Best 5 NFL teams as of week 16. (1 Viewer)

[abhall]

This week:

1. Patriots - Passing game looked a little better but still questions there.

2. Bears - bye week - still must question Grossman.

3. Chargers - still throwing too much but also not dropping them despite the loss.

4. Broncos - weak passing game but everything else looks solid

5. Cowboys - tough loss and will drop them one spot. Qb now a mess.

Ridiculous.

They are 3-3. Far from dead. Further, look at their vital statistics:http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal2006.htm

Strong defense. Strong running game. Sure, question the QB. But there's a lot to like there.

I'm a Cowboys homer and they're not in the Top 10 in the league. Best case scenario they go 9-7. Their defense is very overrated. The run defense has been strong (although NY ran for 155); however, their safties have been exposed as frauds (Williams/Watkins). They can't cover. The QB position is a disaster and so is the OL. Adams/Rivera have been horrible. The only decent lineman is Gurode, although Columbo has performed above expectations. Most people think Romo will be named the starter and if that happens the season is over. He's not ready yet.

Most discouraging is the 2006 draft. Bobby Carpenter can't even get on the field. Fasano has done very little and shown he's a medicore blocker. Skyler Green was cut and brought back and inactive vs. the Giants. What a disaster.

 

[BGP]

This week:

1. Patriots - Passing game looked a little better but still questions there.

2. Bears - bye week - still must question Grossman.

3. Chargers - still throwing too much but also not dropping them despite the loss.

4. Broncos - weak passing game but everything else looks solid

5. Cowboys - tough loss and will drop them one spot. Qb now a mess.

Ridiculous.

They are 3-3. Far from dead. Further, look at their vital statistics:http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal2006.htm

Strong defense. Strong running game. Sure, question the QB. But there's a lot to like there.

Well let's update,once again pointing out flaws in my top 5.1. Patriots - ok its getting harder to find flaws after that passing performance on MNF. The pass defense might be a little weak.

2. Bears - Grossman did a lot better - running game looks weak tho.

3. Cowboys - Romo is still a wild card even with the good day last week.

4. Chargers - Run defense might be suspect allowing 4.15 yards per carry.

5. Ravens - Offense overall still weak but perhaps it turned a corner against the Saints.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Well let's update,once again pointing out flaws in my top 5.1. Patriots - ok its getting harder to find flaws after that passing performance on MNF. The pass defense might be a little weak.2. Bears - Grossman did a lot better - running game looks weak tho.3. Cowboys - Romo is still a wild card even with the good day last week.4. Chargers - Run defense might be suspect allowing 4.15 yards per carry.5. Ravens - Offense overall still weak but perhaps it turned a corner against the Saints.

Dallas at number 3? My top 5 is:1. Chicago2. Indy3. NY Giants4. New England5. Denver

 

[BGP]

Well let's update,once again pointing out flaws in my top 5.1. Patriots - ok its getting harder to find flaws after that passing performance on MNF. The pass defense might be a little weak.2. Bears - Grossman did a lot better - running game looks weak tho.3. Cowboys - Romo is still a wild card even with the good day last week.4. Chargers - Run defense might be suspect allowing 4.15 yards per carry.5. Ravens - Offense overall still weak but perhaps it turned a corner against the Saints.

Dallas at number 3? My top 5 is:1. Chicago2. Indy3. NY Giants4. New England5. Denver

Let's see. On these boards:+ I picked the 05 Indians to win 92 and got laughed at. They won 93.+ I picked the 06 to miss the playoffs and got laughed at. They missed.+ I made calls in the gold market, people laughed at them, and they panned out.+ I noticed the Steelers were cursed, got laughed at, and they are 2-5 after losing to the Raiders.+ I was told by an admin I had no credibility for not seeing that Reggie Bush was greater than Gayle Sayers or Barry Sanders...If past history is any guide, drawing THIS much heat for ranking the Cowboys this high probably means the Cowboys will go deep into the playoffs lol. And that seems to be how it is. When people actually respect my views around here, I start to question them lol.

