National Football League

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Having said that, it would be a big mistake to count Seattle out.

Why? The way you described the game, they were manhandled by the Cowboys. Even the Redskins kept it close on Moday when everybody expected a blow-out, connecting on deep passes...
Now that the SEA defense seems to have come down to earth/regressing to mean/figured out, the SEA offense woes come to full blown sight. They were masked by a conservative game plan because that was enough in 13-9 games. OTOH, as I already said last year, this offense can´t keep up in high(er) scoring games. Overrated. The QB (as almost every) is just as good as the talent around him, may not even as good (high sack rate*) as them.
Too bad they got a superbowl as a one-sided team. Don´t like such champions, not at all.
I think they are done...

* Wouldn´t blame it completely on the OL since they are good in run blocking. "Running QBs" OTOH always have a high sack rate. Until they are healed (see Cunningham, Elway, Vick to some extend, who all improved the all-important passing efficiency dramatically when they stopped being throwing RBs), they are not as efficient as pure pocket passers. This is NFL, not college.

 

[Oldman]

The Quick Foxxy jumps to conclusions.
Jay Glazer put it appropriately: "the team has lost their edge".
Doug Baldwin called out the wide receivers for not fighting off the line.

It's a little early for wishful thinking from Denver, I'm afraid.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

The Quick Foxxy jumps to conclusions.

How? It´s not only this game. SEA defense gives up 10 TDs, only 2 INTs gained (talk about regression to the mean, their numbers last year were absurd), 6.5 Y/PP given up (middle of the pack, right at NFL-Avg.)... Guess the loudspeakers and dopers like Sherman shut up now... and Wilson is overrated. All I remember as a true great game was him leading the Seahawks to 28 points in a playoff losing effort vs ATL two years ago... The rest was/is more or less game managment as a "running QB" with his usual 144 yards passing. We had tons of those kind of QBs. All failed. Wilson was the first to win a SB. But we all know why SEA won that championship...
SEA is done.
Was waiting (too) long to write this. I am satisfied. If only that SB could be erased.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I love how you see things in such extremes.

I think Seattle has the players, and coaches to adapt and learn from this loss. And Doug Baldwin's words for the entire offense were spot on. Whether they adapt or not is another question. But it's very difficult to repeat as champions in the NFL. You lose players, and you do lose edge. What was last year's constant burning desire to finally win and prove their greatness, I now see in other teams, like Arizona, San Diego, maybe even Dallas. You almost see it in teams that don't have the personnel. Cleveland for example. Seattle may want to prove they still have it, but that's not quite the same. Can Seattle get that back? I think it's possible, just not likely. Even the '85 Bears didn't repeat, and none of those great 49er teams did either. Foxxy can completely write them off, like he has Denver, but I haven't crossed that bridge yet.

49ers looked workmanlike in beating the Rams. But St. Louis has such a weak secondary, and not much consistency in the passing game either.

 

[The Hitch]

Rams got screwed on that ridiculous penalty at the end of the half where the refs turned 1st and 10 from the 25 into 3rd and 15 from the 50. Rams punt san Francisco score on the td and go into the half 10-14 when it should have been 3-17 or 3-21.


The leagues refusal to use technology is ruining the game. The way san Fran played 2nd half it's possible we would have had a much better game and they still would have won.

 

[The Hitch]

For this week.

2 more teams that won't win the superbowl- Atlanta falcons- apart from a few good players they don't have the personnel, Minnesota Vikings - need to have a few Nfc picks here to even it out.

A team that will lose this week, also falcons. Ravens real good atm and at home so.


To update my picks then.

Elimination Football
Hitch - Jax, Cle, Oak, Stl, Mia, TB Tenn, Buff, NYJ, WashThis week: Atl, Min

Reverse Survival Football™.

Hitch - Jax, Jets, Minn, Tenn, Wash,Dal* This week: Atl

 

[leftover pie]

I have to update too, heading away and might not be near a computer for a few days

For Elimination Football® this week:

Atlanta, Pittsburgh

To add to my list:

NYG / Washington / NYJ / Dallas /Jacksonville / Minnesota / St Louis / Oakland / Miami / Tampa Bay


For Reverse Survival Football™ (Loser Bowl):

49ers

my current score: 4 (+1 bonus doughnut point)

Teams used: Titans*, Chargers*, Washington, Jacksonville, Jets(0), Raiders

 

[Merckx index]

Even the '85 Bears didn't repeat, and none of those great 49er teams did either.

