Football (american football to those across the pond!)

[J-Sun]

Well, I did have time to get here after all, so here's the new list with Parson's picks and the correction for Winters_Sorrow. This was more like I was expecting last week or so, with lots of splits and few solos.

Consensus:
BUF @ wNYJ
CLE @ wCIN
MIA @ wDAL
MIN @ wATL
NYG @ wNO
WAS @ wSEA
wCAR @ IND
wNE @ PHI
wPIT @ KC

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

cul & jo & ws: CHI @ wOAK
j & pars: wCHI @ OAK

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

cul & j & ws: GB @ wDET (Thur.)
jo & pars: wGB @ DET (Thur.)

cul & j & jo: SF @ wBAL (Thur.)
pars & ws: wSF @ BAL (Thur.)

Solo:
cul: HOU @ wJAC
pars: TB @ wTEN

[Culhwch]

Well, Detroit failed me, but two out of three ain't bad, I guess!

Some interesting games, though I'm yet to see any actual action - just kept up online. It looks like Suh can no longer really deny being a dirty player. I haven't seen the film, but from what I've read so far it wasn't pretty.

And it looks like the Niners weakness was confirmed - they struggle to score points against a quality defense. It's lucky for them the NFC doesn't feature many of those, their own probably being the notable exception.

[jojajihisc]

Suh is dirty. I couldn't hear how he tried to justify it but I could tell he was doing everything but take responsibility for stomping the guy's arm. I don't remember any indication in college that he'd be like that as a pro. I'm not sure the tough guy image is best suited to the Lions. They have an explosive offense like GB, the D-line ought to let their sacks and ability to stop the run speak for them and lose the attitude.

[Parson]

I follow Nebraska relatively closely. As far as I heard (and out paper covers Neb. fairly closely) there was nothing that would have indicated that Suh was who he appears to be. That kind of activity is likely to get him (let's not say intentionally) injured.

[J-Sun]

I missed the Packers/Lions game (I love my family but it sucks to be the only football guy) but I did see the incident and, in my opinion, the kick/stomp was just the cherry on top. His grabbing the Packer's helmet and jerking it up and smashing it into the ground repeatedly before getting up and then stomping the guy was enough to eject him all by itself, IMO. I look forward to a multi-game suspension. So, the Lions embarrass themselves on national TV on Thanksgiving yet again, in multiple ways. I really thought they'd turn that around this year, at least to the point of a good showing, win or lose, but I guess not.

I read a piece or two blaming Schwartz for creating an enabling atmosphere - excuses and a lack of accountability. And then they go and cite the Schwartz/Harbaugh thing. I can never know what really happened there, but I tend to believe, based on what I saw, that Harbaugh basically taunted Schwartz, to which Schwartz rightly took exception. But, putting that aside, what do you think of that idea? I don't think Schwartz is some Fisher who proactively creates a dirty environment, but I don't know what to think about the idea that he's allowed one to develop. The Lions do seem undisciplined and I think people could see this ejection coming so Schwartz presumably should have stressed to Suh that it's not a good thing to do something that gets you ejected (aside from the evil viciousness of the act itself).

As I mentioned earlier, the way the schedule shakes out, Dallas will win the NFC East unless they totally collapse (i.e., it's theirs to lose) but they're really not playing well. Miami has been hot lately, but they're still the team that started 0-7 or whatever, and Dallas had absolutely all they could handle. Still, if you ignore the sloppy play and just concentrate on the tension, closeness, and lead changes, it was a good game.

I also missed the Ravens/49ers game but saw the score here and there and it looked like a Ravens game. Might have been the best of the day. If the Ravens are still playing at this level come playoff time and they're healthy, it could be interesting.

[Winters_Sorrow]

Originally Posted by Culhwch

Well, Detroit failed me, but two out of three ain't bad, I guess!

Some interesting games, though I'm yet to see any actual action - just kept up online. It looks like Suh can no longer really deny being a dirty player. I haven't seen the film, but from what I've read so far it wasn't pretty.

