The NFL Thread 2009

[Ruckus]

This is my favorite weekend in the NFL.  You still have two games Saturday and two Sunday.  Winners get to play in the Conference Championship.   Loving these matchups.  NFC especially.  Warner is truly amazing.  Hall of Fame LOCK after last weekend.

I agree with this.  I love this weekend and my DREAM IS STILL ALIVE!  Since all my buddies are Ravens fans and I'm a Jets guy, we have made a pact that if the Ravens and Jets win this weekend, we are all piling into a couple of cars and going back to the Meadowlands for the official final game ever played there.  Here's to the DREAM coming true! [smiley=beer.gif]

I know you're a St. Louis guy, but I would hope that Warner didn't even need that performance to make the Hall of Fame and for people to use that as justification.

Warner's numbers speak for themselves.  When you consider that his lack of playing time early in his career due to talent oversight then the Warner to Bulger debacle and finally the Leinart experiment, he cannot be blamed for his less than full career.  Unlike say Earl Campbell or Gale Sayers, Warner's shorter career cannot be blame on him or injury.  We can only go by what he has done when he has played.  If you take the per game average plus that fact that he missed seasons in his prime, to me it's a no brainer.

[BH]

Oh it's definitely a no brainer for me as well, I just hear people still discussing it.  His thumb and small hands were the only blip on his career.   I just saw that he has the second highest QB rating in the playoffs of all time, just a few tenths behind first place.  (I think it was Bart Starr, could that be right?)

[capt. scotty]

I think I heard last year Warner has thrown for 300 yards in nearly 50% of his starts, and the next closest guy was in the low 20%'s or something...thats ludicrous

[TEO]

It will be good for the city if they win the Grand Prize, but I honestly just don't think it will bring me any personal self satisfaction if they do. I WILL NOT jump on the bandwagon and participate in any Blue Fridays...

[.Walt]

Now, one of our sports radio personalities is trying to pick a on air fight with a Dallas host. It's getting heated, but what the Dallas guys don't know is that our host is picking Dallas to win.

[TEO]

Wore green all day yesterday. It's gonna' be a war! They are going to rush Manning like he has never been rushed before...hope to see a close, hard fought game...

[capt. scotty]

Wore green all day yesterday. It's gonna' be a war! They are going to rush Manning like he has never been rushed before...hope to see a close, hard fought game...

I thought you were a Colts fan?  :-?

[capt. scotty]

Picks this week?

I was 2-2 vs. Vegas and 3-1 on my picks. Of course, Green Bay was my most confident pick and they were the loss. Still dont know where their D went.

This week looks tough to me, but I'd say:

NO -7
BAL +7
DAL +3
SD -7

Its hard for me to bet against Warner in the playoffs, but I have a feeling they could win this one by considerably more than the 7 theyre getting. NO's D is finally healthy, the dome should be rocking, and I think Warner might turn it over a couple times and doesnt have anywhere close to the same amount of time to complete passes. Boldin likely out again, and I think that does hurt them this week. I also dont see Zona's D stopping Brees. All things outside of Warner make me feel like the Saints win.

Indy hasnt played for a month. They only beat the Ravens by 2 earlier in the year, and that was including holding them to 5 FG's. No one has stopped Ray Rice all year, I dont see it happening now. Flacco can help them win games when they need him to. I'll take Indy because I think they are primed to fire on all cylinders from all the media talk against them since they lost their first game, but it's hard to have faith in a team that won a lot of close games this year and hasnt played serious ball for about a month.

Dallas is rolling, especially their D. Peterson was only above average over the last half of the year. Theyll definitely need a good one out of AD to win this, as I dont see Favre winning it by himself. Dallas is just too hot right now though, and Im most confident they win out of any team this week. Sorry Brent

Rivers vs NYJ pass D - cant wait to see that. Im sure Revis will hold his own, but I still dont think they hold Rivers down overall. I think LT shows up with a nice game. I definitely like Chargers in this game, but the spread is a tough buy with how good NYJ has looked lately.

[Ruckus]

Picks this week?

I was 2-2 vs. Vegas and 3-1 on my picks. Of course, Green Bay was my most confident pick and they were the loss. Still dont know where their D went.

