NFL's Next Dynasty: 10 Teams That Could Dominate Football for 2010 and Beyond
There's this little habit that we have in the NFL fan community, and it isn't without cause; we associate the league's dynasties with the decade of their existence. It's a marriage of perfection that has worked out in every decade.
Lombardi's Packers won their championships in the 1960s.
That Steel Curtain was the defensive stalwart of the 1970s.
Montana Magic dominated the 1980s.
The Cowboys demonstrated mastery of the 1990s.
It's very special that each new decade boasted its own legendary squad.
The Dallas team was significant as their dynastic era occurred during the times that marked the start of the free agency in the NFL. Experts waged debate regarding whether or not a dynasty would be possible going forward, considering the updated logistics on the league.
No longer could teams build an elaborate and deep roster, groom it for the long-haul and dominate the NFL landscape for years. It was predicted that players' loyalties would be overshadowed by the next big payday, and this turned out to be true. Athletes rarely stayed with the teams that drafted them; "contract" became a fleeting word that roughly translated to "the napkin my current salary is written on," and team's personnel (and personalities) shifted annually.
So, it was a shock when the Patriots became the dynasty of the 2000s.
And, in the midst of the fog of salary war and mobile paydays, the New England Patriots taught the NFL landscape that there is a mold for success in the modern game. Crafting a team on concept and choosing each part meticulously, the Patriots "Kraft-ed" (cheesy, right?—which in a way is another bad pun!) an NFL dynasty. There were a number of moving parts, but as players shifted (many played two or three positions during their tenure under Bill Belichick), the Patriots managed to plug the holes. To-date,
New England continues to dominate the NFL landscape through great scouting and game-planning and calculated decisions on which players will benefit their cause.
It doesn't hurt having Tom Brady, either.
This doesn't guarantee that another dynasty is around the corner. In fact, the recent NFL landscape hasn't seen a championship defended since its most recent dynasty. In between Boston championships, the Buccaneers won their first Super Bowl ever. Look at the past six seasons since the Patriots' third title:
- 2005- The Steelers win the Super Bowl for the first time in over 25 years
- 2006- Peyton finally earns his ring, and the Colts win for the first time since being in Baltimore
- 2007- The Giants shock the undefeated Patriots, who would have been considered the greatest team ever.
- 2008- The Steelers win under sophomore coach Mike Tomlin
- 2009- The Saints. 'Nuf said!
- 2010- The Packers and Aaron Rodgers return Title Town, USA to glory.
How can you expect a dynasty when it can be argued that the playoff favorite didn't win the championship of any of those seasons?
Nevertheless, New England proved that it is possible to dominate a span of years even in today's challenging market of change and personnel flux.
Assuming there is a 2011 season, the defending champion Green Bay Packers will return a roster that looks primed for a break-out campaign and potential title defense. Certainly, they have visions of greater things now that they've secured that first token of eternal gridiron greatness.
But, which team is best equipped to be the next dynasty? Certainly, it's hard to tell what 10 years will offer. Whose crystal ball showed Tom Brady, a sixth-round pick, replacing Drew Bledsoe and winning at the rate he did? Nobody called that! Perhaps, there's a "Bob Smith" or "Joe Johnson" sitting in the shadows of a roster, waiting to shake up everything. In other words, just as some dynasties above had their struggles in the years before their rise, the turning point can come from anywhere. Unfortunately, there is no psychic ball. So given what we can analyze, who might be next?
New York? New England? De-fraggin'-troit?
As things look today and considering what is known, let's take a fun look ahead at the teams who are equipped for pinnacle success in the years to come!
Surprise Teams That I Believe Will Not: Atlanta Falcons and St. Louis Rams
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There are things that scare me about Atlanta.
Matt Ryan is not one of those things...but kind of is...the guy just makes me wonder.
I admire his aplomb and feel that he throws a great ball. And, the proof is in the statistics that he knows to play smart.
But, as I mentioned, the proof is in the statistics.
The guy knows how to make a clutch throw, yet his numbers aren't as great as the media would like you to believe. His average yards per pass is measly, and that is a huge indicator of future success; winning and pass per attempt averages tend to correlate almost seamlessly. Nevertheless, he makes every clutch throw. Except for right before the half of that divisional playoff game...