49ers repeated in ’88-’89.

Anyone notice that Flacco set a record by throwing 5 TD passes in the first sixteen minutes? You’d think he’d have a great shot at the record of 7 in one game, but he got no more. Of course, when you're leading 35-0 early in the second quarter, the tendency is to run more...

I think it’s too early to write off the Seahawks. Don’t forget they played some poor games last year, e.g., vs. the Rams and Bucs, but got away with it because those teams weren’t good enough to take advantage of the situation. I agree with Foxxy, though, that Seattle’s offense can be shut down to a large extent. They didn’t score much in the postseason till the SB.

Anyway, for survival this week I'll take StL, though it means the Rams, which I expected to be pretty good this year, will fall to 1-5 with a second straight home loss. I expect a big Seahawk rebound.

Past picks: MI*, NYJ, Min, TE, BUF*, OAK

Wrt elimination. At this point, I’m going to go out on a limb and say there are only ten teams that have a shot at winning the SB. Six in the NFC: Dallas, Philly, GB, SE, SF and AZ. Four in the AFC: NE, IND, DE and SD. And can probably scratch off AZ and NE, so make it eight teams.

So, sorry, Cincy, Baltimore, Carolina, NO, etc.

But for now, I’ll add Pitt and NYJ to
NYG, JAX, KC, MI, BUF, StL, OAK, TE, CLE, WASH

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

I am so much devastated by losing all in just one bad week (my perfect season & my lead with my "system"), I dont even feel like updating stats or post non-sensical posts (), or make my new picks. You see guys, it can be depressing even when games are not about money, but just a internet chat... It´s the fighter in me that... well, I am just not good in losing... never was... Sorry

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

that Seattle’s offense can be shut down to a large extent. They didn’t score much in the postseason till the SB.

And even there, it was mostly great field position and/or SpT/defense scores that lit up the scoreboard.
Plus I remember some of my posts regarding the SF game: SEA average scoring drive was about 40 yards (IOW, the D gave the O great field position, as usual in the past two seasons), while DEN had circa 65 in their championship game...
All that led to my wrong assumption that DEN should prevail in the SB. It never crossed my mind that PM could lower the low standards of his miserable playoff meltdowns in the biggest game of his career...
I am still not over it... that a one-sided team would win in a blow-out SB.
The final coffin nail for the Seahawks will be the mega deal Wilson will sign. Since they are average already, they will then soon drop to the cellar and have to endure TB like seasons after they won their one-sided team championship. They shone for a season, and then more ugly seasons between some so-so playoff years.
The 85 Bears had a great D, but also the second best efficient pass offense in the NFC, and the highest scoring offense... Why did they not repeat? 1st of all McCaskey was unwilling to pay his players (imagine Dent made 55.000 $ as a pro bowler... no, not per week, not per month, but in a season. Source: McMahons biography).
2nd: BigMac had his yearly mid-season injury and then either played on with a Horner-like half-dead body and/or had to go to IR sooner than later...

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

And if you look at the stats in the playoff loss to the Giants they really should have won that game. IIRC, turnovers killed them.

I'll make picks in a day or two. Need to think a little deeper.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

And if you look at the stats in the playoff loss to the Giants they really should have won that game. IIRC, turnovers killed them.

I'll make picks in a day or two. Need to think a little deeper.

Oh yes. No doubt. The first game the myth got some flaws (if you mean the 87-game when McMahon threw 3 Ints, in the strike year when he became captain comeback only to save the worst for last PM-like )

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Anyway, dynasty over before it even begun. That´s faster than even me expected (speak before the D falls apart when Wilson captures a big chunk of the cap). My condolences to all Seahawks fans.

What’s that? Ah, dynasty? Don’t talk about dynasty? You kiddin’ me? Dynasty? I just hope we can win a game.

