At 3-2 are any of these NFC teams contenders?

[charron]

It's early in the season and any of these teams could go on a win streak to put themselves in contention much like we did after going 3-5 last year. Obviously we need to beat a winless jets team then beat the iggles to maintain control of our division going into the bye week. I think the Cowboys, Vikings, Rams are the only 3 teams who have a real chance to rattle off a string of wins but what do yall think?


Each 3-2 teams losses:
Cowboys: Packers 4-1, Saints 4-1
Rams: Bucks 2-3, Seahawks 4-1 (side note the rams have also dropped 2 in a row)
Vikings: Packers 4-1, Bears 3-2
Bears: Packers 4-1, Raiders 3-2
Panthers: Rams 3-2, Bucks 2-3
Eagles: Lions 2-1-1, Falcons 1-4 Talk about playing down to competition

 

[Sydla]

I would say that of that list, the only one I can say for certain that can't contend would be the Panthers.

 

[jazzcat22]

http://www.playoffstatus.com/nfl/nfcstandings.html

We have a 54% chance of no playoffs.

 

[MysteryIceGuro]

I would say that of that list, the only one I can say for certain that can't contend would be the Panthers.

Dallas isn't a contender out of these teams, thats for sure.

Panthers D is pretty darn good and CMC is top 3 RB this season. I can't say they don't contend. They have the Saints in their division, but they have a shot at the wildcard. They're better than Dallas at this point IMO. If they had a healthy Cam, they'd def be a top 3 in the NFC.

As for the others, I can see any of these teams making it to the playoffs besides Dallas just based off talent and gameplay I've seen, along with competent coaching, which Dallas severely lacks. I'd also like to add that these teams have a passionate energy that makes them good in the game. They look like they want to be on that field every Sunday, meanwhile, the same CANNOT be said for our team.

Rams played good ball against the Seahawks in the 2nd half and almost caught up. Would've won had their kicker made it.

Vikings lost against teams (division rivals at that) with good offenses and they played good last week. They have Diggs and Thielan. If Kirk can get himself in gear, this team is in good shape. Their defense is also pretty good and coaching is competent.

Bears are in the same situation as the Vikes. Elite defense, mediocre offense, but if they can get in gear, they'll be a team to beat. They tried to come back in that Raiders game though. Not too sure what happened with the Bears in that game.

Eagles- I can't even tell. They got beat up by a mediocre team (Falcons) and they lost against a pretty serviceable team (the lions), and then beat teams like GB (barely won). They blew out the Jets (albeit with Falk at center). I'm going to have to see more from them to truly evaluate them.

-I'd also like to add that the Lions and the Bucs are better than Dallas right now at this point in time.

 

[jazzcat22]

http://www.playoffstatus.com/nfl/nfldraftorder.html

Current draft order for those that think we will not make the playoffs.
I am almost to that point myself.

 

[Sydla]

Dallas isn't a contender out of these teams, thats for sure.

Panthers D is pretty darn good and CMC is top 3 RB this season. I can't say they don't contend. They have the Saints in their division, but they have a shot at the wildcard. They're better than Dallas at this point IMO. If they had a healthy Cam, they'd def be a top 3 in the NFC.

As for the others, I can see any of these teams making it to the playoffs besides Dallas just based off talent and gameplay I've seen, along with competent coaching, which Dallas severely lacks. I'd also like to add that these teams have a passionate energy that makes them good in the game. They look like they want to be on that field every Sunday, meanwhile, the same CANNOT be said for our team.

Rams played good ball against the Seahawks in the 2nd half and almost caught up. Would've won had their kicker made it.

Vikings lost against teams (division rivals at that) with good offenses and they played good last week. They have Diggs and Thielan. If Kirk can get himself in gear, this team is in good shape. Their defense is also pretty good and coaching is competent.

Bears are in the same situation as the Vikes. Elite defense, mediocre offense, but if they can get in gear, they'll be a team to beat. They tried to come back in that Raiders game though. Not too sure what happened with the Bears in that game.

