2011 NFL Thread: The Lazarus Season - Part 6

[steintym]

I think the Bears and the Lions still have a decent shot at the Packers. Division games are always a different animal. The Bears always play them pretty tough (as well as anyone) and the Lions still have two shots at them.

 

[Hound55]

Bears don't scare me at all these days.

Personally I'm more worried with the Vikings than the Bears, although the Bears are generally better in terms of against most teams. Bears hardly seem a threat.

The Lions are a bit of a worry though, I'll admit, if we play them healthy and in form.

Curious to see how we'd go against the Saints after they've had a chance to get used to their tools.

 

[steintym]

Packers don't play the Vikings again, though. I was referring to teams that will still run into the Packers. The Vikings also aren't getting anywhere near the playoffs this year.

A rematch with the Saints in the playoffs could be interesting. The Saints are one of the few teams that could possibily keep up offensively in a shoot out.

 

[Rowsdower!]

I'm still not sold on the Saints this season. They have some serious issues they need to work out. That loss to the Rams was just inexplicable. They seemed to have sharpened their focus since then, but they are also the team that lost to a bad Seahawks team in the playoffs last year. [FONT=&quot][/FONT] [FONT=&quot]
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[Genesis 1.0]

A loss to a bad Seahawks is something we now share. A bond of shame.

NFL Power Rankings came out today: http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings

RK (LW) TEAM REC COMMENT
1 (1) Packers 9-0 If they survive a tough game in Detroit on Thanksgiving, the Packers have a real chance to go undefeated. (Clayton)

2 (2) 49ers 8-1 Alex Smith's performance against the Giants shows the 49ers can beat good teams without Frank Gore carrying the offense. (Sando)

3 (4) Saints 7-3 Bye week gives the Saints a chance to regroup before welcoming the Giants and Lions to the Superdome for likely shootouts. (Sando)

4 (5) Steelers 7-3 Pittsburgh's defense showed against Cincinnati that it still can close out games. (Walker)

5 (9) Bears 6-3 Whenever Devin Hester returns a kick for a score, this team is basically unbeatable. (Clayton)

6 (3) Ravens 6-3 There's no excuse for RB Ray Rice to get five carries and QB Joe Flacco to throw 52 times. (Walker)

7 (6) Giants 6-3 Eli Manning almost led the Giants back against San Francisco. That it was a surprise he didn't says something about Manning's progress. (Fox)

8 (12) Patriots 6-3 Why would anyone write off a Patriots team led by QB Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick? (Walker)

9 (8) Texans 7-3 The Texans have an extra week to get Matt Leinart ready to quarterback them the rest of the way. (Kuharsky)

10 (7) Lions 6-3 The fracture in QB Matthew Stafford's right index finger is a concern, but the Lions can make the playoffs. (Clayton)

 

[Dangerman]

I love how everyone is sleeping on Oakland. All the better for when they see us in in the big game in Feb.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Yeah, I think Oakland will make it to the post season. The rest of that division is garbage. The Chargers are in freefall, KC just lost its starting QB (who wasn't really that good anyway) and the Broncos have to revert to 1950s football for their QB to be effective. The Raiders are the only team left that looks legit.

 

[Raiden]

Yeah, I think Oakland will make it to the post season. The rest of that division is garbage. The Chargers are in freefall, KC just lost its starting QB (who wasn't really that good anyway) and the Broncos have to revert to 1950s football for their QB to be effective. The Raiders are the only team left that looks legit.

I agree. And I think Broncos will start to lose games because their schedule will force them to play against non-AFC West opponents, starting with the Jets. And as more teams get to review the tapes on Tebow, the less effective he will become.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Yeah, I hope the Jets destroy Tebow tomorrow, and that kicks off a losing streak that ultimately results in Tebow being demoted or traded so the sports media shuts the hell up about him and talks about real NFL quarterbacks again.

 

[Donut]

Yeah, I hope the Jets destroy Tebow tomorrow, and that kicks off a losing streak that ultimately results in Tebow being demoted or traded so the sports media shuts the hell up about him and talks about real NFL quarterbacks again.

If Tim Tebow beats the Jets then the media will probably name him MVP of the Season & stick by it

 

[steintym]

I can't believe an NFL team won a game with the QB going 2-8. Unbelievable ...

I guess they're doing whatever they need to in order to win, but I hope the Jets help put an end to that crap.

 

[JewishHobbit]

Out of curiousity... what is so bad about Tebow? I don't know much about him but I hear people on here dog him constantly, but I can't really see a problem with him from what little I've looked into.

