Through 4 weeks in the NFL season we’ve learned some things.
Now in years past I’ve felt the things we’ve learned at this time of the year to
be fake. After all Arizona recently started the year 4-0, Bills started 4-1,
Raiders were 3-2, and Falcons were 2-3. But for some reason this year some of
the fast starts seem very authentic. The teams that were supposed to be good, actually
are good. Now there might be a few surprises here and there, but certainly not
to the same level we’ve seen in years past. Considering who the Chiefs opened
the season against, it wasn’t a crazy notion to see them start the season at
least 3-1, so 4-0 isn’t that big of a stretch. More of the surprise teams are
in that 2-2 range where we didn’t expect them to be as good and really they’ve
just been unlucky so far (I.e. San Diego, Tennessee) but we still don’t know enough
about them.
So what I’ve learned through 4 weeks is that the teams I
trust the most with my picks and subsequently the teams that have crept up highest
in my own power rankings, are the teams that have crafted out an identity. I
know how Kansas City is going to win games. On the flip side of that, despite being
3-1 and Super Bowl contenders, I don’t know how the Chicago plans to win games,
so they get downgraded a bit. When things go bad in a game (and they always
do), you need something to rely on. Something that will right the ship, help
you get over the bump, and put you back on course to winning the game. Through
4 weeks only a handful of teams have shown us how they play to win and executed
it. So with that, I’ll unveil my power ranks through 4 weeks (We’ll do this
again in 4 weeks). I’ve broken them up in tiers to get an idea who ranks where.
The Group That Can’t Be Helped:
Jacksonville Jaguars:
They’re just pitiful
Oakland Raiders: With
Pryor starting they have some cache to them. With Flynn, just awful.
New York Giants:
Despite all the headaches, they only remain 2 games back of the division lead.
Season is still somehow salvageable.
Pittsburgh Steelers:
Same situation as the Giants but I feel like they have bigger flaws, and it
might be tougher to play catch-up to Cincy, Baltimore and CLEVELAND! Than
Dallas, Philly, Washington.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Interesting point raised in this tweet.
I still think Schiano is highly unlikable and clueless doing his job, but maybe
there’s a hint of something this team can do to resurge their season.
I Don’t Even Know Furrowed Brow Group:
Arizona Cardinals:
This is still a 2-2 team I’m not buying. They let a bad St. Louis team come
from behind on them, they beat what I think is a decent Lions team, get whooped
by New Orleans, and squeak out a comeback win against a Tampa team in shambles.
Iiiiii don’t even know.
Washington Redskins:
Beating the Raiders means very little.
St. Louis Rams:
How come when you Google
image search Sam Bradford the 2nd picture is of this random girl
in an Oklahoma jersey? Like I get that it’s his jersey, but you’d figured there
would be more pictures of Sam Bradford doing Sam Bradford things before that
one pops up. Maybe of him throwing a football, holding his Heisman, at the
podium for being 1st overall pick. This would be very concerning to
me if I was a Rams fan.
Buffalo Bills: Kiko
Alonso is quickly turning into a favourite of mine. But that’s really all I
have to say about this team that’s good.
Philadelphia Eagles:
The novelty is starting to wear off, but you still have to give Chip Kelly
time. I think he can make this work; he just needs more than 1 off-season to get
his guys in. Mike Vick isn’t the quarterback of his choosing, he was just the
best of what was available.
Minnesota Vikings:
LET THE MATT CASSEL ERA BEGIN!!!!
San Diego Chargers: Playing
the Chargers is like playing “Receiving Option Whack-A-Mole!” For a stretch
there you were worried about Eddie Royal, who has since faded away but Danny
Woodhead has emerged. Next week it could be Vincent Brown. I still want to see
what this team does when it goes down 2 scores in the 2nd half
before I start to buy some Chargers stock. That’s my not so subtle way of
saying, they won’t be moving up in the ranks too far until the Monday night
game vs. Indy.
Tennessee Titans: The
Locker news sucks. But at the same time, what if Ryan Fitzpatrick just plays a
modified Alex Smith type game. The defence is still what it is and if
Fitzpatrick can just not screw up (aka: pulling an Alex Smith), the running
game should be able to hold up in what’s a weaker part of their schedule coming
soon.
Believe Our Hype.... Please:
New York Jets: This
is the start of some teams that have carved out an identity. Am I a little
concerned with what Geno was doing last week? Absolutely. No excuse to be
bread-loafing the ball like he was or trying that behind the back trick. But end
of the day, this is still a team with an elite defence that can run the ball
and that more than anything, is what will keep them in games with chances to
win.
