| With the NFL season halfway over, it's
| |
| | runway rather than soaring through the
|
| fair to say there have been a few
| |
| | skies. While they still have a slight
|
| surprises. Teams that were wonderful last
| |
| | chance at making the playoffs, the only
|
| year have already hung up the ol'
| |
| | teams they've beat so far are teams that
|
| pigskin, resigning to the fact that the
| |
| | are bad. The playoffs are going to be
|
| only way they will get into this year's
| |
| | hard for the Jets to land..
|
| playoffs is either with a ticket or wire
| |
| | Buffalo and Miami, rounding out the
|
| cutters. Teams that were weak last year
| |
| | division at 3-5 and 2-6 respectively, are
|
| have dug in their cleats, making a run at
| |
| | done for the year. Buffalo is playing
|
| the postseason. And, perhaps in the
| |
| | like they played in all four Super bowl
|
| biggest surprise of all, Al Davis is
| |
| | losses while the Miami Dolphins have had
|
| actually still alive.
| |
| | a season marked by the plummeting of
|
| For as many surprises there have been,
| |
| | previously high expectations. Dante
|
| there have also been a few things that
| |
| | Culpepper, starting Quarterback at the
|
| weren't exactly shocking: Indianapolis is
| |
| | beginning of the season, has been
|
| good, Arizona is bad, and Terrell Owens
| |
| | replaced, putting him in his very own
|
| is still acting like a spoiled child,
| |
| | Inferno.
|
| bent on taking his ball and leaving.
| |
| | NFC West
|
| After 8 NFL games done and 8 to go, here
| |
| | As the former NFC Champions, the Seattle
|
| is the breakdown of what has happened so
| |
| | Seahawks look like they have had their
|
| far...
| |
| | wings clipped: with injuries to Matt
|
| AFC West
| |
| | Hasselbeck and Shawn Alexander, they kind
|
| The AFC West is the strongest division
| |
| | of have. However, they should still make
|
| in football, with three teams possessing
| |
| | the playoffs and they should be healthy
|
| winning records. While the Denver Broncos
| |
| | be this time. Then, it's anybody's game.
|
| and the San Diego Chargers are tied for
| |
| |
|
| first, they still have to play each
| |
| | Behind Seattle are the St. Louis Rams, a
|
| other...twice. Denver must also play the
| |
| | team that started off hot and has since
|
| Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving in
| |
| | lost three game in a row. At 4-4, the
|
| Arrowhead, a venue where Denver is
| |
| | Rams still have a viable chance to make
|
| routinely made to look like Turkeys. San
| |
| | the playoffs, but probably won't clinch
|
| Diego, while their schedule is rather
| |
| | home field advantage: the other teams
|
| soft with Oakland, Arizona, and Buffalo
| |
| | simply won't meet them in St. Louie.
|
| in the wings, may have a hard time
| |
| | San Francisco, as usual, is "So 1990's"
|
| beating Denver. This is mainly because
| |
| | having won only three games so far. While
|
| Denver owns Marty Schottenheimer, beating
| |
| | their record is dismal, they aren't the
|
| him on numerous occasions. Only Denver
| |
| | worst in the division. That title belongs
|
| can DRIVE him crazy.
| |
| | to the Arizona Cardinals. This team seems
|
| KC, after starting off the season at
| |
| | to have cashed in all of their chips
|
| .500, was absolutely destroyed by the
| |
| | after giving up a fourth quarter lead to
|
| Steelers. However, they've rebounded to a
| |
| | the then undefeated Chicago Bears. They
|
| record of 5-3. With a moderate schedule,
| |
| | presently have the worst record in the
|
| the remainder of the season could go
| |
| | NFL.
|
| either way for KC. The Oakland Raiders,
| |
| | NFC North
|
| on the other hand, are playing like
| |
| | Chicago looked to give Indianapolis a
|
| people pretty much expected: horribly. At
| |
| | run for its undefeated money until the
|
| 2-6, their season is all but over.
| |
| | Bears lost to the Miami Dolphins. Looking
|
| Whether Denver, San Diego, or KC
| |
| | more like Teddy Ruxpins than ferocious
|
| finishes first, there is a great chance
| |
| | beasts, the Bears still have the best
|
| that both Wild Cards will come from the
| |
| | record in the NFC but the Miami game
|
| AFC West. A division once known for
| |
| | could be a preview of things to come. If
|
| weakness, this division is now the most
| |
| | Chicago continues to turn the ball over,
|
| competitive.
| |
| | other teams are going to make them into
|
| AFC North
| |
| | Bear Skin rugs.
|
| The biggest surprise in this division,
| |
| | Minnesota, at an even 4-4, has as good a
|
| if not the entire NFL, is Pittsburgh's
| |
| | chance to make the playoffs as the rest
|
| fall from grace. Formerly known as the
| |
| | of the NFC second place teams. However,
|
| World Champions, the Steelers are now
| |
| | their instability at quarterback might
|
| just a symbol...of disappointment. After
| |
| | prove to be a factor. Green Bay, at 3-5,
|
| losing to Denver in week 8, their hopes
| |
| | likely needs to pack it in. Detroit, at
|
| for making the playoffs are gone. Perhaps
| |
| | 2-6, have made most of the teams they've
|
| it just wasn't their year or perhaps the
| |
| | played look like Lion tamers.
