The most-striking statistic is however, that we have ZERO winless teams :) Last week Tampa Bay ended the squall of posting a donut in the win column by defeating Green Bay last weekend (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31tm2eAT23s).Last year’s winless team, the Detroit Lions (the 2008 Lions became the only team in NFL history to lose all sixteen regular season games) took care of business early in the season versus the disarrayed Washington Redskins. After a disturbing losing streak of nineteen straight games going back to the 2007 season, Detroit finally gets a win under Matthew Stafford (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8APoCVl4wsY).
The much maligned, previously mentioned Denver Broncos were the feel-good story of the young season. Denver put up six wins before their bye week. After, though, Denver finally saw their succumbing to the Baltimore Ravens, a team that made the playoffs last season.
Most impressively, the newly hired coach of Denver, Josh McDaniels, matched up against his former squad, the New England Patriots (where he left his offensive co-ordinator job to accept the head-coaching gig in Denver). Against big-wig former boss and mentor, Bill Belichick, McDaniels defied those who previously left the wing of Belichick to defeat him, in overtime nonetheless (Eric Mangini with the Jets and Romeo Crennel with the Browns most recently and notably). McDaniels displayed candid pleasure following the game in front of the Mile High crowd with several fistpumps (http://www.youtube.com/user/CoachTwiddy#p/f/4/vCbJzvvGFYk ), enabling Denver fans to forget the departure of their disgruntled franchise quarterback just months before (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcFqitWDPJ8&feature=related).
AFC
AFC East
The man whom was injured in the first game last season for the whole year, Tom Brady, is back slinging touchdowns for the New England Patriots, causing NFL viewers to recall why he won MVP awards and Super Bowls not too long ago (http://www.nfl.com/players/tombrady/profile?id=BRA371156).
The lowly Buffalo Bills, with their “prized” free-agent signee in Terrell Owens, can officially be tagged the most irrelevant team in the NFL. Unfortunately, for the Bills, the highlight of the year was a video made in the preseason about Owens (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okhiJjuefPw watch that video... real funny shit).
Brady’s Patriots lead a surprisingly bottom-heavy AFC East by a two game margin over the upstart New York Jets, who fans are uncertain over with their up-and-down play with their fiery new coach and rookie quarterback. Expect the Patriots to cruise down their schedule as they gel, despite their road problems, and also expect them to take the AFC East title, pretty easily.AFC South
The team who is the most disappointing in all of the NFL is the Tennessee Titans, who last year went eleven games before giving up a loss, begun this season 0-6.
There is absolutely no reason to suggest the Colts won’t add to their already strong stranglehold on the AFC South. Tennessee has won two games in a row though. I wouldn’t exactly say watch out, considering Indy has won eight in a row. Can they win out though? Short answer is NO. Indy has a tough remaining schedule, making up for their pancake start. Houston is an upstart team, capable of beating the best, but this year their biggest role will be a spoiler.
AFC North
The most compelling team in the league is the Cincinnati Bengals (in the most compelling division in the league). Despite their season-opening loss to Denver, on the most wild-finish possible (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OneiEg7rm20), Cincinnaati is 6-2, with wins over divisional foes, the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, both of whom made the playoffs last season... of course, the latter won the Super Bowl last season (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e41iwNKPufo). It could very easily be the Bengals among the undefeated after Week 5... they are just a play here and play there away from a sparkling record. Baltimore and Pittsburgh respectively and consecutively put a blemish on Denver`s perfect record, both putting a thump to their AFC foe (while Baltimore and Pittsburgh put a licking on Denver).
AFC West
Denver leads the AFC West over the San Diego Chargers by just two games. But lest we forget, last season, with three games to play, Denver needed just win in any of the three games to lockdown the division championship. On the other hand, San Diego had to win all of their remaining games, including a showdown against Denver on the final day of the season. They did just that, and grasped life from the jaws of defeat, capturing the AFC West crown.
This year, though, Denver has already beat the AFC North, AFC East, and NFC East leaders, while beating the former AFC West champions, San Diego, in San Diego.
The Raiders and the Chiefs... they are in the division too??
