Making Sense of the NFL

The reason I titled this column "Making Sense of the NFL" is because the NFL makes absolutely no sense right now. So...it makes no sense to try to make sense of it!

Nevertheless, it’s always fun to take a look at what we think we know about NFL teams even if that's all going to change next week. I figured instead of doing another superfluous—and useless—power poll, I'm just going to go from team to team and talk about their good/bad aspects and their chances. Without further ado...

NFC

East Division

1. New York Giants (3-0)

The Good: They're the defending champions and they're 3-0. That's pretty good. They can still rush the passer and move the ball. The post-Super Bowl champion malaise that affects a lot of teams in the parity era ('01 Ravens, '02 Patriots, '03 Buccaneers, '05 Patriots, '06 Steelers) doesn't seem to have hurt them yet. Eli looks solid.

The Bad: This Plaxico Burress thing could get ugly. It's one thing if he hadn't signed a contract and was doing all this. But he's signed. Don't know what his deal is but it could kill their offense. The defense is still light on the pass rush and secondary, and that will hurt them. They've played no one and almost lost to Cincinnati at home.

Outlook: I stand by everything I wrote about them. They will compete for a wild card. I think they'll fall short but we'll see. Tough division tests coming up for them will show what they're made of.

2. Washington Redskins (3-1)

The Good: The offense is finally clicking. The defense looks as strong as last year. I can finally toot my own horn about Jason Campbell. Santana Moss is rejuvenated. The players seem to really respond to Jim Zorn. They went into Dallas and not only got the W, but really took it to them.

The Bad: Tough division. Campbell could hit a wall. Defense is good, but not invincible. More losses could mean more grumbling from Portis.

Outlook: Over-performing right now. I really like the way they look. This weekend's contest at Philadelphia will be the ultimate early season barometer for both teams.

3. Dallas Cowboys (3-1)

The Good: Their offense can move at a dominating pace. T.O. is in the best shape of his career. Romo continues to do his thing. Felix Jones is a great weapon, and the perfect complement to Marion Barber. The defense is playing great.

The Bad: Romo tends to throw stupid interceptions. I don't know what the deal is with that but it needs to be fixed by Genius Jason Garrett (that's his legal name). Felix Jones is a great weapon, but only when you use him. Wade Phillips doesn't do much to instill confidence in me selecting them as the NFC team to beat. T.O. is T.O. again.

Outlook: The Washington loss sucked but I still think they're the team to beat. They're the healthiest team in the East right now, and that definitely counts for something. But seriously, what is Romo's deal with the bad interceptions? I thought this would be the year he gets past that. It'll kill them if he doesn't.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)

The Good: The offense is really clicking. DeSean Jackson looks like the real deal. They can still rush the passer well, and they're a hard team to beat at home. McNabb looks mobile.

The Bad: Injuries are taking a big toll. Losing Westbrook could kill them and any offensive momentum they have. I'll never understand what goes through Andy Reid's mind the last few minutes of a game. The defense made Kyle Orton look like the 2007 Tom Brady in the first half of Sunday's game.

Outlook: The Westbrook injury, coupled with a tough division might be too much to overcome. After the Dallas game, they looked like the second best team in the NFC. Now, they're facing what is basically a must-win vs. Washington. This NFC East is tough.

North Division

1. Green Bay Packers (2-2)

The Good: The offense is moving the ball. Al Harris's injury isn't as serious as it originally appeared. The receivers are still making plays; they may be the best corps in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers seems unfazed by the pressure to replace Favre and lead Green Bay to the Super Bowl.

The Bad: Rodgers looked awful the past two weeks and now he has a shoulder problem. Even if it is just a separation, that's going to stay with him all year. Their back-up is seventh-rounder Matt Flynn (yikes!). Their running game can't get going all of the sudden, and the defense looks a little vulnerable.

Outlook: I still think they're the team to beat in the North, but they've left the door open for Chicago and maybe even Minnesota. They can definitely take two of the next three (Atl, at Sea, Ind) heading into the bye week before they get into the teeth of their schedule.

2. Chicago Bears (2-2)

The Good: Matt Forte has been a revelation. So has Brandon Lloyd, of all people. Kyle Orton is not playing terribly. The defense can still make plays. They're no longer relying on Devin Hester alone.

