NFL Football - 2008-09 Season Discussion

[Alidar Jarok]

God that was a depressing game. I'm not quite sure I agree with the final call, although it's hard to say (and I'll admit I'm biased). I guess I might as well give up on playoff hopes, since it's obvious the Eagles did shortly before this game (crying shame after the Ravens handed them a gift last week). Hopefully they'll at least beat the Cowboys next week because one win in the division is just sad (plus, I need to see Dallas lose).

 

[JM1776]

The Cardinals have been half past give-a-shit since it became apparent both that they couldn't lose their division and that they weren't going to move up into one of the top two seeds—which occurred right after their loss to the Giants.

They're on cruise control. They just don't care.

That will change when Tampa Bay, Dallas, Philadelphia or Atlanta shows up in the desert for the wildcard round. Then, suddenly, people will be astonished. "Wow, where's this Cardinals team been for a month?"

 

[nevermore]

God that was a depressing game. I'm not quite sure I agree with the final call, although it's hard to say (and I'll admit I'm biased). I guess I might as well give up on playoff hopes, since it's obvious the Eagles did shortly before this game (crying shame after the Ravens handed them a gift last week). Hopefully they'll at least beat the Cowboys next week because one win in the division is just sad (plus, I need to see Dallas lose).

Dallas just lost.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Yeah and that was good for about 16 hours. I need Dallas losses to be matched with Eagles wins. Luckily that'll happen next week (and, if it doesn't, we'll just throw snowballs at TO and Tony Romo).

 

[trekkerguy]

This is why I love the NFL, nailbiters. Go Panthers!!!


EDIT: Welp, congrats Giants.

 

[pookha]

What IS a fluke is the Titans, there's no way Kerry Collins is going to be this good next year, and the rest of the team is actually fairly lacking. If Jacksonville can get back on track they and Houston should be competing for the division title next season.

if they can get the qb stuff straightened out they have a chance of being good for awhile.
with the exception of center the offense is pretty young and so is the defense.

they had some pretty good recent drafts that are starting to show dividends.

 

[chrisspringob]

More ammunition for those who want to change the playoff system: We could very easily end up with both AFC West and NFC West division winners at 8-8. Meanwhile, we're guaranteed that at least one team in the AFC will go 10-6 or better, yet still miss the playoffs, as Baltimore, Miami, and New England can't *all* make it in.

In fact, if all three of those teams win next week, New England will miss the playoffs, despite having an 11-5 record (I think they lose the tiebreakers against both Miami and Balt.)!

 

[pork3]

More ammunition for those who want to change the playoff system: We could very easily end up with both AFC West and NFC West division winners at 8-8. Meanwhile, we're guaranteed that at least one team in the AFC will go 10-6 or better, yet still miss the playoffs, as Baltimore, Miami, and New England can't *all* make it in.

In fact, if all three of those teams win next week, New England will miss the playoffs, despite having an 11-5 record (I think they lose the tiebreakers against both Miami and Balt.)!

You're correct. New England needs to win against Buffalo for either of the following scenarios to play out:
1. Baltimore loses against Jacksonville for New England to win the wildcard (unlikely as Jacksonville sucks)
2. Jets win against Miami for New England to win the division (unlikely because Mangini and Lord Farvquaad are sucking as of late)

And to make matters worse, due to the f*@#$ flex schedule, there are reports out that they'll be moving the Jets/Phins game to the 4:15pm ET slot. What sort of impliciations does this have for the Pats? Well, if they choose not to move the Patriots/Bills game to the same time slot, the Jets, based on whether the Patriots win against the Bills, might decide to not show up just to stick it to their long time rival. Wouldn't hold it past Mangina. (On a sidenote, I never thought I'd see the day where I'd be rooting for the Jets. I feel so dirty inside)

Both the NFL overtime and playoff systems should be reconsidered IMHO.

-Jamman

 

[archeryguy1701]

I agree that overtime needs to be fixed, however, I think the playoff system is as fair as it gets. Every team in a division has the exact same schedule. It makes sense to have teams with the same schedule fighting for the same spot. However, if you open the playoffs to a record free-for-all, then there would be no real consistancy to compare most teams. You would then have the issue of teams getting into the playoffs because they played Lion-esque teams all season while other teams fail to get in because they get stuck playing the NFL superstars all season. It sucks that a team with a good record is going to miss out, but I don't think that there is a way to make the system any more fair than it already is.

