Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Top Twelve

Every year NFL fans like to sit around and speculate about who will win the Superbowl. Occassionally they will even make a chart that details who will make the playoffs, win the championship games, etc.

I'm beginning to think that a better question (at the start of the season) is, "What art the 12 best teams in the league?" Forget about division, conference, schedule...yadda, yadda, yadda. Just ask yourself who are the 12 best. Here's my list (in no order, because order doesn't matter at the moment):

New England Patriots
Indianapolis Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Dallas Cowboys
Minnesota Vikings
Green Bay Packers
New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Seattle Seahawks
San Diego Chargers
Tennessee Titans

Okay, so that is my top twelve. Now next question, "Who just missed your top twelve?" Here's mine:

Philadelphia Eagles
Cleveland Browns
New York Jets
New York Giants

Alright, now we have a list. This list is helpful, I think, in several ways. First, it helps you identify surprise teams. A surprise team shouldn't make either list (the twelve or the "just outs"). Of course, you could use one of the "just outs" as a surprise Super Bowl team. It would be a surprise if the Eagles, Browns, Jets, or Giants (yes I said it) made the Super Bowl. The latter because they have basically lost their defensive line (which won them the Super Bowl last year). But it wouldn't be a surprise if they made the playoffs. So, NFL Live commentators need to stop saying that the Browns and Jets could be suprise playoff teams. Unlikely playoff teams...sure...but not a surprise.

JJ's surprise playoff teams: Buffalo Bills or Oakland Raiders (seriously).
JJ's surprise Super Bowl team: Philadelphia Eagles.

Second, the list is a nice way to see potential log jams. The Colts, Jaguars, and Titans all made my top twelve. Yeah, that is a log jam (something we noticed last year). And it clearly makes the AFC South the deepest conference in the NFL (even though the Texans are there and they are among the suckiest-suck in the league). Also, the AFC West is just garbage. Garbage I say. Hence my Oakland pick (see above).

Third, it appears that the NFL is built on defense at the moment. Most of those teams are known for their defense...with a few exceptions (i.e., Colts).

Anyway, that is my top 12.

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