NFL 2009

Posted by: JamieL_v2 on 15 September 2009

I know a lot of people here will not be fans, but I know there are a few who are, so I though a thread for the new season would get some interesting contributions.

Not quite seen all the week one results, but Pittsburgh looked strong, as did Tennessee, great opener.

Here are some predictions I posted on another (small) forum:

NFC
The NFC has few stand out teams, a lot falling back, and a few rebuilding. The South is strong, as is the East, the North competitive, only the West has a number of weak teams. New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers I think will be in the play-offs, the rest will be very close, with a handful of poor teams at the bottom.

NFC East:
New York Giants
Dallas Cowboys
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins

Close division, but they are all tough. The Giants will probably be the most consistent team. Dallas still have a lot of talented players, it is just whether they will gel into a team. I just don't believe that Phildelphia will be anything special, McNabb is getting old. Washington will find it a hard division to compete in, but we not be bad.

NFC North
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions

I think Green Bay will build on last year, Minnesota's running game will be good. I don't think Jay Cutler is the final piece needed for Chicago, I think he will be disruptive, I do think that Detroit will win more games than last year (they lost all 16 for those who do not know).

NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
New Orleans Saints
Carloina Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I think that each team has won this division at least once in the last five years. Tampa might be rebuilding under a new coach, but the other three are all competitive.

NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Seattle Seahawks
San Francisco 49'ers
St Loius Rams

Arizona will not take teams by suprise this year, but will be good, and do not have a lot of competition in the division.

Division winners: New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals
Wild Cards: Minnesota Vikings, and one of Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Carloina Panthers - it is that even.
Weak teams: Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49'ers, St Loius Rams

AFC
Steelers, Patriots, Chargers are the class of the AFC, an awful lot of other good teams, and oh dear, how the AFC West has fallen. San Diego can book their playoff birth now (you don't know how that pains me to say)

AFC East:
New England Patriots
Miami Dolphins
New York Jets
Buffalo Bills

With Brady back The Patriots will be the class of the division again, Miami will be good, the Jets are rebuilding, will have as lot of pieces though, and Buffalo will probably start strong and fade as they often do. Strong division.

AFC North:
Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore Ravens
Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati Bengals

The Steelers are just a great consistent team, brilliantly run, a coach who has the confidence that he will be backed, a quarterback who is just a winner. I know they won last year, but hard to pick against them. The Ravens will be tough, play hard football and give Pittsburgh a run for the division. Cleveland and Cincinnati are so, so.

AFC South:
Tennessee Titans
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
Houston Texans

A lot of talent in this division, I think the Titans will remain good, Jeff Fisher is such a good coach, the Colts are still very strong. Jacksonville will be much stronger than last year's disarray, and Houston have a tough job to complete against such strong teams.

AFC West:
San Diego Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs
Denver Broncos
Oakland Raiders

The AFC Worst as it was known last year, San Diego are head and shoulders above the rest, who are all rebuilding, or in the case of Oakland, just a mess. Denver so long a contender have fallen apart since the sacking of Shannahan, good riddance to Cutler, but they do not have a replacement, a long season ahead.

Division winners: New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers
Wild cards: Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts (Dolphins could be there too).

The NFL looks more open and even than it has for years, there are few teams that can be pencilled in division winners, last years winners Pittsbugh are hard to pick against, and San Diego are very good in a division with no opposition. New England will be back, but the Dolphins are a good team to challenge. Indianalpolis will be strong, but have a new coach, so it might not gel as under Dungy. The NFC is grown stranger over the last few years, and the best teams are on a par with the AFC's best.

Looking back at my picks for last year, they were so wrong, this year will be no better. Some teams who looked like no-hoper's will rise, and some team who look like winners will get key injuries, or fall apart. Remember how Dallas looked sure to win the Superbowl this time last year, but didn't even make the playoffs.

If I had to pick a Superbowl it would be New York Giants vs Pittsburgh Steelers, but that is a dull pick, as it is the last two winners against each other. They are both the team to beat in their conference, but a lot of teams will run them close.

Teams in italic are weak and will not compete.