Truth be told, Ryan has mixes of brilliance and lapses, normal for a soon to be fourth-year starter. But, at this point, after a half-decade, those lapses should start to subside. He has a great target in Roddy White, but occassionally, he is overdependent.
One thing that does scare me is the defensive line, which must be improved. They allowed nearly five yards per carry in 2010. You can get away with it for a while (and with a ball-control offense), but eventually, that will kill you. Despite ranking in the middle of the league in both defensive and offensive yards, Atlanta was great in both scoring offense and defense. That is admirable.
Make no mistake, bending but not breaking is an admirable quality.
But, it's not a championship quality. Playoff teams also bend and not break, and they know how to put you out if that's your niche.
This is a gritty team that makes the plays that it has to when it needs to...but is that really great? Or, is that asking for it?
We'll see in 2011, but so far, it's meant good and bad (see 2009 and 2010).
Meanwhile, the St. Louis Rams were improved in nearly every category in 2010. But, I need time to determine if their improvements are a mirage or the corner that's being turned. There are a few things that cause me question:
- They play in the woeful NFC West, a division where the winner (Seahawks) would have been 4-12 in any other. This may work for them in the regular season, but in the playoffs, you must be championship-tested. The real question is: when will the NFC West get better and prove itself the next true contender?
- Sam Bradford threw a lot of passes, due to a horrid running game that never got going. He has great upside...if he can keep going. The Rams have a terrible offensive line that needs focus immediately.
- Bradfords yards per attempt are not great or even good. They were awful.
- There are just so many holes. I can't look at this roster without seeing about a dozen players I'd replace.
With so many holes to fill, I think it'll take 3-plus years for the franchise to be a legitimate contender, no less a dynasty option. You never know, but I strongly suspect based on the statistics that their improvement was largely a mirage masking a bad 4-12 team with an easy schedule. They'll win games, but this is still a work largely in progress.
Granted, the NFL is a league that sees teams go from bad to good overnight. I feel there are a couple of other strong candidates who are closer to the playoffs.
Honorable Mentions: Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants
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There are a lot of great teams in the NFL, but ultimately, somebody has to be the odd team out of the mix.
I'm going to list the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants as honorable mentions.
With the Giants, I'm going to be succinct: I don't trust that Eli Manning is going to stop making bad decisions. His turnovers are careless, and he's been around long enough to know better. Plain and simple. Even in a winning Super Bowl effort, he struggled reading protection and made a funny decision in the clutch. Granted, the decision worked in his favor...only as the greatest play in Super Bowl history!
He's capable of a great four-week run, and if it ever starts in December, he will likely have a physical defense behind him!
The Ravens are a better team than New York, in my opinion. I keep hearing "they're built for the future." I agree, but I don't think they're built to improve. They are a perennial contender, but as timeless defensive legends leave, more and more will be put on Joe Flacco. Flacco is a good game manager, but he hasn't done nearly as much with his weapons as he should. Great running back, great receivers, great tight end, good line...so-so offensive numbers.
Be sure to note that if this were the "Top 10 Candidates to win Super Bowl XLVI," these new-age Purple People Eaters would be in my 10 list without hesitation.
Dynasty standards imply longevity, however, and I'm not certain that the Ravens are equipped to win multiple Super Bowls over a span of time.
Also, for all of its improvements, the team's offense is inconsistent and shows shades of anemia. Joe Flacco has been a major improvement at quarterback, guiding the team to three straight winning post-seasons. Nevertheless, for their talent at skill positions, the team doesn't score many points.
Not that they have to with that defense. That brings me to a second point...
Ray Lewis continues to play well, and Ed Reed gobbles up the ball when he is able to play. However, the safety's injury-prone history isn't bound to improve much, and Ray Lewis isn't going to have the same speed he does today in 2014. His face will be on Baltimore's Coat of Arms, but that type of prowess doesn't last forever, and "Sugar Ray" has played superbly well beyond his expected expiration. Granted, you can plug in pieces, but the cut from losing a player of such a legendary status will take time to mend.
And, let's be honest. That secondary can look suspect! The Ravens are very simply not the shutdown team they were in the past.
