Four teams going from best to bust
They still have playoff hopes, but they have some problems they have to fix to get there
This isn’t at all what the Broncos, Seahawks, Packers and Colts had in mind.
Before the season kicked off in September, these were considered elite teams, and rightly so. Denver had built a monster of a defence to complement Peyton Manning’s offence. Seattle was coming off a last-minute Super Bowl loss and had added brilliant tight end Jimmy Graham. Indianapolis had taken incremental steps in the playoffs that seemed to place it on the verge of a trip to the big game. Green Bay had the league’s most valuable player, Aaron Rodgers, and no NFC team appeared as balanced.
Nine weeks later, all four are searching for answers, even as they remain in playoff position.
“This isn’t easy,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said of his team’s three-game slide after winning its first six, then going on its bye week. “And frankly, if we spoiled you in the past, that’s great. We’re looking forward to spoiling you again in the future.”
Broncos (7-2): Denver started the season with seven victories as its de- fence more than made up for the inconsistencies of Manning, who suddenly has turned a very old 39. His health issues, including the latest, a partially torn plantar fascia that makes every step painful, are really holding back the Broncos.
Packers (6-3): This slide is totally confounding, and losing to the Lions at Lambeau for the first time since Barry Sanders was toting the football is shocking. Blame in large part an offensive line that has regressed the past few weeks. That’s damaged the running game, but most distressingly, it’s put Rodgers in a bulls-eye.
Seahawks (4-5): Yep, 4-5. With two losses at home that, save for an officiating miscue, could be three. The of-
fence can’t bail them out, because the line has been a sieve, forcing Russell Wilson to scramble for safety, not creativity. Graham, who many thought would be the most impactful player transaction of the off-season, has not been a huge difference maker.
Indianapolis (4-5): Despite a wretched first half of the season, the Colts are in control of the AFC South, the NFL’s weakest division, and their path to the playoffs is clear. Andrew Luck is hurt but that’s not the problem. Matt Hasselbeck might be the most capable backup QB in the league. For Indy to become a valid player down the stretch it must figure out how to stop people.