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The 2013-14 NFL football season thread

Broncos are going down, I think, to #2 seed this weekend with loss to Chargers. Patriots only need to win and against a team that's not so good. Manning looked a lot like his game against Patriots in second half and seemed dog tired and sluggish. It wasn't his great, vintage self. I can't explain that interception either. It's late in the season and I don't expect him to finish this marathon the way he started it. While I am not saying the Super Bowl and MVP is out of reach, it just seems increasingly unlikely for him.

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/12/12/5206002/2013-nfl-playoff-picture-standings-broncos-dolphins

Sure, Peyton has all those yards and touchdowns and great QB rating (112.9 rtg, 47 TDs), but the Pats are a more well rounded team with non-stars who could step up, and have so far, to make NE the best in the AFC. I see Brady going to another Super Bowl this year and not Peyton Manning.
 
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63dot said:
Broncos are going down, I think, to #2 seed this weekend with loss to Chargers. Patriots only need to win and against a team that's not so good. Manning looked a lot like his game against Patriots in second half and seemed dog tired and sluggish. It wasn't his great, vintage self. I can't explain that interception either. It's late in the season and I don't expect him to finish this marathon the way he started it. While I am not saying the Super Bowl and MVP is out of reach, it just seems increasingly unlikely for him.

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/12/12/5206002/2013-nfl-playoff-picture-standings-broncos-dolphins

Sure, Peyton has all those yards and touchdowns and great QB rating (112.9 rtg, 47 TDs), but the Pats are a more well rounded team with non-stars who could step up, and have so far, to make NE the best in the AFC. I see Brady going to another Super Bowl this year and not Peyton Manning.
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After last nights showing I am agreeing. I was thinking they were the team to beat in the AFC, after last night that has changed.

Pats moved up in the ranking for me as the team to beat in the AFC followed by a close Denver and the Chiefs.
 
I think Thursday night games really have an affect on players and teams. The Broncos ran what, like 90 plays on offense on Sunday? Then had to play 4 days later? That's tough. Granted, the Chargers played well on a short week, but they ran the ball a ton.

Like I said, the Broncos remind me a LOT of the 2007 Patriots (not quite as good, obviously) - loads and loads of offense, and a streaky, suspect defense. It will really depend on if they can get it together defensively. I still think they're one of the better AFC teams. I wouldn't overreact too much to a flat Broncos team on a Thursday night.

As a fantasy player going against tons of Broncos players in the playoffs: THANK YOU JEBUS. :cool::D:)
 
Bear in mind that on Sunday, Denver earned that little "x-" next to their listing in the standings. Just like Seattle, who had just earned their "x-" a week before, then lost to a division rival. It is kind of a letdown, in a way, to know you are in, so they each kind of slacked in their following games. We shall see how Indy does this week against the basement-dwelling division rival they face this week (having clinched their division with the fifth best record in the conference).
 
ucfgrad93 said:
Agreed, they played horribly, but I'm not writing them off just yet.
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What did you think about Manning basically using the excuse himself that they ran a lot of plays last Sunday (in a blowout, mind you)?

I feel like that's something the fans or media should mention, not the QB. I'd be unhappy if Brady said something like that.
 
Queen of Spades said:
What did you think about Manning basically using the excuse himself that they ran a lot of plays last Sunday (in a blowout, mind you)?

I feel like that's something the fans or media should mention, not the QB. I'd be unhappy if Brady said something like that.
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Brady would have said, "I played terribly" and take the blame. On that highly controversial call where Brady's receiver was interfered with sometime back, Brady said his pass was short and didn't blame anybody. No other QB, save Joe Montana, would say that type of thing and take full responsibility.

The way I see it is, Manning is old and injured and declining late in the season. Like any old QB, like a Favre, he can go out and toss a lot of passes but then fades in the end and can't hold up like a younger version of themselves. Denver will be on the decline and finish #2 and lose home field.

