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With parity as high as ever in the NFL, a few unlikely clubs could have their best chance to get rings

Coming into the NFL season, predictions were made on who could win the Super Bowl in February, and there’s still a good amount of time to see if those views play out. The majority of those views probably had what one could call the usual contenders: the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens topping the list in the AFC, while the Philadelphia Eagles (defending champs), Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions gathered the majority of votes from the NFC. After that’s determined, the next question centers around teams who can announce themselves as a threat in their own right. The Houston Texans (who went home after the divisional round each of the last two seasons) were a trendy pick, but have been underwhelming to this point. The Green Bay Packers, particularly after they acquired linebacker/defensive end Micah Parsons in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, became the team everyone is supposedly chasing, but many questions remain if they can even win the NFC North (let alone make a championship run). One thing (and perhaps the only item) we have learned is there isn’t a stand out team playing right now. As a result, three squads who weren’t looked at as serious contenders may have as good a chance as ever to emerge as the top dog.

The first of this trio is the Indianapolis Colts. It would be interesting to see if even the biggest Colts fan living within the Indianapolis city limits had this on their bingo card, but this team is tied for the best record in the league at 5-1. Somewhere along the line, it was forgotten how good running back Jonathan Taylor was and is. Taylor is reminding everyone up to this point, as he leads the NFL in rushing yardage (603) and touchdowns (seven). Combine that with the efficient play of quarterback Daniel Jones (yes, that guy who flamed out with the New York Giants), and the offense is on a level that makes them hard to stop. The Colts defense has been good enough to bend, but not completely break, and they have forced nine turnovers in their six games. Complementary football has been a strength for Indy, and Shane Steichen has cooled off talk of being on the hot seat to lose his head coaching job. In other words, the Colts have the ingredients to stay in the fight for a while.

Second on the list is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who is the team tied with Indy for the league’s best record. The Buccaneers could be at least 2-4 if a play or two doesn’t go their way, but they have found a way to make those plays, and the scary thing with this squad is they can become much better as the season moves on. If there is one reason why Tampa Bay sits where they are, it probably starts and ends with QB Baker Mayfield, who would probably be the MVP if the season ended today. Mayfield has been the definition of clutch, as he has been the architect of a few game-winning drives. It’s even more remarkable when considering Mayfield is playing at this level without the team’s top-two receivers (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr.). There was a little talk about the Bucs being a contender going into the season, but the combination of how good they can be and the league being up for grabs could see them become a favorite before too long.

Finally, the Denver Broncos find themselves on the list of teams who could walk up to a championship this season. With the Broncos coming off of a wild card appearance last year, the prevalent thinking was they could continue to ascend, and perhaps, knock the Chiefs off from the top of the AFC West. The main reason is their defense, led by cornerback Pat Surtain II (the defensive player of the year in 2024) and linebackers Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper. Most people would say Denver’s defense is at championship-level, but what could make or break their visions is whether or not quarterback Bo Nix can consistently stay on the same page with coach Sean Payton, and bring the offense close to par with the other side of the ball. Throughout the year, Nix has been hit or miss with the execution of plays. If he can provide more of the good version, the Broncos could be on the cusp of a high on the Rocky Mountains.

There are other teams that could have made this list (the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots among them), but at this time, the Colts, Buccaneers and Broncos seem to have more in their favor to continue the upward trend. Of course, things can escalate quickly in the NFL, and what looks good one week might not the next, and vice versa. Who knows? Those teams who were listed as favorites might ultimately end up there come January. The beautiful thing about sports is games will be played, and everyone will get to find out as it happens. What we know is the gap between contenders and pretenders doesn’t seem to be as wide, and if that continues to be the case, don’t be surprised if this year’s Super Bowl winner is someone not exactly on the radar from the beginning.

