2006 NFL Season

[Kwyjibo]

With the Giants' loss ... the Bears are now 3 games ahead of the nearest competitor in the NFC. Not the division, the whole NFC. The bears are five games ahead of their division opponents (with one game to play against each team!) and could clinch their division on Sunday ... but thats not likely because the Pats will put up a VERY big fight and I think its going to be a really great game, maybe one of the best of the year.

 

[MacsomJRR]

With the Giants' loss ... the Bears are now 3 games ahead of the nearest competitor in the NFC. Not the division, the whole NFC. The bears are five games ahead of their division opponents (with one game to play against each team!) and could clinch their division on Sunday ... but thats not likely because the Pats will put up a VERY big fight and I think its going to be a really great game, maybe one of the best of the year.

Every game the bears play rests on their QB showing up to play. Grossman just isn't same from game to game which I think is gonna be their major downfall in heading anywhere in the playoffs anyway. They may win their first game but I don't see them going all the way through to the super bowl at this point. That defense is stellar but they can't keep winning unless rex gets more consistent over 3-4 games, he'll need to catch fire going into the playoffs.

Doesn't matter who gets thru for the NFC anyway. The Chargers are gonna destroy whoever they meet in Florida

 

[yellow]

Soooo... Im praying to the injury gods that Brady and about 8 other starters go down for the season and Miami goes on a winning streak? No problem.

Well, the Pats have already lost 3 of their 4 starting secondary. Again.
And Troy Brown is playing DB. Again.

 

[beatsme]

Every game the bears play rests on their QB showing up to play. Grossman just isn't same from game to game which I think is gonna be their major downfall in heading anywhere in the playoffs anyway. They may win their first game but I don't see them going all the way through to the super bowl at this point. That defense is stellar but they can't keep winning unless rex gets more consistent over 3-4 games, he'll need to catch fire going into the playoffs.

Doesn't matter who gets thru for the NFC anyway. The Chargers are gonna destroy whoever they meet in Florida

hmm...I'm inclined to think that if you can pressure Grossman the Bears are definitely beatable. I think the secret is that rather than trying to keep the Bears offense off the field, you try to keep their defense off the field. Score quickly, and sit back and play contain. It should've worked for Arizona, but of course the Cards will always find a way to lose.

the Chargers? Stop Tomlinson and you can beat them; play 8 guys in the box and challenge Rivers to throw it downfield. I think the reason we haven't seen anyone play this kind of defense against them yet is because it's still the regular season, and this is kind of an all-or-nothing strategy. Once the playoffs start, it'll come out...

just my opinion(s)

 

[MacsomJRR]

Stop Tomlinson and you can beat them;

You don't stop Tomilson. He is unstoppable

play 8 guys in the box and challenge Rivers to throw it downfield.

For some reason I don't think that is a good idea.. Being that he is third in the league in passer efficiency rating (less than 1 point behind the leader Manning) with 99.7!

Leaf might have been an absolute BUST draft day for the chargers but the passing of mike vick for LT and the trading of baby Manning for Rivers just keeps getting better and better everyday

I think the reason we haven't seen anyone play this kind of defense against them yet is because it's still the regular season, and this is kind of an all-or-nothing strategy. Once the playoffs start, it'll come out...

See you in the playoffs!

 

[emw]

hmm...I'm inclined to think that if you can pressure Grossman the Bears are definitely beatable. I think the secret is that rather than trying to keep the Bears offense off the field, you try to keep their defense off the field. Score quickly, and sit back and play contain.

I think this might have worked a couple of weeks ago - see the Miami game - but the Bears have started to rev up the running game just in time. Jones and Benson are getting some decent runs in, which will help take the pressure off of Grossman. Plus with both Bradley and Berrian in the lineup with Muhammad, Clark, and Davis, they've got a potent receiver corps as well.

I think the Bears have the potential to go deep into the playoffs if they can control their turnovers. Really, they've had two bad turnover games (12 turnovers), but in the rest they've done exceptionally well (6 in 8 games).

 

[beatsme]

You don't stop Tomilson. He is unstoppable

very nearly...he's clearly the best at his position and arguably among the best ever.

For some reason I don't think that is a good idea.. Being that he is third in the league in passer efficiency rating (less than 1 point behind the leader Manning) with 99.7!

true, but when you stack the box on the Colts, you shut down their running game and the resultant pressure on Manning tends to take him out of his comfort zone. It works (has worked all too well against Indy) in the playoffs, and Dallas did it with great results on Sunday. Rivers is very good, though, so it's really a question of how he'll react. Since he's a young guy I'd be willing to bet that particular scheme would give him some trouble.

here again, just my opinion. The Chargers sure as hell whupped my Steelers, so who am I to talk?

though we will see the Chargers in the playoffs, no question. Barring a complete collapse, which is unlikely.

