â–²Jimâ–² Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [quote name='Rockroi' post='1529691' date='Sep 24 2008, 09.49']That's how I would rank them (maybe Tennesee as the only fly in the ointment), and I would need to hear a really good argument as to why they are not the 3 best teams in the league to convince me otherwise. They are a combined 8-1 and the only loss was to ... the Cowboys. Their competition can only be considered so much; this is not the NCAA- these guys do not get to choose who they play (at the same time, we can agree that the Cowboys' victory over the Eagles and Pack was probably more impressive than the Patriots' victories over the Chiefs and Jets).[/quote] Oh for sure those victories are far more impressive. I was going more along the Giants being 2. Yes they are the defending Super Bowl champs as Mexal pointed out, but their win over the Redskins was not very impressive, that was just a horrible game by both teams, then the Rams... a beating of the Rams, but it was the, well, Rams. Then they barely beat the Bengals, who yes have talented players, but they have not been playing well. The Eagles, as much as I hate to say it, are a top three team, and if the Giants continue playing like they did against the Redskins and Bengals, they have no chance against them. I can admit that I am going off of stats when it comes to the Giants, as I have watched the Eagles Cowboys, and Redskins play, and have not seen much of the rest of the NFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slurktan Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [quote name='Kalbear' post='1529701' date='Sep 24 2008, 12.52']I don't think that the Giants are anywhere near the top 3. Cinci may have some good players but the Giants still looked bad on offense, Eli has some issues with getting the pass to the right person at the right time and their secondary is suspect. Cowboys I think are clearly up there. Eagles are as well. The Pack is too. I also think Tennessee is very strong.[/quote] I honestly cannot understand this thinking. They are the Super Bowl Champs and they are undefeated. After New England almost lost to shitty Baltimore last year did you drop them down the rankings? No. Its just silly thinking. They are the Champs until someone beats them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronn Stone Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 If I had to pick a team right now and my least favorite team would have to play them, my first five choices in order would be: Cowboys Eagles Titans Giants Chargers Yep - not scared a bit by the 1-2 or the dodgy defense. I think they are a better version of Denver, who, along with Green Bay and Pittsburgh, were the other teams I considered here. I do think ESPN is giving too little credit to Baltimore and Tampa Bay though. With Gruden and his QB (mediocre as he might be) on the same page, this is a team that will click. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mexal Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [quote name='Zaphyl' post='1529731' date='Sep 24 2008, 12.06']Oh for sure those victories are far more impressive. I was going more along the Giants being 2. Yes they are the defending Super Bowl champs as Mexal pointed out, but their win over the Redskins was not very impressive, that was just a horrible game by both teams, then the Rams... a beating of the Rams, but it was the, well, Rams. Then they barely beat the Bengals, who yes have talented players, but they have not been playing well. The Eagles, as much as I hate to say it, are a top three team, and if the Giants continue playing like they did against the Redskins and Bengals, they have no chance against them. I can admit that I am going off of stats when it comes to the Giants, as I have watched the Eagles Cowboys, and Redskins play, and have not seen much of the rest of the NFL.[/quote] They are winning. It doesn't matter if they're not winning 38-0, they're still winning. They have a solid defensive line and an efficient offense. They're not giving the ball away and they're making plays when they need to make them. That's the sign of a good team. They went on a run at the end of last year playing EXACTLY like they're playing now. They're not a team that will generally blow people out. They're a team that will find ways to win and come up big in big situations. That doesn't make them any less of a good team. I agree with Bronn when he says not enough attention is being paid to Baltimore. I don't necessarily agree with Tampa Bay though. They're a good team and could win NFC South but I don't see them as a team that can win in the playoffs. I do, however, think Baltimore, with that defense, will make people pay. That defense is scary good and they're doing things they've never done before. If their offense can put up any kind of points, they'll be in pretty much every game they play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Paladin Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [quote name='Slurktan' post='1529757' date='Sep 24 2008, 13.17']I honestly cannot understand this thinking. They are the Super Bowl Champs and they are undefeated.[/quote] I'd have to check, but I think that Super Bowl win was last season. These are the 2008 rankings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime L Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [quote name='Bronn Stone' post='1529758' date='Sep 24 2008, 13.17']I do think ESPN is giving too little credit to Baltimore and Tampa Bay though. With Gruden and his QB (mediocre as he might be) on the same page, this is a team that will click.[/quote] I can't in good conscience put Baltimore in the top 5 'til we know just what they have at QB. Definitely wouldn't trust Flacco in any kind of close game at this point. For that reason I'd move them behind any good team that I feel more comfortable with their QB situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mexal Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [quote name='Jaime L' post='1529790' date='Sep 24 2008, 12.34']I can't in good conscience put Baltimore in the top 5 'til we know just what they have at QB. Definitely wouldn't trust Flacco in any kind of close game at this point. For that reason I'd move them behind any good team that I feel more comfortable with their QB situation.