Jordan’s Serial: Turning the thing around
Every season one team manages to forget their horrible previous year and turn into the league’s worst-to-first team. It happens quite regularly and of course proves that the NFL top brass are doing their jobs correctly as they continue to strive for parity and prove the old cliché of “Any Given Sunday” still has credence.
Maybe it’s a bit early to dust off the crystal ball and start making predictions, but the way the league sets out its scheduling format, teams know their next campaign opponents as soon as the final regular week is played out. This, in turn, gives them a great heads up in terms of the strength of the schedule they will have.
So looking at last year’s division cellar-dwellers who has the best shot at turning things around in 2013. In the AFC we have Buffalo, Cleveland, Jacksonville and Kansas City, whilst over in the NFC, Philadelphia, Detroit, Tampa Bay and Arizona have it all to do.
Straight off the bat I’m going to say that the Lions will have their work cut out in trying to win their division. Not only is theirs one of the toughest, they have the second hardest schedule in relation to 2012 opponent’s records. The Cardinals likewise are in probably the most talent laden division in all football and have been handed the seventh hardest road to the Super Bowl. Other teams that could struggle due to lack of talent and coaching are the Wembley bound Jaguars, and the Bills. The Cleveland Browns could show up better than last year, they often tend to beat themselves though.
Strength of schedule is not best gauge to how a team will perform in the coming season, the Chiefs will take heart that new Head Coach Andy Reid will salvage something from the fifth easiest line-up, hard to see them overhauling the Denver Broncos though. Tampa Bay showed early promise in 2012 and are a strong team on both sides of the ball, can they win consistently against opponent with an equal 127-127-2 record from last year?
This leaves one team that could be the one that goes all the way and turns their division on it’s head. The Eagles under Chip Kelly have a shot in a division that has gone down to the wire more than most over the past few years. Yes, they were dreadful after a good opening month last year, they will think that a fresh approach might see a change of fortune. The NFC East is still strong and all the other three teams in there will also think they have a legit shot at the divisional crown. For once there is no pressure in Philadelphia and that alone could be the difference (please note I said could).
The full week-by-week NFL schedule is to be released at 1am UK time, Friday morning.
Finally, on that bright Monday afternoon with many enjoying a run, watching it, or just soaking up the atmosphere, a catastrophic event happened that will live with them forever. As an avid sports fan this doesn’t put me off attending large events in the future, but I will take a moment to be thankful that I’m able to attend and remember those that will never be able to again.
The following was printed in Tuesday’s Chicago Tribune, and sums up the emotions felt worldwide by this tragedy. WE are as one at these times.
