NFL- Week 12

[BigServer1]

Well it's been a crazy couple of weeks in the NFL, and I thought we could bring back the banter. Rankings etc...

The Playoff Contenders:

#1: Colts- Tough loss at Dallas, but it was better that they lose earlier and get focused for the playoffs. Joseph Addai is turning into a great young back, and you can always count on Peyton in the clutch. If the Defense can hold a team to 21, this Offense can beat them. However: This team struggles against a 3-4 Defense, and they better hope that they face cover 2 schemes in the playoffs, as Peyton can pick them apart.

#2: Chargers- Is there anything that Tomlinson can't do? He can throw and catch better than any back in the league, and oh by the way he can run on anyone as well.

#3: Ravens- Best Defense in the league, and McNair really gives this team some cred on Offense.

#4: Cowboys- This team should be 8-3 and Romo should be undefeated as a starter, if not for that weird blocked field goal a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, they are the hottest team in Football, with the hottest QB in Football.

#5: Patriots- They turn the ball over 5 times and win? When Brady looks that excited, look out.

#6: Bears- Grossman throws three picks and fumbles. The defense gives the team a chance, and Grossy craps the bed. Bear fans, have fun with your one n' done playoff run (I'm a poet, and I didn't even know it).

#7: Broncos- They are ahead of the Cheifs until Cutler proves me wrong. I'm excited about watching this kid.

#8: Cheifs- LJ is running over everyone and the Defense keeps getting better. They started 0-2 and have won 7 of 9. Impressive.

#9: Saints- Brees is going off, and he's on pace for 5,000 yards. That's insanity, and the Saints rebounded nicely from two tough losses in a row.

#10: Bengals- The Offense is clicking, and considering they have played the toughest schedule in the league, 6-5 is impressive.

#11: Seahawks- Hasselbeck looked really bad, and then pretty good against the Packers. But who cares about Hasselbeck if Alexander can run for 200 yards?

#12: Panthers- Can this team decide whether or not they want to show up each week? Tough loss to the Redskins.

#13: Jaguars- See above, except devastating loss to the Bills.

#14: Jets- These guys just won't go away. They have a shot at the postseason, but they are gonna have to close well.

#15: Giants- Monumental collapse against the Titans, but their saving grace is the mediocre NFC.

#16: Dolphins- I don't care if they don't make the playoffs. NO ONE wants to play this team right now, no one.

#17: Atlanta- Remember when they were 5-2? Yeah, so do I...I still wouldn't flip off my supporting fans, but that's just me.

#18: Rams- Steven Jackson is a stud, and Bulger can throw, but the Defense is suspect, and inconsistent play kills them.

#19: 49ers- Gore is also a stud, and they have exceeded expectations this year. Alex Smith is also progressing nicely, and this team is one to watch for next year.

#20: Vikings- Ehhhh, Started strong, faded, who knows what happens here. But anything's possible in the NFC.

The Pretenders:

#21: Bills- I don't think they're playoff bound, but they might have ended the Jags chances with that great comeback.

#22: Eagles- With McNabb they had a shot. Without him, none whatsoever, but at least Westbrook looked good last week.

#23: Titans- Vince Young is 4-4 as a starter, and already has a signature comeback win. Not bad for a guy on a terrible team who's "not a passer." Young is the real deal, and Tennessee should be excited.

#24: Redskins- Why did the switch to Campbell take so long? This kid looks great too, and now he gets the reps to prepare for next year. Look for the Skins to improve a lot in the offseason.

#25: Packers- 232 straight starts for Favre. The man is the definition of a warrior.

#26: Steelers- SIT BIG BEN! Your season is over, he's playing terrible, and he's a liability in the pocket. Ahh, how the mighty have fallen.

The Jokes:

Cleveland, Houston, Detroit, Tampa Bay, Arizona and Oakland...too pitiful for words. There's parity, and then there's putridity...

 

[drakulie]

#4: Cowboys- This team should be 8-3 and Romo should be undefeated as a starter, if not for that weird blocked field goal a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, they are the hottest team in Football, with the hottest QB in Football.

That's right!!

By the way, I agree about the Dolphins. There defense is playing absurd right now---nobody wants to play those guys!

 

[BigServer1]

That's right!!

By the way, I agree about the Dolphins. There defense is playing absurd right now---nobody wants to play those guys!

Yeah, love Romo. It's too bad, because if Miami had played like this all year, they could be 7-4, and really in the playoff hunt. I'll bet the feel dumb for giving Culpepper all that money, because Harrington looks better than he ever has before.

 

[drakulie]

Yeah, the Dolphins defense looks very good. I'm sure nobody wants to face that defense right now. But then again, they have always had great defenses thru the first 3-quarters of the year. Problem is, their offense is terrible, and the defense ends up being on the field the whoe game. By the end of the year, the defense is exhausted. As you said, maybe with Harrington playing better, and the offense scoring some points, they will continue to gain confidence.

As for Culpepper, he has had a real rough time. For starters, they should not have played him so early, as it was apparent in training camp, he was still considerably favoring the knee. Then the arm injury.

But I agree harrington is looking better and better.

 

[TennisBatman]

It's looking more and more like Peyton's year. The win against the Eagles helped maintain the positive energy in the team, and they're looking forward to ending their season 15-1.

The Patriots are a classic playoff contender simply because of Brady's experience in the last stretch.

The Falcons are a disappointment, and Vick's run-oriented style fell far short of what was necessary, even with a great running performance. It goes to show that this new mold of offense is unstable at best, in the long run.

The Bears last week were ranked #1 by far at the Footbal Outsiders website. They have a strong defense, but history has shown that you also need decent ability on the offensive side as well, especially at quarterback. Although their strong point is defense, it's on Grossman's shoulders to pull through the season.

