2014-15 NFL season thread

[Queen of Spades]

It was just one game, at home, and the Patriots have a brutal 5 game spread coming up while the Broncos play a cupcake stretch. Still, it was nice to see after everything that's happened. And it was heartening to see the defense play so well. It doesn't make a ton of sense to get too high (this game) or too low (KC game) during an NFL season.

Remember when the Steelers were done? And the Bengals the team to beat behind the Broncos in the AFC? And the Cardinals a paper tiger? The NFL is week to week, that's why it's so fun.

This play was my favorite everything though. I've always said and will continue to say, Gronk is the absolute best TE when he's healthy and he completely changes the offense. And yes I'm still bitter about the 2011 Super Bowl.

Gronk being Gronkulous

 

[63dot]

The difference there is Harvin was toxic on the clubhouse. To be sure, they are worse off as a team now that he's gone but we don't know what kind of problems he was creating in the clubhouse.

Russell is a gifted young player who still has a lot to learn about being a QB in the NFL. I don't see him leaving Seattle for a very long time (if at all)

Judging from what he has done with the short career he has had so far, learning a lot more will make this QB into a monster.

 

[rdowns]

Not going to happen Peace. You don't trade a starting QB in this league.

 

[Sydde]

… Payton Manning …

… actually, on second thought, I have changed my mind, please do keep spelling it that way …

 

[63dot]

Collarbone breaks are the worst. I feel bad for Philly. I may not be a fan but with what can be the next great QB star of the NFL, this has got to be the worst. Philly needs everything they have to stave off a hot Dallas.

Even for regular, non-football playing people it takes an incredibly long time to heal. In my band, the drummer had a collarbone break and it was six months before he could even fake playing drums. We missed a sure thing big gig and for some time it looked like he would never play again. Foles is done for this season and how could somebody with that injury come in and do any good as an athlete? Up until the injury, he had a really good 94.1 QB rating.

But the NFC East can be weird because Romo is hurt (how bad nobody knows) and while he may come back, he may not be at the top and by then Dallas can be out of it, too and just a short time ago, the Cowboys were #1 or #2 in power rankings.

Other than the Cardinals (who own the best winning percentage in the NFL, but also have depth), the two teams I thought who would win it all are in serious jeopardy. You can do well in first eight weeks but then not even make the playoffs.

With Seattle and San Francisco probably out, and two of the best NFL teams so far this year (Dallas and Philly) out, this leaves a pretty clear path for Arizona in the NFC.

While it looked like one of those three NFC teams ultimately headed for a showdown with Denver, we all see that Peyton can stink up yet another huge game as he did against the Patriots. Just like the Super Bowl, he failed to see completely open receivers and when he made the throws, they were way off. Also with Brady showing he too can stink up a game as happened against the Chiefs, things are probably looking pretty good for Arizona. I would still rather have a consistent QB who doesn't fall into the super hot coupled with super awful category of play like those two (Brady, P. Manning) in recent years, and go with a steady yet mediocre type of QB like an Eli Manning or Joe Flacco who gets it done and avoids big mistakes and big game chokes.

Add to that Arizona has never won the Lombardi trophy so they must be very motivated and in a way the trophy-less Seahawks were last year. The NFC West has shown some real football and showed up for 2012-13 season big game, 2013-14 game and looks plausible for this Super Bowl. Just halfway into this season I will call it early for the Cardinals the same way I called it for the Seahawks around week 10.

Cardinals over either Pats, Broncos, or Colts in a game where Arizona will predictably play like they have all year and the AFC representative will choke again under the pressure of how great their QB has to perform.

 

[Sydde]

If Arizona were to win the SB this year, it would make the NFC-W the first division to have all of its teams having won a Lombardi.

I guess that would have held for Philadelphia and the NFC-E as well, but now that is not looking very likely.

 

[iLog.Genius]

If Arizona were to win the SB this year, it would make the NFC-W the first division to have all of its teams having won a Lombardi.

I guess that would have held for Philadelphia and the NFC-E as well, but now that is not looking very likely.

Funny how the NFC West was long known for being a joke of a division but since 2000, has sent 6 teams to the Super Bowl - I think more than any other division in that time span.

 

[Sydde]

Funny how the NFC West was long known for being a joke of a division but since 2000, has sent 6 teams to the Super Bowl - I think more than any other division in that time span.

