RiggoForever
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Which teams on your schedule (excempting your own) do you respect the most in terms of attitude, coaching, and a "never say die" kind of attitude? I'll rank the teams we will face this season as I see them...not necessarily in terms of talent, but more in terms of coaching and overall team attitude.
1. Dallas Cowboys: Have traditionally stepped it up against the Commanders in traditional rivalry games, even in recent years (before Gibbs and Parcells) when both teams were otherwise horrible. Parcells is a master motivator and they have a young speedy defense whom will make us pay dearly for any slipups (Williams, Newman, Ware etc). Parcells/Zimmer 3-4 defense vs Saunders/Gibbs offense will be the ultimate chess match as the young 3-4 of Dallas emerges into one of the leagues premier and hard-nosed units.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: We seem to play them every year, and each game we play them seems to be physical, hard hitting, and come down to 1-2 plays at the end. The Tampa 2 is a mean, no-joke defense, and their linebackers can cover like DBs. They never give up, or back down. They have some mean, physical sons of *****es on that team. Jon Gruden comes across as a smug arrogant *******, but he knows what he's doing and that offense is going to be better this year with Cadillac and Simms emerging, and with that defense they don't have to score that much to win.
3. Philadelphia Eagles: During the 2001-2004 years, they would know how to close out games masterfully. I expect that to return this year. They have one of the hardest-hitting secondaries in football and a likely future HOF coach in Andy Reid (if they ever get a Lombardi trophy).
4. Carolina Panthers: Its been a long time since we've played them in any game of consequence. Their DL and LBs are no joke though, and any team that shuts out the Giants at the Meadowlands should be respected. They deal with adversity well, coming off an injury filled early 2004 season to finish that year on a tear. Have played in 2 of the last 3 NFC Championship games, they know how to get it done when it counts. It seemed like John Fox totally outcoached Tom Coughlin in the playoffs last year.
5. New York Giants: Always seem to start out the season strong, but have faltered in December/January recently. Are very tough and play with a different type of meanness while at the Meadowlands. I don't see a real swagger to their defense yet though, even though they probably have the best pair of DEs in the NFL.
Next rung of opponents: Jacksonville (they win ugly but they know how to win), and Indy (defense also stepped up last year, but the bad game against Pittsburgh did them in).
Weak: Texans, Titans, Saints (though they are emerging IMO), Vikings, Falcons (should be doing alot more with all the talent they have, collapsed at the end of the season last year), Rams
1. Dallas Cowboys: Have traditionally stepped it up against the Commanders in traditional rivalry games, even in recent years (before Gibbs and Parcells) when both teams were otherwise horrible. Parcells is a master motivator and they have a young speedy defense whom will make us pay dearly for any slipups (Williams, Newman, Ware etc). Parcells/Zimmer 3-4 defense vs Saunders/Gibbs offense will be the ultimate chess match as the young 3-4 of Dallas emerges into one of the leagues premier and hard-nosed units.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: We seem to play them every year, and each game we play them seems to be physical, hard hitting, and come down to 1-2 plays at the end. The Tampa 2 is a mean, no-joke defense, and their linebackers can cover like DBs. They never give up, or back down. They have some mean, physical sons of *****es on that team. Jon Gruden comes across as a smug arrogant *******, but he knows what he's doing and that offense is going to be better this year with Cadillac and Simms emerging, and with that defense they don't have to score that much to win.
3. Philadelphia Eagles: During the 2001-2004 years, they would know how to close out games masterfully. I expect that to return this year. They have one of the hardest-hitting secondaries in football and a likely future HOF coach in Andy Reid (if they ever get a Lombardi trophy).
4. Carolina Panthers: Its been a long time since we've played them in any game of consequence. Their DL and LBs are no joke though, and any team that shuts out the Giants at the Meadowlands should be respected. They deal with adversity well, coming off an injury filled early 2004 season to finish that year on a tear. Have played in 2 of the last 3 NFC Championship games, they know how to get it done when it counts. It seemed like John Fox totally outcoached Tom Coughlin in the playoffs last year.
5. New York Giants: Always seem to start out the season strong, but have faltered in December/January recently. Are very tough and play with a different type of meanness while at the Meadowlands. I don't see a real swagger to their defense yet though, even though they probably have the best pair of DEs in the NFL.
Next rung of opponents: Jacksonville (they win ugly but they know how to win), and Indy (defense also stepped up last year, but the bad game against Pittsburgh did them in).
Weak: Texans, Titans, Saints (though they are emerging IMO), Vikings, Falcons (should be doing alot more with all the talent they have, collapsed at the end of the season last year), Rams
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