Mideseason Report: Contender/Pretender

Midseason Report: Contenders and Pretenders

NFC:
Detroit Lions: 29th Rushing Attack in the league. Kitna has been sacked 37 times. Their pass defense ranks 30th in the NFL. Corey Redding and Shaun Rogers have done a nice job defending the run, but the lack of pressure on the opposing QB and the porous O-Line play keeps me from being a believer. - PRETENDER

New York Giants: I was wrong about this team. They are a good bunch. 32 sacks are a huge number. Justin Tuck has broken out, after already having earned the bust label. He has 7 sacks. Added to that, the rushing attack, whether it's been Derrick Ward or Brandon Jacobs, has driven it to 6th in the league. Also, Manning has been sacked only 1 times. That O-Line has been stellar. Their biggest weakness, the secondary, has been masked successfully because of the pressure forced on opposing QBs. - CONTENDER

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The NFC South is weak. The Bucs defense is back to where it has been this decade after an uncharacteristically bad 2006 season. They are 3rd in scoring defense. Barrett Ruud has broken out in a big way. And while everyone thought that the team wouldn't be able to run after Cadillac Williams' injury, Earnest Graham has come in and produced consistently and productively. I credit it mostly to that young line which has played exceptional. Luke Petigout-Arron Sears-John Wade-Davin Joseph-Jeremy Trueblood. That's a talented unit right there that should be in place for a while. - CONTENDER

Washington Redskins: My gut feeling here was good, but reviewing the facts they haven't been as good as you would think. I normally don't like to use the "they haven't beaten anyone" argument, but this team's resume is too telling to ignore. They've beaten Miami, Philadelphia, Detroit, Arizona and the Jets. They've been given their chance against the better teams in the league and have lost them all. They lost to New York, Dallas and badly (52-7) against New England. Add to that, their collapse against Philadelphia this last week on defense and their inability to get any kind of drive going on two possessions was really a bad testimony to the character of this team. On a side note, Andre Carter is having the best season of a Redskins DL since Cornelius Griffin in '05. - PRETENDER

Philadelphia Eagles: Statistically they should be right there in contention with the big boys. The run defense has improved thanks to the improved play from Mike Patterson, Brodrick Bunkley and Omar Gaither. Andy Reid's playcalling has been better than in past times of frustration. Brian Westrbook has 1,219 total yards and 9 TDs. Why hasn't all this produced wins? Everything is in place, this team just needs to put it all together. Donovan McNabb's health progression could have this team looking very different in a couple of weeks. The biggest problem right now is a relatively tough schedule down the stretch and considerable ground to make up. - CONTENDER

Chicago Bears: The Chicago Bears' defense ranks 22nd in the league. The rushing offense is awful without Thomas Jones. Cedric Benson is not getting it done, averaging a mere 3.0 yards per carry. Now you add the continuous problem at the QB position and you have a team that will need an off-season to get back on track. I believe they will be back on track next year. Super Bowl losers always struggle. At least Tommie Harris and Adewale Ogunleye are playing up to par. - PRETENDER

New Orleans Saints: The streakiest team in the NFL. Starts off 0-4, then rallies back to .500 with a 4-game winning streak, before losing 37-7 to a previously winless team. The defense that overachieved last season has come back down to earth. Drew Brees still isn't getting sacked in Sean Payton's short-pass timing offense, but has thrown 12 interceptions for some reason. Reggie Bush is in dyer need of a power back to compliment his running style, and McAllister's injury is proving to have the negative effect we all expected it to on the Saints' offense. Really, this team could turn it around, but they overachieved last year and I predicted somewhat of a setback this season. Still, in the weak South with a roster that has gone 13-3 just a year ago, this team is always a threat of gaining steam and making a playoff run. - CONTENDER

Arizona Cardinals: Darnell Dockett is quietly having a Pro-Bowl Season. Their young Linebackers are making plays. I don't think they're quite there yet, but they are finally moving (quite quickly) in the right direction and could be a team to watch in the next few seasons. But no yet this year. - PRETENDER.

AFC:
Jacksonville Jaguars: Their defense is mysteriously a bit down this year, and the temporary loss of Marcus Stroud won't help that, but Jacksonville has quietly become an offensive team. Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor have combined for 1055 yards on the ground, good for the 3rd best rushing attack in the league. Now David Garrard returns to the lineup. Garrard had a QB rating over 100, wasn't making mistakes and was quietly, but effectively, running this Jaguars offense. Added to that, their schedule features several very winnable games coming up. - CONTENDER

Tennessee Titans: I was right and wrong about them. I said Vince Young couldn't lead this team to victory. He hasn't, but their defense has. Albert Haynesworth is a dark horse for defensive player of the year. He was out vs. Jacksonville, and the #1 ranked run defense suddenly looked very ordinary. Haynesworth comes back this week and that defense should be stout all season. It's not Vince Young people. His QB rating is 62.2 and has 10 interceptions compared to only 4 Interceptions. I think they're a good team, but they're not quite there yet. Get some better play from the O-Line and maybe some (gulp) receivers and this has the look of a nice looking team for years to come. - CONTENDER

San Diego Chargers: Before this season, most considered this to be the 2nd most talented team in the league (behind New England). They've been wildly inconsistent and it's tough to tell why. But I think last week's game was a critical step to this team refinding their groove and winning the division. A weak AFC West and an easy stretch run help as well here. - CONTENDER

Buffalo Bills: 5-4 record. 31st ranked offense. 28th ranked defense. They have a total of 4 passing TDs, one of which was thrown by RB Marshawn Lynch. They're not a contender yet, but are a nice young team with potential for the future. One of my preseason breakout candidates, Angelo Crowell, has done just that this year. - PRETENDER

Cleveland Browns: They have become a bit of a darling this season. Highly profiled draft picks Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow are looking like the real deal, combining for 1455 yards and 14 TDs this season. They played very tough against a good Steelers team last week.Derek Anderson has 20 TDs and a solid QB rating and is also looking like a legit NFL QB who wins games. But the resume of games won really shouldn't impress anyone. They've beaten Cincinnati, Baltimore, Miami, St. Louis and Seattle. They've had the chance to play some legit teams and lost in two games to Pittsburgh and one to New England. Their loss to Oakland doesn't make much sense either right now. Oh, and we forget that their defense is the worst in the entire NFL statistically. - PRETENDER

Denver Broncos: They can't stop the run. They are 31st in the league in that department. Their DTs are old, the preseason loss of Warrick Holdman hurts right now, the team is looking at Jay Cutler to carry them on offense and he just hasn't reached that level yet. - PRETENDER

Kansas Cty Chiefs: They have a good defense. It starts up front and Jared Allen, Tamba Hali and Alfons Boone have been rock solid. Unfortunately, the offense hasn't been a very good follow-up act, ranking 31st in the league running the ball. Then you lose Larry Johnson and take the ball out of your veteran QBs hands and give it to a younger project QB and you have a team that isn't yet ready to contend in the AFC. Although it is nice to see Kansas City turn it around on defense. The former first rounders, Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali, are working out very nicely. - PRETENDER