What have we learned after 5 weeks?
- Thread starter B.A.R.
- Start date
This league has major problems. Injuries galore. Offensive line play is a lost art...at least 10 teams have O-Lines that are porous and hardly worthy of calling professional level caliber. Giants losing 4 starting WR in one season combined with an O Line that can't play, no running game and a QB who is inconsistent with his throws could add up to a 3 win season. KC is for real...3 game lead on the only team anyone takes seriously in the AFC in NE (2 plus the TB H2H victory) and Alex Smith (laugh all you want) may actually be an MVP candidate for how he is running that offense so smoothly...ARod is the best player in the league, hands down. No RB, No starting tackles and has a football IQ off the charts only comparable to the other future HOF #12 in the league right now.
Pittsburgh has major problems...that team hasn't looked sharp all season and Bell hasn't done anything to show he's a stud all-around back this year. Ben with 5 picks yesterday? OMG. JJ Watt is going to be in the Gronk category of guys who were insanely dominant at one point but have had injuries make them a shell of their former self. Kelce is the best TE in the game right now with Minny having no QB and Olson being on IR...too much teenage girl prima donna dancing, but the guy fits that offense perfectly.
The Jets are going to finish 6-10 and draft a punter with their first pick because they are hands down the most clueless franchise in the league. Eagles/Panthers on Thursday is going to put someone at 5-1 and is as good a Thursday game as we've seen.
Tampa Bay has issues...the backward gameplan / defensive injuries are catching up with them and Jameis isn't ready to carry that team.
Don't look now, but Jax could be the most complete team in that division. Seattle is a farce. That O Line is going to get Russ killed but even if they win the division, will never allow them to move anywhere in the postseason. Someone tell me what the Lions are...because I don't know.
The level of QB play has dropped in a major, major way. The product put out on Sunday is just not that good. Scoring is down, refs inconsistent....coaching bad as ever....this league is not in a good place right now.
Pittsburgh has major problems...that team hasn't looked sharp all season and Bell hasn't done anything to show he's a stud all-around back this year. Ben with 5 picks yesterday? OMG. JJ Watt is going to be in the Gronk category of guys who were insanely dominant at one point but have had injuries make them a shell of their former self. Kelce is the best TE in the game right now with Minny having no QB and Olson being on IR...too much teenage girl prima donna dancing, but the guy fits that offense perfectly.
The Jets are going to finish 6-10 and draft a punter with their first pick because they are hands down the most clueless franchise in the league. Eagles/Panthers on Thursday is going to put someone at 5-1 and is as good a Thursday game as we've seen.
Tampa Bay has issues...the backward gameplan / defensive injuries are catching up with them and Jameis isn't ready to carry that team.
Don't look now, but Jax could be the most complete team in that division. Seattle is a farce. That O Line is going to get Russ killed but even if they win the division, will never allow them to move anywhere in the postseason. Someone tell me what the Lions are...because I don't know.
The level of QB play has dropped in a major, major way. The product put out on Sunday is just not that good. Scoring is down, refs inconsistent....coaching bad as ever....this league is not in a good place right now.
Gandolf
Leader of the Van Buren Boys
The last 3 weeks have each seen two teams score 30+ and lose: San Fran, Houston, New England, Dallas, Dallas, Houston
The teams that won those games : LA Rams, New England, Tampa Bay, LA Rams, Green Bay, KC
What is in the water in Texas?
The only team that outright sucks on either list is San Fran. However, the last Super Bowl champ to be involved in a regular season 30+ for both teams shootout was.......Baltimore Ravens 2012, Week 3 beat New England 31-30. If you'll recall the Ravens then also beat Denver in the playoffs 38-35.
The last Super Bowl champ to lose a 30+ shootout? New York Giants 2007, who lost the opener to Dallas 35-45 AND the finale to 16-0 New England 35-38.
The teams that won those games : LA Rams, New England, Tampa Bay, LA Rams, Green Bay, KC
What is in the water in Texas?
The only team that outright sucks on either list is San Fran. However, the last Super Bowl champ to be involved in a regular season 30+ for both teams shootout was.......Baltimore Ravens 2012, Week 3 beat New England 31-30. If you'll recall the Ravens then also beat Denver in the playoffs 38-35.