 

[Raiden]

Out of curiousity... what is so bad about Tebow? I don't know much about him but I hear people on here dog him constantly, but I can't really see a problem with him from what little I've looked into.

Aside from the fact that the media & the fans showered him with praises that are unwarranted, he's a QB who can't make forward passes, nor can he work with any formations other than Shotgun. Denver can only run Options plays for him, because he can run better than he can throw. I think Tebow is the new Wildcat, which was a success a few years ago for one season, then once everyone get accustomed to it every team stops running the Wildcat, including Dolphins (which was the team that had the most success with it).

 

[steintym]

Good summary Raiden.

Personally, I've got nothing against Tebow the person. For me all of the hype surrounding the guy becomes a bit much.

What's kind of interesting with the whole situation too is that Denver is probably hurting Tebow's development with this strategy they've developed. They'll win now, but in the long run they might have been better off letting Tebow take his developmental lumps now.

 

[Raiden]

Good summary Raiden.

Personally, I've got nothing against Tebow the person. For me all of the hype surrounding the guy becomes a bit much.

What's kind of interesting with the whole situation too is that Denver is probably hurting Tebow's development with this strategy they've developed. They'll win now, but in the long run they might have been better off letting Tebow take his developmental lumps now.

Yeah, it seems like Broncos have gave up developing Tebow into a proper QB, and just try to see how many wins they can get out of him this season, while making money off Tebow-crazed fans with tickets and jersey sales. There's no way that a QB who primarily runs can make it in the long term in NFL; even Vick had to adapt and learn to be a better passer, and he doesn't have the same handicap throwing the football like Tebow does. And a QB who gets hits alot like Tebow would will not last very long in the league, hence the short shelf life of Running Backs.

 

[Darthphere]

Aside from the fact that the media & the fans showered him with praises that are unwarranted, he's a QB who can't make forward passes, nor can he work with any formations other than Shotgun. Denver can only run Options plays for him, because he can run better than he can throw. I think Tebow is the new Wildcat, which was a success a few years ago for one season, then once everyone get accustomed to it every team stops running the Wildcat, including Dolphins (which was the team that had the most success with it).

The Wildcat failed because other teams failed to see the point behind it. It's not a trick formation to get big plays. The Fins used it to pound the ball and get 3-5 yards. Every now and then, they would run a pass from the formation but it was mostly just a running formation that give the running back some extra room and time to work with. But yeah, its pretty much dead now.

 

[Genesis 1.0]

With Drew Brees reaching 37 straight games with a touchdown pass, 10 short of Johnny Unitas' record streak of 47 consecutive games, there could be a growing emphasis in the Saints' play-calling to make sure Brees reaches that mark, potentially to the further detriment of the Saints running game.

This is a HUGE milestone for any QB but I'm glad to see it looks as if it'll be Drew that will break it.

 

[Darthphere]

With Drew Brees reaching 37 straight games with a touchdown pass, 10 short of Johnny Unitas' record streak of 47 consecutive games, there could be a growing emphasis in the Saints' play-calling to make sure Brees reaches that mark, potentially to the further detriment of the Saints running game.

This is a HUGE milestone for any QB but I'm glad to see it looks as if it'll be Drew that will break it.

Like if he hasn't thrown a TD in a game and they're on the 1 yd line late in the 4th on 3rd down, instead of pounding the ball in they run a QB roll out and see if they hit Jimmy Graham in the corner of the end zone? That type of thing?

 

[Genesis 1.0]

Heh, a movie I'm sure we've seen before but yes, it's possible.

I just don't see a situation where it comes down to the end of the 4th & Drew hasn't scored a TD. I just can't see it.

 

[Erzengel]

It will be so great for the city of New Orleans if he can break Unitas' record.

 

[Darthphere]

City of New Orleans needs to man up already.

 

[Erzengel]

You don't understand Phere. Katrina. New Orleans. Saints. Drew Brees. The Levee system. George W. Bush. Kanye. Who dat? This City NEEDS this.

 

[Poeman]

You don't understand Phere. Katrina. New Orleans. Saints. Drew Brees. The Levee system. George W. Bush. Kanye. Who dat? This City NEEDS this.

The city needs to fix its education system. Not this.

 

[Ness]

It will be so great for the city of New Orleans if he can break Unitas' record.

Didn't think that would be broken. But it really goes to show you how good Unitas was as a player back in the old days when the passing game didn't have the advantage it does today.

 

[BlackLantern]

The city needs to fix its education system. Not this.

and its violent crime problem....