Football (american football to those across the pond!)

[Parson]

Humph! Soccer from a Boneman? I guess there's not enough flesh on his bones to play football.

Yes I did see. Just to make you feel better one of the local radio stations had a question "Which professional Sport could you most do without?" The answer "Soccer" by about 90% of the respondents. Soccer is making inroads in the good old USA, but it is slow indeed.

[J-Sun]

Originally Posted by J-Sun

But what makes me say this is (IF Simms was quoting Turner correctly) his saying, regarding injuries to personnel, that "our stars have to play like stars". Um, no. "Team first. Next man up! Our replacements have to step up, fill shoes, and we have to work together as a team to win."

This sucks. Cutler's probably done for the regular season just when the Bears seemed to really be getting it together. But, in distinction to Turner, here's Smith:

"(I expect) the same play from our quarterback position," Smith said. "Caleb has played a lot for us around here. We feel comfortable with him being our quarterback. It's always 'next guy up.' We've had injuries at other positions, and that's what it will be.

"We're a good football team, and we still plan on winning." -- Smith as quoted on espn

And someone posted the remaining schedules of the NFC East contenders on Usenet and it really looks like Dallas could sort of stumble to 10-6 and the Giants could fall to 8-8 (depending on which Giants show up from week to week) and Philly, win notwithstanding, is really done. 7-9, maybe 6-10. But I don't care.

[jojajihisc]

Originally Posted by Boneman

Did you see that LA Galaxy finally won a championship for David Beckham? (Well, it is American Football...)

Who are the LA Galaxy and what the hell is American Football? I do remember David Beckham though - he's that sixth Spice Girl, Metro-sexual Spice.

[jojajihisc]

Ok, seeing as the Chiefs aren't coming back, we've all picked the same way and I've got to travel tomorrow I'm going to update right now. If Palko performs a miracle we'll adjust down a game.

Player (Week 11) Overall

Joj (11-3) 107-53
Cul (8-6) 100-60
J-Sun (11-3) 100-60
Par (9-5) 96-64
WS (9-5) 16-13

Week 12

GB @ DET (Thur.)
MIA @ DAL (Thur.)
SF @ BAL (Thur.)
HOU @ JAC
BUF @ NYJ
CLE @ CIN
MIN @ ATL
ARI @ STL
CAR @ IND
TB @ TEN
CHI @ OAK
WAS @ SEA
DEN @ SD
NE @ PHI
PIT @ KC
NYG @ NO (Mon.)

[J-Sun]

GB @ DET (Thur.)
MIA @ DAL (Thur.)
SF @ BAL (Thur.)
HOU @ JAC
BUF @ NYJ
CLE @ CIN
MIN @ ATL
ARI @ STL
CAR @ IND
TB @ TEN
CHI @ OAK
WAS @ SEA
DEN @ SD
NE @ PHI
PIT @ KC
NYG @ NO (Mon.)

[J-Sun]

Playing a little game. I took a look at the remaining schedules for those teams I don't think are already out of it and here's who I figure for the playoffs (and if I get half of them right from this distance, that might not be too bad):

NFC DIVs:
Green Bay
San Francisco
New Orleans
Dallas

NFC WCs:
Chicago
Detroit

Ouch:
(Atlanta misses but is more likely than NYG.)

AFC DIVs:
New England
Baltimore (not sure how the tie-break would shake out between NE/BAL)
Houston
Oakland [but discussed below]

AFC WCs:
Pittsburgh
NY Jets

Ouch:
Cincy may have a worse record and, either way, would lose the tie-breakers to the Jets.

As far as the AFC West, ironically, if the Chargers beat Denver and turn their season around, I could see an 8-7 Charger team playing an 8-7 Raider team for the title on the final game of the season. If they win it, they win the division and are in. Otherwise, it's clearly Oakland's division. I don't think the others have a chance, despite currently being in better shape than San Diego. But if I had to say now, I'd say Oakland. If San Diego beats Denver, though, that may change.

It bugs me that the NFC basically looks unchanged from the current standings and even the AFC doesn't look all that different but that's the way the schedule extrapolation looks to me. Agreements, disputes, disinterest?

-- Chiefs are a few seconds away from being officially demolished. And speaking of them and schedules, what scheduler hated them? Check out this game and their next five before finishing at Denver:

@NE (7-3)
Pitt (7-3)
@Chi (7-3)
@NYJ (5-5)
GB (10-0)
Oak (6-4)

I have all of them projected as playoff teams, three or four almost certainly are, and the other two or three don't suck.

[Winters_Sorrow]

Originally Posted by Parson

Humph! Soccer from a Boneman? I guess there's not enough flesh on his bones to play football.

Yes I did see. Just to make you feel better one of the local radio stations had a question "Which professional Sport could you most do without?" The answer "Soccer" by about 90% of the respondents. Soccer is making inroads in the good old USA, but it is slow indeed.