The last Super Bowl champ to lose a 30+ shootout? New York Giants 2007, who lost the opener to Dallas 35-45 AND the finale to 16-0 New England 35-38.
I disagree Bell hasn't done anything this season (the guy had 170 + yards against the Ravens). He's coming off groin surgery as well as a hold out so it's not surprising he had a slow start, but he looks fine and he is far from the problem.
It saddens me to say it and it sucks but Ben doesn't have it anymore. But I don't put this all on him, I put it more on Tomlin and Haley who are really fucking dumb. Just how dumb is Tomlin? Both his challenges were after thoughts, they didn't even discuss them, they just went to commercial breaks and when we came back they said Tomlin lost.
Steelers are the 5 yard line, 1st down. If you run it with Bell 3 times there is a 90% chance you are scoring a TD because Jacksonville is the worst rush D in the land. Instead you throw the ball all 3 times and get a FG. There was a time Ben was good enough where you could just keep throwing like a mad man, but he just isn't anymore. Once again, Jacksonville is the worst rush D and we throw it 55 times? Yeah...Ben threw 5 picks and he isn't really that good this year. But he shouldn't have been in the position to throw 5 picks.
It saddens me to say it and it sucks but Ben doesn't have it anymore. But I don't put this all on him, I put it more on Tomlin and Haley who are really fucking dumb. Just how dumb is Tomlin? Both his challenges were after thoughts, they didn't even discuss them, they just went to commercial breaks and when we came back they said Tomlin lost.
Steelers are the 5 yard line, 1st down. If you run it with Bell 3 times there is a 90% chance you are scoring a TD because Jacksonville is the worst rush D in the land. Instead you throw the ball all 3 times and get a FG. There was a time Ben was good enough where you could just keep throwing like a mad man, but he just isn't anymore. Once again, Jacksonville is the worst rush D and we throw it 55 times? Yeah...Ben threw 5 picks and he isn't really that good this year. But he shouldn't have been in the position to throw 5 picks.
pressitup
Leader of the Adult Humor Industry
Obviously, fracking taking it's toll.
Gandolf
Leader of the Van Buren Boys
Going back through my Week 2 notes to see what's changed.
I have to throw out any defensive effort against the following:
Indy without Luck
Giants without OBJ
Bears
Browns
Texans - Time to take them off this list.
Jets
Niners
Any backup QB not named Garappolo
Likewise I have to dismiss any offensive explosion against the Saints. - They've improved enough to allow merit to a good offensive performance.
Two I'm still on the fence are the Bengals offensive woes and the Cowboys defense(?). The Bengals just have two much talent with AJ, Eifert, LaFell, Bernard and Mixon to be this bad. I'll give them another couple of weeks with the new OC. Dallas was down 3 cornerbacks by the end of the first quarter, and their talent at the position was suspect to begin with. That was a weird game in Denver, I'm willing to give them a pass for another week, although the run defense is the real concern there. - I think the Bengals have shown been redeemed since the OC change. Good win against the Bills, AJ Green is getting his. And Dallas is who we're afraid they were, smh.
So what was there to like about Week 2?
Texans D will keep them in a lot of games. - They have flipped the script. Now the offense is keeping them in games.
Ravens effort is a toss but there was no let down vs. the Browns. - Nice bounceback after the Pittsburgh debacle, but again it was against EJ Manuel.
Bills and Panthers D both put up good efforts. - Still chugging along.
Titans rebounded nicely, they have their offensive identity firmly in place (lets hope Henry is now the #1 guy for my fantasy sake) - Matt Cassel, team killer.
Chiefs keep rolling behind Hunt. To their credit the Eagles had him in check for almost 3 quarters, and Wentz is making some plays. - Still chugging along.
Redskins running game was very strong against a good Rams DL. - Skins are still OK.
Falcons still look like the class of the NFC. - Carolina is making noise, Eagles are also 4-1, Packers are the Packers, but its still Atlanta's to lose for now.
Playoff picture is starting to clear up already:
AFC East - Do we see the Dolphins as a threat to Brady & Co? I don't. But there are more than a few big games for the Pats against the AFC West and NFC South, the two strongest divisions in the league. Tough sledding to get a #1 seed and maybe #2 as well. - Still the Pats to lose and still behind in the race for #1. NE-Pitt late season tilt will be huge for #2.
