Cowboys Patriots Raiders headline Super Bowl LI contenders

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Cowboys, Patriots, Raiders headline Super Bowl LI contenders Published: Nov 28, 2016 at 03:47 AM Contributing Columnist weekend is in the past. And in the NFL, that means it's time to truly begin looking ahead. With five weeks remaining in the regular season, it's time to zero in on the teams capable of making a sustained playoff run. In this edition of the Schein Nine, I rank the nine teams with the best chance of winning LI. 9) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) When you employ a future quarterback with a knack for playing his best when it matters the most, you always have a chance. And isn't the only Steeler with the ability to take over a game and dominate any defense -- and are unstoppable weapons who rank among the cream of their positional crops, as well. The downside? That's all I trust when it comes to Pittsburgh. I don't trust the defense. Or the coach, as Mike Tomlin's ego (see: the insistence on continually going for two) is hurting the team. But again, that explosive upside is hard to ignore. 8) Atlanta Falcons (7-4) Last season's second-half collapse is a distant memory. is a top-five candidate for MVP and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan should be the AP A sistant Coach of the Year. (Lil' Shanny will get my vote.) is a force of nature, on pace for his third straight season over 1,500 yards receiving. The can run the football. and are pros' pros who have helped changed the culture. Bottom line: This offense is multidimensional and explosive -- the kind of unit that should be a nightmare in January. Atlanta's defense is improved, as (9.5 sacks) has emerged as the edge pa s rusher this team has lacked for so long. The know they outplayed the in Seattle back . Atlanta would've won that game . All that said, I still only rank the as the fourth-most-dangerous team in the NFC. Do you really trust Dan Quinn? 7) Denver Broncos (7-4) With healthy and Jr. playing at his typically high level, the boast the best corner combo in the NFL. (Oh, and -- Denver's CB -- can play, too.) is a pa s-rushing terror who simply takes over games. Wade Phillips continues to dial up brilliance, and this group is experienced from last season's run. On the other side of the ball, though, being Patrick Mahomes II Jersey injured is a big deal. In four starts since Anderson went down, rookie has averaged just 3.0 yards per carry. And is . All in all, this offense leaves much to be desired. The used a similar formula to win the last year. But I would argue the offense is significantly worse on the line, which is huge, considering Denver's ineffectivene s at RB and inexperience at QB. However, I won't underestimate the upside of this team getting back to the . 6) Washington Redskins (6-4-1) Every year, there's a wild-card team that surprises everyone and makes a run. I think it's Washington -- not the or the piping-hot Bucs -- that's most capable of performing the feat. and this aerial attack are on fire and not showing any signs of slowing down. Don't look now, but the 'Skins boast . , who leads the team with 725 receiving yards and six touchdown grabs, has emerged as an absolute stud in Year 2. And with , , the great and a rejuvenated also at his disposal, Cousins has a plethora of dynamic and diverse weapons to choose from. Thunderous continues to pound the football, too, giving Jay Gruden's offense great balance. I love Dallas (more on the below), but it is worth noting that Washington has hung right with the twice, . The defense is good, but not great. is having a really strong year. Washington oozes confidence right now. Don't sleep on the . 5) Kansas City Chiefs (8-3) Too low? Too high? Here's a strong take: Who knows! The aren't guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. I also wouldn't bat an eye if we saw them in the . If anything, I'm guilty of liking and Andy Reid . I love Smith, who never gets the respect he deserves. Chris Jones Jersey Smith wasn't spectacular throughout Kansas City's thrilling overtime win in Denver, but the quarterback sure delivered when the needed it most. In the bright lights of "Sunday Night Football," with three minutes left and K.C. trailing by eight, Smith authored a 13-play (all pa ses), 75-yard touchdown drive -- converting the game-tying two-point conversion on . In overtime, Smith completed two big pa ses to set up . Meanwhile, Reid is a great coach who wins a ton of games ... with the huge "yeah, but" being his clock management and playoff faux pas. Kansas City is so tough and so well-prepared each week. I love the defensive backfield. is finally healthy and, as the world saw on Sunday night in his sheer domination of the (10 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble), he is indeed back. The offensive line has improved greatly -- free-agent acquisition is a rock at right tackle. But there are questions looking into the crystal ball. Will get healthy down the stretch? ? Will resemble ? Don't underestimate the upside of this team, with its talent, coaching and toughne s. These can win anywhere, as they just proved again Sunday night. 4) Seattle Seahawks (7-3-1) Yes, I'm writing this after . But while you credit and the Bucs' defense for smothering , Seattle is still a strong team with a manageable schedule down the stretch: I believe the 'Hawks will get the No. 2 seed, giving them a bye and at least one home game in Seattle with the 12s and a sensational home-field advantage. was out on Sunday, which really changes Seattle's defense. He will be back, and the ' defensive backfield is still great. is a stud. And before Sunday, Wilson was in a groove with and . I am concerned about the run game, with the injury and the odd jettisoning of from the roster. Can really carry the entire load for the rest of the season? But it's Pete Carroll with an experienced and talented group that a few weeks ago. Seattle is a legit team once again. 3) Oakland Raiders (9-2) is my MVP at this point in the season. And , the are winning the AFC West, as . And I think Oakland is getting the No. 2 seed. The boast a top-two offensive line (along with Dallas) and a fantastic wide receiver duo in (who ranks sixth in the NFL with 922 yards) and (six touchdowns). is running hard. is my pick for Defensive Player of the Year. He terrorized and the on Sunday (record a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pick-six) and has been on fire over the last six games (with eight sacks in that span). Jack Del Rio has instilled amazing confidence in his team. The are true contenders and you can make the case that they are the . How great is that for Raider Nation -- and the NFL? 2) New England Patriots (9-2) I'm a bit concerned as I write this about 's health. I'm also a bit concerned about the ' defense. On the plus side, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport says Gronk's back injury Still, the injuries have mounted for No. 87 this year -- and for a guy who plays as Christian Okoye Jersey physically as Gronk, that's certainly not a good thing. Bill Belichick is the best coach in NFL history. Having said that, I totally disagreed with the trade -- and the ' defense has looked underwhelming even since the move. But OK, it's a quarterback league. And is the best quarterback ever. At 39 years old, Brady boasts an NFL-best 116.7 pa ser rating, with 18 touchdowns against just one pick over seven games. With Brady under center, a LI win is in play, even with legit questions in other areas of the roster. TE is scheduled to Friday after being diagnosed with a herniated disc and will be out several weeks, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. 1) Dallas Cowboys (10-1) This needs to be reiterated: No team is playing better ball than Dallas. The have it all. They are built for a sustained playoff run. Dallas has the best offensive line in football. Rookie is No. 2 on my MVP ballot and the best running back in the NFL this year, as evidenced by his 1,199 yards -- . , also a rook, has answered every challenge and question. He continues to dominate -- see: 18:2 TD-to-INT ratio and 108.6 pa ser rating -- and win. is a bona fide star. keeps on playing great. Jason Garrett deserves so much credit. As does offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. And the Dallas defense flies under the radar. Elite? Hardly. But really good and opportunistic. Also, Elliott keeps them off the field with long, sustained scoring drives. The have the formula to win a . Take that, haters. This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be mi sing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an i sue.
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