>>> What's the over/under on Johnny Manziel? I mean, in terms of him completely falling off the cliff of sanity, dying, whatever.
>>> So, were the Rams and Eagles really the teams most in need of QBs? Denver made a good pick in Paxton Lynch - he'll play well right away. Whether Dallas' pick of OSU's Ezekiel Elliot at the #4 slot pays off or not, it's definitely a Jerry Jones pick! But at least it's not a Greg Hardy reach...
>>> Who's "rebuilding", and who's making their push for 2016? You let us know what you think!
>>> What Tennessee and Tampa are trying to do to protect their young prodigy quarterbacks is promising on both fronts. Whether it bears fruit remains to be seen...
>>> Baltimore claims they pulled the plug on drafting Jeremiah Tunsil because of the "supposedly hacked" social media post with a bong. Right or wrong move?
Showing posts with label Rams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rams. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Here's the latest on the NFL's "Race To LA" - I think I'll make that a tag! - from MMQB. Apparently, San Diego and Oakland together have purchased the land needed in Carson (part of LA, just south of downtown) to build a joint stadium, all while saying it's their "back-up plan". Protestors in Oakland are wondering why the owner (Al Davis' son Mark) would hire Carmen Policy to spearhead the Carson project if it wasn't his first priority.
So, who's going to end up in LA? As with virtually every comments section on the 'Net, the rational commentary devolves into a dick-showing contest, but many of the commenters think like I do - why are we compelled to bring ANY team to LA? Los Angeles just isn't a pro football city! If one team needs a new home, and all three of those (including the St. Louis Rams) have a legit history in LA, that's fine. But it seems to me as if there are loyal enough fan bases of a good enough size in St. Louis and San Diego to make those locales work, and to make new stadium deals work if need be. Oakland, however, was left behind thirty-five years ago for LA for a reason. The Oakland Coliseum is a POS. That city doesn't have the finances to do what Davis wants, or for that matter what the NFL wants.
Move the Raiders - and just the Raiders - to Los Angeles, or more accurately Carson, CA. (And in twenty years or so, they can move back...)
So, who's going to end up in LA? As with virtually every comments section on the 'Net, the rational commentary devolves into a dick-showing contest, but many of the commenters think like I do - why are we compelled to bring ANY team to LA? Los Angeles just isn't a pro football city! If one team needs a new home, and all three of those (including the St. Louis Rams) have a legit history in LA, that's fine. But it seems to me as if there are loyal enough fan bases of a good enough size in St. Louis and San Diego to make those locales work, and to make new stadium deals work if need be. Oakland, however, was left behind thirty-five years ago for LA for a reason. The Oakland Coliseum is a POS. That city doesn't have the finances to do what Davis wants, or for that matter what the NFL wants.
Move the Raiders - and just the Raiders - to Los Angeles, or more accurately Carson, CA. (And in twenty years or so, they can move back...)
Monday, March 16, 2015
Now...about the NFL trade period...wow!
We don't even know where to start.
St. Louis and the Philadelphia Kellys trading starting quarterbacks?
New Orleans having a fire sale?
San Francisco losing all these great players (and coaches!) and then picking up a ton of new ones as well?
The entire AFC East getting TONS better? Especially Buffalo - that's my new co-favorite (because until New England falls, I'm not betting against them...).
Seattle getting Jimmy Graham? Dallas losing DeMarco Murray? Miami signing Ndamukong Suh? (I spelled that without looking it up! Proud of me!)
And what will the Eagles look like when Chip gets done?
I think the best advice I've heard, and many wise pundits have repeated it many times, is this: It's only March 16, people. There's plenty of time - there are many more dominoes to fall - the draft is still coming.
When the dust settles and summer arrives...then we can make our evaluations.
(But it's going to be fun to see what those teams we've named in particular look like then!)
Here is the latest update from Rotoworld and NBC Sports as to where each of the free agents in the NFL has signed ...
St. Louis and the Philadelphia Kellys trading starting quarterbacks?
New Orleans having a fire sale?
San Francisco losing all these great players (and coaches!) and then picking up a ton of new ones as well?
