Niners Nation 2008 Community Power Rankings

by Fooch on Jul 10, 2008 3:00 AM PDT in News

EDITOR'S UPDATE 4:40PM: We've got 10 submissions so far (including mine). I'm going to give people a few days to get rankings in...probably through sometime on Monday. If no more come in so be it, but I'm hoping for as many as possible.

For the most part power rankings are more or less BS. Sites like ESPN and CBS.Sportsline put out rankings based more on intuition and general thoughts. We tried putting some together among the SB Nation sites last year and while interesting, they died a quick death.

In spite of all this, I want to try and create NFC power rankings here at Niners Nation. I specifically use the NFC because of two reasons. First, we play 3/4 of our games against the NFC and would be conceivably competing against just the NFC for any playoff berths. Second, with only 16 teams to rank, I'd like to think it will take less work for you guys to submit rankings and thus more people will choose to participate.

So here's how it will work. I'll post my rankings as a front page post and then in the comments, you guys make your own rankings. From that I'll use Excel to tally up the rankings and figure out the community power rankings. I bring it up now because I'd like to do the first rankings before training camp gets going. Right now, most major transactions are complete and teams are more or less set for training camp. We won't have rankings every single week during the offseason because that would just be insane. Instead, I'm thinking something like this first set now and then another set after the first week of preseason games. Following that I'm thinking of waiting until after the last preseason games to get our final preseason rankings.

Once the season starts I'd like it to then become a once a week thing. Everybody down with something like that? I'm not looking for a specific minimum of people to participate, but I would certainly like as many as possible. And of course, if you don't participate you're bitching privileges are a little less when the rankings come out. Kind of like not being able to complain if you don't vote in the election.

You do not have to give any reasoning for your picks, although you're certainly more than welcome to if you want. So here we go. Fooch's pre-training camp rankings (2007 record in parenthesis) along with a small little bit of reasoning:

1. Dallas Cowboys (13-3): All the talent is back and even with the Super Bowl Champs in their division, Dallas is the team to beat in the NFC.
2. NY Giants (10-6): Defending champs normally get top billing, but I actually think this is still too high. Consider it a Super Bowl hangover ranking.
3. New Orleans Saints (7-9): I smell bounce back season if they stay healthy. There is a LOT of talent there.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (7-9): Another team looking to bounce back. I think McNabb will enjoy him some DeSean Jackson.
5. Green Bay Packers (13-3): If Favre comes back I don't know where to rank them. For now, I think there are just too many question marks, but could very well be proven wrong very quickly.
6. Seattle Seahawks (10-6): A backfield of Julius Jones, Maurice Morris and TJ Duckett just doesn't knock my socks off. I think they're getting a little too much love in the preview mags.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7): Jeff Garcia just keeps getting it done. If Cadillac stays healthy this team could do some damage.
8. Minnesota Vikings (8-8): Who'd have thought a Tarvaris Jackson-led team would be ranked this high. If they make the playoffs it's on the legs of AP and Jackson being at least average.
9. Washington Redskins (9-7): I think this offense will be a ton of fun to watch.
10. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): One preview mag has them #5 among NFC teams. I wouldn't be surprised if the Cardinals made the playoffs and I wouldn't be surprised if they crashed and burned.
11. Carolina Panthers (7-9): DeAngelo Williams gets his crack at starting. We'll see if he can carry this team with Delhomme.
12. San Francisco 49ers (5-11): I really do think they'll finish higher than this, but can't give them too much love before the unveiling of the new Martz-offense.
13. Chicago Bears (7-9): As long as Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton is QBing this team, they're not going anywhere (previous Super Bowl trip notwithstanding).
14. St. Louis Rams (3-13): I really think the Rams could surprise people if they're healthy. Big IF.
15. Detroit Lions (7-9): The Lions just don't do it for me. Maybe it's Matt Millen.
16. Atlanta Falcons (4-12): I actually think they could surprise some people this year. However, I think that's more likely after Matt Ryan has some NFL snaps under his belt.

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Great idea, Fooch!

1. Dallas Cowboys (13-3): Too much talent. Still far from the best team in the entire league, but real good.
2. NY Giants (10-6): Needs receivers, but the lines on both sides of the ball are largely intact. Losing Strahan won’t be as bad as some say. No major losses in the offseason.
3. Minnesota Vikings (8-8): Offseason splashes and Adrian Peterson make this team a Super Bowl contender.
4. Seattle Seahawks (10-6): No running game, but Holmgren is a West Coast wizard and Hasselbeck can run it. Still the most underappreciated defense in the league.
5. Green Bay Packers (13-3): Aaron Rodgers isn’t great, but there is enough talent around the rest of the field to make it work.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7): They always seem to find a way to win, but this team is really, really old. Soft division helps their stock, though.
7. New Orleans Saints (7-9): That line play needs a lot of work. At least the offense is good.
8. Washington Redskins (9-7): Total wildcard. It all rests on Jason Campbell.
9. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Every preseason it seems to be their year, and every postseason it turns out it wasn’t.
10. St. Louis Rams (3-13): Better than you think. The defense is solid – Adam Carriker seems to be working out.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (7-9): Only reliable offensive tool is Westbrook. One running back does not an offense make.
12. Carolina Panthers (7-9): They suffered a lot more than they deserved from QB injuries. They won’t be as bad this year, but still not great.
13. Detroit Lions (7-9): Kind of like the Cardinals. Always almost there, never there.
14. San Francisco 49ers (5-11): Who knows? If the defense continues to improve, they could do quite well. They just need an offense that can sustain a drive and give the D some rest. I don’t really see a huge leap in one season, though
15. Chicago Bears (7-9): Rex’s campaign last season was unusually bad, even for him. But with absolutely zero receivers and no running game, I don’t see them winning many games.
16. Atlanta Falcons (4-12): Man, what a bad team.

by spenczar on Jul 10, 2008 5:53 AM PDT 0 recs

Sounds fun!

1. Dallas Cowboys: I suspect Dallas is more than capable of a Super Bowl trip this year, especially if Romo and Barber look as good as they did last year.
2. Green Bay Packers: I see big things in the future of Aaron Rodgers, and I am fairly certain that if Farve comes back it will be with another team.
3. NY Giants: With Strahan retired, the Giants defense will lack the cohesion and leadership that held it together through some tough games last year.
4. New Orleans Saints: Sedrick Ellis and Bobby McCray could do a lot for a Saints defense that was less than exciting last year, finishing 26th in the league.
5. Seattle Seahawks: With the additions of Julius Jones and TJ Duckett, this offense could prove effective.
6. Philadelphia Eagles: The addition of Asante Samuel should make an impact on defense, but the Eagles failed to address a glaring need at offensive tackle until the 7th round of the draft.
7. Minnesota Vikings: Adrian Peterson.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cadillac Williams may be pushing himself a bit too hard, which could lead to another injury in ‘08.
9. Washington Redskins: With three 2nd round draft picks, the Redskins picked up a pair of WRs and a TE. If Kelly and Thomas live up to the hype, Jason Campbell should have a good year.
10. San Francisco 49ers: Though Martz may be a bit biased, his comments on Smith’s improvement sound promising (should Smith become the starter). Time will tell.
11. Carolina Panthers: The Panthers have seen better days, but DeAngelo Williams could be the Stephen Davis this team needs to rekindle their 2003 glory.
12. Atlanta Falcons: With less than 6 minutes left at Lane Stadium, Matt Ryan engineered a two touchdown comeback to beat a monsterous Virginia Tech defense. He may be Atlanta’s answer.
13. Arizona Cardinals: Instead of starting their best QB, Ken Whisenhunt is still leaning toward Matt Leinart.
14. Detroit Lions: With Martz gone to greener pasture, the Lions may not have a leg to stand on.
15. St. Louis Rams: Maybe next year.
16. Chicago Bears: If the Bears are any stronger than 3-13 this year, it will be a miracle.

by Cruithear on Jul 10, 2008 6:25 AM PDT 0 recs

glad to have you

Thanks for joining up. Hope to hear a lot from you this season (hopefully good, but we’ll see).

