The Rocket

Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: MCT Campus [Click to enlarge]

It seems lately that with the ascendance of the New England Patriots to the top of the NFL, there are those in the NFL fan base that would claim that parity is dead.

They may quote New England's unstoppable combination of Tom Brady to Randy Moss or point to the fact that those same Patriots have tallied a league-leading 58 touchdowns, while the next closest team (the Dallas Cowboys, in case you were wondering), has tallied 44.

Though it makes my Black and Gold blood boil, I'll be the first to admit that the Patriots are far and above the best team in the NFL at the moment. If nothing else, their undefeated record ensures that they have earned this distinction.

However, aside from the Patriots at the top, the truth of the matter is that if you're a football fan in general, this is a great year for parity. Consider that the former laughingstock of the AFC North, the Cleveland Browns, holds the distinction of scoring the third most touchdowns in the NFL and if the season ended today, would have locked up a wild-card spot. The same goes for the Brownies' counterpart in the NFC North, the Detroit Lions.

Also consider that five out of the eight current division leaders did not win their division last year, with only the Patriots, Colts, and Chargers in line to retain their title if the season ended today-and the Chargers only atop their division by merit of how awful the rest of the AFC West is playing.

Not to mention, (Imagine that!) that the Arizona Cardinals are one of a myriad of teams looking to separate from each other in the NFC West and overtake the Giants or Lions for the playoffs. The Green Bay Packers, a team thought to be ready to have a fork stuck in them at the end of last season, are a stunning 10-1 as Brett Favre has recaptured his glory days.

The bottom line is, the NFL is shaping up for quite a finish. Critics may claim that the Patriots have already won it all, and while they're certainly the favorites, if the A.J. Feeley-led Eagles can nearly pull an upset of the Pats, any team can.

Parity does exist and persist in the face of the Patriots, and unless you're a fan of the Dolphins, Raiders, Jets or Rams, there's still hope.

Though fans of the 1972 Miami Dolphins may have reason to be depressed after this season.

Rocco Cremonese is an English graduate student.

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