After week 10 I am ready to leave my buried teams in the ground.
1. Patriots – Bye weeks are like wins in the NFL this season.
2. Colts – Peyton was terrible, that is not something you can count on every week. However, the loss of Freeney is going to be a factor for the remainder of the season. The Colts are still the #2 team in the NFL, but the drop off in talent comes before them now, instead of after them.
3. Cowboys – Everyone was talking about the improvements of the Giants defense from week 1 to week 10. But the Cowboys got a lot better too. They are even a better team than the one that played the Pats. Good enough to beat them…probably not. But no one will get accused of running up the score.
4. Steelers – Who really trusts Big Ben on a week to week basis…not me. If Ben continues to improve and the defense continues to make the big plays, they can beat anyone, anywhere.
5. Packers – It looks like the game at Dallas 2 weeks from today will be for home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs. It could spell disaster for Dallas, if they have to go to Lambeau.
6. Jaguars – Great running game + great defense + getting QB back = Playoffs.
7. Titans – When will VY show up? It better be before the playoffs or they are gonna be an easy out. Judging by the Browns schedule (see below) they may need him sooner than that.
8. Giants – They got beat by a better team at home. Somehow that leads to every sports writer in NY slaughtering Eli Manning. The big reason this team won 6 in a row, and is better than they were last year is because they are healthier and they commit fewer penalties. They are not good enough to overcome themselves. Both the offense and the defense need to show up to beat Detroit at home.
9. Lions – Amazing at home, brutal on the road. If the Giants do not get to Kitna he is going to tear the defense apart. This game has a chance to be a blow out either way. Who can make more big plays?
10. Chargers – Huge, huge win. That erases last week’s loss to Minny. The Chargers have a tough road ahead, but the conference is in their hands.
11. Browns – This team is a real threat to the Titans and Jaguars for the final WC spot. They have a cupcake schedule left. Please do not be surprised if this team finishes 12-4 or 11-5, the latter will be necessary to make the playoffs as a WC in the AFC.
12. Buccaneers – The Bucs have lost all of their games to strong teams and taken care of the bad ones. The best team on the reminder of their schedule is Wash at home. I present you with your NFC South Champion.
13. Seahawks – Seahawks sans Shaun Alexander > Seahawks with Shaun Alexander.
14. Redskins – This team has literally set the record for second half collapses for the last 3 years. Congrats. They are still in the WC hunt with NYG and Det. But with two games against Dal remaining, in addition to one @ Tampa, they are the long shot.
15. Saints – Disappointing loss for them. 5-4 and 4-5 is a huge difference right now in the NFC. They are just not consistent enough on offense or defense to compete.
16. Chiefs – Losing LJ was the end of their season. They have @Indy, @Denver and SD remaining which makes their scheduled one of the toughest in the playoff hunt.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dishonorable Mentions
Denver – Still have a shot at the division. But they are an average-at-best football team.
Eagles – They made a run like this last year, and they are getting healthy enough to make people remember that. However, the schedule sets up brutally with @ NE and @ Dallas sprinkled in.
What does it all mean:
AFC Byes: Indy, Pats
NFC Byes: Boys, Pack
AFC 1st Rd Matchup: Charger at Steelers
AFC 1st Rd Matchup: Titans at Jax (although I need VY to show up soon so my 3 AFC South teams in the playoffs prediction will come true. Right now they are even money with the Browns)
NFC 1st RD Matchup: NYG at Tampa
NFC 1st RD Matchup: Detroit at Seattle
Soon to come - NYG at Detroit breakdown.
NFL Lines - Buy or Sell. (Note: Last week was omitted due to terrible matchups... know when to hold'em know when to fold'em)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I find it refreshing that you are being realistic about the GMen. I was expecting them up around 5. However, the teams you have in front of them are not too great. The Titans squeek by every game they win. It just sucks that there aren't enough teams creating identities right now.... beyond the top 5, there isn't a team that comes out and establishes a consistant game plan week to week. Perfect example, Chargers. They should have a firm identity. You should be able to say that they will beat team X because LT will do this and Gates will do that, yet you cannot. The same can be said for a lot of teams.
Dallas is a better team than the Colts, now that the Colts are sans harrison, freeney, gonzales, and Ugoh.
Jags may be a little high, we will see with that.
Other than that I think your predictions are good. although Colts may have to play week 1
Colts having to play week 1 is a silly comment. There remaining schedule is:
Kansas City
@ Atlanta
Jacksonville
@ Baltimore
@ Oakland
Houston
Tennessee
Pitt has NE. So the Colts would have to lose a game at home to Jax or Tenn. And possibly both. No Way.
Garrard and VY run all over the Colts now that they are without Freeney.
Post a Comment