I haven't written at length about the NFL in awhile, so I'm going to go team by team while ranking them, first in the AFC, then the NFC, in separate posts.
AFC
1. Patriots (10-0): Yep, they are the undefeated defending champions, but they've shown cracks this year. The AFC being pretty bad does not help them. They aren't playing many good teams, but they've been challenged by the Bills twice, the Jets, and the Giants, whom they were one play away from losing to.
2. Bengals (8-2): Cincinnati got off to a hot 8-0 start but has dropped consecutive games to the Texans and Cardinals, though the second loss was more forgivable since Arizona was at home and is pretty darn good. Have to wonder if the Bengals actually can have playoff success this year, or if these two losses are the beginnings of more postseason problems.
3. Broncos (8-2): Obviously, the big news here is Peyton Manning. Is he done this year? Is he done on the Broncos? Is he done for his career? Was the foot injury bothering him all year? He's been terrible, and I don't think age is an explanation for such a sudden drop off. I think he's been hurt. I don't know if he is done this year, but for now, they have to rely on Brock Osweiler, so it will be interesting to see if he can keep the Broncos in the elite of the conference.
4. Steelers (6-4): Pittsburgh has a great offense and a defense that is improving, but it could be slowed down by the loss of RB Le'Veon Bell for the rest of the season. DeAngelo Williams has filled in very nicely for him this year, however, and the team avoided another bad injury to Ben Roethlisberger. They have a big game this weekend at the Seahawks.
5. Chiefs (5-5): I believed in this team early on when it was suffering losses to Denver, Green Bay, and Cincinnati. Then KC lost to Chicago and Minnesota and I was losing faith. But the Chiefs have gotten back on track recently despite the loss of RB Jamaal Charles and now might have an outside chance of pushing for the AFC West title should the Broncos falter under Osweiler. Still, they need to be careful to make they can at least get a wild card.
6. Bills (5-5): They've played the Patriots tough twice and the defense seems to be coming around under Rex Ryan. Virginia Tech alum Tyrod Taylor has been serviceable at QB. They have a huge game this weekend at Kansas City, which is a crucial contest as these teams battle for a wild card.
7. Colts (5-5): They are seventh on this list, but first in the AFC South, though they are now tied with the resurgent Texans. I won't put them below the Texans unless they lose to them. Indy has not lost a division game in 16 contests. Of course, the biggest question for them is Andrew Luck. What's wrong with him and has he had an injury bothering him all year like Manning? Until he is back, they have a good backup in Matt Hasselbeck who is 3-0 in his starts this season.
8. Texans (5-5): All of a sudden, this team has thrown itself into the wild card conversation. Things were looking bleak for Houston, but then it won at Cincinnati and then followed up with a good showing by topping the Jets.
9. Jets (5-5): They are in a bit of a slide, having lost three of four. They just lost to the Texans, putting them below them on this list. Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn't been as solid at QB of late, and the defense isn't playing as well either. Wasn't that long ago this team was winning at New England late in the game, so potential is there, but it needs to rediscover it.
10. Raiders (4-6): Oh, Oakland. You had such promise a few weeks ago when you nearly beat Denver, throttled San Diego, and almost won at Pittsburgh but lost in a shootout. Since then, though, the Raiders have lost by 16 to Minnesota and five to Detroit. The Chiefs have instead taken over as second fiddle in the AFC West. But the Raiders have two games left against KC and can still climb back into the thick of things.
11. Jaguars (4-6): All of a sudden, this team has won three of four games and is in the playoff conversation. They have some winnable games coming up, but will have to earn their way back to respectability. Blake Bortles and T.J. Yeldon have given Jacksonville a good offense.
12. Dolphins (4-6): They had a nice surge under interim coach Dan Campbell, blowing out the Titans and Texans and even beat the Eagles two weeks ago, but it looks like Miami won't be a true contender for a playoff spot. Just too inconsistent.
13. Titans (2-8): It's possible they would have a couple more wins with Marcus Mariota at QB the whole year, but he didn't play a few games because of injury. He is a nice piece for the franchise to build around. They also have a pretty solid defense, but they need help in other areas. I don't think Ken Whisenhunt should've been fired before getting a full season with Mariota.
14. Ravens (3-7): What a disastrous year for Baltimore, which has contended for what seems like forever. First, Steve Smith went down. Then Justin Forsett, and finally, Joe Flacco. And the defense isn't what it used to be. Time to reload and come back next year. Former UVa QB Matt Schaub is the starter now with Flacco hurt.
15. Chargers (2-8): This team has been very disappointing. Normally, Philip Rivers and the Chargers give a much better effort, but something is off this year. They've lost six in a row, some in very tough fashion (Green Bay 27-20, Pittsburgh 24-20), but they bottomed out this past week with a 33-3 loss to the Chiefs.
16. Browns (2-8): Another terrible year in Cleveland. The Browns have showed promise at times and taken some close losses to the Broncos and Raiders, but have gotten blown out in recent weeks. Also, there's the ongoing fiasco with Johnny Manziel, which just won't go away. Unfortunately, UVa alum and head coach Mike Pettine will probably lose his job because of the mess.
