2011 NFL thread

[GirlySports]

Probably a sign of the apocalypse, but a Lions game has actually been flexed to a Sunday night game -- two weeks against the Saints.

[Flabbibulin]

I wouldve told 'em to take a knee with a minute left

[Sylvanfan]

Punishment for injuring Brady 3 years ago. What a crappy time to be. Sportsfan. Deer hunting here I come!

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Probably a sign of the apocalypse, but a Lions game has actually been flexed to a Sunday night game -- two weeks against the Saints.

Extra sign of the apocalypse: a Lions game was subbed in to replace the Colts/Patriots game. Nothing makes sense anymore.

[transplant99]

So I have been reading up on the 1962 Packers team who were the last from GB to start 10-0. This team was certainly one of the best in the history of the game and at a time when Lombardi was in his heyday as coach, they went to Detroit for a Thanksgiving tilt and promptly got manhandled by the Lions. The Packers that day had 10 players on their squad who would eventually find themselves enshrined in the hall of fame, but the Lions team was also very good back then.

There was a genuine hate between the two clubs as well and because the Packers had won an earlier meeting that season on a late INT setting up a game winning FG, the Lions were out to prove they were a better team that GB. Mission accomplished. They sacked Bart Starr 11 times and intrecepted him twice on their way to a 26-14 victory after DC Don Shula had implemented a game plan that had the Lions knowing what was coming because of the formations the Packers would use...and the Lions had a dominating defensive line, as they do now.

The packers then went 13-1 on the season and won the league championship, so that part ended well for them

I fear that we may see somewhat of the same on Thursday as history has a way of repeating itself and the similarities of the two clubs and their seasons can't be over stated.

Should be fun to watch it all play out tho.

[Papi34]

Well KC put up a pretty good fight that first half actually completely outplayed the Pats but you could see after the Gronk td the life was pretty much gone.

Love watching Edelman play DB and actually making tackles then bringing one to the house on the punt return as well as playing WR. shades of Troy Brown (other than being far less talented.)

In regards to that last minute touchdown, those were Shane Vereens first snaps in the NFL im sure they just wanted to see what they had in him. I dont believe in running up the score they are professional atheletes if the other team doesnt like it do something and stop them

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

I wouldve told 'em to take a knee with a minute left

I think they would have if they weren't inside the 5 yard line.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by troutman

I think they would have if they weren't inside the 5 yard line.

Why do you think that? Belichek always runs up the score. He's an ass. A brilliant one, but still an ass.

[transplant99]

At the professional level, i have no problem with teams coring whenever they can...there are players paid good money to try and score and to try and stop the other team from scoring...so go do something about it, IE your job, and make a statement that you deserve that paycheck you receive every week.

[rubecube]

ESPN has their playoff machine up.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

I ended up with:

AFC -

1. Pittsburgh (12-4)
2. New England (12-4)
3. Tennessee (11-5)
4. San Diego (9-7)
5. Baltimore (11-5)
6. Cincinnati (10-6)

NFC -

1. Green Bay (16-0)
2. San Francisco (14-2)
3. New Orleans (12-4)
4. Dallas (10-6)
5. Atlanta (11-5)
6. Detroit (10-6)

San Diego's schedule gets pretty easy from here on out, and I think they score an upset over Baltimore that hands them the division after the Lions go into Oakland and steal one. Philly actually has a pretty good shot at the NFC East if they can get past New England this weekend (big if) and develop any kind of consistency (even bigger if). Even with Leinart, the Texans still have a really good shot at winning the AFC South. The Titans have a rough stretch of games ahead. I'd argue the Bears still have a decent chance too. Detroit @ Oakland in week 15 might be the biggest game of the year. Who would've thought that a year ago?