The Bad: The defense is still shaky. In reality, it cost them the last two games, as they should be 4-0 right now. Kyle Orton is too inconsistent to be considered "good." They haven't played either Green Bay or Minnesota yet.

Outlook: I have no idea what to make of the Bears. I think they could be a sleeper team or could completely implode. I'm intrigued by them for two reasons: Their schedule in the coming weeks is really good for them (at Det, at Atl, Min, bye, Det) and they play their tougher non-division games at home (Ten, Jax, NO). They need to take advantage of the fact that GB and Minny are hurting real bad right now. If they split their next four, they're done, in my opinion.

3. Minnesota Vikings (1-3)

The Good: Tarvaris Jackson is no longer starting for them. Adrian Peterson is playing well. The defense can dominate the opposition's running game.

The Bad: Gus Frerrote is starting for them. The defense can't hold up against the pass. Chester Taylor is banged up. Chicago looks strong and that's only going to hurt their chances.

Outlook: I really can't see them winning on the road. And with two tough road games in the next three weeks (New Orleans, who will bomb them into submission, and Chicago), I think their season will be over before their week eight bye. What a waste.

4. Detroit Lions (0-4)

The Good: Matt Millen got fired! HALLELUJAH! I'm not anything close to a Lions fan and I was so pumped for Detroit.

The Bad: The team, the owner, the organization, etc. Much like our current situation in America, it'll take years for the Lions to recover from the mess made by one man.

Outlook: Start Drew Stanton, play for next year. Hire the best personnel guy you can find, give him full autonomy, and stay out of the freaking way. I've always been sympathetic to the city of Detroit and I'd love to see the Lions be competitive.

South Division

1. Carolina Panthers (3-1)

The Good: The offense looks real solid with Steve Smith back. The defense is rejuvenated. Jake Delhomme has looked sharp coming back from elbow surgery. These guys are making it happen in a tough division.

The Bad: Delhomme can still look inconsistent at times. The defense is susceptible to the big play. They are two plays away from being 1-3 right now. They haven't faced the Bucs or the Saints yet.

Outlook: I like the way Carolina is playing, but they're going to have to do well against divisional opponents. They're the strongest team on both sides of the ball in the South, but they need to play like it against NO and TB. They have a great chance to steal the division if they do.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)

The Good: Strong competitive spirit on this club. Defense looks as good as ever. Finding ways to win against tough teams. Earnest Graham has emerged as a reliable running back.

The Bad: I don't understand the Brian Griese thing at all. Am I the only Jeff Garcia backer in the entire universe? So he had one bad game! Griese hasn't done much either and almost cost Tampa Bay the win on Sunday. Defense is good but hardly dominant.

Outlook: If they're not going to start Garcia, I'm going to be the first person ever to advocate this (and I mean it in all seriousness): start Luke McCown. He obviously gets Gruden's complex system if he's their back-up and he put up good numbers in relief last year. Brian Griese is terrible and not going to get much better. Why not give McCown a shot?

At any rate, I see them continuing to compete but eventually falling off. Carolina does everything they do, only better. And New Orleans is one more win against them from owning the tiebreaker. Start McCown!

3. New Orleans Saints (2-2)

The Good: Offense, offense, offense. Deuce is back! Reggie Bush didn't look terrible before Deuce came back. It doesn't seem to matter who is in at receiver; Drew Brees will find a way to get it done. The offense should only be more explosive when they get Colston and Shockey back.

The Bad: The defense didn't improve as much as I thought it would. They lost two tough games. Brees can still sometimes be really inconsistent. Who knows if McAllister can churn out decent enough yardage to make the running game respectable?

Outlook: I think the Saints will topple TB and compete with Carolina for the division. Their offense is great and they lost to two good teams on the road. They definitely need home field to do anything in the playoffs, but right now, I think they can make it happen if they continue to out-gun their opponents.

4. Atlanta Falcons (2-2)

The Good: Matt Ryan looks solid. Michael Turner turned out to be a good pick up. Roddy White is emerging as an elite WR. Mike Smith has done a great job of making this team competitive in light of what happened to them last year.

The Bad: Their defense is shaky. They've beat up on bad teams, it's no real secret.

Outlook: They will play for next year. But I like the mentality of this team now. I definitely think they get be a contender in the next few seasons if they bring in the right people on defense.