Cleveland Browns: Really
glad I held onto my “Browns playoff sleeper” stock from the pre-season. With
Gordon back they might have figured out who they are offensively sans Trent
Richardson. A downfield throwing team with an aggressively good defence. If
they can get the ball downfield quickly either with big plays or Pass
Interference penalties, they have themselves 2 really good red-zone targets in
Gordon and Jordan Cameron. Also a quick pat on my own back for getting Jordan
Cameron correct without having to Google if it’s Jordan Cameron that plays for
the Browns or Cameron Jordan that plays for the Saints. This is gonna bug me
all year long.
Indianapolis Colts: I’m
still not totally buying the hype. I mean they beat a 49ers team that was in a
bad scheduling spot and then put a hurting on the Jags. But let Miami come into
their dome and beat them up. Plus now Bradshaw could be done for a while. Still
not sold.
Baltimore Ravens: Things
are looking really grim but the fact remains they still hold 1 of the best home
field advantages in the league and still get to play 6 more games at home after
this week.
Houston Texans: I
don’t necessarily think what fans did post-game last week with burning Schaub
jersey’s was right – but I can understand that being their immediate reaction when
you reach the stunning realization that your franchise isn’t going to win a
title with Schaub at QB and Kubiak at Head Coach.
Cincinnati Bengals: You
can dress it up anyway by putting 2 good Tight Ends in the formation, an
explosive rookie running back in the backfield and a top 2 Wide Receiver out
wide..... It’s still Andy Dalton at QB.
Carolina Panthers: Even
I feel a little awkward putting Carolina ahead of Cincinnati, but I’m hoping
Ron Rivera has turned a coaching corner and understands the value of taking
risks from time to time. Then again, this is a team that could drop quickly.
Dallas Cowboys: How
with a 2 score lead, even if it was only in the 2nd quarter, do you
run the ball only 16 times. I want to buy into you Dallas, I really do, but you’re
giving me too many opportunities not to.
Detroit Lions: That
was a legit win against Chicago. They got aided by Cutler doing some Cutler
things, but credit still goes to the team that made those plays happen. Having
Reggie bush really completes the offence and it’s a scary proposition having to
defend them for 60 minutes.
Chicago Bears: All
we’ve heard so far is how open Jay Cutler has been to Marc Trestman and
receptive to his coaching style. Then he goes out and reverts back to Smokin’ Jay Cutler against
Detroit. I’d like to think he and Trestman get back to the drawing board. Also the
Melton injury hurts big time.
Believe Some of the Hype:
Atlanta Falcons: I’m
not saying the Falcons faithful should be worried about Matt Ryan... but he was
awkwardly terrible in that Sunday night game. Not just 1 or 2 throws. We’re
talking half a dozen complete head-scratchers. The Falcons really could have
and should have won that game against New England had Ryan been able to execute
a little better.
Miami Dolphins: It
was a step up in weight-class for them last week on Monday night in New
Orleans, but it was probably a really good thing for them to see where they
are, take a shot on the chin and move on. But they do need Cam Wake back and
soon.
Kansas City Chiefs: I
imagine all pre-season meetings in the Chiefs office went as such:
Coach A: Boy we’re really going to struggle scoring points.
Coach B: But we have a great D that we really only need 18
points a game.
Coach A: Yea but that’s asking a lot of our D to do that
every game.
Coach B: What if we just took ZERO risks on offence and held
the ball for 35 minutes a game.... Alex could do that right?
Coach A: WE COULD PROBABLY DO THAT!!! OK MEETING ADJOURNED!
San Francisco 49ers: Getting
back to who they were was an important step. Even if it was against St. Louis.
But they still might be marginally flawed and their position in these ranks is
precarious. Could go up, could go down really easily.
We’re Here Now and We’ll Be Here in January:
New England Patriots:
These are the best 5 teams in the league, and 5 playoff spots are already spoken for. I’m curious
to see how the defence reacts to the Wilfork injury, but I’m not concerned about
the offence anymore. They’re 4-0 and they did it without Gronk and Amendola
basically.
Green Bay Packers: How
do I have a 1-2 team earmarked for a
playoff spot already? Cause they’re that good. I think the D still needs some
work, but getting Morgan Burnett starts to help that. If they seem to have
found a running game added onto what they already have in some guy named Aaron
Rodgers. They’re scary good.
New Orleans Saints: Bountygate
Eff You Season is in full swing.
Seattle Seahawks: I’ll
have more on them tomorrow, but we know exactly what they are. A team based
around running the ball offensively and a team that is going to challenge you
at every level of the field defensively.
Denver Broncos: #ScoreAllThePoints
Home team in CAPS:
BROWNS (-3.5) over Bills
So right back to the identity question. I’m not sure the
Bills have one yet. They’re secondary is banged up and just leaking yardage
giving up nearly 300 yards a game. In comes a team that is looking to throw the
ball downfield since they got vertical threat Josh Gordon back in the lineup.
Surprise surprise they’re 2-0 since his return and Brian Hoyer has the world
making Kurt Warner comparisons already.
Rest of Week 5 picks on Friday
Last Week: 8-7
This Season: 30-31-2
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