2011 NFL thread

[Otsy]

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

The 49ers offensive line is pitiful... Matthews would destroy Smith

As a niner fan I wish I could debate this. Smith is just taking a beating. 13 sacks in the last 2 games. That's not healthy

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

The 49ers offensive line is pitiful... Matthews would destroy Smith

Except that they did fine against the vaunted Giants pass rush. The O-line is a bit of an enigma at the present time; putrid at the start of the season, money for a while, now back to bad.

I'm guessing that, as the playoffs became more assured, the playbook has been expanded and more chances are being taken. It is a hell of a beating Smith is taking but better to find out the abilities and limitations now and knwo what will work in the playoffs.

[Sylvanfan]

I think the Niners can get to the NFC championship game if a couple things go their way. But I don't think they can withstand back to back games against New Orleans and Green Bay. They can maybe play good enough defence to win the first game...but not two weeks in a row against those offences.

I do think the Patriots are on the list of teams who can win the whole thing because they still have the best offence in the AFC, and have the ability to trade TD's with teams like New Orleans or Green Bay. Their defence gives up a lot of yards, but points against, isn't that bad, and they have been getting some turn overs. But I think they'll be challenged if they have to go on the road and play a team like Baltimore who can create a lot of pressure in a hostile environment.

I do think the Saints may not be as disadvantaged against the Packers in Lambeau for the playoffs as they were earlier in the year. Saints have the ability to move the ball on the ground if they have to. On a cold day, with a bit of a breeze, it may be tough to complete some of these precision throws down the field. You may have to rely on that run game to move the ball and keep some drives going.

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by Otsy

I really don't think NE should be up there. Yes there offense is great, bordering on spectacular with those freak TE's and WW catching everything from Brady, but their defense is just so bad. Again with little to no pass rush against the Colts and sat back and let Indy come back on them. McCorty got burned all day. That's not a good sign. Come playoff time that defense would have to play well above their heads to beat one of the other top teams. Because of Houstons defense, I'd actually put them ahead of NE. I'd also have 49ers close to that last spot on your list too. Very good at not turning the ball over and learning from mistakes to get better. O-line just giving up far too many sacks though.

Certainly the Patriots over the last 10 years have been the tale of 2 teams when it comes to playoff success, but I don't think you can ever count them out. I would argue that the Brady-Gronkowski-Welker combo might just be enough to counter any defensive flaws they might have. They never had this depth, even with Moss in his prime.

Their defense is a mess yes, but it has shown considerable improvement the last few weeks (save yesterday's 4th quarter disaster). Like many othet good teams, a good chunk of the yards they surrender are 4th quarter junk yards when the game is all but over.

Although the Jets won in Foxborough last jan,i think the Afc this year may be decided by home field advantage.

[Sylvanfan]

So can anyone who knows more about the NFL T.V. contracts explain this one to me...

Why was the Bronco's at Vikings game on Fox yesterday instead of CBS? Normally the road teams network would carry the game. Has to be something to do with NBC scooping up a Fox game for Sunday night and dropping an AFC matchup to do so, which than allowed Fox to pick one of CBS' games to broadcast. Question is was CBS allowed to protect any of it's matchups, or did Fox get first pick?

Or would it be because KC, Denver, Atlanta, and the Jets were road teams in interconference matchups making things unbalanced, and allowing Fox to pick one game?

[Flabbibulin]

Pats (essentially cbs only) went back to a daytime, and Fox lost the saints-lions to nbc. So, fox picked up the Broncos game as reimbursment... My guess anyways

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

So can anyone who knows more about the NFL T.V. contracts explain this one to me...

Why was the Bronco's at Vikings game on Fox yesterday instead of CBS? Normally the road teams network would carry the game. Has to be something to do with NBC scooping up a Fox game for Sunday night and dropping an AFC matchup to do so, which than allowed Fox to pick one of CBS' games to broadcast. Question is was CBS allowed to protect any of it's matchups, or did Fox get first pick?

Or would it be because KC, Denver, Atlanta, and the Jets were road teams in interconference matchups making things unbalanced, and allowing Fox to pick one game?

It is actually mentioned in Wikipedia:

Under the current contracts, the regional Sunday afternoon games (1 p.m. "early" and 4 p.m. "late" games Eastern time) are broadcast on CBS and Fox. CBS holds what is generally called the AFC package, and Fox holds what is referred to as the NFC package.

The "AFC package" for CBS is summarized as the following:
All afternoon games in which the road team is from the AFC
If there are not enough games to broadcast, then a game in which the home team is from the AFC will be played (against the NFC); this has never happened.