 

[yellow]

though we will see the Chargers in the playoffs, no question. Barring a complete collapse, which is unlikely.

Well...

Maybe they can hold it together this year for the playoffs.
Not so much in the past, though, right?

Personally, (yeah I'm really going out on a imb here ) in the AFC playoff picture I see:

Indy, NE, SD, and Baltimore. The STRONG wild cards will be Denver and KC.

Once again, I think Indy will fall in the playoffs. Tony D will get fired.

 

[Applespider]

Indy, NE, SD, and Baltimore. The STRONG wild cards will be Denver and KC.

I'd agree except I'm not totally sold on KC. Their offense seems to go in fits and spurts a little - and Trent Green hasn't lit it up this year. If Huard hadn't had that shocker against Miami, I'm not so sure Green would have got his job back.

The Bengals seem to have woken up offensively in the last two weeks and part of me wonders, if they've got that confidence back, whether they'll be a real second half threat and take that wildcard slot. Don't they have the head to head tiebreaker if they do finish with the same record? And a better conference record if it's a 3 way tie?

 

[yellow]

I agree about KC.. They are kind of my 'wild-card' wild-card.

Looking at both team's (Cin/KC) remaining schedule.. well it looks really tough for both of them. In fact, they look almost the same. But my gut tells me in the end that KC will be the 'victor' over J-Ville.. litterally, because it'll come down the the final game of the season.. against each other. I can't wait! I have a big gut.

Bengals' remaining schedule:

Nov 26	@Cleveland	1:00pm	130	119
Nov 30	Baltimore	8:00pm	125	123
Dec 10	Oakland	     1:00pm	144	144
Dec 18	@Indianapolis	8:30pm	125	123
Dec 24	@Denver	4:15pm	147	130
Dec 31	Pittsburgh	1:00pm	146	146

Chiefs' remaining schedule:

Nov 23	Denver	   8:00pm	125	123
Dec 3	@Cleveland	1:00pm	158	158
Dec 10	Baltimore	1:00pm	130	119
Dec 17	@San Diego	4:05pm	147	123
Dec 23	@Oakland	8:00pm	125	124
Dec 31	Jacksonville	1:00pm	107	110

Looking tough.


Though, the Jet's remaining schedule looks pretty easy!

Nov 26	Houston	1:00pm	107	123
Dec 3	@Green Bay	1:00pm	153	153
Dec 10	Buffalo	1:00pm	152	152
Dec 17	@Minnesota	1:00pm	146	123
Dec 25	@Miami	8:30pm	125	123
Dec 31	Oakland	1:00pm	144	144

Just for the sake of completness, Jag's remaining schedule:

Nov 26	@Buffalo	1:00pm	186	181
Dec 3	@Miami	4:05pm	144	118
Dec 10	Indianapolis	1:00pm	122	181
Dec 17	@Tennessee	1:00pm	153	 
Dec 24	New England	1:00pm	123	146
Dec 31	@Kansas City	1:00pm	107	110

 

[da2005pizimp]

All i got to say is The Vikings Suck, i had such high hopes for them but they just can't win a game if it's given to them. I also agree with Yellow but what is the NFC going to be like? It's just a mess there.

 

[yellow]

I'm NFC retarded. Unfortunately for the NFC, it appears as if it is retarded too.

The top ranking teams in the NFC E/S/W are all 6-4!
And only 3 NFC teams have winning records against AFC opponents. Dallas, Chicago, and Carolina.
(Though there are only 5 AFC teams with winning records against NFC teams, so.. meaningless stat)

To me, the NFC seems to have more "sleeper" teams. The ones that could be great, but you're never sure which ones will show up week to week.

 

[jessep28]

The Vikings and My Packers are battling it out for 2nd place in the division at 4-6...lol...

 

[Mr. Durden]

The Vikings and My Packers are battling it out for 2nd place in the division at 4-6...lol...

Why cant Miami move to that division? At least then maybe we would have a chance...

I think top to bottom the AFC is WAY stronger than the NFC right now. The only NFC team that really has a chance to hang in with the the big boys of the AFC is Chicago. And Ill take Denver, San Diego, New England, Indianapolis and maybe even the Ravens (on a good day) over the Bears.

Im going to guess at a Bears V Colts SuperBowl with Payton finally getting the win.

 

[jessep28]

Chicago though hasn't really played anyone significant. They almost got beat by the Cardinals and many of their wins came against such stellar teams as Buffalo, Green Bay (I'm sorry to say), Minnesota, San Fran and the Jets.