At this point in the season, injuries become crucial, especially for high-impact positions such as QB and RB. The RB not only has to stay healthy, but he has to stay fit as well, which is doubly hard because he does a lot more ball carrying than nearly all the rest of the team. Thus, many teams will seek to rest their star players, but they also need to strike a balance between rest and game time.

Romo is having a great start with his win streak, but people probably feel pity for Drew Bledsoe, who lost his job yet again to the backup quarterback. When he was with the Patriots he lost his job to Tom Brady, now he is going to lose his job to Romo.

 

[BigServer1]

It's looking more and more like Peyton's year. The win against the Eagles helped maintain the positive energy in the team, and they're looking forward to ending their season 15-1.

The Patriots are a classic playoff contender simply because of Brady's experience in the last stretch.

The Falcons are a disappointment, and Vick's run-oriented style fell far short of what was necessary, even with a great running performance. It goes to show that this new mold of offense is unstable at best, in the long run.

The Bears last week were ranked #1 by far at the Footbal Outsiders website. They have a strong defense, but history has shown that you also need decent ability on the offensive side as well, especially at quarterback. Although their strong point is defense, it's on Grossman's shoulders to pull through the season.

At this point in the season, injuries become crucial, especially for high-impact positions such as QB and RB. The RB not only has to stay healthy, but he has to stay fit as well, which is doubly hard because he does a lot more ball carrying than nearly all the rest of the team. Thus, many teams will seek to rest their star players, but they also need to strike a balance between rest and game time.

Romo is having a great start with his win streak, but people probably feel pity for Drew Bledsoe, who lost his job yet again to the backup quarterback. When he was with the Patriots he lost his job to Tom Brady, now he is going to lose his job to Romo.

Good post.

What's sad is that last year looked like Peyton's year when the Colts were 11-0 at this point, and had a better run defense. But I think the earlier loss gave them some perspective, and they do indeed look strong. Hopefully they don't fall into the trap of resting everyone and falling out of rhythm like last year.

Pats are indeed a playoff team, most likely a 3 or 4 seed, but they are only 3-3 at home, while being 5-0 on the road. Maybe they should hope for that 4 seed...

What Vick did last week was terrible. You can't flip off fans. He should have flipped off his receiving core. 6 drops? Three first round picks at WR and 6 drops? One in the end zone and another wide open at the 10. What a joke. Give Vick half of those completions and he's 12-24 for 150 yards with 2 TD's, rather than 9-24 for 86 yards. Nevertheless, Hotlanta is indeed a big disappointment.

In my opinion, the Bears are getting to be a joke. Letting a great Defense go to waste with a quarterback who is making terrible decisions is a travesty. The reason Grossman looked good in the first third of the season is because the Bears didn't play anybody good on defense. They start playing some real defenses and this kid throws it up like the bouquet at a wedding. What's sad is they clinch their division with a win this week...pitiful.

I don't think there's going to be a lot of teams that are even going to be able to rest starters this year. Colts and Bears might be the only ones (and the Colts shouldn't rest anyone. See: Last Season). The Chargers have both Denver and KC nipping at their heels, and the Pats need to watch out for the Jets. The Ravens should be okay too. It will indeed be interesting to see how the division leads play out as this season ends. Health, as always is a huge factor.

Romo is a stud, but yeah I feel really bad for Bledose. This could turn out to be a 2001 Pats type story (minus the Bledsoe injury). Romo takes over, revitalizes the team, and leads them to the Super Bowl (it could happen). All I know is:
A: No one is talking about TO negatively
B: Dallas looks like the class of the NFC
C: Romo gives them a legit shot to win every time he steps on the field.

God I love football...

 

[xtremerunnerars]

#26: Steelers- SIT BIG BEN! Your season is over, he's playing terrible, and he's a liability in the pocket. Ahh, how the mighty have fallen.

Maybe it's just hometown bias, but i never saw the steelers as being "mighty." That expression usually refers to someone or something that boasts about its talent and is flamboyant.

There's no point in taking ben out. If our season truly is over (which, realistically, it is) then we might as well keep ben in. The confidence factor's a big one to me, and he's a franchise guy. He's going to be around a very long time, and now's a better time than ever to work him through this.

 

[moist]

Disclaimer: I'm a Bears fan.

I don't think it's all on Rex for all of the Bear's problems. The offensive line has not been giving him time, and Ron Turner has stayed ultra aggressive in the play calling despite the lack of pass protection. Granted, Rex is missing some throws, but the coaches have come out and said he's making the right decisions. This means the play calling has failed to adjust when Rex isn't playing great.

On top of the offensive mistakes, the defensive line of the Bears has not been getting enough pressure. Since they rarely blitz, it's critical that those front four play well, or the QB is going to have all day in the pocket(just like Brady had)

So I don't think the Bears are a great team right now, but I do think everyone is over simplying into it being all Rex's fault.

 

[BigServer1]

#26: Steelers- SIT BIG BEN! Your season is over, he's playing terrible, and he's a liability in the pocket. Ahh, how the mighty have fallen.

Maybe it's just hometown bias, but i never saw the steelers as being "mighty." That expression usually refers to someone or something that boasts about its talent and is flamboyant.

There's no point in taking ben out. If our season truly is over (which, realistically, it is) then we might as well keep ben in. The confidence factor's a big one to me, and he's a franchise guy. He's going to be around a very long time, and now's a better time than ever to work him through this.

I never thought they were a mighty team either, but I feel like a Super Bowl win gives them that distinction. However, Ben is a broken man in the pocket. You have to give it to him because he is so willing to take blame, and he wants to work hard every game, but he is really struggling this year. Think of what he went through this year, with the motorcycle accident and the appendicitis, not to mention the two concussions. I thought he came back too quickly. Batch is a very good backup QB, and he won his first start this year. I think that bringing Ben back so early hurt his confidence, and what little confidence he had seems gone now. He's a franchise guy, and they should protect him by taking him out.

