Who ARE the Pretenders?

by BShrout on Oct 5, 2009 11:24 PM MDT Comment 11 comments

Just a little perspective being offered up for consideration: Going into this weekend, there were seven undefeated teams in the NFL: Denver, Indianapolis, the New York Giants, New Orleans, Minnesota, Baltimore and the New York Jets.

Two of those teams fell -- the Ravens and the Jets -- leaving the league with only five undefeated teams as the quarter-way mark. One of those teams -- Denver -- has been maligned in some circles as being the beneficiaries of a "softer" schedule than the other teams. Yet which teams have truly benefited from a "softer" schedule?

More after the jump

When we examine the cumulative records of the opponents played by the undefeated teams, we find -- IMHO -- that the argument that the Broncos have benefited from a softer schedule than the other teams does not hold up. Take a look at how each undefeated team has reached it's current position:

Indianapolis Colts:
Home vs Jacksonville (2-2)
Away vs Miami (1-3)
Away vs Arizona (1-2)
Home vs Seattle (1-3)
Opponents' Cumulative Record: 5-10 (.333)
Next four games: @Tennessee (0-4), Bye, @St. Louis (0-4), San Francisco (3-1), Houston (2-2) (Cumulative: 5-11 - .312)

New York Giants:
Home vs Washington (2-2)
Away vs Dallas (2-2)
Away vs Tampa Bay (0-4)
Away vs Kansas City (0-4)
Opponents' Cumulative Record: 4-12 (.250)
Next four games: Oakland (1-3), @New Orleans (4-0), Arizona (1-2), @Philadelphia (2-1) (Cumulative: 8-6 - .571)

New Orleans Saints:
Home vs Detroit (1-3)
Away vs Philadelphia (2-1)
Away vs Buffalo (1-3)
Home vs New York Jets (3-1)
Opponents' Cumulative Record: 7-8 (.466)
Next four games: Bye, New York Giants (4-0), @Miami (1-3), Atlanta (2-1), Carolina (0-3) (Cumulative: 7-7 - .500)

Minnesota Vikings:
Away vs Cleveland (0-4)
Away vs Detroit (1-3)
Home vs San Francisco (3-1)
Home vs Green Bay (2-2)
Opponents' Cumulative Record: 6-10 (.375)
Next four games: @St Louis (0-4), Baltimore (3-1), @Pittsburgh (2-2), @Green Bay (2-2) (Cumulative: 7-9 - .437)

Denver Broncos:
Away vs Cincinnati (3-1)
Home vs Cleveland (0-4)
Away vs Oakland (1-3)
Home vs Dallas (2-2)
Opponents' Cumulative Record: 6-10 (.375)
Next four games: New England (3-1), @San Diego (2-2), Bye, @Baltimore (3-1), Pittsburgh (2-2) (Cumulative: 10-6 - .625)

A couple of things stood out as I looked at this data:

1)New Orleans has faced the toughest schedule so far (combined 7-8/.466)

2)The Giants have had the easiest schedule (combined 4-12/.250)

3)Denver and Minnesota are tied for the 2nd toughest schedule (combined 6-10/.375)

4)Denver has the toughest upcoming schedule (combined 10-6/.625)

5)Indianapolis has the easiest upcoming schedule (combined 5-11/.312)

A couple of thoughts on our next four games:

1)New England - Tom Brady has not played well when pressured. Our defense has been bringing the heat in every game. If we can put him under continuous pressure, we have a shot at winning this game.

2)San Diego - has looked very vulnerable so far. This is a game that could be easily won if we play like we've been playing.

3)Baltimore - This looks to be the toughest of the next four games. I believe it will come down to whether or not our offense can play without the unacceptable number of penalties. This game could go either way.

4)Pittsburgh - like San Diego has looked very vulnerable. We play mistake free and bring the heat on defense, we could walk away with a win.

5)At the halfway point, I see us as being a minimum of 6-2, more likely 7-1, and could well end up 8-0.

Poll

Which of the 5 undefeated teams has benefited the most from the "softness" their schedule?

Indianapolis

27 votes

New York Giants

28 votes

Minnesota

9 votes

New Orleans

1 votes

Denver

14 votes

79 votes | Poll has closed

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

2 recs | Comment 11 comments

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Comments

Don't the Ravens have some defensive issues?

They have given up quite a few yards in the air. Not that pass offense has been our strong suit. Not yet anyway. With some help in the turnover dept., I think they can be had. Patriots have been a lititle stingier.

