TruBlueCowboy
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There's a lot of talk in various threads and several published links about division strength. It's something we haven't been able to brag about in a while.
So what would you rank the divisions right now and why? Is the NFC East the toughest division in football?
My ranks....
THE ELITE
NFC East.... I pick 'em because I'm a homer.
But seriously, the Eagles are last place. Yes McNabb is injured, yes TO is a distraction, but it's still the same team that went to the Super Bowl last year and has been to a number of consecutive NFC Championships. It's not an easy team to whack all the way to last. What's happened is that 3 of the best coaches in the NFL have all moved into the NFC East. Two Hall of Famers and the coach with the highest winning percentage ever in expansion team history. Great personnel moves.... Eli is going to be one of the best QBs for the next decade, the Cowboys defense is begging for the Doomsday tag, Washington figured out that Santana Moss was the most underrated receiver in the NFL, two of the best tight ends in the league are in the NFC East, the list of talent is endless... and they're all newly formed squads under their legendary coaches with plenty of young players who are only going to get better. Yes, the NFC East is back. Hey Philly, it ain't easy posting those 12 win records anymore when you don't have Spurrier's Skins and Campo's Cowboys 4 times a year, is it?
AFC West.... Just think about it, if the Chargers had gotten off their cheap butts and signed Antonio Gates and Schottenheimer had figured out LT is the greatest running back in the game today and used him properly early on, the Cowboys probably would have lost that close season opener. Dallas already lost to the Raiders. We all fear this Denver game coming up, and Kansas City isn't a slouch either. I hate teams like Denver and Kansas City. Teams that just tell ya they're gonna run all over you and there ain't a damn thing you can do about it. When the Chargers are a team in your division and barely above .500, you know you have some quality teams in there. I'd hate to play 6 games a year against any AFC West teams.
BEST OF THE REST
NFC South... Buccs are getting exposed but still have such a great starting record, they may threaten to squeak in the Playoffs somewhere. I wouldn't want to play the Falcons or Panthers this year. Impatient anti-pocket passer or not, Vick is a pain in any defense's collective rear end. The Panthers are a team which can beat anyone. Don't let the Saints record fool you. They wouldn't be threatening to win the division with or without Katrina, but they're not a team that should only be winning 1 or 2 games. I challenge any coach to keep the team together, winning each week, in that type of situation.
AFC NORTH... This division would be an elite one if not for the eternally rebuilding Cleveland franchise and a Ravens team which has fallen apart this year because Billick still can't get off his cocky head and bring in a real QB, and because of injuries and what have you, the running game and defense can't shoulder the load this year. As it is, the Browns and Ravens would be easy teams to beat this year, but Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are the cream of the crop. Those are two teams I would hate to know the Cowboys had to face 4 games this year. That's a chance to go 0-4.
NFC WEST.... Same as above. Seahawks already proved they were one team that could take advantage of the Dallas 55 minute defense. The Rams aren't anywhere near their Super Bowl days but they're still a team that can hurt anyone on any given Sunday. Arizona and San Fran round out the two cakewalk teams. San Fran would have been a team that would always keep you on your feet no matter their record if they would have kept Rattay.
AFC EAST.... Nowhere near the powerhouse they used to be, but who wants to face the 3-time Super Bowl Champ Patriots twice a year? Or the Jets and Bills which can still bring it if not for huge mistakes in the personnel department when deciding which QBs can cut it. The Dolphins are one of the scarier bottom feeders this year under Nick Saban. I'd rather play a Cardinals or Packers tank job.
AFC SOUTH.... The Colts are the main reason this division doesn't drop to Cream Puff status. That's like having two guaranteed losses every year with the way they're playing. Jags would be a tough team I'd hate to play twice a year. Leftwich is the type of QB who will occasionally expose our secondary with that arm of his. Tough defense that could probably knock Bledsoe on his butt a few times. But it would all be worth it just to play the Texans twice a year and kick 'em while their down. (No, I still haven't forgiven those Houston fans after that crushing season opener a few years back.) The Titans aren't pushovers, but they're not the type of team this year I'd lose sleep over.
THE CREAM PUFFS
NFC NORTH... Joey Harrington, Kyle Orton, Daunte Culpepper with most of his oline missing from last year and no Randy Moss, and an aging Brett Favre with most of oline missing from last year and no Jevon Walker... Can you imagine what our defense could do to that? The Cowboys would dominate this division. No resistant at all. Woooey.... body bag time.
