2009 NFL Regular Season Thread

[Bobblehead]

In addition, from what I have read it was the early pressure that Denver had trouble handling. You know that Blitzburg was paying attention. If Denver can handle the pressure then they have another good shot to win. I'm thinking Steelers - pressure defense who seem to have figured out a run game and are coming off a bye - win by 5.

[Bobblehead]

I cannot figure out the Cards or the Eagles.

Eagles lose to Raiders and even thought they beat a putrid Redskins team, they did not look good in doing it (outside of Desean Jackson). Then they lay the boots to the Giants. I don't care how bad the Giants are, they aren't as bad as the 'Skins or Raiders.

And Cardinals lay an egg against the Panthers at home? NFC West is still between Niners and Cards, even with the Niners recent woes.

[Pagal4321]

Next week's game of Cowboys @ Eagles is a huge game for both teams. No one can figure out either team. Cowboys barely beating KC, Eagles losing to OAK...and then they come out this week and destroy the Seahawks and the Giants, respectively.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I cannot figure out the Cards or the Eagles.

Eagles lose to Raiders and even thought they beat a putrid Redskins team, they did not look good in doing it (outside of Desean Jackson). Then they lay the boots to the Giants. I don't care how bad the Giants are, they aren't as bad as the 'Skins or Raiders.

And Cardinals lay an egg against the Panthers at home? NFC West is still between Niners and Cards, even with the Niners recent woes.

The Eagles are a good team that simply laid an egg against Oakland. Andy Reid abandoned the run game and Oakland got after McNabb. They also struggled in that game because they had 34 year-old Jeremiah Trotter starting at MLB.

The game against Washington was predictable. The Skins actually have a pretty good defense, but their offense is terrible. They usually play the Eagles tough, especially in D.C.

New Orleans tore the Eagles up, but the game only opened up after a blown call by the refs before the end of the first half, followed by two terrible turnovers to open the second half. Up until that point the Eagles were hanging with them, despite being thin at MLB and starting a back-up quarterback. I also remember the Eagles defense taking some really stupid penalties that extended some of the Saints scoring drives.

The Giants miss Steve Spagnuolo. They aren't getting pressue on the quarterback, and the secondary is not very good without Aaron Ross and Kenny Phillips. Eli has always been overrated but he's usually been protected by a good running game and 6'7" receiver who catch a lot of those balls that he sails. Teams are now seeing that they can jam the Giants receivers and load up 8 in the box because Eli isn't going to beat them deep.

I'm not sure what to think about the Cowboys. They looked really good against Seattle and Atlanta, but those teams have terrible DBs. I think they'll be okay if Romo can keep taking care of the football. They have a really tough schedule the rest of the way and I have a hard time seeing them finish better than 10-6 (more likely 9-7).

[Sylvanfan]

I think the Texans are 2 games over .500 for the first time in the history of their franchise. Unfortunately it looks like they lost Owen Daniels for the year due to an injury yesterday. They are in the mix for the final playoff spot in the AFC but without Daniels it will likely have an impact on what has been a pretty potent passing game.

It's really looking like the 6th playoff spot in both conferences is going to come down to some sort of tie breaker. In the AFC it would seem that Houston, Baltimore, San Diego could all come in around 10-6, and who knows if the Bengals slip up a bit too. In the NFC I think Dallas, Atlanta, Green Bay, Chicago, Philly and the Giants will all be around that mark too. One of those teams will win the NFC East but thats 3 playoff spots for 6 teams.

[KTown]

Got to love football rivalries they are real and filled with hate. This is what I miss about hockey, the players don't hate there rival teams.

As he walked past the Jets locker room after the victory, Jason Taylor put the Jets in their place: "It's like a damn graveyard around here," he yelled. "Talk about that for two weeks." Refering to them about there bye week coming up.

[Pagal4321]

Adam_Schefter Chargers released WR Chris Chambers.

Pretty odd. This is the second receiving threat that has left Miami, only to fade into mediocrity. (Randy McMichael being the other one)

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

Pretty odd. This is the second receiving threat that has left Miami, only to fade into mediocrity. (Randy McMichael being the other one)

He had faded before he left Miami. The Chargers didn't have any WR threats a couple years ago so Chambers had a starting spot handed to him on a silver platter and he did nothing. Now with Vincent Jackson having turned into a stud, Chambers was just taking up a roster spot.

This is the final year of Chambers' contract, so he should have been playing for a new contract. He's pretty much done now, unless he can convince a team he can mentor their younger guys.