[/quote] I would put them in the top 15 though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime L Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [quote name='Mexal' post='1529798' date='Sep 24 2008, 13.38']I would put them in the top 15 though.[/quote] Yeah that's fair. Didn't realize they were 17. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronn Stone Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [quote name='Jaime L' post='1529802' date='Sep 24 2008, 10.42']Yeah that's fair. Didn't realize they were 17.[/quote] I was thinking 'just outside the top 10' also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhom Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3606190"]The Rams are continuing their pursuit of addition by subtraction[/url] by cutting their starting cornerback. Its interesting watching teams go into full blown panic mode just three games into the season. Honestly, is there anyone who thought the Rams would be anything better than terribad [i]before[/i] the season started? If you weren't going to address it then... why bother now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slurktan Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [quote name='Ser Paladin' post='1529774' date='Sep 24 2008, 13.22']I'd have to check, but I think that Super Bowl win was last season. These are the 2008 rankings.[/quote] You do know they won the Super Bowl in 2008 correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockroi Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [quote]If I had to pick a team right now and my least favorite team would have to play them, my first five choices in order would be: Cowboys Eagles Titans Giants Chargers[/quote] This also seems valid. We are dealing with a very small sample size here; the teams could also go south, and we have to consider their opponents (Cowboys beat the Eagles and GB; the Giants defeated Wash and the Rams). But even the opponents are hard to judge. I think we an agree that defeating the Giants in week 3 last season was a completely different thing than defeating them in week 17. Thus, I think that there really cannot be too much anger if we rank the Giants #3, #4, or #5 (or what-have-you). I do think the Giants are in teh discussion, though. They cleraly have handled the loss of Osiomora and Strahan better than the Pats have dealt with the loss of Brady (not saying they are the same, but its worth disucssing). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Bandito Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Who gives a shit about ESPN power rankings? Why not the Yahoo rankings or the SI rankings or my Cat's rankings. What's next? Argue over who will win this years Pro Bowl? It doesn't matter. I understand there are some football games this week. Doesn't seem like the most exciting week (Compared to previous weeks) but there are still a few games that stand out for me: Minnesota at Tennessee Arizona at Brett Farve and the NY Jets Washington at Dallas and Game of the week -- Philadelphia at Chicago It definitely seems as if the NFC has the more explosive teams. But it is only week 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Wolf Posted September 24, 2008 Author Share Posted September 24, 2008 There's also Raiders vs Chargers in which we get to see how new Raiders HC Alex Bledel matches up vs Norm Turner. YW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swordfish Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Ravens/Steelers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhom Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [quote name='Swordfish' post='1529911' date='Sep 24 2008, 14.56']Ravens/Steelers.[/quote] Sweet Jebus... I hope Roethlisberger's life insurance is paid up!!! :stunned: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Bandito Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [quote name='Swordfish' post='1529911' date='Sep 24 2008, 14.56']Ravens/Steelers.[/quote] That could be a good game. I havn't seen any of those teams play this year. It seems as if the Ravens defense is still elite and the Steelers O-line is having trouble. Should be interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronn Stone Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [quote name='Young Wolf' post='1529910' date='Sep 24 2008, 11.55']There's also Raiders vs Chargers in which we get to see how new Raiders HC Alex Bledel matches up vs Norm Turner.[/quote] Norval and Alexis both need to fire their PR people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swordfish Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [quote name='Space Bandito' post='1529916' date='Sep 24 2008, 12.00']That could be a good game. I havn't seen any of those teams play this year. It seems as if the Ravens defense is still elite and the Steelers O-line is having trouble. Should be interesting.[/quote] Will answer a few questions as well about how good the ravens actually are, and how bad that o-line actually is, and whether or not Arians is capable of making any adjustments to compensate for the stuff that got exposed against the eagles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime L Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 [quote name='Space Bandito' post='1529905' date='Sep 24 2008, 14.53']Who gives a shit about ESPN power rankings? Why not the Yahoo rankings or the SI rankings or my Cat's rankings. What's next? Argue over who will win this years Pro Bowl? It doesn't matter.[/quote] Of course it doesn't matter what they think. But it's always interesting to see if other people's opinion of teams matches your own. See if your team is getting the respect you feel it deserves or not. This is what fans do. We only get one day a week of football, but we're thinking about it for all seven. [quote name='Young Wolf' post='1529910' date='Sep 24 2008, 14.55']There's also Raiders vs Chargers in which we get to see how new Raiders HC Alex Bledel matches up vs Norm Turner. YW[/quote] Not knowing a thing about Alex's playcalling tendencies or whether s/he's ever coached at any level or is even aware of the rules of football, I'm still going to have to give the edge to the Raiders on this one. ETA - Doesn't Alexis Bledel help run a Bed and Breakfast on the show? How fitting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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