Football Analysis After Five Weeks of Mayhem

So, it's finally time for my first official blog, that is not an introduction. I figure what better way to start things off than with one of my favorite topics to write about. FOOTBALL!!

We are five weeks complete with the NFL season and everything is chaotic at this point. Frankly, I'm loving this nonsensicalness. I find that it makes things a lot more interesting when everything is chaos and no one team really stands above the rest. Thats not exactly a true statement since there are a few teams that are standing out...a little. Not the way they should be though. Some teams are teams we would have never expected to see doing this kind of thing, take the Chiefs for instance. They started 3-0, went into a bye, came back and played Peyton and the Colts and held them to only field goals until late in the third quarter. This team is finally starting to look like a team again, after how many sub par seasons? Too many to count in my mind. Another reason I like talking more about football this year, is because I've finally went ahead and got into the Fantasy Football frenzy. I'm lovin' it, as they say. Starting 4-1 is not bad for my first season and I hope to prosper to a division champion and a possible playoff contender. I know my team isn't exactly great, but I think I picked the right players and can get pretty far with them. It adds a whole other level to the game when you have to scout players and keep track of stats.Or if you are like Billy you can pick all the players with interesting names and/or went to Liberty and then not touch your team for the entire season, without a starting QB for the first five weeks!

So lets get into my breakdown of the NFL. I'll go by division and then give you my top ten teams.

AFC East
The Jets lead here and are clearly a dominate team this season. They have a lot of weapons they can take advantage of, as well as a defense that has yet to allow a rusher more than 100 yards in a game. LT is clearly going to be a factor in the Jets run game against what was said about his career almost being over. The Jets also have Mark Sanchez (The Sanchize) who has yet to throw a pick this season. They're a solid team and my pick for the Division winner. New England and Miami are both not too far behind (actually NE is only in second because they had a bye week already), so I can see one of these teams becoming the Division leader or a Wildcard into the playoffs. New England made a stupid short term move, but great long term move in trading Randy Moss and picking up a 3rd round draft pick. Tom Brady has been looking as good as ever for this New England team and is clearly fired up and ready to add another ring to his collection. The Miami Dolphins are another story. While their 72' counterparts have already popped the bubbly after only five weeks, I do not believe this Miami team will make the playoffs. They have what will become a great team in the next few seasons, but I think they need to work a few things out first. Then we have my team and clearly one of the hardest teams to be a fan of, The Buffalo Bills. An 0-5 start means no playoffs this year (not that I had even thought we were close yet). The Bills dropped their starting QB of three seasons last week and made Fitzpatrick the starter, but this team needs a complete overhaul. I'm pretty sure every fan out their has accepted losing as a way of life when it comes to being a Bills fan. So to them, good luck next season. In my personal opinion this one of, if not the toughest division in the league.

AFC North
Baltimore is making a statement right now by setting themselves atop the AFC North Division right at this moment. A team lead by a great running back, Ray Rice and an efficient QB Joe Flacco, that also has the #1 pass defense in the league. I like the Raven's chances amongst a division with little other threat aside from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers will be looking to re-establish themselves as a dominant force with the return of Ben Roethlisburger this week. They play Cleveland who will pose an interesting matchup, but should be a win for them. The Bengals however who are now sitting at 2-3 do not look at all like the Bengals who swept the division last season and made a run in the playoffs. I think the dynamic duo on that team of Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens will have to wait another season to see a next playoff birth. The we have the Browns who have gone through 3 QB's already this season and are now about to start their rookie draft pick. I think they will have a little work to get done to become a tough team again.

AFC South
We have a lot of contenders in the division with a four way tie for first place. I will be curious to see how things play out here with the Colts already down two divisional games. Force once I actually do not seeing the Colts winning this division. Houston looked like a solid team, until they took a beating from the Giants, of all teams. I do not see this as their downfall, but they need to keep things in order if they want to see their first ever playoff birth. The Jaguars I think are the fluke 3-2 team in this division. That record does not resemble to me what I've seen played on the field. The Tennessee Titans however are going to give any team in this division a run for their money as to who makes the playoffs. I think we will just need to let things play out in this division, but I like the Titans or the Texans as the winner here.

