The NFL season is on the brink of the playoffs, with this year’s predicted Super Bowl champion team already out of the running.
One of the best ways to stay up to date on the season, playoff news, athlete stats and expert projections is with a subscription to a sports magazine like ESPN through the National Magazine Exchange.
This year’s 12 competing teams all have a lot to work on. The Denver Broncos, leading the league with an 11-game winning streak, are Peyton Manning’s ride to a complete comeback. Still he feels they are a work in progress.
“I think we’ve done the best job of being the best we can possibly be in a short period of time,” he said.
The Broncos have been given a little extra time to rally with a bye during the first round of the playoffs. However, the Patriots, Falcons and 49ers were all given the same opportunity.
The Huffington Post explains the major weakness of each of the 12 competing teams.
“Odd as it sounds, the ball just hasn’t bounced the Broncos’ way this season. They’re minus-1 in turnover differential. Trindon Holliday has two return TDs but five fumbles. Knowshon Moreno was deactivated for two months after coughing up the ball before replacing an injured Willis McGahee in November. And rookie Ronnie Hillman didn’t see the field after his fumble Sunday led to the scary sight of Manning chasing down a cornerback to save a TD. ‘Me, I’m telling him to get out of the way,’ Champ Bailey said. ‘But the competitive nature of him is telling him to make the tackle. He stuck his neck out there.’ His four-time surgically repaired neck, by the way.”
The Patriots also have some room for improvement, according to the Post.
“The Pats are as close to perfect as there is, but they, too, have blemishes, including RB Stevan Ridley’s fumbles. Despite rushing for a career-high 1,263 yards and 12 TDs in his second season, Ridley fumbled four times, putting him in line for one of coach Bill Belichick’s notorious rants. ‘We’re trying to play perfect football. That’s impossible, of course,’ Ridley said. ‘But when you make a mistake, you best believe that this is one place it’s not going to slide’.”
