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(Sept. 24, 2006) -- It's still too early to really rank the top teams in the league. But if I had to come up with a potential list of candidates for the top tier teams, this would be the list in alphabetical order: Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, San Diego and Seattle.
As you know by now, I'm not one to shy away from making proclamations, but I just don't see a dominant team or even two or three dominant teams this year. Indianapolis is one dimensional, but I like the one dimension it has. His name is Peyton Manning. The Colts can't run the ball and they can't stop the run, but Manning simply gives them a force that teams have to reckon with and so far, they haven't done that. Last week, the Colts dominated a weak Texans team. This week, they played tough against a good Jaguars team. Manning does what his team needs to win.
I look at the AFC North and it has two good teams in Cincinnati and Baltimore. But both of them have weaknesses. The Bengals turned the ball over three times against the Steelers (two INTs, one fumble), yet they still won. What worries me about them, for their sake though, is that you don't become a Super Bowl-caliber team with the best player on your club turning the ball over. Carson Palmer cannot continue to put the Bengals in harms way by throwing interceptions. If not for Ben Roethlisberger making some really ill-advised passes, the Bengals would not have stayed in the game. Plus, their defense gave up 365 yards, including 170 yards on the ground.
The Ravens have looked tough, but suffered a scare against the Browns. If not for a late Chris McAlister interception, which led to a 52-yard game-winning field goal, they would be in trouble. But the fact is that they are 3-0. Where it begins to get tough for teams like the Ravens is on the schedule. Next week, they take on the Chargers, another team that looks very, very good. But obviously after that game, only one will be left standing. So things have a way of working themselves out in the NFL over time. The same thing will happen with New England and Cincinnati. Only one will be left standing after they battle this coming weekend. One will be in good shape; one will be reeling, as they say.
Scanning down the NFC side of the standings and I stop at Chicago. Rex Grossman really impressed me. He had an ill-timed interception returned for a touchdown, but shortly thereafter, he threw the game-winning touchdown pass against the Vikings. That is what Chicago needs. Its defense will keep the team in the game, so it doesn't need to worry about that. If Grossman and the offense can be productive, the Bears will be a solid team for the remainder of the season. Grossman played with confidence. Muhsin Muhammad is going to be solid all year. Bernard Berrian is on the rise and Thomas Jones is making good runs. As long as they don't turn the ball over, they'll be fine.
Seattle impresses me a lot despite them letting the Giants somewhat back into the game. I know everyone sees the Giants mount a big comeback again and they think Seattle couldn't put them away. But the fact is that when a team gets a huge lead in the NFL, it tends to mentally back off a bit. It's just human nature. So don't read too much into the final score. The Seahawks are very good and they are a top team.
You can make a case for Philadelphia as well. The team defeated Houston and San Francisco, but it doesn't matter who you are playing in the NFL. A win is a win. And if not for the last two minutes of their game against the Giants, and a big 'if' I realize, the Eagles would be 3-0.
So who is my top team in the league? Ask me again about two months from now.
LINK
As you know by now, I'm not one to shy away from making proclamations, but I just don't see a dominant team or even two or three dominant teams this year. Indianapolis is one dimensional, but I like the one dimension it has. His name is Peyton Manning. The Colts can't run the ball and they can't stop the run, but Manning simply gives them a force that teams have to reckon with and so far, they haven't done that. Last week, the Colts dominated a weak Texans team. This week, they played tough against a good Jaguars team. Manning does what his team needs to win.
I look at the AFC North and it has two good teams in Cincinnati and Baltimore. But both of them have weaknesses. The Bengals turned the ball over three times against the Steelers (two INTs, one fumble), yet they still won. What worries me about them, for their sake though, is that you don't become a Super Bowl-caliber team with the best player on your club turning the ball over. Carson Palmer cannot continue to put the Bengals in harms way by throwing interceptions. If not for Ben Roethlisberger making some really ill-advised passes, the Bengals would not have stayed in the game. Plus, their defense gave up 365 yards, including 170 yards on the ground.
The Ravens have looked tough, but suffered a scare against the Browns. If not for a late Chris McAlister interception, which led to a 52-yard game-winning field goal, they would be in trouble. But the fact is that they are 3-0. Where it begins to get tough for teams like the Ravens is on the schedule. Next week, they take on the Chargers, another team that looks very, very good. But obviously after that game, only one will be left standing. So things have a way of working themselves out in the NFL over time. The same thing will happen with New England and Cincinnati. Only one will be left standing after they battle this coming weekend. One will be in good shape; one will be reeling, as they say.
Scanning down the NFC side of the standings and I stop at Chicago. Rex Grossman really impressed me. He had an ill-timed interception returned for a touchdown, but shortly thereafter, he threw the game-winning touchdown pass against the Vikings. That is what Chicago needs. Its defense will keep the team in the game, so it doesn't need to worry about that. If Grossman and the offense can be productive, the Bears will be a solid team for the remainder of the season. Grossman played with confidence. Muhsin Muhammad is going to be solid all year. Bernard Berrian is on the rise and Thomas Jones is making good runs. As long as they don't turn the ball over, they'll be fine.
Seattle impresses me a lot despite them letting the Giants somewhat back into the game. I know everyone sees the Giants mount a big comeback again and they think Seattle couldn't put them away. But the fact is that when a team gets a huge lead in the NFL, it tends to mentally back off a bit. It's just human nature. So don't read too much into the final score. The Seahawks are very good and they are a top team.
You can make a case for Philadelphia as well. The team defeated Houston and San Francisco, but it doesn't matter who you are playing in the NFL. A win is a win. And if not for the last two minutes of their game against the Giants, and a big 'if' I realize, the Eagles would be 3-0.
So who is my top team in the league? Ask me again about two months from now.
LINK