 

[trekkerguy]

In fact, if all three of those teams win next week, New England will miss the playoffs, despite having an 11-5 record (I think they lose the tiebreakers against both Miami and Balt.)!

Yeah, it'll be so refreshing to have a playoff season without them.

As for the playoff system it works perfect. It balances itself out from year
to year. For years the Patriots were winning a shitty division and no one
complained about that, but it raised the level of competition in that division.

Now we have the NFC West which is a lousy division, but the Cardinals have
won it, and have shown some talant an ability to win games against good
teams, it's just broken down in the last few weeks simply because as a team
they aren't used to being in a position to compete. Regardless of how far
they make it in the playoffs, next year that division will put up a better
record and the Cardinals will be tested to hold the division and then it'll be
another division that sucks but gives new teams a chance to compete.

The AFC West sucks almost as bad as the NFC West, and is probably going
to send a team to the playoffs that has a worse record than the Cardinals.
It's all cyclical, it all balances.

Fix overtime? Or have teams play harder for it. Watching Sunday night football
and watching them punt several times in overtime, with the Giants only winning
after both teams put up a hard fight for it, I think the current system is just fine.

These are pros, when a team wins the toss and recieves it's not just the offense's
chance to win, but the defense's chance aswell. If they can't make a stop for
their team, why should their offense have a shot? They shouldnt because the
team didn't earn it.

 

[steveman]

I don't think the Colts get very far in the playoffs.

Yes, easy to say when your team's not even going to sniff the playoffs.

I know in 2006 they had an atrocious run defense and managed to pull it together for the playoffs.

But this year, they have more than that counting against them. They can't stop the run, they can't run the ball, and Thursday night they showed to the NFL that even a mediocre passing attack such as Jacksonville's could beat them...and it nearly did, had it not been for Garrard's gift late in the game. If Garrard and a depleted Jags could put up 400 yards of offense on the Colts, can you imagine what a QB such as Jay Cutler, Big Ben, even Chad Pennington, heck even Matt Cassel with Moss to throw to could do?

Of all these things, running the ball is the biggest concern; hopefully getting Addai healthy rectifies that. And our run defense isn't nearly as bad as it was during the '06 season. Far from it. Doesn't help that our defensive captain, Gary Brackett, along with Bob Sanders, have both been injured as of late.

As far as the Jags' offensive success against the Colts goes, I'll chalk that up to the simple fact that both these teams are so familiar with one another; hard to do anything that tricks the other anymore. Concerning passing attacks being able to beat the Colts, we played Matt Cassell, Ben Roethlisberger, and Philip Rivers in a span of four weeks (with two of those QBs being at home)... and finished 3-0.

Finally, while Manning indeed has a penchant for willing his team to victory, the playoffs shown us in most instances that for some reason that quality fails to manifest itself at that time, when it most needed.

Always an argument I love to hear. Especially since, you know, it isn't 2003 anymore.

The Colts are free to prove me wrong, and if they make it all the way I'll be surprised but have a great deal of respect for it. More than anything, this is the time for Manning, Dungy, and the Colts to prove 2006 wasn't a fluke.

If a "fluke" is a team that's always competitive and makes the playoffs year-in and year-out, I'll take it. You savagely underrate just how hard it is to win the Super Bowl. If there's a fluke, it is the Patriots, who dilluded everyone into thinking that dynasties are a common occurence. Look at all the great players that come through the NFL, and couple that with the fact that we're lucky to see one dynasty per decade.

It's hard to be consistently good in the regular season, let alone the postseason; a Jags fan should know that better than, well... anyone.

 

[Neroon]

On a somewhat unrelated note, Peter King in his column today posted this nice little nugget:

On Thursday night against the Jaguars, Peyton Manning, who knew Baugh from a photo shoot in the nineties (See page 5), wore a wristband with "SB 33'' on it -- Baugh's initials, and his number with the Washington Redskins -- and had the best game of his season. "I was slingin' it tonight,'' said the respectful Manning. "I hope Sammy got a smile out of that game.''

That's part of why I tend to like Peyton so much. He appreciates the history of the game, the heroes from earlier eras.

