If you're a Football Outsider you're a TRUE player and true players don't stick to one passion only, so here's something else to excite you while you're waiting for the game to start. How about a free $30 chip to play slot machine games for as long as you want?
129 replies , Last at
15 Sep 2009, 9:24am by
Whatev
1
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Shylo :: Thu, 09/10/2009 - 8:05pm
Fnor, did you ever add SSL support to your server, and if so, what port?
2
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Moridin :: Thu, 09/10/2009 - 9:46pm
Wow, quiet tonight
3
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Ben :: Thu, 09/10/2009 - 9:50pm
Yeah. Is nobody else watching the game?
5
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Moridin :: Thu, 09/10/2009 - 9:54pm
well, I had to hunt for where this was, so maybe people just don't realize where the discussion is now.
4
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Moridin :: Thu, 09/10/2009 - 9:53pm
Nice look off by Ben there... followed by a nice td pass.
Poor Rob Bironas, had 2 chances for the first points of the year.
6
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Moridin :: Thu, 09/10/2009 - 9:55pm
Interesting contrast for the last 2 minutes compared to the first 28.
7
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Key19 :: Thu, 09/10/2009 - 11:10pm
Hilarious Favre commercial for Sears.
11
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Dunbar (not verified) :: Fri, 09/11/2009 - 12:05am
Yeah, that was pretty awesome. Say what you will about Favre, but he has a great track record of giving monosyllabic acting performances in funny material.
...So, he's got that going for him.
8
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by RickD :: Thu, 09/10/2009 - 11:51pm
Wondering where the usual bunch of commenters is.
Wondering where Fisher's defensive adjustment is. Roethlisberger has been passing with relative ease.
It's nice to stop the run, but the Titans let the Steelers march down the field with the passing game the last three drives of the game.
9
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by perly :: Thu, 09/10/2009 - 11:57pm
I know it's only one game of one week, but that DVOA projection for the Titans' special teams looks scarily accurate tonight. I hereby suspend my misgivings about the other odd-seeming projections until further informed.
12
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by shake n bake :: Fri, 09/11/2009 - 12:16am
If the (#7 projected) Colts Special Teams are good Sunday, I'll never doubt DVOA again (at least not on STs).
10
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Dunbar (not verified) :: Fri, 09/11/2009 - 12:01am
Saw the 4th quarter and OT of this one. Big Ben was great. The O-line did a decent job on pass protection when the Titans rushed four (I imagine that's where the Titans will miss Haynesworth), giving him time to pick apart the zone, and when the Titans' pass rush did get through, he was very quick to check down for 7-8 yard pickups. The defense looked good too, but the Titans have no receivers and an average-at-best QB, so any weaknesses were probably well hidden.
An encouraging first game, though, at any rate, assuming that Polamalu wasn't seriously injured.
13
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Justin Zeth :: Fri, 09/11/2009 - 1:44am
The Steelers offense moves only when they pass, pass, pass, and then only when they operate out of the shotgun. You get the sense that the lingering feeling that we're the Steelers and we have to run the ball, dammit, is holding them back from their fairly obvious optimal offense operating out of a shotgun base with mostly Mewelde Moore at RB.
Just relying on Roethlisberger to drive them down the field at the end of each half worked great last year, but with Polamalu out at least a month, they may find themselves giving up a few too many points to get away with that now. This offense needs to open up a little. They can't run the ball, period, and the sooner they accept it and let Roethlisberger throw 30 or 35 times a game, the better they'll be for it.
14
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Sifter :: Fri, 09/11/2009 - 5:13pm
The game was won up front in the end - give Ben enough time and he started picking the Titans apart pretty easily. Was it a tired Titans pass rush? Bad scheming from Fisher? Or excellent protection? Either one, it was a shadow of the 1st quarter where Ben was getting pummelled. Kudos for Ben for getting the job done with some nice pump fakes and generally being quite accurate.
Titans could feel a little unlucky. If Bironas kicks those 2 FGs it could have been quite different. They certainly deserved to have been leading at the half, but couldn't capitalise on their superior start. Collins played pretty well for me, and was let down by a couple of drops by Gage. Pity Jared Cook wasn't playing as he could have made a few interesting matchups out there instead of constantly throwing to Scaife and sometimes Crumpler.
15
Lions Underrated beacuse of Schwartz?
by fauxhero? (not verified) :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 9:01am
Does anyone else the Vegas lines might not be taking into account the power of the Schwartz? If they're right on all other factors, that would make the Lions underrated, right?
I'm not planning on putting any money on them, but I will be pulling for the Lions and their statistically inclined coach. Will he win? Who knows? The 49ers stink and they're the only team that I know uses stats to help them in the draft.
16
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Bill Barnwell :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 10:53am
I don't think the 49ers use stats to help them in the draft. And there are most definitely other teams that do.
17
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by dukesb1 :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:01am
Bill, any chance of getting the full +/- 5% list posted on the site before 1:00? It would be greatly appreciated!
18
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Harris :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 12:21pm
The football team from my geographic area is superior to the football team from your geographic area. We will win and you will lose.
Hail Hydra!
21
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by TimK :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 12:52pm
Very hard for me argue with that... (living in the UK)
19
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by jebmak :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 12:38pm
Perhaps I should be lnyched for bringing up Favre, but I really like the Sears commercial with him buying a tv.
20
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by joe football (not verified) :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 12:40pm
Be sure to join a star-studded cast of your favorite FO posters for another season of IRC football chat! Server: bendenweyr.dyndns.org, channel #fo
Brief tutorials for the IRC-shy:
- go to mirc.com and download the client
- type /server bendenweyr.dyndns.org in the status window
- type /join #fo in the status window
or
- go to mibbit.com
- click on the server link and paste bendenweyr.dyndns.org as the address
- enter #fo as the channel, pick a nick, hit go
22
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Rocco :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 1:14pm
Brees has picked up where he left off.
23
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Eric (not verified) :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 1:23pm
The new RedZone channel is perfect for those with ADD - you're basically giving someone else the remote and decide what you get to see.
But no commercials. And lacking Sunday Ticket on FiOS, it's not a horrible thing.
24
NFL Gamepass Dead?
by UK-Phil (not verified) :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 1:46pm
Any non-US readers have NFL Gamepass and actually able to get the games?
