NFL Teams Super Bowl 46 Hopes - Part 3

Super Bowl 46 Hopefuls (Some Hope)

Playoff hopefuls for Superbowl XLVI: But I don’t see anything beyond that.

Buffalo Bills: they have been incredible so far this year. They had two awesome endings already where they have come from behind. However, their one loss was so ugly it just showed me that it’s a nice story so far, but they’re a little bit away. They are another team that has already peaked in my opinion.

New York Jets: What is going on here? Did they get old? Did they start shutting Rex out? Has there offense really gotten worse? Are they out of shape because of the lockout? This is one of the other teams I have a hard time explaining. Did they overachieve their first two years and are they getting figured out now? I don’t know the answer; I just know it surprises me they have fallen off this much.

New York Giants: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde! This team looks great, and then it looks terrible. Lots of really nice players, pretty good on both sides of the line. Not really great anywhere anymore. I think they need an infusion of new young talent somewhere other than D-Line. They may make the playoffs, but their inconsistency is their Achilles heel this year.

Tampa Bay Bucaneers: Bucs fans need to realize that this is still a very nice young nucleus; its just a very nice young nucleus that overachieved last year. They are close to being playoff contenders every year. Keep building like they are building, and they may be Super Bowl contenders soon. However, a young team just means inconsistent performances from time to time, and some unrealized potential.

Houston Texans: everything lined up nicely for them this year. Garrard got cut, Manning may not play the whole year, Wade Phillips is here to rescue the defense. And then, injuries. No team has had stars out like this at all. Foster, now Andre Johnson. Mario Williams is out for the year. I hope for Kubiak’s sake they hold on for the playoffs. Another good offseason and they are legitimate playoff contenders every year; however, injuries and a poor offseason and they may take another step back.

Oakland Raiders: They are on their way back. They are improving on both sides of the ball, and they have a great young back in Mc Fadden. A few more legitimate playmakers on defense and in the receivers corps and they are a scary team to play in the playoffs. Then some experience and they are a powerhouse.

Dallas Cowboys: Jason Garrett is finally given the team and they are plagued by injuries. I think its good he’s running the show now, as Cowboy fans will only be happy with explosive offensive teams. They have a nice set of playmakers on offense, and they are rebuilding both lines on the fly. They just need to learn to play together better to get rid of some of the offensive inconsistencies. Then they need to get Ware another playmaker or two on the defense so it will at least be competitive.

Atlanta Falcons: Personally, I think they are overrated. However, they won 13 games last year so I am probably wrong. The problem I see with the Falcons is that they are good everywhere but not great anywhere. You have to be great somewhere to be Super Bowl contenders, and I’m not sure where they are great.

Pittsburgh Steelers: They’re great, especially on defense. However, they’re old. I don’t think their defense can carry them to Super Bowls anymore. Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s been the case so far this season. And on offense, it doesn’t matter what the defense does if Roethlisberger is laying on his read all day. Is the defense old? IS the offensive line going to improve at all? Four games in and we have reason to doubt? Until both questions are answered, they’re not contenders.

San Francisco 49ers: The question isn’t what happened this year, it’ what happened last year? At this point, they are overachieving abit. However, they also are supposed to be the best team in the division. It’s not a surprise that they are winning the division. They need some offensive help, but their defense is pretty good and Harbaugh knows what he is doing on offense so they are improving.