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Studio 46 - Non-TPiR Discussion => Out In Left Field => Topic started by: GSB92 on July 26, 2014, 11:36:43 AM
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Its that time of the year again as the annual NFL season thread opens up.
Some highlights during the off-season:
Johnny Manziel, picked by many to be the #1 pick in the NFL draft, goes down to the #22 pick by the Cleveland Browns.
Michael Sam's coming out and Round 7 pick by the Rams.
Sidney Rice's retirement at age 27.
Josh Gordon suspended for a year due to drug use.
And perhaps the dumbest suspension in NFL history, Ray Rice gets whacked 2 GAMES! for assaulting his wife back in May.
Who do you think will win the Super Bowl? My pick is on the Seahawks to repeat again. Despite the loss of Rice and Marshawn Lynch holding out, their top-ranked defense from last year is strong enough to repeat as champions.
Also what team has the chance to rebound from a disastrous season last year? My pick is on the Giants. They were really busy during the off-season, signing a number of talent on both offense and defense and I believe that they can turn it around this year.
Next Sunday starts the pre-season with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game!
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Also what team has the chance to rebound from a disastrous season last year?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be this year's Kansas City Chiefs. Don't be surprised if they crash the playoff party. Their defense will be among the best in the league. Keys for them are the play of Josh McCown and the offensive line.
Fixed mangled quote tag. - CU
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I still like the Broncos in the AFC. I see the NFC as being super wide open. Above all though I'm just looking forward to watching NFL football again. Just 8 days away! :)
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The more I think about it the more I don't like Seattle. No Marshawn Lynch means their running game will suffer and I not totally convinced about Wilson Keeping it up. Wilson is a good quarterback but I'm not sure he's a great 1 and I think he might regress without the support of Lynch's running.
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You will be pleasantly surprised by Christine Michael and Robert Turbin, my friend.
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Good questions to lead into, made me do some research, and adds in a good freshener. Super Bowl, I don't think Seattle, as I believe there will not only be some dropoff from being the Super Bowl champ, as there hasn't been a repeat since the 03-04 Patriots, but also finishing first, thus facing more difficult opponents. Because of this, I do not believe they will be the first seed in the West this season, and have a Saints-esque season ender on the road. I think the 49ers have this division and conference this year.
I'd like to believe the Giants will turn it around, but my pick is the Rams, even in that division; I could see them contending for the 6th seed, based on strength of schedule, as well as the fact that they are an extremely good team; moreso on the defensive side of the ball, and ST. Kenny Britt was an interesting pickup who knows Fisher's system from mutual time in Tennessee, and I feel is undervalued, if he keeps his temper down. Furthermore, the draft they had wasn't too shabby, adding a dynamo run blocker in Greg Robinson. These additions should add nicely to a offense I ranked as 22nd at last season's end, last year, opening more plays up for players like Givens and Austin.
For moneygamelover, the Cardinals are still an underrated team, if less underrated; so I could see them nailing the 6th seed as well, but I think their 2013 season was anything but 'disasterous'; but like the Rams, they need more offense; Roberts to Washington does not help with that, and Ginn is more a return guy. Bucannon was a nice pick at 27 for the backs and ends; he'll remind you a bit of Adrian Wilson. Not sold on John Brown, reminds me of the Raiders picks of old; fast, but not much else (4.34 40). He seems like the type of player they maybe could use on ST, but not on that dreadful offense. And then they go Walt Powell, at 196th overall. This is lazy drafting, horrible choice. I think the same problems will plague the Cardinals again this year-they have a defense that rivals San Diego's offense for most underrated team units in the league, with KC or Baltimore getting most underrated ST.
Even with Arthur Jones, I think the Colts are due for a massive regression, even with Andrew Luck. Let alone the strength of that schedule last year, they were honestly a just below league average team for me. The fact that they made the playoffs, in spite of their defense, is a testament to just how poor the AFC South was last year. Easy time to take the under this year, on W/L, as I think this is a 7-9 team; 9 would err more if Luck is looking outstanding.
My pick for the Super Bowl is New England, though they are a team that I think will be there with a bunch of health 'ifs', namely those of Gronk, and Easley. The signing of Brandon LaFell was one I think will go underrated, and a good opposite slot compliment to Edelman. In addition, compare his numbers with that of new Lions, and ex-Seahawk, WR Golden Tate. Not only are LaFell's numbers shorter, but they are cheaper, for greater product, for a QB (Newton vs. Wilson) with a lesser throwing arm. I can't help but think one more wideout, like Andre Johnson, on the rumors market, would give them this. Between Browner, Revis, that's a dynamic secondary. Furthermore, their players are young and good, like Jones, to the obvious eye, but also Hightower, who improved greatly during the 2nd half. There's also Jaime Collins, who I think is one of the most exciting young players in football.
But again, so much of this is health, and if New England doesn't have, as they haven't recently, the common pick of Denver is probably right, though they are fascinating. Also led by a gracefully aging arguable GOAT QB, Denver has made some nice improvements on defense (Ware, Talib, Ward), but with the mile high elevation, their ages, namely Ware, and the fact that this defense was only league average last year (15th in the league), will it be enough? How much, if any does Talib vs. DRC make? It probably won't be much in the regular season, but given how he's gone out the last 2 season, it's a postseason issue I'd keep tabs on; ditto temper. Ward I have nothing negative to say about; that was an absolutely great signing, both for the team, the fit, and the price. Unfortunately, Woodyard I feel didn't get enough respect from Denver fans last season; Titans got him at a great price, and Phillips was also a surprisingly good fit there, looking like his prime Charger days; more good Tennessee signings. Bailey at this point was the symbolic captain of the ship, with both arms as hooks, and both legs as peglegs. He was done, and it's good for the Broncos to recognize that. One little question that I wonder about is how Montee Ball adjusts to getting the lion's share of carries now, with Moreno in Miami now. He showed he could do this at Wisconsin, but still, the NFL is just a bit tougher to succeed at, especially with the strength of the Broncos schedule this season.
I have New England over Denver this season simply because of what Revis can do, let alone pair him with Browner; the difference defensive quality should decide this epic heavyweight this season. Better secondary, and defensive tackles make Denver go to the ground game, as seen in last season's regular season tilt, which is not on the same level as their lateral game. For offense, it's interesting; still a fantastic 11 to trot out, but I don't think Sanders is enough to duplicate the loss of Decker. Like LaFell for New England, it should be fun to see Sanders/Welker as opposite side slot receivers this season for Denver, and of course, this reiterates my central point about what makes these teams different; defense.
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My Cardinals certainly finished the season well last year once Carson Palmer learned the offense. I love the Bucannon pick. I think he can a top notch player. Even without the suspended Washington I still LOVE our defense. Prizes is exactly right: the Cardinals success hinges on the offense. The defense will keep us in games but can the offense do enough to win. Palmer greatly improved in the 2nd half of last season and we still have Fitz. It may come down to how much production we get from the other receivers and that's a wait and see proposition. What I really hope we do this year is to involve Andre Ellington in the offense more both in terms of getting carries and in terms of catching passes out of the background. I see Andre Ellington as having potential to be a great weapon for us offensively. Also Carson Palmer is in the later stages of his career and I'm very disappointed we wasted a draft pick on bust to be Logan Thomas when we could have had Aaron Murray. I think making the playoffs is a tough with the NFC West being so tough but if you have a quality defense you have a chance. If we can get some production from our other receivers after Fitz and if Coach Arians is smart enough to use Andre Ellington more in the offense then we have a good chance to make the playoffs.
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And perhaps the dumbest suspension in NFL history, Ray Rice gets whacked 2 GAMES! for assaulting his wife back in May.
Dumb for what reason - the number of suspensions or the reason? If your answer is "number of suspensions", you are exactly right. Guy shouldn't be playing the league anymore, period. Sean Payton gets a year long suspension for sort-of-maybe being involved in "Bounty Gate" and Ray Rice gets a two week suspension for brutally beating his wife.
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Dumb for what reason - the number of suspensions or the reason? If your answer is "number of suspensions", you are exactly right. Guy shouldn't be playing the league anymore, period. Sean Payton gets a year long suspension for sort-of-maybe being involved in "Bounty Gate" and Ray Rice gets a two week suspension for brutally beating his wife.
The number of suspensions I meant.
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I'm hoping San Francisco makes it to the NFC championship game for the 4th year in a row.
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Atlanta Falcons wideouts: Roddy White re-signs; Julio Jones will return after his foot in jury last season. Darius Johnson is cut following a DUI arrest. Former Colt Jabin Sambrano is signed.
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Dumb for what reason - the number of suspensions or the reason? If your answer is "number of suspensions", you are exactly right. Guy shouldn't be playing the league anymore, period. Sean Payton gets a year long suspension for sort-of-maybe being involved in "Bounty Gate" and Ray Rice gets a two week suspension for brutally beating his wife.
i think the circumstances here are little more cloudy than others. Ray Rice has never been in trouble with the league or the law. Up until this point his record was squeaky clean. Let's not forget that the court that actually matters (i.e. not the "public opinion" kind) felt that the case against him wasn't worth pursuing. Also, whatever issues they had, they've seemingly worked out (whether or not it was sincerely or PR aided is unknown and will probably remain that way). Through a botched apology (where the wife, who shouldn't apologize for anything, did exactly that) and an apparently impassioned plea from his wife to the commissioner to spare his career. I think he deserves a second chance.
All that said, two games is way too small of a punishment for what he did, and this is coming from a life-long Baltimore native and Ravens' fan. He should've gotten at least six games, maybe even half a season. And honestly, I wouldn't think it'd be out of the question to consider a year long suspension. Given a recent domestic dispute that happened between an NFL player and his wife and ended in tragedy (Jovan Belcher), you'd think the NFL would stamp harder to make it a point that this type of behavior won't be tolerated as long as you work for this league. I guess Roger Goodell had a different thought.
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Through a botched apology (where the wife, who shouldn't apologize for anything, did exactly that) and an apparently impassioned plea from his wife to the commissioner to spare his career. I think he deserves a second chance.
Ray Rice's own victim speaking out in his defense? That disgusts me. She didn't ask to have that happen to her so she shouldn't be asking the league to go easy on him.
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So what division is the most intriguing? To me it's the NFC East: can RG3 bounce back from his sophomore slump? Can Nick Foles continue his accent? Can the Giants bounce back? Now I think the Cowboys missed the boat by not selecting Manziel. We know Romo plays like a kindergartener in big games late in the year when playoff berths on the line. And with Ware gone the Cowboys defense will be even worse than last year and we know how awful it was last year. I have the Cowboys as a 4-12 team. The Giants are a huge X Factor. The Giants are 1 of those teams that could be 3-13, 13-3, or anywhere in between. But if we assume the Giants will be a middle of the pack team, then it comes down to the Eagles and the Redskins. Now I do think that Foles will build on what he started last year and there's still a lot in the cupboard especially since McCoy is arguably the best running back in the league. But losing DeShawn Jackson is a huge blow. Something else has also happened that is worrying: apparently McCoy and Trent Cole had a fight at training camp. Having teammates get into fights is very worrying. Nevertheless I see a good year in Philadelphia and an 11-5 team. Now I like the Redskins. They added Deshawn Jackson. The coaching change will benefit RG3 and he's healthier now. I see a big bouneback and an 11-5 team. I'm kinda thinking the Giants come in at 9-7. I see the NFC coming down to the Eagles and Redskins. I'll pick the Redskins.
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Teammates fight all the time. It's part of camp and the stress of beating up on your own players day in and day out.
My take on the NFC East: I agree the Cowboys defense will be bad. Maybe even worse than losing Ware was losing Sean Lee (yet again). The Cowboys really don't have anyone now to anchor the middle of the defense, a key cog of the Tampa 2. That said, this isn't a 4-12 team. Possibly another 8-8 year. That offense will win them some games. Romo could have one of his better, if not best, statistical season yet under Scott Linehan.
The Redskins defense looks pretty weak, to be honest. RG3 will definitely bounce back and will be successful under Jay Gruden. Honestly, I think adding DeSean Jackson will be more beneficial to Pierre Garcon. But with that defense, no way are they are 11-win team, I'm sorry to say.
The Giants offense looks like it will be fun to watch under new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. Eli will have a strong season and Victor Cruz and Reuben Randle could be in for big seasons. Don't expect much out of Odell Beckham.
The Eagles are the favorites. Losing DeSean Jackson is not as big a blow as many are making it to be. The additions of Darren Sproles and Jordan Matthews, plus the added development of TE Zach Ertz will easily make up for the loss of Jackson.
All that being said, the most intriguing divisions to me are the NFC West and the NFC North. I can see all four NFC West teams at 8-8 or better. Good luck running against the Rams this season. The NFC North of course has three strong QBs and an up-and-coming team in Minnesota. Bridgewater may not start immediately, but when he does, him and Cordarrelle Patterson will be one of the better QB/WR duos in the league.
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I'd forgotten the Eagles got Sproles. That's a great addition to any team and his versatility will make Foles even better. The NFC West is the toughest division. The funny thing about it is not so long ago this was the worst division and it felt as if it would stay that way forever. Now all 4 teams look great on paper. They all have great defenses. The Rams at at a disadvantage because they're easily the weakest at the quarterback position. But man have those intradivision games in the NFC West become fun! :)
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The general consensus among the odds sites is that Seattle will repeat as Super Bowl champs (anywhere from 6:1 to 13:2). Jacksonville is the consensus long shot.
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i think the circumstances here are little more cloudy than others. Ray Rice has never been in trouble with the league or the law. Up until this point his record was squeaky clean. Let's not forget that the court that actually matters (i.e. not the "public opinion" kind) felt that the case against him wasn't worth pursuing.
As somebody who has actually prosecuted a domestic violence case or two, these cases are next to impossible if you have an uncooperative victim, which many times spouses and significant others are, especially in cases where the suspect has a lot of money or influence or control over the victim.
Through a botched apology (where the wife, who shouldn't apologize for anything, did exactly that) and an apparently impassioned plea from his wife to the commissioner to spare his career. I think he deserves a second chance.
Again, money, influence, control.
you'd think the NFL would stamp harder to make it a point that this type of behavior won't be tolerated as long as you work for this league. I guess Roger Goodell had a different thought.
You know, if I recall, the Chiefs last year had a guy who killed his SO and then subsequently killed himself. There was a history of abuse prior to the murder-suicide. And it happened during the NFL season, with the suicide occurring on NFL property. You would think the league would take a harder stance towards this behavior, but they care more about their players (i.e. their money) getting hurt than innocent victims.
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You know, if I recall, the Chiefs last year had a guy who killed his SO and then subsequently killed himself. There was a history of abuse prior to the murder-suicide. And it happened during the NFL season, with the suicide occurring on NFL property. You would think the league would take a harder stance towards this behavior, but they care more about their players (i.e. their money) getting hurt than innocent victims.
That is exactly what I referenced in my post right before the quote you posted. His name was Jovan Belcher, and I couldn't agree with you more. This happened in 2012, which is not that long ago, and it was very public. The NFL had an opportunity to send a message here and they wasted it. A shame.
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And with Ware gone the Cowboys defense will be even worse than last year and we know how awful it was last year. I have the Cowboys as a 4-12 team.
DeMarcus Lawrence went down in practice today and depending on the severity of the injury, this prediction may have actually just gained a bit of steam.
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Hall of Fame inductions tomorrow. Class of 2014: Derrick Brooks, Aeneas Williams, Walter Jones, Andre Reed, and Michael Strahan.
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As well as Claude Humphrey and Ray Guy, the first punter ever inducted.
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LET THE FOOTBALL COMMENCE!!! Even though it is Preseason "Can't Wait!"
For the HOF Game tomorrow night Bills V Giants.
Go Pack Go!
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The big day is finally here! The greatest sport ever invented by mankind returns to us with the Bills taking on the Giants at 5pm AZ time!
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Tonight at 5:25 p.m. AZ time a 30 yard field goal by the Bills Dan Carpenter became the 1st score of the season.
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The Giants O-Line is still the same as last year's.
Oy Vey!
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At 5:40 p.m. AZ time a 3 yard touchdown run by the Giants Andre Williams became the 1st touchdown of the NFL season.
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Per ESPN's Rob Demovsky, the Packers will induct Brett Favre into their Hall of Fame in 2015 and retire his No. 4.
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Giants win the HoF Game 17-13.
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Biggest takeaway from this game is that no one was injured. Other than that, can't really make too many conclusions off of a game like this. Though I will say Seantrel Henderson looked pretty darn good. I spent most of the game watching the rookies, particularly the rookie offensive linemen for Buffalo (Henderson, Kouandjio, Richardson).
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Biggest takeaway from this game is that no one was injured. Other than that, can't really make too many conclusions off of a game like this.
I agree, which is why I'm confused why everybody is so riled up about it. Is America that starved for football that even this pre-preseason game is a big deal? They sent Michaels and Collinsworth, so NBC even wanted you to think this was the real thing.
I'd be interested to see what the ratings for this end up being compared to a normal Sunday night.
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I agree, which is why I'm confused why everybody is so riled up about it. Is America that starved for football that even this pre-preseason game is a big deal? They sent Michaels and Collinsworth, so NBC even wanted you to think this was the real thing.
I guess the World Cup wasn't enough for them.
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I agree, which is why I'm confused why everybody is so riled up about it. Is America that starved for football that even this pre-preseason game is a big deal? They sent Michaels and Collinsworth, so NBC even wanted you to think this was the real thing.
They've actually had Al Michaels and Collinsworth doing the HOF Game before. NBC's been covering since 2006. They didn't in 2012 because of NBC's coverage of the Summer Olympics, and in 2007 NBC didn't carry it since they were intending to cover the failed China Bowl. In fact, outside of three years, Al Michaels has done the HOF Game since 1986.
Also, while I think America is that starved, it isn't the only reason. This is a special preseason game since it follows the HOF enshrinement. They usually use the in between time to show pieces of the enshrinement since it doesn't air on broadcast TV, talk to the new inductees, and show the other footballers and Hall of Famers who attended.
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Bengals sign Dalton to a 6 year 115 mil extension.
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To break that down a bit, it starts as a 6-year/$96 million extension that can escalate based on how far the Bengals advance in the playoffs, provided Dalton plays 80% of the regular season snaps ($1 million added to each subsequent year for reaching the Divisional Playoffs; $500,000 for reaching the Conference Championship; $1.5 million for reaching the Super Bowl).
And of that $96 million, only $17 million is fully guaranteed ($12 million signing bonus, $5 million roster bonus due on the third day of the 2015 league year). After that, it's essentially pay-as-you-go with a $200,000 workout bonus each year from 2016-2020.
Salaries by year:
2015: $3 million
2016: $10.5 million
2017: $13.1 million
2018: $13.7 million
2019: $16 million
2020: $17.5 million
Numbers come from Spotrac and Pro Football Talk.
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The Beast is back in camp....GO Seahawks!
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6 games tonight wooo :)
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That includes 2 live games on NFL Network. At 4:30 p.m. AZ time we have 49ers at Ravens. At 7:30 p.m. AZ time we have Cowboys at Chargers. Looking forward to 🏈 tonight! :)
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TOUCHDOWN Ravens. PAT is Good. BAL leads 7-3.
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Falcons 5th round pick Marquis Spruill is out for the season after tearing an ACL in practice. With Sean Weatherspoon out as well, the linebacker corps is looking mighty thin.
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What does everyone think of the preseason experiment of moving extra points back to try and make them more interesting? Does this proposal have legs, or should it be a one time only alteration?
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What does everyone think of the preseason experiment of moving extra points back to try and make them more interesting? Does this proposal have legs, or should it be a one time only alteration?
I don't care for it. It's just change for the sake of change. No real point to it. You don't see the NBA advocating to move free throw further back because free throws are boring and mundane and that's really what this is. The NFL has decided extra points are too boring and mundane and are thus seeking change for the sake of change. Extra points were never meant to be the most exciting part of the game anyway.
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What does everyone think of the preseason experiment of moving extra points back to try and make them more interesting? Does this proposal have legs, or should it be a one time only alteration?
Dumb idea. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Goodell is doing his best to destroy this game. Wouldn't surprised me if it went to flag football within two decades.
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Unfortunately, the filthy dirty Saints won tonight. 😢 Greg Zuerlein missed a 59 yard field goal on the final play of the game that would have won it for the Rams. His career long is 60 so he's capable of long kick. Too bad he missed this 1.
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Unfortunately, the filthy dirty Saints won tonight.
Who Dat?!!! :P
I'm glad that they won: 26-24 against the Rams. And Derrick Strozier could play a huge part with the team this season.
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Atlanta tops Miami, 16-10. In the battle for second string QB, Sean Renfree outplayed T.J. Yates. Still three pre-season games to show what they've got.
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My Cardinals play their preseason opener tonight VS the Texans at 5:30 p.m. AZ time. Really looking forward to that. At 4:30 p.m. AZ time the NFL Network will televise Browns at Lions and while Hoyer is the starter we can expect to see some of Manziel tonight. Pro debut of Johnny Football! GO CARDINALS! :)
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Time to see if Manziel can actually read NFL defenses, even if they will be very vanilla tonight.
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It's preseason. Scores are meaningless, as are the games. Remember when the Lions went 4-0 in the preseason and 0-16 when it counted?
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That's true, to an extent. Individual matchups are interesting to watch. I've found myself watching a lot of the rookies to see how they look. You may not get a clear picture of a team, but you get a picture of who can play.
One thing I will say: Yes, it's only one game, but Tampa Bay's offensive line looks really bad. If I'm them, I'm getting on the phone and inquiring about Alex Boone.
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You can get a pretty good feel for how good a running back, wide receiver, tight end, kicker, special teamer, lineman, or defensive player can be in preseason. However, it is very difficult to evaluate quarterback without the complete offenses being put into play and with the defenses they are playing against being very basic. Because things like reading defenses and decision making are so important to the quarterback position, it's tough to evaluate quarterbacks when only basic gameplans are being used.
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I like what I saw on my Cardinals opening drive. The protection was good, Palmer was sharp, receivers made some nice catches, and it ended with Fitz catching a touchdown. Can't get any better than that!
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I thought QBs are hard to evaluate in preseason :p
In all seriousness, I have to agree that was a nice opening drive. Also, John Brown is a guy to watch this season. Could fill the slot role for Arizona.
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Watching Jags at Bears on ESPN Jags up 3-0
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We know that the Jaguars are not a playoff team. The Bears have a great receiving core and they should be better on defense this year. It comes down to whether Cutler can get the job done. If he can I favor the Bears to win the NFC North. I don't trust the Lions and a team with Matt Cassel starting at QB certainly isn't going to be a playoff team as people in Kansas City know all too well. If Cutler gets it done this year the Bears win the NFC North.
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The AFC is going to be down this year. I really think the Jaguars have a chance to win eight games this season. I love their defense and that division is very weak. They may get four wins against Houston and Tennessee, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them split against the Colts.
As for the Bears, defense, specially the back end, is still an issue, especially if Kyle Fuller misses time. I still think the Packers are the favorites in the North, but the Bears will certainly be in the mix.
And may I remind you that Matt Cassel led the Patriots to an 11-5 record? And that he actually didn't look that bad last season? The Vikings are another team on the rise.
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NFL Network doubleheader tonight. At 4:30 p.m. AZ time we have Eagles at Patriots. At 7:30 p.m. AZ time we have Chargers at Seahawks joined in progress about 1/2 hour in.
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The Saints will take on The Texans tonight @7pm. I'm not too sure if Brees will be in the field this time, but it's doubtful.
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Actually the Saints play the Titans and not the Texans tonight.
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Actually the Saints play the Titans and not the Texans tonight.
Doop!
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earlier today: Jimmy Graham gets penalized after scoring a touchdown because he PUNCHED the goalpost.
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I'm 100% for the anti demonstration rule even if it's just things like dunking over the goalposts. Let's have some professionalism in the NFL.
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More laundry on the fields tonight than a porn shoot.
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More laundry on the fields tonight than a porn shoot.
The Saints had 22 penalties by themselves and apparently Payton was particularly upset over the Graham penalties. From some things I read last night the ban on dunking over the goalposts was instituted because the NFL does not want games to be delayed by having the goalposts knocked out of position as Graham did 2 times last year.
Also my Cardinals play the Vikings at 4:30 p.m. AZ time. There are also 2 NFL Network games today. At 1 p.m. AZ time we have Packers at Rams and at 4 p.m. AZ time we have Ravens at Cowboys. :) GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
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My Bengals try to get a win tonight against the Jets will be shown here at 11:30 on tape delay
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From some things I read last night the ban on dunking over the goalposts was instituted because the NFL does not want games to be delayed by having the goalposts knocked out of position as Graham did 2 times last year.
You would be correct here. Although the odds of the goalpost bending are pretty slim. Graham just has enough power to do so. But it is what it is.
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Tonight the Giants overcame a 26-0 deficit to win 27-26. Even in preseason that kind of comeback is totally awesome baby!
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You owe Dick Vitale money that phrase will always belong to him and by the way your Cards are goin down next Sunday :)
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How the Giants won that game despite all those penalties I'll never know...
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My Cardinals lose 30-28 to the Vikings :( Bridgewater last minute touchdown pass.
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How the Giants won that game despite all those penalties I'll never know...
Is it just me, or have I've been noticing a barrage of penalties this preseason?
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It's not just you. It's a truism.
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Indeed, there proved to be so many during the Philadelphia-New England game that the commentator remarked at the start of the 4th, "I think I'm going to make 'And we have a flag' my new ringtone."
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Today at 1 p.m. AZ time Broncos at 49ers on NFL Network. At 5 p.m. AZ time Chiefs at Panthers on Fox. That will be the 1st NFL on Fox telecast of the season.
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Jadeveon Clowney showed up big in Atlanta's 32-7 loss to Houston. He sacked Matt Ryan at least once and still made some key plays as well.
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Clowney is the real deal but I still think the Texans should have gone for either Manziel or Bridgewater. And on another note I know it's only preseason but the 49ers look like kindergarteners. Maybe it will be a different story when they start playing for keeps but the 49ers couldn't stop anyone defensively today and they didn't do much offensively either.
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49ers open up their new stadium in style, getting blown out 34-0 by the Broncos.
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Remember, the 49ers are dealing with a ton of injuries and suspensions. Navarro Bowman and Aldon Smith are both likely out for the first half of the season, so they may have to rely on someone like Chris Borland (who I really liked in the draft) to step in during that time. Nose tackle Ian Williams is still out and the 49ers are pretty thin there, so they need him back as soon as possible.
Let's also remember that preseason scores are absolutely worthless. There is absolutely no game-planning whatsoever. It's more getting some feel for your team and giving players game-like situations to practice in.
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Let's also remember that preseason scores are absolutely worthless.
The whole thing is worthless. (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2012/08/study-nfl-preseason-games-havent-mattered-since-1994/1)
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What about the Lions in 2008? They won all their preseason games. Of course, it turns out those games were the only ones they won that year.
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It's important to the rookies and ones who are clawing at a roster spot. Plus it gives the chance for the coaches to evaluate all the talent before the full season starts.
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It's a testament to the popularity of football that we pay as much attention to the preseason as we do. Does anyone care about the NBA preseason? No. No one cares about the NBA until the Tuesday before Halloween when the regular season begins. Does anyone care about the MLB preseason? No. No one cares about MLB until late March/early April when the regular season begins. The interest in the NFL preseason is a reflection of the huge overall popularity of football.
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Atlanta LT Sam Baker is out for the season with a torn knee tendon. First round draft pick Jake Matthews will most likely fill the spot.
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It's important to the rookies and ones who are clawing at a roster spot. Plus it gives the chance for the coaches to evaluate all the talent before the full season starts.
This I agree with. And this is what I mean. It's not about winning or losing, necessarily. It's figuring out what you have and building from there before the regular season starts.
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Speaking of people who the preseason is important to tonight at 5 p.m. AZ time on ESPN we have Browns at Redskins. It's a crucial night for Hoyer and Manziel as whoever can show more tonight is likely to named starter. I think people have forgotten Hoyer got off to a strong start last year before the tragedy ended his season. It's an interesting battle for sure.
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I don't think we saw anything tonight that could lead the Browns to a solid decision. I think the efficient solution would be to wait it out at least 1 more week. There are still 2 preseason games left. And honestly I don't understand why the Browns are in such a hurry to make the decision.
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Tonight, Manziel was so frustrated that he gave the Redskins bench the bird.
Expect a fine and/or suspension.
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I don't think we saw anything tonight that could lead the Browns to a solid decision. I think the efficient solution would be to wait it out at least 1 more week. There are still 2 preseason games left. And honestly I don't understand why the Browns are in such a hurry to make the decision.
Because next week is the regular season dress rehearsal. If you don't have a quarterback in place by now, you're hurting yourself as a team, because it takes away reps from whoever is going to be the starter. The third preseason game is not the game to still have a competition. They can't afford to wait another week because the last preseason is all about the bubble players, not the starters.
At this point, you have to go with Hoyer because Manziel didn't show anything that says he should be ahead of Hoyer. Sure, Hoyer didn't look good himself, but the bottom line is Manziel needed to outplay Hoyer throughout camp and he did not. And Manziel is not ready to face the Steelers. Therefore, Hoyer is going to be the Week 1 starter.
But it's like the old saying goes: If you have two quarterbacks, then you have no quarterback.
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And sure enough, Brian Hoyer has been named the starter. No surprise. Manziel isn't ready.
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And sure enough, Brian Hoyer has been named the starter. No surprise. Manziel isn't ready.
Neither do. The third stringer looked much better.
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Neither do. The third stringer looked much better.
And that's never a good sign. The Cleveland Browns have a snowball's chance in a Phoenix summer of making the 2014 playoffs.
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Neither do. The third stringer looked much better.
Let's not go crazy here haha.
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Tonight at 4:30 p.m. AZ time on NFL Network we have Eagles at Steelers. The 3rd week of the preseason is usually the most interesting.
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The Eagles looked pretty good tonight. The Steelers however looked pretty bad. The Steelers were thought of as a question mark but it doesn't look too good for them.
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WR/ST Eric Weems returns to Atlanta, having been signed after getting him from Chicago.
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Johnny Clipboard has been fined $12,000 for flipping off the Redskins bench.
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Tonight at 5 p.m. AZ time we get the 1st CBS telecast of the year with Raiders at Packers, a rematch of Super Bowl 2.
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Giants are 4-0 this preseason. Can they go 5-0 with a win against the Pats next week?
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The Packers looked fantastic tonight. But if Mike McCarty is going such a numbskull that he goes for 2 in completely unnecessary situations the Packers are going to lose some games they shouldn't. That will likely come back to bite.
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Bengals starters have looked good our backups havnt.
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Today at 1:30 p.m. AZ time on NFL Network we have Buccaneers at Bills. Today at 5 p.m. AZ time on CBS we have Saints at Colts.
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The Packers looked fantastic tonight. But if Mike McCarty is going such a numbskull that he goes for 2 in completely unnecessary situations the Packers are going to lose some games they shouldn't. That will likely come back to bite.
Again, it's preseason. It's a chance to feel things out and try things. I would have no problem with a team going for two after every touchdown, just to get some in-game practice of their two-point plays.
Also, yes the Packers looked good. But they were also facing a team that may very well hold the No. 1 pick in next year's draft.
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Sam Bradford has left with an apparent leg injury.
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I'm going to make some ice cream. The Atlanta Falcons can bring the vanilla.
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Today at 1 p.m. AZ time we have Chargers at 49ers on Fox. Then tonight at 5 p.m. on NBC my Cardinals host the Bengals. GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
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Sam Bradford is out for the year with a torn ACL. :( My condolences to Sam Bradford, his teammates, and his family. That said, the Rams are done now. Bradford might not be the greatest quarterback but he could have been serviceable this year, especially considering how good the Rams defense is. Now the Rams are in such bad shape at the QB position that the Rams are looking at a 3-13 year.
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Shaun Hill isn't that bad a quarterback. Plus, Jeff Fisher loves to run the ball anyway, so we may see an uptick for Zac Stacy. And their defense is still formidable, even if they'll be without Trumaine Johnson for a bit. So yes, it hurts. But not to the point where they go 3-13. Maybe another 7-9 like season.
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7-9 would be likely, and it could be worse if any other key contributors go down for St. Louis, given they're in arguably the strongest division of all at present, and will have to face an NFC East that under certain circumstance has the chance to be just as strong. I didn't think the Rams would win the NFC West this year--it likely will be another death struggle between San Francisco and Seattle, I think at this point--and this of course makes it that much harder for them. Still, once Bradford heals up eventually, they are worth considering in the long term, I think.
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Lol, Andy Dalton still isn't a good quarterback.
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Lol, Andy Dalton still isn't a good quarterback.
It was unwise of the Bengals to give a 6 year extension to a quarterback who has never won a playoff game.. Dalton is much like Cam Newton insomuch as we don't really know which way his career will ultimately tilt.
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It's not really a six-year extension. They can pretty much cut him whenever and barely owe money, if at all. It's a "pay as you go"-type deal, similar to Colin Kaepernick. The structure of the deal is fine.
And for what it's worth, Cam Newton is definitely a better QB than Andy Dalton.
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Teddy.
That's all I need to say.
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If I had a dollar for every PED suspension this season so far, I could get a cheap seat at a Bills game.
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As a Cardinals fan I've loved what I've seen out of John Brown this preseason. Al Michaels talked after the touchdown about Brown trying to make the team: I'm telling you, he's made the team and he will be a very solid contributor to our offense.
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If people don't know John Brown by now, then they haven't been paying attention. Arizona has been high on him all camp and it's easy to see why. Very speedy kid who run good routes and can serve the Andre Roberts role in this offense.
My only concerns with the Cardinals going into the season are the offensive line and the front seven. Not sure how much I trust Larry Foote and Kevin Minter as the middle linebackers. Losing Darnell Dockett hurts also. We'll see how they respond.
What's interesting now is their next two games are against San Diego. Luckily, nothing happens (as far as starters and game planning) in the fourth preseason game, so nothing will be tipped. But still interesting nonetheless.
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NFL commish Roger Goodell does not have an e-mail address. From what I understand, he does not bother reading or responding to any mail from fans. I don’t know if that is true or not, but I get the impression that it probably is.
The last weekend I watched any games, late October 2013, the N.F.L. (No Fun League), no defense allowed anymore league that caters only to fantasy stats league, has officially lost me for good as a fan. The breaking point was 2 roughing calls, one against the Jets, another against the Chargers, all in the name of player "safety". And yet, isn’t Sam Bradford hurt? Then again when ISN’T he hurt? And look at that, he's out for the entire season. Gee what a shock. Another top draft pick who was a bust. Aaron Rodgers was injured and out last season too. All these ticky-tack calls in the interest of player “safety”. Hello, it’s football, it’s a rough game. You want safety? Take up chess or checkers. Don’t don't dare play paper football like we did in junior high school though, you might suffer a paper cut while folding the paper into that triangular football.
Why has the league permanently lost me?
Over-saturation of a, at best, mediocre product. One week last season, only 1 game featured had both teams with winning records. Another week that had 14 games scheduled, only 3 games featured teams that both had winning records. Pre-game shows, NFL Network, “Hard Knocks” (which is now being forced on teams to participate in), the much over-extended and overly-hyped NFL Draft (even Mel Kiper Jr. called it quits!) & Combine coverage. All of this diminishes what was once a truly special event, a football Sunday. Now Thursday night games are the norm too. He cries “player safety first” yet expects them to play on Sunday, then again on Thursday night? One week’s “must see” game featured the Redskins 3-5 at the Vikings 1-7. Wow, that’s most certainly a must see game, isn’t it?
This whole debacle over the “Redskins” nickname. It’s pure and utter b.s. Once they are forced to change their name, you watch what happens. The atheists will force New Orleans to change their name from the Saints. People who suffer from gigantasism or dwarfism will object to the nickname “Giants”. You give certain types of people 1 inch, and you end up giving them a mile. And how exactly will eliminating the "Redskins" nickname help in any way, shape, or form, the Native Americans?
Player safety. That’s why he keeps pushing for an 18 game regular season!?!?!?! “It’s what the fans want.” He’s a bold-faced liar, nothing but a giant sack of (censored).
3, and next year, 4 of the 256 regular season games will be played outside the United States, 1 in Toronto, Canada, three in London, England. This is the NATIONAL Football League, NOT the INTERNATIONAL Football League. You want global Mr. Goodell? Oh, that's right, you already TRIED that with NFL Europe and it failed, just like everything else during your tenure.
Kickoffs from the 35 yard line, all but eliminating runback plays. And those chumps who do try to bring it out for an amazing runback, 9 times out of 10 get tackled well before the 20 yard line. They all have aspirations of becoming an ESPN Sportscenter highlight. To heck with the team.
Lackluster Monday Night Football matchups. When it was on ABC, it felt more like a real event. Now it’s just plain old “vanilla”. Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden….meh. Another must see Monday Night game featured the 4-4 Miami Dolphins (and what’s left of their team, what has been taking place there Is nothing short of despicable) vs. the 0-8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wow, another must see game! Oh boy I could hardly wait!!!! ((sarcasm)) I use parentheses because I march to the beat of my own drummer, so none of this hashtag hooey.
Watered-down play and players due to far too many teams. When I first became an NFL fan they had 26 teams. They expanded to 28 in 1976. We had 28 teams for 20 seasons and that seemed just fine. Then they had to go and add 4 more, now it’s a very watered down product that just plain sucks.
An inordinate amount of commercials, and the SAME commercials for the SAME products ad nauseum (no pun intended).
Late starts for playoff games. Even the Super Bowl not starting til around 6:40pm is silly. Used to be 4pm. It’s on Sunday, you don’t need this “prime time” mentality bullcrap the way baseball does. You think any kid stayed up to watch the World Series? Precious few if any. Same’s true for the Super Bowl now too. Now he wants to add 2 more playoff teams, and starting in 2015 that will be the case. This means 14 out of 32, almost half. You want to play an EIGHTEEN week season just to eliminate a little more than HALF the teams? Talk about making a regular season meaningless...
“Gotta have more scoring, we have to cater to the fantasy football players now!” I hate games that are 49-20, or 56-49, and in that high slugfest range. Nick Foles throwing for 7 touchdown passes??!?!?! REALLY?!?!?! He was previously at best a stinkin' inconsistent backup. Now suddenly guys like him even are breaking records held by legends like Unitas, Elway, Marino? This is not your father's or your grandfather's NFL anymore, not by a long shot.
There’s an old adage that successful franchises have which is “Always leave them wanting more.” The National Football League no longer leaves me wanting more. If anything, it leaves me wanting less. It leaves me wanting a time machine to go back to the 1970s and 80s, heck, even the 90s, when defense was still allowed to play, and when it was a much more special game. I love Christmas too, but not 365 days a year. I will always have a special affection for the real NFL. This current NFL is as phony as it gets, and it has permanently lost me as a fan.
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I do agree with some of your points. Only if a majority of Washington fans, for instance, vote to change the name should it be changed, I think. While perhaps 1 or 2 regular season games abroad is fine, best not to overdo it. 16 games is just fine, especially with a 32 team league, thus allowing symmetricality for one, and any more games is risking too much critical injury. And there have been a few too many penalties, although they do tend to decrease as a season progresses. Monday night games can be easily fixed if the league chooses to adopt flex scheduling to it as they have for Sunday nights. On the other side of the coin, I'm not sure that it really would matter how much teams score, as long as they do it cleanly; indeed, high-scoring shootouts have a bit of an entertainment value for me (and let's see how well Foles does this year before we'd lock him in as a glorified backup). Neither does the start time for the Super Bowl seem to be that important, as long as it would be over by the time schoolchildren would have to go to bed for classes on Monday. In short, yes, there are major issues, but they can easily be resolved with intelligent conversation among the interested parties.
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I'm 100% for Thursday Night Football. I used to get frustrated by the wait between Monday and Sunday. The extra Thursday games are perfect for me. Plus this year, after week 1, the NFL has scheduled divisional rivalries for Thursday so that we get more interesting matchups. This starts with Steelers-Ravens, the NFL's greatest rivalry, in week 2. There should be no international NFL games. Let's not take a home game away from several teams each year.
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There is one Thursday game that is not a divisional matchup: Cowboys-Bears in Week 14. Then one of the Saturday games is 49ers-Chargers.
That said, I'm still a bit up and down on Thursday games, mostly because they aren't exactly the best quality, due to the lack of preparation. Perhaps now that CBS has half the games and most of them are divisional games may help. We'll see.
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SEAHAWKS FINED $300K FOR VIOLATING CBA'S OFFSEASON NON-CONTACT RULES
Seattle also will lose two minicamp practices next year, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11414018/seattle-seahawks-pete-carroll-fined-more-300000-violating-no-contact-rules
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What about the best rivalries in the NFL? Here are my 5 favorites.
1: Steelers-Ravens: The most genuine hate rivalry in the NFL. These teams hate each other's guts and say so.
2: 49ers-Seahawks: A more recently developed rivalry. This 1 only seems to be gaining steam, especially after last year's NFC Championship Game.
3: Packers-Vikings.: An underrated rivalry. Wonder if Brett Favre might get booed when he returns to Lambeau Field in 2015. I know Packers fans were quite upset that he went to play for their biggest divisional rival.
4: Chiefs-Raiders: The Raiders have sucked for so long that all of their rivalries have lost something. But I still like this 1 for historical reasons, especially as it was 1 of the best rivalries to come out of the old AFL.
5: Jets-Patriots: Other reasons to like this rivalry aside, it's Boston VS New York. Boston VS New York speaks for itself.
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SEAHAWKS FINED $300K FOR VIOLATING CBA'S OFFSEASON NON-CONTACT RULES
Seattle also will lose two minicamp practices next year, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11414018/seattle-seahawks-pete-carroll-fined-more-300000-violating-no-contact-rules
Take away their Lombardi as well.
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Take away their Lombardi as well.
They are not going to take away their Super Bowl title away because of that, otherwise they would have to take other teams Super Bowl title's away too for infractions like the Saints' Bountygate.
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Take away their Lombardi as well.
No.
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As far as rivalries go, how about the longest-running rivalry in the NFL, Bears-Packers? Other honorable mentions, if you will, can go out to any matchup in the NFC East. I'll also go ahead and say 49ers-Raiders. Other than that, I think we got them all.
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Hey, what about the Eagles-Giants rivalry? That's the biggest rivalry in the NFC East.
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Cowboys say hi :p
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You've absolutely right about the NFC East. Every team is a big rival of all the other 3. I always thought Cowboys-Eagles felt like the biggest and most intense NFC East rivalry though.
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You've absolutely right about the NFC East. Every team is a big rival of all the other 3. I always thought Cowboys-Eagles felt like the biggest and most intense NFC East rivalry though.
For me it certainly is; even though I know it makes me a lesser person, I simply can't forgive Dallas for taking away what at least in my mind should have been at least a shot for Philadelphia to win it all for Jerome Brown in 1992 (in fairness, it still would have been a hard path having to go through a still loaded San Francisco team and a Buffalo powerhouse that after having completed the biggest comeback in league history that year probably deserved to be Super Bowl XXVII champions--but even with the oft-clueless Rich Kotite in charge, that year's Eagle team still could have done it if everything had fallen into place, I think). I myself would rate the top five:
1. Chicago-Green Bay
2. New England-New York Jets
3. Dallas-Philadelphia
4. Oakland-Kansas City
5. Cleveland-Pittsburgh (even if it's rather one-sided lately)
Honorable mention would include New Orleans-Atlanta, New York Giants-Philadelphia, Cincinnati-Cleveland, and Dallas-Washington
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On the Seattle suspension: The date of violation was this past June so you can't really take away the Lombardi since it didn't effect at all really Seattle winning the Super Bowl.
As far as rivalries go: I like Chicago-GB, SF-Seattle, and Dallas-Philly as my top 3
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After what feels like forever, the decision has come down. Browns WR Josh Gordon is suspended for a year.
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Take away their Lombardi as well.
They are not going to take away their Super Bowl title away because of that, otherwise they would have to take other teams Super Bowl title's away too for infractions like the Saints' Bountygate.
New England should lose their Spygate Super Bowl titles first before anybody even discusses New Orleans or Seattle losing theirs.
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The filthy dirty Saints are the only team that deserves an asterisk ✳. It's inexcusable to have a program where players are paid to knock opposing players out of the game. Any Patriots or Seahawks transgressions are way too minor to worry too much about.
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There is one Thursday game that is not a divisional matchup: Cowboys-Bears in Week 14. Then one of the Saturday games is 49ers-Chargers.
In case anyone's curious as to why, every team plays on a Sunday-to-Thursday short week exactly once, and is paired against a divisional rival on the Thursday game. Unforunately, this left the NFL's Thursday night lineup one game short, so they took two of the teams playing on Thanksgiving and put them against each other the following week, since Thursday-to-Thursday is not a short week.
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Pete Carroll didn't exactly run a clean program at USC, so does this really surprise anyone?
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New England should lose their Spygate Super Bowl titles first.
Since this was coming off during their perfect season quest, as a Giants fan, this makes their last two Super Bowl losses even sweeter.
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The NFL has announced new suspension rules for domestic violence:
1st offense: 6 games
2nd offense: Lifetime ban.
I can understand the first offense but a lifetime ban after the second???
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The NFL has announced new suspension rules for domestic violence:
1st offense: 6 games
2nd offense: Lifetime ban.
I can understand the first offense but a lifetime ban after the second???
Exactly. A lifetime ban shouldn't be after the 2nd offense. It's a bit too tight.
It should be like a three-strike rule instead...
1st offense: 6 games
2nd offense: Entire season
3rd offense: Lifetime ban
As they say in baseball, "Three strikes, yer out!". That should apply here as well, except three strikes equals a permanent ban.
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Bengals reserves beat the Colts reserves 35-7. Bring on the Ravens.
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I'm glad the preseason is over. Bring on the regular season baby! Can't wait till NEXT Thursday!
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49ers split the preseason.
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Again, it's preseason. Means nothing.
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T.J. Yates made a good statement for being Atlanta's second string QB, throwing for 214 yards and two house calls in last night's 24-14 Atlanta win vs. Jacksonville.
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For someone who was the very last pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Michael Sam is making the most out of it. He leads the Rams with 3 sacks in the preseason, which should be a very large factor in his making the 53-man roster. I'd be very disappointed if he didn't.
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Well, he wasn't quite the last pick, but very close. If he doesn't make the Rams, it'll be because they simply didn't have the room. It's certainly going to be a long weekend for him.
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Aldon Smith suspended nine games for violating the NFL's Substance Abuse and Personal Conduct Policies.
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Aldon Smith suspended nine games for violating the NFL's Substance Abuse and Personal Conduct Policies.
Jed should just let him go already. He's more trouble than his on-field performance is worth.
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And Michael Sam has been released.
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I think another team may scoop him up through waivers. Otherwise, he'll likely end up on the Rams' practice squad.
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And Michael Sam has been released.
How many of the other seventh rounders were released?
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All of the Rams' 7th-round picks were either cut (Mitchell Van Dyk, Michael Sam, Christian Bryant) or put on IR (Demetrius Rhaney).
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A couple other notes of interest: Champ Bailey is cut by the Saints after just signing in April. His career is likely over. James Harrison is retiring. Stephen Hill is officially a bust. And although his cut actually occurred last week, I'll also mention that my Cardinals cut Jay Feely. That was surprising. He was still making about 84% of his kicks last season and I don't quite understand going with a rookie over him.
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Catanzaro is cheaper and by all accounts, was better than Feely.
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Actually the decision to go with Catanzaro does bring up 1 interesting question: I'm hearing that a major reason we're going with Catanzaro is because the coaching staff like his kickoffs. How much weight should that be given? His field goal kicking was good during the preseason but I've heard that the Cardinals staff put quite a bit of weight on the kickoffs.
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Yeah, Catanzaro just has a stronger leg than Feely. So you combine his big leg on kickoffs (better chances of touchbacks), his solid preseason kicking field goals and the fact that he's dirt cheap being an undrafted free agent, plus Feely missing a couple kicks as well, and the decision becomes pretty easy.
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How many of the other seventh rounders were released?
To be honest before wildbill mentioned them, I didn't know the other seventh rounders, since the NFL, ESPN, and the mass media wouldn't shut up about Sam.
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To be honest before wildbill mentioned them, I didn't know the other seventh rounders, since the NFL, ESPN, and the mass media wouldn't shut up about Sam.
That has been very annoying. Yeah there have been some late round draft picks that have turned out great. Tom Brady was a 6th round pick. But the majority of late round picks don't amount to much so that much attention on late round pick who hadn't even made a roster yet was incredibly off putting.
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To be honest before wildbill mentioned them, I didn't know the other seventh rounders, since the NFL, ESPN, and the mass media wouldn't shut up about Sam.
But honestly, that's the point. You never hear about any seventh rounders in any other years unless they're last or there's some extra bit about them. This is what happened here. Not only was Sam gay, he was also the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Honestly, if he had never come out, I think the fact he won such an award and went so late would also be a story during draft weekend. But that leads me to my next blurb.
Sam was the first player since 2005 to win the SEC Defensive Player of the Year Award and not be drafted in the first round. It's a shame that his announcement and lackluster combine hurt his draft stock so severely. That's quite a drop from usual 1st or 2nd round pick to 7th.
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It was also more because Sam was seen as a "tweener". What I mean by that is teams weren't sure what his position was going to be. Was he a 3-4 OLB or a 4-3 DE?
I think now, though, it looks like he might be able to settle in as a 4-3 DE, maybe as a situational pass rusher.
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An interesting tidbit of note: This season will mark 20 years since the NFL made its debut on FOX. Back in 1994, the then-new network outbid CBS for the NFC side of the TV deal, and this set off a chain reaction of networks taking packages from other networks in ensuing deals (in addition to several CBS affiliates in cities like Atlanta, Cleveland and Detroit switching to FOX and leaving their former network to find a new home on UHF channels afterwards). In 1998, CBS acquired the AFC side from NBC, which had been the only network to carry that conference's games up to that point. And in 2006, NBC replaced ABC as the primetime broadcast network, moving marquee matchups from Monday nights to Sunday nights. I'm being led to believe that had it not been for that historic moment, there wouldn't be MLB, NASCAR or any other sporting events on FOX, not to mention no FOX Sports channel for cable/satellite subscribers. And it would be downright impossible to think back to the first FOX broadcasts and not imagine John Madden and the late Pat Summerall calling the action. The rest, as they say, is history.
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1 of the earliest games I remember seeing on Fox was when Joe Montana, playing for the Chiefs, beat Steve Young and the eventual Super Bowl 29 Champion 49ers. I do have 1 curiosity about football on television though. In interconfrence games the games air on Fox if the AFC team is the home team and on CBS if the NFC team is at home. It seems to me it should be the other way around. Since Fox is the NFC network and CBS is the AFC network it would make more sense if during interconfrence games Fox would cover those where the NFC team is the home team and CBS to cover those where the AFC team is the home team.
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Yeah, the rule gives the visiting team/conference the broadcast rights.
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How many of the other seventh rounders were released?
A total of 13 seventh-rounders were released, along with 13 sixth-rounders and 4 fifth-rounders.
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Chiefs QB Alex Smith gets a new 4-year/$68 million contract with $45 million in guarantees.
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Christ, why doesn't Goodell just declare the Niners an automatic 0-16 team while he's at it.
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1 of the earliest games I remember seeing on Fox was when Joe Montana, playing for the Chiefs, beat Steve Young and the eventual Super Bowl 29 Champion 49ers. I do have 1 curiosity about football on television though. In interconfrence games the games air on Fox if the AFC team is the home team and on CBS if the NFC team is at home. It seems to me it should be the other way around. Since Fox is the NFC network and CBS is the AFC network it would make more sense if during interconfrence games Fox would cover those where the NFC team is the home team and CBS to cover those where the AFC team is the home team.
I'm not sure exactly why that is, but perhaps it is so the broadcast teams get to visit all 32 stadiums versus just those in their conference.
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1 of the earliest games I remember seeing on Fox was when Joe Montana, playing for the Chiefs, beat Steve Young and the eventual Super Bowl 29 Champion 49ers. I do have 1 curiosity about football on television though. In interconfrence games the games air on Fox if the AFC team is the home team and on CBS if the NFC team is at home. It seems to me it should be the other way around. Since Fox is the NFC network and CBS is the AFC network it would make more sense if during interconfrence games Fox would cover those where the NFC team is the home team and CBS to cover those where the AFC team is the home team.
I'm not sure exactly why that is, but perhaps it is so the broadcast teams get to visit all 32 stadiums versus just those in their conference.
It's actually quite simple. Expounding upon what Bill said, the way the deals work for FOX and CBS is that they cover the away games of the NFC and AFC, respectively. It makes no difference when NFC/AFC teams play other NFC/AFC teams because there will always be an away NFC/AFC team so it doesn't come into play. But when there are interconference games it does. It's because of this rule that CBS gets to cover a Thanksgiving Game in the first place. Although, now, thanks to new flexing rules, Thanksgiving Day will feature all NFC on NFC games for the first time since the merger and CBS will still air one of those games.
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It's actually quite simple. Expounding upon what Bill said, the way the deals work for FOX and CBS is that they cover the away games of the NFC and AFC, respectively. It makes no difference when NFC/AFC teams play other NFC/AFC teams because there will always be an away NFC/AFC team so it doesn't come into play. But when there are interconference games it does. It's because of this rule that CBS gets to cover a Thanksgiving Game in the first place. Although, now, thanks to new flexing rules, Thanksgiving Day will feature all NFC on NFC games for the first time since the merger and CBS will still air one of those games.
With the Thursday games, will it be a CBS Sports production or an NFL Network production on CBS?
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It's actually a mix of both. Talent from both CBS and NFL Network will be featured on the pre-game show, with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms calling the action. The games will be simulcast on CBS and NFL Network.
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I know you all have been waiting ever so patiently for these, so here you go. My NFL predictions for this season. Records, playoff picks and award winners. Have at it.
http://billriccettenfl.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/2014-nfl-season-predictions/
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I most disagree about Jacksonville. I know they're good defensively but I can't see a Chad Henne quarterbacked team winning as many as 7 games. The 3-4 win range seems more likely. And as much as I hate the filthy dirty Saints I can't deny they are a real contender. I agree with all of your division winner picks.
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And here's proof that Saints filthy dirty reputation is true. Warning strong profanity in video.
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Bengals 12-4? Yeah, right, and I'm the Duke of Cambridge.
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Broncos WR Wes Welker is suspended four games for PED. He denies it vehemently.
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Way too generous in the NFC North. The Lions and Vikings will be awful. 7-9 is way too overboard. I have the Lions at 5-11 and the Vikings at 4-12.
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Looks like Michael Sam will be on the Cowboy's practice squad. Adam reports.
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Can't see Cinci at 12-4, not with a Marvin Lewis coached team. And god, he's 2nd longest tenured in the league now, very scary thought (Belichick). If there's any team I'd take away Super Bowls from, it's the 90s Broncos, given the salary cap workarounds, which I find a much more blatant violation of league rules than anything else. Doesn't take away what New Orleans did or New England, but those aren't as title strip worthy.
NFC East:
Eagles, 11-5
Giants, 7-9
Cowboys, 6-10
Redskins, 5-11
NFC North:
Packers, 13-3
Bears, 10-6
Lions, 8-8
Vikings, 3-13
NFC South:
Saints, 13-3 (tiebreaker over GB, due to winning head to head matchup)
Panthers, 8-8
Buccaneers, 5-11
Falcons, 5-11
NFC West:
Seahawks, 12-4
49ers: 10-6 (5 seed over Chicago due to win in head to head)
Cardinals, 9-7
Rams, 5-11
AFC East:
Patriots, 13-3
Dolphins, 9-7
Bills, 5-11
Jets, 4-12
AFC North:
Steelers, 12-4
Ravens, 11-5
Bengals, 9-7
Browns, 2-14
AFC South:
Colts, 11-5
Titans, 9-7
Texans, 6-10
Jaguars, 3-13
AFC West:
Broncos, 12-4
Chargers, 10-6
Chiefs, 6-10
Raiders, 4-12
MVP: Aaron Rodgers
Offensive Player of the Year: Drew Brees
Defensive Player of the Year: Luke Kuechly
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Brandin Cooks
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ryan Shazier
Comeback Player of the Year: Julio Jones
Coach of the Year: Mike McCoy
Playoffs (seeds listed from 1-6):
NFC: New Orleans, Green Bay, Seattle, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Chicago
AFC: New England, Denver, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Baltimore, San Diego
NFC:
Wild Card:
Seattle over Chicago, Philadelphia over San Francisco
Division:
New Orleans over Seattle, Philadelphia over Green Bay
Championship Game:
New Orleans over Philadelphia
AFC:
Wild Card:
San Diego over Pittsburgh, Indianapolis over Baltimore
Division:
New England over San Diego, Denver over Indianapolis
Championship Game:
New England over Denver
Super Bowl:
New England over New Orleans; Brady MVP.
Bonus pick, my survival pool choice for this week: Bears. Especially considering Trestman's offense, this seems like a safe Week 1 pick to a team that isn't in the true upper class of the NFL, so you don't waste a Denver, New England, New Orleans, etc. but darn near close to it, especially considering their opponents.
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I just feel with the way the schedule played out, the Bengals can potentially win 12 games. I get what you're saying, though. Funnily enough, I have them starting 0-1 haha. Gonna be very interesting.
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So we start off with Packers at Seahawks tomorrow night. While this is neither a rivalry nor a historical matchup there have been a couple of notable games between the 2. On January 4th 2004 the teams met in a 2003 NFC wild card game. The game was tied at 27 when regulation ended. After the Seahawks won the coin toss, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselback famously told the referee"We want the ball and we're gonna score.", a boast that could be heard throughout the P.A. system at Lambeau Field. As it turned out, Hasselback would throw a pick 6 that Al Harris would return for a touchdown to give the Packers a 33-27 win. More recently, on September 24th 2012, the Seahawks found themselves trailing the Packers 12-7. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, scrambled to buy time and heaved the ball at the end zone. In a very controversial call, Golden Tate was awarded a game winning touchdown to give the Seahawks a 13-12 win. Many people believed that cornerback M.D. Jennings had intercepted the ball. The play was reviewed and the touchdown stood. The play came to be known as the"fail mary" in reference to the commonly held belief that the refs got it wrong. As for tomorrow, I'm gonna favor the Seahawks. Seattle is such a tough place to play and that crowd will be fired up. The Packers are a quality team but I'm usually going to favor the Seahawks when a game is played in Seattle.
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Ah, it's finally here! Tonight's the night! With all due love to Halloween, New Year's Day, Price is Right season premiere day, the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and any other great days, this day, the opening of the NFL season, this is the most wonderful day of the year! GO NFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have a great 2014 season! :)
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Before we get to my predictions, I want to say 2 things.
One, this is going to be a fun season. As much as i enjoy hockey, basketball, & even baseball, the NFL is still the king of sports.
Two, I made these predictions based off of gut feelings, so they're probably way wide right ;)
My NFC Playoff Seedings:
1. Seattle
2. New Orleans
3. Green Bay
4. Philadelphia
5. Chicago
6. Arizona
I think that the 49ers are due for a down year. Doesn't mean that they'll be terrible, but i think they'll lose a tiebreaker with the Cardinals & miss out on the playoffs altogether.
Also, I just don't see the Saints getting home field through the playoffs. Seattle's a more complete team to get more road wins than New Orleans & they're home field advantage will probably help them run the home slate.
My AFC Playoff Seedings:
1. New England
2. Denver
3. Indy
4. Baltimore
5. Pittsburgh
6. Houston
In contrast to the 49ers, I see the Texans bouncing back this year. Heck, I think they could very well win the South, but something about Andrew Luck will lead the Colts to the division crown. Same thing goes for the Steelers and Ravens.
And the AFC home field advantage will come down to Manning vs. Brady & this year, Brady wins it.
