I knew this would happen! Terrible week, so many bullshit late covers, why did Miami kick a field goal down 10 with 30 seconds left, why did NYJ get stuffed at the 1, how did Detroit and Chicago screw up seemingly unloseable positions, so much angst from me.
Fever NFL thread - Superb Owl Day
My teams are Bears and Bengals. Both doing about how I expected at the start of the season.
Do you guys get the RedZone in NZ? It is amazing. Every Sunday here in the UK you have (usually) 2 games of football, then the NFL starts at 6pm (about 15 mins after the 2nd game of football finishes). You can either watch one game all the way through, or the NFL RedZone, which shows (live) key events in all the other games going on. It is a bit frantic with the early kick-offs, as trying to follow 9 games (when drunk) gets very confusing, but perfect when there are 3 or 4 late kick-offs. When there are keys events in multiple games (ie teams in the redzone) then they go to multiple boxes - quad box makes my pants get tighter. Chuck a load of bets on, lock the wife in the laundry with a Oceans 11 and the washing machine on a spin cycle, open some wine and settle in for a night that gets progressively more confusing and entertaining.
I never really thought that my Vikings would make the playoffs, and I am actually happy with the season. Adrian Peterson continues to showcase himself as one of the greatest running backs of all time, Percy Harvin looked really good til his injury, Rupdolph looks like a good pass catching tight end. Our O-Line is markedly better this season with the addition of Kalil, or defense seems to have stepped up, even with Allen not at the level of last year others are helping out, and Harrison Smith looks excellent. And I actually think Ponder has been pretty good, yes he has made some bad decisions, but he is only in his 2nd year, and is definitely better than last year.
I think if we can get a good receiver in the draft/from free agency to help stretch the field we might actually be competitive next season. I had also looked at the schedule after our bye and knew where it was headed, actually happy enough with 6 wins, hopefully we can steal one more.
I bet the Vikings over 5.5 wins at the start of the season so needless to say I'm happy with them, also drafted Rudolph for my fantasy team so big ups to him. However, I can't see you guys making the playoffs anytime soon, not with the incredibly hard division you are in.
Bring in Joe Webb! Ponder has had 4 games this year where he hasn't reached 150 yards, that's pretty woeful (honestly I wonder how many QB's have ever done that), and after a good start his completion percentage recently has hit rock bottom.
Very nice bet in the end there N-Bomb, huge final week for the regular season.
I had a great day (Went 14/16 in Week 17 picks, won my main fantasy league & Vikings made the playoffs), just an awesome day NFL related for me.
As for the Playoffs I can't really see us beating Green Bay at Lambeau, but in the end we showed what we can do this week and who knows, anything can happen in the playoffs (See: Denver 2011, Seattle 2010), and if we could beat Green Bay, absolutely not scared of the Falcons.
For the rest think Seattle should be able to beat the Redskins, Colts should beat Ravens & really not sure on the Bengals vs Texans game, not sure that either of them is actually going to be able to win in the next round over Denver or New England.
Other points of discussion:
Rookie of the Year: I think it should probably be Andrew Luck, but would not be surprised to see it go to RG3 (Other discussions to me would include Russell Wilson, Alfred Morris, Doug Martin, but none of them will come close)
MVP: Surely given his season it should be Adrian Peterson, of course given the QB centric MVP voting it'll be Peyton, though think his comeback is playing a part in that as not sure he is actually even the best QB this season.
Def player of Year: JJ Watt, Tillman, Aldon Smith - Really not sure on who I would give this to, probably JJ Watt.
Really looking forward to the playoffs this year.
Some disagreements here:
As a ravens fan, I don't think that the Colts "should beat the Ravens", I think that we are deservedly favoured but could very easily lose. We just have far more playoff experience than the Colts, and frankly are a better team (Indy's record is flawed). I'm not sure that the Bengals will beat anybody, they only have one weapon.
ROY - I would go RG3, but Alfred Morris is the real interest here. First of all - let's compare RG3 and Luck (sorry Russell but your run was too late)
Completion %: Luck 54%, RG3 66%.
YPA: Luck 6.98, RG3 8.14.
TD's: Luck 23, RG3 20.
Interceptions: Luck 18, RG3 5.
QB Rating: Luck 76, RG3 102.
And rushing yards - Luck 255, RG3 815.
I wouldn't even have Luck ahead of Alfred Morris, who has had the third best rookie RB season of all time. 1,613 yards with 13 TD's, he is my number 2.