The entire AFC East getting TONS better? Especially Buffalo - that's my new co-favorite (because until New England falls, I'm not betting against them...).
Seattle getting Jimmy Graham? Dallas losing DeMarco Murray? Miami signing Ndamukong Suh? (I spelled that without looking it up! Proud of me!)
And what will the Eagles look like when Chip gets done?
I think the best advice I've heard, and many wise pundits have repeated it many times, is this: It's only March 16, people. There's plenty of time - there are many more dominoes to fall - the draft is still coming.
When the dust settles and summer arrives...then we can make our evaluations.
(But it's going to be fun to see what those teams we've named in particular look like then!)
Here is the latest update from Rotoworld and NBC Sports as to where each of the free agents in the NFL has signed ...
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
More NFL trade talk...
And the hits keep coming... Ryan Fitzpatrick to the Jets...Is there a positive outcome for either team in the Nick Foles to the Rams/Sam Bradford to Philly trade?...Jimmy Graham to Seattle from the Saints makes sense from both sides (New Orleans is WAY over the cap), but it apparently isn't making Graham a happy man!...Finally, Peter King has his usual great insight into the amazing changes throughout the NFL landscape over the last week in his Monday Wednesday Morning Quarterback column, including some interesting notes about the probable number one pick in the draft, Jamies Winston.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Peter King with a salient recap of where the Los Angeles NFL situation is right now...
...which is, "Who the bleep knows?"
In his Monday Morning Quarter Back weekly column, he spends a great deal of time on the pros and cons of each of the three teams who might move to LA (Rams, Raiders, Chargers), and the communities they currently reside in and what they're doing to keep their teams, and what the owners are thinking (IF they're thinking aloud, which isn't happening much in the Midwest), and what the various stadium and stadium proposal ideas are like.
The major conclusion, as he says early in the piece, is as follows:
"I’m like everybody else with this Los Angeles thing. I’m on page 24 of a 300-page book, and it’s not all that interesting so far. But I hear the end is compelling, so I’d rather speed past the next 230 pages and go straight to the climax. Tell me what the end game is."
In his Monday Morning Quarter Back weekly column, he spends a great deal of time on the pros and cons of each of the three teams who might move to LA (Rams, Raiders, Chargers), and the communities they currently reside in and what they're doing to keep their teams, and what the owners are thinking (IF they're thinking aloud, which isn't happening much in the Midwest), and what the various stadium and stadium proposal ideas are like.
The major conclusion, as he says early in the piece, is as follows:
"I’m like everybody else with this Los Angeles thing. I’m on page 24 of a 300-page book, and it’s not all that interesting so far. But I hear the end is compelling, so I’d rather speed past the next 230 pages and go straight to the climax. Tell me what the end game is."
Monday, February 23, 2015
So...how many teams do we want in Los Angeles?
One? Two? Three?
None?
For some reason, after twenty barren years in the second-largest metropolis in the country, there's suddenly a rush to fill a void that most of us don't even notice.
It's not as if the NFL hasn't flourished in the last twenty years, or that any of its current problems are affected or would be solved by having at least one team return to L.A.
But suddenly, the San Diego Chargers AND the Oakland Raiders are threatening to bolt their current stadia (that's the plural of 'stadium', erudite readers), and the St. Louis Rams are talking about doing the same thing and returning to its original stomping grounds. Admittedly, all three stadia (go out and use the word twice today - that's your homework assignment) are in poor shape, although the Edward Jones Dome and Qualcomm Stadium are the Taj Mahal in comparison to the dump that the Raiders and Athletics share in Oakland.
There's a huge issue if the Chargers and Raiders follow through with the shared stadium deal they're discussing, but it's hard to see this being the deal-breaker if money talks loudly enough.
Our question is - WHY? Every one of these teams has been in their current homes for a minimum of twenty years; the Chargers for almost fifty. Los Angeles is NOT hurting for things to do on a Sunday afternoon: that's why the Raiders and Rams left in the FIRST place! Between living in the sun and surf capital of the nation, Hollywood, and everything else SoCal has going for it, who has time to watch football? The USC and UCLA football teams can testify to this (so can their basketball teams, for that matter) - when they're not good/borderline great, they're nothing in that town. Do you really think the current Rams or Raiders would succeed financially there? Really?
