Are we the best team in the league right now?

[Inqui]

Yeah, it doesn't really matter, but it's still fun to talk about. I don't think the Charges or Cowboys are as good as the Ravens right now. Neither team has a very good defense. They aren't terrible, but they aren't great either. SD has a pretty bad OL and even though Rivers is playing great, I'm not sure he can carry that team all season by himself. If Murray gets hurt in Dallas like he always does, I think they will fall off in a big way. 

My test is about who I'd expect to win on a neutral field tomorrow based on their season to date. Between them they'd torch our secondary and their defence is good enough to make a few stops. But I agree that they'll both tail off sooner rather than later.

 

For us, it comes back to what's been said before. We lost to Indy, then beat up on two pretty dreadful teams even by NFC South standards. Beating the Bengals and/or Steelers would go a long way to pushing us up my rankings (which is all the team should be playing for ), but in the time being I haven't seen enough yet to crown us the best in the league.

[beanfigger]

We're with Indy and Denver as top three in the AFC. Who cares how we stack up against NFC teams? We're better than the NFC South, which is what matters for the regular season. There's no clear cut NFC front-runner, and there is no team in that conference that we can't beat, so a potential Super Bowl matchup is winnable either way.

[beasy2487]

We're with Indy and Denver as top three in the AFC. Who cares how we stack up against NFC teams? We're better than the NFC South, which is what matters for the regular season. There's no clear cut NFC front-runner, and there is no team in that conference that we can't beat, so a potential Super Bowl matchup is winnable either way.

 

The Chargers are at least equivalent and it's not hard to argue they have shown more to date. The Ravens are good, but not good enough to win it all yet. I think we have a great shot at becoming that team but we're not there today.

[beanfigger]

The Chargers are at least equivalent and it's not hard to argue they have shown more to date. The Ravens are good, but not good enough to win it all yet. I think we have a great shot at becoming that team but we're not there today.

The Chargers are also good. I think they're 4th. Of course we're good enough to win it all. We won it all with an up and down 10-6 campaign, and this year looks to be more promising than that. There are a bunch of teams that are good enough to win it all.

[rmcjacket23]

The Chargers are also good. I think they're 4th. Of course we're good enough to win it all. We won it all with an up and down 10-6 campaign, and this year looks to be more promising than that. There are a bunch of teams that are good enough to win it all.

He's saying right now, as we are currently playing, we are not good enough to win it all. And I would agree with that.

 

Doesn't mean we won't improve to the level that we can. Right now, I'm more focused on beating a quality football team, which you could argue we haven't done yet.

[admartian]

I think we're defo top 10, but there are still many teams that scare me. I still think we'd match up well, but if we played those teams 10 times at a neutral site, it'd be split pretty even i reckon.

[beanfigger]

He's saying right now, as we are currently playing, we are not good enough to win it all. And I would agree with that.

Doesn't mean we won't improve to the level that we can. Right now, I'm more focused on beating a quality football team, which you could argue we haven't done yet.

I don't need explanation, I just disagree. To be "good enough" only means that you are capable of beating any other team on any given Sunday. I believe we are. We don't have to win 4 out of 7 like other sports; it's just one game. There is no team that we absolutely cannot beat. I'm not saying we would be favored to win against every single team right now, but I do believe we can beat them. Probably more than half the league is "good enough" to win it all. It doesn't mean they should be expected to, just that they can.

[1/28/01]

Denver

[RaineV1]

Denver

Yeah, after what they just did to SD, I have to agree. At this moment, Denver is the best team in the league.

[Underdogsontop!]

Even if we were, I wouldn't express it too much. Let the Post season determine that question. I agree that we're top 10 or maybe 7, but we still got more to prove. Glad we're heading in a positive direction though! Go Ravens!

[codizzle]

Denver

I feel Denver's defense could be exposed easily

And I think we match up very very well with them

[SeaHawk]

For reference as to who the best team in the league is, please refer to last night's dismantling of the Chargers. The answer is obvious: the Broncos.

