2013 NFL Football

[Fafnir]

I still don't know why Minnesota thinks Ponder is  the answer at QB.

They don't, they just have a playoff caliber team otherwise and have already invested in him.

No FA QB was really better this off season, this coming off season they could pursue several or draft one I'd guess.

[RebusRankin]

I still don't know why Minnesota thinks Ponder is  the answer at QB.

They don't, they just have a playoff caliber team otherwise and have already invested in him.

No FA QB was really better this off season, this coming off season they could pursue several or draft one I'd guess.

I don't know why they drafted him in round 1. As for upgrades, possibly a trade for Rivers? Alex Smith?

[PhoSita]

Broncos and Seahawks look like the clear cut #1 and #2 teams through two weeks.

[Cman]

Broncos and Seahawks look like the clear cut #1 and #2 teams through two weeks.

Agreed. I think it is the two of them, then a pretty steep drop off to the next tier (especially in the AFC).

[PhoSita]

Broncos and Seahawks look like the clear cut #1 and #2 teams through two weeks.

Agreed. I think it is the two of them, then a pretty steep drop off to the next tier (especially in the AFC).

In the AFC, I still think that the Patriots and Ravens will ultimately be in a position to beat the Broncos in a playoff matchup.  That's the parity of the NFL -- inferior teams can win when it's single elimination.

In the NFC, I'd list the 49ers, Packers, and perhaps the Falcons as teams that could beat the Seahawks in any particular game.

Nevertheless, it'd be surprising if neither the Seahawks nor the Broncos ended up in the Superbowl.

[Cman]

Broncos and Seahawks look like the clear cut #1 and #2 teams through two weeks.

Agreed. I think it is the two of them, then a pretty steep drop off to the next tier (especially in the AFC).

In the AFC, I still think that the Patriots and Ravens will ultimately be in a position to beat the Broncos in a playoff matchup.  That's the parity of the NFL -- inferior teams can win when it's single elimination.

In the NFC, I'd list the 49ers, Packers, and perhaps the Falcons as teams that could beat the Seahawks in any particular game.

Nevertheless, it'd be surprising if neither the Seahawks nor the Broncos ended up in the Superbowl.

I find it hard to say on the other teams. Patriots, Ravens, Packers, 49ers, Falcons... yes, in the mix, but not as clear cut.

EDIT: meaning that prior to the season, no question those teams would have been in the mix, but the last two weekends have shown me that they are all a rung or two below Seattle and Denver. I'm giving the Pats some leeway here, both as a homer and because it is Brady and Belichick who've earned the benefit of the doubt.

Some interesting games yesterday in my mind were Titans-Texans and Chargers-Eagles. Makes me "downgrade" Texans a bit, and "upgrade" Chargers a bit in terms of how good various teams are.

[Donoghus]

A bit interesting to see the TV-worshipped NFC East be, arguably, the worst division in the NFL after 2 weeks.  Very mediocre so far.  Washington looks lost on offense, Dallas is being typical Dallas, the Giants clearly struggling a bit on both sides of the ball, and the Eagles showing inconsistency from Week 1 to Week 2. 

[Moranis]

Broncos and Seahawks look like the clear cut #1 and #2 teams through two weeks.

Agreed. I think it is the two of them, then a pretty steep drop off to the next tier (especially in the AFC).

In the AFC, I still think that the Patriots and Ravens will ultimately be in a position to beat the Broncos in a playoff matchup.  That's the parity of the NFL -- inferior teams can win when it's single elimination.

In the NFC, I'd list the 49ers, Packers, and perhaps the Falcons as teams that could beat the Seahawks in any particular game.

Nevertheless, it'd be surprising if neither the Seahawks nor the Broncos ended up in the Superbowl.

Baltimore will be the team to beat in the AFC once the playoffs roll around.  They have a lot of new parts that they are trying to fit together, but will get it all figured out in a few weeks.

People also forget last year Baltimore lost at home to Denver 34-17 before the win in Denver (which in reality Baltimore dominated and would have won easily if not for two separate kick return TD's).  When the playoffs roll around Joe Flacco and company just win (Joe Flacco has not only made the playoffs all 5 of his seasons but also has never lost that first playoff game and is the winningest road QB in playoff history).  Couple this with Peyton Manning's inability to win playoff games (just 4 of his 12 playoff seasons has he even won a playoff game) and they will be fine.

New England will also be fine if they can get any sort of defensive cohesion and consistency.  I wouldn't be worried at all about the receivers, the young guys just need some time to learn the system and gel with Brady, but both Dobson and Thompkins have shown talent, couple them with Gronk, Edelman, and Amendola (maybe) and the offense will be fine, especially if Ridley starts running like he did last year.