Niners Nation - The premier 49ers blog on the Internet!

by Fooch on Jul 10, 2008 11:45 AM PDT up 0 recs

Remember when I picked the Packers to win the NFC North?

1. New York Giants
2. Dalllas Cowboys
3. Green Bay Packers
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. New Orleans Saints
6. Washington Redskins
7. Philadelphia Eagles
8. Seattle Seahawks
9. San Francisco 49ers
10. Carolina Panthers
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
12. St. Louis Rams
13. Arizona Cardinals
14. Chicago Bears
15. Detriot Lions
16. Atlanta Falcons

by methodrampage on Jul 10, 2008 7:45 AM PDT 0 recs

My turn

1. Seattle Seahawks—Holmgren will wanna go out on top, but will that be enough?

2. Minnesota Vikings—We all know the importance of a power running game. But can Tavaris get it done?...hmmm, I wonder…

3. Dallas Cowboys—Boys will be boys, and well, T.O. will be T.O.. I just hope when The Disease scores in Big D next season that he doesn’t celebrate at midfield on the Boys’ logo.

4. New Orleans Saints— Whatever happened to the Aints? Man I wish they would return with all their glory and splendor.

5. New York Giants— They managed the unthinkable last season. No mas, Soup-er Bowl for you, NEXT!

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—What ever happened to the Yuccaneers? They will plunder and pillage until there heart is content and then fold in the playoffs.

7. Washington Redskins— I am so offended by their team name. I am calling the ACLU, ASAP.

8. Philadelphia Eagles— The eagle is a symbol of freedom and other stuff, but McNabb is almost a stiff. Though I do hear that McNabb got some of those little roller thingies added to his cleats, so he should be fine.

9. Carolina Panthers— Brain fart.

10. Green Bay Packers— Brett, please do us a ~~favro~~ favor and stay packed.

11. San Francisco 49ers— Mike, Mike, and Mike, Lord I just hope this doesn’t turn out like a Three Stooges episode.

12. Arizona Cardinals— If McCain is elected, the Cardinals win it all, and by all, I mean, maybe 6 games.

13. Chicago Bears— Da Bears, don’t do much.

14. St. Louis Rams— I hear they got a new kicker. Sorry for the swipe at kickers Andy, really I am.

15. Atlanta Falcons— Hmmm…no word on the Michael Vick front lately.

16. Detroit Lions— I predict 10 loses for this bunch of maned ones.

Fooch, when the aliens land and say, "Take me to your leader," I'm taking them to you!

by jfainsf49 on Jul 10, 2008 8:11 AM PDT 0 recs

My Power

1. Dallas Cowboys Unless Owens and Pacman kill each other, nothing’s happening that don’t make these guy favorites.
2. Green Bay Packers Good team.
3. Seattle Seahawks Suck the Feahacks.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Any team with Antonio Bryant needs to be top 5. Plus Jeff Garcia’s wife.
5. Philadelphia Eagles Westbrook = PPR machine. Doesn’t hurt getting Samuel.
6. New Orleans Saints I can’t figure them out, but people sure can figure out their defense.
7. NY Giants Nowhere to go this year.
8. Carolina Panthers Pretty potent offensive weapons.
9. Minnesota Vikings Still not All Day convinced.
10. Washington Redskins I’m high on Devin Thomas. Gee, I hope he pans out.
11. San Francisco 49ers Shaun Hill 08
12. St. Louis Rams Besides Steven, what can this team do?
13. Arizona Cardinals It’s the ratbirds. 0.2
14. Chicago Bears Grossman vs. Orton is like what disease you want to die from.
15. Detroit Lions Deeeetizzeee.
16. Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan. Do it.