Whereas the correct answer is obviously baseball. I've tried and tried to get into the limited baseball coverage the UK gets and it's just a gigantic snorefest. Out of the 18 innings available to score you usually wind up with games being won 4-2 and rarely see homeruns. Even a good hit is often caught by the fielders these days who are much more athletic. The World Series is probably exciting but the 100+ games which every team has to play to qualify (!) is too much and dull as dishwater for the most part.

GB @ DET (Thur.) - I just think GB has to lose sometime as that defence is suspect and Megatron and the rest of the Detroiticons might be the devilish force capable of outscoring them in a shootout.
MIA @ DAL (Thur.) - I'm tempted to go Fins here as they are playing really well currently, but Mr November gets the nod.
SF @ BAL (Thur.) - Controversial and I'll wind up eating my words but I think we can keep Ray Rice quiet and have a good chance of intercepting Flaco. Will be a real test of Alex Smith though.
HOU @ JAC - Even without Shaub I think the Texans D will win as Blaine Gabbert doesn't look like he can carry a team to win. MJD is good but makes them 1-dimensional without a passing game.
BUF @ NYJ - Both these teams are playing badly at the moment, so I went with (what should be) the better D.
CLE @ CIN - Dalton looks clutch. McCoy does not.
MIN @ ATL - I actually quite like how Ponder plays and this could be a close one. Turner should do well in a short passing game though
ARI @ STL - Coin toss. Rams are at home is only reason I picked them.
CAR @ IND - Newton can score. Painter cannot. Still think Indy are dogging it and/or have given up. Caldwell needs to go. Not head coach material.
TB @ TEN - Picked slightly against myself here. Freeman's having a bad year but think this could be one TB can win.
CHI @ OAK - Bears D is frightening but so is the Raiders O-line. Probably one of the best I've seen this season. There's a reason Bush is getting great numbers and it's not because he's an amazing RB.
WAS @ SEA - Hawks at home are always a tough opponent. Hope I'm wrong of course as I want to clinch division
DEN @ SD - I can't stop myself. So want to pick against them but that Denver D against Interception Rivers and the dropsie brigade?
NE @ PHI - Pats too organised & disciplined. Brady > Eli Manning
PIT @ KC - Kansas who? That good start seems like it happened last season.
NYG @ NO (Mon.) - should be a cracking game and might be close but Brees will eat up those short passing routes and Sproles will run against that D.

Originally Posted by J-Sun

Playing a little game. I took a look at the remaining schedules for those teams I don't think are already out of it and here's who I figure for the playoffs (and if I get half of them right from this distance, that might not be too bad):

NFC DIVs:
Green Bay
San Francisco
New Orleans
Dallas

NFC WCs:
Chicago
Detroit

Ouch:
(Atlanta misses but is more likely than NYG.)

AFC DIVs:
New England
Baltimore (not sure how the tie-break would shake out between NE/BAL)
Houston
Oakland [but discussed below]

AFC WCs:
Pittsburgh
NY Jets

Ouch:
Cincy may have a worse record and, either way, would lose the tie-breakers to the Jets.

As far as the AFC West, ironically, if the Chargers beat Denver and turn their season around, I could see an 8-7 Charger team playing an 8-7 Raider team for the title on the final game of the season. If they win it, they win the division and are in. Otherwise, it's clearly Oakland's division. I don't think the others have a chance, despite currently being in better shape than San Diego. But if I had to say now, I'd say Oakland. If San Diego beats Denver, though, that may change.

It bugs me that the NFC basically looks unchanged from the current standings and even the AFC doesn't look all that different but that's the way the schedule extrapolation looks to me. Agreements, disputes, disinterest?

I pretty much have the same outcomes as yourself, though I think the Falcs make it at the expense of either the Lions or the Bears. I want to say Bears as I think they're much less dangerous with Haine at QB but the Lions are still a franchise trying to forget a 0-16 season and decades of underachievement so they might well choke in the home stretch.

AFC wise - the North division looks interesting to me. It could be any of 3 teams who win that and we'll probably get at least 1 wildcard and maybe even 2 from that division. I don't think the Jets make the playoffs this year. Imagine all the heat Ryan & Sanchez will be under as a result.

Raiders are the dark horse for me. I can see them getting to the championship game and possibly a long shot for the SB itself. Here's how I see it breaking down

AFC:
Steelers (#1 WC) @ Houston (4th seed) - Steelers win
Bengals (#2 WC) @ Ravens (3rd seed) - Ravens win

Steelers @ Raiders - Raiders win
Ravens @ Pats - Pats win

Raiders @ Pats - Raiders win

NFC:
Bears (#1 WC) @ Cowboys (4th seed) - Cowboys
Falcons (#2 WC) @ Saints (3rd seed) - woo boy. Saints but close...