 

[BigServer1]

Disclaimer: I'm a Bears fan.

I don't think it's all on Rex for all of the Bear's problems. The offensive line has not been giving him time, and Ron Turner has stayed ultra aggressive in the play calling despite the lack of pass protection. Granted, Rex is missing some throws, but the coaches have come out and said he's making the right decisions. This means the play calling has failed to adjust when Rex isn't playing great.

On top of the offensive mistakes, the defensive line of the Bears has not been getting enough pressure. Since they rarely blitz, it's critical that those front four play well, or the QB is going to have all day in the pocket(just like Brady had)

So I don't think the Bears are a great team right now, but I do think everyone is over simplying into it being all Rex's fault.

You are right that it's not all Rex's fault, and I still think the Bears are a good team. The problem is, in the playoffs, you live and die by Defense and your QB. The Bears have the Defense part of it down pretty well, but Rex struggles when pressured. I would want to throw deep too if every time I did it was a long completion or a BS Pass interference call (See: Pats game week 12), but I agree that they should establish the run and then go to play action pass, which could buy Rex some more time in the Pocket. That said, the kid is really struggling this year, especially when he faces a physical D.

As for the D, yeah I think that some different looks and blitz packages would help the D line establish a presence in the game. However, forcing 5 turnovers (4 in the red zone) and losing looks pretty bad.

 

[pNoyr3D]

IMO BEARS got a great offense/defense but way better defense. They just need a new quarterback!! Grossman under pressure is terrible as you can see from the Cardinals game and Patriots game. Our offensive line is not doing the greatest of jobs but is doing a pretty decent one, we got great receivers we just don't have a good enough quarterback. I say give grossman one more year and see how he does, he was out most of last year and this year he did good but, that's against teams that aren't that great. I think to solve the BEARS problem it would be the quarterback (grossman) he's a good quarterback though, he just needs to know how to work under pressure against the big physical defenses. The BEARS defense gives the offense tons of chances to get back in the game and take the lead, it's just that the offense can't perform. Well, I am thinking the BEARS can make it to 2nd round playoffs.

 

[ShooterMcMarco]

#26: Steelers- SIT BIG BEN! Your season is over, he's playing terrible, and he's a liability in the pocket. Ahh, how the mighty have fallen.

Yeah, I mean the guy got sacked like what, 9 times by the Ravens? Its a good thing he didn't get injured again getting sacked that many times.

 

[pNoyr3D]

Yeah, I mean the guy got sacked like what, 9 times by the Ravens? Its a good thing he didn't get injured again getting sacked that many times.

9 times!! That is more sacks than I can get on Madden!! Wow.. Good luck big ben.

 

[BigServer1]

Yeah, I mean the guy got sacked like what, 9 times by the Ravens? Its a good thing he didn't get injured again getting sacked that many times.

I would be peeing my pants if I was a Steelers fan and Ben still wanted to play through this season. He's had two concussions in 6 months, meaning he will be more and more prone to them as his career goes on. Concussions end careers, and If I were Ben, I'd want to protect myself as much as possible. Take some time off, Ben. Get healthy and come back next year to be the QB we all know you are (which is a role player who can't be asked to throw too much, but he plays this role as well as anyone).

 

[KBalla08]

ive got just 2 things to say: patriots all the way! and lions all the way!... down to the worst record! please! i want my hometown team to be good, so if they r the worst, they can draft troy smith

 

[BigServer1]

ive got just 2 things to say: patriots all the way! and lions all the way!... down to the worst record! please! i want my hometown team to be good, so if they r the worst, they can draft troy smith

Come on, the Lions wouldn't draft Troy Smith...There has to be another overrated WR they can waste a #1 pick on, overpay, deal with off the field issues and then cut from the team...right?

 

[KBalla08]

Come on, the Lions wouldn't draft Troy Smith...There has to be another overrated WR they can waste a #1 pick on, overpay, deal with off the field issues and then cut from the team...right?

o ya my bad, i forgot. maybe dwayne jarret, steve smith, ted ginn jr, or calvin johnson? they have some good choices lol

 

[armand]

Bolts

Did anyone see the Chargers 2 amazing comebacks a few weeks ago? I only saw the highlights of the first one(looked to be a spectacular game), and then I thought no way they could do it against the Broncos and for the 2nd consecutive time so I went to bed but they did it again(though I wasn't that surprised when I woke to the result).

 

[BigServer1]

o ya my bad, i forgot. maybe dwayne jarret, steve smith, ted ginn jr, or calvin johnson? they have some good choices lol

HAHA! Yeah you're right...this should be a deep class of recievers, so the Lions will be tempted...

 

[BigServer1]

Did anyone see the Chargers 2 amazing comebacks a few weeks ago? I only saw the highlights of the first one(looked to be a spectacular game), and then I thought no way they could do it against the Broncos and for the 2nd consecutive time so I went to bed but they did it again(though I wasn't that surprised when I woke to the result).

I love watching the Chagers play, and those comebacks against Cincy and Denver were amazing. I think they pose the biggest threat to the Colts in the AFC, because they have one of the best offenses we have seen in recent years. LDT is the MVP for sure, and Philip Rivers sure is making Eli Manning look bad. Add the return of Merriman to the Defense this week and this team is rollin'.

