2006-2007 NFL Season Discussion

I think this season has the makings of being a special one. There are tons of intriuging subplots to look at this year.

>> How are guys like Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and Vince Young gonna do in their rookie campaigns if given the opportunity?

>> How will proven stars like Daunte Culpepper, Edgerin James and Drew Brees fair with their new teams?

>> Is this the last season that we will see the greatness that is Brett Favre on display?

>> How will teams like the Colts, Patriots and Eagles rebound after having subpar seasons last year?

>> Will Big Ben and the Steelers be ready to defend their championship?

... and so much more.

I think it's going to be a fantastic season.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by BucPride

Well, the Colts and Pats aren't coming off subpar seasons at all.

In my opinion, they are. When your entire season rides solely on whether or not you win the Superbowl, and you don't win it, it's a disappointing year.

Originally Posted by BucPride

Indeed, I too am looking forward for a great season ahead. Speaking of which, I've posted here this morning to gloat. To all Panther fans, I just got 2 tickets to the Buccaneers/Panthers game Week 3 this year (along with a few to the Seattle game on Week 17). Muhahaha!

I don't know how the hell I pulled that one off. Every year, its next to impossible to get tickets. I tried the Washington game first on ticketmaster.com (tickets went on sale today at 10AM). Waited for a few minutes, froze, none left. Looked at every game. Came back to the Carolina game, found two LOWER-LEVEL tickets for 69 a piece. Couldn't believe it. I then found 3 for the Seattle game, which was even more astounding to me. Unbelieveable

Congrats man. I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun. I wasn't so lucky.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Wojo

I don't know about that. I would consider it a dissapointing playoff run, but not a dissapointing season. Two years ago the Steelers had a 15-1 season but lost in the AFC championship. I still consider it to be one of our best seasons.

I do see your point, but with certain markets, I really think that it's either Superbowl or bust to their teams and fans alike. To some franchises, the playoff run IS their season, if you get what I'm trying to say. Last year, half-way through the season, the Colts were the pre-ordained pick to win it all. Yeah, they had a spectacular reg. season but after they lost to the Steelers in the playoffs, just about everyone talks about that loss instead of talking about their near-perfect reg. season.

But again, I do get what you're saying.

Originally Posted by Ryuu

What's with all the injuries so early?! And during training camp!?

Steve Smith

DeMarcus Faggins

LeCharles Bentley


Just to name a few.

It doesn't look like the Steve Smith hamstring injury is that serious at all. I'm praying it isn't. But yeah, the pre-season has seen it's share of major injuries. Just look at the Michael Vick injury a couple years back.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Wow, this is not good at all. The Panthers struggled badly today. Last year, they came out of the gate and lost a close game to the Saints, and this year they have opened up again with a loss. Last year they were able to bounce back even though they had to fight uphill all year. Hopefully, they'll be able to the same this season.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

The game between the Panthers and Bucs felt like a playoff game, especially in the 4th quarter when it got close. Both teams really needed that win, I'm just glad the Panthers came out on the winning end. Simms really showed me something though. He had done a whole lot of nothing for 10 quarters, and then turns it around in the second half of today's game. The Bucs were down 17-0 but were able to fight back.

Also, we saw what Steve Smith means to the Panthers. Him getting back on the field and being very effective after the hamstring injury, as well as Keyshawn Johnson stepping up, were the keys to our victory. I think we're finally starting to get back on track.

I just don't know what to say about Big Ben. This is 3 games now, including the Superbowl, where he's had uncharacteristic performances. I thought after his struggles last Monday, he'd be able to turn things around. I was mistaken. He played poorly again. Again, I'm not sure what's going on with him. Maybe all the injuries, and the temultuous year he's had, has taken it's toll.

Lastly, congrats to Brett Favre. He became only the second player in history with 400 TD passes. It's also good that he achieved that milestone in a winning effort.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Wojo

Got that right. I was fortunate enough to not to see the game as I was at work. Good thing I didn't I probably would have been really pissed. At this point I don't know what to think of my team.

Well, maybe Ben came back too soon. I know he was eager to get back but maybe it was a little too premature. It might be good for him to step back for a moment. Charlie Batch played well for them in Week 1, granted, they were playing the Dolphins. I don't know a whole lot about Batch or his career, but do you think he could step in for a few weeks and pick up the slack?

.... or the Steelers might be better off if Roethlisberger just stayed on the field. There's always a chance he could get out of this funk. Plus, switching QBs week after week isn't good for any team's chemistry or cohesion.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

The Ravens are a scary team. With that defense, and finally getting a QB who can go out and win games, they're going to be an interesting team to watch out for you. I was expecting the Chargers to win today but I was dead wrong on that pick.