Cowboys @ Niners - I want revenge! Niners win...
Saints @ GB - close again but I don't think people beat GB at home in the playoffs. GB

Niners @ GB - GB

Superbowl - Raiders @ GB - GB to repeat...? Hmmm. Yes.

[Culhwch]

Raiders in the Superbowl? I think they'll make the playoffs, but I can't see them getting quite that far. For mine I'd say Ravens or Steelers vs Saints or Niners. Green Bay bounced in their first playoff game.

Week 12

GB @ DET (Thur.) - Possibly the last best chance to stop the undefeated (regular) season.
MIA @ DAL (Thur.) - A Miami win would not surprise me at all.
SF @ BAL (Thur.) - SF need to drop a couple games so the Saints can get that second seed...
HOU @ JAC - Leinart will get better, but the Jags' D stops him first up.
BUF @ NYJ - The Bills are done and dusted.
CLE @ CIN - Cincy in a canter.
MIN @ ATL - As always, will be rooting against the Falcons.
ARI @ STL - Cards will bounce back.
CAR @ IND - Need I say anything?
TB @ TEN - Freeman needs to play like he did this past week, though.
CHI @ OAK - I think this is a coin toss.
WAS @ SEA - 'Hawks at home are hard to beat when you're actually a good team...
DEN @ SD - Denver end the Charger's hopes.
NE @ PHI - Torn over who I dislike more!
PIT @ KC - Trap game? No, probably not.
NYG @ NO (Mon.) - Saints at home should account for New Orleans native Eli and his New York brethren.

Yay, no byes!

[J-Sun]

Originally Posted by Winters_Sorrow

Whereas the correct answer is obviously baseball. I've tried and tried to get into the limited baseball coverage the UK gets and it's just a gigantic snorefest.

Baseball's a great game to play but I think it makes a pretty lousy spectator sport, too. But soccer's worse. And I don't like zillion-zillion NBA dunkfests, or boxing with skates either. Or whatever. Football's the One True Team Sport and I can also appreciate some college basketball.

But if there was one sport I wish we could import, it'd be some or all of the rugbys. I don't like it as much as football, but it's pretty neat. It could never happen though, as it's too close to NFL/US college football, yet too far away.

Originally Posted by Culhwch

Raiders in the Superbowl? I think they'll make the playoffs, but I can't see them getting quite that far.

Agreed - if they happened to draw the Jets (or Bengals, if they made it) they might win that one but I don't see them going any further. But they did win the whole enchilada as a wild card once and winning the West is kind of like a wild card this year.

But I'm not yet convinced it'll be the Raiders. I thought I was a lone loon in forseeing a possible Chargers division title but according to someone on Usenet (grain of salt) Vegas is calling for a 9-7 Chargers title even now. (I figure an 8-8 tiebreaker if they're lucky.)

Originally Posted by Culhwch

GB @ DET (Thur.) - Possibly the last best chance to stop the undefeated (regular) season.
MIA @ DAL (Thur.) - A Miami win would not surprise me at all.
...
NE @ PHI - Torn over who I dislike more!
...
Yay, no byes!

Similar to the Chargers title, I thought I would be going it alone picking Detroit - now I wonder if anyone will pick Green Bay. And I remember Leon Lett in the snow - a Miami win wouldn't surprise me either. And Philly is easy to dislike more. And, amen - I hate the byes making the standings and stats all askew. Just straight consistent football down the stretch.

[Culhwch]

I hate all that 'one and a half games back' nonsense the byes bring to the table. I don't understand where that half-game comes into it. Is it a Schroedinger thing - until it is played they have simultaneously both won and lost the game, so we'll split the difference? No, they're two games back, with a game in hand.

Of course I understand the need for byes, so I'm not totally anti-bye. But I do think it'd be fairer to have eight games and sixteen byes each in week eight and nine, and put everyone on a more-or-less even playing field.

Originally Posted by J-Sun

But if there was one sport I wish we could import, it'd be some or all of the rugbys. I don't like it as much as football, but it's pretty neat. It could never happen though, as it's too close to NFL/US college football, yet too far away.

You'll never hear me praise rugby union, but rugby league is what I was brought up on and it's still my first love when it comes to sport, although the NFL isn't far behind. I'm fortunate in that football season for me lasts all year long, with the NRL giving way to the NFL, and the NFL giving way to the NRL fairly seemlessly. Now if only the NFL would start playing games on a Friday or Saturday, my weekends would be filled all year round....

[J-Sun]

Originally Posted by Culhwch

I hate all that 'one and a half games back' nonsense the byes bring to the table. I don't understand where that half-game comes into it. Is it a Schroedinger thing - until it is played they have simultaneously both won and lost the game, so we'll split the difference? No, they're two games back, with a game in hand.

