OFFICIAL 2010-2011 NFL season & predictions thread:

[Don]

I think Dan Fouts has to be border line Top 10 also.

[mikemarrs]

dan fouts was a gunslinger back in the day.those san diego charger teams in the early 80's came close a couple times to making a super bowl appearance.i think it was either the miami dolphins or cincinnati bengals who defeated them in the AFC championship.he'd be in my top ten or close to it.

[Enigma869]

Legacy

At the time of Ken's retirement following the 1986 season, he held NFL records for consecutive pass completions (20), completion percentage for a single game (20 of 22, 90.9%, vs. Pittsburgh in 1974) and completion percentage for a season (70.3% in 1982), as well as the Super Bowl records for completion percentage (73.5%) (since broken by Phil Simms) and completions (25). Furthermore, Ken was ranked 6th all-time for passing yards in a career at the time of his retirement. Ken's record for completion percentage in a season stood for over 20 years after his retirement (broken by Drew Brees in 2009). As of 2005, he is among the top 30 all-time leaders in pass attempts (24th), completions (18th), passing yards (21st) and passing touchdowns (28th). He led the NFL in passing yards and completions twice, and lead the league in fewest interceptions per pass attempt 3 times. He ranks second in NFL history for postseason quarterback rating, 93.5 (Joe Montana ranks first with a postseason rating of 96.3).

Sorry dude. My stance on Favre is well established. I think the guy is a complete fucking fraud and one of my least favorite players in the history of the NFL. Nobody will be more happy than I am when that douche goes away to drive his tractor in Mississippi. That said, no freakin' way am I putting Ken Anderson ahead of Favre. Even Favre has at least one championship.

[Enigma869]

Tony Romo has fractured left clavicle! Bye Bye Fraud Boys!

[Ehwmatt]

Tony Romo has fractured left clavicle! Bye Bye Fraud Boys!

KITNA

[Enigma869]

KITNA

He sucks too. Although, in reality, he's probably no worse than Romo.

[YoungJRNY]

Romo= A blessing for Dallas in disguise?

Could be out 8-10 weeks. Put em on IR. Is Leinart available? Or did he sign with a team?

[RedWingFan]

Romo= A blessing for Dallas in disguise?

Could be out 8-10 weeks. Put em on IR. Is Leinart available? Or did he sign with a team?

He signed with the Texans soon after his release.

[Michigan Girl]

I got nothing ...so sad, I can't even explain the score?!?

How about a shout~out to the Mann ...ingham!!
& Dez!!!

[Eric]

http://rikkerpowerrankings.blogspot.com ... kings.html

[Enigma869]

http://rikkerpowerrankings.blogspot.com/2010/10/week-7-nfl-power-rankings.html

Interesting to see that the Steelers have such an easy schedule. Power rankings are always interesting to me. You have the Jets ranked second (which by the way, I'm not even saying that I disagree with), and the Jets barely beat the Broncos on a last second pass interference call. Meanwhile the Broncos get completely smoked by the Raiders and give up more points to the Raiders in one game than they scored all of last season! Then we have the Steelers who lost to Baltimore (who had to go to OT to beat the winless Bills and lost to New England), should have lost to Miami (New England smoked them) who somehow make it to number one with one loss, one questionable victory and the easiest schedule in the NFL of any reasonably good team! Should be fun to see how all this shakes out.

[Ehwmatt]

http://rikkerpowerrankings.blogspot.com/2010/10/week-7-nfl-power-rankings.html

Interesting to see that the Steelers have such an easy schedule. Power rankings are always interesting to me. You have the Jets ranked second (which by the way, I'm not even saying that I disagree with), and the Jets barely beat the Broncos on a last second pass interference call. Meanwhile the Broncos get completely smoked by the Raiders and give up more points to the Raiders in one game than they scored all of last season! Then we have the Steelers who lost to Baltimore (who had to go to OT to beat the winless Bills and lost to New England), should have lost to Miami (New England smoked them) who somehow make it to number one with one loss, one questionable victory and the easiest schedule in the NFL of any reasonably good team! Should be fun to see how all this shakes out.

