2007 NFL Regular Season

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Collinsworth?

He'll get to do the NFL network games this season, and week 17 that is the final regular season Pats game.

Yeah, I know. It's just too bad he's not on the afternoon games anymore. Him and Aikman are about the only two colour guys who know when to offer insight and when to shut the hell up. I think a Michaels/Collinsworth team would be commentary gold.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by fredr123

In the NFL, however, every team is on even footing. Parity is supposed to be the name of the game. I enjoy watching a team play hard on every down and execute for four full quarters. To me, there's nothing more boring than watching most teams in four down football play out a fourth quarter where the result has already been decided. Run up the middle. Let the clock wind down. Run up the middle. Let the clock wind down. Run up the middle. Let the clock wind down. Punt. Bring out the prevent defence. Boring.

They even do this when they're up only 4 or 7 points and the result is in doubt. Afraid to take risks and losing a game that they were in full control of.

This happens in soccer too which annoys me. A team will dominate the game for 60 minutes, get the goal, and then play scared. If they continued stepping on the gas they would easily be 2 or 3 goals up. Instead they give up the equalizer and consider themselves unlucky (cough, England).

[troutman]

Is the Superbowl on the line on November 4 in Indy?

Collinsworth says the game is practically the AFC Championship - the winner will have a two game lead for home field advantage. Peter King would not go that far - he thinks NE could potentially win in Indy in January, but the Colts could not win at NE.

[Sylvanfan]

Home team would have an advantage, but I would agree with King that the Pats could go into the dome and still win with the team they have. IMO they can run and gun the Colts and win a 45-42 game type of thing if it turns into a track meet. Not so sure Indy is flexible enough to adjust to bad weather to go into Boston and win a game in January if the conditions aren't great and it becomes a game where the passing attacks are useless due to lack of footing. I think New England can lose this game and still end up with a 15-1 record. After this game they're only tougher opponents are the Giants, the Steelers, and the Ravens. The Colts still have to play Baltimore, San Diego, Tennessee, Jacksonville, and even KC does have a winning record right now. Another key thing is that after this week the Pats get a bye which is pretty much the ideal time in the season to have a bye and be rested for the stretch. Indy's bye came a bit earlier and with a stretch of tough games it could take a toll on them.

Both teams are damn good, and both have great offensive lines that don't get enough credit. If it wasn't for these two teams the NFL is wide open. With them, it's a matter of who prevails in the AFC Championship game and than rubber stamps the formality in the Superbowl.

[Bobblehead]

The only thing is that NE hasn't really done anything with their ground game yet (says someone with Maroney in 2 pools). They have done it all through the air, and no one has been able to stop them. No one knows what the ground game can do. If it is as good as previous years then they are in great shape. But if it isn't and they get some bad weather then they may be upset by a good running team with a decent defense.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

The only thing is that NE hasn't really done anything with their ground game yet (says someone with Maroney in 2 pools). They have done it all through the air, and no one has been able to stop them. No one knows what the ground game can do. If it is as good as previous years then they are in great shape. But if it isn't and they get some bad weather then they may be upset by a good running team with a decent defense.

NE is actually 8th in the NFL in rushing, and 6th in the AFC:


http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorysta...2&d-447263-n=1

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by troutman

NE is actually 8th in the NFL in rushing, and 6th in the AFC:


http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorysta...2&d-447263-n=1

But a lot of that is after they have already raced out to a multi-touchdown lead.

I'll grant that it does surprise me that they are that highly ranked, but I wonder what would happen if their wings were clipped by poor conditions and everyone knew they HAD to run without the worry of that deadly receiving corps beating them deep.


Edit: BTW, the Pats strongly remind me of Walsh's "Pass to set up the run" offense, although with a more vertical passing offense.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

But a lot of that is after they have already raced out to a multi-touchdown lead.

But isn't that how every NFL team tries to play the game? Get a lead and than grid out the clock. The Pats likley could have even more rushing yards if they were playing the game by the book like the Colts, Titans, Steelers, or Jaguars tend to do.

[burn_baby_burn]

Pro football is entertainment. Why should one team let up because the other team stinks? The paying customers deserve to get their money's worth. If one team goes at half speed that is just BS and a slap in the face to the consumer. Maybe it is unsportsman like in high school or little league. But in the pros everyone is supposed to be a professional. They get the same pay cheque if the score is 21-22 or 73-7. Suck it up and do your job.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by KTown

Doesn't matter the schedule they still did it? How many times do you see terrible teams beat good teams? On any given Sunday anyone can win

Right now the Dolphins are the only unbeaten team, but guess what I'm pretty sure the Pats will run the table this year.

Your right, they are the only unbeaten team. I don't think that it is a coincidence that the only unbeaten team in NFL history also had the easiest schedule in NFL history. Obviously they had to be a great team to pull off such an amazing feat and then win the Super Bowl. They did beat the Steelers in the playoffs the week after the Immaculate Reception. If you look at the results there was some close games in there as well duing the regular season.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Too much grey area. There will never be a correct answer unless we forget about hurting other peoples feelings and just play full out every possession.

