NFL 2009

[Cimmerian Nights]

I think the Colts have bad juju now. Manning will win MVP, and Rivers will knock him out of the playoffs again.

It be very bad magic, Ishmael.
Since when did resting starters guarantee you a trip to the SB?

This is the beauty of the playoffs...
we get to watch it all play out before our eyes.
Snugly on the sofa under a blanket. With snow falling outside, fireplace roaring, Christmas tree lights reflecting off the TV. Beer and nachos strewn about.

I love the NFL playoffs.

 

[Sander]

Having your players healthy is important, obviously, but this is just annoying. Pulling your starters when they don't want to be pulled (Manning was visibly frustrated) and with just a very slim lead? Pheh.

 

[Brother None]

*froths at mouth* Chokers! Cowards! String 'em up!

 

[Sander]

Holy shit are Saints fans ever pathetic. Every other Who Dat comment on yesterday's game amounted to "Fire Sean Payton! These Saints are pathetic! They can't win anything!". Ehm, hello people, you're still 13-2, you have the second best win-loss record in the NFL. What the fuck?

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

They are jumping the gun, this is their best (well, winningest) team in franchise history.
But in their defense, you're talking about one of the most futile franchises in NFL history (2 franchise playoff wins) and they are beginning to be exposed as less than the perfect team they were being hyped up as all year. The warts are showing.
I wouldn't be bashing Payton, he's one of the best offensive gameplanners and playcallers ever, and his DC is one of the best too.

However, what meaningful game have they ever won?
I wouldn't be too secure now as a Saints fan.

They peaked too early.
And they have a lot to lose.
Cards, Eagles, Chargers, Pats, COWBOYS.
Veteran laden playoff teams hitting their peaks now. Teams with lots of playoff and SB experience. Teams without the pressure and expectations of a once undefeated #1 seed.
Teams that thrive off the criticism (who gets more than Andy Reid, BB, Wade Phillips and Norv Turner?) take their licks and improve.

The Saints coronation came a bit early. That fucking Pats game, replete with Drew Breese throwing passes to Barak Obama himself. Gimmie a break will ya?
Them and the Colts benching Manning with a lead in a game with playoff implications.

The football gods are pissed and they will rain down feiry retribution on the defilers.

*froths at mouth* Chokers! Cowards! String 'em up!

He's nothing but a low-down, double-dealing, backstabbing, larcenous perverted worm! Hanging's too good for him. Burning's too good for him! He should be torn into little bitsy pieces and buried alive!

Name that movie...

edit:
Dude you want mouth-frothers, you need to catch Bill Poilian's interview with Mike Francesca today. Mike said they have every right to sit them, but when he dared askabout why they keep doing benchings when they've led to no postseason gold...Polian got pissed and hung up the phone. As soon as it's posted I'll link you to it.

 

[Sander]

Looking back at their games, it looks like the Saints suffer from arrogance more than anything else. They've had a bunch of slow starts where they look lackluster, taking it easy, and then have to work hard to win the game. And they've done that every time until last week, and I think getting back in it (even against the Redskins) has made them too easy-going, not as hungry as they were before. Against the Patriots they had something to prove. Against the Cowboys, I don't think they felt that urgency. And hey, the Bucs this season certainly don't inspire that fear in anyone.

So next week against the Panthers, if the Vikings don't lose tonight, they might feel that urgency again. But I'll be damned if they don't get that urgency back in the playoffs, and I think we'll just see a good Super Bowl contender come playoffs.

 

[TwinkieGorilla]

speaking of sliding and peaking...i love where i am seeing the Packers and Vikings at. absolutely fucking loved watching Favre get pissed after taking 2 sacks in OT last night. hahaha! i mean, i'd love to see anybody eliminate them from the playoffs but it would be so sweet if it were us (they can't really beat us 3 times in one year, can they?)

 

[Brother None]

I just love seeing Favre choke it up.

No, that's not true. I loved his final drive in regular time, great touch on his pass, truly dragged his team back by its teeth. But I can't enjoy. I just can't. Not with Jon Gruden loudly orgasming about "this guy, what's his name again? OH YEAH BRETT FAVRE" and "THE LEGEND DOES IT AGAIN".

I'm actually not usually one to mind commentators, but boy, these guys are actually ruining the game. That's impressive. I haven't felt that way since this one Dutch commentator during the last WC that went into long masturbations spiels whenever Zidane touched the ball.