NFC Playoffs:
Wild Card:
Green Bay over Arizona
Chicago over Philly
Divisional Round:
Seattle over Chicago
Green Bay over New Orleans
NFC Championship:
Seattle over Green Bay (in symmetry to tonight's opener)
AFC Playoffs:
Wild Card:
Indy over Houston
Baltimore over Pittsburgh (in what would be the game of the playoffs)
Divisional Round:
New England over Baltimore
Indy over Denver (in what would be the upset of the playoffs)
AFC Championship:
New England over Indy (Andrew Luck's luck finally runs out)
Super Bowl XLIX:
Seattle over New England (The Legion of Boom beats Brady & Belichick in Arizona)
And my MVP & OPotY pick: Aaron Rodgers
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I'm not making any predictions on end-of-season records or winners because they usually end up being way off.
I'm nearly perfect on predicting who definitely won't win, though. Super Bowl XLIX will definitely not be won by either Green Bay or San Francisco. And you can quote me on that at the end of the season.
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AFC East: Patriots: As long as Brady and Bellicheck are in New England this division belongs to the Patriots. The Dolphins will be okay but the Bills and Jets are going to suck.
AFC North: Steelers: I think the schedule sets up favorably for the Steelers although I also expect the Ravens to bounce back and have a strong year. The Bengals can't be trusted and the Browns are going to suck.
AFC South: Colts: Luck is now an elite quarterback now and the division is somewhat weak. The Titans might be okay. The Texans I don't expect much from and the Jaguars could be the worst the team in the league.
AFC West: Broncos: Clearly this division is all about Manning and Denver. The Chiefs and Chargers should be decent teams and the Raiders are going to suck.
AFC Wild Card 1: Ravens.
AFC Wild Card 2: Chargers: Rivers got his career back on track last year, and I don't trust the Bengals.
NFC East: Eagles: Foles is ascending rapidly and McCoy is the best running back in the league. The Cowboys are so bad defensively that they will suck and the Giants and Redskins are both kinda wild cards though I expect the Redskins to be better than the Giants.
NFC North: Packers: Rodgers is still elite and the Pack should be in for a great year, I do expect the Bears to be a solid team and the Lions should be decent. The Vikings are going to suck because Cassell sucks.
NFC South: Saints: Drew Brees + an improving defense = a contender. I do think Carolina will be decent. The Falcons won't be much and I'm not on the Bucs bandwagon.
NFC West: Seahawks: Still the favorites in the NFC. I'm very optimistic about my Cardinals and the 49ers should still be strong. The Rams are alright but will suffer from being in such a tough division.
NFC Wild Card 1: Cardinals I'm feeling god about this season baby!.
NFC Wild card 2: 49ers: Still have Kap, Gore, Davis, should still be a playoff team.
Best team to miss out: Bears:
AFC playoffs: BYES: Broncos, Patriots.
Wild Card Games: 3 seed Steelers over 6 seed Chargers and 5 seed Ravens over 4 seed Colts.
Divisional Playoff Round: 1 seed Patriots over 5 seed Ravens. 2 seed Patriots over 3 seed Colts.
AFC Championship Game: Patriots over Broncos.
NFC Playoffs: BYES: Seahawks and Saints.
NFC Wild Card Games: 6 seed 49ers upset 3 seed Packers and 4 seed Eagles over 5 seed Cardinals.
NFC Divisional Playoff round: 1 seed Seahawks over 6 seed 49ers and 2 seed Saints over 4 seed Eagles.
NFC Championship Game: Seahawks over Eagles.
Super Bowl 49: Patriots over Seahawks. Brady finally wins his 4th ring.
GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
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Ah too late to edit but my NFC Championship Game prediction should say Seahawks over Saints.
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I can't wait to watch the Jaguars prove you wrong :p
Matt Cassel isn't that bad a QB, either. Vikings have the potential to surprise people this season.
Nonetheless, let the season commence.
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I'm not making any predictions on end-of-season records or winners because they usually end up being way off.
I'm nearly perfect on predicting who definitely won't win, though. Super Bowl XLIX will definitely not be won by either Green Bay or San Francisco. And you can quote me on that at the end of the season.
Won't be the Lions either. I would bet my house on that.
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I hope the Seadderal Cheathawks choke this year. Or at the very least the refs find the artificial crowd noise generator.
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The 1st points of the NFL season come at 5:56 p.m. AZ time on Steven Hauschka's 35 yard field goal.
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The 1st touchdown of the NFL season is scored by the Packers at 6:10 p.m. AZ time on John Kuhn's 2 yard touchdown run on 2nd and goal from the 2.
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The 1st touchdown of the NFL season is scored by the Packers at 6:10 p.m. AZ time on John Kuhn's 2 yard touchdown run on 2nd and goal from the 2.
Fixed that for you :)
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How come a ball carrier can get away face-masking a defender but not the other way around?
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Some observations about tonight's game.
The Seahawks defense is still fantastic and the Kevin Williams signing was a good 1.
Earl Thomas is the best safety in the NFL but he should not be returning punts.
The Packers shot themselves in the foot with the failed 4th and the numerous bad penalties.
If Percy Harvin can be as effective in the Seahawks offense as he was tonight, it's almost like signing a quality free agent. Harvin missed most of last season so it's like adding a big piece they didn't have last year. With Marshawn Lynch still a great player, the use of Harvin as he was tonight can make the Seahawks a better offensive team this year to go along with that great defense.
All in all what I saw tonight makes me continue to believe the Seahawks will retain their status as kings of the NFC. What I saw from the Seahawks tonight was totally awesome baby!
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Oh man, that was fantastic to watch. Richard Sherman could have put down a chaise lounge and relaxed in it with a martini, and Rodgers still wouldn't have fired a ball to the right side of the field. A healthy Percy Harvin is a gorgeous spectacle to watch, the defense is just fine, and Beast Mode, Wilson, and the offense continue to pound the rock with key throws in the mix as well. The cherry on top: The O-Line looked good and DangeRuss actually had time to throw. Go Hawks! Next up: Cheer on the Cowboys to beat the Santa Clara 40-Whiners.
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The Niners will certainly capitalize on Romo's ability to throw picks.
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I hope the Seadderal Cheathawks choke this year. Or at the very least the refs find the artificial crowd noise generator.
Come on up to the Clink and say that. I dare you. The noise is real and the Seahawks (fixed that for you) have the loudest, proudest, and best fans in the NFL. Go Hawks!
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You can also make a case that the Seahawks have the best home-field advantage in all of the Big Four sports, not just the NFL.
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As for tomorrow's games.
49ers at Cowboys will air in my market at 1:25 p.m. AZ time on Fox. I'm looking forward to this 1. When I 1st became a serious NFL fan in the mid 90s this was the biggest and best rivalry in the NFL at the time. The Cowboys and 49ers met in the NFC Championship Game 3 years in a row from 1992 to 1994 and it came close to happening again in 1995. The rivalry became very intense in those days because in that period from 1992 to 1994 the Cowboys and 49ers were really the only true contenders to win the whole thing and everyone knew it. The Cowboys would beat the 49ers in back to back to NFC Championship games in the 1992 and 1993 seasons and go on to win Super Bowls 27 and 28. then, in the 1994 NFC Championship Game the 49ers got their revenge on the Cowboys and went on to win Super Bowl 29. Remember too that Jerry Jones fired Jimmy Johnson in the off season that followed Super Bowl 28. Of course, the most famous Cowboys-49ers game was the NFC Championship that climaxed with Dwight Clark making "The Catch." as the legend of Joe Montana was born. This matchup obviously isn't what it once was but I will see it as a good rivalry. Perhaps because I 1st became seriously interested in the NFL when this rivalry was at it's climax, there's still something about "49ers VS Cowboys" that still gets my juices flowing no matter the current state of the 2 teams when they meet. That said I like the 49ers in this 1. The Cowboys defense sucks to begin with and the 49ers defense is decimated by injuries and suspensions. It will come down to who outscore the other. Kapernick is obviously better than Romo and with Gore the 49ers have the better running game and Davis is an elite tight end. Dez Bryant and Jason Witten give the Cowboys some weapons but Romo's just as likely to throw a pick as to throw it to them if the game is close late. Gotta pick the 49ers here.
Colts at Broncos full national telecast at 5:30 p.m. AZ time on NBC: Broncos. The Colts are a good team and will put up a good fight but Peyton Manning and the Broncos will be clicking tomorrow night.
Patriots at Dolphins: Available in my market at 10 a.m. AZ time on CBS. Patriots: I respect the Dolphins and think they'll have a good season but as long as Brady and Belicheck are in New England this division belongs to the Patriots and I'm going to favor them in all divisional matchups.
Redskins at Texans: Available in my market at 10 a.m. time on FOX: Redskins. I'm not totally sold on the Redskins but I do think RG3 will be improved and the Redskins and RG3 will benefit from the Deshawn Jackson signing and I don't think the Texans are a very good team.
That's what's available for me to watch tomorrow. (though I do have access to the RedZone channel this year so I'll be able to see snippets and look ins from all the games.) Here are my picks on the other games.
Browns at Steelers: It's unfortunate that the rivalry aspect of this series was somewhat cooled by the Browns 3 year hiatus from the NFL in the late 90s. Nevertheless it's always a hard hitting, intense, physical rivalry and I do enjoy watching this matchup when I do get to see it. Steelers win easily. The Steelers D will have Hoyer on the ground all day long. And the Browns go to Manziel at any point it'll still be the same story. Neither QB is good enough to stand a chance against the Steelers D.
Vikings at Rams: Rams: The Vikings do have the 2nd best running back in the game in Adrian Peterson and they some other good pieces on both sides of the ball. But I'm not a believer in Matt Cassell and that Rams pass rush is strong. Rams pass rush makes the difference here.
Bills at Bears: Bears: I think Jay Cutler will have a good year and the Bears have the best receiving core in the NFL. The defense has some holes but I still expect Manuel to struggle with the hostile environment.
Saints at Falcons: Saints: With Drew Brees and an improving defense the sky's the limit for this year's Saints. The Falcons should be better than last year if they have their receivers healthy but their thin on D and not near good enough to beat a true contender,
Raiders at Jets: Though not a rivalry this is a matchup of 2 of the old AFL teams so it's an interesting matchup for that historical reason. That said these are 2 bad teams and this is scalpers afternoon off New Jersey. I'm just picking the home team to win a matchup of bad teams.
Bengals at Ravens: Ravens: The Ravens are a quality team all around and the Bengals can't be trusted. I say Flacco has a bounce back year and it starts tomorrow. And of course the Ravens are always good on D.
Titans at Chiefs: Chiefs: The Chiefs won't be as good as last year but they're still a decent team and Arrowhead is a tough place to play. Even if the Titans prove to be improved this year I don't think they're ready to win in hostile environment yet.
Panthers at Bucs: Bucs: I'm not on the popular Bucs bandwagon because I'm not sold on their offense but with Cam Newton not 100% I don't like Carolina's chances on the road. The Bucs defense will be able to win this game for them.
Jaguars at Eagles: Eagles blowout. No analysis needed. This is what happens when a contender hosts the worst team in the league,
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Its the mike nugent show so far in Baltimore 5 field goals to give the Bengals a 15-0 lead earl 3rd quarter
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Cam Newton is confirmed out for the Panthers game at the Bucs today.
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Glad i benched him this week in my fantasy league
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I know it's only week one, but I'm kicking myself for taking Andy Dalton over Russell Wilson for my QB on draft day. Whoops.
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It's always a great day when the Saints lose! :)
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I hope Mike Tomlin has a long talk with the Steelers over allowing themselves to fall apart in the 2nd half of that game. They were bloody lucky to salvage a win at the literal last second.
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It's always a great day when the Saints lose! :)
In OT, at that. For Atlanta, Matt Ryan threw for 440 and 3 TDs, passing Steve Bartkowski's franchise record of 154.
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Bengals win 23-16
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The big surprise of the day was the Bills upsetting the Bears in the other OT game of the day. And they looked good doing it too.
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And even more surprising is that the Patriots are in last place for the first time since Brady took over as QB, since the Dolphins, Bills, and Jets won today.
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So did we learn not to overlook teams? And remember, don't overreact to Week 1.
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Dallas looks like contenders for the first pick this year. That team is a garbage fire burning next to an ammo dump with an oil refinery parked right next to it.
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It's always a great day when the Saints lose! :)
Hear hear! I hate the Saints (minus Brees). I especially hate seeing the ugly mug of the caveman known as Rob Ryan.
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Spectator makeup at Dallas reminds me of when the Niners visited the Jets last year: Lots of home fans at the beginning, then mostly Niners Faithful at the end. I saw a photo of the stands at today's game. It was mostly Niners red instead of Cowboys blue.
Dallas has fallen hard since their "America's Team" days.
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Dallas looks like contenders for the first pick this year. That team is a garbage fire burning next to an ammo dump with an oil refinery parked right next to it.
I wonder how many more playoffs the Cowboys need to miss out on before Jerry Jones finally gets out of his bubble and realizes that Romo is not a Super Bowl-caliber QB.
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I wonder how many more playoffs the Cowboys need to miss out on before Jerry Jones finally gets out of his bubble and realizes that Romo is not a Super Bowl-caliber QB.
Or that Romo is not a professional QB.
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Torn meniscus for Jadeveon Clowney. Out 4-6 weeks.
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To me the elephant in the room with regard to the Cowboys is Jerry Jones himself. Maybe he needs to humble himself and move to becoming just an owner and hire football people to make the football decisions. And my condolences to Jadeveon Clowney and his family and teammates on the injury.
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I predicted Clowney would be a bust, but didn't mean literally...
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To me the elephant in the room with regard to the Cowboys is Jerry Jones himself. Maybe he needs to humble himself and move to becoming just an owner and hire football people to make the football decisions. And my condolences to Jadeveon Clowney and his family and teammates on the injury.
I suspect by now Jones has too much pride to admit he's half the problem. All in all, despite a very slow start this afternoon, I think Philadelphia still looks like the team to beat in the division if New York is unable to impress tomorrow night. Meanwhile, liked that a number of games went down to the very end today, even if Pittsburgh made theirs such by stumbling badly, as you want a season to start with a bang, and this did in a lot of ways.
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Peyton Manning has now beaten every team in the NFL at least once! :)
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He joins Brett Favre as the only two QB's to do so.
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So did we learn not to overlook teams? And remember, don't overreact to Week 1.
I was reading an article that suggest perhaps reacting to Week 1 is perhaps called for, but maybe not on a grand scale.
From Don Banks at SI.com:
Take last season, for instance. In 12 of Week 1's 16 games in 2013, the winning team went on to have a better record than the team it beat in that first game, meaning it had real significance in being able to project what was coming. Of the 12 playoff teams from a year ago, eight of them won in Week 1, and two others (Carolina and Green Bay) lost in head-to-head matchups with clubs that were also headed to the postseason (Seattle and San Francisco). The only aberrations with losses to non-playoff opponents were Cincinnati and San Diego.
Ravens waited far too long to get in gear to win against Cincinnati. A shame too since they were looking really good come the 2nd half. Jacoby Jones dropped a sure touchdown in the first half and Steve Smith contributed to a 3-and-out by not catching ball early in the 2nd half. Terrible play when it came to giving Cincy the go-ahead responding TD. It's like the defender didn't even start to run until A.J Green practically passed him and you just can't let that happen. But it's okay, short week and they'll get to 1-1 on Thursday.
Botched hurdle to the face? Sounds hilarious and frightening at the same time.
Dallas looks as bad as they seem on paper? Go figure.
Very fun Week 1 overall. A shame I was out and about for most of it and will be for Week 2. Breaks my heart.
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Falcons' first round pick RT Jake Matthews hurt himself (ankle) in yesterday win vs. New Orleans. Status vs. Cincinnati uncertain.
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He joins Brett Favre as the only two QB's to do so.
Drew Brees has a chance to make it three in November. Nobody else has a real shot of doing it without switching teams, unless Kerry Collins comes out of retirement.
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Drew Brees has a chance to make it three in November. Nobody else has a real shot of doing it without switching teams, unless Kerry Collins comes out of retirement.
November 24 against the Ravens, to be exact. As for Collins, he's 0-5 against the Dolphins.
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Peace out, Ray Rice. The Ravens just terminated his contract.
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And the NFL has suspended him indefinitely.
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Not that any team was going to sign him anyway, but there you go.
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Surprised they haven't done the same thing to Chad Johnson when he assaulted his then-wife.
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Raven Nation is not too pleased. Threats from fans boycotting games to throwing their jerseys on the field at this Thursday's tilt vs. Pittsburgh are circulating. They're discussing it with great passion on WJZ radio in Baltimore (listening to the stream now). Jim Harbaugh will hold a press conference later today in regards to the Rice situation.
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Good riddance to Ray Rice. Goddell really screwed the pooch when he suspended Rice for two games (way too light), and with that second video, I salute the Ravens front office for cutting him. People who do stuff like that don't deserve to be involved with a professional franchise being paid millions of dollars. I believe that's the last we'll ever see of Rice playing professionally.
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The Ravens are hypocrites. They knew this is what happened, yet waited until the video was leaked out to the public before doing anything. Being the same organization that praised a murderer in Ray Lewis, this does not surprise me in the least.
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Jim Harbaugh will hold a press conference later today in regards to the Rice situation.
Should be John Harbaugh, not Jim. Dummy me.
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The Ravens are hypocrites. They knew this is what happened, yet waited until the video was leaked out to the public before doing anything. Being the same organization that praised a murderer in Ray Lewis, this does not surprise me in the least.
Commissioner Roger Goodell is a hypocrite, too. Or at the very least, he's an idiot. Let's review: Ray Lewis got a slap on the wrist for killing somebody, at least six players got suspended for up to a year for smoking weed, Michael Vick got suspended for about 2 years for something involving dogs, and Ray Rice got suspended indefinitely for domestic abuse. I'm still trying to figure out this perverted logic where murder < weed < dogs < wife-beating.
If anything, weed should be the one at the bottom of the list. Anybody who lumps weed in with steroids as "performance-enhancing drugs" clearly doesn't have the first damn clue about drugs. I do because I did my share when I was younger. To quote the late great Robin Williams: "Marijuana enhances many things--colors, flavors, sensations--but you are certainly not f***ing empowered. When you're stoned, you're lucky if you can find your own God-d*** feet."
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My Cardinals play their season opener tonight as the 2nd part of the doubleheader tonight. I feel good about our offense. Carson Palmer should great improvement in the 2nd 1/2 of last season and our receiving core is loaded. Ellington's injury hurts but we can get through it if it's not too long term, especially considering we're going to be a pass 1st team anyway. Defensively I am concerned about our linebackers as that part of the team has been depleted by free agent losses, suspensions, and injuries. But I do like our secondary. I'm confident about our kicking game. The only concern I really have is our linebacker group. Holistically I like our chances.
As for tonight's game, Ryan Matthews will give us problems with our linebackers, but, particularly being at home I like our passing game to pull us through tonight. I see us and the Chargers as fairly evenly matched but I feel good about our chances. As for the early game I love t we Lions in this 1. While being an undisciplined team has caused the Lions to underachieve in recent years, they have some talent, especially with Calvin Johnson. I also think the Golden Tate signing is an underrated signing. Plus the Giants looked horrible throughout the whole preseason, Eli is coming off a terrible year, and everything we've heard indicates the Giants have looked pretty bad at practice. Doubleheader starts at 4 p.m. AZ time on ESPN. GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
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Interesting notes from the inactives list for the Cardinals: Andre Ellington is active, Tyrann Mathieu is inactive. Should be interesting to see how Ellington is used tonight.
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Ellington being active is a huge plus. I hope his versatility is utilized. Get him the ball in space (carries or catches) and he can make things happen. Don't overwork him though. But it would be advisable to involve him early. I'm not too worried about Mathieu being out because I think Patrick Peterson can shut down Keenan Allen.
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The Giants have officially picked up where they left off last season.
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About Ray Lewis: I'm not going to go into all the details of why I have a problem with calling Ray Lewis a "murderer", but I will say while you all slander a man who wasn't convicted of murder, a guy who was actually convicted of causing the death of his teammate, driving drunk three times the speed limit, is eligible to suit up for the Dallas Cowboys by Week 11.
About Ray Rice: Shame on everyone. Shame on the NFL and the Ravens for allowing this to happen. Either they did their investigative work with the same competence of Hong Kong Fooey (and he'd probably do a better job) or they're stupid to think they could save Ray Rice and this video would not get out. Shame on the person who released the video. Whole thing could've been released when it happened and instead they waited until now to do it and probably for a fast buck so they could sell both videos to TMZ instead of just one. Such a failure on everyone's part in handling this and it makes me disappointed for the moment to be a Ravens fan.
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Just because Ray Lewis wasn't convicted of murder doesn't mean he didn't do it. The justice system isn't perfect.
Back to Ray Rice: I'd love to see how Goodell will attempt to talk his way out of this one.
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Just because Ray Lewis wasn't convicted of murder doesn't mean he didn't do it. The justice system isn't perfect.
I agree, but at the same time I can't rush to judgement when I wasn't there, there isn't any surveillance footage, and all I have to go on is weak evidence and witness statements from people at a nightclub. Not exactly a reliable bunch.
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Back to Ray Rice: I'd love to see how Goodell will attempt to talk his way out of this one.
If it costs him his job, then good riddance. He had his chance to show some backbone and he blew it big time.
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I'm thinking the Ravens and Goodell knew about the full video all along. Why the hell would the Ravens be silent about this debacle and Goodell only suspend Rice for two games before the full video was released? I don't get it.
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And of course they add the guidelines when they think it would blow over and grandfather the original offender. Mind-boggling doesn't even begin to describe this.
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Bring on the Falcons
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YES!!!!!!!! CARDINALS WIN!!!!!!!!! TOTALLY AWESOME BABY! Thank You, Carson Palmer for you poise in that 4th quarter allowing us to come back. Thank you, John Brown, for the game winning touchdown. And thank you Larry Foote for saving us with that tip. Great way to start the season by beating a quality opponent. On to New Jersey to face the Giants next week. But for now we're 1-0 and I'm enjoying it! :)
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Well. I'm glad to be supporting the other San. GO NINERS!!!
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I'm thinking the Ravens and Goodell knew about the full video all along. Why the hell would the Ravens be silent about this debacle and Goodell only suspend Rice for two games before the full video was released? I don't get it.
The answer is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Greed.
Greed will be the downfall of the NFL. They are hypocrites, and by they I mean the powers that be who run this multi billion dollar business. I hope this so-called commissioner is forced to resign and will do so in shame.
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I don't understand what greed has to do with this.
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Tonight's the night! The premiere of Thursday Night Football on CBS! And it's Ravens-Steelers! The best rivalry in the NFL! There isn't a game in the series that stands out to me. Instead the nature of the series as a whole is what stands out to me: intense games, close margins, some exciting finishes, and a real hatred of each other. Ravens-Steelers is 1 of those "throw the records out, this is a always a great rivalry" games and has been the best rivalry in the NFL for awhile now. I've been looking forward to tonight since the schedule came out. And I'm also happy to Have Jim Nantz And Phil Simms doing the game as they are 1 of the best broadcasting teams in all of sports. I think the Steelers take this 1 in another tight hard fought game. Can't wait till 5:25 p.m. AZ time! :)
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The Ravens Owen Daniels scores the 1st ever touchdown on the CBS Thursday Night package by catching a 2 yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco at 5:53 p.m. AZ time.
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I'm pretty disappointed in tonight's game. This is a rare case of a Ravens-Steelers game not delivering. The bottom line is that the Steelers didn't hold up their end of the bargain. And man, The Steelers had a very off night after a pretty good day Sunday. On the other hand, the Ravens had a very strong performance after a somewhat disappointing day on Sunday. The bottom line is they're both 1-1.
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Steelers haven't been good since halftime against the Browns. Ugly second half Sunday and ugly overall game tonight. This team may struggle to even reach 7-9 if this keeps up. We also saw how thin the Steelers are at RB and WR, especially with Antonio Brown out for a bit, leaving them with just three WRs available. Defense is a shell of its former self. These certainly aren't your grandfather's Steelers anymore.
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I didn't watch much of the game at all. I find NFL games on Thursday nights to be ridiculous as it's bad for the health of the players and the matchups tend to be poor as both squads are not on full rest. As a Seahawk fan, it's ridiculous that they have to face Arizona and then San Francisco four days later on Thanksgiving. I hope that this Thursday night football experiment ends soon. It just doesn't work.
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I was originally in favor of Thursday Night Games because they shortened the wait between Monday and Sunday but even I have to admit it's not working due to lack of preparation and recovery time. I had hoped having mostly divisional matchups would help but instead it seems that it's going to damage some of our great rivalries. Even Nantz and Simms talked tonight about how hard Ben had found the short week to be and it showed. It was better when Thursday was limited to opening day and Thanksgiving, We should go back to that. it's been tried and it doesn't work.
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Too much of a good thing can turn out to be a bad thing.
Thursday Night Football is an example of this. Oversaturation is not good for the sport.
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I had to shut it off at halftime. It was just not a good game, plus I had to get up very early Friday morning. Having games run until midnight is not a good idea for the Eastern time zone.
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I didn't see it at all because I had to be at work way early.
Atlanta LT Jake Matthews is out (ankle) vs. Cincinnati on Sunday.
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Having games run until midnight is not a good idea for the Eastern time zone.
I don't think it's so much this problem as it is no one has the time to stay up that late twice.
Monday Night Football has been running for over 40 years now and people still buck up and watch it. But after they've already done it once (and really twice because SNF bleeds into Monday sometimes), it's difficult to ask of people to do it again.
(http://territrespicio.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/SweetBrown.jpg)
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Too much of a good thing can turn out to be a bad thing.
Thursday Night Football is an example of this. Oversaturation is not good for the sport.
I totally agree on this. However, there's always the option to DVR the game so you can watch what you missed. Of course, you run the risk of the outcome being spoiled, thus ruining your plan.
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Reports from Chicago are that Marshall and Jeffery are both questionable for Sunday night's game in Santa Clara, and current WR3 Josh Morgan is doubtful. Santonio Holmes is currently the only other WR on the roster.
Also, left guard Matt Slauson, center Roberto Garza, and fullback Tony Fiammetta are all out. This could be a *long* night for the Bears faithful.
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I'd bet both Marshall and Jeffery play Sunday night.
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The black eye against the NFL gets even blacker.
Vikings RB Adrian Peterson indicted on charges of negligent injury of a child. The Vikings have deactivated him for Sunday's game against New England.
http://houston.cbslocal.com/2014/09/12/exclusive-details-on-adrian-peterson-indictment-charges/
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I thought all the PED suspensions were bad...
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Welp, there goes my fantasy season with AP gone. But to be serious here, what a vile individual AP is for doing horrific deeds to his kid. I hope the hammer of justice hits AP's head with the strength of Thor wielding it like he does with Mjolnir.
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This remark was totally uncalled for, and you should know why. Think before you post, please.
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This remark was totally uncalled for, and you should know why. Think before you post, please.
I apologize for it. Sometimes my anger gets the best of me.
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I concur, having saw what was there before it got zapped. No child deserves that kind of treatment. It sickens me whenever I hear about it.
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I apologize for it. Sometimes my anger gets the best of me.
If you have anger issues and you think what Adrian Peterson did was okay, I'd hate to be your kid.
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I admit what I said earlier was wildly offensive. No child should be disciplined harshly like Adrian did, especially someone that young. Also for the record, I do not have anger issues. From now on, I will make sure I won't say stupid things like I said earlier.
/Final word on this issue
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AP did turn himself in at 2 am this morning and posted a 15k bond. His mugshot is kind of creepy.
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Tomorrow my Cardinals are at the Giants. I like our chances, I think we have a good team this year, we looked good on Monday, and the Giants sure aren't looking too great. I say my Cardinals go to 2-0.
Patriots at Vikings: Patriots: I just can't see the Patriots starting 0-2 and I still think Tom Brady has something left in the tank. And without Peterson the Vikings won't be able to run the ball. Patriots take this 1.
Dolphins at Bills: Dolphins: This was a rivalry in the 1990s with the most notable game between them being the 1992 AFC Championship Game on 1-17-93 won in Miami by the Bills 29-10 to claim their 3rd straight AFC Championship as Steve Christie hit 5 field goals and the Bills defense was dominant. Then there was the 1995 Wild Card Game on 12-30-95 in which the Bills rushed for a post merger record 382 yards in a 37-22 win as Don Shula's career ended unceremoniously. And there was the 1998 Wild Card Game on 1-2-99 in which the Dolphins forced 5 bills turnovers in a 24-17 win, including Trace Armstrong's forced fumble to end it. Unfortunately this game is also remembered for Andre Reed's unceremonious ejection after bumping an official late in the game. Unfortunately, this is no longer a rivalry due to long down periods for both teams. As for the game tomorrow, I will admit the Bills looked a lot better than I expected last week. But I was a believer in the Dolphins coming into the season and they looked great last wake. I say the pass rush of Cameron Wake bothers E.J. Manuel and Ryan Tannehill does his thing. Dolphins go to 2-0.
Jaguars at Redskins: Redskins blowout. Yes, the Redskins didn't look very good last week. But the bottom line is that they're hosting the worst team in the league. The 2014 Jaguars are like the 1962 Mets, the 1973 76ers, or the 2008 Lions. Redskins cruise in this 1.
Cowboys at Titans: Titans: The Titans looked sharp last week and the Cowboys, both on defense and in terms of Romo, looked every bit as bad last week as I thought they would. Titans should win comfortably here.
Saints at Browns: Saints. As much as I hate the filthy dirty Saints it's just hard to imagine them going 0-2. And after watching the Thursday night game, I think the 2nd 1/2 last week said more about the Steelers than it did about the Browns. Drew Brees has a big day and the Saints defense plays better than last week as Hoyer struggles. Saints win this 1.
Falcons at Bengals: Falcons. The Bengals looked good last week but those Falcons receivers looked unstoppable. The Bengals win last week was more about their defense and I don't seeing them stopping the Falcons receivers.
Lions at Panthers: Lions: Matthew Stafford appears to be in better shape this year and Calvin Johnson is still the best receiver in the NFL. And I don't think Cam Newton is 100%. Lions go to 2-0.
Texans at Raiders: Texans: If nothing else the Texans should be able to win this game on the strength of their defense, especially J.J. Watt. As good as Texans looked defensively last week and as bad as we know the Raiders are I see the Texans putting up a couple of defensive touchdowns in this game.
Jets at Packers: Packers: Don't read too much into the Jets win last week. It was the Raiders. Don't read too much into the Packers loss last week. It was the Seahawks. The Jets are still the Jets and the Packers are still the Packers. Aaron Rodgers has a huge day as the Pack gets on track.
Chiefs at Broncos: Broncos: Though not as intense as both teams rivalries with the Raiders, the Chiefs-Broncos rivalry has had its moments,. By far the most memorable game between them was the classic 1994 game on Monday Night Football in Denevr on 10-17-94. John Elway scored a late rushing touchdown to give Denver a 4 point lead. But Joe Montana led a masterful drive that ended with a game winning touchdown pass to Willie Davis with 8 seconds left. The Classic duel in which Montana 1 upped Elway. Another notable game between them was the 1997 Divisional Round playoff game at Arrowhead stadium on 1-4-98 in which the Broncos upset the heavily favored chiefs 14-10. The Broncos defense shut out the Chiefs in the 2nd 1/2 as this upset eventually led to John Elway getting his 1st ring. As for tomorrow's game it's clear the Chiefs aren't as good as they were last year and the Broncos still have Peyton Manning. Broncos go to 2-0.
Bears at 49ers: 49ers: Though not a rivalry, some significant games have been played between the Bears and the 49ers. There was Gale Sayers 6 touchdown game at Wrigley Field on 12-12-65 on a sloppy, muddy field. And the Bears and 49ers met in 2 NFC Championship games in the 1980s. On 1-6-85 the 49ers shut out the Bears 23-0 to win the 1984 NFC Championship. On 1-8-89 the 49ers beat the Bears 28-3 to win the 1988 NFC Championship in temps of 17 and wind chills of 26 below as Joe Montana was on top of his game. In both seasons, the 49ers would go on to win the Super Bowl. As for tomorrow, the 49ers looked fantastic last week. Yes, it was against the Cowboys, but 49ers really passed the eye test in that game. The Bears look like they have holes and Cutler still isn't clutch. And if it comes to it, the 49ers have more than enough weapons on offense to win a high scoring game.
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Better hope Drew Stanton is ready. Carson Palmer out today.
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I also commend the Panthers (even if this move was to avoid public backlash) for sitting Greg Hardy today.
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Better hope Drew Stanton is ready. Carson Palmer out today.
Didn't know this would be the case when I posted my predicted. But I still hope our defense can carry us today. Giants offense hasn't shown anything great so maybe if it comes to the Cardinals can win a low scoring game. And Stanton looked good at times in preseason. As long as he avoids bad turnovers I think we can win with our defense today.
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I think the NFC East title should be given to the Eagles by default due to the way the other teams are playing today.
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RG3 is an overhyped ragdoll, the Giants' O-line never protects Eli and Tony Romo bombs in clutch situations. Yeah, that seems right.
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RG3 is an overhyped ragdoll, the Giants' O-line never protects Eli and Tony Romo bombs in clutch situations. Yeah, that seems right.
I agree that RG3 is really overrated. He's made of glass, doesn't know how to slide right, and just doesn't make enough good decisions.
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It's going be a rough fantasy football day today. Andy Dalton lost his favorite target (AJ Green), Knowshon Moreno is out, and Adrian Peterson is (rightly) out. Nuts.
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Running/scrambling quarterbacks aren't often successful in the NFL though. Remember Vince Young? And great college quarterbacks don't always become great NFL quarterbacks. Remember Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy? It's not overly shocking that RG3 is now a bust. Granted the injuries are a major factor in why he's now a bust but when you're not a pocket oriented quarterback you open yourself up to a much greater risk of injury.
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After being the NFC Offensive Player of the Week last week, Atlanta QB Matt Ryan is looking like a chump against Cincinnati. He's thrown two interceptions already, one leading to a Bengals touchdown.
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Giants keep finding ways to lose games.
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Same old Lions....
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Welp it's official. Giants are 0-2. It's time to hit the panic button.
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Bills are 2-0 and the Saints are 0-2. Why I love the NFL. Anything is possible.
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My Cardinals are 2-0 baby! :) AND the filthy dirty Saints are 0-2! :) The Bills are obviously far better than I thought they were. Oh and if you're going to complain about not getting the ball enough you'd better catch balls that are thrown to you. (Victor Cruz.)
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Why I love the NFL. Anything is possible.
Except for the Lions being in a Superbowl.
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Matt Ryan throws his third pick to cap off Atlanta's 24-10 loss to Cincinnati.
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My Cardinals are 2-0 baby! :) AND the filthy dirty Saints are 0-2! :) The Bills are obviously far better than I thought they were. Oh and if you're going to complain about not getting the ball enough you'd better catch balls that are thrown to you. (Victor Cruz.)
I understand that the Saints aren't your favourite team, but you don't have to say that they're "filthy dirty" every single time you mention them in your posting. Coming from someone who likes the Saints (among other teams), it gets annoying to see this mentioned again and again, especially when it happened 2 seasons ago.
That said, the Bills are certainly surprising a lot of people right now. I don't see it lasting, but it's good to see the Bills undefeated and leading the AFC East. And the Cardinals are showing why they can possibly surprise people come January.
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I don't see it lasting, but it's good to see the Bills undefeated and leading the AFC East.
Any team other than the Patriots leading the AFC East is welcome news.
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I'm rooting for the Bills to keep it up. A lot of baseball fans are rooting for the Royals to make the playoffs this year because it's been so long since they've had any real success. I feel that way about the Bills.
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A lot of baseball fans are rooting for the Royals to make the playoffs this year because it's been so long since they've had any real success.
Not looking too good for them today considering they're about to go 1-6 for the season against a third division team.
Back on topic, I wouldn't mind seeing the Bills in the playoffs. If memory serves, they have the longest postseason drought after all.
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Not looking too good for them today considering they're about to go 1-6 for the season against a third division team.
Back on topic, I wouldn't mind seeing the Bills in the playoffs. If memory serves, they have the longest postseason drought after all.
1999 was their last playoff appearance. I think you'll recall the Music City Miracle.
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That long ago? Wow, then until they make the playoffs, they'll be known for that game (with the exception of the missed field goal at the end of Super Bowl XXV).
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Wild Card Game on 1-08-00. The Bills never recovered from this. Much like how the Raiders never recovered from the Tuck Rule Game. Sometimes 1 really painful loss sets you back for a long time because you never recover from it.
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Bengals win 24-10 bring on the Titans
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Huge won for the Chargers over the Seahawks today. What a vintage performance from Antonio Gates. Is it just me or does the field in Denver look in bad shape?
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Field didn't look good last week either. Don't know what's up there.
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Way to go, Jets, screwing yourselves out of a game-winning touchdown.
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That 10 second runoff rule needs to be eliminated. That was really unfair to the Bucs. And yes, the Jets did screw themselves out of a game TYING touchdown.
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Oops. :P Yeah, tying, but still...
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They always could've gone for 2 :p
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So early on, I've underestimated the Bills and Panthers and have been disappointed by the Buccaneers, Bears, Jaguars and Saints. Really expected more there. Can't hit them all, I guess. The Saints will bounce back, of course and possibly the Bears, too. But early on, the Bucs and Jags are my big misses, though Jacksonville can change their fortune if they just put Blake Bortles in, but them seem hell-bent on redshirting him this season. Time will tell.
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Apart from the Bills the other team I underestimated was the Texans. And could it possible that we all underestimated the Browns? The team I most overestimated was the Steelers. The Bears will be fine. Going with Chad Henne is asking to suck. About Bortles, why are teams so still so reluctant to play rookie quarterbacks? I mean Ben Rothisberger took the Steelers to the AFC Championship Game as a rookie and Andrew Luck took the Colts to the playoffs as a rookie.
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I have no idea what the Hell I watched tonight, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't football.
I seriously considered muting my TV and looping Yakety Sax over the game at one point.
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Hooray... Santa Clara lost. That takes away some of the sting from the Hawks painful loss in the city on the beach today. Next Sunday is going to be crazy, and you can bet the Seahawks will play angry against the Broncos.
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For every rookie QB that has success, there are three or four others who are pitiful. Remember Jamarcus Russell?
Unless a team is godawful, I'd let the rookie QB sit and learn.
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On that note, I think it's time to bring the point up: if Robert Griffin doesn't start very much improving the next chance he takes the field--which, going by preliminary doctor's reports, now has the potential to be next year at the earliest in the worst case scenario--it may be time to start including him in the conversation of worst draft busts. We'll have to see where he goes from here, but his time is starting to tick now.
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How's this for comeback win? Bears score three TD's in final quarter and upset 49ers in the first-ever regular season game played at the new Levi's Stadium. I'll bet no one saw that coming...
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Vikings have activated Adrian Peterson, showing in their minds child abuse is OK.
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For the Vikings at least, nothing yet from the league.
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Vikings have activated Adrian Peterson, showing in their minds child abuse is OK.
Or perhaps it means that they believe in one of the basic foundations of our legal system--that someone is innocent until proven guilty.
I'm not condoning him or any of the other acts of abuse that have to light recently--in fact, I'm pretty disgusted by the NFL's willingness to cover them up over the years--but let's remember that the court of public opinion is not a court of law, and I'm sure no one here would want to lose their jobs over simply being accused (not convicted) of a crime.
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Ray Rice wasn't convicted either...
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For every rookie QB that has success, there are three or four others who are pitiful. Remember Jamarcus Russell?
Unless a team is godawful, I'd let the rookie QB sit and learn.
The Jaguars are that awful that they might as well give Bortles a chance. He could be the very thing they need to lift them out of that awfulness.
And while I'm here, I like the Colts tonight. I still like the Eagles to win the NFC East but the Colts are at home their crowd will be pumped up for the home opener. Plus the Colts will be the more desperate team since they are coming off a loss and need to win to avoid an 0-2 start. Both teams will win their divisions but the I like the Colts to win tonight's game.
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How about those Eagles? Flying right into those penalties.
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Peterson admitted to doing it; he just denied "child abuse". The Vikings are scumbags for allowing him to play after this.
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The Eagles become the 1st team in NFL history to start 2-0 after training by at least 14 points in both of their 1st 2 games in the 2nd 1/2. The Eagles looked sharp in the 2nd 1/2 and Foles played well. The Colts did get screwed with the horse collar tackle that wasn't. But the Eagles did earn this win.
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I actually think Foles was off his game. Missed some wide open receivers way too often. That was definitely an ugly win, but a win nonetheless. And now the Colts are 0-2. Luckily the AFC is still pretty weak, so they're certainly not out of it by any stretch.
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While I appreciate this win as a hardcore Philly fan, I do, in concordance with the above notation, feel a bit guilty deep down that it had to come in part from the officials messing up several calls that should in fairness have gone in Indy's favor. I want cleanly called games, perhaps more than wins even in the interest of universal fairness. Hopefully it will at least lead to a better interpretation of the rules going forward so others aren't similarly hurt. But again, as also noted, give Philly much credit for again refusing to give up in the crunch (Rocky's spirit infusing his hometown team?), and working hard to earn the win nonetheless. Indy will bounce back in due time, let us not worry about that (and take note that as a nonconference game, this at least will affect their playoff standing less); as they showed, they're far too talented and intelligent not to.
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Well the Colts are 2 games behind the Texans and 1 game behind the Titans. Not exactly teams that are going to run away from them.
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The Jaguars are that awful that they might as well give Bortles a chance. He could be the very thing they need to lift them out of that awfulness.
On the other hand, Bortles deserves to not die. It doesn't matter who your QB is when they're sacked ten times in one game.
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Tonight's Buccaneers VS Falcons matchup isn't exactly 1 that gets the juices flowing but my pick is the Falcons. The Falcons have had a great game and a bad game. But the Buccaneers have lost 2 home games against teams with Derek Anderson and Austin Davis playing quarterback against them. If the Buccaneers can't win easy games like that at home you certainly can't expect them to beat Matt Ryan and those great Falcons receivers on the road. And throughout his career Matt Ryan has always played well at home. Gotta pick the Falcons in this 1.
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Tonight's Buccaneers VS Falcons matchup isn't exactly 1 that gets the juices flowing but my pick is the Falcons. The Falcons have had a great game and a bad game. But the Buccaneers have lost 2 home games against teams with Derek Anderson and Austin Davis playing quarterback against them. If the Buccaneers can't win easy games like that at home you certainly can't expect them to beat Matt Ryan and those great Falcons receivers on the road. And throughout his career Matt Ryan has always played well at home. Gotta pick the Falcons in this 1.
I agree... The Bucs train has already derailed and crashed into an ammunition depot. Tonight should be Atlanta sinking the Bucs to the bottom the Marianas trench.
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Bengals beat this Falcons team by 14 are we that good or are the Bucs that bad?
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One word to describe the Bucs so far.
BAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHA.
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Devin Hester just made NFL history getting his 20th career return td passing Deion Sanders who had 19
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Just in case, they may wanna start making Marcus Mariota Buccaneer jerseys.
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The Buccaneers have looked like kindergarteners. And it could be worse. Were it not for a fumble on the 1 the 35 would be a 42. Maiota would help with the 0 part but he doesn't play defense and that's been just as bad for the Buccaneers.
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In their defense, the Bucs are without Gerald McCoy and Mason Foster tonight, two of their best defenders.
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History book writers can set their big pencils down. No record setting shutout today as Tampa Bay scores their first points.
The score is still an astounding 56-7, Atlanta.
Can't say I'm not disappointed.
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If a Touchdown is scored by Atlanta, This'll be the first time since 1989 that a team scores more than 60 points.
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If a Touchdown is scored by Atlanta, This'll be the first time since 1989 that a team scores more than 60 points.
Nope. The Saints scored 62 points off the Colts in 2011.
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Nope. The Saints scored 62 points off the Colts in 2011.
Sorry. Was reading a site and it stated that.
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Even though we know the Buccaneers suck you don't ever expect an NFL game to look as lopsided as tonight's game did. That was Georgia VS Troy in college like.
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The good news is that Tampa Bay scored the last 14 points of the game. Now if only they hadn't given up the first 56... :oldlol: :lol:
Bring on Sunday. It's gotta be better than tonight was.
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Even dating back to last year it seems typical for homestanding teams to have their way on Thursday night games. Not to tonight's extreme of dominance but home teams really seem to win a lot of Thursday night blowouts.
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Home teams are now 13-7 on Thursday night football since the start of 2013. Credit to my Twitter buddy Scott Kacsmar for that stat.
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Vintage Matty Ice. His completion percentage was 87.5, QB rating 155.9. Yeah, it was Tampa Bay, but still. Nice to see Matt Ryan in fine form.
Fun fact: Tampa Bay's very first win overall in their history was a preseason game in 1976 (the first year they came into being as a franchise). The team they beat: The Atlanta Falcons. They went winless in the regular season that year, getting their first regular season win in 1977 against New Orleans, prompting fans to put paper bags over their heads and nicknaming the team "The Ain'ts."
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Even though we know the Buccaneers suck you don't ever expect an NFL game to look as lopsided as tonight's game did. That was Georgia VS Troy in college like.
Perhaps fitting, then, that they mentioned Georgia Tech's 222-0 win over Cumberland College (soon approaching its 100th anniversary in a few years if I'm not mistaken) during the broadcast.
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My Cardinals face the 49ers tomorrow and without Palmer I don't like our chances.
As for other games:
Chargers at Bills: Bills. This is a tough game to pick. I mean, the Bills have been the biggest surprise in the NFL from a positive POV and the Chargers are coming off a win over the Seahawks. I can easily see either team winning this game and it's not going to surprise me 1 way or the other. I'll go with the Bills because the west coast teams tend to struggle with road games on the east coast.
Cowboys at Rams: Cowboys: Murray is leading the league in rushing and the Rams may be stuck with Austin Davis. And it's hard to imagine Hill being 100% even if he can play. I'm going with the Cowboys here.
Redskins at Eagles: Probably the least intense rivalry of all the NFC East matchups. Nevertheless division games do tend to be competitive and the Redskins looked a lot sharper than the Eagles last week. I'm going with the Eagles in part because I don't think we've seen the best of Eagles yet and I sense a better game coming tomorrow.
Texans at Giants: Texans: The Texans have shown to have 1 of the best defenses in the NFL and the Giants offense is every bit as bad as we thought it would be. A blowout here would not be surprising.
Titans at Bengals: Bengals: The Bengals have looked like an elite team so far. I don't think we know what kind of team the Titans are yet but with we've seen so far you have to favor the Bengals here.
Ravens at Browns: Ravens: I don't think we have a great yet for either team but at this point the Ravens get the benefit of the doubt and the Browns don't.
Vikings at Saints: Saints: I would love to see the Vikings sink the filthy dirty Saints to 0-3. But the Saints have shown over the years to be a far better team when playing at home and I think the Matt Cassell we saw last week is more indicative of what he really is than week 1 was.
Packers at Lions: Lions: I just see Stafford and Johnson exploding tomorrow. I'm going with a gut feeling on this 1.
Colts at Jaguars: Colts. Get healthy game for the Colts as they face the worst team in the NFL.
Raiders at Patriots: Patriots: Although the Raiders true "rivalries." are with the Broncos and the Chiefs, there is a certain segment of Raiders fan who hate the Patriots more than other team because of the Tuck Rule Game. That said, Tom Brady is Tom Brady and the Raiders are the Raiders. Expect a blowout here.
Broncos at Seahawks: Seahawks: The much anticipated rematch of Super Bowl 48. Both teams are still elite but until further notice I'm never picking against the Seahawks at home. That "toughest place to play in the NFL" thing is totally legit.
Chiefs at Dolphins: Dolphins: The Chiefs aren't what they were last year and the Dolphins are for real. Got to go with the Dolphins here.
Steelers at Panthers: Panthers: The Panthers have proven strong, especially their defense and the Steelers don't look too great this year.
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There is no freaking way the Giants can be this terrible.
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Steven Tulloch of the Lions has apparently injured himself celebrating a sack. How about learning to act like you've been there before.
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Are the Giants that good or are the Texans have been exposed?
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I have to say it's the latter though the Giants picked up on their miscues earlier in the game.
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The Chargers are certainly for real. Meanwhile the Ravens get a last play field goal to beat the Browns 23-21.
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Bengals win 33-7 bring on the Patriots in 2 weeks. We have our bye next week.
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Looks like Teddy Bridgewater will get his first NFL start come Week 4. Matt Cassel apparently has numerous fractured bones in his foot.
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Yeah baby! My Cardinals are 3-0. What a fantastic 2nd 1/2 from Stanton today! 3-0! :)
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It's just a football game, dude. Calm down and quit screaming. I dunno what's in the water around these parts, but it seems everyone's gotten super passionate about their sports lately...
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*screamy rant*
Dude, it's just football. Chillax.
Funny how history repeats itself, as we've seen in the Super Bowl XLVIII rematch.
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*screamy rant*
Was that necessary? :roll:
It's no surprise the Cardinals are 3-0. They had a strong season last year and they are keeping the momentum going. Then again they did start 4-0 in 2012 and then lost eleven of their remaining twelve games. If they keep this up, there is a chance they can be the home team in the Super Bowl, since the host site this year is the University of Phoenix Stadium.
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Sorry. Just kinda mad at losing to a division rival after gaining an early lead.
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The pure will of Peyton Manning is astounding.
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And there you have it. Seahawks walk off with a Lynch TD in OT.
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The pure will of Peyton Manning couldn't change the result of a coin toss.
But with these two teams, it really comes down to "Whoever wins the coin toss probably wins." Unfortunately, the winners of the coin toss weren't the Broncos. Poor Peyton.
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Bengals are the only undefeated team left in the AFC :)
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What you saw in Seattle today was 2 future Hall of Famers in Peyton Manning and Marshawn Lynch getting done in the clutch. That acknowledged, the college overtime rules are far better and fairer. I'd like the NFL to adopt the college overtime rules.
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The Bortles era in Jacksonville has begun.
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The heck is wrong with our city right now? The Niners are 2-1 and the Giants are at risk of missing the playoffs...
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The heck is wrong with our city right now? The Niners are 2-1 and the Giants are at risk of missing the playoffs...
Correction: The Niners are 1-2.
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Bears at Jets tonight. I'm going with the Bears tonight. The Bears put it together in that 2nd half last week and I think they'll be able to carry that momentum into tonight's game. I think Cutler and those great Bears receivers will lead the Bears to a win.
Please don't use numbers in place of words. It's "half", not "1/2" in this case. They confuse some of us. It takes no more effort to type properly. :)
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Minnesota QB Matt Cassel is out in Sunday's game against Atlanta. Teddy Bridgewater will throw for the Vikings.
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Minnesota QB Matt Cassel is out in Sunday's game against Atlanta.
He's out for the whole season.
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Correct. I should have added that.
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Tonight we have the Giants at the Redskins. This is one of the most underrated rivalries in the NFL. It is underrated in part because it is overshadowed by other NFC rivalries. But Wellington Mara himself always said that the Redskins were the Giants truest rival. When you say Giants-Redskins you're talking about two of the most storied and historically significant franchises in the NFL. Amongst the notable games between the Giants and the Redskins is the 11-27-1966 game won by the Redskins 72-41. There were 16 combined touchdowns in the game and 9 of them went for 30 yards or more. The combined 113 points are the most combined points ever scored in an NFL game. Another big one is the 1986 NFC Championship Game on 1-11-1987 in the howling winds of the old Giants stadium. in which the Giants shut out the Redskins 17-0. It was the third straight NFC Championship Game to end in a shutdown and the Giants would go on to win Super Bowl 21 two weeks later. As for tonight's game I like the Redskins. The Giants haven't looked good at all this year. Even in their win last week the Giants didn't really look very good. And the Redskins have been playing good football the last two weeks. Even in that loss last week the Redskins played well. And the game is in Washington. So with the Redskins having looked better than the Giants and the game being in Washington I think all signs are pointing to a Redskins win.
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Here come the G-Men!
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Is it safe to say Elite Manning again? He has thrown four touchdowns (three to Larry Donnell) and ran for one. Thank God the O-line is improved again.
So much for Kirk Cousins being RG3's successor.
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There was a chart put up during the fourth quarter that showed that with this win Eli Manning tied Phil Simms record for most career wins over the Washington Redskins with 14. That was definitely the best the Giants have played all year and it was definitely the best Eli has played all year. And Kirk Cousins played like a kindergartener tonight. 4 interceptions and a lost fumble. That's pretty bad.
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That game was terrible. I don't know how I even watched through most of the third quarter. Redskins are going nowhere.
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Can we please get just one Thursday game that is somewhat competitive? Pretty please? We've had four Thursday games so far and not one of them has been decided by less than 20 points. Maybe next week with Vikings-Packers, but who knows? Especially if Minnesota continues their terrible game-planning.
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Although to be fair, it was the away team this time blowing up the home team.
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And yet a 42 point blowout and a 29 point blowout still beat everything else in t.v. ratings on back-to-back Thursday nights.
Americans love them some football even if it isn't competitive.
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This one kept trying to be competitive, at least. Even though they lost by a ton, the Redskins actually would have put up a good fight if only they could have stopped turning the ball over.
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So much for the commonly held theory that divisional games are always close and competitive.
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Tomorrow's games:
Packers at Bears: I'm going with the Packers here. Aaron Rodgers has had a lot of success in his career against the Bears and Jay Cutler hasn't had much success against the Packers. I also agree with Rodgers assessment that overly worried Packers fans need to relax. The Packers are a good team and I think start getting it together tomorrow.
Bills at Texans: Bills. Both teams came back to earth last week but still believe the Bills are better than we thought they were and I'm not sold on the Texans.
Titans at Colts: The Colts seemed to put it together last week, albeit against the Jaguars. The Titans have not looked good this year and seem to get worse each week. I smell blowout here.
Panthers at Ravens: I don't quite know what to make of either team yet but I give the Ravens the benefit of the doubt here. Also, I think a very motivated Steve Smith torches his old team for a huge receiving day.
Lions at Jets: Lions. Although the Jets have been in every game, they seem to find ways to lose, And I think the Lions are the real deal.
Buccaneers at Steelers: Steelers: The schedule sets up favorably for the Steelers here. Coming off their performance of the season, they get the dreadful Buccaneers at home! I smell blowout here too.
Dolphins VS Raiders in London: Dolphins: Though not a rivalry, the Dolphins and Raiders met in one of the biggest games in NFL history on 12-21-1974. In a divisional round playoff game, the two time defending Super Bowl Champion Dolphins clung to a late 26-21 lead as the Raiders had the ball late. Ken Stabler lobbed the ball into the "Sea of Hands." and Raiders receiver Clarence Davis somehow came away with the ball. This ended the Dolphins dynasty and by so doing set the stage for the Steelers, who won their first Super Bowl in this season, to become the team of the 1970s. The "Sea of Hands" is truly one of the plays of NFL lore. As for tomorrow I'll go with the Dolphins. They haven't looked as good as I thought they would but it's hard to pick the Raiders.
Jaguars at Chargers: Chargers: Even with Bortles the Jaguars aren't in the same as the Chargers. I've felt all along the Chargers would be the real deal this year and nothing I've seen so far dissuades me from that feeling.
Falcons at Vikings: Though clearly not a rivalry, these teams met in one of the most memorable NFC Championship Games of all time in the 1998 NFC Championship Game on 1-17-1998. With Vikings leading 27-20, Gary Anderson missed a 38 yard field goadl with just over two minutes remaining, his first miss all year. On the Falcons ensuing possession, Chris Chandler threw a 19 yard touchdown pass to Terrance Mathis with 49 seconds to tie the game at 27 after Vikings linebacker Dwayne Rudd dropped what would have a game clinching interception on the previous play. In overtime Chandler led a Falcons drive to set up Morten Anderson's game winning 38 yard filed goal to win the Falcons their first ever NFC Championship. This game is sometimes referred to as "Anderson and Anderson." As for this game I like the Vikings. It's a lot easier to believe in the Vikings with Bridgewater than with Cassell and the Flacons haven't been nearly as good on the road this year as they have been at home.
Eagles at 49ers: 49ers: I still think the 49ers are a pretty good team and I say they get themselves off the ground tomorrow. And the Eagles haven't played that well despite being 3-0. I think the Eagles get a wake up call tomorrow. This overcoming deficits to win games is all well and good but if you play with fire long enough you're eventually going to get burned. This falling behind thing has got to catch up to the Eagles at some point.
Saints at Cowboys: Cowboys: The Cowboys have looked better than we expected this year and the Saints have been worse than we expected. Maybe my anti Saints bias is showing here but I say the Cowboys get a home win tomorrow.
Dude, we get that you hate the Saints. We've been over this. Stop calling them "filthy" and "dirty". You can dislike them without the rash generalizations.
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Packers beat the Bears 38-17. What's interesting is that there were no punts on both teams.
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Steelers always play down to their opponents' level and it bit them here. Nice showing for Mike Glennon, too, whom I always felt was better than McCown to begin with.
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When that game got close and late I found myself rooting for the Buccaneers. With some 3-0 teams and both defending conference champions having byes and no rivalries today, I was kinda hoping for something exciting like that to happen. The question is should Glennon become the full time starter? I say yes. I think if the Buccaneers win a few more games the next few weeks they'll go ahead and make that decision. That buccaneers finish today was totally awesome baby! :)
Speaking of better quarterback options, Teddy Bridgewater has led the Vikings on a touchdown drive on their first possession. The touchdown was a rushing touchdown but the Vikings are clearly better offensively with Bridgewater at quarterback.
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Glennon should've started from the get-go. Looking back, Lovie made a big mistake handing McCown the starting job without a competition. He's not as good as his 2013 stats would lead some to believe.
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Glennon should've started from the get-go. Looking back, Lovie made a big mistake handing McCown the starting job without a competition. He's not as good as his 2013 stats would lead some to believe.
This. Exactly. I rarely like naming a starter without competition unless it's the obvious Rogers or Brady type thing.
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Jets fans want Vick, Rex wants Geno. Yup, it's 2012 all over again.
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Right now, Teddy Bridgewater is making the Atlanta defense look like a dog chasing its tail.
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Teddy Bridgewater carted off with an ankle injury :( :( :(
That means, dun dun dunnnnn, Christian Ponder is back as starter.
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My condolences to Teddy Bridgewater, his family, and his teammates.
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Teddy Bridgewater carted off with an ankle injury :( :( :(
That means, dun dun dunnnnn, Christian Ponder is back as starter.
Jesus tap-dancing Christ, could it get any worse this season for my Vikings?
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Update: X-rays were negative, just a sprain. Back on the sidelines.
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The rookie from Louisville made an impression. 317 yards in his NFL debut. No TD passes, but with Atlanta's porous rush defense, he didn't need to throw any.
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The Cardinals and Bengals are the last teams undefeated. Bet you never heard that before in a sentence.
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I hope Bridgewater can come back and play. The Vikings will be a fun team if he can. Meanwhile, while the 49ers played good clutch defense I thought on that 4th and goal the Eagles should have handled the ball off to McCoy and let him try to score the winning touchdown.
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I hope Bridgewater can come back and play. The Vikings will be a fun team if he can. Meanwhile, while the 49ers played good clutch defense I thought on that 4th and goal the Eagles should have handled the ball off to McCoy and let him try to score the winning touchdown.
Teddy looks like he'll be fine, but I wouldn't be surprised if he misses Thursday's game.
McCoy should've gotten the ball on 3rd and Goal, as well. Two plays to get two yards and they don't even give their best offensive weapon a chance. That screen on 2nd and 20 late sure was nice, too.
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Dennis Allen has been fired by the Raiders. That runs the count to seven coaches for the team since their Super Bowl lost.
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The AP has now rescinded this report, saying the rumors have not been confirmed by the AP.
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And the Saints fall to 1-3! :) The Cowboys have really been rolling these last few weeks after the horrible first game.