On another note: Wow the Giants must be the worst 4-0 team ever!

"Kool-Aid Kool Aid, Tastes Great, We Want Kool Aid, Can't Wait"

by littletinybroncos on Oct 6, 2009 3:31 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

No, the Broncos are, remember? :)

by BroncosBassist on Oct 6, 2009 5:34 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't include the Ravens

since they’re no longer undefeated. As a result, I didn’t even look at them. Sorry.

"The best defense is a good offense. Or is it the other way around." Wolverine
Pray for the best, prepare for the worst, and know you will come down somewhere between the two.
Livin' in La La Land and Lovin' It

by BShrout on Oct 6, 2009 7:33 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Poll.

I have to say, the Broncos have benefited the most from the soft opening schedule, but I don’t mean that negatively. If any team needed to be eased into the season, it was Denver. What with more than half the roster being turned over, new schemes all around and a mediocre preseason, this group could have used some weak opponents to learn, gel and gain some momentum. Heck, even our “test” so far came against a flawed team and at home, which was nice. No slight to what our team has done nor to how it’s done it, but that’s how I approached the poll.

"A player who conjugates a verb in the first person singular cannot be part of the squad, he has to conjugate the verb in the first person plural. We. We want to conquer. We are going to conquer. Using the word 'I' when you're in a group makes things complicated." ~ Wanderley Luxemburgo, 1999

by ejruiz on Oct 6, 2009 3:39 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Broncos could have had huge problems in the morale area if we’d had to start, say, at Baltimore and Philadelphia. Those games could have been blowouts and it might have been hard to put things together after that. But three relatively easy games let them start working together and believing that it can work.

Wrote Great in the sand a thousand times. Forgot about dying and went on home.

by bradley on Oct 6, 2009 6:22 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well put BShrout

I chose Denver as benefitting most as we were still melding to a regular season full speed team.

In my spring-time prediction post I had us starting 5-0, losing our first game at SD. I may be wrong here, we may well start 6-0 just as we did in ’77.

Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
Gonsoulin, Taylor, Little, Wright, Gradishar, Atwater, Davis, and Sharpe...
Why are they not in the Hall...I just don't understand.

by Mike Clark on Oct 6, 2009 7:42 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I had to Agree with Mike

I chose Denver, but not because I believe we are pretenders. I just think that of those 5 teams….we are, at this juncture, the weakest…..or at least close to it. I could not say for sure, that we could beat any one of those teams. Don’t take that to mean that we are the worst 4-0 team ever either. I think we are a great 4-0 team. We have the ability to beat anyone in the league WITH better football. Less mistakes, less incompletes on wide open long bombs, and MORE points on the board. Otherwise…I say we go 11-5 this season. which is not bad.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
- Thomas Alva Edison

"Success is not a place at which one arrives, but rather... the spirit with which one undertakes and continues the journey."
- Alex Noble

by DenBronx on Oct 6, 2009 9:01 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

maybe instead of saying weakest

it is more appropriate to say the Broncos are the least tested 4-0 team.

by adamriggs on Oct 6, 2009 11:25 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

But I still say, our caliber of Play does not put us in the same boat as Indi, NYG, or even Min just yet. I think we could lose to any of those teams easy…..but we COULD also win. but yes I like least tested better.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
- Thomas Alva Edison

"Success is not a place at which one arrives, but rather... the spirit with which one undertakes and continues the journey."
- Alex Noble

by DenBronx on Oct 6, 2009 11:30 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

like the idea of "tested"

but the point I was making above, is that when you look at the cumulative records of the teams each of the undefeateds have played, Denver’s group of teams has the 2nd best record. Both Indianapolis and the Giants have played teams with worse records:

Indianapolis – 2-2, 1-3, 1-2, 1-3
Giants – 2-2, 2-2, 0-4, 0-4

Denver – 3-1, 2-2, 1-3, 0-4

Just saying

by BShrout on Oct 6, 2009 11:32 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was about to do this research

I’ve been telling all these Giants fans that they’re team hadn’t played anyone and I find it interesting that our schedule seems to be tougher than theirs as this season plays itself out.

I agree w/your assessment regarding Brady and their offense handling pressure defenses. Now the Jets showed a blueprint for teams to follow, question is whether they have the personnel to execute. Had the Ravens ran more than 17 times Sunday, chances are the results would have been different.

Say hello to my fast...

by dcrespo7 on Oct 6, 2009 12:00 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs