As we've moved past the halfway point of the 2010 NFL season, all we've really learned is that the field is still WIDE OPEN. Any of the top 3 can be considered the best in the NFL right now. Any team from 1-17 could win the Super Bowl and it wouldn't really surprise me. Let's take a look at how I see things as they are now:
1.Atlanta Falcons (7-2)*They lost in overtime to the now 6-3 Steelers in week 1, and lost to the now 6-3 Eagles in week 6. They're tied for the NFL's best record and they've beaten the Ravens, the Saints, and the Bucs who all have 6-3 records. Right now - especially coming off the big win against the Ravens last week - they look like the best team in the NFL. Tough games ahead against the Rams, Packers, Bucs, Seahawks and Saints.
2.New York Jets (7-2)*Hard to argue with this team right now. They are tied for the NFL's best record and they keep finding ways to win close games. Is it luck, or do good teams just now how to pull out the tough wins? Could be either, but I'd bet against luck. We'll find out one way or another, as they still face a lot of good teams including the Texans, Patriots, Dolphins, Steelers and Bears.
3.New England Patriots (7-2)*This team has no big names outside of Tom Brady and Wes Welker, yet they keep on winning like a finely-tuned machine. Had a setback against the upstart Browns a couple weeks ago but got things back on track when they beat down the 6-3 Steelers. It won't be easy with the Colts, Jets, Bears, Pcakers and Dolphins still left on their schedule.
4.Philadelphia Eagles (6-3)*Michael Vick scored 6 touchdowns last night against Washington. He's playing like superman, and this team sure does look like a Super Bowl contender with him under center. They can prove it in the coming weeks against the Giants (twice), Bears, Texans, and even the Vikings and Cowboys (twice) could give them a run.
5.Baltimore Ravens (6-3)*Dropped a close one to a very talented Falcons team this week and they are gearing up for a very tough ending schedule with games against the Bucs, Steelers, Texans, Saints and Browns coming up.
6.Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)*Injuries to the offensive line may prove to be this Steelers team's achilles heel, but they'll be able to prove their elite status with a tough, but winnable 2nd half schedule. Games against the Raiders, Ravens, Bengals, Jets and Browns still remain.
7.Green Bay Packers (6-3)*In a weak NFC, the Packers have emerged as one of the best of the bunch for now, but their second half schedule is brutal: Vikings, Falcons, 49ers, Lions, Patriots, Giants and Bears are left on the schedule.
8.Indianapolis Colts (6-3)*Like the Patriots, the Colts have almost no recognizeable names left this year, but they continue to churn out the wins. Tough second half schedule includes good matchups against the Patriots, Chargers, Titans (twice), Jaguars and Raiders.
9.New Orleans Saints (6-3)*The defending Champs are quietly putting together a very nice season. They're staying right in the mix of the best teams in the league. Their division is tough this year and if they want to get past the Falcons and Bucs they'll have to win some tough games against the Seahawks, Cowboys, Bengals, Rams, and Ravens before the big showdowns with the Falcons and Bucs the last 2 weeks.
10.New York Giants (6-3)*They got pounded by the Cowboys last week and they'll need to rebound quickly, as they have games against the Eagles (twice), Jaguars, Vikings, and Packers coming up.
11.Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)*The surprise team of the year? Josh Freeman is playing great and they're currently tied for a wild card spot, one game out of 1st place in their division. Tough games ahead include bouts with the 49ers, Ravens, Falcons, Seahawks and Saints.
12.Oakland Raiders (5-4)*They've turned things around in Oakland and currently sit in 1st place in the lowly AFC West. The 2nd half of their schedule is pretty tough and includes games against the Steelers, Dolphins, Chargers, Jaguars, Colts and Chiefs.
13.San Diego Chargers (4-5)*Like they do every year, the Chargers started out slow but have turned it on of late. Philip Rivers is playing like The MVP. Their 2nd half schedule is pretty favorable, but they do have some tough matchups against the Colts, Raiders, Chiefs and 49ers coming up.
14.Miami Dolphins (5-4)*Chad Henne reportedly will not be out for the season, and could be back in the lineup in as little as 2 weeks. If they can patch things up and stay healthy the rest of the way they could make some noise. 2nd half schedule is very favorable but some huge games against the Bears, Raiders, Browns, Jets and Patriots still remain.
15.Chicago Bears (6-3)*That 6-3 record is a bit misleading, but nontheless, they are 6-3. If the O-line can keep it together they could make some postseason noise, but they'll have to make through a really tough 2nd half schedule that includes games against the Dolphins, Eagles, Patriots, Vikings, Jets and Packers.
