A way to judge a team's readiness, right now.

[SaltwaterServr]

You have the choice. This weekend can either be opening weekend against Tampa Bay, or you can have two more weeks of practice games.

Which do you choose? Are you confident that the team can win right now against Tampa Bay if they had this week to prepare for a real game? Do you feel that the team really needs the 18 days to get itself together?

That's kind of a way I think you can judge the NFL right now. Does Denver need all the practice they can get between now and the 13th? You betta believe it.

Minnesota? Oh lawdy do they need those days to get enough ear plugs so the Metrodome fans don't get their ear drums blown out from the high pitch screeching and grinding of Brett's knees and other joints.

Does New Jersey Giants need 18 days to see if they have any kind of passing game not to mention who will be healthy enough to take the field? Absolutely.

Eagles? They don't even have an offensive line cobbled together yet.

Washington? Strangely, I think they are the second most ready to start in the NFC East.

You can pretty much look at teams right now and see the contenders, the potential contenders, and the teams who are 1+ years away in a rebuilding mode.

 

[pgreptom]

You have the choice. This weekend can either be opening weekend against Tampa Bay, or you can have two more weeks of practice games.

Which do you choose? Are you confident that the team can win right now against Tampa Bay if they had this week to prepare for a real game? Do you feel that the team really needs the 18 days to get itself together?

That's kind of a way I think you can judge the NFL right now. Does Denver need all the practice they can get between now and the 13th? You betta believe it.

Minnesota? Oh lawdy do they need those days to get enough ear plugs so the Metrodome fans don't get their ear drums blown out from the high pitch screeching and grinding of Brett's knees and other joints.

Does New Jersey Giants need 18 days to see if they have any kind of passing game not to mention who will be healthy enough to take the field? Absolutely.

Eagles? They don't even have an offensive line cobbled together yet.

Washington? Strangely, I think they are the second most ready to start in the NFC East.

You can pretty much look at teams right now and see the contenders, the potential contenders, and the teams who are 1+ years away in a rebuilding mode.

Eh, I totally misjudged this thread.

I'll go preseason for 4 games..

 

[NorthTexan95]

There's no way to judge who will be the top teams this year after two preseason games. However, what if the NFL had adopted an 18 game schedule for this season? There are many teams definately not ready to start the season. If we were starting the season right now I think the Cowboys would be ready to go and could pickup a quick game or two on some conference rivals.

 

[JBS]

There is absolutely ZERO doubt in my mind that if we lined up this Sunday at Tampa Bay we would mop the floor with those guys. The fact that the game is not until September 13th only means we are prolonging the inevitable. I do agree with some of the sentiments of the original poster. I do not believe the Eagles or the Giants are 100% prepared for the regular season at this moment in time.

However, I disagree in the sense that just because some of those teams are not prepared at this exact moment, it does not write them off for the entire season. As was the case with the Eagles and Cardinals last year and many teams in years past, teams can get hot at the right time and carry that into and through the playoffs.

 

[Alexander]

However, I disagree in the sense that just because some of those teams are not prepared at this exact moment, it does not write them off for the entire season. As was the case with the Eagles and Cardinals last year and many teams in years past, teams can get hot at the right time and carry that into and through the playoffs.

We should all be completely clear that it doesn't matter nearly as much being "prepared" in September as it is to handle the rigors of December.

As long as our record is acceptable in September and better than we typically do in December, it is better for us.