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And the Saints fall to 1-3! :) The Cowboys have really been rolling these last few weeks after the horrible first game.
It's always good to see the Saints lose as I hate Coach Bountygate and the caveman (Rob Ryan). In other news, I sure hope none of the Seahawks gets hurt on that poor excuse of a field the Washington Potatoes call home in a week from tomorrow. If Goddell is really serious about player safety, he'd force Dan Snyder to replace that "field" with a proper one.
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It's always good to see the Saints lose as I hate Coach Bountygate and the caveman (Rob Ryan). In other news, I sure hope none of the Seahawks gets hurt on that poor excuse of a field the Washington Potatoes call home in a week from tomorrow. If Goddell is really serious about player safety, he'd force Dan Snyder to replace that "field" with a proper one.
It would be great to see the Saints finish 1-15! And while we're on the subject of fields., I know that while CenturyLink Field was being build the Seahawks had to play at the University of Washington for two years. It is my understanding that when this happened, Paul Allen took one look at the artificial turf at the University of Washington, decided that was not a safe playing field, and paid from his own money to have the university's field replaced.
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It would be great to see the Saints finish 1-15! And while we're on the subject of fields., I know that while CenturyLink Field was being build the Seahawks had to play at the University of Washington for two years. It is my understanding that when this happened, Paul Allen took one look at the artificial turf at the University of Washington, decided that was not a safe playing field, and paid from his own money to have the university's field replaced.
That's exactly what happened... Paul Allen is a model owner and Seahawk fans are extremely fortunate that he is caretaker of the team.
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Vikings coach Mike Zimmer assumes that Teddy Bridgewater will play Thursday against Green Bay. Nothing official yet.
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And the Saints fall to 1-3! :) The Cowboys have really been rolling these last few weeks after the horrible first game.
It should be noted, though, that thus far all of Dallas's wins have come against teams currently under .500. Until they can show they can beat someone truly worthwhile, we can't say they've truly stepped forward yet. And rougher roads would appear to lie ahead given they still have Seattle, Arizona, Indianapolis (who I knew would recover from their slow start in the end), and their entire NFC slate yet to come, and a back end of the season that's by majority on the road. Philadelphia should bounce back, perhaps forcefully, once their entire offensive line is back and Foles's apparently injured shoulder, which I suspect was half the problem yesterday at time, heals in full. New York could be a sleeper force if Eli continues adjusting as quickly as he seems to to the new scheme, and if Washington gets any consistency at quarterback, they could be a serious threat.
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Patriots at Chiefs tonight. I'll go with the Patriots tonight. The Chiefs are coming off their best game of the year and Arrowhead is a tough place to play. But I still think the Patriots are a strong team even if last week's win over the Raiders was harder than expected and I have a feeling Tom Brady is going to have a breakout game tonight. On another note the Chiefs all red uniforms look sharp.
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Welp, we're seeing the end of an era, folks. Tom Brady just isn't that terrific anymore. And unfortunately, the rest of the team is leaky as well. With that said, watch them stomp the Bengals next Sunday night :p
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Welp, we're seeing the end of an era, folks. Tom Brady just isn't that terrific anymore. And unfortunately, the rest of the team is leaky as well. With that said, watch them stomp the Bengals next Sunday night :p
Ah boy... Pats what are you doing? Anyway: Had to wait two weeks to say it again but: NINERS WIN! NINERS WIN! NINERS WIN! (In other news I'm somehow 4-0-0 on my fantasy team!)
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I feel a certain tilt of sadness. I've always been a Brady fan. Unfortunately based on his own criteria for when to retire it's time for him to retire. Five AFC Championships and three Super Bowl Championships. Brady is a certain Hall of Famer and the Patriots will certainly retire his number. Sadly, time is like a predator that stalks us all our lives and it has finally caught up to Brady. Father Time is undefeated. :(
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I throughly disagree this is on Brady as a whole, that's a hot sports take. Partly him, yes, and he is in decline, surely, as is Peyton (but with his WR set, you don't see it; his balls are very wobbily, not once what they were). He also has an lack of going to Amendola (but overall spreading the ball well), but you analyze that line and tell me he's getting enough time (he's not), their pass blocking (ahem, Devey, among others-they need to play Stork and Kline, potentially) as well as his wide receiver set. Would any of them start for Denver? I could see Edelman at around a Sanders level, if used with a bit more versatility, but that's it. Gronk is not 100%; Dobson, who certain people think big things of this year, is out. I feel like this is the same story from last year-Brady looked potentially cooked then, and I was saying he was done, but the offense clicked, and had more time to mold. Furthermore, analyze the plays McDaniels has run, tell me they're intelligent. Counting out the Patriots is a very bad idea. Yeah, Brady clearly has lost a step, but it's more a hop than a jump, from what my observations tell me.
Lost in it all is how well, prior to tonight, the defense has played over the season.
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I got hot and spicy :p
Yeah, this is a total team effort. I agree OL has been rough, basically playing Musical Chairs. I don't remember the last time the defense got shredded this bad. It's a shame that Brady took a paycut, yet the Pats continue to struggle developing wide receivers. They've already cut bait on Josh Boyce and as Prizes mentioned, both Thompkins and Dobson were out tonight. And unfortunately, Randy Moss isn't walking through that door anytime soon.
I've also been disappointed by Nate Solder, who looked like he was becoming one of the better left tackles in the league. But he has taken a step back this season. Big test next week against a Bengals team coming off a bye. But it's also been quite some time since New England has lost two straight.
*popcorn*
EDIT: Jay Glazer reporting Dennis Allen fired as head coach of the Raiders, and this time, I believe it because Jay Glazer.
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Indeed. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11615699/dennis-allen-fired-head-coach-oakland-raiders What caught my attention in this article is that in 36 games, Allen's team had losses of 20 points or more 9 times. You might be on the wrong end of a blowout or two in a year but when you're getting blown out in a fourth of the games you play, that's really bad. It was time for him to go. Of course, the Raiders never really recovered from the Tuck Rule Game. Notice how they've sucked ever since then.
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The FCC has voted 5-0 to lift local blackouts on NFL games through free over-the-air TV. The NFL would still be able to negotiate with cable and satellite (ESPN, NFL Network) in regards to games not sold out in specific markets.
The NFL had a 99% sellout rate in 2013 (only two out of 256 games were blacked out). When the blackout rule was first implemented in 1976, the NFL had only a 50% sellout rate.
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his balls are very wobbily
They make medicines for wobbily balls. :-D
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Tonight the NFC North's biggest rivalry takes center stage as the Packers host the Vikings. Although they've played each other in the playoffs a couple times and the Favre VS Packers games were certainly interesting to me the most memorable game of this series is still the "He did what!" game on 11-6-00. As for today's game you have to go with the Packers. The Packers and Rodgers got it going last week, the game is in Green Bay, and Bridgewater's status is uncertain. Even if Bridgewater plays he won't be 100% I LOVE the Packers-Vikings rivalry. It's intense, it's competitive. and the teams clearly share a status as each other's biggest and most hated rivals. Looking forward to tonight! :)
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Packers-Bears would like a word with you on that one. As for Bridgewater, he is out tonight.
Also, speaking of Chicago, they will host the 2015 NFL Draft April 30-May 2 in Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University.
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Maybe they should take the Draft on tour to all the NFL cities over 32 years.
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Maybe they should take the Draft on tour to all the NFL cities over 32 years.
Providing Buffalo still has an NFL team when it's their turn to host.
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The new owner also owns the Buffalo Sabres and I haven't heard of them moving any time soon, so I don't think the Bills are going anywhere anytime soon. I think Buffalo fans are in good shape.
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Minnesota is toast if Ponder is their QB. At this point, I'd play the guy just signed from the practice squad.
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Oh look another TNF blowout.
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Oh look another TNF blowout.
Good news for me! I have three GB players on my so far 4-0 fantasy team. I sense I'm going 5-0!
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They said before the game that Bridgewater could have played had this been a Sunday game. Clearly if Bridgewater were playing this game would be much more competitive. Timing proved a bad break for the Vikings there.
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I currently have 39.88 points but because I'm using the Eagles as my defence (Not GB) I lost a chance at gaining 24 points so yes. I could've had 64 points from this ONE game alone!
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Ok...so...we'll try again next week with Colts-Texans?
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Let's call a spade a spade here. ALL of the Thursday Night games this year have SUCKED! Having CBS produce the games and having divisional matchups hasn't helped as we hoped it would. Well, I suppose we're bound to get lucky one of these weeks, aren't we? *Hopeful nod.*
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The last three games of Thursday Night Football have featured the three largest margins of scores since Thursday Night Football started in 2006.
It's crazy. All the games so far, looked good on paper. PIT/BAL and NYG/WAS are usually guaranteed great, entertaining games. Even this past MIN/GB game sounds like it had potential. And yet, everyone of these have been blowouts, particularly the last three. Absolutely insane.
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29. That's the average margin of victory through five Thursday night games.
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Another Thursday night game, another terrible watch. This failed experiment has got to be taken behind the shed and blown up with a double barrel shotgun. Thursday Night Football is a dumpster fire.
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Another Thursday night game, another terrible watch. This failed experiment has got to be taken behind the shed and blown up with a double barrel shotgun. Thursday Night Football is a dumpster fire.
This. Exactly. Thursday Night Football has proven a failure. Were it my call, effective starting in 2015, Thursday games would be limited to opening night and Thanksgiving.
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Or, at the very least, relegated back to digital cable where people can go back to simply not caring about them.
People are tuning in in droves, though, so I'd hardly call it a "failure"...if anything, from a purely business perspective, it's been a massive success.
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My Cardinals face the Broncos in Denver tomorrow. Although the Cardinals have played well in their 3-0 start, you have to favor the Broncos. Always bet on Peyton Manning coming off a bye week. Preparation is a major reason for Manning's success. Few players study the game more or in more detail than Manning. I hope my Cardinals can pull a win but I'm not expecting it.
Bears at Panthers: Bears. The Panthers have come back to earth after their 2-0 start and the Bears have looked reasonably good this year. (Don't overact to last week, the Packers are a specific opponent that gives the Bears problems.)
Browns at Titans: Browns. The Browns have been in every game and the Titans have been terrible.
Falcons at Giants: Giants: The Falcons aren't as good on the road as they are at home and the Giants really have gotten it going these last two weeks. Plus Eli is hot right now and the Falcons are a weak defensive team. I like the Giants in this one.
Buccaneers at Saints: Buccaneers: The Bucs are so much better with Mike Glennon and they showed last week they can win on the road at a tough place to play. I think having Glennon in there may well have jumped started the Bucs to a better season. I think the Bucs can the momentum from last week into this week.
Texans at Cowboys: Cowboys: The Cowboys have looked so much better than we thought they were. And it's largely because of their strong line play. The Cowboys have actually drafted wisely in picking lineman high in drafts and now it's starting to pay off. Demarco Murray is still leading the NFL in rushing and Romo has cut down on his turnovers. Even the defense has been better than expected. J.J. Watt may be the best player in the NFL but team wise I'm more sold on the Cowboys and expect the Texans to come back to earth. The Cowboys win this one.
Rams at Eagles: Eagles. The Eagles VS Austin Davis? Easy Eagles win even if they don't have their A game. McCoy needs to get the ball more though. Note to Eagles: You have the best running back in the NFL. So use him.
Bills at Lions: Lions. The Bills came back to earth after that strong start and Manuel has been benched. The Lions are the real deal and Golden Tate has proven a value addition to compliment Stafford and Johnson.
Ravens at Colts. Colts. This looks like a good matchup as both teams have hit their stride and played their best game last week. I'll go with the Colts as they are at home and will be the more desperate team. Luck is an elite quarterback who is starting to get going too. And remember the Colts should really be 3-1 as bad calls doomed them against the Eagles. The Colts are a legit contender and I say they come up big to get over .500 tomorrow.
Steelers at Jaguars; Steelers: Even with Bortles the Jaguars aren't good enough as a team to beat a good team. And last week's loss should have humbled the Steelers and woken them up.
Jets at Chargers: Chargers: The Chargers are the real deal and so is Rivers. The Jets have been competitive in every game and might actually be 2-2 instead of 1-3 were it not for that timeout in Green Bay. But I think the Chargers might a real contender in the AFC this year. I've been really impressed with what I've seen from them.
Chiefs at 49ers: 49ers: Though not a rivalry, the interesting dynamic here is how many 49ers quarterbacks have gone on to play for the Chiefs. Joe Montana. Steve Bono. Elvis Grbac. And now Alex Smith. The most memorable game between these teams had to be the 1994 game in which Joe Montana beat the 49ers 24-17, a strong 49ers team lead by Steve Young and Jerry Rice that would go on to win Super Bowl 29. As for this game, I think the Monday night blowout might well have been more about the Patriots than the Chiefs. I think the Chiefs are a good but not great team, the game is in San Francisco, and I still think the 49ers will be a contender in the NFC.
Bengals at Patriots: Anyone who has watched any of either team this year knows this is going to be a blowout for the Bengals. Dalton having the best year of his career, Green is the best receiver in the AFC, and the Bengals defense has been dominant, Meanwhile the Patriots are a shell of their former selves. They no longer have a good defense and Brady is past his prime. The biggest problem though, is the horrible O line. The O line is the heartbeat of an offense and without that functioning properly, there's no chance of doing anything against a great defensive team like the Bengals.
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Austin Davis really isn't that bad of a quarterback if you watch him. I definitely don't think this will be an easy win for the Eagles. David Molk might struggle again at center against that strong Rams' defensive line.
Steelers always play down to their opponents' level, so don't be surprised if the Jaguars keep this close or even *gasp* pull the upset.
And if you honestly think the Bengals are going to blow out the Patriots, I think you'll be in for a surprise. It's Sunday night at home and the Patriots rarely lose two in a row under Bill Belichick. Did they look bad last week? Yeah, they did. But this is the NFL. It's a week-by-week league. I actually picked the Patriots to win this one because that's how the NFL works.
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Falcons at Giants: Giants: The Falcons aren't as good on the road as they are at home and the Giants really have gotten it going these last two weeks. Plus Eli is hot right now and the Falcons are a weak defensive team. I like the Giants in this one.
Falcons also have three offensive linemen out with injuries (two for the year, one for just this game). Eli Manning will carve them up like Thanksgiving turkey.
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Nice to see the Giants relevant again.
:biggrin: :biggrin:
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Atlanta takes a 20-10 lead and then phones it in the rest of the way. Even during the two-minute warning the offense looked like they just wanted the game to end so they could go home. No spirit whatsoever.
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LOL Titans
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How bout them Cowboys! None of us could have seen a 4-1 team in big D when the season started. The Lions kicking game is the equivalent of the Tigers bullpen. And how about that great Browns comeback! Trailing 28-3 and coming back to win? Totally awesome baby!
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The chokejob of the day goes to the Tennessee Titans, blowing a 28-3 to the Browns nonetheless.
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Peyton Manning has just become the second quarterback in NFL history to throw 500 touchdown passes. He trails Brett Favre by 8 for the all time record. Congratulations Peyton Manning. What a great accomplishment.
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Peyton Manning has just become the second quarterback in NFL history to throw 500 touchdown passes. He trails Brett Favre by 8 for the all time record. Congratulations Peyton Manning. What a great accomplishment.
Yeah, Brett's record is going to fall by the end of this season.
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Try, like, Week 10 :p
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The Jets are the laughing stock of the NFL. This is why:
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I say Manning breaks Favre's record before Halloween. And looking at next week's schedule, the Broncos go to the Jets. I think we all know what that means.
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I love all the people saying Geno Smith is the whole problem with the Jets. Michael Vick may have been worse than Smith was. Plus, who did the Jets have to throw to today? (Besides my boy Jace Amaro :)) The Jets' problems run far deeper than just quarterback.
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The cupboard is indeed bare in Jets ville. No weapons at all. And maybe it's time for Rex Ryan to be shown the door.
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Well, it was an expected loss, but I have a very heavy heart tonight after seeing my Cardinals suffer their first loss of the season. No matter how or when it comes I find the first loss of the season to be one of the most painful every year. Hopefully we can get back on track next week against the Redskins.
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With that said, watch the Patriots stomp the Bengals next Sunday night :p
Heh.
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Man, these Sunday night games are about as tightly contested as the Thursday night games.
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I'm pleasantly shocked by what happened tonight. As someone who has liked the Patriots in the Brady era it's nice to see they still have something in the tank.
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Bengals fall to 3-1 with a 43-17 loss. Bring on the Panthers
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Too bad the Chiefs couldn't get the W today... Oh well. It's time for the Seahawks to shred the Washington Potatoes and throw them in the deep fryer. Go Hawks!
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I don't see why people love Michael Vick so much. Even throwing out the dog murdering, the guy has no arm and poor decision making. He can only run, and that has even diminished a bit as he ages.
Lions show yet again why they are the Lions.
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Calling it right now. Redskins lose by five touchdowns.
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This should indeed be an easy win for the Seahawks. The Seahawks are the best team in the NFC and the Redskins suck. Moreover the Seahawks have a great defense and Cousins has proven in the games he has started he is one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL. And the Redskins are weak defensively too. Lynch should run wild tonight.
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Thought this game was going to be a blowout, but the referee's have a different story.
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Thought this game was going to be a blowout, but the referee's have a different story.
It's worse for me... I lost my fantasy game on that last field goal... (In numbers I lost by 1.70 points!)
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I can't believe Jeff Triplette got the MNF assignment last night. He has got to be the worst ref in the NFL and should be getting the turd game of the week. Oh well, the Hawks still won AND escaped the Potatoes crummy field without any significant injuries (which is a miracle in itself). Next up: At home in front of most of the country hosting DeMarco Murray and the Cowboys fierce rush attack.
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Colts at Texans tonight. Whichever team wins this game is guaranteed to end the week with the division lead in the AFC South. I'm going with the Colts. The Colts have played good football all year and are on a three game winning streak. And Andrew Luck is an elite quarterback. The Texans were a nice little story when they started 3-1 before last week's loss but the Colts are a great team and a legitimate contender in the AFC.
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Another Thursday night game, and I'm picking a Colts blowout. Yes, the Texans defense is okay, but Ryan Fitzpatrick is not a very good QB. Colts destroy the Texans 38-14.
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It's only the start of the second quarter and already its another blowout.
24-0 Colts. And Ty Hilton has 140 receiving yards and counting.
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Maybe because she was so good on College Gameday, the NFL has chosen Katy Perry to perform at the Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show.
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It's only the start of the second quarter and already its another blowout.
Well scratch that.
And Katy Perry? I'll be muting my TV or changing the channel.
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Maybe because she was so good on College Gameday, the NFL has chosen Katy Perry to perform at the Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show.
A link to a picture that sums up my thoughts on that freakshow performing at the halftime show
https://lh3.ggpht.com/-kuu3fqOcdi4/UMUcNxM0mnI/AAAAAAAABwo/MN9sM7-wpqc/s1600/steve-carrell-nooo.gif
Epic fail, NFL. Weird Al should perform instead (his Sports Song would be perfect there).
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#TouchdownforWatt
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Yeah this game has really tightened up.
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Ahh Ryan Fitzpatrick never ceases to choke at all.
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And so the Colts defense shows they can get a big stop with the game on the line.
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Colts pulled it off by the skin of their teeth. TY Hilton did some serious damage with 223 yards & 1 TD giving me lots of help on my Fantasy League.
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And so the Colts defense shows they can get a big stop with the game on the line.
Nah. That was just a classic case of #FitzMagic :p
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Greens out for the Bengals tomorrow
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My Cardinals face the Redskins tomorrow. The Redskins suck this year but our quarterback situation is quite uncertain. If either Carson Palmer or Drew Stanton is able to play we should be able to beat the Redskins comfortably. But if we get stuck having to go with Logan Thomas the Redskins will slaughter us even as bad as they are. That's why I wanted us to pick Aaron Murray last draft instead of wasting a pick on Logan Thomas. Hopefully Carson or Drew will be able to go.
Jaguars at Titans: Scalpers afternoon off. I'll actually go with the Jaguars here. Bortles is bound to get a win sometime, isn't he. And the Titans are reeling right now.
Ravens at Buccaneers: Buccaneers. This is an interesting matchup of two teams that seem to be okay but not better than that. But with Glennon playing and the game in Tampa Bay I'll go with the Buccaneers here.
Broncos at Jets: Broncos. The Broncos are a true contender and the Jets suck. We all know that the Broncos are winning this game and in blowout fashion at that. The only suspense is how many touchdown passes Peyton will throw tomorrow.
Lions at Vikings: Vikings. This is one hardest games to pick tomorrow. Both teams have had their ups and downs this year. But with Bridgewater back and the game in Minnesota I'll go with the Vikings here.
Patriots at Bills: Patriots. This is another one of those "both teams have had their ups and downs this year" games and the winner will have the AFC East lead. I'll go with the Patriots here. The Patriots have dominated the Bills over the years, really got it back together last week, and get more benefit of the doubt than the Bills. And let's call a spade a spade here. The Lions lost that game last week more than the Bills won it. (Yes, Watkins catch was epic but the Lions win that game if they make their field goals.)
Panthers at Bengals: Bengals. I say the Bengals bounce back here. Don't overact to last week. Even with Green sitting out I think the Bengals can win this game with their defense and I don't believe in the Panthers in a big road spot like this. And the Bengals are more comfortable playing in the afternoon.
Steelers at Browns: Browns: I'm kinda going with a hunch here. I don't think we know who the Browns are yet. But the type of win they had last week oozes confidence and momentum in a team. Also remember that, although the Steelers now the Ravens as their biggest rival, from the Browns point of view, Steelers-Browns is still their biggest rivalry game. So the Browns will be up for this game and carrying confidence and momentum at the same time. It's too bad the Browns three year hiatus from the NFL in the late 1990s somewhat cooled this rivalry but it's still a good one.
Packers at Dolphins: Packers. I actually think the Dolphins still may turn out to be an okay team but the Packers are a true contender that's really got it going the last few weeks. Boy, Aaron Rodgers knew what he was talking about when he said Packers fans should just relax and that they would be okay.
Chargers at Raiders: Chargers: This should be a Charger blowout. The Chargers are a true contender in the AFC and neither a coaching change nor burying a football improves the Raiders roster.
Bears at Falcons: Falcons. Matt Ryan and the Falcons are so much better at home than on the road. And we've also seen this year that Jay Cutler still can't be trusted.
Cowboys at Seahawks: Seahawks. While the Cowboys have been a pleasant surprise so far this year, you ALWAYS have to favor the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Cowboys have passed the eye test in their wins but the Seahawks are a true contender and have the best home field advantage in the NFL.
Giants at Eagles: Giants: Although often overshadowed by the Cowboys rivalry games in the NFC East, Eagles-Giants is a fierce and nasty rivalry. By far the most notable game in this series has to be "The Miracle at the Meadowlands." on 11-19-1978. With the Giants leading 17-12, the Giants inexplicably tried to run a play when the could have kneeled down and ran out the clock. The handoff was fumbled and the Eagles Herman Edwards picked it up and ran it in for a touchdown. There have been a number of worthwhile games in this series, too many to mention, but I'd say the best more recent game in the series was the 12-19-2010 game in which the Eagles overcame a 31-10 fourth quarter deficit to beat the Giants 37-31 on Deshawn Jackson's walk off punt return touchdown. As for tomorrow, I'll go with the Giants. The reality of the matter is the Giants are playing better football than the Eagles right now. The Eagles have won ugly in most of their wins this year and Eli and the Giants seem to be on a roll right now.
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Something odd is happening today. Though an all AFC matchup, Patriots-Bills is a Fox game rather than a CBS game. Dunno what's up there but that's strange.
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NFL made that switch two weeks ago. It's part of the new cross-flex between CBS and FOX, allowing some games to potentially be seen by a bigger audience by switching between the stations and games potentially being moved into the 4:25 slot, as well as the Sunday night slot. That's what happened this week with Bears-Falcons.
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Anybody who started Joe Flacco is sure racking in the jackpot. He has thrown for 5 td's and its only the 2nd quarter.
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A huge round of applause for Aaron Rodgers today. That was clutch man!
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A huge round of applause for Aaron Rodgers today. That was clutch man!
Just Aaron being Aaron. R-E-L-A-X.
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A huge round of applause for Aaron Rodgers today. That was clutch man!
The Packers and Rodgers are the opposite of the Lions and Stafford. Green Bay always finds a way to win and the Lions always find a way to shoot themselves in the foot and lose.
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Mike Nugent misses a 36-yard FG and the Bengals and Panthers play to a 37-37 tie.
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Wow. That wasn't a chip shot, but it certainly wasn't a difficult one.
I didn't think the game was over when the Bengals just got into FG range, because being that much fringe still isn't a guarantee, but when that facemask penalty followed and tacked on an extra 15 yards, I thought Cincy had it in the bag.
Wow.
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Honestly I thought Carolina should have gone for it instead of kicking that tying field goal. There were less than three minutes left in overtime so after making that kick the best Carolina could do was tie the game. Panthers should have gone for the win there while they could have.
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Maybe if Jerricho Cotchery had hands... :p
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There's been a lot more ties since the new overtime rules debuted.
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College football has better overtime rules. The college overtime rules are fair in allowing for equal opportunity at possessions and also do not allow for ties. I've long felt that the NFL should adopt the college overtime rules.
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Wow Dallas wow...
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How bout them Cowboys! The Cowboys proved today that they are for real. We now know that the Cowboys aren't just a good story but are a for real good team!
And my Cardinals are 4-1 baby! The Seahawks loss puts us in first place in the NFC West! Love it! Love it! Totally awesome baby! :)
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Atlanta showed they're not that invulnerable at home, losing 27-13 to Chicago.
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Gutted. Darrell Bevell must be fired. His play-calling was atrocious and Seattle did zippo on the offensive front all day. What a sham of a performance.
:-(
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The Giants O-line is crap once again and Cruz is now being carted off with a knee injury. Things have gone from bad to worse for the Giants. :-(
EDIT: Confirmed to be a torn patellar tendon. And goodbye season....
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So we mentioned Patriots-Bills being flexed over the FOX today. Well, it's been announced today that the game between the Titans and Texans in two weeks (October 26) has been flexed to the FOX.
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Whoever does win the NFC East in the end will likely have to be considered a strong candidate to win it all; barring a collapse, whoever finishes second in the division should absolutely get a wild card berth as it looks now. Meanwhile, the big question becomes, can Peyton break the touchdown record in primetime?
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Those Cowboys-Eagles games later this year should be fantastic. And I hope Peyton DOES break the record in primetime. To have it happen on a full national telecast would be totally awesome baby!
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A dang tie guess its technically better then a loss since we remain in first. Bring on the Colts
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NFL made that switch two weeks ago. It's part of the new cross-flex between CBS and FOX, allowing some games to potentially be seen by a bigger audience by switching between the stations and games potentially being moved into the 4:25 slot, as well as the Sunday night slot. That's what happened this week with Bears-Falcons.
Which was unfortunate, because that Cincy/Carolina game meant we missed the entire first quarter.
Although I'm sure there were plenty of people here that were fine with it, since it meant FOX also got to air Green Bay/Miami.
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Quick note on Peyton Manning and the record: If he somehow doesn't break the record next Sunday night, we'll still get a chance to see it done on national TV, as the Broncos play on Thursday night to begin Week 8 against the Chargers, which also happens to be the last Thursday game on CBS. Starting with the Week 9 Saints-Panthers game, Thursday games will just be on NFL Network, save for one of the Saturday games in Week 16 (Eagles-Redskins, Chargers-49ers), which will be on CBS.
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Another TV update:
Seahawks-Panthers will be on CBS at 1:00 ET/10:00 PT next week. I sure hope Nantz/Simms don't get that game (how those two are CBS' #1 crew is mindboggling.) Simms is awful and Nantz is very boring.
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49ers at Rams tonight. Although the Rams have been in every game except week 1, they seem to have an inability to finish games out and the 49ers have shown in their last two games that they can close games out so I'll go with the 49ers here. As for Manning and the record, I think we can safely assume that Peyton Manning will throw 3 touchdown passes or more in 2 games so the bottom line is that everyone will get to see the record and that's going to be great. And the broadcasters? I don't worry about them too much. The much more important thing is production quality. In my opinion the NFL on CBS and the NFL on NBC are better productions than the NFL on Fox.
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49ers take the 700th MNF game 31-17 over the Rams.
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Jets-Patriots on TNF. I'm going with a Patriots blowout. The Jets are awful everywhere, Geno Smith isn't a good QB and he's got no weapons. Tom Brady and the Patriots will cruise to an easy 44-13 victory.
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I'll also predict Geno Smith gets pulled at halftime, and Vick stinks it up as well.
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Jets-Patriots is a good rivalry. It is Boston-New York after all. But I'll call a spade a spade here. There's a better chance of Frosty the Snowman turning up in Arizona in mid July than there is of the Jets beating the Patriots tonight. The Patriots are winning a blowout tonight. We all know that. In fact this could prove to be worse for the Jets than the 2012 Thanksgiving game.
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If the Jets win this game, I'm eating my Eli Manning jersey.
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Well, the Jets may not have won, but they deserve credit for hanging in there until the final play.
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It was much tougher than any of us would have thought but a blocked field goal has the Patriots at 5-2. I don't know what to say about how close this game was.
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Percy Harvin to the Jets for a conditional pick. Not much to say here as my jaw is still stuck on the floor. Go Hawks.
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That conditional pick is a 2015 6th-rounder than can become a 4th
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Apparently, a combination of needing salary cap room to keep Russell Wilson, Harvin's injury prone tendencies, and having had confrontations with coaches and teammates were the reasons for this trade. http://espn.go.com/blog/seattle-seahawks/post/_/id/9370/percy-harvin-became-more-trouble-that-he-was-worth
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They know they can win a Super Bowl without him, anyway. Plus, they like their young receivers, including 2nd-rounder Paul Richardson.
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My Cardinals are at the Raiders tomorrow. Obviously I like our chances. We have a good team and the Raiders suck. Our defense should devour Carr. And I expected a motivated Carson Palmer to want to do well against his old team tomorrow. This should be a win for us.
Falcons at Ravens: Ravens: As the season progresses I think we're learning that the Ravens are a good team and the Falcons are not. And Joe Flacco is on fire right now. I don't know if the Ravens are a true contender but I certainly expect them to win this game.
Titans at Redskins: Redskins. This is a scalpers afternoon off game. Both teams suck. Since the Redskins are at home I'll with them in the Scalpers Afternoon Off Bowl.
Seahawks at Rams: Seahawks: This is a get healthy game for the Seahawks. Coming off a rare home loss, the Seahawks get the break of getting to play the Rams, a team they should trounce. That Seahawks defense should be able to keep the Rams score low and then Wilson and Lynch can do their thing to get the win.
Browns at Jaguars: Browns: Hoyer is actually having a good year and the Jaguars suck.
Bengals at Colts: Colts: This is one of those games that separates true contenders from merely decent teams. The Colts are a true contender and the Bengals are a decent team that isn't good enough to be at contender level.
Vikings at Bills: Bills: Both teams have had their ups and downs this year but the game is in Buffalo and the Bills seem to be playing decent football right now.
Dolphins at Bears: Bears: The Bears are a decent team and the Dolphins have been a disappointment this year.
Saints at Lions: Lions. Stafford and Johnson have a huge day tomorrow! Go Lions!
Panthers at Packers: Packers: This is another case of true contenders separating themselves from decent teams. The Panthers are a decent team but the Packers are a true contender. Rodgers has been the best player in the NFC since his "relax" speech.
Chiefs at Chargers: Chargers: Rivers is an MVP candidate and the Chargers are a true contender. The Chiefs have been in every game this year so I don't expect a blowout but the Chargers are true contenders and I say they get it done again.
Giants at Cowboys: Cowboys: The Giants have had their ups and downs this year but they haven't beaten a quality opponent. And the Cowboys are for real. They won in Seattle, they're on a five game winning streak, and they've passed the eye test glowingly. Hey, Jerry, do you understand now why it's sometimes a good idea to use high draft picks on linemen. And Demarco Murray has had 100 yards rushing in every game. Of course, this a rivalry and anything can happen in rivalry games. I don't expect a blowout as Cowboys-Giants seem to always be competitive no matter what. The most memorable game of this series was the final week of the 1993 regular season when the teams met when the 1 seed in the NFC on the line for both. Emmitt Smith separated his right shoulder in the first half but kept playing. He rushed for 168 yards including 41 on the winning drive in overtime in a 16-13 Cowboys win. The win clinched the 1 seed for the Cowboys en route to winning Super Bowl 28. More recently, the Giants pulled a huge 21-17 upset win over the Cowboys in the 2007 Divisional playoff game en route to winning Super Bowl 42. This is a better rivalry than the more hyped Cowboys-Redskins. And thank goodness for the Redzone channel. Because this game is at the same as the Cardinals game on the same network, it won't air in my market. But Redzone will allow me to get some peeks at it.
49ers at Broncos: Broncos: The 49ers are a good team but the game is in Denver and Peyton Manning is both hot and a man on a mission. Though not a rivalry, the Broncos and 49ers met in one of the more notable Super Bowls in NFL history. On January 28th, 1990, the teams in Super Bowl 24. The 49ers won 55-10 behind Joe Montana's 5 touchdown passes. The 55 points scored by the 49ers remains a Super Bowl record and the 45 point margin remains a Super Bowl record. Well we're going to see history tomorrow night when Peyton Manning breaks Brett Favre's career touchdown pass record.
GO CARDINALS!!! :)
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Falcons at Ravens: Ravens: As the season progresses I think we're learning that the Ravens are a good team and the Falcons are not. And Joe Flacco is on fire right now. I don't know if the Ravens are a true contender but I certainly expect them to win this game.
Having a roller coaster season doesn't exactly qualify as "on fire".
Bengals at Colts: Colts: This is one of those games that separates true contenders from merely decent teams. The Colts are a true contender and the Bengals are a decent team that isn't good enough to be at contender level.
It's a 1:00 start so it's right up the Bengals' alley :p
Hey, Jerry, do you understand now why it's sometimes a good idea to use high draft picks on linemen.
Considering he's done it three of the last four years, yeah, I think he does.
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How bout them Rams. They just beat the Seahawks.
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Atlanta continues to redefine pathetic. Just over 250 yards of total offense in their 29-7 loss to Baltimore. Matt Ryan was sacked five times, once by Terrell Suggs for a safety.
Detroit is about to take the lead on New Orleans with 1:48 left.
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What an adventure the end of that Rams game was. Sammy Watkins with a huge clutch touchdown catch to win the game for the Bills. That was exciting too. And thank you, Lions. It's always a great day when the Saints lose! :)
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Jags get their first win of the season.
Your move Oakland!
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Andrew Luck does it again & this time blanking the Bengals 27-0. Pittsburgh is next, but I feel that will be a tough game for the Colts.
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Reminder to you fantasy nuts: Lions-Falcons next week in London is a 9:30 AM EST start.
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Falcons have the bye week after that. To perpetuate a joke, take the bye week and the points.
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DeMarco Murray has set a new NFL record for most consecutive 100 yard games to start a season with 7. Congratulations DeMarco Murray. It's a great accomplishment!
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My Cardinals are 5-1 baby! It's our best start since 1976. I feel more relived than anything. It would have been humiliating to be the first team to lose to the Raiders and I'm relieved that didn't happen to us. 5-1! :)
And how bout them Cowboys: This is the best team the Cowboys have had since the Aikman, Emmitt, and Deion era. None of us thought after week 1 we'd see the Cowboys go on a 6 game winning streak.
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I feel that Peyton Manning will set the record for most TD passes in his career tonight against the 49ers.
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I see that the Broncos are wearing their navy blue uniforms tonight. Maybe if Peyton Manning does get the record tonight the Broncos should think about going back to navy blue as their main jersey color. Think about it. The Broncos first Super Bowl win came while wearing navy blue and their other Super Bowl win came in a season in which navy blue was their main color (though they wore white in that Super Bowl.) On the other hand the Broncos suffered three blowout losses in Super Bowls while wearing orange. And the Mile High Miracle that the Broncos were on the wrong end of came while wearing orange. If Peyton Manning gets the record tonight you'd really have to say navy blue has been better to the Broncos than orange.
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Peyton has done it!! He has tied Favre's record for most touchdowns with 508. Can he break the record tonight?
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He probably does it on the next drive.
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I'll be shocked if he doesn't break it before the end of the 1st half.
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By the way, I say Orange Julius catches No. 509.
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Manning to Thomas for number 509.
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And so it is. Peyton Manning has thrown his 509th career touchdown pass at 6:42 p.m. AZ time. Peyton Manning now owns the all time career touchdown pass record! :) Congratulations to Peyton Manning on achieving a great record. And congratulations to the Denver Broncos and their fans as well. What a great moment for an organization to have. Peyton Manning is an all time great and keep in mind he'll probably play a few more years as well. The bar for the this record will be set incredibly high. This is a great moment and a great night not just for Broncos fans but for all NFL fans! Totally awesome baby!
*round of applause* :)
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Manning to Thomas for number 509.
Demaryius for those who missed and aren't sure which Thomas :)
But of course, if you missed it, then shame on you :p
BTW, next closest among active QBs in passing TDs is Drew Brees with 374 then Tom Brady with 372.
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Peyton has now 510 passing TD's.
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And Denver now has to also be considered a serious Super Bowl contender, to no real surprise anyway.
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Texans at Steelers tonight. Two middle of the pack teams. But I'll go with the Steelers tonight. The bottom line is the Steelers have a good quarterback and the Texans don't even have a competent quarterback. It's really too bad because there's a lot in the cupboard in Houston if you look at the roster. You'd think a team with Andre Johnson, Arian Foster, and J.J. Watt would be a playoff team. But the Texans won't be because lacking a quarterback is just not a weakness that can be overcome.
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Steelers also have a lot of issues on defense. Do they have the advantage at quarterback? Sure. But that just means Houston will lean heavily on Arian Foster, as they have. Sure, good quarterback play helps, but we've seen cases of a not-so-good QB keep the ship afloat thanks to what's around him (see: Matt Flynn, 2013). So all in all, is Pittsburgh the better team? I'd argue no. I think Houston takes it tonight.
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With all the injuries, I'm guessing the Niners are going to be missing the postseason this year.
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Steelers 30 Texans 23 Final
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Falcons C Peter Konz is out for the year with an injury, making it five offensive linemen out. James Stone, an undrafted rookie from Tennessee who took over for Konz in Sunday's game, faces the daunting task of protecting Matt Ryan in this upcoming Sunday's tilt against Detroit. He'll be dealing with Ndamukong Suh. It's gonna be a looooooooong Sunday.
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And Michael Sam is waived once again.
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Tonight two AFC contenders square off as the Broncos host the Chargers. Although Philip Rivers has had a lot of success against the Broncos in his career, you have to favor the Broncos. The game is in Denver and Peyton Manning is on top of his game right now. And the addition of Ware has helped improve the Broncos defense as well. Although both teams are legitimate contenders to win the AFC this year I'll take the Broncos tonight. Also this is the last Thursday Night Game to be simulcast on CBS. Starting next week these Thursday Night games will be exclusive to the NFL Network.
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The Broncos get the win and Peyton throws 3 more touchdown passes so now stands at 513.
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NOTE: Lions VS Falcons is a full national telecast that comes on at 6:30 a.m. AZ time on Fox. Just be aware of that early game.
My Cardinals face the Eagles tomorrow. This a fantastic matchup of a pair of 5-1 teams. A hard 5-1 for both teams as well. Both teams have found ways to win the close games they've found themselves in. That being said, I don't like our chances to beat the Eagles tomorrow and that's mainly because the Eagles are coming off the bye. In an evenly matched game that extra rest and prep time can be a difference.
Lions VS Falcons in London: Lions. The Falcons aren't playing well right now, are rarely good outside the Georgia Dome and are beat up. Meanwhile I think the way the Lions came back and won last week is the type of win a team can carry momentum of. Expect a big day for Stafford and a dominant day for the Lions defense. Blowout city baby!
Rams at Chiefs: This is an interesting matchup as both teams are coming off unexpected big wins. I'll take the Chiefs here. The Rams pulled off their big win last week via trick plays and that well eventually dries up. The Chiefs win was a more solid type of win and they did on the road. Plus the game is in Kansas City. Arrowhead is a tough place to play on the road and I expect Austin Davis an inexperienced quarterback to struggle with that. Keep in mind too that the Chiefs could easily be 5-1 as they were right there with both the Broncos and 49ers and had a few plays gone differently they could have won both of those games. The Chiefs area better team than the Rams.
Texans at Titans: This is a get healthy game for the Texans. I don't exactly believe in Fitz but the Titans are in even worse shape starting a quarterback who has never started an NFL game before. He won't what's hit him when J.J. Watt Knocks him to the ground.
Vikings at Buccaneers: Vikings. The Bucs have really been laying eggs lately and I think Bridgewater can carry the Vikings in this game,
Seahawks at Panthers: Seahawks: Yes, the Seahawks have been reeling but I still believe in them. Teams that win championships do so for a reason. I just can't imagine the Seahawks losing 3 games in a row. Championship caliber teams bounce back from adversity and that's what I expect the Seahawks to do tomorrow. I am also not a believer in the Panthers.
Ravens at Bengals: Ravens; As the season has progressed the Bengals have looked less like a contender and the Ravens have looked more like a contender. I want to see the Ravens keep it up for a couple more weeks before I consider them a contender but they've shown signs. And I'm convinced now that the Bengals are not a contender.
Dolphins at Jaguars: Dolphins: The Dolphins are a decent team and I think after getting their win last week the Jaguars go back to being the Jaguars.
Bears at Patriots: Patriots: The Patriots haven't lost the Arrowhead debacle. I don't think the Patriots are a contender this year but they're still good enough to beat teams they should beat. And let's call a spade a spade here. The Bears screwed themselves by giving Cutler that big contract. All those weapons and Cutler is still Mediocre.
Bills at Jets: Bills. Going with Orton has proven a good move. And if you think about, Orton has usually won in his career when he's had his chances. No team has ever stuck him for long but he's shown he can win. And the Jets suck.
Raiders at Browns: Browns. we learned last week the Browns aren't that good. But the Raiders suck. I'd give the Raiders a shot here if the game was in Oakland.
Colts at Steelers: Though not a rivalry, the Colts and Steelers met in the greatest AFC Championship games of all time on January 14th, 1996 in the 1995 AFC Championship Game. I refer to this game as "The Forgotten Classic." With the Colts leading 16-13 and facing 3rd and 1 with about 3 minutes left, Steelers safety Willie Williams made a huge tackle on Colts running back Lamont Warren to keep the Colts short of a first down and force a punt. On the Steelers ensuing possession, Bam Morris would score the go ahead touchdown with about a minute and half left to give the Steelers a 20-16 lead. The Colts final possession would come down to the final throw. Jim Harbaugh launched a throw to the end zone. Receiver Aaron Bailey had a real shot at it but couldn't hall it in and the Steelers held on 20-16. I call this game "The Forgotten Classic." because it's not much remembered today despite one of the greatest AFC Championship Games in NFL history. As for tomorrow I'm taking the Colts. The Steelers are a middle of the pack team and the Colts are a true contender in the AFC. Luck should have a field day against that Steelers defense.
Packers at Saints: Packers. Rodgers will keep his recent tear going. Go Packers!
GO CARDINALS!!!! :)
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Atlanta sports talk station 680 "the Fan" says that if the Falcons lose to Detroit (which does appear likely), head coach Mile Smith could be fired.
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The talk of extra rest with the bye has actually been a bit overrated, as teams are just 4-6 immediately following their bye. Both are solid teams and this one can go either way.
You mention the Falcons being beat up, but the Lions are also dealing with injuries. Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush are both inactive today (kinda smart with the Lions' bye next week). Funnily enough, I actually had a dream last night that the final score was 28-24 Falcons. Let's see if that holds true.
One game and you think the Browns are bad just because they lost to the Jaguars? This is the NFL. You have to be unbelievably bad to lose every game and the Jags weren't that bad. I still believe they are a dark horse playoff contender in 2015.
Other than that, I agree for the most part, but who knows what will happen? Oh, and Kyle Orton still isn't that good :p. He'll still be known as the one benched for Tim Tebow.
Anywho, welcome to the halfway mark of the season.
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After staking Atlanta to a 21-0 lead at the half, Matty Ice is turning into Vanilla Ice again. It's 21-10 at the end of the third and Detroit is in striking distance after Ryan throws a pick a Pop Warner player could have gotten.
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Lions win after Prater got a second chance at the GW field goal. Never has a delay of game penalty been more beneficial than ever.
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That was a really awkward way for a game to end but the breaks evened out. Remember, the Falcons should have gotten a pass interference call on the 2 point conversion and the Lions should have gotten another shot. It was also a case where the underdog built a lead but both teams showed their true colors in the second half. John Madden once said that"good teams keep losing teams losing" and that's what happened today.
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I lol'd at Geno Smith. 3 picks and its still the first quarter.
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Vick is in
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Rex Ryan may not be around too much longer.
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LOL what the hell happened to the Bears? I knew they had no chance against the Pats but this is ridiculous.
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I don't know what the rules are, but even though I am in the bears market, I truely hope they switch to a more competitive game.
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So apparently no one wants to win the NFC South this year.
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The NFC South now has no team even at .500 as the Panthers fall to 3-4-1 but will still lead the division going into Thursday's showdown with the Saints.
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The Panthers may well end up winning the NFC South by default. And the Ravens got screwed by the refs on what should have a been a winning touchdown for Steve Smith. The Patriots have looked really good since after the Arrowhead debacle and put up 51 points today. Meanwhile the Buccaneers and Vikings are going to overtime.
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And the overtime lasts all of ten seconds as Austin Sefarian-Jenkins fumbles and Anthony Barr returns it for the game-winning touchdown. It's been that kind of season for the Bucs.
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The NFC South now has no team even at .500 as the Panthers fall to 3-4-1 but will still lead the division going into Thursday's showdown with the Saints.
The Panthers may well end up winning the NFC South by default.
It's funny how they lost to the only team to ever make the playoffs with a losing record, the Seahawks; and IIRC, Seattle won the NFC West with a 7-9 record in 2010.
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It's funny how they lost to the only team to ever make the playoffs with a losing record, the Seahawks; and IIRC, Seattle won the NFC West with a 7-9 record in 2010.
And those Seahawks actually upset the Saints in the playoffs :) Remember, that was the beast quake game.
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Egad, Pittsburgh is wearing their "bumblebee" uniforms.
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How long before Atlanta hires a new head coach? What a pitiful display.
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Luck should have a field day against that Steelers defense.
I'll chalk this up to a slip of the tongue and pretend you meant Big Ben against the Colts defense :p
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I'll chalk this up to a slip of the tongue and pretend you meant Big Ben against the Colts defense :p
Now its both QB's against the defenses because the game is a lot closer than it was.
42-34 Steelers
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Donte Moncrief is a beast and Cortez Allen is yawn.
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51-34, Steelers now. A safety and another Big Ben TD toss has pretty much sealed it. Rothlisberger has thrown for over 500 yards.
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Hell has frozen over.
The Cardinals are tied for the best record in the NFL with the Broncos.
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Don't forget the boys sitting at 6-1, possibly to 7-1 tomorrow.
And thanks, Nick Foles. Great performance.
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Yes 6-1 baby! Thank you John Brown! We had to hold on on that final drive and thank goodness that final play was out of bounds. What a satisfying win over a quality opponent. 6-1 baby! :) Love it. I really hope that the Cowboys win tomorrow night and next week's Cardinals-Cowboys game can be a battle of 1 loss teams. :)
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Quality game, no doubt. But if Foles was just a better thrower...¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Nothing like having a football game stolen away from you on a BS pass interference call. Glad to see refs fall for flopping just as easily in the NFL as they do in the NBA. No place for it, and if a Raven did that, I'd be just as pissed. If that was a push off, then the Seahawks scored a touchdown during the Fail Mary (hint, they didn't).
Oh well, not the first team to be robbed by a bad call and certainly won't be the last.
Ravens missed the playoffs the previous four times the Bengals swept the season series against them. Hopefully, that will not happen this season.
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Ravens were lucky to even have a shot at winning today Dalton had 2 bad turnovers that led to 10 Ravens points then redeemed himself with the td run on 4th and goal.
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Saints beat the Packers 44-23. First time an NFC South team has won in almost two weeks.
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And those Seahawks actually upset the Saints in the playoffs :) Remember, that was the beast quake game.
Ah, the Beast Quake to seal the Saints in the L coffin. I was at my best friend's place watching the game (his dad was with us as well). When Lynch was uncorking that run, my friend and I started yelling, jumping, and screaming like maniacs as we couldn't believe what was happening. The 12th man roar was loud enough it measured on a seismograph close to the stadium. It's easily one of the greatest plays in Seahawks history.
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I don't know what the rules are, but even though I am in the bears market, I truely hope they switch to a more competitive game.
I have no idea why, but apparently Rockford isn't offically a secondary Bears market anymore. If it was, they wouldn't have aired the Panthers-Bengals overtime over the Bears-Falcons game.
On the other hand, what would they have switched to? The Chiefs-Rams and Texans-Titans games were both laughers, which only left the Vikings-Bucs game, which hardly had 'instant classic' written across it.
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Speaking of the Bears, Lamarr Houston is out for season after tearing his right ACL while celebrating a sack. Of course, you really shouldn't be celebrating anything while in the midst of a blowout loss but that's what happened/ http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/11773941/lamarr-houston-chicago-bears-tears-acl-celebrating-sack
Redskins at Cowboys tonight. Gotta go with the Cowboys here. The Redskins are starting Colt McCoy after his decent performance in last week's win over the Titans. While McCoy is certainly better than Cousins, he's not really great and the Cowboys are a much better team. I expect Murray to have another 100+ yard game tonight. Romo is a much better quarterback with the support of a running game and we know how great that O line is. And the Redskins defense isn't very good. I expect a Cowboys tonight.
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The Redskins just pulled off a stunning upset of the Cowboys. This has to be one of the most stunning upsets I've seen in a long time.
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The Redskins just pulled off a stunning upset of the Cowboys. This has to be one of the most stunning upsets I've seen in a long time.
You forgot about the Steelers-Bucs game earlier in the season.
So the Redskins defense finally showed up today.
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It's still the NFL, it's still a division game. Anything can happen in a divisional matchup. Is it surprising? Sure. But let's not pretend this is Jets over Colts level of upset.
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Not all that stunning. Romo got hurt and knocked out of the game, came back still not 100% and couldn't deliver.
I thought they were doomed when Brandon Weeden stepped in, but he actually did well. He probably should've helmed Dallas' final drive before OT. They might've won.
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And Romo did seem to have to argue his way back in to the game for what that's worth. I thought the Redskins would be better with McCoy than they had been with Cousins but I never they would actually threaten to win the game, let alone actually win it.
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Robert Griffin III will start Sunday against the Vikings, his first start since injuring his ankle in Week 2.
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I would have started McCoy against the Vikings. The Redskins have a bye week after the Vikings game so sitting out RG3 for one more week would have gotten him two more weeks before coming back. Especially considering his past I'd be very careful with RG3.
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Tonight, the Panthers battle the Saints in a match of the top two teams in the NFC South, however mediocre they are compared to the rest of the conference. It's the first Thursday night NFL Network game that will not be simulcast on CBS, who's now rolling out the final season of Two and a Half Men.
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Saints are favored but they're 0-4 on the road.
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Saints are favored but they're 0-4 on the road.
It is for this reason that I'm picking the Panthers tonight. Even putting aside my anti Saints bias that bottom line is that the Saints win at home and lose on the road. That's what the Saints do. I'm not a believer in the Panthers but I expect them to win the division by default. This division flat out sucks. Go Panthers tonight.
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It's always a dark day when the Saints win. :(
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Bengals gonna maul the Jaguars Sunday.
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It would at this juncture seem reasonable to assume, but of course anything can happen on any given Sunday.
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My Cardinals face the Cowboys tomorrow. I like the Cards chances here. Romo is far from 100% even if he plays. If I were the Cowboys, I'd sit Romo out of this one. Even if the Cowboys lose and the Eagles win the Cowboys would be only half a game behind the Eagles with both head to heads left. I'd let Romo get some recovery time. Also, the Cardinals defense is built to stop the run. Murray may get his 100 but I don't think he'll go wild on us. Our strength is built to counter their strength. And Carson Palmer is playing well. I say the Cardinals win this one. Obviously a battle of quality teams but I think I would probably favor the Cowboys if Romo was 100%. That's a big deal that he's not.
Buccaneers at Browns: Browns: The Browns are better than we expected and Hoyer has had a decent year. The Buccaneers just aren't very good and if they do play a decent game they have either the one bad break or one bad play that costs them the game. I think the Browns get this one.
Chargers at Dolphins: Chargers: The Chargers are a contender that will get back on track tomorrow and Rovers will have a big day. The Dolphins are a decent team but they're nowhere near the Chargers level. Don't overreact to the Chargers back to back losses, especially since one of them was at Denver. They're a contender and they'll be back on track tomorrow.
Redskins at Vikings: Vikings: Though not a rivalry, this matchup produced a notable NFC Championship Game. The 1987 NFC Championship Game, played on 1-17-1988, saw the Redskins defeated the Vikings 17-10 on Doug Williams game winning 7 yard touchdown pass Gary Cark with 5:08 left. The Vikings got close but Vikings receiver Darrin Nelson dropped a would be game tying touchdown pass from Wade Wilson late when he was hit by Darrell Green. Defense was the true story of the game as the Redskins held the Vikings to 76 yards rushing and recorded 8 sacks by 7 different players. The Redskins would go on to win Super Bowl 22 two weeks later. As for tomorrow, you have to expect RG3 to be rusty after having not played for weeks. And it's hard to envision the Redskins defense having back to back strong weeks. The Vikings defense has been solid most of the year and Bridgewater can do enough to win.
Jets at Chiefs: Chiefs: The Jets flat out suck and the Chiefs are a good team. As noted last week, the Chiefs could easily be a 1 loss team. And I think the Chiefs have actually gotten better as the year has gone along. I expect a Chiefs blowout here.
Eagles at Texans: Eagles: This is one of those games in which the Texans are screwed by being stuck with Fitz. With watt and Foster and Andre Johnson the Texans should be the Eagles equals. And with the game in Houston, I would likely pick the Texans here if they had a competent quarterback. The Eagles still need to get McCoy the ball more. Foles should NEVER have three times more throws than McCoy has carries. But the Eagles catch a break here in getting to face Fitz. The quarterback position is going to keep the Texans out of the playoffs.
Jaguars at Bengals: Bengals blowout. Nothing else needs to be said.
Rams at 49ers: 49ers. Austin Davis, as inexperienced quarterback, struggles with hostile road settings and at the 49ers certainly qualifies as such. I also still believe in the 49ers even though they've had their ups and downs this year. I just think a breakout game is coming and I think tomorrow could be it. The Rams have been a tough out at times this year and did have that big win over the Seahawks a few weeks ago but I don't see them getting a road win like this though I wouldn't be surprised if they kept it close.
Raiders at Seahawks: Seahawks: The Raiders are fairly bad and the Seahawks got back on track last week. At end of the day I still the Seahawks are the favorites to win NFC. This should be a convincing Seahawks win.
Broncos at Patriots: This is the toughest game for to pick. It could go either way. Although the Patriots have looked strong recently, it would be easy to say that they're not on the Broncos level. But Brady is 10-5 VS Manning is his career and the Patriots tend to get up for big games like this. And the game is in New England. I'll pick the Patriots here. Another tendency of the Patriots is to get better as the season progresses and they have certainly done that this year. Logic says take the Broncos but I'm going with the Patriots here. I just kind sense they might pull this off. The Broncos are obviously a contender. The Patriots may be forming into a contender as the season progresses. Having Gronk back is huge. I find this interesting as well. http://www.kpho.com/story/27176349/cbs-5-to-televise-broncos-patriots-game
Ravens at Steelers: Steelers. The best rivalry in the NFL. I really hope we get a better than the first meeting this year. I'll go with the Steelers here. The Steelers performance often tends to be dictated by how motivated they are and how up they are for a game. After how the Ravens humiliated them in week 2, I expect a fired up Steelers team tomorrow night. The Ravens did get screwed last week and I'm still not sure how good they are or aren't but I think the Steelers take this one.
GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
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Being reported that Romo is out today. Hello, Brandon Weeden.
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Bring on the Sanchize!
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RG3 is hardly rusty at all. So far he's 8 for 10 for 112 yards as the Redskins lead 10-0. I really thought he'd be more rusty.
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Vikings are also pretty meh. And the news was reported early in the week that he would start, so I'm sure he had a good amount of first-team reps.
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Bengals sure are blowing out the Jaguars :p
But what the heck happened to the Chargers? From what I read, Rivers was bad today. From 5-1 to 5-4.
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The Jets continue to crumble yet they don't have the worst record in the league.
Meanwhile the Cardinals are on their way to a 7-1 record, the best in the NFL.
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Chargers at Dolphins: Chargers: The Chargers are a contender that will get back on track tomorrow and Rovers will have a big day. The Dolphins are a decent team but they're nowhere near the Chargers level. Don't overreact to the Chargers back to back losses, especially since one of them was at Denver. They're a contender and they'll be back on track tomorrow.
Whoops.
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Aren't they glad the schedule makers gave them Oakland in Week 1?
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Yes! :) My Cardinals go to 7-1 baby! I won't go too crazy since we were playing the Cowboys without Romo but it feels good to win, we're still playing good defense (we held Murray under 100), and Palmer bounced back nicely from that early pick six to have a pretty good day. At 7-1 the Cardinals have the best record in the NFC. Love it! :)
The Chargers did lay an egg. Meanwhile the Bengals are struggling a bit with a team they should be creaming. I think we learned today, even though it looks like they'll hold on win, that the Bengals are not contenders. (Not that I ever thought they were.) If the Bengals were contenders this would have been a massive blowout.
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Or we learned that blowouts don't usually happen when you expect them to. Not every game where the teams are separated by three wins will end in a blowout. I'd like to take you back to last year when Denver played Jacksonville and the spread was between 26-28. The margin of victory was 16. A two-possession game. So let's stop with the assumptions that these "types" of games will always end in a blowout because more often than not, they don't. Another example: Raiders are 0-7 but other than the London game, all their games have been decided by two possessions.
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So it looks like a broken clavicle for Nick Foles and a torn Achilles for DeMeco Ryans. Damn.
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Gee what happened to the Broncos? Like wow.
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It's more about the Patriots than the Broncos. But how on earth are the Rams leading the 49ers. I know that the 49ers aren't as good as the past few years but the Rams are a team I'd expect them to beat pretty comfortably.
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Because teams don't go into games with that kind of mindset. If they do, that's when they get caught and lose. Especially in a divisional game.
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Epic Kaepernick choke
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Epic Kaepernick choke
Didn't like the play call to begin with. Give Gore the ball and let him try to win it there. If you're that close and you have a quality running back, use him.
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So I guess the Seahawks aren't contenders since they're only winning by six, right? :p
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I still think that the Seahawks are the favorites to win the NFC. Remember that I never really considered the Bengals to be contenders to begin with. Also the Raiders have been in most games although they don't have a win. I don't think the Raiders are so bad that failing to blow out them means a team isn't a contender. Meanwhile the Patriots are 5-0 since the Arrowhead debacle and are really establishing themselves as a contender in the AFC.
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Raiders at Seahawks: Seahawks: The Raiders are fairly bad and the Seahawks got back on track last week. At end of the day I still the Seahawks are the favorites to win NFC. This should be a convincing Seahawks win.
That was quick :p
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Just note I love joking around. It's what I do :p Others can attest to that.
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Nick Foles is out for a month with a neck injury.
And that leaves Eli Manning as the only healthy starting QB in the NFC East.
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Specifically his collarbone. He's scheduled for an MRI tomorrow.
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Big Ben is on a tear. He has thrown 11 touchdowns combined in the last two games.
36-17 Steelers. The AFC North is really competitive.
