Just out of curiosity, who do you believe is the five best teams in the NFL today?
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5 Best teams in the NFL?
- Thread starter thunderkyss
- Start date
Falcons
Giants
Packers
49ers
Patriots
Giants
Packers
49ers
Patriots
Falcons are 6 and 1 but have barely squeaked by in their last 3 games against the Raiders the Redskins and the Panthers. Those are all 3 poor teams and I think this knocks down their quality considerably.
The Packers blew us out in our house but lost to the Colts
The Ravens are 5 and 1 but have gotten lucky in their last 2 games. 9 to 6 over KC was pretty bad
Patriots have lost to Baltimore, Arizona, and now Seattle. I don't think I'd consider them elite
The 49ers just got smushed by the Giants.
I'd say the list should go:
Giants
Ravens
Falcons
(no particular order)
as the top 3
Then
SF 49ers
Greenbay
Houston
(no particular order)
as the next 3
Then
Seattle
NE Patriots
(no particular order)
as the next 2
That'd be my top 8
Id like to include Philly in there but they just have lost so many games... they can beat anyone and lost to anyone
SCOTTexans
Rookie
Right now....
Falcons
Giants
49rs
Texans
Packers
Falcons
Giants
49rs
Texans
Packers
The Falcons are 6-0 right now, the only unbeaten team left in the NFL.
I do not analyze by BCS standards, so it does not matter of the quality of teams beaten. At least one of the losses of each of those teams is from the Falcons.
I'd like to put our Texans in the top 5, but the complete lack of heart last night makes me believe that they have a lot to learn to run with the big dogs. I'd say that they are 6th or 7th on my list. They rolled over last night for a belly rub and left the stadium with tails between their legs. That was a pathetic and disappointing performance from everyone not named Watt.
The Pack lost to the Colts
The Patriots have 3 losses, including some pretty low quality teams
Why do they get the benefit of the doubt but the Texans dont?
They both have 1) HoF QBs, 2) Championship histories, 3) better head coaches.
Not dogging Kubiak, but let's be honest, one playoff season is a stepping stone, not a destination.
p.s. I have yet to see the Packers or Patriots lose in such a miserable way like the Texans showed us last night. They might have higher numbers in the loss column than the Texans, but they did not look like the 2006 Texans doing it. Last night looked like previous Texans teams that I'd just as soon forget. There was NO FIGHT in any aspect of the team.
JCTexan
Hall of Fame
That's fair, but I'm not quite sold on at least three of the teams you have listed as being better either. 49ers have lost big against both the Giants and Vikings, the Packers have lost to the Seahawks and Colts. The Patriots are 3-3 and don't look to be better. And how good is the Ravens defense going to be without Lewis & Webb? The Falcons & Giants look to be the top two teams in the NFL this week.
This is the main reason I started this thread. I wanted to see how myopic our fans are. I don't mean to call you out, or any offense to you. This... is not about you, or isolated to this board. "Every" Texans fan has the same line of thinking, judging by what I'm hearing on the radio, seeing on TV, & experience around town.
Can't put our team in the top 5 because we lacked heart last night, but I'm going to put a 3-3 team ahead of them. That team lacked heart three times where the Texans lacked heart once.
We got beat. No doubt about it. The 49ers got creamed. Damn near shut out at home. But they belong in the top 5.
Hey, I don't have a problem if you don't think the Texans belong in the top 5. But the 49ers & Packers? The Patriots lost to two teams from what has been regularly thought of as the worst division in the league & neither team was San Francisco, the consensus best team in that division.
But the Texans lack heart.
Perspective.
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They lacked heart last night.
Missed the point entirely. If we lacked heart last night, it's been once in the last 6 weeks. The Packers lost 3 games this year, once to the Colts, where was their heart? They lost by 12 to SanFrancisco, couldn't score more than 12 points against Seattle...... Rodgers got sacked 8 times in the first half against Seattle.. why are they a better team than the Texans?
New England lost to Arizona & Seattle... they blew a 13 point lead in the 4th Qtr... where was their heart? & that was just yesterday.