Stick with stability. Fix the stadium issues where you are (WITH PRIVATE MONEY!), and stay put - your loyal fans there will thank you tenfold.
None?
For some reason, after twenty barren years in the second-largest metropolis in the country, there's suddenly a rush to fill a void that most of us don't even notice.
It's not as if the NFL hasn't flourished in the last twenty years, or that any of its current problems are affected or would be solved by having at least one team return to L.A.
But suddenly, the San Diego Chargers AND the Oakland Raiders are threatening to bolt their current stadia (that's the plural of 'stadium', erudite readers), and the St. Louis Rams are talking about doing the same thing and returning to its original stomping grounds. Admittedly, all three stadia (go out and use the word twice today - that's your homework assignment) are in poor shape, although the Edward Jones Dome and Qualcomm Stadium are the Taj Mahal in comparison to the dump that the Raiders and Athletics share in Oakland.
There's a huge issue if the Chargers and Raiders follow through with the shared stadium deal they're discussing, but it's hard to see this being the deal-breaker if money talks loudly enough.
Our question is - WHY? Every one of these teams has been in their current homes for a minimum of twenty years; the Chargers for almost fifty. Los Angeles is NOT hurting for things to do on a Sunday afternoon: that's why the Raiders and Rams left in the FIRST place! Between living in the sun and surf capital of the nation, Hollywood, and everything else SoCal has going for it, who has time to watch football? The USC and UCLA football teams can testify to this (so can their basketball teams, for that matter) - when they're not good/borderline great, they're nothing in that town. Do you really think the current Rams or Raiders would succeed financially there? Really?
Stick with stability. Fix the stadium issues where you are (WITH PRIVATE MONEY!), and stay put - your loyal fans there will thank you tenfold.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Going into the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs,...
...the tiers have been updated below. For obvious reasons, Carolina has made a significant jump upwards, although we resisted shoehorning them into the top eight - they really aren't a top eight team, although given their body of work they're probably not a top twelve team, either. (Seriously...their five game win streak includes three NFC South teams, and games against Cleveland with Manziel at QB and Arizona with the Lord knows who at QB. Don't get too impressed just yet.)
Curiously, all eight divisions are represented in the round of eight! The only division winner to lose (Pittsburgh) lost to a team within its own division.
Here are the rankings at the eighth pole, as they say on the horse track...
Curiously, all eight divisions are represented in the round of eight! The only division winner to lose (Pittsburgh) lost to a team within its own division.
Here are the rankings at the eighth pole, as they say on the horse track...
| FOLLOWING FOOTBALL - weekly rankings | ||||||||
| NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE | (including playoffs) | |||||||
| FF rank | Team | Div | week 17 | ConfRc | DvRec | Home | Season | WC rnd |
| A1 | Seattle Seahawks | N-W | A1 | 10-2 | 5-1 | 7-1 | 12-4 | A1 |
| A2 | New England Patriots | A-E | A2 | 9-3 | 4-2 | 7-1 | 12-4 | A2 |