And it looks like the Niners weakness was confirmed - they struggle to score points against a quality defense. It's lucky for them the NFC doesn't feature many of those, their own probably being the notable exception.

Well we played the Cowboys pretty close and put 24 points up on them. We also won against a good Cincy D as well, though I take your point.
I think it's a sign of how far we've progressed as a team that I'm disappointed with the loss. Our (up till that point good!) offensive line just got dominated throughout the game. I watched the whole thing live and thought Alex Smith did ok in the face of a fearsome pass rush. It's a lot of sacks but I'd love to see the stopwatch on some of them because I reckon half were within 5 seconds of the ball being snapped and that's going to be tough for any QB to handle.

It was a tough road game but we did ok and nothing to be disheartened about, so long as they use it as a learning experience to improve. More screens could have helped if Walker or Davis had managed to get free from the line of scrimmage.

Originally Posted by jojajihisc

Suh is dirty. I couldn't hear how he tried to justify it but I could tell he was doing everything but take responsibility for stomping the guy's arm. I don't remember any indication in college that he'd be like that as a pro. I'm not sure the tough guy image is best suited to the Lions. They have an explosive offense like GB, the D-line ought to let their sacks and ability to stop the run speak for them and lose the attitude.

It was a nasty challenge and cost his team big. Both in that possession - people forget that was 3rd & goal and that penalty he committed gave them 1st & goal and directly led to 7pts rather than 3pts. Also his absence made things easier for GB as he is a quality player when he's not stomping on defenseless players...
GB got away with a few holds on him throughout which probably got to him, though it's no excuse and he'll learn it's much harder to lose a dirty rep than it is to gain one. I tend to agree with the article J-Sun read. Schwartz seems to have a rep as someone who turns a blind eye to that sort of behaviour. "Don't get caught" seems to be his philosophy.

As for the rest of the week. Tebow? Again?? I kinda expected to be shown up on my picks when SD got off to a quick 10-0 start, as Denver is not build to recover from early setbacks but someone they contrived to pull it out the bag again. Norv Turner might be switching jobs with Caldwell at this rate.

Well done to Parsons for the Titans win. Obviously saw that 190 rushing yard game from C2KJ coming!

Steelers wasn't quite the blowout people were expecting, but I still expect to see KC lose out for the rest of the season. I'm surprised about the Rams. Thought a team with those players would do better. Last place in the "NFC Worst" isn't what I was expecting really.

[jojajihisc]

Tebow is a great story for now but does anyone think the Broncos can win with that offense in the long-term? Not so much the frequency of run plays but the lack of a decent passing game. Maybe they can as long as they don't fall too far behind.

I should have known asking the Seahawks to put three wins together would be too much. Jackson looked like he probably shouldn't have been playing, it looked like that pectoral tear is worsening. His inability to throw hurt them more than anything in that game.

There's a few teams I need to start thinking of differently. TB, SD and STL are all much worse than I thought even a few weeks ago.

The Texans might have to give Favre a call at this rate or maybe hold open tryouts. What a shame with the season they've had.

[J-Sun]

Originally Posted by jojajihisc

There's a few teams I need to start thinking of differently. TB, SD and STL are all much worse than I thought even a few weeks ago.

I've always though St. Louis was awful and that doesn't change. But, while I've always been less impressed with Tampa than some, they may well be worse yet. And, yeah, it's Oakland's division - San Diego is done. I thought they might still be a decent but dormant team. Now I think they're just bad.

***

Splits results:

Consensus is 7-1 with one to go. Only Washington (or more likely, Seattle) surprised us all, with the 'Skins topping the 'Hawks.

On the solos, as Winters_Sorrow noted, congrats to Parson for being the only one to correctly pick the Titans over the Bucs! Commiserations for Cul as Jacksonville could not overcome even backup QBs for Houston.