The "NFC package" for Fox is summarized as the following:
All afternoon games in which the road team is from the NFC
If there are not enough games to broadcast, then a game in which the home team is from the NFC will be played (against the AFC); this has happened only once (Denver Broncos–Minnesota Vikings during the 2011 NFL season).

An exception was made during the 2011 NFL season, with the Denver Broncos–Minnesota Vikings game in Week 13 being moved from CBS to Fox, due to Fox only having two games in the early time slot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_on_...regional_games

[Wood]

With Oakland playing the Packers next, and Denver playing Chicago(?) the Broncos could be 1st in the division. Who would have the Tebow would have them in this position this late in the season?

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Wood

With Oakland playing the Packers next, and Denver playing Chicago(?) the Broncos could be 1st in the division. Who would have the Tebow would have them in this position this late in the season?

They ARE 1st in the division, based on their 3-2 division record.
I'm not sure how their record against common opponents stands, but after that the tiebreaker is conference opponents which Denver also holds.

[Wood]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

They ARE 1st in the division, based on their 3-2 division record.
I'm not sure how their record against common opponents stands, but after that the tiebreaker is conference opponents which Denver also holds.

I was thinking Oakland was first since they beat the Broncos. Even better news to have even more of an upper-hand

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

It is actually mentioned in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_on_...regional_games

So now my question becomes...was this exemption caused because the Saints and Lions game was originally scheduled to be a 1:00 Eastern game which would have given Fox 3 games in that time slot? IIRC, Fox was showing the double header as CBS games were all 1 Eastern starts. My guess is that when that game got flexed to Sunday night and the Patriots/Colts game went back into the regular Sunday pool Fox than picked up the Bronco's and Vikings game to show nationally.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Wood

I was thinking Oakland was first since they beat the Broncos. Even better news to have even more of an upper-hand

They each beat the other on the road. Denver has a better division record and a better conference record.

Oakland pretty much has to wind up with one more win to win the division. There aren't a lot of scenarios where they wind up with the same record and Oakland wins the division

Edit: actually there are none.

[nik-]

That was the greatest touchdown dance I've ever seen

[Lil Pedro]

The Chargers defense is just terrible

[Drake]

Welcome back, Phillip Rivers?

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

They each beat the other on the road. Denver has a better division record and a better conference record.

Oakland pretty much has to wind up with one more win to win the division. There aren't a lot of scenarios where they wind up with the same record and Oakland wins the division

Edit: actually there are none.

What if Oakland loses to Green Bay and Detroit, but beats KC and San Diego. Broncos beat Chicago and Buffalo, but lose to KC and New England. Both teams are 9-7 but Oakland has a 4-2 Division record against the Broncos 3-3. Isn't that the second tie breaker after head to head?

[DropIt]

Originally Posted by Drake

Welcome back, Phillip Rivers?

Really? He beat the effing Jaguars led by Gabbert. Maybe when he can lead his team to a win when playoff implications a re on the line, or maybe to consecutive wins over teams at .500, but until then I give him 0 love for lifting his QB rating on the 3-9 Jaguars. They are still argueably the worst team in that division.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

What if Oakland loses to Green Bay and Detroit, but beats KC and San Diego. Broncos beat Chicago and Buffalo, but lose to KC and New England. Both teams are 9-7 but Oakland has a 4-2 Division record against the Broncos 3-3. Isn't that the second tie breaker after head to head?

Yep, you're correct. I heard the phrase 'control their own destiny' on the radio last night and extrapolated that to mean win and you're in. Only if they finish 11-5 would the Raiders be 'scenarioless' for a division championship.

[Sainters7]

Good article on Jon Gruden as a broadcaster in the New Yorker. Granted, its long, but a good read.

Apparently he rents out an office in a Tampa strip mall just so he can watch film all week of the teams they're covering on MNF that week. Says he gets there at 3:45am (!!!) every day. Still prepping like a coach, what a beauty.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2...?currentPage=1

[Drake]

I love Jared Allen for being truthful about what he did to Ray Edwards on Sunday.

In a video that's made the rounds this week, Allen -- pressed into emergency long-snapping duties after an injury to Cullen Loeffler -- appears to punch Falcons defensive end Ray Edwards in a sensitive area during an extra-point attempt during the Vikings' Week 12 loss.

Surprisingly, Allen owned up to his low-blow behavior during a Tuesday interview with ProFootballTalk.com.

"Ray is obviously a former teammate and friend of mine," said Allen, who's second in the NFL with 14.5 sacks. "I told him before the snap that he's known for blowing up the long snapper on the field goal.

"So I told him: 'You run me over here, I'm going to punch you square in your wiener, dude.' "

And that, he did.

Say all you want but these is bloody hilarious.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...ammate-edwards