Eagles- I can't even tell. They got beat up by a mediocre team (Falcons) and they lost against a pretty serviceable team (the lions), and then beat teams like GB (barely won). They blew out the Jets (albeit with Falk at center). I'm going to have to see more from them to truly evaluate them.

-I'd also like to add that the Lions and the Bucs are better than Dallas right now at this point in time.

Panthers have suspect QB play, even with Cam.

The Panthers are not better than Dallas.

 

[MysteryIceGuro]

http://www.playoffstatus.com/nfl/nfldraftorder.html

Current draft order for those that think we will not make the playoffs.
I am almost to that point myself.

I'd rather just tank this season, if I'm being honest. Let's be real here, this team will NOT be able to handle the bigger, better teams if they even make it to the playoffs (which I severely doubt). They are too undisciplined and make way too many mistakes. Why not just "tank" and get JG fired and a higher draft pick?

 

[Creeper]

Its too early, but I'd have to look at their schedules. I think the Seahawks look pretty good this year. They play with a lot of confidence. The Rams OL is a disaster so far. I am not buying the Packers based on what they did to Dallas and they just lost to the Eagles at home. I like the Seahawks and Saints.

Something about the Eagles makes me unsure of who they are. Two years ago they looked dominant but when I watch them this season, at least so far, they do not look as strong on defense - or offense. Their offensive line does not look as good as I have seen them in the past. They don't really have a running game. Their defense is built around their DL. They still have power and push and will as long as Fletcher Cox is healthy. But he too looks like he is slipping with age. Their secondary plays hard, but their ability is limited. Their effectiveness is based on the pass rush. If you can block Cox and their DE, I think you can beat their secondary.

But some teams start slow and get hot later in the season. That could be the Eagles. They could come around on both sides of the ball at some point and be dominant again. We'll see when the Cowboys face them in 2 weeks.

 

[MysteryIceGuro]

Panthers have suspect QB play, even with Cam.

The Panthers are not better than Dallas.

They're winning though, right? The same cannot be said for this Dallas team right now. At the end of the day, Wins are all that matter. Carolina is trending up, and Dallas is trending down. End of story.

 

[Stash]

It's early in the season and any of these teams could go on a win streak to put themselves in contention much like we did after going 3-5 last year. Obviously we need to beat a winless jets team then beat the iggles to maintain control of our division going into the bye week. I think the Cowboys, Vikings, Rams are the only 3 teams who have a real chance to rattle off a string of wins but what do yall think?


Each 3-2 teams losses:
Cowboys: Packers 4-1, Saints 4-1
Rams: Bucks 2-3, Seahawks 4-1 (side note the rams have also dropped 2 in a row)
Vikings: Packers 4-1, Bears 3-2
Bears: Packers 4-1, Raiders 3-2
Panthers: Rams 3-2, Bucks 2-3
Eagles: Lions 2-1-1, Falcons 1-4 Talk about playing down to competition

I keep coming back to this:

Dallas Cowboys record against the worst teams in the league? 3-0
Dallas Cowboys record against the winning teams they've faced? 0-2

They now have a lot to prove to me.

And the worst part is that even if they win against a hapless Jets team, it still proves nothing. So we essentially have to wait two more weeks.

 

[Sydla]

They're winning though, right? The same cannot be said for this Dallas team right now. At the end of the day, Wins are all that matter. Carolina is trending up, and Dallas is trending down. End of story.

Trending up? Based on 2 games?

Panthers aren't that good. Football Outsiders has their DVOA at 15th. The Cowboys are much higher. If you want to think the Cowboys aren't a contender, that's fine.

But the Panthers are not either.

 

[Future]

They're winning though, right? The same cannot be said for this Dallas team right now. At the end of the day, Wins are all that matter. Carolina is trending up, and Dallas is trending down. End of story.

Holy recency bias, Batman. Carolina beat Arizona, Houston, and Jacksonville. You also can't say "wins are all that matter" and then say trending is the "end of story" lmao.

Every team in the NFC is wildly flawed. The Cowboys are just as much a contender as anyone, with the advantage of knowing that, in their two losses, they were the better team and just shot themselves in the foot.