AFC West
"The Chiefs!?!?! THE CHIEFS??!"  As Boomer said on Sportscenter, I think this describes most of our reactions to the team currently reigning out West. This is a team as I said before, that is actually starting to look like a TEAM. The Oakland Raiders currently trail at 2nd in here, which is surprising since they're in the same division as San Diego and Denver! Oakland snapped a 13 game losing streak to the Chargers and won last week to move to 2-3. The Chargers seem to be playing very poorly from what we have expected of them. Hopefully this turns around, because that team has the potential to be a Superbowl team. Denver is also playing very mediocre and I just don't know how to even comment on them. I don't think we'll being seeing them this post season.

NFC East
This division is in all sorts of disarray. The Giants are currently looking like the best team along side the Eagles right now. They certainly put a hurting on the Texans last week, so this could lead them to another playoff run. The Eagles are good and will be even better in a few weeks with the return of Michael Vick. They have a great receiving core and a fantastic running back. Don't count out the Washington Redskins either. They are holding their own for once. They are also looking like they could make the playoffs. Behind their new found leader, Mr. McNabb this team could get there. The Cowboys....the cowboys...ugh...the cowboys. Where do I start? They have the resources to be what could be an awesome team, but just cannot seem to get the job done. Sorry Boys, but I don't see the playoffs in your future.

NFC North
DA BEARS!! The Bears currently lead the north with a 4-1 record that could easily be 2-3 record. They will need to really start asserting themselves as they did this past week to hold strong. The Packers have taken a huge hit in the injury department and I'm not so sure they will still make the playoffs. This all depends on how the Vikings decide they want to do things, sitting at 1-3 behind the scandalous Bret Favre. This is a few too many loses in a division with this many other threats. They just need to start playing consistently and maybe try a different QB. The Lions are finally starting to show some fire, but their only win comes over the Rams in a 44-6 creaming! I don't see the playoffs anywhere nearby, but they can still become a good team over the next 4 to 5 years. Hopefully sooner for all you Lions fans out there.
  
NFC South
Surprisingly enough the defending Superbowl champions are not leading this division. They aren't even in second place!! They sit in third at 3-2 behind the Bucs and the division leading Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta is a shocking team in my opinion to see leading this division. They seem to be playing very well behind QB Matt Ryan. Tampa Bay also has found some glory this year and may take it far enough. There have been some lucky wins in the closing minutes for them, but I think they have a shot. The Saints are not out yet by any means, but will need to get their act together after losing to Arizona this past week.  Lets not even talk about the 0-5 Panthers.

NFC West
This to me is the worst division in the league. With only the leading Arizona Cardinals sitting above 500, its hard to even see a lot of hope for any teams here. Seattle and St. Louis will get better over time with their young and upstarting teams, but are only playing a little below average right now. The winless 49ers are a huge disappointment to a lot of fans who were hoping for a playoff appearance, but within their division even at 0-5, they may still have a shot. We will see.

Power 10 -- Top 10 Football Teams in NFL
10. Tennessee Titans
9.   New England Patriots
8.   Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7.   Pittsburgh Steelers
6.   Washington Redskins
5.   Green Bay Packers
4.   New York Giants
3.   Kansas City Chiefs
2.   Baltimore Ravens
1.   New York Jets

So thats my take on the NFL after the first five weeks of chaos! Here is my Fantasy lineup I'll be playing this week, for anyone interested.
QB -- Eli Manning
RB -- Michael Bush
RB -- Adrian Peterson
RB -- Marshawn Lynch
WR -- Brylon Edwards
WR -- Wes Welker
TE -- Dallas Clark
K  -- Graham Gano
DST -- Green Bay Packers

I hope everyone gets something good out of this post and if you have any feedback I will more than happily accept it. Thanks, it's been real!