Football (american football to those across the pond!)

[Wiglaf]

Originally Posted by pyan

Why not get rid of the NFC/AFC, and have a straight League system?


Have a straight knockout competition between all 32 teams, the winners of that play the winners of the League for the Superbowl...?

Because my team is an original AFL west team along with the Raiders, Broncos and Texans/Chiefs. (The Dallas Texans moved to KC and became the Chiefs as Dallas had an NFL team. The superbowl is the match between the champions of the two former leagues. While the NFL has no original teams left (the oldest franchise is the Cardinals), many of those teams go back before the merger as well. It is our league against theirs.
It also explains rivalries as well, the AFL east winners the first two seasons beat the west's champion. The two teams were the Chargers and what was then the Oilers (now the Titans).

[Grimward]

Actually, the Decauter Staleys became the Chicago Bears 1 year after the league formed, so I'd give them the oldest franchise nod (it was Halas even then as a player coach, then owner), although if you want to follow the retention of the name "Cardinals" as oldest (even though they've bounced around like a ping pong ball), I won't argue, Wiggs.... . If we have to go back further than 1920, we have to question the definition of "franchise", not to mention "league" in this context.

[Cayal]

Originally Posted by Grimward

And here I thought you were going to say the Bengals....I give the Texans better odds of figuring their way out of a wet paper bag than I do for Cincinnati....not only that, but the Texans are relative newcomers to any kind of playoff picture, so this must be divisional hating, oh King of the Hill...

Texans have the dubious record of never having a winning season, or making the playoffs in their existence which is a first for any team in the time they have been in the league.

[Wiglaf]

Originally Posted by Grimward

Actually, the Decauter Staleys became the Chicago Bears 1 year after the league formed, so I'd give them the oldest franchise nod (it was Halas even then as a player coach, then owner), although if you want to follow the retention of the name "Cardinals" as oldest (even though they've bounced around like a ping pong ball), I won't argue, Wiggs.... . If we have to go back further than 1920, we have to question the definition of "franchise", not to mention "league" in this context.

The Cardinals were founded in 1899. They have had numerous names since their start in Chicago. As for original teams I was thinking of the 1902 NFL and confusing it with the Ohio league. Any way the Racine (S. Chicago) Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and Decatur Staleys (Da Bears) all existed in 1920.
By the way, during those years, touchdowns went from 4 up to 5 points, field goals were 4 points, and the forward pass became legal.

[Grimward]

Originally Posted by Cayal

Texans have the dubious record of never having a winning season, or making the playoffs in their existence which is a first for any team in the time they have been in the league.

Agreed, but this only qualifies the Texans as a perennial losing team, not the "stinker" that makes the play-offs, which I thought was the greater bone of contention....and technically, the Seahawks didn't make it to the post-season until their 8th season (although they were bounced around between the conferences, too). Might be others, too (haven't looked). Texans are only in their 7th season....

[Grimward]

Well.

I have been remiss (actually, just awfully busy!). As we head into the FINAL WEEK of the regular season, we stand as follows:

Cayal 13-2 (Titans)
LOW 10-5 (Patriots)
Pyan 9-6 (Jets)
Ursa 9-6 (Cowboys)
J-Sun 9-6 (Cowboys)
Seph 9-6 (Vikings)
Parson 9-6 (Vikings)
Grim 8-7 (Redskins)
Cul 8-7 (Saints)
Edott 8-7 (Saints)
Weasel 5-10 (Packers)
Wiglaf 7-8 (Chargers)
Clovis 6-9 (49ers)
Simian 4-11 (Raiders)
Joja 4-11 (Seahawks)
Monty 0-15 (Lions)

The Lady, with a late bid, stands on top of Ursa, J, Pyan, Seph, and Parson by a nose, and has secured herself at least a part of 2nd place behind our King of the Hill, Cayal. After her, though, it's every bit as glorious a jumble as it was 2 weeks ago.....Vikes have a tough road with the G-men in town, Dallas is in Philly and it's anyone's guess which Eagle team will show up...Py's Jets have Miami in town, but won't be able to use cold weather to their advantage because NYC is supposed to be in the fifties (f) tomorrow. If all these lose and the Skins and Saints win, we have a 7-car pile-up for 3rd place! If they all win and the Pats lose, the pile-up is 6 cars deep for second! Tiebreakers, anyone?

[Cayal]

Drew Brees might break Marinos record. Needs just under 30 yards with 3 minutes (but Panther ball). I hope he breaks it.

Vikings look like they will make the playoffs.

[Culhwch]

Sixteen yards! Just sixteen! Gah! And another late, slender loss... Sums up our season.

[Cayal]

Brees should have gotten it. Heck I could have made that final pass.

I am LOVING another Romo choke job. This is just a classic belting.

[Werewoman]

Is there not a Panther's fan in the mix? Geez, people, they're predicted to win the super bowl this year.

I became a fan while living in Richmond in the mid '90's two years before they even played a game. It had a lot to do with my sheer hatred of the Redskins - only because I grew up in Dallas back in the good old days of Tex Schram and Tom Landry - hating the Redskins just came naturally.

My undying loyalty WILL pay off....

[Culhwch]

Looks like Py's Jets are going to be joining my Saints on the couch watching the playoffs. Inside two to go and they're down a TD, and Pennington has the Phins in FG range. Chad must be loving it...

[pyan]

Yep, there we go...and it was looking so good at the end of November.

[Cayal]

Couldn't happen to a better bunch of blokes.

[Lady of Winterfell]

And with the Jets and Jags losing, there go the Patriots hopes at making the playoffs. 11-5 record and not going to the playoffs.

[Culhwch]

And San Diego go on 8-8. Suddenly, standing next to you, Lady, I don't feel quite so bad...