The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (Week 15)

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (Week 15)

So much for the normal drama the NFL brings us toward the end of the regular season. After Week 15, all divisional races have been locked up except for the AFC North where the Steelers and Browns are tied at 9-5. Since Pittsburgh owns the tie-breaker from their season sweep of Cleveland, they look like the odds-on favorite to win. In the NFC, the race for the last wild card spot is in full swing. Minnesota, Washington, and New Orleans are in a three horse race to the finish line. With Minnesota and Washington facing off this Sunday at the Metrodome, the winner of that game will most likely have the momentum to push into the playoffs. If I were a betting man, I’d go with the Vikings, as they are on a roll and have the easier schedule to close out the season.

Here’s how I see the league after Week 15 action.

 Blondie (The Good)

1. New England Patriots: Another big win for New England has them at 14-0. Only the team they are chasing (1972 Miami Dolphins) has accomplished that feat.

2. Indianapolis Colts: Indy has the # 2 seed in the AFC locked up making their last two regular season games insignificant. Tony Dungy is adamant that he will not rest his starters to keep them sharp for the playoffs.

3. Green Bay Packers: As the Cowboys have slipped up a bit since beating the Packers in Dallas, Green Bay seems to be getting better.

4. Dallas Cowboys: The idiots that believe Jessica Simpson had something to do with Tony Romo’s bad game must be the same people who ride for miles on end with their turn signal on.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jacksonville is a team built for cold weather. They just happen to play in a place that doesn’t get colder than 60 degrees. Mark my words, this is a dangerous playoff team.

6. San Diego Chargers: Speaking of catching fire at the right time, the Chargers are finally playing up to their potential.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: They aren’t playing the NFL’s best teams at this point, but they are completely dominating teams defensively and doing what it takes to score offensively. That’s all you want in a playoff caliber team.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers:  Yes they just played two of the toughest teams in the league, but lost decisively to both of them. Look, it’s Week 15 now.  The teams aren’t going to get any easier so if you want to be a contender you have to win these games.

9. Cleveland Browns: Had they gotten their act together earlier in the season, the Browns would most likely be AFC North champs. I don’t know about you but I would’ve loved to been out there in the snow for the Bills game. 

10. Minnesota Vikings: As long as they keep getting a mistake-free effort from Tavaris Jackson, they can ride their defense and AP into the Divisional playoff match.

11. Seattle Seahawks: I don’t know what happened against Carolina, but Seattle better look long and hard at what they want their identity to be and stick to it.

12. Washington Redskins: One of my favorite things to do now is watch Redskins games at the DC transplant bar in Los Angeles. A bar full of Redskins fans when the Skins are playing well is like being a kid on Christmas morning again.

13. NY Giants: Giants fans have to be concerned about this team. Once again, Eli Manning is regressing as the season closes out, and Jeremy Shockey is now out for the year.

14. New Orleans Saints: I counted the Saints out after they gave up the loss to Tampa Bay a couple weeks ago. But in the mediocre-fest that is the NFC, anything is possible I guess.

15. Tennessee Titans: If you haven’t picked up Roydell Williams on your fantasy team for your playoff push, what in the world are you waiting for?

16. Buffalo Bills: A valiant effort considering all of their injuries and close games. Surely this is a playoff team in 2008-09. 

Angel Eyes (The Bad)

17. Philadelphia Eagles: Brian Westbrook showed a lot of selflessness in downing himself at the 1 yard line to secure the Eagles win. On the other hand, his fantasy owners that lost because of that will curse him for years. Also noteworthy is how inaccurate Donovan McNabb has been. Now that his mobility is diminished, defenses will look to exploit how badly he throws the ball in the pocket.

18. Houston Texans: Had Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub been healthy all year, the Texans would be in the playoffs. Mario Williams and their defense has played well enough to keep this team at 7-7, so look out for these guys next year.

19. Arizona Cardinals: If you ask me, this was the year the Cardinals could’ve snuck into the post season. Kurt Warner is NOT going to be slinging the ball like this year and the Edge certainly will have lost a step. Add that to the fact that their receivers can’t stay healthy and you’re going to have the same ole Cardinals.

20. Denver Broncos: Count the Broncos among the teams saying, “Wait until next year.”

21. Chicago Bears: I always said Brian Urlacher and the Bears’ defense was overrated. I think this season proved my point.

22. Detroit Lions: Matt Millen got a lot of praise for drafting Calvin Johnson with the #2 pick. With hindsight being 20/20, maybe he should’ve taken Adrian Peterson.

23. Carolina Panthers: Maybe Jake Dehlomme wasn’t as bad as I thought. Just look at Steve Smith’s productivity this year compared to last.

Tuco (The Ugly)

24. Kansas City Chiefs: If Brodie Croyle is the future at QB for the Chiefs, Herm Edwards might want to call Doc Brown and Marty McFly to see if that Delorean is still available.

25. Cincinnati Bengals: Somehow I knew moving the Bengals out of the Ugly category would haunt me. How does this team lose to San Francisco?

26. Oakland Raiders: They gave the Colts a run, but let’s be honest… the Colts were definitely on cruise control for that game.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Congratulations to Baltimore for being the only team to lose to the Dolphins. I blame Brian Billick for not going for the touchdown and playing it safe to take the game into OT. On the plus side, Troy Smith looked promising in the few snaps he’s taken.

28. St. Louis Rams: Everytime I see Stephen Jackson break off a huge touchdown run, it makes me sick thinking about how good my fantasy team could’ve been.

29. San Francisco 49ers: Where did Shaun Hill go to college?  University of Maryland, baby. This is the guy that led the Terps to their Orange Bowl appearance in 2002!

30. NY Jets: If Eric Mangini is going to stay on as head coach, his first duty should be to fire his receivers coach and replace him with someone that can teach those guys how to catch. Laverneus Coles is getting to fragile to soley depend on him.

31. Atlanta Falcons: 5 Falcons were fined Tuesday for displaying various ways of supporting Michael Vick.

32. Miami Dolphins: Have you ever seen a team so happy to be 1-13? Me neither.

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