[rmcjacket23]

I don't need explanation, I just disagree. To be "good enough" only means that you are capable of beating any other team on any given Sunday. I believe we are. We don't have to win 4 out of 7 like other sports; it's just one game. There is no team that we absolutely cannot beat. I'm not saying we would be favored to win against every single team right now, but I do believe we can beat them. Probably more than half the league is "good enough" to win it all. It doesn't mean they should be expected to, just that they can.

And thats fine, but literally any team can beat any other team on any given Sunday, so if thats the logic you are using, then Jacksonville is capable of winning it all as well.

 

You don't have to win 4 out of 7, but you certainly have to win more than just 1. You've got to win enough games to get into the playoffs, and then you've got to win at least 2 or 3 more just in order to get to the SB.

 

So its not really about whether we are capable of beating the best teams in the league in ONE game, because that's not going to be good enough to win a SB. Its whether we can beat multiple good teams over about a month long period, without losing a game. And that has to happened after you win enough games in the regular season just to get to the dance.

[rmcjacket23]

I feel Denver's defense could be exposed easily

And I think we match up very very well with them

I look at it this way...

 

Denver was clearly the 2nd best team in the league last season, and their defense has clearly improved. I also would argue their offense is better, but at the very least, its about equal.

 

So the second best team from last season looks much improved in the area they were the weakest at, and the best team in the league from last season doesn't look like the same team or have the same drive.

 

By that analysis alone, I'd say Denver is the best team in the league until somebody proves it wrong (beating them in the playoffs).

[ludy51]

Im pretty tired of this "best team in the league stuff" A few weeks ago it was the Seahawks, then it was the Bengals, now it is apperently the Broncos. Who takes their spot next?

[codizzle]

I look at it this way...

Denver was clearly the 2nd best team in the league last season, and their defense has clearly improved. I also would argue their offense is better, but at the very least, its about equal.

So the second best team from last season looks much improved in the area they were the weakest at, and the best team in the league from last season doesn't look like the same team or have the same drive.

By that analysis alone, I'd say Denver is the best team in the league until somebody proves it wrong (beating them in the playoffs).

Wasn't using that in the whole best team argument

I watch teams with sole purpose of how I think they will be come playoff time

Regular season effectiveness doesn't mean jack at the end of the day outside of wins and losses

[rmcjacket23]

Wasn't using that in the whole best team argument

I watch teams with sole purpose of how I think they will be come playoff time

Regular season effectiveness doesn't mean jack at the end of the day outside of wins and losses

Regular season effectiveness can mean a significant amount.

 

For starters, if you aren't effective enough in the regular season to win enough games to even make it to the playoffs, then there's no point in evening talking about the playoffs, because you aren't there. You could be the most dangerous playoff time in the history of the planet, but if you don't get there, its irrelevant.

 

There's also a significant factor involved for many teams (not necessarily the Ravens) in regards to home field advantage. Needless to say... teams like Seattle and New Orleans (and frankly, even the Ravens) are significantly different teams at home than they are on the road. That homefield advantage is achieved through regular season effectiveness.

[beanfigger]

And thats fine, but literally any team can beat any other team on any given Sunday, so if thats the logic you are using, then Jacksonville is capable of winning it all as well.

You don't have to win 4 out of 7, but you certainly have to win more than just 1. You've got to win enough games to get into the playoffs, and then you've got to win at least 2 or 3 more just in order to get to the SB.

So its not really about whether we are capable of beating the best teams in the league in ONE game, because that's not going to be good enough to win a SB. Its whether we can beat multiple good teams over about a month long period, without losing a game. And that has to happened after you win enough games in the regular season just to get to the dance.

And that's why Jacksonville is not good enough. They can't win enough to make the playoffs. Surely, we can. So I'm only talking about teams with a realistic chance to make the playoffs. Once in, how can you say we aren't good enough to win it all. It's more than one game, yes, but each game would be against a different opponent. I'm saying that none of those singular opponents are unbeatable for us. Therefore, we are good enough to win it all. Doesn't mean we're the favorites, but I can't accept that it isn't possible. We are good enough; we just have to play our best ball and get lucky, which every team has to do come January.