Well, they will prolly win another game that maybe those Mora's Saints couldn't. But that label others (e.g. Vernon Davis) have tagged Seattle with is only out of respect, not as a result of having achieved it. I hope you didn’t buy into Vern’s spin doctoring and lose money in a bet.

Defense figured out? Did Romo attack deep as I preached since pre playoffs last season? Like Cousins did? Well, if those coaches only listened to me earlier...

Well, it is a simple defense. But the real reason for Dallas’ success vs Seattle was the battle of the trenches, won on all sides by Dallas, making it easier for Romo to do his thing. (Translation for Foxxy: more study film, less preach ). Seattle D did not get pressure on Romo, so that spelled Doom instead of Boom for the Seattle secondary. Seattle also did not stop the run consistently enough, and this is the first time I felt like Seattle missed Red Bryant. Dallas had the fullback going effectively, taking care of anyone trying to fill gaps (e.g. Cam got bammed). Gap responsibility was another area Seattle D lost the battle of, making it difficult for LBs to fill holes, all because the Dallas OLine dominated.

On top of that, the Seattle offense could not get much going partly because (a) they lost that battle of the trenches too and (b) they have become too predictable in their play calling. SEA LT Okung is only about 80% due to offseason foot surgery and now a torn labrum he got vs Denver. And his backup (Bailey) has been out with injury. Bailey is also used their heavy set. Add to that starting C Unger and TE Miller (a key blocker) were both out limits what the Seattle offense could do, and how well they could do it. Miller is out at least 4 more weeks, but Unger and Bailey may be back sooner, leaving LT Okung to suck it up. I feel Okung’s pain. It is a hard task to come back from the foot issue and play at a high level, and now have to struggle with the labrum.

On offensive play calling, after about the third failed bubble screen to Harvin I was so mad I tweeted the Hawks about “being too predictable. How about some slants”? Or anything different. The next series they tossed a slant to Harvin for 8 yards. “They read it”, I thought. NOT. But it felt better that way.

Sorry SEA messed up many of yall’s survival/elimination football plans.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

All you guys talking about how bad SEA run D was... I didn´t see the game, so I have to depend on statistical analyses of the great Brian Burke...
Murray had a 32% SR*. Well below the 41%-NFL average (IOW, SEAs D did good in that appartement)... SEA is 2nd (!!) in NFL at 3.1 YPC given up (last year 11th)...
The passing game was (as in 90% of professional football games) the difference maker. Romo had a 49% SR against last years "pass defense for the ages", which is right about the NFL average. Wilson OTOH had a abyssal bad 27%...
While SEA run D improved dramatically compared to last year, the all important pass D dropped from wayyy-above-the-rest-century-D, right to NFL average.

The old saying of that 90s article is still true: "You can run until you or your opponent drops, but victory comes trou the air"... And it all starts with pass-protection OFC.

Bonus: The charging Chargers are 28th in defense run SR (IOW not good at all stopping opposing RBs), and 26th in a more traditional stat: a whopping 4.7 Y/PC given up this very season. Where they really excel is OFC stopping the pass (6th Y/PP) and a super efficient pass O (2nd at 8.2 Y/PP)... Basically Rivers was amazing trou-out his career except one season. Besides Norv the smurf putting him constantly in 3rd-and-12 holes after two wasted run-into-a-wall-up-the-middle runs (BTW, this anti coach did never use audibles. Crazy, but true)... Now with a more clever coach, everything is possible. Even the decade long deserved SB.

* In simple basic terms: 1/3 of his rushes helped to move the chains according for time/down/score/distance... OTOH, 2/3 of his rushes hurt those chances.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

There´s no better way I think: All home again, but SEA (yes they get an easy get-me-out-of-the-mess opponent on the road) & CLE...
The more difficult "elimination & survival" picks will follow in time. Much more harder to pick...

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Yes, Rivers is playing like an MVP. I've only seen SD once, plus highlights, but they seem to just be able to move the ball in chunks of yards, and bend but not break on defense. Just to keep things in check, the Chargers have coming up: KC, @Denver, Miami, a bye week. Then Oakland and St. Louis. They could be 9-2 at that point, but then things get tougher. @Balt, New England, Denver again, @SF, @KC.