| A3 | Green Bay Packers | N-N | A3 | 9-3 | 5-1 | 8-0 | 12-4 | A3 |
| A4 | Denver Broncos | A-W | A4 | 10-2 | 6-0 | 8-0 | 12-4 | A4 |
| A5 | Dallas Cowboys | N-E | A5 | 8-4 | 4-2 | 4-4 | 13-4 | A5 |
| B6 | Indianapolis Colts | A-S | B8 | 9-3 | 6-0 | 6-2 | 12-5 | B6 |
| B7 | Baltimore Ravens | A-N | C10 | 6-6 | 3-3 | 6-2 | 11-6 | B7 |
| B8 | Detroit Lions | N-N | B6 | 9-3 | 5-1 | 7-1 | 11-6 | B8 |
| C09 | Pittsburgh Steelers | A-N | B7 | 9-3 | 4-2 | 6-2 | 11-6 | C09 |
| C10 | Cincinnati Bengals | A-N | C11 | 7-5 | 3-3 | 5-2-1 | 10-6-1 | C10 |
| C11 | Carolina Panthers | N-S | D19 | 6-6 | 4-2 | 4-4 | 8-8-1 | C11 |
| C12 | Arizona Cardinals | N-W | B9 | 8-4 | 3-3 | 7-1 | 11-6 | C12 |
| D13 | Philadelphia Eagles | N-E | C12 | 6-6 | 4-2 | 6-2 | 10-6 | D13 |
| D14 | San Diego Chargers | A-W | D13 | 6-6 | 2-4 | 5-3 | 9-7 | D14 |
| D15 | Buffalo Bills | A-E | D14 | 5-7 | 4-2 | 5-3 | 9-7 | D15 |
| D16 | Kansas City Chiefs | A-W | D15 | 6-6 | 3-3 | 6-2 | 9-7 | D16 |
| D17 | Miami Dolphins | A-E | D16 | 7-5 | 3-3 | 4-4 | 8-8 | D17 |
| D18 | San Francisco 49ers | N-W | D17 | 7-5 | 2-4 | 4-4 | 8-8 | D18 |
| D19 | Houston Texans | A-S | D18 | 8-4 | 4-2 | 5-3 | 9-7 | D19 |
| E20 | St. Louis Rams | N-W | E20 | 4-8 | 2-4 | 3-5 | 6-10 | E20 |
| E21 | Cleveland Browns | A-N | E21 | 4-8 | 2-4 | 4-4 | 7-9 | E21 |
| E22 | New Orleans Saints | N-S | E22 | 6-6 | 3-3 | 3-5 | 7-9 | E22 |
| E23 | New York Giants | N-E | E23 | 4-8 | 2-4 | 3-5 | 6-10 | E23 |
| E24 | Minnesota Vikings | N-N | E24 | 6-6 | 1-5 | 5-3 | 7-9 | E24 |
| F25 | Atlanta Falcons | N-S | F25 | 6-6 | 5-1 | 3-5 | 6-10 | F25 |
| G26 | Chicago Bears | N-N | G26 | 4-8 | 1-5 | 2-6 | 5-11 | G26 |
| G27 | Washington Redskins | N-E | G27 | 2-10 | 2-4 | 3-5 | 4-12 | G27 |
| G28 | New York Jets | A-E | G28 | 4-8 | 1-5 | 2-6 | 4-12 | G28 |
| G29 | Oakland Raiders | A-W | G29 | 2-10 | 1-5 | 3-5 | 3-13 | G29 |
| H30 | Jacksonville Jaguars | A-S | H30 | 2-10 | 1-5 | 3-5 | 3-13 | H30 |
| H31 | Tampa Buccaneers | N-S | H31 | 1-11 | 0-6 | 0-8 | 2-14 | H31 |
| H32 | Tennessee Titans | A-S | H32 | 2-10 | 1-5 | 1-7 | 2-14 | H32 |
...as with the colleges, a few thoughts:
...The two conferences "homogenized" somewhat as the end of the season arrived - at one point, there was a huge clump of AFC teams in the middle of the rankings, with all of the NFC teams either above (six or seven of them) or below (...yeah...). But as you can probably see, while there is still a block of NFC teams (from #22-27), that clump of AFC in the middle was broken up by the Rams moving up to #20 and the 49ers dropping to #18 in particular.
...the NFC South spread out some as well, with Carolina's advancement and Tampa's continued fall: their "final" rankings were #11*, #22, #25, and #31.
...in fact, the overall total ranking of the AFC South (teams are ranked as #6, 19, 30, and 32) is just about as bad - they total 87, while the NFC South totals 89 (both subject to change as the playoffs advance).
...at one point, the defending champion Seahawks were ranked below 14th (week 10), only to finish the season as the #1 team going into the knockout round. Good luck to Carolina and whoever else has to go into Seattle...
...conversely, Arizona was ranked #1 as recently as week 11, and Philadelphia and San Diego each spent time in the A tier during the middle of the season. Both of the latter missed the playoffs entirely, and the Cardinals might as well have.
