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Top 10 NFL Pretenders At Quarter Mark

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10 Biggest NFL Pretenders At Quarter Mark

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Correctly identifying contenders from pretenders is a daunting task with the parity that exists in today’s NFL. Teams can go from worst to first and back again in the blink of an eye, making determining just which team is for real and which is a mirage a very difficult assignment. With one quarter of the season nearly in the books, here are 10 teams currently enjoying success that will be short-lived during the 2014 campaign.

10. San Francisco 49ers

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10. San Francisco 49ers

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They may be 2-2 and in third place in the cutthroat NFC West, but most people still feel like the San Francisco 49ers are destined for the playoffs this season. Three straight trips to the NFC Championship game will build that kind of reputation for a team, but I’m just not buying Colin Kaepernick as trustworthy on a week-to-week basis. This team could wind up showing its mettle, but injuries, suspensions and QB issues are worrisome.

9. Atlanta Falcons

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9. Atlanta Falcons

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A lackluster 2-2 record has the Atlanta Falcons tied atop the NFC South at present, but their defense is made of papier-mache while the offense is one-dimensional at best. Steven Jackson and the running game seem to be stuck in the mud, and Matty Ice’s clutch gene seems to have suffered some sort of mutation in recent years. The numbers are pretty -- 1st in total offense, 2nd in points and 2nd in passing -- but stats don’t win games.

8. Arizona Cardinals

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8. Arizona Cardinals

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It’s hard to be down on what this team has done given the injured veterans -- Darnell Dockett, Carson Palmer -- but that’s the main reason to be apprehensive in Arizona. It’s hard to believe this young team with Drew Stanton at QB can hold off the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and three-time NFC finalist San Francisco 49ers forever in the NFC West.

7. New York Giants

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7. New York Giants

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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde might prevail on occasion, but over the long haul that routine wears out its welcome and the overall record tends to level out. A record of 2-2 already reflects that for the G-Men, but it could get worse before it gets better. Tests at Dallas and Philadelphia in Weeks 6 and 7 will reveal a lot about this team. Something tells me their flaws will show through and mediocrity will pervade their 2014 season.

6. Minnesota Vikings

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6. Minnesota Vikings

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Getting on board with the Teddy Bridgewater era isn’t the issue here. Bridgewater would easily carry this team to double-digit victories with his full complement of weapons, but that’s not the case with Adrian Peterson unlikely to play another down in purple. Smoke and mirrors could get it done in the interim, but something tells me a crash landing is upcoming with four out of the next six on the road, including a trip to Green Bay next week.

5. Baltimore Ravens

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5. Baltimore Ravens

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Numbers never lie, and the numbers suggest that the Baltimore Ravens are merely an average football team getting above average luck. Their offensive and defensive stats are average across the board, and if not for some help against the Cleveland Browns in Week 3 and facing a Carolina Panthers team without their top four running backs on the depth chart in Week 4, this team’s record could look much different.

4. Buffalo Bills

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4. Buffalo Bills

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Until this team can resolve the issues at quarterback, the 2-2 record will be as close to .500 as they get for the rest of the season. E.J. Manuel just doesn’t cut the mustard under center, and the Bills are going to have to hit the reset button this offseason to rectify the issues. Clearly their 2-0 start built some optimism, but the two losses since have brought a cold dose of reality to one of the league’s longest tortured fanbases.

3. New England Patriots

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3. New England Patriots

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Far be it from me to not trust in the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady alliance, but it seems like the lack of weaponry is finally catching up to them on offense. The New England Patriots rank next to last in the league in passing yards and 22nd in rushing yards. If not for a defense that it playing lights out, allowing the fewest passing yards in the NFL thus far, this team would be mediocre at best. That will show through over the coming weeks.

2. Houston Texans

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2. Houston Texans

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The Amish Rifle rides again in Houston, but it just doesn’t seem like J.J. Watt pick-sixes can carry this team all the way to the postseason in 2014. Arian Foster is beaten up and a shell of his former self, while the rest of the offense has been average at best with Ryan Fitzpatrick calling the shots. The defense has been impressive, but the meat of this team’s schedule will expose their shortcomings in the near future.

1. Dallas Cowboys

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1. Dallas Cowboys

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This isn’t bias against the state of Texas, I assure you. It’s just difficult to wrap my head around the fact that this same team trailed the Rams 21-0 seven days prior to destroying the Saints 38-17. The run game with DeMarco Murray has always been outstanding, but how long this balanced offensive attack will last is the main question. Maybe it’s PTSD from all the years of letdowns, but this team cannot get a stamp of approval just yet.

Anthony Blake is a Senior Writer/Copy Editor for Rant Sports. You Can Follow Him on Twitter, on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

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