ELITE NFC TEAMS .............WHO ARE THEY RIGHT NOW......?????

[Cheesehead Craig]

Pro Bowl is a year behind always. Their defense has not been the same this year. Even after Chancellor returned.

Other than the Pitts game, they've been dominant the last 5 weeks. They may not be last year's version, but they are pretty darn close right now.

[denverYooper]

Other than the Pitts game, they've been dominant the last 5 weeks. They may not be last year's version, but they are pretty darn close right now.

Dominant against weaker offenses.

Over the last 6, they've surrendered (offense ppg ranking in parens)
39 to the Cards (2)
13 to the 49ers (32)
30 to the Steelers (4)
7 to the Vikings (21)
6 to the Ravens (22)
13 to the Browns (29)

When in their prime, they used to shut down even very highly ranked offenses. They are nowhere near that.

So do they struggle with elite QBs just like Dom?

[yetisnowman]

Pro Bowl is a year behind always. Their defense has not been the same this year. Even after Chancellor returned.

A year behind...well they also got two receivers selected, one a rookie, and the other a guy who had three TDs all last season so I'm not sure I agree. They still rank 2nd in scoring defense, and 2nd in yds/game. Which is pretty amazing considering after the first 6 games or so the narrative was , "what happened to Seattle's defense?"There is a big leap between taking a step back and sucking. And this team is rounding into shape at the right time, and at this point in the NFC I would rather play anyone but Seattle come playoff time.

[channtheman]

I actually think Carolina are pretenders. I expect them to lose their first home playoff game.

[ThunderDan]

I actually think Carolina are pretenders. I expect them to lose their first home playoff game.

I feel the same way. I have seen almost all of the top teams and they all have major flaws. I really don't feel like there is an elite NFC team right now.

[channtheman]

I feel the same way. I have seen almost all of the top teams and they all have major flaws. I really don't feel like there is an elite NFC team right now.

Yeah, it really leaves the door wide open for any team to make a run. Let's hope it's us!

[Maxie the Taxi]

I actually think Carolina are pretenders. I expect them to lose their first home playoff game.

Wow. I'd be curious to know specifically where you think they're vulnerable. They strike me as a pretty solid team.

[pbmax]

Wow. I'd be curious to know specifically where you think they're vulnerable. They strike me as a pretty solid team.

They were just talking about this on ESPN. Its mainly injury, depleted WR corps, age (Stewart) and a Defense that is not playing as well as they have in the past.

There is also just the lack of history of success with that team with these players and coaches. Mike Shula has been bounced from better gigs as has Ron Rivera when he was a DC. There was a point recently that he was coaching for his job, prior to the Riverboat Ron resurgence.

[pbmax]

A year behind...well they also got two receivers selected, one a rookie, and the other a guy who had three TDs all last season so I'm not sure I agree. They still rank 2nd in scoring defense, and 2nd in yds/game. Which is pretty amazing considering after the first 6 games or so the narrative was , "what happened to Seattle's defense?"There is a big leap between taking a step back and sucking. And this team is rounding into shape at the right time, and at this point in the NFC I would rather play anyone but Seattle come playoff time.

They have won 7 of 8. Here are the opponents:

SEAHAWKS 20 49ERS 3
SEAHAWKS 13 COWBOYS 12
CARDINALS 39 SEAHAWKS 32
49ERS 13 SEAHAWKS 29
STEELERS 30 SEAHAWKS 39
SEAHAWKS 38 VIKINGS 7
SEAHAWKS 35 RAVENS 6
BROWNS 13 SEAHAWKS 30


That's 2-1 versus playoff teams (Vikes-Cards-Steelers) and 5-0 versus non-playoff teams. They are playing better than the Packers, there is no doubt about that. But I don't find the results frightening. Their most impressive win is versus the Steelers, who have half a team.

[Fritz]

They have won 7 of 8. Here are the opponents:

SEAHAWKS 20 49ERS 3
SEAHAWKS 13 COWBOYS 12
CARDINALS 39 SEAHAWKS 32
49ERS 13 SEAHAWKS 29
STEELERS 30 SEAHAWKS 39
SEAHAWKS 38 VIKINGS 7
SEAHAWKS 35 RAVENS 6
BROWNS 13 SEAHAWKS 30


That's 2-1 versus playoff teams (Vikes-Cards-Steelers) and 5-0 versus non-playoff teams. They are playing better than the Packers, there is no doubt about that. But I don't find the results frightening. Their most impressive win is versus the Steelers, who have half a team.

Which half?

Merry Christmas, Rats!!

[Bretsky]

and as to the fourth best,there might not be one. Maybe GB gets it together and we have 4 NFC contenders.....hell....when we were 6-0 w/o Jordy we all thought we were SB bound.

But if GB does not show good vs Arizona we'll view them as pretenders. You may be able to throw the rest in a laundry basket in a college dorm and let Najeh Davenort crap on them cause that's how the playoffs will probably go for them.

are we here ???????????????

[denverYooper]

They have won 7 of 8. Here are the opponents:

SEAHAWKS 20 49ERS 3
SEAHAWKS 13 COWBOYS 12
CARDINALS 39 SEAHAWKS 32
49ERS 13 SEAHAWKS 29
STEELERS 30 SEAHAWKS 39
SEAHAWKS 38 VIKINGS 7
SEAHAWKS 35 RAVENS 6
BROWNS 13 SEAHAWKS 30


That's 2-1 versus playoff teams (Vikes-Cards-Steelers) and 5-0 versus non-playoff teams. They are playing better than the Packers, there is no doubt about that. But I don't find the results frightening. Their most impressive win is versus the Steelers, who have half a team.

Also 0-2 vs the Rams.

[denverYooper]

BTW, the Seahawks of the elite defense gave up 39 points to the Cards. Green Bay's non elite defense only gave up 24...

[pbmax]

I am of the opinion that the entire NFC is made up of frauds.

But I would still take a SB berth because I don't believe in the Patriots or Chiefs either. The Steelers looked most frightening and they just rolled over for the Ravens.

[channtheman]

It really is a crap shoot. Who can get hot and win 4-5 in a row? Picking blindly out of a hat is probably as accurate as the experts picks.