Get Bit by the NFL Bug

As American Football comes to our own shore next September when the Navy and Notre Dame College teams clash in the Aviva Stadium, it would be a good time to build up your knowledge of a sport which has been growing in popularity in recent years. 

If you are struggling to decide which team (or ‘franchise’ as they call it in the States) is for you here is a quick comparison of each team with their most likely sister clubs in Europe.

AFC East

New England Patriots-     Chelsea

Have come to the fore in the sport with three championships since the start of the millennium.  Generally disliked but always there at the business end of the season.

New York Jets-               Tottenham Hotspur

Both have irritating, arrogant managers but are beginning to look like contenders in the grand scheme of things.

Miami Dolphins-               Everton

Had success in the 80’s and 90’s but have struggled in recent times.

Buffalo Bills-                    Newcastle United

Both have been on the cusp of success throughout history but have failed to fulfil their potential, especially in the 90’s, when the Bills lost four successive Super Bowls.

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers-          Leeds United

The 70’s were kind to these two teams when their intimidating, powerful style of play saw them reach the peak of their respective sports.

Baltimore Ravens-            Stoke City

Baltimore does smash mouth, in-your-face football.  Sound familiar?

Cincinnati Bengals-           Norwich City

Both sides are aiming to make it back to the top with young, exciting players

Cleveland Browns-           Wolves

Pretty uninspiring stuff to watch but they do enough to get by without disgracing themselves.

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts-           West Ham United

The Colts went from contenders to one of the worst teams in the league primarily because of the loss of their injured quarterback Peyton Manning.  While West Ham’s relegation may not have been due to the loss of a star player, it was certainly unexpected.

Houston Texans-              Sunderland

Houston is beginning to shine in the league after obtaining the first playoff spot in their history.  However they remain in the shadow of their Texas neighbours, the Dallas Cowboys.  Likewise, Sunderland is also vying for top dog status in Newcastle.

Tennessee Titans-             QPR

Their star players (Chris Johnson and Adel Taarabt) have failed to show up this year and it looks like that will prevent any success from coming their way.

Jacksonville Jaguars-        Wigan Athletic

Both play in half empty stadiums every week and the consensus among fans is that we would like to see them out of the league.

AFC West

Denver Broncos-                Barcelona

If you are somebody that wants to support the most popular player in the sport, this is the team for you.  Tim Tebow and Lionel Messi would make quite the tag team wrestling partnership.

Oakland Raiders-                Juventus

Both have much heralded support and are beginning to rediscover their past success.

San Diego Chargers-          Arsenal

Exciting teams to watch but usually unravel when the pressure is on.

Kansas City Chiefs-            Derby County

Their only success came in the 70’s.  Neither are at the forefront of their respective sports but they still have sizeable support.                                

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys-              Real Madrid

Both are tremendously famous in their own sports and have had huge success on the playing field.  However, neither side is where they want to be at the moment and are investing huge money to try and change that fact.

New York Giants-            Aston Villa

Good team to watch but are not what they were five years ago.

Philadelphia Eagles-         Manchester City

The Eagles were proclaimed by one of their own players in preseason as the “Dream Team” but have failed to live up to expectations.  In European terms, the same could be said of Manchester City.

Washington Redskins-     West Bromwich Albion

Have had good and bad seasons over the past decade but are a long way from challenging for top honours.

NFC North

Green Bay Packers-           Manchester United

The current champions have a sizeable support wherever they go and play in a historical venue.

Chicago Bears-                  Nottingham Forest

Their heyday was in the 80’s when they were managed by an outspoken, yet undeniably successful boss.

Detroit Lions-                    1990 Cameroon World Cup Team

A fantastic blend of skill and brute force.  They were written off before the season but have a great opportunity to make the playoffs.

Minnesota Vikings-           Southampton

Had good days in the 90’s but remain famous for being the place where two legends played their final games (Brett Favre and Matt le Tissier).         

NFC South

New Orleans Saints-         Fulham

A likeable team who perform well consistently.  However, New Orleans have more of a chance of success than their London counterparts.

Atlanta Falcons-               Bayern Munich

Both are known for their exciting, talented wide receivers and are a match for any team on their day.

Carolina Panthers-            MK Dons

A relatively new team which is trying to taste success for the first time.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers-  Blackburn Rovers

Went from a promising team last year to one of the worst this year.  Their managers are in danger of the sack.                 

                                                 

NFC West

San Francisco 49ers-          Liverpool

A much celebrated side that plays in intimidating surroundings.  They were unbeatable in previous decades but are a few years away from being genuine contenders.

Seattle Seahawks-             Munster Rugby

I know this is a bit off topic but stick with me on this.  They are liable to turn any team over on their home turf and their 12^th man is celebrated for their influence.

Arizona Cardinals-              Portsmouth

Their most successful day came in 2008 but they are a long way off the pace now.

St Louis Rams-                   Bolton Wanderers

Everybody would like to see them do well but they are pretty limited in terms of their style of play.  In serious danger of becoming the worst team in the league this year.