There's a lot of flight in those wings, so expect a 12-win season in 2011. But...is this the team that will deliver three Lombardi Trophies to Maryland? If it were to happen, I don't believe it'll be here...
10) Tie: Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts
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I can already hear the outcry: the Cowboys have talent! They're proven winners! They have a history of excellence! One bad year doesn't discount all of that!
I agree. Which is why they make the countdown.
The Dallas Cowboys, post-triplet (Irvin, Smith and Aikman), have been every bit as marketable as they were in the glory days. The "America's Team" slogan certainly has merit with consideration to the team's popularity and a passionate fanbase. By passionate, I mean that fans love or hate the Cowboys.
It's either heartbreaking or wonderful, depending on your perspective, that Dallas has choked in the biggest games ever year since Tony Romo led them back to the post-season. Romo will return, but his is not a spring chicken. The offensive line is aging, leaving question marks about ball control and the health of their quarterback during his return from injury. With Jason Witten and Miles Austin, every play is a scoring threat, and it is very feasible that they could gel together and win many games.
Things are very similar in Indianapolis.
Aging veterans play alongside young new stars. Peyton Manning and his receiving set have changed. Reggie Wayne has seen Marvin Harrison leave, yet Dallas Clark has put up numbers like a receiver. A team with Manning can win in ANY given year, yet the window of opportunity seems to be slamming shut for additional hardware. The middle-Manning may have seen his potential dynasty fall short already.
The fact is Peyton chokes with the best opportunities, so expect it to continue. In his Super Bowl winning season, his defense sold its soul and actually bailed him out—he had more interceptions than touchdowns in three AFC playoff games in 2007. And, in 2010, questionable play-calling in the fourth quarter (a draw on 3rd-and-9 deep in Jets' territory) illustrated how over-analysis can cost in key moments when just popping pads and going for the kill would better serve the cause. The Colts lost to the Jets 17-16.
But, you can never, ever count out a team whose defense comes in waves and whose offense can score on any drive. I wonder how much the Colts' punter earns per kick?
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9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Will the Cannons Fire for Josh Freeman and Co.?
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Not to be confused with a list of Super Bowl XLVI favorites, the Buccaneers are not quite the team that many of the aforementioned squads have established. That is why they rank ahead of them: huge upside with their best days ahead of them.
Josh Freeman, LeGarrette Blount and Mike Williams.
Yes, the future is as sunny as the Florida sky in Tampa.
As we all know, there's also a few hurricanes in the area. There will be growing pains.
With a great use of finances, the team's cap would seem to allow for further improvements, and the sky could be the limit! Expect the Raymond James cannons to be firing for years to come! Make no mistake that sometimes teams have to take a few steps back to go forward. Tampa will be hard-pressed to repeat its 2010 success in 2011, but the future beyond that is promising.
Yet, this team has a great young core that is very promising. Josh Freeman's mobility coupled with his aplomb in the pocket make him a dynamic threat at quarterback, and watching his chemistry with wide receiver Mike Williams had to be scary for the rest of the NFC South. Their relationship only promises to improve, meaning they could easily become a top combination in upcoming seasons.
Freeman is, in my opinion, the best young quarterback in the game. His 25:6 touchdown to interception ratio last season showcases that ball security is a priority. He's the anti-Kordell Stewart.
The Bucs have lost defensive talent in recent seasons, so they will have to make this a focus area in order to become a balanced squad capable of playing in February. This is the lone difference in their rating vs. the Lions, who also make the list for a bright potential future. In Detroit, the defensive focus is already underway.
8) San Diego Chargers- Can Philip Rivers and the Bolts Win in September?
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Nobody is going to debate the talent and skill of the San Diego Chargers. If it weren't for them, they'd like be in my top five.
If you weren't told, who could believe this team ranked No. 1 in both total offense and total defense last season?
Yet, that is exactly where they ranked. Blunders and special teams. Killers. Special teams were struck San Diego down like their nickname in 2010. Thankfully, as the 2010 Steelers can attest, improvement in special teams can lead to greatness. Pittsburgh replaced their special teams coach that season, and instead of blowing games, they went to the Super Bowl.
