NFL 2013

[Malakili]

The end of the Giants-Skins was totally bush league. I say that as a Giants fan, mind you.

[Nevermore]

I can't stand Washington and I still think it was total BS at the end.

[Mithas]

Are the replacement refs still in? If that were the case like last year, everyone would have called for their heads. I heard in the post game that Shanahan asked for a measurement and the official told him he didn't need one (meaning it was a first down). Apparently they changed their minds after the Skins ran a play?

[Zetleft]

[HaemishM]

There are lots of LOL's to be handed out. Bears, Browns, you guys deserve to be laughed at for losing to teams like the Jags and Minnesota. Hell, even Green Bay with no defense and Matt Flynn at QB got a tie with the Vikings. Also, Buffalo because Atlanta should not win another game. And the Jets just because.

The only weekend game I watched was the Denver/KC game and it was a good game. I keep hearing people talk about how great Peyton Manning is playing but if you look at his 2 first quarter INT's, those balls were floaters. I think he is having issues with arm fatigue because his arm strength is not consistent. KC's offense looked a lot better but it's clear Denver's D is not the same as it was last year. However, KC should be worried about how many long bombs they got torched on because it was a lot more than it should have been.

[sickrubik]

The only weekend game I watched was the Denver/KC game and it was a good game. I keep hearing people talk about how great Peyton Manning is playing but if you look at his 2 first quarter INT's, those balls were floaters. I think he is having issues with arm fatigue because his arm strength is not consistent. KC's offense looked a lot better but it's clear Denver's D is not the same as it was last year. However, KC should be worried about how many long bombs they got torched on because it was a lot more than it should have been.

I disagree on the first of those two passes. The second one was a floater, but that first one was the Defense stymieing the receiver. Given how right on he was most of the game, I'll chalk it up mostly to "well, whoops".

And, one again, DRC is out. That was a huge blow. Also, I think Von Miller putting on more meat has slowed him down. It's also time to send Bailey to the farm or to Safety.

[veredus]

Go Hawks! 

[Cyrrex]

Wow.  At this point, can anyone seriously argue that RG3 or Luck are better QBs than Wilson?  I don't think it's even close.  Luck may have more upside, but I think right now he is way behind Russel in just about every way that matters.  RG3 isn't what he was last year, and I suspect he never will be again.  And while faster when 100% (which he is not right now), he is a less effective runner.  His scrambles seem to come up short more often than not, while Russel's are like daggers in the heart - he seems to either get the first down, or end up pulling up and burning you with his arm.  Far better situational runner, and right now he is far more elusive as well.  I'm also not sure there is any better thrower from the scramble or bootleg in the NFL, and he is super dangerous when throwing back against the grain.  He just absolutely tore the shit out of a top 5 defense. 

Interested in what other people think.  I might pick a lot of other QBs for a Fantasy team, but there are maybe only 2 or 3 I'd take if I was starting an actual football team.

[Bungee]

However, KC should be worried about how many long bombs they got torched on because it was a lot more than it should have been.

I really like the Adjusted Net Yards per Pass Attempt and looking at it you clearly see that KC made the most out of their last place schedule and will be more limping into the playoffs than burst in there.

[Paelos]

No, Russell is having a breakout year.

However, for all the people that want to say it's a Broncos-Seahawks Super Bowl, remember that's not how it usually works out in the playoffs.

[MrHat]

No, Russell is having a breakout year.

However, for all the people that want to say it's a Broncos-Seahawks Super Bowl, remember that's not how it usually works out in the playoffs.

Do SEA have home field advantage yet on the way to the Bowl?

[Stewie]

If I was starting a football team I'd take Luck. I think most people would do the same.
That being said I'd be thilled to have Wilson. He just has that "it" factor and generally seems to have his shit together.

I'd would also like to point out that Tannehill is quietly having a decent sophmore campaign. More yds, completions, tds and a better passer rating that Luck so far this year and he is sporting an all time bad o-line.

I think long term when people look back on this class it will be these 3 that stand out and really I think all 3 are a good option to start a team.

[Paelos]

No, Russell is having a breakout year.

