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Nov 2, 2003 The NFL is at about the halfway point of its season and it is time to look at the contenders and pretenders to the throne. THE MEGA-GAME Should the St. Louis Rams meet the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, what a treat for the viewers! Two great offenses with improved defenses squaring off for the championship, spiced by the Dick Vermeil versus his former team angle, make for one of the great Super Bowl matchups ever. Kansas City (8-0) has almost no discernible weakness. They lead the league in scoring. They are well-coached and they beat you running and passing and on special teams and with their defense. The biggest problem they may have is a kicker who really can’t boot a field goal over 45 yards and a kicker who can’t boot the ball into the end zone on kickoffs. They have otherwise won on the road, at home, in high- scoring games, in low scoring games, coming from behind, holding onto a lead and just blowing the other team out. Being undefeated for the season is unlikely, but they could very well bring a 13-0 record into Denver in week 14. A 14-2 season seems likely. The Rams (5-2) have a great wide receiver corps and have significantly upgraded their defense to go along with the NFC’s top offense. Mike Martz seems to have matured into the head coaching job, combining common sense with his offensive brilliance. Marc Bulger has become a star quarterback. This is a team that has to prove they can win on the road, but last week’s victory at Pittsburgh is a start. They head for a showdown with the Seahawks in week 15. If they remain atop the division after that game, they should be on their way with Cincinnati at home and Detroit on the road to close out the season. WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO A SUPER BOWL TEAM? COACHING: The Head Coach means a great deal in the NFL. A great coach is a big edge, especially in the playoffs. Teams with proven coaching like Kansas City (Vermeil) and Tennessee (Fisher) are far more likely to succeed once the second season begins. QUARTERBACK: It doesn’t have to be a superstar like Joe Montana, but if you don’t have a pro- bowl level QB you aren’t likely to get to the big game and you are especially unlikely to win it. DEFENSE: As in every major team sport, a great defense gives you a consistent chance to win every game. The Ravens of 2000-2001 were very mediocre at QB and yet the outstanding defense saved the day. OFFENSE: A truly overpowering offense sometimes prevails(1999-2000 Rams, for instance). A great offense can get on a roll, but it is much harder to sustain and usually is trumped by a great defense. SPECIAL TEAMS: It seems minor compared to the other categories, but ask Buffalo fans if the name Scott Norwood means anything to them. THE BIG DOGS – Genuine contenders for the crown. Kansas City (8-0) – Dick Vermeil may have his best team ever. Tennessee (6-2) – Steve McNair, best QB in the NFL? Indianapolis (6-1) – Or…Peyton Manning, best QB in the NFL? St. Louis (5-2) – Mike Martz mellowing with experience. Tampa Bay (4-3) – Sure is hard to do it again, eh, fellows? Minnesota (6-1) – Moss playing at highest level yet! THE WANNA-BE DOGS – So far, so good Dallas (5-2) – That Parcells guy really can coach. Carolina (6-1) – Stephen Davis, a defense, and a lot of luck. Seattle (5-2) – Still inconsistent, could go either way. New England (6-2) – But will injuries derail them? Miami (5-2) – Son-of-Griese may get them over the hump. Denver (5-3) – Can they hold on until Jake the Snake comes back? THE MAYBE DOGS – In position, but a cut below. Philadelphia (4-3) – Good coaching, bad execution, what is next? Green Bay (3-4) – Having a Favre means coming from behind is almost inevitable. New York Giants (3-4) – They have the pieces in place to make a run for it. Buffalo (4-4) – If they find some consistency. Baltimore (4-3) – Brian Billick needs Kyle Boller to “get it” before the season ends. THE LOST DOGS – Long way to go to catch up. Washington (3-4) – More rumors about Spurrier than there are about Hilary. New Orleans (3-5) – The talent is there to do much better. San Francisco (3-5) – Injuries plus controversy = doubtful for playoffs. Cincinnati (3-4) – Clubbing Seattle gives them life. Cleveland (3-5) – Enough talent to turn it around but it better happen fast. DEAD DOGS – Anything is possible but these teams stink! Chicago (2-5) – “Slash” at quarterback turns out to be a big minus. Detroit (1-6) – Not scoring or stopping the other team. Otherwise fine. Atlanta (1-6) – Vick gone, whole team gives up? Arizona (2-5) - How the heck did they ever win two games already? New York Jets (2-5) – They know how to lose the close ones. Pittsburgh (2-5) – They really should be better than this. Houston (2-5) – Up and comers who are at least a year away from real success. Jacksonville (1-6) – They really are better than this, but not much. Oakland (2-5) – Too slow, too predictable. The mighty have fallen! San Diego (1-6) – Time to rethink this team while Tomlinson is young. ------------ About the author: Kimbal Ross Binder is a husband of one wife and parent of six child units of various sizes. He is a tennis bum, karaoke singer, punster and a reformed liberal who now admires Rush Limbaugh and hates to miss Fox News in the evening. You can pass along plaudits and invectives to: radarbinder@comcast.net Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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