2011 NFL Season - A New Game

[tighr]

I still can't believe that people actually get pissed because their team is winning.

The funny thing about that, is looking at Denver's remaining schedule:
NYJ - toss-up (Thursday night game, NYJ just played SNF so it will be a short week for them, plus traveling)
@SD - Who the hell knows what's going on with SD
@MIN - Winnable
CHI - Probably a loss
NE - Probably a loss
@BUF - Toss-up
KC - probably a win

You're looking at realistically finishing the season 8-8, maybe 9-7. 10-6 if some of that Tebow magic gets an extra win. He hasn't caused the team to lose any games (they weren't going to beat Detroit), and he's definitely gotten them over the hump in marginal games. They're only a game behind Oakland, and Oakland has some tough games remaining too (Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit). Denver could conceivably win their division, which would probably piss off a lot of people who hate Tebow.

And just like that, the Texans have found their way back out of the playoffs.

You'd think that, but the Texans are already 2 wins ahead in the division, have a bye week to get Leinart in shape, and TEN has a rough road ahead of them if they want to win the AFC South. They'd have to completely tank some extremely winnable games to lose out on the post season. Colts and Jags certainly aren't going to win it.

 

[Starbreaker]

The Texans are the #1 seed at this point. I still find that bizarre.

 

[Captain Mike]

If you can't tell that the Packers are the best team in the league, then I know that nothing will change your mind... but geez.

Like I stated in a previous thread,...with the way the officiating duties I had seen on Monday night,...I can see you being excited that they are the best team...

 

[archeryguy1701]

I still can't believe that people actually get pissed because their team is winning.

The funny thing about that, is looking at Denver's remaining schedule:
NYJ - toss-up (Thursday night game, NYJ just played SNF so it will be a short week for them, plus traveling)
@SD - Who the hell knows what's going on with SD
@MIN - Winnable
CHI - Probably a loss
NE - Probably a loss
@BUF - Toss-up
KC - probably a win

You're looking at realistically finishing the season 8-8, maybe 9-7. 10-6 if some of that Tebow magic gets an extra win. He hasn't caused the team to lose any games (they weren't going to beat Detroit), and he's definitely gotten them over the hump in marginal games. They're only a game behind Oakland, and Oakland has some tough games remaining too (Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit). Denver could conceivably win their division, which would probably piss off a lot of people who hate Tebow.

I would be thrilled if that were to actually happen.... I came into the season hoping for 6-10: Still not great, but indicating that the team's improving and heading in the right direction. If we somehow manage to hit 8-8 or better, I do a bloody jig in the streets naked. Don't even know how I would react if we found a way into the playoffs.

And just like that, the Texans have found their way back out of the playoffs.

You'd think that, but the Texans are already 2 wins ahead in the division, have a bye week to get Leinart in shape, and TEN has a rough road ahead of them if they want to win the AFC South. They'd have to completely tank some extremely winnable games to lose out on the post season. Colts and Jags certainly aren't going to win it.

Don't worry, I figured it wouldn't be that easy for them to fall out of the race. This was just more me taking a piss at their history of always being on the cusp of getting in and then failing. Though it would be slightly amusing if this marked the start of their latest collapse.

As for the Packers debate, I'm calling it now: unless someone can catch Rodgers on a bad day or a team is able to get into a shootout with them, the Packers are going to win it all again. I'm not going to comment on them going 19-0 because there are too many variable to account for in that (such as whether or not the starters get rest towards the end), but I will be stunned if they don't get another ring. Their defense still has the potential of being a liability for them, but with the high-powered offense they're putting out, they don't even really need a defense.

 

[Starbreaker]

If you can't tell that the Packers are the best team in the league, then I know that nothing will change your mind... but geez.

Like I stated in a previous thread,...with the way the officiating duties I had seen on Monday night,...I can see you being excited that they are the best team...

So for 9 straight weeks and all of last year the officials have conspired to make Green Bay seem better than they are? I hate the team, but they're really good.

 

[archeryguy1701]

^It has been one awe-strikingly efficient job of game fixing.

 

[tighr]

^It has been one awe-strikingly efficient job of game fixing.

Definitely not a Packers fan. But that team is playing gooood.

I don't know how the officials were able to make some of those receivers catch those passes on Monday night. Those officials are doing a great job making the Packers score 45 points a game!

 

[Skywalker]

Besides, everybody knows the refs are Steelers fans.

 

[Marten]

I always figured Manning meant a ton to his team. And hey, sometimes teams with great QBs even will regress for a year or two. But I think the Colts seriously have embraced Suck for Luck. A guy like that should end up on a real perennial loser to help right the franchise. That's the whole point of a draft. 0-10 Colts? Shady. I get the feeling I'll be cheering against them for the next 15 years.

