Falcons
Best team in NFC. Leader in Team Offense and Rushing Offense and a Team Defensive Leader and the SFLs top Rushing Defense. The Falcons are the perfect team to stop the run and with so many amazing running teams, its going to be an exciting matchup when say The Redskins or the Ravens face this defense. The offseason trade for QB Trent Green appears to have paid off. Trent Green is leading in passing yards (3300) and QBR (96) and complements from HB Warwick Dunn, 1600 yards from scrimmage and 10 TDs. Youngster WR Peter Warwick is having a great year with over 1,000 years and 14TDs. On the other side of the ball, MLB Keith Brooking is the leader of this defense. A top SFL defensive leader in tackles (107) and fantastic playmaker in the middle of the field. CB Ray Buchanan leads the DBs with 28 deflections and 5 INTs despite his height of 5?9?.
I had a tough time trying to find a weakness for this team. One weak spot is they can be passed on. Ranking #27 on pass defense and a roster with shorter CBs 5?9? and 5?8? and a couple taller than 6?0? but slower. They?re sacrificing speed for height. It will be interesting to see how they perform in the playoffs, clearly no doubts at stopping run but questions on how they can stop the ball through the air.
Redskins
A strong contender for the NFC title! The Redskins continue to show they?re a great team. This year, their team is leading in Team Offense and a strong Pass Defense. QB Steve McNair, 3400 yards passing, and HB Stephen Davis, 1300 yards rushing lead the offense. Youngster WR Darrel Jackson is on the rise this year with 73 receptions and over 1,000 receiving. On defense Hugh Douglas has been a terror to Quarterbacks with 12 sacks on the season. And combined with CB Champ Bailey the Redskins makes it very difficult on Quarterbacks to score on them. Overall the Redskins have a solid team on both sides of the ball, the defense can stop the ball, and the offense has the variety of weapons to continue to score.
Looking at their weaknesses, I think it will really come down to how well Steve McNair plays in the playoffs. This year he?s recording an 85 QBR, which is a decline from last year (could be evidence of the banned Rams PB) and 15 INTs. There have been games when McNair has been hot (vs the Giants, Bears, Cowboys) or cold (Dolphins, Panthers, Bills). Redskin fans have to ask themselves ?which McNair will we get in the playoffs??
Ravens
Only one team in the SFL is leading in each of the team stats: both Total Offense and Defense, Passing and Rushing Offense, Passing and Rush Defense, and both Scoring Offense and Defense. Only the Baltimore Ravens is in the top ten in each category. The only teams to come close to that are the teams above with 6 categories. The team is built as a balanced offense that can hurt you on the ground and in the air. QB Jeff Blake, HB Jamall Lewis, and WR Travis Taylor are the highlights of the offense, with HB and WR both going over 1000 yards, and the QB at over 3500 and 29 TDs. On defense you want to look out for MLB Ray Lewis and FS Ed Reed. The defense might be lacking some star power (no raven is in the top ten player stats on defense).
I think the playoffs will be a good one. The Ravens will have to face some of the best rushing defenses in the league. How will that change their game flow that relies on moving the ball on the ground and relieving pressure on the QB to open things down the field. The only true weakness on this team is their kicker, a veteran with 88 KPW will have difficulty past the 50, and a rookie with a 48% FG rate. I know from personal experience their rookie has cost them the game. We expect them to play the vet during the playoffs, but will his KPW be the difference of a Super Bowl?
Few other notes about this team. They lead the league with least amount of INTs with 8. And they lead the league with 48% chance of converting on 3rd down. Almost a 50/50 split if they keep moving the ball. They also lead the league in TOP. Gonna be hard to beat the Ravens this year.
So, who is your favorite to win the Super Bowl? What teams did I miss? We probably aren?t talking enough about the Patriots.
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