The Texans are no different than any other team out there. You win some, you lose some, for whatever reason. We laid an egg last night, it's not like most of the teams on the top five in this thread had not lain an egg this season.
stingray
Hall of Fame
I will move the Broncos into the top five and remove the pats. I think when everything is said and done, the Broncos will be there right to the end in the AFC. Great QB, decent running game and two solid pass rushers on defense, one on each end. This is all a recipe for success in my book.
I can understand that. But the Broncos are a young team. We saw a tale of two halfs tonight, looked awful familiar. They're a talented bunch, in a volatile division. If their leaders can keep it all together, yes, they're one of the better teams in the league..... top five maybe.
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There is a difference between losing a hard fought game and one where you lay down and get steamrolled.
Not in the Win column but in my level of anger, lol
I understand your perspective.
It's like being a parent. We are always harder on our own kids than we are with other people's kids.
We see every play of Texans games. Highlights of other teams for the most part.
I just EXPECTED more heart from this team last night. I did not expect a win, because I was not deluded about the Packers and their record. I thought we were going to face and elite team and they did what elite teams are capable of doing: DOMINATE.
I think the Texans have the potential to be an elite team in 2012. But I'm not crowning their asses, yet. I want proof, not potential. They've got to earn it!
'eh, I think you read to much into my words. I think our team has lots of heart, which is why Sunday shocked me.
Maybe "heart" was the wrong word (I was still a little aggravated with them yesterday, but over it now).
I just saw them come out flat and never seemed to have a pulse. We were still in the game at the end of the 3rd quarter when the score was 28-17. They could still have won the game at that point if they fought for it.
But they did not fight for it, and honestly it looked like they did not even try.
They were being dominated, and when I perceive an attitude of submission from our team, I question their heart FOR THAT ONE GAME.
My thoughts exactly. I should have just kept it to one sentence, too.
That's how I feel about it. I did not watch those other teams lose to put my finger on the pulse of how they played. So I cannot really elaborate about "heart" as it equates to losing. I'm not an expert from mere highlights like TK seems to be.
Here's how I analyzed my list:
Falcons - 6-0 team. Undefeated teams deserve the benefit of respect
Giants - defending Super Bowl champions
Packers - 15-1 team last year, HoF QB, one year removed from an NFL championship. Veteran team that rebounds well.
49ers - Young team. Harbaugh is going to achieve great things with this team. NFC Championship game in his first year as HC anyone?
Patriots - yeah yeah 3-3 record, BUT, Belichick, Brady, defending AFC champions, this team rises as the cream of the crop every year without fail.
Like I said, the Texans could be considered 6th or 7th, depending on how to you want to frame it. I love our team and want great things for them, but I'm not going to put them in the top 5 just to be a homer about it.
And TK, for YOU of all people to start throwing around the myopic blast? Fo real??
b0ng
Bad Hombre
Falcons
Texans
Giants
Bears
49'ers
Awaiting what they do now that Lewis and Webb are for sure gone: Ravens
While all the teams at the tops do have their weaknesses I think it's still too early to be able to say "These are the definitive top 5 and this is the order they should be in". Falcons Giants and Texans all have their respective issues on defense and offense (Less so in the Falcons case). The 49'ers have a huge hole on offense, and if they can't run the ball it's not going to be pretty for them (They are still really good at running the ball but Alex Smith is who he is). The two Smith's aren't getting near as much pressure in the passing game, as they did last year and it's showing somewhat. And aside from playing Aaron Rodgers, the Bears and the Texans are doing just fine.
Texans
Giants
Bears
49'ers
Awaiting what they do now that Lewis and Webb are for sure gone: Ravens
While all the teams at the tops do have their weaknesses I think it's still too early to be able to say "These are the definitive top 5 and this is the order they should be in". Falcons Giants and Texans all have their respective issues on defense and offense (Less so in the Falcons case). The 49'ers have a huge hole on offense, and if they can't run the ball it's not going to be pretty for them (They are still really good at running the ball but Alex Smith is who he is). The two Smith's aren't getting near as much pressure in the passing game, as they did last year and it's showing somewhat. And aside from playing Aaron Rodgers, the Bears and the Texans are doing just fine.
Exactly, you're emotionally attached to the Texans, we all are. We hold the Texans to a higher standard. I do it as well.
That's what this thread is about, perspective. Even with that ugly loss, we're still among the top 5 if you ask me.
