Best non-playoff team this year

[xMRogers]

Who can go into the off-season feeling "ok, we're 13th, but we're probably in better shape than 4 of the playoff teams for next year"?

 

Yes, I bring this up cause Philly has to be one of the teams mentioned, but not the only one obviously.

 

NFC

 

- Wash/Minn - whoever doesn't make it - both teams got better towards end and have a lot of pieces in place, but can they reverse years of mediocrity when all they were was just a step above mediocre

- New Orleans - strange 2 year run going here and really no idea what to expect next year

- Philly - 6 games that were one play in last three minutes from going their way, and will have a healthy QB to start season - one of the hottest teams in league right now

- Chicago - They were terrible, but is it possibly all about the QB/RB play and if they somehow get a QB and Benson turns out to not suck...forget it, they suck

- Detroit- Started hot, lost 7 straight - do they go up or down from here

- Arizona - every year they are a hot sleeper and every year they fail - next year any different?

- SF - do they do next year what they were supposed to do this year (and with who at QB)

 

 

AFC

 

- Cleve/Tenn - whoever doesn't make it - both teams seemingly on the rise (well, Tenn a bit weird to me, but 9 win team nonetheless)

- Buffalo - was a sleeper darling for a few weeks, but not so sure now

- Cincy - they ever going to really get it together?

- Houston - have they really started to make the climb or is this a SF-like bump that they'll fall off of

- Balt - any chance of a bounceback (i'd say no, but i'm wrong a lot)

- Den/KC/Oak - wow does that div suck - do any of these teams go anywhere next year or is this a one team division for the foreseeable future

[isleseeya]

for me it would be whomever does not get in between Cleveland and Tenn

 

not much else does it for me

[xMRogers]

for me it would be whomever does not get in between Cleveland and Tenn

 

not much else does it for me

 

 

Really? You think that one is a better team for next year than say the Minn/Wash left-out-team (I'm assuming they both don't lose and the Saints sneak in)?

 

I loved Cleveland's story this year, but the last two weeks have really soured me on them. Tenn I just can't figure out other than to say Vince Young seems to be a winner....cause that team on paper and even on the field should have been a 5 win team two years in a row and he's thrown up a pretty darn good record for a 2nd year QB.

[isleseeya]

Really? You think that one is a better team for next year than say the Minn/Wash left-out-team (I'm assuming they both don't lose and the Saints sneak in)?

 

I loved Cleveland's story this year, but the last two weeks have really soured me on them. Tenn I just can't figure out other than to say Vince Young seems to be a winner....cause that team on paper and even on the field should have been a 5 win team two years in a row and he's thrown up a pretty darn good record for a 2nd year QB.

 

 

problem i have with wash and Minny is that i view NFC much , much weaker this year than AFC ...a 9-7 team getting in in NFC does not impress as much especially since both wash and Minny basically have lost some really bad games ...they turned around towards end of season but still think they are a notch below some AFC teams that wont get in ..just two cents

[xMRogers]

good point - a 9-7 in the NFC, all things being equal, is 7-9 or 6-10 in AFC and vice-versa so matching up a Cleve-Wash with equal records, almost have to say Cleve is a few games better at this stage.

[keggerz]

shhhh about the eagles

(if they win this week they end up at 8-8, GB they gave the game away with Special Teams play, NE, they were this close with a BU QB, CHI they give up a 95+ yard TD drive to end the game...at the very least those were 3 very winnable games that would have them looking at 11-5....but lets keep it on the down lo and sneak back up on everyone in the NFCE and NFL next year Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Edited December 27, 2007 by keggerz

[xMRogers]

you left out - seattle's invisible linebacker, Wash dropped pass, and NYG donked field goal - 6 games that one very simple play in the last three minutes and we win - only needed one of them to go our way....

 

going to be all about what they do at QB though - hoping they put it all to rest very quickly (like next week) by stating simply - DMac is our QB period and we hope to win next years super bowl with him leading the way.

