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NFL season 2009-2010

63dot said:
Do you think the Pats are toast?

Sometimes they look like the dominant team they used to be, but other times they look like the best they can do is 9-7.

They have a dismal 1-3 road record with 4 road games left. To me, it does not look like a great year for them. Indy in the AFC seems to be the one to beat right now, and I wouldn't be surprised if they finished on top and met up with NO or MN in the Super Bowl.
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Brady's coming off major reconstructive knee surgery and he's been getting sharper and sharper every week. Their defense is really young and have only been getting better. The only real game they have left is this week @ NO, so I'd say 13-3 is a possibility but 12-4 looks about right.

Once the playoffs come around, anything can happen. And Brady isn't gonna lose to the Colts twice in a year.
 
fotografica said:
I wouldn't get too hung up on rankings/seedings going into the playoffs. Since 2000,only one number one seed has won a Super Bowl and two of the last four SB winners have been wild cards. In the NFL,unlike other sports,the best team in the regular season doesn't always translate over to the best team in the post season...Last year was another example..
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Anything can happen, but I just have a hunch for those three teams, especially the Saints. One thing is for certain, dynasties are not the norm and so many different teams have won in the last 15 years or so. I think the dynasty era, except for the Patriots dynasty, is over, and even calling the Patriots' narrow wins a dynasty is suspect. Dynasty to me is not just Super Bowl wins and appearances, but knocking the tar out of the competition in the regular season and playoffs.

What I like best in those years since the big dynasties was how different teams won after the two last ones, the 49ers and Cowboys.

Green Bay in '96 season
Broncos for the next two
Rams?, Ravens?, Patriots?, Bucs?,
Patriots twice (barely), Steelers?,
Colts (finally),
Giants?,
Steelers. Nine different teams since just the 1996 season.

It's really anybody's game. Gone are the days where a Landry or Johnson Cowboys, 49ers, Steel Curtain, or a Lombardi Green Bay dominates their opponents. It's fun to see great players go to different teams, and it's certainly been fun to see Favre's journey after Green Bay. A dream NFC Championship would be seeing Favre and his Vikings against Warner and his Cardinals. And I would like to see one of these old legends get another ring with a team that wasn't defined by them.

And even just as fun would be to one day see Peyton Manning or Tom Brady win a ring with a team they are not on right now.

As far as wild cards winning, I never usually expect it, but it's a great thing to see. What if a 9-7 team goes to the Super Bowl and wins by double digits? That would be a fun one to watch and given football's unpredictability since the 49ers/Cowboys' dynasties thing, it's a fairly good possibility.

One good thing would be for Brady to personally get his 4th rings someday, Patriots or not, just to be in the same sentence as a Montana or Bradshaw. I see this as a fairly good probability, the 4th ring, but not the mention of Brady being compared equally to Montana (Brady's childhood hero).

Big Ben could, possibly, get two more rings and be a four time winning Steelers QB like Bradshaw but this seems less likely to me. If he has any hope, it's that he's still young enough.

And finally, about the lack of a completely dominant, long-term dynasty in football with several Super Bowls, many postseason appearances, and a truckload of division championships, could we be seeing that in the Saints? Could they do three or four Super Bowl wins in a decade and squash their opponents while in the process? Will they ever win multiple rings culminating in beating their final opponent by 45 points? (The 49ers did that to Denver after Montana's 4th and last Super Bowl win and appearance in 1990).
 
It's also hard comparing different eras. Look at the game today. It's so heavily favored toward the offense. Don't get me started on pass interference. To me that's single handedly ruining the game. Nothing like giving a team 30-40+ yards of field position on a ball that wasn't catchable in the first place. I'd be very suprised if we ever see an under 200 point defense again (last being the 2000 Ravens). The defenses are definitely "handcuffed" in today's NFL. Not to mention the sheer size difference in players. Mike Webster played center for the Steelers at 250lbs. Brandon Jacobs plays RB at 260..It all comes down to who gets hot at the right time..The next six weeks will be fun to watch..
It's too bad the Titans got off to such a crappy start. If they continue the roll they're on,could be a good stretch run for them..
 
