NFC East Challengers
by DalaiLuke on Jun 12, 2008 12:11 PM CDT
56 comments
Today's post about the Patriot beat writers liking the Cowboys brings up an interesting question: What teams will challenge the Cowboys for NFC supremacy?
Contenders... Giants, Eagles, Packers, Vikings, Saints, Seahawks
Surprises?... Redskins, Lions, Panthers, Buccaneers, Cardinals, Rams
Pretenders... Bears, Falcons, 49ers
CONTENDERS:
GIANTS - You cannot rule out the Super Bowl Champions. Especially given the fact that this team beat up on our very own Cowboys last time they met. Strahan is a loss, but this team has a solid D... the question remains whether Manning is for real.
EAGLES - This is a proud team that is always contending. The question mark here is how much gas McNabb has left in the tank. Defensively, they continue to look tough.
PACKERS - The Rodgers watch is on. The nucleus of a 13-3 team returns with a chip on it's shoulder after a tough playoff loss to the Giants. If healthy, Al Harris and Charles Woodson anchor a tough D.
VIKINGS - The Williams brothers anchor a monster defensive front that will keep Minnesota in games. The big Q: Can AP make up for Tavaris Jackson's short-comings?
SAINTS - This is the team that scares me. They were to hot pick to go all the way last year, only to lay an egg. A loaded offense, a solid defense, and Sean Patton at the helm. After the beating they put on us in '06, I can see some good hype for a Cowboys - Saints NFC Championship game.
SEAHAWKS - This team almost belongs in the Surprise category, except it's hard to count out any Holmgren-led team. JJ as the featured back can't be worse than last year's efforts, but spells trouble for their playoff hopes.
SURPRISES?...
REDSKINS - This team played inspired ball just to make the playoffs last year. I don't expect the same this year, as the loss of Taylor will show it's affects. This is yet another team banking on mere "potential" when it comes to QB. I like Campbell, but much is being put on his shoulders this year. Prediction: Portis is this year's S. Alexander = bust.
LIONS - The greatest 10-6 preseason team ... ever.
PANTHERS - It is hard to get excited about a team that looked so consistently horrible last year. Depth chart at QB = Moore, Testaverde, Carr. Say no more.
BUCCANEERS - The Bucs QB depth chart is approaching mythic status. Translate: mediocrity rules. I have always liked Garcia, but I don't think he's the answer for the Bucs this year. Last year's playoff run was more a lack of competition.
CARDINALS - This is the easy "surprise" pick... but until the Cardinals prove it on the field, they remain the "Lions of the West"
RAMS - Getting Steven Jackson back makes Bulger a better QB... the team that had a hard time winning a game without Jackson will be back in contention this year.
Pretenders... Bears, Falcons, 49ers
The not ready for prime time teams have one thing in common - unproven leadership at QB. Doesn't it always seem to be the case that weak teams somehow have decent defenses. Watch for these teams to keep games close with solid D.
Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.
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Man...
I just didn’t realize how bad the QB’s in the NFC were until right now.
by GhettoBear04 on Jun 12, 2008 3:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
true
I wouldn’t trade Romo for any of them..
"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"
by Wmillion on Jun 12, 2008 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
Romo seems to be good and headed toward great, but McNabb, Manning, Brees and Hasselbeck are all good QBs. I voted for the Eagles to give the Boys the biggest struggle (assuming a healthy McNabb and Westbrook) because they have a good QB and a very good defense.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
by dunkman on Jun 15, 2008 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Giants didn't beat up us
they barely won the game.
Minnesota will never be any good with Jackson at QB, he really stinks.
NOs defense sucks.
Seatlle might be the 2nd best team in the NFC behind us.
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Jun 12, 2008 8:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
agreed
I am not going to count a T Jackson just yet..
Seattle is starting one our old RB’s, and I am not sure who their WR’s will be. Hackett gone, Branch coming off a major injury, Engram is holding out..
