Menudo Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 I think that this year the AFC is going to be a wild race to the SB. NE is currently the media darling, with the acquisition of Moss & Thomas overriding an incredibly thin RB corps and a dramatically aging D that is showing some cracks in its secondary. IND also has issues at RB and I'd put them as a more well rounded and dangerous team than NE, to be honest. SD is the most talented team overall in the AFC, but losing so many coaches, and then the hiring of Turner on top of that and his well documented history as a HC, as well as a suspect secondary make me wonder if they can pull it all together after the crushing disappointment of the NE playoff loss last season. I do like what DEN has done in going back to what Shanahan knows best of any coach in the NFL - a smashmouth running game, but they have a lot of new pieces that all have to learn to mesh and function together. BAL has a QB who is rapidly approaching Methusala proportions for age and nothing credible to back him up, but that D just keeps losing pieces and still manages to be downright nasty. JAX has some talent on D, but geez, could they screw up their QB & WR situation any worse during the offseason? TEN is an interesting darkhorse - especially looking at how they played in the 2nd half of last season, as is CIN, whose talent on O is undeniable and if they can field a D that is simply mediocre could play with anyone for a one-game matchup. PIT has tremendous strength in some positions, but undeniable weaknesses in others, and has to transition from someone other than Cowher coaching them, and has to do it while Roethlisberger figures out how to grow up. I like the Jets, and especially the way the've built their O-line, but it just seems as if there isn't enough there, there to put everything together and manage to compete with the top 4-5 teams in the conference. Still, while they're not sexy, they sure should play some very solid football, and while they don't have a great strength, they also don't seem to have a great weakness either. It's going to be a very interesting year in the AFC. I'm looking forward to seeing which 6 teams have chairs when the music stops at the end of the season. Great post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menudo Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 Egret's Highly Un-scientific and Highly Biased Rankings 1) Baltimore 2) Indy 3) New England 4) Denver 5) New Orleans 6) Carolina 7) Cincinnati 8) Sand Diego 9) NYJ 10) Philly 11) Tennessee 12) Lions 13) San Francisco 14) Chicago 15) Seattle 16) Jacksonville 17) St. Louis 18) Buffalo 19) Green Bay 20) Dallas 21) Pittsburgh 22) Kansas City 23) NYG 24) Arizona 25) Tampa 26) Oakland 27) Houston 28) Minnesota 29) Atlanta 30) Washington 31) Cleveland 32) Miami Bad Post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainHook Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 (edited) The only thing I can't agree with your post Billy, is about the TItans being a dark horse. They have nothing at the WR position. They let their best RB leave in FA. They lost their best CB to a year long suspension. They continue to sign Colts defensive cast-offs. Thornton, Harper, Gardner. I think the Titans have taken a step back this season. Edited July 17, 2007 by CaptainHook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holliday Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Yes, you do - and he's going to be surprisingly good. Not great, I don't think, but very good. You must be talking about our 5th rounder Baldwin.I have taken him in all my dynasties late and am very happy to have gotten him.he could produce some real good numbers but it will be more because of our lack of a MLB than it will because of his play. Don't think you were talking about him but if you meant lenon I would really have to disagree there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egret Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Love the Cowboys prediction, and the teams in front of them. Nothing says success like Wade Phillips! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDFFFreak Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 IF (and it's a big if) McNabb and Westbrook stay healthy the entire season, I think the Eagles are right up there with New Orleans, Carolina, and the Bears for NFC champion contenders. Then again, I may be a bit biased... