Can Underachieving NFL Favorites Keep Pace with the Rest of the League?

Before the start of the 2008 NFL season there were four sure-fire Super Bowl favorites; the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots. So far after seven weeks only the Patriots seem to have any type of competitive balance with a 4-2 record and only one game behind AFC East leading Buffalo Bills at 5-1.

The aforementioned teams have not faired so well and are a combined 10-10.

Even though Tony Romo is out, there is no excuse for the lack of effort the Cowboys showed in their 34-14 blowout in St. Louis. They have allowed two upstart teams, the Redskins and Cardinals, and a bottom-feeder in St. Louis get wins against them. Even though Romo was in against the two upstarts, he has averaged at least one turnover per game.

The Chargers have been the epitomy of inconsistency through seven games going loss, loss, win, win, loss, win, loss en-route to a 3-4 record. Traveling east has not helped them as they go forward three time zones every time. Now they have to go eight time zones to play the Saints in London this weekend!

Indianapolis Colts’ Loss at Green Bay Drops their Record to 3-3

The Indianapolis Colts have proven to be an up-and-down team this season. They have lost a close game to the Jaguars at home, have had to pull off 4^th quarter comebacks to beat the Vikings and the Texans (which was a wild one-in-a-thousand type comeback), and have been blown out by a pair of NFC North teams in the Bears and Packers. There only convincing win has come against a team they usually beat and who was sporting a rookie quarterback in the Ravens.

 

 

 

In the past the Colts have been able to get away with torrid defense because they had a strong run game to back up their passing attack. However, this year their running game has been downright terrible. They are averaging an even 70 yards per game on the ground which is last in the league. Oppositely, they are 29^th on defense against the run in giving up 153.5 yards per game.

This is not the stuff of a recent Super Bowl champion, even if they do not have Bob Sanders who vaulted them to that title in the 06 playoffs. One would think that by now they could at least play average defense seeing as how experienced their unit is, but that has not been the case this season.

This has been one of the weirdest teams to follow so far and with their second toughest schedule based on opponents’ winning percentages the year prior, the future seems bleak… bleak as in no playoffs.

Big Games on Sunday in NFL Week 6

The first game that holds some bearing is the 3-2 Bears at the 3-2 Falcons. Both teams have a chance to be 4-2 and both surprises in the league. Kyle Orton looks a little better and his defense is strong as ever, while the Falcons play inspired football with solid play from a rookie QB, Matt Ryan, and a first time fulltime starter at RB, Michael Turner. The defense has John Abraham, but not much else. Huge game for the NFC playoff race! I will have to go with the Bears experience on this one.

 

 

 

 

Baltimore plays host to Indianapolis. Both are 2-2 and need to get above .500. The Ravens’ defense may be tight, but the Colts’ defense has not been too bad without Bob Sanders, and Peyton Manning is something else compared to Joe Flacco. Colts win.

 

Carolina will be in Tampa Bay where both teams at 4-1 battle to lead the NFC South. The Bucs offense has been trifle even though they still have a solid defense. The Panthers combine solid defense with above average offense. I’ll take the Panthers.

 

Finally, Dallas, 4-1, will meet Arizona, 3-2, on the road. Although the Cowboys have a stronger defense, I am going with the Cardinals to pull off the upset. The Cowboys may boast a powerful offense, but the Cardinal offense can be just as potent. I just have a feeling that Kurt Warner and his team are confident and excited to play the Cowboys who will be caught sleeping.

 

These are the best games between teams based on records of wins and losses.