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And we'll see two of those teams Thursday night. Browns vs. Bengals.
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And make it 12 for Big Ben in the last two games as he now has his second straight 6 touchdown game. Big Ben has emerged as an MVP candidate. I loved seeing the nastiness out there tonight too. Go Ravens-Steelers rivalry! :)
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It's nice to still be above .500, but to drop to last in this division, the strongest in the league, might as well be tantamount to falling out of the playoffs. We'll see were things go from here, but it certainly doesn't look good.
All around disappointing game from the Ravens. Defense wasn't on the ball and don't get me started on the offense. Joe Flacco had no real time to air the ball out and he was hardly put in the offensive scheme that works well for him.
Refs were absolutely terrible. Look, I'm a Raven's fan, and everyone knows how hard-nosed this rivalry is, but once you start issuing warnings, it's time to start ejecting players. I don't care what team they're on. None were ejected and it seemed that they lost control of the game in the fourth quarter.
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Giants at Colts tonight. While the Giants have played fairly good football after the bad first two weeks, I have to favor the Colts tonight. The game is in Indy and the Colts are a true contender in the AFC. This matchup was obviously at its height when Peyton was in Indy and this was the Manning bowl but even now it's still a pretty good matchup and I am looking forward to game tonight. I say the Colts take this one.
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Game is at the Meadowlands actually.
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Game is at the Meadowlands actually.
You've right. I just checked on ESPN.com and it is in fact a Giants home game. Dunno how I got that mixed up. This does give the Giants a better chance but I still think that the Colts will win as I'm a believer in the Colts and consider the Colts a contender in the AFC.
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Could be a close one. Thinking something like 28-24 Colts. Eli can move the ball on the Colts defense, but I think Luck does enough to pull it out. Both running games might do well, also.
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Refs were absolutely terrible. Look, I'm a Raven's fan, and everyone knows how hard-nosed this rivalry is, but once you start issuing warnings, it's time to start ejecting players. I don't care what team they're on. None were ejected and it seemed that they lost control of the game in the fourth quarter.
Not too much better at the Monday Night game. They clearly got the challenge flag out.
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Luck is hot and Eli is not.
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This is hardly Eli's fault. The Giants have no pass rush and Eli has no wide receivers who can secure the ball or run their routes correctly. I feel bad for him. I know he's a good QB, but it doesn't help when he has no offense or protection from his o-line. It's just one big Giant mess. They be lucky if they can go 7-9 again but I highly doubt it.
The only bright side this season is that Eli hasn't thrown a lot of interceptions this year.
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The thing is, in spite of their 2 game losing streak, the Cowboys are almost certain to still win the east now. The Redskins have 6 losses, the Giants are too inconsistent to make a run, and the Eagles are without Foles for probably most of the rest of the season. That leaves the Cowboys to win the NFC East. Meanwhile, don't assume the Patriots and Broncos are on an AFC Championship Game collision course. These Colts could well have something to say about it.
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I think Sanchez will be just fine in this offense. If you'd watched Foles this season, he really hasn't played well. His accuracy and decision-making have been poor.
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2015 London games:
Jets vs. Dolphins October 4
Bills vs. Jaguars October 25
Lions vs. Chiefs November 1
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2015 London games:
Jets vs. Dolphins October 4
Bills vs. Jaguars October 25
Lions vs. Chiefs November 1
Worth noting that the Jets and Dolphins game will be the first game with divisional teams facing each other.
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It's really too bad the Chiefs get screwed out of a home game. They have great fans in Kansas City.
Browns at Bengals tonight. This is a surprisingly compelling matchup as Cleveland has been a surprise team this year. This is a critical game in the AFC North and it's a very hard game to predict. I'll take the Browns here. The Browns have been a surprise team and I think they can keep it up. Remember, the Bengals don't play well or do well in night games so that's another reason I favor the Browns here.
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I'd pick the Bengals here, actually, they're better metrically on offense, defense, special teams, and total not to mention weighted numbers.
That said, for fantasy reasons, and by basic (non metric) numbers, I'd think Hoyer will put up better stats than Dalton. Reason being, I have Hoyer ranked 14th, Dalton 19th of QBs to throw over 100 passes this season (there are 34 so far this year). Running back, it isn't close. Everyone's focused so much on DeMarco Murray, but don't sleep on Jeremy Hill, I think he's a really close second to Murray this year, in best RBs this season. Terrance West is a bottom rung back, around the skill level of Eddie Lacy or Knile Davis.
Cleveland has two decent receivers, in Miles Austin (not the star he was, but serviceable) and Taylor Gabriel, both of whom I'd put in my 3rd tier of WRs, slight edge to Austin. Andrew Hawkins is okay for a 3rd WR, Travis Benjamin isn't thrown to a lot, but seems to do good things when he can hang onto the ball, which is rare, as he's only caught 48% of his passes this year, far below league average. Of course, Cincci has AJ Green, but Sanu has been really solid this year, come into his own, and been about as good as New Orleans' Colston.
By receiving, both primary tight ends are terrible, but I'd much rather have Cameron than Gresham. I would like to see, from an offense perspective, more use out of Jim Dray, with a caveat of small sampling possibly being variance, skewing numbers, etc.
Time for the buffets! It's lines time. :)
Cincinnatti has a brilliant offensive line, that is manned by Andre Smith at RT, 2nd in the league in Adjusted Line Yards at 5.54 (Indy's Gosder Cherilus is first, at 5.80)-he's doubtful, so watch for that right side to have less gaps! It's a very good, not great run blocking unit, but pass protection? Gorgeous, 2nd in the league in adjusted sack rate, only behind Denver's. Broncos, well, you can imagine that's not so much the line unit as it is Peyton's quick release, smarts, and frequent audibles. The Browns have a solid pass blocker setup, themselves, in the top 10, barely, in adjusted sack rate, but a very poor run blocking scheme that ranks just ahead of the Raiders, good for 26th in the league.
Now, do the Bengals take advantage of this? Not at all! They run 54% of their carries to the mid/guard area, or up the middle. They have a decent strength there, 12th in the league, but shouldn't be THAT much, given the strength they normally have in Smith. Cleveland has a similar problem, with half (115, of 229) of their rushes coming from the mid/guard range. The Browns are the 5th worst in the league at this position in Adjusted Line Yards, yet they do it anyway. Remarkable! Granted, 50% is actually a lower number, but given your line, how could you do this? Nick McDonald is not your guy.
Now to the other side of the ball, the D-Line:
Cincinnati is only ahead of KC in terms of stopping the run-they are that horrible, using adjusted line yards. As an aside, it's fascinating, KC is best in adjusted sack rate-their line can't stop the run, but it's the best against the pass thus far, this season. Bengals' D-Line is at least slightly, but not much better in adjusted sack rate; 26th, at 4.8%.
Cleveland? Also a horrid run blocking line! 29th in the league, so it's going to be a pound the ground kind of night on both sides! However, a respectable, passable, pass rush, with a 5.8% adjusted sack rate, good for 19th.
In what I understand of defensive lines-I'm offense-oriented so this could be wrong, easily!-, of LDE-LILB-NT-RILB-RDE, or similar variation; so help me god if someone comes out in the 46 (it's Buddy Ryan's, so Rex uses it a lot in Jets schemes). Cleveland is very poor in most areas, aside from RILB Karlos Dansby, who mgl might recognize, I think. He's ranked 2nd in the league this season, behind Tampa's, and former Seahawk, Clinton McDonald in fewest adjusted line yards this season. Bengals? Nobody ranks on their line better than 20th, in adjusted line yards, household name Geno Atkins.
Teams run up the middle (mid/guard) 50% of the time against Cincinnati. As Domata Peko is only the 22nd best NT, by Adjusted Line Yards, that's not a bad idea. There's also an upper 19% of plays that offenses run against the Bengals that are run through an offense's left tackle, to Cincinatti's RDE, Wallace Gilberry. This 19% is 3rd only to the Saints and Lions (21%, 23%). Gilberry isn't great, 21st best by Adjusted Line Yards, but they really should be targeting plays through the right tackle, ranked only 28th in this category.
Teams know Cleveland is poor in the middle, and thus run 64% of the time up the middle against them-which is tied with the Bills for 3rd in the league (Patriots are 2nd with 65%, Ravens first with 68%). This basically enforces what we saw earlier-not only is it common to run up the middle, but the Browns are WEAK there, so it makes it even more reason to do so, and thus, teams are smart and do so. I do find it humorous NE and BAL are first though, why would you do this against Wilfork and Ngata? That seems rather silly to me, but hey, those teams benefit, right?
...so yeah. Bernard and Hill for fantasy points tonight, not much else of interest! Should be close, but Cincinnati should barely edge this out in a slightly below average scoring game. Spread is at -6.5 for the Bengals? Seriously? Don't think it'll be even that big of a margin, I have this like as a 3 to 5 point difference, with a last minute drive to win. 45.5 seems fair for O/U, but I think it's just enough to hit the over, though since it's so good, I'd really not play that for this game.
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The Battle of Ohio... I've got a feeling this is going to be a gritty game. I'm leaning towards the Bengals. Better roster, better coaching, and while the Browns are a scrappy squad, they're missing Jordan Cameron and Josh Gordon. Also, Hoyer has trouble finding the endzone, and if the Bengals running game and Sanu go nuts, the Browns will have a long night. Bengals win by 10.
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By the way, Andrew Hawkins is inactive tonight.
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By the way, Andrew Hawkins is inactive tonight.
As is Gio Bernard, by the way.
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What we've learned from tonight's game:
1. Dalton is not the franchise QB
2. Browns defense is legit
3. Browns are the best team in Cleveland
4. Browns can possibly make the playoffs
Dalton's stats for tonight:
Completion %: 30.3
TD: 0
Int: 3
Passer rating: 2.0
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5. The Bengals suck in night games.
All points posted above are correct. The Browns and Steelers are both 6-3 but they split the head to head. Things are tight in the AFC North. So there is a good team in Cleveland, just not the one we thought.
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The Cleveland Browns are in 2nd place in the division in November. I can't breathe.
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What we've learned from tonight's game:
1. Dalton is not the franchise QB
2. Browns defense is legit
3. Browns are the best team in Cleveland
4. Browns can possibly make the playoffs
5. The Bengals suck in night games.
6. Pick up sticks. Oh, we're not playing that game? Aw.
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My Cardinals face the Rams tomorrow. On paper we should beat the Rams easily but the Rams have already pulled two major upsets this year in beating the Seahawks and winning at the 49ers. Now, my Cardinals are playing good football right now and I do expect us to win. What concerns me is the possibility of us taking this game for granted and looking ahead to the Lions next week. Bruce Arians is one of the best coaches in the NFL and I believe in his ability to have us prepared at all times. But it's the human nature thing. That said, I do think the Cardinals will win tomorrow. GO CARDINALS! :)
Chiefs at Bills: Chiefs. Both teams are 5-3 but the Chiefs 5-3 is more convincing to me. The Chiefs have passed the eye test far netter than the Bills have this year. And the Chiefs also seem to have improved as the season has progressed.
Dolphins at Lions: Lions: The Dolphins have played good football in recent weeks and are coming off their best game of the year. But the game is in Detroit and I've become a bigger and bigger believer in the Lions as the season has progressed. If the playoffs started this week the Lions would have a first round bye. The Lions are a contender and I say they get it done here. Expect a quality game out of this one.
Cowboys VS Jaguars in London: Scalpers afternoon off. Cowboys blowout. Nothing else needs to be said.
Titans at Ravens: Ravens: This is a get healthy game for the Ravens. The Titans rookie quarterback won't know what's hit him when Suggs knocks him to the ground. Flacco doesn't have to have his best his best day for the Ravens to win. They can win this one with defense alone. But if Flacco does have a big day this will be a blowout. Either way, Ravens win.
Steelers at Jets: Though not a rivalry, these teams played a quality 2010 AFC Championship game on 1-23-2011 as the Steelres defeated the Jets 24-19 as Big Ben's conversion on 3rd and 6 to Antonio Brown on the first after the 2 minute warning sealed the AFC Championship for the Steelers. As for tomorrow, Steelers win. Big Ben is rolling and the Jets suck. Yes, theunn Steelers do tend to play to the level of their competition, be that good or bad. But I just can't see the Jets pulling this one out. The cupboard is close to bare in New York and there's a lot of building to be done. It's much bigger than a QB issue. Every facet of the Jets sucks.
Falcons at Buccaneers: Buccaneers: They've both been pretty bad. I'll go with the Buccaneers based on being at home and a motivation for revenge after being humiliated in the previous meeting and the Falcons are beat up.
49ers at Saints: Though not a rivalry, this matchup produced one of the greatest playoff games in NFL history on 1-14-2012 in a 2011 Divisional Round game. The lead would change hands 4 times in a row in the game's final minutes and it culminated in Alex Smith throwing a game winning 14 yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis with 9 seconds left. Ah, it's always a great day when the Saints lose, even more so when they are eliminated. As for tomorrow, I'll take the 49ers. 49ers will be motivated to bounce back after last week and the Saints are weak on defense so Gore should have a big day. Go 49ers!
Broncos at Raiders: The only rivalry on the menu this week. Admittedly, all the Raiders rivalries have been a bit diminished by the Raiders being down for so long but I still enjoy this rivalry. The most notable game in the series is the 1977 AFC Championship Game on 1-1-1978 in which the Broncos defeated the Raiders 20-17 to win their first ever AFC Championship. Another notable game in the series was the 9-26-1988 Monday Night game in which the Raiders overcame a 24-0 halftime deficit to win 30-27 in overtime. This series has seen both blowouts and close competitive games but it's always intense. The Broncos and the Radiers hate each other's guts. It can be argued whether the Chiefs or the Broncos are the Raiders biggest rival but there's no doubt that the Raiders are the Broncos biggest rival. As for tomorrow, the Broncos are winning this game. Peyton is isn't going to let his team lose in a second week in a row when he's got an inferior opponent. I expect Peyton to have a big day tomorrow.
Giants at Seahawks: Seahawks: The Seahawks are a true contender and Seattle is a tough enough place to play as it is. The toughest place to play in the NFL But it's an especially tough place to play if your team isn't playing well and the Giants aren't playing well. And the Giants historically don't play well in Seattle. Remember the 2005 game in which the Giants had 11 false starts? Hardly the road game any team wants to play when it's struggling.
Bears at Packers: Packers: This one is simple. Aaron Rodgers plays well against the Bears and Jay Cutler plays poorly against the Packers. And the game is in Green Bay. Packers take this one.
GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
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Read 'em and weep. Or just read or weep. The choices are yours and yours alone. *Temple Guard jumps out*
BAL, BUF, MIA, DAL, NO, PIT, TB, DEN, ARI, SEA, GB, PHI
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The Jets have built a 17-0 lead over the Steelers as Michael Vick has thrown 2 touchdowns, the second of which came after a Steelers turnover.
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You know it's bad when even the refs feel sorry for the Jets.
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Vick becomes the first quarterback to attain 6,000 rushing yards career-wise.
Atlanta currently leads Tampa Bay, 24-17 in the fourth, but Atlanta's been known to blow leads faster than Johnny Hooker blew $5000 in The Sting. Stay tuned.
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And the Steelers run of sucking against bad teams continues. Certainly didn't expect them to lose, but figured it'd be close. This means the Cleveland Browns lead the AFC North. Wow.
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Dirty play near the end. The Steelers deserved to lose after the refs tried to give it to them.
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This bad habit of the Steelers of playing down to the level of their competition could end up costing the Steelers a shot at a first round bye. Think about it. If the Steelers had beaten the Buccaneers and the Jets they would be right there with the Patriots and Broncos as 2 loss teams. This habit is costing the Steelers dearly.
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Disband the team. Atlanta beats Tampa Bay, 27-17. Their first road win.
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Wow the NFC South sucks right now. The whole division is under .500 and the Falcons are only one game out of first place.
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Ballgame over. Saints lose! Theeeeeee Saints lose! :) It's always a great day when the Saints lose! :)
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Wild game I might add. The pass interference which negated a New Orleans game-winning touchdown and the strip sack leading to the field goal. Wow.
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Wow the NFC South sucks right now. The whole division is under .500 and the Falcons are only one game out of first place.
And currently hold the tiebreaker over the Saints. They meet again in Week 16.
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Much about that OPI call, he looked like he flopped as well. It's becoming more prevalent recently. Wouldn't be surprised if Goodell makes it an unsportsmanlike conduct after the season.
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It was definitely offensive pass interference. No doubt about it.
Also with the NFC South being what it is it is unfortunate that division winners get automatic playoff berths. I say take the top 6 per conference and keep divisions for scheduling purposes only. A less deserving Saints, Falcons, or Panthers team is going to take a slot from a more deserving 49ers, Eagles, or Packers team. If the Saints go to the playoffs as a division winner and a 49ers team with a better record that beat the Saints misses out that would really show the flaw in the system.
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Things like this happen once in a blue moon. Nothing to be upset over.
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Things like this happen once in a blue moon. Nothing to be upset over.
Twice in 5 years (remember the 7-9 division champion Seahawks from 2010?) isn't (or wouldn't be) once in a blue moon. Maybe this is something actually worth looking into. There might be some sort of compromise that rewards winning the division, but also rewards teams with winning records (kind of like the NBA):
Winning your division would guarantee a playoff spot. But if a wildcard team finishes the regular season with a better record than a division winner (or winners), then the wildcard team would leapfrog that division winner (or winners) and have a higher seed in the playoffs. If by chance both wildcard teams finish with better records than a division winner (or winners), then they both would have higher seeding than the division winner (or winners) in question. So hypothetically, a wildcard team could have a 1st round bye if things fell right or both wildcard teams could host the wildcard games instead of being on the road for them.
In brief, records would play into where you're seeded come playoff time more so than winning your division, but winning your division would assure you of a playoff ticket no matter what.
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And the Steelers run of sucking against bad teams continues. Certainly didn't expect them to lose, but figured it'd be close. This means the Cleveland Browns lead the AFC North. Wow.
First time since 1995 that Cleveland has been on top of the AFC North.
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Twice in 5 years (remember the 7-9 division champion Seahawks from 2010?) isn't (or wouldn't be) once in a blue moon. Maybe this is something actually worth looking into. There might be some sort of compromise that rewards winning the division, but also rewards teams with winning records (kind of like the NBA):
Winning your division would guarantee a playoff spot. But if a wildcard team finishes the regular season with a better record than a division winner (or winners), then the wildcard team would leapfrog that division winner (or winners) and have a higher seed in the playoffs. If by chance both wildcard teams finish with better records than a division winner (or winners), then they both would have higher seeding than the division winner (or winners) in question. So hypothetically, a wildcard team could have a 1st round bye if things fell right or both wildcard teams could host the wildcard games instead of being on the road for them.
In brief, records would play into where you're seeded come playoff time more so than winning your division, but winning your division would assure you of a playoff ticket no matter what.
This I can understand, but before 2010, we had never had a losing record make the playoffs. I don't think two times in five years is enough to warrant a drastic change like that, but I can understand giving the better record home-field. NBA does that as well.
First time since 1995 that Cleveland has been on top of the AFC North.
Quite the accomplishment considering the AFC North was non-existent before 2002 :P
But yeah, just amazing that Cleveland leads the division this late in this season.
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First time since 1995 that Cleveland has been on top of the AFC North.
And remember that this was the last year of the Browns before their 3 year hiatus.
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This I can understand, but before 2010, we had never had a losing record make the playoffs. I don't think two times in five years is enough to warrant a drastic change like that, but I can understand giving the better record home-field. NBA does that as well.
Having the team with the better record host any playoff game would be an improvement but it doesn't fix the issue of a team with a worse record making the playoffs over a team with a better record. That's why top 6 per conference is better.
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I really don't see that as much of an issue. The system is fine the way it is. If you're not going to emphasize division winners, then there's no point in having divisions. Teams should be rewarded for winning their division. Is it ugly sometimes? Yeah. You're not going to have "clean" division winners every year. That's just the nature of the beast. Just one man's opinion.
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I really don't see that as much of an issue. The system is fine the way it is. If you're not going to emphasize division winners, then there's no point in having divisions. Teams should be rewarded for winning their division. Is it ugly sometimes? Yeah. You're not going to have "clean" division winners every year. That's just the nature of the beast. Just one man's opinion.
This is a fair opinion but let me ask you this. How would you react if the Eagles finished with a better record than Saints but the made the playoffs as a division winner while the Eagles were the first team out of the playoffs. Since the Eagles are your team, how do you think you would react to that scenario if it happened.
The divisions could still exist for scheduling purposes only under my suggestion. Also there would still be value in having divisions to protect traditional rivalries since most rivalries are intra division games.
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Quite the accomplishment considering the AFC North was non-existent before 2002 :P
Fox ran that Cleveland tidbit on the crawler on the bottom of the screen during the second game (here it's the Giants-Seahawks game).
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(obviously) We're seeing the Cardinals game here in Arizona. But I've seen some of the Giants-Seahawks game via the RedZone channel and I have to assume that is what of the country is seeing considering that is where they've sent Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.
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(obviously) We're seeing the Cardinals game here in Arizona. But I've seen some of the Giants-Seahawks game via the RedZone channel and I have to assume that is what of the country is seeing considering that is where they've sent Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.
Yeppers
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For the first time in almost 2 months, Eli throws an interception and he's hardly to blame. It's been a nice streak though.
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Carson Palmer has left the game. He was taken off with an apparent knee injury so that's a serious concern. We just signed him to a 3 year extension this past week. This sucks. I'm comfortable going with Stanton though. Stanton did play well for us earlier in the year.
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John Brown. That is all.
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John Brown, ladies and gentlemen. Hope you caught onto this guy in preseason.
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That was a great catch. John Brown is totally awesome baby! Steal of the draft! :)
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The 49ers may beg to differ with Aaron Lynch ;)
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And how about Marshawn Lynch running in 4 touchdowns against the Giants.
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Cardinals about to go to 8-1. What a sequence of events in the last couple of minutes. Certainly did not expect this start for them. Let's see if they can keep this up. And they've been doing this despite a fairly disappointing season from Michael Floyd, who many expected to break out this season.
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The knee Carson Palmer injured is apparently the same one he injured in the 2006 playoff game against the Steelers.
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Yes! My Cardinals are 8-1 baby! This is the first time that the Cardinals have been 8-1 since 1948. (They were in Chicago at that time.) Next week's head to head with the Lions is huge. We actually trailed most of the day but John Brown and a few timely defensive touchdowns after that pulled it out for us. 8-1 baby! Love it! Love it! Go Cardinals! :)
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The knee Carson Palmer injured is apparently the same one he injured in the 2006 playoff game against the Steelers.
If the Palmer injury is serious I'm confident in Drew Stanton. But we would be screwed if anything happened to Stanton.
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I think Arians knows what he's doing with Logan Thomas. Low-risk upside for him down the line. Keep in mind, Palmer's contract is one of those "pay-as-you-go" contracts.
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If the Palmer injury is serious I'm confident in Drew Stanton. But we would be screwed if anything happened to Stanton.
Oh boy. Reports are saying he may have torn his ACL. That sucks big time since he was having a nice comeback season.
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Next week, FOX has the doubleheader. The 2 games that'll be at 4:25 are Lions/Cardinals and Eagles/Packers.
Though they'll likely be in Green Bay, I hope Joe and Troy will be calling the Lions/Cardinals game since:
a.) the 2 best NFC teams (based on the standings) are meeting
b.) it'd give FOX a chance to really highlight 2 teams having remarkable seasons that most people didn't see coming (especially in Detroit's case).
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My guess would be Eagles-Packers will get the Joe/Troy treatment. Don't forget, this game was flexed into the 4:25 slot. I bet Kevin Burkhardt and John Lynch get the call for Cardinals-Lions.
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My guess would be Eagles-Packers will get the Joe/Troy treatment. Don't forget, this game was flexed into the 4:25 slot. I bet Kevin Burkhardt and John Lynch get the call for Cardinals-Lions.
You're right about that. Joe and Troy said they'd be going to Lambeau next week. I'm guessing my Seahawks will be getting Kenny, Moose, and Goose or (preferably) Burkhardt and Lynch. Great W over big blue today. Go Hawks!
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Put this one on the record, if the Cardinals were a stock, I'd short them. I think they're going to massively regress based on the weights of what they've done against current competition, and their amazingly hard schedule ahead, where the easiest game is seemingly at Atlanta, the easiest home game against KC. Brutal. I still think they win the West, barely, but this isn't going to hold up. Furthermore, once the playoffs start, they're a one-and-done.
Prior to this week, I had them as the 16th best team in the NFL. I say with no hints of sarcasm or tomfoolery.
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35-0 Packers and it isn't even halftime.
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Make that 42-0. 6 td passes for Aaron Rodgers.
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18/24, 315 yards, 6 touchdowns, no interceptions...and all in less than 30 minutes.
Aaron Rodgers. That is all.
42-0 Packers at the half.
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The bears are my team, but the way they are playing, they almost seem like they don't even care anymore.
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The Bears played like kindergarteners in that first half. It's on pace to be 84-0.
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Quick comment on the Bears: If they are slated for any more prime time games this year, the NFL would be wise to flex them out and put a more interesting game in there instead. This is unacceptable for any big game under the lights.
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Next week's NBC game is Patriots at Colts. That should be much better, more competitive, and more interesting than this yawner.
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Bears playing like an 0-16 team.
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Quick comment on the Bears: If they are slated for any more prime time games this year, the NFL would be wise to flex them out and put a more interesting game in there instead. This is unacceptable for any big game under the lights.
Week 14 Thursday night against the Cowboys. But Thursday games can't be flexed out. And they also play in the early game on Thanksgiving against the Lions.
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Yeah, the only two primetime games left for the bears on December 4 against the cowboys on NFL Network, then December 15th against New Orleans on ESPN.
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Great stat on NBC:
In the last 11 games, the Bears have had 3 games giving up 55+ points.
In the previous 759 games, the Bears have had 3 games giving up 55+ points.
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In the last 11 games, the Bears have had 3 games giving up 55+ points.
And I thought the Giants' defense was bad.
The Bears gave up 51 in their last game, so the stat must have been 51+, not 55. Still, embarrassing.
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Yeah, the only two primetime games left for the bears on December 4 against the cowboys on NFL Network, then December 15th against New Orleans on ESPN.
Nuts... Those are locked in games too. What a bummer.
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Panthers at Eagles tonight. The Eagles future seems uncertain with Sanchez but I'm taking the Eagles here. As I have previously stated, I am not a believer in the Panthers. Cam Newton is the Andy Dalton of the NFC. Like Dalton, Newton has been hyped up for years and we've heard how the sky's the limit but when it's becoming more and more clear, that, like Dalton, Newton is not a great NFL quarterback. And Carolina made a grave mistake by not keeping Steve Smith this past off season. Meanwhile, the game is in Philly and I think the Eagles can win this this game with McCoy and defense if need be. Can Sanchez be successful? I don't know. Some people think Sanchez is not a good quarterback while others say he didn't a fair shake in New York. He's about to get his shot. If can be successful, the Eagles are in good shape since they do have good receivers in Macklin, Cooper, and Matthews. Basically, Sanchez holds the key to the Eagles success because the parts around him are good. Either way, I think the Eagles win tonight no matter what because the Panthers aren't very good and McCoy and defense can win this game for the Eagles if need be.
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Another key for the Eagles is that Evan Mathis returns from injury. Just in time, too, now that Todd Herremans is done for the season with that torn biceps. Just means Matt Tobin will kick over to right guard.
Getting Mathis back is huge for the run game, as he is one of the better guards in the league.
And as I said before, I think Sanchez can be successful. Chip Kelly is a smart man and can work with Sanchez. You'll likely start seeing more of LeSean McCoy, as I think they'll start leaning more on the run.
As for the Panthers, it's not all on Newton. That offensive line has been terrible. They've never been able to replace Jordan Gross at left tackle and that's been hurting the Panthers.
Newton has grown into a much better QB, both ability-wise and as a leader, since his rookie season. It was a tough decision, but I think it would've hurt them more, salary cap-wise, by keeping Steve Smith than it did by cutting him. But Kelvin Benjamin is having a very good year, especially for someone who was very raw coming into the season. The Panthers have done well making use of his 6'5 frame. Some of the catches he has made have been unbelievable.
Also, the running game has had issues all season, from injuries to ineffectiveness, especially Jonathan "seemingly hurt every other week" Stewart.
So really, it's not all on Newton. But sure up the offensive line over the offseason and they could be back in business.
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Raiders are gonna go 0-16!
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Here comes another nighttime blowout.
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The Panthers o-line is so bad that it makes the Giants o-line from last year look good.
Anyone keeping count on how many night game blowouts we've had this year?
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I'd say between 80-85%
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Let's see how many nighttime blowout games we've had this year up to now (with each margin by at least 10 points).
Monday Night: 6/11 (55%)
Thursday Night: 7/9 (78%)
Sunday Night: 9/11 (82%)
Total: 22/31 (71.67%)
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Current NFL Draft order:
1. Oakland
2. Jacksonville
3. Tampa Bay
4. New York Jets
5. Tennessee
6. Atlanta
7. Washington
8. Chicago
9. St. Louis
10. New York Giants
11. Carolina
12. Houston
13. Minnesota
14. San Diego
15. Miami
16. Cleveland (from Buffalo)
17. San Francisco
18. Pittsburgh
19. Baltimore
20. Green Bay
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Cam Newton: sacked nine times. And I thought Atlanta's o-line was porous.
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And now, it looks even more likely the 4:30 Thanksgiving game in Dallas will be complete global thermonuclear war (Part 1, of maybe 3), the perfect antidote to the prime time doldrums of late. And I'd have to think Jordan Matthews is making a strong case for Rookie of the Year after his impressive receiving night tonight.
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Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. J-Matt had a great night, for sure, but overall, I wouldn't consider him the favorite for OROY. I'd give it to either Kelvin Benjamin or Brandon Cooks at the moment. Heck, John Brown is in the conversation, too.
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And now, it looks even more likely the 4:30 Thanksgiving game in Dallas will be complete global thermonuclear war (Part 1, of maybe 3), the perfect antidote to the prime time doldrums of late.
Those Cowboys-Eagles games are always worth seeing. It's the biggest and best rivalry in a division full of rivalries. But it's even better this year with the high stakes. If either team sweeps the series they win the NFC East. Also, could there become a trend of giving backups more reps. It seems to have paid off for the Eagles as Sanchez was sharp and played well for most of the night. You have to think having that preparation helped him.
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The thing with backups getting reps is it's tough for them to get practice reps because of the way practices are structured with the CBA. Practices have become very limited. A good bit of teams don't exactly have a good backup and may just be waiting for the draft and hope to land one of the top guys. Plus, Chip Kelly can't coach all 32 teams ;)
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Heck, John Brown is in the conversation, too.
Respectfully disagree; he doesn't crack my top five rookie WRs, let alone top rookie. Agree with Benjamin, though, as I'll get to, and Cooks rounds out my top five rookie receivers this year.
Of the 16 rookie wideouts of at least 20 targets, John Brown is 7th in targets, 10th in receptions, 8th in yards 8th in yards per catch, 10th in yards per game, and 15th in catch percentage. Tied for second in TD receptions (5), with Mike Evans, Sammy Watkins, and Kelvin Benjamin, for what little value I put that stat at. Martavis Bryant (6) is first. There's also Odell Beckham Jr., not as many games played, but I think he's a better player right now.
Are you guys viewing John and Jaron as one player? :P
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You know people will clamor for John for those circus catches haha. But yeah, if I were to vote right now, I'd probably say Cooks, but Beckham quickly gaining steam.
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Of the 16 rookie wideouts of at least 20 targets, John Brown is 7th in targets, 10th in receptions, 8th in yards 8th in yards per catch, 10th in yards per game, and 15th in catch percentage. Tied for second in TD receptions (5), with Mike Evans, Sammy Watkins, and Kelvin Benjamin, for what little value I put that stat at. Martavis Bryant (6) is first. There's also Odell Beckham Jr., not as many games played, but I think he's a better player right now.
Why don't you place much value on the TD receptions stat? TD receptions lead directly to points for the players team.
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It weights a 1 yard reception of equal value with a 99 yard reception. That's a bit hyperbolic, but clearly the two plays are not equal in difficulty, for a variety of reasons, and should not have an equal weight in bearing of a player's worth. Total yards itself isn't a good a stat, either, really, nor are most conventional stats used in any sport. Plays should weighted proportionally to their worth to a player, schedule, etc. Thankfully these stats exist, so I use those.
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Touchdown receptions are very volatile. Almost impossible to project them. Like Prizes said, value to the team is more important. More to a player than just stats.
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Bills at Dolphins tonight. I like the Dolphins here. Both teams are 5-4 but the Dolphins have been the better team. The Dolphins are a few plays away from being 7-2 as they were in position to beat both the Packers and Lions and took some heartbreaks. The Bills on the other hand, are a few plays away from being 3-6. They needed that last second Watkins catch to beat the Vikings and they really should have lost to the Lions. The Lions screwed themselves out of that game with missed kicks. I also think that the Dolphins have gotten better as the season has gone along and the game is in Miami. The Bills aren't bad but the Dolphins are the better team and I think the Dolphins are a good team. At the end of the day, I doubt either one of these teams will make the playoffs. I see the AFC Wild Cards coming from the west and/or the central.
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Don't forget, however, Branden Albert is out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL. That's going to play a factor, no doubt. Rookie Ja'Wuan James is kicking over to left tackle, so it will be interesting to see how he fares on a short week. I think Buffalo's defensive line may continue to cause problems for Miami's offensive line and Ryan Tannehill. I think Buffalo actually takes this one. Will be a good one, nonetheless.
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Nice job by Miami today. There defense was strong all game long and the offense came alive in the 2nd half. I can see them as a wild card contender this year.
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Schedule is pretty favorable for them down the stretch.
Doug Marrone better start looking for job openings because his days in Buffalo are numbered. The decision to start Kyle Orton has blown up in his face. And with no first-round pick next year, could be a long road ahead for the Bills.
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The thing is, I do think the Dolphins are good enough to be a playoff team but they're schedule is tough. It includes the Broncos, Ravens, and Patriots. And there are so many teams competing for the two AFC Wild Card spots. I think it'll be tough for the Dolphins to beat out the west and central teams for a playoff berth. I don't think they make it but they are good enough to. It'll be really interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out.
Schedule is pretty favorable for them down the
How do you call a schedule that includes at Denver and at New England favorable. This schedule is actually a big reason I don't think that the Dolphins will make the playoffs even though I really like their team.
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They've already beaten the Patriots once and they have both games against the Jets. Minnesota is also a winnable game for them. That could get them to 9-7, maybe 10-6 if they steal one against the Pats or Ravens. Crazier things have happened.
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My Cardinals host the Lions tomorrow. This is a critical head to head in the battle for the 1 seed. We get the game in Arizona and I like our chances tomorrow but with Palmer out for the season we've got to have Stanton stay healthy. Stanton will be motivated well against a former team. This should be a good one. Between Calvin Johnson and John Brown two of the most exciting receivers in the NFL will be on that field tomorrow play. I expect a quality game and say the Cardinals pull out a tight one. Go Cardinals! :)
Vikings at Bears: Vikings. The Vikings aren't great but the Bears are horrible. The Bears defense especially bad. It's understandable to lose to lose to the Patriots and Packers. But it is inexcusable to be on the wrong end of back to back blowouts. And the Bears have internal issues now as well. Gotta pick the Vikings here. A coaching change may be in order in Chicago or at least a defensive coordinator change.
Seahawks at Chiefs: Seahawks: The Chiefs are a solid team and Arrowhead Stadium is a tough place to play. But the Seahawks are a true contender and I think Lynch has a big day here. This game won't surprise me too much one way or the other but I like the Seahawks here.
Falcons at Panthers: Falcons. Both teams have horrible O lines but I think the Panthers are the worse team here. Just last week the Panthers allowed 9 sacks. This is a big game because both teams are alive and well as far as the NFC South is concerned.
Texans at Browns: Browns. It's clear now that the Browns are for real. The Texans have pulled the plug on Fitz but we don't know much about Mallet as an NFL quarterback, the game is in Cleveland, and Hoyer and the Browns are playing particularly well right now. I'm a believer in the Browns now.
Bengals at Saints: Bengals. The Saints pass defense is weak so Green and Sanu could have big days here. Go Bengals.
Buccaneers at Redskins: Redskins: The Redskins have RG3 back now and this just isn't the Buccaneers year. Not much to say about this one.
Broncos at Rams: Broncos: The Rams do have a good defense but the Broncos are such a better team than the Rams that I still expect a Broncos blowout. The Rams are only team Peyton has never had a 300 yard game against. But I think he does have a 300 yard game tomorrow because I think even if the Rams defense plays well at the start of the game that they'll wear down to due lack of offensive support and perhaps short fields as the rams offense has been turnover prone lately.
49ers at Giants: The not a rivalry, 2 of the more memorable NFC Championship Games in NFL history were played between these teams, both at Candlestick Park. On 1-20-1991 in the 1990 NFC Championship Game, the 2 time defending champion 49ers led the Giants 13-12 with just minutes to play and possession of the ball. Erik Howard forced a Roger Craig fumble that Lawrence Taylor caught out of the air. With 2:36 left, the Giants got the ball and Jeff Hostetler led the Giants on a drive that led to Matt Bahr's game winning field goal at the buzzer. Then, on 1-22-2012 in the 2011 NFC Championship Game, the teams went into overtime. A fumble by 49ers punt returner Kyle Williams would lead to Lawrence Tynes game winning 31 yard field goal. As for tomorrow, gotta take the 49ers here. The Giants have had their ups and downs this year but the more the season plays out the clearer it has become that the Giants are not a good team. The receiving corps and defense of the Giants aren't very good. I expect Gore and Kaepernick to have big days. Eli is still a good quarterback but the problem is, who does he throw the ball to? Losing Patrick Willis for the season hurts the 49ers but I still think they win this game.
Raiders at Chargers: Chargers. This is a get healthy game for the Chargers. The Chargers are still in the thick of the playoff race even with that 3 game losing streak. The Raiders have been in some games but they aren't a good team and I just don't see them pulling this one out.
Eagles at Packers: Though not a rivalry, the Packers and Eagles were involved in one of the most famous plays of the 2000s. On 1-11-2004, the teams met in a 2003 divisional round playoff game. The Packers had a late 17-14 lead and the Eagles were down to their final chance. Facing 4th and 26, Donavon McNabb let go a throw that Freddie Mitchell clung to, famously saying how he loved his hands. The spot was close but was enough for a first down and the Eagles eventually tied the game on a David Akers 37 yard field goal. In overtime, a Brain Dawkins interception of Brett Favre set up Akers game winning 31 yard field goal. As for tomorrow, I like the Packers. The game is in Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers is on fire. The Eagles are a quality team on both sides of the ball but I'm not picking against the Packers in Green Bay.
Colts at Patriots: Ironically, this actually became a bigger rivalry after the Colts left the AFC East. On 1-18-2004 in the 2003 AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 24-14 and won Super Bowl 38 two weeks later. This was the start of a major rivalry. The biggest moment for the Colts in the series came in he 2007 in the 2006 AFC Championship Game at the RCA Dome, a 38-34 Colts win as Joseph Addai scored a late touchdown and a Marlin Jackson interception would preserve the win as the Colts would go on to win Super Bowl 41 two weeks later. The Patriots have had the upper hand in the series though, especially at home. I see that trend continuing tomorrow. Since the Arrowhead debacle, the Patriots are 5-0 and Brady has throw 18 touchdown with only 1 interception. The Colts are a true contender and Luck is an elite quarterback but I think the Patriots keep rolling tomorrow night.
GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
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Ryan Mallett has a decent arm but not much else going for him. That said, he may be the type of quarterback Bill O'Brien can work with, unless of course, Houston drafts a QB next year, which very well can happen.
Lynch may have a good game...if he plays, as he is listed questionable. That said, he likely goes, in my opinion.
Green and Sanu have the potential to have decent games, though don't doubt the ability of Keenan Lewis, one of the more underrated cornerbacks in the NFL. Plus, you never know what you'll get from noodle-arm Andy Dalton.
Odell Beckham is quickly becoming a favorite target of Eli Manning. Just took him awhile to get going after missing almost all of preseason. OBJ making a fast case for OROY.
With all the said, my Stone Cold Not Mike and Mike Locks That Are Sure to go Wrong:
MIN, NO, KC, SF, ATL, CLE, WAS, DEN, SD, PHI, DET, NE, TEN
That's right. Upset specials in Kansas City and Tennessee.
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Mallett has already thrown a touchdown pass. And it was J.J. Watt who caught it.
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How bout those Rams! The Rams this season have pulled off upsets over the Seahawks, the 49ers, and now the Broncos. What a win for the Rams.
And what a poor day for Eli. I just a stat that Eli has thrown 4 interceptions. Man.
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Make it 5 picks today for Eli.
At this point its time to start fighting for a higher draft pick. And expect major coaching changes in the off-season "looks glaringly at Perry Fewell"
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And with that, the 4-6 Atlanta Falcons lead the NFC South.
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Chiefs and Broncos tied for the AFC West lead at 7-3.
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Chiefs and Broncos tied for the AFC West lead at 7-3.
Nope, Broncos still lead, because of the head to head tiebreaker, which Denver won 24-17. Denver also leads the second tiebreaker, division games, 3-0, to KC's 1-1. KC does currently lead common games (NE, SEA, SF, STL, NYJ, SD) 5-1 to Denver's 3-3, though, if we'd have to go that far.
And with that, the 4-6 Atlanta Falcons lead the NFC South.
And the 2-8 Bucs are in the thick of the division race, only 2 back! To think one of these teams is going to get a home playoff game, though likely another huge home dog again.
Also Manning face deluxe today, thank you Rams, that was very fun. Pats have to respond with a win though, or you blow that one seed, not to mention, they'd lose a potential tiebreaker with KC.
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Welp, Sanchez is back to his former self again.
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This just goes to show blowouts happen when we least expect them. Eagles defense just flat out overmatched in this one, once again showing their two outside cornerbacks (Williams and Fletcher) may be the worst starting pair in the NFL. Absolutely must address the position in the offseason. Sanchez wasn't at his best but I wouldn't lay all the blame on him. LeSean McCoy just cannot get anything going. I don't know what's wrong. Nonetheless, on to Tennessee.
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I think this was more about the Packers than the Eagles. Could the Packers be emerging as the favorites in the NFC? Aaron Rodgers has emerged as an MVP candidate. There's no question about that. I am surprised that this was a blowout though even though I did expect the Packers to win.
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That's just what A-Rod does, pick apart teams. Rodgers is always an MVP candidate, anyway. That was proven last year when Green Bay's season nearly went down the drain after his injury. However, my vote, as of now, still goes to JJ Watt.
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Could the Packers be emerging as the favorites in the NFC?
Who else would you take right now over Green Bay, in the NFC? Wouldn't be the Cards, I'm not trusting a Stanton-led team, Seattle would be a threat if they made it, and got a home game, but don't see them making it, likewise the 49ers, though I'd put either as a dark horse, if they made it, moreso San Fran. Sure as hell won't be anyone from the NFC South, Romo is broken for Dallas, and the Eagles are there for you to see revealing all their faults and then some. Detroit would be fascinating though, only really good threat I see to the Packers right now has to be them; the Week 17 matchup should be fantastic, even if Stafford is only slightly better than Cutler. Wonder if THAT will be the NBC flexed game that week, for the division?
I'd pick the Packers in that matchup, since as poor as McCarthy's clock skills are, Caldwell is the total suck of a head coach; lesser of the two evils. Green Bay is beatable though, I think you need a physical team up on your defensive front to beat them. Look who has beaten Green Bay as of late: They're winless in the last four against SF, big loss at Seattle to start the year, Detroit's success, and how Miami was actually close. Beat them along the lines, they are softer than a tissue there. Book's out.
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The game got so bad that FOX switched to the Lions and Cardinals game.
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Have to consider Lions-Packers the favorite to be flexed in Week 17, especially if the loser misses the playoffs completely.
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The Raiders are 0-10. I think they are going to go 0-16.
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And not that this will come as any surprise but the Raiders are officially eliminated from playoff contention.
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The Raiders are at risk of going 0-16. The only winless teams in the modern NFL are the 1976 Buccaneers who went 0-14 and the 2008 Lions who went 0-16.
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Calling it now. The Raiders get their first win in two weeks against the Rams.
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Yes! My Cardinals are 9-1 baby! We now possess a 3 game lead in the NFC West! For our defense to hold the Lions to 6 points was pretty damn good. We got just enough offense to win and it basically stayed 14-6 most of the second half. Love it! Love it! 9-1 baby! Good win. Well I'll sure sleep a lot better tonight than I did last night. Go Cardinals! :)
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Cardinals will finish 12-4 :-P
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Looking at our remaining schedule we could easily finish 2-4 in our last 6 games and finish 11-5. I'm confident we can beat the Falcons and Rams but we've got the Chiefs, the 49ers, and the Seahawks twice. We could easily lose all 4 of those games and finish 11-5. I do like the fact we have a 3 game lead though.
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Meanwhile, it is the Patriots who are establishing themselves as the favorites in the AFC.
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Guess who had Jonas Gray on his bench in fantasy?
:headbang:
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Steelers at Titans tonight. I'm going with the Titans here. The Steelers always play to level of their competition be that good or bad. They've dominated the Colts and Ravens yet lost to Buccaneers, barely a Jaguars team they should have blown out of the water, and worst of all, lost to the Jets while trailing most of the day. On paper you'd probably go with the Steelers here. But that Jets loss has lost the Steelers any benefit of the doubt or trust from me. They beat good teams and lose to bad teams. It's what they do. Mettenberger has actually played decently at times and the game is in Tennessee. I also think the Titans will be really up for this game. The Titans are 2-7 and aren't going to the playoffs. This is an opportunity for the Titans to play on Monday Night in a full national telecast against an iconic franchise. I think the Titans will be fired up about that opportunity and I think their fans will be fired up as well and that the team will feed off that energy. I'm taking the Titans here. I would also like to apologize for calling Mettenberger "that rookie quarterback" rather than Mettenberger in my last two game previews that involved the Titans. Whatever my opinion of what kind of NFL he was going to be I should have showed him proper respect as person by calling him by his name instead of a generic team like that. Only time will tell what kind of NFL quarterback Mettenberger will be.
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I considered Mett a statue coming out of LSU. Actually wouldn't surprise me if they target a QB in April's draft.
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The Steelers barely avoid embarrassment tonight, winning 27-24.
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The Steelers pull out a 27-24 win behind Bell's 204 yards rushing and a strong fourth quarter pass rush. The playoff race is airtight but if the playoffs started today the Steelers would be in them. Mettenberger played well at times tonight but his lack of escapability was a factor late. Maybe the Titans should consider Marriota come April.
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The Steelers barely avoid embarrassment tonight, winning 27-24.
I wouldn't call it "embarrassment." The Titans have a solid team; they just can't seem to focus when it matters most...for instance, during the 4th quarter tonight. They aren't the Jaguars or the Raiders in terms of their ability. They can get the job done, but they lack leadership.
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The only true embarrassment in the NFL these days is losing to the Jaguars.
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The only true embarrassment in the NFL these days is losing to the Jaguars.
I disagree. The only true embarrassment in the NFL these days is to lose to the 0-10 Raiders.
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I HATE this (expletive) tie! Steelers should be in first place, dammit. Instead they have to settle for 2nd because the Bengals have one less loss. (More Expletives) I like ties, just not in the division my team is in! If the Bengals don't fall apart before the end of the season or another team asserts some dominance with a strong win streak, this tie is probably going to give them the division. (Even More Expletives)
The AFC North is probably going to see more lead changes than a NASCAR race though as this season heads to the finish. At least one team has to falter at one point, right? This is the most competitive I ever remember this division ever being.
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The Bears proved, once again, that even at their worst, they will forever be exactly good enough to not get a primo draft pick.
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Adrian Peterson is suspended for at least the rest of this season and he has already appealed.
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I'm not surprised. the NFL bases its suspensions on how much publicity a case gets and how upset the public is.
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I HATE this (expletive) tie! Steelers should be in first place, dammit. Instead they have to settle for 2nd because the Bengals have one less loss. (More Expletives) I like ties, just not in the division my team is in! If the Bengals don't fall apart before the end of the season or another team asserts some dominance with a strong win streak, this tie is probably going to give them the division. (Even More Expletives)
Yet another reason why the college overtime rules are better than the NFL overtime rules. Not only do the college rules absolutely ensure each team gets a shot with the ball, but the college overtime rules also guarantee a winner and a loser will be produced in each game with no possibility of ties. The NFL should adopt the college overtime rules in the future.
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Here's the thing, though...teams touch the ball numerous times in regulation. So teams really shouldn't complain too much if they don't get a possession in overtime because of all the time they had in regulation to score and win the game.
Also, just a note on the AFC North: their records have been helped by the fact that they were lucky enough to draw the NFC South this season. Though Pittsburgh kind of dropped the ball against Tampa Bay.
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Also, just a note on the AFC North: their records have been helped by the fact that they were lucky enough to draw the NFC South this season. Though Pittsburgh kind of dropped the ball against Tampa Bay.
This is true, but history shows that Cleveland doesn't win games they're supposed to. The Bengals, Ravens, and Steelers fighting it out for supremacy wouldn't be surprising to anyone. There are other divisions where three teams are scraping it out (AFC and NFC West come to mind), but the simple fact that Cleveland has their stuff together and won games they normally would've lost and they're really in this thing, has made this year insane.
When it comes to ties, I'm okay with them (again, just not in my division. Go bother someone else). My thing is that with how hard the game is and how quick turnarounds can be, players shouldn't be subjected to 3 or 4 OTs (I know in college the OTs are timeless). It's better to have the game end in a tie than to overwork the already working players, in my opinion.
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The Steelers have released Legarrette Blount after he apparently left early last night. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11897619/legarrette-blount-released-pittsburgh-steelers
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The Steelers have released Legarrette Blount after he apparently left early last night. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11897619/legarrette-blount-released-pittsburgh-steelers
Let that be a lesson to you: The Steelers don't take no mess. Good move by the organization.
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Heh. We learned that when they shipped Santonio Holmes for a 5th-round pick.
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New England signs Legarrette Blount to a two-year deal on unrestricted waivers. League minimum.
Because of the heavy snowfall in Buffalo, Sunday's Bills-Jets game may either be postponed or moved to Tuesday.
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Jets/Bills game will NOT be played in Buffalo. Good move by the NFL.
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Chiefs at Raiders tonight. Although all of the Raiders rivalries have been diminished a bit by how long their down period has turned out to be, I still love the Chiefs-Raiders rivalry. I love this rivalry for historical reasons as it goes back to AFL times. When you consider what a profound impact the AFL had on the NFL, you have to appreciate an old AFL rivalry. This is obviously the biggest rivalry for the Chiefs while you can argue whether the Broncos or the Chiefs are the Raiders biggest rival. But there's always been that palpable hate between the Chiefs and the Raiders. Obviously, I'm going with the Chiefs tonight. The Raiders are 0-10 and the Chiefs are on a 5 game winning streak. That speaks for itself. The Raiders are a terrible offensive team and the Chiefs have played strong defense throughout this winning streak. And on the other side of the ball, I expect Jamaal Charles to have a huge night against that weak Raiders rush defense. Gotta favor the Chiefs here.
Jets/Bills game will NOT be played in Buffalo. Good move by the NFL.
Detroit, Washington D.C. (Redskins and Lions are on the road this week.), and Pittsburgh (Steelers bye week.) are being considered as alternative sites.
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Probably not Pittsburgh as Heinz Field has high school football district championships this weekend.
Edit: Detroit seems to be where they are headed.
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John Anderson brought up a good point asking why Toronto isn't being considered at all. Perhaps their weather forecast isn't looking too bright either. In any case, I thought it would be just as good as an alternative. The probable reason though is that the NFL wants this game to be in an NFL stadium to make the process of broadcasting the game swift and easy.
Probably not Pittsburgh as Heinz Field has high school football district championships this weekend.
I'm not sure if it has been confirmed, but this game will be played on Monday. It pretty much has to be, as the Bills have lost two days of practice and at least need to be given one of them back. They're already at a disadvantage since the Jets have been practicing all this time.
For what it's worth, Adam Schefter is reporting that all signs point to Detroit and an announcement will be made tonight.
I'd complain about them playing on Monday and stealing the Ravens' shine as they play the Saints on ESPN, but it's the Jets playing. No shine will be stolen.
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Jets and Bills this Monday in Detroit at 7:00 PM.
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The Raiders have just pulled off the most stunning upset of the season with a 24-20 win over the Chiefs. I know it's a rivalry and anything goes in rivalry games but nobody expected that. WOW. Just. WOW. Congratulations to the Raiders on avoiding a winless season and on beating their arch rivals. It's been a tough year in Oakland but beating the Chiefs has to feel great for Raider Nation. The Broncos can take sole possession of first place in the AFC West with a win over the Dolphins on Sunday. (Technically the Broncos are in first place by half a game now but let's see if the Broncos are tied or ahead after Sunday when both teams will have played this week.)
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3 penalties called on one play...
Get a sack on 3rd down, 30 seconds still on the clock, celebrate 15 yards away from the sack with the clock running and KC lining up for a play...
That's Raiders football for you.
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Well, there goes $25.
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Seems to me that Detroit's the go-to destination for other NFL teams whenever their regular home field is too unsafe to play on. We all remember what happened the last time an extra game had to be played there: In 2010, the Vikings moved their "home" game to Ford Field because the Metrodome roof caved in from the excess snowfall, and Brett Favre did not start that game, thus ending his streak at 297. At least, it's an AFC East matchup this time, which won't be as strange as seeing two NFC teams playing, and neither one being the Lions.
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My Cardinals are at the Seahawks tomorrow. I expect to lose this game. Not only is Seattle a tough to play but we'll be walking into a buzzsaw of a motivated team tomorrow. Last year we gave Russell Wilson the first home loss of his career. Our players also handled the win in a less than classy manner by locking Lynch and Seahawks fans by eating Skittles on the sideline. You know the Seahawks will remember that day and will be fired up to beat us tomorrow. We're a good team but I think will be too much for us to overcome tomorrow.
Browns at Falcons: Browns. The Browns are very up and down but they do get Josh Gordon back this week and that's a big plus. Also, remember that ALL of the Falcons wins this year have come against teams in the NFC South. The Falcons are 0-6 outside the NFC South this year and taht's a major reason I'm picking the Browns here.
Titans at Eagles: Eagles: Don't overreact to last week. The Eagles are still a quality team. We know the Eagles have good offensive weapons and I expect Sanchez to have a good game tomorrow. I also don't see Mettenberger faring very well in such a hostile environment.
Lions at Patriots: Patriots. The Patriots have been absolutely rolling in this 6 game winning streak. I don't see the Lions slowing down Brady too much n New England. As many expected, Brady has been so much better since Gronk came back. Also, remember that Mathew Stafford plays poorly on the road against good teams. The Patriots are an absolute contender. No doubt about it.
Packers at Vikings: The second meeting of the NFC North's biggest and best rivalry. Anything goes in rivalry games but you have to go with the Packers. The Packers have established themselves as a true contender and Aaron Rodgers is on fire. i would vote for Rodgers for MVP. I still love how he told everyone to relax and has backed it up.
Jaguars at Colts: Colts blowout. Nothing else needs to be said.
Bengals at Texans: Texans: The Texans appear to be better with Mallett than they were with Fitz. And Mallett doesn't have to be great he just needs to be okay and let Foster, Johnson, and Watt carry the team. I don't trust the Bengals in a spot like this and i think Watt could have a huge day tomorrow. Normally, Foster + Johnson + good defense led by Watt should = playoffs. Having played Fitz much of the year is now likely to prevent that. But the Texans are better now that Fitz is outta there. I have a feeling too that we'll see the bad Dalton tomorrow and again i think Watt will come up huge here.
Buccaneers at Bears: Bears. Neither team is that good but I'm not picking an NFC South team. I'm especially not picking an NFC South to get a back to back win. The Bears aren't very good but i somehow can't see the Buccaneers winning in back to back weeks.
Rams at Chargers: Rams: Rivers hasn't been as good in the past month as he was earlier in the season and the Rams have a strong pass rush. And the Rams already have 3 major upsets this year having beating the Seahawks, 49ers, and Broncos. And Hill managed to avoid the Davis turnovers. I'm taking the Rams to use their pass rush to pull another upset here.
Dolphins at Broncos: Broncos: The Dolphins are a good team with a strong defense but i just can't see the Broncos losing 3 games in a row. I like what the Dolphins are building in Miami but I don't think they're ready to win a road game of this magnitude yet. And i think the Broncos will be reinvigorated by the Chiefs loss Thursday as the Broncos will end week 12 in sole possession of first place in the AFC West with a win. And I've got to believe Peyton will figure it out. The Broncos are still a contender. Championship caliber teams respond to adversity and that's what i expect the Broncos to do tomorrow.
Redskins at 49ers: 49ers: The 49ers are a good team and they've been playing better the last couple of weeks. And the Redskins just aren't very good. The 49ers catch a huge break having the Redskins on the schedule. Gore is running well right now and the 49ers defense has been forcing turnovers. I expect the 49ers defense to continue to force turnovers in this game. And the Redskins have serious internal issues now, especially with regard to the team's and organization's relationship with RG3.
Cowboys at Giants: Cowboys. Romo got some time to rest with that bye week last week and the Cowboys still have Murray. Plus, this is a great example of how important creating a strong offensive line is to building a team. The Panthers, Falcons, and Giants could all learn a thing from how the Cowboys have used the offensive line to rebuild their team. The Giants aren't a very good team. Their line isn't good, they lack weapons, and Eli hasn't been at his best these last few weeks. Cowboys should take this one. This is the second meeting this year in a quality rivalry and anything goes in rivalry games but you have to favor the Cowboys.
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In spite of throwing three picks, Brian Hoyer (322 yds, 0 TDs) leads Cleveland to a drive leading to a game-winning field goal. Cleveland 26, Atlanta 24.
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The Packers sweep the NFC North's biggest rivalry with a 24-21 win in Minnesota. Coupled with the Lions loss to the Patriots, the win gives the Packers first place in the NFC North. Meanwhile that Patriots win has assured them of a winning record.
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http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/0ap3000000433422/Wk-12-Can-t-Miss-Play-Literally-bending-like-Beckham (http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/0ap3000000433422/Wk-12-Can-t-Miss-Play-Literally-bending-like-Beckham)
Odell Beckham Jr. with the catch/play of the year. Simply unbelievable.
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That catch was totally awesome baby! :)
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Holy cow!!! That catch is right up there with the Tyree helmet catch!!
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Aw yeah! The Seahawks defense returned in fine fashion and stymied the Cards all day long. That was a crucial win for the Hawks, and now let's go break the hearts of Santa Clara and Harbaugh on Thanksgiving night. It's always a happy day when the Cardinals lose (too bad the Washington Potatoes couldn't beat Santa Clara). Oh well. Go Hawks!
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Perry Fewell needs to go like....now.
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Great catches mean nothing if you don't win games...
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That Cowboys O line was absolutely dominant on that winning drive.
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The postponed Jets-Bills game being played tonight but will only air in the Jets and Bills local markets. You have to take the Bills here. The Bills are very middle of the pack but the Jets suck.
Ravens at Saints tonight: This is a big game for both teams. The Saints need a win to take sole possession of first place in the NFC South while the Ravens are in a super tight AFC North battle. As a Saints hater, I really hope the Ravens can pull this one off. Let's root for a Saints free postseason. And I think the Ravens will win tonight. The Saints are weak in pass defense so I think Flacco has a big night tonight. And the Ravens do have a good defense so I think they'll able to slow down the Saints offense enough to win, especially given I expect the Ravens to have a big offensive night themselves.
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Ballgame over. Saints lose! Theeeeeeeeeee Saints lose! :) It's always a great day when the Saints lose! :)
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At 4-7, Atlanta now regains the lead in the dumpster fire that is the NFC South.