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 You must be talking about our 5th rounder Baldwin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 The only thing I can't agree with your post Billy, is about the TItans being a dark horse. They have nothing at the WR position. They let their best RB leave in FA. They lost their best CB to a year long suspension. They continue to sign Colts defensive cast-offs. Thornton, Harper, Gardner. I think the Titans have taken a step back this season. That's a pretty perceptive observation, and I may have overestimated them myself. I do believe that Young is a dynamic players that lifts others' performances around him, and I do like that they brought Brown back at RB. We'll see, but reviewing my analysis, I have a feeling that your opinion may be closer to the truth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingfish247 Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 (edited) My 5 minute, cut-paste, gut feeling power rankings with quick explanations for some picks... 1. New England Patriots 2. Indianapolis Colts 3. San Diego Chargers--I want to put them lower b/c of the coaching upheaval but just can't due to the talent. 4. New Orleans Saints 5. Cincinnati Bengals--Offense will be good and the D only has to improve only a little bit 6. Baltimore Ravens--Palmer seems to have the Ravens number and I just don't see the offense scoring enough points. 7. Chicago Bears--Someone has to win the NFC North, right? 8. Washington Redskins--I'll go out on a limb here... mostly due to continuity, in the 2nd year of Saunders, this team I believe is better than the one that made the playoffs in 2005. Landry replaces Archuleta and they have a savvy vet in Fletcher who's played with Williams before. 9. New York Jets 10. Seattle Seahawks--The NFC west has been so weak that I just can't put the Rams or Niners in the playoffs, yet. 11. Denver Broncos 12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers--This team needed an accurate, experienced QB. Last year's struggles were a product of erratic QB play and 2 rookies on OL. They added 2 (Lehr, Petitgout) vets to a young OL, all of whom are going into at least their 2nd full season together. 13. Jacksonville Jaguars 14. Carolina Panthers 15. Philadelphia Eagles--This is assuming McNabb doesn't make it through the season... which is a safe assumption lately. Reid is good enough to coach them close to the playoffs but AJ Feeley is bad enough to make them miss. 16. Dallas Cowboys--New coaches, 2nd season with TO... eeesh. 17. Pittsburgh Steelers 18. St. Louis Rams--Really no major improvements on a D that can't stop the run. 19. New York Giants--They'll really miss Tiki even though they're trying to put a positive spin on his loss. The D is still inconsistent. 20. San Francisco 49'ers 21. Tennessee Titans 22. Kansas City Chiefs--LJ holdout looming, loss of All-Pro OLs, and a journeyman OR first year starting QB. The D is improved but not THAT much. 23. Arizona Cardinals 24. Atlanta Falcons 25. Green Bay Packers 26. Buffalo Bills 27. Minnesota Vikings 28. Houston Texans 29. Cleveland Browns 30. Detroit Lions 31. Miami Dolphins--The defense can only carry this team so far. Green can stay healthy behind that abysmal line for only so long. Unfortunately not every offensive play can be a kick or punt return, Mr. Ginn. 32. Oakland Raiders--I want to rank them higher b/c of their D. Teams didn't have to pass much but the offense was so bad that opposing offenses often had short fields (they were next to last in yards allowed per point). OAK's D played usually good offenses very tough... Rams, AZ, and Pittsburgh comes to mind. They were blownout in the season opener vs. SD but they went on to give their division fits. Edited July 17, 2007 by kingfish247 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDFFFreak Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 My 5 minute, cut-paste, gut feeling power rankings with quick explanations for some picks... 1. New England Patriots 2. Indianapolis Colts 3. San Diego Chargers--I want to put them lower b/c of the coaching upheaval but just can't due to the talent. 4. New Orleans Saints 5. Cincinnati Bengals--Offense will be good and the D only has to improve only a little bit 6. Baltimore Ravens--Palmer seems to have the Ravens number and I just don't see the offense scoring enough points. 7. Chicago Bears--Someone has to win the NFC North, right? 8. Washington Redskins--I'll go out on a limb here... mostly due to continuity, in the 2nd year of Saunders, this team I believe is better than the one that made the playoffs in 2005. Landry replaces Archuleta and they have a savvy vet in Fletcher who's played with Williams before. 9. New York Jets 10. Seattle Seahawks--The NFC west has been so weak that I just can't put the Rams or Niners in the playoffs, yet. 11. Denver Broncos 12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers--This team needed an accurate, experienced QB. Last year's struggles were a product of erratic QB play and 2 rookies on OL. They added 2 (Lehr, Petitgout) vets to a young OL, all of whom are going into at least their 2nd full season together. 