Every year in recent memory, there has been at least one team that did really badly the year before, is ranked pretty low on all the preseason polls, yet comes out and blows everyone away with a great playoff (or even reaching the Super Bowl) season. It's the parity, the rags to riches story. The team that defies expectations and perceived lack of talent to win. Last season it was the San Diego (SUPER) Cha(AAAAAA)rgers and the Steelers, before that we had the Panthers, and the Rams, and the Ravens, and the Bears, etc.
So who's it going to be in 2005/6? What team is going to have analysts flip flopping their way into incoherence this year? I'm thinking either the Dolphins or the Titans, personally.
Red Dog
08-23-05, 04:02 PM
How about Tampa Bay.
Deftones
08-23-05, 04:07 PM
Cardinals. ;)
ToddSm66
08-23-05, 04:09 PM
Detroit
cleaver
08-23-05, 04:14 PM
Arizona is the popular one; KC and Baltimore missed the playoffs last year and are considered among the Super Bowl favorites.
Red Dog
08-23-05, 04:17 PM
Detroit
They're not a sleeper.
mlemmond
08-23-05, 04:18 PM
Detroit has the offensive talent but I'm not sold on their QB yet. If plays like he's been expected to then Detroit has a real chance.
cleaver
08-23-05, 04:29 PM
I'll go with Cincinatti.
mlemmond
08-23-05, 04:30 PM
I'll go with Cincinatti.
Well it is about time for the Apocalypse.
mautos
08-23-05, 04:37 PM
Well as far as sleeper, in my opinion a team that will improve is the Redskins. Provided Portis has a good season, I think they could do better than last year, 7-9 range
Aphex Twin
08-23-05, 04:54 PM
Los Angeles
The Cow
08-23-05, 05:15 PM
Bengals. * (and Cincinnati, with a proper spelling :lol: )
tommyp007
08-23-05, 05:29 PM
Carolina
Jericho
08-23-05, 05:58 PM
Arizona is the popular one; KC and Baltimore missed the playoffs last year and are considered among the Super Bowl favorites.
Any team with Kyle Boller as a start cannot be considered a Super Bowl favorite.
Picking an NFL sleeper team is like through a dart at a board. Just line-up all the bad teams from last year, pick one, and you'll likely be as correct as the experts in finding a "sleeper".
Elldubtoo
08-23-05, 06:42 PM
Buffalo is going to win at least 1 playoff game this season.
fumanstan
08-23-05, 06:44 PM
The Raiders!
shizawn
08-23-05, 07:20 PM
Cardinals.
RyoHazuki
08-23-05, 07:46 PM
Cardinals. Seriously.
the_dude8
08-23-05, 09:05 PM
Cardinals.
kurt warner to fitz and bouldin, and their defense is not that bad either.
waporvare
08-23-05, 09:31 PM
I'd say Titans. More because I have a feeling their offense is going to be great. If their defense can step up they have a good shot at the playoffs.
dick_grayson
08-23-05, 09:34 PM
why is Arizona such a popular "sleeper" team?
Elldubtoo
08-23-05, 09:43 PM
why is Arizona such a popular "sleeper" team?
Good head coach
Good defense last year that has improved in the offseason
Good corps of wide receivers
Shitty division/conference
Easy schedule
clemente
08-23-05, 09:57 PM
A couple of weeks ago I would have said the Bears (really!), but since we won't be able to mount even a mediocre offense, they're back to where they're comfortable...the NFC North cellar.
I like the Bengals to surprise people this year. The Lions are a sexy pick with all the talent they have on the offensive side...but we still don't know if Joey H can actually get the ball all the guys named Williams (and C Rogers) on the field.
The Cow
08-23-05, 10:07 PM
Good head coach
Good defense last year that has improved in the offseason
Good corps of wide receivers
Shitty division/conference
Easy schedule
You think they have an easy schedule? I don't see more than 7 or 8 wins tops on that one. Plus a QB that will be falling on his back until he gets hurt.
Elldubtoo
08-23-05, 11:19 PM
You think they have an easy schedule? I don't see more than 7 or 8 wins tops on that one. Plus a QB that will be falling on his back until he gets hurt.
Sep. 11 @ Giants
Sep. 18 vs Rams
Sep. 25 @ Seahawks
Oct. 02 vs 49ers (in Mexico)
Oct. 09 vs Panthers
Oct. 16 vs Open Date
Oct. 23 vs Titans
Oct. 30 @ Cowboys
Nov. 06 vs Seahawks
Nov. 13 @ Lions
Nov. 20 @ Rams
Nov. 27 vs Jaguars
Dec. 04 @ 49ers
Dec. 11 vs Redskins
Dec. 18 @ Texans
Dec. 24 vs Eagles
Jan. 01 @ Colts
They do play a lot of bad teams: 49ers, Texans, Cowboys, Titans, Lions, Giants, Redskins. I expect them be at least 5-3 but more likely 6-2 vs those 7 teams.