 

[Kabob190]

#16: Dolphins- I don't care if they don't make the playoffs. NO ONE wants to play this team right now, no one

im pretty happy the dolphins are playing well, but i was hoping this year was the year. i was optimistic about culpeper and i though playoffs for sure. every year i tell myself, next year. but the dolphins defense which has been spectacular and the reason why i can call myself a dolphins fan without shame since the departure of marino isnt getting any younger. zach thomas and jason taylor which have always been my favorite 2 nfl players (since marino) are 33 and 32. not too many winters left in them in the nfl. these are two guys that continue to step up week in and week out as leaders. jason taylor who backed up his big talk against the bears and continued to be, in my opinion, the best DE in the league. and zach thomas who leads the league in tackles.

i do have hope for the offense though especially with ronnie brown. i mean what happened with ricky williams left me in another one of those nfl depressions but ronnie brown only in his second year has proved to be an awesome back. though he did have surgery after his detroit game which is why i dont think the dolphins will make the playoffs this year.

 

[10sfreak]

Sorry guys, but this is the first year of the Cowboys' new dyanasty!

 

[drakulie]

but ronnie brown only in his second year has proved to be an awesome back. though he did have surgery after his detroit game which is why i dont think the dolphins will make the playoffs this year.

????? the Dolphins aren't going to make the playoffs because they already have 6 losses this year and are in last place (0-3) in their division. Not becasue of brown's surgery.

 

[Andy Hewitt]

#6: Bears- Grossman throws three picks and fumbles. The defense gives the team a chance, and Grossy craps the bed. Bear fans, have fun with your one n' done playoff run (I'm a poet, and I didn't even know it).

Gotta love the hype... when they play I actually treat is as an event!

 

[TennisBatman]

Good post.

Thanks.

What's sad is that last year looked like Peyton's year when the Colts were 11-0 at this point, and had a better run defense. But I think the earlier loss gave them some perspective, and they do indeed look strong. Hopefully they don't fall into the trap of resting everyone and falling out of rhythm like last year.

Last year, the Colts underperformed against the Steelers. It was a mental breakdown by the offense, especially with Manning. The excessive rest was definitely a killer. They shouldn't rest as much as last year, but they still have to watch out for injuries.

Pats are indeed a playoff team, most likely a 3 or 4 seed, but they are only 3-3 at home, while being 5-0 on the road. Maybe they should hope for that 4 seed...

Without their best receiver Branch, Brady looks less than spectacular now.
But experience has allowed them to do this well, despite the player losses.

What Vick did last week was terrible. You can't flip off fans. He should have flipped off his receiving core. 6 drops? Three first round picks at WR and 6 drops? One in the end zone and another wide open at the 10. What a joke. Give Vick half of those completions and he's 12-24 for 150 yards with 2 TD's, rather than 9-24 for 86 yards. Nevertheless, Hotlanta is indeed a big disappointment.

Someone needs to take the blame, but definitely not the fans. It's either the receivers or the QB himself. It might just be one of the side effects of having a run-oriented QB. They just don't get enough practice throwing and catching the ball.

In my opinion, the Bears are a joke. Letting a great Defense go to waste with a terrible quarterback is a travesty. The reason Grossman looked goon in the first third of the season is because the Bears didn't play anybody. They start playing some real defenses and this kid throws it up like the bouquet at a wedding. What's sad is they clinch their division with a win this week...pitiful.

The Bears defense is way ahead of the rest of the league, but their offense still has to match against opposing teams' defense. First of all, the offense needs to do at least one thing well. But to be a really good offense, you need to have more than one way to move the ball. In the last game, the Bears offense failed in both aspects.

I don't think there's going to be a lot of teams that are even going to be able to rest starters this year. Colts and Bears might be the only ones (and the Colts shouldn't rest anyone. See: Last Season). The Chargers have both Denver and KC nipping at their heels, and the Pats need to watch out for the Jets. The Ravens should be okay too. It will indeed be interesting to see how the division leads play out as this season ends. Health, as always is a huge factor.

It's just a matter of how much you rest them. The RB can get tired more easily than the other players, and I think it would be wise for these teams to rest their RB at least for some of the time.

Romo is a stud, but yeah I feel really bad for Bledose. This could turn out to be a 2001 Pats type story (minus the Bledsoe injury). Romo takes over, revitalizes the team, and leads them to the Super Bowl (it could happen). All I know is:
A: No one is talking about TO negatively
B: Dallas looks like the class of the NFC
C: Romo gives them a legit shot to win every time he steps on the field.

God I love football...

Many NFC teams have fallen short of expectations (i.e., the Panthers,
the Falcons, and the Saints). And the Cowboys have moved up to take their place. Giving TO a new QB to throw him the ball places a powerful weapon in the hands of the Cowboys' offense, and other teams are still trying to figure out how to counter that offense.

 

[BigServer1]

Thanks.

No problem man, I like talking football with ya.

Last year, the Colts underperformed against the Steelers. It was a mental breakdown by the offense, especially with Manning. The excessive rest was definitely a killer. They shouldn't rest as much as last year, but they still have to watch out for injuries.

Yeah I am in agreement here. I think that they need to rest their guys for the second half of their week 16 and 17 games, paying special attention to anyone who is injured (obviously), and also to Joesph Addai. This kid needs to be 100% for the playoffs, period.

Without their best receiver Branch, Brady looks less than spectacular now.
But experience has allowed them to do this well, despite the player losses.

The Pats system has always been set up to succeed with any receivers, famous or unknown. I think that the expirience of the coaching staff and Brady give this team a good shot in the playoffs, especially if they are a 4 seed, which might give them that underdog mentality.

Someone needs to take the blame, but definitely not the fans. It's either the receivers or the QB himself. It might just be one of the side effects of having a run-oriented QB. They just don't get enough practice throwing and catching the ball.

Yeah, the fans obviously are never to blame, and Vick was at fault. Vick has his passing problems and he isn't the most accurate guy out there, but if you are a first round pick at WR, you can't drop wide open passes like those guys did. The running offense is unconventional, but Vick still throws 22-27 times a game, so catching shouldn't be too much of a problem for those wideouts.