West Division

1. Arizona Cardinals (2-2)

The Good: The offense is explosive. Kurt Warner occasionally shows his pre-2002 form. Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower make a great one-two punch at running back. The receivers continue to make great plays.

The Bad: The entire defense. They'll miss Anquan Boldin more then they think, depending on how long he is out. He's a great possession receiver. Who knows what they're getting out of Kurt Warner on a week-to-week basis.

Outlook: They're going to compete for this division because it is as bad as advertised. There is a tough schedule up ahead for them. San Francisco doesn't look horrendous, so they're going to have even more competition for the West. I could definitely see them blowing it depending on how their defense plays the rest of the year.

2. San Francisco 49ers (2-2)

The Good: Say what you will about Mike Martz, but he gets his offenses to work. J.T. O'Sullivan is looking pretty good right about now. For anyone who is unaware of his work as a fantasy stalwart, Frank Gore has got to be one of the most underrated players in the NFL. Issac Bruce looked like he crawled out of a time machine. The defense is getting stronger.

The Bad: They are still inconsistent on defense. The receiving corps, much like O'Sullivan, can look great on one drive and terrible on the next. Their offensive line can't block. They haven't really beaten anyone besides the hapless Lions and a Seahawks squad that started guys at receiver whose names you'll never hear of again.

Outlook: The next four games will show what they're really made of (NE, Phi, at NYG, Sea). If they can take two of those (one of them has to be the Seattle game) and come out of their bye 4-4, ready to take Arizona on the road, they'll be in a prime position to steal the West. And being a Mike Nolan fan, I'd love to see that happen. Plus I like J.T. O'Sullivan. He's a decent QB in this system. Great name too.

3. Seattle Seahawks (1-2)

The Good: No one is running away in their division. They’re getting Deion Branch and Bobby Engram back. The running game is not terrible and can churn out yards. John Carlson is a decent TE.

The Bad: The defense isn’t playing well. Granted he's had no one at receiver, but Matt Hasselbeck still looks like he’s on the downside. They now have two major challengers for the division.

Outlook: They can still take the west if they can get healthy and in sync. The good thing is that no one is tearing it up so they have the time to find their rhythm as a team. Their schedule is still brutal, but so is everyone else’s in the division. It’s entirely conceivable that the winner of the NFC West will have a losing record.

4. St. Louis Rams (0-4)

The Good: They play in the NFC West, which means, remarkably, they’re two games out of the division lead even though they’re probably the worst team in the NFL. Scott Linehan was finally put out of his misery, which was good for the team and good for him.

The Bad: Jim Haslett is their coach. These guys have had like the worst defense in the league the past two years, so it definitely makes sense to give the guy responsible for that mess a promotion, right?

Outlook: Bad. Just bad. Why elaborate? Is Haslett going to make this team substantially better? I say no. That was fun!

By the way, I still think the NFC belongs to Dallas even though not everyone is okay with that anymore.

AFC

East Division

1. Buffalo Bills (4-0)

The Good: They finally got their offense moving. Trent Edwards is—dare I say—competent? Yes, competent. The receiving corps looks strong. The defense is making things happen. The team already has a knack for comeback wins.

The Bad: Their comeback wins came against Oakland and St. Louis, so don’t plan the parade yet. They have to play the Patriots and the Jets two more times. The only somewhat decent team they’ve beat was the banged-up Jaguars. Marshawn Lynch has yet to break out, and who knows if he will.

Outlook: This is their time. With Brady injured, they’re a better team talent-wise than NE, Miami, or NY. They need to go at least 5-1 in their division to take it because I don’t think the Patriots are going away. I predict they do it and get into the playoffs.

2. New England Patriots (2-1)

The Good: They’re still the Patriots. They can run the ball and (when not faced with a 100-year-old offensive formation) play decent D. Jerod Mayo seems like the real deal. The division isn’t too tough.

The Bad: The Dolphins game might just be an aberration, but the defense still doesn’t look that great. Matt Cassel might get better but right now, even as a caretaker, he looks terrible. Sammy Morris, Laurence Maroney, and LaMont Jordan are all decent backs but can be shut down against a good defense. Randy Moss looks ready to quit.