While NE is on the rise, they will face a better team in the likely NO or Seattle if they go to SB. But what NE needs to do is to light up the scoreboard and blow out next three opponents and get used to that 2007 type of play. If anybody can remake themselves from good to great it's NE and Brady. My guess is that by the time SB comes along it could be a really even match between the dominant Seattle and NE. If played today, Seattle would win but NE has a way of ratcheting up their game in the last few weeks and become THE team to beat. There will be all the talk about no Gronk but the coach will find a way to find another style and still wipe out opponents.

While I like Peyton Manning, it's obvious that he's not the same guy we all watched in younger years. Yes, I liked seeing an older Elway or Favre defy father time but in the end they weren't the same QBs even though Elway got his rings then thanks to great RB.
 
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63dot said:
The way I see it is, Manning is old and injured and declining late in the season. Like any old QB, like a Favre, he can go out and toss a lot of passes but then fades in the end and can't hold up like a younger version of themselves. Denver will be on the decline and finish #2 and lose home field.
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Good lord, why don't we just ship Peyton off to Shady Acres Retirement Center.:rolleyes:

So far, he has thrown for 4,811 yards, 47 TDs, and completed 67.8% of his passes. Clearly, he just totally sucks. :rolleyes:

He is older and I think he wasn't able to recover on a short week like we had. Now that said, the whole Bronco team played a terrible game Thursday night. The Broncos only rushed for 18 yards (obviously Peyton's fault), gave up 3 1st downs on penalties (Peyton's fault), gave up 5.1 yards per play (Peyton's fault again).
 
63dot said:
Brady would have said, "I played terribly" and take the blame. On that highly controversial call where Brady's receiver was interfered with sometime back, Brady said his pass was short and didn't blame anybody. No other QB, save Joe Montana, would say that type of thing and take full responsibility.

The way I see it is, Manning is old and injured and declining late in the season. Like any old QB, like a Favre, he can go out and toss a lot of passes but then fades in the end and can't hold up like a younger version of themselves. Denver will be on the decline and finish #2 and lose home field.

While NE is on the rise, they will face a better team in the likely NO or Seattle if they go to SB. But what NE needs to do is to light up the scoreboard and blow out next three opponents and get used to that 2007 type of play. If anybody can remake themselves from good to great it's NE and Brady. My guess is that by the time SB comes along it could be a really even match between the dominant Seattle and NE. If played today, Seattle would win but NE has a way of ratcheting up their game in the last few weeks and become THE team to beat. There will be all the talk about no Gronk but the coach will find a way to find another style and still wipe out opponents.

While I like Peyton Manning, it's obvious that he's not the same guy we all watched in younger years. Yes, I liked seeing an older Elway or Favre defy father time but in the end they weren't the same QBs even though Elway got his rings then thanks to great RB.
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I am skeptical about NE going on some kind of tear. I mean, it would be awesome, but I think what you're seeing is another masterful coaching job by Bill Belichick. I'm sure Brady will play well, and I'm sure the offense will be competent without Gronk. But the defense, which was a strength while the offense was overcoming injuries early in the year, has become a liability.

My expectations are extremely tempered - I will enjoy the chance to see my team play in the playoffs yet again and just relish it. Realistically, losing our best defensive players up the middle (Wilfork, Mayo), starters like Tommy Kelly and Sebastian Vollmer, and now Gronkowski - it's too much to overcome.