 

[culdeus]

Bears

Colts

Giants

Pats

Cowboys

Dallas is a good team and they finally made the right call at QB. Deal with it. The second tier of teams all have their flaws, but Dallas has the most upside right now and will likely win their next two.

 

[PatsWillWin]

Patriots > Giants

 

[Mahoney]

1. Patriots

2. Colts

3. Broncos

4. Chargers

5. Baltimore

 

[djcolts]

Top 4 is easy

Bears

Colts

Pats

Giants

At 5....

Broncos (beat the Ravens who beat the Chargers)

 

[Bad_Mo]

+ I made calls in the gold market, people laughed at them, and they panned out.

If you pan for gold, should you be a 49ers fan?

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Broncos (beat the Ravens who beat the Chargers)

Chargers (beat the Rams who beat the Broncos)

 

[Cleavage Connoisseur]

1. Patriots2. Colts3. Broncos4. Chargers5. Baltimore

7-0 BEARS

 

[Mahoney]

1. Colts

2. Patriots

3. Chargers

4. Ravens

5. Broncos

 

[thesurfshop19]

5. Broncos

I'm a huge Broncos fan, and maybe this is the overly negative recent games affecting me, but I don't see how they're in the top 10 as of right now.The defense has gotten worn down in the 2nd half in their last 3 losses, and the offense is too inconsistent and flakes out in killer situations, as it has all season.

We'll see what the Cutler change does. I was one of the few Broncos fans who really, really liked Plummer for what he brought to the locker room, but at this point it's clear that if it's not a bootleg-type play, he's one of the worst straight-up passers in the whole league. :(

 

[AB in DC]

1. San Diego

2. New England

3. Chicago

4. Indy

5. Baltimore

 

[bryhamm]

1. IND

2. SD

3. BAL

4. NE

5. CHI

 

[culdeus]

BAL

IND

SD

NE

DAL

 

[Workhorse]

1. IND2. SD3. BAL4. NE5. CHI

That's about how I have it as well but I'd flip-flop Baltimore and San Diego.

 

[sinatravolta]

1. Colts

2. Ravens

3. Chargers

4. Patriots

5. Cowboys

6. Bears

AFC Playoffs should be fantastic. 2nd round likely being: Colts/Pats and Ravens/Chargers.

At this point I would then pick Colts/Ravens. All 3 of those games should be great (even if it's a different 2 of those 4 in the Championship).

 

[Dt's Mules]

1. Colts2. Ravens3. Chargers4. Patriots5. Cowboys6. BearsAFC Playoffs should be fantastic. 2nd round likely being: Colts/Pats and Ravens/Chargers.At this point I would then pick Colts/Ravens. All 3 of those games should be great (even if it's a different 2 of those 4 in the Championship).

it looks like a 4 team race in the afc and a 2 team race in the nfc...but there's still a lot of football (i.e. injuries) over the next 5 weeks

 

[Doug B]

it looks like ... a 2 team race in the nfc...but there's still a lot of football (i.e. injuries) over the next 5 weeks

The Saints will have something to say about the Cowboys' fortunes. Even though they beat the Colts ... I'm not sure about putting the Cowboys in the league's top 5 just yet.

 

[Dt's Mules]

it looks like ... a 2 team race in the nfc...but there's still a lot of football (i.e. injuries) over the next 5 weeks

The Saints will have something to say about the Cowboys' fortunes. Even though they beat the Colts ... I'm not sure about putting the Cowboys in the league's top 5 just yet.

i'm not sure about putting any of the nfc (sans bears) in the top 5...that game in 2 weeks will be huge in terms of getting that 2nd bye and 2nd home field and very likely could determine who the bears play in the nfc title game

 

[Cowboys#1]

1. Balt

2. SD

3. Indy

4. NE

5. Chic

6. 'Boys

 

[bryhamm]

1. IND2. SD3. BAL4. NE5. CHI

That's about how I have it as well but I'd flip-flop Baltimore and San Diego.

I almost did that myself. After watching BAL demolish my Steelers yesterday, I just about put them 2nd. But SD seems just a bit better at this point (IMO).

