Baltimore, Green Bay, and San Francisco are the only three teams with no losses. The Packers have looked great so far this season. Their offense is greatly improved over last season with their defense as dangerous as ever. They are quickly becoming the NFC favorite. Tampa Bay and Detroit seem to be the only two teams with much of a chance to challenge them in the Central.
San Francisco is once again out ahead of the pack in the NFC West, but no one really believes they can win the NFC title or even the Western Division title. They have been fighting at the top of the West for years now with no titles. They have come in second in the Division four of the last five years. But the Rams don't seem to be the same team that won the NFC last season, and though the Saints look better their offense is struggling for the second year in a row. Maybe this really will be the 49ers season.
In the East it's hard to know what to think. So far the Redskins and the Cowboys are the only two teams that seem to have a shot at the Division. It could be the Cowboys year. They have faltered often late in the season, but their defense is playing better and their offense looks more stable with new running back Earl Campbell. Maybe this is their chance to win the East. The Redskins certainly don't look anything like the same team that won the Division so impressively last season, but of course they started slow last season. It should be a good race, but it should be between these two teams alone.
In the AFC East all eyes are on the defending Super Bowl champ Miami Dolphins. Their defense has been incredible so far, and their offense seems to be picking up steam. Even though they sit behind the Colts they are still the heavy favorites to take the Division. The Colts last season started off just as hot, but in the second half of the season Billy Sims ran out of steam as did their offense. Though the defense is playing better this year, they still don't look solid enough to win the Division. No one is quite sure what to make of Buffalo, who fight it out every year to get a wild card spot in the playoffs, but the Patriots and the Jets look done.
Houston was and is still expected to win the AFC Central, but it's surprising to see the Steelers sitting at 2-1. Their defense, like the Colts, is looking better though still not very good. They could be in the mix late in the season, but the Oilers are still the team to beat. Neither the Bengals nor the Browns seem to be any threat.
In the West everyone is surprised to see the Raiders sitting alongside the Chiefs at the top, but no one is expecting them to stay there for long. The Chiefs are the clear favorite in the West. The big disappointment has been the Chargers who have not looked good so far after a stellar 1980 season. Denver is the one team that has raised some eyebrows as their offense suddenly looks quite dangerous. If they can get any play out of their defense they may make a run at the playoffs, but don't expect anyone to give the Chiefs a run at the Division title.
Trades
SF Rookie FB Randy McMillan for NE 8th year CB Dick Conn
GB 5th year CB Terry Randolph for Dal 2nd year HB Charles White
Standings
AFC
East: Baltimore 3-0; Miami, Buffalo 2-1; New England, New York 1-2
Central: Pittsburgh, Houston 2-1; Cincinnati 1-2; Cleveland 0-3
West: Kansas City, Oakland 2-1; Seattle, Denver, San Diego 1-2
NFC
East: Washington, Dallas 2-1; Philadelphia, St. Louis 1-2; New York 0-3
Central: Green Bay 3-0; Tampa Bay, Detroit 2-1; Chicago, Minnesota 1-2
West: San Francisco 3-0; New Orleans 2-1; Los Angeles 1-2; Atlanta 0-3
Statistics
QBs
Sea Brian Sipe 110.0
GB Lynn Dickey 98.1
Hou Dan Pastorini 97.8
RBs
Mia Benny Malone 345yds
Bal Billy Sims 344yds
Phi Ricky Bell 324yds
Recs
StL Ike Harris 340yds
Cin Isaac Curtis 307yds
NYG John Jefferson 305yds
Games to Watch
New Orleans 2-1 at Buffalo 2-1
Two tough teams that shoul match up well against each other. The Saints would be the obvious pick here, but their offense has been struggling and the Bills have a tough defense. This should be a good game.
Tampa Bay 2-1 at Pittsburgh 2-1
The two worst teams from last season suddenly find themselves in the mix for making the playoffs this season. Of course it's still early, but one of these two teams will be sitting 3-1 after this week. The Buccaneers are the favorites here because, unlike the Steelers, they were expected to show great impreovement this season. This should be a good game.
San Francisco is once again out ahead of the pack in the NFC West, but no one really believes they can win the NFC title or even the Western Division title. They have been fighting at the top of the West for years now with no titles. They have come in second in the Division four of the last five years. But the Rams don't seem to be the same team that won the NFC last season, and though the Saints look better their offense is struggling for the second year in a row. Maybe this really will be the 49ers season.
