The Official NFL Thread

[MrDigital]

Lions, awesome. Go Chargers and Panthers!

[Spank_Me_Hard]

Stupid Broncos. It was pretty much the impossible that it would come down to this and then they blow it completely. But you know what they didn't deserve to be in the playoffs with all the mistakes they make in EVERY single game. I think they are at -21 or so on turnover ratio and finishing either 28th or 29th in total Defense. Terrible.

Somewhere, Shannahan's head has popped.

All the scripted plans for the next 40 years of his life couldn't get the Bronco's to hold onto the ball.

[md1198p]

Wow. I am STUNNED!

I think that Dallas is one of the most talented teams in the league. And they are simply just rolling over and ceeding the game to a team that they are fully capable of beating.

I can't wait for the TO meltdown in the offseason and hearing whom he's casting the blame on. I fully expect him to be a complete team cancer in this adversity.

Capable of beating...yes of course. But the Eagles are just as talented as any team in the league, even the "star studded" Cowboys. If the Eagles stay committed to running the ball no team in the league overly frightens me. Things they need to do:

Run the ball and keep balance on offense. Even if the running game is not overly productive, the offense runs so much better when they keep it balanced. But Reid has a bad habit of completely abandoning it if they get stuffed a couple times early.

Use Buckhalter more. This poor guy makes big plays whenever he gets the ball, but he is completely forgotten in a lot of games. An example: the first Giants game he ripped off a 5 yard run and then a 19 yard run back to back...and then never stepped back on the field. Him and Westbrook should pretty much split the carries, and both should get on the field together fairly often too.

Not get too blitz happy. The Dallas gameplan was perfect. Sometimes we blitz too much and get sucked up and beat on draws and screens. I love when they walk up the linebackers and then they drop back in coverage at the snap.

Go down the field early a few times. In the middle of the season our offense played poorly and it was because the defense were jumping all the short routes. We would go whole games without trying to throw anything over the top.

[Spank_Me_Hard]

Capable of beating...yes of course. But the Eagles are just as talented as any team in the league, even the "star studded" Cowboys.

To me... maybe "should have" beaten would be a better description. On paper, a more talented team I think. Of course... we all know that "on paper" doesn't count for anything.

I really thought that when Dallas traded for Williams that their offense would be unstoppable.

The Eagles still are a very good, and talented team. I hate to say it. They are a much better team than their record would seem to indicate.

I also think that maybe the single biggest problem with the Cowboys that game was carelessness with the ball... trying to do too much instead of making the safe play and protecting the ball. This carelessness resulted directly into points for the Eagles... and in places where the Cowboys themselves were on the verge of scoring... a double whammy.

I also think in that game the Eagles just wanted it much more than the Cowboys did.

Run the ball and keep balance on offense. Even if the running game is not overly productive, the offense runs so much better when they keep it balanced. But Reid has a bad habit of completely abandoning it if they get stuffed a couple times early.

I think that this can be said for many teams. Often a team with a stud RB and running game will abandon the run early. I don't know how many games I've seen where I've looked at the final results and a stud RB only has 8-12 carries.

The 'Skins lost yesterday, but I liked their commitment to sticking with the run... even though Portis only averaged like 2.8 per carry.

Like you... I think that even when you aren't getting big chunks of yards with the run... that it keeps the offense in balance.

Not get too blitz happy. The Dallas gameplan was perfect. Sometimes we blitz too much and get sucked up and beat on draws and screens. I love when they walk up the linebackers and then they drop back in coverage at the snap.

I absolutely LOVE the blitz. And I don't think that teams use it often enough. I think that many defenses are far to conservative in when they choose to do it. In particular, when a big play is really needed when momentum has started to shift or when the game is starting to become a blowout (i.e. what do you have to really lose at that point... you have to try *something* different).

I'd rather get pressure on a guy like Manning and put him to the ground and have him beat you for big chunks than have him upright all game sitting comfortably in the pocket and picking you apart all game.

Go down the field early a few times. In the middle of the season our offense played poorly and it was because the defense were jumping all the short routes.

