On the Season's Eve...
September 7th 2010 13:04
The leading Super Bowl (of Hype) candidates are: New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. I think both teams have ultimately fatal flaws; both teams have sufficient talent to make the playoffs, and challenge for their division titles. So this isn't to say that they are "bad" teams in any regard. They are very very good. But Super Bowl good? There, I'm just not sure.
It's all about offense on both teams. Yeah, yeah, preseason means nothing, I know, but face facts. Tony Romo is not a QB I have any faith in. None. The Dallas O-Line is aging and suspect. Their receiving corps is pretty good, but if they can't get the running game going then Romo is going to be under heavy pressure. He's a guy who will eventually make a mistake under those circumstances. Against the likes of the Redskins it might not matter. The Saints or Packers?
And as for the Jets, their big problem is at QB. Sure, he's got a zillion weapons (once all the suspensions are done). Sure, his defense will probably be the NFL's best; certainly they will be a top-5 unit. He's got a strong running game. Question is, can they complete passes with precision? Sanchez has been iffy this preseason, and you need more than a 50% completion percentage to be dangerous in today's NFL. You have to have a team of the decade (2000 Ravens) to win despite an obvious flaw. Are the Jets really *that* team?
The NFC will be an entertaining race between primarily the Saints and Packers. From the looks of things, both teams will be top 5 offenses, and both teams have opportunistic defenses. Both teams are led by savvy quarterbacks; Rodgers has a bit more to prove, but not really all that much. He makes the throws, he's smart with the ball, and he's going to lead a dynamic offense. Whether its enough to unseat the Saints is another tale, and one definitely worth watching.
The AFC is more wide open, although the Ravens signing of Houshmanzadeh perhaps makes them now the AFC's favorite. Certainly they are among the AFC's most talented. But in the AFC it will probably be the usual suspects - Indy, New England and San Diego. Until or unless the Jets prove otherwise, the Patriots are a top team. The Colts are great and very well may be the AFC's best team again. The Chargers are capable of greatness. Where the rest of the AFC settles out will be quite entertaining.
It's unfortunate that the biggest storyline of the season won't be the season itself, but rather the unsettled labor situation. A work stoppage of any variation of names is looming, and nothing makes me cringe more. I wish it were not so, but it certainly looks like the two sides will take things right to the brink, and possibly over, before hammering out a resolution. There's a resolution to be had in there. It will take a lot of work, a lot of dickering, and a lot of patience. While I doubt anyone from the powers that be read this, I'll tell them this anyway: keep at it. The average football fan loves this game too much to see it stopped by a battle between owners and players. Keep at it until you find an equitable solution, because there is one. You just have to work at it to find it.
I'm no expert, and many of them have weighed in on the upcoming season. Super Bowl champion picks have mostly included the Saints, Packers, Ravens and Colts. So despite my non-expert status, the smart pick is Indy from the AFC, and I think the Packers from the NFC.
It's all about offense on both teams. Yeah, yeah, preseason means nothing, I know, but face facts. Tony Romo is not a QB I have any faith in. None. The Dallas O-Line is aging and suspect. Their receiving corps is pretty good, but if they can't get the running game going then Romo is going to be under heavy pressure. He's a guy who will eventually make a mistake under those circumstances. Against the likes of the Redskins it might not matter. The Saints or Packers?
And as for the Jets, their big problem is at QB. Sure, he's got a zillion weapons (once all the suspensions are done). Sure, his defense will probably be the NFL's best; certainly they will be a top-5 unit. He's got a strong running game. Question is, can they complete passes with precision? Sanchez has been iffy this preseason, and you need more than a 50% completion percentage to be dangerous in today's NFL. You have to have a team of the decade (2000 Ravens) to win despite an obvious flaw. Are the Jets really *that* team?
The NFC will be an entertaining race between primarily the Saints and Packers. From the looks of things, both teams will be top 5 offenses, and both teams have opportunistic defenses. Both teams are led by savvy quarterbacks; Rodgers has a bit more to prove, but not really all that much. He makes the throws, he's smart with the ball, and he's going to lead a dynamic offense. Whether its enough to unseat the Saints is another tale, and one definitely worth watching.
The AFC is more wide open, although the Ravens signing of Houshmanzadeh perhaps makes them now the AFC's favorite. Certainly they are among the AFC's most talented. But in the AFC it will probably be the usual suspects - Indy, New England and San Diego. Until or unless the Jets prove otherwise, the Patriots are a top team. The Colts are great and very well may be the AFC's best team again. The Chargers are capable of greatness. Where the rest of the AFC settles out will be quite entertaining.
It's unfortunate that the biggest storyline of the season won't be the season itself, but rather the unsettled labor situation. A work stoppage of any variation of names is looming, and nothing makes me cringe more. I wish it were not so, but it certainly looks like the two sides will take things right to the brink, and possibly over, before hammering out a resolution. There's a resolution to be had in there. It will take a lot of work, a lot of dickering, and a lot of patience. While I doubt anyone from the powers that be read this, I'll tell them this anyway: keep at it. The average football fan loves this game too much to see it stopped by a battle between owners and players. Keep at it until you find an equitable solution, because there is one. You just have to work at it to find it.
I'm no expert, and many of them have weighed in on the upcoming season. Super Bowl champion picks have mostly included the Saints, Packers, Ravens and Colts. So despite my non-expert status, the smart pick is Indy from the AFC, and I think the Packers from the NFC.
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