The New Orleans loss is the third time they have lost three straight home games (1967 and 1997 were the others).
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Bears at Lions at 10:30 a.m. AZ time on CBS: This is a pretty good rivalry and I'm happy to have it as a Thanksgiving game even if the Bears are the weakest link tomorrow. Although both teams rivalry pecking orders are unclear, I have always tended to think of the Bears and Lions as each other's biggest rivals. The most memorable game in the series occurred a few months before I was born. On Thanksgiving day of 1980, the Bears Dave Williams returned the overtime kickoff for a game winning touchdown to beat the Lions, the only time in NFL history an overtime game has been won with a kickoff return touchdown. As for tomorrow, you have to go with the Lions. The Lions are far better at home than on the road, the Bears weak defense will surely be exploited by Johnson and Tate, the Lions have a good defense themselves and I don't expect much from Cutler, and the Lions always get up to play on Thanksgiving. And the Lions know how important this game is for their playoff hopes.
Eagles at Cowboys 2;30 p.m. AZ time on FOX: This rivalry barely missed out on my 5 favorite rivalries when I listed them earlier this year. Ask 5 different people what the best NFC East rivalry is and you might well get 5 different answers. But I always felt this one felt like the most intense of the NFC East rivalries. Perhaps this viewpoint was influenced by the circumstance of this having been a hot rivalry when I first became an NFL fan in the mid 1990s but this has always been my favorite NFC East rivalry and to see it on Thanksgiving is totally awesome baby! :) Two particularly memorable games in this series occurred in the 1990s. The meeting in Philly in 1995 was one of the most surreal games I've ever seen. With the game tied, the Cowboys elected to go for it on 4th down on their own 29. The Eagles defense stuffed Emmitt Smith short of the first down but the play was negated because the two minute warning had occurred before the snap. But the Cowboys went for it again and were stuffed again. Summerall and Madden couldn't believe it. The Eagles kicked the winning field goal a few plays later. Cowboys coach Barry Switzer came out and said that he wanted to make a foot to control the clock and that "if we punt they're going to come down and kick a field goal to win the game anyway." and then ranted "That one play wasn't the difference in the game. THE WAY WE PLAYED FOOTBALL THE ENTIRE SECOND HALF WAS THE DIFFERENCE!" Two years later, the 1997 meeting in Dallas gave us an ending almost as surreal. The Eagles were in position for a game winning chip shot field goal and Chris Boniel, who had been with the Cowboys the previous few seasons, was their kicker. But he never got the chance as holder Tommy Hutton dropped the football. Many Cowboys fans saw this as poetic justice as Eagles quarterback Ty Detmer had been above the line of scrimmage when he had thrown the pass that set up the opportunity but it had not been called. Talk about two surreal endings. As for tomorrow, I like the Cowboys. Dez Bryant will crush that Eagles secondary and the Cowboys O line is playing extremely well right now both in opening up holes for Demarco Murray and giving Romo plenty of time to throw. The Cowboys aren't great defensively so I do think the Eagles weapons can do some things but the game is in Dallas and I think the Cowboys O line is the difference as the Cowboys win a high scoring game. The winner takes possession of first place in the NFC East.
Seahawks at 49ers 6:30 p.m. AZ time on NBC: This is one of the newest rivalries in the NFL but it is clearly one of the best. The Seahawks and the 49ers have developed an intense dislike for each other and meeting in last year's NFC Championship game only adds fuel to the fire. That 2013 NFC Championship game, played in Seattle on 1-19-2014, is the most memorable game in the game. A calculated 4th down gamble by the Seahawks early in the 4th quarter led to a fantastic go ahead touchdown catch by Jermaine Kearse. Then, when it looked like the 49ers might be driving for the winning touchdown, Richard Sherman tipped a pass in the end zone that Malcom Smith intercepted to preserve the 23-17 win and the 2013 NFC Championship for the Seahawks, who would go on to win Super Bowl 48 two weeks later. As for tomorrow, I like the Seahawks. The Seahawks seem to have put it together and with that strong Seahawks run defense I think Gore will in for a quiet night tomorrow. And while I expect a low scoring defensive struggle, I think Wilson can make just enough plays to pull it off for Seattle. The loser faces an uphill battle to stay in the playoff hunt so this is a huge game. Great to see all three Thanksgiving games be rivalry games.
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Detroit has come back from a 14-3 deficit to take a 17-14 lead
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Make that 24-14 at halftime. And congratulations to Calvin Johnson on surpassing the 10000 yard career receiving yards mark, an accomplishment he achieved at 12:01 p.m. AZ time.
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Yep, Detroit has officialy ended the bears season. I sure hope the bears wake up and fire their coaches.
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Especially their defensive coordinator. How many times has the Bears defense been torched this year? A lot. Meanwhile the Lions are in the thick of the playoff race with an 8-4 record and two easy games coming up against the Buccaneers and Vikings at home.
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Bears have also been riddled with injuries. The Charles Tillman loss was a tough one. They're not completely out of it, but it does look pretty bleak. They may be rooting for the Cowboys today in hopes of beating them next week to try and close the gap. We'll see. And as we've learned week in and week out, games may look easy on paper, but don't ever take a team lightly or it will bite you in the butt. Lions fans better hope Caldwell will keep them focused because last season is still fresh in their memory.
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By the way, the Eagles have a pretty solid offensive line, themselves, eh?
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True. McCoy has had a huge day. And the thing is, the Eagles look far more like a contender with Sanchez than they ever did with Foles. Maybe Kelly is just the right coach for him. Where I really missed the boat today was by underestimating the Eagles defense. I thought Bryant would have a field day against what I thought was a weak Eagles secondary. I couldn't have been more wrong there. And the Eagles front seven, though I knew they were pretty good, has gotten more pressure on Romo than I expected, especially considering how good the Cowboys offensive line looked on Sunday. That said, the Eagles have control of the NFC East now. They have a one game lead, they've won a head to head, and they get the other head to head at home. The Eagles are really establishing themselves as a contender now.
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Yeah, the thing about Sunday is that while Dallas' O-line did look good, the other side of the coin is that the defensive line of the Giants is pretty bad. I mean, if you can't get a sniff of pass rush in seven seconds, something is wrong.
Bryant could have had a solid day, but Dallas is hell-bent on pounding the ball with Murray. Secondary still stinks, but hey, I'm not Jason Garrett or Rod Marinelli.
And yes, amazing what good coaching and being surrounded by talent can do for a guy. Not that Sanchez has been perfect, but he certainly has held his own.
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Boy, that was impressive. Never did I think the Eagles would win this going away. Now they hold a one-game lead with the first two tiebreakers (head-to-head, division record) in their possession. Should they stay ahead of Dallas after next week, they can wrap up the division if they defeat Dallas in Week 15.
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By the way, the Eagles have a pretty solid offensive line, themselves, eh?
Not a given item, have to look at this a bit more; but they have a great passing blocking team, 4th behind, from third to first, the Bengals, Broncos (who I believe is more a function of Peyton releasing quickly), and the Raiders, using adjusted sack rate. Eagles are at 3.8%, Raiders at 3.5%. Heck, 1-5, OAK-NE is 0.1% difference from all, ranging from the tiny 3.5-3.9%. Super tiny gap.
Run blocking? 30th, ahead of Tampa and the Chargers, given adjusted line yards, at 3.34, which speaks to how good Shady is. Darn good power success running, which is likely because of McCoy, 5th in the league. But! They get stuffed, stuck at or behind the line of scrimmage the most of all teams, worst in the league at 24%. If you get pressure, they will fade. 12th in 2nd level yeards, which is more McCoy skill based. Open field yards is 6th, at 0.92. I still think that's more McCoy and Peters based.
To break down the runs called by Kelly prior to today: Of 291 rushes: 24% run, 70 rushes, through LT Jason Peters, tops in the league. 9%, or 26 rushes between LT Peters and LG Mathis, 42% run, 122 rushes, through either side of C Kelce, 15 run, or D rushes, through RG Tobin (Gardner as of this week and last), fewest in the league, so he's not trusted. Makes sense, possibly why Kelly changed it up here? Last but not least 20% run; 58 rushes to the right of RT Lane Johnson, which is tied for the lead league in rushes through the RT, with Washington's Tom Compton. Kelly really uses his end tackles (LT, RT) a lot more than anyone else, and everywhere else is underusing them, including up the middle. Check this out: It's crude, but you hopefully can make out my point:
(http://i.imgur.com/PO6LlVG.png)
This is the Offensive Line schemes I talk a bit about, so if you so me talking about through passes for run blocking, I mean this. 24% run through 1, 9% through 2, 42% 3, 5% 4, and 20% 5.
But, you know, this is nice about what they run, but is it effective? Adjusted line yards has the answer. This is all adjusted for down, distance, leverage, opponent, shotgun vs. standard. There's also makes this stat's average to league average (as is) for standard HB/carry.
Using the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 run base set, as pictured above:
1 is at 3.92, 17th in the league. I'd have expected Peters higher, and especially with how often they run with him as the focal blocker. Stoutland, Austin, and Shurmur should look at this a bit more, though, spoiler, Peters is their best lineman, and not that great this year, thus far. Only solid run blocker they have, you'd have to think that's a huge area of priority for Philly in the draft next season.
2 is at 2.81, 30th only ahead of the Bengals and Cardinals. He is not worth his AAV of $5.25M a year. I'd cut him after the year. MCL sprain or not earlier this year, he's not proving his worth. At all.
3 is at 3.64, 27th in the league. At least Kelly knows his OL strengths? This is brutal though. Imagine how good McCoy is with actual run blockers? That cap hit of rising cap hit of about a million a year starting next year does not look good. Only 2.6M hit this year, but this could get ugly, especially with his age; he's 27, and likely to get worse by the end of that. At least it's only 13M guaranteed? He has to be considered a cut/restructure priority in 2016.
4 is RT is a dismal, worst in the league, 1.61 ALY. Granted, small sample for Gardner, but holy cow. Tobin is having/had like the 3rd worst year of any lineman. You could be the worst, Oakland's Khalif Barnes though, who is allowing his backs NEGATIVE 1.26 adjusted line yards. Joke.
5 is, last but not least, the 20% rate through the RT, is it justified? Washington's is, at the 20% 5-run play, at 9th in the league, but Philly's, not quite, at only 26th in the league, at 2.96. Lane Johnson is possibly a cap crunch, too; 5.4M, 6.3M, the next two years? To put up well below JAG numbers? You all have too many of these types; I think you have to consider a bit more of your run schemes. They might pass block really well, and it's fortunate to have McCoy where this is minimized, but it will really expose itself, and will become a slippery slope, should he ever get hurt.
Thoughts on G Josue Matias, FSU, as a R2 or R3 pick next year, Bill?
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I like Matias as a guard. Very solid lineman. Pretty much the entire offensive line for the Noles is solid, one of the reasons they continue to be successful.
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The Seahawks defense was dominant tonight in their win over the 49ers. The Eagles and Seahawks big wins today set up an intriguing Eagles at Seahawks head to head next Sunday.
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Where is RG3 playing next year? Jets? Bucs? Argonauts?
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Former Ravens RB Ray Rice could be back sooner than we thought, because he won his appeal that resulted from his indefinite suspension:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2014/11/28/ray-rice-wins-appeal-of-his-suspension-is-able-to-play-in-nfl-again/
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"No more...never mind!"
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Can we change the playoff system so that Division winners don't automatically qualify?!
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Can we change the playoff system so that Division winners don't automatically qualify?!
This. Exactly. If the playoffs started today the 4-7 Falcons would be in and the 8-4 Cowboys would be the first team out. I didn't get much support when I proposed this idea a few weeks ago but this is exactly why the top 6 should go. I don't necessarily care about an undeserving Falcons team making the playoffs but I do care that a more deserving Cowboys team could miss out because of it. It's the circumstance of deserving teams missing out that causes me not to like the auto berths for division winners. I was kinda irked last year when my 10-6 Cardinals missed out while an 8-7-1 Packers team got in. And this year's potential cases are far worse. I can live with some undeserving teams making it once in a while but what makes it a bad system is how it causes more deserving teams to be left out sometimes and that's why I'd go to a top 6 system.
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"No more...never mind!"
The NFL knew exactly what Ray Rice did regardless of whether or not they had video from inside the elevator. He had to drag is fiancee out of that elevator. To wonder what went on inside of it is completely pointless, because we see the outcome. So, when they decided to hand out that B.S. excuse of a suspension in August they deserved every scrap and bit of criticism they had hurled at them. And when the video from inside the elevator finally made itself public, they deserved even more scorn and derision. However, that doesn't mean they get to rewrite rules they put in place after their error in judgement on the fly and suspend him again. He got retroactively grandfathered into the rule and then given the "2nd offense" punishment of that policy for his one and only offense.
This was the right thing to do because even though he's eligible to play, finding any team to pick him up this season is almost an impossibility. He'll have to sit the rest of this year out. Then, he can find a new home during the off-season and even then, that's no guaruntee that he'll still find a team willing to pick him up.
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Also doesn't help that Ray Rice is not the running back he once was, so how much of an improvement would he be for some of these teams? He may find a home, but his days as a feature back are done.
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My Cardinals face the Atlanta Falcons tomorrow. I'm reasonably confident we can win this game as long as Stanton does not get hurt. The Falcons defense is bad so I think we can take advantage of that. And I like the matchup when we're on defense as well. The Falcons have gone 35 straight games without a 100 yard rusher and we've gone 21 straight games without allowing a 100 yard rusher. And Matt Ryan in his career has not played well against us. He has thrown 9 interceptions in his last 2 games against us. We also have 17 sacks over our last 3 games. Oh, and the Falcons this year have only beaten NFC South teams. Yeah, I like our chances tomorrow. GO CARDINALS!!! :)
Redskins at Colts: Colts. The Redskins pass defense is weak and Luck is an elite quarterback. McCoy has had some success when he's played this year but the Colts are a true contender. Colts take this one.
Titans at Texans: Texans: If you like good quarterback play make sure to NOT watch this game. Fitz VS Mettenberger. Yikes. So some other factor will have to decide this game. And if it comes down to rushing and defense, it's a huge edge for the Texans here. Foster and Watt should be able to carry the day for the Texans tomorrow.
Browns at Bills: Browns: The Bills defense has been playing well lately and Hoyer has had his ups and downs BUT remember that coach Pettine was the Bills defensive coordinator last year so he knows the ins and outs of the Bills defense. So I think Hoyer has a good day. Don't overreact to Orton's performance on Monday as it was against the Jets. Brownies take this one.
Chargers at Ravens: Ravens: The Ravens defense is particularly stout at home and the Chargers have had their struggles on the road. Regardless of what kind day Flacco has, I believe the Ravens can win this game on the strength of their defense.
Giants at Jaguars: Giants blowout. Nothing else needs to be said.
Bengals at Buccaneers: Bengals: The Bengals have been playing better lately and Green is hot and Sanu is having a big year. And whatever Dalton is or isn't, he's sure better than McGown,
Raiders at Rams: Rams. The Raiders are coming off their first win and Carr played well last week. But the worst thing for a rookie quarterback is an opponent with a strong pass rush and that's what the Rams have.
Saints at Steelers: Steelers: The Saints pass defense is weak so expect a big day out of Big Ben. Go Steelers!
Panthers at Vikings: Vikings. Neither team is very good but I'm not picking an NFC South team, especially not on the road.
Patriots at Packers: Packers: Game of the day baby! Possible Super Bowl preview. This matchup is totally awesome baby! Remember early in the year when the Packers started 1-2 and the Patriots suffered the Arrowhead debacle. Brady has been playing great since as the Patriots have averaged 39.5 points per game in this 7 game winning streak. And since Aaron Rodgers "relax" the Packers have won 7 of 8. Rodgers has a 10-1 touchdown to interception ratio this season with 30 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions including 18 touchdowns and no interceptions at home. I would pick whoever the home team was here. Both teams are undefeated at home and this is such a "pick em" game that home field is probably the best to make a pick. So I'll go with the Packers here.
Broncos at Chiefs: Broncos: Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense got back on track last week and the Broncos are still a contender. The circumstance of having to play the Broncos this week is what made that loss to the Raiders so bad for them. Had they beaten the Raiders they'd be able to absorb a loss this week a bit better,
GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!! :)
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Raiders at Rams: Rams. The Raiders are coming off their first win and Carr played well last week. But the worst thing for a rookie quarterback is an opponent with a strong pass rush and that's what the Rams have.
Ah yes, the possible final game before one (or both) of these teams moves back to L.A.! IIRC, the current Rams owner already has land available for a new stadium back west, and he could seek to relocate after this season; of course, that would require the approval of a majority of the other owners.
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Don't count out the Chargers making the move to L.A. as well.
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Don't count out the Chargers making the move to L.A. as well.
Right, the old Los Angeles Chargers from the AFL...
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Yep, the Chargers actually originated in Los Angeles when the AFL was founded. But be it the Rams or the Chargers or whoever, it's starting to feel more and more likely that Los Angeles could eventually get a team back. But I'm not so sure that's a good idea. You have to think a city must not be a football town if two teams leave it at the same time as the Rams and Raiders did in 1995.
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JJ Watt is still catching touchdowns. He has three this season.
MVP anyone?
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Johnny Football runs for his first touchdown.
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I would still vote for Rodgers because of his outstanding performance and also his intangibles and leadership from when he told everyone to relax and then went out and backed it up.
But Watt is a worthy candidate. However, he should only get serious consideration if the Texans make the playoffs. An MVP should come from a playoff team. How valuable can you really be if your team doesn't make the playoffs?
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You have to think a city must not be a football town if two teams leave it at the same time as the Rams and Raiders did in 1995.
But remember, this is not the first time that a city lost two franchises at the same time. The New York area lost the baseball Giants and Dodgers to California after the 1957 season, but got a replacement team (the Mets) five years later. It sure must've felt strange having the Yankees as the only team in America's largest city during that thankfully short time period!
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Now the Giants can add losing against the Jaguars to their list of accomplishments this season.
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It's always a dark day when the Saints win. :(
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Ravens defense was terrible today. Just terrible. Sure, they covered it up with a pick, a fumble, and some sacks, but they allowed eight straight third down conversions. And in the 2nd half, it seemed as though as soon as the offense would put some points on the board, they let Phillip Rivers and Co. march right up the field and respond.
Listen, I know that the Ravens have the best remaining schedule of the AFC North at this point. They only play one division game, while Cleveland and Pittsburgh play two, and Cincinnati plays three. However, I just don't see Cincy relinquishing this lead on the division, especially since they have a half game. You don't say, "Oh, they have a half game lead/deficit" in football at this stage. Their tie is proving to be a huge advantage for them and I think it may win them this. We'll see, of course. The trademark of this tight AFC North this season is "inconsistency". All the teams have had head scratching moments. From Rothelisberger's two week 12 TD span, only to lose to the Jets the next week to Cincy's horrible Thursday night game with a QB who posts a sub 5 QBR. Who knows what the future lies. Still, I think Cincy has a humongous advantage. I hope I'm proven wrong.
Also, boo you Buccaneers. You had the win and with a gigantically stupid mistake, you threw it down the toilet. Thanks a lot. #SnatchingDefeatfromtheJawsofVictory
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It's always a dark day when the Saints win. :(
Not for me.* :-D
*No offense.
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I have a heavy heart tonight after watching the Cardinals loss. Losing in Seattle was understandable. Losing in Atlanta was totally unexpected and with our remaining schedule it's a huge loss. This one hurts. It's really a shame we came out at the start of the game and played like kindergarteners and got ourselves behind from the get go. Well I won't be sleeping very well tonight and nothing is going to taste very good for a few days :(
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Game's not over yet. It's 26-10 Atlanta, sure, but there's plenty of time to play.
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Now it's over. Atlanta, 29-18 (Arizona scores a late garbage touchdown).
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The Saints and Falcons are now tied atop the NFC South.
Meanwhile the Packers have a 5 point lead and the Patriots have possession with about 6 minutes left.
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An MVP should come from a playoff team. How valuable can you really be if your team doesn't make the playoffs?
JJ's not my MVP at this moment, but this is nonsense. There's a reason it's an individual award.
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Game. Set. Match.
Pats win streak is over
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A clutch third down conversion from Rodgers to Cobb has salted away a 26-21 victory for the Packers over the Patriots to snap the Patriots 7 game winning streak. Huge win for the Packers. Great job Rodgers.
The Broncos can move into a tie with the Patriots for the 1 seed if they beat the Chiefs tonight.
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Could Tom Brady be fined for his vocal outbursts after that clutch play? I haven't seen him that pissed before.
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Could Tom Brady be fined for his vocal outbursts after that clutch play? I haven't seen him that pissed before.
Most likely, although according to the NFL vocal outbursts and deliberate injuries are less punishable than avoiding press conferences.
The Broncos can move into a tie with the Patriots for the 1 seed if they beat the Chiefs tonight.
Patriots still hold the head-to-head tiebreaker though.
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Excellent... Arizona lost again. The division is within striking distance for the Seahawks. Come on Hawks! Beat Chip Kelly and the Eagles!
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Can we change the playoff system so that Division winners don't automatically qualify?!
This. Exactly. If the playoffs started today the 4-7 Falcons would be in and the 8-4 Cowboys would be the first team out. I didn't get much support when I proposed this idea a few weeks ago but this is exactly why the top 6 should go. I don't necessarily care about an undeserving Falcons team making the playoffs but I do care that a more deserving Cowboys team could miss out because of it. It's the circumstance of deserving teams missing out that causes me not to like the auto berths for division winners. I was kinda irked last year when my 10-6 Cardinals missed out while an 8-7-1 Packers team got in. And this year's potential cases are far worse. I can live with some undeserving teams making it once in a while but what makes it a bad system is how it causes more deserving teams to be left out sometimes and that's why I'd go to a top 6 system.
Thank you. Both of you. Let's also not forget how, in 2011, the New York Giants got hosed. They had a 10-6 record, but missed the playoffs... whereas the Seahawks, with their 7-9 record, made the playoffs by virtue of having the least s**tty record in the NFC West. In a perfect world, this is how the 2011 NFC playoffs would have looked:
#1 seed: Falcons (13-3)
#2 seed: Bears (11-5; 5-1 in division)
#3 seed: Saints (11-5; 4-2 in division)
#4 seed: Packers (10-6; 4-2 in division; beat the Eagles in the regular season)
#5 seed: Eagles (10-6; 4-2 in division)
#6 seed: Giants (10-6; 3-3 in division)
With Green Bay at #4 instead of #6 and Philadelphia down at #5, they still would have faced each other in the first round of the playoffs and Green Bay still would have won. New Orleans probably would have defeated New York in the other match. Green Bay still plays Atlanta in the NFC semifinals and still wins. New Orleans plays Chicago in the other semifinals match. The Saints defense makes Jay Cutler choke and the Saints move on. NFC championship is New Orleans and Green Bay. New Orleans exposes Green Bay's weaknesses and easily dispatches them. Those f**king Packers would never have gotten near the Super Bowl. It would have been New Orleans versus Pittsburgh instead. No telling how that match would have gone, but I would have enjoyed it immensely. I would have loved to see the Steelers win its seventh ring, but I wouldn't have been sad if the Saints had won back-to-back titles.
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Dolphins at Jets tonight. Throughout the years, this has been a pretty good rivalry. The two most memorable games in this series just happened to have been Monday Night Football, On 9-21-1986, the Jets defeated the Dolphins 51-45 in overtime as Ken O'Brien threw for 479 touchdowns and 4 touchdowns to Wesley Walker, one of which occurred on the last play of regulation to force overtime and another of which won the overtime. Then on 10-23-2000, the comeback occurred, Going into the fourth the Dolphins led 30-7. The Jets would tie it at 30 only to see Dolphins reclaim the lead 37-30 on their next possession. This would set up one of the most legendary plays in Monday Night Football history: "And it is juggled and caught.. by Jumbo Elliot!" This legendary play would tie things up with 42 seconds left and overtime ensued. In overtime a Jets interception of Jay Fiedler set up John Hall's game winning 40 yard field goal. The game became known as "The Monday Night Miracle." Some people wondered during divisional realignment in 2002 why the it was the Colts and not the Dolphins who were shifted to the newly created AFC South. Well, the Dolphins were left in the AFC East to protect their long standing rivalries with the Bills, Patriots, and in particular, the Jets. I wholeheartedly supported that decision and still do. As for tonight, you have to go with the Dolphins. The Jets suck on both sides of the ball and the Dolphins have only gotten better as the year has progressed. Ryan Tannehill is a solid young quarterback and the Dolphins have a solid defense as well. It is dangerous to assume blowout in a rivalry but the Dolphins are by far the superior team and you've got to expect the Dolphins to win tonight.
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I think the Dolphins win as well, which would move them into the 6th seed in the AFC. But if we've learned anything about the NFL, it's to expect the unexpected. It's like the tagline for the old MTV show "Diary", "You think you know, but you have no idea." Just when we think we have it figured out, we're caught completely off-guard. With that said, here's to Miami creating a wild and wackier AFC playoff picture.
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Just when you think Miami has a chance to make the playoffs, they somehow find a way to blow it in December.
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Just when you think Miami has a chance to make the playoffs, they somehow find a way to blow it in December.
It's halftime. Let the game play itself out before you say stuff like that.
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Thank you. Both of you. Let's also not forget how, in 2011, the New York Giants got hosed.
There is ZERO chance of them not giving a playoff game to a division winner. Winning your division is your #1 way into the playoffs. Before the last 2 expansion realignment, there were just 3 divisions and 1 WC in each conference. Same things happened then.
Think of it this way, you can have a division where you have 1 great team and 3 crappy ones. That team is 6-0 within their division pretty easily. Same season, you could have a division with 4 very good teams, and they all split. 3-3. So are you going to punish a good division and reward a crappy one.
This isn't a new phenomenon, albeit, the NFC South may have taken this to a new level.
I could see them reseeding and taking away the home game, but there is no way they don't have the division winners each get into the playoffs. They will fix this by just expanding the playoffs and adding more WC teams.
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Thanks, Jets. Six AFC teams are now 7-5.
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Glad I was wrong what I said earlier :)
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12 out of 16 teams in the running for the AFC playoffs. Only the Jets, Raiders, Titans, and that god awful team in North Florida are out of it. All other AFC teams are still in the running. To see so many more teams in the mix than out of the mix is just great. This going to be a fun and exciting December. This AFC playoff race down the stretch is going to be totally awesome baby! :)
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Calling it now. The Raiders get their first win in two weeks against the Rams.
:lol:
This looks hilarious in hindsight, about as much I thought New Orleans would be a world beater this year, prior to the season. :P
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Although both teams rivalry pecking orders are unclear, I have always tended to think of the Bears and Lions as each other's biggest rivals.
Packers >>>>>>> Vikings > Lions.
Nothing unclear about Chicago's rivalries.
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Atlanta is getting 11-1/2 against Green Bay next Monday. I like the Packers to roll with this; Roddy White should return but he'll still be a little tender in the ankle he injured.
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After this week's performance, I expect some coaching changes at the Meadowlands when the season's over.
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I don't know what's more amazing: the fact that 3/4 of the AFC is still in the playoff hunt or the possibility of a second losing team making the playoffs (both on the NFC side). The way things are going, the Saints and Falcons (both 5-7 at this point) must be perfect just to make it above .500, i.e. win all four of their remaining games. One loss and they're toast!
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Get the butter out...Atlanta will not get past Green Bay.
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Atlanta is getting 11-1/2 against Green Bay next Monday. I like the Packers to roll with this; Roddy White should return but he'll still be a little tender in the ankle he injured.
Right now, it is 25 and light snow just a few minutes south of Green Bay.
The weather + Aaron Rodgers is on fire right now + Atlanta isn't very good = the possibility of GB might put up another 50 burger.
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The Falcons had just better hope that the Panthers can beat the Saints so that they can remain tied with each having three games left because as others have figured out already there's no way that the Falcons win in Green Bay.
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Never say never, my friends. Anything's possible, right, Kevin Garnett?
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Playoff clinching scenarios for this week:
Colts can clinch the AFC South with a win and a Texans loss.
Broncos can clinch a spot with a win and losses from all the following teams: Ravens, Browns, Texans, Chiefs and Steelers.
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Sorry Colts but the Texans are definitely NOT losing this week. They play the Jaguars. Enough said.
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Interesting strategy, perhaps, for Chip Kelly to consider this week; should he pull back on the throttle versus Seattle and save his team's strength for next week's Dallas rematch, pouring more into that to try and win the division and guarantee a playoff berth no matter what? Or should he go full tilt versus the Seahawks to try and get a possible better spot with positioning for a wild card contingency, especially in case Arizona starts fading more fully, and more especially should Dallas recover, win out (probably not, but one of course never knows), and get the division through the back door? That's one of the other pluses of the gridiron; it's almost as much a cerebral game as a physical one, thus making it doubly entertaining to watch most of the time.
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Sorry Colts but the Texans are definitely NOT losing this week. They play the Jaguars. Enough said.
How did that work out last week? Never overlook any opponent. Ever.
As for the Eagles, never pull the throttle. This is an important game for them. If they lose, they're screwed on tiebreakers, having lost to Arizona and Green Bay already.
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Ravens DT Haloti Ngata has been suspended 4 games (effectively the rest of the season) for PEDs. He would be eligible for the playoffs if the Ravens make it in. In a statement, Ngata clarified that the PED in question was Adderall.
Tough, tough loss for the already slightly reeling defense. This week's game in Miami is absolutely critical. If they don't get the win here, it will take a complete sweep of Jacksonville, Houston, and Cleveland, plus somebody collapsing for them to get in.
Absolutely foolish decision by Ngata. Given that a member of the other major league team in Baltimore was busted for the exact same thing should've made him wise to taking it in the first place. Also, given everything the Ravens had to go through, the absolute last thing they needed was another shot to their already absolutely tarnished reputation at this point. Poor form.
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Cowboys at Bears tonight. I like the Cowboys here. The Cowboys are 5-0 on the road and the Bears just aren't very good. This is a big game for the Cowboys in their playoff run. Keep in mind that the Bears have been especially bad against teams with strong offensive threats (Brady, Rodgers, Johnson.) So you can't like their chances against Murray and Bryant. The Bears are also terrible in prime time games. The Cowboys have been a bit up and down lately but I think this is a get healthy game for them.
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What exactly is a "get healthy" game? Teams should never play to avoid injury because that's exactly when players get injured. Plus, Dallas' last road loss just happened to come at Chicago. And can Tony Romo exercise those December demons? We'll find out.
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What exactly is a "get healthy" game? Teams should never play to avoid injury because that's exactly when players get injured. Plus, Dallas' last road loss just happened to come at Chicago. And can Tony Romo exercise those December demons? We'll find out.
Get healthy" game is a phrase sometimes used to refer a game in which a team coming off a bad performance or stretch has the opportunity to get themselves back on track by playing a low quality opponent. Now the Bears aren't down in Jaguars or Raiders territory but considering that they Cowboys have Murray and Bryant and considering how bad the Bears defense is tonight SHOULD be a get healthy game for the Cowboys although it's no guarantee.
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They had been looking quite hale, but Chicago is trying to make a contest out of it, now trailing 38-28.
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The Cowboys hold on to win 41-28 and clinch a winning season. How bout them Cowboys! If the Eagles lose Sunday then the Cowboys and Eagles would be back at tied heading into the last head to head. (Remember that the Eagles have to play the Seahawks albeit at home this week.) Really interesting division race shaping up in the NFC East. And the Bears are done. Also we'll never know how it would have played out but I disagreed with the Bears onside kick at about 6 minutes left. It was 38-28 and they had 2 timeouts left. By going onsides and not getting it they basically gave the Cowboys a field goal not to mention the momentum back.
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You're ignoring the fact that the Bears don't have a defense.
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You're ignoring the fact that the Bears don't have a defense.
That is the other side of the equation but the Bears did get a third down stop on the ensuing possession so had they kicked off maybe that field goal becomes a punt. But the Bears defense is extremely bad. Perhaps the Bears should use all of their 2015 draft picks on defense.
Also, how about this: Redskins tickets for this Sunday against the Rams are selling for as little as $4. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11983974/some-washington-redskins-tickets-selling-4 LMFAO at the most poorly run organization in the NFL.
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Several sources say that Washington head coach Jay Gruden may be done after this season.
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Several sources say that Washington head coach Jay Gruden may be done after this season.
So, in other words, scapegoated?
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My Cardinals host the Chiefs tomorrow. Both teams are reeling a bit but I like our chances here. Sometimes it's just good to get home and I tend to favor the home team in a matchup of teams that have been struggling. Furthermore, Stanton has been better at home than on the road and we get Fitzgerald back this week. I think the Cardinals win tomorrow, GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Steelers at Bengals: A big AFC North matchup. Both of these teams have proven they can't be trusted. But I'll take the Bengals here. The Steelers haven't been as good offensively away from home and I think Green and Sanu can do some things against the Steelers secondary.
Rams at Redskins: Rams. The Rams may be 5-7 but they've had their moments. They upset the Seahawks, 49ers, and Broncos and just last week put up a 52-0 win albeit VS the Raiders. But the Redskins are a very bad team right now and they have internal issues. The Rams also have a strong pass rush so McCoy won't have a good day here. The Rams can win a low scoring game here if that's what it takes.
Giants at Titans: Giants, Neither team is very good and I don't feel good about picking either one of them. But I think the Titans are the worse of two bad teams so I'll take the Giants here.
Panthers at Saints: Saints. At least Brees can put up some points. The horrible offensive line of Carolina doesn't even give Newton a chance. I hope the Panthers can pull it out though. I don't want the Saints in the playoffs and the Falcons have a very tough game Monday Night. Go Panthers.
Jets at Vikings: Vikings: The Vikings aren't great but the have beaten bad teams at home when they've played this year. And the Jets suck and also have internal issues. I like the Vikings here,
Ravens at Dolphins: Dolphins: The Dolphins defense is hot and the Ravens defense is not. Plus, I really like how Tannehill has developed this year. Flacco can have his days, as we all know, but I like the Dolphins here as they have a such a better defense than the Ravens right now. Ngata being out makes the Ravens defensive situation that much worse.
Colts at Browns: Colts: Davis not playing hurts the Colts defense but this is one of those "decent team vs a true contender" matchups. The Browns have put together a decent if inconsistent season but the Colts are a true contender and Luck is an elite quarterback. The Colts are a major reason not to write that Broncos-Patriots AFC Championship game in stone,
Buccaneers at Lions: Lions. The Lions rebounded nicely from the that 2 game losing streak with a convincing Thanksgiving Day performance. This also just doesn't seem to be the Buccaneers. year they haven't been able to buy a break when they've needed one this year. I think a factor here is that these Lions are more mature than previous editions. For years we would say "The Lions have all the talent in the world but they lack discipline and maturity." But these Lions seem more mature and less prone to taking a lesser opponent for granted. I think the Lions win here.
Texans at Jaguars: Texans blowout. Nothing else needs to be said.
Bills at Broncos: Broncos: The Broncos are a contender and Peyton has gotten back on track n recent weeks. The Broncos are also better defensively than they were last year and I don't see Orton doing much tomorrow. The Bills are a decent but this is a really bad draw for them in their playoff push. I think Peyton has a huge day and the Broncos win comfortably.
Seahawks at Eagles. Seahawks: The Eagles have been playing well since Sanchez has been playing but with the Seahawks run defense being so stout I don't think McCoy has a big day tomorrow. And I do think Sherman can shut down Matthews. Now, the Eagles does lead the NFC in sacks with 42 and Wilson has been sacked 11 times the last 2 games. I do think the Eagles pass rush will get pressure on Wilson but I also think Lynch and some rushing from Wilson will allow the Seahawks just enough offense to win a low scoring game,
49ers at Raiders. 49ers: This is usually considered a rivalry and I don't understand why. The teams only play each other every 4 years, the teams have never met in the postseason, and there is no history of one of these teams delivering the other a particularly painful loss. I don't se any rivalry here whatsoever. That said, I think the 49ers win here. The 49ers do still have playoff hopes and the Raiders flat out suck. I expect a comfortable 49ers win but you just never know. But I would be surprised if the Raiders were very competitive in this game,
Patriots at Chargers: Patriots: The Chargers seem to have gotten their act together these last few weeks but Brady is playing well and Rivers has never played well against the Patriots in his career. Plus the Patriots just don't lose back to back games. I like the Patriots here.
Go Cardinals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
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It's always a great day when the Saints lose! :) It's even sweeter to see the Saints blown out! Thank you Panthers! :)
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My Colts squeaked out a win against Cleveland. It was a nail biter while the Colts were in the Red Zone down 24-19, but managed to score the touchdown from Andrew Luck to TY Hilton & the interception with less than :10 left. We'll take it.
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Seems the other 12th man loves hearing himself talk at the Seahawks game.
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And I thought the Lions were savages to the Saints.............The Panthers ate them alive.
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Yes! My Cardinals beat the Chiefs 17-14! 10 win season baby! Love it! Love it! Thank you defense! You won this game for us! I'll sleep a lot better this week and everything will taste better this week! To clinch a 10 win season is totally awesome baby! Go Cardinals! :)
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So the 49ers season has officially fallen apart...and they have to play in Seattle next week.
And I'm calling it now: Carolina's gonna win the NFC South. I think they're the lesser of 3 evils, I think they've got the easier schedule of the 3 teams in contention for it...and they've got a tie. But as long as the Falcons don't win the division, I'll be happy.
And Peyton Manning didn't throw a touchdown pass today, ending his streak of doing so at 51 games. Hell has frozen over :oldlol:
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So, in other words, scapegoated?
After getting shut out by the Rams, it may happen sooner than later.
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The Redskins have been a horrible organization ever since Snyder bought them. He's the worst owner in the NFL and as long as he's at the top the Redskins will be a horrible organization that also puts a horrible product on the field.
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Little off-topic, but needed to point something out to moneygamelover:
Yeah baby! My Phoenix Suns upset the Dallas Mavericks 118-106 in a huge road win. :) The stars of the night were Goran Dragic with 28 points and 13 assists and Markeiff Morris with 22 points, 10 rebounds and good defense holding Dirk to 10 points on 2-10 shooting. What a satisfying road win over a contender. Go Suns! This win is totally awesome baby! :)
Cliffhangers: What a wonderful way to start a week. To see today's contestant get the last two SPs on the money was totally awesome baby! The trip to Paris was a nice prize although the purse wasn't my thing.
[sic]
Lineup: Totally awesome baby! Side by Side and Grocery Game are both favorites. Cover Up is an enjoyable game. Cliffhangers is a real favorite and a flat out awesome lead off hitter. Dice Game is a favorite and an absolutely wonderful closer. One Wrong Price is one of our dullest games but with the rest of the lineup being so great and having strong lead hitters and closers today, that can be ignored. This lineup was totally awesome baby!
Overall: A great show. 5 wins, all cars offered won, and a superb lineup made today's show totally awesome baby!
And now:
Yes! My Cardinals beat the Chiefs 17-14! 10 win season baby! Love it! Love it! Thank you defense! You won this game for us! I'll sleep a lot better this week and everything will taste better this week! To clinch a 10 win season is totally awesome baby! Go Cardinals! :)
Merriam-Webster just sent in a request:
(http://s19.postimg.org/sh5a219mb/Diversify.png)
Anyways, carry on.
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Not that I'm biased against the Patriots but a hit like that after a blocked punt shouldn't be legal.
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The Raiders won their second game of the season, and now this article is mourning the demise of the Gatorade shower.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/raiders-win-second-game--douse-coach-with-gatorade-005525375.html
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The Chargers should have gone for it instead of punting on that 4rth and 4 from about midfield with 6 minutes left. You're down two possessions, Brady's on the other side, and there just isn't much game left at that point.
"You can get away with more contact in the NBA than the NFL anymore." - Chris Collinsworth. Think about that for a minute.
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The New York Daily News is quoted as saying that Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith's "fate is sealed," even if the Falcons win the NFC South. They're saying that owner Arthur Blank may be eyeing Jets head coach Rex Ryan. Falcons DC Thomas Dimitroff may also be updating his resume.
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The New York Daily News is quoted as saying that Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith's "fate is sealed," even if the Falcons win the NFC South. They're saying that owner Arthur Blank may be eyeing Jets head coach Rex Ryan. Falcons DC Thomas Dimitroff may also be updating his resume.
Any team eyeing Rex Ryan must have missed how bad the Jets have been.
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The article says that Ryan and Blank have been friends for a time.
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Falcons at Packers tonight. Aaron Rodgers is on fire and I expect a comfortable Packers win. The Falcons aren't horrible but they aren't in the Packers league. Also bear in mind that the Packers are undefeated at home this year. Plus domed teams don't play well in clod weather and it's going to be cold tonight. When the Falcons lose this game, it will mean that every NFC South team will have accumulated 8 losses. As such, after tonight, it will be ensured that a team with a non winning record will win the NFC South. Still hoping it won't be the Saints.
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The Packers will easily clobber the Falcons. Atlanta is not a good team in a super duper horrible divison.
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Ultraprice, The Falcons lost 43-37, but it is not a blow out like a lot of people predicted.
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And with that loss, it's official. The winner of the NFC South will have at least 8 losses.
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Well, that Packers defense doesn't look so scary anymore. I sure hope that they lose one of their last games, because I'm pretty sure (no guarantee) that the Seahawks are going to win out. Santa Clara's spirit got shattered into a million tiny pieces by the Raiders, Arizona is beat up (and the Seahawks absolutely shine in prime time), and the Rams don't play well in Seattle. Go Hawks! Take the West!
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From the Charlotte Observer: Carolina QB Cam Newton has been injured in a car accident. More about it here. (http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/12/09/5373373/accident-blocks-church-street.html)
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HERE'S JOHNNY FOOTBALL
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First and most importantly, my condolences to Cam Newton and his family and teammates on this unspeakable tragedy. There are reports out now that both of his legs are broken. It's horrible.
As for Manziel, starting him this Sunday is the right decision for the Browns. Hoyer has clearly regressed these last few weeks. Might as well give Manziel his shot.
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First and most importantly, my condolences to Cam Newton and his family and teammates on this unspeakable tragedy. There are reports out now that both of his legs are broken. It's horrible.
As for Manziel, starting him this Sunday is the right decision for the Browns. Hoyer has clearly regressed these last few weeks. Might as well give Manziel his shot.
First of all, if that's true, then man oh man the Panthers are done this year. I saw wreckage of his truck. It's awful. I hope Newton has a speedy recovery.
Johnny Manziel should do well, but I think the Bengals will beat Cleveland.
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Cam is going to be fine. I haven't see anything about broken legs, so that must be a false report. It's likely he went to the hospital just for precautionary reasons. Other than that, nothing fearsome. Let's also hope everyone is ok, not just Cam.
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Cam is going to be fine. I haven't see anything about broken legs, so that must be a false report. It's likely he went to the hospital just for precautionary reasons. Other than that, nothing fearsome. Let's also hope everyone is ok, not just Cam.
Everything wildbill0962 said. All the reports that I've read say that he's not seriously hurt & nowhere near having broken legs, such as this one: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/09/no-serious-injuries-for-cam-newton/#comments (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/09/no-serious-injuries-for-cam-newton/#comments)
And while Manziel does deserve his shot at a start, I would've given Hoyer 1 more game. The Browns still have a (albeit slim) playoff chance, and I think the known entity gives you a better shot at the playoffs than the wildcard does.
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Cam is going to be fine. I haven't see anything about broken legs, so that must be a false report. It's likely he went to the hospital just for precautionary reasons. Other than that, nothing fearsome. Let's also hope everyone is ok, not just Cam.
I went to that link that Ccook posted and there was no mention of him breaking his legs.........But Cam's OK, so that's all that matters.
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I saw comments in the comments section on both that article and an ESPN article from posters that said they had heard he had broken both his legs. There's where I got that from.
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Judging from this, it could have been a whole lot worse.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4bpukkCYAAgSse.jpg:large)
Thank goodness he'll be okay.
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All the updates I'm now seeing say he escaped with just scratches and bruises. Thank goodness that's all it is.
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Turns out Newton has actually suffered two transverse process fractures in his lower back.
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Yet another Cam Newton drive that ends in a turnover.
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Yet another Cam Newton drive that ends in a turnover.
Might be a little bit too soon. But it is funny. :biggrin:
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Jadeveon Clowney underwent microfracture knee surgery today and will be out of action for nine months.
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Cam Newton officially out for Sunday against TB
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An extremely ugly and disturbing story involving the Redskins. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12009276/bashaud-breeland-andre-roberts-washington-redskins-trade-punches
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Eh, fights happen all the time in practice, especially during training camp. This could just be a case of frustration.
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Seahawk fan here rooting for St. Louis tonight...GO Rams! :P
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Come on Rams! Clip the wings of Arizona and set them up for a bad time next Sunday night against the Hawks! Go Hawks!
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If my Cardinals can beat the Rams tonight, it'll give us an 11th win and put us in great shape for a playoff berth. That said, I'm not counting on it. If I take off my Cardinals hat and put on my projector hat, I'd take the Rams to take this one. Stanton isn't as good on the road as he is at home and the Rams have a great defense with a fierce pass rush. Remember that the Rams have just recorded back to back shutouts. The Rams aren't great offensively and the Cardinals do have a good defense but this could be something like a 13-3 Rams win. The Rams are actually my dark horse playoff team for 2015. Come on Cardinals, prove me wrong! Go Cardinals ! :)
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If the Rams get a QB, they'll be a very popular pick to make the playoffs next season. That said, I'm still holding out hope that Jacksonville surprises next season. Need a few pieces, but the roster is still coming along nicely.
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Here are the playoff-clinching scenarios for week 15:
AFC
The Denver Broncos can clinch:
- a playoff berth with losses from both the Houston Texans and Miami Dolphins AND any one of the following three combinations: (1) losses from both the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers, (2) losses from both the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns or (3) a Baltimore Ravens' loss coupled with a Pittsburgh Steelers' win;
- the AFC West division title with a win over the San Diego Chargers;
- a first-round bye with a win, losses from both the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts AND either a Pittsburgh Steelers' loss or if the Broncos clinch the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Steelers.
The Indianapolis Colts can clinch the AFC South division title with a win over the Houston Texans.
The New England Patriots can clinch:
- a playoff berth with a Buffalo Bills' loss AND any one of the following three combinations: (1) losses from the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers, (2) losses from the Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers or (3) losses from the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers;
- the AFC East division title with a win over the Miami Dolphins;
- a first-round bye with a win, losses from both the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers AND a loss by either the Cincinnati Bengals' or the Denver Broncos.
NFC
The Arizona Cardinals can clinch a playoff berth with a win, a Detroit Lions' loss AND either a Green Bay Packers' win or if the Cardinals clinch the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Packers.
The Green Bay Packers can clinch a playoff berth with a win, a Dallas Cowboys' loss AND the Packers clinch the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Cowboys.
New England and Indianapolis pretty much won their divisions, since the Patriots play at Gillette this week and haven't lost at home in two years and the Texans have never won a road game against the Colts. But this is football and you never know what will happen.
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Cardinals also clinch with a win and the Dallas/Philadelphia game does not end in a tie.
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Congratulations to Larry Fitzgerald on his 900th career reception, an accomplishment he achieved at 7:32 p.m. AZ time. To have 900 career receptions is totally awesome baby! :) Larry Fitzgerald, congratulations on a great accomplishment and here's hoping you'll still be a Cardinal in 2015! :)
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Moneygamelover, it might be best to NOT watch arizona anymore. Their chances of hosting the super bowl took a deep plunge tonight.
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The Cardinals will win 11 games for the first time since 1975. Amazing defense and being able to overcome adversity after Stanton went down.
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Yes! 11 win season and almost certainly a playoff berth! Love it! Love it! Thank you defense! :) That's two games in a row you guys have won for us with little offensive support. To be a playoff team is totally awesome baby! :)
On a more somber note, the Stanton injury has killed any chance we may have had at winning a playoff game. All we have now is Lindley and Thomas and they both suck.
But I'm not going to worry about that tonight. I'm going to savor this 11 win season and playoff appearance and worry about what may come down the road. Go cardinals! :)
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Crud. That was very disappointing. As a Hawks fan, I'm very angry right now. I'll see myself out now
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Don't despair yet; Seattle still has a shot at the division if they win out, which is very much possible at the moment, I think, and as long as it doesn't come down to between they and Dallas, are in reasonably good shape for a wild card too.
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All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson's appeal of a league suspension for a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy has been denied, the league announced Friday.
Peterson's appeal was heard by former NFL executive Harold Henderson last week in Washington, D.C.. Henderson was appointed by commissioner Roger Goodell as independent arbitrator to hear the sides' cases and issue a ruling.
In upholding the NFL's initial ruling, Henderson concluded that Peterson "has not demonstrated that the process and procedures surrounding his discipline were not fair and consistent." Wrote Henderson: "He was afforded all the protections and rights to which he is entitled, and I find no basis to vacate or reduce the discipline."
Peterson is now expected to appeal the decision in federal court.
Peterson, the 2012 NFL MVP, hasn't played for the Minnesota Vikings since Week 1 after he was charged with child abuse in Texas. He was placed on paid leave while the legal process played out, and he pleaded no contest Nov. 4 to misdemeanor reckless assault for injuring his 4-year-old son with a wooden switch. He avoided jail time by reaching the plea deal.
On Nov. 18, Peterson was suspended without pay for at least the rest of the season by Goodell, who said he would not consider reinstatement before April 15.
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Steelers at Falcons; Steelers: The Falcons pass defense is really bad so I think Big Ben has a big day here. Matt Ryan and those Falcons receivers may do enough to keep it close for awhile but I expect Big Ben to put up big numbers in a Steelers win.
Redskins at Giants: Giants: Neither team has had a good season but the Redskins are by far the worse team here. And the Redskins have so many internal issues it's hard to pick them to win any game. Believe me, if I owned the Redskins both Bashaud Breeland and Andre Roberts would have both been waived on Wednesday.
Dolphins at Patriots: Patriots: Tom Brady has had a strong year, the Patriots are a true contender and undefeated at home, and I think Belicheck will remember week 1 and you'll get a highly prepared and motivated Patriots team out there tomorrow. I think the Patriots take this one. The Patriots wrap up the AFC East and enjoy doing it.
Raiders at Chiefs; Chiefs: You know, what's really hurting the Chiefs playoff hopes right now is that first lost to the Raiders. The losses to the Broncos and Cardinals are reasonable losses, But it's that Raiders loss that's really damaging their chances. I just don't see the Raiders beating the Chiefs again. I don't expect a young quarterback like Carr to do very well in the AFC's most hostile environment. The Chiefs do need to get Charles more carries but I definitely expect a Chiefs win here.
Texans at Colts: Colts: This is the difference between a decent team and a contender. The Texans are merely a decent whereas the Colts are a major contender, Watt may do enough damage to keep things close but at the end of the day I think Luck makes enough plays to win and Fitz makes enough mistakes to lose. The Colts wrap up the AFC South here,
Jaguars at Ravens: Ravens blowout, Nothing else needs to be said.
Packers at Bills: Packers: Rodgers is mu MVP Pick and he and the Packers are rolling. The Bills were in decent shape to make a run at a playoff berth but drawing contenders in back to back weeks has killed them. The Bills have shown some progress this year but they still aren't nearly good enough to beat a true contender like the Packers. Rodgers rolls.
Buccaneers at Panthers: Panthers: This just isn't the Buccaneers year. It's too bad Cam can't go this week coming off his best game of the season last week but I think the Panthers will motivated to play for him and "win one for Cam" after what happened this past week.
Bengals at Browns: Browns: I don't know what he'll be like long term but I think Johnny Football brings some magic to this game. I smell a win for the Brownies here.
Jets at Titans: Scalpers afternoon off. Pick is the Titans. Let's move on.
Vikings at Lions: Lions: The Lions are a strong home team that is playing well in recent weeks. And although the Vikings are 6-7, a good number of their wins were home wins against bad teams. I see the Lions taking this one. I think the Lions find a way to win be it with offense or defense.
Broncos at Chargers: Broncos: The Chargers are a good quality football team but the Broncos are a true contender and they've been well the last few weeks. The Broncos are playing like a team that's ready to wrap up the AFC West, Peyton is an elite quarterback but the discovery of C.J. Anderson to give the Broncos a strong running game makes them more complete as a team. Broncos wrap up the AFC West here.
49ers at Seahawks: Seahawks: A clear case of teams heading in opposite directions. The Seahawks have rounded into form as the season has progressed and the 49ers are fading. The Seahawks defense is playing exceptionally well and Lynch and Wilson can give them what offense they need to win.
Cowboys at Eagles: Cowboys: The Cowboys are 6-0 on the road. This was a hard game pick and there is the fact that the Eagles dominated the Cowboys in the first meeting but there just seems to be something about the Cowboys on the road this year. I just hope this game isn't a tie.
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Apparently arguing an overturned touchdown is the same as arguing balls and strikes in baseball.
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Apparently arguing an overturned touchdown is the same as arguing balls and strikes in baseball.
Santana Moss probably said something. It's not the first time you'd argue a touchdown.
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I posted this on Facebook/Twitter just before the start of the Jacksonville-Baltimore game:
The fun thing about a trap game is that you don't know it's a trap game until the "lock" team actually loses. Good luck #Ravens.
They're playing with no urgency, and it will be their downfall. They know their secondary is leaky, but they don't see Jacksonville as a threat.
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I was this close to picking the Bills' upset (if it holds). Strong defense for them. Like St. Louis, if they can get some stability at quarterback, they are a team to watch.
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Meanwhile the Patriots clinch the AFC East and the Colts clinch the AFC South.
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The Colts win the AFC South. The Patriots win the AFC East. Odell Beckham Jr. continues to make his case for Rookie of the Year.
And Johnny Manziel is overrated. 10-18. 80 yards and 2 picks. Browns shut out by the Bengals 30-0.
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The Packers loss is huge because now the Lions can move into a first place tie in the NFC North with a win today. That head to head in week 17 could well wind up being for the NFC North.
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Texans still haven't won in Indianapolis, ever.
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The also means the Seahawks control their own destiny for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. And next Sunday night is Seahawks at Cardinals. Home-field very well could be decided there.
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And the Patriots have the inside track to the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They hold the tiebreaker over (I think) every AFC playoff contender except the Chiefs. It's looking like the road to the Super Bowl will once again go through Foxborough.
And a question for us to consider. As the season winds down, who's your pick for MVP? My pick would be Aaron Rodgers. I could definitely see it going to Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning, but Rodger's has been a model of efficiency (even if you include his performance today). Plus, before the season started, I predicted that he would be MVP and OPotY, so I'm going to stick to that pick.
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I'd add Tom Brady to the list of contenders but I would vote for Rodgers. Not only has he had a great year in terms of performance (today notwithstanding) but I really liked the intangibles he showed by telling everyone to relax when the Packers got off to a slow start and then went out and backed it up.
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And Kansas City can't catch New England anyway, since they could only max out at 10-6 and New England already has 11 wins. They have head-to-head over Denver and Indianapolis (and Cincinnati, but the tie kinda throws that out), plus an 8-2 conference record holds strong as well, as the second tiebreak. So yes, the Pats are in control.
As for MVP, I still feel like my vote is going to go to Houston. Yes, they're only 7-7, but Watt is just having that type of year and without him, Houston likely isn't anywhere near .500. Plus, we were expecting him to be paired with Jadeveon Clowney, which obviously didn't pan out (though we need to show some love to Whitney Mercilus). Rodgers is my second choice.
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Last year there was discussion of expanding the playoffs to 14 teams. As you know, that didn't happen but it's apparently on the table again and it appears more likely to pass this time. I said on last year's NFL thread that I was in favor of the expanded playoffs and I'll say it again now. I support the idea because it would make the 1 seeds more valuable because then only the 1 seeds would get a first round bye. As the playoffs are now there's a far bigger difference between being the 2 seed and the 3 seed than between the 1 seed and the 2 seed because 2 seeds get first round byes right now. In a 14 team only the 1 seed would get a first round bye so that makes the 1 seed that much more valuable. Another idea being discussed is to only guarantee home games to three out of four division winners per conference. Here's my source. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12026957/reseeding-likely-nfl-playoffs-expand
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I'm all for expanding to 14 teams as well. The whole three division winners guaranteed home games is ok, I guess, but it just seems a bit overreacting to me. I mean, this will likely be only the second time ever a losing record qualifies for the playoffs.
And for those worried about whether this would mean more losing teams in the playoffs, I did some research this offseason (when this topic was originally mentioned) on what the records would have been for the No. 7 seeds in each conference and found that since re-alignment (since 2002), of the 24 teams that would have been the seventh seed in their respective conference, 11 of them would have been 9-7, six would have been 10-6, six would have been 8-8 and one (the 2008 Patriots, led by Matt Cassel) would have been 11-5.
Another reason I'm cool with playoff expansion is that it doesn't necessarily water down the regular season, nor does it make the percentage of teams in the playoffs all that bad. 14/32 teams is still just 43.75%, compared to 53.33% of teams in the NBA and NHL. The MLB, of course, has the smallest percentage at 33.33% (10/30).
And who wouldn't want to watch six playoff games on Wild Card Weekend? The question would be how would they schedule the games? Three each on Saturday and Sunday? Two each on Saturday, Sunday and Monday? That would be one of the main issues to work out, but I don't see a problem with three games on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 1:00, 4:30 and 8:00.
We shall find out in March how this goes down. Should be interesting.
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And the Broncos win the AFC West. Congratulations to the Patriots, Colts, and Broncos on clinching your divisions today. You're all great teams and I can plausibility see any one of you three eventually go on to win the Lamar Hunt Trophy.
Lions escape the Vikings and tie the Packers atop the NFC North.
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49ers are officially done-zo. Now time to play spoiler. As I mentioned before, Seattle at Arizona next week is huge. Cardinals lock up the No. 1 seed with a win, Seahawks are the top seed if they win out. Lions can also clinch a playoff spot with a win next week at Chicago, as well as the Steelers against the Chiefs.
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Colin Kaepernick leads the league in being sacked, with 49. Six of them today.
Atlanta loses (of course), but they could still maintain a lead in the NFC Dumpster Fire--at 5-9--if New Orleans loses tomorrow night
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Actually, Falcons won't have the lead either way. Even if the Saints lose, 5-8-1 is better than 5-9, so Atlanta would be in second place, behind Carolina. That said, if the Falcons win out, they win the NFC South.
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I just hope either the Falcons or Panthers take the south so we can keep team bountygate out of the playoffs. And not only do the Falcons control their own destiny by winning their last two but their opponents will be the other two NFC South teams in contention. At the Saints next week and home VS the Panthers week 17.
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Exactly why the Falcons control their destiny. Winning out puts them at 7-9. In that scenario, the best New Orleans can do is 7-9 and Atlanta would have the head-to-head tiebreak, and the best Carolina can do is 6-9-1.
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What a happy day. The Packers lost and Santa Clara's season is over at the hands of the Hawks. Now, the Hawks just need a Dallas loss, and Carroll and company to win out. Then, the #1 seed will belong to Seattle. These are exciting times. GO HAWKS!!!
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Did some digging and figured out that the Lions can actually clinch the NFC North with a win and a Packers loss next week.
Here's how:
If Detroit wins and Green Bay loses next week, the Lions would be 11-4 and the Packers would be 10-5. Lions would be 5-0 in division, Packers 4-1, they'd be tied on common games at 9-3, but Detroit would clinch the conference record tiebreak at 9-2 vs. Green Bay's 7-4. So in that scenario, even if Green Bay were to win in Week 17, putting both teams at 11-5, they'd split the head-to-head, tie on division record at 5-1, tie on common games record at 9-3, but Detroit's 9-3 conference record would beat Green Bay's 8-4.
Thus, a Lions win and a Packers loss in Week 16 means Detroit clinches the NFC North.
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Tony Romo proving why he doesn't belong in the playoffs.