Anther thing, this season is still young. Come Jan 3rd, this whole thing can be turned upside down. Remember Chicago came out strong last season, an injury here, an injury there & they don't make the play-offs (I don't think they made the play-offs). Wins & Losses right now should not be the end all be all of who is the best team, who is the worst team. It should be a factor, but the way they play should be a bigger factor.
How many penalties do they have, how good are they at moving the ball, getting 3 & outs, keeping people out of the end-zone, getting into the end-zone. I think Balitimore is one of the better teams in the league, yet they couldn't score more than 9 points against the Cheifs who allowed 27+ to everyone else they played.
We've got our warts, so does everyone else. The Question is do we have the talent & the leadership to fix those warts by January. I think we do. I think the Ravens do. I think the Packers do, the Patriots, the Saints. I question if Philly, Arizona, Chicago, or even Atlanta can. I don't think Dallas, Cleveland, or Tampa Bay can.
The season is young, you are absolutely right.
I don't care about top 5 teams, too BCS for my taste.
Here's my take:
We are the best team in our division = Playoffs
Win enough games = First round bye
Have a better record than the Ravens and Patriots and Broncos for Home field advantage.
Then play with heart and get your ass to the Superbowl!
Good list. Very interesting to see the Seahawks on there. I haven't seen enough of them to really form an opinion. Sort of like the Vikings in that regard.
I think the Bears and Broncos are also worthy of mention, especially seeing how the Broncos battled back from a 24 point deficit on the road last night. Any team with a healthy Peyton Manning cannot be overlooked.
Definitely feeling the Vikings. Health has been their big thing on both sides of the ball. & if they've got the QB thing figured out... They'll be dangerous. Right now, I think the NFC North is the toughest division. Bears, Vikings, & Packers when Healthy can play with anyone.
Most competitive though, may be the NFC West. SanFran, Seattle, Arizona... even St Louis. All playing great defense right now.
Mr teX
Hall of Fame
The amazing thing with that team is that they just keep finding ways to win games. They've got a very mature rookie qb, a solid run game and hellish defense. Everyone knocked them for the Bruce Irvin pick but the guy has really been a solid contributor for them thus far. Don't even get me started on their secondary. If they get more consistent on offense, they can be really scary.
I can't put the bears up there yet b/c of the Jay Cutler factor. We talk about Phillip Rivers and his implosions that single-handedly kill your team, Cutler's been known to have a few of those as well.
The Vikings don't have that stable qb play either. Ponder has progressively gotten worse as the season has gone on...i only know about him b/c i have him in both my fantasy teams.
& yeah, Manning is doing his magic in Denver, but that defense is terrible & will wind up costing them at some point.
All right. We're through November. Anything change?
My top 5 as of now.
Totally different from a month ago when the list was NFC heavy. Atlanta is only on the list because of their record. I'd like to put the Colts or Bengals above the Falcons. But out of respect for their record, they had to be in my top 5.
In your opinion, who's playing the best ball right now?
My top 5 as of now.
- Giants
- Texans
- Patriots
- Broncos
- Atlanta
Totally different from a month ago when the list was NFC heavy. Atlanta is only on the list because of their record. I'd like to put the Colts or Bengals above the Falcons. But out of respect for their record, they had to be in my top 5.
In your opinion, who's playing the best ball right now?
Atlanta , Baltimore , Denver , Green Bay , Houston , New England. I have a tough time putting them in any order and really cant find a reason to cut the list to only 5 teams.
b0ng
Bad Hombre
They probably have the worst QB situation out of the top 5 - 7 teams that most people are listing here (Texans, Broncos, Pats, Giants, Packers, Falcons, 49'ers) and it's starting to show. That whole NFC Superiority bit sure went down in a hurry.
JCTexan
Hall of Fame
That was my list in October. Right now the QB situation in San Francisco gets them out of my top five. My list now:
Texans
Falcons
Patriots
Packers
Giants
texans, texans, texans, texans texans
I like where your head's at, but the
down and try again
deucetx
Rookie
No particular order:
Texans
Falcons
49ers
Patriots
Broncos
- Would say Giants because when they aren't being inconsistent as can be they are probably the most dangerous out there. Too bad for them they are horribly inconsistent and with the remaining schedule harder than the Skins could end up losing the division...
