| 16 | Arizona Cardinals | I'm not gonna lie...I forgot the Cardinals in my first post. No, they don't deserve to be here. But now that Leinart is gone and Derek Anderson is in, their offense should definitely be better. Beanie Wells is soft. Tim Hightower sucks. Only Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston (Go Blue!) don't suck on the team. I'm just really glad Matt Leinart is gone. That guy sucked. But yeah...The Cardinals don't belong here. My bad. |
| 15 | Seattle Seahawks | I'm not a big fan of Pete Carroll, but there's no denying that he's a great coach. The Seahawks certainly aren't as talented as most teams in the NFL, but they have just enough talent and a great coaching staff that should rejuvenate this struggling franchise. I had this relatively high ranking with the anticipation of TJ playing for the Seahawks, so now that he's gone, this high of a ranking may not be merited. |
| 14 | San Diego Chargers | The Chargers would be so much higher on this list 1)if Vincent Jackson was going to play and 2) if I didn't hate Philip Rivers. The Chargers are always the team with the most offseason hype that never makes the playoffs. It will be interesting to see how Ryan Mathews fairs in his rookie year and how well Rivers can play without Jackson, but in the end, the Chargers are in the WAC of the NFL, and should easily make it to the first round of the playoffs, where they will lose to a inferior teams. After all, that's how it's always been. |
| 13 | Atlanta Falcons | After the Saints, the Falcons must be the feel-good comeback team of the last few years. After decades of mediocrity, the player who led them to the playoffs was arrested and put in prison for dog-fighting. Despite this adversity, they drafted Matt Ryan and picked up Michael Turner, the two players that are the new foundation of the team. The Falcons have over-performed for their franchise these last two years, and it's often hard to root against them. With Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Michael Turner, and the speedy Jerious Norwood, this might be the year where they Falcons finally make it deep into the playoffs. |
| 12 | Dallas Cowboys | It really seems like in the history of the franchise, the Cowboys have never been boring to watch. This year with the addition of Dez Bryant to the receiving corps of Miles Austin and the inconsistent but still dangerous Roy Williams, Tony the Gunslinger will have as many targets to throw to as he ever has. The Cowboys are the favorites to win the ever-deep NFC East, which will have the most entertaining division games of the league. America's Team has a lot of pressure to perform well, and the eyes of the nation (or at least Texas) will be watching all of its games. |
| 11 | Indianapolis Colts | Peyton Manning leads one of the most efficient offenses in the NFL. Even though it's a total joy watching him expertly lead the offense, there never seems to be much drama in Colts games, as they seem to win all the games they are supposed to win. That said, he is easily my favorite player to watch when he's mic'd up, saying words and phrases that I can never in my lifetime understand. I really wish the team had more electric players, as Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark (and obviously Peyton) seem to be the only guys that can make big plays. Also, Addai sucks balls. |
| 10 | Cincinnati Bengals | The Bengals feature the rowdiest, loudest, most arrogant, and most entertaining wide receivers in the league, who are both made to be on TV. TO has been known for having a big mouth, crying, and throwing popcorn in his face. Ocho Cinco has been known for his over-the-top celebrations, over-used twitter page, and his recent dating show, The Ultimate Catch. The Bengals may not do that well on the field, but off the field, they'll definitely be the most fun to follow. |
| 9 | Baltimore Ravens | The Ravens may have the best offense they've ever had this year, with Joe Flacco, Anquan Boldin, TJ, and Ray Rice (yay Rutgers!). The Ravens have finally found the offense to compliment their legendary (but now aging, sadly) defense. If you want to see efficient offense and hard-hitting defense, just watch a Ravens game. |
| 8 | New England Patriots | The Patriots are ranked relatively low for a team that has torn through the league this last decade. There are question marks all over the team. Will Tom Brady pull it together and be the Tom Brady of 2008? Will Randy Moss start being fast again? Will Maroney show up this season? However, even with all of these uncertainties, we know that Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are going to put together some specactular games for us. |