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Thus, a Lions win and a Packers loss in Week 16 means Detroit clinches the NFC North.
Don't count on it The Packers play the absolutely horrid Tampa Bay Bucs next week.
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I know. I just felt it was fun to point out :)
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The Eagles lost tonight probably blew all their playoff hopes.
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I wouldn't count on that. They've still got Washington next week and New York the week after.
However, nothing would thrill me more greatly than to see Big Blue knock the Eagles out of playoff contention. :biggrin:
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Eagles almost certainly need the Cowboys to lose to the Colts next week because I don't think Dallas loses to Washington in Week 17.
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For whatever this may be worth, Dallas is now 7-0 on the road this season, compared to only 3-4 at AT&T Stadium. Maybe the Cowboys should be aiming for the wildcard instead of the NFC East crown so they can stay on the road through the postseason :P
And because there was no tie tonight, Arizona is the 1st NFC team to clinch a playoff spot.
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How bout them Cowboys! 10 win season for Big D! And they're 7-0 on the road. Never take any opponent lightly, but the Cowboys will be heavily favored to win at the Redskins in week 17. To see a team go undefeated on the road would be totally awesome baby!
As for the Eagles, they could win their last two and still miss out at 11-5. What's a real killer for the Eagles is how many tiebreakers they lose. They lose head to head tiebreakers with the Seahawks, Cardinals, and Packers. I think it is mostly likely that the Eagles are the team without a chair when the music stops.
Oh, and no tie so...... MY CRADINALS OFFICALY HAVE A PLAYOFF BERTH!!!!!!!! :)
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Yes, the Red Birds are going to the playoffs. But, don't start celebrating yet. If Seattle wins out, they're swiping that #1 seed away. The Sunday Night game should be gritty and low scoring, but the Seahwawks defense is on fire, and Carroll and the Hawks have a crazy good record in prime time. The fact that Arizona is starting their third string quarterback really helps the situation. Go Hawks! Beat Arizona!
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Actually, Falcons won't have the lead either way. Even if the Saints lose, 5-8-1 is better than 5-9, so Atlanta would be in second place, behind Carolina. That said, if the Falcons win out, they win the NFC South.
That's right...I missed that Carolina won yesterday, so that puts Atlanta a game back in the loss column.
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Saints at Bears tonight: I expect have terrible defenses so I expect a high scoring shootout here. I'll take the Bears here as I think the best unit in this matchup is the Bears receivers. So I think a lot of points will be scored tonight and the Bears win. Go Bears! Help us keep the Saints out of the playoffs.
Oh, and you may not think tonight's matchup of 5-8 teams is great but enjoy it because it's certainly loads better than that game we have coming up on Thursday. Yes, that's right. This Thursday Night will see a prime time matchup of 2-12 teams as the Titans hit the road and go against the worst team in the NFL.
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I would say it's a battle for possibly Jameis Winston, but Jacksonville likely doesn't take a QB, anyway, in round one. Maybe a defensive player like Leonard Williams or Randy Gregory. At least everyone will get to see some of the pieces Jacksonville has to build around, especially on defense. I've seen people say they really like Aaron Colvin in the secondary. It may take some time, but as I've mentioned before, I think Jacksonville is slowly building something here. They do have the youngest roster in the league, so it will be interesting to see what comes of it.
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While the NFL says it will be played, there is a concern that this upcoming Super Bowl could be cancelled. The Terrorist Risk Insurance Act expires at the end of the year, and while legislation including renewing it passed the Senate, it is being held up in the House. The Super Bowl is among a number of things that could be affected.
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Sorry MGL, but the Saints are going to win this one, keeping the NFC South race close.
Also, may I ask why you hate the Saints?
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It's always a dark day when the Saints win. :( Now we're really counting on the Falcons to beat the Saints next week so we can enjoy a Saints free postseason.
BTW: Does anyone know who would win the NFC East if the Cowboys and Eagles both finish 11-5? The head to head tiebreaker can't be used because they split the head to head.
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BTW: Does anyone know who would win the NFC East if the Cowboys and Eagles both finish 11-5? The head to head tiebreaker can't be used because they split the head to head.
I believe it will be the Eagles because they will own the divisional tiebreaker . They're last two games are against the Redskins and the Giants. Winning both games would put them 5-1 in divisional games, while the Cowboys can only go up to 4-2.
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31 - 15.................Who Dat? :-D Now onto Atlanta!
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BTW: Does anyone know who would win the NFC East if the Cowboys and Eagles both finish 11-5? The head to head tiebreaker can't be used because they split the head to head.
Eagles. In that scenario, they'd finish 5-1 against divisional opponents. The Cowboys' record currently at 3-2, making it impossible for them to win that tiebreaker.
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What PatrickRox80 and bigblue999 said.
Philly would win the division with a better interdivision record than Dallas (5-1 verses either 4-2 or 3-3 dependent on the Cowboys/Redskins week 17 game).
Essentially, the Cowboys can't win the division if they have the same number of wins as the Eagles at the end of the season.
And moneygamelover:
It's always a dark day when the Saints win. :( Now we're really counting on the Falcons to beat the Saints next week so we can enjoy a Saints free postseason.
Don't try and speak for all of us because I can assure you that there are probably quite a few boardies (myself among them) who would rather have the Saints in the postseason than the Falcons or Panthers.
At this rate, I'd want them in just so they could have a chance at beating your Cardinals in the Superdome on Wild Card Weekend (assuming that Seattle wins the NFC West and that the Wild Card matchups come to fruition that way).
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Now that I know what the tiebreak scenario will be I actually like the Eagles chances. The Cowboys host the Colts, a game they could easily lose and go to the Redskins, a team they should beat. The Eagles have at the Redskins, a game they should win and at the Giants a game in which they will be favored although that is a losable game for them. I'd say, now that I know what the tiebreaker will be that I actually like the Eagles chances.
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Also, may I ask why you hate the Saints?
Sorry I missed the question earlier. I hate the Saints because of bountygate as I find it extremely offensive for a team to have a program where players are actually paid to knock opposing players out of the game. So that is why I hate the Saints.
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2014 NFL PLAYOFF SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 16
AFC
CLINCHED:
Denver – AFC West
Indianapolis – AFC South
New England – AFC East
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (at New York Jets)
New England clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:
1) NE win + DEN loss
New England clinches a first-round bye with:
1) NE win OR
2) NE tie + IND loss or tie OR
3) IND loss + CIN loss or tie + PIT loss or tie + BAL loss or tie
DENVER BRONCOS (at Cincinnati)
Denver clinches a first-round bye with:
1) DEN win OR
2) DEN tie + IND loss or tie
CINCINNATI BENGALS (vs. Denver)
Cincinnati clinches AFC North division with:
1) CIN win + PIT loss + BAL loss or tie
Cincinnati clinches a playoff spot with:
1) CIN win OR
2) CIN tie + BAL loss OR
3) CIN tie + KC loss or tie + SD loss or tie OR
4) KC loss + SD loss + BUF loss or tie
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (vs. Kansas City)
Pittsburgh clinches a playoff spot with:
1) PIT win
BALTIMORE RAVENS (at Houston)
Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with:
1) BAL win + PIT loss + CIN loss OR
2) BAL win + KC loss or tie + SD loss or tie OR
3) BAL tie + KC loss + SD loss + BUF loss or tie
NFC
CLINCHED: Arizona – playoff spot
ARIZONA CARDINALS (vs. Seattle)
Arizona clinches NFC West division and home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) ARI win
DETROIT LIONS (at Chicago)
Detroit clinches NFC North division with:
1) DET win + GB loss
Detroit clinches a first-round bye with:
1) DET win + GB loss + DAL loss
Detroit clinches a playoff spot with:
1) DET win OR
2) DET tie + PHI loss or tie OR
3) PHI loss
DALLAS COWBOYS (vs. Indianapolis)
Dallas clinches NFC East division with:
1) DAL win + PHI loss or tie OR
2) DAL tie + PHI loss
Dallas clinches a playoff spot with:
1) DAL win + GB loss or tie + DET loss or tie as long as both don't tie
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (at Arizona)
Seattle clinches a playoff spot with:
1) SEA win + PHI loss or tie OR
2) SEA win + DET loss or tie OR
3) SEA win + GB loss or tie OR
4) SEA tie + PHI loss OR
5) SEA tie + DET loss + GB loss OR
6) PHI loss + DAL win or tie
GREEN BAY PACKERS (at Tampa Bay)
Green Bay clinches a playoff spot with:
1) GB win + PHI loss or tie OR
2) GB win + DAL win or tie OR
3) GB tie + PHI loss OR
4) GB tie + PHI tie + DAL win or tie OR
5) PHI loss + DAL win or tie
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (vs. Atlanta)
New Orleans clinches NFC South division with:
1) NO win + CAR loss
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Titans and Jaguars on Thursday Night Football? Three hours of a white flag would draw in higher ratings.
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Jay Cutler benched for Jimmy Clausen
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Jay Cutler benched for Jimmy Clausen
What a dumb decision by the Bears last off season to give him a seven year extension.
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Again, it's not really a 7-year deal, but the money guaranteed in the next two years is certainly a killer. My question is why not just go with David Fales? Might as well see what you have in him. Season is dead anyway.
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Heads will roll in Chicago and New York (Jets) when the season is over.
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Not just Chicago and New York either. I've heard that as many as 12 NFL coaches jobs may be in jeopardy.
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Well, let's see. Trestman and Ryan look to be as good as gone. Jim Harbaugh is really being courted by Michigan now, so that's a possibility. We know Oakland will look for a new coach. I have to think Joe Philbin is done in Miami. And then possibly Mike Smith and Jay Gruden. So that's likely seven teams (CHI, NYJ, SF, OAK, MIA, ATL, WAS) who might have new head coaches in 2015.
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Ray McDonald cut from SF for alleged sexual assault. Also, with the toilet bowl game of the season tonight, I will not be watching. But, I'll pick the Jaguars over the Titans because I like Gus Bradley (ex defensive coordinator for Seattle), and Jacksonville has a couple of favorite ex-Seahawks (Red Bryant and Chris Clemons). I'm more concerned about the SNF game for obvious reasons (Go Hawks!).
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The Titans are in an awkward position tonight. They are better off losing than winning as the best thing for the Titans is to get into the Mariotta/Winston sweepstakes. And yet the schedule has given them the one opponent that they are very likely to beat. The Titans have to be at their worst to lose this particular game. If there's any silver lining about this matchup, it's that both teams are bad so maybe this will at least be a competitive game. But expect an ugly game tonight.
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It looks like Los Angeles will have to wait a little longer...:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2303006-insider-buzz-raiders-rams-chargers-not-moving-to-los-angeles-in-2015
...but not much longer:
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/13/l-a-relocation-seen-as-inevitable/
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It looks like Los Angeles will have to wait a little longer...:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2303006-insider-buzz-raiders-rams-chargers-not-moving-to-los-angeles-in-2015
...but not much longer:
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/13/l-a-relocation-seen-as-inevitable/
Hate to bust your bubble, but it's safe enough to assume that L.A. is now a basketball town and the NFL is no longer welcomed.
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The Titans are in an awkward position tonight. They are better off losing than winning as the best thing for the Titans is to get into the Mariotta/Winston sweepstakes. And yet the schedule has given them the one opponent that they are very likely to beat. The Titans have to be at their worst to lose this particular game. If there's any silver lining about this matchup, it's that both teams are bad so maybe this will at least be a competitive game. But expect an ugly game tonight.
There's plenty that argue Tennessee is worse than Jacksonville already. And among the four 2-12 teams, only Tampa Bay and Tennessee will likely go quarterback in round one.
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Well Jacksonville almost certainly will stick with Bortles but I could see the Raiders going for Mariotta or Winston. Carr has made some progress, especially at home, as the season has progressed, but I could see the Raiders going with Mariotta or Winston if they believe either could be a franchise quarterback.
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Raiders believe Carr is their franchise quarterback, so they won't draft a QB early. JAX and OAK are possible landing spots for Nebraska's Randy Gregory and USC's Leonard Williams. Not often it happens, but Oakland did pretty darn well in the 2014 draft with Mack, Carr and Jackson, to name a few.
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A friendly reminder that there are two games being played tomorrow. Who doesn't love Saturday football??
Eagles at Redskins: Washington is a mess this season. I have the Eagles winning this game.
Chargers at 49ers: Chargers need the win to stay alive in the wild card race. I have the Chargers winning this important game.
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OK. Quick Saturday predictions
Washington Potatoes-Philadelphia Eagles: Philly wins it. The Potatoes boat is in the eye of a hurricane with all the hoopla over RG3 and coach Shannahan, and they won't be focused (and the QB situation is a dumpster fire anyways). The Eagles are fighting for their playoff lives, so they should be ready to take out their anger from the last two games out on a hated rival.
SD-SC: San Diego. Easy enough reasoning: Teams that play the Seahawks the previous week usually go on to lose the next week (because the Seahawks beat up the other team and throw them face first into an alley). Also, the spirit of Santa Clara is shattered, and the only thing they have left to play for is a decent draft pick. They're probably going to roll over.
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I'm just happy to be here. Earlier today when I tried to access the site I got a page not available message and later still I got a list of "related links" which were nothing of the sort. I'd thought we'd been shut down.
Eagles at Redskins will air on NFL network at 2:30 p.m. AZ time. Although I've always thought this was lowest in the NFC East rivalry pecking order, these teams once played a game so nasty it was named the Body Bag Game. On 11-12-1990, in a game in Philadelphia at the Vet, 8 Redskins left the game with injuries, hence the name Body Bag Game. As for tomorrow, I love the Eagles here as well. The Redskins pass defense is terrible so I expect Matthews, Cooper, and Macklin to have huge days. And let's call a spade a spade here. RG3 has been a bust. Let this be a warning if you're thinking about drafting a quarterback who isn't pocket oriented. Also, I've said this before and I'll say it again, the Redskins are the worst run organization in the NFL and have been since Synder owned the team. Unless there is an ownership change in Washington I don't see things getting any better in Redskins Ville any time soon.
Chargers at 49ers at 6:25 p.m. AZ time on NFL Network and CBS. Though not a rivalry, the 49ers and Chargers met in a notable game in Super Bowl 29, played on 1-29-1995 in Miami at Joe Robbie Stadium. The 49ers won 49-26 and Steve Young threw a still Super Bowl record 6 touchdown passes. As for tomorrow I too like the Chargers. Remember too that the Chargers still have a shot at a playoff berth. I think they will be ready to go and I think Rivers lights it up tomorrow night. Also, I believe that the 49ers window of opportunity has been slammed shut. They're losing Harbaugh after the season, Kap has badly regressed, and then there's the division. The Seahawks are built to be a contender for years to come. Arians has proven himself a perfect fit with the Cardinals, and the Rams have slowly but surely been improving. The Chargers are a solid team and I'll be very surprised if they don't win this game.
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Just out of curiosity, does the fact that Ryan Mathews and Keenan Allen are both out change anyone's mind? It's the main reason I think San Francisco wins tomorrow. Rivers has also been dealing with a back issue, so he may not be 100%.
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Good analysis. It seems logical that's how it's going to play out. What San Francisco might need for the long run is the return of Eddie DeBartolo in the owner's box, if that can legally be done, since it can probably be said the York's don't really know what they're doing.
I remember the Body Bag Game quite well. As I was 8 at the time, I did have to be in bed at a certain time then, but I was awake long enough to see the first 3 knockouts or so. Even today, I hold the Gang Green defense in the highest esteem. And I still lament that if Buddy Ryan had been retained for just one more year--and if Cunningham had been able to play the whole season--1991 might have been the year they could have won it all (no guarantees, certainly, but it may have been very possible).
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Hearing whispers about Cutler to Tennessee, in where the Bears will need to give up a mid round pick to complete the deal. It's also the reason he's lost his starting job to the otherwise inferior Clausen, as to avoid injury.
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Cutler would be an upgrade over any quarterback currently on the Titans roster. But I don't really understand why the Titans would be interested in Cutler if they are in the Mariotta/Winston sweepstakes. I do think Cutler can be better than he was this year but he's certainly not a franchise quarterback whereas Mariotta and Winston might be. It's hard to evaluate a quarterback's NFL status based on college play but I think the Titans are best off pinning their hopes that Mariotta or Winston might be a franchise quarterback. We know Cutler is not although he would be an upgrade over what the Titans have. Maybe this could be a plan B if they are not able to acquire Mariotta or Winston.
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A Cowboys win tomorrow clinches the NFC East for them and the Eagles will be officially eliminated.
EDIT: Lions also made the playoffs as well.
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All credit to the Redskins for getting themselves a nice upset. But the Eagles largely beat themselves. A crucial turnover, 2 missed field goals and loads of defensive penalties. What an ugly way to all but end your playoff hopes if you're the Eagles.
Congratulations to the Detroit Lions on clinching a playoff berth! :)
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Thanks, Redskins, now it's our turn.
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Does anyone know all the tiebreakers? I'm mostly curious whether it's possible for the Saints to make the playoffs if they lose tomorrow, and the Panthers win. The best they could hope for is a 7-9 tie with the Panthers next week, in the unlikely event that the Falcons and Panthers tie that game, but does anyone know who would win that tiebreaker? I know we lose a 7-9 tie to the Falcons, and I know 7-8-1 beats 7-9, but I am curious about the longshot tie with Panthers, anyway.
Mostly want to know if there's an ever-so-slight chance the Saints could make the playoffs if they lose and the Panthers win tomorrow, or if it'd be outright impossible, I guess :).
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New Orleans is eliminated if they lose and Carolina wins tomorrow. In that scenario, even if New Orleans wins and gets to 7-9, a win by the Falcons gets them to 7-9 and they would have the head-to-head tiebreaker. If Carolina were to win, that puts them at 7-8-1, as you mentioned. As for if NO loses and CAR wins tomorrow and CAR/ATL tie in Week 17...Panthers are in at 6-8-2, Saints would be second at 7-9 and Falcons would be third at 6-9-1. Think of it this way, since ties count as half a win when calculating win percentage, 6-8-2 is equivalent to 7-8, which beats 7-9. So there you go.
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Wow, what an upset. I sure didn't expect the Redskins to win.
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Think of it this way, since ties count as half a win when calculating win percentage, 6-8-2 is equivalent to 7-8, which beats 7-9. So there you go.
That's what I wasn't sure of... darn. That's too bad. Would've been cool if they'd still have had that ever so slight shot even if the worst case were to happen tomorrow. Ah well.
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Philip Rivers is clutch. Despite three picks, he rallies the team back from 21-0 to tie it up at 35. OT maybe coming up.
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chargers win in ot 38-35. Another tough loss for San Francisco.
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How long until the fans want Jim Harbaugh's head on a platter?
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A picture to represent Santa Clara in the second half. My goodness, that was a catastrophe of titanic proportions.
(http://www.aspenpitkin.com/Portals/0/images/County/sheriff/avalanche.jpg)
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Wow! That comeback by the Chargers, and in particular, the fourth quarter performance of Rivers was something to see. He dug them a hole with his early picks yet brought them back with his fourth quarter fourth down conversions and touchdowns. The Chargers are alive after all. Now for my weekly preview of Sunday's games/
My Cardinals face off against the Seahawks tomorrow in a game that will pretty much decide the NFC West. The Cardinals actually clinch the division and the NFC 1 seed with a win, The Seahawks clinch a playoff berth and control their own destiny for the NFC West and the 1 seed next week with a win. The reason for the success of both teams is their strong defenses. I expect a defensive struggle here but I don't like our chances. The fact is, Lindley in his career in a handful of starts has thrown ZERO touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Furthermore, the Seahawks secondary is extremely strong with the likes of Sherman and Thomas. If we had Carson Palmer, I'd pick us to win this game, with Drew Stanton, I say it was a 50-50 shot, with Lindley, I just don't see us having much of a shot here, Lindley is likely to make mistakes that Wilson won't and in a low scoring game those are killers. THIS VERY SITUATION is why we should have drafted Aaron Murray instead wasting a draft pick on that bust Logan Thomas. We're going with Lindley because our coaches know Thomas can't win. Nevertheless, GO CARDINALS!!!!!!! :)
Vikings at Dolphins: Dolphins: The Dolphins have faded a bit and I do like Bridgewater as a young quarterback for the Vikings. But remember that most Vikings wins this year have been at home against bad teams. I still see the Dolphins are a decent team and I just don't see the Vikings wining this one.
Ravens at Texans: Ravens: The Texans are a team with a great defense led by a defensive star in Watt along with a great receiver in Johnson and a solid running back in Foster, but lacking that quarterback is going to be the missing link that keeps them out of the playoffs. Both Flacco and the Ravens defense have had their ups and downs this year but do control their own destiny for a playoff berth. I think the Ravens win here as the Texans quarterback issues remain their downfall.
Lions at Bears: Lions: The Bears defense is historically bad so Johnson and Tate should have field days tomorrow. And the Lions defense is good while the Bears will be starting a quarterback who is 1-9 in his NFL career. I expect the Lions to dominate on both sides of the ball and I expect this to become a Lions blowout early. Cutler hadn't been good recently but I expect Clausen to be far worse.
Browns at Panthers: Panthers: The Panthers are at home and getting Cam Newton back. I think the Panthers will be highly motivated to be play well for Cam and for their playoff shot. The Browns haven't been very good in recent weeks and Manziel didn't provide the spark everyone had hoped for last week. And now he's faced with his first road game. It's way too early to make a judgment on his career one way or the other, as we need to give many more starts before we can make any fair statements about what kind of NFL quarterback he will be, but I don't expect him to do well tomorrow whereas I have a good feeling about Cam tomorrow, Go Panthers! Play your part in helping eliminate the Saints! But be fair to Manziel. Don't rush to judge him when he's barely had a chance to play.
Falcons at Saints: Falcons: The Saints pass defense is bad and I think Ryan has a huge day throwing to Jones and White. The Falcons aren't good defensively themselves so I think Brees can have some success but I think this goes similar to week 1 as the Falcons win a high scoring game. Go Falcons! Keep team bountygate out of the playoffs!
Packers at Buccaneers: Packers: The Packers can clinch a playoff berth with a win. And I see them doing so. I think Rodgers bounces back and is in sharp MVP form tomorrow and I think the Packers snag themselves a playoff slot. And this just hasn't been the Buccaneers year. I don't think they're terrible. They could have had a few more wins if some breaks had gone their way that didn't, especially against the Rams and Bengals. They're not Jaguars or 76ers terrible. But they're still not a great team and the Packers a contender. I think whoever has a higher seed between the Seahawks and the Packers is the favorite to win the George Halas Trophy.
Chiefs at Steelers: Steelers: This is basically an elimination game. And the Steelers can actually clinch a playoff berth with a win. I love the Steelers. The Steelers have a great offense and Big Ben has had a good year. I also think home field plays a big role in this matchup, If this game was at Arrowhead I'd have picked the Chiefs and their strong defense. But in a quassi playoff game, playing before their own fans should get the Steelers going. Apart from the Seahawks, the Chiefs and the Steelers have the two best fan bases in the NFL so whoever got this game at home was going to have a big advantage. Remember too that Bell has developed into such a good back that the Steelers offense is more balanced now. It doesn't just have to be Ben, they can run too. Steelers clinch a playoff berth.
Patriots at Jets: Patriots: There's plenty on the line for the Patriots in the AFC East's biggest rivalry. The Patriots clinch a first round bye with a win. And I think they get it. Tom Brady is on fire and the Patriots have been playing great football ever since the Arrowhead debacle. Not only have the Patriots won 9 out of 10 since but they've looked great doing it. The Patriots are the favorites to win the Lamar Hunt Trophy. And the Jets just aren't very good. Don't be fooled by last week. It was against the equally bad Titans. Now they're playing a contender they'll go back to their losing ways. Patriots wrap a first round bye here.
Giants at Rams: Rams: Neither team is going to the playoffs but both teams have shown life recently. That said, I like the Rams here. As I said last week, the Rams are my dark horse playoff team for 2015 and I do like what they're building. The Rams have a stout defense with a strong pass rush and I think Eli will be spending a lot of time on his back tomorrow. The Rams haven't allowed a touchdown their past three games. If they make it four tomorrow, it would be the first time since a five game stretch of not allowing a touchdown by the Steelers in 2000 that a team has gone four games without allowing a touchdown. The Giants have gotten 22 sacks over the past three games and the Rams pass offense isn't vey good but the Giants run defense is terrible so I think Mason has a big day on the ground and the Rams win a low scoring game.
Bills at Raiders: Bills: Although the Raiders have shown some improvement and won a few home games recently, the fact is that the Bills are much further along in their building process. Granted, they need a lot of help to make the playoffs, but they are still alive. And a win here would clinch a winning season for the Bills, that would be worth something in and of itself. And I think they will. I think the Bills defense gives another strong performance here and the Bills win. It's a shame Ralph Wilson didn't live long enough to see the best season the Bills have had since 1999 even if they don't make the playoffs.
Colts at Cowboys: Colts: The Cowboys can clinch the NFC East with a win. But I see this as one of those games where you see the difference between a good team and a contender, The Cowboys are a good team. But Luck is an elite quarterback and the Colts are a true contender. Murray won't be 100% if he plays. And I do think the Colts secondary with Vonte Davis leading them can slow down the Cowboys passing attack some. And remember too that the Cowboys, oddly, aren't as nearly as good at home as they are on the road. I do think the Eagles loss today will fire the Cowboys up and they'll play with plenty of fire tomorrow but at the end of the day I think the Colts win the game.
Go Falcons and Panthers tomorrow! And GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!! :)
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I hope I can win my Fantasy Football championship tomorrow. Murray is in my line up and he won't be moved. I've also placed Stafford as Starting QB as I do not believe that Wilson will score many points.
A picture to represent Santa Clara in the second half. My goodness, that was a catastrophe of titanic proportions.
(http://www.aspenpitkin.com/Portals/0/images/County/sheriff/avalanche.jpg)
Agreed. The Chargers got their equal largest comeback in their history. Last time the Chargers came back to win after being down by 21 points? That was in 2006 and Before that the last time that happened was in 1981.
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THIS VERY SITUATION is why we should have drafted Aaron Murray instead wasting a draft pick on that bust Logan Thomas. We're going with Lindley because our coaches know Thomas can't win. Nevertheless, GO CARDINALS!!!!!!! :)
But be fair to Manziel. Don't rush to judge him when he's barely had a chance to play.
Kinda contradicting yourself here, no? It's okay to wait on Manziel since he's barely played but it's okay to bash Thomas for the same reason? Way too early to call Thomas a bust. And who knows, if Stanton could look good in this offense, maybe Arians has something in mind for Thomas. He can potentially work in this system. Plus, I don't think teams really think about this kind of situation when taking a quarterback because what, really, are the odds that your starter and your backup both get hurt? Doesn't happen often.
And what exactly was your opinion on Murray vs. Thomas before the draft?
By the way, Murray lasted until the fourth round while the king of all smokescreens, Tom Savage, went in the fourth.
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Before that the last time that happened was in 1981.
When Rolf Benirschke was with the team. Wow.
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And what exactly was your opinion on Murray vs. Thomas before the draft?
I was in favor of drafting Murray at the time of the draft. However, it is a fair point that teams won't likely draft with the idea of having to play a third quarterback that year.
And are the Lions ever shooting themselves in the foot with penalties and turnovers today.
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Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers on clinching playoff berths today. :)
Thank you Falcons! :) Thank you Panthers! :) Saints are eliminated! :) Plus we get a head to head for the NFC South championship next week. Excellent.
Also Packers and Lions go head to head for the NFC North next Sunday.
Is NBC more likely to pick up Panthers/Falcons or Lions/Packers next week?
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So now asks the question. What game will be flexed next week into Sunday Night Football? More likely the Lions-Packers game.
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I'd actually say that the Panthers/Falcons game is more likely to be flexed. No matter who wins the Packers/Lions game, both will be in the playoffs, whereas the Panthers/Falcons game is truly a "Win Or Go Home" game.
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Excellent... The pieces are falling into place for Seattle. Detroit and Green Bay won today, all but guaranteeing that one of those two teams will end the season at 12-4. Seattle just needs to win out, and even if Dallas wins out, Seattle wins with a three way tie of 12-4 records. C'mon Hawks! Beat Arizona!
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Wow, Colts, wow.
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Wow, Colts, wow.
That ball HAS to be caught. He was wide open. That drop led to a Cowboys touchdown with the field position given up.
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Or Pep Hamilton can start calling good plays. How about that?
EDIT: Dolphins owner Stephen Ross just announced that Joe Philbin will return as head coach in 2015.
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I'm surprised by that but I agree with that decision. The Dolphins have shown some progress the last few years and I think it's worth giving it another year. If the Dolphins don't make the playoffs next year then maybe it's time to evaluate whether Philbin is the man for the job but I agree with at least giving him 2015 to see if can happen.
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Personally, I thought he was a goner. This is going to be two years in a row where they had a chance at the playoffs only to let it slip away. But we'll see. If they get some pieces, they can make some noise in 2015.
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Ravens offense walked in there and seemed like they didn't know they were playing against a defense featuring an MVP candidate. Defense did a fine job containing the QB to no TD passes, and they held the team to one TD and six FGs, but it meant nothing with no points. Offense looked completely stymied, befuddled at what the Texans were throwing at them. A shame.
And now, thanks to the 49ers collapse last night. The Ravens playoff hopes hinge on them getting their act together against Cleveland and the Chargers losing against KC. That's not a lot to ask for, but they shouldn't have to ask for it in the first place.
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They can also get in if they win and Cincinnati loses out, regardless of what happens in the SD-KC game.
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Matt Hasselbeck is in for the Colts. Andrew Luck is on the sidelines with a 41.7 passer rating.
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How bout them Cowboys! Congratulations to the Dallas Cowboys on clinching the NFC East. :) No team proved more people wrong (myself included) this year than the Cowboys. WOW!
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So... The Colts face a great team and they mess the bed. They are pretenders.
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Bye bye Bills. And that's 3 straight home wins for the Raiders. I can see why the Raiders like Carr too.
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Thank you Oddell Beckham for your perfect fantasy day today. Now I'm only down by 5.7 points with Jeremy Hill, Mohammed Sanu and Connor Barth still to play and My opponent starting the Bengals defence. I started with 11.87 but the great performances of Tre Mason, DeMarco Murray and Odell Beckham [Combined total of 52.90 points] I got to 68.42 (I also had Coby Flenner but he did almost nothing.) Now on to Championship Decider Day.
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Just crunched the numbers. If Tampa Bay loses next week, they will own the No. 1 pick in the draft, as the Titans cannot catch them on strength of schedule. Tennessee needs a loss and a Buccaneers win to get the first pick.
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http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/report-49ers-will-part-ways-harbaugh-shortly-after-season (http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/report-49ers-will-part-ways-harbaugh-shortly-after-season)
Arguably the worst kept secret in the NFL is set to become official within the near future.
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So the big question is: Michigan or a new NFL home?
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Some early Week 17 playoff scenarios. I'll be editing this after tonight and tomorrow's games.
https://billriccettenfl.wordpress.com/2014/12/22/early-week-17-playoff-scenarios/
As for Harbaugh, I think he waits it out a bit and see what NFL jobs open up. But, boy, $8 million a year is tough to turn down.
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Week 17 schedule starting to come into focus. Chargers-Chiefs is a 1:00 start, Lions-Packers flexed to 4:25.
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If Lions-Packers is a 4:25 game then I assume NBC will take Panthers-Falcons.
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Either that or Bengals-Steelers, which according to Adam Schefter, is the favorite to be flexed to primetime.
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14 - 3 Seattle at the half!
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And it's official. Bengals at Steelers next Sunday night for the AFC North title.
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And so it is Bengals-Steelers. Either NBC thought that the NFC South was beneath them or the large fan base of the Steelers swayed them.
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Either NBC thought that the NFC South was beneath them or the large fan base of the Steelers swayed them.
The AFC North has been intense all year, with all four teams being at least .500. Meanwhile the NFC South is guaranteed to have a winner with a losing record. Therefore, the Bengals-Steelers game is the best option due to the division being dramatic all year.
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The thing is that the Steelers have already clinched a playoff berth so that means Panthers-Falcons will be the game with the highest stakes because it is win and in or lose and out. I understand that the Bengals can still miss the playoffs if they lose out and the Ravens and Chargers both win next week. I won't deny that Bengals-Steelers will be the much better game to watch so it could have gone either way.
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Obviously kind of a moot point now with the decision being made, but NBC did take 7-8 St. Louis at 6-9 Seattle back in 2010 as the Week 17 Sunday night game. NFL loves these primetime play-in games. But CIN-PIT has become quite a nice rivalry lately, so having them meet in primetime for the division crown is a fine choice. That said, this is also Andy Dalton's kryptonite. It's why I think Cincinnati will go from leading the North at 9-4-1 to out of the playoffs at 9-6-1.
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I can't see the Cardinals winning this postseason with the way the offense is going. They maybe one and done.
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Marshawn Lynch just happened!!! 8-) What a run.
28-6 Seahawks with about 10 minutes to go.
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This is a disappointing but expected loss although I had hoped it wouldn't be this much of a blowout. I'm a Cardinals fan and I know that the Cards have very little chance of winning a playoff game even against the NFC South winner.
Taking off my Cardinals hat and putting on my NFL hat, serious Seahawks question here: Should the Seahawks make a kicking change before the playoffs?
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No. Hauschka will be fine. Next question.
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WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seattle absolutely crushed the red birds in dominating fashion! Take that, Arizona! Go Hawks! Let's steal away that 1 seed!
AWWWWW YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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SB Nation says that Falcons head coach Mike Smith will be fired at season's end and could be replaced with Denver OC Adam Case.
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Broncos and Bengals tonight. A Broncos loss give s the Pats homefield advantage. They shouldn't have a problem tonight since Dalton is bad on night games.
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Broncos and Bengals tonight. A Broncos loss give s the Pats homefield advantage. They shouldn't have a problem tonight since Dalton is bad on night games.
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The Broncos can clinch a first round bye with a win. I'm taking the Broncos here as well. Not only do the Bengals suck in night games, but Peyton Manning is 8-0 lifetime against them. Plus the Broncos are a contender and the Bengals are a team that can't be trusted. I think Peyton has a huge night and the Broncos clinch that first round bye.
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The Bengals choke whenever there's a lot of marbles on the line. Broncos win this one 27-14.
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Couple of notes: This week at the Cleveland-Baltimore game, Johnny Manziel is out and Brian Moyer is questionable. Undrafted rookie Connor Shaw has been elevated to the practice squad and could see many snaps.
San Francisco could announce the firing of Jim Harbaugh by the end of the week. It's believed he'll take the head coach job at the University of Michigan.
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Due to Clasun's concussion, Jay Cutler will get another shot this year after all. Cutler will start the Bears game at the Vikings on Sunday.
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Bengals are up 17-7, close to halftime. Their defense is reading Manning like a comic book.
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And the Broncos just took the lead! Can't keep Peyton down for long! Ah, the Broncos are still the Broncos and the Bengals are still the Bengals.
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And that pick 6 just about wraps up homefield advantage for the Pats and a playoff berth for the Bengals. Pats are the favorites to win the AFC.
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In fact I have the Pats winning not only the Lamar Hunt Trophy but the Vince Lombardi Trophy as well.
And congratulations to the Cincinnati Bengals on clinching a playoff berth.
So for that last AFC playoff slot:
Chargers in with a win at the Chiefs.
Ravens in with win over Browns and Chargers loss to Chiefs.
The Texans are winning this Sunday as they play the Jaguars. So with that win, the Texans need both the Chargers and Ravens to lose to get in.
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The Bengals choke whenever there's a lot of marbles on the line. Broncos win this one 27-14.
Who's the Quarterback who threw the game-changing pick-6 as well as 3 more interceptions? Here's a hint; it wasn't Andy Dalton :P
Can't say the Bengals choked tonight. They stepped up and they delivered; can't say they didn't earn their playoff spot. Let's see if they can beat the Steelers for the North next week.
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In fact I have the Pats winning not only the Lamar Hunt Trophy but the Vince Lombardi Trophy as well.
Not if the Seahawks have anything to do about it :P I see them repeating this year.
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Not if the Seahawks have anything to do about it :P I see them repeating this year.
We will see. </biased Patriots fan>
Of course, Week 17 is now meaningless to us, so I guess we get to see Jimmy Garoppolo in action next week.
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For the record, I do expect the Seahawks to win the George Halas Trophy. I'm projecting a Patriots-Seahawks matchup in the Super Bowl with the Patriots winning.
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It's always a good night when golden boy Manning ends a game in the L column. I can't wait until he's out of the NFL.
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It's always a good night when golden boy Manning ends a game in the L column. I can't wait until he's out of the NFL.
No offence but I can't wait until all Seattle fans get off their high horse. Arizona. I can't believe I'm saying this but... BEAT THE NINERS!
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No offence but I can't wait until all Seattle fans get off their high horse. Arizona. I can't believe I'm saying this but... BEAT THE NINERS!
Serious question: Who in the NFC do you see has the best shot at beating Seattle in the Clink? The Hawks haven't lost a playoff game at home since 2004. I think it's safe to say that the Detroit/GB game will not end in a tie and there's a very good shot that the Rams will not beat Seattle on Sunday, meaning the 1 seed would go to Seattle again regardless if Arizona beats Santa Clara or not. I'm concerned about Dallas, as their o-line is legit and Murray is a monster. It's also worth noting that the Cowboys have only won one playoff game with Romo at the QB helm. What's your take?
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Carolina-Atlanta, originally a 1 PM tilt on Fox, has been cross-flexed to 4:25 PM on CBS.
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[quote author=moneygamelover link=topic=23620.msg421632#msg421632 date=1419309728
So for that last AFC playoff slot:
Chargers in with a win at the Chiefs.
Ravens in with win over Browns and Chargers loss to Chiefs.
The Texans are winning this Sunday as they play the Jaguars. So with that win, the Texans need both the Chargers and Ravens to lose to get in.
[/quote]
Chiefs are in with a win and losses by Houston and Baltimore.
Carolina-Atlanta, originally a 1 PM tilt on Fox, has been cross-flexed to 4:25 PM on CBS.
Makes sense. At least majority of the country will now get to see all three division-deciding games, since Lions-Packers has the 4:25 slot on FOX.
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And for just the second time, the playoffs will feature a team with a losing record. As before, that team will have seven wins; now we just need to figure out which one it will be. Either the Panthers will finish the season at 7-8-1, or the Falcons at 7-9. The last week of the regular season is going to be interesting, as all three games will decide the division champion:
Panthers/Falcons (winner gets NFC South; for the loser, the season is over)
Lions/Packers (both teams already in playoffs)
Bengals/Steelers (both teams already in playoffs)
Good luck to all six teams mentioned above!
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Falcons are a 3-point pick against Carolina, but chew on this: Carolina is 14-3 in December under Ron Rivera. Atlanta will have to play them as well as they did against New Orleans to win it.
Cleveland is now reportedly looking to get Tyler Thigpen to QB for them this Sunday.
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The interesting thing about Atlanta is that Mike Smith is supposedly already out the door when the Falcons season ends. But if the Falcons were to make it to the NFC Championships Game, could he save his job? This possibility isn't as far fetched as it sounds on the surface. They control their own destiny for a playoff berth with a home game against a Panthers team they've already beaten this year. Then, win or lose the Cardinals are the 5 seed as long as Packers-Lions is not a tie. That would match the Falcons up the Cardinals, who the Falcons have also already beaten and will be playing a third or fourth string quarterback. I wouldn't like the Falcons chances against the Seahawks, but if the matchups then played out so that they drew the Lions or Packers in the divisional, well the Falcons played close games against both NFC North teams this year and would have beaten the Lions had it not been for the Lions getting that awkward second chance on that game winning field goal.
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The Last time the Lions won at Lambeau Field was 1991. The Lions this season have won at least 11 games for the first time since 1991. Is this a sign? I doubt it, but you never know.
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And for just the second time, the playoffs will feature a team with a losing record.
Technically the third. (In 1982 the season was reduced to 9 games and the NFL based the Playoffs on conference ranking and 2 losing teams made the 16 team playoffs that year.)
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So perhaps the question is, then, should the system be revised so that the 6 best teams in each conference hereafter go in regardless of division, or should the current format be preserved?
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So perhaps the question is, then, should the system be revised so that the 6 best teams in each conference hereafter go in regardless of division, or should the current format be preserved?
Take the top 6 per conference. A better record should count for something. If the Eagles beat the Giants and the Panthers beat the Falcons then a 10-6 Eagles team gets left out while a 7-8-1 Panthers team gets in. And the Eagles beat the Panthers head to head. And if it's the Falcons that win and the Eagles beat the Giants you have a 7-9 team in over a 10-6 team. Admittedly, I'm pretty unsympathetic towards the Eagles after that egg they laid against the Redskins but that doesn't change my opinion that a better record should trump a division winner ESPECIALLY if the team with the better record also beat the division winner head to head..
Divisions should be maintained only for scheduling purposes and rivalry protection.
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Pro Bowl selections announced. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2014/12/23/nfl-pro-bowl-breakdown-who-made-it-and-how-did-each-team-fare/
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So perhaps the question is, then, should the system be revised so that the 6 best teams in each conference hereafter go in regardless of division, or should the current format be preserved?
I'd keep the same basic structure (the 4 division winners + 2 wild cards) but reseed those 6 teams & only those 6 teams based on overall record, and then apply home field advantage and byes based off of that reseeding.
I think that winning a division should equal an automatic playoff berth, but having a better overall record should also give you an easier road in the playoffs.
But another solution is to accept the fact that sometimes, stuff like this happens.
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This is going to sound like a broken record, but I think this is kind of overreacting. It's not like it's every year we see a bad record in the playoffs. It just happened to occur this season.
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Divisions mean nothing if they don't allow the winner in. They will solve this by just adding another team. Perhaps they will reseed. ZERO chance the division winner doesn't at least get into the playoffs.
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2014 NFL PLAYOFF SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 17
AFC
CLINCHED:
New England – AFC East and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs
Denver – AFC West
Indianapolis – AFC South
Cincinnati – playoff berth
Pittsburgh – playoff berth
DENVER BRONCOS (vs. Oakland)
Denver clinches a first-round bye with:
1) DEN win OR
2) DEN tie + CIN loss or tie OR
3) CIN loss OR
4) CIN tie + IND win
CINCINNATI BENGALS (at Pittsburgh)
Cincinnati clinches AFC North with:
1) CIN win or tie
Cincinnati clinches a first-round bye with:
1) CIN win + DEN loss or tie OR
2) CIN tie + DEN loss + IND loss or tie
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (vs. Cincinnati)
Pittsburgh clinches AFC North with:
1) PIT win
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (at Kansas City)
San Diego clinches a playoff spot with:
1) SD win OR
2) SD tie + BAL loss or tie
BALTIMORE RAVENS (vs. Cleveland)
Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with:
1) BAL win + SD loss or tie OR
2) BAL tie + SD loss
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (vs. San Diego)
Kansas City clinches a playoff spot with:
1) KC win + BAL loss + HOU loss or tie
HOUSTON TEXANS (vs. Jacksonville)
Houston clinches a playoff spot with:
1) HOU win + BAL loss + SD loss
NFC
CLINCHED:
Arizona Cardinals – playoff berth
Seattle Seahawks – playoff berth
Detroit Lions – playoff berth
Green Bay Packers – playoff berth
Dallas Cowboys – NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS (at Washington)
Dallas clinches home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) DAL win + ARI loss or tie + DET/GB tie OR
2) DAL win + SEA win + DET/GB tie
Dallas clinches a first-round bye with:
1) DAL win + SEA loss or tie + ARI loss or tie OR
2) DAL win + DET/GB tie OR
3) SEA loss + ARI loss OR
4) DAL tie + SEA tie + ARI loss or tie + DET/GB does not end in a tie
DETROIT LIONS (at Green Bay)
Detroit clinches NFC North with:
1) DET win or tie
Detroit clinches home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) DET win + SEA loss or tie + ARI loss or tie OR
2) DET tie + SEA loss + ARI loss + DAL loss or tie
Detroit clinches a first-round bye with:
1) DET win OR
2) DET tie + DAL loss or tie OR
3) DET tie + SEA loss + ARI loss
GREEN BAY PACKERS (vs. Detroit)
Green Bay clinches NFC North and a first-round bye with:
1) GB win
Green Bay clinches home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) GB win + SEA loss or tie
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (vs. St. Louis)
Seattle clinches NFC West with:
1) SEA win OR
2) SEA tie + ARI loss or tie OR
3) ARI loss
Seattle clinches home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) SEA win + DET/GB game does not end in a tie OR
2) SEA win + DAL loss or tie OR
3) SEA tie + ARI loss or tie + DAL loss or tie + GB/DET tie
Seattle clinches a first-round bye with:
1) SEA win OR
2) SEA tie + ARI loss or tie + DAL loss OR
3) SEA tie + ARI loss or tie + GB/DET tie
ARIZONA CARDINALS (at San Francisco)
Arizona clinches NFC West with:
1) ARI win + SEA loss or tie OR
2) ARI tie + SEA loss
Arizona clinches home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) ARI win + SEA loss or tie + GB loss or tie OR
2) ARI tie + SEA loss + DAL loss or tie + GB/DET tie
Arizona clinches a first-round bye with:
1) ARI win + SEA loss or tie OR
2) ARI tie + SEA loss + DAL loss or tie OR
3) ARI tie + SEA loss + GB/DET tie
CAROLINA PANTHERS (at Atlanta)
Carolina clinches NFC South with:
1) CAR win or tie
ATLANTA FALCONS (vs. Carolina)
Atlanta clinches NFC South with:
1) ATL win
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We're getting both Carolina-Atlanta on CBS (naturally) and Green Bay-Detroit on Fox.
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Here in Arizona KPHO CBS 5 Phoenix has dropped its originally scheduled Raiders at Broncos game and will air Panthers at Falcons instead.
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OddsShark is predicting a 21-18 win for Atlanta over Carolina.
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Bad news for the Chiefs. Alex Smith will miss Sunday's game against the Chargers due to a lacerated spleen. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12080695/kansas-city-chiefs-qb-alex-smith-sunday-vs-san-diego-chargers
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Well, my friends, we've nearly reached the finish line. Tomorrow is the very last day of the 2014 NFL regular season. What aride it's been. And there's still plenty on the line.
My Cardinals are at the 49ers. The Cardinals have at an outside shot at a first bye but would need a win and an unlikely Seahawks loss. They could even get a 1 seed if they won and the Seahawks and Packers both lost but that's just very unlikely. The Cardinals are beat up and our quarterback situation is about as bad as could be. And the 49ers are reeling. The past two weeks have seen the 49ers eliminated by their hated rivals the Seahawks and the 49ers have one of the great collapses in team history against the Chargers and we all know how the Harbaugh drama has gone. Hard to feel good about picking either team. But I just think our quarterback situation is so bad right now that we're just not going to win any games. So I'm picking the 49ers by default. But. GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Browns at Ravens; Ravens: The Ravens clinch a playoff berth with a win AND a Chargers loss. A Ravens win would also eliminate the Texans. I'm going with the Ravens here. The game is in Baltimore, the Ravens have something to play for and the Browns don't, and the Browns are reduced to starting a third string quarterback. The Browns run defense has been terrible as of late so I think Forsett has one of his better games tomorrow and Flacco makes enough throws to get the win. However...........
Chargers at Chiefs: Chargers: The Chargers clinch the last AFC playoff slot with a win. And I think they get it. Even without Allen playing, the fact remains that the Chargers do have Rivers playing and the Chiefs don't have Smith. Kansas City is a tough place to play and sure, the Chiefs will pound the ball with Charles but the Chiefs running game hasn't has been as stout in this stretch of losing 4 of 5 as it was earlier in the year. And even if Charles does have a big day I just don't see a Chase Daniels quarterbacked team winning a game like this. And even with Allen out it's not as though Rivers doesn't have people to throw to. There's still Floyd and Gates. I say the Chargers take that last playoff spot and thus eliminate the Chiefs, Ravens, and Texans. And the Chiefs might as well already be eliminated because ven if they win and the Ravens lose they'd still a Texans loss and...........
Jaguars at Texans: Texans blowout. Nothing else needs to be said about this game. The Texans are in with losses by the Chargers and Ravens.
Raiders at Broncos: Broncos clinch a first round bye with a win. And I don't doubt they'll get it. While it must be acknowledged that the Raiders have shown some progress in the latter part of the season, this progress has only shown itself at home. This is a rivalry and anything can happen in a rivalry game but I don't see the Raiders beating a contender on the road. Of the "poor four" in the AFC this season, the Raiders are the one I think that stands the best chance of surprising people next year. But not tomorrow. Peyton ends the season with a bang, Anderson does his part and Ware and Miller have Carr on the ground much of the day. I think there are better days ahead for Raider Nation but not tomorrow.
Bengals at Steelers: Steelers: The Bengals have an outside shot at a first round bye but if the Broncos win as expected then this game becomes pretty unimportant for both teams because at that point both would have clinched playoff berths but neither could get a first round bye. Nevertheless, I still the rivalry aspect of this game will motivate both teams to want to win. Now, the Steelers are higher in the Bengals rivalry pecking order than the Bengals are in the Steelers rivalry pecking order. The Steelers are the Bengals biggest rival whereas the Steelers biggest rival by far is the Ravens and then come the Browns, But I also see as being an equal rivalry from both teams POV as both hate and want to beat the other equally. The Steelers simply have more rivalries than the Bengals. I say the Steelers win. That Steelers offense with Big Ben has been absolutely fantastic this year and somehow I don't see the Bengals winning back to back night road games. Plus Pittsburgh is a tough place to play.
Rams at Seahawks: Seahawks: The Seahawks clinch the 1 seed in the NFC with a win. And I think they get it. We all know how tough a place to play Seattle is. And the Seahawks won't be that affected by the Rams pass rush because Wilson has that rushing ability and mobility as a quarterback that can neutralize that. And the Seahawks own defense is the best in the NFL right now. And since the Seahawks have already lost to the Rams this year there's no chance of the Seahawks taking this opponent lightly. I think the Seahawks come ready to play and get that one seed. I still think the Rams are a dark horse playoff team for 2015 but I think they get their butts kicked tomorrow.
Cowboys at Redskins: Cowboys. The Cowboys are alive for a first round bye if the Seahawks and Cardinals both lose. Unlikely that the Seahawks lose but worth noting. I see the Cowboys getting the win. The Redskins pass defense is terrible so Romo should have a big day throwing to Bryant. And the Redskins run defense hasn't been bad most of the year I still think Murray and the Cowboys O line get it done as well. Remember too that last week's win was about the Eagles beating themselves with penalties, turnovers, and missed kicks moreso than the Redskins working any miracles.
Lions at Packers: Packers: Huge game here. The winner gets a first round bye so that's huge. The Packers can also get the 1 with a Seahawks loss. (Again, unlikely but worth noting.) I definitely see the Packers winning this one. The Packers are undefeated at home and are averaging just over 41 points per game in home games. Rodgers has had an MVP season and gets my vote. And the Lions just aren't as good on the road as at home. ESPECAILLY against strong teams. Note the Lions poor performances in Arizona and New England this year. Oh, and the Lions just don't win in Green Bay period.
Panthers at Falcons: The winner is in and the loser is out. Simple as that. Both Cam and Ryan have been playing better recently and neither team is good defensively so I expect a high scoring game. The interesting thing is that the Panthers figure to have an edge an in the running game with way Jonathan Stewart has been playing lately as he leads the NFL in rushing yards over the past 4 weeks with 437. But the Falcons figure to have the edge in the passing game because of Julio Jones. Tough call, but I like the Falcons.
Eagles at Giants: Giants. No playoffs for either team but the rivalry makes this game relevant. Although the Giants will finish with a losing record and the Eagles will finish with a winning record no matter what happens tomorrow, the Giants have been playing better football than the Eagles in recent weeks. The Eagles have faded while the Giants seem to have found something with the Eli-Beckham connection. I see the Giants taking this one.
Bears at Vikings: Vikings: Again, enough of a rivalry to be relevant although neither team is going to the playoffs. Gotta go with the Vikings. The Bears defense is so bad that Bridgewater should easily have one of his biggest games of the year and the Vikings have shown that they can beat bad teams at home.
Jets at Dolphins: Dolphins: Yet another game between non playoff teams to be relevant thanks to a rivalry. The Jets are a part of the AFC's poor four and an organization in shambles and the Dolphins are a program headed in the right direction. I believe that only a brutal schedule down the stretch kept them out of the playoffs. Remember that when the Dolphins were in good position for the playoffs they had to go to both Denver and New England. And I still like Tanehill as a young quarterback.
Colts at Titans: Colts: Colts should win as they are a playoff team and the Titans are part of the AFC's poor four. The Titans want to lose to give themselves a shot at the top draft pick should the Buccaneers win.
Bills at Patriots: Patriots: Not much of interest here. The 1 seed should be able to beat a fledging team. The Bills made some good progress this year but if they continue to count on Manuel and Orton they will continue to miss the playoffs even if do go to 7 teams per conference.
Saints at Buccaneers: Saints: I'm glad team bountygate got bounced last week. This is a game the Buccaneers want to lose. Why? The Buccaneers clinch the top draft pick with a loss.
GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
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The Atlanta Falcons have reportedly hired a search firm to scout for potential head coach candidates in case Mike Smith gets canned. On Atlanta's "The Fan" (680 AM), former Falcons coach Dan Reeves says firing Smith would be a "stupid idea."
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A huge congratulations to DeMarco Murray on setting the Dallas Cowboys all time single season rushing record. That's a great accomplishment, especially for such a storied franchise like the Cowboys.
*round of applause* :)
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Most of the early games are at halftime, so here are the scores:
Colts 17-7 over Titans
Chiefs 16-7 over Chargers
Dolphins 17-14 over Jets
Giants 16-14 over Eagles
Buccaneers 20-7 over Saints
Cowboys 27-10 over Redskins
Texans 14-10 over Jaguars
Browns tied with the Ravens 3-3
Two games just starting the second half:
Bears and Vikings tied 3-3
Bills over Patriots 17-6
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Ravens continue to play these "less than reputable" teams as if they're "unworthy" of a powerful performance from the offense. As if the offense doesn't need to put their foot on the gas pedal because they're playing a third stringer and their defense will hold them to a few points. It almost failed against Jacksonville. It failed against Houston. And they're still doing it against Cleveland. Defense isn't THAT strong. Defensive line has been great. Sack and stops are great, but that secondary is still troubling. Can't count on them to hold up this offensive performance.
We'll see where things go today. SD might comeback like they did last season in Week 17 against the KC backup and win that game. The Ravens might finally act like they need to win this game and will get into first gear and win the game.
Maybe neither of those things will happen and KC or HOU will get in. And if they do, I hope there is a bad taste in the Ravens' mouths for the many months to come.
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Jaguars at Texans: Texans blowout. Nothing else needs to be said about this game. The Texans are in with losses by the Chargers and Ravens.
Except maybe the Jags were motivated by the possibility of spoiling the Texans' playoff chances? Gus Bradley does a hell of a job getting his players ready to play, even if the results don't show it.
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Buffalo upsets New England 17-9.
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J.J. Watt has just become the only player in NFL history to record a second 20 sack season! Congratulations J.J. That's an outstanding accomplishment.
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Buffalo upsets New England 17-9.
Peyton should be embarrassed right now. It also marks the first time since 2002 that no team will finish with at least 13 wins.
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Buffalo upsets New England 17-9.
Considering New England didn't fully play their starters, I wouldn't exactly call this an upset.
Peyton should be embarrassed right now.
Why? Bills had a strong defense all season long. Shut down Aaron Rodgers.
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There are no upsets either way in a game like that.
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Why? Bills had a strong defense all season long. Shut down Aaron Rodgers.
The Bengals last week was their opportunity to get homefield and they blew it.
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Had Denver won last week, New England would've played their starters. But because they locked up No. 1, no need to fully play everyone. Gronk wasn't even active today and Brady was out by the second half.
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The Bengals last week was their opportunity to get homefield and they blew it.
But the Patriots would have approached this game differently had the Broncos beaten the Bengals last week.
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Saints beat Bucs 23-20.
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Which means the Buccaneers are officially on the clock.
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So the big question in Tampa Bay is: Mariotta or Winston?
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Personally, I have Mariota as the No. 1 QB, more because of his skills and the fact that he isn't a goon off the field. But I do think Winston goes No. 2 to Tennessee.
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And the clock runs out on the Chargers; Chiefs win 19-7.
And HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS!!!!
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The Ravens are playoff bound!
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Congratulations to the Baltimore Ravens on clinching a playoff berth. They came to life in the fourth quarter when they needed to. And about Smith's catch to set up the go ahead score and then catch that go ahead touchdown. That was a fun roller coaster for awhile though.
And how bout them Cowboys! To see a team go undefeated on the road is totally awesome baby! :)
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Eagles are 10-6 but they're missing the playoffs.
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And will hold the 20th pick in the draft.
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Atlanta is looking flatter than the world King Ferdinand imagined. 2nd quarter has Carolina up 17-3.
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Oh boy. Aaron Rodgers is getting carted off the field with a leg injury after that TD pass.
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Rodgers officially questionable to return with a calf injury.
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Halftime: 24-3, Carolina.
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Well, at least this season we have a 4,000 yard passer and a 1,000 yard runner...and that's pretty much it.
Off to Florida Panthers hockey season for me.
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Congratulations to the Carolina Panthers on clinching the NFC South and a playoff berth. Mike Smith might as well remove his personal items from his office tonight.
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You can't congratulate anyone until the clock reads 0:00 at the end of the fourth quarter. But it's beginning to look that way. Matt Ryan has thrown two pick-6s as Carolina is rolling, 34-3 at the end of the third.
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Anyone ready to pencil Seattle as repeating champs? I know I am.
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Anyone ready to pencil Seattle as repeating champs? I know I am.
As NFC champions, yes. But the Patriots remain my pick to win the whole thing.
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Anyone ready to pencil Seattle as repeating champs? I know I am.
As NFC champions, yes. But the Patriots remain my pick to win the whole thing.
Seattle's defense looks more dominant than the Patriots defense.
The Panthers look like they will be the first team to repeat as NFC South champions since the creation of the division. It's gonna suck for Arizona though.
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Seattle's defense looks more dominant than the Patriots defense.
I agree with this point. But I also think when Brady and Gronk are playing the Patriots have a better offense than the Seahawks. I see Patriots-Seahawks as a pick em matchup but would slightly favor the Patriots due to Brady and Gronk although Lynch is a beast. Of course one thing about this matchup would be it would pair the two best coaches of our generation against each other.
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Atlanta did more than phone in that game. They called collect.
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Anyone ready to pencil Seattle as repeating champs? I know I am.
I want to say yes (in part because I predicted Seattle over New England before the season started). But I can't. With the way that the Cowboys have been playing since (American) thanksgiving and the Packers having the (possible) league MVP in Aaron Rodgers (calf injury or not), I'm not fully convinced Seattle wins the NFC, let alone the Super Bowl.
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Anyone ready to pencil Seattle as repeating champs? I know I am.
Nope, still New England; well ahead and first in weighed DVOA going into the week, if only third by unweighted, which says how well they've played top opponents.
Seattle needs to prove to me it can beat a solid quarterback, or at least a balanced offense. Their season turnaround has been nothing but lower rung signal callers, often backups. Quarterbacks Seattle has beaten this year since the 3-3 start: Newton, Carr, Eli Manning, Lindley (x2), Kaepernick (x2), Mark Sanchez, and presumably Shaun Hill. Other than Eli and Newton, probably none are starters next year. Yep, you can only beat who you play, but looking at the teams they've lost to? All balanced or QB heavy offenses: Rivers, Romo, Alex Smith, Austin Davis (outlier, won't pretend the Rams offense falls under either of these).
