dragondawg
11-07-2006, 01:56 AM
Chargers loaded with talent, Broncos balanced and Chiefs now dangerous
With every team having played half its games, it’s time to look at the NFL’s real power structure.
Sure, sure, the Colts appear to be the class of the AFC and despite their loss, the Bears have emerged in the NFC. But we’re talking group efforts here. We’re talking the best NFL divisions.
We’re talking about the AFC West. Got a problem with the AFC West?
Pick a better division. The evidence is pretty clear, but go ahead, anyway. There is power out West. There are three teams with a winning record. No other division can claim that. Take out Oakland and you have one powerful group.
San Diego and Denver are both 6-2. Kansas City is 5-3 and a combined record of 17-7. All three of these teams can advance to the postseason. San Diego and Denver could both make serous noise. Kansas City, with its offensive power, will be a tough out come January.
It will be an interesting next few weeks as they start playing each other.
Denver and San Diego play in the altitude under the Sunday night lights on Nov. 19. Four nights later, the Broncos visit Kansas City in a Thanksgiving Day game. As we learn more about these teams in the coming weeks, we also get to marvel at their serious weapons.
The Chargers have perhaps the most talented, star studded roster in the NFL. Four players, running back LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, linebacker Shawne Merriman (who has three more games remaining on his NFL steroid suspension) and defensive tackle Jamal Williams are at the top or hugging the top of their prospective positions.
Denver is a balanced team. Its offense has awakened the past two weeks, scoring 31 points against the Colts and the Steelers, respectively. Its defense, led by the incomparable Champ Bailey, makes big plays.
Kansas City, under the guidance of Herman Edwards, has been the surprise. After a sluggish start and a serious head injury to quarterback Trent Green, this team has come alive. Backup quarterback Damon Huard has been much better than expected, running back Larry Johnson is nasty and the defense has been much improved.
In any other division, the Chiefs could rule.
But it’s the AFC West. It’s not just any division.
Colts are in fine, fine shape
While we focus on the underrated AFC West, it’s time to state a more obvious case. The Colts are sitting pretty.
Who knows what will happen comes playoff time in the AFC, but this is clear with the half the regular season remaining, the Super Bowl berth in the conference is going through Indianapolis.
The Colts can’t get enough credit for what they have done in recent weeks.
After starting 6-0, the team had identity games with back-to-back road games at Denver and New England, the two other top teams in the AFC.
They were the better team on the field in both games and ended the nasty back-to-back task with two wins. The reward? The Colts become the only 8-0 team in the NFL.
With Denver and New England both 2-0 both teams are two games and the a tiebreaker away from overtaking the Colts. It’s not going to happen.
Of course, we know from last season, the Colts, who started 13-0 in 2005, that the home-field advantage doesn’t necessarily mean anything. But, at this point, it is all anything can play for.
And until January, at least, the Colts are in a great spot.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15598235/
With every team having played half its games, it’s time to look at the NFL’s real power structure.
Sure, sure, the Colts appear to be the class of the AFC and despite their loss, the Bears have emerged in the NFC. But we’re talking group efforts here. We’re talking the best NFL divisions.
We’re talking about the AFC West. Got a problem with the AFC West?
Pick a better division. The evidence is pretty clear, but go ahead, anyway. There is power out West. There are three teams with a winning record. No other division can claim that. Take out Oakland and you have one powerful group.
San Diego and Denver are both 6-2. Kansas City is 5-3 and a combined record of 17-7. All three of these teams can advance to the postseason. San Diego and Denver could both make serous noise. Kansas City, with its offensive power, will be a tough out come January.
It will be an interesting next few weeks as they start playing each other.
Denver and San Diego play in the altitude under the Sunday night lights on Nov. 19. Four nights later, the Broncos visit Kansas City in a Thanksgiving Day game. As we learn more about these teams in the coming weeks, we also get to marvel at their serious weapons.
The Chargers have perhaps the most talented, star studded roster in the NFL. Four players, running back LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, linebacker Shawne Merriman (who has three more games remaining on his NFL steroid suspension) and defensive tackle Jamal Williams are at the top or hugging the top of their prospective positions.
Denver is a balanced team. Its offense has awakened the past two weeks, scoring 31 points against the Colts and the Steelers, respectively. Its defense, led by the incomparable Champ Bailey, makes big plays.
Kansas City, under the guidance of Herman Edwards, has been the surprise. After a sluggish start and a serious head injury to quarterback Trent Green, this team has come alive. Backup quarterback Damon Huard has been much better than expected, running back Larry Johnson is nasty and the defense has been much improved.
In any other division, the Chiefs could rule.
But it’s the AFC West. It’s not just any division.
Colts are in fine, fine shape
While we focus on the underrated AFC West, it’s time to state a more obvious case. The Colts are sitting pretty.
Who knows what will happen comes playoff time in the AFC, but this is clear with the half the regular season remaining, the Super Bowl berth in the conference is going through Indianapolis.
The Colts can’t get enough credit for what they have done in recent weeks.
After starting 6-0, the team had identity games with back-to-back road games at Denver and New England, the two other top teams in the AFC.
They were the better team on the field in both games and ended the nasty back-to-back task with two wins. The reward? The Colts become the only 8-0 team in the NFL.
With Denver and New England both 2-0 both teams are two games and the a tiebreaker away from overtaking the Colts. It’s not going to happen.
Of course, we know from last season, the Colts, who started 13-0 in 2005, that the home-field advantage doesn’t necessarily mean anything. But, at this point, it is all anything can play for.
And until January, at least, the Colts are in a great spot.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15598235/