NFL: 5 Struggling Teams Showing Impressive Improvements

1. Oakland Raiders

-Two weeks ago sport web sites across the US were talking about Oakland going winless this season. I applaud Coach Shell for squeezing this 2 game winning streak out. Ever since losing to Bucs in the Super Bowl, Oakland has been awful. I still think this will be a rough year for the Raiders, but for now a win cures all.


2. Green Bay Packers

-In their first five games Green Bay was victorious in one single game. Brett Favre coming back was starting to look like a bad decision. Since being 1-4, the Pack have had a bye week, followed by a nice 2 game winning streak. At 3-4, Green Bay will be playing Buffalo this weekend. A 4-4 Packers team is a very high possibility.


3. Kansas City Chiefs

-Losing Trent Green + starting the season 0-2 was a perfect recipe for yet another KC season ending without a playoff ticket. Not so fast. Since their bye week KC has won 4 out of their last 5, including victories against San Diego and Seattle.


4. Baltimore Ravens

-Ravens started the 2006 season 4-0. In only a couple of weeks the happy days of Baltimore seemed to be flipped upside down. After losing back to back weeks, Coach Brian Billick fired his Offensive Coordinator Jim Fassel. Good move? You tell me. During his first week as the man calling shots, Billick's Ravens beat the Saints at home. More importantly, the Ravens put up 28 points in the first half during their 35-22 victory.


5. New York Jets

-I realize they just lost to the Browns, but at 4-4 New York is surprising everyone. A lot of uncertainity was floating around the Big Apple this past offseason. So far QB Chad Pennington has shown that he is in fact back in the swing of things.