Carolina looks to be getting things back in order. We're back to .500 now and only one game out of first place. I'm just glad to have Steve Smith back on the field. Not only that, our running game is starting to come together too, which could be attributed to Smith as well. It got a little dicey there at the end today against the Saints but we were able to pull it out.

FELIPE NO

Carolina-Baltimore is gonna be a good one I think. Even though the Ravens lost last night, they're still among the elite teams in the AFC. And the Panthers, now that Steve Smith is firmly back into the fold, seem to be back on track. Delhomme and McNair better watch out though because Ray Lewis and Julius Peppers are gonna wreak havoc this weekend.

I think it's clear now who the best team in the league is right now: The Chicago Bears. If Grossman is gonna keep playing like this, and putting up 20+ points a game, it's gonna be lights out. You might as well pencil them in as the NFC representative in the Superbowl. Most teams probably aren't gonna put up more than 15 points against that defense. But again, Grossman is the key. We'll see if he can keep these performances up or not.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Big win for the Panthers. All in all it was a great game. McNair going down for the Ravens certainly didn't help their cause, but when Boller came into the game, he kept them in it. Ironicly enough, it wasn't losing McNair that cost them the game, it was their defense that lost it by allowing a couple big plays down the stretch, mainly that big touchdown score by Steve Smith after they had just closed the gap to 2 points. The Panthers win, coupled by the Falcons loss, puts us second in the division. I was rooting for the Eagles to beat the Saints but that wasn't do be. We've got another tough game next week against the Bengals.

How ya doing, buddy?

Wow, well I said last week that the Bears were the best team in the league right now. This week I'm saying that the Raiders are obvioiusly the worst one. I don't even think the Lions were this bad when they had their losing streak. I haven't seen a team in awhile that just seems to be inept at every facet of the game... they can do no right! Al Davis must be rolling in his grave right now... oh wait, the old bastard is still alive.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Well, while most people are talking about how colossal a loss this was for the Cardinals (and it was indeed colossal), I'm now seeing this as more of a revelation about the Bears, even in victory. Last night's game showed what happens, and what will happen, when Rex Grossman struggles. Now, I don't think he's gonna be having 6 turnover (4 INTs and 2 fumbles) every week, but Chicago is going to find themselves in trouble against the elite teams if he doesn't play well. It was just one game but it could be a foreshadowing of things to come if they don't make the necessary adjustments.

And damn, 55 yards on 36 rushing attempts for Edgerrin James, and a fumble that changed the tone of the game. "Shut down" isn't even enough to call what happened to him.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Ryuu

Edge can't work with the Arizona o-line. He may still get around 1000 yards, but he won't be nearly as productive as he was with the Colts (because their o-line has always been quite good).



That's not much of a rushing offense.

Wow, I had no idea that Arizona's rushing attack was THAT piss pour. At this rate, the road to James rushing for 1,000 yards is going to be a loooooooong one.

Originally Posted by Ryuu

And Bishop, I have to agree that we already hyped up the Bears offense due to their winning streak - along with them beating a Alexander-less Seattle. Rex Grossmen is good, but he may not be as effective and dependable near the end of the season into the post-season. Arizona doesn't have a "shut-down" defense, so I was quite surprised with the result as Seattle did very poorly and their defense is thought to be pretty good. Still, with six turnovers, Grossmen really didn't allow the offense to do much as even Thomas Jones had only 39 yards rushing and he was projected to run up and down Arizona's defense.

Looks like Lovie Smith will be reviewing what went wrong as they head into their bye week.

Yeah, you're right. It's not the games in Sept. and Oct. that matter, it's the games in Dec. and Jan. that do. Just ask the '05-'06 Colts about that one. Like I said, Grossman's stuggles last night may be a sign of things to come or it might just have been a one-time deal. Either way, in my opinon, I don't think he'll be able to keep playing at this high of a level and Chicago definitely isn't going to end the season undefeated.

Originally Posted by Sir VG

Did anybody see Denny Green's after-game conference? Bleepfest. He was understandably not happy. Arizona clearly could have and should have won that game, but they choked.

Chicago needs to get their act together. Sure it's the first time they're 6-0 in 20 years, but there's still 10 more games for them to play.

Yeah, I saw it. I'd be hella pissed off if I were him too. By all accounts, his team should be at least in the 4-2/3-3 area right now, but the reality is that they're 1-5. They've had sizeable leads in their 3 last games and they've lost two of them because of missed field goals. Maybe some of it can be put in Green's lap but most of it is becacus of players not executing.

