Niners get a timely bye this Sunday and embark on a second half that looks very favorable. They play two games against St. Louis, two against Arizona, and one against each of Seattle, Tampa, Green Bay, and San Diego. They could reasonably finish the year 8-8 and in decent position to win the NFC West.
Tier 4: Hung Jury
23. Detroit Lions (2-5, up)
Don't be fooled by the Lions' 2-5 record. They play hard and are tough to beat. If you don't bring you "A" game, they'll send you home with a loss--just ask the Redskins who dropped a 37-25 decision last weekend.
The Lions' five losses were decided by an average of 6.4 points, including two losses decided by a field goal or less. They have won two of their past three and Matthew Stafford is back and healthy. Looking ahead, this team could spoil a lot of other teams' hopes of salvaging their poor starts (Dallas in Week 11, Green Bay in Week 14, Minnesota in Week 17).
22. Minnesota Vikings (2-5, even)
In our preseason predictions, we said that the Vikings would miss the playoffs this season. We did not think, however, that they would do it in such dramatic fashion. The Vikings are reeling, yet many have not given up on them. The Randy Moss trade and subsequent release is as bizarre a turn of events of you will see in the NFL. We would not be surprised if this team turned it around or if they fell into the abyss--they are completely unpredictable at this point.
21. Seattle Seahawks (4-3, even)
20. St. Louis Rams (4-4, up)
Before the season, nobody expected either of these teams to be vying for first place halfway through the season. But in a season filled with parity, the Seahawks and Rams sit atop the NFC West with a combined record of 8-7. I think the Rams will finish above the Seahawks by the end of the season, simply because they have a higher ceiling based on talent and because the Seahawks cannot win on the road.
19. Washington Redskins (4-4, down)
The Skins don't really do anything great. They are limited on offense because they lack great players at the skilled positions and they are mediocre on defense and special teams. So far this season they have looked like a good team on some days and a completely different team on others. If you combine that with the recent Donovan McNabb-Mike Shanahan controversy, trouble may be brewing in Washington. I doubt the Skins have enough to make the playoffs, especially considering the division in which they play.
18. San Diego Chargers (3-5, up)
The Chargers are a perfect example of how numbers/statistics lie to us in football. They currently rank 1st in passing yards per game, 1st in opponent's passing yards per game, and 2nd in opponent's rushing yards per game. They also rank 15th in opponent's rushing yards per game. Sounds like numbers fit for a first-place title contender, right? Wrong.
The Chargers got off to a mediocre 2-2 start and then dropped three straight games each by one score. They managed to salvage a 33-25 victory last week at home against Tennessee to keep some hope for this season alive. But the upcoming showdown in Houston is likely a make or break game for San Diego. Nobody doubts that the team has the talent to win; they have one of the top quarterbacks in the league and a future Hall of Famer at tight end. But eventually they have to put everything together and get some wins because the upstart Chiefs don't look like they will let up at all.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4, even)
While the Jags' 4-4 record keeps them out of the bottom third of the rankings, I think the team's win-loss is a bit misleading. Sure, four wins is four wins. But who have they beat exactly? A one-dimensional Broncos team, an injury-plagued and out-of-sync Colts team, the winless Bills, and the biggest joke in the NFL, the Cowboys. So, half of their wins come against two teams with a combined 1-13 record. Not exactly quality wins.
Meanwhile, their four losses all came against quality teams and were all blowouts. They lost to the Chargers, Titans, Eagles, and Chiefs by a combined 99 points! The margin of defeat in each game was more than 20 points! The Jacksonville Jaguars are pretenders! Do not let them fool you.
16. Oakland Raiders (4-4, up)
The Silver & Black have won three of their last four, and two of those victories were absolute drubbings--a 59-14 beatdown of the Broncos at Mile High and a 33-3 win at home against the Seahawks. Add to those an impressive 35-27 defeat of the Chargers, and suddenly people think the Raiders have a legitimate shot to win the AFC West.
The one thing I like about the Raiders is that they have a clear identity. They run the football. They ride their two horses--Darren McFadden and Michael Bush--en route to a second-best 168.5 rush yards per game. The Raiders also rank 5th in passing yards allowed (168.0/game). To summarize, in a passing league, they dominate on the ground and stop opposing quarterbacks. Sounds like a decent recipe for success.
That being said, the second half of the season will be much tougher for Oakland. The combined record of all of their first-half opponents is 27-34. The combined record for all of their second-half opponents? 33-26. Again, Oakland has feasted on subpar teams and been burned by tougher ones (Tennessee and Houston). Next week's game versus Kansas City will establish the tone for the second half of their season, and if they start by falling short against the Chiefs, you can expect a huge fall from there on out.