"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"
by Wmillion on Jun 12, 2008 9:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I see Minny challenging
their QB blows but they have such superior talent in some positions that I think some good gameplanning nets them 10-12 wins. Green Bay and NYG should both be tough as well. Skins and iggles – who knows? could be tough games or garbage teams.
by Billito on Jun 13, 2008 12:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Minnesota should have gone after a QB
This team has all the makings of a playoff contender, EXCEPT at the QB position. Peterson alone can make them dangerous, and this defense will keep them in most games. This is a team built for smash-mouth football on both sides of the line.
But I still come back to New Orleans. Was two years ago a complete fluke? Or was last year the aberration? Will the real Saints please stand up. Somehow I think they contend this year.
Tar Heels football will surprise this year
by DalaiLuke on Jun 13, 2008 12:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm with you...
I had to go with Green Bay though. Their defense is really impressive, and Rodgers (or Brohm) should be able to manage a team with a very solid WRs and a good running game.
by ChrisRichey on Jun 13, 2008 1:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vikings
I think they have the possibilty to be a Ravens-esque team when they won it all. Maybe not quite a defense of that calibur, but a much better running game. I think their defense alone will win them 3 or 4 games.
by Mandmeisterx on Jun 13, 2008 8:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
I was thinking the same thing. AP is for real. Their Offensive line is a solid veteran crew. The addition of Jared Allen makes their defensive 7 as strong as any in the league. The downside is that they did nothing to improve their WR or QB situation in the draft (Booty? ... reaching at best) ... looks like the Ravens of 2001.
Tar Heels football will surprise this year
by DalaiLuke on Jun 13, 2008 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Question
How can a guy get one season of starts, with young terrible WR’s, be considered a bust or trash?
I don’t understand how he doesn’t get oppurtunity to develop? He finally has one decent WR. I am not going to underestimate T Jackson..
"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"
by Wmillion on Jun 13, 2008 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
did you actually watch any of his games?
The guy has a hard time with accuracy, feels the pass rush too quickly, and generally looked lost. Can he get better? Is there potential? Sure, but at best he showed only glimpses last year.
He reminds me of Smith with the 49ers… another guy that will likely not last in this league unless he finds a way to turn it around quickly. There are many QBs that have shown improvement, Troy didn’t look all that great his first year. But potential is abundant in the off-season.
Tar Heels football will surprise this year
by DalaiLuke on Jun 13, 2008 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know I watched the games Playboy
He showed flashes from weeks 11-14 when he completed at 64% of his passes and threw 4 td’s and 2 int’s.
I am not saying he is going to the Pro-Bowl next year, but I could seem him improving from last season,especially with my boy B. Berrian..
He doesn’t have to be special just efficent.
"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"
by Wmillion on Jun 13, 2008 9:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jackson had a QB rating of 70
Only two QBs in the weak NFC were worse. He did show potential, as I said… but that can be said for every QB that has started in the NFL… full of potential. Last season (and still) Romo didn’t get much love, and he had proved it for most of his NFL starts. Until Jackson proves it on the field, I’ll remain skeptical.
Playboy?
Tar Heels football will surprise this year
by DalaiLuke on Jun 13, 2008 10:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am with you
I am very skeptical, but I am not ready to count him out yet.
I am glad we have a Pro-Bowl qb under center.
"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"
by Wmillion on Jun 14, 2008 7:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Playboy.
Nice. How do I get a nickname like that???
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
by dunkman on Jun 15, 2008 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
don't worry
I’ll get you one..
"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"
by Wmillion on Jun 15, 2008 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
One other comment...
After fishing around the other team’s blogs to research this article (well, if 45 minutes can count as research), I just found myself grateful for Grizz, Brandon, Tuna and all of the posters at BTB. This place BLOWS AWAY the other blogs in terms of both quality of writing and sheer quantity of material.
Great job, guys.
Also, if anyone wants to do a FanPost, and looking for ideas, or even for our main writers, browsing the other blogs is a good place to start. I particularly like the recent look at the Vikings blog, where there is an article debating which was Adrian Peterson’s best game last year… with a review of the top performances.
Tar Heels football will surprise this year
by DalaiLuke on Jun 13, 2008 9:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You just got the name of Dick Butt'kiss'
hahahaha
Bum's Boy Boyz
by JerrodWheeler on Jun 17, 2008 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Eagles
The should be feared esp by the cowboys… what we beat them 3 times in the past 5 years? McNabb stays healthy watch out. Jim Johnson’s D is always tough and now they have THREE starting corners. Not to mention the most underrated player in the league.. Westbrook!