Also is it me or is the playoff picture pretty pedantic? The NFC seems like it's been locked up for ages, home field advantage being clinched up now too, and only some week-1 bying and the NFC East champion title to duke out over.

AFC is better with 5 teams duking for 2 playoff spots, but with homefield advantage and all champion titles clinched there, it seems we're lacking some late-season drama. Frith, I hope Denver is kept out of the playoffs, tho'.

He's nothing but a low-down, double-dealing, backstabbing, larcenous perverted worm! Hanging's too good for him. Burning's too good for him! He should be torn into little bitsy pieces and buried alive!

Heavy Metal.

EDIT: wow, I hadn't realised Minny has pretty much lost the #2 seed. Even if they win, the seed goes to Philly if they win, and they can even drop to #4 seed if they lose again. How the mighty have fallen.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

I just love seeing Favre choke it up.

No, that's not true. I loved his final drive in regular time, great touch on his pass, truly dragged his team back by its teeth.

I was watching his post-game press conference and the media (minn locals?) were reallt going after him. I'm thinking, wait. He brought his team back from like 16 points down to force over time. He dropped a 30 spot in the 2nd half. He wasn't getting great protection, D was mediocre, and the coach didn't let him air it out all 1st half. Give the guy a break.

But I can't enjoy. I just can't. Not with Jon Gruden loudly orgasming about "this guy, what's his name again? OH YEAH BRETT FAVRE" and "THE LEGEND DOES IT AGAIN".

I think he sleeps with a poster of Favre over his bed. Jaws is supposed to be the brainy one, but he's too positive. He never offers critique, just praise. And Tirico is just so goddamn...pleasant. To a fault. If we were little kids on the playground I'd have to give him a wedgie.

Also is it me or is the playoff picture pretty pedantic?

What sucks is you have a few games left with a locked up high seed and a borderline wildcard where the high seed will probably rest/limit starters. Which means teams like the Jets are going to squeek in because their opponents lay down.

Then you have potential Week 17/Wildcard round repeats.

We could very well see
GB vs. AZ
Bengals vs. Jets
Eagles vs. Dallas
two weeks in a row. Might make for an interesting chess match, teams probing and prodding in the first game, but holding back the good shit for later.


Eagles look dangerous with that 2 seed. You know the Saints won't even make it to the NFCC game.
If they get that #2, the Iggles are going to the big dance.

Starting to feel better about the Pats too.
Likely 3 seed, host Jets or Ravens.
I'd almost rather they play in Indy than SD beyond that.
Not bad for a rebuilding year, eh?

 

[Sander]

The Pats have Randy Moss, Vince Wilfork, Wes Welker, Tom Brady and it's supposedly a rebuilding year? What the fuck?

You have a ton of talent and a full roster. There may be a few holes, but every team has holes. This isn't close to being a rebuilding year. For rebuilding years, see the Seahawks, Browns, Lions (rebuilding decade, then) or Bucs.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

They lost 5 major defensive starters - Vrabel, Bruschi, Harrison, Seymour, and Ellis Hobbs III. That was their whole defensive core of veterans gone. Those guys have over a dozen SB rings between them.
They have no pass rush since Vrabel and Seymour left, little cohesion/leadership since Bruschi and Harrison left. As far as Hobbs, the Pats secondary upgraded significantly there, he'd've gone from #1 to #5 behind Bodden (awesome pickup), Springs, Darius Butler (nice homegrown rookie out of UCONN) etc.
Their front 3 is still top notch with Wilfork, Ty Warren and Jarvis Green. And as great as Wilfork is, he's only a 2 down guy.
The linebacking corps is decimated, which is brutal when you usually run the 3-4. No outside rush. Mayo's the only warm blooded one in that crew.

They need a fucking miracle and/or some unsanctioned skullduggery to get through Indy and SD on the road.
I do like the Belichik/Norv Turner postseason mismatch though.

For rebuilding years, see the Seahawks, Browns, Lions (rebuilding decade, then) or Bucs.

That's just a symptom of them being organizations that don't know how to get out of their own way. Rebuilding doesn't have to be synonymous with losing. Compare those teams to the Eagles, Colts, Steelers, Pats. Whole different caliber of owners/coaches/GMs/FOs. Steelers are in a constant state of rebuilding, they never resign anybody. Nobody lets go better free agents than the Steelers. Look at McNabb and Manning's WR corps and backfield then and now. Pats went from all D and a clutch kicker to the complete opposite - the most prolific offense ever right before out eyes.

