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[SIZE=+2]'Next year' closer for four teams
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]10:55 PM CST on Saturday, December 29, 2007
[/SIZE]
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/columnists/mugs/mug_rgosselin.jpg
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It's unlikely the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns or Houston Texans will be playing in January. Only the Browns have a mathematical chance at qualifying for the playoffs but are a long shot at 9-6.
Keep an eye on these four teams in future Januarys, though.
All have been perennial losers this decade with only one playoff berth among them – the Browns in 2002. But all toted postseason hopes into this December, where all struggled.
Buffalo fell to 7-8 with a two-game losing streak. So did Arizona with two December losses.
Houston also fell to 7-8 with a 38-15 loss to Indianapolis last weekend, and Cleveland blew a chance to clinch a playoff spot with a 19-14 loss to the lowly Cincinnati Bengals.
All four teams have the talent to win in the NFL. But it takes more than talent. It takes a mindset, a belief. Teams such as the Patriots and Colts expect to win. Teams such as the Cardinals and Bills have long expected to lose.
But what we've seen at those four franchises this season are head coaches who have started turning the page on losing cultures.
Ken Whisenhunt is in his first year as coach of the Cardinals, Dick Jauron in his second season with the Bills, Gary Kubiak in his second season with the Texans and Romeo Crennel in his third season with the Browns.
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/rgosselin/vitindex.html
Arizona toppled division champions Pittsburgh and Seattle, and Houston whipped NFC South champion Tampa Bay. Cleveland mounted a five-game winning streak and Buffalo a four-game winning streak. Losing no longer is expected or accepted in those four towns.
This is how it started for the Green Bay Packers in 2006. Green Bay was sitting at 4-8 under first-year coach Mike McCarthy last December. But Green Bay won its final four games to finish at .500 – success that propelled the Packers to a 12-3 start.
The salary cap has made the NFL a topsy-turvy league. Four teams that won division titles in 2006 failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2007: Baltimore, Chicago, New Orleans and Philadelphia.
The good teams don't stay good and the bad teams don't stay bad in today's NFL.
So it's not out of the question that one or two of the above mentioned teams could wind up winning division titles in 2008. The arrow is pointing up for all four.
Young quarterbacks have emerged at Buffalo (Trent Edwards), Cleveland (Derek Anderson) and Houston (Matt Schaub). That's always a good place for winning to start.
Houston also has emerging stars in wide receiver Andre Johnson and defensive end Mario Williams. Cleveland has elite pass catchers in Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, as does Arizona with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Buffalo crafted a rushing attack by drafting Marshawn Lynch this year and signing blockers Derrick Dockery and Langston Walker in free agency.
Twelve teams are anxiously awaiting the start of the playoffs in January. Four other teams – Arizona, Buffalo, Cleveland and Houston – are anxiously awaiting the start of the 2008 season in September.
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]10:55 PM CST on Saturday, December 29, 2007
[/SIZE]
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/columnists/mugs/mug_rgosselin.jpg
• E-mail
It's unlikely the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns or Houston Texans will be playing in January. Only the Browns have a mathematical chance at qualifying for the playoffs but are a long shot at 9-6.
Keep an eye on these four teams in future Januarys, though.
All have been perennial losers this decade with only one playoff berth among them – the Browns in 2002. But all toted postseason hopes into this December, where all struggled.
Buffalo fell to 7-8 with a two-game losing streak. So did Arizona with two December losses.
Houston also fell to 7-8 with a 38-15 loss to Indianapolis last weekend, and Cleveland blew a chance to clinch a playoff spot with a 19-14 loss to the lowly Cincinnati Bengals.
All four teams have the talent to win in the NFL. But it takes more than talent. It takes a mindset, a belief. Teams such as the Patriots and Colts expect to win. Teams such as the Cardinals and Bills have long expected to lose.
But what we've seen at those four franchises this season are head coaches who have started turning the page on losing cultures.
Ken Whisenhunt is in his first year as coach of the Cardinals, Dick Jauron in his second season with the Bills, Gary Kubiak in his second season with the Texans and Romeo Crennel in his third season with the Browns.
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/rgosselin/vitindex.html
Arizona toppled division champions Pittsburgh and Seattle, and Houston whipped NFC South champion Tampa Bay. Cleveland mounted a five-game winning streak and Buffalo a four-game winning streak. Losing no longer is expected or accepted in those four towns.
This is how it started for the Green Bay Packers in 2006. Green Bay was sitting at 4-8 under first-year coach Mike McCarthy last December. But Green Bay won its final four games to finish at .500 – success that propelled the Packers to a 12-3 start.
The salary cap has made the NFL a topsy-turvy league. Four teams that won division titles in 2006 failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2007: Baltimore, Chicago, New Orleans and Philadelphia.
The good teams don't stay good and the bad teams don't stay bad in today's NFL.
So it's not out of the question that one or two of the above mentioned teams could wind up winning division titles in 2008. The arrow is pointing up for all four.
Young quarterbacks have emerged at Buffalo (Trent Edwards), Cleveland (Derek Anderson) and Houston (Matt Schaub). That's always a good place for winning to start.
Houston also has emerging stars in wide receiver Andre Johnson and defensive end Mario Williams. Cleveland has elite pass catchers in Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, as does Arizona with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Buffalo crafted a rushing attack by drafting Marshawn Lynch this year and signing blockers Derrick Dockery and Langston Walker in free agency.
Twelve teams are anxiously awaiting the start of the playoffs in January. Four other teams – Arizona, Buffalo, Cleveland and Houston – are anxiously awaiting the start of the 2008 season in September.
