2007 NFL Regular Season

[flames_1987]

Random thoughts from Week 2
-There are a ton of quality teams in the AFC this year, but the Colts and Pats are still the two best as of week 2
-Was happy to see Stokley fitting in well as a Bronco, had some reallly nice grabs today
-The Bengals defense is god awful
-The Titans really missed a chance to take a big step forward today. There coming off a big week 1 victory on the road against a divisonal rival, then they get the Colts at home, with the Colts missing 2 of there starting linebackers, Vinateri having an off day (which never seems to happen) and the ball down by 2 with plenty of time left on the clock. I'm a big Jeff Fisher fan, but the Titans can't be happy with another "moral" victory against the Colts.
-How many people had a Chargers/Saints superbowl?
-Texans had a huge win today on the road

[Trojan97]

As a Texans fan, today was the second greatest game I've ever seen them play. Beating the Chiefs was good, but to be honest it was expected. Today was the litmus test to see whether this team has come together as well as Houston fans think and they delivered and then some. Falling behind 14-0 on the road and then scoring 34 unanswered points really showed that this is not the Houston Texans of the past. A page has turned in the history of the franchise and the future looks very bright.

Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub are destroying secondaries with their chemistry, The hogs up front and Ahman Green/Ron Dayne are running down clocks and grinding out tough yards. The D (minus Demarcus Faggins) has been above expectations. It's been a great two games so far.

Now that said, we face Indy next week and that's a probable loss, especially considering AJ might not be in the lineup. I'm not getting too high just yet but right now I feel the same way Flames fans did the year Mr. Sutter came to Calgary and the vibe around the franchise began to change. It's a wonderful feeing.

We'll see how next week goes. Good luck to all.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

When was the last time Janikowski made a clutch kick?

Yesterday to win the game in overtime. As much as I hate the Raiders I really hate the fact that a coach can call a time out a split second before the ball is snapped. By the time the ref signals the timeout the ball is basically splitting the up rights. Is it a smart move by the coach? You bet it is. I remember Cower doing it last season (can't remember the opponent) and I really thought it was unfair. If you can't signal time out before the ref has time to stop the play before the snap. It shoudn't count in my opinion.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Yesterday to win the game in overtime. As much as I hate the Raiders I really hate the fact that a coach can call a time out a split second before the ball is snapped. By the time the ref signals the timeout the ball is basically splitting the up rights. Is it a smart move by the coach? You bet it is. I remember Cower doing it last season (can't remember the opponent) and I really thought it was unfair. If you can't signal time out before the ref has time to stop the play before the snap. It shoudn't count in my opinion.

I am a Broncos fan and as soon as I saw that, I thought very bush league but definately worked. Broncos looked bad against a gad Raiders team. Cutlers inability to finish drives is really disturbing.

MYK

[Bobblehead]

I don't think the Raiders are as bad as everyone seems to think.

Their defense was really strong at the end of last season, and if they had someone other than Dick Lauden as an OC they may have done a bit better. This year they aren't a good team, but they aren't as bad as everyone seems to portray them. I can see them winning 4-6.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I don't think the Raiders are as bad as everyone seems to think.

Their defense was really strong at the end of last season, and if they had someone other than Dick Lauden as an OC they may have done a bit better. This year they aren't a good team, but they aren't as bad as everyone seems to portray them. I can see them winning 4-6.

That Defense was very strong. And if you consider how long that defense was on the field and how many bad situations (turnovers, ect) that offense would have put them in last year. It was probably the best defense in the league.

The worst part about the Raiders last year (besides being Raiders). Was the offensive line. I don't care who you put behind center or who is running and catching the ball. You can't win anything when your QB is laying on his back or running for his life the majority of the time.

[flames_1987]

I think it's fair to call Gallery a bust now, and one of the main reasons that Oaklands offensive line just blows.

[Bobblehead]

I loved this quote from Jonas Jennings yesterday, talking about a 4th down run play called (which Frank Gore turned into a 43 yard TD).

"My eyes lit up when I heard the call in the huddle," Jennings said. "When you get a chance on fourth down like that, it's time to lock your jaw and get it done . . . You know, football is a chess match. But sometimes, you put the piece down harder."

[Sylvanfan]

So far after two weeks some intriguing things.

No offence to Cowboys or Packers fans...but the Giants D is terrible. Tom Coughlin will be out of a job by week 8, and I think Manning's going to have health problems all year and that the Giants could have one of the worst records in football. Cowboys look pretty good, tonights Skins vs. Eagles game should be a decent match up...at least I hope so. I actually think Washington could take that game and put the Eagles in the hole 0-2.

