2011-2012 NFL Season Thread

[AR]

I realize the Ravens have laid a couple of eggs against lesser teams, but they are tied for the best record in the AFC and beat the Steelers twice. Still top 5 at least.

[YoungJRNY]

I realize the Ravens have laid a couple of eggs against lesser teams, but they are tied for the best record in the AFC and beat the Steelers twice. Still top 5 at least.

The Ravens show they are only a good team at home. On the road, they lost to Tennessee, Jacksonville and Seattle and even struggled heavily against Arizona and Cincinnati, both at home. The Ravens were #10 ranked last week if I can remember, it's just the play of the teams ahead of them have played better consistently throughout the season while Baltimore is up and down as each week pass's. This Thursday Night will tell all for Baltimore to see if they can climb and stay against a very physical 49'ers team.

The NFC EAST is wide open and believe it or not, the Cowboys are playing the best football in their division at the moment. The Giants played un-inspired ball against a beat up Eagles team at home last night, knocking them out and putting Dallas in a spot for them to rise up in the NFC EAST. Right now, I give Dallas the slight edge over Atlanta for spot #10.

[AR]

I realize the Ravens have laid a couple of eggs against lesser teams, but they are tied for the best record in the AFC and beat the Steelers twice. Still top 5 at least.

The Ravens show they are only a good team at home. On the road, they lost to Tennessee, Jacksonville and Seattle and even struggled heavily against Arizona and Cincinnati, both at home. The Ravens were #10 ranked last week if I can remember, it's just the play of the teams ahead of them have played better consistently throughout the season while Baltimore is up and down as each week pass's. This Thursday Night will tell all for Baltimore to see if they can climb and stay against a very physical 49'ers team.

The NFC EAST is wide open and believe it or not, the Cowboys are playing the best football in their division at the moment. The Giants played un-inspired ball against a beat up Eagles team at home last night, knocking them out and putting Dallas in a spot for them to rise up in the NFC EAST. Right now, I give Dallas the slight edge over Atlanta for spot #10.

Sure but your team lost to them home and away and you have them at 4?

The Bears at 6 is funny. They lost their starting QB and are done.

The Bengals played both the Steelers and Ravens tough. I'd place them in the top 10.

[YoungJRNY]

I realize the Ravens have laid a couple of eggs against lesser teams, but they are tied for the best record in the AFC and beat the Steelers twice. Still top 5 at least.

The Ravens show they are only a good team at home. On the road, they lost to Tennessee, Jacksonville and Seattle and even struggled heavily against Arizona and Cincinnati, both at home. The Ravens were #10 ranked last week if I can remember, it's just the play of the teams ahead of them have played better consistently throughout the season while Baltimore is up and down as each week pass's. This Thursday Night will tell all for Baltimore to see if they can climb and stay against a very physical 49'ers team.

The NFC EAST is wide open and believe it or not, the Cowboys are playing the best football in their division at the moment. The Giants played un-inspired ball against a beat up Eagles team at home last night, knocking them out and putting Dallas in a spot for them to rise up in the NFC EAST. Right now, I give Dallas the slight edge over Atlanta for spot #10.

Sure but your team lost to them home and away and you have them at 4?

Two games has nothing to really do with the overall rankings. I understand the Steelers got bounced in week 1 and was 8 seconds away from winning game #2 but it's the erotic play of Flacco and that very inconsistent offense that can look like one of the very worst in the league that is keeping Baltimore from being takin' serious. Even with the loss's to Baltimore, the Steelers still are as consistent as any good football team in the league right now. Baltimore? Not so much.

Also, this is going INTO Week 12. I still have the Texans at #4 because they didn't do anything to drop from that #4 spot. The Bears are looking like a serious contender in the NFC and are consistent, jumping to #6. That's not to say that without Shaub and Cutler, those teams will stay there from this point forward.

[AR]

I realize the Ravens have laid a couple of eggs against lesser teams, but they are tied for the best record in the AFC and beat the Steelers twice. Still top 5 at least.

The Ravens show they are only a good team at home. On the road, they lost to Tennessee, Jacksonville and Seattle and even struggled heavily against Arizona and Cincinnati, both at home. The Ravens were #10 ranked last week if I can remember, it's just the play of the teams ahead of them have played better consistently throughout the season while Baltimore is up and down as each week pass's. This Thursday Night will tell all for Baltimore to see if they can climb and stay against a very physical 49'ers team.

The NFC EAST is wide open and believe it or not, the Cowboys are playing the best football in their division at the moment. The Giants played un-inspired ball against a beat up Eagles team at home last night, knocking them out and putting Dallas in a spot for them to rise up in the NFC EAST. Right now, I give Dallas the slight edge over Atlanta for spot #10.

Sure but your team lost to them home and away and you have them at 4?

Two games has nothing to really do with the overall rankings. I understand the Steelers got bounced in week 1 and was 8 seconds away from winning game #2 but it's the erotic play of Flacco and that very inconsistent offense that can look like one of the very worst in the league that is keeping Baltimore from being takin' serious. Even with the loss's to Baltimore, the Steelers still are as consistent as any good football team in the league right now. Baltimore? Not so much.

I will allow you being a homer for the Steelers as I am for the Ravens. Explain the Bears at 6, and the Bengals not in the top 10.

[S2M]

And the 49ers who play in THE worst division in NFL history......

[AR]

And the 49ers who play in THE worst division in NFL history......

I think that bubble gets burst on Thursday (hopefully).

[YoungJRNY]

I realize the Ravens have laid a couple of eggs against lesser teams, but they are tied for the best record in the AFC and beat the Steelers twice. Still top 5 at least.

The Ravens show they are only a good team at home. On the road, they lost to Tennessee, Jacksonville and Seattle and even struggled heavily against Arizona and Cincinnati, both at home. The Ravens were #10 ranked last week if I can remember, it's just the play of the teams ahead of them have played better consistently throughout the season while Baltimore is up and down as each week pass's. This Thursday Night will tell all for Baltimore to see if they can climb and stay against a very physical 49'ers team.

The NFC EAST is wide open and believe it or not, the Cowboys are playing the best football in their division at the moment. The Giants played un-inspired ball against a beat up Eagles team at home last night, knocking them out and putting Dallas in a spot for them to rise up in the NFC EAST. Right now, I give Dallas the slight edge over Atlanta for spot #10.

Sure but your team lost to them home and away and you have them at 4?

Two games has nothing to really do with the overall rankings. I understand the Steelers got bounced in week 1 and was 8 seconds away from winning game #2 but it's the erotic play of Flacco and that very inconsistent offense that can look like one of the very worst in the league that is keeping Baltimore from being takin' serious. Even with the loss's to Baltimore, the Steelers still are as consistent as any good football team in the league right now. Baltimore? Not so much.

I will allow you being a homer for the Steelers as I am for the Ravens. Explain the Bears at 6, and the Bengals not in the top 10.

I already did above but I will again here and quote you directly. I'm not really being a homer putting the Steelers at #4. They are one of the best balanced teams overall at the moment. Most critics (ESPN, NFL, CBS) have the Steelers at #3 so there's no homernism involved.

As for the Bears, as I said, losing their quarterback has no effect on how they performed in Week 11 and earning that spot. Now if the Bears underachieve without Cutler in the lineup from the weeks ahead, then they will obviously drop OR climb if they remain consistent. As I said, I have the Texans at 3 but they could possibly fall with Leinart now under center.

As for the Bengals, they had their shot 2 weeks in a row to prove they were ready for the big leagues and the division. Instead of their young QB Dalton getting it done for his team, he throws back to back, 2 interceptions in the 4th QRT to pretty much kill his teams chances at winning the division. Are the Bengals good? Yes, but losing 2 in a row because of their QB throwing bad interceptions when the game is on the line proves they aren't yet ready for the elite. This is just my views & opinions dude.