Ridiculous season so far, no doubt. I do think the Broncos are one of those teams that is just about to fizzle out. I can't believe how well Kyle Orton has played there, especially considering the talent McFuckiels has left him with. That guy needs to be shown the door today if Denver fans want anything to look forward to.

[YoungJRNY]

http://rikkerpowerrankings.blogspot.com/2010/10/week-7-nfl-power-rankings.html

Interesting to see that the Steelers have such an easy schedule. Power rankings are always interesting to me. You have the Jets ranked second (which by the way, I'm not even saying that I disagree with), and the Jets barely beat the Broncos on a last second pass interference call. Meanwhile the Broncos get completely smoked by the Raiders and give up more points to the Raiders in one game than they scored all of last season! Then we have the Steelers who lost to Baltimore (who had to go to OT to beat the winless Bills and lost to New England), should have lost to Miami (New England smoked them) who somehow make it to number one with one loss, one questionable victory and the easiest schedule in the NFL of any reasonably good team! Should be fun to see how all this shakes out.

The norm of the year has been teams beating a good team one week, losing to a bad team the next week, losing to another bad team, coming back and beating a great team, beating a good team, then losing to an atrocious team. Other than say, 4 teams this season, the rest of the NFL has been all over the place, which is pretty much impossible to look at. It's all about matchups and what type of game-plans teams want to attack. Just because the Jets needed a last second call to beat the Broncos doesn't necc mean they won't crush a Green Bay Packers , or Baltimore Ravens sometime down the road.

The Steelers have a tough 4 game stretch that already started with Miami. The next 3 games will be pivital in the AFC North Division. @ Miami was a tough road win, and the next 3 that follow are tough: @ New Orleans, @ Cincinnati and back home to New England. The rest of the way looks to be games we should win other than the tough games against Baltimore in Baltimore and home to the Jets. The Steelers lost to the Chiefs, Raiders, and Browns last season so there's no doubt in my mind we play down to the competition against one of the bad teams in the next weeks like Carolina or Buffalo (Who came inches close to beating Balty AND N.E.) @ Cleveland is setting up to be no easy task as well. The Steelers are one of the NFL's best, but I have doubts that we can contain that, esp since we lost Aaron Smith for the season again. History shows that when he isn't in the lineup, our run D suffers.

Should be interesting to see how it plays off.

[Ehwmatt]

http://rikkerpowerrankings.blogspot.com/2010/10/week-7-nfl-power-rankings.html

Interesting to see that the Steelers have such an easy schedule. Power rankings are always interesting to me. You have the Jets ranked second (which by the way, I'm not even saying that I disagree with), and the Jets barely beat the Broncos on a last second pass interference call. Meanwhile the Broncos get completely smoked by the Raiders and give up more points to the Raiders in one game than they scored all of last season! Then we have the Steelers who lost to Baltimore (who had to go to OT to beat the winless Bills and lost to New England), should have lost to Miami (New England smoked them) who somehow make it to number one with one loss, one questionable victory and the easiest schedule in the NFL of any reasonably good team! Should be fun to see how all this shakes out.

The Steelers are one of the NFL's best, but I have doubts that we can contain that, esp since we lost Aaron Smith for the season again. History shows that when he isn't in the lineup, our run D suffers.

Should be interesting to see how it plays off.

I truly believe that as Polamalu goes, so goes your D (and by extension, your team). Granted, I don't ese every Steelers game like I used to during college, but that's the way I always felt. I think you guys will be fine without Smith.

[YoungJRNY]

http://rikkerpowerrankings.blogspot.com/2010/10/week-7-nfl-power-rankings.html

Interesting to see that the Steelers have such an easy schedule. Power rankings are always interesting to me. You have the Jets ranked second (which by the way, I'm not even saying that I disagree with), and the Jets barely beat the Broncos on a last second pass interference call. Meanwhile the Broncos get completely smoked by the Raiders and give up more points to the Raiders in one game than they scored all of last season! Then we have the Steelers who lost to Baltimore (who had to go to OT to beat the winless Bills and lost to New England), should have lost to Miami (New England smoked them) who somehow make it to number one with one loss, one questionable victory and the easiest schedule in the NFL of any reasonably good team! Should be fun to see how all this shakes out.