I have been watching the crappy NFL Network content ok all week, checked half an hour before kickoff and everything was ok. As soon as the games roll round I am kicked out and the service has completed vanished, no response from https://gamepass.nfl.com at all.
So stuck with no games and $240 out of pocket. Thanks NFL!
28
Re: NFL Gamepass Dead?
by TimK :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 2:09pm
field pass radio is working in the UK.
Good luck.
29
Re: NFL Gamepass Dead?
by Moddey_Dhoo :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 2:10pm
I am having exactly the same problems. Got on to see the first half hour after hitting refresh a lot and now can't get near the site at all. I have tried sending in an live help complaint but..
32
Re: NFL Gamepass Dead?
by big_adventure :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 2:55pm
Same problem here in France. I watched the first 20 minutes, then bam, my browser crached and when I restarted it, I can only rarely get to the login page and never past that. Once, I tried to login and it told me I was in a restricted territory (hmm, is France a US outlying territory? Dunno, but I think "non"...); each other attempt leaves me with a "la connexion a échouée" message.
39
Re: NFL Gamepass Dead?
by Mr Shush :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 3:34pm
Yeah, same shit here. Not really acceptable, frankly. I seem to remember this is often a problem near the start of the season.
25
Cadillac Williams
by ar4t :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 1:57pm
I need to talk to cadillac's surgeon. He looks amazing.
26
Re: Cadillac Williams
by MilkmanDanimal :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 2:04pm
Uh, yeah. Frankly, if he has a good year and stays healthy, I can handle the expected lousy Bucs season. He deserves it after all the crap he's been through.
Then again, Ward's looked really good as well. I'm torn between being pleasantly surprised that Tampa's offense actually has looked good and thinking that Dallas' defense must be stinking awful.
27
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Rocco :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 2:05pm
Jake Delhomme so far has thrown an INT and had a fumble taken back for a TD. It's like 2008 never ended for him.
30
Vikings @ Browns
by ebongreen (not verified) :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 2:11pm
Billick and his lackey are making my ears bleed. "Darren" Bevell? Calling a touchdown-negated post-challenge field goal an extra point?
I may be forced to turn off the commentary and let the bare competence of these two teams speak for themselves.
31
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by MilkmanDanimal :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 2:39pm
Hey, Detroit still sucks.
Edit: Wait, they get the ball deep in Saints territory on a Bush punt return fumble, and Stafford throws a pick on the next play and it comes back 50 yards, plus a 15-yarder on top of that for somebody on the bench running into an official. Detroit still REALLY sucks.
33
Re: NFL Gamepass HD "support"
by big_adventure :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 3:07pm
I went online to the NFL's contractor's site (neulion.com). I waited 15 minutes for my online chat request to be answered.
The person that finally did answer put in this response:
NFL Field Pass: We are aware of an issue related to slow page loads on NFL.com related sites - that issue should be resolved if you can try logging in again.
Then they disconnected directly, before I could even communicate with them.
Needless to say (perhaps), logging in again still doesn't work.
34
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Sifter :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 3:12pm
Having a lot of fun watching this Eagles game. But...as I say that McNabb's gone down holding a knee - oh crap. Anyway was just asking myself why the Panthers hadn't tried a couple more screens and then they try one that picked by Akeem Jordan. Pick #3 for Jake - but hey at least he's getting paid well for them...
35
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by qed :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 3:13pm
Looked like it was McNabb's lower back. Hopefully he doesn't have the same back surgeon as Shawn Andrews.
36
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by qed :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 3:13pm
duplicate removed
37
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Big Johnson (not verified) :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 3:15pm
Is it just me or is this the week of the shitty (tight end) player. Im skimming over the stats and every awful player i can think of is putting up a good week via luck or actually playing good. Dwayne bowe is awful. But wait.... 2 yard touchdown pass. Now hes decent after 1 retarded play. Shockey??? wtf. Brent celek now theres a superstar. NOT. Roy "1 year wonder" williams for 60 yards! I can only imagine that it was blown coverage. Im being honest when i say i could probably cover him 1 on 1. Jamal lewis. BOOYAH. Gotta love one of the worst players in the league putting up a solid 5 yards per carry. Ill probably get homer fans from all these players talking their players up but its only a matter of time before they remember that they arent good players. They arent even decent players. Someone get me a tissue cause i cant stop crying. I waited 8 months for this?!
38
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Benjamin Light (not verified) :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 3:33pm
Why hasn't Reggie Bush been cut yet?
40
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Cid (not verified) :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 3:47pm
Adrian Peterson is ridiculous.
45
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Moridin :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 4:25pm
That run was amazing to watch, even taking into account the bad tackling.
At halftime I sent my father the following mocking message about his Vikings: "Purple Jesus=ineffective and Sir Almighty Penis=Captain Checkdown." (I think it's obvious enough who the latter is but why is a long story.)
I shall not ever again mock Adrian Peterson.
41
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by MilkmanDanimal :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 3:50pm
SCREW YOU KELLEN WINSLOW
42
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Benjamin Light (not verified) :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 4:02pm
Gus Johnson just put the bar out of reach on that ridiculous Broncos TD.
46
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by MilkmanDanimal :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 4:26pm
I switched to a different game literally right before that play. @#$!!!!
43
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Rocco :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 4:03pm
Ahh, the Bengals.
44
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by zzyzx :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 4:20pm
So far the Seahawks game has had a fumbled kickoff, a dropped TD pass and a pick in the endzone and the game is 3 plays old. NFL fever!
47
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by zzyzx :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 4:48pm
Since then there have been personal foul penalties, another Seahawks fumble which led to a 3rd and long play where the Rams couldn't snap the ball and 2 time outs burned on back to back play and then a completely wasted challenge... Sheesh.
48
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Sifter :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 4:50pm
Yep I'm watching Rams-Hawks too trying to see if the FO Rams might be the unstoppable juggernaut in the NFC West. It's been an awful display by both sides so far, it's a shame there has to be a winner in the NFC West really.
65
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Insancipitory :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 10:36pm
Maybe you had to be there?
/I need an Incognito jersey
//I love how he plays
///Seahawks fan
81
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by coltrane23 :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 12:54am
I watched the game on TV, and throughout the first half I thought the crowd kept the Seahawks in the game. The defense looked like it was getting pushed around, and the offense was doing next to nothing with the ball. They were a boneheaded Rams penalty (12 men on the field) away from going into halftime tied 7-7.
