NFL, a Season of Haves and Have Nots
By:
Jim Feist |
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
NFL, a Season of Haves and
Have Nots by Jim Feist
This has been a year where
the sports books have gotten killed booking NFL wagers. The reason is clear;
there simply is very little parity in the NFL this season. Actually, this is a
year of HAVES AND HAVE NOTS. We all know which teams fit in each bracket. The
Steelers and Patriots are the premier AFC teams, just as many of us thought
before the season began. In the NFC, it’s a little more complicated since that
conference is much deeper in talented teams than the AFC. How deep you ask? The
Falcons, Saints, Panthers, Eagles, Vikings, Lions, Seahawks, Rams, all have
shown that they are dangerous contenders.
Is it possible some other team or teams could rise to become surprise Super
Bowl contenders? Sure it is especially considering how much of an effect
injuries can have on the fortunes of a team. Just look at what happened to the
Packers playoff chances after losing quarterback Aaron Rogers. Similarly, the
Houston Texans looked poised to make a run until they lost quarterback Deshaun
Watson. The New York Giants have lost key offensive plays all season long. Look
at how devastating a key offensive lineman going down can mess up an offensive
game plan. Just ask the Dallas Cowboys or Green Bay Packers. In fact, besides quarterback, there is no
bigger impact on team’s fortunes then the health of their offensive
linemen. I could go on and on about how
much a Watson and JJ Watt means to the Texans or Andrew Luck not playing a down
for the Colts has been. I think you get the point.
I predicted even before
the season started that there would be a resurgence of the running back in the
NFL. That sure has come true. The LA Rams Todd Gurley stuck a dagger in many a
fantasy football owner’s heart last year. This season, he’s looking like the
star everyone saw in 2015. Most of the
really successful teams this year have better balance than was the trend in
prior campaigns. Still, there exists
this huge division between the Haves and Have Nots. The root of this division
can be directly attributed to the lack of quality offensive lineman and
quarterbacks.
Overall, even though I
believe this is down year for the NFL in terms of depth of talented squads,
given time many of these teams will develop the people they have and jell into
competitive teams for years to come. The league will always have to overcome
the pending loss of some star QB’s that are reaching the end of their careers.
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