I agree AP should be MVP (it would be ridiculous if he doesn't), and Watt is the clear defensive MVP, Aldon Smith isn't the same without his namesake Justin helping him out.
Oh Ravens have the experience, and the ability, (Not 100% sure myself, but are your injured defenders coming back?), I just think without your defense as strong as it has been in the past I am not sure they can contain the Colts enough for Flacco/Rice to beat them, hence my picking the Colts (Who I agree have a flawed record because of a fairly easy schedule).
LOL for Rookie of the year, I hadn't actually looked at all the stats, when you put it like that Luck actually looks pretty poor in comparison, So then yup will agree should be RG3 on that. Agree Wilson's run was too late, just think he deserved a mention (thought he was crippled by a cut down playbook early on), I love the play of Alfred Morris has been absolutely immense, and a major reason why the Skins are where they are, and having a great run game definitely helps the passing of RG3 as well.
Some disagreements here:
As a ravens fan, I don't think that the Colts "should beat the Ravens", I think that we are deservedly favoured but could very easily lose. We just have far more playoff experience than the Colts, and frankly are a better team (Indy's record is flawed). I'm not sure that the Bengals will beat anybody, they only have one weapon.
ROY - I would go RG3, but Alfred Morris is the real interest here. First of all - let's compare RG3 and Luck (sorry Russell but your run was too late)
Completion %: Luck 54%, RG3 66%.
YPA: Luck 6.98, RG3 8.14.
TD's: Luck 23, RG3 20.
Interceptions: Luck 18, RG3 5.
QB Rating: Luck 76, RG3 102.
And rushing yards - Luck 255, RG3 815.
I wouldn't even have Luck ahead of Alfred Morris, who has had the third best rookie RB season of all time. 1,613 yards with 13 TD's, he is my number 2.
I agree AP should be MVP (it would be ridiculous if he doesn't), and Watt is the clear defensive MVP, Aldon Smith isn't the same without his namesake Justin helping him out.
My Saints are missing the playoffs this season, but still looking forward to it, it's usually great drama and entertainment.
With regard to RotY, I would personally give it to RG III, think he's been tremendous but think they'll give it to Luck. Same with Peterson - he should be MVP, but think they'll go with Peyton.
As for the play-offs, think the Broncos make it from the AFC, in the NFC I don't see a clear favourite but wouldn't be surprised if the Packers got back in.
LOL for Rookie of the year, I hadn't actually looked at all the stats, when you put it like that Luck actually looks pretty poor in comparison, So then yup will agree should be RG3 on that. Agree Wilson's run was too late, just think he deserved a mention (thought he was crippled by a cut down playbook early on), I love the play of Alfred Morris has been absolutely immense, and a major reason why the Skins are where they are, and having a great run game definitely helps the passing of RG3 as well.
Wilson for me should be ahead of Luck too, he's thrown more TDs (26 to 23) fewer picks (10 to 18), he's also rushed for more yards (489 for Wilson, 2 rushing TDs), but more importantly, he's led the Seahawks to a number of wins against quality opposition - the Pats, Bears away, and an absolute shallacking of the Niners. And all this in a very strong defensive division (with obviously the Niners, but the Rams have a pretty decent D, and as bad as the Cards have been on offense, they still have one of the better Ds in the league). Not denying that the Colts have had a really good season and Luck's played a major part in that, but just have a feeling that he's grabbed much more attention than the guys who have perhaps done even better than him, in just as trying circumstances.
Also, quite a few coaches have been sacked - Reid, Turner and Whisenhunt pretty expectedly, but was surprised to see Lovie Smith sacked after a 10-win season. But guess missing the play-offs after the significant investments they made before this season was considered a major failure.
I would personally put Luck fourth, but in saying that I think he'll have the best career of all the rookies from this class. As for the coaches, I agree el grap, Turner is long overdue, Crenel and Gailey etc can't have many complaints either, but how significantly better can the Bears perform with Cutler, an injured Forte and a terrible o-line? Seems very playoff oriented, if they were in another division he'd be safe. Definitely will get another gig.
I would personally put Luck fourth, but in saying that I think he'll have the best career of all the rookies from this class. As for the coaches, I agree el grap, Turner is long overdue, Crenel and Gailey etc can't have many complaints either, but how significantly better can the Bears perform with Cutler, an injured Forte and a terrible o-line? Seems very playoff oriented, if they were in another division he'd be safe. Definitely will get another gig.