Plus Seahawks and Rams aren't that great either (9-7 last season) with neither team improving that much, it's not that unfathomable that both will be under .500 so a split with both is doable. (2-2)
Plus they get the Jaguars and Panthers at home and will at least split
So overall they could be 9-7 or even better.
So I don't really see any "hard" game besides the last two and those teams will probably rest their players by that time.
The Cow
08-23-05, 11:38 PM
Sep. 11 @ Giants
Sep. 18 vs Rams
Sep. 25 @ Seahawks
Oct. 02 vs 49ers (in Mexico)
Oct. 09 vs Panthers
Oct. 16 vs Open Date
Oct. 23 vs Titans
Oct. 30 @ Cowboys
Nov. 06 vs Seahawks
Nov. 13 @ Lions
Nov. 20 @ Rams
Nov. 27 vs Jaguars
Dec. 04 @ 49ers
Dec. 11 vs Redskins
Dec. 18 @ Texans
Dec. 24 vs Eagles
Jan. 01 @ Colts
They do play a lot of bad teams: 49ers, Texans, Cowboys, Titans, Lions, Giants, Redskins. I expect them be at least 5-3 but more likely 6-2 vs those 7 teams.
Plus Seahawks and Rams aren't that great either (9-7 last season) with neither team improving that much, it's not that unfathomable that both will be under .500 so a split with both is doable. (2-2)
Plus they get the Jaguars and Panthers at home and will at least split
So overall they could be 9-7 or even better.
So I don't really see any "hard" game besides the last two and those teams will probably rest their players by that time.
eh, I don't see the Texans, Cowboys, or Lions as bad teams, more like average, just like the Cards. I can see those games as all losses. And with a fragile QB. I just don't see it as an "easy" shed as mentioned, compared to others. Just my opinion that doesn't matter, of course.
mlemmond
08-24-05, 07:13 AM
If Warner survives the Panthers rush defense maybe but for some reason I see him being carried off the field after getting hit by Peppers or Jenkins.
ToddSm66
08-24-05, 11:23 AM
They're not a sleeper.
Umm, why not? Detroit hasn't made the playoffs since 1999.
BabiG
08-24-05, 12:07 PM
Hopefully this isn't going to be where we start arguing the definition of "sleeper", but the preseason expectations for the Lions are higher then the teams I mentioned in the first post. Last year the Chargers were either ranked dead last or in the bottom 1/4 of teams in almost all the preseason rankings, and they went on to make the playoffs.
Detriot (and the Cardinals as well probably) aren't going to sneak up on anyone, people are aware of them and several rankings have them much higher then last year's performance would indicate. Those teams are kind of analagous to the Jaguars last season; they were coming off a not so great year, but a lot of people saw dark horse potential in them. No one saw the Chargers, and to a slightly lesser extent the Steelers, coming. Just like the Panthers (Their super bowl season), and the Bears (The 13-3 season), and the Ravens (The we won with who at quarterback? season) and the Rams (Kurt Warner's Deal with a Diety seasons), and the others that have gone from worst to first.
NCMojo
08-24-05, 02:38 PM
I think Oakland is going to be much improved this year. The Panthers are going to be huge. The Cards should put up a better showing than 6-10. (Although I'd say 8-8 or 9-7 would be a good season and might be enough for them to make the playoffs.)
I'd say Detroit is a sleeper -- if Arizona is a sleeper at last year's 6-10, then the same could be said for the Lions at 6-10. Everyone points at Jacksonville, but I think Houston may be a surprise in that division.
But my number one surprise team? Miami. I am betting they'll be a lot closer to 8-8, maybe even 9-7, especially if Feely or Frerotte can come on at QB. (They should really be swinging a deal right now for Patrick Ramsey from the Redskins. He's a good QB who has clearly fallen out of favor with the coaching staff.)
Terrell
08-25-05, 04:55 PM
Atlanta will beat the Panthers for the NFC South.
Elldubtoo
08-25-05, 06:52 PM
Atlanta will beat the Panthers for the NFC South.
HUUUUUUUUUGE stretch right there... ;)
forum-troll
08-26-05, 12:10 AM
Cleveland. No one is giving them a chance. Of course they will prove me wrong and end up w/ a 3-14 record.
flyinfreak
08-26-05, 12:17 AM
I have to agree with the Cardinals. Great coach..the D should be awesome this year and FINALLY a good QB to throw to those awesome receivers. Im hoping Arington turns out be a hell of a RB
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