Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Yeah, why not? For old-times-sake.

Colts/Hawks the safe top-2. A shame that penultimate game between them didn’t serve as a true showcase of who may have been better considering Dungy resting Peyton amongst other starters. Defending-back-to-back-Champs having themselves that paltry 4-4 start - the only bright spot during that, their victory at the ’Burgh. NE would win 6 of their last 8 but only one QW in that batch being their 28-0 trouncing over TB. Could Vermeil’s 10-6 non-playoff Chiefs break on in due to beating both Pats and Washington? Likely so.

Steelers finishing strong starting with running over 9-2 Bears in the snow. At the time I felt optimistic of they beating Cincy 1st-Rd and likely enough giving Colts a game, but not until they actually beat them that, from there, I felt the Lombardi was theirs to lose. Denver, to me, wreaked of paper tiger; Pats simply shot themselves in feet vs them in divisionals. However, did anyone going into 1st-round think Pats would destroy 12-4 Jags as they did? Beat them, okay (after all, they were Champs three of last four years), but 28-3?? Any of the 9-7s (each of them non-playoff teams) possibly break-in?

1. Seahawks... December win vs. the Colts gives them the edge.
2. Colts... surprisingly good defense for the mid-2000s Colts.
3. Steelers... at first thought I wouldn’t have them this high but they were on a tear going into the playoffs.
4. Panthers
5. Broncos... 7th in points scored and 3rd in points given up nothing to sneeze at. But you’re right, they didn’t seem like a 13-3 team at the time.
6. Jaguars... 8-1 finish
7. Redskins... won their last 5 to storm into the playoffs
8. Giants
9. Bears
10. Chargers... looked like they would end up being a formidable Wild Card team should they get into the playoffs but dropped their last 2 (pretty badly).
11. Bengals... gave the Colts a bit of a scare in November.
12. Chiefs

Denver, to me, wreaked of paper tiger; Pats simply shot themselves in feet vs them in divisionals.

I don't think that Denver was that lucky to win that game, but I do agree that the 2005 Broncos weren't a great team. They started their season with a blowout loss in Miami, and they were down 14-3 to SD at halftime (in their own building) in Week 2. The Champ Bailey INT TD in the third quarter may have turned their whole season around. The 2003 Broncos should have had that type of season instead, but they had the key injuries that the 2005 Broncos didn't.

My 2005 pre-playoff power rankings

1. Colts: I know they lost to Seattle, but they had Jim Sorgi in for a lot of that game.
2. Seahawks: Class of the NFC by far.
3. Broncos: Plummer had a great year, and they were able to stay injury-free.
4. Bengals: Finally broke through under Marvin Lewis.
5. Patriots: Not a great team, but always dangerous the last 12 years or so because of Belichick and mystique.
6. Jaguars: Finished sixth in the league in points allowed, and had 47 sacks.
7. Steelers: Strong finish, but playoff history under Cowher is suspect.
8. Chargers: Had some close losses, but showed flashes of what was to come.
9. Chiefs: Trent Green's last good year. Larry Johnson had a great year (1,750 yards rushing)
10. Redskins: The hottest team entering the playoffs (won their last five, and the game before their winning streak was an OT loss).

7DnBrnc53 wrote:

Denver, to me, wreaked of paper tiger; Pats simply shot themselves in feet vs them in divisionals.

I don't think that Denver was that lucky to win that game, but I do agree that the 2005 Broncos weren't a great team. They started their season with a blowout loss in Miami, and they were down 14-3 to SD at halftime (in their own building) in Week 2. The Champ Bailey INT TD in the third quarter may have turned their whole season around. The 2003 Broncos should have had that type of season instead, but they had the key injuries that the 2005 Broncos didn't.

My 2005 pre-playoff power rankings

1. Colts: I know they lost to Seattle, but they had Jim Sorgi in for a lot of that game.
2. Seahawks: Class of the NFC by far.
3. Broncos: Plummer had a great year, and they were able to stay injury-free.
4. Bengals: Finally broke through under Marvin Lewis.
5. Patriots: Not a great team, but always dangerous the last 12 years or so because of Belichick and mystique.
6. Jaguars: Finished sixth in the league in points allowed, and had 47 sacks.
7. Steelers: Strong finish, but playoff history under Cowher is suspect.
8. Chargers: Had some close losses, but showed flashes of what was to come.
9. Chiefs: Trent Green's last good year. Larry Johnson had a great year (1,750 yards rushing)
10. Redskins: The hottest team entering the playoffs (won their last five, and the game before their winning streak was an OT loss).

I’m going to follow your example top-3-wise. Upon further review of the regular season, Denver may have not been exactly as good as their 13-3 mark, but ‘paper tiger’ should not be the word to describe them. However, once Pats shot themselves in feet at Denver along with Steelers upending top-seed Colts (win-streak now at six), I didn’t worry one bit going into AFCC. But this is regular season with an open-mind not knowing what would happen and there’s really no reason to place Denver lower than #3. Anyways, here are mine...

1) Colts
2) Seahawks
3) Broncos
4) Jaguars
5) Patriots
6) Steelers
7) Giants
8) Bengals
9) Bears
10) Chiefs
11) Panthers
12) Buccaneers