AFC
1. Patriots (10-0): Yep, they are the undefeated defending champions, but they've shown cracks this year. The AFC being pretty bad does not help them. They aren't playing many good teams, but they've been challenged by the Bills twice, the Jets, and the Giants, whom they were one play away from losing to.
2. Bengals (8-2): Cincinnati got off to a hot 8-0 start but has dropped consecutive games to the Texans and Cardinals, though the second loss was more forgivable since Arizona was at home and is pretty darn good. Have to wonder if the Bengals actually can have playoff success this year, or if these two losses are the beginnings of more postseason problems.
3. Broncos (8-2): Obviously, the big news here is Peyton Manning. Is he done this year? Is he done on the Broncos? Is he done for his career? Was the foot injury bothering him all year? He's been terrible, and I don't think age is an explanation for such a sudden drop off. I think he's been hurt. I don't know if he is done this year, but for now, they have to rely on Brock Osweiler, so it will be interesting to see if he can keep the Broncos in the elite of the conference.
4. Steelers (6-4): Pittsburgh has a great offense and a defense that is improving, but it could be slowed down by the loss of RB Le'Veon Bell for the rest of the season. DeAngelo Williams has filled in very nicely for him this year, however, and the team avoided another bad injury to Ben Roethlisberger. They have a big game this weekend at the Seahawks.
5. Chiefs (5-5): I believed in this team early on when it was suffering losses to Denver, Green Bay, and Cincinnati. Then KC lost to Chicago and Minnesota and I was losing faith. But the Chiefs have gotten back on track recently despite the loss of RB Jamaal Charles and now might have an outside chance of pushing for the AFC West title should the Broncos falter under Osweiler. Still, they need to be careful to make they can at least get a wild card.
6. Bills (5-5): They've played the Patriots tough twice and the defense seems to be coming around under Rex Ryan. Virginia Tech alum Tyrod Taylor has been serviceable at QB. They have a huge game this weekend at Kansas City, which is a crucial contest as these teams battle for a wild card.
7. Colts (5-5): They are seventh on this list, but first in the AFC South, though they are now tied with the resurgent Texans. I won't put them below the Texans unless they lose to them. Indy has not lost a division game in 16 contests. Of course, the biggest question for them is Andrew Luck. What's wrong with him and has he had an injury bothering him all year like Manning? Until he is back, they have a good backup in Matt Hasselbeck who is 3-0 in his starts this season.
8. Texans (5-5): All of a sudden, this team has thrown itself into the wild card conversation. Things were looking bleak for Houston, but then it won at Cincinnati and then followed up with a good showing by topping the Jets.
9. Jets (5-5): They are in a bit of a slide, having lost three of four. They just lost to the Texans, putting them below them on this list. Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn't been as solid at QB of late, and the defense isn't playing as well either. Wasn't that long ago this team was winning at New England late in the game, so potential is there, but it needs to rediscover it.
10. Raiders (4-6): Oh, Oakland. You had such promise a few weeks ago when you nearly beat Denver, throttled San Diego, and almost won at Pittsburgh but lost in a shootout. Since then, though, the Raiders have lost by 16 to Minnesota and five to Detroit. The Chiefs have instead taken over as second fiddle in the AFC West. But the Raiders have two games left against KC and can still climb back into the thick of things.
11. Jaguars (4-6): All of a sudden, this team has won three of four games and is in the playoff conversation. They have some winnable games coming up, but will have to earn their way back to respectability. Blake Bortles and T.J. Yeldon have given Jacksonville a good offense.
12. Dolphins (4-6): They had a nice surge under interim coach Dan Campbell, blowing out the Titans and Texans and even beat the Eagles two weeks ago, but it looks like Miami won't be a true contender for a playoff spot. Just too inconsistent.
13. Titans (2-8): It's possible they would have a couple more wins with Marcus Mariota at QB the whole year, but he didn't play a few games because of injury. He is a nice piece for the franchise to build around. They also have a pretty solid defense, but they need help in other areas. I don't think Ken Whisenhunt should've been fired before getting a full season with Mariota.
14. Ravens (3-7): What a disastrous year for Baltimore, which has contended for what seems like forever. First, Steve Smith went down. Then Justin Forsett, and finally, Joe Flacco. And the defense isn't what it used to be. Time to reload and come back next year. Former UVa QB Matt Schaub is the starter now with Flacco hurt.
15. Chargers (2-8): This team has been very disappointing. Normally, Philip Rivers and the Chargers give a much better effort, but something is off this year. They've lost six in a row, some in very tough fashion (Green Bay 27-20, Pittsburgh 24-20), but they bottomed out this past week with a 33-3 loss to the Chiefs.
16. Browns (2-8): Another terrible year in Cleveland. The Browns have showed promise at times and taken some close losses to the Broncos and Raiders, but have gotten blown out in recent weeks. Also, there's the ongoing fiasco with Johnny Manziel, which just won't go away. Unfortunately, UVa alum and head coach Mike Pettine will probably lose his job because of the mess.
Thank you for not giving the Patriots a collective blow job like the rest of the media. I'm still not sold on the whole "revenge tour" narrative either.
ReplyDeletehaha they just aren't invincible looking like 2007. good, but not dominant. i question if they can win 3 straight tough games in the playoffs.
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