I've cheered for the Bears for two weeks in a row now. I'm pretty sick of it! They actually look like a pretty good team now. And this is coming from a person who thought that the Bears were shit last year despite getting home field advantage...

I don't know about the 49ers. Football Outsiders has been high on them pretty much since the early part of the season, so I assume they're not a fluke. But all I see of them is the Frank Gore stat line for my fantasy team (WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED THIS WEEK?!?). Oh, and the only other thing I've caught was when Harbaugh declined a penalty that would've resulted in a first down in order to take the 3 points on a field goal against Dallas. That's such a mind-numbingly stupid decision I have a hard time taking the guy seriously. They may get home-field advantage, but I think the Packers will beat them on any field.

The teams I'm worried about are New Orleans, who can match the Packers punch for punch, and to a lesser extent the Bears, who usually come up with a decent plan to slow down our passing offense.

'

One can hope Luck refuses to play for them and finishes his senior year instead. Not very likely, of course, but still.

 

[tighr]

One can hope Luck refuses to play for them and finishes his senior year instead. Not very likely, of course, but still.

Luck is a Redshirt Junior, meaning that this season is his Senior year. He went back this year to complete his degree. Unless he just wants to come back for a chance at winning the BCS NCG, there is little incentive for him to play his final year of eligibility as as a Super-Senior.

 

[nevermore]

Besides, everybody knows the refs are Steelers fans.

 

[Captain Mike]

Besides, everybody knows the refs are Steelers fans.

Haters still gotta hate?? That is why we get all those unnecessary roughness calls. that are LEGIT tackles,against them, when the the other teams is thoroughly blatent with no flag!?!?

Leave it to a Ratbird fan to whine about the refs just like you do on your team message board, when so many calls actually have gone in their favor during games.

 

[Yoda]

Uhh, you whining about refs is what started this whole 'discussion'

 

[Captain Mike]

Uhh, you whining about refs is what started this whole 'discussion'

I brought up how Green Bay seems to never had flags thrown in their direction when they should have during the MNF game, But you seem to think that the Refs are damn near perfect.

 

[SmoothieX]

Besides, everybody knows the refs are Steelers fans.

Gotta send that to my FIL, a Seahawks fan.

 

[archeryguy1701]

Uhh, you whining about refs is what started this whole 'discussion'

I brought up how Green Bay seems to never had flags thrown in their direction when they should have during the MNF game, But you seem to think that the Refs are damn near perfect.

The refs blow lots of calls in every game for every team. The number of blown calls go up depending on how you feel about the teams playing. The refs aren't perfect, but saying that they're working for a team is just silly.

Besides, if one wants to analyze someone's opinions on the refs, one could draw some good assumptions from the 3 ref-related commentaries you have going:
~Your team is being unjustly flagged.
~A fan of your team's division rival is crying over nothing in relation to ref actions. And...
~The team that beat your team in the Super Bowl doesn't get anywhere near the number of flags that they should.

 

[RAMA]

Early mid-year pick for rookie of the year: Demarco Murray

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/31985/murray-powers-cowboys-playoff-push

He's leading in a fan poll 74 to 16% over Cam Newton on ESPN.

 

[Green Shirt]

Leave it to a Ratbird fan to whine about the refs just like you do on your team message board

Uhh, isn't that what team message boards are for, to say how great your team is, and how all other teams and their fans are whiners?

I'm guessing the Squeeler forums are full of whiny crybabies just like any other.

when so many calls actually have gone in their favor during games.

I don't know offhand of any ref's calls that occur not during games.

 

[Pegaritaville]

The Packers really are that good... and the Vikings really are that bad.

I love the Packers, but I'm not convinced they're that good. Their defense is shaky and as good as their offense is, it's still pretty one dimensional.

I wasn't expecting the Vikings to play so poorly Monday night. I was out in Vegas for the game (and some golfing and gambling) and put $400 on the Vikings. I was convinced the Vikings could cover a 13.5 point spread and figured It'd be easy money. Wrong. Guess I should stick to my rule of not betting on either team.

 

[Timby]

Oh, they certainly aren't that good. They're winning because Aaron Rodgers is playing Madden on Rookie difficulty 24 / 7 (as are the receivers), and Charles Woodson has made a deal with the Dark Lord himself.

That said, until they run into a defense that can seriously stop Rodgers / Jennings / Finley / Driver, they're going to keep on running wild.

Edit: Johnny Jolly just got six years in prison. Ouch.