 

[bryhamm]

1. Balt

2. SD

3. Indy

4. NE

5. Chic

6. 'Boys

 

[Tackling Dummies]

IND

SD

NE

CHI

BAL

 

[Cowboys#1]

1. Balt

2. SD

3. Indy

4. NE

5. Chic

6. 'Boys

saw them go down to dallas, saw baltimore play great as of late, san diego is white hot.. i just dont think they are THAT great.

 

[Dt's Mules]

on a semi-related note, it appears 9-7 will get you in the playoffs in the nfc (assuming you have tie-breaker)

while

10-6 might leave you out in the afc

 

[Ghost Rider]

1. SD

2. Indy

3. Chi

4. Balt

5. NE

 

[Dt's Mules]

1. SD2. Indy3. Chi4. Balt5. NE

Didn't #5 beat #3 pretty recently?

 

[sinatravolta]

1. Balt

2. SD

3. Indy

4. NE

5. Chic

6. 'Boys

saw them go down to dallas, saw baltimore play great as of late, san diego is white hot.. i just dont think they are THAT great.

I put Indy first, but I don't think putting them 2nd or 3rd is loco. SD and Baltimore have only won 1 fewer game than Indy, and they've each won 5 in a row. SD lost by a total of 6 points @ Baltimore and @ KC. They have won: Pitt, @Cinci, @Denver

Baltimore lost @Denver and to Carolina. They have won: SD, @NO, Cinci, Atlanta, Pitt.

Indy lost @Dallas. They've won: @NYG, Jags, @Denver, @NE.

So - to me, Indy's record against quality teams is not that different from the other 2. And - many people are of the belief that Defense wins championships, where the Colts are way behind the Ravens and behind the Chargers.

Not having these 3 teams as the top 3 would be wrong in my view. But the order is open to debate.

 

[Ghost Rider]

1. SD2. Indy3. Chi4. Balt5. NE

Didn't #5 beat #3 pretty recently?

Yes, but the game was in NE, the Bears still have a better record, and the Patriots have still looked like #### in 2 of their last 4 games. And, yes, I know I put SD ahead of Indy, despite Indy having a better record. Right now, if they played on a neutral field, I think the Bears would beat the Patriots. Heck, NE could barely beat them at home yesterday.

 

[Gr00vus]

Kansas City is playing good football right now. Maybe not top 5 which is actually the topic, but I think they should get a mention at least if the Saints and Cowboys are going to be mentioned.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Kansas City is playing good football right now. Maybe not top 5 which is actually the topic, but I think they should get a mention at least if the Saints and Cowboys are going to be mentioned.

Perhaps, but KC needs to play better on the road. They always play well at home, but how they do on the road will dictate how good they really are. Their 2-3 road record (with the wins being over the hapless Cardinals and the free-falling Rams) does not make them look good, especially when you look at their last two road losses (losing by 38 at Pitt, and losing at Miami). Right now, KC would make my top 10, but top 5? Nope.

 

[Workhorse]

1. SD2. Indy3. Chi4. Balt5. NE

Didn't #5 beat #3 pretty recently?

Yes, but the game was in NE, the Bears still have a better record, and the Patriots have still looked like #### in 2 of their last 4 games. And, yes, I know I put SD ahead of Indy, despite Indy having a better record. Right now, if they played on a neutral field, I think the Bears would beat the Patriots. Heck, NE could barely beat them at home yesterday.

Given the state of the two teams, do you really think that Grossman could do anything against that Pats defense on a neutral field?Did you watch the game yesterday?

 

[bryhamm]

1. Balt

2. SD

3. Indy

4. NE

5. Chic

6. 'Boys

saw them go down to dallas, saw baltimore play great as of late, san diego is white hot.. i just dont think they are THAT great.

I put Indy first, but I don't think putting them 2nd or 3rd is loco. SD and Baltimore have only won 1 fewer game than Indy, and they've each won 5 in a row. SD lost by a total of 6 points @ Baltimore and @ KC. They have won: Pitt, @Cinci, @Denver

Baltimore lost @Denver and to Carolina. They have won: SD, @NO, Cinci, Atlanta, Pitt.

