Let Pylons Be Pylons

Much like a reality game show, the reveal of our no.2 division gives away the end of the rankings. That doesn’t stop us from plowing ahead and looking at the things that make the NFC North the runner-up in our Divisional Breakdown series. Are the Packers still king? The Vikings took a lot of steps in the offseason, but did they take the right steps? Are the Bears regressing with their new head coach? And what is stopping the Lions from being a perennial playoff contender?

It’s the final countdown here on our Divisional Breakdown series. This week’s stop is the NFC South; the division that seems to never have the same winner two years in a row. Last year the Falcons ran away with the division through a series of head scratching wins and fourth quarter comebacks but was it luck or signs of a mentally tough team? We discuss that and try to figure out who will take the throne in the South away from the dirty birds.

Past the halfway point we find ourselves in the last AFC Division, the AFC North. By far the strongest AFC Division as things stand today, but still only better than one NFC Division. We take a look at how a Division that perennially sends multiple playoff teams (and includes last year’s Super Bowl champion) doesn’t manage to rank higher on our countdown. From roster purges to great Draft days, we hit it all.

Our Divisional Breakdown Countdown finds it’s first stop in the NFC. Unfortunately, the division that was our strongest last year has fallen to the last slot in its own conference. What happened between last year and this that has shaken our faith in the East? Has any team in this division made any real moves to compete in a very difficult NFC? We discuss.

Week three of the divisional breakdowns brings us the AFC South. The Texans and Colts found playoff berths last year but then were outmatched in the playoffs. Did each team do enough to take another shot at the postseason or was last year as good as it gets? With a weak AFC anything is possible, but are those things probable?

The divisional breakdowns continue with the division we think slides in as “one above” the AFC East. With the Super Bowl favorite from the AFC driving the division, the West has a much higher ceiling and a supporting cast of teams who are talented and looking to cash in on some off season changes. Will the Chiefs or the Chargers bounce back to relevance under new coaches? Are the Raiders the worst team in the NFL or will the recent house-cleaning start to show dividends this season?

The divisional breakdowns have finally arrived! After an extra week off due to traveling and family, we return to give you everything important you need to know about each division. From weakest to strongest, we will be lining up the divisions for assimilation. Up first, our weakest division, the AFC East. Find out where we think the Jets, Dolphins, Bills, and Patriots will end up next season when all is said and done. Who will improve? Who will falter? What will it take to make this division competitive outside of the perennial playoff contender Patriots? and of course, Tebow.

With the offseason news slowing down (on account of their being no Peyton Manning free agency or blockbuster rookie QB news), we take this lull to look ahead at the things that make us want to wish-away summer and skip straight to football season. What things do we think warrant your time an thoughts before the season even begins?

The NFL Draft has come and gone and we begin to settle in for the long (ok, it’s only two months — but it seems like an eternity) dead season of the NFL year. Before we do, however, we take a look at how teams did in the draft. Did your favorite team get the help it needed in the Draft? Did they make a big splash or a big flop? Did they take the best available or fill a need? We give our thoughts.

The Draft is now less than two weeks away and that means it is time to take a look at the big board. Team by team we try to see what the most glaring needs are at each position, and what strategies might be best for some of the teams that have a plethora of holes to fill.