NFL 2010

[Paelos]

Seriously, WTF is up with Kansas City? Are they really good enough to challenge for a playoff spot or is it a scheduling thing?

The Washington Huskies could win the AFC West, so I see no reason why KC can't mosey their way through that division. Let's take a quick look:

They play Indy and Houston on the road, and will lose both, so that's 3-2 after their bye going into Week 7.
Next they play Buffalo, Jacksonville, and Oakland, which should be easy wins for them, but they might drop one, so let's say consevatively they go to 5-3.
After that it's Denver twice, Arizona, and Seattle. I think they split with Denver, drop the game to Seattle, and win against Arizona, 7-5.
Lastly, Chargers, Rams, Titans, and Raiders. Titans and Chargers are losses, Rams and Raiders are wins. 9-7.

Conservatively I have them at 9-7. In 2009, that gets you a wild card. In 2008, that wins you the division. I see no reason why they can't make it in the playoffs in 2010.

[HaemishM]

I'm pretty sure that the only team making the playoffs out of the West is going to have to win that division. Which shouldn't be hard, and I expect San Diego to pull it out at 10 or 11 wins. But the wild cards are coming from the other divisions.

[Ingmar]

Niners are well on their way to yet another spate of coordinator replacements. Good times.  

That was faster than even I expected.  

Is it any wonder Smith is such a headcase? Maybe he'll actually have the same playbook 2 years in a row someday.

[HaemishM]

Wow, that was stupid. Poor Alex Smith - he'll never learn a full playbook at this rate.

Also, the Bills shitcanned Trent Edwards today. Looks like Fitzpatrick is their man. Either Edwards really was shitty or New England's D is really that bad. I'm betting on the latter option.

[01101010]

Now can someone please inform the Browns to do the same with Daboll, and take Eric Wright with him.

[WayAbvPar]

Niners are well on their way to yet another spate of coordinator replacements. Good times.  

That was faster than even I expected.  

Is it any wonder Smith is such a headcase? Maybe he'll actually have the same playbook 2 years in a row someday.

Brock Huard has a show on a local sports radio station in Seattle. A couple of weeks ago he was talking about all the great coaches he has played for or been associated with...he then went out of his way to say that Jimmy Raye 'didn't really impress' him. Coming from Pollyanna nice guy Brock, that is about as scathing an indictment as you can find. I knew it was only a matter of time before he got fired  

Thanks to the Jets for giving up on Leon Washington after he broke his leg playing for them. He saved our asses yesterday. Holy fuck SD is bad at kick coverage. 2-1 and Hasselbeck has been really shaky so far. Rams will be tougher than in the past coming up, but they are still beatable. If the Hawks can get to the bye week 3-1....wow. They might just run away and hide in this godforsaken division.

[Paelos]

I agree about the wild card. Right now in the AFC, it's easier to say who of the 16 are dead out. Right now, that list is:

Buffalo, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Denver, and Oakland. They have zero chance of making it to the playoffs. 11 other teams are all in contention.

In the NFC, it's Detroit, Panthers, and 49ers. It's ALMOST the Giants, but if they turn it around against Chicago and Houston, they at least have a shot in the divisional matchups.

[HaemishM]

I don't think Denver is absolutely out. I don't think they'll make it, but I don't think it's a sure thing they CAN'T make it. i think Arizona may end up being in that list of teams that can't make the playoffs. I think they will rue giving up on Leinart. He can't be any worse than Anderson has been.

[Segoris]

Den is by no means out of it. Besides the next 3 weeks being rough (Ten, Bal, NYJ) and wk16 against Hou, they should do very well. SD, if they can win the next few games, will put themselves in a good spot for division title if they can build some steam going into, and hold together during, a tough mid season (NE, Ten, Hou, Den, Ind all in a row). This will be a close division between those two teams with KC giving a bit of a showing thanks to a 3-0 start and an easier schedule (they have Ind, Hou in the next two weeks, and Ten at wk16 as their tough games)

KC would probably be able to win it if the coaching improves and they stop trying to force Jones as their workhorse and stick with Charles who is running very well and breaking open plays. Oakland has about the same difficulty of the remaining schedule as KC, but I think they'll fare much worse than KC.