Author: bestkeptsecret19

I’m just a man trying to be listened to. Hopefully, I can motivate and inspire people on the way to making a widespread positive difference.
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Disappointment reigns supreme when it comes to these overrated clubs

Here we are, at that time of the year when training camps are underway throughout the NFL. This is truly the occasion where all of the teams arrive with hopes of winning the Super Bowl. Of course, games will be played, and the field dwindles down until one squad is left standing in February. Until then, the hype trains will be gassed up in record levels, and there are a few who continue to have many fans and media try to speak a championship season into existence. Much more often than not, the results (inevitably) fall far short of the hype, and these teams fit that category perfectly.

It probably shouldn’t be much of a shock the Dallas Cowboys are amongst the top when it comes to results and hype not matching. If marketability and business is the topic, there isn’t a team on this planet that beats the Cowboys, with their value being over $10 billion (with a “b,” according to multiple sources). While Dallas is on top of the franchise value world, games are actually played on the field, and the Cowboys aren’t thriving between those lines. The normal talk has already started. Quarterback Dak Prescott will be looked at as a potential MVP candidate. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb will get pub as someone who can break the receiving yards record. Defensive end/linebacker Micah Parsons (who’s in a contract dispute with the team, much like Prescott and Lamb was at this time last year) will get built up as the best defensive player in the league, not just currently, ever. What has happened in previous years is Prescott, Lamb and Parsons have inflated their stats against inferior opponents, only to get exposed when a step-up in weight class occurs. That’s Dallas as a whole, and if they didn’t wear that blue star on their helmets, the hype isn’t nearly as loud. It’s widely know the Cowboys haven’t been to the NFC Championship Game since the 1995 season, and there is no indication that changes as long as Jerry Jones remains the team owner in Dallas.

Speaking of clubs that can’t get right, there’s no need to look past the Los Angeles Chargers. How many years (in a row) have people waited for the Chargers to take the next step toward becoming a championship contender, especially since Justin Herbert has been the QB? Now, that talk has only amplified since Jim Harbaugh took the reins as the head coach before last season. Harbaugh made some interesting comments a few days ago, saying everyone else on the team has to get on Herbert’s level. If that’s the case, higher levels need to be strived for, because there hasn’t been a playoff win with this “elite” quarterback leading the pack. Football is the ultimate team sport, and there is probably truth to what Harbaugh is saying. With that said, multiple things can be true, and if Herbert is the top QB everyone seems to think he is, then he will elevate his teammates to a level where they can challenge the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West crown (and beyond). For a reminder, titles cannot be given to someone. They have to be earned, and while Herbert has shown signs of brilliance throughout his career, it’s not worthy enough to match the hype. It’s past time for the Herbert and Los Angeles to put some substance behind the style, and it’s questionable whether or not that happens in a few months.

While this team may not be on the level of disappointment the Cowboys and Chargers have given the hype pushers, the Green Bay Packers are starting to enter that territory. This goes back to the latter years of the Aaron Rodgers (now with the Pittsburgh Steelers) era, and has carried on with Jordan Love as the triggerman. Like Prescott and Herbert, Love is in the conversation for MVP, but with the exception of the second half in the 2023 campaign, the performance has been a little underwhelming. This is supposed to be the season where it all comes together for Love and the Packers. The roster looks like it’s one of the best in the league, and they have a good coach in Matt LaFleur. Now, there’s no excuses, and it’s time for Love to lead the charge bringing another championship back to “Titletown, USA.” It won’t be easy, especially considering Green Bay plays in the NFC North, which might be the toughest division the NFL has to offer.

With these three teams (and there are others), the noise surrounding them has been loud, and the hype has been just as blinding. After a while, the truth always comes to the light, and people can only believe the words without substance and action for so long. No matter how hard many try, there’s no argument for results, and if the Cowboys, Chargers and Packers want to change their respective narratives, then it’s time to actually win on the field. Hope springs eternal, and there’s every reason to be optimistic. Based on past history, it shouldn’t be a surprise if (and probably when) these clubs have a derailment of the hype train.

Author: bestkeptsecret19

I’m just a man trying to be listened to. Hopefully, I can motivate and inspire people on the way to making a widespread positive difference.
View all posts by bestkeptsecret19