USA TODAY International Edition
Will contenders’ flaws be fatal?
Nobody’s perfect in NFL, not even unbeaten Chiefs
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has a bum ankle. The Kansas City Chiefs have played the NFL’s weakest schedule. The Seattle Seahawks have had trouble protecting Russell Wilson with a banged- up offensive line. And these are just problems bugging the teams widely considered to be the best in the NFL.
This season, perhaps more than any in recent memory, there is no perfect NFL team, no team that has proved dominant on a weekly basis and no sure thing to make it to the Super Bowl. It’s all setting up a wild rest of November and December, starting with Sunday’s game between the Chiefs and Broncos.
But which flaws are temporary blips, and which could prove fatal?
AFC CONTENDERS
Denver Broncos ( 8- 1)
Flaw: The Broncos are struggling to protect Manning.
Manning was sacked five times in Denver’s first six games, but he has been dropped eight times in the last three games. All those hits are taking
a serious toll on Manning’s health. Manning’s sprained ankle won’t keep him out of Sunday’s game, but let’s not forget his ankle is sprained. With Manning ailing, how many more brutal hits can he endure?
How serious is it? There is no magic fix to the Broncos offensive line, because all- pro left tackle Ryan Clady isn’t coming back this year. If the Broncos are going to make it to the Super Bowl, it will be with Chris Clark at left tackle. Denver’s coaches must find a way to help out Clark more, while the pressure is on Manning and Denver’s receivers to hit on quick passes to slow the pass rush.
Upcoming test: The offensive line will get its biggest challenge this
weekend against Kansas City, which leads the NFL with 36 sacks ( an average of four a game). The Broncos will have to account not just for pass rushers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston on the edges but also interior pressure by Dontari Poe.
Kansas City Chiefs ( 9- 0)
Flaw: Can they hang when the schedule gets tough?
The Chiefs have the league’s best record in large part because of a defense that’s holding opponents to 12.3 points a game — easy enough when opposing quarterbacks are guys such as Blaine Gabbert, Case Keenum, Jason Campbell, Jeff Tuel, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Terrelle Pryor. None of the teams the Chiefs beat in the first half of the season has a winning record. Will the Chiefs be able to score enough points once they have to face teams with better starting quarterbacks?
How serious is it? If defense really does win championships, this could just be a minor flaw, as long as the Chiefs defense can continue to contribute points — such as its four interception- return touchdowns in the first nine weeks. But at some point, the Chiefs offense, led by quarterback Alex Smith and running back Jamaal Charles, will need to be more than safe.
Upcoming test: We’ll find out in the next three weeks if Smith and the offense can keep up with elite quarterbacks, with a pair of games against Manning and the Broncos and a home game against Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers.
New England Patriots ( 7- 2)
Flaw: Depleted defense. The Patriots first lost defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, then inside linebacker Jerod Mayo — both out for the season. Then cornerback Aqib Talib missed time in October with a hip injury. Just how many dings to defensive stars can the Patriots survive?
How serious is it? Quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots offense exploded for 55 points in their last game before the bye week. That sort of powerful attack will cure all sorts of defensive deficiencies, and the Patriots have made deep postseason runs with mediocre defenses. If Talib can return quickly — starting with Monday night’s game at the Carolina Panthers — the Patriots defense will look a lot more formidable.
Upcoming test: As much fun as it is to think about Brady vs. Manning ( with his new sidekick, Wes Welker) when the Broncos visit Foxborough, Mass., on Nov. 24, Manning and the Broncos will really be testing the battered New England defense. Will the Patriots have enough bodies to defend Welker, Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas and Knowshon Moreno?
Indianapolis Colts ( 6- 3)
Flaw: Too reliant on Andrew Luck’s fourth- quarter magic.
