2011 NFL Thread: The Lazarus Season - Part 7

[Rowsdower!]

I like how this new NFL magazine launches and they waste no time putting Tebow on the first cover. Why not Rodgers, or some other amazing player?

Because Rodgers only won the Super Bowl and is undefeated this season. He doesn't have "4th Quarter Rodgers Magic" or something.

 

[Immortalfire]

Hey Rowsdower...give us some more THIS GUY pep talks. Pick one of the two QB's in tonight's game.

 

[SpideyInATree]

It was great watching the Steelers pounce all over the Bengals. t:

Sucked that the Ravens still won though.

Steelers need to keep winning though and they have a short week. The Browns didn't look good against the Ravens but that doesn't mean anything because the Steelers have a habit of dropping games to bad teams after crushing wins like this week.

Heart breaking loss for the Giants but they just kind of let Rodgers toss those passes, honestly.

Saw the Niners got a shut out and I was all like, "Wow, good job". Then I saw they played the Rams and I went "Well, they better have!". It'll be interesting to see if they can do that against the Steelers.

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

Madonna?! She's less football than Paul McCartney!

 

[Rowsdower!]

Hey Rowsdower...give us some more THIS GUY pep talks. Pick one of the two QB's in tonight's game.

Haha, I would, but the problem here is that these QBs are actually worthy of some praise. The Gruden pep talks are more effective when you're talking about someone terrible that happens to make a good play once every ten plays. I'll work something up though; stay tuned... t:

 

[SpideyInATree]

Well, this Lions/Saints game turned out to be better than I thought it was going to be

 

[Poeman]

Stafford is firing missiles out there

 

[Rowsdower!]

Okay, here you go. I'll tell ya, it would be Christmas for me if Jon Gruden, Cris Collinsworth and Solomon Wilcots ever called a game together.

Just for humor's sake, let's pretend that they called today's sh**fest in Kansas City.

Jon Gruden: THIS GUY... let me tell ya about this guy Caleb Hanie. Sure I know he may have thrown three picks last week, but that was against the unstoppable juggernaut that is the Oakland Raiders, a team that only falls to devastating powerhouses like the Denver Tebownators. But I also think this guy Hanie just needed to find his groove. I think he will this week, even though he faces a tough test in these Chief guys, especially with superstar journeyman Tyler Palko under center. Did you know that Joe Flacco left Pitt because Palko was constantly outplaying him? And then, last week, remember how he nearly took down the Steelers with his 0 TD/3 INT performance? The AFC North must be glad he doesn't play in their division. I guarantee that he'll be starting for someone next season. I think we're in for a quarterback shootout today.

Cris Collinsworth: I fully agree with you there Jon, especially about Caleb Hanie. Last year in the AFC Championship game when the Bears defeated the Bears, Hanie was highly effective after Jay Cutler broke his thumb. A lot of people believe that had Hanie come in earlier instead of Todd Collins, the Bears would have won that game and faced the Packers in the Super Bowl.

Solomon Wilcots: You're right, Cris. Caleb Hanes was much more effective in that game than Tom Collins or even Jake Cutler. Aaron Rutgers was struggling heavily in that game against Brian Oraklacher and the Bears defense. However, the Bears do face a tough test tonight from Chiefs quarterback Shane Falco. Back when he was a quarterback for Penn, he put up some amazing numbers, that, like you said Jon, totally eclipsed anything Joel Placco was able to do. So I think we're in for an exciting game for sure.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Stafford is firing missiles out there

I know he was starting to look unstoppable out there and then they screwed the pooch. Now the Saints are back to being the Saints...may have pulled away with this one.

 

[JewishHobbit]

So okay, as a Cincinnati fan I haven't really had to learn how the playoff wildcard thing works. So what has to happen next week for the Bengals to make the playoffs? Do we still have a chance?

 

[SpideyInATree]

Yeah, Bengals have a chance from what I saw of the Playoff picture. They need to basically win out and hope for the Jets to lose a whole lot.

 

[Rowsdower!]

