Thursday Morning Ranterback

Take a moment to refect on the current standings. If the playoffs started today, here is what the NFC would look like:

1. Cowboys
2. Packers
3. Panthers
4. Seahawks (only 3-3, but the division sucks)
5. Giants
6. Lions tied with Redskins (with Buccaneers close behind)

What is this, 1995?

Last year's three best teams (Bears, Saints, Eagles) are all out. The NFC thus has a lot of turnover. Is this good balance? Or did everyone just really suck last year? I don't know. But it's worth noting as we get closer to the halfway point.

In the AFC, things are more predictable. Pats and Colts on top, Steelers looking good, although the Chiefs are in first place right now. Didn't see that one, but there's time left. Both the Jags and Titans would be in, giving the South Division a rare playoff monopoly. I don't expect half of these teams to hold up, but they have a nice start.

Some random thoughts for week 8:

Someone please let Andy Reid know that playing Minnesota should not be so hard: stack 8 men in the box. Hell, stack 9. Do whatever you can to stop the run, because THEY CANNOT PASS THE BALL. It's obvious. You may wonder why I'm saying this when super-rookie Adrian Peterson is carrying my fantasy team.... well, chances are, Reid isn't listening to anyone anymore. Especially not reason.

The Eagles killed the Lions and the Lions beat the Bears, and the Bears nipped the Eagles in the end. I think the NFC has parity, so at least everyone should have a shot. Just not the Rams.

Or Falcons.

Or Vikings, as long as people play them right. Why wouldn't you just stick everyone on the line of scrimmage? Make them throw every play and you can win by 30. Seriously, I'm keeping Peterson in my lineup because I know I'm going to see Reid go with a prevent D on Sunday and he runs through it.

I'm a little disappointed that Dallas has the week off, because Stev has TO and Romo carrying his team and I needed a reason to drive to Texas and chop off some legs with an axe. Actually, you never need a reason for that, but I'm too lazy.

So much for that 49ers "We're a playoff dark horse!" bandwagon. Simmons called it. Of course, he also said that Atlanta would be a playoff team and Tampa sucked.

I really hope Arizona goes 7-9 and makes the playoffs. It could happen.

I'd root for Detroit, but I know they're going to disappoint me at some point. The one thing they never disappoint in is being disappoitning.

With all the Colts-Pats talk, I'd like to remind people that the Steelers could easily be 6-0 right now. Their two losses were pretty baffling, and they almost pulled them off anyway. What's going on with them when they go to the Mountain Time Zone? Any other place and they look great.

San Diego is pulling it together, but they never should have dumped Marty. They'll be okay because the division sucks, but they have not had good coaching.

Frank Wychek Update: still empty inside.

At least the Dolphins can finally draft a QB high and not have to keep searching for unknowns.... nine years too late.

The mayors of Alta Loma and Pennsauken met this week. They bartered to wager one box of ash-covered palm tree branches vs. an autographed card of native John Taylor for the game. The yard refuse was deemed slightly more valuable, but whatever.