The Steelers are one of the NFL's best, but I have doubts that we can contain that, esp since we lost Aaron Smith for the season again. History shows that when he isn't in the lineup, our run D suffers.

Should be interesting to see how it plays off.

I truly believe that as Polamalu goes, so goes your D (and by extension, your team). Granted, I don't ese every Steelers game like I used to during college, but that's the way I always felt. I think you guys will be fine without Smith.

Our D-line is pivotal by the way we play defense so there is no doubt in my mind that I'm seriously worried because our mentality is first and forest is stop the run first and worry about the pass later and Smith has had a key role in our defense when we ranked 1st all those years in run defense. In 2007, we lost Aaron Smith late in the season and even with Polamalu in the lineup, we got completley GASHED like a horror flick on the ground game and that continued into the post season. We were lost on our D-fronts and lost 3 outta our last 4, including a playoff loss (with Troy) so fingers crossed that our first round draft pick from last year, Ziggy Hood can man up.

The Steelers face some tough running backs so it won't be easy (Darren McFadden, Cedric BensonX2, Ray Rice, LaDanian Tomlinson, De'Angello Williams, Petyon Hillis.)

[Enigma869]

The Steelers have a tough 4 game stretch that already started with Miami. The next 3 games will be pivital in the AFC North Division. @ Miami was a tough road win, and the next 3 that follow are tough: @ New Orleans, @ Cincinnati and back home to New England.

Dude...I'm going to start calling you the new S2M. As I've said before, I get your a Steelers fan and would think a whole lot less of you if you weren't, given that it's your hometown. That said, save the BS about how tough of a schedule that is. Cincinnati BLOWS, and I could care less what they did last season. For all the hype Miami got in the preseason, they don't currently have a winning record, and absolutely outplayed Pittsburgh on Sunday, in spite of losing the game. While the New Orleans thing looks like a good thing for you to hang your hat on, let's be honest...New Orleans has been VERY shaky this season and just got eviscerated (at home, no less) by The Girl Scouts who have all of two wins. The reality is that of all the teams you mentioned, only the Patriots are a real measuring stick (for both teams). The only other team you mentioned that even has a winning record are the Saints and they're a whole one game over .500!

[Enigma869]

I truly believe that as Polamalu goes, so goes your D (and by extension, your team).

Ding, ding, ding! Polamalu is a man among boys out there most weeks. I can't think of a single defensive back in the entire NFL (including that big mouth Revis) who I would take on my team over Polamalu. Dude is a great, great player and the only player on that punk Steelers team who I have ever even liked.

[Ehwmatt]

The Steelers have a tough 4 game stretch that already started with Miami. The next 3 games will be pivital in the AFC North Division. @ Miami was a tough road win, and the next 3 that follow are tough: @ New Orleans, @ Cincinnati and back home to New England.

Dude...I'm going to start calling you the new S2M. As I've said before, I get your a Steelers fan and would think a whole lot less of you if you weren't, given that it's your hometown. That said, save the BS about how tough of a schedule that is. Cincinnati BLOWS, and I could care less what they did last season. For all the hype Miami got in the preseason, they don't currently have a winning record, and absolutely outplayed Pittsburgh on Sunday, in spite of losing the game. While the New Orleans thing looks like a good thing for you to hang your hat on, let's be honest...New Orleans has been VERY shaky this season and just got eviscerated (at home, no less) by The Girl Scouts who have all of two wins. The reality is that of all the teams you mentioned, only the Patriots are a real measuring stick (for both teams). The only other team you mentioned that even has a winning record are the Saints and they're a whole one game over .500!

I see both sides of it. You can never underestimate the intensity a divisional matchup brings. There's also that enhanced knowledge of your opponent. Cinci is most likely not a very good team, but one thing to watch is it seems Carson Palmer has awoken from his year-long slumber to put up some big numbers the last couple of weeks. You never know what will happen there. For once, the Browns are a better team than their record indicates and the same divisional x-factor applies.