:P
Unless McDaniels has seriously changed the culture of the Denver Broncos franchise, expect San Diego to claw their way back into division contention, despite their lacklustre start. However, in the Mike Shanahan-era of Bronco football, the Denver team was always offensively biased. This year though, it is their defense starring as the team’s strong-suit, giving up only 26 points in their first four contests. This is a definite change from what Denver is used to. Plus, they just signed retired Pro-Bowl corner Ty Law, who is decorated with Super Bowl rings, giving Denver a scary secondary (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-McQGbXLtqU&feature=PlayList&p=3081C01A9A90EFA9&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=29).
NFC
NFC East
The NFC East has been the most competitive division in football , with three powerhouse teams (New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles). Every team in the division is willing to spend the money. The remaining squad not mentioned is the Washington Redskins, and even they are willing to spend the cash (perhaps lucratively, http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/02/27/redskins-sign-albert-haynesworth-to-100-million-deal), but Washington has long been touted as a team who is mismanaged.
1. Michael Vick
2. Terrell Owens
3. Tennessee Titans
Dallas is another oddball team who seem to have a sixth sense for when you pick them (and they tend to collapse). Now that quarterback Tony Romo has undone his relationship with Jessica Simpson, he has shown flashes of maturity.
This division is always a toss-up. Washington will finish last... how’s that for a prediction? Although this division’s record as a whole isn’t real great, look for these big three to fight it out to the end where the Giants’ inconsistencies should be less than everyone else. However, the ‘inconsistent’ teams should battle for the wildcard. Look for Dallas to sneak in, over Philly and Atlanta.
Can’t pick’m even if you try reverse psychology (I’ve tried)1. Chicago Bears
2. New York Giants
3. Dallas Cowboys
4. Baltimore Ravens
5. Arizona Cardinals
NFC North
Brett Favre, the man made famous for his Green Bay gunslinging ways—the man re-made famous by his flip-flop retirements—has landed in the hands of the Minnesota Vikings, his former foremost rival. Whether it was just a good fit and Favre still had competitive fires burning, or if Favre wanted to seek revenge on his former team (who basically forced him out of town) is up for debate. Nevertheless, the fact is, he’s back. And his team is leading his former team, the one who he built as a franchise, trails behind.
The Minnesota Vikings, whom lead this division, have no reason to give up their three-game lead. They’ve got the most dynamic runner in the league in Adrian Peterson, and they have a legend throwing the ball... a two-headed monster whose neck rotation feature shouldn’t have to work. Minnesota is full-steam ahead looking at a first-round bye in the playoffs.
NFC South
This division is chaos. Simply chaos. Why you ask? From 2003 to 2007, the team that finished in last place in the season before happened to win the division the following season. And last year, Atlanta was due to finish first, and in the most unlikely of turnarounds, they won eleven games! This broke the trend as it was not enough to win the division. However, Atlanta made the postseason as the Wildcard team. So the trend is last place to playoffs. Guess who finished in last place last season? That's right, the New Orleans Saints. And they are only undefeated to this date this season... New Orleans also is putting up 426 yards per game, a league high.
New Orleans cannot be stopped. They are a freight train on full-steam ahead. Can they go undefeated? Of course they can. How likely is it though? Not very, looking at history (only the Patriots have ever gone 16-0). But the schedule looks very nice. They host those Pats as well as dem Cowboys. At Atlanta could be trouble, but it looks quite possible. Only three worthy opponents for the Saints, unless the trip up on a team they shouldn’t (watch out in the final game of the season for Carolina... New Orleans may have nothing to play for, having locked up the first-place seed in the conference. The prominent players may be sitting this one out).
NFC West
The West divisions are consistently the worst ones in the league. The AFC West has two pretty weak squads, and the NFC West has St. Louis, who appear on the same scale as these AFC West teams.
Seattle is a team past its prime, San Francisco is on its way up, and Arizona is the foregone conclusion as division champ. San Francisco will compete in this division... next year.
So who’s going to win the Super Bowl?
Remember... it is only November. But if I had to pick, it would be two familiar teams in the AFC, New England and Pittsburgh, whom take down Indy. In the NFC, it’s gotta be New Orleans.
In the big one... bring it home down to Mardi Gras!!
You heard it here, first... New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
Drew Brees: MVP
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