DENVER -
With the Denver Broncos coming out of the Bye Week like a hungry bear awakening from winter hibernation, it's time to feast on some football thoughts from the past weekend and look forward to their big matchup against the Baltimore Ravens this coming Sunday.
Some food for thought from around the league:
There are two things I'm not sure of regarding the NFL these days: Who's the best team, and who's the worst.
The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints remain unbeaten, along with the Broncos.
Yes, the Colts look like an absolute juggernaut, but it's the Saints who really intrigue me. They had every reason to quit against the Dolphins on Sunday, but didn't. Instead, they came away with a 46-34 win, and the belief (if they didn't already have it) that they can not only beat any and every team in the NFL, but they can do so under the most dire of circumstances. That's the type of win that can really get a team rolling downhill.
It's a lot more fun considering who the worst team is: with all due respect to the nominees. The Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and St. Louis Rams are still winless. The Cleveland Browns have scored only six touchdowns this season. But it's the two-win Raiders that have scored a league-fewest FIVE touchdowns this season. FIVE. If you play fantasy football, you're probably best-served picking up a defense playing against any one of these teams from week to week. They stand almost zero chance of winning.
The AFC North is a meat-grinder of a division. The here-to-fore Cincinnati Bungles absolutely obliterated the Chicago Bears, while the Pittsburgh Steelers found a way to win against the previously-undefeated Minnesota Vikings. That division could easily send those three teams to the playoffs.
All four teams in the NFC West are in the bottom 17 in total offense. No other division in the NFL can boast that. It's painful to watch. I'm not trying to beat up on the Arizona Cardinals (great win against the Giants), Seattle Seahawks (on the bye), San Francisco 49ers (would love to play for #50) and Rams (uhhh .cool unis?), but even with Arizona representing the NFC in the Super Bowl last year, these four teams have a long way to go.
On to the Broncos, and that knuckle-knocker of a game against the Ravens this Sunday:
Both teams will be well rested, and well prepared. Even at 3-3, the Ravens represent the best defense the Broncos have faced all year, and their offense has newfound potency under the guidance of quarterback Joe Flacco.
I expect the Broncos to try to keep the Ravens off-balance with misdirection. They can't hit them square in the face, so they'll attack at angles. The Ravens will have to execute flawlessly on offense to win this thing.
I think the Broncos defense comes up with a couple of key turnovers, sets up the offense on a short field, and the Broncos escape with an incredibly hard-fought 17-13 win.
Some food for thought from around the league:
There are two things I'm not sure of regarding the NFL these days: Who's the best team, and who's the worst.
The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints remain unbeaten, along with the Broncos.
Yes, the Colts look like an absolute juggernaut, but it's the Saints who really intrigue me. They had every reason to quit against the Dolphins on Sunday, but didn't. Instead, they came away with a 46-34 win, and the belief (if they didn't already have it) that they can not only beat any and every team in the NFL, but they can do so under the most dire of circumstances. That's the type of win that can really get a team rolling downhill.
It's a lot more fun considering who the worst team is: with all due respect to the nominees. The Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and St. Louis Rams are still winless. The Cleveland Browns have scored only six touchdowns this season. But it's the two-win Raiders that have scored a league-fewest FIVE touchdowns this season. FIVE. If you play fantasy football, you're probably best-served picking up a defense playing against any one of these teams from week to week. They stand almost zero chance of winning.
The AFC North is a meat-grinder of a division. The here-to-fore Cincinnati Bungles absolutely obliterated the Chicago Bears, while the Pittsburgh Steelers found a way to win against the previously-undefeated Minnesota Vikings. That division could easily send those three teams to the playoffs.
All four teams in the NFC West are in the bottom 17 in total offense. No other division in the NFL can boast that. It's painful to watch. I'm not trying to beat up on the Arizona Cardinals (great win against the Giants), Seattle Seahawks (on the bye), San Francisco 49ers (would love to play for #50) and Rams (uhhh .cool unis?), but even with Arizona representing the NFC in the Super Bowl last year, these four teams have a long way to go.
On to the Broncos, and that knuckle-knocker of a game against the Ravens this Sunday:
Both teams will be well rested, and well prepared. Even at 3-3, the Ravens represent the best defense the Broncos have faced all year, and their offense has newfound potency under the guidance of quarterback Joe Flacco.
I expect the Broncos to try to keep the Ravens off-balance with misdirection. They can't hit them square in the face, so they'll attack at angles. The Ravens will have to execute flawlessly on offense to win this thing.
I think the Broncos defense comes up with a couple of key turnovers, sets up the offense on a short field, and the Broncos escape with an incredibly hard-fought 17-13 win.
