NFL Season 2016-17 (2 Viewers)

[mikemiller1955]

We discuss this every year, but this is what comes from parity. There are no more truly great, dominant teams, solid in all phases of the game. If you are lucky enough to hit on a quarterback in the low rounds, and not have to pay him his value for the length of his rookie contract, you can have an exception, briefly, like Seattle, but for the part with the salary cap, teams can't afford to pay a top QB, and have a good veteran defense. That being said, the Giants, with the 32nd defense and the 30th running game won the super bowl in 2012. I would not at all be surprised to see an imperfect team like Dallas, the Patriots, the Raiders, Denver or Washington win it all, because there are no perfect teams. If Seattle has to travel to Dallas, and loses its biggest advantage, the crowd noise which turns a good defense great, it could easily loose to a Cowboys team without much of a defense. And the Giants, whose defense should climb into the top ten by the end of the season, and whose skill position players on offense are also top 10, has its own glaring weakness, an awful offensive line. So it's going to be wide open come January, with anyone who makes the dance having a shot to go all the way, as far as I can see. There are no 60's Packers, 70's Steelers, 80's 49ers, or 90's Cowboys, complete in all phases, standing in the way.

Louis...

that is so true...with the salary cap you have to get a lucky draft that can excel for a cheap price for a few years...or else develop your lesser players into elite stars...you really can't pay for both...

and you can throw stats out the window sometimes...when a team gets hot...gets healthy and gets on a roll at the right time...anything can happen...which is what happened to your Giants in 2012...all the talent was there...they just gelled at the right time...

still in the case of the Cowboys...they can't stop anyone...they have to outscore them...

and this year we do have more parity than I have seen in years...a lot of teams that were so dominant last year...are now not so dominant this year...Green Bay...Minnesota...Arizona...Carolina...

while a lot of teams that weren't in the mix last year...are now teams that can compete on a high level...Giants...Atlanta...Detroit...Cowboys...Washington...Oakland...

the East was so weak last year...now arguably the strongest division in the league with a 28-13 division record...

 

[mikemiller1955]

George...

that might be true to some degree...Dallas is stacked with Pro Bowlers on offense...from their O line...QB...running back...etc...but that's all they got...

they are equally as bad on defense...as they are good on offense...they can't stop anyone...they have to outscore them to win...

if you think that the Dallas offensive line vs the Patriots front 7 would be "men against boys"...

your offense vs our defense would be like supermen against children...

you are totally stacked to the max on offense...

Brady...Amendola...Edelman...Gronk...they will score at will...I don't think you realize how bad the Cowboy defense is...

Dallas is ranked #32 in the league...last place in total pass defense...they allow a league leading whopping 280 yards passing per game...dead last...they are unbelievably bad...any decent QB can shred them...

Brady would put up 600 yards passing against Dallas...

 

[Warrior]

I guess it comes down to health as well Mike; Gronkowski is hurt, Bennett is hurt, that's two big weapons.............oh and now Brady is hurt, hasn't practiced the past two days, he took a shot to the knee from Chancellor, so we'll see how gimpy he is.

And you and Louis nailed it; with today's salary cap, you can't be stacked on both sides of the ball. The Patriots traded away Jones and Collins, two very good players..........why, because they have a ton of free agents at the end of the year, they can't sign everyone, so those two had to go.

I'm just amazed that in the salary cap era, in the past 16 years, the Patriots WORST record was 9-7, they've missed the playoffs twice in that time, once at 9-7, once at 11-5, both times it came down to tiebreakers on the last day of the year, they are the only team in the history of the NFL to miss the playoffs at 11-5.

Just unreal................

 

[tdubel]

I feel like the Steelers are wasting away Ben's golden years. Last night, he and brown and bell looked good. Green was a nice addition............................but Coates can't catch a brick, I mean he has brick hands, did you see Ben's reaction on one of the passes? It is unreal, broken fingers or not, this guy DROPS passes, reminds me of Limas Sweed, great runner, big, fast and has the case of the drops. You know what happened to him, we cut him after 2.5 years.

Still feel like they just can't put it together all the way. Give the D credit, 2 nice goal line stands, but why is the other team in that position in the first place?????????????

Frustrated Steeler fan.

Tom

 

[mikemiller1955]

you have been blessed with a high powered offense...Brady is the undisputed king of the past decade...other than the Patriots always being in the playoffs...has the AFC East put up a Wild Card in recent years?