15. Miami Dolphins (4-3, even)
Even at the midway point, it is tough to get a good read on the Dolphins. Everyone started the season thinking the Dolphins would shove the Wildcat formation down their opponents' throats and win close grind-em-out games. While they certainly have participated in some extremely close contests, it is their passing game, led by Chad Henne, that has kept them competitive. Excluding the game in which he got injured (Week 2), Henne has averaged 38 pass attempts per game. Henne's breakout season is undoubtedly a product of newly-acquired wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who has been nothing short of a beast. Marshall's presence has also opened opportunities up for the young Davone Bess, who is having a breakout season of his own. But the Fins are putrid when it comes to red zone scoring. And if you continue to blow opportunities near the end zone, you will not win the tough games. Ultimately, Miami is a tough team who can compete with the best, but they are just too inconsistent and play in too difficult of a division to have a chance at the playoffs.
Tier 3: Solid
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2, up)
About one week ago, Tampa's head coach Raheem Morris proclaimed that his Bucs were the "best team in the NFC." Halfway through the season, the Bucs' record supports Morris' claim. But does their play support it?
Yes and no. Like I said earlier, wins are wins. And at 5-2, the Bucs are tied for first in the NFC. They have an emerging star at quarterback in Josh Freeman, who has a knack for pulling through when his team needs him most. At running back, they still seem set on feeding Cadillac Williams the ball, despite the fact that he averages less than three yards per carry. Have we seen a young star's career derail as quickly because of injury as Cadillac's? He was a 1000-yard rusher in his rookie season and has since never crossed that mark. And in two of his previous three seasons, injuries limited him to less than 65 carries.
But the Bucs' quick and impressive start, like that of several other teams, is also a bit misleading. Four of their five wins came by 3 points or less and all five of their wins were over teams that will not likely make the playoffs (a combined 12-24 record). Fortunately for the Bucs, they play in the NFC, which is pretty wide open. This Sunday they have a huge show down with the Falcons, which will determine first-place in the division. Meanwhile, the defending champion Saints are lurking at 5-3 and, after a nice win against the Steelers, seem to be gaining some of their swagger back. I think the Bucs will continue racking up wins against poor teams, but will ultimately lose to the Falcons and Saints down the stretch, thereby ending all hope of a playoff berth.
13. Houston Texans (4-3, down)
Love the Texans' offense, but hate the Texans' defense. I doubt the Texans can beat the Colts out for the division title, which means that they will need to duke it out for the wild card spot in the tough AFC. And I don't buy that a team that allows 28.1 points per game, a league-worst 299.4 pass yards per game, and dead last in turnovers.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (4-3, up)
With a healthy Mike Vick, this is a playoff team. The bye week gave Vick a great opportunity to rest and gear up for the second half of the season. The schedule is pretty difficult from here on out, but there is no reason why the Eagles couldn't win more than half of their remaining games. The showdown against the Colts this Sunday is enormous; Vick and DeSean Jackson both return to action and look to get this team back on track.
11. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2, even)
Far and away the most surprising team in the league this season, the Chiefs have cooled off a bit since their quick 3-0 start, but remain the same team that they were in the first quarter of the year: a tough, run-first, defense-oriented team. They are still first in the league in rushing and seventh in defending the run. They don't do much through the air (on either side of the football), but can put up points despite their throwing deficiencies. Before the season began, nobody would have ever predicted that the AFC West would look like it does not at the midway point. But the Chargers look like they might be turning things around and make a late push to defend their division crown. The Chiefs will need to take advantage of a very favorable schedule the rest of the way to secure their first playoff berth since 2006.
Tier 2: Almost There
10. Green Bay Packers (5-3, even)
The Packers are still not the team everyone expected them to be at this point, but they are showing good signs at the right time. Their defense absolutely dominated the Jets last week in the Meadowlands en route to a 9-0 shutout. This defense was ferocious last season, and despite all the publicity Aaron Rodgers and the offense receives, it is the defense that really puts this team over the top. The Pack has a game at home against the Cowboys this Sunday and then a bye week in time to gear up for the home stretch that includes some tough games--at Minnesota, at Atlanta, at New England, and home against the Giants. The Packers should be thankful that the rest of the NFC North is struggling; the Bears have been revealed for who they really are (frauds), the Vikings can't seem to dig themselves out of their hole, and the Lions are competitive but a couple years away from being anything serious.