Not quite accurate: before the '02 season, the Titans were in the same division as the Ravens and the Steelers (AFC-C), the Colts were in the same division as the Patriots (AFC-E), the Saints and Panthers were in the NFC-W, Tampa Bay was in the NFC-C, Arizona (originally St. Louis) was in the NFC-E and Seattle was in the AFC-W, so if you want to count divisions properly, you would have to start with the SB of January '03.

 

[63dot]

If Arizona were to win the SB this year, it would make the NFC-W the first division to have all of its teams having won a Lombardi.

I guess that would have held for Philadelphia and the NFC-E as well, but now that is not looking very likely.

I liked it back when it was just the Niners and it gave me bragging rights, Joe, Steve, and Jerry. Those were the days.

But then the biggest rivals, the Rams came up and they were the greatest show on turf that year and Warner put up numbers that surpassed even Steve Young's untouchable accuracy. Steve would throw consistently in the high 90s but Kurt went a step above that. While I was respectful of somebody that could be like Mike Jordan but with a football taking snaps, it ended the argument for who could hold the highest rating up until that moment in history. Now throwing 100+ is more common with more QB passing designed offenses, but back then it was unusual in a more blended passing/running offense.

Then speaking about great quarterbacks and offenses, the most prolific offense in the history of the sport (Denver Broncos) was then slayed by the vicious defense of Seattle, the same Seattle defense that kicked the Niners out of contention. While the Niners and many teams have had great defenses at times, the Seahawks showed on the biggest stage what the ultimate defense could do. Manning had most points and yards but then was held to 8 points. I thought Charles Haley and company showed how it should be done, but nothing beats the defensive mojo put on by Seattle last season.

So far it looks like the Cardinals could be headed to a trophy and the entire division can be said to have been "winners" with one or more Lombardi trophies and the Niners are now just one of four teams with a Super Bowl. We are nothing special and no longer the longtime lone Lombardi representative of the division. You could call it jealousy but if you really want to talk about division with a winning spirit, look to the NFC East. They have too many trophies to fathom. NFC East has by far more wins and appearances.

All that being said, my money is still on Arizona this year. They own the best winning percentage so far and I don't expect that to change.

Denver and New England are hot right now, but 0-4 in most recent Super Bowl appearances, so unless the Colts do it, it's the Cardinals getting in there to complete the division and trophies. I have had good reason to dislike the Rams for a long time, more recently the Seahawks, but I have to start to learn how to dislike Arizona.

 

[Sydde]

... But then the biggest rivals, the Rams came up and they were the greatest show on turf that year and Warner put up numbers that surpassed even Steve Young's untouchable accuracy. Steve would throw consistently in the high 90s but Kurt went a step above that. While I was respectful of somebody that could be like Mike Jordan but with a football taking snaps, it ended the argument for who could hold the highest rating up until that moment in history.

But Warner had nothing on Montana. Joe has four fancy rings, having thrown zero picks in four SBs, whereas Kurt was in two, losing the second by throwing two picks. I would count consistency as being worth a whole lot more than one shining moment (for which he thanked jesus).

Denver and New England are hot right now, but 0-4 in most recent Super Bowl appearances ...

Count again: the broncos and the pats have lost 3 recent ones between them – go back to the ten year mark and they are 1-3.

I have had good reason to dislike the Rams for a long time, more recently the Seahawks, but I have to start to learn how to dislike Arizona.

Arizona seems like a very bland team with uninteresting fans, that makes them hard to hate.

 

[63dot]

Arizona seems like a very bland team with uninteresting fans, that makes them hard to hate.

I thought that about Seattle, other than the noise, but then they took out the Niners. I think for a lot of us it was hard to see that showboat Sherman who then went on to become a nationally recognized football hero. The best revenge, even better than beating Seattle, would be to get him on our team and win big. We had to deal with and suffer with rival Atlanta's showoff in Deion Sanders but nothing was sweeter when he came over to San Francisco and became a big reason why we won it all in '94 season.

I would hate for the Niners to regroup only to see them get put down by the Cardinals this year. It's enough to worry about Seattle but now there's another viable threat in Arizona. Right now it looks like they are just getting better and better and may be the NFC's new hot team to beat. But the dislike of a team comes from more than just one year in the thick of it, but year after year.

