2-0 teams

[Everlong]

The following teams are 2-0 after two weeks:

New England Patriots
New York Jets
Cincinnati Bengals
Denver Broncos
Dallas Cowboys
Green Bay Packers
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Arizona Cardinals

Which do you think has been the most impressive?

The big surprise is clearly the Jets. It wasn't a shock that they took down the Browns, but I don't think many expected them to beat Indianapolis. It'll be interesting to see how far that defense can carry them.

I think the most impressive teams so far have probably been the Cardinals and Bengals. The Cardinals I believe would have been a huge threat to go all the way if they hadn't lost their top two quarterbacks last year. They shouldn't be overlooked this year. The Bengals have won in style a couple weeks in a row, but again, we know how they tend to collapse.

The Patriots are going to be there til the end, and so are the Packers, who just got their biggest regular season win in a few years. Atlanta is looking more and more like a team that's finally going to live up to its potential.

Gonna be interesting to watch how their seasons all play out.

[The Legend]

The most impressive by far so far has been the Cardinals. If they'd hand out Lombardi trophies in September Arizona would run away with it. Jets are most surprising, but that's two different things.

[DBSoT]

Out of that group of teams, I see 3 possibly 4 that won't make the playoffs.

Panthers - Either Atlanta or Carolina is winning the South, but neither is getting a wild card. I am choosing Atlanta to win the South.

Jets - They started off well, but this division is going to make it really hard on the Jets. They aren't beating the Pats and I don't see a wild card in them.

Cowboys - No Dez and No Romo = No chance at the playoffs. The Giants and Eagles are only going to get better and the "racist name" has proven tougher then once believed.

Broncos - This one is borderline. The Broncos have escaped two close games and pulled the win against KC out of their ass. KC and San Diego are still good teams and Oakland showed against Baltimore that they can make some waves. I still expect Denver to make the playoffs, but this one is still a bit shaky. I will wait to see how they do against the Lions Sunday Night. The Lions are a desperate team and need a win in their home opener.

[Messiah]

Panthers - Either Atlanta or Carolina is winning the South, but neither is getting a wild card. I am choosing Atlanta to win the South.

Eh, I'm not so sure about that now. I felt that way last week but now, especially after Romo's injury, the NFC South could send 2 teams to the playoffs. It isn't like Carolina or Atlanta have particularly difficult schedules. As a matter of fact, Atlanta has the most cupcake schedule I have ever seen.

As it stands now, the loser of the Carolina/Atlanta and Arizona/Seattle race to the division title will most likely take those two wildcard spots. Never know though, anything could happen.

[The Legend]

^^^ The NFC West is a lock to me to send two teams, and they may even send three teams, but if they don't I'd pick either Detroit or Minnesota as second place in the North to be ahead of whoever second in the South is.

[Everlong]

^^^ The NFC West is a lock to me to send two teams, and they may even send three teams, but if they don't I'd pick either Detroit or Minnesota as second place in the North to be ahead of whoever second in the South is.

I definitely wouldn't say the West sends three. And honestly, though it's much too early to say, I'm not sold on Minnesota or Detroit either. Detroit is probably about to go 0-3, and the Vikings got demolished by a bad 49ers team in week one.

I'm with Messiah, I'm starting to think two teams will come from the south, giving us:

Green Bay
Atlanta
Carolina
Arizona
Seattle
Winner of the NFC East shitshow (probably Philly)

Not a particularly strong field for the NFC this year, IMO. But once you get to the playoffs, who knows what happens.

[The Legend]

^^^ If that is actually the field I think Green Bay would have about the easiest imaginable road to the Super Bowl ever. Especially since as a wild card team Seattle would get no home games.

[Everlong]

^^^ If that is actually the field I think Green Bay would have about the easiest imaginable road to the Super Bowl ever. Especially since as a wild card team Seattle would get no home games.

Still wouldn't underestimate Arizona. Oustanding coaching, great defense, and Carson Palmer playing the best ball he's played in ten years.

Wouldn't underestimate Seattle either. I think the Packers beat them in a playoff game at Lambeau, but it wouldn't be a cakewalk by any means.

But if that does wind up being the field, and the Packers have homefield advantage, it'd be a huge huge huge fucking letdown if Green Bay didn't go all the way, I agree.

[Messiah]

^^^ The NFC West is a lock to me to send two teams, and they may even send three teams, but if they don't I'd pick either Detroit or Minnesota as second place in the North to be ahead of whoever second in the South is.

Unless you think the Lions are going to win 2 of their next 3 games (Broncos, Seahawks, Cardinals), they will start the season either 0-5 or 1-4. I don't doubt they might actually be a better team than the Falcons and Panthers, but they are dealing with a tougher schedule and a banged up quarterback. The Vikings are in a similar situation, although I don't think they are better than the Panthers or Falcons regardless. They play San Diego, Broncos, and Chiefs in their next 3 games. I'm not sure they win any of them.

[The Legend]

Here's the thing for me with Arizona. They look really impressive to me right now, but in a different way, I just expect them to be like Cincy. It's more about health and bad luck for Arizona, but I just expect something bad to happen to them that would prevent them from going the whole way. I guess what I mean most by that was, listing those six teams and knowing Seattle would be on the road, I honestly can't force myself to picture any of those other teams representing the NFC in the Super Bowl besides Green Bay.

I'm not giving up on Minnesota. I think once they get into mid-season form with AP and Teddy they will have it figured out.

[Everlong]

Yeah with Minnesota it's really going to depend on how their offense evolves. With Zimmer as coach, they can make some pretty good stuff happen on defense even if they don't have the same talent level of other teams (though that is changing). Bridgewater needs to mature quickly and Peterson needs to be Peterson again if they're going to have a shot at getting to the playoffs. But like Messiah said, the deck is really stacked against them with how difficult their schedule is early on.

[Messiah]

Green Bay should make it to the Super Bowl based off how the other teams are looking right now, but Kam Chancellor will at worst return around Week 10. If he doesn't, this year won't count in his contract and he wouldn't want that. Seattle always plays Green Bay tough and it isn't like they didn't put up a good fight on Sunday night, it'll be a close one in the postseason if they meet.

In the past, the Packers have struggled against physical defenses. Seahawks, Cardinals, and Panthers (assuming those three make it) field 3 of the best defenses in the NFL and all are extremely physical in the front seven with talented corners. Bulaga will be back in 6 or so weeks but who knows if there will be any lingering issues from the knee injury (it isn't like Bulaga is someone who has traditionally stayed healthy either) and based off how their tackles played on Sunday, it might be something to be concerned about.

I do know something, I don't care how they look in the regular season, I wouldn't want to see the Giants in the playoffs. Something about Eli Manning that just goes 0 to 100 when the games matter the most. Everything that could go their way, goes their way.