Agree about Lovie Smith, realistically he's done OK with what's been I guess a somewhat overrated team, especially on offense. Like you said, along with the Eagles they have the worst O-line in the league, Cutler is inconsistent and sulky and just not a winner in my eyes. They farked around with Forte with his contract situation which must have pissed him off when he was their best player last season, and injuries clearly haven't helped. Brandon Marshall did well, but those kind of receivers are basically wasted if your O-line sucks. But their defense has always been impressive, and people forget that Smith went to the Superbowl with Rex Grossman as his QB, which is something even Jesus would have struggled to do. Think I read that he was contracted through to 2013, seeing out that contract and then re-evaluating would have been the better idea.
But agreed, he'll get another gig somewhere next season, Reid too I think, he's a good coach and being out of Philly should help him too, don't think he was ever truly appreciated there for his work (same with McNabb too).
Which teams are the most screwed in case their QB goes down in the playoffs? I've ranked them all, it is pretty ugly....
http://fromthecarpark.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/back-up-qb-rankings-playoff-teams-who.html
Well I must say for the Vikings I prefer Ponder, but think a running offense with Webb might work as well. I think Ponder is the better QB, a lack of receiving options doesn't help him right now, but I think he will grow into the job.
On your topic though Joe Webb as an option if our QB goes down is probably one of the better back-ups, you really forget how horrid some of the back-ups are on the bigger teams.
I would say Ponder is better, but he's had 3-4 absolutely putrid games this year, where a half-time change would have been beneficial. Of course last week he was brilliant, which is what you get with him sometimes
Bengals lose, which sucks...but I expected it. Hope the Vikings beat the Fudge Packers.
Go Vikings!
Webb is terrible.
That's what happens when your QB hasn't played a snap all year. I wanted him as a runner, stink how he's passed it 21 times. Unfortunately for the Vikes they wouldn't have won regardless.
I'm absolutely dreading a Niners - Falcons NFC Championship game. Hope the Seahawks can do the job tomorrow.
Yep go Hawks. And let's go Texans! Although I think we can beat the Patriots too. I'm still a mess from yesterday, what a game
OMG go the hawks! 1st and 1 with 30s to go. Would be a massive comeback lead brilliantly by the rookie!
TD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Falcons in field goal range :(
Kicker missed the first attempt, but Seattle had called a timeout. Nailed the second chance. Never understood the logic behind teams constantly calling that sort of time out. I don't really think it has that much of a psychological effect. Great 2 play drive by Ryan to get them in range.
8 seconds for a Seattle miracle LOL.
Kicker missed the first attempt, but Seattle had called a timeout. Nailed the second chance. Never understood the logic behind teams constantly calling that sort of time out. I don't really think it has that much of a psychological effect. Great 2 play drive by Ryan to get them in range.
8 seconds for a Seattle miracle LOL.
Bloody hell, I can't take much more of this. Incredible game. As for your point, no, icing doesn't work, studies have been done to show it fails more times than it succeeds.
Kicker missed the first attempt, but Seattle had called a timeout. Nailed the second chance. Never understood the logic behind teams constantly calling that sort of time out. I don't really think it has that much of a psychological effect. Great 2 play drive by Ryan to get them in range.
8 seconds for a Seattle miracle LOL.
Bloody hell, I can't take much more of this. Incredible game. As for your point, no, icing doesn't work, studies have been done to show it fails more times than it succeeds.
Sorry El G!
Nevermind. Just means I'll have to support the AFC team in the Superbowl.
Hoping for 9ers Ravens today.
It's going to be funny when Atlanta wins the Super Bowl despite nobody giving them a chance all season. I really do hope the Ravens can pull off an upset today, another 5 hours on the coach is in order, COYR!
BAD miss there by Akers helping your Falcons.
Hoping for 9ers Ravens today.
2/2 :-D
Very happy to see the Falcons choke. Not like it was unexpected though.
So happy right now. We're proving everybody wrong, Flacco turns up for the playoffs, just some elite performances. Looks like I'm skipping school for the Super Bowl....
I bet on Atlanta. Boxy now owes me a cider.
I bet on Atlanta. Boxy now owes me a cider.
You get them at +4/4.5? Another Atlanta spread-killer
I bet on Atlanta. Boxy now owes me a cider.
I think that can be arranged.
That wasn't the start to the half the 49'rs needed - 109 yard kick off return touchdown for an all time record! Ravens running away with it atm.