16.Tennessee Titans (5-4)*Still very much in the thick of the playoff race, but they'll need to improve their pass defense for the final stretch as they face games against the Texans (twice), Jaguars, Colts (twice), and Chiefs.
17.Kansas City Chiefs (5-4)*After such a great start to the season, the Chiefs are starting to slide a bit. The defense, so strong early on, has been giving up too many big plays, and way too many points. They'll need to adjust that if they want to come out on top with a schedule that still has them facing teams like the Seahawks, Broncos, Chargers, Rams, Titans and Raiders.
18.Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)*It's been an up and down season for the Jags, but they find themselves still in playoff contention just past the halfway mark. With a brutal second half schedule that includes the Browns, Giants, Titans, Raiders, Colts and Texans, we'll see how they're looking at the end.
19.Houston Texans (4-5)*Another team that had such a great start to the season and is now slipping. NO one will argue with their offensive abilities, but the defense has been suspect at best. A really tough 2nd half schedule includes the Jets, Titans (twice), Eagles, Ravens, Broncos and Jaguars.
20.Seattle Seahawks (5-4)*I just don't know what to make of this team. This season there have been games where they look super bowl bound, and there have been games where they look like cellar dwellers. Lucky for them, they're in the NFC west. We'll find out if they are for real in the coming weeks when they face the Saints, Chiefs, 49ers, Falcons, Bucs and Rams.
21.Cleveland Browns (3-6)*This team is going to be really, really good for the next few years. They're almost there, they just need to fix that defense a little bit. Colt McCoy and Peyton Hillis are quiet a combination. Probably out of the playoff race, but in this wacky NFL season, you truly never know. Their fairly soft 2nd half schedule includes tough bouts with the Jaguars, Dolphins, Ravens and Steelers.
22.Washington Redskins (4-5)*Probably out of the running with the Eagles and Giants playing so well, but I wouldn't ever count Donovan McNabb out. They can stake their claim in the weeks ahead against the Titans, Vikings, Giants (twice), Bucs, Cowboys, and Jaguars. (another brutal 2nd half schedule).
23.San Francisco 49ers (3-6)*They're starting to turn things around in San Francisco. And normally, it'd be too-little-too-late, but luckily they playin the NFC West, where mediocrity is rewarded every year. They can still win the division. Tough games remaining agains the Bucs, Packers, Seahawks, Chargers, Rams and Cardinals (twice).
24.St. Louis Rams (4-5)*Sam Bradford is going to be a very good NFL Quarterback. He's proven that this year. The Rams can still win the NFC West if they can get it together for a 2nd half schedule that includes the Falcons, Broncos, Saints, Chiefs, 49ers and Seahawks.
25.Denver Broncos (3-6)*Kyle Orton is playing like Dan Marino but the defense has been giving games away. This is another team that looks to be improving and should be more competitive in the coming seasons. They're only 2 games out of first in the AFC West. Tough remaining games include bouts with the Chargers (twice), Rams, Chiefs, Raiders, and Texans.
26.Minnesota Vikings (3-6)*What a year for the Vikings. More like a soap opera than an NFL team. I can't imagine they have any hope left for the playoffs. They can, however, play spoiler as their remaining schedule has a few playoff hopefuls on it, including games against the Packers, Redskins, Giants, Bears and Eagles.
27.Arizona Cardinals (3-6)*Tough year for the team with no Quarterback. They're really missing Kurt Warner. They're still alive in the NFC West, but are likely looking at a spoiler role this year. They still have games against the Chiefs, 49ers (twice), Rams, Broncos, and Cowboys.
28.Dallas Cowboys (2-7)*They finally got back on track with a HUGE win against the Giants this week. Though out of the playoff race (barring a miracle) they can still ruin a few teams' chances down the stretch as they still play some hopefuls, including the Saints, Colts, Eagles (twice) and Redskins.
29.Detroit Lions (2-7)30.Cincinatti Bengals (2-7)31.Buffalo Bills (1-8)32.Carolina Panthers (1-8)*These last 4 teams are awful. That's pretty much all you need to know. Don't get me wrong, the Lions and Bills have shown flashes of high powered offense, but in all reality, these teams are dead. Sure, they might still spoil the chances of another hopeful team, but I can't imagine them beating any truly elite teams. For these guys, the old adage rings true..."there's always next year."
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