marty
Posts: 13049
Joined: 12/28/2007
Status: offline
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I don't think there will be any sort of cinderalla team winning the SB next year, the 20 teams I listed earlier all have too many holes, and their ceiling is likely a 1 and done in the playoffs. Here's how I now rank the top 12 teams, the ones that actually have a chance of winning the SB: 1) Seattle - I would still put them at number one, but losing Golden Tate and some of their depth has gotta hurt. NE, Denver and GB are all closing the gap. 2) NE - Getting the CBs should help out that improving young defense. But they haven't won a SB since getting caught cheating, but did get favorable officiating in the playoffs last year 3) Denver - Manning does choke plenty, and having a HC that takes a knee isn't good, but they've added some valuable FAs. Of all the SB winners in the last 20 years, the only HC that surprised me was Dungy, didn't think he'd ever win a SB, thought he was too soft. But Manning helped him win one, and might help out another soft HC, as Manning makes one last push 4) Green Bay - Picking up Peppers could be huge, refs always like them, and tried to help them in the playoffs against SF last year. The Packers didn't really stop teams the last time they won the SB, but relied on turnovers from their 2ndary, which could once again happen. I would have ranked them higher if they had retained Jones and Dietrich Smith, not major losses, but decent losses. 5) Ravens - Still too many holes on defense, but they won the SB in a shootout, could make a similar run. 6) Giants - They've bounced back in the past, and have made some decent FA signings 7) Indianapolis - Still far too many holes on defense, but had an offense that came back 4 TDs down in the playoffs, and now might an even better offense with 3 amigos at WR. 8) San Diego - Might be a good upcoming team, an impressive win over Cincy in the playoffs. 9) San Francisco - Didn't improve team, might take a step backwards, and refs don't like them for some reason, probably because of Jim Harbaugh. Might see some chemistry issues surface here, but are still a contender as long as they have Kap. 10) New Orleans - I'm not really sure Brees still has the arm strength, but he is an accurate thrower, you can't totally count them out. 11) Pittsburgh - They're another team that has bounced back in the past, they have a good HC. 12) Carolina - This team had the defense, but lost a decent CB to Minnesota, and is starting over with WRs. They could be right in the mix of things if they can draft a WR that is an instant stud.
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