Time to unveil the first Sweet 16 of the season. Many people here would argue that the #1 team of the season has to be last year's champs. Tough cookies. I am going with the team that I think is the best team in the league, and the Ravens are not that. Things are different now than they were at the end of the Super Bowl. That said, here we go:
1. San Francisco - Kaepernick is the real deal. Yes, they lost Crabtree, but Boldin will be very helpful. They have all the pieces to be great.
2. Denver - I don't like the Broncos and think they will be hurt some by losing Dumervil and Von Miller, though Miller will return after his suspension. I do think the running game has the potential to be excellent, and who in their right mind would bet against them scoring a lot of points?
3. Seattle - I think this team has the potential to be the best in the league, if Russell Wilson continues to develop. Very good defense, lots of playmakers. Should make for a great battle with SF for the division.
4. New England - Depends on two things: (1) the development of the young WRs, and (2) health on defense. They're not deep on D, at DT, CB, or S. Their starters will form a good unit, so if they can stay healthy, they should be pretty good.
5. Green Bay - Rodgers is flat-out awesome, and he's proven that he can do it with a bad offensive line. They have good skill position players and playmakers on defense.
6. Atlanta - They have all the pieces. Is this the year they finally get over the hump? Or will it be more disappointment for the Falcons?
7. Baltimore - Gotta put them in the top 25% of the league. They're going to be very good, but repeating is always tough.
8. Houston - Added some talent both in the draft and by getting injured players back. How healthy is Foster, and how productive will he be? I assume he'll be good, and that the Texans will be ready to challenge for AFC supremacy.
9. NY Giants - They still have a solid team in most areas. Good coach, very good QB. They'll be fine.
10. Cincinnati - I am very wary of putting them up here, but they do have a lot of talent. So we'll see.
11. Washington - How is RGIII's knee? If his health holds up, they'll be pretty good. If not, they're in trouble. And right now the jury is out on him.
12. Dallas - It amazes me that a team with so much talent can consistently underperform like the Cowboys do.
13. Indianapolis - Their record may not end up 11-5, but they're a solid team. Luck is rapidly becoming a star, and Wayne still has life left in those legs of his.
14. Pittsburgh - They seem to follow a bad year with a couple of very good ones. Still one of the better franchises in the sport.
15. New Orleans - I think they'll rebound after last year's debacle. Brees is primed for a monster year and I think the defense will be better. They might sneak up on a lot of people this season.
16. Kansas City - This is a risky call because they've been pretty bad the last few years. But I think they could surprise - they have some good talent there. Can Alex Smith lead them?
1. San Francisco - Kaepernick is the real deal. Yes, they lost Crabtree, but Boldin will be very helpful. They have all the pieces to be great.
2. Denver - I don't like the Broncos and think they will be hurt some by losing Dumervil and Von Miller, though Miller will return after his suspension. I do think the running game has the potential to be excellent, and who in their right mind would bet against them scoring a lot of points?
3. Seattle - I think this team has the potential to be the best in the league, if Russell Wilson continues to develop. Very good defense, lots of playmakers. Should make for a great battle with SF for the division.
4. New England - Depends on two things: (1) the development of the young WRs, and (2) health on defense. They're not deep on D, at DT, CB, or S. Their starters will form a good unit, so if they can stay healthy, they should be pretty good.
5. Green Bay - Rodgers is flat-out awesome, and he's proven that he can do it with a bad offensive line. They have good skill position players and playmakers on defense.
6. Atlanta - They have all the pieces. Is this the year they finally get over the hump? Or will it be more disappointment for the Falcons?
7. Baltimore - Gotta put them in the top 25% of the league. They're going to be very good, but repeating is always tough.
8. Houston - Added some talent both in the draft and by getting injured players back. How healthy is Foster, and how productive will he be? I assume he'll be good, and that the Texans will be ready to challenge for AFC supremacy.
9. NY Giants - They still have a solid team in most areas. Good coach, very good QB. They'll be fine.
10. Cincinnati - I am very wary of putting them up here, but they do have a lot of talent. So we'll see.
11. Washington - How is RGIII's knee? If his health holds up, they'll be pretty good. If not, they're in trouble. And right now the jury is out on him.
12. Dallas - It amazes me that a team with so much talent can consistently underperform like the Cowboys do.
13. Indianapolis - Their record may not end up 11-5, but they're a solid team. Luck is rapidly becoming a star, and Wayne still has life left in those legs of his.
14. Pittsburgh - They seem to follow a bad year with a couple of very good ones. Still one of the better franchises in the sport.
15. New Orleans - I think they'll rebound after last year's debacle. Brees is primed for a monster year and I think the defense will be better. They might sneak up on a lot of people this season.
16. Kansas City - This is a risky call because they've been pretty bad the last few years. But I think they could surprise - they have some good talent there. Can Alex Smith lead them?