The knock on San Diego is two-fold.
First, they aren't as young as they used to be (I guess that can be said for literally every person in the world). What I mean is that a great length of time where they could have been en route to to multiple titles has passed. It remains to be seen how much longer the Chargers can field such a talented roster of players.
On a sidenote, who wouldn't love to field Antonio Gates? Speaking of gates...
Can the Chargers ever storm out of the gates?
As my second point, the Chargers must start seasons faster. They are snake-bitten in the postseason, but playing on the road and/or exhausting so much energy climbing out of the annual 2-5 hole isn't helping their chances.
Philip Rivers has emerged as an elite passer. He had a great campaign in 2010 despite Vincent Jackson's absence. Look for San Diego to not miss a stride in the coming few seasons. Yet, much like the Air Coryell era, the Bolts so often watch their hopes get crushed in a wave of special teams and defensive mishaps.
The great news is that it's likely not the defense that's going to cost the squad games. Truthfully, they may have the most talented roster in the NFL, despite what many feel is a deficiency at wide receiver. San Diego will go as high as their determination takes them. The pieces are in place for a great era, starting four years ago.
That could be great but just might be bad. Stay tuned...
7) Detroit Lions- Can There Be a Ford Field Frenzy?
6 of 13Bwaaah? Ahead of the Colts and Cowboys? The Chargers? Even the Bucs?
Yep, that Detroit Lions team.
They're not going to be an instant "W" anymore. Please remember, we're looking for potential long-term success, and that doesn't bode well for veteran teams who have missed opportunities.
I juggled a few young teams, all with young, electrifying arms at the quarterback position. Projecting teams' odds at a championship is tough enough, but a dynasty has to factor in longevity and competency in the front office. Each franchise has a young nucleus, and there is reason to be optimistic with any of three: St. Louis, Detroit and Tampa Bay. Make no mistake that any of these teams could make the playoffs next season—FACT. Any of them has the eventual potential for greatness.
However, I believe the potential for growth in Detroit is abundant.
The first reason is post-M. No, not Martin Mayhew, but Matt Millen.
New GM Martin Mayhew and coach Jim Schwartz reinvigorated the Lions, who had one of their more competitive seasons in recent memory in 2010. Sure, it was 6-10, but an aggressive 4-0 finish showed huge upside.
In an effort to shore up the defense, they drafted Ndamukong Suh. This was a great move. The beast will only get better, and if Corey Williams and Cliff Avril continue to play well up-front, the team will continue to steadily improve from their 22nd defensive ranking. It all starts in the trenches, and Detroit has smartly made this their focus.
Finally, a drafted receiver is living up to his billing, and the hype over the position in prior drafts led to abysmal outcomes. Gone are disappointments, and alive is Calvin Johnson, who will be receiving his passes from the tough-as-woodpecker lips QB Matthew Stafford. Stafford continues to make strides, and he has a cannon arm.
Make no mistake, the Lions have a great young nucleus. Teams like the 1990 and 1991 Cowboys (who were 1-15 in 1989) and early 80s 49ers know that young and exciting can turn into experienced and established.
Detroit hopes the establishment manifests as a Lombardi Trophy. The team played inspired ball in 2010 behind Jim Schwartz, destroying the Rams 44-6 and playing two great games (a win and loss) against the eventual champion Packers.
6) Philadelphia Eagles- Looking Forward to an Era of Michael Vick-tory
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While it was met with contraversy initially, putting Michael Vick at quarterback to supplant Kevin Kolb was a phenomenal decision by Philadelphia. Vick infused the Eagles offense with an additional dimension, making up for the lack of a running game that plagues Andy Reid's Eagles squads.
Vick's presence was heightened by his new aplomb in the pocket, where Brent Celek (tight end) and Desean Jackson (you know his position...) brimmed with confidence. The Eagles set a franchise scoring record and could explode in any given moment.
Ask the Giants.
Even the Eagles defense played excellently in 2010. The team had no specific weakness.
Their team has scouted excellently, and as one great player leaves, the gaps are plugged in with newly invigorated talent. To be sure, the Eagles are the best team of recent years in the NFC. Unfortunately, like the Colts, they tend to fall just short.
