Contenders/Pretenders

[RavensPunkXVX]

After three weeks of football. We have some surprising starts and some teams who have been disappointing.

 

Who are the contenders and who are the pretenders?!

[ravensdan]

Contenders:

Afc:
Title:
Baltimore
New England
Denver
Indy
Playoffs:
Cincy
Houston
Tennessee
Kansas City
Pittsburgh (defense is playing to well right now)
Jets(sneaky competitive, I was wrong here)

Pretenders:

Miami
Buffalo
San Diego

Done already:
Jacksonville
Oakland
Cleveland

[SeaHawk]

Pittsburgh a contender??? Wow. They are absolutely dreadful. Sure, the D is playing solid, but they are by no means playing great. They aren't getting turnovers, and they really aren't pressuring the QB too much either. They're basically just holding up because of Polamalu being there. And who says he doesn't get hurt like he seems to do every year?

[ravensdan]

NFC...

Title:
Seattle
Chicago
New Orleans
Dallas

Playoffs:
Atlanta
Green Bay
Arizona
St. Louis

Pretenders:

Giants
San Francisco
Carolina

Done already:

Philly
Washington
Detroit
Minnesota
Tampa(I was really wrong about them)

[RavensPunkXVX]

I'm not so sure about Pittsburgh either. I just don't think they have it this year.

 

I actually see the Dolphins as contenders, over the Jets. It's just going to boil down to how long they can ride Tannehill on offense. 

 

I could even see the Texans as pretenders. That's a rather bold prediction though. The AFC South is going to be an interesting ride, especially with the good start from the Titans.

[Gordo52]

Anyone else believe KC & TEN are legit?

[TheRavenouseD2008]

after recent news of Atlantas stadium bid  ,  and location prediction 7-9

[sliceanddic3]

Anyone else believe KC & TEN are legit?

I believe KC is legit, Alex Smith is a solid QB. Might have to wait a few more weeks to decide on TEN though.

[T3hRaven]

On teams that are done, some interesting comments emerging about Washington.  Shanahan could be on his way out because him and RGIII don't get along.  And RGIII was called a brat, which I can totally see being true.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/fred-smoot-goes-scorched-earth-mike-shanahan-k-003435643--nfl.html

[gabefergy]

Contenders:

Afc:
Title:
Baltimore
New England
Denver
Indy
Playoffs:
Cincy
Houston
Tennessee
Kansas City
Pittsburgh (defense is playing to well right now)
Jets(sneaky competitive, I was wrong here)

Pretenders:

Miami
Buffalo
San Diego

Done already:
Jacksonville
Oakland


Cleveland

You have Jets, Pitt, and Tenn as Playoff contenders but say Miami are pretenders?

Could not disagree any stronger. Miami is better than all of those teams and its not that close. They already beat Indy on the road too.

If they can split with NE, which is very possible, they could win the east outright.

[gabefergy]

AFC contenders in order of SB likelihood:

Tier 1 ( legit SB contender)
Denver
Baltimore
New England

Tier 2 ( could/should make playoffs)
Cincinatti
Houston
Miami
KC

Pretenders:

Indy
Tenn
SD
NYJ

NFC contenders:

Tier 1 ( real SB chance)
Seattle
GB
NO

Tier 2 ( could/ should make playoffs)
Dallas
SF
Chicago
Det

Pretenders:

Atl
StL
Philly

[sliceanddic3]

AFC-
Contenders: Ravens, Pats, Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Colts.
Pretenders: Texans, Titans, Jets, Dolphins.

NFC
Contenders: Packers, Seahawks, Bears, Saints, Falcons, Cowboys.
Pretenders: Rams, 9ers, Eagles, Lions.

My 2 cents. All in no particular order by the way.

[berad]

On teams that are done, some interesting comments emerging about Washington.  Shanahan could be on his way out because him and RGIII don't get along.  And RGIII was called a brat, which I can totally see being true.
 
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/fred-smoot-goes-scorched-earth-mike-shanahan-k-003435643--nfl.html

LOL Oh my, Smoot dropping truth bombs.

[beanfigger]

Already sold on (playoffs because anything after that is unpredictable):

AFC - Denver, NE, Baltimore, KC, Cincinnati

NFC - Seattle, NO, Chicago, Dallas

 

Will find out a lot in the next few weeks, but probably in hunt:

AFC - Houston, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Miami

NFC - GB, SF, Atlanta, StL, Detroit

 

Will find out a lot in the next few weeks, but probably not in the hunt:

AFC - NYJ, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, SD

NFC - Philadelphia, NYG, Arizona, Carolina

 

Already giving up on:

AFC - Jacksonville, Oakland, Cleveland

NFC - Washington, Minnesota, TB

[Pats]

NFC

Seattle
New Orleans
Green Bay
San Fran

AFC

Baltimore
New England
Denver
Miami

[NaveSenrag]

Anyone else believe KC & TEN are legit?

