Can we?
Of course not. The preseason, in reality, shows us very little. Whichever team winds up winning these teasing contests does so mainly on the strength of their back-ups. Coaches are trying things out, assessing player by player strengths and weaknesses at full speed in pads, and trying to gauge success on a microcosmic level.
In the preseason - which many experts believe should be shortened from 4 to 2 games with the surplus pair being added onto the regular season (I kind of agree) - the plays run are skeletons of the plays we will see our favourite teams executing come the commencement of the 2012 season. Coaches are looking at the plays in pieces, not as a whole. For example, you may have your number 2 receiver on the field, running a route that is a component of a polished play, but largely inconsequential to that particular play, just to make sure his pattern is on song or his one-on-one with the corner is a battle won in isolation.
There's a lot going on, but not so much that offers any conclusion to the casual observer. Hell, the play books of an NFL franchise are about as guarded as Fort Knox, and the stuff the coaches are willing to reveal is done so in a way that opposing coaches, let alone the fans, can't get too much of a read on their team.
So many times we've seen rubbish teams storm the preseason - an explainable phenomenon. Bad teams NEED to practice REAL plays. Good teams need to fine tune the particulars. So, before anyone goes anointing the Broncos Super Bowl champions after their demolishing of the well thought of Bears (31-3), let's cool off a little and draw what we can from the 6 games played so far.
In the afore mentioned Broncos/Bears clash, four QBs suited up for the Denver outfit. Of the four, only Manning, who played the first series and no more, threw an interception, but it was tipped and apart from that he looked good, albeit with a little less zip on his balls. He gives this team a leader, the calibre of which they have not known since John Elway. Man mountain Brock Osweiler tossed a TD and threw for 38 yards in 7 attempts (4 completions). That's not bad. Osweiler could be a solid back-up and looks good value to progress up the depth chart as the preseason rolls on.
The Bears were shocking on offence but Jay Cutler - a Pro Bowl level QB and their only chance of success this season - didn't even play a down. Adding to that the fact that his back-ups only managed to get one ball to Brandon Marshall - the stand out addition to this roster - for a paltry 4 yards, there is a pretty obvious reason as to why they failed to notch up a single TD.
Remember, the Bears were very good value to make the play-offs last year before Cutler broke his thumb. The collapsed to an awful finish and missed the post-season by a mile. If he stays healthy, look for the Bears to make it this time, but I'm only saying that based on their talent, not that performance against the Broncos.
The Redskins squared up against the Bills in what was Robert Griffin III's first appearance as a pro. The game ended up with a turgid 7-6 scoreline in favour of the Washington team, who have their new superstar's arm to thank for the lone TD of the game.
Buffalo are still relying on Ryan Fitzpatrick to be their difference maker. O like the guy, but he would be a back-up on most any other team right now. Look for Vince Young to take the reigns of a team that plays with some serious cajones when they keep their heads up. Will the Bills make the play-offs?
Probably not.
The Redskins chances look a lot better, though. Unfortunately for them, they play in a loaded division, which resides to the East of an evermore competitive conference. All NFC teams will need to shoot for at least 10 wins to make it into the post-season and unless the Washington Redskins win their division, I can't see them getting in. 2 teams out of the NFC East? It's possible, but the Wild Card picture is so crowded (with the Lions, Bears and Packers of the North all looking good, the Falcons, Panthers AND Buccaneers snapping at the heels of a reeling New Orleans, the Cardinals showing flashes of dominance on D and proficiency under Skelton, and the Seahawks with the addition of former Green Bay back-up Matt Flynn throwing the ball to newly signed Terrell Owens, snagging one of the two available spots will be hard going).
In what should have been the most entertaining game of the week, the Patriots edged the Saints in a 7-6 grinder. With neither Brady nor Brees having a significant impact on their respective team's fortunes, we got a chance to see a carousel of roster players strutting their stuff in two misfiring offences. The Patriots got the ball to 11 different guys through the air, with the sole touchdown coming from rookie Britt Davis. Despite a promising start from the youngster, this game showed us little else save for Luke McCowen's solid performance (9/16 for 86 yards 0/0 TD/INT) under centre for the maligned Saints.
The World Champions once removed stuttered out of the gate, losing a rough one against the Chargers. The bright spot for me was the poised performance of rookie QB Graham Harrell for the Packers. He had 27 attempts, completed 15 for 135 yards and a touchdown. The Pack have a great record of drafting talent at the most important position in football. With at least 5 years to develop behind Rogers, barring a catastrophically early end to the top Quarterback's career, the future once again looks green & gold.
For the Chargers of San Diego, Antonio Gates (TE) and 3rd year pro, Curtis Brinkly (RB) looked fit and both scored. Good signs for the league's most prolific underachievers.
NEWSFLASH: Despite his Eagles beating the Steelers after a period of personal tragedy for coach Andy Reid, Michael Vick went down injured. Damn the preseason. The 24-23, fourth quarter comeback will be a poor salve should Vick not recover sufficiently. Fingers crossed he does.
Finally, the game of the preseason so far has to be the high-scoring contest between the Ravens and Falcons. The 31-17 run-out for these two play-off hopefuls was by far the most entertaining match-up on offer. I like Joe Flacco. There are not buts to come. I think he's got the skills to take this team over the top. Can his receivers hold on to his balls? Of course they can! The agonising drop at the end of the AFC Championship against the Pats was a blip (a mighty big one, but forgivable in time). Flacco had the most completions of all 4 QBs to suit up for the Ravens with the second least attempts. He kept a clean INT box, but was unable to find the end zone. that doesn't worry me. The Ravens are a GREAT team, who like to make statements. They have a huge chip on the shoulders as they are always considered with an air of doubt given their sharing of the AFC North with the super-successful Steelers, but time and time again they make it out of football's hardest nosed division and give us all a thrill in January.
Is this their year?
Like I said, it's too early to go making picks based on these largely meaningless games, but if any team looked ready to play some football, it was the Ravens.
It's good to be back.
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