Recent strong teams such as the Packers, Ravens, Patriots, Saints and Chargers have gotten off to a fine start to this 2011 season. No surprise there. The Steelers have had some issues but their demolition of the Titans has them sitting nicely at 3-2. It's some of the other teams that have started fast that are the real surprise.
The Lions, Bills and 49ers are playing some of the best football in the league. If not for some late game mistakes against the Cowboys, the 49ers would be undefeated. Those three are not alone. The Raiders, Texans and Bengals have long been at the top of the NFL Draft and bottom of the standings. The Texans have been showing signs of life for a few years but have never made the playoffs. All of these teams are at the top of their respective divisions so far this season. A lot can change but their futures look nice.
In this era of league parity, its not unusual to see a team or two make a sudden jump in on field success. Sometimes a team catches a wave of momentum that carries it through the season. Sometimes a new coach ignites some winning. Sometimes its the accumulation of top draft picks finally coming of age and producing on the field. The Lions certainly qualify here. Sometimes its just blind luck. Rarely do so many teams make this sudden jump to competitive football. The Lions and Bills look to be for real. Detroit has been improving rapidly over the past couple of years. They are built to stick around for a while. Buffalo's emergence is more of a surprise. Both show what strong quarterback play can do for you. Same with the 49ers. Quarterback may still be a question for the team but Alex Smith has played efficiently well. Could this be the Alex Smith that the 49ers saw in the 2005 Draft? Jim Harbaugh is a QB-friendly coach. If anyone can unlock any hidden skills at the position, it is Harbaugh. Next weeks Lions vs 49ers game should be a great one. Its been a while since anyone could say that about those two playing.
All of these teams are finally making the right decisions after years of mistakes. For some the right decision may have been finally getting the right coach. For others its finally getting strong leadership and play at quarterback. Whatever the reason its fun to have some new blood at the top of the standings.
No comments:
Post a Comment