Well, here is the next post about Contenders or Pretenders! I have already discussed the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings in my two previous posts. Time for the third one! Who do we have here? Oh, I know!
Arizona Cardinals
The Cards are off to a 3-4 start, which could still be turned around. Kurt Warner and Matt Leinart were both taken out with injuries, Matt's more serious than Kurt's. Leinart is now out for the season with a broken collarbone. Warner came back in last week, but was unable to seal a win for the Cards. I expect to see better performances as we go on through the season.
Edgerrin James is one of the leading NFL rushers, and has been stellar running the ball, taking some of the pressure of Kurt Warner in the pocket. I can see James being one of the mid-season MVP candidates.
Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are two very fast and intelligent receivers that make for great targets for any QB to throw to. They are still both extremely reliable and will win games when you need them to.
Here is how it looks in their division:
1. Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
2. Arizona Cardinals (3-4)
3. San Francisco 49ers (2-4)
4. St. Louis Rams (0-7)
The outlook is bleak, but at the same time, I don't think that 4-3 is going to win the Seahawks the division, not yet, anyways. The Cards need to win next week, as this Sunday, they have an open date. The Seahawks need to lose to the unreliable Browns next week in Cleveland for an opening for the Cardinals.
Well, it's time for Part 2 of the Pretenders or Contenders for surprise teams at this oint in the season.
Yesterday, I covered the Minnesota Vikings situation. Read that, as well, please.
Who do we have now? Oh! Here we go!
Detroit Lions
The Lions are off to a surprising 4-2 start, breaking last season's total win record, of 3.
Prior to the start of the pre-season, QB Jon Kitna guaranteed at least 10 wins for the Lions this season, and you know what, that looks more and more possible. He looks really good at the QB position, minus all of the sacks. The offensive line just needs to pull it together, and they will be a much better passing team, even better than they are now.
Tatum Bell has finally been benched, and the Lions have gone with their veteran RB, Kevin Jones. This is the absolute right move by the Lions. Bell wa shaving too much trouble hanging onto the ball, and now that Jones is taking the hand-offs, the running game will see alot more action, and will take some of the pressure off of Kitna.
Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson are two very remarkable receivers, and the fact that Kitna has two great targets to throw to is a great thing for the Lions. These guys wil both get well over 1,000 yards receiving this season.
The Bears are not looking liek division champs to me, but this is an extremely hard division to read. The Packers are a little questionable to me at this point, and the Vikings are hard to understand about where they are right now.
Well, I like the way Detroit rolls, but I also have to be realistic, so for now these guys are:
Well, it's tiem for the mid-season rundown of surprise NFL teams. We have them every year around this time. Last year, it was the Saints, two years ago, the Panthers,and three years ago, the Steelers. So, who is the major contender at this point in the season? Let's cut the #### and get to it!
All right, who we got? Ahh!
Minnesota Vikings
Tervaris Jackson has been a questionable QB in this league. I don't think he has what it takes to lead this team in a division as competitive and close as the NFC North. I think that Kelly Holcomb, though not very impressive, either, could probably lead this team better than Jackson for now. Start Jackson after he has a little more experience.
Adrian Peterson could take this team to the playoffs as soon as a more experienced and talented QB coems in. He has the fastest legs I have seen from a rookie in a long time.
The Vikes defense has really shown that they have what it takes to compete in the NFL, and I wasn't expecting such a good showing from these guys this season. They are currently on a 2-year playoff drought, which is not bad, considering that they had to put up with in the defending NFC Champs, the Chicago Bears. Now that the Packers are 5-1, the Lions are 4-2, and the Bears are amkgin a comeback at 3-4, the division is gonna be thta much harder to win it this season.
For now, these guys are
PretendersContenders
Thanks for reading "Contenders or Pretenders: Part 1"!
Please keep checking for the rest of the Contenders or Pretenders blogs!
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I am Mike Greenspire and I am a sports blogger for FOX Sports and I love the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, and NASCAR! I was born and raised in the city of Pittsburgh, PA, so naturally I am a die-hard fan of the Pens, Buccos, and Steelers. Since Pittsburgh basketball is long gone, my favorite team in the NBA is the Orlando Magic. Please leave a comment on my blog, I love feedback. My blog is fun, and I enjoy writing it, and I hope that you will enjoy reading it! Thanks!
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