63dot said:
It's fun to see great players go to different teams, and it's certainly been fun to see Favre's journey after Green Bay. A dream NFC Championship would be seeing Favre and his Vikings against Warner and his Cardinals. And I would like to see one of these old legends get another ring with a team that wasn't defined by them.
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I'm still disappointed that Warner and the Cards didn't pull out the win last year. It would have been awesome to see him get that Super Bowl win and for the Cardinals to really stick it to the critics. And yes, watching Favre this year has been a lot of fun. I have no idea who I would cheer for if it came down to a Vikings vs. Cardinals NFC Championship, but it would be great to watch.

EDIT: After watching last night's Titan's win I have to say that Vince Young is looking good. I don't think my Titans will make the playoffs, but they sure look like they can play the role of spoiler to others who have playoff aspirations.
 
63dot said:
And even just as fun would be to one day see Peyton Manning or Tom Brady win a ring with a team they are not on right now.
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Anything can happen, but I do recall Manning saying on Letterman in 2005 (two years before the Superbowl win) that he always wants to wear a Colts jersey. Plus, I see the Colts franchise as bending over backwards to keep him in Indy. Which I'm okay with. Go Blue :D
 
fotografica said:
It's also hard comparing different eras. Look at the game today. It's so heavily favored toward the offense. Don't get me started on pass interference. To me that's single handedly ruining the game. Nothing like giving a team 30-40+ yards of field position on a ball that wasn't catchable in the first place. I'd be very suprised if we ever see an under 200 point defense again (last being the 2000 Ravens). The defenses are definitely "handcuffed" in today's NFL. Not to mention the sheer size difference in players. Mike Webster played center for the Steelers at 250lbs. Brandon Jacobs plays RB at 260..It all comes down to who gets hot at the right time..The next six weeks will be fun to watch..
It's too bad the Titans got off to such a crappy start. If they continue the roll they're on,could be a good stretch run for them..
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Very true. This era to me is the musical chairs era with stars moving a lot and different teams being in contention. If anything, it makes football more exciting.

Titans didn't start well but they can go all the way, and that would be nice and too early in the season for anybody to write them off.

I don't recall a very bad start going all the way but I think the 49ers, who I follow, started at 3-4, with Steve Young looking like he lost it, and then the team went on to win the Super Bowl. The Raiders, who I also follow, started one year at 8-0, and then lost the next eight and didn't make the playoffs.

What some see as possible is that Indy and the Saints won't go to the Super Bowl possibly because are peaking early, and can, either through injury by playing starters too much, or through overconfidence, self destruct.

The more unlikely scenarios are possible today more than they were in the dynasties era of football. Several years ago, who thought Favre would go to the Jets, and then the Vikings? And Michael Vick coming back to football, and as a bench warmer possibly for the rest of his career?
 
MacNut said:
Maybe Bellicheck can blow the second game like he did the first one.:p
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Mistakes and victories are a team effort. In the end, a good coach takes the blow.

The Pats coach is still one of the best ever, even if he supposedly listened in on another receiver/call or "spied". I don't doubt this can be common in the NFL and the Pats just got caught. What I like is how he methodically works down the field and does not take stupid chances. Some say he's too conservative, but turnovers are the result if you are reckless.
 
63dot said:
Mistakes and victories are a team effort. In the end, a good coach takes the blow.

The Pats coach is still one of the best ever, even if he supposedly listened in on another receiver/call or "spied". I don't doubt this can be common in the NFL and the Pats just got caught. What I like is how he methodically works down the field and does not take stupid chances. Some say he's too conservative, but turnovers are the result if you are reckless.
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I thought we got over this like 2 years ago. Everyone tries to steal signals. The patriots just video taped them.


The more I think about it, the more I agree with Belichick's 4th and 2 call. Since Brady became QB in 2001, they've converted over 75% of 4th and shorts. The Pats D was gassed and Manning had just drove down the field and scored a touchdown in less than 2:00. They probably would have scored again even if the Pats punted. Belichick took the 75% chance to just end the game right there, and it came up inches short. **** happens.
 
zioxide said:
The aging defense and Reche Caldwell's inability to catch blew that game, not Brady.
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So when the Patriots defense/Adam Viniateri wins 3 Super Bowls they're "Brady's rings" but when he has to come through in the playoffs it's not his fault? Pick a story and stick to it. In '06 the age of the defense wasn't as big an issue as in 07 and 08.

