So much for preseason forecasts.
Minnesota was supposed to be a Super Bowl contender. The Vikings are 0-2 and starting former Redskins quarterback Gus Frerotte — practically the last man standing from the 1994 draft.
Jacksonville is also 0-2. So are Cleveland, San Diego and Seattle. All five teams were supposed to win their divisions. Instead, they’re long shots to make the wild card round.
Meanwhile, Arizona is 2-0 when meeting the Redskins today at FedEx Field. The Cardinals haven’t committed a turnover in their first two games for the first time since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Green Bay is 2-0 minus Brett what’s-his-name. New England is 2-0 without Tom Brady for the year.
No wondering gambling on these games is impossible and half my fantasy team has been already dumped.
We love the NFL for the very reason the first two weeks showed — anything is possible. Sixteen games and a salary cap permit parity.
Major League Baseball rarely lets small market teams win despite Tampa Bay and Milwaukee’s fine seasons. We’ll see what happens in October. They’ve done well for once, but it’s basically only once in awhile titans don’t dominate given no salary cap and 162 games.
The NBA is all about superstar players. Buy a couple and stay healthy and you’re in the finals. A no-name team doesn’t survive.
The NHL is … well, heck if I know.
Even the Kentucky Derby is dominated by big-money owners most years. The million dollar babies are usually owned by royalty, billionaires or blueblood breeders. It’s seldom a cheap sleepers like Funny Cide, whose owners traveled on a school bus, punches through the spring classics.
The NFL is mostly who has the smartest front office (which explains the Redskins’ malaise given the GM is now a morning radio show host) and fewest injuries. A small town like Green Bay, which has fewer people than Waldorf, can beat New York and Chicago.
By October’s end, we’ll largely know the real playoff contenders. Of the five 0-2 teams, San Diego can still rally given Denver is the only other AFC West team that will probably finish with at least eight wins. Oakland and Kansas City might not even combine for eight wins.
Minnesota and Seattle are dead. Jacksonville and Cleveland have wild card chances at best.
Just two games in and Indianapolis versus Dallas appears the Super Bowl matchup if remaining healthy. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning needed a game to look healthy. The Cowboys may have sponsored Jessica Simpson’s new tour so Tony Romo won’t be distracted. No way the Cowboys win 13 games again and not get a postseason win, right?
The New York Giants are for real. So are Tennessee, Arizona, Green Bay, Carolina and Pittsburgh. New England can’t survive Brady’s loss in the postseason.
Then again, thanks to parity, the whole thing may look completely different in two more weeks.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