Since writing that, I must add that Green bay look like a very strong contender for the Superbowl too. I may also have under-rated Seattle who have gained some good players. I wrote this before Favre joined Minnesota, he might be a good fit there as the running game should stop him from having to try win in the 4th quarter, but I still think is gambles too much, and will throw a lot of interceptions.

Speaking of interceptions, I did see jay Cuttler's first half at Chicago. Ha, ha, not so great without the rest of the Denver offense. (I am now going to catch the second half, and will probably have to eat my works - but I don;t think so really).

There are teams I have disliked in the past, but this year there is one I am saving nearly all my spleen for, I will not forgive what I consider unforgivable, and I neither like the coach or the incumbent QB, let alone the animal torturer they have taken on:

Posted on: 24 December 2009 by Jim Lawson

Rivers is a definite possibility but my pick would be Brees.

Chargers v Titans tomorrow; should be a good game .

Posted on: 25 December 2009 by Clay Bingham

quote:
Chargers v Titans tomorrow; should be a good game

Jim

It was indeed a good game.........a very good game!

Posted on: 25 December 2009 by Jim Lawson

Missed it during Christmas dinner but will watch the PVR copy now.

Cheers Clay,

Jim

Posted on: 25 December 2009 by MilesSmiles

Sure did not hurt Rivers MVP chances. Johnson still has a shot at the 2,ooo mark, but that's it.

Posted on: 26 December 2009 by JamieL_v2

I really want to read this thread, but I am behind on games and want to watch them without knowing the result before I see them through.

Getting really tight in the AFC.

Posted on: 26 December 2009 by JamieL_v2

Just caught up on the results, although I have the second half of the Sunday night game still on the Sky box to watch.

Really disappointed the Titans lost to the Chargers, but then I object to The Chargers winning any game. Rivers might be a good contender for MVP, but I expect that other like me find his personality unpleasant, and that will hurt his chances.

Peyton Manning and Brett Favre must be the favourites, and deservedly so. I would love to see Drew Brees get it as well. I have got sick of the whole Favre soap opera in the last few off seasons, and his reckless play, but this year he seems to have held it together. I have yet to see the spat he had with his coach though.

Again this weekend looks like it will be really interesting. I am not sure that Denver have it in them to beat Philadelphia, I so hope they can. I think Dallas can probably pull off the NFL wildcard, the Giants have too much to do.

I hope Indianapolis do keep winning, for one thing, I do not want to see The Chargers in the Superbowl, and I hope New Orleans return to their winning ways.

A Saints vs. Colts Superbowl would still be great, a Eagles vs. Chargers Superbowl would be my just about my worst possible scenario.

Posted on: 26 December 2009 by MilesSmiles

quote:
Originally posted by JamieL_v2:
... a Eagles vs. Chargers Superbowl would be my just about my worst possible scenario.

We can agree on that.

Posted on: 26 December 2009 by Clay Bingham

quote:
I do not want to see The Chargers in the Superbowl,

Being second best in the division year after year will do that to you.

Posted on: 26 December 2009 by JamieL_v2

Say what you like about Shanahan, he could make the 12th best team in the NFL with a consistency few other coaches have managed, for about 8 years out of the last 10.

I have the slightest suspicion that in McDaniels we have found the perfect successor, that 6-0 start was interesting, but now 11th-13th best in the NFL looks like a welcome and familiar sight.

Posted on: 27 December 2009 by MilesSmiles

Every year since the Miami Dolphins went 17-0 in 1972 for the NFL perfect season, their players have gathered to pop a cork of champagne as soon as the last undefeated team loses.

I guess it's this time of the year again.

Posted on: 27 December 2009 by MilesSmiles

Manning reaches 50,000 yards passing

------------------------------------------------

Manning entered the game needing 159 yards to reach the milestone and he surpassed the mark to join Brett Favre, Dan Marino and John Elway as the only quarterbacks to do so.

Congrats.

Posted on: 27 December 2009 by JamieL_v2

He then left the field and let his backup loose the game, or Caldwell did. Pity, it was fun while it lasted.