The Rams are probably still the all time nemesis of the 49ers. Even though they didn't win one with Everett, they still put on a show every time they came to battle. Those were some great games. Right now it's 64-63 in games, Niners slight head to head lead. Like any great rivalry, it doesn't matter how good or bad a team is any given year, the whole thing is a different ball of wax when two rivals meet and it's usually a close game. The whole focus goes away from how that game will play out in the season's overall result, but that game it's all about besting the other team. Even if the next 40 years favor the Cardinals and Seahawks in terms of overall wins, there will never be any less intensity in the Rams battling the Niners.

UPDATE:

Darn Rams couldn't poke a hole in the Arizona Cardinals and now Arizona stands alone atop of NFL. Seattle looks good again but midseason effort could be too little too late as Arizona will soon improve to 8-1. Niners won but again too little, too late so we would have to expect second half of season meltdown on Cardinal's part. Unlikely. Denver and NE are at 7-2 but neither look like Arizona right now. Denver lit up the board and had Manning close in nicely towards Favre total yards, but it was against winless Raiders.

 

[zioxide]

UPDATE:

Darn Rams couldn't poke a hole in the Arizona Cardinals and now Arizona stands alone atop of NFL. Seattle looks good again but midseason effort could be too little too late as Arizona will soon improve to 8-1. Niners won but again too little, too late so we would have to expect second half of season meltdown on Cardinal's part. Unlikely. Denver and NE are at 7-2 but neither look like Arizona right now. Denver lit up the board and had Manning close in nicely towards Favre total yards, but it was against winless Raiders.

Carson Palmer got hurt and it looks like he may have torn his ACL and in that case would be done for the year. That's a huge blow to Arizona.. without him they are going nowhere.

 

[iLog.Genius]

Carson Palmer got hurt and it looks like he may have torn his ACL and in that case would be done for the year. That's a huge blow to Arizona.. without him they are going nowhere.

At first look I thought he just tweaked his ankle and thought he'd be alright because he walked off himself, eventually being carted off to the locker room. Very unfortunate. I like Palmer and like him on this Cardinals team, sucks to lose a season like this.

 

[AustinIllini]

Tony Romo is a beast

Also, the Bears are a dumpster fire.

 

[63dot]

Carson Palmer got hurt and it looks like he may have torn his ACL and in that case would be done for the year. That's a huge blow to Arizona.. without him they are going nowhere.

Bad for Palmer and Cardinals and now the whole NFC West could be up for grabs. But second string QBs could turn out to be interesting as SF has shown everybody. I have given up on my Niners for this year but Seattle can be within striking distance if the Cardinals are down their starting QB.

If Seattle then takes the division, they just don't look like the same team that dominated the NFL last year. Before Palmer got hurt, if that's the case, my guess was to Colts v. Cardinals in Super Bowl. Who knows now.

 

[Peace]

Bad for Palmer and Cardinals and now the whole NFC West could be up for grabs. But second string QBs could turn out to be interesting as SF has shown everybody. I have given up on my Niners for this year but Seattle can be within striking distance if the Cardinals are down their starting QB.

If Seattle then takes the division, they just don't look like the same team that dominated the NFL last year. Before Palmer got hurt, if that's the case, my guess was to Colts v. Cardinals in Super Bowl. Who knows now.

The Colts ? I hope you mean the Broncos.

Stanton did a good job filling in for Palmer. I wouldn't count out Arizona right now. Especially with the way the rest of the NFC West is positioned.

 

[Sydde]

Also, the Bears are a dumpster fire.

"da" Bears, you mean? The sad thing is that Green Bay could have gone on for a proper Nebraska vs. Wofford 70 point drubbing, but they just took it easy in the second half. I mean, really, when you get rolling like that, you should roll on.

Apparently, a plane towed a banner over the meadowlands today, "Jets Rebuilding Since 1969".

I saw this catch in a game today, in slo-mo, the receiver stood up after and was holding the ball with his hand pointing downward, so that it looked like he was just palming it. Vertically. It just looked wrong, especially for such a wet day. I guess those guys are using Cutter brand gloves, or something similar. Stickum is illegal, but why bother when you are allowed to use super-grippy gloves? Those "amazing one-handed catches", maybe not all that amazing. But, well, the league is about entertainment, so the gloves will be sticking around.

 

[impulse462]

He was the better QB today, no doubt about it. Last January, not so much.