These teams are able to overhaul on the fly and keep consistently winning.

 

[Brother None]

Yeah, the Pats D looks set to be exposed. Not a huge thing considering the age of the group.

Toldya Darius Butler was a great draft pick.

 

[Sander]

No mention of Merriweather?

And yes, the defense is now worse than last year or the year before that. It shows, too. But to label this year especially a rebuilding year over others, especially when your offense is basically unchanged, seems overblown.

I'd like to see you guys in a real rebuilding year, basically after Brady retires.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

No mention of Merriweather?

He's dicey and unreliable. Too much of a freelancer. And 'The U' in him always comes out at the worst times. Lots of impact potential though.

I'd like to see you guys in a real rebuilding year, basically after Brady retires.

How could anything be worse than having Matt Cassel take over in week 1? I've seen 1 win and 2 win seasons from the Patriots.

edit:
Pro Bowls out.. As long as they're going to announce it before the season's over, and let the unwashed masses vote (Ray Lewis?), it just reinforces how worthless the ProBowl is to me. Call it what it is - the meaningless, half-hearted, let's not get hurt, free trip to Hawaii bowl. It's interesting as an award, but superfluous as a game.

 

[TwinkieGorilla]

happy for Rodgers and Woodson and pleasantly surprised at Collins making the back-up squad. the PB is a complete fucking joke but as a glorified certificate of excellence (which is all it really is...that and a chance to fuck strippers in hawaii i guess) it's cool. the Packers never have the popular names so it doesn't surprise me that more didn't make it...but i thought Matthews may have made a big enough splash to get in on a rookie season. not to worry...the fucking kid keeps playing like he's been playing and this will be the only year he *doesn't* make it in!

 

[Brother None]

Pro Bowls out.. As long as they're going to announce it before the season's over, and let the unwashed masses vote (Ray Lewis?), it just reinforces how worthless the ProBowl is to me. Call it what it is - the meaningless, half-hearted, let's not get hurt, free trip to Hawaii bowl. It's interesting as an award, but superfluous as a game.

Pro Bowl is and will remain significantly less meaningful than All Pro, just with a superfluous game tagged on. The move to before the Superbowl is just a sad attempt to force people to watch it, not sure why that's such a big deal.

And yes, big names making it in based on being big names will happen every year. Probably Ray Lewis over DJ Williams and Champ Bailey over Leon Hall are the worst this year. At least not quite as ridiculous as Brett Favre over Philip Rivers last year.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

but i thought Matthews may have made a big enough splash to get in on a rookie season. not to worry...the fucking kid keeps playing like he's been playing and this will be the only year he *doesn't* make it in!

If he's anything like Bruce and Clay he'll have like a 20 year NFL career.

The move to before the Superbowl is just a sad attempt to force people to watch it, not sure why that's such a big deal.

I don't think it matters when they do it, the NFL without intensity is like non-alcoholic beer to me.
Thing is, part of me always wants to watch it, but it's still somewhere between defrosting the freezer and reorganizing my closet on my list of priorities. I don't think I ever have or could sit through three hours of that.
And I don't think there's any changes that will ever improve it. The NHL with the skills competitions and the Europe Vs. North America matchups is cool, MLB with giving the winning league homefield advantage is an interesting way to force relevance, albeit a very awkward way.

that and a chance to fuck strippers in hawaii

The best part of going to Hawaii is getting lai-ed.
Eh he
heh heh
he hueeh
huuu

 

[UniversalWolf]

I contend that if Favre goes 26-40 with 321 yards and 2 TDs and no INTs, he's more than pulled his weight. The problem with the Vikings is that they still can't beat the Bears because their defense is downright bad now that Henderson is on IR, and their o-line is mediocre. And ADP fumbles too much, despite how good he is otherwise.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

And ADP fumbles too much, despite how good he is otherwise.

That, and as a result the coach is trying to jump start the running game at the expense of the downfield passing game. Which is Favre's forte. The difference between the two halves of that game was remarkable.

I've got my best case scenario for the playoffs with the end-game being an AFCC game in Foxboro against the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets.

 

[Sander]

Redskins fans are crazy