Beyond that, bloody Eagles, and also one of the worst officiated games I have seen in a long while, not particularly to either team's advantage, but just bad calls all over the place.

Hope to catch up on the Dallas @ Washington game some time tomorrow.

Posted on: 28 December 2009 by John M

quote:
Originally posted by JamieL_v2:
He then left the field and let his backup loose the game, or Caldwell did. Pity, it was fun while it lasted.

Beyond that, bloody Eagles, and also one of the worst officiated games I have seen in a long while, not particularly to either team's advantage, but just bad calls all over the place.

Hope to catch up on the Dallas @ Washington game some time tomorrow.

I said it about 8 weeks ago. The referees just cant stay out of the game this year. Its like they WANT to be on camera or something. There are just too many ridiculous calls in the Eagles game and in the Raiders game I watched that were just non issues, phantom fouls or just plain micro managing the game. I am sick to death of it.

Posted on: 01 January 2010 by JamieL_v2

Peyton Manning deserves to be in the company of Favre, Marino and Elway. His 50,000 is great news.

Now that the Colts loss has sunk in, I think it has tarnished the season. There have been some terrible teams this year who have made some of the winning records look less that justified, but the Colts had a chance of making something stand out from this season, and they threw it away.

Just how many times has Peyton Manning been injured in his career, just what did they protect. If the Colts had gone 19-0, which they had a chance of, it would have been so much more than a Superbowl winner. Since 1971 there have been 37 Superbowl winners, and no perfect teams. Yes the Colts are a great team, but they could have been something far more than that. It also cheats the fans and other teams, but especially Peyton Manning.

I am not sure if I am supporting the Colts anymore, I don't think they deserve to get to the Superbowl if they have been negative at this point. I also think Jim Caldwell should not get coach of the year for this.

I feel a bit down on the NFL this week, it was really exciting a few weeks ago, but now it is just a weekend of juggling figures, comparative results, and hoping teams lose just to allow your favourite team to scrape in.

I think the playoffs will be good, but it all feels a bit deflated right now. I will have to look at who I am supporting now, obviously The Broncos, but they need help to get in, and are not a serious contender. Saints (failing right now), Dallas and Arizona are the NFC teams I will support, in the AFC it will probably be Cincinnati and New England, plus a wild card or two.

I am still against the Eagles and Chargers with a vehemence.

Posted on: 01 January 2010 by rega1

quote:
Originally posted by John M:
quote:
Originally posted by JamieL_v2:
He then left the field and let his backup loose the game, or Caldwell did. Pity, it was fun while it lasted.

Beyond that, bloody Eagles, and also one of the worst officiated games I have seen in a long while, not particularly to either team's advantage, but just bad calls all over the place.

Hope to catch up on the Dallas @ Washington game some time tomorrow.

I said it about 8 weeks ago. The referees just cant stay out of the game this year. Its like they WANT to be on camera or something. There are just too many ridiculous calls in the Eagles game and in the Raiders game I watched that were just non issues, phantom fouls or just plain micro managing the game. I am sick to death of it.

National Fix League....

Just like the NBA.

rega1

Posted on: 01 January 2010 by John M

quote:
Originally posted by rega1:
quote:
Originally posted by John M:
quote:
Originally posted by JamieL_v2:
He then left the field and let his backup loose the game, or Caldwell did. Pity, it was fun while it lasted.

Beyond that, bloody Eagles, and also one of the worst officiated games I have seen in a long while, not particularly to either team's advantage, but just bad calls all over the place.

Hope to catch up on the Dallas @ Washington game some time tomorrow.

I said it about 8 weeks ago. The referees just cant stay out of the game this year. Its like they WANT to be on camera or something. There are just too many ridiculous calls in the Eagles game and in the Raiders game I watched that were just non issues, phantom fouls or just plain micro managing the game. I am sick to death of it.

National Fix League....

Just like the NBA.

rega1

Maybe, but I have so many friends I trust that work in the NFL/NBA and in TV who all say that stuff does not go on. Lots of other crazy stuff, but not that.

