Banter

We are halfway through the National Football League season, what has been the biggest surprise for you so far?

For me, it has been the Minnesota Vikings. I knew they were going to be good, but the addition of Favre has made them freaky good. Simeon Rice now seems like an elite receiver, and Purple Jesus is doing his thing out of the backfield. Combined with their defense, which seems to think it has the right to sack quarterbacks on a whim, and you have a team that could make any team do a Najeh Davenport in its pants.
-Ryan Voyles

For me, it would be the Houston Texans. Every year it seemed like the Texans would break out. You would have that one analyst every season who would scream that this is the year of the Texans. Yet, every year, the Texans would end .500 and look all kinds of average. This season, the Texans are an offensive force and could conceivably go toe-to-toe with most any NFL team. Matt Schaub has been a force to reckon with this season. I guess I should just wait for him to join that Texan’s DL Suite that David Carr loved so much …
-Derek Robbins

Hands down, the New Orleans Saints.  Last year they were 8-8, and this season they remain unbeaten at 7-0. Drew Brees is not human and each week he impresses me more and more. As a whole though, every piece fits together perfectly. They have been a very balanced team.
-Ryan Simonin