Leinart did his job on that last drive though. He got them in a position to win the game (yeah, he did struggle mightily in the 2nd half). Down the road, I think he'll turn this team around.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

A couple NFL-related headlines:

>> In rush to retire? Giants' Barber 'leaning toward' it

>> Bears safety Brown out indefinitely after foot surgery

>> Favre angry that NFL turns its back on Robinson

I was speaking idiomatically.

It seems like every year Tom Brady loses a key player on his team, but every year he just keeps on winning ball games. Last night was no exception. He totally carved up a Vikings defense that had been playing very well this season. At the beginning of the year, it was certain they'd make the playoffs because of the sorry division they play in, but I didn't think they'd be a Superbowl contender. Belichick and crew have proven me wrong once again. The Patriots are still among the elite teams and next week's matchup against the undefeated Colts (who also had an impressive win over the Broncos) will be very interesting.

The Panthers are horribly disappointing right now. By all accounts, they should be at least 6-2 or or 5-3, yet here they stand at 4-4. Last week, they had the Bengals right where they wanted them and let it get away. Then, this week, they start out with a 14-0 lead against the Cowboys, then all of a sudden forget how to catch a pass and let Dallas reel off 35 unanswered points. The way Vick and ATL are playing right now, winning the division seems out of reach, but maybe we can somehow get our asses in gear and nab a wildcard berth.

I feel sorry for the Steelers, I really do. They, pretty much, have the same roster that won the Superbowl last year, but they just aren't clicking for some reason right now. It looked like things were turning around last week. Big Ben was having a great game before the concussion. They just don't have an identity at the moment. Their running game isn't as strong as in years past and their ability to stop the run has also wained. They're gonna keep playing though. Unlike some crap teams that tank the year to get in the lottery, Bill Cowher will have his team ready every Sunday to compete. That's for damn sure.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Ryuu

Bishop, you're forgetting that the 5-2 Saints are also in your division. Panthers should be better than their playing, especially when nearly everyone had them going to the Superbowl.

The NFC South has 3 teams that are .500 or higher; same with the NFC East. If the Panthers don't win the division (which they probably won't if Atlanta and Vick keep it going), they'll be in a tight race for one of the two wild card spots.

Yeah, that's true. Now this may be a bit naive on my part but I'm gonna say it anyway: I don't think the Saints are for real. I think a lot of their success this year has come from the momentum of being back in the Superdome and playing for their fans after Katrina. I don't think that momentum will carry them throughout and entire season. Carolina has already beaten them once this year, and if we can win our second meeting, we would have the tiebreaker. The Panthers have put themselves in a precarious spot but if they get in gear, and get some help, they at least have an outside shot.

Any updates on Reggie Bush? I saw he got hurt in the Ravens game but I never heard how serious the injury was or if he was gonna miss any game time.

FELIPE NO

Week after week, I've been sitting here waiting for Grossman and the Bears to hit a wall, but it never came.... until today! 4 turnovers for Grossman (3 INTs and 1 fumble) and 6 for the team overall, that's just crazy. And, on top of that, their defense played like shit today as well. So now, all the people in the media can stop comparing this defense to the '85 team. It's gonna be interesting to see how they rebound next week, more specifically, how Grossman rebounds next week.

I'm picking Indy to beat the Patriots tonight as well. Even though the Patriots run the ball well, and Indy's defense probably couldn't stop my grandma if she was in the backfield, I still take that prolithic offense the Colts poesses. Ironically enough, it could come down to Adam Vinatieri when the chips are down.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

To call last night's win a must-win for the Panthers would be a complete understatement. In the first half, they played with no ambition or sense of urgency. Tampa Bay had several chances to blow the game open but our defense kept us in the game. In the second half our offense finally came around. With that win, and the Saints and Falcons losing, we are just 1 game back in the division.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I'd just like to thank both the Ravens and Bengals for beating the Falcons and Saints today. Because of those outcomes, and the Panthers winning against the Rams, Carolina is tied atop their division with New Orleans now. It's been a somewhat disappointing year for us, but it seems we're finally getting things together now. Our defense was amazing with 7 sacks. Our offense wasn't all that good but we were able to make plays when we needed to.

Bring on the Redskins next week.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

It was a VERY disappointing year for the Panthers. So much potential there and they underachieved pretty much the entire season. The NFC, overall, has been atrocious this year. For awhile there, it looked like none of them wanted to make the postseason.

In the AFC, I'm looking for either the Ravens or Chargers to come out. In the befuddled NFC, ....I dunno, it probably doesn't even matter at this point. The Bears are the easy pick but I don't trust 'em. Maybe the Saints can make a cinderella run and make it to the big game.

In the other news, the Cardinals fire Dennis Green after 3 seasons: http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/ARI/9901740 (Who didn't see this one coming?)


And damn, Broncos CB Darrent Williams shot and killed: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2716385

How ya doing, buddy?