NFL Season First Quarter Thoughts

[HoosierCat]

Wow...football season is 1/4 of the way done already! I guess time does fly when you are having fun!

Some things that popped out at me looking at how the first quarter has gone...

...Don't look now, but the best division in football is..the NFC East??? DC, NY, Philly, and Dallas are a combined 11-4. No team in the division is under .500 (Dallas is worst at 2-2), and the group features two of the league's best-scoring offenses (NY and Philly) and one of its best scoring D's (in DC). Didn't Eli suck? Wasn't Gibbs a fool for coming back? Suddenly, Philly has an aching QB and some serious competition. With the Vick injury yesterday, it's conceivable that both NFC wild cards could come out of the East.

...How pathetic is the NFC North? Chicago had a bye this week...and moved into 1st in the division! Green Bay is 0-3...and 1 game out of the lead. Combined, the division is a putrid 3-10 (with 2 of those wins coming in interdivisional games someone had to win!). Weren't the Vikes supposed to be good? And the Lions? Sheesh. Way things are going this division could end up sending a 6 win team to the playoffs.

...So far, only the AFC North, NFC East, and NFC South divisions have collective winning records (tho the AFC West is 8-8). Parity on the wane?

...AFC East seems to be losing its luster. For the last few years it has arguably been the toughest division in the league, boasting perennial champs NE, solid challengers in NYJ and Miami, and an improving Buffalo team. Now injuries and a tough sked have the Pats struggling, The Jets don't have a QB and neither do the Bills, and Miami is leading the division. All together, the 4 teams are 6-9, and all look beatable.

...Worst team in the league? I'd have to say Minnesota. Yeah, I know,the Packers and Texans have a worse record, but everyone expected the Pack too be in trouble this year, and the Texans were just a wild card threat...the Vikings were supposed to challenge Philly for dominance of the NFC and the Super Bowl! Instead, they have an anemic offense and one of the worst D's in the league; their numbers (and record) are equivalent to the Tennessee Titans, who are in complete rebuild mode. No, the Vikes get my vote as first quarter's biggest bust.

...Best team? I think Cincy is in the top 3, easily, but have to give my nod to the Colts. Their D has been phenomenal and their O is starting to kick in now. They are 4-0 with a 2-0 lead in the division, and no one in the AFC South s going to catch them. The real question is, is there anyone in the AFC who can stop them? The Colts have Super Bowl written all over them right now.

[CBin2k7]

Lets review.

In week 1 the Broncos looked like crap in Miami, then proceeded to barely skate past the Chargers at home. Now they have beaten KC and Jax and are legit? The Chargers were in danger of going 0-3 instead they are now at 2-2 and everyone is on the bandwagon. While the bandwagon for the Chiefs seems to be empting quick.

The Pats are one week removed from beating Pittsburgh on the road and now the dynasty is over, after one week?

The NFC North and NFC West are just horrible. The NFC East is good, but also the Eagles are clearly the best team in that division. The Redskins have won 3 games by 6 points, and the Giants can't stop anyone but they sure can score.

At least it feels great to be a Bengals fan for once.

[San Antonio Bengal]

The NFC North has problems. I saw this little caption today about the Green Bay game tonight that really sums things up: " Even though they're 0-3, a win tonight over Carolina would put the Packers right in the NFC North race." None of the teams in the division have looked good, but Chicago has been the best, mainly because of their defense. I expected Green Bay to fall this year, but not like this. And I sure didn't expect Minny to fall the way they did.

The NFC West hasn't impressed me at all. The teams will be closely bunched throughout the season, but that's because all of them are mediocre. I don't know what else you can say about that division.

The NFC South is a very interesting division. Tampa Bay, Carolina and Atlanta all have good teams and it'll be fun to watch how that division plays out. New Orleans has been too inconsistent, but they could steal games from the others and throw a wrench into the works.

The NFC East is by far the best of the NFC. Philly is performing the way that the conference champion should. Undefeated Washington is a big surprise, especially with the Monday night comback against the Cowboys. The Giants are looking pretty good, but I wonder how long that will be able to hold up -- Eli is still a young QB. And the Cowboys are looking good, but all of their games have been close. They've won by 3 and 4 points and lost by 1 and 6 points. They can't seem to pull away from anyone -- if they can't get that under control, it will come back to haunt them.

AFC thoughts coming later...

[kingwilly]

I'll bust out my AFC take...

AFC East - Injuries shape standings

The Pats have been hit by the injury bug. O-line, DB's and LB corps all taking hits. A bit early to say the gravy train is over but unless they can get CD running well again, another SB may be out of reach. NYJETS have no QB, I mean besides Bollinger. Martin is aging and the D, though pretty good, can only do so much.

The bills have a terrible prospect at QB. Indecisive and erratic, JP just does not cut it. The Bills D lost Spikes, which is big, and the run d is now at risk. Maybe 5 or 6 wins at best. Miami is the surprise. Frerrote is like a Phoenix, Brown can run and they get Williams back this week. The Phin D is tough and if they keep making plays for Saban, the division is not out of reach at all.

AFC South - Uh-oh, Indy has a Defense....

