Meat's Rankings

[Dpantherman]

Winning your division doesn't make you a contender, it just gets you into the playoffs. They don't have a realistic chance of getting to the SB, so they are a pretender.

well there was no clarification. i thought this was about playoff contention. does anyone honestly believe the Browns are going to the super bowl?

[Khyber53]

I can't argue too much with Meat's picks. My one major exception is I really think, and man it pains me to say it, we'll probably see the Patriots take the Super Bowl title, just to finish off what has been pretty much their decade.

And the Browns, well, I think he's right about them. They do look more promising than we do.

[Dpantherman]

Im saving this thread

[Johnny Rockets]

The One: Saints

The Contenders: Cowboys, Redskins, 49ers, Packers, Colts, Titans, Patriots, Jets, Ravens, Browns

The Pretenders: Falcons, Giants, Eagles, Vikings, Bears, Cardinals, Texans, Dolphins, Steelers, Bengals, Chargers, Broncos

The Up-and-Comers: Panthers, Rams, Lions, Raiders

The Elevator Shaft: Bucs, Seahawks, Jaguars, Bills, Chiefs

Good list Meat, don't agree with all of it but I wouldn't argue against it either. Except for the Redskins, the only thing they will contend for is the bottom of the NFC (most likely with the Eagles).

[Mother Grabber]

well there was no clarification. i thought this was about playoff contention. does anyone honestly believe the Browns are going to the super bowl?

I agree with you on the Browns. I moved them down into the pretender list.

[Mother Grabber]

This thread shows what's so great about the NFL. We can't even agree as to who the contenders are. Forget about predicting the champ or even the superbowl, we can't even agree who has a legitimate shot at it. The NBA has 2-3 legit contenders in any given year, and you know who they are the Summer before. Baseball is similar. Most teams are just going through the motions, with a handful of well known contenders from beginning to end. In the NFL, we often have to wait until the last game of the season before the playoff picture is complete. Even then we have a couple of teams that can argue that they deserve to be in. My list shows 8 legit contenders:

The One: Packers

The Contenders: Saints, Colts, Titans, Patriots, Ravens, Jets, Vikings

That's a full 25% of the league who have a legit shot at standing on top at the end. Add to that a much shorter schedule than any of the other pro sports, and you can see why the NFL season is so exciting.

Note: I didn't mention the NHL. They have similar feelings of parody, seeing the playoff picture coming into focus late in the year and 8 seeds making it all the way to the finals.

[Floppin]

Baseball is similar. Most teams are just going through the motions, with a handful of well known contenders from beginning to end.

You obviously haven't watched much baseball this year.

[Mother Grabber]

NFL is like this every year.

[pantherrice]

Redskins, Browns contenders.LOL Whatever you are smoking, give me some.

[Dpantherman]

well, I just thought Id revisit this, since we're in thread bumping mode w/ our season in the toilet...(yes look at me.)

[ElkinPanthersFan]

I wish we were as good as the 5 on the Elevator shaft.