I hate the eagles with a passion but we split last year 1-1 we beat the giants 2-1 and the giants lost some safties and strahan. So yes i think the eagles are the cowboys top contenders until mcnabb gets hurt that is.
What the French?! Toast!
by thebigham on Jun 13, 2008 9:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
co-sign
Philly is the team that scares me the most.
Just once, I’d love for us to play a game where our “D” does to McNabb what the Giants Defense did to them in Jersey last season (the one where Osi set a career high for most sacks in a single game).
"Jerry Jones offers more second chances than a tent revival." -- Kevin Sherrington, The Dallas Morning News
www.brainfriednetwork.com [NEWS/SPORTS/FOOTBALL]
by silverblue5 on Jun 13, 2008 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Philly
Is a team that just nows how to win…
"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"
by Wmillion on Jun 13, 2008 9:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Their Window Is Closing Though
Their best players are brittle, and their talent base is eroding. They’ve drafted essentially two good players since 2002, Trent Cole and Shawn Andrews, everyone else has been mediocre. They still have enough left to maybe make the playoffs this year, but they have an uphill climb.
by kindablue on Jun 15, 2008 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with that
Their best players are on the downhill side, where the Skins may have their best days ahead and the Cowboys and Giants are in-between.
Even if Kolb is as good as they hoped he’d be, they will have some tough years when he takes the reins some day. And there is no replacing Westbrook. The guys is simply amazing. What they have done better than many teams is maintain continuity in their coaching ranks.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
by dunkman on Jun 15, 2008 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, from a die hard Eagles fan
We need McNabb to stay healthy but I think if he went down Kolb is ready. Some of you guys from the Texas area (which probably isnt very many) should remember hoe good he was in Houston. Will it translate to the NFL? Hard to tell, but man he looks good so far
Concretefield can suck it
by 700 Level on Jun 26, 2008 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The thing about new QBs is the learning curve...
No matter how much talent and smarts they may possess, there is always a learning curve. Even if Kolb is the answer, it is doubtful he is the answer now. Handing the ball to a new QB usually equates to at least a year or two of learning from mistakes. Look at Eli… he is a MUCH better QB than he was his rookie year, and still has not met his potential.
Tar Heels football will surprise this year
by DalaiLuke on Jun 26, 2008 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
WR
They talk about our WR core, I am not sure if there is a team who needed an updgrade at WR more then Philly?
Kolb with no dependable WR’s would make me very nervous, if I were an Eagles fan.
"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"
by Wmillion on Jun 26, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Minnesota will be our biggest challenge in the NFC this year
I think there defence will keep them in games. AP sould be able to keep the d off the field enough that there d stays fresh and Tarvis is the biggest question mark on the team but I think that they were just a win or two away from the playoffs last year.
The eagles always have a decent team but if McNabb is hurt and can not perform not sure if Kolb will be able to take up the slack with limited reps. there D is good and has been for a ling time and westbrook is a true do it all back but if he or mcnabb get hurt the team will flame out .
the giants are a good team but with all the off field distractions it will be tough if they can not pull together like last year I think they are getting big heads and it may cost them a few games.
by rdnk71 on Jun 13, 2008 12:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
No team scares me. NO has big holes in their D and some questions on their O line. Not to mention whether Deuce can come all the way back.
The Birds are getting old in their Backfield and we all know about McFlab.
Packers- its all about Rodgers.
Vikings are possibly the biggest threat if Jackson learns how to make plays.
Giants- they got hot when it counted and props to them= otherwise meh.
