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The Raiders are probably the biggest threat to the Pats in the AFC at this point. Their offense has been great but their defense is still a question mark at best. It's unlikely the Raiders will have a higher seed then the Patriots, due to the fact that they have a tougher schedule going forward. Can David Carr beat Tom Brady in the playoffs in New England? Maybe....but not likely. The Ravens are another possibility, they always play New England very tough, but this is not the team of even two years ago.
The Ravens are NOT a good football team. I watched their TNF game against Cleveland and any good team would have blown them out that day. There were grumbling about Harbaugh's job in the four-game losing streak, but the fact the division is so tightly contested will keep him his job. But make no mistake, they are only a threat to teams within that division. They are not a good football team. And that defense is overrated. I've watched them play three times this year (Washington, Cleveland, Dallas). It's a case study in how the stats (#2 ranked D) cover for the holes and don't tell the whole story. Probably one of the better defenses in the league, sure, but they ARE NOT #2 great...
And most times the Seattle defense is average when playing on the road.
I love how everybody is riding this Cowboys gravy train. The Redskins have played them tougher than any team they've faced this year. Let's look at a few things we learned from the Redskins games: if your team can score points with Dallas, AND your team doesn't beat themselves, and your defense can make some stops, AND your defense can force turnovers, Dallas can be beat, and it isn't nearly as difficult as it looks at first glance...
Washington is a team on the rise, which means we aren't mature enough to master how to beat great teams yet, and that's okay. I know the Skins have far exceeded expectations that all the talking heads had for us this year. There are, however, a handful of teams that match up VERY well with Dallas and Dallas would have to play better than they played yesterday to beat them:
-If a game turns into a shootout, who can score points with Dallas? Seattle, Atlanta, Washington...
-which teams don't typically beat themselves with untimely penalties, turnovers, or coaching mistakes? Again Seattle (they are undisciplined on D at times but they don't turn the ball over and have the second best coach in the league); Detroit is actually pretty good here; again Atlanta...
-whose defense excels at making stops and forcing turnovers? Seattle without a doubt, Detroit's has been very good in the fourth quarter, the Giants, and the Vikings (although they've struggled in recent weeks)...
Seattle is the only team that checks off every box. Dallas may be favored in a head-to-head in Dallas, but most people with good football sense would expect Seattle to win. We can create a list explaining why, or we can simplify it by just saying the book is out on how to beat Dallas, and Seattle has more tools in the shed than anybody. People lament how Seattle's defense has slipped this year, and yet, they are still currently #9 in what has honestly been a bad NFL year for defense. They get off the field in critical situations, force turnovers, rush the passer, and give up the fewest points in the league--again. That interception Ihenacho dropped yesterday in the 2ND quarter--Seattle is making that play and catching that pick. Richard Sherman is a much better player than Josh Norman, honestly we could go plsyer for player on the advantages rge Seahawks would have. We're not even gonna talk about their offense and the matchups advantages they have over Dallas' D. The Cowboys won't face a defense that deep and talented in the regular season...
All of the teams I mentioned have the potential to beat Dallas, but Seattle represents by far the biggest threat. I wholeheartedly look forward to a Seattle-Dallas matchup and watching the Hawks whip em silly. Hopefully they lose before then, but you guys are crazy. Dallas has the best record in the league but I'm not shooing them in as NFC Champions and I certainly don't think they can beat Seattle. Unless Seattle nosedive these last six weeks (extraordinarily unlikely), Seattle is my pick no matter who has home field advantage...
Last edited by murksiderock; 11-25-2016 at 01:38 PM..
Curses are breaking lately with Cavs & Cubs winning. So, I'm going with the Detroit Lions who have won 6 of their last 7. Stafford is playing clutch. Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland would form the perfect Midwest triangle.
Rooting for Dak to be the fourth black QB in the last five years. Still holding out hope that Tyrod is the 5th.
I am simply hoping the Dak becomes the 4th Cowboys QB to lead his team to a Super Bowl, i never even thought about his skin color..
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