So it's week nine, officially past the midseason mark. What has surprised you, what has happened as you expected, what has you angry, happy, sad, etc.
I'm shocked by the current divisional standings, like a 3 way tie for the AFC East AND West, the Giants and 49ers atop their divisions, and the Bengals without Palmer are tied for the lead of the AFC North, though these things are far from concrete and there's still half a schedule to play (Except for San Fran, no way does anybody touch them in that division). Manningless Colts are horrific, and the Survival league has already ended.
"Laugh and the world laughs with you. Frown and the world laughs at you." -Me.
The AFC is a very, very confusing place. There's a new "Best Team in the AFC" every week and depending on the phase of the moon, the Ravens, Steelers, Patriots, and Jets either play like championship contenders or playoff duds.
At least things are clearer in the NFC. The Packers are the head of the class. Period.
As a Packer fan, their success worries me. This teams seems to have real problems defensively, and I hope that winning doesn't make them complacent. Football Outsiders did research that showed that winning big, even over a bad opponent, is a greater measure of success than winning close games over good opponents. There have been too many wins that were in doubt in the last 5 minutes for my taste. You can't expect to return two interceptions for touchdowns every week.
Originally posted by Mr. BoffoAs a Packer fan, their success worries me. This teams seems to have real problems defensively, and I hope that winning doesn't make them complacent. Football Outsiders did research that showed that winning big, even over a bad opponent, is a greater measure of success than winning close games over good opponents. There have been too many wins that were in doubt in the last 5 minutes for my taste. You can't expect to return two interceptions for touchdowns every week.
I think big leads that get clawed back to close (Saints, Panthers, Chargers) have more in common with winning big for those purposes than with pure close games where a bounce here or there could have made all the difference. It's basically the Packers M.O. (see all postseason games last year besides the Falcons).
Don't get me wrong, there are problems with the team. The question is which will happen first: the defense snapping out of its funk, or Rodgers falling to elite status from robot-sent-from-the-future status.
The Big Bossman raised the briefcase.
Go Pack Go! (8-0, 1st NFC North) Let's Go Riders! (5-13. At least we got the #1 pick; can we draft Andrew Luck?)
It seems like the Packers can put up 30 points even in an off-game, though, so I'm not sure what NFC teams can keep up to their scoring pace besides New Orleans and maybe Philly.
The NFL's scheduling this year put a greater emphasis on late-season divisional games, to the point where several teams haven't played multiple division rivals yet. For instance, Cincinnati has gotten off to a great start, but that's without playing either Baltimore or Pittsburgh even once. The Giants and Cowboys still have to play each other twice, the Packers and Lions twice, the Falcons and Saints twice, etc. This basically means that every division is still up in the air....well, unless you're the 49ers or Texans, then you can already start printing playoff tickets.
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." --- Bart Giamatti, on baseball
Originally posted by Big BadThe NFL's scheduling this year put a greater emphasis on late-season divisional games, to the point where several teams haven't played multiple division rivals yet. For instance, Cincinnati has gotten off to a great start, but that's without playing either Baltimore or Pittsburgh even once. The Giants and Cowboys still have to play each other twice, the Packers and Lions twice, the Falcons and Saints twice, etc. This basically means that every division is still up in the air....well, unless you're the 49ers or Texans, then you can already start printing playoff tickets.
This is largely because they were trying to not cancel any of the "good" games if they had to deal with losing weeks of play due to the lockout.
Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....
*snip*
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Ditto my concerns on the Packer defense. For a squad that's missing less important folks right now (Cullen Jenkins and Nick Collins) than for most of last year's run, they're giving up an awful lot of yards.
Until last Sunday at San Diego, their M.O. seemed to be bend-but-don't-break. Give up yards, but few points. Looks like Philip Rivers figured that one out (and how to take a snap from center!) *rimshot*
They've gotta generate more heat on the pass rush, too. Clay Matthews is getting double-teamed, and it's freeing up exactly nobody.
And I'm still hoping to see Morgan Burnett pick one off while wearing that tape stump where a non-broken hand is supposed to be. :-)
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I think the Eagles can suck on my stiff cocktail. Goddamn are they horrible. That's the team that needs Andrew Luck. But...Oh shit we gots 100 million tied up in a guy that can't play dead!
FLEA
Demonstrations are a drag. Besides, we're much too high
Three random thoughts as I survey the past week and my fantasy team results:
Is the fix in for DeSean Jackson? His numbers are way down and it feels like the Eagles are trying to grease the wheels so that they can justify lowballing him on a new contract offer.
Whenever it comes time for the next CBA negotiations in ten years or so, I'll anxiously await the proposition of "The Chris Johnson Rule". Under the Chris Johnson Rule, any team that has a star player hold out and immediately go into the tank after their big money deal reserves the right to revoke that big money contract.
So yeah...Peyton Hillis. The Madden Curse strikes again!
With Peyton Manning gone, I figured on the Colts missing the playoffs but I had absolutely no idea they'd be this bad. The Colts suck at a level almost Beyond the Impossible this year.
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Originally posted by redsoxnationIf the game meant everything for the Packers and nothing for the Bears, would the Bears lay down in order to get the weakest team possible into the playoffs, or would they play hard to knock the Packers out?
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