This is my power top 16: 1. San Diego Chargers (10-2) +1 2. Indianapolis Colts (10-2) -1 3. New England Patriots (9-3) +1 4. Dallas Cowboys (8-4) +1 5. Baltimore Ravens (9-3) -2 6. Chicago Bears (10-2) NC *** (tie) New Orleans Saints (8-4) +1 8. Cincinnati Bengals (7-5) +1 9. Seattle Seahawks (8-4) +1 10. New York Jets (7-5) +4 11. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5) +2 12. Kansas City Chiefs (7-5) -4 13. Denver Broncos (7-5) -2 14. Carolina Panthers (6-6) -2 15. Tennessee Titans (5-7) NA 16. New York Giants (6-6) NC Honorable Mention: Atlanta (6-6), Philadelphia (6-6), Buffalo (5-7), Pittsburgh (5-7) *** Would immediately move to #1 in my poll if and when Lovie Smith replaces Grossman with Griese
Funny you say that. The Cowboys winning was actually a good thing for the Saints. I predict a letdown for the brokeback boys.
Yep, increases the likelyhood of the Saints vs Giants game not coming down to a wildcard berth. Carolina and Hotlanta losing also help that cause
I think the Saints have all but assured themselves of a wildcard berth. And we still have Washington at home. Anybody with 9 wins gets in. Giants and Carolina can still get the 2 wildcards. Atlanta lost to us twice, so we are 3 games ahead of them, actually. No fear there. Everybody else is 5-7. Tonight's game is a tricky one. On one hand, Carolina losing increases our chances of a division title and a first round home game in the playoffs. On the other hand, Philly losing and they are out of the Saints way as well, since we beat them and would hold a 3 game advantage plus the tiebreaker. I think I will pull for Philly. They won't win out with their QB situation anyway.
Agreed. If the Saints went on a tank job the only teams in contention for a berth would realistically only be Philly and the Giants. I read somewhere (Saintsreport.com) that if we beat Dallas, and the Vikings and Hotlanta both lose, we clinch. One of the big advantages for the Saints right now regarding wildcard is our 7-1 NFC record.
Detroit Pistons and the Miami Heat were far, far from mediocre teams the year they won their championships. Most of the rest of the Eastern conference did suck however. Cincy beat the Ravens but also lost to them. I think I have Cincy about right. Their offense still isn't clicking like they should, and that's because they don't use their best weapon enough, Rudi Johnson. Until they stop getting so pass happy, they won't get it going on all cylinders. And you can't really say their defense is good now, based on one performance against a mediocre Ravens offense (and playing at home). They did give up 600 yards to the Saints.
