2017 NFL thread v. Patriots Dynasty

[TAC]

It's unfortunate that in this day and age a QB can't run out of the pocket and should throw it away because guys 275 lb can run faster than they can. A guy like him too important scramble for first down.

Well, in the 80's you'd never see a 275 lb guy run that fast. 

[King Postwhore]

Offensive line was that way back then!

[CrimsonSunrise]

Ummm...........

GO RAMS!!!!!   

[KevShmev]

As I feared, the Giants D came to play tonight. This will not be the easy game most people predicted. NFL games rarely are.

[King Postwhore]

As I feared, the Giants D came to play tonight. This will not be the easy game most people predicted. NFL games rarely are.

This whole season is a little whacky.  Thankfully I don't screw around with money with the NFL.

[lordxizor]

That Vikings defender definitely drove Rodgers into the ground unnecessarily. Sucks. Love watching Wizard Rodgers.

That was a normal tackle. If it was any player other than a qb no one would have batted an eye. Sucks he got hurt, but the defender did nothing wrong. He's under no obligated to tackle gently.

[DragonAttack]

Except a QB is generally defenseless, and the only player who gets tackled when they don't have the ball. 

Did I think it was deliberate?  No.  Extremely excessive?  No. 

Excessive?  Yes.

[jingle.boy]

Denver.... What the actual fuck?  In Denver.   

[wolfking]

I have nothing worthwhile to add about the games this weekend, just Aaron Rodgers going down hurts my fantasy team.    Don't see GB doing much now with AR out.

[jingle.boy]

I have nothing worthwhile to add about the games this weekend, just Aaron Rodgers going down hurts my fantasy team.    Don't see GB doing much now with AR out.

You got that right.

[T-ski]

I'm going to leave this for those interested....

https://www.si.com/mmqb/2017/03/16/nfl-equipment-shoulder-pads-designer-teddy-monica-xtech

[Ben_Jamin]

I'm going to leave this for those interested....

https://www.si.com/mmqb/2017/03/16/nfl-equipment-shoulder-pads-designer-teddy-monica-xtech

Why would you not want to wear those? I'm sure AR is kicking himself in the head now.

[cramx3]

Surprised to see the Giants win.  Doesn't mean much to me personally to get that win, but nice to see the team not give up. 

[Dublagent66]

Next thing you know, the Browns are winning in Foxborough.  Well...not this year.

[bosk1]

This is so typical N.E.  They are struggling.  There doesn't seem to be an apparent fix.  People are starting to write them off.  ...and they are still 4-2, leading their division, and only a single game behind best record in the NFL. 

[King Postwhore]

This is so typical N.E.  They are struggling.  There doesn't seem to be an apparent fix.  People are starting to write them off.  ...and they are still 4-2, leading their division, and only a single game behind best record in the NFL.

Yes we are spoiled. It's been such a great run being at a high level that when you see the way this Defense is playing, it causes mass hysteria in N.E.  6 games, 6 QB's all throwing for 300 + yards.  There is reason for great concern.  We expect to get to the AFC Championship game every year.

[bosk1]

But what I'm saying is, despite what looks like good reason for concern on the defensive side, NE probably will get to the AFC Championship again, and we will look back at the season and once again ask how it happened? 

[King Postwhore]

 

Well, I really have my worries this year with the defense.  You face a team that can score and is average defensively it puts too much pressure on one side of the ball.

[Dublagent66]

That's what Collinsworth said last night.  He refrained commenting about the NE problems because it's too early in the season.  Well yeah, it's too early in the season to know how most teams will fair.  Especially NE...

[King Postwhore]

I would normally agree but when for six games have the worst defense in the league and have no one you can add to your roster and the last six quarterbacks they they would have thrown over 300 yards per game you know it's a lot of trouble moving forward.

You have to have at least an average defense with a great offense to win a Superbowl. I hope I'm wrong but from what my eyes are telling me this defense is in trouble all year.

[El Barto]

It's hard to say. Seems to me that the problem has more to do with discipline and focus than player talent. You can fix that. If there weren't anybody good on the D then it'd be game over. There are good players there playing poorly, and that might get resolved. Shipping somebody off to Cleveland for being a putz might be the ticket. 

Remember, 3 years ago around this time people were wondering if it was time to unload Brady after getting clobbered by the Chiefs.

[King Postwhore]

No I understand but the defenses in that teams didn't look that bad. This defense really looks bad.   I'm still hoping that they can get to middle of the pack defensively and then I'll feel better.

[KevShmev]

Denver.... What the actual fuck?  In Denver.   

I am chalking that up to growing pains under a rookie head coach.  The whole team looked flat, which to me is always on coaching.  It reminded me of '09 when they started 6-0 under a rookie head coach (McCheater), had a bye, and then got smoked by the Ravens.  Given the upcoming schedule, last night's loss could end up proving very costly.

