Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Saints beat the Bucs without Winston for most of the game. Impressive. They're definitely an NFC darkhorse. The entire conference is stacked 1-6 for the playoffs. Quite the opposite of the AFC.
NFL 2021-2022
- Thread starter T1000
- Start date
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
I haven’t had much to cheer about this year with my Seahawks starting the year again with historically porous D, and then Russ going down with the first major injury of his career.
But I just watched the highlight reel of today’s rout over the Jags, and I’m pleased to report that Geno Smith actually looked like an NFL starting QB today.
But I just watched the highlight reel of today’s rout over the Jags, and I’m pleased to report that Geno Smith actually looked like an NFL starting QB today.
Lleytonstation
Talk Tennis Guru
Super bowl. Cowboys, dynasty.
Lleytonstation
Talk Tennis Guru
Nah cowboys are in the NFC. Will not lose again. My curse is broken.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Great day for backup QBs matriculating from Directional State non-Power 5 schools…first South Florida/Western Kentucky QB Mike White outplayed Heisman LSU top gun Joe Burrow and then Central Michigan’s Cooper Rush outdueled Michigan State Sparty Captain Kirk Cousins.
I’m wondering what odds you could have gotten that Rush would be the top rated QB from a trio of Michigan state school alum signal callers after that SNF result and the other slightly more famous Michigander QB throwing a pick-6 to seal his team’s upset loss. Of course loudmouth Wolverine alum Taylor Lewan doomed his fellow alum TB12 with his empty sledge before Saturday’s matchup in East Lansing. Big mouth, little player eats crow:
Almost at the 47.08% pole (MNF blockbuster Ravens at Raiders get us there) and it’s early to circle calendars but the pivotal game for NFC superiority might be Thanksgiving Sunday’s trip by LAR to Lambeau. If anyone is going into GB and defusing the Aaron to Adams chemistry it’s the other side of the ball POY Aaron Donald and his backfield co-conspirator Jalen Ramsey. And, on the other side of the ball they have a veteran at playing in GB in the autumn in Matthew Stafford. He likes to play pitch and catch with the REAL top Cooper (sorry Rush, sorry Amari) in the league, Mister Kupp from Directional State powerhouse Eastern Washington.
Right now that game is scheduled for Sunday second game but please flex that to SNF in place of stale Brownies at Ravens.
I’m wondering what odds you could have gotten that Rush would be the top rated QB from a trio of Michigan state school alum signal callers after that SNF result and the other slightly more famous Michigander QB throwing a pick-6 to seal his team’s upset loss. Of course loudmouth Wolverine alum Taylor Lewan doomed his fellow alum TB12 with his empty sledge before Saturday’s matchup in East Lansing. Big mouth, little player eats crow:
Almost at the 47.08% pole (MNF blockbuster Ravens at Raiders get us there) and it’s early to circle calendars but the pivotal game for NFC superiority might be Thanksgiving Sunday’s trip by LAR to Lambeau. If anyone is going into GB and defusing the Aaron to Adams chemistry it’s the other side of the ball POY Aaron Donald and his backfield co-conspirator Jalen Ramsey. And, on the other side of the ball they have a veteran at playing in GB in the autumn in Matthew Stafford. He likes to play pitch and catch with the REAL top Cooper (sorry Rush, sorry Amari) in the league, Mister Kupp from Directional State powerhouse Eastern Washington.
Right now that game is scheduled for Sunday second game but please flex that to SNF in place of stale Brownies at Ravens.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Career backup from West Virginia did ok against Heisman Favorite NCAA Champ from Clemson.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
West Virginia is a state of its own. Were he to have matriculated at Eastern West Virginia or Lower West Virginia etc then he fits with White/Rush. Also, WVU plays in the Big 12 for now, part of the Power 5. Thought of him and would have included him were it not for those two factors.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
I will drop in on the magic city this weekend. Drinks on me if you are around.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Cowboys will be a legitimate threat for the top seed. Much easier schedule than the Rams/Packers/Cardinals have.
Can pretty much pencil in every divisional game for them as close to a free win as a free win gets. The NFC West not so much and the NFC North, while as mediocre as ever, aren't quite as hapless as the East counterparts. But maybe they are. I wouldn't have thought the Vikings were until whatever that performance was last night.
Going to be a bloodbath down to the finish that's for sure. Plenty of teams good enough for the #1 spot this year. The Bucs won't be going anywhere despite yesterdays loss.
Seattle could get things turned around if Russ comes back (which could definitely impact the #1 seed).
Just a very deep and very good conference this year.
The AFC...not so much. Especially with Derrick Henry now being possibly out for the year.
Can pretty much pencil in every divisional game for them as close to a free win as a free win gets. The NFC West not so much and the NFC North, while as mediocre as ever, aren't quite as hapless as the East counterparts. But maybe they are. I wouldn't have thought the Vikings were until whatever that performance was last night.