Where would you rank the divisions?
So what would you rank the divisions right now and why? Is the NFC East the toughest division in football?
My ranks....
THE ELITE
NFC East.... I pick 'em because I'm a homer.
But seriously, the Eagles are last place. Yes McNabb is injured, yes TO is a distraction, but it's still the same team that went to the Super Bowl last year and has been to a number of consecutive NFC Championships. It's not an easy team to whack all the way to last. What's happened is that 3 of the best coaches in the NFL have all moved into the NFC East. Two Hall of Famers and the coach with the highest winning percentage ever in expansion team history. Great personnel moves.... Eli is going to be one of the best QBs for the next decade, the Cowboys defense is begging for the Doomsday tag, Washington figured out that Santana Moss was the most underrated receiver in the NFL, two of the best tight ends in the league are in the NFC East, the list of talent is endless... and they're all newly formed squads under their legendary coaches with plenty of young players who are only going to get better. Yes, the NFC East is back. Hey Philly, it ain't easy posting those 12 win records anymore when you don't have Spurrier's Skins and Campo's Cowboys 4 times a year, is it?AFC West.... Just think about it, if the Chargers had gotten off their cheap butts and signed Antonio Gates and Schottenheimer had figured out LT is the greatest running back in the game today and used him properly early on, the Cowboys probably would have lost that close season opener. Dallas already lost to the Raiders. We all fear this Denver game coming up, and Kansas City isn't a slouch either. I hate teams like Denver and Kansas City. Teams that just tell ya they're gonna run all over you and there ain't a damn thing you can do about it. When the Chargers are a team in your division and barely above .500, you know you have some quality teams in there. I'd hate to play 6 games a year against any AFC West teams.
BEST OF THE REST
NFC South... Buccs are getting exposed but still have such a great starting record, they may threaten to squeak in the Playoffs somewhere. I wouldn't want to play the Falcons or Panthers this year. Impatient anti-pocket passer or not, Vick is a pain in any defense's collective rear end. The Panthers are a team which can beat anyone. Don't let the Saints record fool you. They wouldn't be threatening to win the division with or without Katrina, but they're not a team that should only be winning 1 or 2 games. I challenge any coach to keep the team together, winning each week, in that type of situation.
AFC NORTH... This division would be an elite one if not for the eternally rebuilding Cleveland franchise and a Ravens team which has fallen apart this year because Billick still can't get off his cocky head and bring in a real QB, and because of injuries and what have you, the running game and defense can't shoulder the load this year. As it is, the Browns and Ravens would be easy teams to beat this year, but Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are the cream of the crop. Those are two teams I would hate to know the Cowboys had to face 4 games this year. That's a chance to go 0-4.
NFC WEST.... Same as above. Seahawks already proved they were one team that could take advantage of the Dallas 55 minute defense. The Rams aren't anywhere near their Super Bowl days but they're still a team that can hurt anyone on any given Sunday. Arizona and San Fran round out the two cakewalk teams. San Fran would have been a team that would always keep you on your feet no matter their record if they would have kept Rattay.
AFC EAST.... Nowhere near the powerhouse they used to be, but who wants to face the 3-time Super Bowl Champ Patriots twice a year? Or the Jets and Bills which can still bring it if not for huge mistakes in the personnel department when deciding which QBs can cut it. The Dolphins are one of the scarier bottom feeders this year under Nick Saban. I'd rather play a Cardinals or Packers tank job.
AFC SOUTH.... The Colts are the main reason this division doesn't drop to Cream Puff status. That's like having two guaranteed losses every year with the way they're playing. Jags would be a tough team I'd hate to play twice a year. Leftwich is the type of QB who will occasionally expose our secondary with that arm of his. Tough defense that could probably knock Bledsoe on his butt a few times. But it would all be worth it just to play the Texans twice a year and kick 'em while their down.
(No, I still haven't forgiven those Houston fans after that crushing season opener a few years back.) The Titans aren't pushovers, but they're not the type of team this year I'd lose sleep over.THE CREAM PUFFS
NFC NORTH... Joey Harrington, Kyle Orton, Daunte Culpepper with most of his oline missing from last year and no Randy Moss, and an aging Brett Favre with most of oline missing from last year and no Jevon Walker... Can you imagine what our defense could do to that? The Cowboys would dominate this division. No resistant at all. Woooey.... body bag time.
Where would you rank the divisions?
