woodbuck27
09-17-2006, 01:13 AM
Posted September 16, 2006
Northern Exposure: Surprise, surprise, North not so bad
You know you heard it. You may have even chuckled a bit in agreement.
The NFC North? That's a terrible division. Worst in pro football. It's basically Chicago and the Three Stooges.
You probably weren't alone, because that was the general thought not only from national media, but local scribes as well, including yours truly.
We all believed it. We even got sugary drunk on the NFC East Kool-Aid and how that was such a great division.
More on that later, but after Week 1 we may have to rethink the position of the NFC North as the league's doormats.
Sure, Green Bay did its best impression of an expansion team in its 26-0 loss to Chicago. But most would agree that's a tale of two teams going in different directions. Even though they won't admit it, the Packers are in full-blown rebuilding mode, no matter how many speedy (as in car) receivers they sign.
What came as a surprise, however, was the Minnesota Vikings' 19-16 win on the road against a veteran Washington Redskins team that made the NFC Divisional playoffs last season.
Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson made smart decisions against one of top defenses in the league.
Running back Chester Taylor ran hard and scored a touchdown and ex-Packers kicker Ryan Longwell booted the game winner. And the Vikings defense held on just enough to let the fans in the land of 10,000 lakes revel in a Monday Night victory, even if it was just the under card to the San Diego/Oakland matchup.
An even bigger shock was how well the Detroit defense played in a 9-6 loss to visiting Seattle. Detroit appeared quick and sound in their version of the "Cover 2." The offense was still a mess under offensive coordinator Mike Martz, but the Lions still had the Seahawks on the ropes for most of the game.
Like most inexperienced teams, however, the Lions didn't know how to deliver the knockout punch. That's issue No. 1 for first-year coach Rod Marinelli to deal with. But they will get better.
Take that in for a moment. The Lions … not as bad as we thought?
Then again, maybe Seattle's attention on the game was diverted at the sight of those absolutely horrid Lions home jerseys.
Here's a suggestion to Lions officials: How about using those super-cool throwback jerseys as your permanent home jerseys? Solid Honolulu Blue jerseys and all silver helmets and pants, now that's classic. Only the Chargers' powder-blue throwback jerseys rank higher in the coolness factor.
So to recap, the defending division champ (Chicago) throttles the worst team in the division (Green Bay). Minnesota wins on the road in Washington, one of the hyped NFC East teams and a young and hungry Detroit squad almost pulls off the biggest upset of the week against the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks.
Does that sound like a weak division? I say throw the NFC North in with the other average divisions, because after the first week, there's only one division that qualifies as weak - the NFC East.
That's right, the NFC East, the home of those darlings of the football media heading into the season - the Redskins, Cowboys, Giants and Eagles. Four supposed playoff-quality teams.
The numbers say something different. The East went 1-3 and was the only division to finish below .500 for the week. Only Philadelphia's victory over the worst team in football last season (Houston Texans) saved the division from going winless.
So cheer up NFC North fans, there's a new quartet of Poindexters in the NFL. And they reside in the NFC East. But don't give them that atomic wedgie just yet. Things can change in a hurry in the NFL.
Ricardo Arguello writes for the Post-Crescent. He can be reached at 920-993-1000, ext. 558, or at rarguello@postcrescent.com
Northern Exposure: Surprise, surprise, North not so bad
You know you heard it. You may have even chuckled a bit in agreement.
The NFC North? That's a terrible division. Worst in pro football. It's basically Chicago and the Three Stooges.
You probably weren't alone, because that was the general thought not only from national media, but local scribes as well, including yours truly.
We all believed it. We even got sugary drunk on the NFC East Kool-Aid and how that was such a great division.
More on that later, but after Week 1 we may have to rethink the position of the NFC North as the league's doormats.
Sure, Green Bay did its best impression of an expansion team in its 26-0 loss to Chicago. But most would agree that's a tale of two teams going in different directions. Even though they won't admit it, the Packers are in full-blown rebuilding mode, no matter how many speedy (as in car) receivers they sign.
What came as a surprise, however, was the Minnesota Vikings' 19-16 win on the road against a veteran Washington Redskins team that made the NFC Divisional playoffs last season.
Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson made smart decisions against one of top defenses in the league.
Running back Chester Taylor ran hard and scored a touchdown and ex-Packers kicker Ryan Longwell booted the game winner. And the Vikings defense held on just enough to let the fans in the land of 10,000 lakes revel in a Monday Night victory, even if it was just the under card to the San Diego/Oakland matchup.
An even bigger shock was how well the Detroit defense played in a 9-6 loss to visiting Seattle. Detroit appeared quick and sound in their version of the "Cover 2." The offense was still a mess under offensive coordinator Mike Martz, but the Lions still had the Seahawks on the ropes for most of the game.
Like most inexperienced teams, however, the Lions didn't know how to deliver the knockout punch. That's issue No. 1 for first-year coach Rod Marinelli to deal with. But they will get better.
Take that in for a moment. The Lions … not as bad as we thought?
Then again, maybe Seattle's attention on the game was diverted at the sight of those absolutely horrid Lions home jerseys.
Here's a suggestion to Lions officials: How about using those super-cool throwback jerseys as your permanent home jerseys? Solid Honolulu Blue jerseys and all silver helmets and pants, now that's classic. Only the Chargers' powder-blue throwback jerseys rank higher in the coolness factor.
So to recap, the defending division champ (Chicago) throttles the worst team in the division (Green Bay). Minnesota wins on the road in Washington, one of the hyped NFC East teams and a young and hungry Detroit squad almost pulls off the biggest upset of the week against the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks.
Does that sound like a weak division? I say throw the NFC North in with the other average divisions, because after the first week, there's only one division that qualifies as weak - the NFC East.
That's right, the NFC East, the home of those darlings of the football media heading into the season - the Redskins, Cowboys, Giants and Eagles. Four supposed playoff-quality teams.
The numbers say something different. The East went 1-3 and was the only division to finish below .500 for the week. Only Philadelphia's victory over the worst team in football last season (Houston Texans) saved the division from going winless.
So cheer up NFC North fans, there's a new quartet of Poindexters in the NFL. And they reside in the NFC East. But don't give them that atomic wedgie just yet. Things can change in a hurry in the NFL.
Ricardo Arguello writes for the Post-Crescent. He can be reached at 920-993-1000, ext. 558, or at rarguello@postcrescent.com