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Let's hope the 2nd quarter of the NFL season has better football than the first.
Keep in mind that my rankings aren't entirely based on what these teams have done, but what I think they are capable of doing as the season progresses.
1. New York Jets (3-1): The Jets have looked like a completely different team since losing to the Ravens by 1 point in the first game of the season. Sanchez has looked better each week and the Jets are averaging 26.5ppg (4th in the league) and rank 1st in the league in TO difference (+8). The additions of Santonio Holmes and Darrelle Revis won't hurt, either.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1): The Steelers have gone 3-1 despite playing with their 3rd string quarterback. Only loss is to Baltimore by just 3 in a game in which they were outgained by over 100 yards of offense. Scary to think what this team is going to do with Ben back.
3. Baltimore Ravens (4-1): Close wins @ NYJ and @ PIT prove that the Ravens have the offense and defense to compete with any team in the league. The Ravens are mentally and physically as tough as any team in the league and have the talent to beat anybody.
4. Tennessee Titans (3-2): Wins @ NYG and @ DAL have made me a believer in Vince Young and the Titans. A balanced offense and perhaps the best front 4 in football has transformed the Titans defense and turned them into my favorite to win the AFC South.
5. Indianapolis Colts (3-2): The defense has problems but Peyton Manning is still Peyton Manning. They'll only get better as the year progresses, and I'm sure they'll prove me wrong by winning the AFC South...again.
6. Chiefs (3-1)
7. Pats (3-1).
1. Atlanta Falcons (4-1): Falcons are balanced on offense and defense and have shown the ability to find ways to win. Alanta has reeled off 4 straight since losing in OT to the Steelers in week 1.
2. New York Giants (3-2): Looked bad in their losses to two of my AFC Top 5 teams (@ Indy and Vs. TN) but shook it off and erased a lot of doubt by dominating two of the better teams in the NFL right now in the Bears and Texans.
3. Green Bay Packers (3-2): I'm sticking with the Packers as a top 5 team in the NFC. Their 2 losses were on the road to good teams in Chicago and Washington and by 3 points each. The Packers will need to get healthy and overcome some injuries, they've lost 3 starters on offense and 2 on defense through 5 games, but I think they will eventually come together and prove that they are the best team in their division.
4. Chicago Bears (4-1): The offense is vastly improved under Mike Martz and the defense looks rejuvenated by the return of Urlacher and the acquisition of Julius Peppers. The Bears have obvious OL problems but are balanced enough on offense and defense to beat most teams.
5. Minnesota Vikings (1-2): Before you groan me, hear me out. Here are the teams I could have given the 5 spot to: Redskins, Eagles, Saints, Bucs, and Cardinals. Instead of going with one of those teams, who have disappointed (Saints), beaten nobody worth mentioning (Eagles/Skins), or won't really do anything (Bucs, Cards), I'm going to go with the Vikings because they have a better defense and running game than those just mentioned.
Favre looked like shit and Vikings lost @ New Orleans in the first game of the season by just 5 and to Miami at home by 4. The defense and special teams will keep the Vikings in games, no matter how bad Favre plays, and if the addition of Randy Moss helps the 2nd lowest scoring offense in the league at all, I don't see how the Vikings can't make a run for the division title.
6/7/8. Eagles/Bucs/Redskins.
Keep in mind that my rankings aren't entirely based on what these teams have done, but what I think they are capable of doing as the season progresses.
1. New York Jets (3-1): The Jets have looked like a completely different team since losing to the Ravens by 1 point in the first game of the season. Sanchez has looked better each week and the Jets are averaging 26.5ppg (4th in the league) and rank 1st in the league in TO difference (+8). The additions of Santonio Holmes and Darrelle Revis won't hurt, either.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1): The Steelers have gone 3-1 despite playing with their 3rd string quarterback. Only loss is to Baltimore by just 3 in a game in which they were outgained by over 100 yards of offense. Scary to think what this team is going to do with Ben back.
3. Baltimore Ravens (4-1): Close wins @ NYJ and @ PIT prove that the Ravens have the offense and defense to compete with any team in the league. The Ravens are mentally and physically as tough as any team in the league and have the talent to beat anybody.
4. Tennessee Titans (3-2): Wins @ NYG and @ DAL have made me a believer in Vince Young and the Titans. A balanced offense and perhaps the best front 4 in football has transformed the Titans defense and turned them into my favorite to win the AFC South.
5. Indianapolis Colts (3-2): The defense has problems but Peyton Manning is still Peyton Manning. They'll only get better as the year progresses, and I'm sure they'll prove me wrong by winning the AFC South...again.
6. Chiefs (3-1)
7. Pats (3-1).
1. Atlanta Falcons (4-1): Falcons are balanced on offense and defense and have shown the ability to find ways to win. Alanta has reeled off 4 straight since losing in OT to the Steelers in week 1.
2. New York Giants (3-2): Looked bad in their losses to two of my AFC Top 5 teams (@ Indy and Vs. TN) but shook it off and erased a lot of doubt by dominating two of the better teams in the NFL right now in the Bears and Texans.
3. Green Bay Packers (3-2): I'm sticking with the Packers as a top 5 team in the NFC. Their 2 losses were on the road to good teams in Chicago and Washington and by 3 points each. The Packers will need to get healthy and overcome some injuries, they've lost 3 starters on offense and 2 on defense through 5 games, but I think they will eventually come together and prove that they are the best team in their division.
4. Chicago Bears (4-1): The offense is vastly improved under Mike Martz and the defense looks rejuvenated by the return of Urlacher and the acquisition of Julius Peppers. The Bears have obvious OL problems but are balanced enough on offense and defense to beat most teams.
5. Minnesota Vikings (1-2): Before you groan me, hear me out. Here are the teams I could have given the 5 spot to: Redskins, Eagles, Saints, Bucs, and Cardinals. Instead of going with one of those teams, who have disappointed (Saints), beaten nobody worth mentioning (Eagles/Skins), or won't really do anything (Bucs, Cards), I'm going to go with the Vikings because they have a better defense and running game than those just mentioned.
Favre looked like shit and Vikings lost @ New Orleans in the first game of the season by just 5 and to Miami at home by 4. The defense and special teams will keep the Vikings in games, no matter how bad Favre plays, and if the addition of Randy Moss helps the 2nd lowest scoring offense in the league at all, I don't see how the Vikings can't make a run for the division title.
6/7/8. Eagles/Bucs/Redskins.
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