That said, every team seems to have its warts, so we'll see. I think writing Denver off after one bad game on a Thursday night (when teams typically play like crap) is jumping the gun. They will be right in it and will go as far as their defense takes them. It will be interesting, but outside of Seattle, I don't see any truly elite teams this year. Which makes it kind of fun.
 
ucfgrad93 said:
Good lord, why don't we just ship Peyton off to Shady Acres Retirement Center.:rolleyes:

So far, he has thrown for 4,811 yards, 47 TDs, and completed 67.8% of his passes. Clearly, he just totally sucks. :rolleyes:

He is older and I think he wasn't able to recover on a short week like we had. Now that said, the whole Bronco team played a terrible game Thursday night. The Broncos only rushed for 18 yards (obviously Peyton's fault), gave up 3 1st downs on penalties (Peyton's fault), gave up 5.1 yards per play (Peyton's fault again).
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Of course it is. For all the stuff we praise Peyton about, he should've thrown enough TD's to win the game. Heck, Brady would've done it. Manning is old he's going to break Brady's TD record, which many said wouldn't be broken in for a while, but old.

(/sarcasm)
 
ucfgrad93 said:
Good lord, why don't we just ship Peyton off to Shady Acres Retirement Center.:rolleyes:

So far, he has thrown for 4,811 yards, 47 TDs, and completed 67.8% of his passes. Clearly, he just totally sucks. :rolleyes:

He is older and I think he wasn't able to recover on a short week like we had. Now that said, the whole Bronco team played a terrible game Thursday night. The Broncos only rushed for 18 yards (obviously Peyton's fault), gave up 3 1st downs on penalties (Peyton's fault), gave up 5.1 yards per play (Peyton's fault again).
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Yes he had a great year and he is no doubt hall of famer. I saw the same thing in Montana when he got older. He had the flashes of his great play of the past but as painful as it was we replaced him with Steve Young and that was best for the team. Montana's mind and instincts were the same but his body, in this violent sport, was clearly not the same anymore. It happens.

If I could clone the first half of the season Manning and extrapolate it through 16 games, then that would be great. He's not moving the same and it's obvious. Sure he had that interception but it wasn't just one thing but a declining spark in the second half in general. It's not just stats as a receiver can catch one and take it way up or the running backs could make up for some, but I do think his age, and the fact that he has terrible blind side protection, is not the way to enter the playoffs.

My prediction is that the Broncos will be one and out in the playoffs, but to be fair so will my 49ers IF they even get there.

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Queen of Spades said:
I am skeptical about NE going on some kind of tear. I mean, it would be awesome, but I think what you're seeing is another masterful coaching job by Bill Belichick. I'm sure Brady will play well, and I'm sure the offense will be competent without Gronk. But the defense, which was a strength while the offense was overcoming injuries early in the year, has become a liability.

My expectations are extremely tempered - I will enjoy the chance to see my team play in the playoffs yet again and just relish it. Realistically, losing our best defensive players up the middle (Wilfork, Mayo), starters like Tommy Kelly and Sebastian Vollmer, and now Gronkowski - it's too much to overcome.

That said, every team seems to have its warts, so we'll see. I think writing Denver off after one bad game on a Thursday night (when teams typically play like crap) is jumping the gun. They will be right in it and will go as far as their defense takes them. It will be interesting, but outside of Seattle, I don't see any truly elite teams this year. Which makes it kind of fun.
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Your coach is among the best ever and I won't be surprised if you go on a tear, big time. Let's see.

As long as your coach and Brady are there, there's always that chance for 35 points and 300+ yards in all of final games, no matter who is hurt.
 
Queen of Spades said:
I think Thursday night games really have an affect on players and teams. The Broncos ran what, like 90 plays on offense on Sunday? Then had to play 4 days later? That's tough. Granted, the Chargers played well on a short week, but they ran the ball a ton.
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Pretty funny, eh? The Broncos "excuse" for losing is because they were playing on short rest. Nevermind the fact that San Diego was playing on the same amount of rest.

Maybe the Broncos offense wouldn't have been so tired if they didn't run 90 plays while running up the score against the Titans on Sunday. ;)

Oh wait, I mean "playing a full 60 minutes." It's only running up the score when the Patriots do it. Classless Patriots. :p


Queen of Spades said:
What did you think about Manning basically using the excuse himself that they ran a lot of plays last Sunday (in a blowout, mind you)?

