2016 NFL Season: Separating the Contenders and Pretenders

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Sep 18, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) motions to fans after a call in the game against the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /

Contender: New York Giants

What’s so encouraging about this team is the way they’re winning games of late. The past few years the New York Giants have needed a great performance from Eli Manning and the offense to win. Instead through the first two weeks it has been their revamped defense leading the way, giving up just 19 and 13 points respectively against Dallas and New Orleans. Sooner or later that offense is going to find a groove. If the defense continues to play like it has, this team is going to be a factor in January.

Pretender: Baltimore Ravens

This certainly sounds shocking given how good a franchise the Baltimore Ravens are. They have great coaching and a roster that seems to have solid talent. So why the lack of love? Baltimore narrowly defeated Buffalo and had to overcome a 20-0 deficit to the hapless Browns. That does not smell like a team that’s ready for contending this season. If they struggled to overcome two winless teams like that, what happens when they start running into the hot opponents?

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