And then Mora must have given them a heck of a halftime speech, because they finally got their act together. And the Rams suddenly remembered that they're the Rams. Unfortunately, the Seahawks are not going to have the luxury of playing like crap in the first half all season and they're not going to be playing the Rams each week.
There were absolutely some pluses: Julius Jones ran hard, Forsett gives an amazing change of pace . . . and Burleson looks like he was never injured. There was a nice 4th quarter pass rush, which is hard to muster. And the play where Seneca came on the field and then caught the pass from Hasselbeck was magic (too bad it was snuffed out by Hasselbeck with an INT).
It was just an odd feeling: I watched a 28-0 blowout and thought, "they could absolutely lose in SF next week if they play like this again."
85
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by t.d. :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 8:27pm
The 'boneheaded penalty' might have had something to do with the kick block and subsequent return. It wasn't a guy getting caught trying to get off the field, they actually rushed twelve guys.
49
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Telamon :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 4:51pm
I'm a Skins fan, but I think Moss should have been tossed there (for punching Cory (Corey?) Webster. Instead nothin' but offsetting penalties.
50
DeAngelo Hall
by ar4t :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 5:07pm
Good job. Still sucks.
52
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Kibbles :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 5:37pm
Anyone else get a laugh out of the fact that Denver won the game on an 87 yard TD pass with 20 seconds remaining from arguably the weakest-armed QB in the league to arguably the slowest WR in the game?
53
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Dunbar (not verified) :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 5:59pm
Yeah, that's probably not happening again. Dhani Jones almost caught him, for god's sake.
54
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by c_f (not verified) :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 6:20pm
1) Who was doing play-by-play for the national broadcast of Jacksonville-Indianapolis? He was quite good at mentioning how many DBs were on the field.
2) Freeney was way too much for Monroe to handle. So to speak.
3) Does Del Rio not trust any of his backup halfbacks? The only guy I remember relieving MJD was backup FB Montel Owens.
55
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Danish Denver-Fan :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 6:25pm
DeAngelo Hall continues to suck in coverage, but still coming up with the big play. This time he got beat by Steve Smith, but the ball was tipped and the ball just fell like a snowflake into his arms...
56
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by glengarry :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 6:36pm
Richie Incognito has to get some kind of recognition for this display...
57
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Robo-Pope :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 8:03pm
I find it interesting that Baltimore went for it on 4th & goal from the 1, up by a touchdown with 36 seconds left, having failed to convert it the play before. Why would you NOT kick the field goal there for the essentially automatic win? The only thing the touchdown really did was cause them to beat the spread in bizarre fashion.
58
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by jebmak :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 8:09pm
Seriously, that move really pissed me off.
62
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by jonnyblazin :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 10:08pm
Because Harbaugh wanted to cover, of course...
Actually, I think it is the smart play. With a field goal you can have a botched snap or blocked kick returned for a TD, whereas if they fail to run it in KC has to go 99 yards with no time outs. KC already blocked a kick for a TD earlier, so that was probably on harbaugh's mind.
59
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by RickD :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 8:25pm
Why is Al Michaels wearing such a horrible rug?
60
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Cid (not verified) :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 8:58pm
Jay Cutler looks completely dazed and confused. Not exploiting obvious blitzes, tries to throw two picks, succeeds on his third attempt. He better get it together
63
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Rich Conley (not verified) :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 10:11pm
Its not helping that the Bears line is absolutely terrible.
61
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by grrigg :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 9:14pm
This feels like a preseason game from both quarterbacks. Rodgers is overthrowing receivers downfield. Cutler is throwing to the other team.
64
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Sid :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 10:27pm
Chicago makes the right decision in going for it. Cutler gets it with the sneak, and hits Hester with a bomb for a TD on the next play.
10-9 Green Bay.
Woodson, Harris, Hawk, Matthews, Bigby...
The Green Bay defense leads the league in hair.
66
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Sid :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:01pm
fake punt and they're stopped!
4th and 11 in a two point game
odd call by Chicago
67
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Sid :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:03pm
Michaels: "And Lovie's thrown the challenge flag."
Collinsworth: "Maybe on his own call."
Lovie with his second challenge of the game, this time saying Clay Matthews did not get off the field before the snap.
68
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by zzyzx :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:08pm
I'm tired of the announcers saying that there was no upside in the quick snap attempt (if it had worked). The upside is that you get a free chance to try a fake punt.
It was weird. The punter didn't even try to pretend it was a bad snap or anything.
70
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by grrigg :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:11pm
That is true but you do need to pick up 11 yards. I dont know what the odds of that are, but it seems to me you need to be pretty damn sure its free.
72
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Rocco :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:20pm
And even if you pick up the first down, you're still way out of field goal range. There's not much upside to the move.
73
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by zzyzx :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:22pm
Well yeah. It was a dumb play poorly executed but it wasn't quite as dumb as the announcers made it out to be.
69
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by zzyzx :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:09pm
Sorry double post.
71
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Sid :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:17pm
urgh, blown call right there kills Green Bay.
"Illegal contact" and an undeserved automatic first down for Chicago.
74
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by xyzzy :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:26pm
Specifically, Hester lined up one yard back of the LOS, leaving the tackle uncovered (but no call!), causing the official that threw the flag to think that the contact occurred six yards deep (instead of five).
75
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Sid :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:29pm
Unless Green Bay can drive down the field for the winning score, a blown call will have decided the outcome of tonight's game.
76
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Sid :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:38pm
TOUCHDOWN GREEN BAY!
Rodgers goes deep to a wide open Jennings. Play action pass on 3rd and 1.
and they're going for two
They make it.
Jennings just roasted Nathan Vasher.
77
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Sid :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:44pm
Cutler throws one to Harris and that's it!
78
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by grrigg :: Sun, 09/13/2009 - 11:56pm
So to put this in perspective, is the Chicago line really bad or is the GB defense really good? Of course there is the wussy option of it being the combination of the two...
80
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Big Johnson (not verified) :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 12:52am
Cant it be that Cutler and especially forte are massively overrated? Forte is a below average runningback getting the bulk of the touches (last year). Like i have said all summer.... forte makes the bears offensive line look bad by being ineffective on a per play basis.
