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Line of Scrimmage: 5 Teams on the Rise, 5 on the Decline | CharlotteObserver.com
This article involves naming 5 NFL teams that they think are on thier way up to very good to elite status and 5 that are on their way down to home for the playoffs status.
I would say NE is not in this catagory,sure they missed the playoffs last year and Brady was not playing, but its not like they were a team going downward since most of the roster stayed the same - I would not include them in this thread but anyways.....
I say 5 teams on the rise this year are .....
1 - Lions - This is an easy one,after 0-16 you can only go up,guaranteed they will do better this year
2 - Bengals - They say Palmer is back at 100% and if Ochocinco and Henry can overcome the loss of Houshmenzada they could challenge the North title,The defense with Rivers returning who I think will be a very good LB in this league could be better as well.
3 - Saints - VERY dissapointing season last year despite Brees nearly passing Marino with the passing record,I think this is going to be the breakout season for Reggie Bush since McAllister is no longer there with the only question is the defensive secondary which to me is their weak spot - I still see this team advancing to the NFCCG this year so yes,that is a major improvement.
4 - Bears - I am one of probably only a few that thinks Cutler will flourish in this offense as for the first time in years the Bears have a legitimate Quarterback with proven quality - If Briggs,Urlacher and Harris come back after a horrendous 2008 defensive disaster,this could be the best team in the division.
5 - Cowboys - Missed the playoffs last year,This team is simply too talented to miss them again - Tony Romo is going to have a great year since Owens has taken his crybaby show elsewhere and Barber could have a tremendous season and any defense with Ware in it will be tough.
I say 5 Teams on the Decline are .....
1 - Colts - I think even though Peyton is still there he is starting to show signs of a less powerful passing game with his man Harrison leaving and Wayne not getting any younger,The RB situation is in limbo with Addai having surgery and no real great backups there - The defense has shown signs of wearing a bit as I think Freeney has had his best days and only Sanders is still going strong from the core of this teams defense during this decade. - This team could miss the playoffs for the first time in years with a tough division to handle.
2 - Titans - Another team from the same division I see not having the same success as in 2008,You really have to think the Titans will have a big QB controversy as the season progresses because I think Collins and Young will be fighting for the starting position as the season moves along and thats not good for any team,and with the loss of Haynesworth that leaves a hole the size of the grand canyon on that defensive front line - I think the only bright spot for this team will be the Rookie Kenny Britt which is one of my choices for OROTY no matter who throws to him.
3 - Dolphins - Simply saying the Wildcat will fool no one this year - in fact many teams will be implementing this formation into their offense in a copycat league,Tom Brady is back so defending the division title will be extremely tough and Porter will be hard pressed to repeat his superb performance in the sack department.
4 - Broncos - I wish McDaniels luck but this team needs something real positive to happen for them not to destruct from within,The Cassel situation now leaves them with Orton as starting QB who is O.K. as a backup,but will not get them to the playoffs - This team could be last in the division with the Raiders leaping over them
5 - Cardinals - I think the team has the best 1-2 WR tamden in the league but Warner is another year older and Leinart has yet to prove anything and the defense still has some holes - Remember they fall into the super bowl loser jinx as well
Honerable Mention - on the rise - San Diego
- on the decline - Baltimore
This article involves naming 5 NFL teams that they think are on thier way up to very good to elite status and 5 that are on their way down to home for the playoffs status.
I would say NE is not in this catagory,sure they missed the playoffs last year and Brady was not playing, but its not like they were a team going downward since most of the roster stayed the same - I would not include them in this thread but anyways.....
I say 5 teams on the rise this year are .....
1 - Lions - This is an easy one,after 0-16 you can only go up,guaranteed they will do better this year
2 - Bengals - They say Palmer is back at 100% and if Ochocinco and Henry can overcome the loss of Houshmenzada they could challenge the North title,The defense with Rivers returning who I think will be a very good LB in this league could be better as well.
3 - Saints - VERY dissapointing season last year despite Brees nearly passing Marino with the passing record,I think this is going to be the breakout season for Reggie Bush since McAllister is no longer there with the only question is the defensive secondary which to me is their weak spot - I still see this team advancing to the NFCCG this year so yes,that is a major improvement.
4 - Bears - I am one of probably only a few that thinks Cutler will flourish in this offense as for the first time in years the Bears have a legitimate Quarterback with proven quality - If Briggs,Urlacher and Harris come back after a horrendous 2008 defensive disaster,this could be the best team in the division.
5 - Cowboys - Missed the playoffs last year,This team is simply too talented to miss them again - Tony Romo is going to have a great year since Owens has taken his crybaby show elsewhere and Barber could have a tremendous season and any defense with Ware in it will be tough.
I say 5 Teams on the Decline are .....
1 - Colts - I think even though Peyton is still there he is starting to show signs of a less powerful passing game with his man Harrison leaving and Wayne not getting any younger,The RB situation is in limbo with Addai having surgery and no real great backups there - The defense has shown signs of wearing a bit as I think Freeney has had his best days and only Sanders is still going strong from the core of this teams defense during this decade. - This team could miss the playoffs for the first time in years with a tough division to handle.
2 - Titans - Another team from the same division I see not having the same success as in 2008,You really have to think the Titans will have a big QB controversy as the season progresses because I think Collins and Young will be fighting for the starting position as the season moves along and thats not good for any team,and with the loss of Haynesworth that leaves a hole the size of the grand canyon on that defensive front line - I think the only bright spot for this team will be the Rookie Kenny Britt which is one of my choices for OROTY no matter who throws to him.
3 - Dolphins - Simply saying the Wildcat will fool no one this year - in fact many teams will be implementing this formation into their offense in a copycat league,Tom Brady is back so defending the division title will be extremely tough and Porter will be hard pressed to repeat his superb performance in the sack department.
4 - Broncos - I wish McDaniels luck but this team needs something real positive to happen for them not to destruct from within,The Cassel situation now leaves them with Orton as starting QB who is O.K. as a backup,but will not get them to the playoffs - This team could be last in the division with the Raiders leaping over them
5 - Cardinals - I think the team has the best 1-2 WR tamden in the league but Warner is another year older and Leinart has yet to prove anything and the defense still has some holes - Remember they fall into the super bowl loser jinx as well
Honerable Mention - on the rise - San Diego
- on the decline - Baltimore
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