...Again, like the colleges, we will start with this set of tiers when the 2015 season kicks off (modified with the results of the last seven playoff games still to come, of course!). We won't bother with numbers until enough new evidence is in, but there's no point adjusting for free agency and draft picks and "good offseasons" until we see them in actual game action (and rarely does pre-season help that - the teams who go 4-0 in preseason and 4-12 in the regular season are legion.)
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
We never covered how the predictions went this weekend...
...so here we go!
FBS games: Oregon beat Arizona BIG, 51-13 (point Vegas)...Marshall barely edged La-Tech (point us)...Connecticut not only lost to the spread but lost outright to previously winless SMU, 27-20 (point us)...Alabama whupped Missouri in the end, 42-13 (point them)...and we were correct to choose Ohio St over Wisconsin (they squeaked by the Badgers 59-0! - point us!) ----- Score: Vegas 2, FF 3!
FCS games: There were two on our "disagreement" list - we were correct in thinking that Sam Houston would give Jacksonville St fits; they did, and won 37-26. However, Illinois St handled Northern Iowa with ease, 41-21. So ------ Score: Vegas 3, FF 4!
NFL games: Going down the five games we marked (wish we'd thought to mark the Detroit/Tampa discrepancy; we would've won that one!)... St. Louis blanked the Redskins, 24-0 (point them)...the Giants wiped out the Titans, 36-7 (and knocked Tennessee to the Bottom slot, H32; point them)...we were right to think the Saints were in trouble, but even we didn't expect the offensive ineptitude we saw from a Drew Brees-led offense (point us)... Although Arizona won, they only won by three, so by a hair, (point Vegas)...and the Raiders dispatched their cross-bay rivals with ease, 24-13; (point FF). ------ FINAL Score: Vegas 6, FF 6. (Like I said...wished we'd claimed that Detroit game!)
FBS games: Oregon beat Arizona BIG, 51-13 (point Vegas)...Marshall barely edged La-Tech (point us)...Connecticut not only lost to the spread but lost outright to previously winless SMU, 27-20 (point us)...Alabama whupped Missouri in the end, 42-13 (point them)...and we were correct to choose Ohio St over Wisconsin (they squeaked by the Badgers 59-0! - point us!) ----- Score: Vegas 2, FF 3!
FCS games: There were two on our "disagreement" list - we were correct in thinking that Sam Houston would give Jacksonville St fits; they did, and won 37-26. However, Illinois St handled Northern Iowa with ease, 41-21. So ------ Score: Vegas 3, FF 4!
NFL games: Going down the five games we marked (wish we'd thought to mark the Detroit/Tampa discrepancy; we would've won that one!)... St. Louis blanked the Redskins, 24-0 (point them)...the Giants wiped out the Titans, 36-7 (and knocked Tennessee to the Bottom slot, H32; point them)...we were right to think the Saints were in trouble, but even we didn't expect the offensive ineptitude we saw from a Drew Brees-led offense (point us)... Although Arizona won, they only won by three, so by a hair, (point Vegas)...and the Raiders dispatched their cross-bay rivals with ease, 24-13; (point FF). ------ FINAL Score: Vegas 6, FF 6. (Like I said...wished we'd claimed that Detroit game!)
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Time of Possession is SO IMPORTANT!
Oakland leads the Rams in t.o.p. after three quarters, holding the ball over 28 minutes compared to less than 17 for St. Louis.
St. Louis scored touchdowns on their first five possessions (you'd think that'd be rare, but it's the sixth time since Week 10), added a field goal on number six, and leads Oakland 38-0.
So much for time of possession.
St. Louis scored touchdowns on their first five possessions (you'd think that'd be rare, but it's the sixth time since Week 10), added a field goal on number six, and leads Oakland 38-0.
So much for time of possession.
Monday, November 17, 2014
Pending a Steeler rout tonight, we present our Week 11 NFL rankings!
As with the college teams, we're confident enough about the progressing season to actually rank the NFL teams #1-32...
