NFL Discussion Thread

[YourMathTeacher]

I wanted to continue Nameless' revival of the NFL discussion. I was not expecting his whole post to be deleted, since I was poised to respond to it. I guess I'll just start this new thread instead.

1. My Patriots finally lost, which I'm relieved about actually. I definitely did not want our first loss to come in the Super Bowl again. 

2. I'm not sure which is more surprising -  that the Cowboys are 3-8 this year, or that the Cowboys are 3-8 and could still win the division. We've had the same issue in the AFC South, with 4-8 Jacksonville and 3-9 Tennessee still in the hunt for a division title.

3. Will anyone beat the Panthers?

[wyatt_marcum]

I'm hoping tennessee wins. its been too long.......

[TheHobbit13]

I'm curious to see what will happen in the NFC North. Out of the next 3 games before the Vikings and Packers meet 2/3 are very win-able games for both teams. Then, assuming they both lose to the Cardinals as well, they will play at Green Bay for the division title. If the packers win my guess is Seahawks go to New York and Vikings play at Green Bay again for Wild card weekend. If vikings win my guess is Seattle comes here and Green bay goes to New York.

[EmJayBee83]

I'm curious to see what will happen in the NFC North. Out of the next 3 games before the Vikings and Packers meet 2/3 are very win-able games for both teams.

Given how both teams have been playing the next three games are also very losable for both teams, and the Bears will win the North.

[RedemptionAggie]

I'm curious to see what will happen in the NFC North. Out of the next 3 games before the Vikings and Packers meet 2/3 are very win-able games for both teams.

Given how both teams have been playing the next three games are also very losable for both teams, and the Bears will win the North.

I think that requires a Vikings-Packers tie in the last game, as either would hold the tiebreaker (split head-to-head, but better division record) if they tied with the Bears at 9-7.  Not impossible, but highly unlikely.

2. I'm not sure which is more surprising -  that the Cowboys are 3-8 this year, or that the Cowboys are 3-8 and could still win the division. We've had the same issue in the AFC South, with 4-8 Jacksonville and 3-9 Tennessee still in the hunt for a division title.

Probably that the Cowboys are still in the hunt for the division, since they were missing Romo for 7 games, and don't have him for the rest of the regular season (at least).

It feels like the biggest difference between the AFC South and NFC East is that everyone in NFC East can beat each other (although the Cowboys got lucky in that regard and beat the Giants and Eagles before Romo went down), while Indianapolis (and to a lesser extent Houston) seem to regularly beat Jacksonville and Tennessee.

[VJ]

How about those Redskins?  Or, as Kirk would say, "You like that?"

Also, my other favorite team, the Vikings, are still in the hunt for a playoff spot.

What a season!

If the Panthers do not sit their starters, they should go undefeated and go to the Super Bowl.

[AJ]

Panthers should definitely go undefeated but I don't think they make it to the SB. The Cardinals are the most complete team in the NFC if not the entire NFL. I think SB50 will be Patriots Cardinals. Not trying to disrespect the Panthers they are obviously a great team and have the chance to do something the Pats' couldn't I just think they won't. In the AFC Ithink the three teams with a legitimate chance of making a title run are Pats', Bengals Steelers. I can't wait to see what happens.

[VJ]

Well, I for one, was very surprised when the Panthers lost their first game of the season.  I kept expecting them to come back and win the game. 

Is it too early for me to order my Vikings Super Bowl 50 champion shirt?  Just wondering.

[TheHobbit13]

Is it too early for me to order my Vikings Super Bowl 50 champion shirt?  Just wondering.

I would say so.... Unfortunately, Teddy does not complement Peterson very well as he cannot stretch the field. I think the Vikings will lose to the Packers this Sunday, because ultimately they cannot exploit Green bays secondary like Rodgers can exploit the Vikings', and go to Washington for wild card weekend (go Cardinals).

[VJ]

One of the big recent stories has been the firing of the Eagles head coach Chip Kelly.  He also made the news quite often in the off season with him getting almost complete control over all personal decisions and his trading of popular Eagles players.  Which leads us to wonder if he got fired because his decisions lead to the dismal Eagles season.  Or, he got fired because there is dysfunction in the Eagles front office.  Then again, he could just be the scapegoat for the bad seasonal record.