As for NO and NE, you can just never take those offenses or those QBs lightly.

I don't think Trav was saying it was the hardest 4-game stretch in the league by any means, just merely pointing out that there might be more than meets the eye to these matchups. If he was saying that, then I'll go with your analysis above.

[Enigma869]

I see both sides of it. You can never underestimate the intensity a divisional matchup brings. There's also that enhanced knowledge of your opponent. Cinci is most likely not a very good team, but one thing to watch is it seems Carson Palmer has awoken from his year-long slumber to put up some big numbers the last couple of weeks. You never know what will happen there. For once, the Browns are a better team than their record indicates and the same divisional x-factor applies.

As for NO and NE, you can just never take those offenses or those QBs lightly.

I don't think Trav was saying it was the hardest 4-game stretch in the league by any means, just merely pointing out that there might be more than meets the eye to these matchups. If he was saying that, then I'll go with your analysis above.

For the record, I think Cleveland is a team that will get better. That said, Cincinatti and Cleveland are a combined 4-9. Sorry, but that sucks, period, end of story! As the great Bill Parcells always said, you are what your record says you are!

[YoungJRNY]

The Steelers have a tough 4 game stretch that already started with Miami. The next 3 games will be pivital in the AFC North Division. @ Miami was a tough road win, and the next 3 that follow are tough: @ New Orleans, @ Cincinnati and back home to New England.

Dude...I'm going to start calling you the new S2M. As I've said before, I get your a Steelers fan and would think a whole lot less of you if you weren't, given that it's your hometown. That said, save the BS about how tough of a schedule that is. Cincinnati BLOWS, and I could care less what they did last season. For all the hype Miami got in the preseason, they don't currently have a winning record, and absolutely outplayed Pittsburgh on Sunday, in spite of losing the game. While the New Orleans thing looks like a good thing for you to hang your hat on, let's be honest...New Orleans has been VERY shaky this season and just got eviscerated (at home, no less) by The Girl Scouts who have all of two wins. The reality is that of all the teams you mentioned, only the Patriots are a real measuring stick (for both teams). The only other team you mentioned that even has a winning record are the Saints and they're a whole one game over .500!

Going on the road in the NFL for 3 straight weeks is tough dude. Cincinatti might suck, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the rivarly between the two teams is heated and division games are the hardest to win in football. Going to New Orleans, playing in the Dome to where the Steelers haven't played in that noise yet this season will be a difficult task, esp since it will prob be even rockier because it's a Sunday Night, Nationally Televised game on a Halloween Night. You don't think the Saints are dangerous coming off of a loss the way they performed against the Stains last Sunday? New England will be a tough game as well coming back home after 3 weeks of on the road. I don't have a good feeling for the Steelers game this week. I say we drop this one in New Orleans this Sunday Night, I hope they prove themselves. I'm not overlooking ANYONE.

We can make the same case you're trying to make when it comes to scheduling, which is a weak argument in itself and one that I don't like wasting my time on. Every game is different.

The Steelers almost play/played some of the same teams that N.E plays (Bengals, Jets, Bills, Ravens, & Browns.) You play Minnesota next week who looks beyond bad, esp with the Favre situation. Indianapolis certainly isn't a team they once were and are as beatable as anyone and lost to some bad teams as well, Detroit is Detroit a TERRIBLE ball club, the Bears under Jay Cutler is one of the most overrated teams in the NFL and will fall flat on their face soon and the Packers are banged up with injuries to where they are seconds away from hitting the panic button in Green Bay, who hasn't looked good in a terrilble NFC.

The Pats beat the Bengals (2-4) (who've you already stated your case with them) the Bills (0-6) ( took it to N.E in a shootout) the Dolphins (3-3) (in a fluky game to where the Pats barely needed to do anything) the Ravens (5-2) (who I think are overrated and needed a comeback effort against) and the Chargers (2-5) (looking like the worst team in the league and let that team back in it.) You lost to the Jets (5-1) who is arguably the best team on your schedule thus far. Out of the 5 teams the Pats beat, they beat 4 of them with a losing record or a subpar mediocre .500 record (Miami.)

