Who is the best team in the NFL right now, after week 8?

[mayoclinic]

It probably changes week to week. My top 8 teams:

- Best offensive team = New England (#1 in YPG and PPG, even while missing one of their top offensive weapons for most of the season and with a banged up OL)
- Best defensive teams = San Francisco and Chicago
- Most balanced teams = Houston and Atlanta
- Most clutch team = NY Giants - no one is close right now at winning close or big games
- Too soon to rule them out: Denver, Green Bay. They have Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning, and enough other talent to get their act together and compete with anyone.

If I had to pick one of those right now it would be the Giants for most clutch, but it's still early.

I personally don't think that Baltimore or Pittsburgh belong in the top 8. They're too old and banged up to last a full season.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

I'd give the Texans the edge over NYG and SF. Having trouble taking Atlanta seriously.

Regards,
Chris

 

[patfanken]

You ARE aware that the Giants smacked the 49ers around in their own house, right?

Well actually, I'm ashamed to say, I wasn't....and its really embarrassing.

Damn it. I don't know why I get started in these damned polls. They have no meaning as it is, and I never care where the put the Pats. The lower the better. And now its caused me to put my foot in my mouth. Damned it.......Nevermind

BTW- I still wouldn't rate the Giants that high. They've had a lot go right this season, just as the Pats have had a lot go wrong.....and who cares anyway!

 

[patfanken]

It probably changes week to week. My top 8 teams:

- Best offensive team = New England (#1 in YPG and PPG, even while missing one of their top offensive weapons for most of the season and with a banged up OL)
- Best defensive teams = San Francisco and Chicago
- Most balanced teams = Houston and Atlanta
- Most clutch team = NY Giants - no one is close right now at winning close or big games
- Too soon to rule them out: Denver, Green Bay. They have Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning, and enough other talent to get their act together and compete with anyone.

If I had to pick one of those right now it would be the Giants for most clutch, but it's still early.

I personally don't think that Baltimore or Pittsburgh belong in the top 8. They're too old and banged up to last a full season.

Much better said than the drivel I put out.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Whenever the Pats were reigning SB champions, I always felt that they should be considered the best team in the NFL until proven otherwise.

At 6--2 and with quality wins over San Francisco, Washington and Dallas in their last three games, I'm going to ignore the records in Houston and Atlanta and go with the Giants. They have the ring and they're playing better than they played last year.

 

[The Brandon Five]

Well actually, I'm ashamed to say, I wasn't....and its really embarrassing.

Damn it. I don't know why I get started in these damned polls. They have no meaning as it is, and I never care where the put the Pats. The lower the better. And now its caused me to put my foot in my mouth. Damned it.......Nevermind

BTW- I still wouldn't rate the Giants that high. They've had a lot go right this season, just as the Pats have had a lot go wrong.....and who cares anyway!

When does that horseshoe finally fall out of Eli's behind?

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I say the Patriots. I think they have clearly shown what they have and are capable of they just came up short in a few instances. If you are one of the few teams competing right now who would you rather face I dont think anyone wants anything to do with this offense and Brady.

If I am the 49ers for example I would much rather face Atl, Giants, or Houston before NE.

I know we all like the pats..but they are nowhere near #1 right now..maybe in a few weeks after a W vs 49ers or texans..but not now

 

[DocHoliday]

Giants or Green Bay.

Green Bay trashed Houston, and the Failcons are a focused team away from being exposed as well. Not buying what they're selling.

 

[Deus Irae]

Giants
49ers
Texans
Falcons
Bears
Patriots
Packers
Ravens
Steelers


I'd probably slot the top 9 like that right now, possibly flipping the Ravens and Steelers, and I might slot the Lions at #10 despite their sub .500 record. They should beat the Jaguars and Vikings in the next two weeks, and then will be playing what should be season defining games against the Packers and Texans at home.

Of those 9 teams, I think the Ravens have the injuries which could knock them down, and I think the Bears are the least trustworthy, but I've got to put them where I think they deserve to be at the moment.

Edit: I just saw the ESPN power rankings. Their top 9 and mine have 8 of the same teams, differing only by their having the Broncos in at 9 and the Steelers at 10. I don't know if that's good or bad for my picks.

 

[Jackson 2]

I think the Giants are clearly in the conversation, but I found myself wondering this yesterday: If the Patriots had blown a 23-0 lead to Dallas and won the game the way the Giants did, what would the media reaction have been like?

 

[mayoclinic]

Giants
49ers
Texans
Falcons
Bears
Patriots
Packers
Ravens
Steelers


I'd probably slot the top 9 like that right now, possibly flipping the Ravens and Steelers, and I might slot the Lions at #10 despite their sub .500 record. They should beat the Jaguars and Vikings in the next two weeks, and then will be playing what should be season defining games against the Packers and Texans at home.

Of those 9 teams, I think the Ravens have the injuries which could knock them down, and I think the Bears are the least trustworthy, but I've got to put them where I think they deserve to be at the moment.

I pretty much agree with your list, except that I'd put Denver ahead of Pittsburgh (who they beat) and probably Baltimore.

 

[Kontradiction]

Giants or Green Bay.

Green Bay trashed Houston, and the Failcons are a focused team away from being exposed as well. Not buying what they're selling.

Did you mean to call them the Failcons or was that an honest typo?

 

[Fball]

Tom Jackson had it right about the Giants - they basically turn it on & off at will. They are not a 60-minute team, but they are consistently a last 2-minute team. There are no weak points w/ them.