Give it more weeks to develop before ripping my head off ladies.
82
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Sifter :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 2:45am
Well I think ALL the Bears offense sucked. Cutler was probably their best player, maybe Earl Bennett - and that's damning with faint praise. There was no running push, little protection and the WRs made some awful route running errors as Collinsworth pointed out on a few of Cutler's bad plays.
In fact, by the end I kinda felt bad for Cutler because he'll be the easy target for the loss. Plus I was getting a little sick of all the smoke being blown up the Aaron Rodgers/Green Bay tailpipe this week (including half the FO staff seemingly picking GB for the Super Bowl haha), so I found it a bit easier to support the Bears.
83
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by ammek :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 5:30am
Yeah I thought it was noticeable that Bill Barnwell — the writer who covers the NFC North — was one of the few Outsiders not getting overexcited about the Pack. His chapter in FOA identified the offensive line as a problem, and going from last night it sure looks like one.
I thought Collinsworth called a good game — it's rare to get insight on WRs, as color commentators tend to be ex-QBs or offensive line specialists.
84
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Dan :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 8:25am
They sucked in the first half, but improved a lot in the second. I'd give the responsibility for the first half sucking to 1) the blocking, 2) Cutler, and 3) the receivers/runners, in that order. It was interesting that a couple of the biggest route running errors came from the one guy with experience, Desmond Clark, not going where he should on Cutler's first interception or on the near touchdown pass in the back of the end zone. Still, Cutler never should've thrown that pass on the first interception (or on his 3rd int, or on a couple of the near ints).
The protection improved in the 2nd half and Cutler looked better when he had more time to stand in the pocket and throw the ball. The announcers, who overall did a pretty good job, noticed that he was looking more poised standing in the pocket, but they never pointed out that this was because his line was finally giving him a pocket.
79
Re: Green Bay / Chicago
by ashok (not verified) :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 12:36am
I'm just curious to know if it's a fact that offensive lines take some time working together to become good. There was a lot of terrible play by the offensive lines in this game - granted, the defenses are good and coached well, but I was just stunned at how QB's on both sides were running for their lives and that at critical moments the run game lacked any sort of push.
I'm also curious to know if these lines - for both teams - really have the potential to become that good.
Off-topic: I also saw Philadelphia and Carolina today. I'm an Eagles fan and I was worried about the line but not worried about the defense. Yes, fumbles and kick returns are random events that count as luck, I think I remember you guys saying. But wow, that felt good.
86
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by RickD :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 8:55pm
I think the refs do not understand the so-called "Brady rule". Vince Wilfork was just flagged for what would have ordinarily been thought to be a normal hit.
87
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Purds :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 9:21pm
Agree. Bad call.
88
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Insancipitory :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 9:42pm
Was he blocked into the quarterbacks legs? No. Is that where he tackled him? Yes. Life's tough, he's paid millions. He can figure it out.
And Thomas deserved that one too. What an idiot.
89
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by xyzzy :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 9:43pm
> Is that where he tackled him?
Last time I checked, the waist is not considered part of the legs.
105
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Insancipitory :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:51pm
If you're tackling someone and your face is in his nuts, you're diving at his legs.
/You dirty cheater.
107
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Jake (not verified) :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 11:14pm
Nuts are also not part of the legs and its only the knees and below that is a no-no.
109
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Insancipitory :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 11:51pm
Naw, there are a lot of rules. When people bitch about shit like this, what they're usually saying is Favre and Brady should be treated like fine china, but open season on the other guys without that NFL Icon status. Brady gets the tuck rule, but for Shaun Hill "It's really a fumble and the officials should realize at somepoint it's football." Screw that. Clowns calling games only encourage that ... I'm tempted to call it "thinking."
Granted, the rules are what they are, and they may be byzantine or simply ill-concieved. But if that's too much of a burden for highly paid professional football players, perhaps a regular job is more their speed. Good luck with that.
If people want open season on the quarterbacks, at least that viewpoint has the virtue of consistancy. But let's remember what that did to the careers of some of the other rare talents. Combine that with the players size and speed now? Well, Brady would already be retired.
The squishy millionaire, of his own volition, dove for a guys legs, hit his knees in the process of burying his face in his nuts. Because of the privilege of the man's position, it is a no no. He can eat his 15 and new downs.
111
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by xyzzy :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 12:04am
I agree with you that Thomas has to stop when the officials blow the whistle, but if you're going to penalize Wilfork's hit, you might as well just blow the whistle whenever there's a defensive player coming unabated to the quarterback. (EDIT: and let the Steelers renege on Big Ben's contract extension.)
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by BucNasty :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 1:23am
Agreed. I thought there was a case for the Thomas scoop slam, though the commentators were harping the wrong issue (the slam itself, not the timing). I saw nothing wrong with what Wilfork did.
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by xyzzy :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:00pm
Why, McKelvin, why? (Patriots run out the hands team but kick it deep; McKelvin fields the ball with his teammates in position to recover an onside kick and turns the ball over while trying to get a good return.)
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by xyzzy :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:04pm
TD Watson (pending what should be a formality of a review), to give the Patriots the late lead.
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by andrew :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 9:59pm
Fumble! why oh why would anyone bring that out of the end zone anyway?
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by perly :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:03pm
Running it back isn't a bad idea because, with 2:06 on the clock, you can eat up the 2 minute warning. Fumbling? Well, that's just magic beans for you.
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by andrew :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:16pm
If that was his goal, why not just stand in the end zone without taking a knee? Heck, move to the back corner. That way the Patriots have to run that much farther to get to you, and you just take a knee when they get close.
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by xyzzy :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:26pm
Could you really run off 6 seconds that way? Seems like a long time to me given that the clock only starts when the ball is caught.
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by B :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:39pm
I'd say 2 maybe three seconds at the most.
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Big Johnson (not verified) :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 2:32am
watch the replay. he got the time to the 1:59 mark before he would have been down. I was telling my dad that it would be huge for buffalo to run it past the 2 min mark and he was skeptical. But it was clearly 7 seconds that would have ran off on that return
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Whatev (not verified) :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 9:24am
Whether or not you think he could've wasted the extra time or not, I think the moral of the story isn't so much that you shouldn't run it back in that situation as that you shouldn't drop the ball in that situation.
