NFL Football - 2008-09 Season Discussion

[INACTIVESamusAranX]

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

Was that really necessarry? I made it clear this isn't a "rival" fan speaking. I as a fan try and be objective with any team, even the Titans, our biggest "rival".

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.

Last year I heard alot of talk about how the Colts suffered from an immense amount of injuries, yet were so good that they went 13-3, won their division, and had a first round bye. You have injuries now and it is what it is. The Jags were decimated by injuries this year, but I won't complain. Good teams pull together to overcome them. If the Colts can overcome them on defense now, how will they do it in the playoffs? Can they pull a "2006" again?

As for running the ball, you're right; it's all on Addai, i.e. whether he can stay healthy or not for the playoffs.

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.

Believe it or not, your defense has regressed somewhat in terms of yardage thesep ast couple of games. They allowed more than 300 yards to Detroit, and 400 yards to the Jaguars. As I said, any balanced offense with a competent QB are licking their lips right now at the Colts defense. Peyton can't overcome deficits every week. He couldn't do it in 2003 when he only needed to score more than 24 points, in 2004 when he only needed to score more than 20 points, in 2005...well I won't bring up 2005, because that was a certain kicker's fault.

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

Actually it is. 2004, 2007. Both years where Peyton and the offense had an immense amount of talent yet couldn't get it done. And in 2007, Peyton had one of the best defenses he'd ever had lining up to assist him and the team still couldn't get it done.

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.

I meant "fluke" in that 2006 has been the only time to date when one of the most legendary offenses to take the field and its HOF coach actually lived up to what is fairly expected of them and went all the way.

I'm not underrating how hard it is to win a Super Bowl. But 2006 is the exception to the rule for the Colts. The "rule" is that they make the postseason year after year but do not get the Lombardi. The exception was and remains 2006. Like I said, the Colts can prove me wrong, and I'll applaud them if they do.

 

[Captain Craig]

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.

Ben having the ball knocked out of his hand was a defensive play. Not Ben screwing up.
Ben getting sacked was a result of our D pushing through his O line...fast. Not Ben screwing up.

View it through the glasses that suit you best I suppose.

 

[pork3]

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

Not if you're a fan of competition, though, admittedly, I'm rather biased.

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.

Both teams certainly earned it by reaching overtime in the first place. Over the past few years, it's been shown that the winner of the coin toss is statistically favored to win the game, more often than not, by an uninspiring field goal. These are professional athletes, and as such, they should be allowed to play out the entire OT.

 

[Timby]

Over the past few years, it's been shown that the winner of the coin toss is statistically favored to win the game

By a statistically insignificant amount, though. I think the difference is something like 52 to 48 percent.

 

[pork3]

Over the past few years, it's been shown that the winner of the coin toss is statistically favored to win the game

By a statistically insignificant amount, though. I think the difference is something like 52 to 48 percent.

Interesting article regarding that:
http://www.maa.org/mathland/mathtrek_11_08_04.html

-Jamman

 

[pork3]

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?"

But haven't the Cardinals lost all of their East coast games, and some of them quite badly as well? And, assuming you're correct that they didn't care, why play Warner up until the 3rd? The risk of injury alone in that inclement weather must've entered their minds.

Regardless, nice to see the former backup USC quaterback play against the former starter.

-Jamman

 

[Mallory]

I was pleasantly surprised to see the Giants manage to win yesterday's game against Carolina. It'll be nice to be home for the playoffs for a change.

I have to wonder though, just how much incentive they're going to have playing the Vikings next week. The Giants have nothing to lose and Minnesota will probably have a playoff spot riding on the game.

 

[Neroon]

I was pleasantly surprised to see the Giants manage to win yesterday's game against Carolina. It'll be nice to be home for the playoffs for a change.

I have to wonder though, just how much incentive they're going to have playing the Vikings next week. The Giants have nothing to lose and Minnesota will probably have a playoff spot riding on the game.