No one else frankly is worth real consideration at this time.
by burmafrd1944 on Jun 13, 2008 9:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
We have the best roster
Tarvaris Jackson-he has only had two years in the NFL. Jason Campbell has had three. If you’re a Romo fan, you wouldn’t start judging a quarterback until their fourth season. It takes at least three seasons for a quarterback to mentally adjust to the game. I think Campbell has the better chance of the two to be an impact player. However, he doesn’t have the team around him to challenge us. Jackson may or may not develop into a legitimate starter, but he has Peterson at rb and a decent defense, so they may be a factor. Aaron Rodgers was developed in the Romo fashion-from the bench/sideline. It’s the best, preferred, fastest way to develop a quarterback rather than throwing them into the fire as a rookie. Rodgers has the pedigree and the skills to step in and do better than Favre did last year, as Favre was declining with age. What you saw with Eli at the end of last year, his fourth season, is what you can expect to see in the future. He has matured into a very good quarterback who will be a thorn in our side for years to come if he has the team around him to contend. I would rank our challengers as:
1-Giants
2-Packers
3—Minnesota.
All the rest are pretenders.
by rrb on Jun 14, 2008 7:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think they are all contenders
Contenders… Giants, Eagles, Packers, Vikings, Saints, Seahawks
One or two teams that are predicted to do well always falls off. I am thinking Seattle..
I think Carolina will come back strong. If Delhomme is healthy, I just don’t see them playing D that bad again next season. I like their off-season moves, getting Mushin back, signing Hackett, and drafting Stewart..
"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"
by Wmillion on Jun 14, 2008 8:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We have to prove it when it counts
This is a interesting post.
The Giants have proved it when it counts we haven’t and that’s the BLUF!
I like what alot of you have said but to me it boils down to this: We may have the best team on paper but if we don’t want to start being compared to our teams of the late 60’s and early 70 (prior to SB VI)
"Next Year Champions"we need to win in the post season.
Let’s look at it this, I was living in Seattle 2 years ago and was at both games that year when an Int returned for a TD in the final minutes of the reagular season game killed us and then the bobbled FG hold by Romo in the Playoffs,
then last year the way we just folded like a cheap suit in the playoffs.
Until we show we can do it when it counts you have to say the Giants are the real contenders.
I think talent wise we are the best in the NFC but if we can’t win in the playoffs talent means nothing, just look at the hated Deadskins, Snyder spends like a drunk looking for a “lap dance” at a strip club but still he hasn’t won, What I am trying to say is that talent doesn’t always win.
I feel that this is the year the Cowboys must make a move, they must not only win this season but advance deep in the playoffs.
So back to the reason we started this The Giants have proved it when it counts we haven’t and that’s the BLUF! (Bottom line up front)
"Support Our Troops"
Have the intelligence to know the difference between the Policy and the Soldiers!
by afl_storm on Jun 14, 2008 10:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The Cowboys are the only team in the league
that has an elite stud at almost every single position on the team from QB to long snapper (yes, there isn’t a better one in the league) so in reality the only challengers to the Cowboys should be the Cowboys themselves.
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Jun 14, 2008 11:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Well Put
Coaching will be important. I think J. Garrett in his second year play calling is important. My gut says he learned a lot from out mistakes last year down the strech.
"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"
by Wmillion on Jun 14, 2008 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well put Terry
And also Wmillion… it does seem to be on the coaches as much as anyone. With this talent, there’s little room for excuses.
If there is anything this whole thread seems to point to, it’s Terry’s comment:
in reality the only challengers to the Cowboys should be the Cowboys themselves.
Tar Heels football will surprise this year
by DalaiLuke on Jun 15, 2008 1:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree on coaching
And not only will Garrett be improved, but I think Houk and Campo are going to seriously improve two areas of inconsistency. The line would dominate then lose focus, and the secondary never managed to hide their flaws. Of course talent is part of it, but the Giants were doing a “plug and play” with theirs and never seemed to skip a beat. That’s good coaching.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
by dunkman on Jun 15, 2008 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
which has been a huge huge problem for them hasn't it
Concretefield can suck it
by 700 Level on Jun 26, 2008 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
John Gruden may hold the answer
to which team is the biggest challenge. The reason is that he may release Garcia as Garcia wants. That makes Minnesota the favorite to add a QB that is mobile and experienced. It also makes Minnesota deadly. Minnesota’s need and strength elsewhere may be exactly why Garcia is whining.
