NFL Thread (2013-14)

[mitlen]

If the Stillers needed the Ravens to beat the Browns in order for the Stillers to advance to the playoffs, would you root for the Ravens? 

Nope   ...   that scenario would signal the apocalypse.   

[JCA-CrystalCity]

http://www.boston.com/blogs/sports/columnists/kaufman/2013/12/patriots_vs_broncos_debate_may_not_matter_come_the.html

The conversation in New England has revolved around whether Brady’s injury-riddled Patriots have enough fight, talent, and late-game pizzazz to get by Manning’s new team from Denver if they meet again.

Perhaps there’s a different question we should be asking: Does it matter?

In other words, can a team from the AFC beat the eventual NFC representative?
 . . . [discusssion of Seahawks, 49ers, Saints, and Panthers] . . .

Whichever of the aforementioned teams qualifies for the Super Bowl, and it will likely be one of the four, should be able to handle the Patriots, Broncos, or any other surprise entrant. All have the offensive ability and, perhaps more important, the defensive depth, an area that most AFC favorites (the Chiefs and Bengals, aside) lack. But Kansas City and Cincinnati fail to generally measure up offensively, all due respect to Jamaal Charles.

[HalfSmokes]

http://www.boston.com/blogs/sports/columnists/kaufman/2013/12/patriots_vs_broncos_debate_may_not_matter_come_the.html

exhibit A that boston fans are spoiled. If a dc columnist wondered whether or not we should care about the skins getting to the super bowl because the Broncos would just slaughter them and it wouldn't matter anyway, they'd be rightly ridiculed. 

[UMDNats]

http://www.boston.com/blogs/sports/columnists/kaufman/2013/12/patriots_vs_broncos_debate_may_not_matter_come_the.html

are there any boston columnists who are even acceptable? honest question

[skippy1999]

are there any boston columnists who are even acceptable? honest question

I love Bob Ryan.

[skippy1999]

exhibit A that boston fans are spoiled. If a dc columnist wondered whether or not we should care about the skins getting to the super bowl because the Broncos would just slaughter them and it wouldn't matter anyway, they'd be rightly ridiculed. 

He's just acknowledging that this year it may not matter who gets there from the AFC because the NFC is so much better, not sure why he should be getting ridiculed for pointing out the obvious.   

[HalfSmokes]

He's just acknowledging that this year it may not matter who gets there from the AFC because the NFC is so much better, not sure why he should be getting ridiculed for pointing out the obvious.   

because 1) most fan bases would love to 'just' get to the superbowl and 2) new england fans more than most should realize that heavy under dogs can win superbowls

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Ryan's retired

Columnists as opposed to beat writers?  I kind of like many of the beat writers.  It was the training ground for Kilgore.  I always like Amalie Benjamin, too, and I think she is back to sports. 

I don't read the Globe (behind a paywall) as opposed to Boston.com.  Tony Massaroti is pretty good on baseball, but he's gotten a little thin as he covers everything.  Peter Abraham is OK, and blunt enough to be readable.  As for the Herald, they have a reputation for turning out some good beat writers.  Alex Speier on WEEI.com is terrific, but I don't read him all that much.  No one to match Will McDonough, Peter Gammons and Ryan in this generation, I'm afraid. 

HS you dip - that column I thought was terrific.  It said basically don't think your team walks on water, it's not the mid 00s, there's four better teams in the NFC right now, and the NFC has kicked around Brady / Manning / Rothlisberger for the past 4 years.  You are right - there's no writer in Washington who would be that honest.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

As for being jaded about the super bowl, there's this:

In spite of that, all of it, perhaps the Patriots could maintain possession of a first-round playoff bye, win a home division game, march into Mile High and upset a powerhouse Broncos offense that also falters frequently on the defensive end. The AFC is that wide open.

From there … In Bill We Trust? Sure. Any given Sunday? Of course. But, if you’re playing the odds? It’s tough to argue with the facts. They may just be lining up for second-place.

honestly, I think you saw the headline and my post rather than read the thing.

[varoadking]

Nope   ...   that scenario would signal the apocalypse.   

A man of firm convictions...what if we survived and it happened two years in a row?   

[HalfSmokes]

HS you dip - that column I thought was terrific.  It said basically don't think your team walks on water, it's not the mid 00s, there's four better teams in the NFC right now, and the NFC has kicked around Brady / Manning / Rothlisberger for the past 4 years.  You are right - there's no writer in Washington who would be that honest.

again, patriot fans should be used to under dogs winning a single game - do you really think that San Francisco would be +12 over New England/Denver/KC, because that's what the patriots were over the gaints

[UMDNats]

Ryan's retired

Columnists as opposed to beat writers?  I kind of like many of the beat writers.  It was the training ground for Kilgore.  I always like Amalie Benjamin, too, and I think she is back to sports. 