A1. Arizona Cardinals (9-1) - Hard to deny them being the favorites right now!
A2. New England Patriots (8-2) - They've now beaten all three AFC division leaders.
A3. Green Bay Packers (7-3) - Fifty points twice in a row, destroying the Eagles yesterday.
A4. Denver Broncos (7-3) - Hard for Manning to be effective throwing w/ no one 2 throw 2
B5. Dallas Cowboys (7-3) - IF Romo is healthy AND DeMarco stays healthy...
B6. Philadelphia Eagles (7-3)
B7. Detroit Lions (7-3) - No disrespect in their loss yesterday.
B8. Indianapolis Colts (6-4) - On the other hand: where's the running game?
C9. Kansas City Chiefs (7-3) - Since 0-2 start, they're on a roll...
C10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-3-1) - IF the "good Andy" shows up, they look like this...
C11. Baltimore Ravens (6-4)
C12. Miami Dolphins (6-4) - The pieces are all there: as Tannehill matures, they'll be great.
D13. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)
D14. Seattle Seahawks (6-4) - Give them time; if they're healthy and clicking in December...
D15. San Francisco 49ers (6-4) - See previous comment...
D16. Cleveland Browns (6-4)
E17. San Diego Chargers (6-4)
E18. Buffalo Bills (5-5)
E19. Houston Texans (5-5) - JJ WATT for PRESIDENT! But if there's only one of him...
E20. New Orleans Saints (4-6) - Yeah, but they're losing at home now...What's next?
F21. St. Louis Rams (4-6) - #21 with a bullet: Jeff Fisher's got them looking good!
F22. Chicago Bears (4-6) - Roll the D20 for Cutler's performance: good, mediocre, or AAH!
F23. New York Giants (4-6)
F24. Atlanta Falcons (4-6) - Of the four NFC South disasters, they have the most potential.
G25. Carolina Panthers (3-7-1)
G26. Minnesota Vikings (4-6) - If they can get even mediocre play from Bridgewater...
G27. Washington Redskins (3-7)
G28. Tennessee Titans (2-7)
H29. New York Jets (2-8)
H30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-8)
H31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9)
H32. Oakland Raiders (0-10) - For a team on a 16 game losing streak, they're ALWAYS competitive. Anytime there's a spread of more than two TDs, take it: they'll cover. They won't WIN...but they'll cover.
A1. Arizona Cardinals (9-1) - Hard to deny them being the favorites right now!
A2. New England Patriots (8-2) - They've now beaten all three AFC division leaders.
A3. Green Bay Packers (7-3) - Fifty points twice in a row, destroying the Eagles yesterday.
A4. Denver Broncos (7-3) - Hard for Manning to be effective throwing w/ no one 2 throw 2
B5. Dallas Cowboys (7-3) - IF Romo is healthy AND DeMarco stays healthy...
B6. Philadelphia Eagles (7-3)
B7. Detroit Lions (7-3) - No disrespect in their loss yesterday.
B8. Indianapolis Colts (6-4) - On the other hand: where's the running game?
C9. Kansas City Chiefs (7-3) - Since 0-2 start, they're on a roll...
C10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-3-1) - IF the "good Andy" shows up, they look like this...
C11. Baltimore Ravens (6-4)
C12. Miami Dolphins (6-4) - The pieces are all there: as Tannehill matures, they'll be great.
D13. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)
D14. Seattle Seahawks (6-4) - Give them time; if they're healthy and clicking in December...
D15. San Francisco 49ers (6-4) - See previous comment...
D16. Cleveland Browns (6-4)
E17. San Diego Chargers (6-4)
E18. Buffalo Bills (5-5)
E19. Houston Texans (5-5) - JJ WATT for PRESIDENT! But if there's only one of him...
E20. New Orleans Saints (4-6) - Yeah, but they're losing at home now...What's next?
F21. St. Louis Rams (4-6) - #21 with a bullet: Jeff Fisher's got them looking good!
F22. Chicago Bears (4-6) - Roll the D20 for Cutler's performance: good, mediocre, or AAH!
F23. New York Giants (4-6)
F24. Atlanta Falcons (4-6) - Of the four NFC South disasters, they have the most potential.