I wouldn't get too giddy about that win... In the NFL its pretty hard to beat a good quality team twice. This is reminiscent of last year... Patriots had that great win after being down 20+ in the first half... then the Broncos got the best of them in the second go-round when it really counted

Brady was the better qb last January. Broncos could beat anyone last year except for Seattle; Pats couldn't do anything because their defense had key injuries and no one on offense could produce AND gronk was gone. Now you'll find that those holes are plugged up and the Brady bunch will be firing on all cylinders. I expect (and hope) for them to win the superbowl.

 

[63dot]

The Colts ? I hope you mean the Broncos.

Stanton did a good job filling in for Palmer. I wouldn't count out Arizona right now. Especially with the way the rest of the NFC West is positioned.

Every year people think that Peyton Manning will be there and win a Super Bowl. But his long term trend is that he chokes in playoffs most of the time and Super Bowls having scored 17 and 8 points respectively in past two big games. It's almost a safe bet to say he's the greatest performer of the regular season and greatest choker of the postseason. Sometimes he has good weapons and sometimes great weapons, and sometime his team's D is better than others but the big games tend to make him perform way under his usual style. His brother on the other hand tends to play above his average in big games. Part of the position is mental and the whole package isn't there with Manning. On paper, he's the greatest but you need more than just career yards and TDs on any given Super Bowl of playoff game. He will soon surpass Favre on yards, too to add to TD high mark, but a strong argument for not being the GOAT is that no GOAT in any sport loses two Super Bowls in a row. He could win the next three but that wouldn't erase the two he lost, back to back. Bradshaw didn't lose two in a row, Montana didn't lose two in a row, heck neither even lost one Super Bowl.

I will take a mid-80s QB during the regular season if I know they rise up to playoff games over one who plays mid-90s during regular season but doesn't show up for playoff season.

The truth is Peyton Manning has only converted one trip in postseason to a Super Bowl win. He went to postseason 13 times! It's safe to say there's a pattern there and a certain lack of his skills showing up after the regular 16 games are played.

If the Cardinals are out, the Seahawks would have to also do poorly for my Niners to get anywhere and then I would expect SF to go far in playoffs.

 

[einmusiker]

I really wish arodge was given the opportunity to break the record last night. That first half was amazing. 6 td passes and just laser precision.

 

[pachyderm]

shame abut carson palmer.

lovin' the way that mark sanchez is playing! he is finally on a team with a decent offense.

 

[63dot]

shame abut carson palmer.

lovin' the way that mark sanchez is playing! he is finally on a team with a decent offense.

Palmer at least has the luxury of being a on team with a backup QB almost as good as him so they may still get into playoffs.

Sanchez (yet another Pac 12 star) with this team looks pretty good right now. We will have to see if this is a fluke or if they are really as good as they look. Maybe we may see an NFC showdown with a downgraded Arizona versus an upgraded Philly. That could be interesting. Picture is changing. I still think that the AFC will have Colts as the last man standing on that side. This Super Bowl could shape up as one where it will be a match up nobody could have guessed and I always like those years even if neither are teams I care for.

We already completed a totally weird baseball season where at season's opening day the last two teams playing were those nobody would have bet on. The odds on a KC-SF World Series could have been one of the least possible combinations if judged from previous year record.

So let's say Super Bowl is Colts-Eagles. Andrew Luck is already at 26 TDs and Sanchez is one people thought would be a superstar, too. Colts could move on from Manning dynasty and Eagles could potentially get their first Super Bowl win.

 

[rhett7660]

I could handle the Colts getting in, but hell no on the Eagles!

 

[rdowns]

I wish the Jets had kept Sanchez but I get that he had to get out of NY if he was ever to thrive again. Let's not forget that he went to 2 straight AFC Championship games. A QB needs talent around him to win. The Jets provided him nothing. He's just another in a long string of QBs the Jets failed to develop.

 

[63dot]

I could handle the Colts getting in, but hell no on the Eagles!

I don't want either of course, but you may see a lot of Colts and Eagles coming up big in postseasons from now on, along with Seattle and maybe another young team.

For almost a decade it was almost all about Tom Brady (3 rings), Peyton Manning (1 ring and many 4,000 yard seasons when nobody knew or comprehend what that was), and Ben Roethlisberger (2 rings). This was football for a long time. Then since then those three are 0-5 in Super Bowl tries and wins.

This next decade it could be all about Seattle, Arizona, Indy w/o Peyton, and other odd combinations of who will be our next stars and Super Bowl winners. I hope, but sometimes doubt, that SF may be in that bunch.