Even with the vaunted "West Coast offense", I think that you have to go deep a few times a game. Again... as with the run... if only to keep the defense guessing.

I'm a big advocate of doing things unorthodox at times... going deep on 1st and ten on your own 20 early in the game. 4th and 1 late in the game at the 50 yard line? Play action naked bootleg. You'll either make it or you won't (and your QB may even decide to run it himself). And if you DO make it... you may even get much more than just a 1st down... could end up being a big play for a big chunk of yards or a TD.

This is maybe one of the biggest things that I'm seeing with Miami's playcalling this year... it's pretty unpredictable at times. As opposed to last year when it wasn't.

Football is often like one big game of poker and deception is often the name of the game.

[monroeski]

But the Eagles are just as talented as any team in the league, even the "star studded" Cowboys.

I don't think anybody in the league is as talented as the Cowboys, and imo it's not really even close. If they could ever get over more than 4 players pointed in the same direction at once they would be really scary.

Which, of course, makes living in Dallas as an anti-Cowboys fan that much better.

[Snakespy]

Shanahan fired. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3800768

ouch. I don't know how I feel about this one. I mean I know the Broncos need a fresh start but I really don't think there is anyone that can do any better as a head coach for the offensive powerhouse the Broncos are and will be. Sure we need help on D and to get Dre Bly the hell outta here but firing Shanahan? That's a bit too sudden.

[md1198p]

I don't think anybody in the league is as talented as the Cowboys, and imo it's not really even close. If they could ever get over more than 4 players pointed in the same direction at once they would be really scary.

Which, of course, makes living in Dallas as an anti-Cowboys fan that much better.

My opinion is they have a lot of "stars", but also have a lot of holes. And teams will find and exploit weaknesses. I would have agreed with you last year, but this is the second year in a row.

Owens really fell off this year IMO. His numbers are still great and he is still very good, but he is not the game changer he once was. And after him there receivers are average at best. Their secondary is pretty bad, Pacman was a bust, Henry is kinda slow and Newman is overrated. Again my opinions. And their linebackers are good blitzers and good against the run, but suck in pass coverage. And finally they have horrible special teams play, something I can sympathize with because the Eagles lost 2 games last year due to not having a punt returned on the roster. Also Dallas was -11 in turnovers.

[MrDigital]

Owens really fell off this year IMO. His numbers are still great and he is still very good, but he is not the game changer he once was. And after him there receivers are average at best.

"average at best"? Say what? Jason Witten gets 1000 yards as a TIGHT END. Roy put up 1300 yards in DETROIT.

I have no idea why they haven't utilized Roy in Dallas but we'll see next year.

I can't think of a better receiving line in football. And they have the running beast of Marion Barber to keep the defenses guessing.

"Average" by no means describes the Dallas offense.

/FWIW I hate Dallas.

[Spank_Me_Hard]

"average at best"? Say what? Jason Witten gets 1000 yards as a TIGHT END. Roy put up 1300 yards in DETROIT.

My thoughts exactly.

"Average at best" N/A here.

[rabidmoose171]

They are a great team, ****ing underachievers!

[PriMaTe]

The cowboys may have some good individual players, but the fact remains that they are not a good TEAM. Underachieving is not getting bounced in the 1st round of the playoffs 2 yrs in a row, and then failing to even make the ployoffs the year after that. That's a team displaying how good they really are. Romo can't handle the big games either which doesn't help. I think a step in the right direction would be to get a coach that can handle the team and for Jerry Jones to stop being Jerry Jones for a season.

In other news, there's football this saturday! I love sat games.

[monroeski]

My opinion is they have a lot of "stars", but also have a lot of holes. And teams will find and exploit weaknesses. I would have agreed with you last year, but this is the second year in a row.

I'm saying they wouldn't have any holes at all if their players got their heads on straight. Practically everybody on their defense is a first round pick while their offense has so many stars it's not even funny.

They're not losing because they have talent holes. Giving up 150 rushing yards on two plays to a team that isn't even trying to actually score isn't a talent issue, it's a focus issue.