[Fafnir]

I just don't see Baltimore as being the team to beat. Too many question marks on offense, and their playoff run was built on Flacco performing at a much higher level than he has in the past. He's unlikely to repeat such a hot streak right as the playoffs come around.

[Donoghus]

I just don't see Baltimore as being the team to beat. Too many question marks on offense, and their playoff run was built on Flacco performing at a much higher level than he has in the past. He's unlikely to repeat such a hot streak right as the playoffs come around.

Me neither. Not unless they can catch lightening in a bottle twice.   They had a heckuva run at the right time last year.  That seems to be a common trend in recent years with Super Bowl winners (Green Bay, Giants, Ravens).  Teams playing on Wild Card weekend that get hot and run the table.  They were a #4 seed last year.  Are they better than that this year?  So far, its questionable.

I do think they're a top 3 team in the AFC but not the team to beat.  I have to hand that to Denver right now.  They have new pieces on offense too and are playing undermanned on defense at the moment and, yet still, are playing top notch football. 

[Moranis]

I just don't see Baltimore as being the team to beat. Too many question marks on offense, and their playoff run was built on Flacco performing at a much higher level than he has in the past. He's unlikely to repeat such a hot streak right as the playoffs come around.

Flacco the last 3 years has been about the same in the playoffs.  Last year, he just didn't have any INT's which is abnormal, but it wasn't like he was going for 400 yards and 5 TD games.  I mean he only broke 300 yards in the Denver game last year, which went to OT, and never had more than 3 TD's.  Heck the best playoff game in his career was probably 3 years ago against KC when he was over 73% with 2 TD's and 265 yards in a 30-7 victory (of course he followed that up by his worst playoff game in those 3 seasons).

Baltimore will win games running the ball and defensively this year.  Their OL is very good and the defense should be a lot better than last year by the end of the year.  The Denver game this year was much more about the offense struggling than anything else.

[Bahku]

Well, that was the stupidest decision I've seen so far this year ... last five minutes of the game, you need a TD , conversion, and a field-goal, you're in FG range, third-and-two, and Ben throws into double coverage, (when he could've walked it over for the first), and it's picked. Wow ... Steelers offense is worse than the Pats right now, and that's saying something. 

[Cman]

Browns trade Trent Richardson to Colts for a 2014 1st rounder.

I think it is a pretty good move for the Browns. A bad team gets worse and hence higher picks in 2014, and gets decent return for Richardson (I suspect the Colts first rounder will be right around #20).

[Donoghus]

Browns trade Trent Richardson to Colts for a 2014 1st rounder.

I think it is a pretty good move for the Browns. A bad team gets worse and hence higher picks in 2014, and gets decent return for Richardson (I suspect the Colts first rounder will be right around #20).

In the long run, I think it'll be a win-win trade for both teams although I'd hate to be a Browns fan right now. It's mid-September and your management is already giving the signal that its throwing in the towel for this season and looking ahead to 2014.

Clearly, this new regime didn't like the structure of this team and feel the need to go out and build through the draft at the expense of what little assets they have right now.  They desperately need a legit QB and Trent was going to be inhibited by the lack of one. 

Colts add another dimension to their offense immediately at a position of need. Luck/Richardson is a pretty good core going forward. Plus, they're much more in a win-now mode and Trent will help.

[Fafnir]

I just don't see Baltimore as being the team to beat. Too many question marks on offense, and their playoff run was built on Flacco performing at a much higher level than he has in the past. He's unlikely to repeat such a hot streak right as the playoffs come around.

Flacco the last 3 years has been about the same in the playoffs.  Last year, he just didn't have any INT's which is abnormal, but it wasn't like he was going for 400 yards and 5 TD games.  I mean he only broke 300 yards in the Denver game last year, which went to OT, and never had more than 3 TD's.  Heck the best playoff game in his career was probably 3 years ago against KC when he was over 73% with 2 TD's and 265 yards in a 30-7 victory (of course he followed that up by his worst playoff game in those 3 seasons).

Baltimore will win games running the ball and defensively this year.  Their OL is very good and the defense should be a lot better than last year by the end of the year.  The Denver game this year was much more about the offense struggling than anything else.

About the same?

His rating was a 117 compared to prior years of:
90.0
96.1

His yards per attempt were 9.05 compared with:
6.09
7.65

His QBR (if you like it, I'm not a huge fan due strangeness with its clutch weighting) was 84.4 prior years:
39.5
40.3

He upped his TD rate from 1.75 per game to 2.75 per game.

He was sacked 6 times with 126 passing attempts so 4% sack rate prior two years:
14%
12%

He also didn't turn it over as much with picks and fumbles, he had 1 turnover (a fumble lost during a scramble) in four games compared with over a turnover a game the prior two years.

Flacco performed massively better last post season than his prior post season years. Not only that his prior post season numbers were much more line with his career numbers of a somewhat above average QB instead of a HoF candidate like his SB run.