OT: NFL Midseason Report (The view from Buffalo)

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20061028/1032620.asp

Chicago papers run regular "Road to the Super Bowl XLI" updates.
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The funny thing about the 2006 season as it approaches the midway point is that Chicago is the only team looking truly super. There are a bunch of good teams in the top half of the league but no juggernauts beyond the Bears.
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Indianapolis is the only other unbeaten team at 6-0. But the Colts rank 31st in run defense.
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Denver is 5-1 and has a defense that has allowed just two touchdowns and an NFL-low 7.3 points a game. But can a team with Jake Plummer as its quarterback...be taken seriously as Super Bowl championship material?
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New England is 5-1 but is playing with a group of castoffs at wide receiver. The Patriots have a habit of turning into a great team by season's end. Right now, however, the Pats are not as good as the three New England teams that won the Super Bowl this decade.
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New Orleans is the surprise team of the NFL at 5-1.
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The bottom line: The chase to get to the Super Bowl in Miami on Feb. 4 is wide open.
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...here's a look at the NFL's highs and lows approaching the midway point of the season.
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Most Valuable Player: Peyton Manning.
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Defensive Player of the Year: Brian Urlacher...
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Offensive Rookie of the Year: Reggie Bush...Bush ranks eighth in the NFL in receiving with 39 catches...New Orleans receiver Marques Colston, a seventh-round pick from Hofstra, leads all rookies with 414 receiving yards. Honorable mention to New England's Laurence Maroney, who leads Bush in all-purpose yards, 773 to 642.
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Most disappointing team: Miami.
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Midseason playoff forecast: AFC - Patriots, Ravens, Colts, Broncos to win divisions; Chargers, Steelers for wild cards. NFC - Giants, Bears, Saints, Seahawks to win divisions. Vikings, Panthers for wild cards.

Chicago can peak in October, I'm cool with that.

Who is Reggie Bush?

 

[mtbykr]

The funny thing about the 2006 season as it approaches the midway point is that Chicago is the only team looking truly super. There are a bunch of good teams in the top half of the league but no juggernauts beyond the Bears.

Wow, who would have ever thought that a Rex Grossman led team would be considered a juggernaut

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

I just want to point out the assertion that this year's Pats team isn't as good as the 3 championship teams. '03 & '04 - Ok, I can agree with that. The Pats were nothing special 6 games into '01, heck I'd probably take this years team right now against the '01 team at the end of the year.

I think the analysis of the Pats is very positive since it is actually mentioned that they get better as the season goes on.

As for the Bears being a juggernaut, that typically isn't such a good thing this early in the season. The '04 Pats were an early season juggernaut that won the title and I struggle to think of others.