NFL Power Ranking Football Picks
Written November 24, 2009 by Nick Jones
Would anyone have picked two NFL teams to be undefeated after 10 games this season? The Indianapolis Colts might have been a favorite but how about the New Orleans Saints? Are they the long shot this year?
Comparing how these two teams got here begs the question, is it better to lucky or good? Both teams have had their share of luck but they seem to be good enough to fight through the mistakes.
Let’s start with the Colts – last week they overcame 3 turnovers, two interceptions by Peyton Manning, to sidestep another potential obstacle in their path to history. They currently have 8 consecutive 10-win seasons, second only to San Francisco’s 16 seasons from 1983-98. Their 19 game winning streak is the second longest in NFL history as well. The record is 21 games by the New England Patriots from 2006-08. Both of these records could have easily fallen by the wayside as the Colts have won its last four games by a combined 10 points! This leaves them a very small margin for error these days. Their injury-depleted defense has been playing bend-don’t-break lately. And that was the way they played last week by holding the Ravens to a field goal when they had 1st and goal on the one in the fourth quarter.
The Saints, on the other hand, think the sky’s the limit and that they haven’t peaked yet. But they also understand that it only gets harder and that they can’t sit back and rest on their laurels. Turnovers bothered the Saints over the past month as well but Drew Brees didn’t throw an interception last week for the first time in five games. They also didn’t allow a sack for the first time in those five weeks. Brees says that the NFL’s number 1 offense can become even more efficient. And last week provided a good start as the offense took advantage of numerous mistakes by Tampa Bay’s young quarterback Josh Freeman. Freeman threw three interceptions, was sacked three time and also lost a fumble against the Buc’s defense that got off to a slow start.
So, lucky or good? Both teams are going to need a bit of both as there’s a lot of football left to be played and everybody will be setting their sights on knocking off the guys on the top of the heap.
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