Any thoughts on this?

[pilgrim14]

Is it too early for me to order my Vikings Super Bowl 50 champion shirt?  Just wondering.

I would say so.... Unfortunately, Teddy does not complement Peterson very well as he cannot stretch the field. I think the Vikings will lose to the Packers this Sunday, because ultimately they cannot exploit Green bays secondary like Rodgers can exploit the Vikings', and go to Washington for wild card weekend (go Cardinals).

I have a reeling that the team that loses that game will be better off in the playoffs. They will have an easier first round to get settled into the playoffs.

[YourMathTeacher]

Is it too early for me to order my Vikings Super Bowl 50 champion shirt?  Just wondering.

I would say so.... Unfortunately, Teddy does not complement Peterson very well as he cannot stretch the field. I think the Vikings will lose to the Packers this Sunday, because ultimately they cannot exploit Green bays secondary like Rodgers can exploit the Vikings', and go to Washington for wild card weekend (go Cardinals).

I think you may underestimate Bridgewater. In college he proved that he could rise to the occasion in these situations. I would not be surprised if the Vikings beat the Packers, especially in Green Bay. The Packers lost to both the Bears and the Lions at home, even though they beat both of them on the road. Don't they say that all things come in threes? 

[Mr.Hiatus]

I think the Packers win this week. I am interested in the AZ/SEA game but reports are saying Seattle is resting players. I'm a Jets fan. The playoffs should be very intriguing, as other than Arizona, I do not think any team is above any other. Should be an interesting Sunday.

[AJ]

A healthy Patriots team is above the others.

[Drrek]

A healthy Patriots team is above the others.

Cardinals and Panthers are better teams than a healthy patriots team this year.

[YourMathTeacher]

A healthy Patriots team is above the others.

How can you compare a team that hasn't existed at any point this season? 

[jbeers285]

Steelers going dancing!

[Mr.Hiatus]

The Jets game was a heartbreaker for me today. This Packers/Vikings game is insane!

[Rawrlolsauce!]

Man, I was rooting for the Packers/against the Vikings for the first (and hopefully last time) ever. I live one block away from TCF stadium and I hate the traffic/noise during game days. Not to mention, according to Nate Silver, the Seahawks are the strongest team and the Redskins are the weakest team.. I'd rather play the redskins away than the seahawks home. Oh well.

SKOL VIKINGS KINGS OF THE NORTH

[YourMathTeacher]

Not to mention, according to Nate Silver, the Seahawks are the strongest team and the Redskins are the weakest team.. I'd rather play the redskins away than the seahawks home. Oh well.

That's one opinion. Of all the teams in the playoffs, the Redskins have the greatest disparity between records at home (6-2) and away (3-5). I'm not so sure that playing the Redskins at home would be a preference.

I understand the logic that the Seahawks are a better team overall, but I think Vikings fans should be pleased to be playing at home where they are 6-2.

[Drrek]

I'm perplexed that you would root against the vikings to give them an easier round 1 matchup.  They are going to have to play seahawks/cardinals/panther quality teams to make the superbowl anyway, might as well face them at home instead of on the road.

[TheHobbit13]

When the game started the only possibilities for the Vikings was to go back to Green bay or host Seattle. Personally, I would rather host a playoff game. We are healthier this time around, and even though we don't have a very good matchup against Seattle, anything can happen when you are hungry and at home 

[AJ]

A healthy Patriots team is above the others.

Cardinals and Panthers are better teams than a healthy patriots team this year.

That's why when the Pats were healthy they led the NFL in scoring while having one of the better defenses in the league. Edelman stays healthy and the Patriots go undefeated.

[Rawrlolsauce!]

They are going to have to play seahawks/cardinals/panther quality teams to make the superbowl anyway, might as well face them at home instead of on the road.

And it's easier to beat 3 top teams than it is to beat 4.

Also, here's a little map from Google:


Vikings games are the worst. They're noisy, they're busy, it forces the traffic police to actually check cars and give out tickets, and my favorite bar (Sally's Saloon) is impossible to get into on a game day (unless you want to wait outside for 2 hours.) Vikings games are much worse than, say, a Gophers game.

