2013 NFL regular season thread

[darockwilder]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

What was GB doing? They had time for 2 plays but they ran down the clock to 4 before they snapped it. Dumb.

I read on the Packers website that the center said an official told him to NOT snap the ball when he wanted to. Sounds like nobody really knew what to do after the penalty that included an extra 10 seconds run off the clock. A clusterfrick all around.

[Hockeyguy15]

At least my Cardinals are making the last few games interesting! Beat the 9'ers next week and either the 9'ers lose tonight or the Saints lose next week and we are in!

[Sainters7]

That Saints game last night was such a heartbreaker, couldn't even post after, I felt so drained. What a rollercoaster. First controlling most of the first half before the expected storm, but still being down at the half because of 1 dumb turnover was so frustrating, especially once the hopelessness of that storm set in. Just figured it was done at that point, until they somehow march 97yds and bang in a late TD. The way the Saints had shut down Cam all day, and having 1min and 0 time-outs, I figured that's gotta be it, maybe OT at the worst. And then...not. Blech

Those 5-0 and 9-2 starts seems so long ago, its been an impressive collapse down the stretch here. Considering how things looked even a month ago, pretty unreal that if the Saints lose to Tampa next week and Arizona can beat San Fran, New Orleans will actually miss the playoffs. I'm still expecting them to get in, but to control a division all year only to lose it at the end has to be demoralizing, especially with the #2 seed and bye right there for the taking. Now its looking like they'll be starting on the road, which has not been kind to them. What a crazy year.

The only positive to take away from yesterday was that, minus the finish, the Saints did look pretty solid, on the road in hostile weather against a very good team, to the point where it looked like they would shut up the media on that issue. They're going to have to use that as confidence going forward, since a road playoff game now looks likely. LT badly needs to be addressed in the off-season, Saints have got away for years with allowing LT's to leave in FA only to develop their own, more unknown prospects to fill the void. But it looks like that philosophy has finally bit them this year. Brees taking way too many hits this season.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The Rams are now officially locked into the #2 pick at worst in the 2014 draft, making the RGIII trade officially in the top 5 worst ever. The #2 pick in 2012 for the #2 pick in 2014...oh and TWO more first round picks on top of it. Bigger question is what do the Rams do? If Javadeon is there, do you pick him and set up possibly the greatest pass rush of all-time (Quinn, Long and Javadeon? Holy ####...)? Give up on Bradford and take Bridgewater? Or trade again and look for another coup?

Rams are a franchise in a really good spot right now except for the division they play in. The current NFC West could have every team at .500 or better, and all young teams too. Might be the best division I've ever seen, hilarious considering 3 years ago 7-9 won it (there's hope NFC East/AFC South fans!).

[moon]

I think Rams should take Jake Matthews.

Doubt Bridgewater is there and with Quinn and Long no need for Clowney and his question marks.

With the defenses in their division they need a great O-Line to protect Bradford or a guy they draft with their own pick.

[GirlySports]

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by DropIt

Well. best we can hope for is this is bulletin board material for the deciding game next week.

As much as I want the Bears to make the playoffs, its mostly just so the Packers dont. This team doesn't deserve a sniff at it or the ability to call themselves division champs.

Its both sad and odd to watch a Bears defensive unit completely deflate the best offense Chicago has seen since the Walter Payton days, and the injury card is barely applicable. I didn't mind watching Urlacher leave and retire, but I think his presence is sorely missed. This defence and Mel Tucker are an embarrassment.

Here is hoping we can eliminate the Packers next week, even though im sure we will walk into a buzzsaw ass kicking come playoff time.

What did you expect? You hired a CFL coach, we don't play defense here!

[Pagal4321]

Originally Posted by moon

I think Rams should take Jake Matthews.

Doubt Bridgewater is there and with Quinn and Long no need for Clowney and his question marks.

With the defenses in their division they need a great O-Line to protect Bradford or a guy they draft with their own pick.

I feel dirty even saying this but I agree with moon....

[GirlySports]

i disagree with both of you, you can never have to many defenders. Bradford is fine, Fisher just needs to work on him more.

[Pagal4321]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

i disagree with both of you, you can never have to many defenders. Bradford is fine, Fisher just needs to work on him more.

Except they need a great offensive line to protect him...or whoever the hell is throwing the ball for the team.

And that starts with a franchise OT, which they haven't had since Orlando Pace left.

[Bobblehead]

Build from the lines out. If either of your lines is lacking you're in for a bad time.

A good offensive line can give a mediocre QB the time to make great plays or holes any RB can run through.

A good defensive line can require double teams that take players out of the passing game and/or force a QB to throw the ball before they want to.

You can have all the skill players you want but without the lines those players can be marginalized.

