Football (american football to those across the pond!)

[Cayal]

No offence to pyan (who would be the only decent Jets fan I know), I simply cannot stand Jet fans. Talk about a bunch of fair weather sore losers.

Everyone is to blame for their losses but themselves.

[pyan]

Thanks for that somewhat qualified praise, Cayal...but when you fail to score in the last quarter, and your defence goes awol, you aren't going to win...

Mind you. it was the 49ers fault, really - they had the cheek to play better...

[Culhwch]

You beat the Titans and then subsequently lose to Denver and SF? Gees, all those folks who jumped on the 'Jets are the best team in the AFC' bandwagon really slowed it down! Seattle almost did you a favour, but unless I'm mistaken it's back to a three-way tie at the top of the AFC North? And who would have thought Miami would be one of those three!

[pyan]

Originally Posted by Culhwch

You beat the Titans and then subsequently lose to Denver and SF? Gees, all those folks who jumped on the 'Jets are the best team in the AFC' bandwagon really slowed it down! Seattle almost did you a favour, but unless I'm mistaken it's back to a three-way tie at the top of the AFC North? And who would have thought Miami would be one of those three!

Jets 8-4, Pats 7-5, Miami 7-5, Bills 6-7, Cul. And it's the AFC East, as well...

And I hope that bandwagon crack excludes me...seeing as I've followed them since the mid-70's. Hell, I can remember the shock of Broadway Joe going to the Rams...

[Culhwch]

East. Der. And to start with I had NFC, before I caught myself...

Oh, definitely, Py. I just meant that after the Tennessee win I read a bunch of articles talking up the Jets as the pick of the AFC. Somewhat of a jinx, I feel...

EDIT: Wait a minute - there's been thirteen games, no? Are those updated, Py?

ANOTHER EDIT: Yeah, you guys have definitely lost five...

[J-Sun]

I feel like a bad fan, in a way, but I think Dallas is done. We essentially have to win out and, if we couldn't beat half of the Steelers, I don't think it's possible. And I also have the strangest feeling Jerry Jones spent 60 million bucks on a great quarterback... who will nevertheless never win a playoff game. That's what this was, and he threw three picks (one for a touchdown) and had a quarterback rating of 40. I feel really bad for the defense, who played so well for so long and even at the end, held Pittsburgh to what should have been few enough points. I feel bad for Tashard Choice, who more than filled Barber's shoes today and had the best game of the season for any back against the Steeler's defense. We beat 'em about every way you can but you simply can't survive five turnovers and bonehead penalties and ocassionally perverse play calling, even if the Steelers O was doing their best to keep you in it. So we lost on turnovers and lost on points and lost the game and likely lost the season.

Dallas has so much talent and can play so well at some phases of the game some of the time that something must be wrong higher up the ladder and wholesale changes need to be made. Even to the strength and conditioning coaches, if that's not an artifact of the practice routine. A lot of Cowboys getting banged up all year and in this game. There, too, the Steelers have been banged up and it happened some today, but they just don't seem as literally feeble as Dallas sometimes does and they manage to win, regardless.

I'm not even watching the Washington game right now - it's taken this long to decompress - but the season just got a lot more interesting for them. And with the Eagles' victory today, for them as well. And, indeed, for the whole NFC.

And I think Detroit has one more shot at best. They let the Vikes get away and the Colts are going to kill them. Which leaves the Saints and Packers and, while the Pack is fading, I think they can take the Lions at the end. I have no love for the Lions but I'd sort of hate to see most any team go 0-16.

Congrats to the Titans, Giants, and Cardinals for clinching their divisions - and to the Eagles for making it a bittersweet clinch for the Giants.

[Cayal]

AFC EAST - Jets, Dolphins and Patriots are all 8 - 5

I can't believe the Steelers pulled that off. T.O is going to have another tantrum.

I think Dallas is done as well, thankfully for them, Atlanta lost as well.

[pyan]

Yes, sorry, those were the un-updated standings - my mistake...

[Culhwch]

Originally Posted by J-Sun

And I think Detroit has one more shot at best. They let the Vikes get away and the Colts are going to kill them. Which leaves the Saints and Packers and, while the Pack is fading, I think they can take the Lions at the end. I have no love for the Lions but I'd sort of hate to see most any team go 0-16.

I can't see us losing to Detroit. Doesn't mean it's not going to happen, of course, but it would be really depressing if it did....

[Cayal]

I hope they beat the Colts...

[Parson]

It really seems strange to find world wide interest in "American" football. But it's great corresponding with you guys!

For us Viking fans it was a triple victory. First the Williams Wall was in the game (Just as Culpepper who tried to sneak for half a yard and got less than nothing. Later he was quoted as saying "it really was a wall.") Second, the score board showed Minnesota 20, Detroit 16. And third, Tavaris Jackson (aka TJack,) looked really good. But next week in Arizona the question are "Will there be a wall?" and "Will Ferrot be able to play, and if not, which TJack will show up?

For Minne to win the division the minimum requriement will be to beat at least one of the following Cardianals in Arizona, or Falcons or Giants at home. I'm not sure any of it possible. Especially without the wall.

[J-Sun]

I'm surprised, too. I knew the NFL had tried the NFL Europe thing and had played games in England, Mexico, and now Canada, but didn't realize it did have such wide interest. And, indeed, it's great to talk football across the world.

Parson - I think you guys can take Arizona, really. Maybe even the Falcons. I doubt the Giants, but they've proven again that they aren't invincible. Though, I'd grant the Wall would be required for this.

Originally Posted by Culhwch

I can't see us losing to Detroit. Doesn't mean it's not going to happen, of course, but it would be really depressing if it did....

Yeah, I wasn't saying it was going to happen - I really think the Lions are going to make history. That just feels like it might be the flakiest/flukiest game potentially, where they might luck into a win.

Originally Posted by Cayal

I think Dallas is done as well, thankfully for them, Atlanta lost as well.

Yep. The irony is that, unlike last week, if the season ended today, Dallas would be in the playoffs. But I doubt that will hold true.

[Grimward]

Cardinals would be your best bet, Pars, but I don't know...

Then again, the Skins squandered that 'Boys loss, J-Sun. To be sure, the Ravens defense is in the rare company of the Steelers, but we made penalties that you're not supposed to see after the 3rd preseason game. You think the 'Boys have to win out? The Skins will have to win out AND possibly get help. At Cincy, home to face the suddenly re-energized Donovan McNabb, then at the 49ers. How much does anyone want to bet that we lose to either the Bungals or the Niners? Jeez!

[Culhwch]

Originally Posted by J-Sun

Yeah, I wasn't saying it was going to happen - I really think the Lions are going to make history. That just feels like it might be the flakiest/flukiest game potentially, where they might luck into a win.

Well, our defense is far from great, but our offense should put on plenty of points. Though Detroit is ranked higher against the pass than I'd have thought. Lucky we got our running game into gear this week. I'm really liking the look of Pierre Thomas.

Of course if we don't beat Chicago on Thursday, there's not going to be much to play for in Detroit...

[Parson]

Grim & JSun: We already know that the Vikings are the "dogs" in the opening lines against the Cardinals. To beat the Cardinals the defense will have to produce a pass rush more than stop the run. It can be done with the Wall and perhaps without it. I make the Vikes a very, very slim favorite. (1 pt.) Means in my Pig Skin Pickum League I take Minne and the points. --- So far beating the spread about 60% of the time.

I also think Falcons are a possible victory, but the Vikes will again and forever be the dog. For the Vikes to beat the Giants the Giants will have to make 2-3 more turnovers than the Purple People Eaters -- (Oh wait, showing my age.)