Who's better - or worse - than their current record?

[Mr. Scot]

(idea from a post by The Red in the 'overreaction' thread)

As of this moment, eight teams are 2-0, eight teams are 0-2, and most of the rest are 1-1.  For the math majors, that's 25% of the League undefeated, 25% winless and roughly 50% at 500 with two teams left to play tonight.

Nice parity, huh?

(full standings can be viewed here)

So as you look down the list of who's where, what teams do you believe are better than their record?  

Which others might be living in a house of cards that's set to come tumbling down?

And FYI, I'm including the Panthers in this discussion because I know some folks think we're part of Group B.

[Mol3m4n]

Seahawks are still a good team. The Falcons should be 1 and 1. The Giants should be 1 and 1. 

[JJman Returns]

Too early to tell imo. Dallas, Green Bay, Arizona and New England all look pretty damn good to me. Shame about romo, if he was healthy those would be my four "tier 1 teams". We are right behind them along with Atlanta, Cincinnati and Denver.

[Mol3m4n]

Too early to tell imo. Dallas, Green Bay, Arizona and New England all look pretty damn good to me. Shame about romo, if he was healthy hose would be my four "tier 1 teams". We are right behind them along with Atlanta, Cincinnati and Denver.

Buffalo needs to be in that second group. I think they are better than how they played the Patriots. 

[imminent rogaine]

Giants, Ravens, and Steelers are better than their record would suggest.  Giants should at least have 1 win. Ravens had a tough couple of weeks with travel.  Steelers look great but their record has them even with the Browns after two games.

 

Broncos, Falcons and the Panthers are probably not as good as their record would suggest. Broncos don't have an offensive identity, I am hoping that the Falcons are not that good.

 

I hate to put us into the 2nd category but there is no way that any of you can say you are comfortable with our offense. I still don't think our WRs are dependable. I don't think our game plan of 15-20 yard routes and shotgun runs takes advantage of any of our strengths. The silver lining is that we have Luke and Star coming back. I am hoping that Star will draw some attention and free up our pass rushers because, despite 6 sacks, it has left much to be desired.  We are going to need that pass rush to stop Brees and Ryan.

 

[Mr. Scot]

Giants, Ravens, and Steelers are better than their record would suggest.  Giants should at least have 1 win. Ravens had a tough couple of weeks with travel.  Steelers look great but their record has them even with the Browns after two games.

 

Broncos, Falcons and the Panthers are probably not as good as their record would suggest. Broncos don't have an offensive identity, I am hoping that the Falcons are not that good.

 

I hate to put us into the 2nd category but there is no way that any of you can say you are comfortable with our offense. I still don't think our WRs are dependable. I don't think our game plan of 15-20 yard routes and shotgun runs takes advantage of any of our strengths. The silver lining is that we have Luke and Star coming back. I am hoping that Star will draw some attention and free up our pass rushers because, despite 6 sacks, it has left much to be desired.  We are going to need that pass rush to stop Brees and Ryan.

 

You don't buy that the offense will get better given more time?

They usually do.

[saints4lifeagain]

Saints are worse than their record.

[imminent rogaine]

You don't buy that the offense will get better given more time?

They usually do.

I don't buy that play calling will get better. I don't buy that Ted Ginn and Philly Brown will be anything different than what they have shown in the first two games: nice plays here and there mixed in with drops and misses

I do buy that the O-line will continue to solidify and that Funchess and Norwood will continue to progress. Maybe o-line improvement will allow Olsen and Dixon to be more involved in the passing game.

Also, offense getting better over time shouldn't be limited to us. Aside from injuries, everyone else should be improving week to week as well. It's all relative.

[Seltzer]

The idea of a lowly NFL team is a misnomer for the most part.  Chicago (with Pickles at QB) is a lowly team, but by and large, most NFL teams are not that far apart talent wise.  

The difference in talent at QB is what makes a team much better or much worse than their opponents due to the amount of influence the QB has on the game.  And exactly why JJ Watt should never be MVP even as good as he is (although big props to Remmers yesterday)

We beat a Jacksonville team that beat Miami yesterday... you know the team we "asked to back off in TC and the one destined for at least 10-6 in the preseason).  Allen Robinson was a beast yesterday after Norman shut him last week.

We beat a Houston team with the reigning DPOY, a #1 draft pick at OLB, and several other pro-bowlers on defense.  This team has issues at QB but otherwise is a solid team.  Mallett had his way with KC in the 2nd half last week (although down), and no one is suggesting KC's defense isn't very good.

I don't think either team is "lowly" in any regard.  A win in the NFL means something.  We don't play Division II teams.

The Panthers deserve to be 2-0 100%.  The offense hasn't been great, but they have been efficient when they needed to be.  The defense could be special if we could get a consistent pass rush.

I'm really looking forward to see if we can nail the coffin shut on the Saints this Sunday

[caatfan]

The Falcons could easily be 0-2, instead of 2-0. Same goes for the Broncos. At least in our two games we were clearly the better team, even though we kept trying to give the game to the Texans. 

The Cowboys may have earned their 2-0 record, but going forward they should be a different and lesser team without Romo. Injuries can change your season in a heartbeat.

[Mr. Scot]

The idea of a lowly NFL team is a misnomer for the most part.  Chicago (with Pickles at QB) is a lowly team, but by and large, most NFL teams are not that far apart talent wise.  

This is truer than many people acknowledge.

II feel like if more people understood this, then we wouldn't have folks lamenting that we didn't win by five touchdowns.

[JawnyBlaze]

Worse: Us, Falcons, Dallas

Better: Seattle, Philly (probably)

That's what I can think of off the top of my head.

[Khaki Lackey]

It's hard for me to believe that Philly is THAT bad. We'll find out soon enough. Hawks aren't as bad as their record.

[pantherphan96]

Broncos are an ugly 2-0, Giants should be 2-0 if they could manage the clock, and I think Detroit is better than 0-2.