NFC North is tough to gauge right now. Is Detroit really going to win 10 games....tough to tell until they play someone. Packers look pretty solid so far and might be the team in this division. How much longer until the Bears give up on Grossman?

NFC South so far is the least impressive division in Football. Saints have been terrible so far, but at 0-2 they can still rally to win that division. If they can go 9-7 that should do it. Although...don't under estimate the Buc's. Garcia is one tough S.O.B. and he competes pretty hard.

NFC West could be the most interesting division in football. Until we get a chance to see the 49'ers and the Cards play someone outside the division it's tough to gauge how improved those teams really are. Still yesterday's game is a game the Cards used to lose....yesterday they figured out how to win it.

AFC East...Pats will win it, the rest of the teams are door mats, at least they get to play each other.

AFC South...might be the best division in the AFC right now as the Texans have looked sharp. We'll see how good they really are this coming week. Indy is their typical selves....terrific offensive team and their defence hasn't been too shabby either this far. Tennesee has probably been a bit better than expected playing the Colts as tough as they did and going into Jacksonville and taking out the Jags. So far the Jags have probably been the least impressive eeking out a 6 point win against the lowly Falcons in two home games.

AFC North, so far the Steelers look good against the so called lesser lights. Cinci's defence is pretty useless if the other team doesn't shoot themselves in the foot all game long. Ravens still have the defence, and Magahee looks pretty good running the ball. Browns...offence was dynamite last week, but that defence is pretty porus.

AFC West might be the weakest division of the bunch. Denver could be 0-2...but they are 2-0 by the narrowest of margins. The Chargers are all talk and Norv Turner will get less out of them than about any other potential NFL coach. Than again Chargers great one year, underachieve the next. Raiders are a bit unfortunate to be 0-2...they might be this years San Fran or Tennessee where a late season run gets them to 8-8 or 7-9. I hate to say but they're not the worst team in the division. My Chiefs....I pray to god they don't screw up this top 3 pick, they need the help badly. Actually the defence has been okay so far, it's the mistakes that offence and special teams are making that are taking them out of games. IMO typical of a Herm Edwards team they think preseason goes until the middle of September.

[Bobblehead]

NFC West is very interesting.

I'm wondering if the 49ers have turned into the Ravens west? Stingy defense and don't let the offense lose it for you. Norv Turner is missed as he schemed to allow more movement for Smith. Smith can create havoc if he is allowed to bootleg and force the LBs to make decisions. So far the new coordinator (Jim Hostler) hasn't let Smith do much beyond handing the ball to Gore. In the last 2 minutes of week 1 you got to see that Smith can do more.

But at 2-0, I can't complain too much.

And Patrick Willis it turning into a BEAST.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

I think it's fair to call Gallery a bust now, and one of the main reasons that Oaklands offensive line just blows.

Groundbreaking.

He's been a bust for awhile. A lot of money to spend on a guard.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Agreed on both counts about SD...but they still have enough to be dangerous at the least.

Let me be the first to congratulate Brett Favre (like he reads the board) on breaking the most underrated record in the NFL. Wins by a starting QB....Favre broke John Elway's record today and the Packers are 2-0. Well done Brett!

Agreed...and he is now jut 3 TD passes away from Marino's alltime TD record.

Hard to believe how many on this very board kept saying he was past his expiration date and should retire.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Agreed...and he is now jut 3 TD passes away from Marino's alltime TD record.

Hard to believe how many on this very board kept saying he was past his expiration date and should retire.

I'll take my lumps on that.

Last year I thought his tank was running dry.

While he could still play, I didn't think the Pack were going to give him a chance to win and the time would be better spent allowing a future QB to play who would have the chance to peak with the team, instead of a declining QB hanging on then leaving a team ready to win with a green QB.

And I think the reasoning was pretty sound, based on the last couple of years from Brett.

But these first couple of weeks Brett sure looks good.

Lets see how he fares against a couple tough defenses. If he can still work his magic against the Charges and Bears then the Pack may be in for a ride like the Saints did last year.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I am a Broncos fan and as soon as I saw that, I thought very bush league but definately worked. Broncos looked bad against a gad Raiders team. Cutlers inability to finish drives is really disturbing.

MYK

Yes, especially the last drive of the game...he's been brutal.

That was his 7th game as a starter. He's doing fine.

In fact, this is a lot like the start of Elway's career, to be quite honest.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

NFC South so far is the least impressive division in Football. Saints have been terrible so far, but at 0-2 they can still rally to win that division. If they can go 9-7 that should do it. Although...don't under estimate the Buc's. Garcia is one tough S.O.B. and he competes pretty hard.