Honestly? EVERY team should have an "easy schedule" because besides the 4 teams playing consistent, the NFL is a mess from there on out.

We can do this pretty much with EVERY NFL team in the league. I don't like the argument and would rather take it one week at a time. Every game is different.

[Enigma869]

You don't think the Saints are dangerous coming off of a loss the way they performed against the Stains last Sunday?

Sure I think the Saints are "dangerous". In fact, I think the Steelers lose that game. I'm simply making the point that the Saints are nowhere as good as most thought they were.

New England will be a tough game

I agree. It will be a tough game for both teams and will be won by a FG by the team who makes fewer mistakes.

We can make the same case you're trying to make when it comes to scheduling

Honestly, it's really not my "case". The "strength of schedule" isn't really a subjective thing. It's based on what team's records were last season. Now, one can certainly make the argument that a team's record last season means absolutely nothing this season.


The Steelers almost play/played some of the same teams that N.E plays (Bengals, Jets, Bills, Ravens, & Browns.) You play Minnesota next week who looks beyond bad, esp with the Favre situation. Indianapolis certainly isn't a team they once were and are as beatable as anyone and lost to some bad teams as well, Detroit is Detroit a TERRIBLE ball club, the Bears under Jay Cutler is one of the most overrated teams in the NFL and will fall flat on their face soon and the Packers are banged up with injuries to where they are seconds away from hitting the panic button in Green Bay, who hasn't looked good in a terrilble NFC.

The Pats beat the Dolphins (3-3) (in a fluky game to where the Pats barely needed to do anything) t

What the hell was so "fluky" about the game? The Patriots played OUTSTANDING in that Miami game. It was their best played game all season. They blocked kicks, blocked field goals, returned kicks for TD's, caused fumbles and intercepted passes. Not sure what that has to do with being a fluke. I'm pretty sure their players are the ones who made things happen and made Miami look like a Pop Warner team out there. I certainly don't think Miami is a great team and have said so all season. That said, NOBODY picked New England to win that game, including everyone in the Boston and national media.

[YoungJRNY]

What the hell was so "fluky" about the game?

Determine whatever the word "fluky" is, but that game sure was odd due to the fact that 21 points were determined or had some linking all of due to special teams. The halftime score read 7-6 and 5 minutes later New England scores 21 points before I even was off the shitter (17 points in a span of 2:16.) They blocked a punt that led to a touchdown, blocked a FG that led to a touchdown and scored on a kick return. It's very rare for a team to even block a punt OR a Field Goal, but this game had it all: A Kick Return, A Blocked Punt, a Blocked FG, it was just a mess, all while Tom Brady pretty much sat the sidelines sippin down hot chocolate (he only threw for like 48 yards in the second half.)

I may have used the wrong term in calling it a fluke win, but the outcome I think even shocked the Pats on how they scored 41 points without Brady even on the field. Tomlin likes to call them "SPLASH PLAYS." I def credit N.E and the kind of performance they set out that night from their special teams but I don't think we'll see that again this year.

[Don]

A few years back, didn't Pittsburgh or Baltimore win three or four games in row with only only one or two offensive touchdowns total over 12/16 quarters?

[lights1961]

and to think the NFL is so awful this year that the Packers actually still have shot at playoffs or winning a division... is simply amazing... and the Packers have tried to lose ALL Their games so far....but only gave 3 away... LOL... at 4-3 and in the worst division... 9-7 or 8-8 actually will win the NFC north...

[Don]

and to think the NFL is so awful this year that the Packers actually still have shot at playoffs or winning a division... is simply amazing... and the Packers have tried to lose ALL Their games so far....but only gave 3 away... LOL... at 4-3 and in the worst division... 9-7 or 8-8 actually will win the NFC north...

NFC/AFC West are the worse divisions. There is a good chance of having an 8-8 winner in either one. The Chargers are the only team in NFL history to not have a winning record during the entire 16 game regular season schedule and still win their division (2008). And they still beat the Colts in the first round.

[YoungJRNY]

A few years back, didn't Pittsburgh or Baltimore win three or four games in row with only only one or two offensive touchdowns total over 12/16 quarters?