Going to be a bloodbath down to the finish that's for sure. Plenty of teams good enough for the #1 spot this year. The Bucs won't be going anywhere despite yesterdays loss.
Seattle could get things turned around if Russ comes back (which could definitely impact the #1 seed).
Just a very deep and very good conference this year.
The AFC...not so much. Especially with Derrick Henry now being possibly out for the year.
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stringertom
Bionic Poster
Not much of a social drinker these days. Just a beer or glass of red vino before bedtime. Besides, I work when everyone else is out on the town.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Hoping this is the year that extra wildcard slot pays off for my team.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Rams just added more pass rush pressure on QBs by picking up Von Miller from the Broncos.
should be a limit of one former DPOY per roster.
should be a limit of one former DPOY per roster.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Let Dallas have their cake schedule; it doesn’t prepare them for January football. We saw that happen in Dak’s rookie year. We saw that last year when Tampa got punched twice by NO and were ready by Round 3 to fight back.
I’m partial to LAR hosting SB and winning it all to match Tampa’s feat in February. The Miller acquisition will pay big dividends because in the immortal words of a previous LA franchise owner, “The quarterback must go down and he must go down hard.”
T1000
Legend
Great win for you guys. Bengals D played zone coverage to take away the deep ball and left the 3 yard dump offs wide open all game. Wilson never took those check downs (like his idol Mahomes this year) and White did which was the difference. Will be interesting to see if the colts give White those same looks Thursday night or if they force him to throw deep.
Turbo-87
G.O.A.T.
Chiefs are done. They are my team, but you can put this season on ice. Lackluster in a home game against a terrible team and they still just barely win. They have the toughest remaining schedule and I am predicting 7-10 this season. Turnovers, below average pass protection, sloppy penalties and doing nothing well at all. All you hear is the same story from players and coaches after every game and nothing changes.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Hoping Shaq Lawson can make Wentz fans wince more with a repeat highlight play of the reject/pick of a better QB that was the game-changing play Sunday. Definitely top 10 defensive play of the year material.
They're pushing to win this year and risking the future success of the franchise. I get it. But we'll see.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
That’s been there MO since at least 2019 when they traded for Jalen Ramsey, giving the Jags two 1R picks and a 4Rer for unhappy but talented Ramsey.
GM Les Snead has moved away from building with the draft, doing a 180 from his first approach of developing 1R picks internally (Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley, Jared Goff) to trading picks for proven veterans and signing FAs (Leonard Floyd) that didn’t work out elsewhere. SB or bust.
Yup. But IMO, I still don't think they'll win it.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Opinions are great. Please share your pick at the halfway (47% plus) pole.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Thinking the same thing about Ruggs. I guess he was passed out in the back of the class during the Leonard Little and/or Donte Stallworth lectures during Orientation Week last year.
catskillthunder
Professional
I am a Cowboys fan and I have heard this for the last 1,981 years. Personally, I do not think the defense will hold up in the playoffs. Dan Quinn has them playing better, but I'm not buying it yet until they can keep a legit playoff team locked down. Also, Dak injuries scare me. If Dak gets hurt, season over. Tyron Smith is another one. This guy can't stay healthy if his life depended on it. Micah Parsons is as legit as it gets, he is an absolute monster. Diggs is hot and cold, decent corner, hes a ball hawk and reminds me a lot of Asante Samuel, the father. Hawks the ball well, but tends to get beat more often then not. The running game is great with Pollard and Zeke, but if the OL can't stay healthy, they will suffer a little. Hoping to get Gallup back in the lineup and playing well. If Dallas is hitting on all cylinders and is healthy in the final few weeks of the season, I will then say they are contenders.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Moreso meant they'll threaten for the #1 seed in the playoffs. I honestly don't know who I'd make the favorite in the NFC. Think it's going to come down to matchups and who ends up managing to get the byes & home field advantage.
Lots of legitimate threats in the NFC at the half way point.
catskillthunder
Professional
catskillthunder
Professional
Dallas will play Arizona Jan 2nd, that could have big implications for the playoffs. As I type this, Dak probably just found out he's got a torn toenail muscle and will be out for the season. LOL
stringertom
Bionic Poster
^^^I see you over-erased and as a result have blended your post into mine, @catskillthunder but I now understand your comment.
Yes, it’s primarily about momentum and health. Tampa proved that last year. Then add in a tiny bit of luck as always when a sport is played with an irregularly bouncing oblate spheroid.
Yes, it’s primarily about momentum and health. Tampa proved that last year. Then add in a tiny bit of luck as always when a sport is played with an irregularly bouncing oblate spheroid.
catskillthunder
Professional
Yes, I have a tendency to do the over erasing thing!