13. Jacksonville Jaguars 14. Carolina Panthers 15. Philadelphia Eagles--This is assuming McNabb doesn't make it through the season... which is a safe assumption lately. Reid is good enough to coach them close to the playoffs but AJ Feeley is bad enough to make them miss. 16. Dallas Cowboys--New coaches, 2nd season with TO... eeesh. 17. Pittsburgh Steelers 18. St. Louis Rams--Really no major improvements on a D that can't stop the run. 19. New York Giants--They'll really miss Tiki even though they're trying to put a positive spin on his loss. The D is still inconsistent. 20. San Francisco 49'ers 21. Tennessee Titans 22. Kansas City Chiefs--LJ holdout looming, loss of All-Pro OLs, and a journeyman OR first year starting QB. The D is improved but not THAT much. 23. Arizona Cardinals 24. Atlanta Falcons 25. Green Bay Packers 26. Buffalo Bills 27. Minnesota Vikings 28. Houston Texans 29. Cleveland Browns 30. Detroit Lions 31. Miami Dolphins--The defense can only carry this team so far. Green can stay healthy behind that abysmal line for only so long. Unfortunately not every offensive play can be a kick or punt return, Mr. Ginn. 32. Oakland Raiders--I want to rank them higher b/c of their D. Teams didn't have to pass much but the offense was so bad that opposing offenses often had short fields (they were next to last in yards allowed per point). OAK's D played usually good offenses very tough... Rams, AZ, and Pittsburgh comes to mind. They were blownout in the season opener vs. SD but they went on to give their division fits. Are you a Redskins fan by any chance? I think you have them waaaaaaay too high. Are they awful? No. But to start them out at this point in the preseason at #8 ahead of Dallas and Philly is a joke (not to mention ahead of teams like Carolina, the Jets, and Denver). Maybe I'll eat my words later this season, but I think you are smoking crack with this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Are you a Redskins fan by any chance? I think you have them waaaaaaay too high. Are they awful? No. But to start them out at this point in the preseason at #8 ahead of Dallas and Philly is a joke (not to mention ahead of teams like Carolina, the Jets, and Denver). Maybe I'll eat my words later this season, but I think you are smoking crack with this one. Falcons fan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDFFFreak Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 (edited) Falcons fan Hmmmm. Well, he does have the Falcons at #24 so he is a little too hopeful. Edited July 17, 2007 by TDFFFreak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingfish247 Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 (edited) Are you a Redskins fan by any chance? I think you have them waaaaaaay too high. Are they awful? No. But to start them out at this point in the preseason at #8 ahead of Dallas and Philly is a joke (not to mention ahead of teams like Carolina, the Jets, and Denver). Maybe I'll eat my words later this season, but I think you are smoking crack with this one. Dallas... new coaching staff, Romo and the defense faded at the end of the season, TO's second year and they "shored up" their OL with... ex-Cardinal Leonard Davis. Philly... their season will sink or swim with McNabb. Feeley is only a decent stop gap and the rookie likely won't be ready for that pass happy offense to lead them into the playoffs. Giants... there are already rumors of finding Coughlin's replacement for 2008, the D remains inconsistent, new offense, no Tiki etc etc. I'm not going to put my NFC East champ behind the 2 AFC wild cards, the NFC West champ, and the NFC South champ. It might be but that's the logic behind my only real out there pick. It's not like the Redskins weren't there before... on their 2nd consecutive road playoff game they played the then dominant Seahawks pretty close. Campbell still has room to grow but the Skins will always be a run first team. And about the Falcons... when you're in the bottom 1/4 of the league does it really matter who is 24 or 32? They all look like an exercise in futility at this point. Edited July 18, 2007 by kingfish247 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 IF (and it's a big if) McNabb and Westbrook stay healthy the entire season, I think the Eagles are right up there with New Orleans, Carolina, and the Bears for NFC champion contenders. Then again, I may be a bit biased... If McNabb and Westbrook stay healthy, they're in a class of there own in the NFC... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egret Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 If McNabb and Westbrook stay healthy, they're in a class of there own in the NFC... Exactly. Philly wins year after year. There isn't another NFC like them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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