In the East it's hard to know what to think. So far the Redskins and the Cowboys are the only two teams that seem to have a shot at the Division. It could be the Cowboys year. They have faltered often late in the season, but their defense is playing better and their offense looks more stable with new running back Earl Campbell. Maybe this is their chance to win the East. The Redskins certainly don't look anything like the same team that won the Division so impressively last season, but of course they started slow last season. It should be a good race, but it should be between these two teams alone.
In the AFC East all eyes are on the defending Super Bowl champ Miami Dolphins. Their defense has been incredible so far, and their offense seems to be picking up steam. Even though they sit behind the Colts they are still the heavy favorites to take the Division. The Colts last season started off just as hot, but in the second half of the season Billy Sims ran out of steam as did their offense. Though the defense is playing better this year, they still don't look solid enough to win the Division. No one is quite sure what to make of Buffalo, who fight it out every year to get a wild card spot in the playoffs, but the Patriots and the Jets look done.
Houston was and is still expected to win the AFC Central, but it's surprising to see the Steelers sitting at 2-1. Their defense, like the Colts, is looking better though still not very good. They could be in the mix late in the season, but the Oilers are still the team to beat. Neither the Bengals nor the Browns seem to be any threat.
In the West everyone is surprised to see the Raiders sitting alongside the Chiefs at the top, but no one is expecting them to stay there for long. The Chiefs are the clear favorite in the West. The big disappointment has been the Chargers who have not looked good so far after a stellar 1980 season. Denver is the one team that has raised some eyebrows as their offense suddenly looks quite dangerous. If they can get any play out of their defense they may make a run at the playoffs, but don't expect anyone to give the Chiefs a run at the Division title.
Trades
SF Rookie FB Randy McMillan for NE 8th year CB Dick Conn
GB 5th year CB Terry Randolph for Dal 2nd year HB Charles White
Standings
AFC
East: Baltimore 3-0; Miami, Buffalo 2-1; New England, New York 1-2
Central: Pittsburgh, Houston 2-1; Cincinnati 1-2; Cleveland 0-3
West: Kansas City, Oakland 2-1; Seattle, Denver, San Diego 1-2
NFC
East: Washington, Dallas 2-1; Philadelphia, St. Louis 1-2; New York 0-3
Central: Green Bay 3-0; Tampa Bay, Detroit 2-1; Chicago, Minnesota 1-2
West: San Francisco 3-0; New Orleans 2-1; Los Angeles 1-2; Atlanta 0-3
Statistics
QBs
Sea Brian Sipe 110.0
GB Lynn Dickey 98.1
Hou Dan Pastorini 97.8
RBs
Mia Benny Malone 345yds
Bal Billy Sims 344yds
Phi Ricky Bell 324yds
Recs
StL Ike Harris 340yds
Cin Isaac Curtis 307yds
NYG John Jefferson 305yds
Games to Watch
New Orleans 2-1 at Buffalo 2-1
Two tough teams that shoul match up well against each other. The Saints would be the obvious pick here, but their offense has been struggling and the Bills have a tough defense. This should be a good game.
Tampa Bay 2-1 at Pittsburgh 2-1
The two worst teams from last season suddenly find themselves in the mix for making the playoffs this season. Of course it's still early, but one of these two teams will be sitting 3-1 after this week. The Buccaneers are the favorites here because, unlike the Steelers, they were expected to show great impreovement this season. This should be a good game.
The Dallas-Green Bay trade is interesting. New Cowboys coach Ted Marchibroda brought in White and Campbell despite the presence of an incumbent 1,000-yard HB1, Doug Dennison. Campbell appears to have solidified his hold on the job, but Dennison ended up holding on to HB2, at least. Marchibroda also overhauled the Dallas secondary, bringing in a slew of rookies. Looks like he decided the defensive backs might need a bit more veteran presence, however.
ReplyDeleteAnd Green Bay ... the Packers just keep on piecemealing things at halfback. It appeared Willie Wilder won the job last year, but Neill Armstrong has been starting rookie David Overstreet. I don't think any Green Bay observer should be surprised to see the very, very fast White getting a lot of carries moving forward, however.