WEEK 9 NFL REVIEW
Well, as any true NFL fan is used to, 2007 has been your basic "expect the unexpected" type of season once again. While half the league has played probably about as well or as bad as you would have expected, the other half of the league is full of disappointments and surprises. I am not happy to admit this has not been one of my finest years, but at least I am still in the top 10% in most of my contests. My 72-44 record picking winners is not bad, but I have been pretty bad overall against the spread this year, so far only going 57-59...YIKES! My Best Bets(which you would know if you had subscribed to my emailer) are not bad though as I stand at 14-8-1, but again even that is a little disappointing as I have gone 0-3 over the last 2 weeks. My Upset Pick of the Week is at 3-5 straight up, but have covered the spread in 5 of the contests. My Fantasy Football teams are still very tough to beat. My total record over 20 teams is now at 104-56 with one undefeated team left. So don't forget to email me if you need any fantasy advice. Now,without further adieu, let's see about those surprises and disappointments so far in this 2007 NFL season.
BIGGEST SUPRISES
1. Green Bay Packers 6-1
That's not a typo! Yes, Brett Favre has again become one of the top QB's in the league and the defense has played much better than expected. Not many people gave this team a chance to even win 6 games all season, and at 6-1 it may not be too early to think the "Pack is Back"! If they can get the running game going, the Pack once again could be a dangerous team.
2. Detroit Lions 5-2
While I would have expected the Lions offense to be pretty good as they seem to have some talent on that side of the ball, the Lion defense has been better than expected, although not great. This is another team that not too many people picked to even win more than 5 games this season and now finds themselves battling the possibly more suprising Packers for a division title or at least a possible wild card. Maybe QB Jon Kitna wasn't crazy when he said he thought they could win 10 games this year. They are well on their way, but can they continue to outscore people throughout the 2nd half of the season?
3. Cleveland Browns 4-3
Who would have thought that QB Derek Anderson would have the Browns over the .500 mark at any point this season? Rookie QB Brady Quinn is still waiting in the wings, but the play of WR Braylon Edwards,TE Kellen Winslow, and QB Anderson has surpassed most everyone's expectations coming into this season. The defense still needs help, especially against the pass, but this team has shown alot more than expected and can no longer be counted on for an easy win by the opposing team. I really liked this team to be a sleeper in 2008, but I may have been a year late. Can the Browns continue their winning ways? As long as they can keep scoring they could find themselves in the hunt for a playoff spot. Who knew?
4.Tennessee Titans 5-2
Well, it seems even without Vince Young performing up to his expectations, this may be a team to be reckoned with. As I told you in my preseason preview, this defense is pretty darn good. I would not have expected them to be good enough to win 5 games already though! As one of the surprise teams of last season, you would think teams would be wanting to put them in their place. However, the Titans have shown a total team effort in their games this season and would probably be an even more dangerous team if they weren't in the same division as the Colts and the Jaguars. Jeff Fisher keeps showing year in and year out why he is one of the better coaches in the NFL.
2. Detroit Lions 5-2
While I would have expected the Lions offense to be pretty good as they seem to have some talent on that side of the ball, the Lion defense has been better than expected, although not great. This is another team that not too many people picked to even win more than 5 games this season and now finds themselves battling the possibly more suprising Packers for a division title or at least a possible wild card. Maybe QB Jon Kitna wasn't crazy when he said he thought they could win 10 games this year. They are well on their way, but can they continue to outscore people throughout the 2nd half of the season?
3. Cleveland Browns 4-3
Who would have thought that QB Derek Anderson would have the Browns over the .500 mark at any point this season? Rookie QB Brady Quinn is still waiting in the wings, but the play of WR Braylon Edwards,TE Kellen Winslow, and QB Anderson has surpassed most everyone's expectations coming into this season. The defense still needs help, especially against the pass, but this team has shown alot more than expected and can no longer be counted on for an easy win by the opposing team. I really liked this team to be a sleeper in 2008, but I may have been a year late. Can the Browns continue their winning ways? As long as they can keep scoring they could find themselves in the hunt for a playoff spot. Who knew?
4.Tennessee Titans 5-2
Well, it seems even without Vince Young performing up to his expectations, this may be a team to be reckoned with. As I told you in my preseason preview, this defense is pretty darn good. I would not have expected them to be good enough to win 5 games already though! As one of the surprise teams of last season, you would think teams would be wanting to put them in their place. However, the Titans have shown a total team effort in their games this season and would probably be an even more dangerous team if they weren't in the same division as the Colts and the Jaguars. Jeff Fisher keeps showing year in and year out why he is one of the better coaches in the NFL.
5. Buffalo Bills 3-4
Another team that already has as many wins as I thought they would get over the entire season! The Bills still have their QB dilema with QB J.P. Losman and rookie QB Trent Edwards, but I think both are a little better than anticipated and this defense,even without LB London Fletcher,is once again the strong point of this team. How many more wins the Bills can get this year still remains to be seen, but so far this team is definitely better than expected.
Honorable Mention
Dallas Cowboys 6-1
Indianapolis Colts 7-0
Arizona Cardinals 3-4
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS
Honorable Mention
Dallas Cowboys 6-1
Indianapolis Colts 7-0
Arizona Cardinals 3-4
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS
1. St. Louis Rams 0-8
Yes, that's not a typo either. The Rams are 0-8! Head coach Scott Linehan must have a great second half or I believe his job could be, and should be, in trouble. Granted, the defense is still not as good as it needs to be. And I know QB Mark Bulger, RB Stephen Jackson, and WR's Isaac Bruce and Drew Bennet have all missed games, and even with the loss of T Orlando Pace and G Mark Setterstrom for the season, the offense needs to play alot better. For a team that many thought would compete at least for a division title, to be winless at this point is absurd. They now have everyone at least semi-healthy, with the exception of the porous offensive line, and need to come on in the second half of the season, or this team may need to clean house during the off-season.
