Five NFL playoff teams face a hard road back
Article By viyer.tsn on 18th March, 2010
Vinnie Iyer
This should give you a better appreciation of the Colts' current league-best run of eight consecutive playoff appearances: Since 2001, in the topsy-turvy, parity-centered world known as the NFL, it has been the norm for fewer than half the teams in a given season's playoff field to duplicate the feat the following season.
While powers such as Indianapolis and San Diego have consistently kept themselves in the picture, the AFC has seen plenty of back-and-forth leapfrogging in its two toughest divisions -- the East and North. In the NFC, consider this: Nine different teams have represented the conference in the past nine Super Bowls.
Here's a look at five 2009 playoff teams that will have trouble making the Super Bowl tournament in 2010 (in alphabetical order):
Neither Matt Leinart nor Derek Anderson can fill Kurt Warner's shoes. Arizona Cardinals. No 2009 playoff qualifier has been hurt more by personnel changes this offseason. Four top performers -- Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby and Antrel Rolle -- won't be back.
Warner retired despite playing some of the sharpest football in his career the past two years, a standard that will be difficult for any quarterback -- let alone Matt Leinart or Derek Anderson -- to match.
You can expect coach Ken Whisenhunt to get some of his younger talent to respond, but he may not have enough to overcome the 49ers in the NFC West. San Francisco (8-8) finished only two games behind Arizona last season and should enter coach Mike Singletary's second full season with great confidence, having swept the Cardinals in '09.
The Niners are young with potential to rise. "They're our biggest rival now. They don't like us, and we don't like them," Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell said. "We want some revenge, but they definitely will be better."
Cincinnati Ben...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
While powers such as Indianapolis and San Diego have consistently kept themselves in the picture, the AFC has seen plenty of back-and-forth leapfrogging in its two toughest divisions -- the East and North. In the NFC, consider this: Nine different teams have represented the conference in the past nine Super Bowls.
Here's a look at five 2009 playoff teams that will have trouble making the Super Bowl tournament in 2010 (in alphabetical order):
Neither Matt Leinart nor Derek Anderson can fill Kurt Warner's shoes. Arizona Cardinals. No 2009 playoff qualifier has been hurt more by personnel changes this offseason. Four top performers -- Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby and Antrel Rolle -- won't be back.
Warner retired despite playing some of the sharpest football in his career the past two years, a standard that will be difficult for any quarterback -- let alone Matt Leinart or Derek Anderson -- to match.
You can expect coach Ken Whisenhunt to get some of his younger talent to respond, but he may not have enough to overcome the 49ers in the NFC West. San Francisco (8-8) finished only two games behind Arizona last season and should enter coach Mike Singletary's second full season with great confidence, having swept the Cardinals in '09.
The Niners are young with potential to rise. "They're our biggest rival now. They don't like us, and we don't like them," Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell said. "We want some revenge, but they definitely will be better."
Cincinnati Ben...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
Readers Comments
Related News
Featured Sponsors
Interested in getting MLB Tickets for this coming season? The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get your New York Yankees Tickets today!
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