With heightened leadership and a great roster, the Eagles could excel in 2011. However, it's yet to be seen if Michael Vick can lead his team to a championship at all sinner repeat titles. Vick hasn't put together a string of successful seasons largely due to his off-field shennanigans, so this season will be a great platform for him to prove himself again.
Athletic and lightning fast, the Eagles have the make-up of a team that can win it all again and again, which is amazing considering that their window of opportunity has passed and opened again almost immediately. Those who thought the Eagles missed their shot at glory should awe at how consistently the team fields a winner.
Can Andy Reid and Michael Vick, perennial big-game losers, shape up together? In 2004, Vick and the Falcons were a fast offense; his style opened up the running game for the halfbacks, and this led to a dominant offense that lead the league in rushing by a wide margin.
An Andy Reid team that controls the clock and is explosive is a receipt for disaster for the rest of the NFC.
One problem: Andy Reid. Is run in his vocabulary? We all know that "screen" is...
5) New York Jets- Magic or Myth in the Meadowlands?
8 of 13The Jets are enjoying their most magical era since Broadway Joe Namath.
Questions about whether the Jets were a fluke in 2009 were answered loudly by their 12-4 record and playoff run in 2010. The Jets are fun to watch. Consider:
A brash, bold coach who infuses confidence into his talented players...
Santonio Holmes, a cocky, talented receiver displaced after Super Bowl glory...
A smothering defense, capable of containing any opponent...
A running back trying valiantly for one last shot at a ring...
And a quarterback who...well, who knows?
Everything is in place for the Jets to win again and again and again right now. The big question is: can Sanchez do it?
Looking at his regular season numbers, you would have to say resoundingly, "No." The quarterback still turns the ball over. His pedestrian passer rating under 80 is horrendous considering his playmaking targets.
Yet, in the playoffs, the glitz and glamour are of no matter. The guy simply puts on his chin strap and wins games. He is careful with the football, makes good decisions and leads a quietly capable offense that has been to back-to-back AFC Championship Games...
...and lost both.
Which brings us back to square one. They can win now. But will they?
An unproven commodity are these Jets. Time will tell, but with all of their self-inflicted exposure, this machine will not stand idle. The Jets will either soar to great heights or crash and burn.
If they soar, they could stay on top of the world for a long while. Young talent is coupled with veterans who want to play for Rex Ryan annually, making for a capable and talented squad.
4) Pittsburgh Steelers- Will There Be a Steely McBeam Dream Team?
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In the NFL, there are great teams. Championship teams. You can name them: Cowboys, 49ers, Steelers, Packers. The Big 4. The modern addition of the Patriots makes this list a Fabulous Five.
These teams may have some off seasons, but you know they're going to bounce back. They just always do. Many teams have the core talent for a great future, but no teams have greater dynasty potential than those who have proven that they can use it.
About every time somebody thinks the Steelers are going to age into obscurity, they just continue to be great.
Some people even argue that this team is already a mini-dynasty, but I don't know that terms like mini-dynasty match up with the real thing. It all comes down to Lombardi's, and dynasty standards require more than two. Period. The team's success, however, has been unparalleled in the last six seasons.
The Steelers have crafted the "D" with a near-psyhchic penchant for obtaining, grooming and employing amazing defensive talent. Troy Polamalu, Lamar Woodley, James Harrison and Casey Hampton are amazing talents on the current roster who have consumed whatever magical defensive potion is in the water at the confluence of the three rivers.
For years, the Steelers have been winners. They rank high for a simple reason: 25 out of 39. That's the number of times the Steelers have been in the NFL Playoffs since their rise to contention in 1972. As parts age, the franchise methodically relieves the player and substitutes another incredible athlete to resume the position.
As Dick LeBeau ages (or does he?) and Casey Hampton nears retirement, there is rumor of the team heading into a 4-3 defensive scheme. Whether or not the changes are that radical, Pittsburgh's front office executives have proven their ability to be a consistent winner by making the playoffs in nearly 2/3 of ever season since the 1970's.
Since Ben Roethlisberger emerged as the starter in 2004, the Steelers have known what championship quarterbacking is—at least on the field. Mike Wallace is a young, fast replacement for the loss of Santonio Holmes, and it remains to be seen how long Hines Ward will continue to be productive.
