Tiiite End Jammers (5-3)Making a case for the runaway best team this year, the Jammers are slightly underrated as they've faced the toughest schedule in the league and still have the best record and most points scored. Look at this. The Jammers have gone over the century mark six times already (five in a row and counting) and have ripped off four straight wins. Their losses have come when scoring 109, 95, and 107. They finished 5-8 last year but that was after a weak 1-7 start. This time around, Lei's team is making their case to become another repeat champion. Strangely, if they pull it off, it will be Buffy-Dirty Birds-Jammers winning in the exact same order yet again. Deja vu?
The Jammers are being powered behind mid-season MVP Clinton Portis and a very deep collection of receivers in Lee Evans, Dwayne Bowe, Marvin Harrison, and Chris Chambers. The recent injury to Tony Romo is a cause for concern but he'll be back in two weeks and for now, Matt Schaub is more than serviceable. Heck, Romo may have to play his way into the lineup as Schaub has been outstanding recently. The combined 2nd RB attack of Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes has yet to really gain traction but with Addai now injured, it's probably better for Rhodes to get most of the work.
Unless something dramatic happens, we don't see the Jammers conceding much ground at the top.
Dirty Birds (5-3)
Things were looking so much better for the Birds two weeks ago when they were 5-1 and sky high. Two losses later and they've gone into slight panic mode. Granted, one of those losses was a 133-127 shootout with the Jammers, but last week's poor showing against the moribund Fat Jubas wasn't very impressive. So what's going on exactly?
Well, the Birds are having a bit of a problem finding their passing game. Larry Fitzgerald and Wes Welker have been steady but Jay Cutler and Braylon Edwards have been a bit weak. Cutler started the season red hot but has now cooled off and Braylon started the season ice cold, had one outstanding week, and decided to start dropping balls again. The good news is that Steven Jackson broke out recently and Adrian Peterson has had three 20+ games. If Cutler can pick up his game and Edwards heads to the bench (or picks it up), the Birds are still a strong contender.
Chunky Monkeys (4-4)Don't look now but the Monkeys are slowly creeping back into the picture. After suffering through the worst start in franchise history, Evan's team is on a bit of a roll with two victories and two century games in a row. In fact, they took a wild 138-120 shootout this past week against perpetual nemesis Buffy and that had to feel good. There's been a lot of talk about LaDainian Tomlinson's decline but that's been all hogwash as he looks primed for a huge second half.
The running game would probably be just fine without LDT if it came to it, behind stellar rookies Matt Forte and Chris Johnson. All that buzz about the Monkeys losing their two back attack? Well how about a three back attack? They have two top five backs in LDT and Matt Forte and Chris Johnson is currently ranked at #9 and climbing the charts. Someone break out the wishbone!
QB Peyton Manning is in fine form again and he's finding the now healthy Anquan Boldin to be an excellent target. The recent slump of Terrell Owens is a concern but once Romo gets back, TO will be just fine. Chad Johnson might be done for (especially with Carson Palmer out) but Charger Vincent Jackson has had three straight good games so that third receiver slot is in good hands. The Monkeys are only one game back after suffering through "the worst." Uh-oh.
Buffy (3-5)
It's been a rough go of it for Buffy this year. After an encouraging 103-93 win in WK6, they've been slammed by two 130+ opponents and a pair of losses, dropping them out of the playoff picture for a moment. Then again, they've taken two big uppercuts and are still standing. It can't hurt that their power trio of Philip Rivers, Marion Barber, and Roddy White are the number one QB, number two RB, and number one WR respectively. If you want to get real fancy, Antonio Gates is the second ranked TE also.
There's certainly a case for Roger's team to be one of the best teams this year, even if they're suffering from a a bit of depth issues. No clear number two back has been found to complement Barber and Buffy's best bet might be sticking with steady but unspectacular Jamal Lewis until Willie Parker returns from injury. And as for venerable Buffy stalwart Torry Holt, it might be time to call it a career as he's been absolutely terrible. Even boom/bust free agent find Kevin Walter would be a huge upgrade. And as for QB Carson Palmer, see ya, have a good 2008 at home. It's looking like a serious four horse race in the division for only three spots, who will be the odd team out?
Ante Up (2-6)How quickly a 2-0 start looks like a lifetime ago. With six straight losses and the worst PF in the league, Ante Up is suddenly looking very vulnerable. Or maybe it's the schedule, as they've faced six straight opponents who have gone over the century mark. And Ante Up have been putting up a steady diet of 90+ games after a somewhat uneven start. There might be hope yet for a strong second half.
In order for that to happen though, there will have to be some more accountability from the QB position. Ben Roethlisberger has been erratic and it may be time to look into a replacement. Free agents like Jason Campbell, Chad Pennington, David Garrard, and even JT O'Sullivan are outpacing Big Ben. The great news for Jae's team is that Brian Westbrook is back and tore it up last weekend. With rookie sensation Steve Slaton playing well, the running game is in good hands. Now if WRs Reggie Wayne (back to back 3 point games) and Donald Driver (8 and 5 last two games) can get their act together, there will be a chance for Ante Up to get out of the cellar.
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