NFL 2011 Season Discussion

[Paul Kemp]

I noticed that some of this was going on in the "Pick 'em" thread so I figured it would be nice to have a centralized place.

A few notes from my perspective:

- Obviously the Colts are in a lot of trouble. I'm not sure Collins plays all the games that Peyton doesn't start. I thought maybe they would still compete but if their morale remains this low they're looking at a top 10 pick.
- What happened to the Falcons?
- The Chiefs have predictably fallen back to Earth.
- It's clear to me that Arian Foster's rushing success is due more so to the system. Look at Ward and Tate's stats today.
- McNabb wasn't great today but I think that he's going to have a great year with AP.
- Redskins: sleeper team?
- If those Rams injuries are serious, they're in trouble.
- Newton looked good in his debut but I feel like I could play well against that Arizona defense.
- The Steelers seem to have the famous Super Bowl loser curse.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

MY 49ERS THOUGH!

[Paul Kemp]

MY 49ERS THOUGH!

Against the Seahawks dude.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

MY 49ERS THOUGH!

Against the Seahawks dude.

True

[NVGonzalez]

As a Raider fan I am very happy to see KC fall apart. Now we gotta do our part and repeat what we did last year in Denver. Let's tear em a new mile high! Hopefully we can destroy Rivers when we see him

[Paul Kemp]

This whole spin that the Jets need to win because of 9/11 is physically sickening.

[NVGonzalez]

This whole spin that the Jets need to win because of 9/11 is physically sickening.

[Cincinnatus]

I checked the bills score at work, and had to laugh.  The fact that the Bills won a game, much less destroyed their opponents, is rather embarrassing.

[Politico]

This whole spin that the Jets need to win because of 9/11 is physically sickening.

I agree (although I really loved all of the 9/11 tributes today). I turned NBC off a short while ago. I guess it does not help that I am a Miami fan.

The only things that REALLY surprised me today: How well the Bills performed and how poorly the Steelers performed.

I agree with your other points except for McNabb. I think he is finished. I will not be surprised if this is his last season. Also, Atlanta just had a bad game. It happens. I suspect they will bounce back.

[Keystone Phil]

Eagles were absolutely terrible in the first few minutes...then rolled the rest of the game. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.

[Keystone Phil]

Blocked punt! This Jets-Cowboys game is great! Oh, how I've missed this game...

[Paul Kemp]

The Cowboys are looking to prove their worthlessness once again it seems.

[Sam Spade]

Nice pass there, Romo. (had to post it twice)

[bullmoose88]

Suck it Dallas. 

[Keystone Phil]

Beautiful opening weekend. Beautiful.

[TJ in Oregon]

It's going to be another long year in Cleveland by the looks of it.

[Sam Spade]

Obviously the Colts are in a lot of trouble. I'm not sure Collins plays all the games that Peyton doesn't start. I thought maybe they would still compete but if their morale remains this low they're looking at a top 10 pick.

The Colts are far from being the worst team in football and their morale will improve (after all, they do play Jax and Ten this season).  For the Texans, this was revenge.  The Colts knew they stood no chance by halftime, and therefore it showed in morale.  That being said, Jim Caldwell sucks as a coach, and we'll start to see why.

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The Bears are better than people think they are, so long as they stay healthy on D.  Also, the Falcons D is simply not that great.  And Matt Ryan is still not the world-beater QB the Falcons think he is.

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The Chiefs played by far the easiest schedule in the NFL last year (other than maybe the Bucs) and still won a whole host of close games.  Return to earth seems likely.
 

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Yes and no.  Foster is a master at shifting his body as he moves, causing would-be tacklers to simply miss as he hits the hole.  Tate is more of a bruiser who likes to run over people as he hits the hole.  Ward is a speed back.  Foster and Tate hit the holes in the zone block about the same, better than Ward, who quite frankly is more of an in-line traditional back (but highly useful as a change-of-pace).  But Foster's style will allow him about half a yard per carry more than Tate during the season and less damage.  However, on third-and-one, I want Tate.

So, the system, yes.  But the back has to fit the system, and all three do, in their own way.  Besides, the Texans O-line is really good, at least top 10, maybe top 5 - people still remember the David Carr years for some reason.

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I personally think McNabb is over the hill.

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The Giants are going to get killed by injuries and Eli Manning INTs.  Dallas still lacks focus, IMO.  Eagles probably still win the division, but Redskins could be a Wild Card team.  Still expect them to finish 6-10 or 7-9 of course.

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Sure, but I think Bradford is OK.  Amendola is probably lost though.

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Yep.  They still blew the game, of course.

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One game does not a season make.  However, they were dominated on both sides at the line of scrimmage today, and their historic turnover ratio success, well, came back to bite them today.  Also remember that the Ravens have played this game with us before - looking like worldbeaters early in the season, and then missing the playoffs.  We'll see.

[bullmoose88]

Dear Sam,

My Eagles...cockteases again?

Sincerely yours

Perpetually Disappointed.

[Keystone Phil]

Dear Sam,

My Eagles...cockteases again?

Sincerely yours

Perpetually Disappointed.

Please answer us, Great One!

[Sam Spade]

Dear Sam,

My Eagles...cockteases again?

Sincerely yours

Perpetually Disappointed.

It seems to be an Andy Reid-broken record, my Iggles friend.  One of the certainties of life as an Eagles fan, along with beating someone else up in the 700 section of Veterans Stadium.

[Akno21]

The Ravens have played "this game" before, but it's almost entirely about an inability to beat Pittsburgh and Indianapolis -- before today, they hadn't beaten Roethlisberger since 2006. Of the 23 games they've lost in 2006 and 2008-10, their last four playoff seasons, 10 have been to those two teams alone. A 35-7 Week 1 victory obviously doesn't ensure a Super Bowl berth, but it's a significant win for a team that's been characterized by its maddening predictability -- always beating who they're "supposed to," but never beating who they're not.

[Mr. Taft Republican]

Way to go Romo, back with Jessica Simpson I see.

But hey, Redskins did good, and the Texans beat the Colts! Holy hell, Collins better get in the game for their sake!

[Paul Kemp]

One game does not a season make.  However, they were dominated on both sides at the line of scrimmage today, and their historic turnover ratio success, well, came back to bite them today.  Also remember that the Ravens have played this game with us before - looking like worldbeaters early in the season, and then missing the playoffs.  We'll see.

Sure but to go from getting the silver medal to getting blown out by a division rival that you usually beat is quite telling.

I was strongly considering naming this thread "Week 1 Overreactions" but I decided to make it more general.

On the SNF game, I was beginning to like what I saw of Romo and then he reverted back to old form - doing too much and blowing the game, reminding me of his idol Lord Favre.

Is this going to be another season where the Jets win a boatload of games that they shouldn't because the other team screws up more than they do? I certainly hope so. Sure, the Jets can play when it counts - I know that first hand - but their past three regular seasons have pretty much had everything go their way, no matter how they played.

[Paul Kemp]

Brady throws over 500 yards, career and MNF high.

I have him as my QB in fantasy . . . and I have a bye.

[Politico]

As a Dolfan, I can only hope Miami continues to "suck for Luck" (i.e., suck enough to get the first overall pick in order to draft Andrew Luck, QB - Stanford). It is sad, but this team really has no shot this year. Time to rebuild...again