|
| source of Ben Roethlisberger's talent was
| |
| | NFC South
|
| in his now removed appendix. Whatever the
| |
| | Drew Brees has made things look Big Easy
|
| reason, nothing - not even Bill Cowher's
| |
| | in New Orleans, leading his team to a 6-2
|
| jaw - is enough to scare these players
| |
| | record. Playing the first season since
|
| back into winning. They will spend
| |
| | the devastation of Katrina, New Orleans
|
| January watching the playoffs from the
| |
| | has become a pseudo-version of America's
|
| couch, next to another team in their
| |
| | Team. Rooting for them is easy, as long
|
| division, the Cleveland Browns.
| |
| | as they aren't playing against the team
|
| On the upside of this division, the
| |
| | to which you pledge your allegiance.
|
| Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati
| |
| | Atlanta and Carolina, at 5-3 and 4-4,
|
| Bengals claim the top two spots. Pending
| |
| | are not playing as well as expected.
|
| an outbreak of bird flu, the Ravens
| |
| | While Atlanta appeared to be getting hot,
|
| should clinch this division as they are
| |
| | they recently lost to Detroit. Carolina,
|
| sitting strong at 6-2. The Bengals,
| |
| | predicted to be Super Bowl contenders at
|
| having a year laden with mediocrity,
| |
| | the beginning of the season, were dealt a
|
| could easily miss the playoffs. The fact
| |
| | blow with the injury to Steve Smith. With
|
| that there is turmoil in the locker room,
| |
| | him back, and a soft schedule, they could
|
| as Chad Johnson (Terrell Owens, Jr.)
| |
| | potentially catch New Orleans for first
|
| stirs the pot, isn't helping.
| |
| | place. But, if they don't get hot, the
|
| AFC South
| |
| | Saints will go marching into the
|
| In the southern part of the AFC, it's no
| |
| | playoffs.
|
| surprise that the greatest team belongs
| |
| | The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at a bad 2-6,
|
| to Indianapolis. As the only undefeated
| |
| | are done for the year. They may as well
|
| team remaining in the NFL, Indianapolis
| |
| | walk the plank.
|
| has a chance to go unbeaten. However, the
| |
| | NFC East
|
| Colts have been in this situation , we've
| |
| | The younger Manning brother is making
|
| all seen this episode. Whether or not
| |
| | the family name proud, leading the New
|
| they will choke, or be taken out by a hit
| |
| | York Giants to a 6-2 record and first
|
| man hired by the 1972 Dolphins, remains
| |
| | place in the NFC East. While they faired
|
| to be seen.
| |
| | poorly against the Texans, barely beating
|
| Jacksonville, a team that many had high
| |
| | them, this is a good team, rivaling the
|
| hopes for, is staying steady at 5-3.
| |
| | Bears for best team in the NFC. Behind
|
| However, in the AFC, the playoff race is
| |
| | them are the Dallas Cowboys, otherwise
|
| going to be tight and the Jaguars can't
| |
| | known as the sideshow to Terrell Owens.
|
| afford to lose to teams they should beat,
| |
| | Marked by TO's ridiculous antics, and
|
| like the Houston Texans.
| |
| | several dropped balls, Dallas sits even
|
| At the bottom of the division, the
| |
| | at 4-4. In a close division it could go
|
| Tennessee Titans and the Houston Texans
| |
| | either way, and it seems that the focus
|
| sit, counting the days until the season
| |
| | of this team should lie more on winning
|
| ends. Despite a few exciting plays from
| |
| | and less on TO. When it comes to Mr.
|
| college standout Vince Young, Tennessee
| |
| | Owens, the Big Tuna should have him
|
| just doesn't have the talent to hang in
| |
| | canned.
|
| this league. Houston, as usual, is left
| |
| | Philadelphia and Washington round out
|
| with one of the worst records in the NFL,
| |
| | the division at 4-4 and 3-5. While this
|
| perhaps ruing the fact that they didn't
| |
| | is still anybody's Wild Card race, both
|
| draft Reggie Bush. Gary Kubiak, in his
| |
| | of these teams' offenses need to ignite,
|
| first year as the Houston coach, needs to
| |
| | or the Wild Card will be dealt to someone
|
| be careful about having a losing record.
| |
| | else. Washington's huge win over the
|
| In Texas, they execute people for that.
| |
| | Cowboys may be just what they needed.
|
| AFC East
| |
| | For the majority of the teams, it's
|
| The New England Patriots sits on top of
| |
| | still anyone's game...the season is only
|
| their division. Their clinching a playoff
| |
| | halfway over. But, as self-proclaimed
|
| berth is almost guaranteed, as certain as
| |
| | experts of the NFL, we think we know what
|
| Bill Belichick wearing a hooded
| |
| | will happen. And so, we offer this
|
| sweatshirt to every game. This is because
| |
| | prediction: Playing in this year's Super
|
| New England is talented: Here's the
| |
| | Bowl will be, wait for it, one AFC team
|
| story, of a man named Brady, who simply
| |
| | and one NFC team. You heard it hear
|
| doesn't know how to lose.
| |
| | first, folks. Go ahead and call your
|
| Behind them at .500 sits the New York
| |
| | bookie.
|
| Jets, a team that is merely taxing on the
| |
| |
|