[keggerz]

you left out - seattle's invisible linebacker, Wash dropped pass, and NYG donked field goal - 6 games that one very simple play in the last three minutes and we win - only needed one of them to go our way....

 

going to be all about what they do at QB though - hoping they put it all to rest very quickly (like next week) by stating simply - DMac is our QB period and we hope to win next years super bowl with him leading the way.

some games have been erased from my memory

[Egret]

Who can go into the off-season feeling "ok, we're 13th, but we're probably in better shape than 4 of the playoff teams for next year"?

 

Yes, I bring this up cause Philly has to be one of the teams mentioned, but not the only one obviously.

 

NFC

 

- Wash/Minn - whoever doesn't make it - both teams got better towards end and have a lot of pieces in place, but can they reverse years of mediocrity when all they were was just a step above mediocre

- New Orleans - strange 2 year run going here and really no idea what to expect next year

- Philly - 6 games that were one play in last three minutes from going their way, and will have a healthy QB to start season - one of the hottest teams in league right now

- Chicago - They were terrible, but is it possibly all about the QB/RB play and if they somehow get a QB and Benson turns out to not suck...forget it, they suck

- Detroit- Started hot, lost 7 straight - do they go up or down from here

- Arizona - every year they are a hot sleeper and every year they fail - next year any different?

- SF - do they do next year what they were supposed to do this year (and with who at QB)

AFC

 

- Cleve/Tenn - whoever doesn't make it - both teams seemingly on the rise (well, Tenn a bit weird to me, but 9 win team nonetheless)

- Buffalo - was a sleeper darling for a few weeks, but not so sure now

- Cincy - they ever going to really get it together?

- Houston - have they really started to make the climb or is this a SF-like bump that they'll fall off of

- Balt - any chance of a bounceback (i'd say no, but i'm wrong a lot)

- Den/KC/Oak - wow does that div suck - do any of these teams go anywhere next year or is this a one team division for the foreseeable future

They won the last game. They only lost six straight games.

 

 

[xMRogers]

Right now, if I had to pick 2 non-playoff teams in each conf that become playoff teams next year (have to figure that's a minimum):

 

NFC - Eagles and Cardinals (yes, homer pick and sucker pick) - teams that drop out:NYG/Sea

 

(Wash/Min I'm counting as one team in this analysis and think one of them will make it each year - yes, that's not logical I know) - also, the South may change hands cause it does every year...but I think Tampa can go back to back possibly.

 

 

AFC - Houston and I have no f'n clue - cause when I look at the AFC playoff teams, the only one I'd say "might not make it back next year" is the Cle/Ten team that gets in....and I don't like anyone else to fall out.

 

Know it won't play out that way, but SD will win the west by default, can't see Indy, NE or Jax not making it next year, and while Pitt is probably the 2nd most likely to fall out, I don't like any of the teams listed to even possibly be better than Pit other than Hou.

 

 

It cracks me up that I even type all that cause every year everyone mostly thinks "chalk from last year" and every year at least 5-7 new teams make the playoffs. NFC looking at 3 assuming the Saints don't make it (GB, Tamp, Wash/Min). AFC 3 as well (Pit, Jax, Cle/Ten)

[SheikYerbuti]

you left out - seattle's invisible linebacker, Wash dropped pass, and NYG donked field goal - 6 games that one very simple play in the last three minutes and we win - only needed one of them to go our way....

 

Well since we're turning close loses into wins in an attempt to explain away bad teams having bad seasons. . .since Miami lost SIX games by a field goal this year, I'll give them 7 wins on the year and vote for them as the best non-playoff team of 2007.

 

[keggerz]

Well since we're turning close loses into wins in an attempt to explain away bad teams having bad seasons. . .since Miami lost SIX games by a field goal this year, I'll give them 7 wins on the year and vote for them as the best non-playoff team of 2007.

