2016 NFL Season

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by ignite09

So who's the top NFC team at this point?

Dallas followed by seattle, especially now that Wilson is healthy and Rawls is coming back.

[habernac]

Wilson looked great last night, just a little better than Brady. Heckuva game to watch, I'd love to see the rematch.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by ignite09

So who's the top NFC team at this point?

Gotta be Dallas

[chummer]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Gotta be Dallas

Dallas has two things Seattle doesn't, a great offensive line and running game.

Getting Rawls back won't hurt, see if he can regain last year's form.

[Sainters7]

Not trying to be a complainy pants, as it was a hell of a block and given the current technology/rules, I understand why it couldn't be overturned. But after seeing some different angles last night, I'm fairly convinced if the Denver returner on the blocked EXP is wearing any other colour shoe/tape than white, he's being called out of bounds on the return..bet that's yet another new rule for next year; no purely white shoes or white tape that makes the shoe appear all white.

Still can't believe how that game ended, it was almost 2003 River City Relay levels of an immediate ecstasy to agony turn. What a day of football yesterday! Best Sunday of the season so far?

[Sylvanfan]

The 5 games that most of us regular schmucks could have watched yesterday:
Philly/Atlanta
New Orleans/Denver
San Diego/Miami
Pittsburgh/Dallas
New England/Seattle

was probably the best set of games so far this year. Oddly enough the road team went 4 for 5 in those. I even have high hopes for tonight's game with Cinci and the Giants.

By week 9 teams don't win or lost anything. But it is getting to be the time of the year where any team with 6 or more losses, is probably down to hoping they are still in the hunt for their Division, otherwise the playoffs are getting to be a long shot. Even last years Chiefs were 4-5 at week 9.

Dallas has been the most impressive NFC team to date. But rookies do tend to start hitting a wall in December as they experience the long season for a first time. Dallas does have some decent depth in place and banked enough that they can likely rotate the rookies out a bit if need be. The rest of the Division is certainly in the Wild Card race.

Seattle would seem a strong bet to the win their Division and claim the other bye. Come playoffs, it's always a dangerous team because of their experience and track record. It would seem that they're getting the offence on track slowly. I just don't buy Arizona, and the Rams might get to their famous 7-9.

NFC North, is a a real toss up. Rogers and Co have been plaqued by inconsistent play for 3 of the past 4 seasons. So the fact that they aren't dominating maybe shouldn't be a surprise. The Vikings eventually have started to look like a team that can't do enough offensively to be much more than mediocre, even with a stout defence. The Lions are still the Lions, but have probably been the most consistent squad in that bunch. Really take your pick any of them could win....none of them is going to last past the second round of the playoffs.

The NFC South, might also still be up for grabs a bit. But Atlanta has a pretty significant advantage. One of the Saints or Panthers is likely to lose on Thursday night and even a tie hurts those teams. The Buc's are too inconsistent defensively. So really if Atlanta can finish out at 3-3 it will be hard for them not to win the Division.

The AFC still has a pretty good race in the North, which really get's interesting if the Bengals win tonight. Tennessee is hanging around enough in the South, but Houston has wins in the bank, particulary Division wins. The West is a 3 way battle, and it's likely putting 3 teams in the playoffs. The East is New England, and it's a case of can Miami work it's way into the Wild card picture around the 2 losers in the West.

[devo22]

Alshon Jeffery suspended for 4 games for PEDs. Smart, given that he's an upcoming free agent ^^

[Sainters7]

Good write-up Syl. Yeah my only reprieve over the loss yesterday is Carolina choked late and the Falcons lost too. Atlanta should hold onto that division, but you can never count Carolina out. They came out of nowhere late to usurp the division title in both 2013 and 14, it's kind of their thing.

After an 0-3 start and zero expectations for myself on this young team, I'm just happy and frankly shocked they're even able to still talk about a potential division title/playoffs in mid-November. Not expecting much to come out of it, but I'll enjoy the ride while it lasts (which could be realistically over as soon as Thursday, you're right that's a huge game in the South). I'm just very encouraged with the play of young players for next year, and the D finally starting to come around. Lots to build on for '17.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The craziest thing to me right now is the Texans would be the #1 seed in the AFC if they simply beat Jacoby Brissett. Nobody is even remotely scared of the Texans and every single other playoff team would dream of drawing them. Gotta be weird being a Texans fan the last few years with talented teams that scare no one, but unfortunately the results aren't bad enough to effect change. They won yesterday with Osweiler throwing for a tremendous 99 yards (on 27 attempts). Weird team kind of indicative of the current state of the NFL.

[devo22]

nah give Osweiler some credit. It takes a really special talent to ruin DeAndre Hopkins, but Brock has come through with flying colours. I mean, Hopkins probably has fond memories of Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Texans fans have no chill lol

[Sylvanfan]

Yeah, this year more than ever, it's really going to be a matter of who won enough games to get to the playoffs, and be hot enough to string together 3-4 straight games.

That's why I think that Giant scenario of get that Wild Card spot, and get your game figured out in December could occur again this year.

At this point I do think only New England and Dallas have won enough games to guarantee themselves playoffs, maybe Seattle too. Everyone else is still flawed enough that they could easily fall off their perches.

[Erick Estrada]

I can't believe how bad the Bengals offense has regressed.

[DropIt]

I'm excited for the potential playoff turnover this year.

Cincinnati
Carolina
Minnesota
Washington
Houston
Pittsburgh
Cardinals
Packers

All in threat of missing this year's playoffs

[devo22]

Blair Walsh released.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

After an 0-3 start and zero expectations for myself on this young team, I'm just happy and frankly shocked they're even able to still talk about a potential division title/playoffs in mid-November. Not expecting much to come out of it, but I'll enjoy the ride while it lasts (which could be realistically over as soon as Thursday, you're right that's a huge game in the South). I'm just very encouraged with the play of young players for next year, and the D finally starting to come around. Lots to build on for '17.

I don't follow the Saints as closely as a Saints fan would...but the two point convert by Oakland, the Sorensen interception in Kansas City that went back for 6, and the blocked convert against Denver, stand out as the difference between a 7-2 team and a 4-5 team. Seems like these plays make a huge impact in the NFL.

There isn't a whole lot that can separate a 4-6 team from a 7-2 team.

[devo22]

Cameron Heyward out for the year. Can this stupid season end already?

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I don't follow the Saints as closely as a Saints fan would...but the two point convert by Oakland, the Sorensen interception in Kansas City that went back for 6, and the blocked convert against Denver, stand out as the difference between a 7-2 team and a 4-5 team. Seems like these plays make a huge impact in the NFL.

There isn't a whole lot that can separate a 4-6 team from a 7-2 team.

Very true man. Yeah they've lost a few close games now, their loss to the Giants was on a last second FG too. Every one of their L's came down to the final drive except for the Atlanta game, they got destroyed in that one. I didn't expect them to be this competitive this year, that O is young and lethal (well save for the old man slinging it), D finally starting to come around and also very young. I'm excited for 2017.

They've certainly been a surprising welcome distraction from that garbage dump that is the Flames so far, I feel bad for you that you're having to deal with that in Connorworld. Thank Jebus i got out of there a couple years before that went down..

[devo22]

The Seahawks have waived Christine Michael ... wow. Guess they're extremely high on Prosise and Rawls is coming back, but still, odd move.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Apparently there's a Von Miller sex tape.