Vikings Rise to # 2 According to Dillon
According to Columnist Dennis Dillon after week six of the NFL season, three NFC teams have separated themselves from the pack. The Saints and Vikings remain unbeaten, and the Giants are just a step behind after suffering their first defeat Sunday.
Here’s his look at the NFC’s Big Three:
1. New Orleans Saints
Reasons for optimism: They have become more balanced on offense—Drew Brees is now complemented by a solid committee of running backs—and the defense has improved under new coordinator Gregg Williams.
Reason for concern: Special teams. After giving up big chunks of return yards to the Giants’ Domenik Hixon in a 48-27 win, that unit needs a tune-up.
Fullback Heath Evans says: “We’ve got a lot to prove. Games in this league really don’t count until November and December.”
2. Minnesota Vikings –
Reasons for optimism: Brett Favre is playing like a younger version of himself—he threw three more TD passes without an interception Sunday in a 33-31 win over Baltimore—and Adrian Peterson still is the best running back in the league and the defense remains stout.
Reason for concern: They play back-to-back road games at Pittsburgh and Green Bay the next two weeks.
Brett Favre says: “All I know is we’re 6-0. I know it’s a long way to go, but it’s a good start.”
3. New York Giants
Reasons for optimism: Eli Manning won’t have many mediocre games like he did against New Orleans, and running back Brandon Jacobs is bound to break out soon.
Reasons for concern: The secondary is beat up, and the offensive line could be without right tackle Kareem McKenzie (groin) for a while.
Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce says: “Everyone looked at this game (at New Orleans) as the Super Bowl, but it’s only Week 6. There’s another 10 games to get ready for.”
Tier 2
Atlanta Falcons: A Week 8 game at New Orleans will be a good measuring stick.
Green Bay Packers: As long as they can give Aaron Rodgers time to throw, they’re contenders.
Philadelphia Eagles: We’ve learned to never dismiss them, but losing at Oakland wasn’t one of their finer moments.
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This post has 2 comments
October 19th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
I agree with that assesment. Right now I think the Saints would be a hard matchup for us.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:24 am
Some observations from Raven game:
Kevin Williams played a tremendous game of defense just as Sidney Rice did on offense.
Karl Paymah was dreadful. Poor in coverage and as a tackler. You could see Cam Cameron and Raven attacking his side in 2nd half passing.
Benny Sapp was not much better and completely whiffed coverage on 3rd Raven TD. Concussion?
Raven targetted right side of D for running game and went at Jared Allen who tended to overpursue. This could be the model for other offenses and reason to lay off Vike this week in Pittsburg
However, JA had a forced fumble, hits, pressures although KWill was more effective. Ray Edwards, where were you against backup tackle Yanda?
Chili’s 4th Qtr coaching decision very questionable. Clear he was trying to run the clock but the plain vanilla plays had no hope of gaining yardage. Wrong decision given context of the game. Viking could have played for TD but they could also have just played for a 1st down and didn’t.
Andy Reid had similar tendency to become too conservative in play-calling in pressure situations. There will be tension later on when Favre, the gambler we saw in 49er game, starts audibling out of late game calls.