Posted on: 02 January 2010 by JamieL_v2

I must agree that I have never seen calls that I think were a fix, just referees getting flag happy and penalising things that could just be let go, and also the opposite, missing blatant calls.

In the first half of the Denver @ Philadelphia game I felt it was home bias, but in the second half, it swung the other way. It didn't change the outcome of the game, Philadelphia are a better team than Denver, much as I hate to say it.

Posted on: 02 January 2010 by rega1

quote:
Originally posted by JamieL_v2:
I must agree that I have never seen calls that I think were a fix, just referees getting flag happy and penalising things that could just be let go, and also the opposite, missing blatant calls.

In the first half of the Denver @ Philadelphia game I felt it was home bias, but in the second half, it swung the other way. It didn't change the outcome of the game, Philadelphia are a better team than Denver, much as I hate to say it.

The real question is....

what was the points spread per quarter/half/and for the entire game?
what was the over / under points total?

I have seen some ridiculous calls in games that have allowed the visiting team come back in the 4th quarter and win by one point, but the spread was 2. That is to say that the "betting game" of the week which seemed like a lock, was not. When a team can win or lose by 1/2 a point and match the bookie spread then I will believe there are no fixes.

Look, the papers here in the united states print the points spread in the sports section next to the scores, even though gambling is illegal outside of Vegas, Atlantic city, etc. The average work place frowns on it, and the government wants it regulated so they can get their share. Yet, there it is in the papers. There is a lot of money generated off of it yearly outside of the tax confines.

Pete Rose gambled on his own games
There has been serious accusations of it happening in professional tennis
There was an NBA referee that was admitted to making bad calls and fixing games and was convicted about 6 months back.

I just find it hard to beleive. It is only my opinion though.

rega1

Posted on: 03 January 2010 by JamieL_v2

Interesting, as I do not gamble, I have not followed the points spread. Gambling is quite legal her in the UK, but it is a personal choice not to indulge.

I think tonight will be fun, the NFC is sewn up, but the AFC has so many permutations that all we can really do is wait and see.

Posted on: 03 January 2010 by rega1

quote:
Originally posted by JamieL_v2:
Interesting, as I do not gamble, I have not followed the points spread. Gambling is quite legal her in the UK, but it is a personal choice not to indulge.

I think tonight will be fun, the NFC is sewn up, but the AFC has so many permutations that all we can really do is wait and see.

The Colts are in the play-offs, so I think Peyton has sat out again, hence their huge loss. Play-offs and who is in is the only important thing right now. If a team is in the play-offs and have home field advantage, they will not play their best players and take a loss to save a possible injury.

New England - Welker was hurt today, that is Brady's go to guy. This could be a huge issue for them in the play-offs even with Randy Moss.

Steelers- still have a shot at a wild card, but the right teams need to win and lose for them to get in the play-offs.

I am not a gambler at all either JamieL. It has always just seemed odd to me how all of it works out sometimes. I am very skeptical.

I say COLTS all the way this year!!! But we will see. I just like Peyton Manning and his ability to run a "no huddle" offense and call plays at the line. Very smart and tactical.

I watched a game with the Colts and I think it was against Tennesse. During pre-grame covergae just before kick off they showed Manning and Dallas Clark on the side lines. Manning was sketching out a play on his hand not knowing the camera was on him. After the kick-off return the first play was a touch down pass to Dallas Clark. Manning must have seen something in pre-game warm up with the defense or maybe a rookie on the defense was in due to an injury on a senior starter and took advantage of it, it was quite a nice play.

Have you decided who to cheer for yet JamieL?

rega1

Posted on: 05 January 2010 by Jet Johnson

.....So...2 shut outs in a row for the Cowboys and those damn Eagles are up again next week when it REALLY matters ...

....My worry is Dallas's recent record in the play-offs (which is decidely naff) this time around however they seemed to have timed their run to perfection ...and when they win in the play-offs they are usually Super Bowl bound ...so ....could this be their year?

Posted on: 05 January 2010 by rega1

quote:
Originally posted by Jet Johnson:
.....So...2 shut outs in a row for the Cowboys and those damn Eagles are up again next week when it REALLY matters ...