AFC North - Matched up with AFC South and NFC North. For Baltimore and Pittsburgh that's two against the Browns, two against the Bengals, the Jags, the Colts, the Texans and the Bears on the schedule. Bonus for catching Minny without Bradford. Winner of the head to head has the inside track to the #1 seed. - Well that was Pitt, who then laid a big turd against the Jaguars. Matchup with KC next week will tell us a lot about seeding.
AFC South - Titans look like the most complete team, but they're still likely a #4 seed. - Still think they're the team to beat if Mariota can stay healthy. Really wide open if Luck is back this week.
AFC West - Because of the soft schedules in the North there will probably only be two left standing out of KC, Denver and Oakland. Those six head to head games will be must see TV. They will kick around the NFC East for the most part. - Golden opportunity for KC this week to really clamp down on #1 seeding. Oakland took a huge hit without Carr.
NFC East - Matches up OK with NFC West, but the AFC West will leave this a one playoff team division, likely a #3 or #4 seed. Totally up for grabs. - Eagles have upper hand but they started 3-0 last year did they not? RB situation is fluid and is Wentz really good enough to elevate Jeffrey, Smith and Agholor all season? Wins over Giants, Chargers and Cardinals do not impress in the long run.
NFC North - Think the Pack are still the class, but the Lion and Vikes may be OK if they stay healthy. - Originally meant for Bradford but now Cook and Stafford too. Clear sailing for ARod at this point.
NFC South - Falcons look ready to be #1 seed this year, but Bucs and Panthers will be good tests. Could see three come out of here and the wildcards will give the #3 and #4 seeds a tussle. - Could still see 3 playoff teams from here, and the Saints are back in the mix too.
NFC West - Flawed teams all around, Rams might have the most going for them and they just lost at home. They get four with the AFC South to boost their numbers. - Seattle with the huge win this week. They get the bye and then four very favorable games ahead before the home game vs Atlanta. Hard to see them with less than 11 wins at this point.
I have to throw out any defensive effort against the following:
Indy without Luck
Giants without OBJ
Bears
Browns
Texans - Time to take them off this list.
Jets
Niners
Any backup QB not named Garappolo
Likewise I have to dismiss any offensive explosion against the Saints. - They've improved enough to allow merit to a good offensive performance.
Two I'm still on the fence are the Bengals offensive woes and the Cowboys defense(?). The Bengals just have two much talent with AJ, Eifert, LaFell, Bernard and Mixon to be this bad. I'll give them another couple of weeks with the new OC. Dallas was down 3 cornerbacks by the end of the first quarter, and their talent at the position was suspect to begin with. That was a weird game in Denver, I'm willing to give them a pass for another week, although the run defense is the real concern there. - I think the Bengals have shown been redeemed since the OC change. Good win against the Bills, AJ Green is getting his. And Dallas is who we're afraid they were, smh.
So what was there to like about Week 2?
Texans D will keep them in a lot of games. - They have flipped the script. Now the offense is keeping them in games.
Ravens effort is a toss but there was no let down vs. the Browns. - Nice bounceback after the Pittsburgh debacle, but again it was against EJ Manuel.
Bills and Panthers D both put up good efforts. - Still chugging along.
Titans rebounded nicely, they have their offensive identity firmly in place (lets hope Henry is now the #1 guy for my fantasy sake) - Matt Cassel, team killer.
Chiefs keep rolling behind Hunt. To their credit the Eagles had him in check for almost 3 quarters, and Wentz is making some plays. - Still chugging along.
Redskins running game was very strong against a good Rams DL. - Skins are still OK.
Falcons still look like the class of the NFC. - Carolina is making noise, Eagles are also 4-1, Packers are the Packers, but its still Atlanta's to lose for now.
Playoff picture is starting to clear up already:
AFC East - Do we see the Dolphins as a threat to Brady & Co? I don't. But there are more than a few big games for the Pats against the AFC West and NFC South, the two strongest divisions in the league. Tough sledding to get a #1 seed and maybe #2 as well. - Still the Pats to lose and still behind in the race for #1. NE-Pitt late season tilt will be huge for #2.