However, for all the people that want to say it's a Broncos-Seahawks Super Bowl, remember that's not how it usually works out in the playoffs.

Do SEA have home field advantage yet on the way to the Bowl?

No, 3 more wins would put it away. 2 more wins likely does it with any combination of one loss by other teams.

[MrHat]

No, Russell is having a breakout year.

However, for all the people that want to say it's a Broncos-Seahawks Super Bowl, remember that's not how it usually works out in the playoffs.

Do SEA have home field advantage yet on the way to the Bowl?

No, 3 more wins would put it away. 2 more wins likely does it with any combination of one loss by other teams.

They looked incredible last night.

[Paelos]

Seattle's an odd team. They are great at home. They are getting stronger late. They will likely clinch in the next two weeks.

Here's the thing, the Seahawks will eventually have to play away, even if it's just in NY in the Super Bowl. I'm not sure they can win outside the confines of the home stadium. The past certainly points to that. Since 2000, the Seahawks are 1-6 when they have to go on the road in the playoffs.

Also let's remember the 2011 Green Bay Packers, who went 15-1 with only a single loss on the road. They fell in their first playoff game to the Giants. The 13-3 Falcons who lost to the Niners in 2012, and the Packers in 2010. The last one to get there and win was the 13-3 Saints in 2009. It was also 60 degrees that day in Miami when he played.

[Paelos]

Paelos Week 13 Power Rankings:

1 - Seattle
2 - Carolina
3 - Denver
4 - Patriots
5 - New Orleans
6 - San Fran
7 - Philly
8 - Dallas
9 - KC
10 - Indy

[HaemishM]

Wow.  At this point, can anyone seriously argue that RG3 or Luck are better QBs than Wilson?  I don't think it's even close.  Luck may have more upside, but I think right now he is way behind Russel in just about every way that matters.

You also forget that Wilson has hands down the best team of the three. Luck's defense is inconsistent, now that Reggie Wayne is out for the season he's having to rely on a young T.Y. Hilton and a guy in Heyward-Bey that couldn't hold onto the ball enough to even stay on OAKLAND'S team. RGIII has a SHITTY team around him on almost every level, but his problem is that injury which he is clearly NOT recovered from. That's not to knock Wilson but just based on the team's they play on, I'd still put Wilson behind Luck. Wilson has Beast Mode, decent wideouts (even though his two best will probably never play on the same field again for very long) and a defense that is just STIFLING at home and not bad on the road.

EDIT: As to your power rankings - Carolina has feasted on an easy schedule, KC is a better team than Dallas (mainly their defense - which held Manning to less than 40 points at home and less than 30 on the road) and #10 might as well be "Insert Team Here."

[Paelos]

Carolina has beaten SF and New Orleans. We'll see if they can take the Saints at home (I'm guessing no). But if they do, they control the NFC South and possibly a bye.

[Trippy]

Yeah well Indy has beaten, oh, Seattle, San Francisco, and Denver and yet you have them at #10.

[ghost]

Surely you don't take his power ranking lists seriously.... 

[Paelos]

Yeah well Indy has beaten, oh, Seattle, San Francisco, and Denver and yet you have them at #10.

I don't like Indy with the eye test. They are really inconsistent and lose to garbage teams at times, or get into dogfights with below average teams. Also, they aren't playing well late and are 3-2 after the bye week in a bad division. Carolina is on an 8 win streak. I should have said they beat SF and the Pats. They still have two left with New Orleans.

http://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/ranking/strength-of-schedule-by-team

Carolina's schedule is tougher than people think. Along with New Orleans it's one of the tougher ones by that metric.

[HaemishM]

Carolina has beaten SF and New Orleans. We'll see if they can take the Saints at home (I'm guessing no). But if they do, they control the NFC South and possibly a bye.

Carolina hasn't played New Orleans yet. They play at New Orleans this weekend, and at home in two weeks. We'll see if they are as good as all that then.

I'm not saying they are bad, but San Fran and New England are the two best teams they've beaten this year. Both of these teams have some exploitable weaknesses.

[sickrubik]

Every team has exploitable weaknesses. And it's clear NO does. :D Carolina deserves that spot, imo.