Of course I understand the need for byes, so I'm not totally anti-bye. But I do think it'd be fairer to have eight games and sixteen byes each in week eight and nine, and put everyone on a more-or-less even playing field.

Yeah, that's true - I didn't mean to give the impression I was anti-bye, but just anti-"half game" and so on. It's one of the rare cases where it benefits teams, giving them a break, and benefits owners (more money) and fans (more football) with a "free" extra week to the season. But I would much prefer the way it was when they gave entire divisions a bye or something like your idea - maybe just give each conference either week 9 or 10 off. (I prefer 9 or 10, because that would make one 8-8 and the other 9-7 - as close to half as possible with the short end coming at the end.)

Originally Posted by Culhwch

You'll never hear me praise rugby union, but rugby league is what I was brought up on and it's still my first love when it comes to sport, although the NFL isn't far behind. I'm fortunate in that football season for me lasts all year long, with the NRL giving way to the NFL, and the NFL giving way to the NRL fairly seemlessly. Now if only the NFL would start playing games on a Friday or Saturday, my weekends would be filled all year round....

Sounds good.

[jojajihisc]

Week 12

GB @ DET (Thur.)
MIA @ DAL (Thur.)
SF @ BAL (Thur.)
HOU @ JAC
BUF @ NYJ
CLE @ CIN
MIN @ ATL
ARI @ STL
CAR @ IND
TB @ TEN
CHI @ OAK
WAS @ SEA
DEN @ SD
NE @ PHI
PIT @ KC
NYG @ NO (Mon.)

[J-Sun]

I can't believe Parson isn't going to pick, maybe later tonight, but I probably won't have time to post the splits tomorrow and I'm running out of time tonight, so here are the four of us so far:

Consensus:

BUF @ wNYJ
CLE @ wCIN
MIA @ wDAL
MIN @ wATL
wNE @ PHI
NYG @ wNO
wPIT @ KC
wTB @ TEN
WAS @ wSEA

Splits:

j & jo: DEN @ wSD
cul & ws: wDEN @ SD

jo & ws: ARI @ wSTL
cul & j: wARI @ STL

Solos:

cul: HOU @ wJAC

j: wCHI @ OAK

jo: wGB @ DET

ws: wSF @ BAL
ws: CAR @ wIND

On the consensus TB/TEN game, it's my understanding the line has TEN by 3.5 but we don't agree.

On the solos, I still think it's funny that jo has to go solo for GB. I forget the line, but GB is definitely favored. Maybe 7 or 9 or something.

Happy Turkey Day to those who have it! Happy Pigskin Day to all!

[Parson]

Well I see someone has figured out my nocturnal habits. Generally time consuming things for Chrons comes after 10:30 pm. This was particularly the case this week because we had our annual thanksgiving eve service tonight. It all came off wonderfully, if I do say so myself. But it took a bit of work to get all of the liturgy arranged. (No, we don't use a prayer book, everything is do-it-yourself, or mostly.) It is now 11:25 pm and I am about to start picking. ---- Hmmm! good excuse for my usual "What was I thinking kind of posts."

GB @ DET (Thur.) I think Detroit is slipping.
MIA @ DAL (Thur.) I'll stick with Dallas, but Miami appears to be on the move.
SF @ BAL (Thur.) San Fran is starting to remind me of the great SF teams.
HOU @ JAC Houston should be too tough for Jacksonville.
BUF @ NYJ Buffalo seems to have come crashing down to earth.
CLE @ CIN Cinci probably by a little.
MIN @ ATL Atlanta, probably by a lot. Minnesota commentators are already talking about drafting position. A bad sign.
ARI @ STL In a battle of bad teams go with the home team.
CAR @ IND I predict Green Bay loses before Indy wins.
TB @ TEN In the I can't keep these teams straight bowl.
CHI @ OAK NFC North rules, except for the Vikings. [sigh!]
WAS @ SEA In a battle of bad teams go with the home team.
DEN @ SD Tiebow until the knee goes.
NE @ PHI Playoff drive for NE hits fall stride.
PIT @ KC KC's moment of good play has gone away.
NYG @ NO (Mon.) the Giants could surprise, but I think the Saints in a blow out is more likely.


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

There they are the fearless, but far from faultless picks. (Sigh!)

Who's doing the tabulations this week? If no one volunteers I'll bungle through it again.

[Winters_Sorrow]

Originally Posted by Parson

CAR @ IND I predict Green Bay loses before Indy wins.

Well that could be true regardless. Lions might knock off Detroit tonight before the game at the Colts.

J-Sun; apologies for messing you about, but I did mean to pick Indy to lose to Carolina hence my disparaging comments about Painter. I've corrected it on my post. Watch it come back to bite me when Mathis gets a sack/fumble/TD combo to win it