[VJ]

As a Redskins and Vikings fan I'm very pleased that both are division winners.  Kirk Cousins has looked great over the last few games,  He has done a great job in not turning over the ball which plagued him earlier.

The Vikings game was very exciting. 

The back-up QB for The Broncos also looked good. 

[YourMathTeacher]

Edelman stays healthy and the Patriots go undefeated.

As a Patriots fan, I would have to disagree with this assertion. The main injury problems that the Patriots have faced have been on the offensive line. Brady has been sacked and knocked down more this year than any year I can remember. He also has picked up the habit of rolling out of the pocket just so he can throw the ball away. I think he's starting to feel a little shell-shocked.

Having a go-to guy who recognizes blitzes and gets open quickly will certainly be a benefit, but Edelman alone is not the key to a Patriots' run.

Frankly, I wish Belichick would spend a high draft pick on a deep threat WR who is taller than 5'9". 

Vikings games are the worst. They're noisy, they're busy, it forces the traffic police to actually check cars and give out tickets, and my favorite bar (Sally's Saloon) is impossible to get into on a game day (unless you want to wait outside for 2 hours.) Vikings games are much worse than, say, a Gophers game.

Were there no other apartments available in city?  As we say here in Florida, you can't complain about the storm surge hitting your house if you choose to live on the beach. 

[Drrek]

A healthy Patriots team is above the others.

Cardinals and Panthers are better teams than a healthy patriots team this year.

That's why when the Pats were healthy they led the NFL in scoring while having one of the better defenses in the league. Edelman stays healthy and the Patriots go undefeated.

That is very not true.  The Patriots would not have gone undefeated with Edelman.

[AJ]

All of their losses were due to a lack of offense and lack of production from the offensive line so yes Brady's most trusted receiver and one of the receivers with the quickest burst off the line would have helped neutralize the pass rush and  drastically  change New England's season. There is a reason the Pats offensive production dropped six points per game after the loss of Edelman. People underestimate how important Edelman is to this team.

[Mr.Hiatus]

I can't quote people out here the proper way, but Ddrek said the Vikings would have to play Seahawks/Panthers/Cardinals caliber teams on the road to the playoffs anyway might as well play them at home. Not to nitpick but the Vikings, IF they win this week, would have to travel to play Arizona or Carolina anyway, so either way they get one game at home, and it happens to be against a scary hot Seahawks team. And AJ said when the Pats were healthy they led the NFL in scoring. Arizona Cardinals are looking at you man....
YMT said it best, Brady got rocked this year, even when their O-line was healthy, it wasn't very great. The only reason it looked so great was because how fast Brady got rid of the football, led the NFL in snap/release. Russel Wilson, Colin Kaepernick, and Andrew Luck, were the only qb's to be rushed more than Brady this year if I remember correctly. Edelman didn't get hurt last year and the Pats didn't go undefeated? That is extremely ignorant, not in a mean way, to say the Pats go undefeated if Edelman stays healthy. I understand your argument, but it is a huge what if.

[uthminister [BR]]

Steeler Nation will prevail. First up...answering the question everyone is asking in the Cincinnati area, "Who Dey?" We Dey!

[jbeers285]

Honestly I believe the bronco's win last week was huge for the steelers because the road to the AFC championship game is now Bengals then Broncos instead of Chiefs Patriots.  Ill take the road we got every time.  Bengals will either have a stiff sore Andy Dalton or game manager of the decade Aj McCarron. If we get the job done there then we get the Bronco's and peytons mannings brain.  I think we can outscore that offense.

In All honesty the AFC side is more open then I ever remember.  No one is scary good.  Perhaps the chiefs have the most momentum but is that enough?

[TheHobbit13]

I can't quote people out here the proper way, but Ddrek said the Vikings would have to play Seahawks/Panthers/Cardinals caliber teams on the road to the playoffs anyway might as well play them at home. Not to nitpick but the Vikings, IF they win this week, would have to travel to play Arizona or Carolina anyway, so either way they get one game at home, and it happens to be against a scary hot Seahawks team.

Either the Vikings play Green bay and Carolina on the road or Seattle at home and Arizona on the road. Seattle is physical and talented but Arizona is significantly worse than Carolina. 

The Packers actually have a nice road if the Seahawks beat the Vikings. Washington-->Arizona -->at worst Carolina