Not really. They're like the Bengals from last year. Good enough to have close games with contenders, and play spoiler, but not contenders themselves.  Locker is too inconsistent and Smith is too consistently average for either team to make it past the wildcard round.

[RavensPunkXVX]

Not really. They're like the Bengals from last year. Good enough to have close games with contenders, and play spoiler, but not contenders themselves.  Locker is too inconsistent and Smith is too consistently average for either team to make it past the wildcard round.

 

I'd like to see how that KC defense carries itself in the coming weeks. If they continue to play at a high level, they could carry the offense into the post season.

 

Also, why does my original post have a -1!? What is that? lol 

[hawkprey]

You're not a contender to win the Super Bowl without a top-level QB. Last year's read-option gimmick notwithstanding, the cream of the QB crop always rises to the top. That's why Bmore, Denver, or NE will win the AFC and Seattle, Atl, NO, Chicago, or GB will win the NFC. But ultimately the AFC will win the Super Bowl. So right there I've narrowed it down to 3 teams.

[beanfigger]

You're not a contender to win the Super Bowl without a top-level QB. Last year's read-option gimmick notwithstanding, the cream of the QB crop always rises to the top. That's why Bmore, Denver, or NE will win the AFC and Seattle, Atl, NO, Chicago, or GB will win the NFC. But ultimately the AFC will win the Super Bowl. So right there I've narrowed it down to 3 teams.

 

How long until Luck's Colts make this list that I see already includes Wilson?  I'm not saying I disagree with your point that Seattle has a better chance, but I want to know how far apart you see those two QBs.

[hawkprey]

How long until Luck's Colts make this list that I see already includes Wilson?  I'm not saying I disagree with your point that Seattle has a better chance, but I want to know how far apart you see those two QBs.

I think Luck is better than Wilson, but I'm willing to admit that Seattle is much more stacked. I don't have the Steelers or Giants in contention either. Most of the playoff teams have most of the best QBs on them. You found an exception. 

[beanfigger]

I think Luck is better than Wilson, but I'm willing to admit that Seattle is much more stacked. I don't have the Steelers or Giants in contention either. Most of the playoff teams have most of the best QBs on them. You found an exception. 

 

I agree with all that.  This is also why an 0-3 team like the Steelers and Giants have a much better shot at miraculously getting back in contention than Jacksonville or Tampa Bay, especially the Giants in that awful division.

[ravensdan]

You're not a contender to win the Super Bowl without a top-level QB. Last year's read-option gimmick notwithstanding, the cream of the QB crop always rises to the top. That's why Bmore, Denver, or NE will win the AFC and Seattle, Atl, NO, Chicago, or GB will win the NFC. But ultimately the AFC will win the Super Bowl. So right there I've narrowed it down to 3 teams.

Curious, why Matt Ryan and not tony romo?

[hawkprey]

Curious, why Matt Ryan and not tony romo?

Because Falcons > Cowboys overall. Ryan and Romo are close, but the Falcons are more championship-caliber.

[YYZ66]

I'm not so sure about Pittsburgh either. I just don't think they have it this year.

 

I actually see the Dolphins as contenders, over the Jets. It's just going to boil down to how long they can ride Tannehill on offense. 

 

I could even see the Texans as pretenders. That's a rather bold prediction though. The AFC South is going to be an interesting ride, especially with the good start from the Titans.

 

I think we'll learn quite a bit from Miami in the next 2 weeks.  They have New Orleans this week, then our Ravens next.

I'm not completely sold on them yet, but these 2 weeks should be quite telling.

I really hope the're contenders.  Really getting sick of hearing about New England.....

[flaccopoe]

Contenders:

Afc:
Title:
Baltimore
New England
Denver
Indy
Playoffs:
Cincy
Houston
Tennessee
Kansas City
Pittsburgh (defense is playing to well right now)
Jets(sneaky competitive, I was wrong here)

Pretenders:

Miami
Buffalo
San Diego

Done already:
Jacksonville
Oakland
Cleveland

 

So MIA is a pretender but NYJ isn't?

[flaccopoe]

Anyone else believe KC & TEN are legit?

 

Yeah.  Brutal Ds, high-powered RBs and decent QB play.  Both play in weak divisions, which would help pave the way for them.

[flaccopoe]

NFC

Seattle
New Orleans
Green Bay
San Fran

AFC

Baltimore
New England
Denver
Miami

 

No one from the AFC South?

[Pats]

No one from the AFC South?

Nah, I think it's unanimous that we all know houston won't be a superbowl contender in favor of baltimore, new england and denver. Indy have a better chance now that they have a running back but still same boat as houston, tennessee will inevitably start losing consecutive games. If I really narrowed it down I would take out san fran and green bay as well.

[Cville-Raven]

Green Bay is a pretender regardless of having Rogers. 

[Cville-Raven]

Anyone else believe KC & TEN are legit?

I like KC far more. I just cant get behind Jake Locker.