Football (american football to those across the pond!)

[Culhwch]

Yeah, but... Drew Brees. Seriously. He's coming off a bad week, and he always lights it up after a down game. He's playing at home, indoors at the Dome; last week's effort came outside in inclement weather. And he loves a challenge, which is what this Rex Ryan defense offers. Colston, Moore, Shockey, Meachem, Henderson, Bush, Thomas - bring that rush, he's got the quickest release in the game, and all these guys can score from anywhere on the park. Plus the defense last week held the Bills to one trick-play score. I believe they're tied for the league lead in takeaways. I just know Gregg Williams is licking his lips over yet another rookie QB in the backfield...

So I'm thinking 300+ yards for Brees, two 100+ recievers, I'll grant the run game will be quiet, but the defense will get two INTs and recover a fumble: Saints roll 38-14.

[Grimward]

Note to all: Don't be surprised (even more so than with throwback AFL uniforms, perhaps) if your favorite team's uniforms look a little off tomorrow/Monday.....

[Ursa major]

You see: in the US (unlike in, apparently, Canada) this issue can be raised by showing American males something they actually want to watch....

[Grimward]

Hmmm, taking the fifth here, I think....

(or should that be taking a fifth?)

[Ursa major]

Don't mind me: I'm trying to keep cheerful as the Cowboys head for the stadium of a team that's currently 3-0 (and, it seems, 3-0 for Denver's last three encounters with Dallas).



But I can hope....

[Culhwch]

Dallas easily. Look at who Denver beat.

[J-Sun]

Look at who Dallas beat (0-6). And they lost (to a 3-0) badly, humiliatingly, infuriatingly. I mean, in a sense, they damn near won anyway, so yay, but it doesn't change a horrible performance. Flip those picks around and it would have been 54-10. Dallas would be 3-0 and New York would have been behind. But, oh no, there was some pressure to win against a pretty good team. *crumble*

I'm not bitter.

Still, if we keep the attack on the ground and someone will step up to take Canty's and Ellis' places so people can't double and triple D-Ware all day and if our genuinely good secondary will actually play up to their level, we should be okay. For now. As always these past few years, Dallas has a fairly easy front half schedule and will fall apart in the harder back half.

Anyway, I agree with both your picks, Cul. Though I think, corny though it may sound, that if the Jets just play with all their cocky hearts, they may be able to pull it off. You have the Saints getting the picks but, like the Dallas game, if its Brees throwing them from overzealousness, the Jets may be able to make him pay.

Not very good games this week. I think these two and the San Diego/Pittsburgh games are the really interesting one. Since Polamalu's still out, I think the Chargers are going to get this one. You could put the Bad News Bears in football uniforms and give them Polamalu on defense and Fitzgerald on offense and I think they'd be competitive. Steelers are going to be playing angry, though.

[Culhwch]

The Baltimore-New England game will be interesting, too. A lot of folks have Baltimore at the top of the tree, and it's hard to argue with Flacco playing so well and the defense being as good as usual, but this is the first real test they are facing. A lot like the Saints, really...

[Ursa major]

So the Redskins hang on for a win to take them 2-2.


(It could be far worse, Grim.)



And there's another close game: at Gillette Stadium....

[J-Sun]

Originally Posted by Culhwch

The Baltimore-New England game will be interesting, too. A lot of folks have Baltimore at the top of the tree, and it's hard to argue with Flacco playing so well and the defense being as good as usual, but this is the first real test they are facing. A lot like the Saints, really...

True - I forgot that one. But New England wins again.

Looks like you called the Jets-Saints perfectly - Saints already have a pick 6.

But I just mainly had to post to say BOOM! Marion Barber drives in for the score! That was one hard yard. I love it.

[Culhwch]

We look comfortable at the half, but plenty more to play...

Titans go to 0-4, who'd have picked that...

[J-Sun]

Originally Posted by Culhwch

We look comfortable at the half, but plenty more to play...

Yeah, but I don't think the Jets have a chance at this point. They needed to be competitive or on top early. I don't see them making up this ground.

In our half, it's happening again. We looked on top of the world with Barber taking it in on the ground, up 10-0. Another score makes it trend towards a blowout. But, no, Romo gives up another 7 and we haven't been able to do anything right since. It's a ballgame, despite Dallas looking to be a "better" team in most senses. Denver's got a lot more spirit - we need more Barbers and Brookings - and, despite their penalties and Orton's inaccuracy, they haven't screwed up as big.

We're also vulnerable in that Sensabaugh seems to have broken or sprained his thumb and Hamlin's tackling technique sucks, especially for a safety. Scandrick saved him after a Bronco bounced off of his "bumple" and somebody else did on another, or Hamlin would have given up huge gains.

Originally Posted by Culhwch

Titans go to 0-4, who'd have picked that...

I know - this is getting kind of shocking. Things change a lot in this league but, wow.

[Culhwch]

Well, 17-10 going in to the fourth - I think my prediction of Brees putting up big numbers was slightly off-track. Looks like the Jets are making it hard for him. Still, the fourth quarter is where we've gotten it done so far this year. Here's hoping.

[J-Sun]

Yeah, the Jets were even tougher than I thought, but still didn't manage it.

I want Jason Garrett fired. I've been feeling this way since sometime early last season, I think. You've got the leagues leading rushing team. You've rushed for over 200 yards two games in a row. So what do you do?

Well, you still don't have a rushing mentality. You get media-intimidated into making the right call for Barber to run it for the first touchdown because of your infamous double-fades. And, up to that point, when you should run on almost every 1st down, you're rushing 7 and passing 5 on 1st down. After that, to Romo's game-ending fumble, you rush 3 and pass 3 on first. And after that, you rush 4 and pass 9 times. Keep in mind, Dallas was winning or tied this entire time until the last two minutes. And Romo was quite frankly sucking. He throws high to Crayton and then he does it again to Williams and nearly gets him killed because Williams has to extend for the ball. I know his ribs are bruised, if not broken. So quit trying to force it with Romo.

Grand total, you end up with 72 plays: 25 rush; 47 not.

You could argue Denver was effective against the run and this dictated things but they weren't that effective and rushing is something that's earned cumulatively and often gets easier the more you beat down the defense. Which is something Garrett never does. He was a quarterback and he's still playing vicarious quarterback and he still wants to throw whenever possible.

And, while Romo's fumble and Spencer's (or whoever's) missed pick which gave Denver 7 was where the game really ended, I point to another: Dallas stops Denver on 4th down to keep the game tied going into the 4th quarter. All this, and it's still your game to lose and the team is pumped. So you give it to your offensive spark plug, Marion Barber, on 1st down, right? Sets up 2nd and 5 and you can run or pass or do whatever you want, right? Start up the drive, keep the emotion going, go down, score and win!? Nope. We'll pass on 1st, rush on 2nd and long (which isn't the time to rush - and to Choice, who's great, but not Barber in this scenario), pass again, and punt. 3 and out, momentum gone. Denver eventually scores, Dallas tries to pass a bunch more and fails. The end.

I want Garrett fired.

[Cayal]

Originally Posted by J-Sun

I know - this is getting kind of shocking. Things change a lot in this league but, wow.

Unfortunately Fisher doesn't change, sticks to the same old plan.
We were getting belted, he should have put in Vince Young. We gotta know where he is at, Collins isn't the future and Young is iffy.