[md1198p]

"average at best"? Say what? Jason Witten gets 1000 yards as a TIGHT END. Roy put up 1300 yards in DETROIT.

I have no idea why they haven't utilized Roy in Dallas but we'll see next year.

I can't think of a better receiving line in football. And they have the running beast of Marion Barber to keep the defenses guessing.

"Average" by no means describes the Dallas offense.

/FWIW I hate Dallas.

By receiver I meant wide outs, I understand and agree Witten is probably the best tight end in the game. That why I did not include tight end as a weakness. Owens is still very good, but not what he was. Williams has dropped off every year since the 2006 1300 yard season. I know he played on a crappy team, but he only has had one 1000 season in his career. He also has had 7 TDs in the last 2 years. I think you guys are grossly overrating him. He is very gifted physically but runs horrible sloppy routes and seems just lazy. After him I do not think there is any argument that Crayton is mediocre and after him there is nothing.

Bottom line is I am tired of hearing every time they lose that the better team lost and all that crap. They have good players, but they are not so much more talented than the other teams in the league like people think. People put too much into name recognition and that crap.

[Spank_Me_Hard]

People put too much into name recognition and that crap.

I agree.

A guy like Pennington OWNED McNabb this year and yet McNabb is considered one of the best in the game where Pennington generally isn't:

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorysta...2&d-447263-n=1

Donovan McNabb
Completion Percentage: 60.4%
Yards per Reception: 6.9
Touchdowns: 23
Interceptions: 11
QB Rating: 86.4

Chad Pennington
Completion Percentage: 67.4%
Yards per Rexception: 7.7
Touchdowns: 19
Interceptions: 7
QB Rating: 97.4

A slow, weak armed QB coming to a team that was 1-15 last year blows away McNabb statistically. Including all the categories that you place value in.

That is THE most recent data available.

You are correct that often too much goes into name recognition. Pro Bowl voting is indicative of this. But I don't think that is the Cowboys. Most of their "stars" are pretty young and are in their prime (30 years of age or less). Two notable exceptions being TO and Zach Thomas (whom I don't think anybody considers a "star" anymore).

[md1198p]

I agree.

A guy like Pennington OWNED McNabb this year and yet McNabb is considered one of the best in the game where Pennington generally isn't:

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorysta...2&d-447263-n=1

Donovan McNabb
Completion Percentage: 60.4%
Yards per Reception: 6.9
Touchdowns: 23
Interceptions: 11
QB Rating: 86.4

Chad Pennington
Completion Percentage: 67.4%
Yards per Rexception: 7.7
Touchdowns: 19
Interceptions: 7
QB Rating: 97.4

A slow, weak armed QB coming to a team that was 1-15 last year blows away McNabb statistically. Including all the categories that you place value in.

That is THE most recent data available.

You are correct that often too much goes into name recognition. Pro Bowl voting is indicative of this. But I don't think that is the Cowboys. Most of their "stars" are pretty young and are in their prime (30 years of age or less). Two notable exceptions being TO and Zach Thomas (whom I don't think anybody considers a "star" anymore).

I agree Pennington had a better year than Mcnabb. Neither made the pro bowl so that point is moot. But I also think Mcnabb is asked to do much more than Pennington, in the 10 years Mcnabb has been in Philadelphia they have been the most pass happy team in the history of the NFL. Its a lot easier to manage a game as a QB than to go out and have to win the game every week.

Also Miami has had a cupcake schedule and lost to almost every team they played with a winning record. Philadelphia posted wins over the Giants, Steelers, Cardinals, Falcons, and even the mighty Dallas Cowboys.

How this got to be about Mcnabb i have no idea anyway, especially since he is playing pretty good this year, very good the last month or so since we started to use our running game and balanced out the offense.

This is about the Cowboys and how bad they suck...and the most recent data available (44-6, 5 turnovers, missed playoffs even though they have an HBO show, and plain awfulness) shows this to be true.

Off topic...Speaking of pro bowls, how did Philip Rivers not make it? Biggest snub i can remember.