[AR]

I realize the Ravens have laid a couple of eggs against lesser teams, but they are tied for the best record in the AFC and beat the Steelers twice. Still top 5 at least.

The Ravens show they are only a good team at home. On the road, they lost to Tennessee, Jacksonville and Seattle and even struggled heavily against Arizona and Cincinnati, both at home. The Ravens were #10 ranked last week if I can remember, it's just the play of the teams ahead of them have played better consistently throughout the season while Baltimore is up and down as each week pass's. This Thursday Night will tell all for Baltimore to see if they can climb and stay against a very physical 49'ers team.

The NFC EAST is wide open and believe it or not, the Cowboys are playing the best football in their division at the moment. The Giants played un-inspired ball against a beat up Eagles team at home last night, knocking them out and putting Dallas in a spot for them to rise up in the NFC EAST. Right now, I give Dallas the slight edge over Atlanta for spot #10.

Sure but your team lost to them home and away and you have them at 4?

Two games has nothing to really do with the overall rankings. I understand the Steelers got bounced in week 1 and was 8 seconds away from winning game #2 but it's the erotic play of Flacco and that very inconsistent offense that can look like one of the very worst in the league that is keeping Baltimore from being takin' serious. Even with the loss's to Baltimore, the Steelers still are as consistent as any good football team in the league right now. Baltimore? Not so much.

I will allow you being a homer for the Steelers as I am for the Ravens. Explain the Bears at 6, and the Bengals not in the top 10.

I already did above but I will again here and quote you directly. I'm not really being a homer putting the Steelers at #4. They are one of the best balanced teams overall at the moment. Most critics (ESPN, NFL, CBS) have the Steelers at #3 so there's no homernism involved.

As for the Bears, as I said, losing their quarterback has no effect on how they performed in Week 11 and earning that spot. Now if the Bears underachieve without Cutler in the lineup from the weeks ahead, then they will obviously drop OR climb if they remain consistent. As I said, I have the Texans at 3 but they could possibly fall with Leinart now under center.

As for the Bengals, they had their shot 2 weeks in a row to prove they were ready for the big leagues and the division. Instead of their young QB Dalton getting it done for his team, he throws back to back, 2 interceptions in the 4th QRT to pretty much kill his teams chances at winning the division. Are the Bengals good? Yes, but losing 2 in a row because of their QB throwing bad interceptions when the game is on the line proves they aren't yet ready for the elite. This is just my views & opinions dude.

I respect your opinions, just throwing in my 2 cents as another dedicated football fan.

[slucero]

And the 49ers who play in THE worst division in NFL history......

Sorry dude, that's a sad excuse...


The 49ers have only played TWO division games, both wins...


Try again.

[S2M]

And the 49ers who play in THE worst division in NFL history......

Sorry dude, that's a sad excuse...


The 49ers have only played TWO division games, both wins...


Try again.

No, YOU try again.....I didn't say anything other then they play in the worse division in NFL history. You infered more, because you are defensive.

[slucero]

And the 49ers who play in THE worst division in NFL history......

Sorry dude, that's a sad excuse...


The 49ers have only played TWO division games, both wins...


Try again.

No, YOU try again.....I didn't say anything other then they play in the worse division in NFL history. You infered more, because you are defensive.

LMAO... your post was a response to AR's... here it is...

I will allow you being a homer for the Steelers as I am for the Ravens. Explain the Bears at 6, and the Bengals not in the top 10.

Your post directly after it.... calling out the Niners position in the list, as AR called out the Bears and Bengals...

And the 49ers who play in THE worst division in NFL history......

Seems to be you who is being a bit defensive.... grow up.

[Enigma869]

Ravens at 9?