Some quick news:

Despite riding high after beating Seattle, Dallas back-up RB Joseph Randal was arrested for shoplifting of all things, stealing $40 worth of underwear. That's almost as stupid as Adrien Peterson smoking weed the day of a drug test. Randal had his best game of the season against Seattle, so this has to hurt him.

I watched the replay of Victor Cruz torn patella a few times and I simply can't see how he got hurt. He didn't jump, land or pivot awkwardly at all. But he sure was in agony. Antrel Rolle said he can still hear Cruz screams echoing in his head.

Tony Soprano has now stated that he's simplifying the Raiders playbook. This means to me he's trying to protect Derek Carr, and that we may never see Matt Schaub take a regular season snap, unless Carr gets hurt. I'll say what I did before, the main threat to Carr's career is losing, and playing for a dysfunctional franchise, who have been committed to mediocrity of late.

 

[The Hitch]

Tony Soprano has now stated that he's simplifying the Raiders playbook. This means to me he's trying to protect Derek Carr, and that we may never see Matt Schaub take a regular season snap, unless Carr gets hurt. I'll say what I did before, the main threat to Carr's career is losing, and playing for a dysfunctional franchise, who have been committed to mediocrity of late.

Freudian slip there?

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Ahhhh, you caught that. Freud had nothing to do with it.

 

[Eshnar]

Almost forgot it's Thursday already Patriots ftw tonight.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Okay everyone, here is where we stand on Elimination Football.®. I could definitely be wrong, so please correct me if you know.

Alpe - NYG, Cle, Jax, StL, TB, Mia, NYJ, Minn, this week: Tenn, Buf
Foxxy - Den, Oak, Jax, Stl, TB, Min, Atl, Chi, NO, NYJ
Glenn - Jax, Oak, TB
Amsterhammer - Wash, Dal, NYG, SD, Oak, Jax, TB, Hou, Atl, Minn
Hitch - Jax, Cle, Oak, Stl, Mia, TB, Tenn, Buff, NYJ. This week: Atl & Miami
Merckx, - NYG, Jax, KC, Mia, Buf, Stl, Oak, TE, Cle, Wash, this week: Pitt, NYJ
Leftover Pie - NYJ, Dallas, NYG, Wash, StL, Oak, Mia, TB
Pricey sky - (no picks)
Torebear - Oak, Jax, TB, Tenn, KC, Hou, NYG, Wash, NYJ, Stl,

For Survival Football™. Again, I could be wrong, so correct me if I am.

Alpe - Indy, KC, Minn, Tenn, NYJ, Dal*, this week: NYG
Foxxy - Indy, KC, Tenn, Phi, TB, Dal*
Glenn - Miami*, San Diego*, Denver
Amsterhammer no pick*, SD*, Oak, TB, Dal*
Hitch - Jax, Cle, Minn, NYJ, Tenn, Wash, Dal*, this week: Atl
Merckx - Miami*, NYJ, Min, Tenn, Buf*, Oak, this week: StL
Leftover Pie - San Diego, Tennessee, Washington, Jax, NYJ, Oak
Pricey sky - Buffalo*, no pick*, no pick*
Torebear - NY Giants, Chicago*, Pitt*, Dal*

* = Strike.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Week 7 Picks:

NYJ@NE - After that blowout loss to KC, Pats suddenly look for real.
ATL@BAL - Baltimore shining with tough schedule
SEA@STL - Rams porous secondary just what Seattle needs.
CLE@JAX - Browns on the rise, win away.
CIN@INDY - Cincy is tough, but Colts at home, and better.
MIN@BUF - Bills defense enough to win at home.
MIA@CHI - Both teams sketchy, but Cutler playing well enough.
NO@DET - Saints won't win on road this season.
CAR@GB - Carolina is playing very good on offense, but Rodgers lights out.
KC@SD - KC is still dangerous, but Chargers very solid, Rivers great.
ARI@OAK - With Palmer back, Arizona tough and well coached.
NYG@DAL - I don't see a blowout, but don't see Dallas losing.
SF@DEN - Let's see if the 49ers are for real.
HOU@PITT - Clowney may play (a week early) but Steelers win at home.