9. Tennessee Titans (5-3, up)
The Titans may be the team the most mysterious team in the top ten. At 5-3, they stand second in a tough AFC South and right in the thick of the AFC race. But when people stop and think about the top teams in the AFC, they never consider the Titans. Well, why not?
The main reason is that people just don't believe that Vince Young can be a starting quarterback on a legitimate contender. The numbers, however, would argue otherwise. Young currently leads the entire NFL--yes, the ENTIRE league--in quarterback rating at 103.1. Young has managed to do so by protecting the football. He has thrown only two interceptions this year and both game in the same game, versus Pittsburgh in the second week. Interestingly, Young has not done much with his legs, which has been his strength throughout his career. This season he has only rushed 20 times for 91 yards and zero touchdowns.
Finally, let's talk about the pink elephant in the room: the Randy Moss acquisition. Moss, his antics, his relationships with previous coaches, and his work ethic have been discussed ad nauseum. I personally don't make much of the signing because I think Moss is done; the will is just not there. And if Moss' will is not there, his performance will not be there either. I am, however, very curious as to the thought processes behind Jeff Fisher and the Titans organization taking a risk on Moss. Fisher is a great coach, and although I know coaches have an ego about them that they can be the one to turn a guy around, but I thought his judgment would force him to turn the Moss acquisition down. Instead, the Titans made the move and now look like they, just like the VIkings before them, are going for broke this season. Most importantly, can Vince Young get Moss the ball enough to make Moss happy? Will Moss be satisfied in a run-first offense with a quarterback that lacks the traditional pocket presence and pure throwing skill that his previous quarterbacks (Brady and Favre) possessed in abundance? The next few weeks will be very interesting.
8. New Orleans Saints (5-3, even)
Never mind the inexplicable losses to the Cardinals and the Browns. While those losses were both embarrassing for the defending champs, their main problems lies outside of those isolated performances. The Saints' biggest problem at this point is their inconsistency. Since week two, the Saints have not strung together back-to-back wins or losses in any two consecutive games. This week, however, the Saints have a chance to buck that trend in a meeting against the Panthers.
Perhaps even more surprising is the pedestrian play of quarterback Drew Brees. Last season, Brees threw 11 interceptions. Through eight games this season, Brees has, you guessed it, 11 interceptions. While the quarterback has struggled immensely by his own standards, he may have weathered the storm successfully; the Saints are right in the thick of the NFC race and enter the second half of the season on the heels of a great victory against the Steelers.
Tier 1: The Big Boys
7. Atlanta Falcons (5-2, even)
I am still not sold on the Falcons, but a 5-2 record with a win over the defending champions earns them a spot in the top tier for now. Here are my concerns:
First, I don't think Matt Ryan is a good enough quarterback to lead a team to a title at this point in his career. I just don't think he has "it." He is a definite notch below Brees, Peyton and Eli Manning, Big Ben, and Tom Brady, each of whom have won at least one championship.
Second, besides an overtime victory over an inconsistent Saints team, who have they beat this season? They smashed the Cardinals, but who hasn't? They barely beat a pathetic 49ers team, squeezed out a victory against the Cleveland Browns, and edged out a Bengals team after they gave up a huge lead. Their two losses came against legitimate playoff teams: the Steelers and the Eagles. My theory is that the Falcons are padding their record against subpar teams, which they will continue to do the rest of the way because of a ridiculously easy schedule. They will enter the playoffs with a great record and fall to the first team they face.
6. New York Giants (5-2, even)
The G-Men have quietly positioned themselves as one of the top teams in the league. They have won four straight after a slow 1-2 start and will return after a bye week to face Seattle and Dallas. The Giants are a very balanced team as they rank 8th in pass yards per game, 4th in rush yards per game, 2nd in pass yards allowed, and 3rd in rush yards allowed; these are the numbers of a championship squad. Eli is a proven winner and he has new weapons to play with. Ahmad Bradshaw, thought to be a backup going into the season, has put together an outstanding first half and currently ranks fourth in total rushing yards. And on the outsides, the Giants have a very reliable Steve Smith and an emerging go-to receiver in Hakeem Nicks. With Dallas no longer a threat, the Redskins wavering in mediocrity, and the Eagles plagued with injuries, the Giants are in great position to take the NFC East and make another run for a title.