 

[jelloshotsrule]

Chicago though hasn't really played anyone significant. They almost got beat by the Cardinals and many of their wins came against such stellar teams as Buffalo, Green Bay (I'm sorry to say), Minnesota, San Fran and the Jets.

it's fine to be skeptical about the bears being able to beat really good teams... but they can only play the schedule they've been dealt. with the exception of their loss to miami, and the game against the cardinals, they have basically spanked all the teams they've played. including a not horrible 9ers team, a halfway decent seahawks team, and they of course beat the giants and jets (not super convincingly) on the road in the meadowlands.

it's ok not to crown them, but overall, they've played really well. grossman's consistency, and consistent ground game (which has been picking up steam) are the two weak points really. but when your D is that good... 2 shutouts, and 3 games of 10 or less against... that helps a lot

 

[jessep28]

it's fine to be skeptical about the bears being able to beat really good teams... but they can only play the schedule they've been dealt. with the exception of their loss to miami, and the game against the cardinals, they have basically spanked all the teams they've played. including a not horrible 9ers team, a halfway decent seahawks team, and they of course beat the giants and jets (not super convincingly) on the road in the meadowlands.

it's ok not to crown them, but overall, they've played really well. grossman's consistency, and consistent ground game (which has been picking up steam) are the two weak points really. but when your D is that good... 2 shutouts, and 3 games of 10 or less against... that helps a lot

I'm not saying they are a bunch of frauds. I wonder if they are going to choke in the playoffs like they did last year?

 

[emw]

I'm not saying they are a bunch of frauds. I wonder if they are going to choke in the playoffs like they did last year?

I think that last year they were overconfident going into the playoffs. Hopefully they've learned from that and will be a better playoff team this year. Plus last year's playoff game was Grossman's what, 3rd game ever or something?

I think this Sunday's game will tell a lot about the Bears, win or lose, when they play the Pats. 3rd straight game on the road, and this one against one of the better AFC teams.

 

[jessep28]

I think that last year they were overconfident going into the playoffs. Hopefully they've learned from that and will be a better playoff team this year. Plus last year's playoff game was Grossman's what, 3rd game ever or something?

I think this Sunday's game will tell a lot about the Bears, win or lose, when they play the Pats. 3rd straight game on the road, and this one against one of the better AFC teams.

The Patriots are good at exposing teams for what they really are. They are well coached and the coaches aren't idiots like most NFL coaches are in my opinion.

Everyone thought the Vikings with Brad Johnson and the anti-loveboat Brad Childress were so great until NE came to town and destroyed the Vikings.

They showed the Packers that their secondary is horrible (not a secret to us long-time packer fans) and the offensive line isn't improving as drastically as some of the more optimistic fans have said.

Last year the Bears had to contend with Steve Smith. They may very well have to deal with him again.

 

[Kwyjibo]

The Patriots are good at exposing teams for what they really are. They are well coached and the coaches aren't idiots like most NFL coaches are in my opinion.

Last year the Bears had to contend with Steve Smith. They may very well have to deal with him again.

Patriots did a great job in week 1 almost losing to the Bills.
Great job exposing the Denver defense ... which is obviously beatable.
Great job beating Indy when history was on their side and vinateri missed some of his first kicks ever in that stadium.
Great job exposing the Jets who nearly beat them twice ... but only split the season series.

I mean come on, the patriots beat bad teams, want to brag about the NFC north go ahead, but thats meaningless. The Bears are up 5 games on their division, having 3 games left against those opponents, the DIVISION STINKS.

As for Steve Smith, we all remember his playoff performance, but Peanut has improved and hopefully if the game does re-match we'll see more of the first Chicago - Carolina game of last year, when Smith caught for 150 ish yards but couldn't find the endzone ... well his whole team couldn't, the Bears won 13-3.

 

[MacNut]

Ok so Im watching NFL Network and I can't stand Bryant Gumbal's play by play, is it me or are his calls to dry and empty.

 

[Kwyjibo]

Ok so Im watching NFL Network and I can't stand Bryant Gumbal's play by play, is it me or are his calls to dry and empty.

I don't love their onscreen display ... too big. Yeah this crew needs some energy or maybe its the audio, I have it turned way up ... Sometimes theres first game jitters as well.

 

[MacNut]

Ya their graphics could use some work, to much empty space. I just don't think that Gumbal is a good play by play guy, he works much better doing news or anchor work more then calling a game.

 

[jessep28]

I didn't watch the NFL Network broadcast, but in regards to Monday Night Football, ESPN needs to get rid of Kornheiser and Theisman.

 

[Applespider]

Ok so Im watching NFL Network and I can't stand Bryant Gumbal's play by play, is it me or are his calls to dry and empty.

Nope... the play by play wasn't great. And he started the game as if he was on helium... Reasonable graphics but it seemed like more ad breaks?