The AFC is full of close races and contenders in the eyes of their fans, the NFC lets just say is underachieving expectations for the most part. Who is standing out to us so far?
Dallas Cowboys: Dem Cowboys have ONCE AGAIN, won the title for most disappointing team in the NFL! Don’t give men excuses for Dak breaking his ankle this team would be bad regardless. In my opinion the Mike McCarthy hire was exactly what some of my friends that Packers fans warned Dallas about. The only reason he was a great coach in Green Bay was because he had Aaron Rodgers and some great receivers. In Dallas most of them are injured plus he can’t manage the defense. If I am JerryBoy I would tank for the best DB in the draft considering that Prescott had his best season before injury.
New York Giants: In my opinion the Giants are a fairytale movie without the happy ending. They put all of their eggs in the basket of Saquan, once he went down with the ACL tear the Giants were literally done. Everyone in NYC will say that if Barkley hadn’t gotten hurt the Giants would be in the playoffs. Let me ask you this, can Saquan play all 11 positions on defense? Can he play on the Offensive Line? NO NO AND NO! To me Dave Gettleman is walking straight into unemployment if things continue to be this bad.
Philadelphia Eagles: Philly you are so lucky that you are in the NFC East! Because if you were in almost any other division, you would be sentenced to the basement. Carson Wentz has overcome his slow start and has played well mostly when his city needs him the most. Even if almost the entire secondary and receiving core is injured thanks to their field conditions that are similar to the Vet, the Eagles should be a lock for the playoffs unless they go ice cold in the end. I hope their fans get to have some bragging rights over Dallas again! COUNT ON IT!
Washington FT (Hogs): The Hogs this year are still a year or 2 away before they can try to think they can make the playoffs. Chase Young has played as advertised, Terry McLauren is becoming a franchise cornerstone, Alex Smith did the unthinkable and returned to the field against the Rams, and Ron Rivera is successfully recovering from health problems despite being on the sidelines. Dwayne Haskins is the next QB from Ohio State that has become a bust. I think they will ONCE AGAIN BRING OUT THE TANKS because they probably won’t catch the Eagles.
Chicago Bears: In my opinion if the Bears are going anywhere this season it will be on the back of their defense that has once again returned to their old Monsters of the Midway form. The only issue is the QB carousel, Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles have each struggled to play up to organizational expectations. If “Da Bears” want any chance at a home playoff game, they will have to play the Packers twice in the final weeks of the season.
Detroit Lions: This team is doing everything they can to build a Patriots type culture yet fails to understand that the Football Gods are trying to rob them. This year they have had leads in almost each of their losses yet find some crazy way to lose. Yet after a heroic win against the Falcons their fans and ownership were talking about the glories of 10-6 and the playoffs, losing to the Colts badly will change that. Matt Stafford may be on the COVID list as well as several defenders being injured but they will do everything they can to keep Matt Patrica around.
Green Bay Packers: This team reminds me a lot of the Ravens on some occasions. When they are playing at their best few teams can beat them, if they don’t they are frauds to the media and fans. Aaron Rodgers is the perfect example. The media either hates him or loves him. I would say the same thing with the Packers defense. They either dominate one game or give up 4 TDs against a team with one good player the next. If they are going to want to go back to the Super Bowl they need to get homefield in the NFC. Just do your fans a favor and beat the Bears!
Minnesota Vikings: Never trust the Vikings to get you through life! Whenever there is hope like the expectations of this team this year, there is a way further down. The Yannick Ngakoue experiment was the perfectation scenario for this team. Go all in with star talent then fail and dump him or others. I would say that their chances of a championship in this window are gone and I also think Mike Zimmer is gone too. Poor Dalvin Cook, he deserves better than this.
Atlanta Falcons: This is the sound of a teams championship window slamming shut right on their faces in front of their diehards. Once again people like SI and ESPN picked them to win the division yet collapse because Dan Quinn lives and dies by high-end talent. It started when they blew that huge lead against Dallas, then got worse after blowing another large lead against Chicago at home. Then the ending against the Lions cost this team their chances. This team is only relevant for 3 names. Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Todd Gurley. And all of them should have been traded. Classic Arthur Blank. DID I EVER TELL YOU THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY!
