Well Faithful NFL Fans like many of you I anticipate looking at the Power Rankings each week. It does baffel me how they choose who is the better team. I would like to review the top teams and where their Super Bowl hopes lie.
1. New England Patriots: Yes they are 12-0 a very impressive record. In their last two games they barely beat the Eagles and if it wasn't for the doomed Ravens coaching staff they would have heard the corks popping across the country as the '72 Dolphins celebrate. They are in one of the weakest divisions in the NFL (see my previous post) and while many see them as a post-season threat I would not be suprised to see them make an early exit in the playoffs. They have challenges this week against the Steelers who have allowed the lowest point total in the NFL face them.
2. Dallas Cowboys: Their only loss is to the above mentioned team. I had concerns about the Cowboys when they played (and almost lost) the Bills. Unlike the Pats they have been winning impressively in recent weeks. The only X Factor is can Tony Romo handle the pressure when it comes to the Playoffs? There is little doubt that he is one of the best QB's in the League, but it took Peyton many years before he reached the promised land.
3. Indianpolis Colts: They played the Pats well until the end. I see them as a dark horse against the Pats. Not alot of people are talking about the Colts who only have two losses this season. Watch out for them when it comes to the postseason. Manning has the #### off his back. No pressure. They have a great chance to make it to Glendale.
4. Green Bay Packers: I am almost thirty and I recall being in junior high watching Favre play in the NFL. There is little doubt he is in the twilight of his carrer, even though his playing does not reflect that. Favre is the second highest rated QB in the NFC, not too bad for a man who has a kid graduating high school. I hope regardless of where his Packers end this season he takes a lesson from John Elway and walks away on top, everyone will wonder what could have been if he stayed.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers: They are the top defensive team in the NFL and we all know defenses win championships. Don't be too suprised if you see the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game this year,
6. Jacksonville Jaguars: They are a great team as their record dictates, however they are aging. Fred Taylor can't have too many miles left in the tank and he is their number one go to guy. Add in the fact that regardless of what they do they cannot seem to get by the Colts and will need to to make their Super Bowl dreams a reality.
7. Seattle Seahawks: There is little doubt that this team is better than that one last year. They will most likely finish the season 3-1 posting an 11-5 record for the second best year they have ever had. As a Seahawk fan we expect more from them. Now don't forget they finished last year at 9-7 and were a field goal from the NFC Championship. Another dark horse who could threaten the NFC.
8. New York Giants: For Eli's sake they better hope that the Vikings dont grab the other wild card in the NFC, because if he faces them...game over. The Giants have a slim chance to make a serious run as they will more than likely have to play Dallas in the playoffs, that is if they get out of the first round.
9. Tampa Bay Buccanners: I regret to say that I have not followed them too much this year, all that aside this is the last NFC team to win the Super Bowl and Gruden is a great coach. I doubt the make it out of the first round.
10. Cleveland Browns: I never saw them coming. Derek Anderson is an emerging superstar and the Dawg Pound is again scary. They dont stand a chance against the Steelers in the playoffs (if they face).
As we head into Week Five, we don't have quite the potential for upset picks as we did last week. Anyway I found a couple that have the making of upset, now just because I am saying that an upset could happen does not mean that I am picking them to win:
Game #1:
Colts -vs- Bucs: The Colts have a weird habit of winning at least their first 10 games so I doubt that an upset will happen, but then again records are meant to be broken. The Colts are missing some key players for this matchup then again so are the Bucs (and they dont have Peyton Manning leading their offense). If the Bucs can pull an upset then it will be by less than a touchdown.
My prediction for the game is for the Colts to come out victorious 28-10.