Despite offseason controversy, Rashard Mendenhall will be a fine, young back for the Steelers going forward.
So, for all of this glorification, what holds them back? Special tams and the offensive line. While the offensive line has a great center, it can stand to be improved. And, special teams has been a hardship for Pittsburgh; do the research—no team has been more brutalized by special teams in the last three decades. This is surprising when you consider the team's lofty standards.
The Steelers are well-suited to return to the Super Bowl and strive for additional championship for years to come. Beyond that, the franchise has proven its ability to continuously be a main contender.
3) New Orleans Saints- Brees and Co. Just Continue To Voo-Doo It
10 of 13It wasn't that long ago that the Saints were a paper bag franchise. The team never won anything.
Hurricane Katrina hit hard, and everything was left in shambles. The community was reeling. If there's any sector of America that has a dynasty spirit already, it's New Orleans, LA.
As a community healed, the Saints became winners, and a team and its fans came together in pure synergy.
Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Jonathan Vilma, Tracy Porter, Marques Colston and more. Sean Peyton and team management put together a team whose defense could finally match wits with an offense that had been scoring at a torrid pace for three seasons.
The result was a magical run to Super Bowl XLIV, and the team seems bound to return similar talent to the field for years to come.
For a time, Saints fans were simply looking for something to cheer for. Now, they have everything to cheer for in this squad whose best days may, scarily, be ahead of it.
The Saints were a dark-horse pick by many to win the NFC at the start of the 2011 playoffs, and while they were upset in Seattle, they had underachieved.
They've already put a world championship into their resume. so this is one of a few teams who can mathematically say their dynasty may already be underway.
With Drew Brees manning the offense, and Gregg Williams calling the defense, fans in Louisiana know that with a victory in Super Bowl XLVI, dynasty talks would naturally ensue.
Make no mistake that the Saints will be one of the favorites heading into the uncertain 2011 season.
2) New England Patriots- Story of the Real Killer B's
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The one team that's most proven its ability to be versatile with its roster and best manage free agency has to be in the top three.
This team manages to change its identity and stay the same at the same time, all the while maintaining incredible success.
Deion Branch brings things full circle, but as Troy Brown exits the building, Wes Welker becomes a top target.
The run game goes back and forth, and every couple of years they get a running back that sets them over the top on offense. It was once Corey Dillon, and it's now Benjarvus Green-Ellis.
2010 was slated as a rebuilding year in which the Patriots defense would have to overcome youth and inexperience. This may have been true in the playoffs, but nobody can argue that the squad exceeded expectations. How many 20-plus point wins can a team have that doesn't game plan like a fox?
Teams find ways to be great in spurts, but the Patriots have been great for ten seasons. It is largely due to their ability to redefine the mold of the team and to find success behind the strengths of their roster. No team plugs in pieces with more competence.
This all goes back to Bill Belichick. And, for all of his genius (and it is, love him or hate him), it really boils down to the stability of the most important position through quarterback Tom Brady.
The team wins three of four Super Bowls, maintains a winning record before their undefeated season, watches that roster fall apart due to age and lack of productivity, and merely replaces it with more pieces. The result was another 14-win season that everybody was surprised about and nobody should have been.
Sure, they lost to the Jets. And, personally, I'm a huge Patriots-hater. Objectivity, is the key for a list like this, and right or wrong it would make no sense to bet against this squad. Who better to have a shot at a dynasty than the team that:
- has many core pieces from its recent dynastic perch
- fields the best quarterback in football in Tom Brady (are you blind or can you see?)
- rarely if ever misses the playoffs
- comes off of the 14-win season
- has arguable the best coach in the game
- ...and has a lot of room for improvement. This team is great and will only gain experience.
When you're winning 20-plus straight home games, your quarterback is throwing 36 touchdowns to four interceptions, your running game is clicking and your defense is only going to get better, you have the potential to win championships with a capital, plural S.
Time to cash that check: Tom Brady will win at least one more Super Bowl. And this team has the potential to be every bit as strong as those Boston squads from the early century.
