OT: Annual NFL Wurst-to-1st Question
I asked this last year, will do it again, as long as NFL teams keep accomodating me.
For about 13 year running, something like that, an NFL team has WON its division after being in LAST place in the division the prior year. Last year, Houston took than honor (last place 2010, first place 2011).
So, who will be this year's wurst-to-furst NFL team? Here are your candidates, the 2011 season's last-place teams, by division:
AFC
Buffalo (East)
Cleveland (North)
Indianapolis (South)
Kansas City (West)
NFC
Washington (East)
Minnesota (North)
Tampa Bay (South)
St. Louis (West)
Frankly, while some years there is an obvious candidate to jump up and win its division, this year I can't say that. Each of those teams looks... highly unlikely to win its division.
But, since statistics, trends, and the Internets (invented by Al Gore) don't lie, one of these sorded, lousy teams is gonna win its division. Book it.
Who will it be... your guesses? I'll guess Kansas City, only because their division is pretty not-awesome, they did win their division the previous year, and they are less sucky than any of the other seven. The two rookie-QB led teams are in really tough divisions, and at least 3 of the remainder are in divisions with 2 or even 3 heavyweights. So the only other candidate in my book is St. Louis.
August 10th, 2012 at 11:23 PM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 12:31 AM ^
That's the spirit!
August 10th, 2012 at 11:26 PM ^
August 10th, 2012 at 11:29 PM ^
I too will choose Tampa Bay, but none of them sound good now..
August 10th, 2012 at 11:32 PM ^
August 10th, 2012 at 11:36 PM ^
August 10th, 2012 at 11:37 PM ^
Kansas City might be the safest bet. You can never count on the Chargers. The Raiders are the Raiders. The Broncos have a lot of hype, including Peyton Manning is Peyton Manning, but it only takes one hit to knock him out. Without Peyton, the Broncos are a sub .500 team. The Chiefs had a lot of injuries last year that contributed to their poor record.
Of the eight teams listed, they make the most sense.
August 10th, 2012 at 11:38 PM ^
August 10th, 2012 at 11:40 PM ^
might as well go with my colts.
August 10th, 2012 at 11:42 PM ^
August 10th, 2012 at 11:52 PM ^
I'm a big believer in Ryan Fitzpatrick and he's got some solid weapons in Stevie Johnson and Scott Chandler plus Fred Jackson to take some pressure off of him. As long as they don't implode like that did last season, they should be able to contend with the Patriots.
August 11th, 2012 at 9:00 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 12:10 AM ^
Tampa Bay
August 11th, 2012 at 12:36 AM ^
was going to say rams also. Same reason weaker division, strong young qb with possible break out year and very strong drafts the last couple years.
August 11th, 2012 at 12:44 AM ^
There's questions along the defensive line no doubt, but Clayborn has All-Pro potential, and if McCoy can live up to his potential, it can be at least a serviceable line. The linebackers will be good, but they're young. Lavonte David is our next Derrick Brooks. I also feel much better with our secondary knowing the Red Baron is on patrol. Tampa Bay has no shortage of talent. It just needs discipline, which Schiano is giving them plenty of.
I do have some doubts about a run first offense in today's NFL, but the Ravens make it work.
August 11th, 2012 at 3:11 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 3:50 AM ^
Kansas City. Veteran QB. Great Fans. Junior Hemingway *if he makes the squad.
August 11th, 2012 at 4:36 AM ^
Definitely bratwurst.
August 11th, 2012 at 5:46 AM ^
The two teams on that list who grossly underperformed, IMO, would be Tampa and KC.
I'll pick KC though, because I think they play in a weaker division.
August 11th, 2012 at 7:40 AM ^
The NFC East always beats up on each other so the best record is always near 9-7. The Redskins have a top 5 defense if the offense can stay on the field at all. I know the rookie QB deal, but if Rex had less turnovers last year the Skins would have been right in the thick of it. Over the last two years they have been in a ton of 6 point or less losses. RGIII seems to have the right mentality to be successful and the swagger to pull out some close wins.
August 11th, 2012 at 10:44 AM ^
Both were well below expectations last year, improved in the offseason in terms of roster and coaching and should be better this year.
Saints are down, I don't believe in the Falcons, and Carolina might be like Tampa last year... overachieved with no expectations but regress.
San Francisco should be good but everything went right for them last year, unlikely to continue. Rest of division is weak.
August 11th, 2012 at 11:11 AM ^
Greg Schiano apparently thinks he is Bear Bryant and is running his team into the ground during training camp. I expect a lot of nagging injuries and fatigue as the season progresses. I wouldn't be surprised to see choronic cramping during home games, especially the first half of the season, either.
I know that Schiano wants to establish his own "culture," but I think he is overcompensating. As for all of the personnel moves, the biggest difference is that Josh Freeman has a bona fide, NFL WR as a target now. Then again, Schiano is a "pound the rock" kind of coach, so it won't matter a lot.
His schemes are archaic. He is going to find out that the NFL is juuuust a bit tougher than the Big East, especially once they accurately chart your tendencies.
They should improve over last year, but 9-7 would be a great record for this team.
August 11th, 2012 at 11:23 AM ^
August 11th, 2012 at 11:45 AM ^
KC fer shizzle
August 11th, 2012 at 12:55 PM ^
Why is it Wurst-to-First? Does the winner get a supply of bratwurst or similar?
I'll go with Buffalo (random guess).
August 11th, 2012 at 5:42 PM ^
My wife is from there and is a big Chiefs fan. Also, most of those other teams are really, really bad at football.