They only beat the Steelers twice, Ed. If they beat them three times, he'll drop them to 10th

[Enigma869]

it's the erotic play of Flacco

Hopefully, Flacco will save his "erotic" play for the chick he's playing Hide The Salami with

[Enigma869]

As for the Bengals, they had their shot 2 weeks in a row to prove they were ready for the big leagues and the division. Instead of their young QB Dalton getting it done for his team, he throws back to back, 2 interceptions in the 4th QRT to pretty much kill his teams chances at winning the division. Are the Bengals good? Yes, but losing 2 in a row because of their QB throwing bad interceptions when the game is on the line proves they aren't yet ready for the elite.

I couldn't agree with you more as it relates to the Bengals. They are absolutely a MUCH improved team. I think Dalton is on his way to being a VERY good NFL QB. The guy has impressed the hell out of me (more than Palmer ever did). That said, you can't jump a team in the rankings when they lose two straight games, regardless of how competively they played! Remember, prior to the previous two weeks, the Bengals may have played the easiest schedule in the NFL, which means that they compiled their very good record against teams that a local Pop Warner team may have smacked the shit out of! When they had a chance to step up in competition, they failed...TWICE! That said, they get another crack at both of these teams and it wouldn't stun me if they won both of those games (although, I'm still not convinced).

[Ehwmatt]

I mean honestly, how many guys has Tom Brady gotten big money for over the course of his career? I'm convinced the guy can make ANY body with a halfway decent set of hands look good. He should be taking a cut of a lot of these receivers' pay checks.

[Enigma869]

I mean honestly, how many guys has Tom Brady gotten big money for over the course of his career? I'm convinced the guy can make ANY body with a halfway decent set of hands look good. He should be taking a cut of a lot of these receivers' pay checks.

Please tell me that you're not suggesting that Brady is the reason that Gronkowski is as dominant as he is? If you're talking about years gone by with the likes of David Givens, David Patten, Jabbar Gaffney, and Troy Brown (who was better than the previous three guys I mentioned), then I agree with you.

[YoungJRNY]

Ravens at 9?

They only beat the Steelers twice, Ed. If they beat them three times, he'll drop them to 10th

For the record, when Baltimore beat Pittsburgh both times, I had them no lower than #2 and #3. Also, NFL.COM, the so-called experts who get paid to do power rankings, has Pittsburgh ranked at #3 and Baltimore at #7.

Here was my rankings as of October 23rd:

My top 10 power rankings:

1. Green Bay Packers
------------------------------

2. New England Patriots
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Houston Texans
6. Atlanta Falcons
7. Detroit Lions
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
9. N.Y Giants
10. San Francisco 49'ers

And again in Week 9 after they beat Pittsburgh:

My top 10 heading into Week 10:

1. Green Bay Packers

--------------------------

2. San Francisco 49'ers
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Houston Texans
5. Detroit Lions
6. N.Y Giants
7. Atlanta Falcons
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
9. New Orleans Saints
10. N.Y Jets

It's what they did afterwards and other teams consistently winning that dropped them down the chain. Sorry, losing to the Seahawks one week ago if you think you're elite just won't cut it and will drop you bigtime, especially in a season to where they've looked completley lost on the offensive side of the ball all season. Going into the Steelers game on Sunday Night, Flacco was completing a league's WORST 52% of his pass's. How about beat San Francisco and beat the teams their supposed to beat and them rise to the top 5.

[YoungJRNY]

I mean honestly, how many guys has Tom Brady gotten big money for over the course of his career? I'm convinced the guy can make ANY body with a halfway decent set of hands look good. He should be taking a cut of a lot of these receivers' pay checks.

I think it's pretty obvious that Bill Bellichick's schemes and how he uses his talents is the reason why N.E as a whole is very hard to beat. Brady is just a piece of the puzzle in how he's used as a QB in his system. Just look at how Bellichick makes wide receivers into defensive backs. Troy Brown anyone? Well, last night I saw Edelman not only take punt returns back, but ALSO play as a nickel corner and actually make some NICE shed blocks and awesome tackles on top of it. Bellichick can put anybody on the field and make them out to be stars. He is the best at using personal in the game. Put anyone around Brady & they'll make it work. I mean, fuck, I remember when Hank fucking Poteat was a starting corner here in Pittsburgh. Couldn't cover shit and looked just as crisp on both sides of the burnt toast. He goes to N.E and looks like a goddamn super-star in the defensive backfield and wins the Super Bowl. Bellichick and Brady is still one of the best in the game when it comes to X's and O's. Doesn't matter who's around them.