NE is playing the correct way and hopefully they run the table so that other teams copy them. Enough of this chicken coaching where a team with the lead runs the ball 3 times for 0 yards, punts and then plays a prevent defense that prevents them from winning.

Too much gray in terms of what? If you're referring to the fact that teams shouldnt go wussy and ease up, then I agree. But in terms of if the Saints were actually trying to run up the score or not, then I disagree. Payton would never make a play-call like that if he were actually trying to score, he gets perhaps even too cute deep in the redzone, he wouldve made a better call than that.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

But isn't that how every NFL team tries to play the game? Get a lead and than grid out the clock. The Pats likley could have even more rushing yards if they were playing the game by the book like the Colts, Titans, Steelers, or Jaguars tend to do.

Yes.

I'm not arguing that they shouldn't do that. I just said we don't really know how good the running game is because it hasn't been a vital part of any of their wins.

[KTown]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

Why? Because they couldnt help kick the snot out of garbage teams that try to pass for football franchises in the NFL? Why shouldnt the team that's down 35-0 pull their starters in favor of getting the backups some work? If (star player from some team) is still in the game down by 35 in the fourth, what's the point of keeping him in the game?

I hate the argument that the leading team should take their foot of the gas for sportsmanship. If, at a certain point BOTH teams remove starters to prevent injury, fine. That would make more sense to me, but the losing teams always drag out the clock and try to put points on the board. Nothing makes me laugh harder then when Trent Green/Mark Bulger or some other QB on an 0-5 - 0-8 team runs the no huddle offense in the fourth quarter down by 100. Stupid.

Its a smart move to save your teams top players from potential injury, and developing your backup QB, who gets to play against starters on the other team.

If it happens to the Pats and they lose a key player to injury when they allready had the game won, I will laugh. Simple as that. I would laugh even more if they end up losing the superbowl because of it. Things can turn sour fast if Brady gets hurt.

[KTown]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Actually, the reason I brought that point up was because Miami fans know all about 4th Quarter blown leads, which was actually the reason I became a real fan of the NFL. Before that, I was casual at best, maybe seeing 2-3 games a year, but I started watching a lot more after that Testaverde game.

Don't even remind me. I had to live through those.

[KTown]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Too much grey area. There will never be a correct answer unless we forget about hurting other peoples feelings and just play full out every possession.

NE is playing the correct way and hopefully they run the table so that other teams copy them. Enough of this chicken coaching where a team with the lead runs the ball 3 times for 0 yards, punts and then plays a prevent defense that prevents them from winning.

Its not chicken coaching its taking your best players off the field to avoid injuries when the game is out of reach and allready won. Thats the point. If they want to score points fine, but if Moss, Welker, Maroney or Brady get hurt thats one step backwards that the team will take when the injury could have been avoided.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by KTown

Its more smart move saving your teams top players from potential injury, and developing your backup QB, who gets to play against starters.

If it happens to the Pats and they lose a key player to injury when they allready had the game won, I will laugh. Simple as that. I would laugh even more if they end up losing the superbowl because of it. Things can turn sour fast if Brady gets hurt.

Like Dolphins sour? I kid. I kid.

Youre obviously right - if Brady gets hurt in a blow out, the Schottenheimer gaf when Brees got hurt will be overshadowed like nothing else as the "stupidest decision ever."

My point, is that I dont like it when teams let off. I think it's more referring to when they just run the ball, punt and refuse to be creative. Keep passing, keep pushing down the field.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by KTown

Its not chicken coaching its taking your best players off the field to avoid injuries when the game is out of reach and allready won. Thats the point. If they want to score points fine, but if Moss, Welker, Maroney or Brady get hurt thats one step backwards that the team will take when the injury could have been avoided.

I was talking more about chicken coaching in close 4-7 point games rather than blowouts. Some teams like Denver and Philly are so talented but they never take a big lead. Once they lead by around 4 points they start changing their play calling and 'defend the lead'.

I'm not sure I buy the argument about players getting hurt. Why are we so scared about players getting hurt when they haven't gotten hurt up to this point? In the NFL, players are pretty responsible and it's usually only some freak play that a player gets seriously hurt. Brady hasn't been hurt in since he took over for Bledsoe. Manning has never been hurt in his life.

I truly believe if you let up and not go 100%, you're more likely to get hurt than playing normally.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Too much gray in terms of what? If you're referring to the fact that teams shouldnt go wussy and ease up, then I agree. But in terms of if the Saints were actually trying to run up the score or not, then I disagree. Payton would never make a play-call like that if he were actually trying to score, he gets perhaps even too cute deep in the redzone, he wouldve made a better call than that.

Too much grey area in terms of running up the score or not. Some coaches complain, some coaches dont. What Payton did was fine.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Brady hasn't been hurt in since he took over for Bledsoe.

That isn't true. Brady missed the 2001-2002 AFC Championship game agaisnt the Pittsburgh Steelers. That was the game after the Snow Bowl.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

That isn't true. Brady missed the 2001-2002 AFC Championship game agaisnt the Pittsburgh Steelers. That was the game after the Snow Bowl.

Aha, forgot about that one. Was he hurt in the Steelers game itself?
I don't recall him being hurt in the Snow Bowl since he was there for the "*uck rule" call.