| 7 | Philadelphia Eagles | Last year, the Eagles were definitely one of the most fun to watch teams. With the amount of young talent on the team, I think they will continue to be incredibly fun to watch, even if their youth costs them a few games. DeSean Jackson is an absolute beast - his first 10 (of 12) touchdowns of the season averaged 61.3 yards each, the shortest being 35 yards. The big question mark on the team is obviously Kevin Kolb, but he threw 71 and a 64 yard touchdowns to Jackson last season, so I'm really not too worried. I'm probably going to write another post about the Eagles, so stay tuned. And yes, the Eagles are probably over-ranked on this list, but who cares...I'm a homer! |
| 6 | New York Jets | The Jets will probably be the only defense that people will tune in to watch (now that Darrelle Revis is signed). The games they play in will not be the most high scoring or have the most big plays, but every week, I will be extremely interested in how opposing offenses will perform. Will Ocho Cinco catch more than two balls? Will Tom Brady figure out the defense? How will Miami's wildcat fare? The addition of LT and the maturation of Mark Sanchez will only help this cause. Plus, we've seen the Jets suck for so long, so this is a nice change. |
| 5 | Tennessee Titans | This high ranking for that Titans comes because of the most electrifying player in the game today, Chris Johnson. You never know when he's going to break a big one, and when he does, he always does it in spectacular fashion. If Vince Young improves this year and plays anything like he did his rookie season, he also has the chance of making huge plays both with his arms and with his legs. The Titans offense will be one of the most difficult to play against, and definitely one of the most fun to watch. | 4 | Miami Dolphins | The Dolphins have the most unique offense of the NFL, with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams leading a wildcat offense, and with Chad Henne leading the traditional offense. The Dolphins also have the most unpredictable offense, switching between the two offensive schemes often and rotating offensive players around. Also, their defense isn't very good, allowing other teams to stay in the game. Last year's Dolphins-Colts game must have been one of the top 5 of the entire season, with the Dolphins losing with more time of possession than any other losing side. The Dolphins will only get better this season, with the maturation of Chad Henne and Pat White and the addition of Brandon Marshall. Dolphins-Jets games may be some of the most strategically entertaining games of the season. |
| 3 | Green Bay Packers | For all you doubters out there, Aaron Rodgers has proved himself to be the real deal. The Packers feature one of the most high-powered offenses in the league this year, with dangerous receivers like Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, and Jermichael Finley. They also feature a dangerous (though sometimes inconsistent defense), led by the versatile (and heroic) Charles Woodson. |
| 2 | New Orleans Saints | Do I think the Saints will repeat as Super Bowl champs? No way. Do I think they will still be one of the teams that's most fun to watch? Yes way. Pass-oriented offenses are always fun to watch, especially when one of your running backs is named Reggie Bush. Big defensive plays also help the Saints' cause(thanks, Darren Sharper!). Will Drew Brees break Marino's record for total yards thrown in a season? I sure hope so - that would be fun to watch. |
| 1 | Minnesota Vikings | I don't like the Vikings, I really don't. However, they really do have the most electric players all around. They have an exciting, unpredictable quarterback, talented skill players in Percy Harvin and Sydney Rice, and fearsome defensive players like Jared Allen and Antoine Winfield, not to mention the super-stud Adrian Peterson. I almost always root against the Vikings, but it's hard to deny that they have playmakers all over the field. Also, the Vikings play in high-turnover games, because of their own stiff defense making plays and AP being a fumble machine and Brett Favre's style of play always has that risk (though, credit to him, he did really well last year). |
| 32 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Average sports fans, or even NFL fans for that matter, may not be able to name one player on the Bucs. Actually, go ahead and try and name one. Antonio Bryant? Nope he's on the Bengals now. Derrick Brooks? He's retired. Try naming the coach on their team. Yeap, I can't either. If you named Cadillac Williams, congratulations. For everyone else who named no one it's okay. The team is just depleted of talent. Except for Arrelious Benn from Illinois. That kid is a stud at least in college he was, so it's too bad he's going to have Josh Freeman throwing to him. But hey, at least they have the always-reliable Ted Ginn now. I guess the good news is that we're probably not going to have to see many of the Bucs games on TV. |