G25. Carolina Panthers (3-7-1)
G26. Minnesota Vikings (4-6) - If they can get even mediocre play from Bridgewater...
G27. Washington Redskins (3-7)
G28. Tennessee Titans (2-7)
H29. New York Jets (2-8)
H30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-8)
H31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9)
H32. Oakland Raiders (0-10) - For a team on a 16 game losing streak, they're ALWAYS competitive. Anytime there's a spread of more than two TDs, take it: they'll cover. They won't WIN...but they'll cover.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
And as for the professionals...
The Canadian Football League wraps up its regular season Friday and Saturday with four games that will settle the remaining playoff questions - Ottawa @ Toronto (a typical Redblack game: Ottawa will give Toronto all it can handle before losing to the Argos late); Calgary @ British Columbia (the game hinges on how seriously the Stampeders take the game - if it's a chance to rest the starters, the Lions win); Montreal @ Hamilton (the BIG GAME of the weekend, this will determine the Eastern champ - we think Hamilton wins, but by less than the eight points they need to dethrone Montreal as division champs); and Edmonton @ Saskatchewan (the Roughriders are fading fast - take the Eskimos to win big).
In the NFL, tonight's Cincy/Cleveland game will be fascinating - the Bengals deserve to be a TD fave at home, but they're so strange...Sunday's KC @ Buffalo could go either way, but they're two teams that both have potential to bust some chops this season...Same with Miami @ Detroit...We are fascinated by the Dallas/Jacksonville tilt in London - Tony Romo has to fly across the Atlantic with a bad back? Good luck, man... San Francisco @ New Orleans feels like an elimination game; loser has NO chance at the playoffs (except NO plays in the pathetic (this year) NFC South...Can Oakland keep Denver close, like they have Seattle and others? Possible...We don't see St. Louis staying within 7 points of Arizona in any universe, with any quarterback, this season...Similarly, there's no way that Chicago can stay within a touchdown of Green Bay unless the weather makes the game unplayable...Carolina @ Philly? Wow. Do you have less faith in the fading Panthers, or in the legendary Mark Sanchez? Admittedly, he looked good in relief last week, and reports are he's ten times more comfortable with Chip Kelly and Philly than Rex Ryan and New York...but if Sanchez is your guy, you're NOT Super Bowl bound. I'm jus' sayin'...
In the NFL, tonight's Cincy/Cleveland game will be fascinating - the Bengals deserve to be a TD fave at home, but they're so strange...Sunday's KC @ Buffalo could go either way, but they're two teams that both have potential to bust some chops this season...Same with Miami @ Detroit...We are fascinated by the Dallas/Jacksonville tilt in London - Tony Romo has to fly across the Atlantic with a bad back? Good luck, man... San Francisco @ New Orleans feels like an elimination game; loser has NO chance at the playoffs (except NO plays in the pathetic (this year) NFC South...Can Oakland keep Denver close, like they have Seattle and others? Possible...We don't see St. Louis staying within 7 points of Arizona in any universe, with any quarterback, this season...Similarly, there's no way that Chicago can stay within a touchdown of Green Bay unless the weather makes the game unplayable...Carolina @ Philly? Wow. Do you have less faith in the fading Panthers, or in the legendary Mark Sanchez? Admittedly, he looked good in relief last week, and reports are he's ten times more comfortable with Chip Kelly and Philly than Rex Ryan and New York...but if Sanchez is your guy, you're NOT Super Bowl bound. I'm jus' sayin'...
Sunday, October 19, 2014
We've narrowed the NFL tiers for Week 7 as well!
Putt'n these out a bit early this week, and we've reduced the size of each tiers from eight to about six, as with the collegians (although with 32 teams, we need a couple tiers w an extra team each). So, we've gone from quartiles to quintiles!
Quintile A, unbelievably, has TWO teams from the supposed "worst division in football", the NFC East! The six best teams right now (we think!) are the Arizona Cardinals (5-1), the Dallas Cowboys (6-1), the Denver Broncos (4-1 at this moment), the up'n coming Green Bay Packers (relaxed at 5-2), the Indianapolis Colts (5-2), and the 5-1 Philadelphia Eagles.