This week looks tough to me, but I'd say:

NO -7
BAL +7
DAL +3
SD -7

Its hard for me to bet against Warner in the playoffs, but I have a feeling they could win this one by considerably more than the 7 theyre getting. NO's D is finally healthy, the dome should be rocking, and I think Warner might turn it over a couple times and doesnt have anywhere close to the same amount of time to complete passes. Boldin likely out again, and I think that does hurt them this week. I also dont see Zona's D stopping Brees. All things outside of Warner make me feel like the Saints win.

Indy hasnt played for a month. They only beat the Ravens by 2 earlier in the year, and that was including holding them to 5 FG's. No one has stopped Ray Rice all year, I dont see it happening now. Flacco can help them win games when they need him to. I'll take Indy because I think they are primed to fire on all cylinders from all the media talk against them since they lost their first game, but it's hard to have faith in a team that won a lot of close games this year and hasnt played serious ball for about a month.

Dallas is rolling, especially their D. Peterson was only above average over the last half of the year. Theyll definitely need a good one out of AD to win this, as I dont see Favre winning it by himself. Dallas is just too hot right now though, and Im most confident they win out of any team this week. Sorry Brent

Rivers vs NYJ pass D - cant wait to see that. Im sure Revis will hold his own, but I still dont think they hold Rivers down overall. I think LT shows up with a nice game. I definitely like Chargers in this game, but the spread is a tough buy with how good NYJ has looked lately.

2-2 against Vegas also last week with the same picks as you.
I'm going with my heart, no logic this week baby!

I got the Jets at +8.5 early this week or maybe Sunday.  At +7 now, I might lean towards the Chargers.  It really comes down to whether the Jets can weather the 1st half Chargers storm that they are know for.  If the Jets go down more than one score, it may be trouble early.  If they keep it close, can get to Rivers a couple of times and force at least 1 or 2 three and outs in the 1st half, I like our chances.  I believe that we can run the ball on them consistently but it won't matter if we are behind.  I just hope Schottenheimer doesn't get too cute early with Sanchez.  Chargers 23-16

Everyone seems to be on the Cardinals wagon now.  They are Jekyll and Hyde.  I don't know which team will show up.  Both teams can move the ball at will when clicking but I think that the Saints front 7 will be able to create more pressure than the Cards front 7.  Add to that the Dome and I like the Saints 31-21.

Cowboys are ridiculously hot.  But I hate them.  I won't talk about this.  I like the Cowboys to cover in a loss.  Vikings 24-23

The Ravens are playing great football right now even with a banged up Joe Flacco.  This patchwork secondary has really come together and Suggs showed up for the 1st time last week since he signed his big contract.  If Gaither starts at left tackle, the offensive line is so much better.  The Colts are a one trick pony.  Don't give up more than one big play to Manning and Ravens can't settle for 3 like they did earlier this year.  I like the Ravens outright 27-24

[capt. scotty]

Looks like were the same on the betting side of it again  ;D

...if I actually were betting, I wouldnt touch the ARI/NO game. Even the 57.5 O/U is a tough call. That +7 to me just looks like some bait for the public to take Zona after everyone saw them annihilate GB's D last week. Im very confident NO wins, but by more than 7 is a tough call. I know Zona wont stop Brees, I have a feeling NO could give Warner some trouble

[TEO]

Good, hard fought game so far. I am a little surprised at the lack of pressure that the Ravens are able to apply to the Colts offense...

[capt. scotty]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4833327

Woww...this is crazy. I dont see it happening, but I hope he plays a few more years.

That said, Ravens totally blew that game. Reed was the only guy who stepped up on the entire team, although I thought Ray Ray had a good game. 5-6 drops, that Rice fumble, Reeds fumble on the return...Id be hard pressed to say the Jets beat Indy if they win, but I dont see Indy beating the Chargers a week from now.

Warner career? maybe. I figured NO would win by 10-14, but never thought they would stomp them like that. Zona seemed to call way too many longer-ish pass plays early, and the NO D was getting to them at the same time. Fitz seemed non-existent, and likely on those longer routes where Warner had no chance to find him. Where were the 3 step drops? Bush looked like a #2 pick. That TD run was nasty and it was like 2005 all over again. Saints vs either DAL or MIN should be great next week

[aMillionDreams]

Yeah, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis were their usual selves last night but they didn't have enough help from their offense.  The Ravens just don't match up well with the Colts.  Bad draw for Baltimore.

