NFL 3/4 Season Report

Posted by Nick Verlaney on Dec 5, 2011 in NFL | 0 comments

By: Adam Troester

This NFL season has been like the 45 before it in many ways, but it also has provided a lot of surprises that have made this blogger take an even greater interest than in years past.  As always, one or more teams are getting eliminated from playoff contention with each passing week.  That much is always true.  What most didn’t think would happen is having two division champions with four weeks left to play.  While the Green Bay Packers were on nearly 100% of preseason playoff ballots, you would have to be a liar or a genius if you told me you thought the 49ers would clinch the NFC West at the three quarter mark. With that being said there is little left that we do know.  The Saints are only one game behind San Fran for a crucial first round bye and the other 9 playoff spots (excluding the Pack) are as jumbled as I can remember.

Before the season started we knew the Packers were going to be good, but did you see Aaron Rodgers playing at this rate?  His completion percentage has SLIPPED to 70.6% in the past three weeks, but he is on pace to break almost every single season passing record in the game.  If you think the Packers are going to bench their starters at the end of the season instead of going all out for 16-0 you would probably be on the wrong end of that argument.  They are going for it all and it looks like they may be the only team that can beat themselves.  Aaron Rodgers’ success has overshadowed how good of a season Drew Brees is having.  Rodgers may be on pace to break Dan Marino’s single season record for passing yards, but Brees is on pace to smash it.  There have been two 5,000 yard passing seasons in NFL history.  This season there are three on pace to break the 5k mark (Tom Brady) and this would make Brees the only one to do it twice.

Even with the amazing seasons the previously mentioned quarterbacks are having, the two most surprising QB performances might come from run oriented snap takers.  Rookie Cam Newton set the NFL record for most rushing TD’s by a quarterback in a single season.  He could put it out of reach of anyone not named Newton with four games remaining.  What may be even more surprising is that he is also on pace for over 4,000 passing yards and 35 total touchdowns.  Even so, the offensive Rookie of the Year award might be the closest race ever between Cam and Andy Dalton.

Finally, the biggest surprise in my eyes is Mr. Timothy Tebow of the Denver Broncos.  He has led Denver to a 6-1 record in the 7 games he has started.  They’ve done it with offense and defense (mostly defense) and 9 wins is looking doable.  With Oakland having 2 games left against the Packers and Lions, this division is Denver’s to lose.  For all of you still hating out there just remember this theme about Tebow.

With a fourth of the season still remaining, there are bound to be even more surprises, upsets and Packer wins to end the season.  Now on to the rankings:

1)      Green Bay Packers (12-0):  With three of their last four games at Lambeau the Pack should expect to finish 16-0.  Three wins away from the longest streak in history.

2)      New England Patriots (9-3):  Just when everyone thinks the Patriots are down and out they wake up and look like they’ll probably win 13 games again.

3)      Baltimore Ravens (9-3):  Another AFC team that looks a 13 game winner.  The AFC Championship could be determined by who snatches home field these next four weeks.

4)      San Francisco 49ers (10-2):  Could they really finish 14-2?  One slip up still has them with the first round bye based on tie breaker over New Orleans.

5)      New Orleans Saints (9-3):  Undefeated at home, but can’t lose another game if they have any chance at catching San Fran.

6)      Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3):  I don’t see any way they don’t get to at least 12 wins.

7)      Houston Texans (9-3):  Even with a third string quarterback the Texans should finish 12-4 and earn their first playoff appearance.

8)      Dallas Cowboys (7-5):  Lost a big game against Arizona this week.  Two huge games against the Giants will decide their fate.

9)      Atlanta Falcons (7-5):  Should end up winning 10 games, emphasis on should.

10)   Denver Broncos (7-5):  If they get to 10 wins or even 9 and win the division this will be a season no Bronco fan will ever forget. 

11)   Detroit Lions (7-5):  Should still finish with 10 wins which would probably get them in over the Bears.

12)   Cincinnati Bengals (7-5):  A must win game this week at home against the Texans.  If they can pull that off they start praying that 10 wins gets them a playoff spot.

13)   Chicago Bears (7-5):  Jay Cutler’s injury may as well of ended the season for Chicago.

14)   New York Jets (7-5):  They have four winnable games remaining and three W’s gives them a chance.

15)   New York Giants (6-6):  Haven’t won since the last release of the power rankings and I can’t say I’m all that surprised by it.  As mentioned before, two huge games with Dallas remain.

16)   Tennessee Titans (7-5):  They’ve had a good showing this season and still could get 9 or 10 wins.  Looks like 10 is needed to at least compete for a tie breaker.

17)   Oakland Raiders (7-5):  Much tougher remaining schedule than the Tebroncos.  This team will be a force in 2012 with Palmer and McFadden having a full off season together.

Another seven teams have had the power removed from them and haven’t been included in this list.  With the standings so jumbled it really is tough to decide between teams 2 to 10.  Good thing there is actually a playoff…what an idea that is.  The only other thing that I am certain of is the Indianapolis Colts will have the #1 pick (unless traded away) in the 2012 draft.  What isn’t certain is if they’ll select Andrew Luck or not.  I think they should and groom him for 15 more Manning-like years when #18 retires.

Now as my esteemed founder would do, let’s hand out some RED CARDS:

• Ndamukong Suh:  I don’t know what’s worse your actions on the field or your lame excuse of why you did it after the game… DOUBLE RED CARD.
•  Jim Schwartz and the rest of the Lions:  Stop complaining and grow up, you’re killing yourselves with all this whining and fighting… RED CARD.
• Jason Garrett:  Way to call a time out and ice your own kicker right before he drilled the 49 yard field goal that would’ve won the game… RED CARD.
• DeSean Jackson:  You think you’re worth the money that the rest of your teammates have received, pull a Matt Forte show it on the field instead of skipping meetings… RED CARD.
• Philadelphia Eagles as a whole:  No explanation needed… RED CARD.
• To the BCS and its voters:  If every week in the regular season is a playoff LSU already beat Alabama.  Give Oklahoma State a shot… RED CARD.
• To college football in general:  Stop taking ESPN’s opinion as the almighty and make your own decisions.  Just because they tell you who should play for the title or who should win the Heisman doesn’t mean they are always right… RED CARD.

I’ll see you all again in four weeks for my playoff preview blog.  As always, good luck to your teams and do your best not to deserve a RED CARD.