[Nebu]

Who cares about Denver? 

I've been wrong about nearly everything this season, but I'm fairly certain they aren't going to win the Super Bowl.  The only person that should care about Denver is the owner.  His best hope is to snare a few extra bucks by making the playoffs.  Beyond that, just enjoy watching them play for as many weeks as you can. 

[Paelos]

Denver's bricks. They will be lucky to go 2-4 due to their next 3 matchups. At that point, I don't seem them reeling off 8/10 wins to make it to the promised land.

[Segoris]

I don't think anyone is saying they are going to win a SB, but that doesn't mean people can't find them (and for me, their division) interesting. Plus, it is nice to see Orton having some success as well as watching Bailey.

[Nebu]

I don't think anyone is saying they are going to win a SB, but that doesn't mean people can't find them (and for me, their division) interesting. Plus, it is nice to see Orton having some success as well as watching Bailey.

Like I said above:

Beyond that, just enjoy watching them play for as many weeks as you can.  

I love watching Bailey as well.

[HaemishM]

Goddamnit what a ridiculous fucking game. 17 penalties by the Packers? SERIOUSLY? Fuck me. Two false starts when you're trying to get out of your own endzone? Two interceptions nullified by two FUCKSTUPID penalties? The Bears got handed that game on a silver platter by some of the worst discipline I've ever seen. And what the fuck was that by the special teams? After that second line drive punt straight to Hester that almost went back for a TD, the punter kicks it to him AGAIN? Where were the coach and the special teams coach? I tell you where they should have been, climbing up inside that punter's ass to make camp. There were a few passes that Cutler should not have looked so good on but really their offense only made 13 points. Cut out that stupid punt return, make that FG that got blocked and don't be fucking idiots and you're 3-0. Goddamnit, Packers. What the fuck?

[MrHat]

Goddamnit what a ridiculous fucking game. 17 penalties by the Packers? SERIOUSLY? Fuck me. Two false starts when you're trying to get out of your own endzone? Two interceptions nullified by two FUCKSTUPID penalties? The Bears got handed that game on a silver platter by some of the worst discipline I've ever seen. And what the fuck was that by the special teams? After that second line drive punt straight to Hester that almost went back for a TD, the punter kicks it to him AGAIN? Where were the coach and the special teams coach? I tell you where they should have been, climbing up inside that punter's ass to make camp. There were a few passes that Cutler should not have looked so good on but really their offense only made 13 points. Cut out that stupid punt return, make that FG that got blocked and don't be fucking idiots and you're 3-0. Goddamnit, Packers. What the fuck?

Sucks too cuz Rodgers was looking great.

[HaemishM]

Yeah, the team itself played great if you ignore the penalties, special teams and lack of a running game. Rodgers was lights out when his O-line wasn't giving Julius Peppers neck hugs and getting the yips before the snaps.

[Segoris]

One of those int that was denied by a pass interference call looked more like Cutler throwing in that location for the purpose of getting an interference call, the other one.....well sucks for GB

Ultimately, yeah, GB gave Chi a win and will still prove to be the better team if Chi doesn't straighten up and make catches when they need to (like, in the end zone instead of dropping a pass from the 1yd line). GB, in wk1 and 2, were looking much more disciplined with few penalties and should be fine overall given how good they looked when they weren't making stupid penalties.

[Bunk]

Sorry Haem, but...   

 

[ghost]

Looks like Vick is going to be a strong candidate for the MVP, at this rate. 

[Nebu]

Looks like Vick is going to be a strong candidate for the MVP, at this rate.  

Will never happen.  Even if he deserves it.

[WayAbvPar]

Yeah the NFL is too image-conscious to ever let that happen. He will go back to being mediocre soon however, so the point is moot.

[Paelos]

Yeah the NFL is too image-conscious to ever let that happen. He will go back to being mediocre soon however, so the point is moot.

I heard Fran Tarkington say on the radio that the Eagles were his early pick to win the NFC. 

Seriously, Vick has a bandwagon effect usually reserved for Tim Tebow when he was still at Florida.