In contrast, New England is slightly favorable (say, -1.5) on a neutral field against any of the NFC teams, though I'd argue road dogs against either (around +2.5 or +3.5) and can play both styles of games, faring 4-1 against playoff teams this year, be it a shootout against Green Bay, or a battle of the trenches against Seattle. Seattle's run-heavy offense does not allow for the former; Green Bay's defense has issues with the latter, going 0-3 when scoring under 20 points.
At this point, really, I think I'd be hard pressed to pick against Green Bay, maybe Dallas for its all around outstanding play. Seattle hasn't impressed me, with how they've hung around teams they should have beaten with slightly less difficulty.
Defense though? Oh yeah, that's Seattle's edge over the other 31 teams, no question, but I think New England's offense fares better against Seattle's defense, than Seattle's offense against New England's defense. If Seattle were to win, they'd have to get Baldwin and Richardson involved a LOT more than they do, and New England's O-Line would have to come up small. This is a real possibility, they're dinged up, and nobody really knows what is going to be seen out of them in a few weeks.
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Teams I know for certain will have an opening for head coach:
Jets
Bears
Falcons (I'm surprised Blank didn't fire Mike Smith at halftime after today's debacle)
Titans (maybe)
Raiders
Giants (maybe)
49ers
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Seahawks win the NFC West title!
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Just hard for me to think they're losing at home in the playoffs. Just one man's opinion. Obviously I'm in the minority here, but that's ok.
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At least the Niners won't have a losing season.
Thanks Jim Harbaugh!
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NFC seeding's
Seahawks: 12-4 (head-to-head tiebreaker over Packers, conference tiebreaker over Cowboys (10-2 against 8-4))
Packers: 12-4 (conference tiebreaker over Cowboys (9-3 against 8-4))
Cowboys: 12-4
Panthers: 7-8-1
Cardinals: 11-5 (head-to-head tiebreaker over Lions)
Lions: 11-5
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Apart from the Patriots, who are my pick to win the whole thing, the only other team I see as a threat to the Seahawks are the Cowboys. The Cowboys have already won in Seattle and they can really pound it with Murray. But I'd still favor the Seahawks in that matchup because I trust Wilson more than Romo in a playoff setting. Packers? Not a threat to Seattle because they aren't as good on the road as at home and I just can't see them winning on the road in such a tough place to play. Hence Patriots over Seahawks becomes my Super Bowl pick.
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NFC Playoff Matchups
1st Round Byes: Seattle and Green Bay
Wild Card Game #1: Lions @ Cowboys
Wild Card Game #2: Cardinals @ Panthers
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Well, head-to-head is actually wiped out here because there is no H2H sweep, but Seattle's conference record still prevails in this case, yes.
Also, the unofficial draft order for the non-playoff teams:
1. Tampa Bay 2-14
2. Tennessee 2-14
3. Jacksonville 3-13
4. Oakland 3-13
5. Washington 4-12
6. New York Jets 4-12
7. Chicago 5-11
8. Atlanta 6-10
9. New York Giants 6-10
10. St. Louis 6-10
11. Minnesota 7-9
12. Cleveland 7-9
13. New Orleans 7-9
14. Miami 8-8
15. San Francisco 8-8
16. Houston 9-7
17. Kansas City 9-7
18. San Diego 9-7
19. Cleveland (from Buffalo) 9-7
20. Philadelphia 10-6
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Seattle needs to prove to me it can beat a solid quarterback, or at least a balanced offense. Their season turnaround has been nothing but lower rung signal callers, often backups. Quarterbacks Seattle has beaten this year since the 3-3 start: Newton, Carr, Eli Manning, Lindley (x2), Kaepernick (x2), Mark Sanchez, and presumably Shaun Hill. Other than Eli and Newton, probably none are starters next year. Yep, you can only beat who you play, but looking at the teams they've lost to? All balanced or QB heavy offenses: Rivers, Romo, Alex Smith, Austin Davis (outlier, won't pretend the Rams offense falls under either of these).
Would beating Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers count as proof...because Seattle did that ;)
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Green Bay is your NFC North champion!
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Meanwhile the Broncos clinch a first round bye with a 47-14 blowout of the Raiders. This makes tonight's Bengals-Steelers game insignificant as both teams have clinched playoff berths and neither can get a first round bye. Both teams are playing next weekend no matter who wins tonight.
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Not insignificant at all. It's the difference between winning the division and getting a home game vs. Baltimore at going on the road to Indianapolis.
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AFC Playoff Matchups
1st Round Byes: Patriots and Broncos
Wild Card Game #1: Ravens @ See Scenario A, B and C
Wild Card Game #2: See Scenario A, B and C @ See Scenario A, B and C
Scenario A: Bengals win: They shall be the 3rd Seed and will play the Ravens, The Steelers will then play the Colts.
Scenario B: Steelers win: They shall be the 3rd Seed and will play the Ravens, Bengals will then play the Colts.
Scenario C: Game ends as a tie: Colts shall be the 3rd Seed and will play the Ravens, The Steelers and Bengals will then meet in a rematch with the Bengals at home.
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One more thing. Thanks to NFL RedZone for being the greatest thing the NFL created. I can't wait until September to watch it again. Now as my Niners are out I hope the Lions win the Super Bowl.
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You know, we may have had our initial disagreements, but you have grown on me as a solid contributor, regardless of topic, JustBecause.
Anyway, in response to your post, that's a good, fair point, and it's kind of an interesting one, as it shows how much we react to small sample sizes, and why they are meaningless. Other primary case this season, as I said earlier in the year, New England at 2-2, noting their line issues, when the mediots thought it was the end of New England's dynasty.
Seattle was 3-3 in the stretch in which it beat those two. The lazy narrative was oh, they're screwed, they have nothing, it's Super Bowl win hangover!! But they beat Peyton, Rodgers, and Cousins (who played well) in that stretch, which is why I didn't include beating either, since the current talk is about the 10-1 resurgence, which I find suspect. Still, as you address that point, those wound up being the best three QBs they beat this season, in my opinion.
That said, there's a good argument by the advanced numbers, as I like them; they say they should win the NFC, Pats the AFC, and the Lombardi.
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One more thing. Thanks to NFL RedZone for being the greatest thing the NFL created. I can't wait until September to watch it again.
+1
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+1
+2
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Is there any doubt that Aaron Rodgers is the MVP after his performance today? Pretty sure he cemented the MVP today. Watt deserves consideration, but he'll fall victim to defensive players not getting the attention they deserve.
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According to sources, Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers have agreed to part ways. He could be on his way to Michigan.
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Is there any doubt that Aaron Rodgers is the MVP after his performance today? Pretty sure he cemented the MVP today. Watt deserves consideration, but he'll fall victim to defensive players not getting the attention they deserve.
Probably. When Rodgers left the game, it was 14-0 Green Bay. When he came back, it was 14-14. Then he just took over. I had liked Watt, but at this point, might have to Rodgers. Watt likely gets Defensive Player of the Year, though I also expect Justin Houston to get some votes as well, thanks to his 22 sacks.
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I myself would vote for Rodgers as I've said before. I do like Watt for defensive player of the year. I have Beckham for rookie of the year. One major award we haven't mentioned yet is coach of the year. I'm a little biased as a Cardinals fan but I would vote for Bruce Arians. He's taken a beat up team to a double digit win season. Jason Garrett would also be a worthy candidate as he took a team that many expected to suck to a 12-4 season including being 8-0 on the road.
Although I understand why Harbaugh would go to Michigan as alma mater + money always talks, I'm somewhat surprised he'd leave the NFL considering he doesn't have a Super Bowl win on his resume and his brother does. Having left the NFL without having won a Super Bowl will likely be something he regrets down the road.
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Is there any doubt that Aaron Rodgers is the MVP after his performance today? Pretty sure he cemented the MVP today. Watt deserves consideration, but he'll fall victim to defensive players not getting the attention they deserve.
I'd certainly give it him. If Houston had made the playoffs, then I think Watt would've had a better case.
At this point, the only other player that I can see winning MVP is Andrew Luck...maybe Peyton Manning. Still, I think it goes to Rodgers.
As for coach of the year, I'd lean towards either Bruce Arians or Jim Caldwell.
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Bruce Arians and Bill O'Brien would be my top two picks for Coach of the Year. Really like what BA did this season in Arizona, leading them to 11 wins after what turned out to be so-so QB play after Palmer's injury and what looked like a weaker roster than in 2013. As for BOB, simply amazing what he did, taking a Texans team that went 2-14 in 2013, had a mediocre quarterback, at best, and barely got anything out of Jadeveon Clowney, and leading them to 9-7. Outstanding.
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It's not only official, it's "mutual" (regarding Jim Harbaugh)
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/28/49ers-harbaugh-mutually-agree-to-part-ways/ (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/28/49ers-harbaugh-mutually-agree-to-part-ways/)
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Excitingly, apart from one or two teams, pretty much everybody in this year's playoffs has a legitimate chance to win it all if things ended up going their way. At this point, I'm thinking it'll be a Green Bay-New England rematch, but of course only time will tell. And it appears momentum is building to add an additional wild card berth per conference, so those who just missed this year just may have more room to maneuver in very soon.
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Playoff Schedule:
Wild Card Weekend:
Saturday:
Arizona at Carolina, 4:35, ESPN
Pittsburgh at Indianapolis or Baltimore at Pittsburgh, 8:15, NBC
Sunday:
Baltimore at Cincinnati or Cincinnati at Indianapolis, 1:05, CBS
Detroit at Dallas, 4:40, FOX
Divisional Weekend:
Saturday, January 10
New England plays at 4:35 on NBC, Seattle plays at 8:15 on FOX
Sunday, January 11
Green Bay plays at 1:05 on FOX, Denver plays at 4:40 on CBS
Conference Championship
Sunday, January 18
NFC Championship at 3:00
AFC Championship at 6:30
Super Bowl XLIX, February 1, 6:30
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Schedule will change if the game ends in a tie. If it happens:
SATURDAY 8:15 PM ET on NBC
Ravens vs. Colts
SUNDAY 1:05 PM ET on CBS
Steelers vs. Bengals
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AFC Playoff Matchups & NFC Playoff Matchups () - Seeding
1st Round Byes: Patriots (1) and Broncos (2)
Wild Card Game #1: Ravens (6) @ Steelers (3)
Wild Card Game #2: Bengals (5) @ Colts (4)
1st Round Byes: Seattle (1) and Green Bay (2)
Wild Card Game #1: Lions (6) @ Cowboys (3)
Wild Card Game #2: Cardinals (5) @ Panthers (4)
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Well, head-to-head is actually wiped out here because there is no H2H sweep, but Seattle's conference record still prevails in this case, yes.
And here is the official first round draft order for the non-playoff teams:
1. Tampa Bay 2-14
2. Tennessee 2-14
3. Jacksonville 3-13
4. Oakland 3-13
5. Washington 4-12
6. New York Jets 4-12
7. Chicago 5-11
8. Atlanta 6-10
9. New York Giants 6-10
10. St. Louis 6-10
11. Minnesota 7-9
12. Cleveland 7-9
13. New Orleans 7-9
14. Miami 8-8
15. San Francisco 8-8
16. Houston 9-7
17. San Diego 9-7
18. Kansas City 9-7
19. Cleveland (from Buffalo) 9-7
20. Philadelphia 10-6
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My Dream Picks: My Realistic Picks:
CAR over ARI CAR over ARI
BAL over PIT BAL over PIT
IND over CIN IND over CIN
DAL over DET DAL over DET
BAL over NE NE over BAL
SEA over CAR SEA over CAR
GB over DAL GB over DAL
DEN over IND DEN over IND
SEA over GB SEA over GB
BAL over DEN NE over DEN
BAL over SEA SEA over NE
So realistically, yes, I think the Ravens could at least win in Pittsburgh. They'd need to not sleep at the wheel to start the game, but if they wake up and play the Steelers tough, which they always do, they could move on to New England. They also play New England pretty tough too, so I could see them making it to the AFC Championship Game. But as it stands, with the way they've played to close out the season, I have a hard time even picking them to make it past the Wild Card round.
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Jets have fired head coach Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik. Black Monday has begun.
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Announcement on Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith is expected sometime today.
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Times up for Falcons coach Mike Smith. He just got his walking papers.
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At this point we're to 4 as Trestman is out in Chicago along with Emery. Gotta figure Oakland will be next.
In other news, Kyle Orton has told the Bills he plans to retire.
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I would pay cash money to see a Steelers-Seahawks Super Bowl. Not just for the alliteration, but because they're pretty much the last two teams that I truly like.
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In spite of the Giants missing the playoffs for the third year in a row and having back to back losing seasons, Tom Coughlin has apparently been told that he will keep his job and be back with the Giants in 2015.
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In spite of the Giants missing the playoffs for the third year in a row and having back to back losing seasons, Tom Coughlin has apparently been told that he will keep his job and be back with the Giants in 2015.
Next year will be a make-or-break for Coughlin. If he doesn't produce results and keep our players from being injured, he's a goner after 2015. Next season is going to be big because we're expected to have Cruz back. Him and Beckham will be a dangerous duo similar to the Hernandez/Gronkowski tandem. Of course this will happen if Coughlin fixes our offensive line.
On the defensive side, Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports reported that Steve Spagnuolo may be returning to the Giants. Even though he sucked as head coach of the Rams and was a horrible defense coordinator to the Saints in 2012, he was also the guy who built the Giants defense that ended New England's perfect season in 2007.
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It makes sense to bring Coughlin back given New York, as noted above, stands to explode with a 3 headed wide receiver mega-threat (since Ruben Randle has shown flashes of brilliance too). As long as they stay healthy, there is the chance they might in fact go far--perhaps not to the Super Bowl itself just yet, but deep into the playoffs. Indeed, Dallas should not rest easy, for each of the rest of the NFC East could realistically bounce back big to seize control of the division next season (Washington probably less so given there's so much for them to fix, and I'm realistic enough to know Philadelphia's about 2 seasons away from major contention, but seemingly heading in the right direction), and although he's lightning hot at the moment, Romo probably only has 2, maybe 3 elite years left until he presumably starts declining, so their window won't stay open forever.
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The Detroit Lions and Ndamukong Suh have been informed that the defensive tackle will be suspended for this weekend's wild-card playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
Suh's punishment comes a day after he stepped on the leg of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Suh is appealing the suspension. The appeal will be heard by Ted Cottrell.
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The Detroit Free Press has stated that the University of Michigan officially has Jim Harbaugh.
I'm happy with this. I'm glad we (The Niners) don't have to play against him.
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My picks:
Steelers over Ravens
Colts over Bengals
Cowboys over Lions (With or without Suh, this is going to be one-sided.)
Cardinals over Panthers (Any team with a losing record I just have no faith in.)
Patriots over Colts
Seahawks over Cardinals (I can't see this any other way.)
Packers over Cowboys
Broncos over Steelers
Seahawks over Packers (This could go either way but I'm going for the home field advantage.)
Patriots over Broncos (I still can't see Peyton beating Brady, especially at home.)
Seahawks over Patriots (Yeah, I smell a repeat.)
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I might as well make pre postseason picks as well. For the Wild Card matchups I also noted who I'm rooting for in each game. I will acknowledge which team I am rooting for in each game as each round comes up.
Panthers over Cardinals: I'm a Cardinals fan and want a playoff win in the worst way. But if I ignore my personal bias what we have here is a team whose best healthy quarterback is Ryan Lindley going against a team with Cam Newton that didn't lose a game all of December. Yeah the Panthers have a losing record but they're white hot right now. And a couple of those wins have been blowouts, including yesterday. I'd still pick the Cardinals if we had Carson Palmer or even Drew Stanton as I do like our coach, defense, and receivers. But Carolina has also developed a running game with Stewart now healthy as well and Cam has played some of the best football of his career in recent weeks. When it comes to it I believe our quarterback situation will be too much to overcome.
Cowboys over Lions: And I hope I'm right about this one. I like the Cowboys whereas I don't like the Lions and I especially dislike their defensive players. That acknowledged, Murray might be the best running back in the NFL right now and that offensive line of the Cowboys is strong. Furthermore, Romo had a better year this year due to having a stronger line to protect him. Remember too that Matthew Stafford is 0-16 lifetime on the road against teams with winning records. The Lions aren't good on the road against good teams and that showed again this year in Arizona, New England, and Green Bay. And Suh is (deservedly) suspended for this game weakening the Lions defensive line. Cowboys take this one.
Steelers over Ravens: The Bell uncertainty makes this a tougher call but Big Ben and the Steelers have such a good passing game and the Ravens secondary isn't that good. Furthermore Flacco has had his ups and downs this year. Pittsburgh is a tough place to play to. Steelers take the third meeting of the NFL's biggest rivalry. (And having a Ravens-Steelers playoff game is totally awesome baby!) I'm rooting for the Steelers as I would rather see a flagship franchise move on than a 1996 expansion team.
Bengals over Colts: Colts. This is a case of a merely decent team facing a true contender and in a matchup like that the true contender wins. Colts advance. I'm rooting for the Colts in this matchup as I'd rather see Luck advance than Dalton.
Seahawks over Panthers: Seahawks: The Seahawks have a complete team with the best defense in the league, Lynch, and a quarterback that fits the system well in Wilson. The Seahawks defense finally puts the Newton ride to an end and Wilson and Lynch provide the needed offense to win. And Seattle is such a tough place to play.
Cowboys over Packers: This is my upset pick in the NFC. A good running game travels well and the Packers defense has looked more vulnerable lately. Rodgers is great but Romo is a worthy quarterback this year and you have to remember too that the offensive line of the Packers isn't playing well right now. The bottom line is that the Cowboys offensive line will give Murray more holes than the Packers offensive line will give Rodgers protection.
Patriots at Colts: Patriots: I think the Patriots are the best team in the NFL Brady is Brady, Gronk is great, and their defense is solid enough. I believe Luck is an elite quarterback and that on defense Davis is the most underrated player in the NFL. But I think that Colts are very good and the Patriots are better. Also remember that the Patriots running game has been solid lately and Belicheck is the greatest coach of our generation.
Broncos over Steelers: Should be a great game between two strong teams with two great quarterbacks. I think home field advantage comes into play here. The Broncos defense is better than last year but I could easily see this becoming a shootout. Nevertheless I pick Denver either way. As Pittsburgh is a tough place to play I'd give the Steelers more of a shot if the game was in Pittsburgh.
Seahawks over Cowboys: Tough matchup to pick as it's strength against strength when you talk about the Seahawks defense VS Murray. But I have a hard time seeing any team winning in Seattle twice in a season and I trust Wilson more than Romo is this particular spot.
Patriots over Broncos: Home field advantage is huge here. A great matchup but Brady owns Manning and I see this one going the Patriots way. The Patriots have been on fire at home this year and I think that plus Brady having the upper hand on Manning mean the Patriots win.
Patriots over Seahawks: I really think this is what we're towards. I think we Patriots are better offensively and the Seahawks are better defensively. I'm betting on offense to triumph over defense here.
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Suh wins his appeal and will play this Sunday.
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Suh's a dirty player, and he needs to be out of the NFL. PERIOD!
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Wow, was the commissioner afraid Suh would step on him if the suspension wasn't overturned? I hope the Cowboys destroy the Lions on Sunday, this coming from a Giants fan.
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The suspension should definitely not have been overturned, especially considering his history. Ah another reason to want the Cowboys to blow the Lions out of the water on Sunday.
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That's insane... I can't believe that Suh is going to play this weekend. He's a great player athletic wise, but his attitude and decision making stink of a sewer.
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This was a tough call this time around. Definitely not as clear cut as that famous stomping incident from Thanksgivings past.
It's really difficult to determine intent from the replays available. That said, I did agree with the NFL's initial statement. I think you HAVE to feel that you're stepping on something other than the ground and natural instinct should dictate that you react accordingly. Suh made no attempt whatsoever to avoid whatever he was stepping on. I understand that he might have been gaining his balance, but to not feel that you're standing on something other than the ground? I hope he doesn't own a small pet.
All that said, while I understand Suh doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt based on his prior history, with what's on the line I can't argue with it being overturned.
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This was a tough call this time around. Definitely not as clear cut as that famous stomping incident from Thanksgivings past.
It's really difficult to determine intent from the replays available. That said, I did agree with the NFL's initial statement. I think you HAVE to feel that you're stepping on something other than the ground and natural instinct should dictate that you react accordingly. Suh made no attempt whatsoever to avoid whatever he was stepping on. I understand that he might have been gaining his balance, but to not feel that you're standing on something other than the ground? I hope he doesn't own a small pet.
All that said, while I understand Suh doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt based on his prior history, with what's on the line I can't argue with it being overturned.
Robbie Alomar was allowed to play in the postseason after he spat on John Hirschbeck toward the end of the 1996 season. A blown call is no excuse to spit on anyone and he got away lightly.
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AFC Wild Card:
Pittsburgh over Baltimore
Indianapolis over Cincinnati
NFC Wild Card:
Dallas over Detroit
Carolina over Arizona
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AFC Divisional:
New England over Indianapolis
Pittsburgh over Denver, on the condition they have Bell healthy; if not, my pick goes to Denver.
NFC Divisional:
Seattle over Carolina
Dallas over Green Bay
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AFC Championship:
New England over Pittsburgh (or Denver, depending on Bell's wellness)
NFC Championship:
Seattle over Dallas
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Super Bowl:
New England over Seattle, 20-17.
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January 3rd:
Panthers over Cardinals
Ravens over Steelers
January 4th:
Colts over Bengals
Cowboys over Lions
January 10th:
Patriots over Ravens
Seahawks over Panthers
January 11th:
Cowboys over Packers
Colts over Broncos
January 18th:
Patriots over Colts
Cowboys over Seahawks
Super Bowl 49:
Patriots over Cowboys (31-28)
Essentially, the Patriots appear to be the class of the AFC entering the playoffs and I think the Colts knock Manning and the Broncos out for Brady and Belichick, thus making the Patriots` road to the Super Bowl a little bit easier.
On the NFC side, I think Dallas (aided by not having a 1st round bye) rides their hot streak all the way to the Super Bowl, winning at Lambeau and CenturyLink along the way.
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Guess it's my turn to do this thang.
Panthers over Cardinals
Steelers over Ravens
Bengals over Colts
Cowboys over Lions
Patriots over Bengals
Seahawks over Panthers
Cowboys over Packers
Steelers over Broncos
Seahawks over Cowboys
Patriots over Steelers
Seahawks over Patriots, 24-17.
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Wild Card
Panthers over Cardinals
Steelers over Ravens
Colts over Bengals
Lions over Cowboys
Divisional
Patriots over Colts
Seahawks over Lions
Packers over Panthers
Broncos over Steelers
Championship Sunday
Seahawks over Packers
Patriots over Broncos
Super Bowl
Seahawks over Patriots 43-8 (yeah I'm going there)
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Buffalo Bills are now on the list of teams looking for head coaches, as Doug Marrone has opted out of his contract and is now a free-agent coach.
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Buffalo Bills are now on the list of teams looking for head coaches, as Doug Marrone has opted out of his contract and is now a free-agent coach.
Not a good move. I thought the Bills were really going to turn it around next year.
In the meantime, the Jets are favorites to land him as head coach according to Adam Schefter.
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It's kind of smart on his part, actually. Bills have no quarterback and no 1st-round pick. Not a good combo for a franchise. And he gets his 2015 salary of $4 million with no offset, meaning he would essentially double-dip if he coaches another team (meaning he would get his salary from the team he coaches and the Bills).
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He apparently had an opt out in case of an ownership change and the Bills had an ownership change this year. I thought the Bills made some progress this year but the quarterback situation is a big negative.
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Wild Card predictions:
Dallas over Detroit
Indianapolis over Cincinatti
Carolina over Arizona
Pittsburgh over Baltimore
Divisional predictions:
New England over Indianapolis
Denver over Pittsburgh
Seattle over Carolina
Dallas over Green Bay
NFC game:
Dallas over Seattle (I sense Dallas upsetting Seattle in CenturyLink field)
AFC game:
New England over Denver
Superbowl:
Dallas over New England
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Apparently the Ravens are concerned about the playing surface at Heinz Field. And it's hardly the first time Heinz Field has been considered to have a poor playing surface. http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/12107347/torrey-smith-baltimore-ravens-critical-playing-surface-heinz-field
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Here are my predictions:
AFC Wild Card:
Indianapolis over Cincinnati
Baltimore over Pittsburgh
NFC Wild Card:
Carolina over Arizona
Dallas over Detroit
AFC Divisional Playoffs:
New England over Baltimore
Indianapolis over Denver (in an upset)
NFC Divisional Playoffs:
Carolina over Seattle (in a HUGE upset)
Dallas over Green Bay
AFC Championship:
New England over Indianapolis
NFC Championship:
Dallas over Carolina
Super Bowl:
New England over Dallas
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Happy playoff day!
First match-up of the day: Cardinals vs. Panthers. First playoff meeting since 2009 when Kurt Warner and the Cardinals thrashed them 33-13 in the divisional round. Both teams come in limping into the playoffs, with Arizona in a bad quarterback situation and Carolina finishing with a losing record at 7-8-1. I'm giving the edge to the Panthers due to Cam Newton being better and more experienced than Ryan Lindley.
Second match-up: Ravens vs. Steelers. First playoff meeting since 2011 when the Steelers beat them 31-24 thanks to a clutch catch by Antonio Brown. Steelers are 3-0 in the playoffs against the Ravens. I see the Steelers winning a close defensive battle.
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Don't know if I'd consider winning four straight "limping into the playoffs".
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With Wild Card weekend here, here's a look back at what I consider the 5 greatest Wild Card Games of all time;
1. January 3rd 1993: The Comeback. Having already trailed 28-3 to the Houston Oilers at halftime, the Bills threw an early second half pick 6 to fall behind 35-3. Led by backup quarterback Frank Reich and receiver Andre Reed the Buffalo Bills mounted a furious second half rally and actually took a late 38-35 lead on a Reich to Reed touchdown with about 3 minutes left. The Oilers actually managed a good drive after that but became ultra conservative once they were in scoring range. The Oilers managed to force overtime with a game tying field goal but most people don't remember that the Oilers likely had a good shot to win that game on that last possession of regulation had they been a bit more aggressive. In overtime, Nate Odems intercepted a Warren Moon pass to set up Steve Christie's game winning 32 yard field goal. (Thank Goodness for the Bills Scott Norwood was gone by then.)
2. January 8th 2011: The Beastquake: It was really something watching this play live when it happened. This was a play that you just knew as you were watching it unfold was one of the greatest plays in NFL history. Plus it's always awesome to see team bountygate on the wrong end of an upset like that.
3. January 8th 2000: The Music City Miracle: Worth Noting: the Titans had practiced this play, known as "Home Run Throwback." the day before. However it been intended for Derrick Mason to get the ball. Because Mason was injured in this game they had to use Dyson instead. If the Beastquake was one of the most exciting plays I've ever seen then the Music City Miracle was one of the most shocking.
4. January 3rd 1999: The catch 2 Owens had had a bad game up to this point but came through it matter most. Pat Summerall's call of the game winning touchdown is classic. This was also Steve Young's final playoff win and his last shining moment. This play is known as The Catch 2 owing to Dwight Clark making "The Catch" for the 49ers in the 1981 NFC Championship Game.
5. January 8th 1994: Superb special teams lead to Montana magic. Note the importance of the blocked punt. Special teams are just as important in football as offense and defense.
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Quick playoff picks, no explanation (feeling lazy right now).
Dallas over Detroit
Carolina over Arizona
Baltimore upsets Pittsburgh
Cincinatti sneaks by Indy
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Two articles I really liked for today's games:
ARI@CAR: http://soshcentral.com/nfl/games/previews/2015/01/03/2015-nfl-playoffs-arizona-at-carolina-preview/
BAL@PIT: http://soshcentral.com/nfl/games/previews/2015/01/03/2015-nfl-playoffs-baltimore-at-pittsburgh-preview/
Also, anyone doing fantasy for the postseason? I know I am, one with the NFL, one with ESPN as part of a special pool, where the winner gets $800 and a few other goodies. Thoughts of my teams? Former uses the doubler/tripler/quadrupler round thing, any player goes, and ESPN uses the $50 cap limit, but no multiplier, and team can be changed weekly.
NFL.com: Rodgers/Lynch/Anderson/Brown/Nelson/Gronk/Gostowski/Seahawks D
ESPN: Romo/Big Ben/Murray/Hill/Dez/Antonio Brown/Olsen/Bailey/Panthers D
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I miss the replacement refs.
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What a horrible game. Mistakes from both sides, turnoverfest, and bad calls going mostly against the Cardinals. It's like watching a Jets practice game.
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Here's a point worth considering: The refs used for the playoffs are basically all star type crews. Might it be better to keep crews of officials on the same teams as they've been all season. Having a merit system to decide who gets to work the playoffs makes sense on some levels but wouldn't it be better to choose them as teams rather than individuals. An officiating crew is a team too. Putting together crews of officials that haven't worked together all year doesn't seem like the best thing to me.
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Carolina wins 27-14 in an ugly game for both teams.
EDIT: 27-16 after the safety.
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As a Cardinals fan this game absolutely sucked. As an NFL fan it sucked even more. This was not a very good game to watch on any level. Ah well, there's still the NFL's biggest and best rivalry in fifteen minutes.
Also: Thank You to Larry Fitzgerald for your 11 years of service to the Arizona Cardinals. You have represented the Cardinals well during your career and have been a great face of the organization. I'll always cherish that run we had to the 2008 NFC Championship when you broke so many of Jerry Rice's postseason single year receiving records. Too bad we couldn't finish off Super Bowl 43 but I'll cherish that run to the NFC Championship and the role you played in it. Thank you Larry Fitzgerald for all you did for the Cardinals in your 11 years here. You will be missed. *sheds tear*
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Well, that was a terrible way to kick off the playoffs. If Dallas beats Detroit tomorrow, Carolina will be the sacrificial lamb in the emerald city next Saturday night. One more thing: Bruce Arians should not be the coach of the year. On to Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Go Hawks.
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The Cardinals netted 77 total yards tonight, the fewest yards ever for a playoff team.
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Well, that was a terrible way to kick off the playoffs. If Dallas beats Detroit tomorrow, Carolina will be the sacrificial lamb in the emerald city next Saturday night. One more thing: Bruce Arians should not be the coach of the year. On to Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Go Hawks.
Keep in mind, majority of voters have likely already submitted their ballots (usually done right after the season ends), so Coach of the Year may be decided. And yes, I have already submitted my awards ballot for the Pro Football Writers of America.
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Keep in mind, majority of voters have likely already submitted their ballots (usually done right after the season ends), so Coach of the Year may be decided. And yes, I have already submitted my awards ballot for the Pro Football Writers of America.
Ah, so the voting is done after the regular season. Thanks for the info.
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Well, let's see if I can go 0 for 4 tomorrow. :P
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2-0 so far in the wild card weekend picks. Let's keep the party going! :-D
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Colts beat the Bengals as expected. This is what happens when a merely decent team faces a true contender. And I think it's time for a coaching change in Cincinnati. Lewis is 0-6 in playoff games over a long period of time. The Bengals will never be a true contender with Lewis.
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Expect the Cowboys to blowout the Lions today.
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Expect the Cowboys to blowout the Lions today.
I expect the Cowboys to win and I hope they do. I like the Cowboys anyway but I also want to see the Lions, especially Ndirtykong Suh go away.
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Least my picks weren't a total wash. :P
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Bengals were also dealt a tough hand today, being without their two top receivers in AJ Green and Jermaine Gresham. I don't think Lewis gets fired, but 2015 could be his last season.
And while the loss shouldn't fully be put on his shoulders, this certainly isn't going to help Andy Dalton's case. But at least they can get out of his contract after next season and actually save some cap space (if they cut him this offseason, before June 1, they wouldn't save any cap space).
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For comparison's sake, here's are the 8 longest tenured NFL coaches:
1. Bill Belichick
2. Marvin Lewis
3. Tom Coughlin
4. Mike McCarthy
5. Sean Payton
6. Mike Tomlin
7. John Harbaugh
8. Pete Carroll
7 of these 8 coaches have won a Super Bowl (twice in the case of Coughlin and 3 times in Belichick's case).
(and 6 of those 7 have coached the Super Bowl winning team for 7 consecutive seasons...oddly enough, Belichick is the exception).
1 of these 8 coaches has now gone 0-6 in his playoff career and has yet to coach a game in the divisional round of the playoffs.
He's not necessarily a bad coach, but Marvin Lewis probably isn't going to win Cincinnati a Super Bowl. I think the Bengals and Lewis himself need a fresh start sooner rather than later.
Also, if the Cowboys win The Thanksgiving Bowl , I go 4-0 on Wild-Card Weekend predictions :hammer:
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Holy cow, Detroit got raped by the refs on that DPI flag that got picked up. That was atrocious.
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And now they're getting raped by defensive holding calls. Ridiculous.
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Suh has been held all day, but whatever.
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The only thing worse than no flag on a blatant penalty is what happened to the Lions.
Now I want Detroit to win.
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Dez Bryant also should've been hit with unsportsmanlike for running onto the field without his helmet but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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If Lawrence just goes down after getting the ball this game is over.
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Let the controversy begin...
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There's redemption for DeMarcus.
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If Lawrence just goes down after getting the ball this game is over.
And he does redeem himself with a 4th down sack/knockout and recovery.
And the Cowboys win...yay?
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How bout them Cowboys! :) And of all people DeMarcus Lawrence ends it. Talk about going from goat to hero just like that. :)
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Updated draft order:
1. Tampa Bay 2-14
2. Tennessee 2-14
3. Jacksonville 3-13
4. Oakland 3-13
5. Washington 4-12
6. New York Jets 4-12
7. Chicago 5-11
8. Atlanta 6-10
9. New York Giants 6-10
10. St. Louis 6-10
11. Minnesota 7-9
12. Cleveland 7-9
13. New Orleans 7-9
14. Miami 8-8
15. San Francisco 8-8
16. Houston 9-7
17. San Diego 9-7
18. Kansas City 9-7
19. Cleveland (from Buffalo) 7-9
20. Philadelphia 10-6
21. Cincinnati 10-5-1
22. Pittsburgh 11-5
23. Detroit 11-5
24. Arizona 11-5
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Let me revise my picks for the divisionals...
Baltimore over New England (I think they're the only team that can do this)
Seattle over Carolina
Green Bay over Dallas
Denver over Indianapolis
Denver over Baltimore
Seattle over Green Bay
Seattle over Denver (Still calling for a repeat)
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Lions were robbed. Nuff said.
Divisional
Ravens over Patriots (Flacco is known to put up a fight against Brady. He's beaten him twice in the playoffs)
Seahawks over Panthers
Packers over Cowboys
Broncos over Colts
Championship Sunday
Seattle over Packers
Broncos over Ravens
Super Bowl
Seattle over Denver 30-20
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I can understand not throwing the flag at all or even throwing the flag, picking it up, and then announcing a no call. But to announce the penalty and then pick up the flag absolutely reeks of horrid officiating. Is no one talking to each other on the field before they make the hefty decision to announce a penalty? I don't know what was going on the officiating crew, but they've got some explaining to do.
That said, the good teams can overcome bad calls (dammit, if I have to hear it when the Ravens lose, then the Lions are going to hear it now). Caldwell probably should've gone for it after that flag was picked up. Sure, he had no idea that the ensuing punt would be shanked, thus rendering his decision to punt void, but it would've been ideal to just keep the ball away from the Cowboys, who had gotten hot following halftime.
I'll hold fast to my "realistic" picks. I think that New England will finally be able to quell this very loud Ravens playoff team. The Ravens have done the seemingly impossible and beaten the Patriots in Foxborough 2/3 times and the one loss was just a dropped TD pass from a win in a game that the Ravens offense outdueled Tom Brady. They've certainly got their work cut out for them, but we'll see if that week off has actually helped them. It'd be nice if my "dream" picks held up though. :)
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Well, since I went 4-0 this weekend, I'm might as well stay with my initial Divisional Round picks...though if I'm 8-0 at this time next Sunday, I'll have surprised myself.
January 10th
Patriots over Ravens: The Ravens have the best chance of the remaining AFC teams to prevent a Patriots' Super Bowl march...they won't prevent it, but I think it'll be close.
Seahawks over Panthers: The Panther's feel good story ends at the hands of the defending champs.
January 11th
Cowboys over Packers: They've really got momentum now, plus 8-0 on the road has to count for something. I'm personally looking forward to this game the most out of the 4 next weekend.
Colts over Broncos: I still feel that this'll happen. If there's anytime for Andrew Luck to cement his status amongst the elite QB's, it's now, and I think he does so.
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I think the biggest problem with the officiating issues are that playoff officiating crews haven't worked together throughout the season. That is why I believe that officiating crews should be assigned to playoff assignments based on teams rather than individuals. It be a smoother process to keep officials working with the same crews they have all year. Remember that an officiating crew is a team too.
I stand by my predictions of Seahawks over Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game, Patriots over Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, and Patriots over Seahawks in the Super Bowl. I'm rooting for Cowboys over Patriots in the Super Bowl and with my Cardinals having been eliminated yesterday I'm rooting for the Cowboys every week as long as they're alive.
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The whole "refs haven't worked together" thing is nonsense to me. That shouldn't matter. These guys are picked because they're the best of the best.
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The whole "refs haven't worked together" thing is nonsense to me. That shouldn't matter. These guys are picked because they're the best of the best.
Are they though?
I thought I heard it yesterday during the Cardinals/Panthers game (ESPN) that for the Super Bowl and the Conference Championships, they use the top 3 officials from each position (R, U, BJ, etc.) for those games ("1st tier"), then for the first 2 weekends of the playoffs, the crews are mixed from different regular season crews not necessarily based on strict rankings ("2nd tier") and then there are those officials who don't work the playoffs at all.
I could very well be wrong, but I don't think we really get to see the best of the best until January 18th.
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Well, you have a sense what I mean. Yeah, they're not the best, but still good enough to get a postseason appearance. And the playoffs have always been like this, so why is "trust" now a factor?
Also, what they usually do is one of the referees for Divisional Weekend will also work the Super Bowl (for example, Terry McAulay worked the Seahawks-Saints Divisional Playoff and then worked Super Bowl XLVIII).
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It's less the trust issue and more that officials that have worked together during the season will have more natural cohesion with each other. Much like Aaron Rodgers will have more natural cohesion with Jordy Nelson than he would with Dez Bryant or Calvin Johnson.
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Well, you have a sense what I mean. Yeah, they're not the best, but still good enough to get a postseason appearance. And the playoffs have always been like this, so why is "trust" now a factor?
Yep. I knew what you meant, and I do agree on All Star Crews for the playoffs. Trust shouldn't have to be a factor so long as everyone is competent in the heat of the moment.
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Apparently I'm 3 out of four for Wild Card weekend. Here's my picks
Saturday:
New England OVER Baltimore
Seattle OVER Carolina (I don't see Carolina winning at CenturyLink Field)
Sunday
Denver OVER Indianapolis
Dallas OVER Green Bay
I personally want a New England VS Denver AFC final. Also a Seattle VS Dallas NFC final.
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3-1 on the WC weekend picks. Cool. Next week's lazy picks:
Seattle over Carolina
New England over Baltimore
Denver crushes Indy
Packers squeak by Dallas
Go Hawks!
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I can understand not throwing the flag at all or even throwing the flag, picking it up, and then announcing a no call. But to announce the penalty and then pick up the flag absolutely reeks of horrid officiating. Is no one talking to each other on the field before they make the hefty decision to announce a penalty? I don't know what was going on the officiating crew, but they've got some explaining to do.
That said, the good teams can overcome bad calls (dammit, if I have to hear it when the Ravens lose, then the Lions are going to hear it now). Caldwell probably should've gone for it after that flag was picked up. Sure, he had no idea that the ensuing punt would be shanked, thus rendering his decision to punt void, but it would've been ideal to just keep the ball away from the Cowboys, who had gotten hot following halftime.
I'll hold fast to my "realistic" picks. I think that New England will finally be able to quell this very loud Ravens playoff team. The Ravens have done the seemingly impossible and beaten the Patriots in Foxborough 2/3 times and the one loss was just a dropped TD pass from a win in a game that the Ravens offense outdueled Tom Brady. They've certainly got their work cut out for them, but we'll see if that week off has actually helped them. It'd be nice if my "dream" picks held up though. :)
If I were the Ford family, right now I'd call Goodell and file a formal protest. Almost certainly nothing would come of it, but at least they would be on record saying that they were essentially robbed--more so later in the drive when what at least from my point of view seemed more like a Dallas hold than a Detroit hold.
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In other news, the Rams may have taken a step closer to returning to Los Angeles, although only time will tell:
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nfl/story/_/id/10380150/st-louis-rams-owner-stan-kroenke-buys-60-acres-land-los-angeles
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Actually that link leads to an older story. Here's the more current story. http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nfl/story/_/id/12122091/st-louis-rams-owner-planning-stadium-site-los-angeles
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In additional off-field news, it appears Chris Christie might be regretting his open friendship with Jerry Jones even more now, as rumors are surfacing Jones might have paid him under the table for Port Authority contracts. Of course, both men are and must be considered innocent until proven guilty beyond any doubt, but I believe this does warrant further official investigation. The full possible story:
http://themoderatevoice.com/201685/christie-pushed-port-authority-award-deal-jerry-jones-firm/
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In additional off-field news, it appears Chris Christie might be regretting his open friendship with Jerry Jones even more now, as rumors are surfacing Jones might have paid him under the table for Port Authority contracts. Of course, both men are and must be considered innocent until proven guilty beyond any doubt, but I believe this does warrant further official investigation. The full possible story:
http://themoderatevoice.com/201685/christie-pushed-port-authority-award-deal-jerry-jones-firm/
It's not like Christie was going to be President anyway given how his reputation is.
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It's not like Christie was going to be President anyway given how his reputation is.
Please keep the political opinions out of this thread. We don't want the mods to lock it up.
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In additional off-field news, it appears Chris Christie might be regretting his open friendship with Jerry Jones even more now, as rumors are surfacing Jones might have paid him under the table for Port Authority contracts. Of course, both men are and must be considered innocent until proven guilty beyond any doubt, but I believe this does warrant further official investigation. The full possible story:
http://themoderatevoice.com/201685/christie-pushed-port-authority-award-deal-jerry-jones-firm/
Wow, as if America needed another reason to hate the Cowboys. This makes their Wild Card win even more suspicious. I hope Green Bay spanks them to high heavens this weekend.
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2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists:
15 Modern-Day Finalists:
Orlando Pace (first year)
Kurt Warner (first year)
Junior Seau (first year)
Marvin Harrison
Jimmy Johnson
John Lynch
Will Shields
Morten Andersen
Jerome Bettis
Tim Brown
Don Coryell
Terrell Davis
Tony Dungy
Kevin Greene
Charles Haley
Two contributor finalists:
Bill Polian
Ron Wolf
Senior committee finalist:
Mick Tinglehoff
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2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists:
15 Modern-Day Finalists:
Orlando Pace (first year)
Kurt Warner (first year)
Junior Seau (first year)
Marvin Harrison
Jimmy Johnson
John Lynch
Will Shields
Morten Andersen
Jerome Bettis
Tim Brown
Don Coryell
Terrell Davis
Tony Dungy
Kevin Greene
Charles Haley
Wow, what a loaded field. At least 8 names here have strong credentials for induction. Unfortunately, all of them will not be picked this year and will have to wait another year.
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Junior Seau should be a lock. And as a Cardinals fan, here's hoping Kurt Warner gets in.
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As a matter of fact, only a maximum of five out of the 15 modern-day finalists will be selected. Indeed, this is a strong field. Gonna be hard to cut ten of these guys and find the five to get in.
That said, my guess is Kurt Warner, Orlando Pace, Junior Seau, Charles Haley and Kevin Greene get the call. Then the two contributors and Tinglehoff.
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Cleveland QB coach Dowall Loggains has been fired. He was the guy who talked the team's GM into drafting Johnny Manziel. Cleveland OC Kyle Shanahan was resigned.
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If I had to pick 5, I'd go with Orlando Pace, Kurt Warner, Junior Seau, John Lynch, and Will Shields; though there are several combinations of 5 that would be perfectly justified.
Good luck to the selectors.
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If I were to pick five I'd go with Orlando Pace, Junior Seau, Kurt Warner, Jerome Bettis, and Tim Brown. I'm cool with whoever gets in now. All the finalists are deserving. One thing that does worry me about Warner's candidacy is the fact he had a losing record in Super Bowls going 1-2 and know quarterbacks tend to be judged by wins and losses. I do wonder how much that hurts his chances.
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One thing that does worry me about Warner's candidacy is the fact he had a losing record in Super Bowls going 1-2 and know quarterbacks tend to be judged by wins and losses. I do wonder how much that hurts his chances.
Short answer: It doesn't.
John Elway's Super Bowl record is 2-3
Peyton Manning's is 1-2 (subject to change...and Manning's eventual enshrinement)
Dan Marino's is 0-1
Jim Kelly is in the Hall of Fame and his Super Bowl record is 0-4
Plus, Warner's 2 losses could've very easily been wins. The same can't be said for Elway, Marino, and Kelly (save for Super Bowl XXV).
Kurt Warner has the credentials to get him into the Hall of Fame. His Super Bowl record won't impact that IMHO.
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If anything is going to be hotly debated about Warner, it's going to be his stint with the Giants that wasn't all that hot. But still, you don't always see quarterbacks lead two different franchises to Super Bowls, especially when one of those franchises is the Arizona Cardinals. And as far as Super Bowls go, he does have one and still holds the top three passing-yard games in Super Bowl history (414 in Super Bowl XXXIV, 377 in Super Bowl XLIII, 365 in Super Bowl XXXVI).
However, it's pretty amazing to think that we haven't had a quarterback enshrined since 2006 when Troy Aikman and Warren Moon both went in. But even if Warner doesn't get in this year, Brett Favre is the lock of the century in 2016.
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And with plenty more coming very soon when the current legends hang it up, with Brady and Mannings even more locks of the century, Roethlisberger a strong lock, Brees and Romo strong choices if they don't completely crash between now and the end, and Donovan McNabb hanging around as a decent border possibility (I'd reluctantly say no at this point, but once the obvious candidates have gone in, he should get a strong look over).
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Ah, the Divisional playoff round. Really excited about this weekend.
Saturday:
Ravens at Patriots at 2:30 p.m. AZ time on NBC. I like the Patriots here. While it is true that the Ravens are 2-1 against the Patriots in the playoffs and might be 3-0 if it hadn't been for Billy Cundiff's blunder, and while Joe Flacco is a fantastic playoff quarterback, this year's Ravens don't have Ray Lewis and Ed Reed anymore and their secondary has been vulnerable this year. The Patriots are undefeated at home, Tom Brady is having an awesome season, and chew on this: Bill Belichick has never lost in the playoffs to an opponent that he didn't face in the regular season. I'm rooting for the Patriots here. There's also another reason I want the Patriots to win this game which I will reveal in a section below.
Panthers at Seahawks at 6 p.m. AZ time on FOX. I love the Seahawks here. In some ways these teams are mirror images of each other, strong running games with Lynch and Stewart, quarterbacks who can beat you and your pass rush with their legs, and great defenses. And both teams are hot. But Seattle's defense is better. And you have to remember that Seattle is the best home field advantage in the NFL. I'm rooting the Seahawks here. I like Lynch, I believe a Seahawks win would produce a more competitive NFC Championship Game, and I'm feeling resentful towards the Panthers at the moment because they eliminated my team.
Sunday:
Cowboys at Packers at 11 a.m. AZ time on FOX. This is the Cowboys first playoff game in Green Bay since the Ice Bowl of 12-31-1967, a game played in a temperature of 15 below zero and an average wind chill of 48 below zero. This makes the Ice Bowl the coldest game in NFL history by air temperature. The coldest by wind was the 1981 AFC Championship of Chargers at Bengals which was played in a temperature of 9 below zero and had a wind chill of 59 below zero. Of course the Ice Bowl is also remember for its finish when the Packers chose to bypass a tying field goal attempt and go for the win. Bart Starr executed a perfect quarterback sneak behind Jerry Kramer's legendary block and the Packers would take the 1967 NFL Championship 21-17 and go on to win Super Bowl 2 two weeks later. As for tomorrow, well I am more biased here than towards any other game this weekend but I like the Cowboys. It's a fun contrast that the Packers are 8-0 at home and the Cowboys are 8-0 on the road. But Aaron Rodgers isn't that healthy and a running game travels well. The Cowboys have the best running back in the NFL in Demarco Murray and a fantastic offensive line. Moreover, it's supposed to be pretty cold in Green Bay during this game. Cold weather favors the running team and that's the Cowboys. And I really want the Cowboys to win. I like the Cowboys and am now rooting for them as long as they are in it. And I don't like the Packers. I don't hate them the way I hate the Saints team bountygate but I've always disliked the Packers. Something about the Packers has always rubbed me the wrong way. What I want to happen here is more clear to me than any game this weekend.
Colts at Broncos at 2:30 p.m. AZ time on CBS. This is a fascinating matchup. Not because of the rematch from week 1 but because it's Peyton VS the Colts in the playoffs. What's intriguing is that Peyton and the Colts haven't missed each other. They've been fine without him and he's been fine without them. And it's also a matchup of two elite quarterbacks. I feel like this game could go either way and it's the hardest one for me to pick but I'll go with Broncos. I expect a high scoring here and think the Broncos will outscore the Colts. I'm rooting for the Broncos here because I want to see a Brady VS Manning AFC Championship Game.
Yeah, we're not calling out an entire fanbase like that with such rash generalizations. Be nice. I could say plenty of things about your teams that aren't so nice, either.
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More like the Patriots are "undefeated" at home when they actually tried :D (They did "lose" to the Bills in Week 17).
And keep in mind, when the Ravens beat the Patriots two years ago, Ray Lewis was not the Ray Lewis of old. And it was pretty clear Ed Reed reached the end as well. The following season, he quickly became a shell of himself, bouncing from the Texans to the Jets.
As for this year's defense? Still very strong. Ngata is still plugging up the middle, Suggs and Dumervil attacking on the outside and they may have found their next Ray Lewis in CJ Mosley. Secondary has been a bit vulnerable but Will Hill has actually played really well (Pro Football Focus' No. 3 safety this season). Gonna be closer than most people think.
Seattle will eek out another close victory over Carolina. What's going to hurt the Panthers is the loss of Star Lotulelei. Could get gashed a bit up the middle.
I also think Dallas goes in and beats Green Bay. Is Murray the best RB in the league? Maybe. But he does also have three lineman who were just named to the All-Pro teams, a key reason for his success. But...was Dallas' defense exposed last week? Will Dom Capers have something up his sleeve? And let's not forget about Eddie Lacy. He can sure pound it himself. Maybe they lean more on him this week.
Indy still looks kind of shaky, really, and that's not good heading into Denver. Broncos defense has been playing well (Chris Harris has arguably been the best cornerback in the league this season), and get can after Luck. Boom Herron has been a pleasant surprise for a team that desperately needed running back help after Ahmad Bradshaw went down, but this is still a tall order for a Colts team that really hasn't looked all that impressive recently.
In any event, this is a pretty loaded Divisional Weekend. By the way, I mentioned before about the referees and other crew members for the Super Bowl working during the Divisional Round. Well, your head referees this week are Bill Vinovich (BAL-NE), Terry McAulay (CAR-SEA), Gene Steratore (DAL-GB) and Bill Leavy (IND-DEN). Note: McAulay just did last year's Super Bowl, so he probably won't work this year's, so we're probably getting either Vinovich, Steratore or Leavy.
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21 - 14 Baltimore at halftime!
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That last touchdown Flacco threw into 5 defenders. Amazing!
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Joe Flacco. Can only hope to make him think its the regular season.
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It's remarkable to think about how an average regular season quarterback is one of the greatest postseason quarterbacks of our generation. And if it hadn't been for Billy Cundiff's blunder in that 2011 AFC Championship Game he might have another AFC Championship and perhaps even another Super Bowl on his resume. (We'll never know what would have happened in overtime but still.) Something about the playoff waters gets Flacco going. Maybe he loves the high stakes pressure. Some guys absolutely love being in those situations and thrive on them and as such play their best when it matters most. Joe Flacco is one of those guys.
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Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz at this year's Halftime Show. Not too shabby.
By the way, you can argue that game wouldn't have even needed overtime if Lee Evans scores on third down.
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Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz at this year's Halftime Show. Not too shabby.
I'd gladly take Weird Al over either.
28-14 after another Ravens touchdown.
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Wide receiver touchdown pass! Tied at 28.
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Clearly neither team wants to win this game.
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And the Patriots have their first lead of the day!
And Tom Brady has broken Joe Montana's postseason career touchdown record with his 46th. Congratulations Tom Brady that's an awesome accomplishment! :)
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New England to win it. Flacco gets picked in the end zone.
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Then he throws an unclutch interception.
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Pats are pretty much a super bowl guaranteed.
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Just an absolute poor decision by Flacco. Oh well.
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Then he throws an unclutch interception.
Yep. Just revised my post to reflect it.
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Whoever's the defensive coordinator of the Ravens should be fired. You just don't give up two 14-point leads in one game.
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The Patriots become the 1st NFL team to overcome two 14 point deficits in the same playoff game. The legend of Brady and Belichick continues.
The AFC title game will be at Foxborough a week from tomorrow.
Panthers/Seahawks can't possibly be half as good as Pats/Ravens was...right?
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As a diehard Patriots fan, I wrote this on my Facebook:
So, I've chosen to not watch BAL@NE because I am too nervous that the Ravens will upset us. I've seen this story before. I am also calmer if we do lose. I just wish my Facebook friends would show some respect when they lose..
I didn't watch the game, until 20 seconds in 4th quarter.
Good game by the Ravens. Just glad we won.
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Belichick has tied Tom Landry for most all time career playoff wins with 20. Belichick is the greatest coach of our generation. And the only running play the Patriots even attempted in the second half was Brady's quarterback sneak. The Patriots passed on 20 consecutive plays to start the second half. I liked that. Talk about playing to your strengths and having it pay off. But WOW what a GREAT game. One of the best games in NFL divisional round history. Panthers at Seahawks has a tough act to follow.
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14-10 Seattle with the 3rd quarter just underway.
Carolina's been keeping it interesting; let's see if they can still keep it interesting for another half.
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Good morning, good afternoon, and goodnight. This game is over. The Panthers aren't good enough offensively to overcome a two score deficit against a great defensive team.
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Pick 6 for Cam. Goodnight, folks!
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And Kam Chancellor just put the exclamation point on Seattle's night.
If Carolina comes back from 31-10, it'll be a miracle.
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What an absolute great game. Next postseason, I still want Flacco over everybody else.
If they played like this during the regular season they'd be 13-3. One can only hope that's what happens next season.
I'm actually a-okay with this loss in the way that while I'm disappointed they lost, I'm not devastated or sad because of how they lost. They played a great game. Joe and the offense were tops. Also, I feel kinda bad for New England. Here this team is, such a great period of success, three Super Bowl titles in four years and then this incredibly long drought with only two other Super Bowl appearances, both losses. This is a team that is so due for another ring that my attitude at this point is "It's their time. It's been ten years, time's running out for Brady. It's their time."
Whoever's the defensive coordinator of the Ravens should be fired. You just don't give up two 14-point leads in one game.
You just don't, but everyone knew this secondary was absolutely suspect. They had injuries and just plain old problems. It was the offense and pass rush that helped prop that secondary up and obviously it was going to fail at some point. This secondary needs serious offseason work. I'm not firing him just yet. Although, since Dick LeBeau is available....
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Both #1 seeds advance today. Seahawks are the first Super Bowl champion to win a playoff game the next season since the Patriots in 2005.
As much I dislike the Patriots, I feel like they are due for a Super Bowl win. This is the best team they had in ten years and look like a Super Bowl winning team. But I'm still holding my pick to the Seahawks to repeat. You don't need a great offense to win champions like the 2000 Ravens for example. Defense wins champions and the Seahawks last year proved it against Peyton.
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I'm perfectly fine as long as the Cowboys lose tomorrow.
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Rex Ryan has been hired as the new Bills head coach. Bad decision Bills.
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Rex Ryan with that defense is going to be nuts. That unit is going to be very strong. And I'm cool with Greg Roman as their offensive coordinator. I think it can work out.
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I'd gladly take Weird Al over either.
28-14 after another Ravens touchdown.
Katy Perry: Excuse me while I go vomit for 15 minutes
Lenny Kravitz: Meh. I'll still go for a walk.
The NFL screwed the pooch big time. I agree 100% with Weird Al (He should perform his Sports Song while wearing gear from both super bowl teams). That would be perfect
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Rex Ryan with that Bills defense would be a playoff combo....... if only they had even a complimentary offense. Unfortunately, with the Bills quarterback situation I could see them losing a lot of low scoring games.
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It's not like the Bills are forever stuck with EJ Manuel. Could always get a QB in 2016 if it doesn't work out. Plus, Roman is a run-game guy, so we could see a lot more of CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson. There's some upside here.
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Packers: 7
Refs Cowboys: 7
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Katy Perry: Excuse me while I go vomit for 15 minutes
Lenny Kravitz: Meh. I'll still go for a walk.
The NFL screwed the pooch big time. I agree 100% with Weird Al (He should perform his Sports Song while wearing gear from both super bowl teams). That would be perfect
Eh, the NFL screwed the pooch is such a pointless argument because someone says it every year. At least more than a few people are never pleased and always say the same thing. I'm sure there were people who didn't want to see Paul McCartney or Bruce Springsteen.
The fact of the matter is that Katy Perry has recorded eight #1's in four years, nine in seven years. I'm not that big a fan of Katy's, but a resume like that means there are certainly going to plenty of eyes on that show.
Besides, I'll take Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz over that utter dreck they presented before Michael Jackson.
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Wow.........the refs bite back on the Cowboys.
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Wow.........the refs bite back on the Cowboys.
Not only that, Dez Bryant gets away with another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
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And that should do it.
Packers are onto Seattle.
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Goodbye, Cowboys! :hammer:
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With the Cowboys out of it I don't see anything that can prevent a Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl now.
I'm sticking with my prediction of Patriots over Seahawks because as I said a few weeks ago I'm betting on offense to triumph over defense.
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As expected, an exciting game between these two. But with the way Rodgers had been hobbling all game, Green Bay can't do what they did today and expect to make it out of Seattle alive.
Just remember with the offense vs. defense thing, Denver was an offensive juggernaut last season (most points ever in a single season), much more than New England this season and Seattle completely shut them down. Can easily do the same thing to New England.
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Unlike other recent Cowboys' playoff losses, they actually deserved a better fate this afternoon. They were right there to the end and played well for the most part. None-the-less, Tony Romo has still yet to appear in a conference championship game in his career...and this might've been his best chance to do so.
Now we'll see if the Packers can avenge what happened all the way back on opening night.
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Just remember with the offense vs. defense thing, Denver was an offensive juggernaut last season (most points ever in a single season), much more than New England this season and Seattle completely shut them down. Can easily do the same thing to New England.
To expand, no team that had one of the greatest offenses in the league won the Super Bowl, like the '98 Vikings, '04 Colts, and '07 Patriots for example.
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Steve Spagnuolo, baby
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Wow.........the refs bite back on the Cowboys.
I didn't watch the game, but if that's the case, I've got one word for the Cowboys....karma!
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To expand, no team that had one of the greatest offenses in the league won the Super Bowl, like the '98 Vikings, '04 Colts, and '07 Patriots for example.
Bolded weren't the best offense that year, by schedule weighted DVOA; 3rd after Denver and San Fransisco; 2004 Colts were second to Kansas City (if curious, New England 2007 was, and not close, at 40.1%, with the nearest closest that season at 28.6%, Jacksonville). Super Bowl winners since 1989, when the team has the first weighted DVOA data, with the top ranked overall offense: 2006 Colts (notable for having the worst ever defense by the metric), 1998 Broncos, 1995 Cowboys, 1994 49ers, 1989 49ers. That's only 5 out of 25 seasons; 20%, and only one in the last 14 years. At least in recent years, the old adage holds true about defense over offense.