[YoungJRNY]

I ran across these videos of little children reacting to their teams' losing. Hilarious. Keep on truckin' little one's! Hang in there

Little girl devastated after the Packers beat the Vikings:

http://blogs.nfl.com/2011/11/17/girl-ha ... heartache/

Little boy finds out the next morning that the Broncos beat the Jets:

http://blogs.nfl.com/2011/11/22/shatter ... ent_stream

[Ehwmatt]

Kyle Orton waived... Houston or Chicago should pick him up STAT.

[Yoda]

Kyle Orton waived... Houston or Chicago should pick him up STAT.

He's familiar with Chicago's offense, that might be what the Bears need to get through this season.

[YoungJRNY]

Kyle Orton waived... Houston or Chicago should pick him up STAT.

He's familiar with Chicago's offense, that might be what the Bears need to get through this season.

^This. Orton is a very serviceable QB and can get it done. He can step in Chicago's offense and defiantly manage games that result into W's. Plus, he was traded to Denver in the Cutler trade so he knows the Bears offense quite good.

[Don]

Kyle Orton waived... Houston or Chicago should pick him up STAT.

With Orton gone, watch San Diego drop 40 on Denver next week with Tebow throwing four picks trying to play catch up.

[Ehwmatt]

Kyle Orton waived... Houston or Chicago should pick him up STAT.

With Orton gone, watch San Diego drop 40 on Denver next week with Tebow throwing four picks trying to play catch up.

I'd love that. God Tebow is annoying.

[YoungJRNY]

Kyle Orton waived... Houston or Chicago should pick him up STAT.

With Orton gone, watch San Diego drop 40 on Denver next week with Tebow throwing four picks trying to play catch up.

Sorriest division I've ever seen. What a joke that one of those teams will have a home playoff game and here we have Mr. 9 completions every week in Tim Tebow sitting at 5-5! Crazy. Though, who ever thought the Seahawks could beat New Orleans last season? Home games matter.

[Ehwmatt]

Kyle Orton waived... Houston or Chicago should pick him up STAT.

With Orton gone, watch San Diego drop 40 on Denver next week with Tebow throwing four picks trying to play catch up.

Sorriest division I've ever seen. What a joke that one of those teams will have a home playoff game and here we have Mr. 9 completions every week in Tim Tebow sitting at 5-5! Crazy. Though, who ever thought the Seahawks could beat New Orleans last season? Home games matter.

If that happens again this year, they really have to look at changing the rules. A losing record should not make the playoffs, period. This isn't the fucking NBA.

[YoungJRNY]

This is pretty neat. NFL PLAYOFF MACHINE. You just go week by week and pick who you think will win the games and the machine will tally up the end result. What do you guys come up with?

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

[RedWingFan]

Kyle Orton waived... Houston or Chicago should pick him up STAT.

With Orton gone, watch San Diego drop 40 on Denver next week with Tebow throwing four picks trying to play catch up.

Sorriest division I've ever seen.

You must have a pretty short memory. No recollection of the NFC West last year?

At least the Raiders are 6-4 even w/o their top offensive player in D Mc. The rest of the division has been very hot and cold though, alot of win and loss streaks.

[Enigma869]

Complete non-issue with the AFC West. Sure, one of those teams has to win, but none of those teams are beating anyone. They all suck! Oakland is probably the best of those teams, but they're not going to scare anyone. They are a team that has been self-destructing for most of the past 20 years! Hell, I'm not sure they ever make it through an NFL season without being the most penalized team in the NFL.