Wednesday, September 4, 2019

NFL Poll: Week 1

Since 2012, the AP has conducted a poll to determine the best team in the NFL.  Here is a list of the teams that have finished number 1 in the poll, along with a brief summary of how they did in the post-season:

2012:  Denver (13-3) (lost 35-38 to Ravens in quarterfinals)
2013:  Seattle (13-3) (WON SUPER BOWL)
2014:  Seattle (12-4) (lost 24-28 to Patriots in Super Bowl)
2015:  Carolina (15-1) (lost 10-24 to Broncos in Super Bowl)
2016:  New England (14-2) (WON SUPER BOWL)
2017:  New England (13-3) (lost 33-41 to Eagles in Super Bowl)
2018:  New Orleans (13-3) (lost 23-26 to Rams in semi-finals)

In the last seven years, only two teams have done the double of winning the poll and the Super Bowl.  On the other hand, five of the seven number one's did reach the Super Bowl.

Here's the top 10 at the beginning of the season:

1.  New England
2.  Kansas City
3.  New Orleans
4.  Los Angeles
5.  Philadelphia
6.  Chicago
7.  Seattle
8.  Pittsburgh
T9.  San Diego
T9.  Dallas

The Redskins are number 27.  The Dolphins are number 32.  I don't remember seeing either of those proud old franchises ranked this low.

The Game of the Week is the Sunday Night Game, with the #1 Patriots hosting the #8 Steelers.  In fact, this is the only game featuring two top 10 teams.  But everything is going to change a lot over the next few weeks anyway.  At least the NFL is finally back.

6 comments:

  1. Well we know the Bears won't be 6 next week.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I doubt the Packers will be either.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Don't think the Dolphins are going to be sixth either.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I was wondering how the AP Pre-Season Polls have done. Pretty good actually. 2017 was the biggest bust with no conference championship teams but one.

    SB = Super Bowl Champ
    LSB = Super Bowl Loser
    CC = Lost in Conference Championship
    DV = Lost in Divisional Round
    WC = Lost in Wild Card Round

    2018 New England 11-5 SB
    Kansas City 12-4 CC
    New Orleans 13-3 CC
    Los Angeles R 13-3 LSB
    Philadelphia 9-7 DV
    Chicago 12-4 WC
    Seattle 10-6 WC
    Pittsburgh 9-6-1
    Los Angeles C 12-4 DV
    Dallas 10-6 DV

    2017 New England 13-3 LSB
    Green Bay 7-9
    Seattle 9-7
    Pittsburgh 13-3 DV
    Atlanta 10-6 DV
    Oakland 6-10
    Kansas City 10-6 WC
    Dallas 9-7
    New York G 3-13
    Tennessee 9-7 DV

    2016 Carolina 6-10
    Arizona 7-8-1
    Green Bay 10-6 CC
    Seattle 10-5-1 DV
    New England 14-2 SB
    Denver 9-7
    Pittsburgh 11-5 CC
    Kansas City 12-4 DV
    Cincinnati 6-9-1
    Minnesota 8-8

    2015 Green Bay 10-6 DV
    Seattle 10-6 DV
    New England 12-4 CC
    Indianapolis 8-8
    Denver 12-4 SB
    Baltimore 5-11
    Pittsburgh 10-6 DV
    Arizona 13-3 CC
    Cincinnati 12-4 WC

    2014 Seattle 12-4 LSB
    Denver 12-4 DV
    New England 12-4 SB
    Green Bay 12-4 CC
    New Orleans 7-9
    San Francisco 8-8
    Philadelphia 10-6
    Indianapolis 11-5 CC
    San Diego 9-7
    Cincinnati 10-5-1 WC

    2013 San Francisco 12-4 CC
    Seattle 13-3 SB
    Denver 13-3 LSB
    Atlanta 4-12
    New England 12-4 CC
    Houston 2-14
    Green Bay 8-7-1 WC
    Baltimore 8-8
    Cincinnati 11-5 WC
    Washington 3-13

    2012 Green Bay 11-5 DV
    New England 12-4 CC
    New York G 9-7
    San Francisco 11-4-1 LSB
    Baltimore 10-6 SB
    Houston 12-4 DV
    Pittsburgh 8-8
    Philadelphia 4-12
    New Orleans 7-9
    Atlanta 13-3 CC

    ReplyDelete
  5. Interesting. So Eagles17 really were a huge deal.

    ReplyDelete