AFC North - Matched up with AFC South and NFC North. For Baltimore and Pittsburgh that's two against the Browns, two against the Bengals, the Jags, the Colts, the Texans and the Bears on the schedule. Bonus for catching Minny without Bradford. Winner of the head to head has the inside track to the #1 seed. - Well that was Pitt, who then laid a big turd against the Jaguars. Matchup with KC next week will tell us a lot about seeding.
AFC South - Titans look like the most complete team, but they're still likely a #4 seed. - Still think they're the team to beat if Mariota can stay healthy. Really wide open if Luck is back this week.
AFC West - Because of the soft schedules in the North there will probably only be two left standing out of KC, Denver and Oakland. Those six head to head games will be must see TV. They will kick around the NFC East for the most part. - Golden opportunity for KC this week to really clamp down on #1 seeding. Oakland took a huge hit without Carr.
NFC East - Matches up OK with NFC West, but the AFC West will leave this a one playoff team division, likely a #3 or #4 seed. Totally up for grabs. - Eagles have upper hand but they started 3-0 last year did they not? RB situation is fluid and is Wentz really good enough to elevate Jeffrey, Smith and Agholor all season? Wins over Giants, Chargers and Cardinals do not impress in the long run.
NFC North - Think the Pack are still the class, but the Lion and Vikes may be OK if they stay healthy. - Originally meant for Bradford but now Cook and Stafford too. Clear sailing for ARod at this point.
NFC South - Falcons look ready to be #1 seed this year, but Bucs and Panthers will be good tests. Could see three come out of here and the wildcards will give the #3 and #4 seeds a tussle. - Could still see 3 playoff teams from here, and the Saints are back in the mix too.
NFC West - Flawed teams all around, Rams might have the most going for them and they just lost at home. They get four with the AFC South to boost their numbers. - Seattle with the huge win this week. They get the bye and then four very favorable games ahead before the home game vs Atlanta. Hard to see them with less than 11 wins at this point.
Johnnyonthespot
CTG Regular
Pitt and Oak are toast. Led by immaturity. KC organization looks amazing. Not a peep out of them in State, close to Ferguson that could have exploded, but team is led by mature, task masters, not the clowns running so many other teams. Jameis is Jameis. Cutler was terrible. Cassell is impotent. Rams could have easily won but some TOs. Love their coach
Will you please stop calling Jacksonville the worst rush D! Last year we were 6th and we improved our youth and our personell by adding Campbell. We got rocked by Tennessee just as we did last year and by the Jets after London with that fluke 75 yard run. We have a solid run D, look past the numbers.
P-Unit
Beacon of Calmness
Now they are #31 per nfl.com. You are what your record is... How are you supposed to look past the numbers just because you added a guy here and there. Are we supposed to say the Giants are good because they added a few guys? No, they are 0-5.
Jax is a rising team. They are winning games, but the FACT REMAINS they are statistically one of the worst run defenses in the league. See below.
Rushing
Rk Team G Pts/G TotPts Att Att/G Yds Avg Yds/G TD Lng 1st 1st% 20+ 40+ FUM
1 Los Angeles Chargers 5 23 115 160 32.0 806 5.0 161.2 4 69T 42 26.3 6 2 2
2 Jacksonville Jaguars 5 16.6 83 136 27.2 732 5.4 146.4 5 75T 33 24.3 3 2 2
3 New York Jets 5 21.2 106 156 31.2 715 4.6 143.0 4 52T 34 21.8 6 2 2
4 New York Giants 5 24.4 122 154 30.8 695 4.5 139.0 2 36 40 26.0 5 0 1
5 Pittsburgh Steelers 5 17.8 89 135 27.0 683 5.1 136.6 6 90T 35 25.9 6 2 4
Ya but those numbers are mendacious! They come from one game against an elite rush attack and that post-London game with that fluke 75 yard run. Just have to look at last year's whole body of work and the offseason changes to the team!
Brewers888
Potential 2028 V.P. Selection
QB is a far bigger problem for Jacksonville than the run defense which should get better. I think Bortles threw the ball 14 times yesterday for less than 100 yards.