[Tannhauser]

Paelos Week 13 Power Rankings:

1 - Seattle
2 - Carolina
3 - Denver
4 - Patriots
5 - New Orleans
6 - San Fran
7 - Philly
8 - Dallas
9 - KC
10 - Indy

Detroit beat Dallas and are leading their division and they still don't crack the top 10? 

[Paelos]

Detroit lost to Tampa at home. I can't really get over that one.

[Chimpy]

He also is a Cowboys fan 

[Paelos]

Maybe that too. 

[Cyrrex]

Wow.  At this point, can anyone seriously argue that RG3 or Luck are better QBs than Wilson?  I don't think it's even close.  Luck may have more upside, but I think right now he is way behind Russel in just about every way that matters.

You also forget that Wilson has hands down the best team of the three. Luck's defense is inconsistent, now that Reggie Wayne is out for the season he's having to rely on a young T.Y. Hilton and a guy in Heyward-Bey that couldn't hold onto the ball enough to even stay on OAKLAND'S team. RGIII has a SHITTY team around him on almost every level, but his problem is that injury which he is clearly NOT recovered from. That's not to knock Wilson but just based on the team's they play on, I'd still put Wilson behind Luck. Wilson has Beast Mode, decent wideouts (even though his two best will probably never play on the same field again for very long) and a defense that is just STIFLING at home and not bad on the road.

EDIT: As to your power rankings - Carolina has feasted on an easy schedule, KC is a better team than Dallas (mainly their defense - which held Manning to less than 40 points at home and less than 30 on the road) and #10 might as well be "Insert Team Here."

No, I am not discounting the teams they are on.  To be fair, I have only see Luck play I think twice, but I was pretty underwhelmed.  He makes some terrible decisions sometimes.  His numbers bear this out to a degree, but it isn't all about numbers.  I have seen a lot of RG3 and a lot of Wilson, on the other hand.  RG3 is constantly making bad choices and bonehead plays.  If I had to lay down money right now, I would bet he will never be an elite QB.  Wilson makes very few bad decisions.  It is actually uncanny.  You literally never hear the commentators say things like "rookie mistake" or "that's what you get with these young players".  No talk about how he will develop into a great QB given time - because he plays like he is one already.  He is extremely fun to watch.

Luck may end up being the better QB in the long run, but Wilson is waaaaaaaaay better right now, in my opinion.  Not close.

[Paelos]

Luck is going through the typical adjustment period where the league has a year of film

[ghost]

I keep waiting for that to happen with Wilson, but it hasn't happened yet.  That may say something about how good he can be.  I also think that it really said something about how talented he is when he left NC State to go to Wisconsin and absolutely tore it up.  It's difficult to just step into a new system and pick it up and be the best in the country. 

Regarding Luck, I think he's going to be just fine.  I think people tend to forget just how shitty that team was without a decent quarterback. 

[Paelos]

Case in point, even with the adjustment, Indy will win the division

[Cyrrex]

Yeah, the same argument could be made for Wilson...they had a year of tape on him too, but it hasn't made a difference.  And it isn't like Luck lit up the league last year anyway, he was towards the middle/bottom of the QB pack.  Russel has been at the top of the list both of his first two years.  Another thing that is clear about Wilson is he is a Big Game player.  When the spotlight is on him, he absolutely tears shit up.  I wonder what his numbers for nationally televised games looks like.

Ninja edit:  Indy was never as bad as that one season made them out to be.  They had lost Peyton, and had a real stinker to replace him.  They mailed it in for the whole season.  Their turnaround has been more due to coaching than to Andrew Luck.  I will say this, though:  he seems to have that 4th quarter comeback thing down pat.  But he's needed it, because he tends to absolutely stink up the first three quarters.

[ghost]

It sounds as if you just don't like him personally and that is  biasing your opinion of his play. 

[Cyrrex]

No, I am mostly kidding.  I do think the hype has been a bit much.  At the end of the day, as of right now, he is a middling QB at best, and that is being generous.  His potential means exactly jack and shit until it is fulfilled.

[ghost]

For a rookie he did very well.  And he's doing well this year.  He's still a top 1/3 quarterback.