NFL 2013

[sickrubik]

Nevermind, the NFL box score was updating wrong. That's cold.

Also, I watched the friggin game, Paelos.

[Paelos]

To be fair, it's hard to see "cold" when I turn on the game and it's Sunny. I certainly didn't immediately go, "oh yeah, frigid" like I did with the Green Bay - Atlanta game.

[shiznitz]

I think the NFL should make snow for the last 5 weeks of the season.  Those games were really fun to watch.

[Malakili]

We've got a chance for one of those in the Super Bowl this year. 

[ghost]

To be fair, it's hard to see "cold" when I turn on the game and it's Sunny. I certainly didn't immediately go, "oh yeah, frigid" like I did with the Green Bay - Atlanta game.

No it's not.  If you see breath huffing out of all the guys you know it's cold. 

[HaemishM]

So no one wants to win the NFC North this year - it must have cooties.  Green Bay, SOMEHOW, still has a shot. If Chicago loses tonight (fuckers making me root FOR the Cowboys - FUCK), Green Bay wins out and all 3 teams end up with only 9 wins, Green Bay wins because of their tie and 1 less loss. That would be genuinely LOVELY. Of course, without Rodgers winning out is probably not happening and even with him, it's a close run thing.

New Orleans looks unstoppable at home. Too bad they'll likely have to go through Seattle to get to the Super Bowl unless SOMEBODY can figure out a way to beat them at home. I'm not sure anybody CAN beat them at home this year, as they stack up well against any team in that building. Even on the road against a good D, Seattle almost won that game yesterday.

New England is hosed. They have feasted on a cupcake division and will get seriously exposed in the playoffs without Gronk. Even with him, they haven't been a well-oiled machine. Their defense is paper thin at this point, and while they have good wideouts, without Gronk they don't really have an go-to guy.

Please God, don't let Baltimore make the playoffs. Flacco winning another Super Bowl might make me suicidal.

[01101010]

Please God, don't let Baltimore make the playoffs. Flacco winning another Super Bowl might make me suicidal.

This should really be emphasized. 

I was getting the Browns game updated on my phone while out and about with my better half and told her at one point, the Browns were winning in the 3rd quarter - then under my breath mentioned they'll probably lose it by a field goal or less. She laughed and agreed. Checked the final as I was riding back to the airport and showed her. Felt kinda good having a team that is predictable. 

[Hoax]

Bmore is well poised for a run, they seem to have all their best players healthy or on the mend, they have a road game winning team and Flacco can certainly turn it on. They probably travel to New England or Cincy in the first round or host the Bengals, those are winnable games and once you have one playoff win any team can go all the way. Belief is a powerful thing.

Its hard to imagine them getting past Denver twice in a row but maybe it just won't be Manning's year yet again. Here's hoping. Fuck Elway.

Meanwhile in the NFC its hard to not predict a Saints and Seahawks final considering the home form of both teams. If the Saints win in Saint Louis in convincing fashion and then beat Carolina at Carolina we can revisit how for real they are and if they can overcome the Seahawks. I do think there will be a 49ers @ Seattle playoff game and things really get nuts when you play a team for the third time in a year but if Wilson and Co. can get past that you've gotta think they ought to make the super bowl.

However, most importantly for me is, please football gods, don't let the Eagles go on any kind of playoff run. There is no worse fanbase in all of sports. For that reason I really want the Niners pulping the Eagles not whatever outfit comes out of the NFC North round one. I can't trust Carolina to get the job done against the eagles and fuck Cam Newton anyways.

[Nevermore]

This will tell you everything you need to know about the end of the Ravens/Vikings game:


And the Eagles/Lions game:

[Fordel]

That game was really fun to watch! The snowy one.

[sickrubik]

Its hard to imagine them getting past Denver twice in a row but maybe it just won't be Manning's year yet again. Here's hoping. Fuck Elway.

They already didn't.

[ghost]

Shanahan is going to bench RGIII for the rest of the year.  Not a bad move, really, as he's never been healthy.

[Paelos]

Shanahan is going to bench RGIII for the rest of the year.  Not a bad move, really, as he's never been healthy.

He's actively trying to get fired. He gets $7M if they get rid of him now.

[Nevermore]

Snyder is trying to find a way to fire Shanahan with cause so he doesn't have to pay the remainder of the contract.

[Ingmar]

Its hard to imagine them getting past Denver twice in a row but maybe it just won't be Manning's year yet again. Here's hoping. Fuck Elway.

They already didn't.

Twice in a row in the playoffs.

[Hoax]

No no see a week one game that shouldn't have been a home game except for the fucking clownshoes Orioles are morons is basically the same thing as a playoff eliminator. Yup yup totally the same. In fact you could say Denver has their number and their win is all but assured.  

For serious though its gonna be sweet when a 2/3 favorite doesn't win the AFC and people have to make another set of excuses for Manning.

[sickrubik]

Its hard to imagine them getting past Denver twice in a row but maybe it just won't be Manning's year yet again. Here's hoping. Fuck Elway.

They already didn't.

Twice in a row in the playoffs.

Yes, I know. It was a joke.

[HaemishM]

Shanahan is going to bench RGIII for the rest of the year.  Not a bad move, really, as he's never been healthy.

I've been saying that since about week 4 or 5. Just watching the kid struggle is PAINFUL. He's clearly talented, but he wasn't ready to come back at the beginning of the season either mentally or physically. I just hope it hasn't damaged his confidence for good because when he's on, he's electric to watch.