The Bears defense is way ahead of the rest of the league, but their offense still has to match against opposing teams' defense. First of all, the offense needs to do at least one thing well. But to be a really good offense, you need to have more than one way to move the ball. In the last game, the Bears offense failed in both aspects.

I think the Bears should go back to establishing the run game, and then go to play action pass. Grossman needs more time in the pocket, and getting Jones going on the ground will allow him to sell that run fake. Also, the vertical offense only works if your QB is a great passer, and Grossman has some accuracy and depth problems. The Bears got very lucky last week with those two BS pass interference calls downfield, which led to 10 of their 13 points, and they can't count on those kind of calls in the playoffs.

It's just a matter of how much you rest them. The RB can get tired more easily than the other players, and I think it would be wise for these teams to rest their RB at least for some of the time.

Yeah, especially teams like the Colts, Chargers and Cheifs , who use primarily a one back system. Alexander just got back for Seattle and looks fresh, and Jamal Lewis looks like the running back he used to be for the Ravens. Teams like the Cowboys, Bears, Pats and Broncos are at an advantage due to their two back systems.

Many NFC teams have fallen short of expectations (i.e., the Panthers, the Falcons, and the Saints). And the Cowboys have moved up to take their place. Giving TO a new QB to throw him the ball places a powerful weapon in the hands of the Cowboys' offense, and other teams are still trying to figure out how to counter that offense.

The 'Boys look good this year, but I wonder if some of the success can be attributed to the lack of knowledge about Romo. If teams get some film on this guy, and he's able to be figured out, then the Cowboys are in trouble. But I think that Romo is a great QB, and if he keeps this confidence, he's a tough guy to beat.

 

[Kevin T]

Nice thread, as always, BigServe. My Bears (specifically Grossman) are scaring me a bit. I do agree that their Oline needs to give Gross more time but he is making some terrible decisions. Of course it's a different game in the NFL but he did play in the SEC and should be used to the defensive pressure.

As for Romo and the 'Boys; let's wait and see guys. I was a victim of the same Euphoria with the Bears early in the year, high on Grossman. When he has a bad game (and he will), let's see how he bounces back. The real issue is whether he is dating Jessica Simpson or not If so, he's the MVP!

 

[BigServer1]

Nice thread, as always, BigServe. My Bears (specifically Grossman) are scaring me a bit. I do agree that their Oline needs to give Gross more time but he is making some terrible decisions. Of course it's a different game in the NFL but he did play in the SEC and should be used to the defensive pressure.

As for Romo and the 'Boys; let's wait and see guys. I was a victim of the same Euphoria with the Bears early in the year, high on Grossman. When he has a bad game (and he will), let's see how he bounces back. The real issue is whether he is dating Jessica Simpson or not If so, he's the MVP!

Thanks man, I do my best, lol. Yeah, Grossman is scary right now, but if he's able to bounce back, this is the week when facing a staunch run D, but the mediocre pass Defense of the Vikings. Either way, the Bears should be fine with that great Defense. They can win their division this week, and the NFC is so bad that they will definatley have a first round bye, and most likely home field advantage too. The problem for the Bears is simple: You can turn the ball over 5 or 6 times against Arizona and win. You do that in the playoffs and you're gone, no matter how good the defense is.

As for Romo, I think this kid is great so far. I would quantify the Washington meltdown with the dropped passes and the blocked field goal as a bad team game, but I agree that he needs to have a bad, Rex Grossman-Eli Manning type of game to show he can bounce back. I just can't stop thinking about 2001 when Brady came in for the injured Bledsoe halfway through the year, won the Super Bowl and never looked back...But obviously I can't put him on that level yet, so we'll see how he progresses.

And yeah, if he's with Simpson, wow...just, wow...

 

[BigServer1]

im pretty happy the dolphins are playing well, but i was hoping this year was the year. i was optimistic about culpeper and i though playoffs for sure. every year i tell myself, next year. but the dolphins defense which has been spectacular and the reason why i can call myself a dolphins fan without shame since the departure of marino isnt getting any younger. zach thomas and jason taylor which have always been my favorite 2 nfl players (since marino) are 33 and 32. not too many winters left in them in the nfl. these are two guys that continue to step up week in and week out as leaders. jason taylor who backed up his big talk against the bears and continued to be, in my opinion, the best DE in the league. and zach thomas who leads the league in tackles.

i do have hope for the offense though especially with ronnie brown. i mean what happened with ricky williams left me in another one of those nfl depressions but ronnie brown only in his second year has proved to be an awesome back. though he did have surgery after his detroit game which is why i dont think the dolphins will make the playoffs this year.

It's gotta be tough to be a Fins fan...I thought they were playoff bound for sure this year, and would finish second in the AFC East to the Pats. What hurt them this year was the rushing of Culpepper to get back. he wasn't ready, and that cost that team at least two losses. Harrington is looking better, Ronnie Brown is getting there, and the Defense is great. If Taylor and Thomas can stay healthy for one more year and the Offense continues to improve, next year could see a playoff run. Saben is a great coach, have faith...

 

[whodey]

What about cincinnati?

The've beat both the chiefs (8} and the saints (9), and they are finally starting to peak at the right time.

With the way the've been playing the past couple weeks, they can play with anybody and are legitimate contenders in the AFC.

They deserve better than number 10.

 

[BigServer1]

What about cincinnati?

The've beat both the chiefs (8} and the saints (9), and they are finally starting to peak at the right time.

With the way the've been playing the past couple weeks, they can play with anybody and are legitimate contenders in the AFC.

They deserve better than number 10.

Yeah, they are peaking at the right time, but can they make the playoffs at all? 10-6 in the AFC might not even get them into the playoffs, and that's assuming a 4-1 record to close the season. They have Baltimore, Indy and Denver in 3 of their last 5 games of the season. They have to win 2 of 3 of those just to have a shot. The Bengals are a good team, and they are playing good football, but that rough patch in the middle of the season, being three games out in the division, and playing the toughest schedule in the NFL doesn't help their playoff cause.

