Who is this year's NFL worst to first?
(This is within the no-OT-post rules for the football season because it directly relates to the Lions. Although I am not a Lions fan. I also point out there was a thread on the opening game last night, or perhaps I'm mistaken, was that merely target practice for the Bronco's QB?)
For about 14 years running, an NFL team has gone "worst to first" in its division -- that is, the last place team in a division one year has gone on to win the division the very next year. (Can you name last year's team to do it?)
So here are the candidates this year:
AMERICAN EAST -- Jets, Bills
AMERICAN NORTH -- Browns
AMERICAN SOUTH -- Jaguars
AMERICAN WEST -- Chiefs
NATIONAL EAST -- Eagles
NATIONAL NORTH -- Lions
NATIONAL SOUTH -- Saints, Buccaneers
NATIONAL WEST -- Cardinals
Who you got? The obvious pick is the Saints. If not them, it would probably be the Lions, although the Eagles are a total unknown and don't have any heavyweights in their division. The Chiefs might be very improved this year... but with the Broncos in the same division, fuhgedaboudit.
September 6th, 2013 at 11:32 AM ^
It's going to be the Saints. With Payton back they are going to win the NFC South.
September 6th, 2013 at 11:34 AM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 12:05 PM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 1:37 PM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 3:06 PM ^
RGIII. Every time Rex Grossman touches the ball, it's either a TD or a pregnancy.
Oh! You mean RGIII2? Yeah, go with him. I'm not sold on Kelly's transition to the NFL until I see some of it. And the Eagles seem to be about one spilled milk carton away from a full on Lord of the Flies situation. Everything that's been said about RGIII's knee has been positive, so it sounds like he'll be full go (or close to).
September 6th, 2013 at 11:41 AM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 11:43 AM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 12:02 PM ^
/space-time continuum
September 6th, 2013 at 12:06 PM ^
Wow. That's crazy. How are you posting on MGoBlog if it doesn't exist? How are you posting if you don't exist?
September 6th, 2013 at 12:26 PM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 12:37 PM ^
Oh yea, me too.
September 6th, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^
Can you let me know if my third wife is hot?
September 6th, 2013 at 8:53 PM ^
Sorry, your second wife murders you.
September 6th, 2013 at 12:14 PM ^
They have Denard.
September 6th, 2013 at 3:15 PM ^
They're dilithium powered now. That's my pick too.
September 6th, 2013 at 12:20 PM ^
Chiefs, Saints, Bucs, Lions all have a chance to make the playoffs.
Chiefs still have a above average defense and now they have a competent passer (not great) with a good supporting offensive cast. There's no way they beat the Broncos, but they could possible get a wildcard. Plus the Raiders are garbage and the Chargers are underacheivers
Saints and Bucs simply because the NFC South has a high turnover rate. Saints get back Payton and have a great O but will be limited by their D.
Bucs should have a good offense and a better D with Revis coming in. Both teams will have trouble beating the Falcons but should both compete for the Wild Card.
Lions will have a dynamic passing Offense but will be limited by their D. No chance they beat the Packers, but they could easily finish ahead of the Bears and Vikings. Chance to compete for the Wild Card.
I don't see anyone outside of the NFC south having a chance to jump from worst to first.
September 6th, 2013 at 2:10 PM ^
Yea I like the Chiefs too with Andy Reid. That man can coach. Take into account that they have talent at RB with J Charles and WR with Bowe and a solid QB now. I highly doubt they overtake the Broncos but they'll make a run for wild card.
September 6th, 2013 at 4:41 PM ^
That's impossi...
According to [nfl.com's Matt] Silver, there are voices in the organization who believe Matt McGloin gives the Raiders the best chance to win.
Oh.
September 6th, 2013 at 12:28 PM ^
I like EJ Manuel a lot, and he has some nice weapons and an underrated defense.
Although...the Saints. Yeah. Probably the Saints.
September 6th, 2013 at 12:30 PM ^
Weapons? Besides Fred Jackson, Spiller, and Stevie Johnson, I can't really think of anyone.
September 6th, 2013 at 1:02 PM ^
But I like that Woods kid out of USC. And I like Manuel's arm a hell of a lot more than Fitzpatrick's.
September 6th, 2013 at 12:36 PM ^
What's NFL?
September 6th, 2013 at 12:49 PM ^
As a Browns fan, I have to say... not the Browns.
September 6th, 2013 at 1:05 PM ^
As a fellow Browns fan and season ticket holder I have to say why not the Browns? The AFC North collectively is aging and taking (IMO) a big step backwards. The Ravens & Steelers both look like 7-9 to 9-7 teams on a good day and the Bengals redefine football schizophrenia.
I LOVE our defense, think we have a good O-Line, potentially great RB and I'm not a Weeden hater (yet). The new system plays to his strengths after all and our coaching staff just took a major upgrade over the idiots that were in place last year. I do think, however, they are going to regret letting Dawson go before the year is over.
This year's worst to first? I've got the Browns.
September 6th, 2013 at 1:17 PM ^
If it weren't for Red Right 88, or catastrophically-timed fumbles, or John Elway, the Browns would have had at least one Super Bowl appearance.
September 6th, 2013 at 1:01 PM ^
the odds are high that they'll get their customary first-round loss. They've won one playoff game in the last 55 years.
September 6th, 2013 at 1:12 PM ^
Saints or Lions for me, just because GB had some issues with injuries last year and you never know how that might carry over year-to-year. NO looks like the obvious pick, though that division will be tough. I think Atlanta will come back to the pack more than the Saints will get back to their earlier, dominant ways.
I guess you could also include the Eagles in that because the NFC East is always a clusterfrick and someone has to go 9-7.
September 6th, 2013 at 1:12 PM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 1:54 PM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 1:35 PM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^
I think the Eagles have a lot of good pieces too. That was a much more talented team than they showed. The one people aren't bringing up are the Cardinals. Very underrated defense, they have some playmakers in the pass game and a decent TE as well. If Carson Palmer can just be a little more than a shell of his former self and they can find some run blocking they have a good chance to make the playoffs. Problem is, they are in a killer division.
September 6th, 2013 at 3:48 PM ^
Some of the picks are more about the divisions themselves than the teams picked to rise. The Cardinals will probably have the best season they've had since Warner, but they play in a division with TWO honestly Super Bowl-worthy teams.
September 6th, 2013 at 2:36 PM ^
The Lions certainly have the talent, but my gut says the Saints.
September 6th, 2013 at 3:46 PM ^
All I know is it will NOT be the Eagles. Dumpster fire of a defense last year is transitioning to a 3-4 from a 4-3 and do not have all the right parts. So (mostly) bad parts plus wrong parts == well, we let's just not talk about it. Even if Kelly's offense can resurrect MV (talk about a miracle) I just don't see it keeping up with the sieve known as our D. Thank god Michigan is back on its feet or the fall would really suck.