Its funny how things change so quickly. I remember just two seasons ago when the NFC South was considered the strongest division in football. You're right though, with the way the Saints have come out of the gate, the Falcons with Vick-gate, the Bucs finishing last in the division last year, and the Panthers looking up-and-down as usual, the division is not very impressive. But frankly the way my Saints are playing, I'll take it. I dont even want to think about if we were in the AFC.

The Saints are underperforming in every aspect of the game, but I feel the first two games were primarily lost on the lines. Jammal Brown fared better yesterday, but was completely owned by Freeney against the Colts and still doesnt look like the man named best OT not named Walter Jones, as NFL Preview magazines declared him this summer. And RT Jon Stinchcomb has gotten absolutely dominated the past two weeks, I'm seriously wondering if Strief should get a shot over there.

But the DL has been just as disappointing. The secondary is just plain bad, its been this way for years. What happened last year to improve the pass D in my opinion was the sudden emergence of a strong DL, especially in the middle. Hollis Thomas was just powering through people at DT, to the point where he'd have to be double-teamed and our speedy DT Brian Young could fly in there and get some pressure on the QB. I am wondering where this Hollis Thomas is now. Considering Kendrick Clancy seems to have taken over the starting role makes me believe Thomas' career may be just about out of gas. As for the ends, the fact we have two supposed all-world DE's in Will Smith and Charles Grant, its simply laughable with the lack of pressure there's been from them this season. If you give a proven vet like Garcia time to sit back in the pocket and pick his spots on a sub-average secondary like the Saints, he's gonna get his #'s, thats a fact.

After two games its clear that opposing teams; especially opposing defences, are fired up to try to stop the Saints offence. The Colts and Bucs were absolutely swarming to the ball, and Reggie, Deuce, hell even Karney have taken some BIG hits, you can see how excited opposing D's are when they make a big stop on the Saints. After last year, the Saints have to realize they are going to be facing teams like this all year, and theyre going to have to adjust. The only players on offence who I felt earned their stripes yesterday was Colston and our FB Karney.

[transplant99]

Lets see how he fares against a couple tough defenses. If he can still work his magic against the Charges and Bears then the Pack may be in for a ride like the Saints did last year.

How many clubs are going to look good aginst those teams though?

Here is the thing...this isnt just 2 games. After a brutal start last year with 3 rookies on the offensive line (sorry thats why a rookie QB should not be anywhere near this club even now) that went 1-4, the Packers are a combined 9-4 since.

Chicago is the cream of the crop in the division, no question. There are two other improved teams in the Lions and the Vikings as well....so it wont be easy....but they have a legitimate shot at the playoffs with Favre. With Aaron Rogers i doubt that they would even get a sniff.

[Displaced Flames fan]

I didn't think the Bears were very impressive against KC.

That team will be interesting to watch. They MAY need Grossman to be much better than they needed him to be last year.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I am a Broncos fan and as soon as I saw that, I thought very bush league but definately worked. Broncos looked bad against a gad Raiders team. Cutlers inability to finish drives is really disturbing.

MYK

What's bush league about it? It's well within the rules, I'm blown away it doesn't happen more.

When I coached I always had my most football savvy player on the field call timeout while jumping in the air to get attention the instant before he believed the ball to be snapped. it's just a better job at timing the 'icing' of the kicker.

As for Cutler looking disturbing, can you show me any 7 start QB's who are up to whatever your expectation is?

Cutler has made a few dumb plays, but he is making some unbelievable throws. He's had a few balls lobbed over LB's and under SS's 25 yards downfield on an out. That is the hardest throw in football and he not only has the confidence to throw it, he completes it. He'll need some time learning the game, but he has a remarkable arm, and the players seem to respect him as well.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

What's bush league about it? It's well within the rules, I'm blown away it doesn't happen more

I agree. Very savvy move, and after a play like that, you cant tell me Janikowski was as composed lining up for the second kick as he was for the first. Adam Shine on Sirius NFL radio today was just lovin on Shanahan for that call.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

I agree. Very savvy move, and after a play like that, you cant tell me Janikowski was as composed lining up for the second kick as he was for the first. Adam Shine on Sirius NFL radio today was just lovin on Shanahan for that call.

It's all part of the master plan of football gods continually crapping on Al Davis, maybe the worst person in football over the last 20 years.

As a final act this year, the same gods will find a way to disappoint New England in one of the most painful ways comprehendable ... I just can't wait to see what it is.