So okay, as a Cincinnati fan I haven't really had to learn how the playoff wildcard thing works. So what has to happen next week for the Bengals to make the playoffs? Do we still have a chance?

Here is a website for tracking it:

http://www.playoffstatus.com/nfl/afcstandings.html

 

[SpideyInATree]

Yeah, as of right now the Bengals would be a 6th seed. They kind of have a couple tough games left. Gotta play the Texans and Ravens in there. It's possible...I remember one of the commentators saying the Bengals could got 9-7 and probably still make the playoffs.

It'll be nuts to see almost all the teams in the AFC North make it to the playoffs.

 

[Dr. Evil]

If it wasn't for Tim Tebow, all ESPN and NFL Network would do is have a discussion on what the Colts record would be with Peyton Manning.

 

[Ness]

The Lions really need to work on discipline with their players. I can't remember the last time I've seen so many mental mistakes and stupid penalties in a game that were easily avoidable.

 

[Marx]

...so my Colts lost yet again.

 

[Dr. Evil]

...so my Colts lost yet again.

The loss of Peyton Manning makes a huge difference. They would be one of the top teams in the AFC (if not at least in the hunt) if he was playing.

 

[Matt]

The Lions really need to work on discipline with their players. I can't remember the last time I've seen so many mental mistakes and stupid penalties in a game that were easily avoidable.

I called this in week 3, sadly. The Lions had a very easy first half of the schedule and that allowed hype to build, but frankly, like the Bills and the Bengals, while promising young teams, they just aren't at the next level yet (as they are proving in their more difficult second half of the schedule).

Sadly, I do not think any of these teams will succeed in the future unless they get new leadership (which is unlikely considering the success all three teams have enjoyed due to their weak schedules).

The Bengals need to get rid of Marvin Lewis. He cannot win. He's proven it. But sadly he's only part of the problem. Owner Mike Brown is just as big of a part (if not worse).

Chan Gailey, I like but I think he is more of a setup guy. He will put them in a position to succeed in the future but never take the Bills to the next level.

As for the Lions....the lack of discipline that is killing that team. They are giving games away and all of the young talent and potential in the world means **** if you are giving away games. Furthermore, I believe their lack of discipline begins with their head coach. If they had Jeff Fisher or Bill Cowher on the sidelines, they would be 10-2 having beaten the Falcons, 49ers and won the second Bears game. Jim Schwartz sets the culture. Jim Schwartz through his behavior has made the behavior of his players acceptable in that locker room. I know it is unlikely, but if they could get an elite coach like Jeff Fisher or Bill Cowher, then I think they should give Schwartz his walking papers. Otherwise, I predict a sharp drop for the 2012 Lions as they face a tougher schedule.

 

[Ness]

Lions actually played very well against us. We just came out with the win.

 

[Matt]

The loss of Peyton Manning makes a huge difference. They would be one of the top teams in the AFC (if not at least in the hunt) if he was playing.

I wonder if they would be. I think what is happening now is something that has been building. The Colts weren't exactly stellar last year (10-6). I think what is happening right now is basically a result of Tony Dungy leaving the team. They did really well in Caldwell's first year because Tony Dungy laid down the groundwork. Without him, two people who have no clue what they are doing (Bill Polian and Jim Caldwell) are running that team and their only answer to this problem shows just how clueless they are: draft Andrew Luck. Manning, Luck, it doesn't matter. I think the Colts will continue to decline until Jim Irsay fires both men and brings in someone who will change the Colts' fundamental organization philosophy (if you can call "Get a really good quarterback and hope he can carry the otherwise aging and mediocre team on his shoulders," a philosophy).

 

[Matt]

Lions actually played very well against us. We just came out with the win.

2 fumbles and 50 + penalty yards isn't very well. Being held to 60 yards on the ground isn't very well (which directly affects how one controls the clock and flow of the game). It is average. Champions aren't average. Teams at the next level aren't average. I have to think with Bill Cowher or Jeff Fisher or one of the tougher, older coaches, they would have a more disciplined approach to the game, less penalties and a more consistent run attack and defense.