They'll probably rest a few people who could use it, especially on defense. Justin Tuck was apparently suffering from flu this weekend, for example. And I think Robbins might have been dinged up the week or two before. And although Hixon didn't do badly at all yesterday, he could probably use a breather himself.

 

[Timby]

I was pleasantly surprised to see the Giants manage to win yesterday's game against Carolina. It'll be nice to be home for the playoffs for a change.

I have to wonder though, just how much incentive they're going to have playing the Vikings next week.

Their incentive is the fact that if they roll over and die for the Vikings, I'm driving to goddamn New Jersey and stabbing Tom Coughlin in his spleen with a prison shank.

 

[Pegaritaville]

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.

Trouble is, the Giants won't have anything to play for next week- their position is set regardless of what happens. I'm hoping they don't sit a lot of their starters, but I'm expecting the Vikes to luck out and have the game basically handed to them.


Loved watching the Vikings fumble their way to a loss on Sunday. Having 7 fumbles in one game was more than enough to get those fickle Vikings fans booing.

It should be fun tonight at pool league watching all the Vikings fans cheer for the Packers. It'll leave a nice sour taste in their mouths. I'll probably be the only Packers fan at the bar, but I might just root for the Bears.

 

[Neroon]

Not to pour salt inthe wound, but it did seem as if the Vikings outplayed the Falcons in all phases, except for those turnovers. It wasn't dominating mind you, but the Vikes seemed to have the edge, but gaver it right back.

I kept wondering if Gary Anderson was back on the team.

 

[archeryguy1701]

Unbelievable. Denver's running game has truely met the end of the line. Pope and Young are both done for the season with a hamstring and a neck injury respectively. Both are on injured reserve. This means that we are stuck with terrible Bell for the final game and possibly the playoffs. We went into sunday with the hope riding 20% on running backs and 80% on Cutler. Denver's future now rests 150% on Cutler.

Don't choke this week, big guy. We can no longer afford to have you overshooting receivers at game changing moments.

 

[Timby]

MOMENTS UNTIL COUNTDOWN

BEARS DO ME PROUD

DO ME FUCKING PROUD

 

[Aragorn]

Patriots fan tackles Junior Seau during game

ESPN article

So in front of 68,000 people, a guy jumps onto the field, tackles Junior Seau, and pleads not guilty to it?

"I'm just a big fan of Junior Seau," the 31-year-old Kobus said in court. "I meant to give him a big hug. I absolutely did not mean to tackle him or anything along those lines. It was a stupid lapse in judgment."

 

[Timby]

HOLY SHIT

 

[Pegaritaville]

HOLY SHIT

Go Giants!!

Yes, I hate the Vikings that much.

 

[Starbreaker]

Best (Worst?) game I've seen all year!

 

[Sheep]

That was some pathetic fucking football on the Bears' part until the fourth quarter, but I'm glad they won. Certainly makes next week interesting.

I will be very annoyed if the Giants spread their legs wide for the Vikings and don't show up on Sunday.

 

[Neroon]

HOLY SHIT

That's all you got?

 

[JM1776]

But haven't the Cardinals lost all of their East coast games, and some of them quite badly as well?

So what? They should have won at Carolina and Washington, in addition to throwing a scare into the Jets after falling behind by a gazillion points. I'm not requiring or even expecting an East Coast victory this year. The goals were to make the playoffs or even, wonder of wonders, win the division.

Missions accomplished.

And, assuming you're correct that they didn't care, why play Warner up until the 3rd?

No assumptions necessary. I am correct ... but am referring to most of the players, not the coaching staff or management.

Because Warner's the kind of competitor who wants to be in there, no matter the situation. Humoring the old vet is important.

The risk of injury alone in that inclement weather must've entered their minds.

Which is why he didn't play the whole game. The Cards have come back from huge deficits to be competitive this year. Once it was so obviously over that even the Cards couldn't rally, he was out.