I hate to say it, but the Cowboys have a good chance this year. And I still won’t count out Brady. Don’t think Green Bay will last with that defense.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Green Bay defense has actually been considerably better than last year. Remains to be seen if that stays the case though.
T1000
Legend
Campbell has been a beast and we’re getting Zadarius Smith and Jaire Alexander back. So if anything it should get better.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Giving up about a TD's less worth of points on average thus far this year with a lot of injuries there to boot.
Red Zone defense needs to improve but they've been good at taking the ball away as well. 2nd in the league in takeaways I believe.
That's a lot like the defense that won them the Super Bowl. Great at taking the ball away.
I'm actually for the first time in a long time more worried about the offense at the moment. Have to be better about putting away games. A lot of these games should have been blowout wins but the offense sputtered or settled for FG's. But the offense has also had a lot of injuries this year so both units should theoretically improve. I'm not going to blame the defense for the SF game when the officiating in that game was atrocious.
The only downside is despite the improvements, the rest of the NFC improved as well. Last year it was pretty easy going until the NFC Championship. That won't be the case this year.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
A chance to pad the takeaway stats this Sunday, no?
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Surprised Vegas has the Chiefs as the favorite. Guess they're giving them the benefit of the doubt being at home. I keep expecting the Chiefs to magically flip the switch. Hope it isn't this weekend.
Impressed with the Packers injury addled defense keeping teams at bay (har har bay) thus far. The offensive competition will grow more stout but to slow down Kyler Murray was quite impressive. He did lose Hopkins which helped but I mean Rodgers was throwing to Cobb and a bunch of craigslist guys at WR.
Honestly feeling better about the Packers than I have the past two years if they can find some more consistency on the offensive side of the football. And I expect them to do so.
The Rams game as you said will be a great look at where (and who) the best teams really are.
Edit: Checked Vegas again now looks like the line has gone to even. KC was favored by 3 last I checked.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Also to add just in general- the way games are officiated in the playoffs will almost inevitably have an impact on the results. I wish that weren't the case but it's hard to believe that won't be the case.
One of the biggest questions is how will the officials treat the Tampa Bay secondary? Will they let them get away with contact? Will they flag the contact? We saw what happens this past Sunday to the TB defense if flags are thrown on their DB's.
But in the NFC Championship last year the whistles were swallowed and the DB's could get away with a lot of contact. The Buccaneers run defense is still immaculate but the pass defense is honestly atrocious - ESPECIALLY if they're penalized.
If say, the Rams and Bucs play - and those are flagged..it's hard not to see the Rams battering them again. But if the contact is allowed..well then you're looking at a different game.
I try to stay out of officiating conspiracies and things similar to that ilk but I think it's undeniable NFL refs do wield the power to change games. Hopefully they do a good job.
One of the biggest questions is how will the officials treat the Tampa Bay secondary? Will they let them get away with contact? Will they flag the contact? We saw what happens this past Sunday to the TB defense if flags are thrown on their DB's.
But in the NFC Championship last year the whistles were swallowed and the DB's could get away with a lot of contact. The Buccaneers run defense is still immaculate but the pass defense is honestly atrocious - ESPECIALLY if they're penalized.
If say, the Rams and Bucs play - and those are flagged..it's hard not to see the Rams battering them again. But if the contact is allowed..well then you're looking at a different game.
I try to stay out of officiating conspiracies and things similar to that ilk but I think it's undeniable NFL refs do wield the power to change games. Hopefully they do a good job.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Sad about the Tonyan ACL loss. I guess old man Lewis will have to step up now that the trade deadline is gone. The Pack added a Colt practice squad TE originally drafted by Jax for depth. Don’t see production in the air from him but who knows?
As the weather worsens and the schedule offers HFA 5x at Lambeau it wouldn’t surprise me if GB grinds a whole bunch with the tailback tandem of Jones and Dillon. As the great philosopher AR12 said after the TNF upset, “This is a gritty team.” Gritty teams often pound the rock to open things up. #17 will be there to take advantage in those moments.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Great...
Dude isn't even vaccinated. What a phony.
He was the one that could've gotten the surgery early in the offseason but decided to get surgery right before or during camp, right?
catskillthunder
Professional
Posted this in a boxing forum I belong to.
It's utterly amazing to me that not only athletes, but everyday people take for granted their lives and the lives of others when they choose to operate a vehicle under the influence. All it takes is 1 fkn second to change your life forever and in this case with Ruggs, it's exactly what happened. He's not only altered his life, he's hurt his family, girlfriend and friends, and also the victims entire family and friends as well. Very tragic to say the least.
Word. I was reading NFL players have free service for them to get picked up if they are under the influence too. The speed he was going and the moment of the crash is horrifying.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
His childhood friend died in a single car weather related accident while driving to a high school basketball tournament. You would think that fact would have made Ruggs the last person to risk life and limb by driving under the influence of even one beverage.