....My worry is Dallas's recent record in the play-offs (which is decidely naff) this time around however they seemed to have timed their run to perfection ...and when they win in the play-offs they are usually Super Bowl bound ...so ....could this be their year?

good point, Dallas may be the "diamond in the rough". Looking forward to the play-offs due to this unstable regular season wild card stuff!! should be interesting.....

rega1

Posted on: 05 January 2010 by JamieL_v2

Just caught up on the last game of the season.

Would am I supporting? Any of the five teams in the AFC that is not San Diego. Who do I think is the most balanced and toughest team in the AFC? San Diego.

I am a bit more lenient about The Colts, but frankly I do not want to see them rewarded for how they played the last two weeks, only if they come up against the Chargers will I support them. Peyton is a truly great player, but company man Caldwell can stick it. Yes I understand the reasons, but I do not care for them, and there is an argument to play the best you can, keep a well oiled machine working at the highest level, and strive for something even more than they have achieved so far.

In the NFC, New Orleans, Arizona and Dallas get my support, in that order, also Green Bay. Again, anyone except Philadelphia, thankfully I do not see them getting past Dallas next weekend.

Just saw the Family Guy with the Michael Vick 'Lady and the Tramp' joke, so I am not the only one who feels that way about him.

Jim Zorn has been fired as head coach of the Redskins, to no-ones surprise, it will be interesting to see who else goes. I even heard rumours of McDaniels at Denver, who certainly did not get the love of his players when things got tough.

The Sunday night game on Channel 5 in the UK sound ominously like it might the end of NFL on C5, that would such a pity as their coverage and presentation is vastly superior to Sky's. Nick Halling is great, but Kevin Cadle is a donkey who can not read an autocue and has about as much relevant comment to add to the games as I do about soccer (none, none whatsoever).

Posted on: 05 January 2010 by Clay Bingham

quote:
Would am I supporting? Any of the five teams in the AFC that is not San Diego. Who do I think is the most balanced and toughest team in the AFC? San Diego.

Bad experience in San Diego?,Charger Girl said no to a date? How about a team poster or maybe a cheer towel, anything to make you feel better about the Chargers! Just let me know.

Posted on: 06 January 2010 by JamieL_v2

It just do not think it is possible for a Broncos fan to like the Chargers. Although Rivers a great quarterback, he also has a very dislikable personality, and as he is the face of the team, it just helps my dislike.

I know Denver had an equal ass of a quarterback last year, but he has now gone.

As one commentator said last year about Rivers and Cutler's vocal abuse during and before a game "They were going at it like only two young millionaires can do".

I have never liked quarterbacks who's first reaction to a dropped pass is to have a go at the receiver, especially when the pass was less than perfect.

I am not sure who the receiver was at Miami a dozen or more years ago when Dan Marino had a go at him for dropping a catch, the receiver replied "You make all that money, you put the ball where I can catch it". For the record Marino was a better quarterback than Rivers in my opinion.

I am sure you can all guess who my all time favourite QB is, as well as a gun of an arm, he could run through tackle like a running back, and also he restructured his contract to allow Denver to keep the running back who got him his two Superbowl rings.

On the subject of The Colts letting their unbeaten record go, I was reminded of a comment I heard from former England cricket captain Mike Atherton, he was in a game in a winning position and wanting to declare (end) the innings to give time to bowl out the opposition. Batsman Graeme Hick was on 98, and was given just two overs by Atherton to get the two runs to make a century. The opposition were just bowling to prevent further scores stopped him getting the runs in the two overs (they would not have known of the overs limit). So England declared with Hick on 98, the match was drawn when the other team managed to bat out the final innings.

Atherton said that he wished that he had let Hick get his century, as even though the extra time his declaration made to bowl out the other team, the dispiriting atmosphere that his not allowing Hick to gain and celebrate a century, meant that they went out to play the last innings with a negative feel, rather than on a celebratory not that might have inspired them to press home their advantage.

I have a feeling that the same may happen with The Colts. Being unbeaten is no guarantee of passing the final as The Patriots proved a couple years ago, but I don't see The Colts having quite the inspiration that they might have had.