Indy lost @Dallas. They've won: @NYG, Jags, @Denver, @NE.

So - to me, Indy's record against quality teams is not that different from the other 2. And - many people are of the belief that Defense wins championships, where the Colts are way behind the Ravens and behind the Chargers.

Not having these 3 teams as the top 3 would be wrong in my view. But the order is open to debate.

I don't consider ATL, PIT or CIN "quality" teams. CIN might get close, but just barely. IND's win in DEN and in NE are huge in my mind. DAL is playing great right now and might actually be the best in the NFC, so that loss is not too bad.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Given the state of the two teams, do you really think that Grossman could do anything against that Pats defense on a neutral field?

Anything? Yes.

Did you watch the game yesterday?

Yes. NE's offense didn't do very well vs. the Bears defense, either.

 

[Tackling Dummies]

Kansas City is playing good football right now. Maybe not top 5 which is actually the topic, but I think they should get a mention at least if the Saints and Cowboys are going to be mentioned.

I know that this is supposed to be a current thread, but the Chiefs remaining schedule has some bumps in the road and that Dolphins loss looks worse every day. KC might get some top 10 discussion, but not close to a top 5. Dec 3 at Cleveland 1:00 PM Dec 10 Baltimore 1:00 PM Dec 17 at San Diego 4:05 PM Dec 23 at Oakland 8:00 PM Dec 31 Jacksonville 1:00 PM

 

[sinatravolta]

I don't consider ATL, PIT or CIN "quality" teams. CIN might get close, but just barely. IND's win in DEN and in NE are huge in my mind. DAL is playing great right now and might actually be the best in the NFC, so that loss is not too bad.

Alright - well if those teams aren't "quality" - and maybe Pitt and Atlanta aren't, then neither are the Giants or the Jags - who I counted for the Colts.And if beating Pittsburgh isn't impressive, is beating them 27-0 impressive? I think so.

I agree Dallas is good which is why I had them as the top NFC team.

If winning @Denver is so huge, bear in mind SD also did it. And if winning @NE is so huge, keep in mind the Jets did it just 3 weeks ago.

Again - I put Indy first, but I don't think picking SD and/or Baltimore ahead of them is remotely crazy. Yes - I find it hard to believe that SD could stop Manning and the Colts O, but do you think the Colts can stop Tomlinson?

 

[Workhorse]

Given the state of the two teams, do you really think that Grossman could do anything against that Pats defense on a neutral field?

Anything? Yes.

Did you watch the game yesterday?

Yes. NE's offense didn't do very well vs. the Bears defense, either.

They did pretty well IMO -- 350 yards of total offense against the Bears is pretty decent. 5 drives of over 50 yards and Brady was finding lots of time to throw...

 

[Despyzer]

Yes - I find it hard to believe that SD could stop Manning and the Colts O, but do you think the Colts can stop Tomlinson?

To back up your point, SD's D did a decent job against Manning and the Colts last year in Indianapolis. I think they could do it again.

 

[Doug B]

i'm not sure about putting any of the nfc (sans bears) in the top 5...

Agreed. Had the Saints been able to take care of business against the Steelers and Bengals, I'd have them Top 5 at 9-2. But they got exposed somewhat in those games ... so there's definitely plenty of mountain left for the Saints to climb.

that game in 2 weeks will be huge in terms of getting that 2nd bye and 2nd home field and very likely could determine who the bears play in the nfc title game

Saints have to fight off their let-down tendency against the Niners this weekend. But if they can handle that ... then they've got a great shot at that 2nd NFC bye.

 

[Billy Ball Thorton]

This is it

1 Colts- Top seed every year but never seem to end that way

2 Balt- Good D And Jamal looks to comming on

3 KC They are playing very well and I would not be suprised to see them sweep SD

4 Dallas Best NFC team

5 Bears 2nd Best NFC team but I think the cover two they play is no good vs Cowboys

On the verge

SD Too many close wins. If they beat KC Put them in KC spot

NE Played well this week but the Jets games has me concerned

NO How they do down the strech will say allot. Big game vs. Dallas soon.

