NFL DIVISIONAL LOOKS

                               

NFL TOP 10
1-COLTS (3-0).  Defense is picking off Manning's slack
2-EAGLES (2-1).  Still not acting like defending NFC champ
3-PATRIOTS (2-1).  Shut up alot of those naysayers.
4-STEELERS (2-1).  Big lss to New England
5-BENGALS (3-0).  I still want to see them against  a good team.
6-FALCONS (2-1).  Like I always say:  Vick just wins.
7-JAGUARS (2-1).  I have no idea why I have them ranked here. 
8-CHIEFS (2-1).  Will the real Chiefs, please stand up
9-BUCCANEERS (3-0).  Carnell Williams adds A dimention to the offense
10-REDSKINS (2-0).  It is my blog.

AFC EAST:  While the Patriots aren't as good as they were a year ago...they still are gonna be a tough out.  Shutting down Pittsburgh and winning at Heinz Field was quite impressive.  The team everyone believed would challenge the Pats for the crown, the Jets, are in a spot of trouble.  Chad Pennington is done for the year...and they've had to sign Vinny Testeverde just to get some help in there.  Also, Curtis Martin is dinged up.  To make a long story short...this team is struggling to score.  So are the Bills with JP Losman.  Losman has struggled in the early going and some are wondering if a change may be needed.  The surprise team has got to be the Dolphins.  Miami has beaten Denver and Carolina...and that is with Gus Frerotte at QB and the running attack not at full strength.  SO WHAT UP?  To be honest, this looks like the Pats could run away with this division again if the other don't get their stuff together.

AFC NORTH:  The Bengals are now the vogue team of the league.  They are putting up great offensive numbers and are taking away the ball at record paces.  I still want to see them against a real team....a team that wants to be physical on offense and defense.  That team is the Steelers. I still think they are the class of this division and should be able to reclaim it.   My preseason pick, the Ravens, have done nothing so far.  Their defense isn't as great as it once was and the offense has actually gotten worse.  They need to turn it around quickly before Cincy and Pitt run away and hide from them.  I have a lot of respect for Trent Dilfer and the Browns.  Dubbed the "worst team" in the NFL...they've won in Lambeau and played the Bengals and Colts [a combined 6-0] very tough.  Dilfer's having quite the year passing, as well.  SO WHAT UP?  I can't wait for those Bengals-Steelers games!!!

AFC SOUTH:  Everyone is talking about how bad the Colts offense has played. Actually, that ought to scare the crap out of everyone!  Peyton Manning hasn't thrown a TD pass in 2 games...and he still has his team at 3-0.  Wow.  The only team in that division that seems fit to challenge the Colts are the Jaguars.  The Jags played them tough in Indy...and has beaten Seattle and New York so far.  Their defense has played excellent this year.  The Titans have played better than I figured despite their 1-2 start.  Steve McNair makes such a huge difference being on the field.  Right now, the Houston Texans look to be the worst team in football.  Their offense is horrible and the defense just can't keep up.  They've already canned some coaches...so vultures are already swarming around Dom Capers.  SO WHAT UP?  Colts run away with this thing.

AFC WEST:  The Chiefs blew a perfect opportunity to take over this division on Monday Night.  A win would have given them a 2-game cushion on everyone.  Now, they are tied with the Broncos [who owns the tiebreaker].  So who is the real KC??  The one that blitzed the Jets or the one that got smacked up by Denver?  Maybe they are the one that squeaked by the Raiders.  Speaking of Oakland, how must it suck to be 0-3 and are, really, better than half the league right now.  They barely lost to the Eagles and Patriots [both on the road] and lost a heartbreakingly unfair game to the Chiefs.  And then there are the Chargers who finally looked like a playoff team on SNF.  SO WHAT UP?  To be honest, this division is up in the air.  I do like San Diego because they seem to be the most balanced team right now.  Remember, they lost to both the Cowboys and Broncos late in the game.

NFC EAST:  The East is the only division with every team over .500.  The Redskins, who lead the division, seem to be the most likely fluke.  They've won both games by a combined 3 points and needed two late TD passes to even resemble an offense.  The Eagles are the best team here...but they haven't played like it.  And God know how bad McNabb's hurting.  Eli Manning's pride is hurting after he got his butt kicked in San Diego.  His Giants are 2-1...but they also benefitted from having and extra home game.  Last, but not least, are the Cowboys.  This team COULD be 3-0 if they could close out Washington.  They also COULD be 0-3 if San Diego and San Franciscon could've closed them out.  SO WHAT UP??  Fly like an Eagle into the division title...because no other team is good enough to take it from them. 

NFC NORTH:  What a division.  The Lions are 1-1 and in first place.  How?  Well, they beat up on 0-3 Green Bay in Week 1.  They then were mauled by the Bears in Week 2.  The shame is that the Bears defense has performed quite well this year.  But the offense has let them down.  If Kyle Orton keeps slinging picks....he may take a seat.  One guy that never takes a seat is Brett Favre...and his Packers are 0-3.  They were 1-4 last year before making a run to end up as North champions.  So are they really that bad off?  They only have 1 less win that the first place squad.  The wild thing is that they've lost 2 games at Lambeau already.  And then there is the Vikings.  Minnesota looked bad against Tampa.  They looked horrible against Cincinnati.  But they got it rolling against the Saints.  SO WHAT UP?  I hope it continues.  I think the Vikings are the best team in that division and the creme should rise to the top. 

NFC SOUTH:  This has all the trappings to be quite a fun division.  The Buccaneers are currently 3-0...but the teams they beat are a combined 2-7.  They do possess a great running threat in Cadillac Williams who has to be the early favorite for top rookie.  The Falcons look as if they can be the NFC champs.  They have such a tough defense and some guy named Michael Vick.  It will be interesting to see how his hammy holds up and how that affects his game and that Atlanta offense.  The Panthers aren't playing mentally strong right now.  They beat the Pats...but lost to the Saints and Dolphins because of poor decision making.  And to those who speak of Carolina's demise...remember that both of their losses came on FGs in the closing seconds.  And then there are the Saints.  Here are the different cities they play in a row:  Foxboro, New Orleans, Oakland, Charlotte, New York, Minneaopolis, San Antonio and Green Bay.  Wow.  SO WHAT UP?  I still think that the Panthers win this division...but they need to get their head in the game to do so. 

NFC WEST:  The Premature Adolation Award goes to the Cardinals...who got so much love in the preseason that they had to remind everyone that they are, indeed, the Cardinals.  Instead, the Niners have played better than Zona and have a chance to put a hurt on them in Mexico City this weekend.  The real fight will be between the Rams and Seahawks.  Both have potent offenses...but neither defense is too stellar.  They both also blow leads and games.  SO WHAT UP?  I'm sticking with the Rams.  At least they can outscore teams.