We’ve officially reached the point where it can be “midseason.” Teams are separating from the pack in both directions, with the contenders and dumpster fires becoming clearer every Sunday. Different rankings lists actually sorta mean something now, so here you go. Here’s my divisional rankings before Monday Night Week 6.
8. NFC West. The West has the best team in football in the Rams and then literally nothing else. Seattle is mediocre at best, and the Niners and Cards are probably the two worst teams in the NFC. Not much to see here. Rams will go 13-3 (at least) with their weak schedule.
7. AFC South. Meh. I’m probably too low on this division, but there’s really no good teams. The Titans/Mariota are puzzling on a weekly basis, the Texans are impotent in the red zone, and the Colts are like Plaxico Burress if he aimed at his foot. Most importantly, the Jags look mediocre. When Jalen Ramsey shuts up, you know improvements gotta be made soon, Jag-gos.
6. NFC East. This is a close race, but an uninteresting one. The Skins are somehow in first and their fans have no optimism. The defending champs look weak, and the Giants are a diva show train wreck. I think… this hurts. I think the Cowboys will win this division. YIKES. Very one dimensional, but they’re the best the East has to offer.
5. AFC East. What else is new? The only reason they’re this high is because the Dolphins have looked like a competent organization, something this division hasn’t seen much this millennium. It’s more of the same outside of that. Jets and Bills are mediocre, Pats will easily take the division. Ho hum moving on.
4. AFC West. Two good teams in one division? Gasp! The Chiefs have looked offensively outstanding due to the lack of film on Mahomes and proper usage of Tyreek Hill. The Chargers look 9-7 again, which is probably good for a playoff spot. After this it kinda drops off. Denver has looked ok, with Keenum regressing to average. Then there’s the worst team in football. Chucky’s guys are lost.
3. NFC North. Here we have two good teams, Aaron Rodgers, and the Lions. The Bears are a lot like the 2017 Rams, where they’re good and you can tell there will be better years to come in the future. The Vikings have flashed shades of last year as well, at times looking like the dominant force that made an NFC Championship appearance. As always, the Packers are the wild card. They can win any game they’re in just because of #12, but have no other weapons. Then there’s the Lions, who continue to be the Rays of football. Hovering around .500 every year and underachieving is their thing, and I have to respect it.
2. NFC South. Who dat? The Saints look poised for a bye as the conferences second best team. The Panthers are inconsistent, but they get a lot of unnecessary hate. They’re a good team who’ll probably sneak into a wild card spot. The other two in the South are a mystery. The Falcons continue to get screwed by a terrible defense, which is funny, but they’re still good enough to elevate this division. And then the Bucs. The only real problem with Jameis is that he can’t win games. It sounds stupid that way, but statistically he’s a decent passer and there’s no way the Bucs should move on after this season, even after 4 times missing the postseason. This division has 4 competent teams, but they don’t even compare to my #1.
1. AFC North. Am I biased? Yes. Am I right? Yes. This is the only division with (dare I say) 4 good teams. The Steelers and Ravens are both Super Bowl contenders when they play to their defensive and offensive potentials, respectively. Cincy is sitting in first right now and will probably drop out, but they will still look to be in the hunt for a wild card. Their offense is good when firing on all cylinders. The Browns have also actually looked decent this year. They’re a kicker away from 4-2. That would put them in first. WACK. It’s not their year, but in 2 or 3 it could be. If a division could send 4 teams to the postseason, especially in the AFC, this would be it.
Burke
CC Sports Weekly 