 

[trekkerguy]

It's hard to be consistently good in the regular season, let alone the postseason; a Jags fan should know that better than, well... anyone.

Come on now, I've been waving the Colts flag and I'm a Jags fan.

No need for that.

 

[Neroon]

With the Colts, the critical thing is getting that firsrt round bye. Will that be enough time to get Addai and Sanders healthy? If so, then that improves their chacnes in the playoffs. Addai will bring some running power back, but Sanders' return may just be more significant. He's that good in the defensive backfield.

 

[trekkerguy]

With the Colts, the critical thing is getting that firsrt round bye. Will that be enough time to get Addai and Sanders healthy? If so, then that improves their chacnes in the playoffs. Addai will bring some running power back, but Sanders' return may just be more significant. He's that good in the defensive backfield.

Bob Sanders is HUGE for the Colts D, but Mojo can still run him over sometimes

 

[Timby]

Dear Bears,

You control your own destiny. There is no way that the Vikings are beating the Giants next week. That means it comes down to two games: Next week against Houston, and tonight against a bunch of douchebags from Ashwaubenon.

You might remember those douchebags from Ashwaubenon, as you visited them a few weeks ago -- and you laid down like dogs. You let them engage in a healthy amount of anal rape, and then they broke it off in your ass and you didn't care.

Tonight is your lone chance at redemption. Do not blow it. This has been a cataclysmic season across the NFL. Ron Turner, I don't care if you have to grab Orton and kill a fifth of Jack Daniel's with him before the game, I don't care if you have to murder three hookers, I don't care if you need an 8-ball, I don't care if you have to vivisect Rex Grossman and sacrifice him to motherfucking Xenu. Find some way to control your goddamn Tourette's syndrome and stop calling a fullback rush up the middle every other play.

Bob Babich, I hate you and I hope you get fucked. The last time this defense went up against the Packers, it was a horrific, ugly display. But for one night, I will refrain from cursing your name if you can somehow generate a pass rush. (I suggest an occasional blitz. I also suggest not leaving Peanut Tillman in solo coverage against Greg Jennings again, you stupid son of a bitch.)

Kyle, you magnificent beast of a warrior, you have come into your own this year. I know that you have no weapons outside of Matt Forte, Greg Olsen and occasional glimpses of the unicorn that is the corpse of Marty Booker, but play your heart out tonight. You can do it, my neckbearded savior.

And if you miserable bunch of goddamn gutless fucking assholes lay down again tonight, get fucked, because pitchers and catchers report in two months, and I'll watch fucking Blackhawks games in the interim.

Love,
Tim

 

[trekkerguy]

^^^ That was amazing.

 

[Captain Craig]

The Colts made the playoffs again after their slow start. They sure managed to pull it together over the past few weeks.

Knowing we,Titans, could see them again I'll be curious to see what game plan we have for this Sunday vs them. I wouldn't be surprised to see us pull our starters at halftime.

I like all the AFC playoff team except the Titans, I see the Colts beating anyone of them(including the Titans) except possibly the Steelers.

What IS a fluke is the Titans, there's no way Kerry Collins is going to be this good next year, and the rest of the team is actually fairly lacking. If Jacksonville can get back on track they and Houston should be competing for the division title next season.

Well I disagree. Perhaps you didn't see us manhandle the Steelers yesterday. How our defense with two key men out still dictated to Big Ben and took him down 4 times. Of course its the NFL and all you need is one bad game but we should be ready and rested come January.

Who said Kerry Collins was good this year? He is adequate now but our offense isn't a throwing machine. He need only be superior once or twice a game. Most of our pass patterns are quick slants and 7-12yd posts. We run the ball 75% of the time. If we could pull it off this year I'd let the chips fall where they may with Kerry and let Vince have it back for '09.

 

[Neroon]

Bob Sanders is HUGE for the Colts D, but Mojo can still run him over sometimes

Accent on the "some"times.

 

[trekkerguy]

Bob Sanders is HUGE for the Colts D, but Mojo can still run him over sometimes

Accent on the "some"times.

Actually... it's more like most the time.

Yeah, I saw what the Titans did with the Steelers, not really the Titans D there, mainly Ben screwing up.
And Vince is the last thing the Titans would need. But this happens all the time, the Ravens did it with
McNair a couple years back, had a big run at the playoffs with a senior QB past his prime, then faltered.