NOTE: Management wishes the Whitney girls a Happy 8th Birthday!!!
STAMFORD, CT: The Jets and Giants found more painful ways to lose and remain on track for top 5 picks and full summer house cleanings. Neither has anything resembling a franchise QB and both could be in for some lean years. But let’s put those sad stories aside and talk about the good teams. With 14 weeks of football in the books, let’s see if we can identify the real contenders.
AFC
Tier 1
Chiefs – We learned last year not to count the Chiefs out, even if they’re not firing on all cylinders. They’re 12-1 with almost all one score, unimpressive wins. They can beat anyone, especially at home, but they are beatable.
Bills – even with the loss to the Rams, I think Buffalo is the class of the AFC. The defense was toasted, but the Rams had it going. They Ravens are the only team in the AFC with a similar cache of weapons. I see this team in the Super Bowl.
Tier 2
Ravens – the defense has struggled against the pass and Lamar has not been at his best in the playoffs. But this team has the most dangerous offense in the league and can outscore anyone:
Steelers – time to stop ignoring this team. Wilson has added a dimension to the offense and this team has no big weakness. It’s tough to see them taking out the Bills or Chiefs but the defense has given up the fewest points in the conference.
NFC
Tier 1
Lions – it still feels like their year to me. While the defense isn’t elite, the offense can hit you with all types of different punches. If they can hold on to the top seed and hime field, this team is going to the Super Bowl
Eagles – they almost stumbled against the Panthers, but they’re still on a 9-game heater. Saquon has lifted the offense a notch and the defense is much improved.
Tier 2
Vikings – Similar to the Chiefs, they don’t feel like they’re as goodnas the record, but that record can’t be ignored. The defense has been great and Surprising Sam Darnold is third in the league with 28 TD passes. With plenty of weapons on offense, they can hang with the Lions and Eagles.
The Rest
Is there another contender that could emerge from tier 3, like the Bucs, Seahawks, Packers, Rams, Texans, Chargers, or Broncos? Always possible, but I don’t think any of those teams are there yet. None excel on both sides of the ball.
Angry Ward, with zero flaws, is here mañana.