MURS for President!!!!!!!

by jtoj on Jul 10, 2008 9:35 AM PDT 0 recs

"Plus Jeff Garcia’s wife."

by rufio on Jul 10, 2008 12:15 PM PDT up 0 recs

A couple of notes

Seattle Seahawks – You guys are totally overrating the Seahawks. They had a horrible draft and have major questions at RB, WR and TE. Sure their defense will be good but outside of Hasselbeck their offensive skill positions are probably worse than the 49ers’.

Minnesota Vikings – Their defense is going to be more impressive than AP’s sophmore campaign which will be damn impressive in it’s own right. Think 2000 Baltimore Ravens.

Carolina Panthers – DeAngelo Williams is going to be neither the starter nor the next Stephen Davis.

by methodrampage on Jul 10, 2008 12:14 PM PDT 0 recs

Vikings

Guaranteed Peterson doesn’t play the whole 16 games. Think 2001 Ravens.

by rufio on Jul 10, 2008 12:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

He doesn't have to

Chester Taylor is good enough to get the Vikings into the playoffs.

by methodrampage on Jul 10, 2008 12:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

Fair.

But he won’t be able to do what Peterson does: completely be the only option on offense. When teams stack the box against the run, Peterson still does enough to win games (unless he is playing against Patrick Willis). I am not convinced Taylor can do that. Will Jackson be able to throw for over 150yds/game when Peterson is out? If he can, they can take a wildcard in a less-than-stellar NFC. Maybe.

by rufio on Jul 11, 2008 7:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

You’re totally correct on Minnesota and Carolina, but I have to disagree with you on Seattle. That defense isn’t just good, it’s really good. Lofa Tatupu is the best middle linebacker in the league, Patrick Kerney is outstanding, their corners can play shutdown games, Julian Peterson is adept in both coverage and blitzing which makes him a nightmare to scheme against… They’re outstanding on D.
They are definitely worse at RB than most teams. Tight ends rarely make a big difference, and receivers even less so. Freakish athletes like Steve Smith and Randy Moss make a difference over your average schmoe, but beyond that, everybody is pretty close to identical.
But that isn’t even the important thing. The receivers they do have, Deion Branch and DJ Hackett, aren’t huge threats, but they are very, very quick, which lets them thrive in the short passing game that Seattle runs. Hasselbeck is a good decision-making quarterback who is very accurate, so they can run an excellent west coast offense with short slants over the middle. The key in running that style of game is the quarterback, which they are certainly set on, an offensive line that is good enough to prevent quick sacks and with enough speed to protect screens and outside runs. I think they absolutely have the skill on the offensive line to do that.

by spenczar on Jul 10, 2008 3:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

It's 2008 not 2007

Branch is out for atleast the first 1/4 of the season. Hackett is in Carolina. Engram, I believe, is holding out. That leaves Burleson with Ben Obomanu and Courtney Taylor.

To equate every wide receiver, outside of the freakish athletes, to each other is, well, stupid. Jerry Rice was far from a freakish athlete, his measurables were rather pedestrian.

Lastly, Tatupu isn’t even in my top 5 inside/middle linebackers. [Based on last year’s production] I’d take Willis, Beason, Barnett, Ryans, Lewis, Urchlacher, and Morrison over Tatupu.

by methodrampage on Jul 10, 2008 4:07 PM PDT up 0 recs

Panthers

DeAngelo Williams is still listed as the starter, as he should be. He will be the starter, and that’ll be it.

by Cruithear on Jul 10, 2008 10:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

Oh really

You really think DeAngelo Williams is going to start over first rounder Jonathan Stewart? You’re going to eat crow on that and statements like that really go a long way in proving ones football aptitude. And what the hell does still listed as the starter mean? He was defaulted into that position when Foster left and rookies are never listed as starters prior to camp (most teams haven’t even updated their rosters on NFL.com (Hackett is still in Seattle and Jared Allen isn’t listed with Minnesota, guess that means that the Pro Bowl DE coming off a 15.5 sack season won’t be starting for the Vikings).

by methodrampage on Jul 11, 2008 7:18 AM PDT up 0 recs

He might at first while Stewart “learns the offense”, “recovers from surgery”, or “earns his starting job”(really making Williams feel like he had a shot to start all the while). Williams is best utilized as a spell/change of pace back and you are right, they didn’t draft Stewart to sit him.

