Who's your darkhorse team this year?

[wwharton]

Quote: Originally Posted by goh

I don't think the Pats D is much of a concern this year. Hasselback or Locker Skelton or Kolb Flacco Fitzpatrick Caleb Hanie or Brock Osweiler cause Manning will be on the sideline in a neckbrace by this time. Russell Wilson or Matt Flynn Tebow or Sanchez Sam Bradford Fitzpatrick again Andrew Luck Tebow Do the Dolphins even have a QB? Oh right Tannehill. Could be playing WR at this point. Matt Schuab Alex Smith Blaine Gabbert Tannehill maybe. See half the teams they face can't even be sure who their QB is. Those that are sure largely have rookies or second year starters. There's no reason they won't be 14-2 unless Brady gets hurt or somehow all of 3 Welker,Hernandez and Gronk go down. Jags are a bit of a darkhorse I think but since they don't face them until the second last game they'll know what they're getting into.

Do the other 10 guys that line up on offense matter? Pretty sure their biggest problem last year was stopping the run and there are a ton of good RBs on the QBs... er teams you listed.

[goh]

Other than the 49ers,Texans and Ravens not particularly,no.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Quote: Originally Posted by wwharton

Do the other 10 guys that line up on offense matter? Pretty sure their biggest problem last year was stopping the run and there are a ton of good RBs on the QBs... er teams you listed.

Was it? I just remember them not having anybody in the secondary that had thought about the concept of how to cover a wide receiver. I didn't even notice the weaknesses defending the run. Then again, I'm a Bucs fan, so I haven't seen run defense since about the time they won the Super Bowl...

[Caveman24]

Ill go with the Bills or Seahawks

[wwharton]

Quote: Originally Posted by goh

Other than the 49ers,Texans and Ravens not particularly,no.

So you look at the schedule and those are the only teams you see with a running game worth worrying about? And (as a 49ers/Pats fan) you list the 9ers run game over everyone but the Texans and Ravens?

Um... ok.

Quote: Originally Posted by Yeah...THAT Guy

Was it? I just remember them not having anybody in the secondary that had thought about the concept of how to cover a wide receiver. I didn't even notice the weaknesses defending the run. Then again, I'm a Bucs fan, so I haven't seen run defense since about the time they won the Super Bowl...

Pass D was bad too. D was bad overall.

[rdnk]

1. Oakland Raiders: Depending on how Palmer plays their offense could be really good. When McFadden was healthy last year, their defense was rested and adequate enough where they could win that division.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Does Blaine Gabbert progress (or Henne take his job)? If he does, then this team has a balanced offense (Blackmon, Robinson, Thomas and Lewis is solid). Their defense was above average last year.
3. Washington Redskins: Their defense was good last season. I think Mike Shanahan's system will show next year. Someone will run for 1000 and RG3 will have a solid rookie season.
4. Detroit Lions: By darkhorse I mean Superbowl darkhorse. The team is one of the most talented in the league. If they show growth from last year (experience, discipline) they will be one of the best teams in the league.