I have Dallas as my Survival pick, but despite everything that says they will be riding high and very happy to be at home, they have a history of making these games close and even Romo blowing them. But I just see the Cowboys running all over the Giants. I Almost went with Atlanta, as I just don't see them beating Baltimore on the road, but the Ravens have given up big plays, and Ryan can deliver them. I would have picked the Jets, but already took them.
This week will show us how much Seattle bounces back, as they are on the road. SF at Denver is intriguing. The Broncos have eeked out some wins and don't look that stable. But they do manage to win. I'm not sure the 49ers are stable either. But they seem to be on the verge of playing great ball, so it could be a terrific game.

 

[ToreBear]

Okay everyone, here is where we stand on Elimination Football.®. I could definitely be wrong, so please correct me if you know.

Alpe - NYG, Cle, Jax, StL, TB, Mia, NYJ, Minn, this week: Tenn, Buf
Foxxy - Den, Oak, Jax, Stl, TB, Min, Atl, Chi, NO, NYJ
Glenn - Jax, Oak, TB
Amsterhammer - Wash, Dal, NYG, SD, Oak, Jax, TB, Hou, Atl, Minn
Hitch - Jax, Cle, Oak, Stl, Mia, TB, Tenn, Buff, NYJ. This week: Atl & Miami
Merckx, - NYG, Jax, KC, Mia, Buf, Stl, Oak, TE, Cle, Wash, this week: Pitt, NYJ
Leftover Pie - NYJ, Dallas, NYG, Wash, StL, Oak, Mia, TB
Pricey sky - (no picks)
Torebear - Oak, Jax, Tenn, KC, Hou, TB, Stl, Wash, This week: NYJ, Minn

For Survival Football™. Again, I could be wrong, so correct me if I am.

Alpe - Indy, KC, Minn, Tenn, NYJ, Dal*, this week: NYG
Foxxy - Indy, KC, Tenn, Phi, TB, Dal*
Glenn - Miami*, San Diego*, Denver
Amsterhammer no pick*, SD*, Oak, TB, Dal*
Hitch - Jax, Cle, Minn, NYJ, Tenn, Wash, Dal*, this week: Atl
Merckx - Miami*, NYJ, Min, Tenn, Buf*, Oak, this week: StL
Leftover Pie - San Diego, Tennessee, Washington, Jax, NYJ, Oak
Pricey sky - Buffalo*, no pick*, no pick*
Torebear - NY Giants, Chicago*, Pitt*, Tenn, Ari, Dal* This week: NYJ

* = Strike.

Made some corrections and added my picks for this week.

 

[ToreBear]

Looks like a lot of us doubted Romo. I will never do that again! Romo plays tough at dt and is an excellent RB!

It's interesting how the cowboys seems to have become SB favorite all of a sudden in the media, while poor Russel Wilson who was Elite last week is just an average QB this week. I wonder what the story will be next week...

Hmm. "IS ANDY DALTON THE NEW PEYTON MANNING?"
"HAS LUCKS LUCK FINALLY RUN OUT?"

 

[Amsterhammer]

Tonight -

NYJ @ NE

Elimination Football:

Alpe -
Foxxy -
Amsterhammer - Washington, Dallas, N.Y. Giants, Sandy Eggo, Oakland, Jax, Tampa Bay, Houston, Atlanta, Minnesoda, Titans, Rams

On3m@nmy -
Glenn -
Hitch -
Tricycle -
Merckx -
Oldman -
Leftover Pie
Chewy -
Sciocco -
Pricey Sky -
Tonebear -

For Survival Football, you must pick a team you think will lose this weekend. You cannot select them again for the rest of the season. Here are last week's picks. Please help fill in the blank if you picked and I missed it.

Alpe -
Foxxy -
Glenn -
Amsterhammer - (missed pick) Sandy Eggo, (one strike), Oakland, Tampa Bay, Cowgirls (striuke 2) Rams
On3m@nmy -
Hitch -
Tricycle -
Merckx -
Oldman -
Leftover Pie -
Chewy -

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Hmm. "IS ANDY DALTON THE NEW PEYTON MANNING?"

OFC he can be. All he has to do is losing some more playoff games single-handedly... he is on a good way.