Carolina is undefeated, so this early in the season they should be at the top, though they also have the advantage of playing one less game due to already having their bye. Plus they haven't played tonight, so literally as of right now, they've played two fewer games. They could lose tonight, and next week while we have a bye and we might go into the Seattle game with the same record as Carolina. Not saying they will, but they have to play two games before we play our next one.
I don't think they can score enough to win a shootout, if they were to ever get in one. Isn't their best WR Ted Ginn Jr? He's only caught 18 passes. Their best receiver is actually their TE Olsen, with 27 catches. They also have a pretty tough schedule. Colts (tonight), Packers, Falcons TWICE, resurgent Saints, and likely the Cowboys once they have Romo back. As well as the Giants, and Bucs, Titans, and Redskins. So not exactly easy.
The Packers have been exposed. They are still a great team, but their offense isn't the offense you think they have. Too many injuries and sub-par play this season has brought them down to earth.
Rodgers only has 1568 yards passing so far, which is about 85 yards per game less then his best season 224 ypg vs 309 ypg, and about 50 less then last year. Eddie Lacy is not playing well, they've had to turn to James Starks. Remember how people talk about them like us having played bad teams. Yes, but our offense is massively exceeding our previous efforts and just about everyone's in the league, while theirs is massively receding from their previous efforts, and was as they said on the broadcast last night 22nd in the league passing (before last nights horrible peformance). In other words, their offense stinks by their standards against bad teams, and overall their offense simply doesn't look that good.
Raise your hand if you thought (even though with one more game played) you thought Carson Palmer would have 818 more passing yards then Rodgers? Or if you want per game yardages to more directly compare, then it's 298 (Palmer) vs 224 (Rodgers). Palmer is averaging 74 more yards per game passing.
They've had injuries to their WR core, and it just doesn't look like they have that downfield attack. Again, they've needed to turn to a former castoff to regain some semblance of what they have, James Jones. They are not the air it out team everyone still thinks they are. Maybe next year... likely not the rest of this year. I think there is a good chance they fade down the stretch.
They play the Panthers, Vikings twice, Cowboys (w/Romo), Raiders, and us. Also games against Bears, and two against the lions.
Seahawks should be 3-5, they've played like a 3-5 team, and barely beat the Romoless Cowboys on a losing streak. The Seahawks still have 4 losses which matches what they did last year. They are still a semi-dangerous team, but they could be out of it by the end of November. We have to beat them, but they clearly look like two steps back from their previous team. The OL is a mess, their offense stinks, Wilson is regressing (though nothing like Kaep), and the legion of boom hasn't been so great this year. They still haven't assimilated Graham, and their backup TE Luke Wilson at times has outplayed him. Like others I think there is a good chance they finish 3rd in the NFC west. We've scored almost a hundred points more then them. The ONLY reason they are in the discussion is because of their past... They have done NOTHING this season to merit anything. Their greatest moment this season was a referee call to win the game against the hapless Lions.
They do NOT have an easy schedule. You can't take us out of that equation. They have to play us TWICE, the Steelers, Vikings, and Rams. That's five tough games. Plus they have the Ravens, Browns, and 49ers... and none of those three teams are going to lay down and die for the Seahawks (assuming Seahawks aren't playing against Johnny Football).
Atlanta has been close in every game, and now has dropped two of them. Still some unknowns, but they haven't been blowing people out. They have to play the Colts, Panthers twice, Saints, Vikings. They also have games against the Bucs, Jags, and 49ers.
The NFC east is a mess, and some bad team is going to get a free playoff spot. Giants have the edge and have an offense. The Cowboys have dug themselves too big of a hole because of key injuries in a division that should of been theirs with ease.
Giants have Patriots, Jets, Dolphins, Panthers, Vikings. Also have games against Bucs, Redskins, and Eagles.
Rams and surprisingly Vikings are in the mix. Rams have a great shot at getting a wildcard, and have a better shot at the division then the Seahawks. They are finally utilizing Tavon Austin and Gurley is all that and a bag of chips.
Rams have Vikings, Ravens, Bengals, us, Seahawks. Also games with Bears, Lions, Bucs, and 49ers.
Vikings have Raiders, Packers twice, Falcons, Seahawks, Cardinals, Giants. Also a game against the Bears. This is likely the toughest schedule remaining.
When I look at our team, we're exceeding ourselves in just about everything. We have everything in place for a championship run, but we've let a couple of games get away that we shouldn't of. Some fluky stuff, some bad officiating, some mental lapses. Correctable stuff mostly. I think we can win a grind it out game with Denver or a shootout with New England. Not saying we would, just saying we are built to play either way, and legitimately can. I think we have a great shot at #1 seed, and we have the talent for it, but we aren't there yet, and those two losses means we don't deserve it... yet. But we have a great shot to get it by the end of the season. We play the Packers, Rams, Bengals, Vikings once and the Seahawks twice. Also 49ers and Eagles.
Need to beat Seattle. A win against Seattle almost knocks them out of the chase. They are hanging by a thread and we get a chance to cut it in two weeks. If we win, they then have losses against both us and the Rams, while having only one shot against each of us to tie the series. We control our destiny and the only team that we can't set back is Carolina. Otherwise we have the opportunity to get above the Packers, Vikings, Rams, and Seattle. Atlanta is another team we don't play, but they already have two losses as well, so we aren't looking up at them.