They're probably the best right now. No one wants to face Houston's defense, and even fewer want to face the Patriots O, but the Giants have the most balance.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I also have to say the Giants, but as much as I may get flamed for this, I still don't think Eli Manning is on the level of elite quarterbacks, and while his playoff success is well-noted, in particular against us when it counted the most, past success is not an indicator of future success. In my opinion, Eli is still interception prone and throws too many jump balls. If you had him play 100 playoff games, his numbers would be comparable to his regular season indicators- good quarterback, but still not crisp enough to be one of the best. That said, I wouldn't call Eli a liability in any sense, as I think he's a great quarterback- I just think that his "postseason" edge is not real and the Giants are not invincible by any means.

I think the 49ers are a close second, and I'd put the Packers and Patriots tied for third; the two teams are very similar, except the Patriots have a much better running game.

The Texans are fifth. Why are they so low compared to where everyone else ranks them? Honestly, I think their offense is highly overrated. Andre Johnson is a shell of his former self, and Arian Foster, despite his high yardage total and fantasy friendly TD total, averages just 3.9 YPC. Matt Schaub, in today's NFL, is maybe an average quarterback. The Texans have a great defense, but not on the same level as a team like the 49ers.

Falcons at six. Just a flat-out overrated team that has had a fortunate schedule. Definitely they are above average and tough at home, but I'll continue to believe they're pretenders until proven otherwise.

Then I would lump a bunch of teams together that have some major question marks. The Ravens defense is in shambles and their offense is not as great as you think. The Steelers are always a threat with BB, those receivers, and Lebeau. The Bears squeak in because of that defense, but teams like the Patriots and Packers have made them look silly spreading the field in recent years; the Bears also have the unfortunate Cutler factor. And finally, The Broncos round out the top 10 because of one player- what was his name again?

1. Giants
2. 49ers
3. Patriots
4. Packers
5. Texans
6. Falcons
7. Ravens
8. Steelers
9. Bears
10. Broncos

 

[Salva135]

I feel like there's a "Stockholm Syndrome" effect going on with so many putting the Giants at the top. They're a top team, but they are not significantly better than the Packers, Niners, or Texans, and close to the Pats, Broncos, and Falcons.


This week alone, the Giants are -3 at home vs. the Steelers (whom many have foolishly written off). The Giants are a great team but by no means dominant.


Edit: IIB putting Texans 5th and Broncos 10th with the Giants #1 just proves my point. Some of you are irrationally enamored of the Giants because of what they have done to the Pats recently. I would take both of those teams over the Giants on a neutral field right now.

 

[ExiledBostonPat]

I think the Jets have the rest of the league right where they want them.

SB bound for the 4th consecutive year.

I'll put the Jets right on top of the 'best team' list, right after 25 or so other teams.

1. Texans
2. Falcons
3. Giants
4. Patriots
5. 49ers
6. Packers
7. Ravens
8. Broncos
9. Bears
10. Steelers

Every team this year seems to have at least one major issue, one area at which they are plain bad.

 

[Kontradiction]

I feel like there's a "Stockholm Syndrome" effect going on with so many putting the Giants at the top. They're a top team, but they are not significantly better than the Packers, Niners, or Texans, and close to the Pats, Broncos, and Falcons.


This week alone, the Giants are -3 at home vs. the Steelers (whom many have foolishly written off). The Giants are a great team but by no means dominant.

The Giants are simply a team that's lazy and lacks focus when a team comes in that they don't perceive to be on "their level". They often play down to their competition and it shows. But they still find ways to win at the end. When a supposed "elite team" comes up on the schedule, like the Niners, that's when you really see the Giants at their best. It's one of the reasons why the Patriots always get their absolute best shot.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I feel like there's a "Stockholm Syndrome" effect going on with so many putting the Giants at the top. They're a top team, but they are not significantly better than the Packers, Niners, or Texans, and close to the Pats, Broncos, and Falcons.


This week alone, the Giants are -3 at home vs. the Steelers (whom many have foolishly written off). The Giants are a great team but by no means dominant.


Edit: IIB putting Texans 5th and Broncos 10th with the Giants #1 just proves my point. Some of you are irrationally enamored of the Giants because of what they have done to the Pats recently. I would take both of those teams over the Giants on a neutral field right now.

Let me clarify: I think the Giants have flaws and it is a great tragedy that they are 2x SB Champs.

However, the Giants are simply the only team in the NFL that can go on the road against any team and win football games. They are very good in hostile environments and play at their best in the biggest games. They have a mental edge, and if you don't think that's real, then you weren't paying attention during the Pats glory years.

Would you bet on the Pats or Giants having to go on the road against, say, Green Bay in a do-or-die game?

 

[Salva135]

Let me clarify: I think the Giants have flaws and it is a great tragedy that they are 2x SB Champs.

However, the Giants are simply the only team in the NFL that can go on the road against any team and win football games. They are very good in hostile environments and play at their best in the biggest games. They have a mental edge, and if you don't think that's real, then you weren't paying attention during the Pats glory years.

Would you bet on the Pats or Giants having to go on the road against, say, Green Bay in a do-or-die game?

This is just ESPN-level thinking. The only team that can win games on the road against any team? Really? They were a Dez Bryant fingertip from losing that game.

Nice choice of examples choosing the Packers, we all know what happened in Green Bay last postseason. So obviously I should choose the Giants. Right now I think the Pats could beat the Packers in Green Bay, only because all of these teams are very close in strength level and it's ridiculous to say one team is a hard lock over the other.

Right now Peyton could destroy his lil bro's team, and I think the Texans could do the same.

Putting the Broncos at #10 is hilarious given that Peyton is currently playing at an even higher level than his 2004 MVP season, which was his best season ever.

 

[DocHoliday]

Did you mean to call them the Failcons or was that an honest typo?

On purpose. Old habits die hard.