Game #2:
Seahawks -vs- Steelers: Why are the Steelers favored? Well they have scored more points than the Seahawks, they have allowed less points than the Seahawks and it is a Home Game for them. Willie Parker was not impressive last week against the Cards (16th ranked defense) averaging 1.9 yards per carry, Ben also had a couple of key picks. The Seahawks have a great defense this year and will be a challenge for the Steelers. I see Ben making some key mistakes with even the possibility of the Seahawks even scoring a defensive touchdown. It will be a close game and the Seahawks will come out with a win. 23-20 Seahawks.
Game #3:
Browns -vs- Patriots: The Browns have had two impressive victories this year (one against the Ravens and one against the Bengals). The funny thing is that both of those wins were upsets, so how do we not feature this game as a POSSIBLE upset??? The Pats are getting healthy on defense (scary) and Tom Brady is on track to have 52 touchdown passes (that wouldn't suprise me). I don't see the Browns picking apart the Pats. Pats win 38-6.
I am hoping for a great week of football and hopefully a couple of upsets. I would not be upset if the Colts and Pats lost (please hold your anger New England and Indianpolis fans), I am not a fan, you support your team and I will support mine. I really want the Steelers to lose :)
Your thought on the potentials and mabye some other games that I did not mention??
This week shows some interesting match ups. I hope that I am able to go 11-3 again, but we will see.
Miami @ Houston - Both teams were less than impressive last week. Miami is just horrible, allowing five TD's by one player is insane. Houston redeems their lowly loss to Atlanta by beating the Dolphins.
Jacksonville @ Kansas City - The Chiefs are starting to put things togther, however so it Jacksonville coming off a bye the Jags are poised to make a statement to the rest of the NFL and hand Kansas City a loss.
Cleveland @ New England - The Browns could play spoilers to anyone in the NFL, their offense is so unpredictable.....wait they are playing the Patriots in Foxborough. I am going to go out on a limb and say New Englands wins.....BIG.
Carolina @ New Orleans - New Orleans needs all the help they can get. I hope that the bye week they are coming off of helps them regain form. New Orleans gets their first win of the season over Carolina.
Jets @ Giants - The Battle of New York. Who do I pick? The team that got humilated by the Bills or the team that destroyed the Eagles...hmmmm....Giants win.
Seattle @ Pittsburgh - Since Seattle is my team I am picking them to win in an upset. We need revenge from XL!! Go Hawks.
Arizona @ St. Louis - Arizona has been very impressive and I believe with the way the Rams have been playing this will not help fix their woes. Arizona wins this game.
Atlanta @ Tennessee - Atlanta played well last week, but not good enough to take down the Vince Young led Titans. Titans win by 7.
Detroit @ Washington - The way Kitna led the Lions in the 4th quarter scared me. The Lions are for real this year. Lions win a great game.
Tampa Bay @ Indianapolis - This could have an upset in the making. I dont know if I can go out on a limb and pick Tampa Bay to win. Indy wins a close one.
San Diego @ Denver - The Broncos melt down in the second have was humorous. San Diego was not impressive again. LT is crying alot, Rivers cant hit the broad side of a barn. Culter leads his Broncos to victory.
Baltimore @ San Francisco - With Smith out this week there is no way the Dilfer led 49ers will prevail here. Baltimore redeems themselves with a victory.
Chicago @ Green Bay - As impressive as Favre has been it is difficult to go against him and the 4-0 Packers. Packers win.
Dallas @ Buffalo - Wow we get to watch a Monday night slaughter of Buffalo. Dallas wins easily.
I am a native of the Pacific Northwest. My Grandfather was a very small minority owner of the Seahawks and even owned the land the original Kingdome was built on, he sold his portion to the Nordstrom family in 1979.
With that being said I was born a fan and was less than a two weeks old when I went to my first Hawks game on Dec. 3rd 1978 when the Hawks played the Browns.
As a kid my family moved to Arizona where things changed in sports, becoming a Phoenix sports fan is bittersweet, just like being a Seattle fan. Combined the two cities have two championships . 1979 Sonics and 2001 Diamondbacks.
I am now living in SoCal with my wife and two children, with one little future Seahawk on the way.