[GirlySports]

a good defensive line can cause sacks or turnovers resulting in a shorter field.

Any QB looks good when they don't have to drive 80 yards everytime.

I don't buy you need a great offensive line, you need good deception in playcalling. If your offensive line is a bit weak you need more delays, screens and options.

[KTown]

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

You were mostly right- i dont see all 3 winning, in which case the ravens have the upperhand

I don't really think the Ravens have the upperhand. With the Pats game flexed to the late afternoon. The bengals will most likely play hard to get the win and hope for a Pats loss in order to secure a 2nd seed and first round bye instead of a 3 or 4 seed scenario occuring. They also want a win just in case they play next week to have good momentum going into the playoffs. I strongly believe Coach Lewis is a big believer in that. With all that said how big is Tuckers 61yard field goal last week now. WOW!

The dolphins have the upper hand as they play a Jets team at home, that they should beat....with that being said though the Dolphins seem to play down to there compeition, so nothing is a given. They have wins against the likes of NE, Cincy, San Diego, Indy but losses to the bills (twice) and bucs.

That being said if Baltimore wins and Miami wins, I don't know how hard the chargers will play against the Chiefs in the late game knowing they are eliminated. That game could be so big for Miami or Baltimore and the second half could be played with chiefs backups against an unispired Chargers team. What a way to possibly have your playoff lives decided.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The fact the Dolphins have lost to Tampa Bay and got crushed twice by Thad Lewis and still have strong playoff chances speaks to how weak the AFC is. A NFC team might go 11-5 and miss the playoffs.

[KTown]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The fact the Dolphins have lost to Tampa Bay and got crushed twice by Thad Lewis and still have strong playoff chances speaks to how weak the AFC is. A NFC team might go 11-5 and miss the playoffs.

I think you need to revise that statement and it's not true. It's illogical thinking.

Yes an 11-5 team might miss the playoffs but you also will have either 1 "10-6 division winner and/or two 9-7 division winners and/or one at 8-7-1 division"

Division parity seems to be lacking.....but lets not forget that this powerhouse division the NFC West, is just threes years offset (2010) from having a division winner at 7-9 which was the seahawks. It's kind of like Karma for being the only division winners ever below .500. This crappy part is the cardinals are gettign the crap end both times. They are just a tad worse than there division rivals on good years and bad years.

I do recall that year the division was a laughing stock!

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

a good defensive line can cause sacks or turnovers resulting in a shorter field.

Any QB looks good when they don't have to drive 80 yards everytime.

I don't buy you need a great offensive line, you need good deception in playcalling. If your offensive line is a bit weak you need more delays, screens and options.

Agree on the first part, disagree on the second. If your offensive line is weak then your QB is going to need to deal with pressure on the majority of snaps. If the defense spends a solid hunk of time in the offensive backfield then the only deception will be if the QB throws the ball away or hands it off before he is sacked or hit.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by KTown

I think you need to revise that statement and it's not true. It's illogical thinking.

Yes an 11-5 team might miss the playoffs but you also will have either 1 "10-6 division winner and/or two 9-7 division winners and/or one at 8-7-1 division"

Division parity seems to be lacking.....but lets not forget that this powerhouse division the NFC West, is just threes years offset (2010) from having a division winner at 7-9 which was the seahawks. It's kind of like Karma for being the only division winners ever below .500. This crappy part is the cardinals are gettign the crap end both times. They are just a tad worse than there division rivals on good years and bad years.

I do recall that year the division was a laughing stock!

Lets be real though if Aaron Rodgers is fully healthy the Packers are probably 11-4 right now. Yes the NFC East winner isn't going to be great, but I'm guessing nobody wants any part of Philly in the playoffs (and everyone wants Dallas of course). Indianapolis and Cincinnati are both bi-polar teams as division leaders (Indy playing in the NFL's worst division), and Miami, Baltimore, San Diego and Pittsburgh don't really scare anyone either (though of course all could make the Super Bowl, it being the NFL).

Arizona is better than all 6 of those teams, and if they had an actual QB might be fighting for the division this year. I mean they're 10-5 with Carson Palmer having 22TDs and 21INTs. Their defense is terrific, all 4 NFC West defenses are top 10 units.

[GirlySports]

Screens to guys like Bush, Sproles and Woodhead will counter defenders rushing into the backfield. Or Jackson in the backfield. Eagles are good at this.

Defense has to have athletes and deception too. This is what makes football great.

[trackercowe]

Reports are out that Romo is out for the season. So long to any chance the Cowboys had going into Sunday.

Oh and so is Vonn Miller. Big loss for the Broncos heading into the playoffs.

[Senator Clay Davis]

NBC must desperately be trying to get Chicago/GB into the Sunday Night slot instead now.