I don't read the Globe (behind a paywall) as opposed to Boston.com.  Tony Massaroti is pretty good on baseball, but he's gotten a little thin as he covers everything.  Peter Abraham is OK, and blunt enough to be readable.  As for the Herald, they have a reputation for turning out some good beat writers.  Alex Speier on WEEI.com is terrific, but I don't read him all that much.  No one to match Will McDonough, Peter Gammons and Ryan in this generation, I'm afraid. 

HS you dip - that column I thought was terrific.  It said basically don't think your team walks on water, it's not the mid 00s, there's four better teams in the NFC right now, and the NFC has kicked around Brady / Manning / Rothlisberger for the past 4 years.  You are right - there's no writer in Washington who would be that honest.

yeah just columnists. a lot of good beat writers come from boston.

shaugnessey is probably a bottom 5 sports writer in usa

[skippy1999]

because 1) most fan bases would love to 'just' get to the superbowl and 2) new england fans more than most should realize that heavy under dogs can win superbowls

Yea I guess I can see how it comes across as spoiled but I mean, we've gotten to the playoffs every year since 2002 except for what, 2008? And to not win it all in the end still sucks.  If you ain't first you're last or something like that, anyway if the Nats got to the playoffs every year for like 7 straight years and got bounced before winning it all you'd start to get a little sad about it too.

Ryan's retired

Yes from writing but he's still on PTI, Around the Horn, Sports Reporter & Felger's night time show so I can continue to love him

[skippy1999]

again, patriot fans should be used to under dogs winning a single game - do you really think that San Francisco would be +12 over New England/Denver/KC, because that's what the patriots were over the gaints

I guess that's the problem, no one thinks of the Pats as underdogs anymore no matter what the scenario is, you know?  I think Pats fans are more realistic than other fans, we see that this team just has too many injuries to overcome this year, it's not going to happen.  If they lose to Baltimore this week and the Dolphins win they can actually be fighting for their playoff lives the last weekend of the season 

[mitlen]

A man of firm convictions...what if we survived and it happened two years in a row?   

We aren't strong enough to do that two years in a row.    Which reminds me of a story  ...  Mark Twain, after a tour of the Holy Land (Innocence Abroad), said (paraphrase) that he didn't believe there would ever be a second coming.    When asked why he said  ...  " no one would go back there a second time".        That's us bro.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

again, patriot fans should be used to under dogs winning a single game - do you really think that San Francisco would be +12 over New England/Denver/KC, because that's what the patriots were over the gaints

well, there was that Rams super bowl after 2001 . . .  I think fans like Skippy and myself tend to a realistic view of the team, as did Kaufman, which is why I posted the link.  Sure, anything can happen.  But I think the betting lines on the Pats in the post season tend to be off due to their reputation.  I know a couple of years ago I was shocked that they were a touchdown favorite against the Giant in the second match up, and told a friend who follows lines very closely that I thought the game should have been a pick.

[HalfSmokes]

I tend to view any super bowl as a crapshoot- the favorites are constantly loosing. I'm not sure I'd bet on the pats getting there, but I wouldn't count the AFC representative out like I would during the 49ers/Cowboys pre salary cap years

[mitlen]

HS you dip - that column I thought was terrific.  It said basically don't think your team walks on water, it's not the mid 00s, there's four better teams in the NFC right now, and the NFC has kicked around Brady / Manning / Rothlisberger for the past 4 years.  You are right - there's no writer in Washington who would be that honest.

I agree about Ryan.   I like him.    By the way, it's Roethlisberger.         

[Vega]

I agree about Ryan.   I like him.    By the way, it's Roethlisberger.         

Wrong. I'm pretty sure it is spelled Rapelisberger.

[mitlen]

Wrong. I'm pretty sure it is spelled Rapelisberger.

So bitter  ...    

[Slateman]

[HalfSmokes]

So if you live in New Jersey anywhere other than the Meadowlands, you better hope it doesn't snow on the supe bowl

821 trucks would be ready for snow duty within 30 miles of the stadium and an additional 2,400 trucks could be called in from elsewhere in the state.

http://gizmodo.com/the-secret-machine-war-against-snow-taking-place-at-the-1486474381/@barryap

[GburgNatsFan]

Ruthlessberger.

Wrong. I'm pretty sure it is spelled Rapelisberger.

[varoadking]

I will be a Stillers fan this weekend. 

They should throttle the Rodgerless Packers...or GTFO...

[spidernat]

Has anyone seen the stat that the Seahwaks have allowed a total of 19 yards on punt returns all season! And 10 of those yards were in their first game of the season.  

19 yards is a short punt return against the Redskins.