[Sylvanfan]

Not surprised to see Chambers cut, Malcolm Floyd at this point should start alongside Vincent Jackson. Those two combined with Gates at the tight end spot create all sorts of match up head aches for any defence. All Rivers has to do is throw jump balls for those three and mix in the odd screen to Sproles.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

It's really looking like the 6th playoff spot in both conferences is going to come down to some sort of tie breaker. In the AFC it would seem that Houston, Baltimore, San Diego could all come in around 10-6, and who knows if the Bengals slip up a bit too. In the NFC I think Dallas, Atlanta, Green Bay, Chicago, Philly and the Giants will all be around that mark too. One of those teams will win the NFC East but thats 3 playoff spots for 6 teams.

I think the Bengals and Chargers are pretenders. I also think Baltimore's offense will put them over in the AFC North.

The NFC is muddy. Here are the remaining schedules for the 3 relevant NFC East teams:

Eagles (5-2):

vs. Dallas
@ San Diego
@ Chicago
vs. Washington
@ Atlanta
@ Giants
vs. San Francisco
vs. Denver
@ Dallas

Giants (5-3):

vs. San Diego
vs. Atlanta
@ Denver
vs. Philadelphia
@ Washington
vs. Carolina
@ Minnesota

Cowboys (5-2):

@ Philadelphia
@ Green Bay
vs. Washington
vs. Oakland
@ Giants
vs. San Diego
@ New Orleans
@ Washington
vs. Philadelphia

I think, at worst, the Eagles go 5-4 in their remaining games which would put them at 10-6, 11-5 or 12-4 is more likely. I see the Giants at 4-4 or 5-3, so that puts them right around that 9-7 or 10-6 mark. Cowboys have it nice with games against Washington and Oakland, but they also have to go to New Orleans, Green Bay, Philly, and New York. 5-4 would be really good for them, which would put them at 10-6.

The NFC North and South look pretty well set, but the wild card is interesting. The wild card teams have schedules like this:

Falcons (4-2):

@ New Orleans
vs. Washington
@ Carolina
@ Giants
vs. Tampa Bay
vs. Philadelphia
vs. New Orleans
@ Jets
vs. Buffalo
@ Tampa Bay

Bears (4-3):

vs. Arizona
@ San Francisco
vs. Philadelphia
@ Minnesota
vs. St. Louis
vs. Green Bay
@ Baltimore
vs. Minnesota
@ Detroit

Packers (4-3):

@ Tampa Bay
vs. Dallas
vs. San Francisco
@ Detroit
vs. Baltimore
@ Chicago
@ Pittsburgh
vs. Seattle
@ Arizona


I see the Falcons winning 5 or 6, Bears winning 3 or 4, and the Packers winning 6 or 7. I'm calling it as either Packers and Cowboys or Packers and Falcons. Giants and Bears have too tough of a schedule to get in.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I think the Bengals and Chargers are pretenders. I also think Baltimore's offense will put them over in the AFC North.

My gut feeling is to think that the Bengals are pretenders too, but they have 5 wins in the bank and a remaining schedule featuring power houses like

Kansas City
Oakland
Cleveland at home
Detroit

So if they can find a way to win one game against these teams

Pittsburgh
Baltimore at home
New York Jets
Chargers
Vikings

That would give them 10 wins.

Baltimore is already at 3 losses and still has to play Pittsburgh twice, Indianapolis and at Green Bay. So they're at a point where they have to win at least 2 of those games or they'll have too many losses.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Baltimore is already at 3 losses and still has to play Pittsburgh twice, Indianapolis and at Green Bay. So they're at a point where they have to win at least 2 of those games or they'll have too many losses.

Yeah, I think Baltimore beats Pittsburgh at least once and Green Bay. I see them easily going 12-4 or 11-5 and winning the AFC North. They'll have to be at least as good as 11-5 to win the North, because I don't see Pittsburgh losing more than 3 games the rest of the way.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Nice to see Montana boy Kroy Biermann get in the end zone. That said, go Saints.

[OILFAN #81]

Wow. Pretty risk play by the Falcons. Goes from 14-14 to 28-14 Saints in 24 seconds.

[Flickered Flame]

The gong show in Cleveland continues.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4616312

[OILFAN #81]

Saints up 28-21 in the 4th quarter.

Falcons looked like they had the tying TD but the ball hit the ground in the endzone before the catch.

Looks like the Falcons will have to settle for a FG.

EDIT:

FG is good. Saints now up 28-24 in the 4th quarter.

[Machiavelli]

Wow, HUGE turnover.

[OILFAN #81]

Wow. INT for the Saints at the goal line.

[Machiavelli]

Brees is forcing it.

[Sylvanfan]

For awhile it was looking like the Falcons might actually make me eat some words from earlier in the day. I think this would be the first time in his career that Matt Ryan loses two games in a row.