 

[whodey]

Yeah, they are peaking at the right time, but can they make the playoffs at all? 10-6 in the AFC might not even get them into the playoffs, and that's assuming a 4-1 record to close the season. They have Baltimore, Indy and Denver in 3 of their last 5 games of the season. They have to win 2 of 3 of those just to have a shot. The Bengals are a good team, and they are playing good football, but that rough patch in the middle of the season, being three games out in the division, and playing the toughest schedule in the NFL doesn't help their playoff cause.

I agree, the Bengals have a hard schedule left. I'm pretty confident about Denver, but I predict a loss against Indy. We need to win on thursday to stay alive, and then hopefully 10-6 can get us in.

If only we won the Tampa Bay game. Its amazing how that one bogus call can almost ruin an entire season.

The Bengals can't afford to lose games like that

 

[BigServer1]

I agree, the Bengals have a hard schedule left. I'm pretty confident about Denver, but I predict a loss against Indy. We need to win on thursday to stay alive, and then hopefully 10-6 can get us in.

If only we won the Tampa Bay game. Its amazing how that one bogus call can almost ruin an entire season.

The Bengals can't afford to lose games like that

Exactly. Look at what's happened to the Giants these last three weeks. They're 6-2, have won 5 in a row, and people are saying they are the class of the conference. Then they lose 3 in a row and are floundering, but because of the "bad-ness" of the NFC, 10-6, even 9-7 might get you in. If the Bengals lose to Baltimore (who have won 5 in a row...), their season is in big trouble for sure. I just love Ocho Cinco, so I want to see him in the playoffs. Here's hopin'...

 

[Kabob190]

????? the Dolphins aren't going to make the playoffs because they already have 6 losses this year and are in last place (0-3) in their division. Not becasue of brown's surgery.

true, i keep forgetting how late in the season it is. it goes by really fast in comparison to basketball season.

but what if the dolphins will win the rest of their games they will be 10-6 (unlikely i know but hey a kid can dream cant he?) and that dream is completely gone. but ya i know the dolphins wont make the playoffs even with brown.

 

[BigServer1]

true, i keep forgetting how late in the season it is. it goes by really fast in comparison to basketball season.

but what if the dolphins will win the rest of their games they will be 10-6 (unlikely i know but hey a kid can dream cant he?) and that dream is completely gone. but ya i know the dolphins wont make the playoffs even with brown.

If the dolphins win out, then they have a shot, but they would need a lot of help. The Pats would have to lose four of five OR The Dolphins would have to hope for carnage to take place in the AFC West, and have the Broncos or the Cheifs (or both) fall completely off the table.

Here's a longshot, but possible scenerio:
The Dolphins win out and are 10-6.
The Cheifs lose to Baltimore, San Deigo and Jacksonville, they are 9-7 and out. -OR- The Broncos lose to Seattle, San Diego and Cincy they are 9-7 and out.
The Jets have to lose to Miami (obviously), and either Green Bay, Buffalo, Minny or Oak. That puts them 9-7 at best as well.
The Bengals must beat Denver, but lose to Indy and Baltimore.
At this point you have the Colts, Pats, Chargers and Ravens winning their respective divisions, with the Dolphins in as a wild card at 10-6, and either KC or Denver coming out from the AFC West. Because The Jags and the Bengals have such tough schedules coming up, those teams winning out seems unlikely, which helps the Dolphins cause. It's convoluted for sure, but stranger things have happened in the NFL.

 

[drakulie]

true, i keep forgetting how late in the season it is. it goes by really fast in comparison to basketball season.

but what if the dolphins will win the rest of their games they will be 10-6 (unlikely i know but hey a kid can dream cant he?) and that dream is completely gone. but ya i know the dolphins wont make the playoffs even with brown.

If they win the rest of their games, yes they will be 10-6. Problem is, if anoyone else in their division is also 10-6-they won't make the playoffs because they have a losing record within their division. Kind of sad, becasue they have an amazing defense, and this is now the second year in a row they got hot late in the season.

 

[ShooterMcMarco]

Goggogogogogogogo seahawks. It was fun to watch them playing in the snow, despite all the INTS thrown by Matt. Good to see our duo back, I hope we take out denver next week, gonna be tough playing at their home field.

 

[BigServer1]

If they win the rest of their games, yes they will be 10-6. Problem is, if anoyone else in their division is also 10-6-they won't make the playoffs because they have a losing record within their division. Kind of sad, becasue they have an amazing defense, and this is now the second year in a row they got hot late in the season.

If they win out and the Jets are 9-7 or worse, then they get a wild card spot. The Pats will win the division no matter what (in my opinion), but if the Fins can win out and get some help in the West, they have a shot.

 

[BigServer1]

Goggogogogogogogo seahawks. It was fun to watch them playing in the snow, despite all the INTS thrown by Matt. Good to see our duo back, I hope we take out denver next week, gonna be tough playing at their home field.

Yeah it's nice to see the Seahawks back for sure. Hassy looked a little rough in the first half of that GB game, but he shook it off and threw well in the second. Alexander running for 201 yards made me feel a lot better too, because after that whole foot ordeal, seeing him run hard and make his cuts is a great sign. I think the biggest positive coming out of this is that the most important guys on the team (Hassy and Shawn) are rested and healthy (barring trouble with that broken finger of Matt's...) going into the toughest part of the year and the playoffs. I feel like I might have them a tad underranked at #11, but the NFC is so bad that the Hawks will have to prove it to me this week at Denver.

 

[bluegrasser]

The Vikes won ! but Arizona ?? maybe 7-9, or 8-8 at best..