Quintile B, which like the college version is filled with teams that could beat anyone anytime, contains the Baltimore Ravens (5-2), the Cincinnati Bengals (3-2-1), the Detroit Lions (5-2), the New England Patriots (5-2), the San Diego Chargers (5-2), the San Francisco 49ers (4-2 at the moment), and the Seattle Seahawks (down to 3-3, unbelievably).
In the middle of the pack, Quintile C, sit the Buffalo Bills at 4-3, the Carolina Panthers at 3-3-1, the Chicago Bears (3-4), the Cleveland Browns (3-3), the Kansas City Chiefs (up to 3-3 after an upset of San Diego), and the 3-3 Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Quintile D has the 2-5 Atlanta Falcons, the Houston Texans (sitting at 3-3 and playing the Steelers tomorrow night), the Minnesota Vikings (2-5), the New Orleans Saints (2-4, meaning they've played four road games and two at home!), the NewYork Jersey Giants (3-4), and the St. Louis Rams, still just 2-4 after today's upset of the Super Bowl champs.
Finally, Quintile E holds the six bottom of the barrel teams, namely the Jacksonville Jaguars, NewYork Jersey Jets, the winless Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, and the Washington whatevers... Just seven wins between the six teams listed...
Quintile A, unbelievably, has TWO teams from the supposed "worst division in football", the NFC East! The six best teams right now (we think!) are the Arizona Cardinals (5-1), the Dallas Cowboys (6-1), the Denver Broncos (4-1 at this moment), the up'n coming Green Bay Packers (relaxed at 5-2), the Indianapolis Colts (5-2), and the 5-1 Philadelphia Eagles.
Quintile B, which like the college version is filled with teams that could beat anyone anytime, contains the Baltimore Ravens (5-2), the Cincinnati Bengals (3-2-1), the Detroit Lions (5-2), the New England Patriots (5-2), the San Diego Chargers (5-2), the San Francisco 49ers (4-2 at the moment), and the Seattle Seahawks (down to 3-3, unbelievably).
In the middle of the pack, Quintile C, sit the Buffalo Bills at 4-3, the Carolina Panthers at 3-3-1, the Chicago Bears (3-4), the Cleveland Browns (3-3), the Kansas City Chiefs (up to 3-3 after an upset of San Diego), and the 3-3 Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Quintile D has the 2-5 Atlanta Falcons, the Houston Texans (sitting at 3-3 and playing the Steelers tomorrow night), the Minnesota Vikings (2-5), the New Orleans Saints (2-4, meaning they've played four road games and two at home!), the New
Finally, Quintile E holds the six bottom of the barrel teams, namely the Jacksonville Jaguars, New
Jeff Fisher has cojones the size of basketballs
Fourth down, Rams up by two, punt formation inside their own twenty, two minutes to go.
Would you have the guts to run a fake?
If you succeed, Seattle has no timeouts, and you can almost run the clock out (turned out they made it, got one more first down and did just that after a controversial fumble recovery) and guarantee yourself a win.
If you fail, the Seahawks have the ball already in field goal position, and they can milk the clock down to take the lead with about a minute or less. Basically, either outcome virtually means game over.
Beyond having the guts to run the fake, your team has to execute. The punter had to complete the pass and the receiver had to catch it and make the first down. It helped, of course, that nobody on the visiting sideline had the slightest inkling that Fisher can't make his thighs touch....
Would you have the guts to run a fake?
If you succeed, Seattle has no timeouts, and you can almost run the clock out (turned out they made it, got one more first down and did just that after a controversial fumble recovery) and guarantee yourself a win.
If you fail, the Seahawks have the ball already in field goal position, and they can milk the clock down to take the lead with about a minute or less. Basically, either outcome virtually means game over.
Beyond having the guts to run the fake, your team has to execute. The punter had to complete the pass and the receiver had to catch it and make the first down. It helped, of course, that nobody on the visiting sideline had the slightest inkling that Fisher can't make his thighs touch....
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