Also, the Patriots scored one touchdown and 2 field goals in the second half after rolling the Colts for 3 touchdowns in the first. Not sure how the blame falls on the defense for that display of offensive ineptness.

...but that Reche Caldwell drop was hilarious. I think I was closer to him sitting at home in Boston than the nearest Indy defender X-(
 
miles01110 said:
So when the Patriots defense/Adam Viniateri wins 3 Super Bowls they're "Brady's rings" but when he has to come through in the playoffs it's not his fault?
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Brady was the one who led the drives down the field to put them in position for Vinatieri to make those field goals.
 
miles01110 said:
Also, the Patriots scored one touchdown and 2 field goals in the second half after rolling the Colts for 3 touchdowns in the first. Not sure how the blame falls on the defense for that display of offensive ineptness.
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The "blame" should be on the coaching staff not being able to make half-time adjustments, or 2nd half adjustments. Credit to the Colts for making successful half-time adjustments.
 
zioxide said:
Brady was the one who led the drives down the field to put them in position for Vinatieri to make those field goals.
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This was a great team effort. Those rings belong to everybody in the Pats organization. It gives three rings to Brady and I am sure he will get a 4th before he retires, even if it means he's an old 2nd string QB acting as mentor/coach and holding a clipboard. But I would never compare him to 4 ring hold Joe Montana.

The difference between Montana and Brady is that instead of getting the kicker in position, he would most likely get the ball into the end zone.

Brady is a great QB, but no legend in my book. When the Pats go to the Super Bowl and destroy a great opponent by 21 points or more, then I will put them in the same category as a 90s Dallas or 80s 49ers.
 
zioxide said:
Brady was the one who led the drives down the field to put them in position for Vinatieri to make those field goals.
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And in 2007, I suppose that was the defense's fault then as well? By my count Brady has thrown two game-winning touchdowns in 17 playoff games. It's almost always been defense or special teams that has kept the Patriots competitive in the postseason.
 
miles01110 said:
And in 2007, I suppose that was the defense's fault then as well? By my count Brady has thrown two game-winning touchdowns in 17 playoff games. It's almost always been defense or special teams that has kept the Patriots competitive in the postseason.
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This is why he is no Joe Montana.

But if I were Brady or anyone on offense, I would be very happy to have a team with an astounding defense. The Pats have had defenses so great that they alone deserve rings for the organization. One of the hardest thing is to stop star running backs. The Pats are one of the few teams in the modern era who have been consistent in this task. On third and short, I put my money on someone like the Pats to stop an opposing running back trying to break through. While there is no way to prove this, I think if the Pats D peaked in the early to mid 90s, they could have given E. Smith something to worry about.
 
Seriously, you pansies quit your bickering. :D Last time I checked football was a TEAM sport. Everyone plays a part in the wins and the losses. You can't pinpoint one game, player, or even play and credit that as the sole reason for any success or failure.
 
dukebound85 said:
long ways to go lol
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It would make it interesting to see the Colts lose to the Texans of all teams. Right now the Colts look unstoppable in their conference the way the Bills did the four years in a row they went to the Super Bowl. In week 10, 11, or 12, in those days it was pretty much established that the Bills were at least going to the AFC championship.

If the Colts post a perfect or near perfect 15-1 season, I would be shocked if they failed to make the AFC championship game. Right now if the Super Bowl was played between the Colts and the Saints, I would say the Colts have the advantage.

Last year's AFC and NFC champions have no reasonable odds in making it to the big show this year if taken as a snapshot now. Things are always getting tossed around in the non-dynasty era NFL days, so in a few weeks, the Steelers and the Cardinals could look like they are the best teams to beat.

Let's hope the Colts lose. For all we know, they could lose most of their remaining games. Peyton is no youngster and a bad hit could end it all. When Brady went down, it didn't look so bad. In his rookie days, he would have got up and shaken it off. Past age 30, with cumulative hits and wear and tear, somebody like Manning is not a sure thing through this remaining season or the playoffs. When a 50+ year old woman can take out and "experienced" baseball star with a groin injury, someone "experienced" like Manning can't afford to have a bad bowel movement or reach too quickly to tie his shoes. ;)
 
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