| 31 | San Francisco 49ers | Have they not given up on Alex Smith yet? Sure, Michael Crabtree and Frank Gore are there, but this is just a boring team to watch. Because the 49ers can't effectively pass the ball, Frank Gore is going to have another high-workload season, and Frank Gore is a workhorse but he doesn't make anyone jump out of his seat. It's also really hard to root for the selfish divas of Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis. I wish the best for Gore and sympathize with Smith, but get no enjoyment watching Davis or Crabtree catch receptions, so watching 49ers games are futile. You don't want them to get destroyed too bad because you pity them, but you don't want them to do well either. Don't watch 49ers games. They will suck, guaranteed. |
| 30 | Denver Broncos | The Denver Broncos are a solid and improving team, but those improvements are mainly defensive, with Brandon Marshall now on the Dolphins. Elvis Dumervil, Brian Dawkins, and Champ Bailey are fun to watch, but until the Broncos show some sort of defensive consistency, the defense won't get much credit. Knowshon Moreno is still far from being an elite running back, and Kyle Orton, though improving, doesn't have anyone to throw to. How they use Tim Tebow will definitely be a draw, but I really don't see them using him very extensively. Basically, the Broncos are going to have another tough year, and there aren't many crowd-pleasing players left to keep me watching. |
| 29 | New York Giants | Eli Manning to Steve Smith. That's the New York Giants offense. Sure, Bradshaw is a decent back and sure, Justin Tuck can make defensive plays, but few other players have proved their tv-rating grabbing abilities. Michael Strahan is gone, Osi Umenyiora is old, and Brandon Jacobs has disappeared. The Giants historically have never been a very fun team to watch, but this year is going to be painful. If Hixon and Manningham can up their game, they have a chance at being exciting. Until then, let's just be glad that Jeremy Shockey isn't there anymore. |
| 28 | St. Louis Rams | The Rams suck. Again. Sam Bradford couldn't have asked for a worse situation. With the stud receivers he has in Donnie Avery and Laurent Robinson, the Rams won't suck any less. A lot of people like Steven Jackson, but all he does is put up meaningless numbers. There's nothing new under the sun - the Rams still suck. And it's not worth watching them suck again. |
| 27 | Oakland Raiders | If Jason Campbell is considered a big improvement at the quarterback position, there's something wrong with your team. That said, the Raiders, especially when Gradkowski was leading the team, have shown a big amount of heart. They play physically and with heart. Michael Bush and Darren McFadden are solid running backs that can make big plays. The Raiders have cut a lot of dead weight, literally (Jamarcus Russell), and I really believe that the Raiders will have one of the best seasons they've had recently. |
| 26 | Kansas City Chiefs | I like the Chiefs, I really do. But I don't think that everyone else does. The Chiefs may be a much better football team this year, but they won't be much more fun to watch. Like all the other boring teams, the Chiefs have a mediocre quarterback (Matt Cassell hasn't proved his worth since he left the Patriots) with no one to throw to. Jamaal Charles might break a few big ones, but he is probably the only big-play threats on the team. Remember when Tyler Thigpen caught that touchdown pass two years ago? That was probably the most exciting thing that's happened on the Chiefs in the last decade. |
| 25 | Jacksonville Jaguars | The problem with the Jaguars is that they have no fan base, so every game they play really doesn't matter. We all sympathize for Mojo, but the truth is no one really cares whether the Jaguars win or lose, making it difficult to want to watch Jaguars games, especially as they play the other very likable, very exciting teams of the AFC South. Watching the Jaguars is just like watching movies or television without any emotional connection to the characters...crappy. (Anyone watch the new show Persons Unknown? It sucks.) |
| 24 | Buffalo Bills | Yes, this spot is quite high for a team as bad as the Bills. This high ranking is 100% attributed to their new speed demon, CJ Spiller, who's the second coming of Chris Johnson. If the Bills play their cards right and find a good split between Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller (notice I didn't even mention Marshawn Lynch), Spiller will light it up for the Bills. Watch his highlights here and here and here. Believe the hype. Great things will happen. |