Garcia has one more year on his contract (at low $) and is not going to be the leader for TB that any QB needs to be after throwing the team under the bus this offseason. Now I do not think Garcia is better than Romo. But he is vastly better than Jackson. Just as NO took a huge leap with Brees, Minny is primed as well with a QB.
by lee3022 on Jun 14, 2008 3:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I said I didn't believe Garcia was the answer for TB...
but if Minnesota were to pick him up, I would not be happy. His ability to limit interceptions makes him a great fit for a team with a solid D and a good running game.
Tar Heels football will surprise this year
by DalaiLuke on Jun 15, 2008 1:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hate 2 say it
eagles was the team I pickd, they jus seem to give us trouble sometime.(fluke stuff) everybody else , NO PROBLEM
by bleedn blu on Jun 22, 2008 8:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Vikings and Iggles
Top of the heap, then NO, SEA, CAR next level.
I don’t know why so many are picking TB, I think they are going to struggle to make 8-8 this season.
GB and NYG are due for a falloff from last season.
T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003
by APerfectStar on Jun 23, 2008 12:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree that the Vikings and Eagles look like they could be the cream...
The Vikings and Eagles happen to be the two teams that have defenses equal to or better than then Cowboys.
The Iggles, if McNabb and Westbrook remain healthy, could prove to be tough. But my feeling is that this team is like the Bills of ‘95… on the slow ride down.
I would throw in the Giants and the Saints. Plaxico is back to full strength and the Giants defensive front 7 is still solid. I understand the detractors wanting to write off the Saints, but I can’t forget the beating they put on us … it leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I actually HOPE we get them in the playoffs this year.
I agree with the GB assessment. Rodgers could become the next Favre… over time. But he also could be the Hogeboom – a one-hit wonder. I would imagine it will take at least a season or two to work out the kinks. GB doesn’t scare me.
Neither does Seattle or Carolina. Seattle has a solid defense. But blaming all the offensive problems on Alexander is simplistic. I am hoping the Cardinals finally break through and Seattle ends up 9-7. Carolina just looked HORRIBLE last year, and I don’t see that changing dramatically.
Tar Heels football will surprise this year
by DalaiLuke on Jun 23, 2008 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree with everything
But Carolina was terrible because of Delhomme going on IR very early in the season, and a lethargic running game. Delomme is healthy again and they drafted Jonathan Stewart, so don’t be surprised if they make some noise in the NFC south.
T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003
by APerfectStar on Jun 23, 2008 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vikes overrated, Eagles underrated
Pundits are hesitant on Dallas until “Romo can prove he can win a playoff game,” but T. Jackson isn’t an impediment to them being this year’s sexy team. Am I missing something?
Part of the problem with pre-season picks is the season typically rides on unexpected player performance; e.g. Manning finally figures out how to manage a game, and the Giants new D coordinator puts together one of the most dominant fronts in recent history.
Every single team in today’s NFL has “yeah buts.” The reason Dallas is justifiably the NFC favorite is that we have fewer of them than every other team. For those who say “thin at WR”...isn’t NE pretty thin behind Moss? Isn’t Philly pretty thin offensively sans Westbrook? ALL really good teams have offensive difference makers that they can’t afford to lose.
Having said that: Asante Samuel does as much for the Eagles D as Allen does for the Vikes. McNabb is far better than T. Jackson, and Reid’s family drama seems to have receded. They played well at the end of last year. I don’t think they’ll win the NFC East, but Westbrook and that D always give them a puncher’s chance in the playoffs.
by TimSchultz36 on Jun 23, 2008 1:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
No question McFlabb is way way better than T. Jackson at QB
But I’m looking at the Vikings running game and defense, which on paper, looks stacked. The addition of Jared Allen was the biggest move of the off-season. If you can run, and you can stop the run, you will be there at the end of the year. Jackson might step up, or could just as easily lose his starting job to Gus or Booty (who is well suited to the west coast offense that Childress runs), they have also upgraded the wideouts, Berrian is better than Williamson and Sidney Rice should be continue to get better in his second year.
The Iggles have aging OT’s and McFlabb has trouble staying healthy. Westbrook is by far their best weapon, but Reid doesn’t run the ball enough for some reason. They still have the talent, but can they keep McFlabb on the field? He’s already got shoulder problems.