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Man, this postseason's been nothing but fights and blown calls.
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I think we are seeing the end of Peyton Manning tonight. He has not played well at all.
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The Denver Broncos have become to the NFL playoffs what the Pitt Panthers are to the NCAA Tournament.
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I think we are seeing the end of Peyton Manning tonight. He has not played well at all.
When you consider his only touchdown came on a roughing the passer call, that shows how well he's been playing.
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Peyton hasn't played all that well in weeks. This is just kind of the build-up to it. Credit the Colts for taking advantage. Is it the end for Peyton? Eh, probably not. He may have one more year left in him. Could be an interesting offseason in Denver, though. John Fox may now be on the hot seat and Jack Del Rio is a candidate for the Oakland job.
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It's the end for the Broncos.
If there is no Super Bowl match-up other than Patroits Vs. Seahawks, I'll be shocked.
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To paraphrase the late Pat Summerall...
THERE WILL BE NO REMATCH!!!
Colts knockout the Broncos 24-13 & we get another Colts-Patriots AFC title game.
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Updated draft order after the Divisional Round:
25. Carolina Panthers (7-8-1)
26. Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
27. Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
28. Denver Broncos (12-4)
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Patriots over Colts. No way the Colts are winning this unless they can stop the run. Expect the Pats to run the ball more.
Seahawks over Packers. Seahawks defense will pressure Rodgers all day long.
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Peyton Manning is the opposite of the Joe Flacco and vice versa.
Great regular season play. Subpar postseason play.
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Gonna be tough for New England to run the ball with a weak interior offensive line. Losing Stork could be a problem. But yeah, edge goes to the Pats here. Pass rush could get to Luck and could spell trouble.
And if Rodgers continues to hobble, big problem. Lost by 20 with a healthy Rodgers in Week 1 and Seattle is much better than they were Opening Night.
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Okay I was 2 for 4 this weekend. Here are my picks:
Seattle over Green Bay
New England over Indianapolis
Super Bowl: New England UPSETS Seattle.
And to the Denver Broncos, you ran out of Luck. No pun intended.
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Seattle over Green Bay.
New England over Indianapolis.
New England over Seattle.
As for next week. Belichick and Brady have pretty much had their way with the Colts in their careers regardless of whether Manning or Luck has been the Colts quarterback. The Patriots have also been a fantastic home team all year. I think the Patriots can win this game offensively if they have to and I don't know that Luck will have his best game anyway.
And Rodgers has always struggled in Seattle. Not only the season opener this year but the previous time that the Packers had been in Seattle, the game better remembered for ending on Golden Tate's controversial touchdown on the final play, Rodgers was sacked eight times. With Rodgers unhealthy that Seattle defense will have a field day next week and Wilson and Lynch will give the Seahawks whatever offense they need to win.
That's how I see next week.
But today's head to head win does prove that the Colts did the right thing in moving on from Manning and going with Luck.
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3-1 in the picks again (I'm very happy that I got the Broncos game wrong). Pey Pey and Romo exiting the playoffs on the same day is a good one. Bye, Felicia!
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I think the Colts decision was made justifiable a long time ago. Really the day they clinched the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft. Pay Peyton Manning, coming off a neck surgery, $28 million for one season or pay Andrew Luck $22 million over four seasons. Easy decision. Was made even better when the Colts won 11 games and made the playoffs in Luck's rookie season. Really, it's kind of worked out for both sides, but unfortunately, Father Time is a nearly unbeatable opponent, and that's what we're seeing here with Peyton. Like I said, I think he gives it one more go then hangs it up. He turns 39 in March. But just the fact that we are likely nearing the end of seeing Manning is hard to imagine.
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It's true. Time is like a predator that stalks us all our lives. I remember when I first became a serious NFL fan in the mid 1990s and the star quarterbacks were Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Brett Favre, Dan Marino, and John Elway. By the start of the 2000 season all but Favre were retired. On one not so far away day, Tom Brady, Peyton and Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and Big Ben will all be retired as well. I'd like to see them all play as long as possible and of course some guys have longer careers than others but that's one of the realties of football just as of life. Time is like a predator that stalks us all our lives and in the long run father time is undefeated.
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Well, I went 3-1 this weekend (thanks Indy). 7-1 overall 2 weekends in. Yay me...especially since the Packers nullified the rest of my postseason prognosticating.
But for what it's worth, I basically told everyone how the AFC playoffs would play out all the way back in September... pending next weekend's results :P (Just replace Houston with Cincinnati and I would've been full-on psychic ;))
And it turns out that I called the actual NFC title game matchup back in September too...though I fully admit that I bought into the Cowboys come January.
I made these predictions based off of gut feelings, so they're probably way wide right ;)
NFC Playoffs:
Wild Card:
Green Bay over Arizona
Chicago over Philly
Divisional Round:
Seattle over Chicago
Green Bay over New Orleans
NFC Championship:
Seattle over Green Bay (in symmetry to tonight's opener)
AFC Playoffs:
Wild Card:
Indy over Houston
Baltimore over Pittsburgh (in what would be the game of the playoffs)
Divisional Round:
New England over Baltimore
Indy over Denver (in what would be the upset of the playoffs)
AFC Championship:
New England over Indy (Andrew Luck's luck finally runs out)
Super Bowl XLIX:
Seattle over New England (The Legion of Boom beats Brady & Belichick in Arizona)
So since the Cowboys are out, I'm going to revert back to my original preseason picks for next weekend's action:
January 18th
Seahawks over Packers (Seattle caught a big break. I honestly think Romo, Murray, and Bryant would've led the Cowboys to a win in Seattle had they won in Lambeau. Though it'll be closer than opening night, Seattle wins).
Patriots over Colts (There's a part of me that wants to see the Colts win, but the Patriots are the best they've been in years. Also, this is uncharted territory for Luck and Pagano, whereas Brady and Belichick are old pros at AFC title games. Experience will be the difference in this matchup; New England wins).
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I wouldn't be so sure on Seattle winning. Green Bay has Aaron Rodgers, which some say at the end of his career, could go down as the greatest QB of all-time.
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There is the chance he can be if he stays healthy in the long term. And think it's safe to say Rodgers all but locked up the MVP this year.
4th and 2 and with the undisputed league rushing champion in the backfield ready to get the first down fairly easily--and Romo heaves it deep. Old habits die hard, I guess, even if they make little sense in the situation at hand. Credit Bryant for strong effort, but rules are rules, and the ball clearly came out, and openly whining about it isn't going to change it.
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Sure Green Bay has Aaron Rodgers. But at full health, he was shut down by the Seahawks in Week 1. Now he has a torn calf and was noticeably limp against the Cowboys. And that was at home. Now he goes back to Seattle at less than 100%. Not the best situation for the Packers. But we shall see. They could surprise us.
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Green Bay may have Aaron Rodgers, but the Packers team sure looks pretty pedestrian away from Lambeau as evidenced by the Buffalo game where the Packers were kept out of the end-zone. A not 100% Rodgers at the Clink spells a lot of trouble. Any given Sunday, though.
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Screw all of you. I'm taking the Colts over Roger Goodell's favorite pretty boy, Tom Brady.
And Seattle... because they're Seattle.
Seattle will repeat as Super Bowl champs. Richard Sherman will enjoy a bowl of popcorn as he watches all of his critics try to BS their way out of their past statements.
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Bills officially announced that they have hired Rex Ryan as their next Head Coach
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Broncos and John Fox are parting ways, per Adam Schefter
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So four straight division titles, an AFC Championship in 2013, and 3 straight seasons of at least 12 wins get you fired? SMH! The NFL really is every bit as ruthless a business as everyone says it is.
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It's a jungle out there.
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All I have to say is Marvin Lewis is one lucky dude.
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The decision about John Fox doesn't surprise me.
The 49ers simply couldn't deal with the coach who took them to three straight NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl in four years. If that isn't the peak of ruthless, I don't know what is.
So, good luck to both the 49ers and the Broncos on their future success after dismissing their relatively successful coaches.
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It's now going to be New England over Green Bay in the Super Bowl!
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Jets have hired Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles as their next head coach.
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Tough blow for the Cardinals to lose Bowles as our defensive coordinator. But I knew there was interest in him from teams to be a head coach. Congratulations to Todd Bowles on achieving a head coaching position.
Don't really expect much improvement from the Jets next year though. Whatever Bowles may do with the defense the Jets cupboard is too bare on offense for them to contend for a playoff berth. They just don't have much in the way of offensive weapons regardless of how good Smith is or isn't.
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Keep in mind: it's January. They can try to get some pieces through free agency and the draft. Also will be interesting who Bowles brings as his assistants (reports are he's eying Chan Gailey for offensive coordinator). They also have a new general manager. So who knows what we can expect from them as of now?
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It's now going to be New England over Green Bay in the Super Bowl!
Please, God, no. That would end up being only the second Super Bowl in my lifetime that I will refuse to watch. (The first one? 1997. Guess which two teams played in that one?)
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Jim Tomsula is your next Head Coach of the 49ers
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And in other Bay Area news, Jack Del Rio will become the new head coach of the Oakland Raiders.
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So down to three teams. Maybe Adam Gase to Denver, John Fox to Chicago and Dan Quinn to Atlanta?
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Atlanta has a second interview with Detroit DC Teryl Austin scheduled for today, but they're also going to talk with Adam Gase.
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Steve Spagnuolo is returning to the Giants! Good move!!
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And here's some closure regarding Ray Rice and his former team, the Ravens:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12171911/ray-rice-baltmore-ravens-reach-settlement-regarding-back-pay
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The NFL is adding a combine for veteran free agents this coming off season. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12172630/nfl-hold-combine-veteran-free-agents
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Solid move here to help those who will likely be signed in the second wave of free agency. Could help some of those guys who might otherwise have been overlooked.
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Update: the Adam Gase interview would be for the Falcons' offensive coordinator.
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Idina Menzel, voice of Elsa from Disney's "Frozen", will sing the National Anthem and John Legend will sing "America the Beautiful" at Super Bowl XLIX.
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Per ESPN and other sources, a few interesting coaching notes this morning: It sounds like that the Bears made John Fox an offer he couldn't refuse, and it's, "all but done". Also, the Broncos have brought in Ravens OC Gary Kubiak for an interview for the head coaching vacancy.
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Well, it's official. John Fox to Chicago. He'll have to face the Seahawks next season (in Seattle) again.
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The Bears had the two worst defensive seasons in franchise history these past two seasons. Considering that the Bears date back to the 1920s, that's saying something. John Fox has historically been a defensive minded coach. That is what he was all about in Carolina and before he got Peyton that's how he started in Denver. A John Fox coached team has a chance to be good on defense. I'll repeat what I said a few weeks ago: The Bears should use EVERY draft pick they have this year on defense. They have some offensive weapons in Forte, Marshall, and Jeffries. But until they stop getting lit up defensively they'll be nowhere near the playoffs. Granted, Cutler sucked this past year but at this point the Bears need to focus on improving their defense and maybe they'll just have to hope Cutler is better next year.
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The Bears were also marred by injuries on defense. I still like Kyle Fuller as a corner. Yes, they could use some help on defense, but I don't think they need to use every pick on defense. Maybe a couple picks of on offense to add some depth. And keep in mind, free agency is before the draft, so they can always do some work there. Also remains to be seen who Fox's assistants will be.
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Well, it's official. John Fox to Chicago. He'll have to face the Seahawks next season (in Seattle) again.
And I believe Chicago also plays Denver in 2015 as well (albeit at Soldier Field), so this also sets up a nice instant rematch.
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Ah, Championship Sunday tomorrow. The day of the AFC and NFC Championship Games is always one of my favorite days of the year. Here's a look back at the 5 greatest Conference Championship Games of all time.
1. January 10th 1982: 1981 NFC Championship Game. The Catch: With the 49ers trailing the Cowboys 27-21 and facing 3rd and goal from the 6 ran a play known as "sprint right option." Joe Montana rolled to his right and faced a heavy pass rush but got a throw off. Dwight Clark famously came down with the ball in the back of the end zone. This is truly the greatest and most famous play in NFL history. It was also the birth of the 49ers dynasty, the most significant event in Candlestick Park history, and the beginnings of the greatest quarterback of all time.
2. January 11th 1987: !986 AFC Championship Game. The Drive: With the Broncos trailing the Browns 20-13 John Elway took over at the 2. Elway drove the Broncos 98 yards in 5 minutes, converting a 3rd and 18 and eventually culminating a game touchdown pass to Marc Jackson. The Broncos went on to win in OT.
3. December 31st 1967: 1967 NFC Championship Game. The Ice Bowl: Played in temperatures of -13 with a wind chill of -48 the Packers trailed the Cowboys 17-14 with 16 seconds left. With likely time for only 1 more play Vince Lombardi chose to go for the win rather than the tie. Bart Starr followed Jerry Kramer's famous block on a quarterback sneak to give the Packers the win. Admittedly not a favorite of mine as I don't like the Packers but have to respect it's place in NFL history.
4. January 14th 1996: 1995 AFC Championship Game. The Forgotten Classic:: The Colts were heavy underdogs to the Steelers led 16-13 late in the 4th quarter, A key tackle by Willie Williams to stop Lamount Warren on 3rd and 1 gave the Steelers a shot. A key 37 pass from Neil O'Donnell to Ernie Mills set up Bam Morris's go ahead touchdown with about a minute and a half to go. The Colts drove to the Steelers 29 and Jim Harbaugh had 1 throw to the end zone as time expired. Aaron Bailey dropped the would be game winner resulting in a victory for the Steelers. I was unfortunately unable to find clips of this one.
5. January 21st 2007: 2006 AFC Championship Game. Manning finally beats Brady: Tom Brady's Colts had eliminated Peyton Manning's Colts in the 2003 AFC Championship Game and the 2004 divisional round. And here the Patriots led 21-6 at halftime. Despite a furious 2nd half rally by Manning the Colts still trailed the Patriots 34-31 with a minute left. Joseph Addai ran it in for the go ahead touchdown and a few minutes later Marlin Jackson's game clinching interception gave Manning his long awaited triumph over Brady.
Those are my top 5 all time conference championship games.
As for tomorrow, I am both picking and hoping for a Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl. I definitely want a Packers free Super Bowl. And with Seahawks-Patriots we'd have a matchup of the two greatest NFL coaches of our generation. Plus it would be the defending champion the dynasty trying to get that one more ring. Plus I like Lynch and Brady anyway so there's nothing for me not to like about a Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl. Any Super Bowl that is both Saints free and Packers free is off to a good start to begin with.
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Lazy picks:
Seattle over the Packers
New England crushes Indy
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CBS and the NFL Network have renewed their joint agreement to telecast Thursday games simultaneously for the 2015 season.
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The Legion of Boom is imploding. Packers are beating them down 16-0.
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The Seahawks are shooting themselves in the foot with penalties and they're lucky it isn't a big blowout as the Packers have settled for three field goals. This 16 should probably be at least a 24.
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Four interceptions among both teams and the second quarter isn't even half over. Whoever will win the AFC game has their work cut out for them.
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Make that five. Wilson just got picked again.
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Russell Wilson picked the worst time to do an Andy Dalton impersonation :oldlol:
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So, uh...I am surprised at this, for sure. Rodgers definitely looks a lot healthier while Russell Wilson looks...off. I wouldn't say the Legion of Boom is imploding, though. Sherman had the pick in the end zone, then they were without Thomas for a bit. Penalties have certainly been an issue but credit Green Bay's defense. Clinton-Dix with some really good plays, front seven dominating the Seahawks' O-line (keep in mind Seattle is without Justin Britt, who played every snap at right tackle for Seattle this season). We'll see how the second half goes.
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Because the Seahawks are built around defense and the running game they aren't really designed to be a good comeback team. Comebacks require a strong performance out of the passing game and the Seahawks are a running team.
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That said, it's still only a two-possession game and Seattle gets the ball to start the second half. This game is far from over.
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That was genius. Pure genius.
Just to add on: Byran Stock is inactive for the Patriots today. Interior offensive line will be something to watch with them. Likely to see Dan Connolly moved to center.
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The Packers are about to pull off the upset! That's 4 picks for Russell Wilson today.
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This is the sixth NFC Championship won by the Packers. Following the previous five they won Super Bowls 1, 2, 31, and 45 and lost Super Bowl 32.
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Barring a miracle, Seattle DC Dan Quinn is (presumably) on his way to Atlanta to be the Falcons head coach.
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Y'all wanna wait for the game to actually be over or nah? Crazier things have happened.
EDIT: See what I mean. (Or not but almost, but at least it will be 1st and Goal)
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And yet another game could be decided by a judgment call.
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And we've got a ball game. Seattle just needs one more defensive stop.
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ONSIDE KICK RECOVERY!!!
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ALL THE SKITTLES IN THE WORLD
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BEAST MODE!!!!!
What a comeback!! And the greatest two point conversion ever!
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Marshawn freaking Lynch is totally awesome baby! :)
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Literally dying of laughter over that. No way that should've happened. MAKE A PLAY, HA HA.
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Tie game!
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Mason Crosby is beast!!!
Tie game and looks like it time for OT.
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Either way, I am sending bigblue and moneygamelover to the Sin Bin for calling this game too early :p
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SEAHAWKS WIN!!
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Seattle's moving on. *sigh* I truly think the Packers are cursed at CenturyLink.
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Jermaine Kearse, of course. Wow, wow, wow, wow. So much for that 6th NFC Championship, eh? :p Holy moly. What a freaking game.
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Jermaine Kearse out of all people. Talk about redemption.
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Either way, I am sending bigblue and moneygamelover to the Sin Bin for calling this game too early :p
And now we can officially send them to the Sin Bin.
What a game...what a game...WHAT A GAME!!!
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Congratulations to the 2014 NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks! :) Back to back NFC Championships for the Seahawks. (Third overall, first in 2005.) Thank you for keeping the Packers out of the Super Bowl. What a great throw by Russell Wilson to win the game! The Seahawks will be presented with the George Halas Trophy soon! :)
The Seahawks are 1-1 in previous Super Bowls having lost to the Steelers in Super Bowl 40 and beaten the Broncos in Super Bowl 48.
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I do have to admit, I thought it was just about over after the fourth pick. So off to the Sin Bin I go!
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With the Seattle win, Atlanta will have their personnel fly to Seattle for a second interview with Dan Quinn. Teryl Austin (Detroit DC) was the only other to have had a second interview with Atlanta. Judging from radio discussion going on, Quinn seems to be the favorite as the next Atlanta head coach.
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At least they are showing patience, since of course, they cannot hire Quinn now for another two weeks. Good for Quinn, though, if he gets the nod.
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I was not surprised Seattle won. Now I want New England to win.
New England VS Seattle in the Super Bowl.
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Pats draw first blood in the AFC tilt.
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The AFC game is a snooze-fest, as expected.
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Touchdown catch by Nate Solder! :)
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As expected, this game is a blow out.
Seattle's defense is going to be a nightmare for Brady.
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Congratulations to the 2014 NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks! :) Back to back NFC Championships for the Seahawks. (Third overall, first in 2005.) Thank you for keeping the Packers out of the Super Bowl. What a great throw by Russell Wilson to win the game! The Seahawks will be presented with the George Halas Trophy soon! :)
This. And stupid me for turning off the game and watching Food Network with 5 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
PACKERS LOSE! THEEEEEEEEEEE PACKERSSSSSSSSS LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE!
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Seattle all the way, since it looks like Indy isn't doing dick tonight. Then again, we all thought that after the NFC championship.
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I'll go on the record to say neither of the teams going to the Super Bowl are likeable. If I had to root for one, it's the Seahawks because I will never respect the Patriots as long as Belichick is their head coach.
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Why don't you like Seattle, out of curiousness? I get the concerns about New England but I've never seen Seattle as a team as unlikeable (they have some big mouths but so do most teams).
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Denver Post reporting Gary Kubiak is finalizing a 4-year deal to become head coach of the Broncos. And Atlanta looks like they will wait for Dan Quinn, and CCook mentioned, which would fill all the head-coaching vacancies.
Some don't like Seattle because they don't like Pete Carroll. Or some don't like Richard Sherman.
And now it's time to guess all the stories that will be dissected for the next two weeks. You've got Brady playing in his sixth Super Bowl, going for his fourth ring. Russell Wilson 10-0 vs. Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks. Revis vs. Sherman. Brandon Browner vs. his former team. Past dynasty vs. potential future dynasty. Possibilities are endless.
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I actually like both teams but while I'm picking the Patriots because of Brady, I'm rooting for the Seahawks because after that NFC Championship Game comeback I'd like to see the Seahawks finish it off with a Super Bowl win, especially since I'm so glad they saved us from having the damn Packers in the Super Bowl. Though I see no reason to dislike/hate the Patriots unless you're a New Yorker/fan of a New York team, a Dolphins fan (rivalry), or a Raiders fan (Tuck Rule Game.)
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38-7. A Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl should be official in about 30 minutes.
(And if the Colts come back from this, I'll be the 1st to go to the Sin Bin.)
And for Fireball & MGL, also out of curiousness, why don't you like the Packers?
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a Dolphins fan (rivalry)
Colts fan for the same reasons, constantly losing to them in the playoffs including tonight doesn't help.
Seattle is a pompous team, especially Richard Sherman. Haven't had respect for him since he ran his mouth at the end of last year's NFC Championship.
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Sherman can run his mouth all he wants because he backs it up with his play on the field. I don't have a problem with him.
To add on the Quinn story, Schefter reporting former Redskins and Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan will be the Falcons' offensive coordinator.
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Sherman can run his mouth all he wants because he backs it up with his play on the field. I don't have a problem with him.
That.
Furthermore, off the field, Sherman is actually a really good guy. He's definitely competitive, but he, unlike some other prominent athletes, seems to have his priorities in order. I think it's worth having a read of this article to get insight into the real Richard Sherman:
http://mmqb.si.com/2015/01/13/richard-sherman-seattle-seahawks-nfc-championship-game-nfl-playoffs/ (http://mmqb.si.com/2015/01/13/richard-sherman-seattle-seahawks-nfc-championship-game-nfl-playoffs/)
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SUPER BOWL 49
That is all...
[/end biased Patriots fan]
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The Seahawks don't quit. 'Nuff said. What a game.
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Seahawks open up as 2.5 favorites.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24975957/super-bowl-oddsline-seahawks-early-25-favorites-against-patriots
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Congratulations to the 2014 AFC Champion New England Patriots. The Patriots are being presented the Lamar Hunt trophy. This is the 8th AFC Championship for the Patriots. In the previous 7 Super Bowls the Patriots lost Super Bowls 20 to the Bears, 31 to the damn Packers, and 42 and 46 to the Giants and won Super Bowl 36 by beating the Rams, Super Bowl 38 by beating the Panthers, and Super Bowl 39 by beating the Eagles.
And then there was one. Hard to believe that there is only one football game left this season.
And to the Patriots and the Seahawks, welcome to my home state for Super Bowl 49.
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It's actually already down to a "pick em".
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I just read that there were 16 past matchups between the Patriots and the Seahawks. Both teams have won 8 games each. Whomever wins this one gets the Super Bowl.
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So, it's going to the, "You Mad Bro?" Bowl. It would be a glorious sight for Seattle to knock out the Patriots and become back to back champs.
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Belichick VS Carroll in a matchup of the two greatest coaches of our generation.
The Seahawks will be attempting to repeat against the last team to repeat.
The Patriots will be returning to the scene of their darkest hour, the stadium where their potential perfect season died.
Three surefire Hall of Famers in Brady, Lynch, and Sherman.
And this is the first time under the 6 team per conference format that both 1 seeds have won their conference in back to back years.
Oh, and I bet the Steelers wish they would have kept Blount now. They had no fallback when Bell got hurt.
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Another Super Bowl narrative: Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll are the only two head coaches Patriots owner Robert Kraft has ever hired since taking over ownership of the Patriots.
By the way, Patriots are now a one-point favorite. We can pretty much expect that line to swing back and forth for the next two weeks.
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The problem I had with Richard Sherman was that, while he was saying he was the best, he mercilessly insulted the 49ers and Michael Crabtree. For me, that wasn't running your mouth saying you're the best, that's being a sore winner. I also understand that there was probably back-and-forth between both parties before the game, but damn, did it bother him that much that you're going to spend your national spotlight moment talking all about him? And it wasn't that he said it once, he said it numerous times. I didn't even have a problem with him yelling. He's at The Link, of course he's yelling. It was just what he said that rubbed me the wrong way. In any case, it didn't turn me off of Richard Sherman or the Seahawks. It's the intensity of the game and I moved on to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, others did not and in the weeks to come before the Super Bowl, we got a treat watching people slightly curt around the edge of racism (and in the case of Twitter, just dive right into it).
In any case, as my father was noting how the game was over with four minutes left, I was reminding him of the Heidi Game. The Greatest Ending No One (But the Thousands in that Stadium) Ever Saw. The Raiders scored two touchdowns in just under a minute. A comeback was possible. Especially since the Packers had relaxed in trying to score and were trying to run down clock. The greatest exemplification of this was the final interception that the Packers made. Instead of running it back, with five minutes left, the receiver slid to the ground as if it were the game clinching play.
The Colts clearly have flashes of greatness, but they don't seem complete yet. They don't seem playoff tested, yet. The should be after playing the Broncos, but Peyton wasn't at his best then. They've got the pieces, they just need to put them together.
And as for the Gary Kubiak. I'm disappointed that he's decided to leave after making, what I thought, was a commitment to return to Baltimore next season. That now makes the 2nd straight OC they've lost to a head coaching job. I was not pleased with how he called some plays during the season, but he showed exceptional smarts during the postseason, so I was eager to see him return and hopefully bring that amazing performance with him. Alas, I trust the Ravens will find someone good to take his place and I look forward to what the offense holds next season.
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Atlanta hires Kyle Shanahan as their new offensive coordinator. He's described as a "joystick coach," and QB Matt Ryan said he is willing to adapt to whatever schemes Shanahan plans.
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I'm reading on the Internet this morning that the Patriots are being investigated by the NFL for deflating their footballs in the 45-7 victory over the Colts yesterday.
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I'm reading on the Internet this morning that the Patriots are being investigated by the NFL for deflating their footballs in the 45-7 victory over the Colts yesterday.
Sounds like something The Onion might write, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was true.
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It's on ESPN.com. Tom Brady has already said it's not worth commenting on.
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Sounds like something The Onion might write, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was true.
It is true. The NFL is investigating it. If they are found guilty, they may lose their first round draft pick.
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It is true. The NFL is investigating it. If they are found guilty, they may lose their first round draft pick.
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/e6/cf/72/e6cf728b17fe1dbb34667b273de23581.jpg)
Source the bolded on Ballghazi, in serious journalist, or precendent, because I've heard that nowhere else from anywhere else, let alone a source that can be deemed close to reputable. Let's take a look at the spread of possibilities as to what could have happened, from most likely to me having an active social life instead, shall we.
1) Chances are, a few of the 24 balls, as is a requirement by the league; 12 a side, were underinflated, as a means of random distribution error. Refs did find out about it pre-game, or Colts players took umbrage during the game. This was reported to Goodell, as the rule says, which reads as follows: "In the event a home team ball does not conform to specifications, or its supply is exhausted, the Referee shall secure a proper ball from the visitors and, failing that, use the best available ball. Any such circumstances must be reported to the Commissioner."
2) An intern (specifically New England's, since it's a team held position, not league) had a bit too much to drink, and misread the gauges, which should be around 13 psi, so most balls were in fact underinflated, if unintentionally.
3) An intern underinflated them to aid Brady, with the coaching staff's approval, despite both parties likely knowing Walt Anderson, the referree, would be testing the balls.
4) Last but not least, the crackpot conspiracy that the Patriots hired someone to just underinflate those balls on the sidelines before kickoff. My ass this happened, though, in case you couldn't tell the sarcasm.
In any case, Kravitz seems likely full of crap, and a hack writer, who also claimed it didn't make a difference in the game, given how strongly the Patriots played. Goodell is also a damn idiot, by choosing to let this be settled after the Super Bowl. 45-7 win? No discussion there of the most dominating performance in an AFC championship game since the 1990 Bills. Non-issue, and I bet this winds up being deemed a non-story, of where we find out #1 is true, which happens, because variance and human imprecision, and has likely happened a few times this season, but of course, not reported. Last but not least, I can't believe this took off, given its ridiculousness, as well as the fact that the complaints started after, of all times, D'Qwell Jackson's interception of Tom Brady, about 10 minutes into the second quarter.
I hope the Patriots introduce their colleges, in the Super Bowl player intros, as "Ball So Soft University."
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From ESPN:
The NFL has found that 11 of the 12 Patriots footballs used in Sunday’s AFC title game were under-inflated by 2 lbs each (via @mortreport)
http://espn.go.com/boston/story/_/id/12202450/nfl-says-new-england-patriots-had-inflated-footballs-afc-championship-game?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
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For future reference, for clarification, as it's important to note the media usage of 'pounds' means psi, or pounds per square inch, comparable to tire pressure. Otherwise, the football itself would 'weigh' a little more than a negative pound, which, well, yeah.
And I'm surprised this story has legs, but here we are. Curious to see what goes from here, but I still find it really weird. A linebacker who rarely touches the ball was able to tell the difference, but refs who are supposed to do this before the game aren't able to? There's also the story about Aaron Rodgers, who likes his balls overinflated (compared with Brady, who likes them underinflated) that came out today, but somehow that's not getting much press, relatively. Does that mean the refs are known for not doing this part of their job well enough? If so, I'd argue this is more on the hands of the officials for not checking properly, and doing their job well enough in pregame preparation, rather than the Patriots.
Wearing gloves is fine, but this isn't, heh. Heard swirls of the stopdown in the early 3rd quarter was for that reason, and that the Colts balls were all fine, if unconfirmed as of yet. Of course, after that, the Patriots got 28 points on the next four drives, so it seemingly didn't make that a difference.
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There's also the story about Aaron Rodgers, who likes his balls overinflated (compared with Brady, who likes them underinflated) that came out today, but somehow that's not getting much press, relatively. Does that mean the refs are known for not doing this part of their job well enough?
Well, there's a range given for the required weight of footballs, so I wonder if he's overinflating them past that point or to the maximum.
If so, I'd argue this is more on the hands of the officials for not checking properly, and doing their job well enough in pregame preparation, rather than the Patriots.
Eh, I don't think so. The NFL does deserve the blame, but there was a modicum of trust (and laziness) in allowing the teams to provide their own balls. Just because the teacher left the answer sheet on the desk, doesn't mean you should swipe it and copy the answers down.
Now, this doesn't seem like something that deathly affects the game. Like, it seems like a rule for consistency sake. That being said, if you've already got a bad reputation for breaking the rules, Don't. Do. It. Again. Seriously. Even if you don't agree with the Spygate ruling or think that there was nothing wrong with the act of peeking in on other teams practices, the fact is that the rules were broken and you were punished, and that after such an event you would do everything in your power to be on the up and up. People already don't like your team for this stupid reason or that stupid reason, don't give them ammo.
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Too bad that the Super Bowl isn't this coming Sunday. If it was there would probably be focus on the matchup of Super Bowl 49 instead of this irrelevant story. The sooner this story dies the better.
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Aaron Rodgers, who likes his balls overinflated (compared with Brady, who likes them underinflated)
Welcome to another edition of "Out of Context Theatre"! :-D
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Not sure if it's spread to other parts, but this morning I heard New England nicknamed "The Deflate-triots."
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NFL announces all three 2015 London games (Jets-Dolphins October 4, Bills-Jaguars October 25, Lions-Chiefs November 1) will all start at 9:30 AM EST.
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The super early games are really cool in their own way. It's just too bad that the Chiefs lose a home game because they have great fans in Kansas City. As a fan of NFL football it's pretty awesome and have these super early games once in a while. Though I'd be a bit pissed if I were a Dolphins, Jaguars, or Chiefs season ticket holder as many of them will not be able to travel to London and so that's 10% of the price of season tickets that leads to nothing for some people.
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Submitted this sucker to Deadspin. This is just awful work, more than usual for ESPN. Don't let this happen to you potentially, Bill. Think this is borderline a fireable offense.
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....huh?
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Like, if/when you eventually get into sports journalism, be careful with what you say in the heat of the moment, with a big story. I know you know better, but still. More of a throwaway line in all that, anyway.
More to the point, what do you think of the video?
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Oh, sorry. That was in response to the video haha.
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Haha, yeah. I think it's ridiculously funny, because it's the epitome of cluelessness, to the point where you question if this is real life, because it's so far out there.
Edit: Oh, yeah, and it's misogynistic as hell. Makes this all the worse.
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I'm still predicting New England to win the Super Bowl.
Seattle was very lucky to beat Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game.....VERY LUCKY!
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Belichick's press conference was interesting, talking about the science of a football and even referencing Mona Lisa Vito from My Cousin Vinny. Seahawks better watch out next Sunday.
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I'm just glad we have some actual football to watch today in the Senior Bowl.
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And more actual football tomorrow with the Pro Bowl. :)
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More like "football" :P
I'll take the Senior Bowl over the Pro Bowl any day of the week.
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Maybe I'll tune into the pro bowl for a little while tomorrow. It's somewhat interesting to see the players doing their thing with a relaxed mindset.
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So is Josh Gordon's career over or nah?
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I'd say yes, it's over. Gordon is a guy who"doesn't get it" Surely with the history he's now built up no team will want anything to do with him after this latest 1 year suspension ends.
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Blame it on the al-al-al-al-al-alcohol
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Okay here is the video simulation of what Madden 15 predicts of the Super Bowl next weekend.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2342940-madden-15-predicts-patriots-will-defeat-seahawks-in-super-bowl-xlix
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Did Madden predict the last two Super Bowls the Patriots played in? After what happened, they're now pretty sure Eli Manning is the only one who can beat Brady when the stakes are high.
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If last year's Super Bowl was dubbed the Marijuana Bowl (due to it being legalized in Colorado and Washington state), then this edition can be called the Trouble Bowl, after Deflategate and the Marshawn Lynch crotch grab incident!
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Personally, I would eliminate the off week in between the Conference Championship Games and the Super Bowl. The first week you get some story that takes off and becomes omnipresent to the point of being wearisome. Then that second week just seems to drag on forever.
On another note I would eliminate mandatory media availability as well. As someone who is shy and introverted myself I totally understand how a guy like Lynch might not want to talk to the press. And if you think about it, most people don't have to talk about their jobs to media. As long as a player does his job on the field and stays out of trouble and away from drugs off the field I see nothing wrong with not being a media person.
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The CRTC (Canada's governing broadcasting body) ruled that as of Super Bowl 51 in 2017, Canadians will be able to watch the American ads during the game (aka: no sim-subbing of Canadian ads)
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It has now been learned that Missy Elliott will join Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz in the Super Bowl halftime show.
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It has now been learned that Missy Elliott will join Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz in the Super Bowl halftime show.
Missy Elliott and Lenny Kravitz. I had no idea we were living in 2002.
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I had no idea Missy Elliot was still relevant. That gives me another reason to watch Weird Al music videos on YouTube instead of what the NFL is pushing.
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Weird Al has a Grammy nomination this year for his album "Mandatory Fun."
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I have no idea how Katy Perry is still relevant.
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It has now been learned that Missy Elliott will join Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz in the Super Bowl halftime show.
Ugh... One of the world's worst halftime shows will get even worse. Katy Perry is horrible, Missy Elliot hasn't been relevant in who knows when (her music is junk too), and Lenny is semi decent.
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They would have been better off getting Weird Al Yankovic. At least he's still relevant.
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What goes on at halftime is neither here nor there to me. This Sunday is all about the Seahawks and the Patriots.
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Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015:
Jerome Bettis
Tim Brown
Charles Haley
Junior Seau
Will Shields
Bill Polian
Ron Wolf
Mick Tinglehoff
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Congratulations to all of the Hall of Fame inductees. Junior Seau was the obvious guy here. Tim Brown is long overdue and I'm really glad Jerome Bettis made it. Here's hoping for a Steelers-Raiders Hall of Fame Game in 2015.
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NFL Honors Awards:
MVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
Offensive Player of the Year: Demarco Murray (Cowboys)
Defensive Player of the Year: JJ Watt (Texans)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: My man Odell Beckham Jr.! (Giants)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Aaron Donald (Rams)
Comeback Player of the Year: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians
Walter Payton Man of the Year: Thomas Davis (Panthers)
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NFL awards:
MVP: Aaron Rodgers.
Offensive Player of the Year: DeMarco Murray.
Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Odell Beckham Jr.
Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald.
Comeback Player of the Year: Rob Gronkowski.
Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians.
Assistant Coach of the Year: Todd Bowles.
Oops. Didn't see that bigblue had already posted this. Congratulations to all award winners.
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The "what the hell" vote goes to whomever voted Bobby Wagner for MVP. He's not even MVP of that defense.
By the way, vote totals for MVP:
Aaron Rodgers - 31
JJ Watt - 13
DeMarco Murray - 2
Tony Romo - 2
Tom Brady - 1
Bobby Wagner - 1
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Bruce Arians got coach of the year? I may be biased, but it should have gone to Pete Carroll. Oh well. I'll just have to hope for a Super Bowl W tomorrow. I'll take that six ways from Sunday.
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Even though I dislike the Cowboys, I felt like Jason Garrett was more deserving of the award.
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Arians and O'Brien all day. Both did a whole lot more with less. Cardinals were winning with Drew frickin Stanton. O'Brien had Ryan Fitzpatrick, very little contribution from No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney and took them from 2-14 in 2013 to 9-7 in 2014, which is why BOB got my vote for Coach of Year.
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Keep in Mind that Coach of the Year almost never goes to a coach of a team that had huge expectations to begin with. That rules out Caroll and Belichick from the start. Coach of the Year is a coach who either gets the most out of what he has (Arians) or whose team greatly exceeds expectations (Garrett.) That's why I would have voted for Arians and Garrett was my second choice.
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Bill O'Brien doesn't fit either of those bullet points? I mean, I have no complaints about Arians, as I expected him to win, but I think O'Brien is also being a bit overlooked here. Did Dallas exceed expectations? Yeah, they did. Didn't think they'd get to 12-4. But Houston had next to nothing at the most important position and somehow ended up with a winning record and was in the playoff hunt going into the final season. And like I said, they barely got anything from, really, majority of their draft class in 2014. Clowney is obviously documented, Nix was hurt early, Savage was obviously bench-fodder his first season. So overall, a really nice job of at least keeping the ship afloat for BOB.
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Should've been Orlando Pace over Bettis, who seems like he got in for longevity, above all else, maybe his media work. Only 3.9 YPC, 3.4 in the playoffs, and only eight 1,000+ rushing yard seasons. Eff Bill Polian. Good executive, but the rules he smartly put in benefitted his Colts teams to take away from the Patriots. I'm hoping Marvin Harrison gets in soon, as well. 3rd all time in receptions, 5th in receiving touchdowns, 7th in yards, most receptions in a year with 143. Still hoping the leading scorer in the history of the NFL gets in. That's kicker Morten Anderson, for some kicker love; if he doesn't, who's possibly the next kicker or punter to get in? Vinatieri?
Don Coryell should've made top 10 over the overrated Dungy. However, I agree with Warner not making it; I think he's comparable to Terrell Davis in that sense. Hope he gets to interview a real HOF QB tomorrow! This is going to suck with the media next year with Favre and Owens. Ugh.
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Agree with MVP, it wasn't close.
Offensive Player of the Year, Murray is a logical pick, though not given QB positional value, but I'd have still considered Rodgers, but I won't berudge the writers this pick more than likely. Want to do a bit more research onto this before I make an ultimately judgement, but my intuition tells me it will be a merely okay pick, but looks good by the basic numbers (non-metrics).
Offensive ROY Beckham Jr. had a top five wideout season this year, and far and away the best for a rookie.
Defensive Player of the Year, likewise, not close. Watt provided more value to his team than anyone, aside from Romo, Rodgers, Brady, and Manning, given positional weight; if you discount that, and I wouldn't, he had the most overall value.
Comeback Player, Gronk is a good choice, and remains critical as ever in Belichick's Patriots; seemingly a big reason why they turned around from 2-2, and went 5-1 from Weeks 8-13, of a tough schedule.
Defensive Rookie, need to watch more of Donald/metrics valuations; I'll get back to you all on this one.
Disagree on Arians, and I get the case for BOB, but I feel, as the metrics support, Watt was the vast majority of what made that team respectable. I'd give it to Garrett, who was expected to hit 8-8 in the most optimistic predictions.
Likewise, Bowles would not be my pick for Assistant Coach of the year, the Cards were expected by anyone who knows the team to have a solid defense, and they even regressed a little on this front. Todd Haley, Pittsburgh's OC, who had his offense go 2nd in weighted DVOA, is my choice. Nobody would have had that prior to the year; I think most would have said Green Bay or Denver.
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Maybe Harrison will get in in the next few years now that the receiver backlog has been cleared. Randy Moss becomes eligible next year so if Moss gets in first ballot maybe Harrison gets in in 2017.
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Randy Moss actually isn't eligible until 2018. Remember, he came back in 2012. However, Terrell Owens joins the party next year. But I wouldn't be surprised if Harrison gets in thanks to what has become a vote of who has waited longer. And of course, Brett Favre is the lock of the century for next season.
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Bill O'Brien doesn't fit either of those bullet points? I mean, I have no complaints about Arians, as I expected him to win, but I think O'Brien is also being a bit overlooked here. Did Dallas exceed expectations? Yeah, they did. Didn't think they'd get to 12-4. But Houston had next to nothing at the most important position and somehow ended up with a winning record and was in the playoff hunt going into the final season. And like I said, they barely got anything from, really, majority of their draft class in 2014. Clowney is obviously documented, Nix was hurt early, Savage was obviously bench-fodder his first season. So overall, a really nice job of at least keeping the ship afloat for BOB.
Did Houston make the playoffs? IMHO, the answer to that question explains why O'Brien didn't win Coach of the year (that, and Watt being insanely good).
The last coach to win CoTY and NOT have his team in the playoffs was Jimmy Johnson back in 1990, and I believe that was because the 89 Cowboys were even worse than the 2014 Texans. For coaches, I personally don't think it's good enough to keep a team relevant; any coach can do that. A CoTY gives his team a chance at the promise land by getting them into the playoffs in place of one of the usual suspects. Arians did that (though maybe not unexpectedly). Garrett did that (definitely unexpectedly). O'Brien didn't. Had Houston been the #6 seed, he'd have a more compelling case.
Now regarding the HOF, I'm honestly kind of disappointed in the HOF class this year. Yes, Junior Seau was an obvious pick, but I think that Kurt Warner should've made it and that Orlando Pace really should've made it. Don't get me wrong; I'm happy for everyone who did make it. But when a class is headlined by Junior Seau and Jerome Bettis, it feels underwhelming IMHO. Hopefully Pace doesn't endure a long wait to enter the Hall.
And Aaron Rodgers became just the 9th player (8th Quarterback) to win 2 MVP awards. This all but solidifies Rodgers' place on the Mt. Rushmore of 21st Century QBs with Manning, Brady and a 4th guy of your choice.
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Well, I'm obviously in the minority here, but that's quite alright. That's my case and I'm sticking to it. :)
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JustBecause is exactly right about why Bill O'Brien should NOT have been coach of the year.
As for the Hall of Fame, maybe Harrison can slip in in 2017 between Owens in 2016 and Moss in 2018. And I definitely would have put Pace in ahead of Shields. And Favre is indeed a 1000% lock to be a first ballot inductee.
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Today's the big game! It's Super Bowl Sunday.
Score prediction: 27-24 Seahawks. Seahawks have the better defense. Defense wins champions.
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Ah, the biggest and most important day of February is here, falling on the very first day of the month this year. Happy Super Bowl Sunday Golden Road.net. And a big welcome to my home state of Arizona to the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. Great luck to both teams tonight.
The 5 greatest Super Bowls.
1. February 3rd 2008: A Giant Upset: The Giants pull off the biggest upset in Super Bowl history with the greatest play in Super Bowl history as Eli Manning escaped a heavy pass rush and hit David Tyree in the famous helmet catch This catch led to the Giants game winning touchdown a few plays later. The Giants Giant upset prevented the Patriots from going 19-0 and preserved the 1972 Dolphins 17-0 year as the only perfect season in NFL history.
2. January 22nd 1989: Mr. Clutch.: In his only Super Bowl appearance in which he did NOT win MVP (due to Jerry Rice's 11 catch 215 yard day) Joe Montana delivered his most memorable Super Bowl performance as he drove the 49ers 92 yards in less than 3 minutes culminating in the game winning touchdown pass to John Taylor with 34 seconds left.
3. January 25th 1998: Grit and Glory: Having lost his prior 3 Super Bowl appearances by wide margins John Elway was determined to take home the big prize this time. Elway's resolve and determination were symbolized by this play that ultimately allowed the Broncos to win their first ever World Championship.
4. January 27th 1991: Contrast of styles: While the Bills played a furious up tempo no huddle game the Giants stayed in the game with their methodical ball control attack including a 10+ minute touchdown drive in the 3rd quarter. The game is best remembered for the tragedy of Scott Norwood.
5. January 30rd 1983: Back to the Roots: In this strike shortened season the Super Bowl saw football return to it's roots. While the 1st decade of the Super Bowl came in an era where football was still defined by running games by the early 1980's the NFL had become quite pass happy. In this game however the Redskins pulled out their triumph by running the ball.
My pick for tonight is the Patriots. I think the Lynch VS Wifork matchup could go either way and I think Wilson will have a good game but at the end of the day I'm counting on Tom Brady being the best player on the field. Tom Brady triumphs over the Legion of Boom defense to win ring number 4 at long last. Sherman and Thomas aren't 100% to begin and I think the LOB meets their match in Brady.
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Ann Mara , the mother of the New York Giants, passed away today.
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:cry:That's sad
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New England 31-28
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Seattle 24-17. And I'll go a bit bold here. Jermaine Kearse for Super Bowl MVP.
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OK. My lazy pick for the Super Bowl:
Seattle 23, New England, 17.
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30-23 Patriots because the Seahawks aren't the Giants ;).
And I'll go the predictable route and say Tom Brady for MVP.
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I'll imagine that everybody will be mad if the Seahawks lose! ;)
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Latest gambling line has Seattle a 1-point pick.
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I made my score prediction in chat on Friday. I'm sticking with it.
30-27, Seahawks repeat. I'm hoping that Richard Sherman turns in the MVP performance for three reasons. 1, it'll make the critics wet themselves like little girls. 2, it'll add a lot of cash to the next FPG pot. And 3, it'll give me a reason to change my G-R.net avatar.
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By the way, have they made sure that Katy Perry is properly inflated for tonight's halftime show? :-D
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She announced the other day nothing will be deflated :D
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Thank you, Jeremy Lane, for messing up my square. :P
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First quarter didn't even take half an hour!
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Brady to LaFell for the game's first touchdown.
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#BEASTMODE
Lynch ties the game at 7!
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With that the 1971 Dolphins remain the only team to have failed to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl having lost to the Cowboys 24-3 as they only mustered a field goal in Super Bowl 6 on 1-16-1972.
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Brady to Gronk!!
14-7 Pats
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What a throw and catch! Brady and Gronk are totally awesome baby!
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Seattle just shot themselves in the foot with that offside penalty.
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And now a costly face mask for New England allows Seattle to tie the game.
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Gusty call pays off for Seattle!
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What a way to end the half. Chris Matthews ties the game! Pete Carroll is a gambling man.
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So far, Super Bowl 49>>>>>>Super Bowl 48.
Granted, it doesn't take much to top Super Bowl 48, but still :P
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...good lord.
I swear every time I think Seattle's done with these insane passing plays, that happens.
EDIT: Shame Beast Mode couldn't capitalize.
Also, I'd like Katy Perry on that shooting star prop to be on the NBC "The More You Know" graphics, or someone make a realistic GIF of it.
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Call in the Brady detractors.
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I haven't seen a team just flip the switch like Seattle has in these last couple games. Bill, explain?
Also, my avatar speaks for itself.
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Boy, what a turnaround, indeed. Seattle's offense just knows when to turn it up. But whodathunk Chris Matthews, of all people, would be the one leading the charge?
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I wouldn't count the Patriots out. They can come back to win.
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No one's counting them out. But boy, the momentum pendulum has obviously swung very much in Seattle's favor.
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Patriots are within three thanks to an Amendola touchdown.
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FWIW, voting for Super Bowl MVP is now open:
http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/49/mvp-ballot/votes (http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/49/mvp-ballot/votes)
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It shouldn't open until after the game is over and why should be obvious.
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Seattle is now trying to give this game its asterisk.
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Now will Russell Wilson be the new Eli Manning?
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What a great Super Bowl! :) Can Wilson respond after Brady just lead the Patriots to the lead?
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2:00 left, and the Seahawks need a TD.
Russell Wilson, it's your move.
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How the hell did he get a hold of that?
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He did what!
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...good night.
Better than Tyree?
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What a catch by Kearse!!!
Like Antonio Freeman's catch "he did what!?!"
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To quote Jack Buck, I don't believe what I just saw!!!
EDIT: Now I REALLY don't believe what I just saw!!!
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And that big play? For naught.
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Womp womp womp
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How do you not run it with Lynch? Terrible call.
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They deserved to lose. Should have ran it.
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Thanks to that interception, it looks like New England'll get the trophy.
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How on earth do you not give Lynch the ball there? SMH!
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That fight........ Now they deserve to lose. Pats won fair and square. Let's hope Boston doesn't burn down.
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What a terrible way for the game to end.
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Good lord. Good night sweet Jesus.
The catch, the interception, this brawl, this is an insane ending.
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And then they got into a brawl, just like the Pistons-Pacers match at the end of the game.
Let's just call it a game.
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Is this the first time we've seen an ejection in a Super Bowl?
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...
it's already been said, but it bears repeating: how do you NOT give the ball to Lynch?!?!
Anyway, what a game, what a finish, what a sport!
Is this the first time we've seen an ejection in a Super Bowl?
Believe it or not, yes. So now the only thing that we've never seen in a Super Bowl is overtime (unless I'm forgetting something else obscure).
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Congratulations to the Super Bowl 49 Champion New England Patriots! :) Congratulations to Brady and Belichick on finally getting ring 4. Brady and Belichick are the greatest coach and quarterback of our generation. Malcolm Butler should be MVP.
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For the third time in his career, Tom Brady is Super Bowl MVP
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No way. Brady is the unanimous MVP.
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Brady had a good game but how do you not win MVP after a play like that?
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Congratulations to the Super Bowl 49 Champion New England Patriots! :) Congratulations to Brady and Belichick on finally getting ring 4. Brady and Belichick are the greatest coach and quarterback of our generation. Malcolm Butler should be MVP.
I don't agree. Malcolm Butler did not get the win. Malcolm Butler protected the win. When you get the Super Bowl record for completions, you're the contender for MVP, IMO.
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Certainly wasn't unanimous :p
But wow, what a game and what a finish to the season (save for the fight). Now we get ready for the NFL Combine is a few weeks, then free agency, then the Draft, then training camp and then we do it all over again!
I only voted him just to show him some love, but like Jordan said, setting a record for most completions certainly helps Brady's cause. Wouldn't have been upset if Edelman or Vereen had won it either. Vereen tied a Super Bowl record with 11 catches.
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I don't agree. Malcolm Butler did not get the win. Malcolm Butler protected the win. When you get the Super Bowl record for completions, you're the contender for MVP, IMO.
Plus, Brady also had 4 touchdown passes. Even if it's cliché to give MVP to the QB, Brady is most deserving of it.
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Stupidest play call EVER.
New England wins...what a nightmare.
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SUPER
BOWL
49
CHAMPS
Time to celebrate through the roof.
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Another amazing feat! Tonight Tom Brady surpassed Joe Montana's career Super Bowl touchdown passes record! Congratulations to Tom Brady on this outstanding accomplishment!
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Well I was right about one thing: New England upsetting Seattle.
I'm laughing at Richard Sherman's face after Russell Wilson threw that interception. Wow.
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Speaking of the NFL Draft, here now is the full order for Round 1:
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)
2. Tennessee Titans (2-14)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13)
4. Oakland Raiders (4-12)
5. Washington Redskins (4-12)
6. New York Jets (4-12)
7. Chicago Bears (5-11)
8. Atlanta Falcons (6-10)
9. New York Giants (6-10)
10. St. Louis Rams (7-9)
11. Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
12. Cleveland Browns (7-9)
13. New Orleans Saints (7-9)
14. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
15. San Francisco 49ers (8-8)
16. Houston Texans (9-7)
17. San Diego Chargers (9-7)
18. Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)
19. Cleveland Browns (7-9) (from Buffalo)
20. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1)
22. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)
23. Detroit Lions (11-5)
24. Arizona Cardinals (11-5)
25. Carolina Panthers (7-8-1)
26. Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
27. Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
28. Denver Broncos (12-4)
29. Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
30. Green Bay Packers (12-4)
31. Seattle Seahawks (12-4)
32. New England Patriots (12-4)
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And no more Football for 6 months until August :( There's still Basketball and Baseball will be back in a few weeks but there's nothing like Football.
This will be a very sad NFL offseason for me. That's because my Cardinals will not be able to keep Larry Fitzgerald because of the salary cap hit we would take next year if we kept him. Larry Fitzgerald is my favorite Cardinal of all time and I will sorely miss seeing him in a Cardinals uniform next year and I am very sad he will not be able to finish his career as a Cardinal.
On another note it looks more and more likely that Peyton Manning will not retire and will return to the Broncos next season.
This was a great season and I thank all the teams, players, coaches, broadcasters, and television partners who helped make the 2014 an a fun and enjoyable ride. Thank you, everyone. See you all in August. Love you all :)
And congratulations again to Tom Brady and the Patriots on being Super Bowl 49 Champions.
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You're acting like it's a foregone conclusion Fitzgerald is gone. Sure, it's going to take some work, but it's far from a guarantee than he will be wearing a different uniform in 2015.
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From my FB (full of anti-Patriots Baltimoreans): "Okay, I'll say it now. I'm happy for Tom Brady. I don't know what the record is for length of time between Super Bowl wins by a QB is, but ten years is pretty long*. We'll get all that DeflateGate mess resolved in a few weeks, and if it turns out they were involved, I won't feel that happy for them anymore. But right now, even under this cloud, I'm happy for him."
That was an absolutely atrocious play call. Even if you don't run the ball with Marshawn Lynch, to throw that short pass in the middle in all of that traffic was asking for trouble. Maybe a designed roll out from Lynch, to either side of the endzone, but right there? That was loaded gun dangerous and on 2nd down no less. Save that for 3rd or 4th.
*and thanks to Bill for informing me that ESPN has stated that it is the longest.
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Per ESPN's John Clayton, Richard Sherman played Super Bowl XLIX with torn ligaments in his left elbow that may require Tommy John surgery. Not everyday you hear of an NFL player needing TJS.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/12266544/seattle-seahawks-cornerback-richard-sherman-need-tommy-john-surgery?ex_cid=sportscenterFB
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(http://i.imgur.com/DqIJS57.jpg)
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The Atlanta head coach job is now Dan Quinn's to accept.
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Don't the Falcons already have a press conference set for tomorrow? We pretty much figured they would hire Quinn after they didn't make a move after the NFC Championship, which meant they were willing to wait for Quinn. The hiring of Kyle Shanahan kind of finalized it, since Quinn and Shanahan were basically going to be a package deal.
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Per ESPN's John Clayton, Richard Sherman played Super Bowl XLIX with torn ligaments in his left elbow that may require Tommy John surgery. Not everyday you hear of an NFL player needing TJS.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/12266544/seattle-seahawks-cornerback-richard-sherman-need-tommy-john-surgery?ex_cid=sportscenterFB
Probably less recovery time. This isn't MLB where it requires almost a whole season lost.
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It will certainly be interesting to see how effective he is after this surgery. Hands are quite important as a cornerback, so I wonder how his usage will be while recovering from this.
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Don't the Falcons already have a press conference set for tomorrow? We pretty much figured they would hire Quinn after they didn't make a move after the NFC Championship, which meant they were willing to wait for Quinn. The hiring of Kyle Shanahan kind of finalized it, since Quinn and Shanahan were basically going to be a package deal.
Yeah, the Falcons were quite patient before making it concrete. Quinn was asked about going to Atlanta, but he deferred to talking about his Seahawks and the game at present.
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They had no choice but to be patient haha. They couldn't do anything until the Seahawks playoff run was over. So it was sit tight, since they wanted Quinn and Quinn wanted to be in Atlanta. So it all worked out in the end.
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Johnny (Football) Manziel heads off to rehab. Hopefully, he can get his act together.
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And it's official. Dan Quinn is head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. All 32 teams now have head coaches and we are full-speed ahead for the offseason.
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Interesting: Although Tom Brady won the MVP it was Malcolm Butler and Julian Edelman in the post Super Bowl Disneyworld ad. (Just saw the ad during PTI). I had thought it was the MVP who appeared in these ads.
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Interesting: Although Tom Brady won the MVP it was Malcolm Butler and Julian Edelman in the post Super Bowl Disneyworld ad. (Just saw the ad during PTI). I had thought it was the MVP who appeared in these ads.
I'm wondering if Tom Brady deferred because he had already done it.
Also, the MVP doesn't always get the honors. One of the biggest ones that comes to mind is Super Bowl XXXV. The decision was made not to give the spot to MVP Ray Lewis because of the mess he had been in the previous year, and it was instead given to Trent Dilfer.
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Two tidbits: First, next year CBS will air the Super Bowl, and it's been said that they will be charging up to $5 million for a 30-second commercial spot.
Second, Atlanta is now under the microscope of suspicion as it's been learned that they used fake crowd noise in the Georgia Dome in an attempt to disrupt visiting teams. Arthur Blank has called himself and his team to the carpet for it.
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For those who don't visit the FPG section of the site, here's Fireball's commentary on...you know what:
I've been silent on here since Sunday afternoon, so I'm finally breaking my silence today on the Super Bowl. Did the New England Patriots cheat on Sunday night? They probably did, but that would have been totally irrelevant if it hadn't been for "that play". You know the one. Russell Wilson throwing the ball at the 1-yard line in the final minute of the game. Every high school and college quarterback knows that YOU NEVER THROW THE BALL ON THE 1-YARD LINE... at least not on your first go. You either hand the ball to your running back--Beast Mode was certainly ready for it--or you pull a QB sneak. Throwing the ball is only a last-resort play. I mean, when a basketball team is trailing by one point with 10 seconds left in the game, they don't shoot from the three-point line. They go for the lay-up! Did we ever find out who was responsible for that play? Was it Coach Carroll, the offensive coordinator, or Russell himself? That was the most... I really, truly, desperately want to use the R-word right now. The one we're not allowed to use on this site. I wish the higher mods would give me some type of special allowance so that I can get it out of my system. Of course, it also didn't help that the Seahawks defense pulled a LeBron and quit after three quarters. And what's really strange about Russell's infamous interception is that play occurred just two plays after the most miraculous play in Super Bowl history. The ball bouncing off of Jermaine Kearse's leg. God clearly had a hand in that play. God wanted Seattle to win that repeat Super Bowl, but Russell literally threw it away. YOU HAVE MEDDLED WITH THE PRIMAL FORCES OF NATURE! AND YOU... WILL... ATONE!
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Pete Carroll is right up there with Jackie Smith, Lewis Billups, Scott Norwood, and Kevin Dyson amongst the great goats in Super Bowl history for that play call. Running it with Lynch was both the obvious and intelligent thing to do.
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I have my take on the last play in response to Firey if anyone wants to check that out.
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I do agree with the part about it being a great play by Butler. From a Patriots POV this was a wonderful triumph for preparation. Butler knew what was going on and knew what he had to do. The play was a triumph for Butler but also for Belichick and the great preparation work he and his team do.
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I disagree that the Hawk D pulled a LeBron...Injuries were a factor and Brady took advantage :evil: