The Atlanta Falcons will beat the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVI. The Redskins’ playoff chances? Not too good this year.
This is the year of the dirty birds — and not the ones on your cell phone. Atlanta needed last year’s 13-3 to get ready for the big time. Teams don’t usually jump to the top in one year, but the second season often can result in a breakthrough. And the Falcons can win it all if they can simply outlast the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South.
But there’s no shortage of contenders. Even minus Indianapolis, which now seems doomed without injured quarterback Peyton Manning for at best half of the season, at least eight teams can win the Lombardi Trophy.
Atlanta, Baltimore, New England, Green Bay, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Pittsburgh and the New York Jets are legitimate powerhouses. Notice the NFC and AFC have four teams each instead of the AFC dominating like it has in recent history.
There aren’t surprises among top contenders. The offseason lockout probably favors last year’s top teams.
The NFC has Philadelphia’s “Dream Team,” defending champion Green Bay and an intense division race between New Orleans and Atlanta. The NBA’s Dream Team didn’t win the title so expecting the Eagles to integrate their stars quickly may be ambitious.
Green Bay won last year because it played its best ball in the postseason. No repeat this year. The Packers will lose the in NFC championship game. New Orleans and Atlanta’s chances depend on how badly they beat each other up in two meetings. Somehow, the Falcons might have a minute edge to emerge from the NFC.
The AFC has its classic contenders in Baltimore, New England, Pittsburgh and the Jets. This “New Jets City” slogan is one of those classic Gotham City tabloid headlines like “Headless Man in Topless Bar.” Doesn’t make it so, though. The Jets have proved the past two years they aren’t tough enough.
Baltimore is the choice because it is tougher. The Ravens are brawlers even though they have been denied in recent seasons. Perhaps this is Ray Lewis’ last year and the Ravens rise for his curtain call. Somehow, Baltimore will outlast New England and Pittsburgh in January but will be beaten up rather than battle-tested for the Super Bowl. That and Joe Flacco isn’t Johnny Unitas.
Meanwhile, the Redskins are looking at 6-10. Maybe 8-8 if everything goes right. But with many new players, uncertainty at quarterback and a brutal late schedule, they will miss the playoffs despite improvement over last year.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