Outlook: I think they’ll compete for the east and/or a wild card spot. There’s just too much talent on that team. I saw Kevin O’Connell in preseason, and though I know it was just the preseason, he looked really good. If Cassel struggles, I think he gets a shot at some point. Either way, I don’t see this being a Super Bowl team. Even in the wacky AFC, there are just too many holes on their squad. The Pats are still getting respect based on reputation. Nevertheless, the conference is so open, who knows?

3. New York Jets (2-2)

The Good: They’ve discovered their M.O.: pass, pass, and pass. Brett Favre must be in heaven; he can throw the ball every down to anyone with no impunity. Their receivers are strong, and the division is there for the taking.

The Bad: Their defense sucks. Not much else to say about it. Favre can still throw the occasional dumb pass. Thomas Jones just isn’t getting it done at running back. They’re the New York Jets.

Outlook: Maybe by throwing the ball 50 times a game they’ll challenge for the division. Favre has the arm, they've got the receivers, so why not? We’re all paying to see Broadway Brett anyway.

4. Miami Dolphins (1-2)

The Good: Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, and the single wing formation. Chad Pennington might not have much of an arm but he’s still better than John Beck. Of course, if they’re running crazy offensive schemes, who knows?

The Bad: The defense still needs improvement. They won’t get away with the single wing forever. People are high on them after one win and though it was a good win, they’re still probably two years away from doing anything substantial.

Outlook: New coach Sparano has them competing. That’s about all they could ask for. 5-11 or 6-10 would be good for them.

North Division

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)

The Good: Ben Roethlisberger is willing his team to life. Willie Parker’s injury isn’t too serious (hopefully for them). Hines Ward’s still got it, apparently. Defense is still looking strong, rushing the passer, and making big plays.

The Bad: Roethlisberger is also banged up, as is the rest of the team. While the win over Baltimore was huge, the physical toll it took on them was much worse, as Rashard Mendenhall and Kendall Simmons are lost for the year. The offensive line is set to suck even worse without Simmons, and B-Roe will probably be lucky to stand by the end of the year. Defense is good, not great.

Outlook: They were lucky to beat Baltimore at home and they’re dealing with a lot of injuries right now. If this were December, you could overlook these things, but it’s September. You might think I’m sounding like a Ravens homer here, but I’m not. If I were a Steelers fan I would be very concerned about my team right now. Fortunately for them, the North is wide open. Baltimore is the only serious contender and the Steelers already have one-up on them.

2. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)

The Good: Defense, defense, defense. What else is new? They can still dominate. Ray Lewis looks like he cloned the 2003 version of himself. They’re really playing hard for new coach John Harbaugh and they have two great coordinators (Cam Cameron and Rob Ryan). Joe Flacco doesn’t suck.

The Bad: Flacco might not suck but he is a rookie QB. The running game can have difficulty going. They're still taking the stupid penalties of the Billick era. They don't have any big playmakers at wide receiver.

Outlook: The Steelers loss hurts them and they have another physical fight with Tennessee on Sunday. The problem they’re facing right now is that they don’t have a bye week later in the year and they have some really tough match-ups. Still, with Pittsburgh so banged up right now, and Flacco set to only get better, they have a really good chance of taking the division title.

3. Cleveland Browns (1-3)

The Good: They play in the same division as the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bad: Everything else, but especially Braylon Edwards. What the hell happened to that guy?

Outlook: The sooner they go to Brady Quinn, the better, in my opinion. I’m not saying that Quinn will be substantially better than Derek Anderson but he can’t be much worse.

4. Cincinnati Bengals (0-4)

The Good: I took a good five minutes to think of something to write here. I’m not trying to insult Bengals fans but really, I got nothing.

The Bad: Everything. Ev…ery…thing.

Outlook: Need a major house cleaning. Coach, players, everything. At least St. Louis is in the NFC West; these guys have no hope for this year.

South Division

1. Tennessee Titans (4-0)

The Good: Speaking of defense, these guys have the best in the NFL. Albert Haynesworth is a man possessed. At some point, you have to consider Jeff Fisher, if not the best coach in the league, in the top three. Chris Johnson is just straight up money and LenDale White is the perfect compliment. These guys are playing like they’re on a mission.

The Bad: Kerry Collins is their QB and Vince Young is their back-up. For a contending Super Bowl team, that’s not good. Not good at all. These guys need home field advantage to make a difference in the playoffs.