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Eddo :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:04pm
He brought it out of the endzone to run the clock to under 2 minutes; if he doesn't fumble, it worked perfectly (and would have bought the Bills an extra 40 seconds of running out the clock).
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by B :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:07pm
That was his second fumble on a kickoff return of the half, too.
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by B :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:21pm
The Bills seem to have a particularly special ability to find new, excruciating ways to lose football games.
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Kibbles :: Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:31pm
On the bright side, they're still not the Bengals.
How was the Louis Murphy overturned TD different than the Ben Watson TD that was not overturned?
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by xyzzy :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 12:01am
Ball didn't really roll around for Ben?
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Whatev (not verified) :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 12:08am
I think it was a questionable call; to me it seemed that the ball was still under his arm when his ass was flat on the ground.
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Rocco :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 8:27am
Ben Watson wears a Patriots jersey?
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Whatev (not verified) :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 12:05am
We've been transported to some kind of bizarro world where the Raiders stuff runs and sack the quarterback!
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by The Powers That Be :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 12:23am
Not Bizarro World. Norv World.
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by MilkmanDanimal :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 12:13am
I think they just showed a guy in the stands wearing a Heyward-Bey jersey.
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by grrigg :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 12:27am
Is this the worst announcing crew of them all?
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Pat F. :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 1:37am
"There is no rational reason [Tomlinson]'s not on the field."
"Touchdown, Sproles!"
I'm getting flashbacks to Theisman-Maguire-Patrick...
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Whatev (not verified) :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 12:39am
WTF? Chargers ran 5 plays after a touchback, and ended up right back where they started after 20 yards of penalties on one down?
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Jericho (not verified) :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 1:00am
This game is so horrible. Bad offense. Bad announcing. San Diego somehow making Oakland look respectible. And constant commericals between all the three and outs and San Diego injuries. And yet I must watch to see how my fantasy week plays out. Damn you Norv Turner! Damn you to hell!
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Whatev (not verified) :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 1:03am
My fantasy team is already screwed, now I just want to drag everyone else down with me.
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Big Johnson (not verified) :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 2:16am
The one player that really impressed me in the Charger raider game was Chris johnson. This Raider defense had to make raiderjoe happy. They really looked great. Its only 1 week but it has all the implications of being an elite unit this year. Rivers didnt try to force anything and took everything that was given to him. No bad passes from him the whole game and yet the Raider defense outplayed them.
I don't think the raiders will be raideresque this year
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Whatev (not verified) :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 1:24am
Hahahahahahahaha!!!!! Oh my god!
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by compucrazy :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 1:26am
EPIC FAIL!!!
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by Jericho (not verified) :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 1:40am
I always like how there's more offense in last minutes of an NFL game than the 3 plus quarters before it. Just see:
San Diego v. Oakland
Cincinnati v. Denver
Tennessee v. Pittburgh
Chicago v. Green Bay
etc...
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Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
by ChiTown11111 (not verified) :: Tue, 09/15/2009 - 1:51am
RSS Feed
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Fnor, did you ever add SSL support to your server, and if so, what port?
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Wow, quiet tonight
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Yeah. Is nobody else watching the game?
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
well, I had to hunt for where this was, so maybe people just don't realize where the discussion is now.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Nice look off by Ben there... followed by a nice td pass.
Poor Rob Bironas, had 2 chances for the first points of the year.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Interesting contrast for the last 2 minutes compared to the first 28.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Hilarious Favre commercial for Sears.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Yeah, that was pretty awesome. Say what you will about Favre, but he has a great track record of giving monosyllabic acting performances in funny material.
...So, he's got that going for him.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Wondering where the usual bunch of commenters is.
Wondering where Fisher's defensive adjustment is. Roethlisberger has been passing with relative ease.
It's nice to stop the run, but the Titans let the Steelers march down the field with the passing game the last three drives of the game.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
I know it's only one game of one week, but that DVOA projection for the Titans' special teams looks scarily accurate tonight. I hereby suspend my misgivings about the other odd-seeming projections until further informed.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
If the (#7 projected) Colts Special Teams are good Sunday, I'll never doubt DVOA again (at least not on STs).
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Saw the 4th quarter and OT of this one. Big Ben was great. The O-line did a decent job on pass protection when the Titans rushed four (I imagine that's where the Titans will miss Haynesworth), giving him time to pick apart the zone, and when the Titans' pass rush did get through, he was very quick to check down for 7-8 yard pickups. The defense looked good too, but the Titans have no receivers and an average-at-best QB, so any weaknesses were probably well hidden.
An encouraging first game, though, at any rate, assuming that Polamalu wasn't seriously injured.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
The Steelers offense moves only when they pass, pass, pass, and then only when they operate out of the shotgun. You get the sense that the lingering feeling that we're the Steelers and we have to run the ball, dammit, is holding them back from their fairly obvious optimal offense operating out of a shotgun base with mostly Mewelde Moore at RB.
Just relying on Roethlisberger to drive them down the field at the end of each half worked great last year, but with Polamalu out at least a month, they may find themselves giving up a few too many points to get away with that now. This offense needs to open up a little. They can't run the ball, period, and the sooner they accept it and let Roethlisberger throw 30 or 35 times a game, the better they'll be for it.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
The game was won up front in the end - give Ben enough time and he started picking the Titans apart pretty easily. Was it a tired Titans pass rush? Bad scheming from Fisher? Or excellent protection? Either one, it was a shadow of the 1st quarter where Ben was getting pummelled. Kudos for Ben for getting the job done with some nice pump fakes and generally being quite accurate.
Titans could feel a little unlucky. If Bironas kicks those 2 FGs it could have been quite different. They certainly deserved to have been leading at the half, but couldn't capitalise on their superior start. Collins played pretty well for me, and was let down by a couple of drops by Gage. Pity Jared Cook wasn't playing as he could have made a few interesting matchups out there instead of constantly throwing to Scaife and sometimes Crumpler.
Lions Underrated beacuse of Schwartz?
Does anyone else the Vegas lines might not be taking into account the power of the Schwartz? If they're right on all other factors, that would make the Lions underrated, right?
I'm not planning on putting any money on them, but I will be pulling for the Lions and their statistically inclined coach. Will he win? Who knows? The 49ers stink and they're the only team that I know uses stats to help them in the draft.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
I don't think the 49ers use stats to help them in the draft. And there are most definitely other teams that do.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Bill, any chance of getting the full +/- 5% list posted on the site before 1:00? It would be greatly appreciated!
