As the NFL season hits the midway point, all the focus naturally falls on the two unbeaten teams. Lets start with the Colts. Since 1999 the Colts have been a force in the NFL, winning at least 10 games a year with the exception of 2001. Throw in the 2006 Super Bowl win and handful of playoff wins, and the Colts are an established NFL team. This year is no different. At 7-0 the Colts are on top of the NFL standings and are looking very tough to beat. But we are just at the half-way point of the season and there is a lot of football left to play.Give the Colts credit though: they are unbeaten, have done all they can thus far and might be as real as it gets in the NFL. The thing is, I don't buy it. Peyton Manning is a great guy and his TV commercials are some of the best around, (his SNL appearance was also money) but, the Colts have two keys things going against them. 1-Schedule. The Colts have played a horrible schedule thus far with the toughest opponents being 3-4 Miami and 3-4 San Francisco. The Colts should be unbeaten and may only have three tough games to go this season. They'll post another great regular season record and maybe even win a playoff game, but that is all we can expect from the Colts this year. But look for some more Peyton commercials to start popping up after they lose in the second round.
On the other hand, the second unbeaten in the NFL, the Saints, seem to be for real. Coming off a disappointing 7-9 season in 2008, the Saints went out and fixed every problem they had. The defense only held opponents under 20 points three times last year and two of those teams were the Raiders and Detroit (enough said). The Saints' defense has not only held an opponent under 20 points twice this year, but is also ranked in the top 5 in turnover margin at +7 and have 16 int's with five of those being returned for touchdowns. Drew Brees has been dominant his entire time with New Orleans and now has a defense to match. The word on the proverbial "NFL street" is that the Saints' greatest strategic asset and underestimated advantage is playing in the Superdome.
Now I am not trying to say that the Saints stadium will keep them undefeated, but a friend who works for a NFL team was at the Superdome last week for the Monday Night Football match up with the Falcons. The day after the game he said to me "My ears are still ringing from working down on the field, that place is nuts. The security guards cheer as much as the fans." The Saints schedule has its challenges, but is not the toughest in the NFL. With three games remaining vs. teams with winning records, the Saints have a shot to go deep into the season unbeaten.
The bottom line is the NFL season is hitting the peak of the regular season and will start winding down and things will change. The last four Super Bowl winners have been Pittsburgh (2), the Giants and the Colts. In 2005 the Pittsburgh Steelers were 5-2 and playing a third string running back (Willie Parker) heading into Week 9. After losing three straight games in the regular season the Steelers won four straight before the playoffs and became Super Bowl Champs on the road, not playing any games at home in the playoffs. 2007 was much of the same. The New York Giants were 6-2 as they headed into Week 9. Coming off an 8-8 2006 season there was not much attention given to the Giants in 2007. They entered the playoffs with a Wild Card berth and no one gave them a fighting chance to make it to the Super Bowl, muchless being the only team to knock off the undefeated Patriots. Last year was much of the same around the League. The 5-2 Steelers heading into Week 9, won five straight games in the middle of the season to set themselves up to become Super Bowl Champs. They had the luxury of playing there playoff games at home, but were not expected to win it all.
As the second half of the 2009 season arrives, look out for a team that might be good, but just out of consideration at the moment. Three of the last four Super Bowl winners were not at the center of media attention heading into Week 9. There's still a long way to go. For me? I've got my money on... (tune in next time for more NFL insight and predictions)
Respected
Youngbuck
On the other hand, the second unbeaten in the NFL, the Saints, seem to be for real. Coming off a disappointing 7-9 season in 2008, the Saints went out and fixed every problem they had. The defense only held opponents under 20 points three times last year and two of those teams were the Raiders and Detroit (enough said). The Saints' defense has not only held an opponent under 20 points twice this year, but is also ranked in the top 5 in turnover margin at +7 and have 16 int's with five of those being returned for touchdowns. Drew Brees has been dominant his entire time with New Orleans and now has a defense to match. The word on the proverbial "NFL street" is that the Saints' greatest strategic asset and underestimated advantage is playing in the Superdome.Now I am not trying to say that the Saints stadium will keep them undefeated, but a friend who works for a NFL team was at the Superdome last week for the Monday Night Football match up with the Falcons. The day after the game he said to me "My ears are still ringing from working down on the field, that place is nuts. The security guards cheer as much as the fans." The Saints schedule has its challenges, but is not the toughest in the NFL. With three games remaining vs. teams with winning records, the Saints have a shot to go deep into the season unbeaten.
The bottom line is the NFL season is hitting the peak of the regular season and will start winding down and things will change. The last four Super Bowl winners have been Pittsburgh (2), the Giants and the Colts. In 2005 the Pittsburgh Steelers were 5-2 and playing a third string running back (Willie Parker) heading into Week 9. After losing three straight games in the regular season the Steelers won four straight before the playoffs and became Super Bowl Champs on the road, not playing any games at home in the playoffs. 2007 was much of the same. The New York Giants were 6-2 as they headed into Week 9. Coming off an 8-8 2006 season there was not much attention given to the Giants in 2007. They entered the playoffs with a Wild Card berth and no one gave them a fighting chance to make it to the Super Bowl, muchless being the only team to knock off the undefeated Patriots. Last year was much of the same around the League. The 5-2 Steelers heading into Week 9, won five straight games in the middle of the season to set themselves up to become Super Bowl Champs. They had the luxury of playing there playoff games at home, but were not expected to win it all.
As the second half of the 2009 season arrives, look out for a team that might be good, but just out of consideration at the moment. Three of the last four Super Bowl winners were not at the center of media attention heading into Week 9. There's still a long way to go. For me? I've got my money on... (tune in next time for more NFL insight and predictions)
Respected
Youngbuck
Please tell us who you think is going all the way this year!
1 comments:
Everyone knows that the 49ers are about to make a huge run. Mike Singletary is the most religious man in the NFL...it's about to start paying off. Remember "Angels in the Outfield?" Get ready for Gods in the Backfield."
My style is impetuous.
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