Lets see the finals in the games played since 2005:

2005: 20-19 (Steelers)
16-13 (Ravens-OT)

2006: 27-0 (Ravens)
31-7 (Ravens)

2007: 38-7 (Steelers)
27-21 (Ravens w/Steelers resting starters)

2008: 23-20 (Steelers- OT)
13-9 (Steelers)

2009: 20-17 (Ravens- OT)
23-20 (Steelers)

2010: 17-14 (Ravens)

Other than the 13-9 game in which there was only 1 touchdown scored, the Steelers/Ravens matchups always is played close and down to the final minutes of each game played. It's more of a FG contest/defensive struggle with maybe 2-3 touchdowns scored between both teams yearly.

[Don]

A few years back, didn't Pittsburgh or Baltimore win three or four games in row with only only one or two offensive touchdowns total over 12/16 quarters?

Lets see the finals in the games played since 2005:

2005: 20-19 (Steelers)
16-13 (Ravens-OT)

2006: 27-0 (Ravens)
31-7 (Ravens)

2007: 38-7 (Steelers)
27-21 (Ravens w/Steelers resting starters)

2008: 23-20 (Steelers- OT)
13-9 (Steelers)

2009: 20-17 (Ravens- OT)
23-20 (Steelers)

2010: 17-14 (Ravens)

Other than the 13-9 game in which there was only 1 touchdown scored, the Steelers/Ravens matchups always is played close and down to the final minutes of each game played. It's more of a FG contest/defensive struggle with maybe 2-3 touchdowns scored between both teams yearly.

I wasn't talking about head to head games between the two. I thought one or both of them had 3-4 game runs where they were beating on other teams with defensive and Special Teams touchdowns despite their own offenses sputtering.

Never mind, it was probably a different team like Chicago or Cleveland that I'm thinking of.

[YoungJRNY]

A few years back, didn't Pittsburgh or Baltimore win three or four games in row with only only one or two offensive touchdowns total over 12/16 quarters?

Lets see the finals in the games played since 2005:

2005: 20-19 (Steelers)
16-13 (Ravens-OT)

2006: 27-0 (Ravens)
31-7 (Ravens)

2007: 38-7 (Steelers)
27-21 (Ravens w/Steelers resting starters)

2008: 23-20 (Steelers- OT)
13-9 (Steelers)

2009: 20-17 (Ravens- OT)
23-20 (Steelers)

2010: 17-14 (Ravens)

Other than the 13-9 game in which there was only 1 touchdown scored, the Steelers/Ravens matchups always is played close and down to the final minutes of each game played. It's more of a FG contest/defensive struggle with maybe 2-3 touchdowns scored between both teams yearly.

I wasn't talking about head to head games between the two. I thought one or both of them had 3-4 game runs were they beating on either teams with defensive and Special Teams touchdowns despite their own offenses sputtering.

If you're talking about Steelers and Special Teams winning a game for them in the same sentence then think you got the wrong team. The Steelers special team units has been the worst in the league since I can remember at scoring points and was always our faulter in close games of letting a kick run back and what not. (In fact, N.E beat the Steelers the same way they beat the Dolphins on that Monday Night against the Steelers in the AFC Champ game in 2001. They blocked a field goal for a touchdown and ran a punt back for a touchdown in a 24-17 game.)

As for the defense, you could make a case that the Steelers defense play the kind of defensive struggle games and the Steelers overall team is built to win tight football games so almost in every game the Steelers are involved in is a low scoring affair decided by 7 points or less because of their formula.

[Enigma869]

Brad Childress admits to "stealing signals".

http://www.nesn.com/2010/10/brad-childr ... -hole.html

How shocking that something like this would happen in football!

[YoungJRNY]

Have to move my buddy into his new home, so I can't spend time on a write up.

Here's my quick picks:

Dolphins over Bengals

Cowboys over Jaguars

Redskins over Lions

Chiefs over Bills

Rams over Panthers

49'ers over Broncos

Chargers over Titans

Cardinals over Buccaneers

Patriots over Vikings

Seahwks over Raiders

Saints over Steelers

Texans over Colts