Carolina Panthers: This was where I expected these guys to be. Not too good, not too bad but just mediocre. Teddy Bridgewater I think has been exactly what Panthers fans thought he could be but with Christian McCaffery coming back from injury this could be a chance at an unexpected playoff push. The only issue is that they aren’t ready for the big time yet simply because of the teams ahead of them in the division. I don’t have an answer at this point.
New Orleans Saints: Exactly where Saints fans wanted to be in right now. They got off to a slow start by losing to Green Bay and Vegas but have rattled off 4 straight wins before their 2nd showdown with the Bucs. Drew Brees has been ok but still playing at an elite level. Even though Michael Thomas is out because of injury, New Orleans has gotten contributions from other sources mostly on defense. In my opinion the amount of close games they play in could make or break their championship window.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The hype machine of the season has so far lived up to expectations. Everyone’s pick now to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl has an already scary core led by Brady, Gronk, Mike Evans, Levonta David, Chris Godwin, and now the DIVA in Antonio Brown. This stretch of the season against the Saints, Rams, and Chiefs could determine if the Road to the Super Bowl goes through Raymond James. Just like the Steelers the NFL will do everything in their powers to make sure they are in the big game at the end of the season.
Arizona Cardinals: If they didn’t have that stretch against the Lions and Panthers this would be a 7-0 team with everything going Kliff Kingsbury’s way. Even at 5-2 the Cardinals have entered the class of top tier teams following their statement win against the Seahawks. Kyler Murray and Deandre Hopkins are on a mission, ending the ghosts of Pottsville in 1925. The defense led by Patrick Peterson, Chandler Jones, and Isiah Simmons have gone from the team’s biggest weakness to one of its strengths. Considering that the rest of the division will have some problems with their schedules the Cards could be a lock for the postseason if they don’t collapse.
Los Angeles Rams: The Rams have officially turned back the clock and have once again rediscovered the way to dominate on defense with the offense still being effective. When you have Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, John Johnson, as well as others this could be a Super Bowl caliber defense that carries them through the stretch run. On offense Jared Goff and Robert Woods are playing with a fire we didn’t see last year. Despite a rough schedule at the end of the season following that beatdown they took to the Dolphins last week, LA wants to still prove that 2018 was no fluke.
San Francisco 49ers: Ladies and Gentlemen here is your leading contender for the Injury Bowl! San Francisco has its QB, entire backfield, receiver core, Guards and Center, Secondary, and Pass Rushers on IR through 9 games. At 4-5 this isn’t what the Bay Area expected but this is a team that lost a Super Bowl the year before, that means the Football Gods have to punish someone. The 9ers I think are just waiting for something to save their playoff hopes and championship window. I wouldn’t blame them.
Seattle Seahawks: After another hot start the Seahawks are looking like the contender many thought they could be on offense. Russell Wilson is leading the MVP race after Week 8, Led by the Kong Master in DK Metcalf, as well as the speed of Tyler Lockette the Hawks have an offense that can rival anyone. The main issue in Seattle, DEFENSE! Yes they made moves for Jamal Adams, and Carlos Dunlap but something is missing in terms of execution and late game adjustments. If the right team faces them they are in a word DEAD MEAT!
Almost any division in the NFC is up for grabs and the playoff race is wide open so let’s see who I have in each tier.
In the NFC East I will say the Eagles because no one else is willing to take a weak division.
In the NFC North it will be the Pack despite the Bears trying to knock them off.
In the NFC South the Saints will get the edge despite the flash and dash of the Bucs because of Tampas upcoming stretch.
In the West I have a strange feeling that the Cardinals will hold off Seattle and do what people said a few years ago was unthinkable. Win the NFC West.
The Wild Cards will be the Seahawks, Bucs, and Bears despite LA and San Frans efforts. Let’s go play some second half football! LET’S DO IT!
Bragging Rights Sports 