| 23 | Cleveland Browns | Joshua Cribbs and Jerome Harrison bring the only taste of elite talent on this talent-depleted squad. While I think that the Browns will do better with Delhomme leading the offense, the Browns suck and will probably continue sucking. But does anyone get tired of watching teams from Cleveland lose? I guess in that sense, they'll be very enjoyable to watch. Let's just hope Cribbs doesn't decide to take his talents down to South Beach... |
| 22 | Pittsburg Steelers | Stifling defense and ground-and-pound offense may win championship, but it doesn't win viewers. Big Ben is the one reason to watch the Steelers, with his great mobility and innovation once forced out of the pocket and the amazing comebacks that he puts together. The four weeks that the Steelers go without Ben could either be extremely painful or, in the less likely case, exciting because of the speed of Dennis Dixon. The Steelers have always been fun to watch because they were good, but I just don't think they'll be that great this year. |
| 21 | Carolina Panthers | Believe it or not, I think the Carolina Panthers should have kept Jake Delhomme despite his dismal last season. The learning curve is going to be hard on Matt Moore (or Jimmy Clausen), but DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart should be able to provide the spark the team needs for a solid season. Let's not forget about Steve Smith, too. Even though he hasn't played like a superstar, he is still extremely talented and fun to watch. |
| 20 | Washington Redskins | The worst team in the NFC East...will remain the worst team in the NFC East. The acquisition of Donovan Mcnabb will certainly help the offense, but the defense isn't going to be any better, Albert Haynesworth is making sure of that. The Redskins have a lot of potential, but unless the team actually believes it can win, it never will. But it's nice to see that Santana Moss might play up to his potential and that Clinton Portis doesn't have to do all the work on the team. Will Donovan be able to turn the Redskins around? I'll be watching to see. |
| 19 | Chicago Bears | Jay Cutler is a baby and a diva, and no one likes seeing baby divas win (unless it's a real baby diva, which would make him adorable). Matt Forte was a fantasy football (and real life) bust, turning a lot of fans against him. The only guys worth watching are Devin Hester (who still has no hands), Johnny Knox (who I think is better than Hester), and Chestor Taylor (who has to back up the incompetent Forte). The best part about watching Bears games is watching Jay Cutler throw red zone interceptions. Man, are those exciting! |
| 18 | Houston Texans | Anyone who knows me knows that I have a man-crush on Matt Schaub, and it kills me to have to have the Texans in the bottom half. Take away Andre, and the Texans offense is very pedestrian. The loss of Steve Slaton to suckiness really takes away much of the explosiveness of the offense, leaving an average passing attack. Even still, the Texans will manage to put together a solid season. I'm sure of it. |
| 17 | Detroit Lions | The Detroit Lions look almost like a complete team. A franchise quarterback, an elite receiver, an explosive running back, and a dominant defensive player. The Lions probably won't make the playoffs this year, but they will certainly win more games than they have in the last few years. I personally like watching the Lions because they play like they have nothing to lose, which they don't, which makes their wins mean so much more and their losses hurt less (unless you're a true Lions fan, I guess). |
“Instead of humbling themselves before God and confessing the sins that had brought them into trouble, they put God altogether aside, and basely offered to become the servants of the Ammonites . . . We see here the sad effect of sin and careless living in lowering men’s spirits, sapping courage, and discouraging noble effort. Oh, it is pitiable to see men tamely submitting to a vile master! Yet how often is the sight repeated! How often to men virtually say to the devil, ‘Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee’!” (Balike)
He was marvelously handsome; and the maidens who told him concerning Samuel (comp. I Sam. ix. 11-13) talked so long with him that they might observe his beauty the more (Ber. 48b). [src]
Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
"Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines. The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to her, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the power of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites."