Outlook: Right now the AFC is there for the taking. They can go far, even with Collins at quarterback, because their defense is playing hard. However, for them to have serious Super Bowl hopes, it's absolutely imperative they’re at home for round two. But it's right there for them.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2)

The Good: It seems like they’re coming around after sleepwalking through the first two games of the season. David Garrard is doing what he has to in order to get them the W. The defense is still strong. Matt Jones has finally emerged as a viable target.

The Bad: The defense is strong, but not as dominant as it was last year. Offensive line injuries have taken a more serious toll than they anticipated, and it’s severely hampered the entire offense. The Titans have the early track for the division lead and it will be tough to overcome them.

Outlook: I think they can rally in the second half and steal a wild card. There’s a lot of talent on this team. However, I don’t see them catching Tennessee for the division title.

3. Indianapolis Colts (1-2)

The Good: They still have Peyton Manning, who willed his team to victory against Minnesota, but not before brandishing so many sourpuss looks that CBS felt the need to show a montage. Reggie Wayne is one of the best receivers in the league. They have a new stadium; that’s cool.

The Bad: Their defense, minus Bob Sanders. They’re 0-2 in their new stadium. Their offensive line is bad and Manning is still hurting. Joseph Addai looks terrible, though part of that can be blamed on the line. They're in a tough division.

Outlook: They will compete with Jacksonville for a wild card slot for the rest of the year. You can never count Manning out, but the rest of this team is just not that good.

4. Houston Texans (0-3)

The Good: They significantly improved last week and took Jacksonville down to the wire. Matt Schaub looked somewhat competent in that game. Steve Slaton has been a revelation (I mean, when I’m right…).

The Bad: Basically everything else. Matt Schaub still looks terrible at most other times. Tough division. Not their year.

Outlook: There’s talent on this team, but they really need to decide if Schaub is the answer at QB. I wouldn’t mind, and I know I speak for a lot of Texans fans, if Sage Rosenfels got an extended look. What do they have to lose?

West Division

1. Denver Broncos (3-1)

The Good: Jay Cutler-to-Brandon Marshall is the new Manning-to-Harrison. The passing game is ridiculous. As Keith Jackson might say, “Mike Shanahan can still coach ‘em.” They seem to have a good running back committee with Selvin Young, Andre Hall, and goal line hog Michael Pittman.

The Bad: Their defense sucks. Kansas City looked like a playoff team last Sunday. Their running game might be okay but I’m of the opinion that it's not that great when you need to run the ball and don’t know who your top option is. They are a blown call away from being 2-2, with a loss to KC and everyone asking what’s wrong with them.

Outlook: The defense isn’t getting any better. They just need to run-and-gun it as much as possible to get into the playoffs. Once there, anything can happen, but I have a hard time seeing them as being anything better than a second-round team because of their putrid defense.

2. San Diego Chargers (2-2)

The Good: They took two hits in bad games and kept going. Philip Rivers looks like he’s taking the next step to being a great QB in the NFL. The team is still loaded and moving on even without Merriman in their second year of adjustment to Norv Turner’s system.

The Bad: The defense is hurting really badly. I didn’t think the loss of Merriman would affect them that much because of all the other talent they have on that team, but it has. Tomlinson is banged up and though Darren Sproles is a decent back, he’s not an every-down guy.

Outlook: I think the Chargers roar to life in the second half. They just have to. There’s too much talent on this team and the conference is so unsteady. And if I’m wrong, I’m wrong, but I’m standing by them as a Super Bowl pick.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (1-3)

The Good: They actually won a game. Larry Johnson may not be done yet. Damon Huard isn’t on the IR.

The Bad: The team.

Outlook: Bleak, but they had a good draft and are trying to build a solid foundation. It's just not happening this year.

4. Oakland Raiders (1-3)

The Good: There's talent on this team. JaMarcus Russell can throw the deep ball. Darren McFadden and Michael Bush make for a good rushing tandem, and they're getting Justin Fargas back. The defense can sometimes be competent.

The Bad: Al Davis. Wow, it's sad. Forget the bizarre press conference. Just look at the guy. He looks horrid. It’s such a shame to see what this once-proud franchise has become. I know Lane Kiffin is going to go at some point, but it doesn’t help anyone but Davis’ ego.

Outlook: There’s talent on this team; hopefully they can get a coach that will have the time to harness it.