T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003
by APerfectStar on Jun 23, 2008 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vikings
Minnesota has been able to run and stop the run for a few years now. Their problem is that they can’t pass and can’t stop the pass. Allen will help with the latter. People are banking that Berrian and improvement from T. Jackson will help with the former, and they might. It’s a reasonable argument, especially when you add in Peterson with a year of experience. Still, every year people foolishly jump on the bandwagon of an iffy team, and this year it’s the Vikings. Lucky for them, that division is pretty winnable on paper.
by grapejoos on Jun 24, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's definitely possible but...
QB play is so critical to success, I would have to put Philly ahead of Minny until T-Jack starts pulling a Derek Anderson. Not to say it can’t or won’t happen, just that I think the odds are against it.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
by dunkman on Jun 24, 2008 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
T-Jack isn't the answer
I don’t think he’s going to be able to get his head where it needs to be. The guy throws jump passes. Repeatedly. Of course, it’s hard to know if he had any decent receivers, and as we saw when TO got hurt, you gotta be able to throw to someone. He could be serviceable if Berrian is for real.
Of course, they could put in a different QB and see some success. I still think they are a year away from contending until they get that sorted out.
The NFC North is winnable, but I think Green Bay will still be decent and Detroit will be better. Minny should win it, but until they have good QB play, it’s all a tossup.
by grapejoos on Jun 25, 2008 8:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's all about the QB (almost)
When looking at a team’s potential to reach the Super Bowl, my rule of thumb is look first and foremost at their quarterback. Only rarely does a team get to the Super Bowl without a very good quarterback. Teams with strong running backs and run oriented offenses, coupled with a strong defense, may win in the regular season. But it usually takes a good quarterback and a strong passing game to win in the playoffs. It may be cliché’, but I strongly believe that this is a quarterback driven league. When a surprise team makes the Super Bowl, it is almost always because their quarterback played far better than anyone expected – reference last season with the Giants and Pittsburgh a few years back.
Using this guideline, my opinion is that the top contenders in the NFC are Dallas, Philly, the Giants and Seattle, in that order. I’m not a believer in Tavaris Jackson – in fact, I think he will be one of the bottom ten starting quarterbacks in 2008 and he will be Minnesota’s downfall. Some young gun on a talented team may step up and vault his squad into contender status. Leinert, Rodgers and Campbell immediately come to mind.
by Cowboy Louie on Jun 25, 2008 9:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
well said Louie
you are absolutely right, the NFL is all about the QB in today’s game and without a good one, you have no shot, I don’t care how good the rest of your team is. The 2006 Bears were a complete aberration.
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Jun 25, 2008 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You need a good one to win, but defense wins championships
You can’t win with bad QB play, no argument there. But I think you can look at the teams that have won the Super Bowl this decade and find a common thread: defense. The Giants won on defense. The Pats and Steelers all had good defensive teams. The Colts won on defense, even though they are thought of as an offensive team. Then you have a team like the Ravens and Bucs, both of which had relatively better defenses than offenses.
You can’t win a championship with a bad defense. You CAN win with a below-average offense (though it’s difficult). I think we’d all agree that you really need both to win (and especially you need a QB smart enough to beat a good defense), but I think the progress of the Cowboys D will be the biggest issue in terms of winning a Super Bowl. You can’t win a shootout every week.
by grapejoos on Jun 25, 2008 8:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree, no question you need a good defense
to win championships, poor defenses will never get it done.
However, the game is still about scoring points and defenses rarely do that for a team.
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Jun 26, 2008 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
very good point on "surprise teams"
Going further back, two huge surprise Super Bowl teams were the Rams and Panthers, when Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme both played way above expectations. I’d argue that the Jaguars last year were kind of like that…David Garrard was better than expected, and that team would have gone to the Super Bowl in some years.
So there are three types of QB’s that lead surprise teams:
1) High draft pick who has been mediocre, finally rises above mediocrity (Manning)
2) Undrafted/late round pick type who has shown glimpses in limited action (Warner, Delhomme, Garrard, Brady)
3) Solid vet caretaker who is surrounded by talent (Chandler, Hasselback)
by TimSchultz36 on Jun 25, 2008 9:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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