... and that's on 10-6. So watch out.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24525109/#storyContinued

This is my favorite quote from that article...

quote:

Q: Where do you think the Cleveland Browns now rank in the AFC? Do you think they have a chance at a deep playoff run (possibly AFC title game)?
— David Bliss, Los Angeles
A: When you compare the Browns with teams like the Patriots, Colts and Chargers on paper, they still might be a notch below. But games are not played on paper. The Browns are a strong team without a glaring weakness. They should be able to compete with most teams, and if they are healthy and get a little lucky, there is no reason why they should not be able to make a deep playoff run.

Without a glaring weakness. NICE. Next year it will be 'juggernaut'!!!

You might not be far off......the key is the D.

If the D can force teams in to more 3 and outs or a bunch of 6 and outs, it gives the O that many more chances to put points on the board.

The D has to turn if back over to the O and has to bail out the O when it makes a mistake, which it will with the vert passing attack we employ.

If the D can do that, we are going to put up 30 in many games, which always works when you are holding the other team to 17 or less.

We ARE going to host several AFC Title games over the next 5-6 years, and we ARE going to win several Super Bowls over the next 5-6 years.

Amen to that 'Peen.

BTW, all booked for Nashville, thanks for the help.

I would say it will come down to QB and how much improved the D line is. How many times have we seen in the past two years where the D Line faded late in games allowing the other team to run out the clock or to rally from a deficit? If the D line plays great it makes every linebacker and DB quite a bit better.

Calm down Peen

The PATS were the best team "ever" last year and how did that superbowl end again?

My pick for most improved has to go to CAR. They get their starting QB back and they finally got a power RB.(the best of the RB class Im going to say it now) They got some hugee bulldozing OLmen. They also got Dan Conner in the 3rd who will give them one of the strngest LB crew in the NFL.

They also got C.Godfrey, N.Hayden, and G.Barnidge.

They didnt address the need for a DE after Rucker retired but they have a 2nd round pick from a year or 2 ago in C.Johnson.

They will be a playoff team.

i dont care how many people say we are good.


i want to see it on the field....

Couple things:

1. I say Carolina is Minnesota, a team good in a lot of places but woeful at the most important one. They were looking to replace Delhomme BEFORE he blew out his passing arm. I think they made a huge mistake not drafting a successor. Matt Moore lacks an NFL arm... but it might be stronger than Delhomme's at this point.

Keep them in mind as a trade partner. They showed a ton of interest in Anderson. They could see it as the last piece of their puzzle.

2. Winning 11, 12, 13 games requires the ability to win games in different ways. The Patriots were exactly that team. The Browns lacked the ability to win four games when the offense isn't really clicking... and I think they just might have that ability now.

Delhomme never had a deep arm. He was accurate at 30 and 40 yards.

If Delhomme isnt able to go then Moore knows the offense. They could bring back Wenkie and be like the Ravens Championship team. They have a solid D and should have a helluva ground attack.

Not quite sure the Panthers' D is good enough to support Weinke. Nobody's is.

I think the only real unknowns at this point are our secondary, which Derek Anderson will show up to play, and whether or not our defensive line will perform to our expectations. Other than those question marks, we've got a solid team.

quote:

Originally posted by Crusso109:
I think the only real unknowns at this point are our secondary, which Derek Anderson will show up to play, and whether or not our defensive line will perform to our expectations. Other than those question marks, we've got a solid team.

That about covers it.

I agree with Louisville that Carolina's much improved, but the big question for them is whether Julius Peppers can get back to his old self.

Peppers only had 2.5 sacks last year. They're moving him to RE, which should up his sack total. But if he underproduces again, their defense will suffer.

Louisville, I'm gonna stay the contrarian: That Baltimore team is THE most cited anomaly in football history. Teams win because of their quarterback and rarely in spite of him.

Before you cite the Giants, they were hardly considered a serious contender until their quarterback got sizzling hot and marched them through the playoffs.

The Super Bowl champs are led by guys like Brady and Manning, not Dilfer or Matt Moore.

The recent team most like that Ravens squad? Last year's Vikings. Top rushing team in the NFL... and top rushing defense in the NFL... and a mediocre quarterback. Record? 8-8, no playoffs.

Remember that the Ravens that year were a perfect storm around Dilfer -- one of the best defenses of all time and one of the best running back performances of all time. Still, nobody really thought they would win it all. It was an "improbable run" that looks more improbable as time passes (pun kind of intended).

It'd be easier to get a franchise quarterback than to make those two things happen in the same season again.

The Panthers will be improved. Maybe 9-7, potentially a 6th seed. But I really think that's it until 2009 when they get their quarterback.

quote:

Originally posted by shepwrite:
The recent team most like that Ravens squad? Last year's Vikings. Top rushing team in the NFL... and top rushing defense in the NFL... and a mediocre quarterback. Record? 8-8, no playoffs.

The Vikings also had the worst pass defense in the league. That was part of the reason why they were 8-8 (and why they traded for Jared Allen).

The Panthers had a middle of the road pass defense last year (17th in the league). If Godfrey plays well at FS and Peppers regains his form, they'll be ranked much higher.

Also, the team that most resembled that Ravens squad was the '06 Bears. And if Jake Delhomme had been behind center for them, they very well may have won that Super Bowl.

What about the panthers team that went to the playoffs.This team is setup just like they were then, except younger and faster on the D.

Also they replace S.Davis with Stewart and Foster with Williams. If their RB tandem works like I expect they will lead the league next year or the year after.

Delhomme had 8 TD and 1 INT before he got hurt last year, I think.

Besides the obvious impact that DA and the new Dline will have, I think that Pool has to make a big jump to the next level of player. If he can show his potential finally, I think the defense will be in good hands.

Jackson and Jones should have really good years if healthy, but Pool is going to determine a lot of things that this defense can do.

I have a feeling this defense can be great if things pan out.

Al, and you know I dig your contributions here... if Joe Montana had been quarterback in Minnesota last year, they would've been a handful.

Delhomme is toast.

Shep, I agree with you across the board on that, Tavaris Jackson has to be the league's worst starting QB.