 

[UCLAGIE]

On the verge

SD Too many close wins. If they beat KC Put them in KC spot

the Chargers havent won a game by less that a touchdown all year

 

[mrspree15]

On the verge

SD Too many close wins. If they beat KC Put them in KC spot

the Chargers havent won a game by less that a touchdown all year

Then they should stop showing off if they want to be in the top 5

 

[Ghost Rider]

Given the state of the two teams, do you really think that Grossman could do anything against that Pats defense on a neutral field?

Anything? Yes.

Did you watch the game yesterday?

Yes. NE's offense didn't do very well vs. the Bears defense, either.

They did pretty well IMO -- 350 yards of total offense against the Bears is pretty decent. 5 drives of over 50 yards and Brady was finding lots of time to throw...

The Bears had 324 total yards, only 30 less than the Patriots. So, given that, and the fact that the Bears only lost by 4 in New England, tell me again why the Bears couldn't beat them on a neutral field?

 

[jonessed]

On the verge

SD Too many close wins. If they beat KC Put them in KC spot

the Chargers havent won a game by less that a touchdown all year

 

[Ghost Rider]

This is it1 Colts- Top seed every year but never seem to end that way2 Balt- Good D And Jamal looks to comming on3 KC They are playing very well and I would not be suprised to see them sweep SD4 Dallas Best NFC team5 Bears 2nd Best NFC team but I think the cover two they play is no good vs CowboysOn the verge SD Too many close wins. If they beat KC Put them in KC spotNE Played well this week but the Jets games has me concernedNO How they do down the strech will say allot. Big game vs. Dallas soon.

Wait, so the Patriots losing to the Jets concerns you, but the Chiefs loss to the Dolphins 15 days ago doesn't?

 

[flapgreen]

On the verge

SD Too many close wins. If they beat KC Put them in KC spot

the Chargers havent won a game by less that a touchdown all year

Then they should stop showing off if they want to be in the top 5

 

[Despyzer]

This is it1 Colts- Top seed every year but never seem to end that way2 Balt- Good D And Jamal looks to comming on3 KC They are playing very well and I would not be suprised to see them sweep SD4 Dallas Best NFC team5 Bears 2nd Best NFC team but I think the cover two they play is no good vs CowboysOn the verge SD Too many close wins. If they beat KC Put them in KC spotNE Played well this week but the Jets games has me concernedNO How they do down the strech will say allot. Big game vs. Dallas soon.

So San Diego has played too many close games, but Indy (who barely snuck by such powerhouses as Tenneseee, Buffalo, and the Jets) is #1? Do you even pay attention to football?

 

[Workhorse]

Given the state of the two teams, do you really think that Grossman could do anything against that Pats defense on a neutral field?

Anything? Yes.

Did you watch the game yesterday?

Yes. NE's offense didn't do very well vs. the Bears defense, either.

They did pretty well IMO -- 350 yards of total offense against the Bears is pretty decent. 5 drives of over 50 yards and Brady was finding lots of time to throw...

The Bears had 324 total yards, only 30 less than the Patriots. So, given that, and the fact that the Bears only lost by 4 in New England, tell me again why the Bears couldn't beat them on a neutral field?

Two reasons come to mind immediately:(1) Home field advantage is supposed to "give" the home team 3 points, right? Neutral field still gives you a one-point win. (2) But seriously, the two teams are very evenly matched -- However, which is more likely to happen in a rematch: Rex Grossman stinking up the joint again (considering how bad he's been in the past few weeks) or the Pats turning the ball over 5 times in a game? I know the Bears are a ball-hawking defense but tipped ball INTs are just as likely to find the ground as they are to find a DB.(3) Do you think the Bears would get some of those shaky PI calls in a rematch? Fact is that the Bears had twice as many yards on that one terrible pass interference call than they did second half passing yards on Sunday. That's not a recipe for success.