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
The football team from my geographic area is superior to the football team from your geographic area. We will win and you will lose.
Hail Hydra!
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Very hard for me argue with that... (living in the UK)
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Perhaps I should be lnyched for bringing up Favre, but I really like the Sears commercial with him buying a tv.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Be sure to join a star-studded cast of your favorite FO posters for another season of IRC football chat! Server: bendenweyr.dyndns.org, channel #fo
Brief tutorials for the IRC-shy:
- go to mirc.com and download the client
- type /server bendenweyr.dyndns.org in the status window
- type /join #fo in the status window
or
- go to mibbit.com
- click on the server link and paste bendenweyr.dyndns.org as the address
- enter #fo as the channel, pick a nick, hit go
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Brees has picked up where he left off.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
The new RedZone channel is perfect for those with ADD - you're basically giving someone else the remote and decide what you get to see.
But no commercials. And lacking Sunday Ticket on FiOS, it's not a horrible thing.
NFL Gamepass Dead?
Any non-US readers have NFL Gamepass and actually able to get the games?
I have been watching the crappy NFL Network content ok all week, checked half an hour before kickoff and everything was ok. As soon as the games roll round I am kicked out and the service has completed vanished, no response from https://gamepass.nfl.com at all.
So stuck with no games and $240 out of pocket. Thanks NFL!
Re: NFL Gamepass Dead?
field pass radio is working in the UK.
Good luck.
Re: NFL Gamepass Dead?
I am having exactly the same problems. Got on to see the first half hour after hitting refresh a lot and now can't get near the site at all. I have tried sending in an live help complaint but..
Re: NFL Gamepass Dead?
Same problem here in France. I watched the first 20 minutes, then bam, my browser crached and when I restarted it, I can only rarely get to the login page and never past that. Once, I tried to login and it told me I was in a restricted territory (hmm, is France a US outlying territory? Dunno, but I think "non"...); each other attempt leaves me with a "la connexion a échouée" message.
Re: NFL Gamepass Dead?
Yeah, same shit here. Not really acceptable, frankly. I seem to remember this is often a problem near the start of the season.
Cadillac Williams
I need to talk to cadillac's surgeon. He looks amazing.
Re: Cadillac Williams
Uh, yeah. Frankly, if he has a good year and stays healthy, I can handle the expected lousy Bucs season. He deserves it after all the crap he's been through.
Then again, Ward's looked really good as well. I'm torn between being pleasantly surprised that Tampa's offense actually has looked good and thinking that Dallas' defense must be stinking awful.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Jake Delhomme so far has thrown an INT and had a fumble taken back for a TD. It's like 2008 never ended for him.
Vikings @ Browns
Billick and his lackey are making my ears bleed. "Darren" Bevell? Calling a touchdown-negated post-challenge field goal an extra point?
I may be forced to turn off the commentary and let the bare competence of these two teams speak for themselves.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Hey, Detroit still sucks.
Edit: Wait, they get the ball deep in Saints territory on a Bush punt return fumble, and Stafford throws a pick on the next play and it comes back 50 yards, plus a 15-yarder on top of that for somebody on the bench running into an official. Detroit still REALLY sucks.
Re: NFL Gamepass HD "support"
I went online to the NFL's contractor's site (neulion.com). I waited 15 minutes for my online chat request to be answered.
The person that finally did answer put in this response:
NFL Field Pass: We are aware of an issue related to slow page loads on NFL.com related sites - that issue should be resolved if you can try logging in again.
Then they disconnected directly, before I could even communicate with them.
Needless to say (perhaps), logging in again still doesn't work.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Having a lot of fun watching this Eagles game. But...as I say that McNabb's gone down holding a knee - oh crap. Anyway was just asking myself why the Panthers hadn't tried a couple more screens and then they try one that picked by Akeem Jordan. Pick #3 for Jake - but hey at least he's getting paid well for them...
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Looked like it was McNabb's lower back. Hopefully he doesn't have the same back surgeon as Shawn Andrews.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
duplicate removed
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Is it just me or is this the week of the shitty (tight end) player. Im skimming over the stats and every awful player i can think of is putting up a good week via luck or actually playing good. Dwayne bowe is awful. But wait.... 2 yard touchdown pass. Now hes decent after 1 retarded play. Shockey??? wtf. Brent celek now theres a superstar. NOT. Roy "1 year wonder" williams for 60 yards! I can only imagine that it was blown coverage. Im being honest when i say i could probably cover him 1 on 1. Jamal lewis. BOOYAH. Gotta love one of the worst players in the league putting up a solid 5 yards per carry. Ill probably get homer fans from all these players talking their players up but its only a matter of time before they remember that they arent good players. They arent even decent players. Someone get me a tissue cause i cant stop crying. I waited 8 months for this?!
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Why hasn't Reggie Bush been cut yet?
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Adrian Peterson is ridiculous.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
That run was amazing to watch, even taking into account the bad tackling.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
At halftime I sent my father the following mocking message about his Vikings: "Purple Jesus=ineffective and Sir Almighty Penis=Captain Checkdown." (I think it's obvious enough who the latter is but why is a long story.)
I shall not ever again mock Adrian Peterson.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
SCREW YOU KELLEN WINSLOW
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Gus Johnson just put the bar out of reach on that ridiculous Broncos TD.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
I switched to a different game literally right before that play. @#$!!!!
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Ahh, the Bengals.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
So far the Seahawks game has had a fumbled kickoff, a dropped TD pass and a pick in the endzone and the game is 3 plays old. NFL fever!
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Since then there have been personal foul penalties, another Seahawks fumble which led to a 3rd and long play where the Rams couldn't snap the ball and 2 time outs burned on back to back play and then a completely wasted challenge... Sheesh.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Yep I'm watching Rams-Hawks too trying to see if the FO Rams might be the unstoppable juggernaut in the NFC West. It's been an awful display by both sides so far, it's a shame there has to be a winner in the NFC West really.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Maybe you had to be there?
/I need an Incognito jersey
//I love how he plays
///Seahawks fan
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
I watched the game on TV, and throughout the first half I thought the crowd kept the Seahawks in the game. The defense looked like it was getting pushed around, and the offense was doing next to nothing with the ball. They were a boneheaded Rams penalty (12 men on the field) away from going into halftime tied 7-7.