 

actually i think Miami could surprise next year

[tomfin2000]

The best team not to make the playoffs? There are so many bad teams that did make the playoffs this year that I have no sympathy for the ones that didn't. The only team that got hosed in the playoffs this year is the Jaguars who have to play on the road as a wild card when they have a better record than Pittsburgh and San Diego and have beaten both of those teams this season.

 

Honestly, I think it's time that the NFL move to a playoff seeding system so that the best overall teams make the playoffs and are seeded accordingly.

Edited December 28, 2007 by tomfin2000

[xtra]

The best team not to make the playoffs? There are so many bad teams that did make the playoffs this year that I have no sympathy for the ones that didn't. The only team that got hosed in the playoffs this year is the Jaguars who have to play on the road as a wild card when they have a better record than Pittsburgh and San Diego and have beaten both of those teams this season.

 

Honestly, I think it's time that the NFL move to a playoff seeding system so that the best overall teams make the playoffs and are seeded accordingly.

If you start doing that then strength of schedule will apply as well?

Edited December 29, 2007 by xtra

[Grits and Shins]

 

I think it doesn't really matter who the first loser is ...

[SheikYerbuti]

I think it doesn't really matter who the first loser is ...

 

Not unless draft order is a stake. . .

[i_am_the_swammi]

Homer glasses aside, it has to be the Eagles.

 

As ugly as they were in losses to NY and DAL early in the year while McNabb was still recovering from his surgery, they:

 

1. Beat DAL in Dallas in a very important game for the Cowboys.

2. Beat NO in New Orleans in a must-win game for the Saints.

3. Beat MIN in Minnesota

4. Beat Washington

5. Beat a hot Lions team early in the year by 40 points.

5. Lost to GB by three points due to two muffed punts on opening day.

6. Lost to Seattle by 4 points with a back-up QB throwing three INTS, the final one on 2nd down from the 11 yard line as time was winding down.

7. Lost to New England, in New England, by 3 points after leading with 6 minutes to go (again with a back-up QB).

8. Lost to New York by three points on a 57-yard FG that hit the upright as time expired.

9. Lost to Chicago by three points on a 95-yard drive with 1:30 left in the game.

[xtra]

Homer glasses aside, it has to be the Eagles.

 

As ugly as they were in losses to NY and DAL early in the year while McNabb was still recovering from his surgery, they:

 

1. Beat DAL in Dallas in a very important game for the Cowboys.

2. Beat NO in New Orleans in a must-win game for the Saints.

3. Beat MIN in Minnesota

4. Beat Washington

5. Beat a hot Lions team early in the year by 40 points.

5. Lost to GB by three points due to two muffed punts on opening day.

6. Lost to Seattle by 4 points with a back-up QB throwing three INTS, the final one on 2nd down from the 11 yard line as time was winding down.

7. Lost to New England, in New England, by 3 points after leading with 6 minutes to go (again with a back-up QB).

8. Lost to New York by three points on a 57-yard FG that hit the upright as time expired.

9. Lost to Chicago by three points on a 95-yard drive with 1:30 left in the game.

+1

[RC94]

In the NFC I think it's the Eagles. In the AFC I think it's whoever doesn't make it between TEN and CLE. I really thought DEN would be much better than they turned out to be. They are the most disappointing team in the NFL this year IMO.

[Randall]

shhhh about the eagles

(if they win this week they end up at 8-8, GB they gave the game away with Special Teams play, NE, they were this close with a BU QB, CHI they give up a 95+ yard TD drive to end the game...at the very least those were 3 very winnable games that would have them looking at 11-5....but lets keep it on the down lo and sneak back up on everyone in the NFCE and NFL next year Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

 

Yeah that first game GB won through a lot of bad ST play. It did help a young up and coming team to gain confidence and beat some very good teams from last season(the early schedule looked brutal in august).

 

Thank you Philadelphia.

Edited December 29, 2007 by Randall