Yet, for all of this glorification, there's one team that I think is better equipped to carry on the NFL's decade-defining tradition of dynasty football...
1) Green Bay Packers- Can Greatness Come Full Circle?
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It's old-hat to pick the defending champion as the team with the most potential in the NFL. It's thought of as a bandwagon move, and critics will tell you that the modern NFL doesn't see its Super Bowl participants fare very well the next season.
There is something different about this Packers team: they won the Super Bowl, and they underachieved.
There are some free agents in this potential offseason, but their core is established, and they have yet to peak. The team struggled to a 10-6 record, taking the hard road to the Super Bowl. Yet, they were simply the more talented team in all four playoff games, and it finally showed in the post-season. They stopped beating themselves.
You can't talk about the Packers without having the sound of an infomercial. They're that good, and they're that marketable. Without adieu, time to advertise for the "Green Bay Pack Attack."
The Patriots, Packers and Saints field the three best, most consistent offenses in football of the past few years. I'm giving the edge to the Pack.
Aaron Rodgers is proving that his time spent observing isn't just a tried and expired strategy: it can still work. Rodgers is among the best in the game, and he has the skill set to be the NFL's next best quarterback. With Jennings, Jones, Nelson and Driver, the Pack boasts the "Harlem Globe Trotters" of receiving quartets. No wonder Rodgers shows grace and aplomb in the pocket. Luckily for Aaron, he has those proverbial "eyes in the back of his head."
This leads into the Pack's one deficiency: the offensive line. They're decent, especially inside, but the tackles are young. They will only get better, with each man on the line having competency to improve. That's right...as time goes on, I predict the Pack will be running the ball better and giving their ace quarterback more time to throw. Yikes!
For all of Rodger's aplomb, the real championship mettle of this time lies on the defense. Their secondary was phenomenal, resulting in the team having the best passer rating differential in football. Nick Collins is a beastly safety who had a moment to shine in the biggest game of the year, scoring a critical first quarter touchdown.
Did I mention they won the Super Bowl with Charles Woodson on the sideline?
Their defensive front is decent at run-stuffing, and it can bring the heat with the best in football. Breakout Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji are young, and they will get better.
Injuries plagued this team in 2011, and self-inflicted wounds cost them games. When the games counted most, they played their best.
In the coming seasons, the Packers are going to have multiple 12-plus win seasons. They have all the ability to go 14-2 for years to come. If that manifests into Lombardi coming home a couple more times, we have the next great dynasty on our hands.
The Super Bowl era started with the great Packers. Could we be coming full circle?
And What about That Team...or That Team?
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We've counted down a number of teams that have great potential.
Some have walked the walk.
Some are getting there.
But, as the 1999 Rams, 2000 Ravens, 2001 Patriots, 2007 Giants and others have proven- there's no sure thing in the NFL.
Great teams win championships. A great team tomorrow, but not necessarily today. The 1989 Cowboys, led by coach Jim Johnson and quarterback Troy Aikman were 1-15.
If you set your mind to improving, you will start to win. When you start to win, who knows? Maybe you'll be that rare type to play into February.
Great champions make dynasties. The distinction is rare. It's unique to still be eager to improve, come back, and start the fight all over again. It's even harder in the era of free agency.
Yet, as those '89 Cowboys proved, the next big thing could be completely out of sight for the time being.
San Francisco brought in young Jim Harbaugh, who looks to be true to his nickname of "Captain Comeback" for the once-dynastic franchise.
The Kansas City Chiefs were pegged as overachievers in 2010 by many (including myself), but would they be the first team to prove a yield of "experts" wrong?
The Houston Texans look to improve a shaky defense to bolster their already offensively gifted team. Maybe Mario Williams will find some help.
The Chicago Bears just went to the NFC Championship game. Maybe Jay Cutler's big arm really is the answer that nobody wants to give him credit for, and maybe 'da Bears weren't overachievers after all.
In Washington, Mike Shanahan might think, "I've done it before. I'll be doing it again." Maybe Dan Snyder's dollars will finally start to yield interest.
A lot of teams have great potential and a leg up on the competition. Yet, the NFL really stands for the "Nobody Figured League."
Simply put, there's a lot yet to be unveiled.
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.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")