 

[TennisBatman]

Yeah, the fans obviously are never to blame, and Vick was at fault. Vick has his passing problems and he isn't the most accurate guy out there, but if you are a first round pick at WR, you can't drop wide open passes like those guys did. The running offense is unconventional, but Vick still throws 22-27 times a game, so catching shouldn't be too much of a problem for those wideouts.

I think the Bears should go back to establishing the run game, and then go to play action pass. Grossman needs more time in the pocket, and getting Jones going on the ground will allow him to sell that run fake. Also, the vertical offense only works if your QB is a great passer, and Grossman has some accuracy and depth problems. The Bears got very lucky last week with those two BS pass interference calls downfield, which led to 10 of their 13 points, and they can't count on those kind of calls in the playoffs.

The 'Boys look good this year, but I wonder if some of the success can be attributed to the lack of knowledge about Romo. If teams get some film on this guy, and he's able to be figured out, then the Cowboys are in trouble. But I think that Romo is a great QB, and if he keeps this confidence, he's a tough guy to beat.

It's a crucial coaching situation that they're in, the Bears, and the Falcons as well. Compared to the Cowboys, the Falcons and Bears have a lot tougher coaching decisions to make. The Cowboys are cruising, and a lot of it has to do with TO's ability at WR. But Romo is the QB and can do things that Bledsoe couldn't, in the time that TO has been there. Most importantly, being able to see the open receiver.

Bledsoe had a good arm and could throw far, but his "QB sense" was never better than average. In comes the best WR in the NFL, who acts like a decoy on every play by drawing coverage. Bledsoe, even with his big arm, couldn't reap the benefits of TO's presence, because he couldn't spot the open receiver. Now Romo comes in and shows how it's really done.

With the Bears, who have almost no passing game, they just need to learn to make most of what they have. The offense needs to feed off of the success of the defense by having better and better field position every time they get the ball. They need to make percentage plays to get them into field goal range consistently, and not take big risks that have a much greater chance of losing the ball to the other side.

With the Falcons, they just need to calm down and re-assess their weaknesses. They're already this deep in the season, so an overhaul of the offensive game plan at this point probably won't help. They just need to re-balance their offense and try to make their passing game more effective by making the plays when they count.

 

[10sfreak]

It's a crucial coaching situation that they're in, the Bears, and the Falcons as well. Compared to the Cowboys, the Falcons and Bears have a lot tougher coaching decisions to make. The Cowboys are cruising, and a lot of it has to do with TO's ability at WR. But Romo is the QB and can do things that Bledsoe couldn't, in the time that TO has been there. Most importantly, being able to see the open receiver.

Bledsoe had a good arm and could throw far, but his "QB sense" was never better than average. In comes the best WR in the NFL, who acts like a decoy on every play by drawing coverage. Bledsoe, even with his big arm, couldn't reap the benefits of TO's presence, because he couldn't spot the open receiver. Now Romo comes in and shows how it's really done.

With the Bears, who have almost no passing game, they just need to learn to make most of what they have. The offense needs to feed off of the success of the defense by having better and better field position every time they get the ball. They need to make percentage plays to get them into field goal range consistently, and not take big risks that have a much greater chance of losing the ball to the other side.

With the Falcons, they just need to calm down and re-assess their weaknesses. They're already this deep in the season, so an overhaul of the offensive game plan at this point probably won't help. They just need to re-balance their offense and try to make their passing game more effective by making the plays when they count.

Actually, what the Falcons need to do is put Vick in as a "scat-back," similar to what Dave Meggett used to be for the Giants, and let Matt Schaub(sp?) be the QB. Vick simply doesn't have the mental faculty to be a good QB. He's a tremendous athlete, but he's no QB.

 

[TennisBatman]

Actually, what the Falcons need to do is put Vick in as a "scat-back," similar to what Dave Meggett used to be for the Giants, and let Matt Schaub(sp?) be the QB. Vick simply doesn't have the mental faculty to be a good QB. He's a tremendous athlete, but he's no QB.

It's disappointing to see that QBs with so much talent as runners can fail so miserably in the NFL, and to see static QBs like Leinart perform solidly despite being weak in "intangibles".

I'm optimistic that Vince Young doesn't fall into the same downward spiral as Vick. Regardless of how Young develops, it's quite obvious that throwing is always of major importance for a QB's overall effectiveness, regardless of how good a runner he is.

 

[FitzRoy]

It's disappointing to see that QBs with so much talent as runners can fail so miserably in the NFL, and to see static QBs like Leinart perform solidly despite being weak in "intangibles".

I'm optimistic that Vince Young doesn't fall into the same downward spiral as Vick. Regardless of how Young develops, it's quite obvious that throwing is always of major importance for a QB's overall effectiveness, regardless of how good a runner he is.

Yeah, I think you got it right in your second paragraph there. Mobility in a QB is good for avoiding sacks, and great for running bootlegs (Elway, Steve Young, etc), but the bottom line is that a QB has to be able to consistently pass the ball accurately, or the offense will lack the variety necessary to keep the defense guessing.

 

[BigServer1]

What about cincinnati?

The've beat both the chiefs (8} and the saints (9), and they are finally starting to peak at the right time.

With the way the've been playing the past couple weeks, they can play with anybody and are legitimate contenders in the AFC.

They deserve better than number 10.

All right. The Bengals are in business, and they look good. One minute away from a second straight shutout, and a crucial division win. This team looks really good right now, and if they close the season playing like this, they'll be a dangerous floater in the AFC playoff mix.

 

[BigServer1]

It's disappointing to see that QBs with so much talent as runners can fail so miserably in the NFL, and to see static QBs like Leinart perform solidly despite being weak in "intangibles".