And then Mora must have given them a heck of a halftime speech, because they finally got their act together. And the Rams suddenly remembered that they're the Rams. Unfortunately, the Seahawks are not going to have the luxury of playing like crap in the first half all season and they're not going to be playing the Rams each week.
There were absolutely some pluses: Julius Jones ran hard, Forsett gives an amazing change of pace . . . and Burleson looks like he was never injured. There was a nice 4th quarter pass rush, which is hard to muster. And the play where Seneca came on the field and then caught the pass from Hasselbeck was magic (too bad it was snuffed out by Hasselbeck with an INT).
It was just an odd feeling: I watched a 28-0 blowout and thought, "they could absolutely lose in SF next week if they play like this again."
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
The 'boneheaded penalty' might have had something to do with the kick block and subsequent return. It wasn't a guy getting caught trying to get off the field, they actually rushed twelve guys.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
I'm a Skins fan, but I think Moss should have been tossed there (for punching Cory (Corey?) Webster. Instead nothin' but offsetting penalties.
DeAngelo Hall
Good job. Still sucks.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Anyone else get a laugh out of the fact that Denver won the game on an 87 yard TD pass with 20 seconds remaining from arguably the weakest-armed QB in the league to arguably the slowest WR in the game?
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Yeah, that's probably not happening again. Dhani Jones almost caught him, for god's sake.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
1) Who was doing play-by-play for the national broadcast of Jacksonville-Indianapolis? He was quite good at mentioning how many DBs were on the field.
2) Freeney was way too much for Monroe to handle. So to speak.
3) Does Del Rio not trust any of his backup halfbacks? The only guy I remember relieving MJD was backup FB Montel Owens.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
DeAngelo Hall continues to suck in coverage, but still coming up with the big play. This time he got beat by Steve Smith, but the ball was tipped and the ball just fell like a snowflake into his arms...
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Richie Incognito has to get some kind of recognition for this display...
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
I find it interesting that Baltimore went for it on 4th & goal from the 1, up by a touchdown with 36 seconds left, having failed to convert it the play before. Why would you NOT kick the field goal there for the essentially automatic win? The only thing the touchdown really did was cause them to beat the spread in bizarre fashion.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Seriously, that move really pissed me off.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Because Harbaugh wanted to cover, of course...
Actually, I think it is the smart play. With a field goal you can have a botched snap or blocked kick returned for a TD, whereas if they fail to run it in KC has to go 99 yards with no time outs. KC already blocked a kick for a TD earlier, so that was probably on harbaugh's mind.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Why is Al Michaels wearing such a horrible rug?
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Jay Cutler looks completely dazed and confused. Not exploiting obvious blitzes, tries to throw two picks, succeeds on his third attempt. He better get it together
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Its not helping that the Bears line is absolutely terrible.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
This feels like a preseason game from both quarterbacks. Rodgers is overthrowing receivers downfield. Cutler is throwing to the other team.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Chicago makes the right decision in going for it. Cutler gets it with the sneak, and hits Hester with a bomb for a TD on the next play.
10-9 Green Bay.
Woodson, Harris, Hawk, Matthews, Bigby...
The Green Bay defense leads the league in hair.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
fake punt and they're stopped!
4th and 11 in a two point game
odd call by Chicago
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Michaels: "And Lovie's thrown the challenge flag."
Collinsworth: "Maybe on his own call."
Lovie with his second challenge of the game, this time saying Clay Matthews did not get off the field before the snap.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
I'm tired of the announcers saying that there was no upside in the quick snap attempt (if it had worked). The upside is that you get a free chance to try a fake punt.
It was weird. The punter didn't even try to pretend it was a bad snap or anything.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
That is true but you do need to pick up 11 yards. I dont know what the odds of that are, but it seems to me you need to be pretty damn sure its free.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
And even if you pick up the first down, you're still way out of field goal range. There's not much upside to the move.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Well yeah. It was a dumb play poorly executed but it wasn't quite as dumb as the announcers made it out to be.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Sorry double post.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
urgh, blown call right there kills Green Bay.
"Illegal contact" and an undeserved automatic first down for Chicago.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Specifically, Hester lined up one yard back of the LOS, leaving the tackle uncovered (but no call!), causing the official that threw the flag to think that the contact occurred six yards deep (instead of five).
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Unless Green Bay can drive down the field for the winning score, a blown call will have decided the outcome of tonight's game.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
TOUCHDOWN GREEN BAY!
Rodgers goes deep to a wide open Jennings. Play action pass on 3rd and 1.
and they're going for two
They make it.
Jennings just roasted Nathan Vasher.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Cutler throws one to Harris and that's it!
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
So to put this in perspective, is the Chicago line really bad or is the GB defense really good? Of course there is the wussy option of it being the combination of the two...
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Cant it be that Cutler and especially forte are massively overrated? Forte is a below average runningback getting the bulk of the touches (last year). Like i have said all summer.... forte makes the bears offensive line look bad by being ineffective on a per play basis.
Give it more weeks to develop before ripping my head off ladies.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Well I think ALL the Bears offense sucked. Cutler was probably their best player, maybe Earl Bennett - and that's damning with faint praise. There was no running push, little protection and the WRs made some awful route running errors as Collinsworth pointed out on a few of Cutler's bad plays.
In fact, by the end I kinda felt bad for Cutler because he'll be the easy target for the loss. Plus I was getting a little sick of all the smoke being blown up the Aaron Rodgers/Green Bay tailpipe this week (including half the FO staff seemingly picking GB for the Super Bowl haha), so I found it a bit easier to support the Bears.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Yeah I thought it was noticeable that Bill Barnwell — the writer who covers the NFC North — was one of the few Outsiders not getting overexcited about the Pack. His chapter in FOA identified the offensive line as a problem, and going from last night it sure looks like one.
I thought Collinsworth called a good game — it's rare to get insight on WRs, as color commentators tend to be ex-QBs or offensive line specialists.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
They sucked in the first half, but improved a lot in the second. I'd give the responsibility for the first half sucking to 1) the blocking, 2) Cutler, and 3) the receivers/runners, in that order. It was interesting that a couple of the biggest route running errors came from the one guy with experience, Desmond Clark, not going where he should on Cutler's first interception or on the near touchdown pass in the back of the end zone. Still, Cutler never should've thrown that pass on the first interception (or on his 3rd int, or on a couple of the near ints).