Brewers888
Potential 2028 V.P. Selection
Why is Miami insisting on starting Cutler at this point. Matt Moore is nothing special but he is definitely better than Cutler.
He is a liability to the team. If he doesn't lose the game then we can win it.
Brewers888
Potential 2028 V.P. Selection
I am only half joking when I say you should give the Jets a 5th round pick for McCown.
Brewers888
Potential 2028 V.P. Selection
I would make that deal in a second but the Jets are chasing 6 wins and making a trade like this could hurt in that all important pursuit.
Brewers888
Potential 2028 V.P. Selection
We learned that when your QB is as injury prone as Mariota it might be a good idea to have a backup better than Cassel.
We learned once again to never give Aaron Rodgers time to score the winnng touchdown.
We learned once again to never give Aaron Rodgers time to score the winnng touchdown.
Johnnyonthespot
CTG Regular
They scored too soon, everybody but the carrot saw it coming.
Gandolf
Leader of the Van Buren Boys
Bob Sturm has a great article on that last 90 seconds in Dallas: https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/da...rms-morning-cowboys-defense-stop-rodgers-late
To summarize, Garrett allowed a run-pass option play to be called on the throw to Dez that stopped the clock on 2nd and 2. Sturm thinks Dak should've stuck with the run option based on the game situation, but for chrisakes the kid is only 21 games into his career. If you want the ball to be run, CALL A RUN. Dez in single coverage on an RPO is basically an automatic throwing situation. Similarly the TD run was a 3 way read/option play (pass, Zeke or Dak run) which has been deadly all year. There was no doubt that would be a TD. It was a fine playcall......provided they would've run the ball on the previous play and at least burned the Pack's final timeout.
Now Dak could've fallen at the one, but as Sturm explains, it's never been done when a team is behind. If Dak isn't into the game management aspect enough to go with a run the previous play, there shouldn't be an expectation that he would be crafty enough to drop at the one.
On the Rodgers scramble to the 12, apparently Dallas had a three man rush set up with LB spies on both Jones and Rodgers. But when Jones went out in pattern, BOTH LB's went with him, leaving Rodgers with clear running room. Horrible mistake by Hitchens and Durant. They missed Lee big there.
The real chilling fact: Dallas at home is 15-10 under Garrett when they score 30+ points. TEN LOSSES, AT HOME, WHEN SCORING 30+ POINTS. A .600 win percentage where the league wins at an .890 clip, where NE is 40-2, GB is 28-1, Denver is 24-2 and Seattle is 21-2.
To summarize, Garrett allowed a run-pass option play to be called on the throw to Dez that stopped the clock on 2nd and 2. Sturm thinks Dak should've stuck with the run option based on the game situation, but for chrisakes the kid is only 21 games into his career. If you want the ball to be run, CALL A RUN. Dez in single coverage on an RPO is basically an automatic throwing situation. Similarly the TD run was a 3 way read/option play (pass, Zeke or Dak run) which has been deadly all year. There was no doubt that would be a TD. It was a fine playcall......provided they would've run the ball on the previous play and at least burned the Pack's final timeout.
Now Dak could've fallen at the one, but as Sturm explains, it's never been done when a team is behind. If Dak isn't into the game management aspect enough to go with a run the previous play, there shouldn't be an expectation that he would be crafty enough to drop at the one.
On the Rodgers scramble to the 12, apparently Dallas had a three man rush set up with LB spies on both Jones and Rodgers. But when Jones went out in pattern, BOTH LB's went with him, leaving Rodgers with clear running room. Horrible mistake by Hitchens and Durant. They missed Lee big there.
The real chilling fact: Dallas at home is 15-10 under Garrett when they score 30+ points. TEN LOSSES, AT HOME, WHEN SCORING 30+ POINTS. A .600 win percentage where the league wins at an .890 clip, where NE is 40-2, GB is 28-1, Denver is 24-2 and Seattle is 21-2.
THIS!!
booksbestfriend
On Johnny's Shitlist
NFL is humbling.
wiseplayer
Pretty much a regular
What I've learned is I'm bored to tears with the NFL. I just don't see the excitement in it anymore. Maybe the league needs better QBs. Maybe it needs better personalities. It definitely needs to better a product.
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