 

[visionary]

It's early in the season and any of these teams could go on a win streak to put themselves in contention much like we did after going 3-5 last year. Obviously we need to beat a winless jets team then beat the iggles to maintain control of our division going into the bye week. I think the Cowboys, Vikings, Rams are the only 3 teams who have a real chance to rattle off a string of wins but what do yall think?


Each 3-2 teams losses:
Cowboys: Packers 4-1, Saints 4-1
Rams: Bucks 2-3, Seahawks 4-1 (side note the rams have also dropped 2 in a row)
Vikings: Packers 4-1, Bears 3-2
Bears: Packers 4-1, Raiders 3-2
Panthers: Rams 3-2, Bucks 2-3
Eagles: Lions 2-1-1, Falcons 1-4 Talk about playing down to competition

Vikings, Panthers and Bears, no
Rams, Cowboys and Eagles, jury is out

 

[charron]

I keep coming back to this:

Dallas Cowboys record against the worst teams in the league? 3-0
Dallas Cowboys record against the winning teams they've faced? 0-2

They now have a lot to prove to me.

And the worst part is that even if they win against a hapless Jets team, it still proves nothing. So we essentially have to wait two more weeks.

So would you rather be in the position of the eagles or cowboys? The eagles with the same record did the opposite, beat the 4-1 GB but have lost to the lions 2-1-1 and falcons 1-4. And i agree we not only have to beat the jets we absolutely must beat the eagles.

 

[MysteryIceGuro]

Trending up? Based on 2 games?

Panthers aren't that good. Football Outsiders has their DVOA at 15th. The Cowboys are much higher. If you want to think the Cowboys aren't a contender, that's fine.

But the Panthers are not either.

They have looked pretty good these last 2 games. I live in NC, so I can watch all the games through my local channel. The only reason the Cowboys are higher in DVOA is because they had 3 easy games in the first half to deceive the stats. Carolina has went up against some pretty good opponents: Rams, Bucs, Texans, aka teams that can get the offense going. Dallas' defense will go down after these next few games, I assure you. Panthers may not be a true contender, but they are better than Dallas.

2. I'd rather be a realist than someone that falls for false hope.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

http://www.playoffstatus.com/nfl/nfcstandings.html

We have a 54% chance of no playoffs.

Pack your bags Red!

 

[Sydla]

Vikings, Panthers and Bears, no
Rams, Cowboys and Eagles, jury is out

I am delusionally higher on the Vikings than most. Their defense is improved over last year and I get all the stuff with Cousins being a dog in big games, I still think they are pretty good.

I reserve the right to change my mind if Cousins and the Vikes spit the bit at home against Philly Sunday.

 

[MysteryIceGuro]

Holy recency bias, Batman. Carolina beat Arizona, Houston, and Jacksonville. You also can't say "wins are all that matter" and then say trending is the "end of story" lmao.

Every team in the NFC is wildly flawed. The Cowboys are just as much a contender as anyone, with the advantage of knowing that, in their two losses, they were the better team and just shot themselves in the foot.

Jacksonville and Houston are pretty good/decent teams. They beat Jacksonville and Houston.

 

[Sydla]

They have looked pretty good these last 2 games. I live in NC, so I can watch all the games through my local channel. The only reason the Cowboys are higher in DVOA is because they had 3 easy games in the first half to deceive the stats. Carolina has went up against some pretty good opponents: Rams, Bucs, Texans, aka teams that can get the offense going. Dallas' defense will go down after these next few games, I assure you. Panthers may not be a true contender, but they are better than Dallas.

2. I'd rather be a realist than someone that falls for false hope.

DVOA takes into account strength of schedule.

The Panthers are not better.

 

[Stash]

So would you rather be in the position of the eagles or cowboys? The eagles with the same record did the opposite, beat the 4-1 GB but have lost to the lions 2-1-1 and falcons 1-4. And i agree we not only have to beat the jets we absolutely must beat the eagles.

As you mention, the Eagles beat the Packers, while Dallas got hammered by them - at home.

I thought the Eagles were in big trouble early, but they've pulled themselves out of it to tie with the falling Cowboys atop the division.

They've won two in a row while we've lost two in a row. They're trending up while we're trending down.