The games that I think end up having the biggest effects on the playoff landscape are:

Week 12 - NE @ PHI, CHI @ OAK, DEN @ SD
Week 13 - ATL @ HOU
Week 14 - HOU @ CIN, NO @ TEN, NYG @ DAL,
Week 15 - DET @ OAK, BAL @ SD
Week 16 - PHI @ DAL, SD @ DET, CHI @ GB
Week 17 - DAL @ NYG, TEN @ HOU, DET @ GB, BAL @ CIN, SD @ OAK

[rubecube]

Also, I don't know whether to give schedule to the NFL schedule-makers or chalk it up to dumb luck. Those last 4 weeks of the season, and especially weeks 16 & 17 look better than any other year in recent memory.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by rubecube

ESPN has their playoff machine up.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

I got:

1. NE (13-3)
2. PIT (12-4)
3. OAK (11-5)
4. HOU (11-5)
5. CIN (11-5)
6. BAL (10-6)

1. SF (15-1)
2. GB (14-2)
3. NO (13-3)
4. NY (11-5)
5. CHI (11-5)
6. ATL (11-5)

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Sowa

Why do you think that? Belichek always runs up the score. He's an ass. A brilliant one, but still an ass.

He talked about this scenario a few times, mostly during the 2007 season. When it gets to the point where they run out of field, he gives the other team the opportunity to stop them. When you are inside the five yard line, it's almost a guaranteed field goal, which will put points on the board. If he runs it four times, he gives the defence (complete with NFL players earning millions of dollars per year) the chance to stuff the running back and stop the Patriots from putting points on the board. If you are the opposing team, would you want the Patriots to kick the field goal and increase the lead by three, or would you want them to run it at you and you get a chance to keep the score where it is?

At no point would I make the QB kneel down inside the five on 4th down. The ball turns over and then the opposition would try a running play to end the game. To me, that would be insulting. If you were a hockey player and the score was 3-1 and the other team pulled the goalie, would you not score if you had a break away because it would be running up the score? No, you play hard the whole game and bury the puck in the back of the net. What would you say if the Flames were losing 3-1 and the other team had a breakaway and instead of putting the puck in the net, skated behind the goal and left the puck there for Giordano to come get? I'd be way more embarrassed at that than if he just scored.

[Sylvanfan]

I have the Colts winning Andrew Luck, and the Vikings coming second in that race. Carolina picking 3rd, than a tie between St.Louis, KC, Washington, and Cleveland for the 4 to 6 picks.

[Cheerio]

I remember a few seasons ago the Colts were playing someone (maybe the Ravens?) and were winning by a bunch and had the ball in the red zone. But instead of running up the score and throwing a TD, Manning just kneeled and ran out the clock. After the game a bunch of the players from the other team commented on how classy it was that instead of running up the score even further he chose to kneel.

[Bobblehead]

49ers are the first West Coast team to play on Thanksgiving since the Rams visited the Lions in '75.

The 49ers D was only on the field for 15 minutes on Sunday, so hopefully they are rested.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

I remember a few seasons ago the Colts were playing someone (maybe the Ravens?) and were winning by a bunch and had the ball in the red zone. But instead of running up the score and throwing a TD, Manning just kneeled and ran out the clock. After the game a bunch of the players from the other team commented on how classy it was that instead of running up the score even further he chose to kneel.

Almost everyone does that when there's under 2 minutes to go.

The harder choices come when you are up 34-7 midway through the 3rd quarter.

In my mind, there is no running up the score at that point. Too many crazy things can happen in the NFL. You have to keep your foot on the pedal.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

I remember a few seasons ago the Colts were playing someone (maybe the Ravens?) and were winning by a bunch and had the ball in the red zone. But instead of running up the score and throwing a TD, Manning just kneeled and ran out the clock. After the game a bunch of the players from the other team commented on how classy it was that instead of running up the score even further he chose to kneel.

There's a difference between kneeling on the ball and running out the clock, and kneeling on the ball and turning the ball over. I've seen many teams kneel on the ball in the red zone when the other team can't get the ball back, but if the Patriots kneeled on 4th down, the Chiefs would have taken over on downs. I'm not saying the Chiefs would have scored, but why should you give the other team the ball with time left on the clock? That's not classy or smart.

[ResAlien]

Broncos just cut Orton. Welcome back to Chicago

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Broncos just cut Orton. Welcome back to Chicago

I'm guessing Orton is a Chief for Thanksgiving.