I'm optimistic that Vince Young doesn't fall into the same downward spiral as Vick. Regardless of how Young develops, it's quite obvious that throwing is always of major importance for a QB's overall effectiveness, regardless of how good a runner he is.

Yeah I agree, although every once in a while Vick has an amazing passing performance, and it makes you wonder if he will ever be consistent in the pocket. As for Young, he seems to be doing really well throwing the ball and running ONLY when necessary. He's 4-4 as a starter on a team everyone thought would be terrible, and he's showing poise in the pocket. I see him much more in the line of a McNabb or a McNair, good speed and escapability, but a strong arm and a pass first mentality.

I think one of Vick's greatest gifts is also his demise. He knows that he is one of the fastest guys on the field, and he knows that he can outrun the defense. You can't really blame him lately, because his WRs can't seem to catch anything. I like the scatback idea stated above, as it would give the offense over to a pocket passer in Schaub, but the potential for trick and gadget plays would be there every down, and Vick's speed could be utilized in the backfield.

 

[TennisBatman]

Yeah I agree, although every once in a while Vick has an amazing passing performance, and it makes you wonder if he will ever be consistent in the pocket. As for Young, he seems to be doing really well throwing the ball and running ONLY when necessary. He's 4-4 as a starter on a team everyone thought would be terrible, and he's showing poise in the pocket. I see him much more in the line of a McNabb or a McNair, good speed and escapability, but a strong arm and a pass first mentality.

I think one of Vick's greatest gifts is also his demise. He knows that he is one of the fastest guys on the field, and he knows that he can outrun the defense. You can't really blame him lately, because his WRs can't seem to catch anything. I like the scatback idea stated above, as it would give the offense over to a pocket passer in Schaub, but the potential for trick and gadget plays would be there every down, and Vick's speed could be utilized in the backfield.

That sort of plan, to use Vick as a scatback, might work as a short-term solution, assuming that the new QB can show some rhythm, but I don't think it's a good long-term solution. There's simply not enough room under the salary cap to pay for a good QB passer and a scatback with the same kind of marquee-player salary, unless you sacrifice cap room somewhere else that is more important.

They could try a two-back system, using Vick as one of the backs, and some power back as the second back. But you're still talking about big dollars if you want to have a good running AND passing game.

The fact of the matter is, QB salaries for quality passers are high whether or not they can run the ball (with the exception of newcomers such as Romo--but they don't trade away those players). And every team has learned by now that you can't neglect the passing game. You can get by with an average passing game, if your defense and running game are strong--but be weak in either of these, and you need the passing game to keep the team going.

Based on this principle, next year the Falcons will try to have a good passing game. As far as their running game goes, they can keep Vick on the team as a scatback, or look for a conventional RB who is a better as a runner, for less money--or they can stick with the current plan.

Almost every team in the league goes with a specialized passer as QB and a specialized runner (or 2) as RB. If these 2 players are chosen well, then there's absolutely no need for gimmicks in the form of a 3rd high-salary player.

But then one might ask, maybe Vick can do fine as an "every down" RB. But he is unproven in this type of role. Everyone knows he has running talent, but it also takes experience to play as RB, and at best it's a risky proposition.
Viewed in light of salary cap dollars, it's putting money into a bottomless hole.

 

[BigServer1]

That sort of plan, to use Vick as a scatback, might work as a short-term solution, assuming that the new QB can show some rhythm, but I don't think it's a good long-term solution. There's simply not enough room under the salary cap to pay for a good QB passer and a scatback with the same kind of marquee-player salary, unless you sacrifice cap room somewhere else that is more important.

They could try a two-back system, using Vick as one of the backs, and some power back as the second back. But you're still talking about big dollars if you want to have a good running AND passing game.

The fact of the matter is, QB salaries for quality passers are high whether or not they can run the ball (with the exception of newcomers such as Romo--but they don't trade away those players). And every team has learned by now that you can't neglect the passing game. You can get by with an average passing game, if your defense and running game are strong--but be weak in either of these, and you need the passing game to keep the team going.

Based on this principle, next year the Falcons will try to have a good passing game. As far as their running game goes, they can keep Vick on the team as a scatback, or look for a conventional RB who is a better as a runner, for less money--or they can stick with the current plan.

Almost every team in the league goes with a specialized passer as QB and a specialized runner (or 2) as RB. If these 2 players are chosen well, then there's absolutely no need for gimmicks in the form of a 3rd high-salary player.

But then one might ask, maybe Vick can do fine as an "every down" RB. But he is unproven in this type of role. Everyone knows he has running talent, but it also takes experience to play as RB, and at best it's a risky proposition.
Viewed in light of salary cap dollars, it's putting money into a bottomless hole.

The scatback idea is a possibility for this year only, because Matt Schaub is a free agent at the end of this year, and there is a lot of intrest in him as a starter for other teams. I think the Vick as a RB idea is okay, but the team will never demote him from QB. He's also shown to be a bit injury prone, and an every down back gets pounded every play. Also, they've committed $100 million to him as a QB, and a QB he will stay. What a lot of people forget is the fact that Vick has the 6th highest winning percentage among active QB's in the NFL. That puts him in an elite class as a winner, regardless of his struggles this year. He has taken the Falcons to the NFC championship game, and won in Lambeau when no one else could. The Falcons rushing attack is always one of the best in the league, and they have had one of the highest rated runshing offenses in the league each of the last three years. Warrick Dunn is a good every down back, and Vick's rushing abilities add to the potency of their run offense. What needs to happen is Vick needs to play his game, and the WR's need to catch the ball. I don't care if Vick completes 45% of his passes and he wins and no one complains when he does that. I am not a Vick apologist (although I love watching him play), but he has protection and WR problems. If he can get some time in the pocket and have confidence in his receivers then he can turn it around and be a winning QB, however unconventional the winning may be.