[WayAbvPar]

I still think the Packers will unfuck themselves and win the NFC. Bears and Eagles will come down to Earth, Atlanta isn't good enough just yet, and whichever bottom feeder oozes out of the West will get murdered in the wild card round. Only real competition is the Saints.

[Nebu]

Did everyone forget about New Orleans?  They're pretty good. 

[HaemishM]

New Orleans is winning the NFC, provided their kicker gets his head out of his ass. They aren't even firing on all cylinders yet and there are 9 points left on the table in 3 games from Hartley's misses. Plus, they still have 2 games each against Carolina and Tampa, AND they have games against Arizona, Cleveland and St. Louis. The only pushover teams left on Green Bay's schedule are 2 games against Detroit and one against San Fran and maybe that New York Giants game near the end of the year. They still have to make it through the rest of the AFC East teams not named Buffalo as well, and the AFC East is going to be a tough division this year.

I guess what I'm saying is the NFC Championship is running through the Superdome again this year.

[Paelos]

If Brees stays healthy, the Saints have the best shot at the NFC repeat currently. However, I'm not sold on their defense, but does that even matter anymore? They were #19 in points allowed and #25 in yards allowed when they won the Super Bowl. After Pittsburgh winning in 2008 with the best defense in the NFL, I think we've seen a recent shift toward high-powered offense being much more effective. The Colts and the Saints were both shootout teams with questionable defenses that made it to the final showdown.

This year, you have teams that are tied or leading their divisions so far who are giving up massive points:

New England 2-1 and given up 82 points
Texans 2-1 and given up 79 points
Arizona 2-1 and given up 77 points
Eagles 2-1 and given up 62 points
Indy 2-1 and given up 61 points
New Orleans 2-1 and given up 58 points

[01101010]

If Brees stays healthy, the Saints have the best shot at the NFC repeat currently. However, I'm not sold on their defense, but does that even matter anymore? They were #19 in points allowed and #25 in yards allowed when they won the Super Bowl. After Pittsburgh winning in 2008 with the best defense in the NFL, I think we've seen a recent shift toward high-powered offense being much more effective. The Colts and the Saints were both shootout teams with questionable defenses that made it to the final showdown.

This year, you have teams that are tied or leading their divisions so far who are giving up massive points:

New England 2-1 and given up 82 points
Texans 2-1 and given up 79 points
Arizona 2-1 and given up 77 points
Eagles 2-1 and given up 62 points
Indy 2-1 and given up 61 points
New Orleans 2-1 and given up 58 points

And yet Pittsburgh is still undefeated. Just saying... considering I hate that town and that team.

[Segoris]

New Orleans is winning the NFC, provided their kicker gets his head out of his ass.

Good thing John Carney is kicking for them this week then.

[Paelos]

And yet Pittsburgh is still undefeated. Just saying... considering I hate that town and that team.

While that's true, they've yet to face off against a team that will legitimately contend for the division unless you buy into the Atlanta hype. Let's see how they fare against Baltimore, Miami, and New Orleans.

[ghost]

My early season pick for superbowl winner is the Steelers.  I think I had the Ravens in the prediction thread.  When Rothlisberger comes back they will be really tough.

[01101010]

My early season pick for superbowl winner is the Steelers.  I think I had the Ravens in the prediction thread.  When Rothlisberger comes back they will be really tough.

Or...and I completely hope... they will completely implode on offense. That would be fantastic.

[ghost]

My early season pick for superbowl winner is the Steelers.  I think I had the Ravens in the prediction thread.  When Rothlisberger comes back they will be really tough.

Or...and I completely hope... they will completely implode on offense. That would be fantastic.

Yeah, it would.  I'm not optimistic though.

[JWIV]

My early season pick for superbowl winner is the Steelers.  I think I had the Ravens in the prediction thread.  When Rothlisberger comes back they will be really tough.

Or...and I completely hope... they will completely implode on offense. That would be fantastic.

Yeah, it would.  I'm not optimistic though.

I was hoping the loss of Big Jen would have put them in more of a hole than it has.   Really, the loss of Polamalu last year seemed to have a more negative impact on the team than their QB this one.

[ghost]

Polumalu has been out this year some too, right?

[Segoris]

Nope, he's been in all 3 games and should be in tomorrow's.