NFL SEASON PREVIEW: An Early Look At The Contenders
The New England Patriots entered last season’s Super Bowl with an 18-0 record. The final game on New England’s march to a 19-0 record seemed to be just a formality. However, the underdog New York Giants had other plans. Utilizing a ferocious pass rush and an opportunistic offense, the Giants shocked the world by defeating the Patriots 17-14 to claim the 2007 NFL championship.
A look forward to the 2008 NFL season must begin where the 2007 season ended. Despite failing to complete an unprecidented19-0 campaign, the Patriots head into 2008 as the team to beat. Quarterback Tom Brady is in the prime of his career and he has explosive weapons led Randy Moss, New England’s silky smooth pass catching machine. Even though the Patriots stumbled on the last hurdle on their run to perfection, their team remains the prohibitive favorites to win it all in 2008.
The defending Super Bowl titlists don’t have it so cut and dry. Michael Strahan, New York’s defensive leader and veteran sack master, retired after reaching the top of the mountain. It’s also unclear whether the Giants can reclaim the magic that appeared to carry the squad above any and all obstacles the team faced during the 2007 NFL playoffs. The Giants were 10-6 during the regular season last year before quarterback Eli Manning caught fire and the defense began to breathe fire in their postseason run. Can New York do it again? It’s possible but counting on lightning to strike twice is always risky business.
Many other contenders seem poised to make the journey to the 2008 Super Bowl. One such team is the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys, who lost against the Giants in last year’s playoffs, return a very potent unit. Offensively, Dallas is loaded with an up-and-coming star at quarterback in Tony Romo and one of the most talented wide receivers the league has ever seen in Terrell Owens. On defense, the Cowboys boast a young yet experienced group of players that can be dominant when playing at the top of their game.
The 2006 Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts also shouldn’t be discounted. Although a few of their stars have aged, including future Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison, the Colts are still a formidable squad. Led by Peyton Manning, arguably the game’s best quarterback, the Colts offense is difficult to corral. Head coach Tony Dungy is a defensive genius and has established himself as one of the games best tacticians.
Other championship contenders include the San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Chargers have Ladainian Tomlinson, who one day may be looked upon as the best running back of all-time. The Jaguars are a rough and tumble set of brutes that never back down from a fight. The Steelers are also a physical group with talented core of skilled players.
While the aforementioned teams may have the best chances on paper, last year’s Giants proved that in the NFL it’s never a good idea to count out a Cinderella team crashing the big dance. With that in mind, buckle up, grab your popcorn and get ready for what promises to be another exhilarating ride of NFL action beginning on Sept. 4.