[Pathogen-]

Nope.  This thread shouldn't be up.

[codizzle]

Regular season effectiveness can mean a significant amount.

For starters, if you aren't effective enough in the regular season to win enough games to even make it to the playoffs, then there's no point in evening talking about the playoffs, because you aren't there. You could be the most dangerous playoff time in the history of the planet, but if you don't get there, its irrelevant.

There's also a significant factor involved for many teams (not necessarily the Ravens) in regards to home field advantage. Needless to say... teams like Seattle and New Orleans (and frankly, even the Ravens) are significantly different teams at home than they are on the road. That homefield advantage is achieved through regular season effectiveness.

Wow. You really do just wax eloquent all the time..

Yes those are understood within my wins and losses comment

[1/28/01]

Wow. You really do just wax eloquent all the time..

Yes those are understood within my wins and losses comment

Dude, don't even bother. His MO is to point out the obvious and brand the thoughts as his own and he then continues his pilgrimage of educating us lowly NFL morons. Yay, I spelled NFL correctly again.

[rmcjacket23]

Dude, don't even bother. His MO is to point out the obvious and brand the thoughts as his own and he then continues his pilgrimage of educating us lowly NFL morons. Yay, I spelled NFL correctly again.

The most disappointing part is... I've been posting on here for several years, and people are just now figuring this out... after several YEARS.

 

Very much validates the pilgrimage...

[berad]

The most disappointing part is... I've been posting on here for several years, and people are just now figuring this out... after several YEARS.

 

Very much validates the pilgrimage...

 

Huh?

 

What part are they figuring out?

[rmcjacket23]

Huh?

 

What part are they figuring out?

The part about the majority of what I say being obvious...

 

Just too many people caught up in conspiracy theories, fantasy stats and their belief that their own talent evaluation is superior to that of people who have forgotten more about football than they will ever know to realize that 90% of what I say is, frankly, obvious and common sense.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

Can we stop bumping this thread to the top of the forum?

We are not the best team in the NFL.  We are doing well right now, but we are also playing some rather weak teams.  Our SOS this year is very favorable.

 

I think we have the potential to go deep in the playoffs, but anyone who thinks that we are a more well-rounded team than the Broncos (as much as I hate to say that) is a little bit crazy.

[cobrajet]

I hate Denver because of the whole John Elway thing and I hold deep grudges, but I have to say they are far and away the class of the league right now and seem to be getting better and better each week. Can they be beat.....yes, on any given Sunday anyone can be beat, but we would have to be on our "A game" and wish for a little luck to bounce our way because they are darn good.

[rmcjacket23]

I hate Denver because of the whole John Elway thing and I hold deep grudges, but I have to say they are far and away the class of the league right now and seem to be getting better and better each week. Can they be beat.....yes, on any given Sunday anyone can be beat, but we would have to be on our "A game" and wish for a little luck to bounce our way because they are darn good.

I think the Colts are in this discussion based on what I've seen recently. Plenty of talent offensively (though maybe a little limited on the OL), and their defense is very good, despite not having the household names that the Broncos have.

[Moderator 3]

The most disappointing part is... I've been posting on here for several years, and people are just now figuring this out... after several YEARS.

 

Very much validates the pilgrimage...

But until recently you were only posting in the blogs. No one pays much attention to what gets posted over there.

[codizzle]

But until recently you were only posting in the blogs. No one pays much attention to what gets posted over there.

Ahh.. That makes sense now

Whaaaa?? There's a blogs section??

[berad]

The part about the majority of what I say being obvious...

 

Just too many people caught up in conspiracy theories, fantasy stats and their belief that their own talent evaluation is superior to that of people who have forgotten more about football than they will ever know to realize that 90% of what I say is, frankly, obvious and common sense.

 

That part is true about anyone who has ever talked about sports. Your opinion shapes the judgement of players/teams. It's a discussion forum, people are allowed to bring their own opinions into the discussion.

 

The theories, fantasy stuff, yes sometimes it goes overboard but those are just more opinions and perspectives. Just another layer.