On the true splits, it's simplest to just repeat the splits with a +/- to indicate which way it went:

-jo & pars & ws: ARI @ wSTL
+cul & j: wARI @ STL

+cul & jo & ws: CHI @ wOAK
-j & pars: wCHI @ OAK

-j & jo: DEN @ wSD
+cul & pars & ws: wDEN @ SD

-cul & j & ws: GB @ wDET
+jo & pars: wGB @ DET

+cul & j & jo: SF @ wBAL
-pars & ws: wSF @ BAL

***

Did anyone see the CHI/OAK game and can they explain how Chicago lost? I got regionalized. The usual explanation is Hanie's turnovers but his three picks cost the Bears six points while they got seven off of Palmer's single pick. Plus, the yardage and time of possession was roughly equivalent, so it's not like the turnovers just put the Bears defense on the field too long or whatever. Makes no sense to me. I figured it would be close and the Raiders definitely had a chance, but it seems like the Bears should have got this. Especially with Forte having a fine game and Barber having an even better one. I guess just a whole heck of a lot field goals and one collapse giving them the winning TD. But it just doesn't "feel" right.

I don't know how many picks I've lost by picking a team who's lost their starting QB on the theory that they've got a defense and a running game and all the sub has to do is manage the game. I was right with Houston, even when they end up going to the third stringer, but I'm usually wrong otherwise. (I mean, the Raider's lost their starter, too, but they only lost when I picked them to win when it first happened and Palmer's basically settled in at this point.)

[Parson]

I saw the Chicago game at least some of it. Our local station next to always carries the Vikings, but I guess Minny was too bad to consider and of course there are some Bears fans here. (I even called the local station and complained! It was one of the few Sundays I didn't have any family obligations after church, and no meetings so I was going to enjoy some Viking football, but since CBS had the doubleheader game Fox could only show one game and they chose Chicago over Minny. I was so mad!!! It's probably the first time I've ever cheered for the Raiders.) Anyway my take on the Chicago Oakland game was that the Raiders put their good plays together at the right times, while Chicago did a little more of shooting themselves in the foot at inopportune times. ---- Not that I was paying that close of attention.

[Culhwch]

I had the game on but wasn't paying very close attention either. It seemed like Chicago just could never get anything going, or get in to decent field position. Oakland made the most of their opportunites.

Good to see the Saints get up today to keep the lead in the NFC South. I expected a closer game. The points for hearten me (especially those off the running game) but the points against are a worry. Didn't matter so much in this game, but eventually it will.

[Parson]

Here's this week totals. Read carefully a Parson can not speak ex-cathedra.

Joja (12-4) 119-57
Culh (12-4) 112-64
Jsun (11-5) 111-65
Pars (12-4) 108-68
Wrsr (11-5) 28-18

Provided I haven't made another egregious mistake, we've all done rather well this week. For the most part the bad teams and the good teams are sorted out and accept for the odd upset we can do pretty well. --- At least that's the way it looks this week. (sigh)

-----------

Week 13

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

Byes: None

[jojajihisc]

*out the side of mouth*

CAR @ TB

[J-Sun]

Thanks for the OAK/CHI reportage, Parson and Cul.

PHI @ SEA - pains me to pick this - if SEA can stuff McCoy and the 12th man shows up, maybe, but otherwise no
CAR @ TB
OAK @ MIA
TEN @ BUF
KC @ CHI - this time?
DEN @ MIN
NYJ @ WAS - Skins have a chance, though
CIN @ PIT - this ought to be the Sunday Night game
ATL @ HOU - should also be a heck of a game
IND @ NE - Orlovsky in, DC out - how long until the firer becomes the firee?
BAL @ CLE
DAL @ ARI
GB @ NYG
STL @ SF
DET @ NO - Suh slap on wrist == travesty of justice
SD @ JAC - Del Rio fired; team sold (battle of losers)

[jojajihisc]

Week 13

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

[Parson]

I am really frustrated. I should have counted the games I posted. I thought I cut and pasted them all from the NFL website, which one would bet would have them, and have them all without mistakes. GRRRRRRR!!!!! So the mistake is obviously mine!!!