I thought you didn’t like the term “starter”. We agree it isn’t important who plays the 1st play of the game, but it is important what % of the snaps a player gets. Do you think it is going to be a 75/25 split, or closer to 50/50?

by rufio on Jul 11, 2008 7:38 PM PDT up 0 recs

75/25

I don’t really like the term starter but if thats the term Fooch and Cruither are using I’m pretty much obligued to use it in that capacity for the sake of the discussion.

Stewart, whether he’s named the starter or not, will get more touches than Williams by week one.

by methodrampage on Jul 13, 2008 8:57 AM PDT up 0 recs

I’m sorry if I came off wrong, but I still feel as though I’m right in stating that Williams will be the starter, whether or not Stewart gets more carries. I have seen bits of Stephen Davis in Williams and I feel as though he could step up and make plays, just like Frank Gore… Gore didn’t look as good this past season but he’s still a top-notch player.

by Cruithear on Jul 14, 2008 5:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

NFC Power Rankings

Cowboys – Positives: Barring an injury to Tony Romo, they have the second best offense in the league, their defense is stacked with pro bowlers, and the cowboys didn’t lose any major players that they couldn’t replace in the draft or free agency. (Adam Jones and Felix Jones) Negatives: Receiving corps are old, defensive line needs some work, and it’s a mad house in the locker room. (like a barrel of gasoline just waiting for a spark to explode)
Eagles – Positives: When Donovan Mcnabb is healthy, he is one of the top 4 QBs in the league. They added good pieces in the draft and free agency, T. Laws, D. Jackson, and A. Samuels, as well as having a phenomenal secondary their D-line is improved as well. Negatives: Defensive Linebackers are getting old, too many rookies in impact positions, and numerous players on roster who are injury prone. If completely healthy this team will be a monster.
Packers – Positives: Defense is stellar with all star talent like Al Harris, Aaron Kampman, and AJ Hawk. The receiving core is also all star caliber with Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, and they have the benefit of playing one of the easiest schedules in the league. Negatives Brett Favre! If he does return they will do worse than if Aaron Rodgers was QB. Unproven running game and special teams is vulnerable are areas of concern as well.
Saints – Positives: Have good young talent across the board and have a stable QB in Drew Brees. They also have the benefit have having a weak schedule. Negatives Injury prone and lack of hard nosed running game, very young receiving corps, and D-line is unproven.
Buccaneers – Positives: John Gruden is one hell of a coach. The whole team is on the older side, and while that might look like a weakness, most of these guys are not injury prone, and their desire and fire to win a championship before they exit the NFL is a huge positive. Negatives QB carousel, while might work, as proven last year, old QBs have trouble late in the season. Defensive backs are teetering on the slow side and lack of a good second option WR.
Seahawks – Positive;s Mike Holmgren’s last year as coach could put fire under the team to win a championship for him. Great front seven all around, Matt Hasselbeck is an unsung hero QB, and beefed up offensive line with two great O-line free agents S. Locklear and M. Wahle as well as drafting a great TE in J. Carlson. Negatives: Deion Branch will be out most likely for the first quarter of the season, running game is a question mark, and secondary can be exposed.
Giants – Positives: Superbowl winners, have solid receiving corp, always drafts strong, great young talent to bolster defense, and Eli Manning may have come into his own. Negatives: Player disputes abound in the locker room, no clear leader, lost 4 starters on defense, play in a tough division.
49ers – Positives: This will be the year we find out who are QB will be, Shaun Hill, Alex Smith or neither. This will greatly improve the passing game not to mention help from Mike Martz, and the Running back situation is one of the best in the league. The defense has been improved and with better help from the offense and an improved passing attack don’t be surprised to see an increase in defensive turnovers. Negatives: Receiving Corps are shaky and unproven, and if Martz makes this offense pass happy, are chicken shit of an offensive line will break. Also the first 8 games will be rough going for the 49ers.
Redskins – Positives: added two high caliber WRs and a great TE in the draft, Jason Campbell will continue to improve, their O-line is one of the most under rated in the league, and their Clint Portis is reliable. Negatives: New coach, a lot of faith riding on young talent, defense is average, and plays in a very strong division.
Vikings – Positives: plays in a weak division, made huge buys in free agency to add talent, and running game is supposed to be stellar. Negatives: Call me skeptical or what ever but how is this a solid team? No clear franchise QB, AP is injury prone and as the 49ers showed last year is easy to stop, no receiving corps to speak of, who knows if the team can jell together with all these new players, offensive line is about as good as the 49ers and their secondary is wide open. OVER RATED!!! (Just like the 49ers last year)
—-—-—-—-—-Alright I’m tired of typing so here’s the rest-—-—-—-——-
Cardinals
Panthers
Lions
Rams
Falcons
Bears