I feel like that's something the fans or media should mention, not the QB. I'd be unhappy if Brady said something like that.
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It's nothing new from Manning.. he is the king of excuses. Remember when he blamed everyone (his offensive line especially) else after getting smoked by the Patriots in the 03 and 04 playoffs? :D

ucfgrad93 said:
So far, he has thrown for 4,811 yards, 47 TDs, and completed 67.8% of his passes. Clearly, he just totally sucks. :rolleyes:
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Meh, numbers are just numbers. Ask Peyton how putting up huge numbers worked for him in 04. Or ask Brady how well it worked for him in 07.

Lots of QBs can put up big numbers in the regular season when they have a team full of great offensive players. But is their TEAM strong enough to get it done when it really matters? And can the quarterback handle the pressure? That's what Denver should be worried about.
 
Queen of Spades said:
What did you think about Manning basically using the excuse himself that they ran a lot of plays last Sunday (in a blowout, mind you)?

I feel like that's something the fans or media should mention, not the QB. I'd be unhappy if Brady said something like that.
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he made horrible excuses after they lost to the Saints i the SB too... I think he is simply a poor loser.
 
The 2013-14 NFL football season thread

Queen of Spades said:
... outside of Seattle, I don't see any truly elite teams this year.
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Yeah, whatever. In '01, Seattle had a baseball team that hosted the all-star game in their shiny new insurance-company park, went on to win an awesome record-tying 112 games, and crapped out quickly in the first round of the play-offs. In '05, the Seahawks had the best record in the league, but the yellow and black dudes managed to give the refs better [vulgarity deleted]s, thus getting the yellow-hanky breaks and sneaking out of Ford with "one for the thumb". Seattle is the origin of "it ain't over till the fat lady sings" (NBA finals, that the Supersonics lost to Washington), the city is built for disappointment, well attuned to it ("... with the lights out, it's less dangerous, here we are now, entertain us ... a mosquito, my libido, a denial, a denial, a denial, a denial..."). Good chance these amazing Hawks will dive (and miss the rabbit).

Still, Seattle vs. any of the top 3 AFC teams would be something: the young black guy against the old white guy (the Manning joke around here is that sooner or later he will get flagged for illegal use of wheels because you are not allowed to drive your hoveround over a defender's legs).
 
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First shutout for the Giants at home since 1995.

Hawks have the last two games at home. Win one of those and the road to the Super Bowl does indeed go through Seattle for the NFC.
 
Good football game between the Pats and Fins.. came down to the wire but Miami made more plays when it counted.


Not having Gronk hurts big time.. Patriots red zone TD% is ~67% with him and like 30% without him. That said, even with Gronk, this team won't do much if the defense (pass coverage especially) can't make plays.


So much for the #1 seed though. Unless Denver loses again, it's theirs for the taking.
 
zioxide said:
Good football game between the Pats and Fins.. came down to the wire but Miami made more plays when it counted.


Not having Gronk hurts big time.. Patriots red zone TD% is ~67% with him and like 30% without him. That said, even with Gronk, this team won't do much if the defense (pass coverage especially) can't make plays.


So much for the #1 seed though. Unless Denver loses again, it's theirs for the taking.
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wow!

and yet they still almost won that game!!
 
zioxide said:
Good football game between the Pats and Fins.. came down to the wire but Miami made more plays when it counted.


Not having Gronk hurts big time.. Patriots red zone TD% is ~67% with him and like 30% without him. That said, even with Gronk, this team won't do much if the defense (pass coverage especially) can't make plays.


So much for the #1 seed though. Unless Denver loses again, it's theirs for the taking.
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Remind me to send the Dolphins a gift basket as a big thank you.:D;)
 
It was Dez Bryant's fault. All that immature yelling and throwing stuff put off his teammates. The need to adjust his PED cocktail to tame his temper.
 
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