5. Indianapolis Colts (5-2, up)
The amount of injuries that the Colts have suffered is unbelievable. But despite all the adversity, Peyton Manning has led the team to first place in the division and one Josh Scobee 59-yard field goal away from a six-game win streak. The Colts have beat tough teams; they have wins over the Giants, Texans, Chiefs, and Redskins. The remaining schedule is difficult and begins with a tough matchup against the quicker and more athletic Eagles this Sunday. The only worry I have about this team is that they cannot stop the run; they currently give up 133.1 yards on the ground per game; I don't care how good Manning is…if the defense cannot stop the run late in games and get the ball back to Manning, he can't run his patented two-minute drill.
4. New York Jets (5-2, even)
While everyone was rendered speechless by the Jets' 9-0 loss to the Packers last week, I wasn't too surprised. Mark Sanchez was bound to have a bad game--the odds were simply against his continued flawless performances. And just as expected, the defense played very well and only surrendered nine points to a high-powered Packers offense. It only surprised those who thought the Jets had somehow gotten over the hump to become a complete and dominant football team. But not so fast. Let's not forget who these guys are. The Jets are a run-first, defense-oriented football team with a quarterback that is responsible only for playing mistake-free football. At the same time, don't be too quick to jump off the bus and sound the alarm; every team has road bumps. And while this road bump looked huge, it really wasn't. As sloppy and ugly as the team played, it's not like they got blown out 32-0. The Jets trailed by only one score as late as the seven-minute mark in the fourth quarter. Much ado about nothing.
3. Baltimore Ravens (5-2, up)
I am beginning to think that the Ravens are not as good as everyone wants them to be. They do a lot of things good, but nothing great. Perhaps most alarming is the fact that the defense gave up 34 points in an overtime win last week against the winless Bills. I expect more from a championship-level defense loaded with Pro Bowlers and future Hall of Famers. Furthermore, I am not sold on Joe Flacco just yet. I have the same reservations concerning Flacco that I do about Matt Ryan.
Look, I don't want to be too tough on the Ravens right now. They have won four of their last five, but I have yet to see a complete performance on both sides of the ball.
The AFC is going to be nothing less than a dog fight from this point forward. And while the Week 13 matchup between Baltimore and Pittsburgh is crucial to both teams, the AFC North race will likely go down to the final week or two of the season. If the Ravens can sweep the season series against the Steelers, that could pay huge dividends in the long run.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2, even)
Likewise, I am not surprised at all by the Steelers' loss to the Saints last week. For one, it was a road game against the defending champs. Second, the defending champs were desperate for a victory. And third, it was only Big Ben's second game back and the offense would undoubtedly be--and was--out of sync.
I watched that game and two things stood out to me. First, Pittsburgh's defense is a force to be reckoned with. Not only do they look bigger and stronger, but they play faster and hit harder than anyone other team's in the league. Most importantly, they do NOT miss tackles. On multiple occasions, Saints players had the ball in open space with only one man to beat. No matter who the defender was--a corner, a linebacker, a safety, etc.--the Steelers players made the stop. It was very impressive and actually a nice breath of fresh air because it seems like teams at both the college and professional levels have forgotten how to tackle.
The second observation I made was that, despite Big Ben's rustiness, I had complete belief and confidence that Roethlisberger would pull out the victory in the fourth quarter. He is a clutch quarterback with a proven record and attitude that makes you believe in him. Once he gets his timing back and the offense gets on the same page, you will not find a more complete team in the league.
1. New England Patriots (6-1, up)
The Moss-less Patriots are the cream of the crop after eight weeks of football. Nobody could have predicted the route through which they traveled to their 6-1 record. Sure, Brady is posting the numbers that everyone expected and Wes Welker is catching millions of passes. But what are we to make of the random cavalcade of no-names that the Patriots have brought in? Rookie tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski have been valuable outlets for Brady; the Pats have called upon the dangerous running duo of Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis to carry the ground game; and bona fide deep threat Brandon Tate is torching secondaries like Moss circa 2007. Did we mention that Deion Branch is back with the Patriots, too? This is stacking up to be a bizarre season for the Patriots, but a successful one nonetheless. Interestingly, I, not usually a Patriots fan or hater either way, find myself cheering for New England each week (I suppose it helps that I have Brady on my fantasy football team).
The Pats still have HUGE questions in their secondary; they rank second-to-last in pass defense, but mastermind Bill Belichick has found ways to win despite that glaring weakness. In the long run, however, I just don't see how they win with a secondary like that. The quarterbacks that the Pats could potentially encounter in the playoffs will be too skilled to not carve up the Pats defense. Maybe the Patriots can somehow manufacture a shutdown corner. Who knows, stranger things have happened so far this season.
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