by StrictlyFootball on Jul 10, 2008 12:37 PM PDT 0 recs

Hmmm...

1. Cowoys
2. Giants
3. Vikings
4. Packers
5. Saints
6. Eagles
7. Redskins
8. Seahawks
9. 49ers
10. Buccanees
11. Bears
12. Cardinals
13. Panthers
14. Rams
15. Lions
16. Falcons

by #1TE.BadCaseofV.D. on Jul 10, 2008 3:29 PM PDT 0 recs

1. Dallas Cowboys

1. Dallas Cowboys
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5. Minnesota Vikings
6. Seattle Seahawks
7. New York Giants
8. Green Bay Packers
9. Arizona Cardinals
10. Washington Redskins
11. San Francisco 49ers
12. Carolina Panthers
13. St. Louis Rams
14. Detroit Lions
15. Chicago Bears
16. Atlanta Falcons

when will the Kenny Thomas Reign of Terror end?!!??

by diehardkingsfan5 on Jul 10, 2008 3:53 PM PDT 0 recs

Giants all the way down to 7!!!

I’m pretty sure they won the Super Bowl last year…..against a previously undefeated team, the PATRIOTS!! way under-rated….I realize they lost a couple guys on D, but 7th?? Why??

by #1TE.BadCaseofV.D. on Jul 10, 2008 4:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

they got hot at the right time

Last year on their playoff run they were on an underdog role (like the steelers a couple years ago). Before the playoffs they were the usual giants, a team with so much talent but always faltered down the stretch. I don’t see that playoff run continuing to this season. And coughlin’s Mr. Niceguy approach won’t last long with the stupid distractions of shockey and tiki and strahan in the booth ripping the team every week. Also Eli will start to show some old habits (I just have a feeling he will, no actual evidence to support this).

when will the Kenny Thomas Reign of Terror end?!!??

by diehardkingsfan5 on Jul 10, 2008 5:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

Eli will show bad habits

To clarify

when will the Kenny Thomas Reign of Terror end?!!??

by diehardkingsfan5 on Jul 10, 2008 5:07 PM PDT up 0 recs

They got in on a wild card...

They got in on a wild card and their home record was crap. What sucks even more for this team is that they have a tough away schedule (bread and butter last year) and also, despite what anyone thinks, they may be loosing their best offensive weapon in Jeremy Shockey. They also lost leaders in their defense and have lost 4 starters. Not to mention an un-proven running game. Plus who knows if Eli Manning will be like he was in the playoffs last year he may revert back to his past self. The Giants are not playoff contenders, especially in a division with such strong teams.

by StrictlyFootball on Jul 10, 2008 5:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

Not even contenders?

I agree they are not favorites to repeat, or probably even to get past the wild card round, but not even in the MIX? Really?

I mean they had distractions last year from Tiki, and Shockey wasn’t even healthy for the playoff push, and they still won the super bowl. You neglected to mention the loss of Strahan, which will be huge, but still. Most of their problems from last year haven’t been fixed, but they weren’t fixed when they got that ring either.