 

[Louis Badolato]

I guess it comes down to health as well Mike; Gronkowski is hurt, Bennett is hurt, that's two big weapons.............oh and now Brady is hurt, hasn't practiced the past two days, he took a shot to the knee from Chancellor, so we'll see how gimpy he is.

And you and Louis nailed it; with today's salary cap, you can't be stacked on both sides of the ball. The Patriots traded away Jones and Collins, two very good players..........why, because they have a ton of free agents at the end of the year, they can't sign everyone, so those two had to go.

I'm just amazed that in the salary cap era, in the past 16 years, the Patriots WORST record was 9-7, they've missed the playoffs twice in that time, once at 9-7, once at 11-5, both times it came down to tiebreakers on the last day of the year, they are the only team in the history of the NFL to miss the playoffs at 11-5.

Just unreal................

Its not unreal. Its Belichick and Brady. You put the best Coach of the superbowl era and the best QB of the superbowl era together, in an age where the rules favor passing, and nobody can have a complete team due to the salary cap, and they are going to dominate. Enjoy it now. I enjoyed a similar run of success from the Yankees from 1995-2009. Once its over, believe me, its over.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Louis...

that is so true...with the salary cap you have to get a lucky draft that can excel for a cheap price for a few years...or else develop your lesser players into elite stars...you really can't pay for both...

and you can throw stats out the window sometimes...when a team gets hot...gets healthy and gets on a roll at the right time...anything can happen...which is what happened to your Giants in 2012...all the talent was there...they just gelled at the right time...

still in the case of the Cowboys...they can't stop anyone...they have to outscore them...

and this year we do have more parity than I have seen in years...a lot of teams that were so dominant last year...are now not so dominant this year...Green Bay...Minnesota...Arizona...Carolina...

while a lot of teams that weren't in the mix last year...are now teams that can compete on a high level...Giants...Atlanta...Detroit...Cowboys...Washington...Oakland...

the East was so weak last year...now arguably the strongest division in the league with a 28-13 division record...

Mike,

Mark my words, the Cowboys will be hosting the NFC championship game. I don't know who your boys will be playing that Sunday, but I don't see the winner of one of the weaker Divisions vs a wildcard team (unless you end up hosting the Giants in the divisional round) coming into Dallas and keeping up with that offense. If things break your way, the Seahawks will have to come to Dallas, without the crowd noise that gives their defense such an advantage, and your boys have an excellent chance of making it to the dance.

 

[Warrior]

you have been blessed with a high powered offense...Brady is the undisputed king of the past decade...other than the Patriots always being in the playoffs...has the AFC East put up a Wild Card in recent years?

Nope, the AFC East stinks, the Bills are terrible, beyond terrible, they haven't made the playoffs since the earth was flat, Miami hasn't been in the playoffs since the silent era, the Jets get in every once and awhile, annoy the crap out of a few teams and then go away. They had a run a few years ago under Fatso, got to back to back AFCCG's and lost them both, for them that was like back to back Super Bowls..........................

 

[sammy719]

Mike,

Mark my words, the Cowboys will be hosting the NFC championship game. I don't know who your boys will be playing that Sunday, but I don't see the winner of one of the weaker Divisions vs a wildcard team (unless you end up hosting the Giants in the divisional round) coming into Dallas and keeping up with that offense. If things break your way, the Seahawks will have to come to Dallas, without the crowd noise that gives their defense such an advantage, and your boys have an excellent chance of making it to the dance.

Agree with Louis, I believe the Cowboys at this point are looking to be the NFC Champs, yesterday was the first time I had a chance to watch a entire
Cowboy game and that O-line was on point for most the entire game, Prescott is for real, as is Elliott, if they can solve their DB situation I would not bet against them to win the Superbowl.

 

[Warrior]

The best QB of the superbowl era together........................

The same guy who got booed out of the stadium this year at the Super Bowl................classy fans................because he's cheater, AMIRITE?????

No wait; he was "generally aware" that something happened to the footballs, AMIRITE????

 

[mikemiller1955]

I feel like the Steelers are wasting away Ben's golden years. Last night, he and brown and bell looked good. Green was a nice addition............................but Coates can't catch a brick, I mean he has brick hands, did you see Ben's reaction on one of the passes? It is unreal, broken fingers or not, this guy DROPS passes, reminds me of Limas Sweed, great runner, big, fast and has the case of the drops. You know what happened to him, we cut him after 2.5 years.

