Which Team Is For Real: Jaguars, Rams, Buccaneers Or Bears?
Published by Eli Chesner on November 25, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
There are always surprise teams in every sport, every year. Last year in the NFL, who would have thought that the Broncos would almost make the playoffs? Or the Jets almost going all they way with a 9-7 record? Or Brett Favre having a career year?
Flash back to reality now. Teams that we expected to do good, such as the Patriots, Jets, Packers and Ravens, are all either first or second in their division. But teams that we didn’t expect to be either first or second in their division, such as the Jaguars, Rams, Buccaneers and Bears, have been fantastic this year.
Yes there are teams that are surprising, like the Raiders, Chiefs and Steelers, but people kind of predicted that. No one thought that the Jaguars, Rams, Buccaneers and Bears would be contending for the division title.
So let’s see inside the schedules and players and see which of these four teams is most for real in this unpredictable NFL season.
Jaguars: The Jacksonville Jaguars have had a very hard schedule to work with this season. Through the first 10 games, the Jaguars have played three teams in first place (Eagles, Colts, Chiefs). Their six wins this year (Broncos, Colts, Bills, Cowboys, Texans, Browns) have come against opponents with a combined 21-39 record. Their four losses (Chargers, Eagles, Titans, Chiefs) have a combined record of 23-17.
With their best player being Maurice Jones Drew and their second best being Mike Sims-Walker, David Garrard is lucky to have two good weapons.
But that doesn’t mean anything. The Jaguars are not for real. They stink against good teams and got lucky against Houston. Don’t expect the Jaguars to make the playoffs.
Rams: The last three years, three rookie quarterbacks have led their teams to the playoffs. Matt Ryan of the Falcons, Joe Flacco of the Ravens and Mark Sanchez of the Jets. This year, we could add a fourth member to the list with Sam Bradford.
The Rams have had a fantastic year, or so we think. The schedule might proof otherwise. (And yes, I understand they play in football’s worst division)
One of the easiest schedules this year has gone well for the Rams. They are 4-6, which might not seem like a great record, but for the Rams, with only one big name star in Steven Jackson, it’s a great record. Their four wins (Redskins, Seahawks, Chargers, Panthers) are against teams with a combined record of 16-24. Their six losses this year (Cardinals, Raiders, Lions, Buccaneers,49ers, Falcons) have a combined record of 28-34. So they could have taken advantage of the bad teams they played.
Come playoff time, since the Rams are in the worst division in football, they will most likely win the division with a 7-9 or 8-8 record. But once the playoffs start there is no chance of St. Louis advancing past the first round.
Buccaneers: Over the last seven seasons, the team to finish last in the NFC South made the playoffs the following year, and six of them won the division. It could very well happen again this year. The Buccaneers (three wins all of last season) have seven wins this year.
The Buccaneers have been outstanding, but are they for real, and are people not saying anything about them for a reason? Let’s see.
The Buccaneers seven wins this year (Browns, Panthers twice, Bengals, Rams, Cardinals, 49ers) have a combined record of 17-53. Ouch.
The combined record of the teams they lost to (Steelers, Saints, Falcons) is 22-8. No wonder why the Buccaneers are good.
So looking at this, the Buccaneers aren’t for real either because of the teams they beat, no one has a winning record.
Bears: Remember last year the Bears were expected to win the Super Bowl with Jay Cutler and they didn’t even make the playoffs? This year is completely different.
But are the Bears for real? Let’s see.
Of their seven wins (Lions, Cowboys, Packers, Panthers, Bills, Vikings, Dolphins) their opponents combined record is 23-48. Ouch. Their three losses (Giants, Seahawks, Redskins) have a combined record of 16-14. So they have beaten who they should be beating, but against Seattle and Washington, they should have won.
So, really, all four of these teams are not really for real looking at their schedules. But the team that has been for real out of these four teams is most likely the Chicago Bears.
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