Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

I was thinking that Hawks & Broncos should be everyone’s top-2 but then remembered that NE (just another 12-4 season) did beat Denver in Week #12, a home OT win. SF, 12-4 and still very much a contender like each of the two seasons prior, beat Seattle in their split near season’s end. That said, Cam’s Panthers beat them at SF down stretch during their 11-1 finish! They gave Hawks a real good 12-7 slugfest opening week as well.

I wasn’t paying much attention at the time, but Denver’s defense didn’t really seem to stick out at me during this campaign. It seemed to me the team as a whole was a continuation of the year before; and going into SBXLVIII, I saw the game as being pretty even just as I wrongly did before Oak/TB and Mia/SF.

Trestman’s 8-8 Bears at least split with 8-7-1 division-winner GB, but it looks like it’ll be Arians’ 10-6 Cards who’ll be the non-playoff team to barge into this list instead. Andy Reid’s first year in KC, an 11-5 WC finish but swept by Denver, took place this very season. Another playoff year for Andrew Luck whose Colts did beat Denver. Brees, with Payton back at helm, return right back to playoffs. Bengals only team to speak for in AFC Central although Steelers did finish 8-4. Other 8-8s could be worthy of mention as well. And, do remember, 2013 was Nick Foles initial ‘coming-out’ party (27 TD, 2 INT) four years prior to...`You-Know-What’.

1. Seahawks... There was no way this team was not winning the Super Bowl.
2. Broncos
3. 49ers... won their last 6. The 12/8 game vs. Seattle was fun to watch. Also fond memories watching the final game at the Stick with a little girl named Tracy we were fostering at the time.
4. Panthers... I thought they would win a close one vs. 49ers in the divisional round. Glad they didn't!
5. Patriots... Just another 12 win season. *yawn*
6. Colts... Big wins vs. Seattle, San Fran, and KC late in the year.
7. Chiefs... Finished 2-5 but with a tough schedule. The Bills came thisclose to ending their streak a week earlier if it wasn't for an errant Jeff Tuel pass into the end zone that was returned 100 yards the other way. That was a 14 point swing.
8. Saints... stumbled to a 2-3 finish. Though losses vs. Panthers and Seahawks
9. Cardinals
10. Eagles... 7-1 finish. Yeah, Foles 2 pick season was amazing. Someone is going to throw zero picks one of these years.
11. Chargers... Won their last 4 including KC and AT Denver.
12. Bengals

1) Seahawks
2a) Panthers
2b) Broncos
4) Forty Niners
5) Patriots
6) Bengals
7) Colts
8) Saints
9) Cardinals
10) Chargers
11) Eagles
12) Chiefs

Was actually,for a moment, going to have Denver all the way down at #5 due to their loss to NE. But decided to go higher; and almost as high as #2 outright, but placed Panthers over them if however barely. Carolina had 2nd-best defense, 11-1 finish, wins @SF and home vs NE in back-to-back weeks, split with Saints, gave Hawks quite a D-slugfest in opener en route to that 1-3 start.

I didn't think I'd place KC as low as I did. I won't hold their finale against them, their 5th-seed spot was already set, but an early win at Philly was their only QW. After that mirage of a 9-0 start they get swept by Denver twice in three weeks, lose at home to SD in the game between those two, get hammered at home to Indy penultimate week, and finally - their O and D, yardage-wise, was ranked 21st and 24th respectively. Should I place GB ahead of them? Or would that be a stretch?

1. Seahawks
2. Broncos
3. 49ers
4. Chargers
5. Bengals
6. Chiefs
7. Patriots
8. Saints
9. Colts
10. Cardinals
11. Eagles
12. Packers

In the NFC, Seahawks and 49ers were the class. In the AFC, the Broncos were the favorite, and the Chargers finished strong. Also, I had NE down to seven because they had a lot of fluky wins that year (gee, what a shock ). They were a few plays away from being 7-9.

1. Seahawks
2. Broncos
3. 49ers
4. Panthers
5. Saints
6. Cardinals
7. Chiefs
8. Patriots
9. Bengals
10. Colts
11. Chargers
12. Rams