Griffin is still not right and I don't think he's going to be right the rest of this year. The fact that every team in the shitpile of a division that is the NFC East has a shot at the playoffs at this point is just disgusting. Otherwise, they should shut RGIII down and let him recuperate for next year.

[ghost]

Snyder is trying to find a way to fire Shanahan with cause so he doesn't have to pay the remainder of the contract.

You don't think that Snyder would actually let Shanahan bench RGIII without good reason, do you?  The guy is just as bad as Jerrah.  

[Paelos]

Benching a player isn't cause. They are trying to get him for that on leaking info to the press.

He can bench all the players he wants and there isn't a damn thing they can do about it except fire him, but not for cause. He's the coach. That's in his realm of authority.

[Rasix]

Why is it impossible to find NFL clips from Sunday?  I've been looking for a replay of the end of the Miami-Pitt game and nothing.  Some sort of media blackout?

Found it.  That was a lot harder than it needed to be.  4 Mike Tomlin jokes in one clip.  That'll do, NFL recap guy.  That'll do.

[Ghambit]

No, the NFL just hates the Dolphins.  Always have, since Marino then JJ left.

[Paelos]

I reiterate what I said about the NFL completely disregarding defense this year.

42 for the Bungles
37 for the Jets
45 for the Chiefs
51 for the Broncos
37 for the Chargers
45 for the Bears

10 teams scored 30+ in a week where it was freezing with snow.

[ghost]

So who has a decent defense that is going to crank it up in the playoffs and win the Superbowl?

[Paelos]

Seattle and New Orleans will be the favorites based on their defense at home. Whoever gets the advantage will have a huge feather in the cap.

Put them both in the Super Bowl on a neutral snowy field though? I don't like either team. I like the Pats still if they could get that far. The problem would be playing in Denver if they don't falter.

[ghost]

Yeah, open air cold weather Superbowl is just fuck all stupid. 

[Malakili]

I hope it's hilarious.

[HaemishM]

I welcome the idea of Tundra Bowl 2014. Fuck all this "Super Bowl must be in tropical fucking weather." You want it in the Tropics, play the season in the summer. This is FOOTBALL RRRRRAAAAAGGGGGHHHH!!!

Defense is dead in the league. You have about as many good defenses as you have elite QB's in the NFL these days. Everybody else is unable to tackle shit, can't cover a fucking thing and can't pass rush. I actually felt sorry for Dallas last night because they are playing a goddamn community college defense with all the injuries they are facing. And for all the talk about Chip Kelly's high powered offense, what Trestman has done to the Bears is a goddamn miracle. FFS, the right side of his O line is two rookies and they are flattening people. Alshon Jeffrey looks like he has ups as good as Calvin Johnson. Brandon Marshall is getting open. And he's doing it with JOSH MCCOWN.

Too bad the Bears defense is utter shit. Should have given Urlacher another year to tutor some of these young linebackers. Of course, against the Cowboys, it doesn't matter because even if the running game is working, Garrett will ignore it completely for 2 quarters even when the passing game isn't working just because. Seriously, 1st and 4th quarter, Murray and Randle are making 10-12 yard gashes EVERY RUN. Why stop? Right, so you can let Trestman's offense shred your defense. Garrett is just a terrible coach - a decent OC who can create an effective passing game but he needs somebody to slap his hand and force good football on him.

[Hoax]

This could be the start of another wonderful Cowboy's December, good times. I hate that its benefiting the Eagles but its always fun to watch Romo romo it up.

[Paelos]

This could be the start of another wonderful Cowboy's December, good times. I hate that its benefiting the Eagles but its always fun to watch Romo romo it up.

Cowboys are done. That loss will set them back, and they now have to face a Green Bay team that likely brings Rodgers back just in time to own them.

[HaemishM]

This could be the start of another wonderful Cowboy's December, good times. I hate that its benefiting the Eagles but its always fun to watch Romo romo it up.

Cowboys are done. That loss will set them back, and they now have to face a Green Bay team that likely brings Rodgers back just in time to own them.

Neither Rodgers nor Randall Cobb have been medically cleared to play against the Cowboys yet. It's early in the week, but don't expect either to play. And if Rodgers doesn't play, I expect a Cowboys' win because their offense is better than ours without Rodgers, even if Romo's already checked out for Christmas.

[Paelos]

Packers need the win though. And they know they can't win with Flynn against the Cowboys.

Whoever loses that game is basically eliminated by pure math.

[Trippy]

Too bad the Bears defense is utter shit. Should have given Urlacher another year to tutor some of these young linebackers. Of course, against the Cowboys, it doesn't matter because even if the running game is working, Garrett will ignore it completely for 2 quarters even when the passing game isn't working just because. Seriously, 1st and 4th quarter, Murray and Randle are making 10-12 yard gashes EVERY RUN. Why stop? Right, so you can let Trestman's offense shred your defense. Garrett is just a terrible coach - a decent OC who can create an effective passing game but he needs somebody to slap his hand and force good football on him.

Bill Callahan calls the offensive plays now.

[Paelos]

Paelos Power Rankings:

1 - Seattle
2 - Denver
3 - Saints
4 - Pats
5 - Carolina
6 - SF
7 - Philly
8 - KC
9 - Cincy
10 - Detroit

[ghost]

I see no Jets on your rankings, so they are irrelevant.