Still feel like they just can't put it together all the way. Give the D credit, 2 nice goal line stands, but why is the other team in that position in the first place?????????????

Frustrated Steeler fan.

Tom

I watched that game...both of those goal line stands were pretty incredible...if the defense continues to play like that...with Big Ben's arm...they will always have a chance to go far...

 

[mikemiller1955]

Dallas will be playing their 3rd game in 12 days...tough scheduling...

they played Baltimore on Nov 20th...
Washington 4 days later on Nov 24th...
and this week are at Minnesota on Dec 1st...
win or lose...thank God for an 11 day rest after that...

safety Barry Church will return to the line backing core...wearing a cast on his broken arm...which they sorely miss...he remains second on the team with tackles (64) behind Sean Lee...even after missing so many games...so that might help them...as his replacement...Wilcox is now out with thigh bruises...

Claiborne...their best corner back is still out with a pulled groin injury and a broken pelvis...he may return if they can make the playoffs...

even if they do make the playoffs...which I think they can...they will face a good team with both a strong armed QB and a defense...sadly for me...if could be a quick one and out when the playoffs start...

New England started out slow...but took care of business...don't understand how the Jets always get up for NE...

Seattle laid a golden egg for sure with Tampa Bay...but their division is so weak...it doesn't matter...

big win by Baltimore...but Pittsburgh looks poised to make a run...

both Oakland and K. C. look good...

Carolina is all but eliminated at this point...even if they win out...not sure 9-7 will get them there...

the East is so strong...they might get both wild cards...

the Giants are the team that scares me the most...I would love to win that division...but still play NY again...the Giants have a tough remaining schedule...at Pittsburgh...Washington and Philly...then hosting Dallas and Detroit...no easy games there...

saw a pic online today of 3 Giants fan wearing shirts with a pic of Josh Norman crying...after watching him an Dez squabble like children this week...^&grin...kinda funny...Odell Beckham likes them I bet...

 

[theBaron]

I just hope the Eagles can take advantage of their schedule this week and next, and pull wins out against the Packers and the Bengals. They should be able to, but nothing is certain. The Cowboys are likely to take the division, and with the Redskins and Giants also in the same pack, Philadelphia almost has to win all 6 remaining games to make it to the post-season. And 3 of those 6 are division games.

Prost!
Brad

 

[mikemiller1955]

Brad...they definitely need a win tonight...a lose might kill them...Philly is a 3 point favorite...you guys have a very good defense...we close out the year with Philly hosting...really don't want to play against Wentz and your defense again...

 

[theBaron]

Yeah, I'm hoping that the Eagles do draw a home-field advantage in those last two games. They play the Giants on the 22nd, and then the Cowboys on New Year's Day.

Offhand, I don't know who the Cowboys have for the rest of the season, but I think it's not so crazy to expect them to take the division.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Louis Badolato]

With the exception of their opening night win over Dallas, and a home loss to the Washington Redskins, the Giants have won the games they were expected to win this season, and lost the games they were expected to lose. Now comes the meat of their schedule. The Giants play at the Redskins (presently holding the second wildcard), at the Steelers (presently tied for their Division lead), at the Eagles (a fierce Division rival), Detroit (presently leading their Division) and Dallas (who has the best record in the league). I don't think the Giants will be favored to win any of these games, and they need to win at least two to make the post season. Now we will see what this Giants team is really made of.

 

[mikemiller1955]

the schedule makers have put out a dramatic schedule of inner division games in the NFC East to close the season...probably pleased with themselves for projected TV ratings...Philly...NYG...Washington and Dallas all play each other the last month of the regular season...division winners and wild cards will probable be decided on the last game of the season...

 

[jazzeum]

The Packers looked good last night. I don't know if this means a return to form or if it was a temporary blip. Even the most optimistic fan would recognize that getting into the playoffs will be tough.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Packers last two regular season games are against Minnesota and Detroit...
the NFC North leaders...
so they could pick up some ground there...

actually...

Rodgers said he thinks they will run the table...

which would include wins against Seattle and the Texans...

I would never count them out...

 

[jazzeum]

For some reason I have been watching them lately, maybe because they're on national TV a lot. I can't remember if it was the Colts or the Titans but they were trounced pretty badly by them a couple of weeks ago. Taking nothing away from the Eagles but they are not as good as some of the teams the Packers have played recently, such as the Redskins and the Falcons.