[Stadler]

I see both sides of this.  This isn't new, but then again, Belichick isn't the best coach in football history because he takes it easy and assumes it will all work itself out.  We haven't seen the last (or even the first?) of the fixes, and while we KNOW they will come, it's hard to assess at this point without knowing what the next step is or will be.

I also know that we aren't a 50-pt per game offense, so we need at least a decent defense to get where we need to go.   

[KevShmev]

Post-Week 6 Power Rankings

Top 10
1. Philadelphia - 5-1 despite a tough schedule to start the season; they are legit contenders
2. Kansas City -  looked awful in a loss that wasn't as close as the final score
3. Pittsburgh - they are still a schizo team, but 4-2 is 4-2, and that was an impressive win at KC; they'd be the best team if they were that prepared every week
4. Washington - major scare against SF, but still have looked great for most of the season
5. New England - seems crazy for them to be this high, given how bad their D is, but it is getting a little better, and the offense is just fine
6. New Orleans - their defense being good suddenly has to be biggest surprise of October
7. Carolina - as always, Cam has a really high ceiling and a low floor; good luck getting what you are getting from week to week
8. Denver - brutal home loss to a 0-5 team; the next month will say a lot about this team
9. LA Rams - nice road win over a game Jags team
10. Seattle - all of their upcoming tough games are on the road, so they have a chance to make a run

Trending Up
Minnesota - the NFC North is theirs for the taking now
Miami - can be a playoff team if the offense gets it together at all; the D is legit
Houston - can Watson keep it up?
Arizona - will a rejuvenated AP get them to the playoffs?
Tennessee - can they start living up to the hype on a consistent basis?

Trending Down
Green Bay - 4-1 with Rodgers, now destined for 6-10 or 7-9 without him
Oakland - defense stinks, and the problems on offense are aplenty
Detroit - the defense has gone from being a strength to a major liability, just like that
Dallas - can they turn it around?
Atlanta - the Super Bowl loss hangover is real

Bottom 5
28. Chicago - a lot to like about this team, but a lot of work to still do
29. Ny Giants - gutsy win, but too little too late
30. Indianapolis - like the Seattle game, played pretty well for a while and then fell apart
31. San Francisco - playing teams tough, but can't win
32. Cleveland - 

NFL MVP Top 5
1. Carson Wentz - this guy will be in the top tier of NFL QBs very soon
2. Tom Brady - if he stays healthy, this award is his to win, now that Rodgers is hurt
3. Alex Smith - stock is dropping a bit after that pitiful performance
4. Kareem Hunt - will need to carry more of the load as the passing game slows down a bit
5. DeShaun Watson - amazing what a different a QB makes

[TAC]

NFL MVP Top 5
2. Tom Brady - if he stays healthy, this award is his to win, now that Rodgers is hurt

At best, the Pats would be 1-5 without him.

[KevShmev]

Not sure about that.  They probably could have still beaten the Saints (who were still a mess then) and Jets with Jimmy G, and probably TB, too (offense didn't exactly light it up that game). 

[TAC]

Not sure about that.  They probably could have still beaten the Saints (who were still a mess then) and Jets with Jimmy G, and probably TB, too (offense didn't exactly light it up that game).

They BARELY beat the Jets and Bucs WITH Brady.

[TheCountOfNYC]

Not sure about that.  They probably could have still beaten the Saints (who were still a mess then) and Jets with Jimmy G, and probably TB, too (offense didn't exactly light it up that game).

They BARELY beat the Jets and Bucs WITH Brady.

[KevShmev]

I am aware.  It's impossible to know how those games play out with Jimmy G, who is likely the best backup QB in the league (and possibly better than quite a few starters).  They went 3-1 without Brady last year.  They would survive.

[TAC]

There's lots to like about Jimmy G. But the O-Line had been brutal. I think it's only been Brady's experience that has allowed them to survive these games. Not sure Jimmy G would've handled it all the same.

[King Postwhore]

The defense also played a lot better last year that afforded them to miss Brady and go 3 and 1.

[TAC]

Right, and don't forget, Brissett played 2/3's of one win and won another himself. Jimmy G only played what? 5 or 6 quarters?

[TAC]

So of the 4 regional covers, only Brady has survived. Word around here is that Edelman loves Brady so much, he took it for him.

[mikeyd23]

3. Pittsburgh - they are still a schizo team, but 4-2 is 4-2, and that was an impressive win at KC; they'd be the best team if they were that prepared every week

Isn't that the truth. It's become almost cliche around Pittsburgh at this point. We simply wait for this super skilled team to get up for the tough games and completely fall apart on the road against sub-500 teams.