2. New Orleans Saints 3-4
OK, the Saints have looked a little better recently, but their slow start still puts them among the biggest disappointments so far this season. Without RB Deuce McAlister, Reggie Bush will have to have a big second half and QB Drew Brees has to continue to play better to bring these Saints back into contention. The pass defense also needs to tighten up a bit, but this looks like a team that has a chance to improve and even make a playoff run.
TIE 3. Chicago Bears 3-5
Rex Grossman? Brian Griese? Does it matter? The Bears are still having QB problems, and a year after going to the Super Bowl do not look like the team that made it that far last season. The defense has not been anywhere near as dominant and I don't believe are even the best defense in the the league anymore. This is a team that has now lost to the Lions twice this season. For a team that was supposed to be one of the top teams in 2007, that is not a good sign. As predicted, RB Cedric Benson is not a very productive starter, and if the defense doesn't start to dominate once again, it's going to be hard winning games when your offense can't put points on the board. The next 4 games will be huge for this team, and should be a good predictor of what we will see from them down the stretch, so it will be interesting to see which way this team turns. As of now they are looking more like pretender than contender.
2. New Orleans Saints 3-4
OK, the Saints have looked a little better recently, but their slow start still puts them among the biggest disappointments so far this season. Without RB Deuce McAlister, Reggie Bush will have to have a big second half and QB Drew Brees has to continue to play better to bring these Saints back into contention. The pass defense also needs to tighten up a bit, but this looks like a team that has a chance to improve and even make a playoff run.
TIE 3. Chicago Bears 3-5
Rex Grossman? Brian Griese? Does it matter? The Bears are still having QB problems, and a year after going to the Super Bowl do not look like the team that made it that far last season. The defense has not been anywhere near as dominant and I don't believe are even the best defense in the the league anymore. This is a team that has now lost to the Lions twice this season. For a team that was supposed to be one of the top teams in 2007, that is not a good sign. As predicted, RB Cedric Benson is not a very productive starter, and if the defense doesn't start to dominate once again, it's going to be hard winning games when your offense can't put points on the board. The next 4 games will be huge for this team, and should be a good predictor of what we will see from them down the stretch, so it will be interesting to see which way this team turns. As of now they are looking more like pretender than contender.
3. Philadelphia Eagles 3-4
Much like the Bears, the Eagles have not been impressive so far this season. As the favorite of most to again win the NFC East, they have they're work cut out for them coming into the second half of the season. Playing in the toughest division in football they must now try to overcome the Cowboys,Giants and Redskins for the division and even a wild card spot. After blowing out the Lions early in the season, the offense has had trouble scoring and McNabb and the offense, with the possible exception of Brian Westbrook, have not been as consistent as they would like. The loss of S Brian Dawkins for the better part of the season so far has hurt the defense, so him coming back this weekend should be a plus for the D. For the Eagles to have any hope of contending again this season though, McNabb must start getting this offense in the end zone more often, or things could get ugly in Philly.
OTHER MIDSEASON DISAPPOINTMENTS
Cincinnati Bengals 2-5
Denver Broncos 3-4
New York Jets 1-7
San Diego Chargers 4-3
Well, I hope you enjoyed my mid-season NFL Review and hope you come back for WEEK 13 for my next review of how the NFL is shaping up this season. I would really like to hear your thoughts as well, so don't forget to put your two cents in in my comments section, and if you haven't done it already just email me your request or subscribe to my Blog and get my weekly Best Bets and Upset Pick of the Week. Also, please feel free to email me with any Fantasy Football questions. Until next time, good luck and enjoy the rest of the season. This Sunday....Patriots 8-0 vs. Colts 7-0, does it get any better than that? I can't believe the Pats are favored by 5 1/2 ON THE ROAD! But I still think they will win. I wouldn't be surprised if the team with the ball at the end has a chance to win it, though. As much as I thought the Colts had lost from last season, I have to admit they still seem to be just as good. Patriots 27-24, possibly in OT.
Much like the Bears, the Eagles have not been impressive so far this season. As the favorite of most to again win the NFC East, they have they're work cut out for them coming into the second half of the season. Playing in the toughest division in football they must now try to overcome the Cowboys,Giants and Redskins for the division and even a wild card spot. After blowing out the Lions early in the season, the offense has had trouble scoring and McNabb and the offense, with the possible exception of Brian Westbrook, have not been as consistent as they would like. The loss of S Brian Dawkins for the better part of the season so far has hurt the defense, so him coming back this weekend should be a plus for the D. For the Eagles to have any hope of contending again this season though, McNabb must start getting this offense in the end zone more often, or things could get ugly in Philly.
OTHER MIDSEASON DISAPPOINTMENTS
Cincinnati Bengals 2-5
Denver Broncos 3-4
New York Jets 1-7
San Diego Chargers 4-3
Well, I hope you enjoyed my mid-season NFL Review and hope you come back for WEEK 13 for my next review of how the NFL is shaping up this season. I would really like to hear your thoughts as well, so don't forget to put your two cents in in my comments section, and if you haven't done it already just email me your request or subscribe to my Blog and get my weekly Best Bets and Upset Pick of the Week. Also, please feel free to email me with any Fantasy Football questions. Until next time, good luck and enjoy the rest of the season. This Sunday....Patriots 8-0 vs. Colts 7-0, does it get any better than that? I can't believe the Pats are favored by 5 1/2 ON THE ROAD! But I still think they will win. I wouldn't be surprised if the team with the ball at the end has a chance to win it, though. As much as I thought the Colts had lost from last season, I have to admit they still seem to be just as good. Patriots 27-24, possibly in OT.
Comments