- Would say Packers but the 49ers and now Giants didn't beat them...they pimp slapped them into the ground. Rodgers seems to be alone out there and not enough to beat those teams. If the Giants make it at all.
Texans
Falcons
49ers
Patriots
Broncos
- Would say Giants because when they aren't being inconsistent as can be they are probably the most dangerous out there. Too bad for them they are horribly inconsistent and with the remaining schedule harder than the Skins could end up losing the division...
- Would say Packers but the 49ers and now Giants didn't beat them...they pimp slapped them into the ground. Rodgers seems to be alone out there and not enough to beat those teams. If the Giants make it at all.
Still have the Giants in the top 5 after last nights loss to a division foe that came in 5-6 .... and now with 5 losses themselves ?!
My revised rankings after last night -
Texans
Bronco's
Falcons
Packers
Patriots
Have to penalize the Giants for last nights loss and the 5 total .... Also have to drop the Ravens due to Suggs injury and a home loss to .... Charlie Batch who's almost as old as me.
Almost want to move the Bronco's up to #1 .... mainly because of health issues for the Texans.
The Texans and Falcons are still winning and have only one loss so they have to be included in the discussion, but neither is playing particularly great football lately. (The Falcons in particular are a puzzle. Almost all of their wins have been of the "how the hell did they win that game" variety.)
Who is playing the best football *right now*? I'd go with the Pats and Broncos, and perhaps the Packers and Colts (though the Colts have had a few "how the hell did they win" games like the Falcons).
Who is playing the best football *right now*? I'd go with the Pats and Broncos, and perhaps the Packers and Colts (though the Colts have had a few "how the hell did they win" games like the Falcons).
This is the NFL. They all count. I could just as easily say, "you realize in the last three weeks, the Texans needed OT to beat the 2-10 Jags and 4-8 Lions, and looked flat in an unconvincing win over the 4-8 Titans".
Simply put, the Texans have not looked particularly good in the last three weeks and are, in fact, very lucky to have won all three. Like the Falcons, they are only in my current "top five" because of their 11-1 record and not because of how they are playing right now.
TexanSam
Hall of Fame
They beat the Steelers and Bucs. Lost to the Texans, Pats, and Falcons. That still doesn't mean they're not one of the best teams in football. They're on a hot streak. I wouldn't want to face them in the playoffs.
There isn't a team in the NFL that hasn't gotten wins against "slappys" and struggled against some good (or not so good) teams.
They have Peyton Manning and a guy on defense that is having almost as good a year as JJ Watt...
Yes, I know they all count. Yes I know they're hot. But they arent hands down the best team in football, which is what everybody acts like. They didn't just lose to the only three good teams they have played, but were down big to them and made it look good in the end. It does matter. And the Steelers were terrible then and aren't that great now. The Bucs? Not ready yet. Have a good RB and need pieces all over. I just don't buy the Broncos, especially if McGhee is still out.
When you've got a mature team like the Patriots, who are playing the same systems they've played for the last decade, with the same core of guys that have been on the team for years, yeah you get worried when they drop a game to the Seahawks or Arizona regardless what time of year.
But when you've got a new team with a new QB & having to get on page & gel with the rest of the offense, you cut them some slack especially at the beginning of the year.
Most teams are totally different at the end of the year than they were at the beginning of the year.
The Broncos are clicking. They've got their system down & doing their thing & doing it well. They've won 7 straight & look like they are getting better.
Then when you throw all that stuff out the window. Forget about their record, forget about who they beat & who they lost to, just look at how they are playing right now.
There are very few teams playing their game as well as the Broncos right now.
You look at our team, we're not playing very good football right now. Our special teams has probably been the best thing about this team in the last two or three weeks.
But they're finding ways to win so you've got to put them up there.
But who's playing the best football right now..... it's Denver. Hands down.
Doesn't mean they are going to win anything. But they are playing the best right now.
We've got time & reason to believe we will get better. So saying this takes nothing away from the Texans. But I'd be more worried about playing the Broncos next week than I am about playing the Patriots.
The Patriots are having as many issues as we do, it's going to come down to will to win. But the Broncos are playing better than we are & I don't think "want to" would be enough to win right now.
We were the better team when we played them back then. Not the case now. Won't be the case if we have to play them in 6 weeks.