Maybe the Colts were getting comfortable in thinking there was no such thing as a second- half deficit too large for Luck to overcome. Then came Sunday’s 38- 8 beatdown by the St. Louis Rams to reveal significant concerns about the Colts’ ability to rally when Luck has an off day. The Colts have beaten the Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Broncos — three
statement wins if there is such a thing — but the losses to the Rams, Chargers and Miami Dolphins might speak even louder.
How serious is it? The Colts, provided they can beat the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, should have little trouble winning the AFC South and might be able to look back on Sunday’s disaster against the Rams as just a small speed bump.
Upcoming test: Given their trouble with the Rams, the Colts should be wary of the Arizona Cardinals, whom they play Nov. 24 in Glendale, Ariz. Then there is a Dec. 22 game at Arrowhead Stadium against the Chiefs — perhaps the biggest test for Luck and the Colts offense since the Seattle game in early October.
NFC CONTENDERS
Seattle Seahawks ( 9- 1)
Flaw: Missing pieces on offense. How many teams can survive the loss of not one offensive tackle but two? The Sehawks have done that for weeks since left tackle Russell Okung landed on short- term injured reserve with a foot injury and right tackle Breno Giacomini injured his knee. Center Max Unger also has been sidelined with a concussion. Those injuries, as well as a season- ending knee injury to receiver Sidney Rice and the prolonged absence of Percy Harvin, have put even more pressure, both literal and figurative, on secondyear quarterback Russell Wilson.
How serious is it? As if a threegame lead in the NFC West by early November wasn’t enough good news for the Seahawks, Seattle knows it’s getting healthy. Okung, Giacomini and Harvin are back at practice, and the Seahawks offense could be nearly at full strength after it returns from its Week 12 bye.
Upcoming test: There might be no better game on the December calendar than the Dec. 2 Monday game between the Saints and Seahawks at CenturyLink Field, where Wilson will try to outduel Drew Brees. Let’s just call it a playoff preview.
Carolina Panthers ( 6- 3)
Flaw: Cam Newton’s inconsistency.
There is little question Newton has recovered well from a disappointing 2012 season. He is a better leader, a better passer and in much better command of the Panthers offense. But will he be consistent enough for Carolina to make a serious playoff push? Newton has completed 55.6% or less of his passes in four of Carolina’s games, including going 16- for- 32 in the Panthers’ 10- 9 win against San Francisco last weekend.
How serious is it? The Panthers have proved they can win even when Newton isn’t perfect, and that’s good news for Carolina. A young quarterback can endure plenty when paired with a thriving running game and a stout defense — both of which Carolina possess.
Upcoming test: Newton and the Panthers will play the Patriots on Monday, then have two games against the Saints in December. Newton will need to be at his best with Brady and Brees on the other sideline.
New Orleans Saints ( 7- 2)
Flaw: Trouble on the road. Losing to Brady and the Patriots on the road might be one thing. But the Saints’ other loss this season came at the New York Jets. New Orleans also won road games vs. the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers by single digits, quite the difference from the way they have blown out opponents at the Mercedes- Benz Superdome.
How serious is it? Those losses to AFC East teams have kept the Saints from running away with the NFC South and placed much more importance on the back half of the schedule, which includes road games in three of the final five weeks, including games with playoff implications.
Upcoming test: Home- field advantage in the playoffs could be determined Dec. 2 in Seattle.
San Francisco 49ers ( 6- 3)
Flaw: Stagnant passing game. Remember when Colin Kaepernick threw for more than 400 yards against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1? Feels like a really long time ago. Even when the 49ers went on a five- game winning streak, the passing game struggled. Kaepernick has thrown for more than 200 yards once since that opening game, and he’s completing 56.4% of his passes.
How serious is it? The 49ers offense is better when it is run- first with running back Frank Gore. But Kaepernick has to be better for those inevitable times when the offense can’t run through Gore or when the 49ers have to play from behind.
Upcoming test: Kaepernick has never beaten the Seahawks and has played poorly in two games against Seattle since taking over as the 49ers starter a year ago. He can try to avoid falling to 0- 3 against Seattle on Dec. 8 at Candlestick Park.