Big story has been the indy D. The O will catch fire and when it does, the Colt machine will wreak havoc. Jax is hit or miss. I'm just waiting for the Fred Taylor knee strain to officially ruin their season. Tennessee just needs to get through to the draft. Pac-man is a bust, Henry is suspended and McNair is running on fumes. Houston still has no central identity and will probably see some more staff changes.

AFC North - In a Steeler world, the Tiger will bite.

Pitt still owns the past and until they get knocked down, hard to say scratch. If anything can be said it is that Plax has been missed and without a balanced attack, they are open to being beaten. Cincy owns the best record in the North, and should take it right to the limit regarding the division title. Cleveland will continue to improve with Crennel but will be another year or two to challenge. Baltimore has serious problems on both sides of the ball: QB play is shabby, J. Lewis looks worked, and the O-line is on decline and the D still trying to adjust to the 4-6, not very good year for the ratbirds.

AFC West - Lots of fireworks, little bang

SD busted out with a 12-4 record last year and had a shaky start so far. They will contend again with LT ruining many a D-Coordinators gameplan. Oak thought they'd trumped the division by landing Moss and Jordan but what about the D? Anyone home? KC tried to address their woes on D but will take time for all to get on same page, by the time they do it may be over. Denver is hot and cold. One week they look unstoppable, the next they flounder.

[redsbengalsbucks]

Playoffs baby!!!

[redsfan2]

Playoffs baby!!!

Doin' DAMAGE in the Playoffs !!!

[Stripes]

Through four weeks, I think the league looks like this:

Best divisions - NFC East, NFC South, AFC North

Worst divisions - NFC North, NFC West, AFC West

Best teams - Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay

Worst teams - Green Bay, Houston, Arizona, San Fransisco, Detroit

Most Valuable Player - Donovan McNabb

Offensive Player of the Year - LaDanian Tomlinson

Defensive Player of the Year - Dwight Freeney

Comeback Player of the Year - Mark Brunell

Offensive Rookie of the Year - Carnell Williams

Defensive Rookie of the Year - Odell Thurman

[San Antonio Bengal]

AFC East - What weird things have happened to this division. The Jets have crashed and are burning. Miami is leading the division. Buffalo is going through the growing pains of a young QB. And New England hasn't been the consistently dominant team. New England is still the class of the division with the other three teams playing the role of the red-headed step-children.

AFC North - Two very strong teams in Cincy and Pittsburgh. Those two should be in a dog fight until the end of the season. Baltimore's defense has surprised me and for all the wrong reasons. Sure, the crumbling of the defense was evident last season, but allowing 52 points in only 3 games is not good, especially when the offense has such a hard time. And then there's Cleveland. They actually haven't looked as bad as I thought, but they're still not good.

AFC South - Indy is head and shoulders above the rest. And with the new and improved defense, they are going to be hard to beat. Jax has been good, but shaky. Tennessee and Houston will be fighting it out for last place in this division.

AFC West - Denver, KC, San Siego and Oakland are all good, not great teams. I'm still unsure of who's going to emerge from this division and who'll fall to the wayside. This will probably be the best AFC divisional race to watch as you can make a case for any of the four teams. However, these teams are still a notch below the elite from the other three AFC divisions.

My overall division rankings:

1. NFC South
   
2. NFC East
   
3. AFC North
   
4. AFC West
   
5. AFC South
   
6. AFC East
   
7. NFC West
   
8. NFC North
   

[AMC]

One question, how is Washington undefeated? I know, I know, because they haven't lost any games but they are no where near being in the class with the Bengals...

Indy, Cincy and Philly look the best...

[Stripes]

One question, how is Washington undefeated? I know, I know, because they haven't lost any games but they are no where near being in the class with the Bengals...

Indy, Cincy and Philly look the best...

They are undefeated because the Cowboys defense let Santana Moss get behind them twice in the 4th quarter and didn't apply any pressure to Mark Brunnel, and such went that win. They are undefeated because the Seahawks' kicker's idea of a "perfect kick" was a freaking miss. They are undefeated because the Bears have no offense.

I doubt they get past 8 wins, and I'm skeptical they get that far.

[San Antonio Bengal]

I'm skeptical of Washington for the reasons mentioned. Winning games by 1, 2, and 3 (in OT) points only are still wins, but Washington is cutting it way to close. At some point, lady luck will run out.

[HoosierCat]

I think DC has a shot. There apppears to still be a little magic in Mark Brunell's arm, and with their defense they don't need a high-scoring O. And they've got some very winnable stuff left on the sked: SF, St. Louis, Arizona, Oakland, Dallas (at home, after they already beat them in Texas). If they can scrape an upset or two they might make a wild card in the NFC.

[kingwilly]

Washington reminds me of the 2000 Baltimore team.

Saw a report that it says alot about the level their D is playing if Arrington can hardly get on the field. True, but I think Arrington is overrated, plus being hurt/out of the game for the better part of 1.5 yrs proably does ont help his conditioning and preparation for playing at game speed.

If the O-Line can get Portis some lanes to cut back to, thuis taking pressure off brunnel, they could maybe wild-card. I just don't see them having the juice to even go .500 vs their div.

[HoosierCat]

Here's Prisco's Q1 report/grades:

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/8933954

Gives the Bengals an A, tie with Tampa as biggest surpprise, Odell Defensive Rookie of the Quarter, and Carson runner-up to McNabb for MVP of the Quarter.