 

[Ness]

2 fumbles and 50 + penalty yards isn't very well. Being held to 60 yards on the ground isn't very well (which directly affects how one controls the clock and flow of the game). It is average. Champions aren't average. Teams at the next level aren't average. I have to think with Bill Cowher or Jeff Fisher or one of the tougher, older coaches, they would have a more disciplined approach to the game, less penalties and a more consistent run attack and defense.

Bill Cowher and Jeff Fisher had plenty of games over their career where their teams shot themselves in the foot with plenty of penalties. In the game against the 49ers, the Lions overcame some of their mistakes (they didn't have many mental breakdowns) and still made the game a close contest down to the wire. Our defense played well against them and they still almost won the game. They couldn't run against us so that is why they didn't have many yards on the ground, but not a single team can run on us. Despite that, they still played well. They didn't play against the Saints like they played against us.

 

[Hound55]

I wonder if they would be. I think what is happening now is something that has been building. The Colts weren't exactly stellar last year (10-6). I think what is happening right now is basically a result of Tony Dungy leaving the team. They did really well in Caldwell's first year because Tony Dungy laid down the groundwork. Without him, two people who have no clue what they are doing (Bill Polian and Jim Caldwell) are running that team and their only answer to this problem shows just how clueless they are: draft Andrew Luck. Manning, Luck, it doesn't matter. I think the Colts will continue to decline until Jim Irsay fires both men and brings in someone who will change the Colts' fundamental organization philosophy (if you can call "Get a really good quarterback and hope he can carry the otherwise aging and mediocre team on his shoulders," a philosophy).

They're ru... They're running the te...

 

[kane9321]

my 49ers are back...Im so freaking happy...those long years of crap

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

I called this in week 3, sadly. The Lions had a very easy first half of the schedule and that allowed hype to build, but frankly, like the Bills and the Bengals, while promising young teams, they just aren't at the next level yet (as they are proving in their more difficult second half of the schedule).

Sadly, I do not think any of these teams will succeed in the future unless they get new leadership (which is unlikely considering the success all three teams have enjoyed due to their weak schedules).

The Bengals need to get rid of Marvin Lewis. He cannot win. He's proven it. But sadly he's only part of the problem. Owner Mike Brown is just as big of a part (if not worse).

Chan Gailey, I like but I think he is more of a setup guy. He will put them in a position to succeed in the future but never take the Bills to the next level.

As for the Lions....the lack of discipline that is killing that team. They are giving games away and all of the young talent and potential in the world means **** if you are giving away games. Furthermore, I believe their lack of discipline begins with their head coach. If they had Jeff Fisher or Bill Cowher on the sidelines, they would be 10-2 having beaten the Falcons, 49ers and won the second Bears game. Jim Schwartz sets the culture. Jim Schwartz through his behavior has made the behavior of his players acceptable in that locker room. I know it is unlikely, but if they could get an elite coach like Jeff Fisher or Bill Cowher, then I think they should give Schwartz his walking papers. Otherwise, I predict a sharp drop for the 2012 Lions as they face a tougher schedule.

This makes zero sense as Schwartz is for all intents and purposes a clone of Jeff Fisher after having worked under him for all of those years. And are you forgetting who the coach of the Titans was when Haynesworth stomped on Andre Gurode's head? And Pacman Jones was running wild?

And please, please stop bringing up Bill Cowher, it completely undermines you to rip on a coach like Schwartz in his 3rd season by using an example of a guy who didnt win a Super Bowl until his 13th year on the job. Not to mention the team's continued success after he left the position. And we all know how much you love Mike Tomlin.

Lions will likely finish the season at 10-6 as the Vikings, Raiders, and Chargers are all winnable games for them. That puts them at 6-2 in the first half, and 4-4 in the dreaded second half. They were 6-10 last year and no one had them declared to be elite this season even at 5-0. If they finish 9-7, 10-6, or 11-5 with or without a playoff berth it's still a marked improvement for an up and coming team.