No one predicted that the Giants would win it all last year, so I am sure no one will now, but you have got to at least consider them in the hunt for the playoffs. 7th is very much “in the hunt.”

by rufio on Jul 11, 2008 7:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

My power rankings :(

1. Cowboys
2. Saints
3. Giants
4. Seahawks
5. Vikings
6. Eagles
7. Packers
8. Redskins
9. Buccaneers
10. Cardinals
11. Panthers
12. Bears
13. 49ers
14. Rams
15. Falcons
16. Lions

by J2daZ on Jul 10, 2008 4:26 PM PDT 0 recs

How do you figure bears highrer than Niners?

by StrictlyFootball on Jul 10, 2008 5:11 PM PDT up 0 recs

higher*

by StrictlyFootball on Jul 10, 2008 5:12 PM PDT up 0 recs

Obviously, they are going to line Hester up at QB and run the read-option.

And then their D will actually start playing again because they have a shot at winning games?

I got nothing.

by rufio on Jul 11, 2008 7:44 PM PDT up 0 recs

Two words. Hyphenated.

Dit-ka.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Jul 10, 2008 6:57 PM PDT up 0 recs

Brilliant idea

1. Minnesota Vikings – Their defense was good before, now it’s the best in the NFL.
2. Seattle Seahawks – They now have the best QB in the NFC.
3. Dalllas Cowboys – I would never, ever rank the Cowboys the best of anything
4. New York Giants – Losing a pass rusher like Strahan really hurts. It might be the worst thing that can happen to a team.
5. Washington Redskins – They’re my dark horse this year. I think they beat the Cowboys once and Giants twice.
6. New Orleans Saints – Last year was the fluke. This offense has too much fire power to lose games like they did last year.
7. San Francisco 49ers – This might be unrealistic, but I think Martz give this team something they haven’t had since Steve Mariucci was coach – the ability to blow teams out.
8. Green Bay Packers – This is a team with an identity crisis. Best case scenario, they go 8-8.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
10. Arizona Cardinals
11. Philadelphia Eagles – An aging QB, big free agent contracts to mediocre players, and no youth to speak of. They’ve got all the ingredients of a team ready to fall apart.
12. St. Louis Rams – They get some key players back from injury. I think they’ll be a much improved team from last year.
13. Detriot Lions
14. Carolina Panthers
15. Chicago Bears – Anyone seen the Bears WR depth chart lately? Brandon Lloyd is is the best of the bunch. Considering they have the worst quarterbacking in the history of the game, they lost their best running back to booze, and the offense was bad before, they’re in for a rough year.
16. Atlanta Falcons

by Nineraguan on Jul 12, 2008 9:14 AM PDT 0 recs

NFC

1. Dallas – if they’re not the odds on favorite, I don’t know who is
2. Vikings – they’ve got everything except a QB and that’ll probably be enough in the North
3. Saints – they improved the defense and the offense is scary with Brees
4. Giants – I’m not a big Eli fan but they’re the defending champs and they’re young
5. Seahawks – not a fan of their host of cast-off running backs but they’re the bullies of the West for now
6. Redskins – even with a young QB and tons of rookie WRs, they’re defense is aging
7. Cardinals – depth on D and a 2nd season under Whiz on offense could finally put them in the playoffs
8. Packers – love the D but I’ll be a believer after I see Rodgers play a game without getting hurt
9. Panthers – If they can stay healthy they might make a run for the South but thats a BIG IF every year
10. Eagles – McNabb doesn’t scare me anymore and the team just keeps getting older
11. Bucs – could be worse than this depending on who the RB is
12. Niners – I like Martz as the OC but it might take one year to get Smith up to speed
13. Rams – the OL should be better so maybe Bulger can stay healthy
14. Lions – at least they’re not making predictions this year
15. Falcons – headed in the right direction but they’re starting from ground zero
16. Bears – they haven’t hit rock bottom yet but they will this year, might have the first over pick in next years draft though

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Jul 15, 2008 6:52 AM PDT 0 recs