It'd be too bad if Ed Reed retires but then again it will be nice not to face him twice a year either.  He's definitely one of the best to ever play his position if not the best.

[Ruckus]

Ahhhhh the Jets :D  What a fun ride it's been.

Congrats to Walts and Teo.  Particularly impressive performance by the Vikes but we'll see if they can get the same type of pressure on Brees who knows how to get rid of the ball.  Colts get their shot at redemption though I oddly feel OK about our chances.  It's gonna have to be the same formula we had against the Chargers.  Hang in there early, keep it close and hope make a play or two late in the game where the pressure will be on those horseshoes.

If Tracy were around, we'd have our Final Four :-/

[AMightyCaporal]

Ahhhhh the Jets :D  What a fun ride it's been.

Congrats to Walts and Teo.  Particularly impressive performance by the Vikes but we'll see if they can get the same type of pressure on Brees who knows how to get rid of the ball.  Colts get their shot at redemption though I oddly feel OK about our chances.  It's gonna have to be the same formula we had against the Chargers.  Hang in there early, keep it close and hope make a play or two late in the game where the pressure will be on those horseshoes.

If Tracy were around, we'd have our Final Four :-/

god damn jets... its like a bad dream (as a dolphin fan in NJ) that they are this close to the super bowl... I'll never hear the end of it!

[capt. scotty]

After another weekend of boring games, the last one comes thru with a very good one!! Man, I hope Nate Kaeding got Code Reded after the game. Glad he never bungaled up a few kicks like that during the fantasy playoffs!

NO/MIN should be a barnburner

Glad your Jets made it to the AFC champ game Ruckus  :)

...but I hope they dont win because Id much rather see a Manning/Farve or Manning/Brees SB  [smiley=laugh.gif]

[Ruckus]

After another weekend of boring games, the last one comes thru with a very good one!! Man, I hope Nate Kaeding got Code Reded after the game. Glad he never bungaled up a few kicks like that during the fantasy playoffs!

NO/MIN should be a barnburner

Glad your Jets made it to the AFC champ game Ruckus  :)

...but I hope they dont win because Id much rather see a Manning/Farve or Manning/Brees SB  [smiley=laugh.gif]

Thank you man!  I'm pretty jacked up!  Got tix for the game.  It's gonna be a lotta driving but hopefully worth it.

So you must have done well this weekend.  I went 3 for 4, just missing out on the Colts/Ravens but luckily I put 2x as much on the Jets so it felt like going 4 for 4.

Saints -4 - I like the Saints
Colts +7.5 - I have to like the Jets straight up right?

C'mon Teo!  Where are you?  You confident?

[.Walt]

If Tracy were around, we'd have our Final Four :-/

What if Tracy were here?... He would've already called me a assclown, questioned my knowledge of football, and forbid me to talk in this thread.


But about the Vikes.  Not 100% confident. It's hard to be after 1998..the dream team. It's not like the Saints aren't good, so I wouldn't fly to N.O. for a chance to see us get smoked. Should be a good game, and I do think the Vikes will win...homer!

All of you guys have seen the Vikes play their last 4 or 5 games in prime time...is it just me or does it seem the Vikes are very predictable when it comes to the running game?

[Ruckus]

If Tracy were around, we'd have our Final Four :-/

What if Tracy were here?... He would've already called me a assclown, questioned my knowledge of football, and forbid me to talk in this thread.


But about the Vikes.  Not 100% confident. It's hard to be after 1998..the dream team. It's not like the Saints aren't good, so I wouldn't fly to N.O. for a chance to see us get smoked. Should be a good game, and I do think the Vikes will win...homer!

All of you guys have seen the Vikes play their last 4 or 5 games in prime time...is it just me or does it seem the Vikes are very predictable when it comes to the running game?

You're an assclown, you don't know shit about football and well you should stop posting on this thread. [smiley=bath.gif]

I don't think the Vikes running game has been predictable.  What seems to be lacking is AP hitting the second level without being touched the way he did last year.  Perhaps begrudgingly you're right about the predictablility because the gaps seem to be filled consistently against him recently.  Of course the shallow backers have also led to big play after big play by the biggest assclown of all, the GREAT FAVRE!

What a matchup.  I'd like to think that the home dome will be the difference.

[TEO]

I hope the Jets make the colts work their ass off for it...no blue smurf sheep Friday for TEO!