The protection improved in the 2nd half and Cutler looked better when he had more time to stand in the pocket and throw the ball. The announcers, who overall did a pretty good job, noticed that he was looking more poised standing in the pocket, but they never pointed out that this was because his line was finally giving him a pocket.
Re: Green Bay / Chicago
I'm just curious to know if it's a fact that offensive lines take some time working together to become good. There was a lot of terrible play by the offensive lines in this game - granted, the defenses are good and coached well, but I was just stunned at how QB's on both sides were running for their lives and that at critical moments the run game lacked any sort of push.
I'm also curious to know if these lines - for both teams - really have the potential to become that good.
Off-topic: I also saw Philadelphia and Carolina today. I'm an Eagles fan and I was worried about the line but not worried about the defense. Yes, fumbles and kick returns are random events that count as luck, I think I remember you guys saying. But wow, that felt good.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
I think the refs do not understand the so-called "Brady rule". Vince Wilfork was just flagged for what would have ordinarily been thought to be a normal hit.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Agree. Bad call.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Was he blocked into the quarterbacks legs? No. Is that where he tackled him? Yes. Life's tough, he's paid millions. He can figure it out.
And Thomas deserved that one too. What an idiot.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
> Is that where he tackled him?
Last time I checked, the waist is not considered part of the legs.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
If you're tackling someone and your face is in his nuts, you're diving at his legs.
/You dirty cheater.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Nuts are also not part of the legs and its only the knees and below that is a no-no.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Naw, there are a lot of rules. When people bitch about shit like this, what they're usually saying is Favre and Brady should be treated like fine china, but open season on the other guys without that NFL Icon status. Brady gets the tuck rule, but for Shaun Hill "It's really a fumble and the officials should realize at somepoint it's football." Screw that. Clowns calling games only encourage that ... I'm tempted to call it "thinking."
Granted, the rules are what they are, and they may be byzantine or simply ill-concieved. But if that's too much of a burden for highly paid professional football players, perhaps a regular job is more their speed. Good luck with that.
If people want open season on the quarterbacks, at least that viewpoint has the virtue of consistancy. But let's remember what that did to the careers of some of the other rare talents. Combine that with the players size and speed now? Well, Brady would already be retired.
The squishy millionaire, of his own volition, dove for a guys legs, hit his knees in the process of burying his face in his nuts. Because of the privilege of the man's position, it is a no no. He can eat his 15 and new downs.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
I agree with you that Thomas has to stop when the officials blow the whistle, but if you're going to penalize Wilfork's hit, you might as well just blow the whistle whenever there's a defensive player coming unabated to the quarterback. (EDIT: and let the Steelers renege on Big Ben's contract extension.)
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Agreed. I thought there was a case for the Thomas scoop slam, though the commentators were harping the wrong issue (the slam itself, not the timing). I saw nothing wrong with what Wilfork did.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Why, McKelvin, why? (Patriots run out the hands team but kick it deep; McKelvin fields the ball with his teammates in position to recover an onside kick and turns the ball over while trying to get a good return.)
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TD Watson (pending what should be a formality of a review), to give the Patriots the late lead.
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Fumble! why oh why would anyone bring that out of the end zone anyway?
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Running it back isn't a bad idea because, with 2:06 on the clock, you can eat up the 2 minute warning. Fumbling? Well, that's just magic beans for you.
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If that was his goal, why not just stand in the end zone without taking a knee? Heck, move to the back corner. That way the Patriots have to run that much farther to get to you, and you just take a knee when they get close.
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Could you really run off 6 seconds that way? Seems like a long time to me given that the clock only starts when the ball is caught.
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I'd say 2 maybe three seconds at the most.
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watch the replay. he got the time to the 1:59 mark before he would have been down. I was telling my dad that it would be huge for buffalo to run it past the 2 min mark and he was skeptical. But it was clearly 7 seconds that would have ran off on that return
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Whether or not you think he could've wasted the extra time or not, I think the moral of the story isn't so much that you shouldn't run it back in that situation as that you shouldn't drop the ball in that situation.
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
He brought it out of the endzone to run the clock to under 2 minutes; if he doesn't fumble, it worked perfectly (and would have bought the Bills an extra 40 seconds of running out the clock).
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That was his second fumble on a kickoff return of the half, too.
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The Bills seem to have a particularly special ability to find new, excruciating ways to lose football games.
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On the bright side, they're still not the Bengals.
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And Russell starts the season off right. Interception in under 5 minutes...nice
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Al Davis suddenly doesnt look completely insane. Lets see if this feeling can persist for 5 minutes.
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33 yds to a tie game, let's see what happens...
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Small sample size theater:
Michael Bush currently on pace for 407 carries, Darren McFadden on pace for 570.
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All tied up. grigg, it lasted at least 10 min :)
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How was the Louis Murphy overturned TD different than the Ben Watson TD that was not overturned?
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Ball didn't really roll around for Ben?
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I think it was a questionable call; to me it seemed that the ball was still under his arm when his ass was flat on the ground.
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Ben Watson wears a Patriots jersey?
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We've been transported to some kind of bizarro world where the Raiders stuff runs and sack the quarterback!
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Not Bizarro World. Norv World.
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I think they just showed a guy in the stands wearing a Heyward-Bey jersey.
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Is this the worst announcing crew of them all?
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"There is no rational reason [Tomlinson]'s not on the field."
"Touchdown, Sproles!"
I'm getting flashbacks to Theisman-Maguire-Patrick...
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WTF? Chargers ran 5 plays after a touchback, and ended up right back where they started after 20 yards of penalties on one down?
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This game is so horrible. Bad offense. Bad announcing. San Diego somehow making Oakland look respectible. And constant commericals between all the three and outs and San Diego injuries. And yet I must watch to see how my fantasy week plays out. Damn you Norv Turner! Damn you to hell!
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My fantasy team is already screwed, now I just want to drag everyone else down with me.
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The one player that really impressed me in the Charger raider game was Chris johnson. This Raider defense had to make raiderjoe happy. They really looked great. Its only 1 week but it has all the implications of being an elite unit this year. Rivers didnt try to force anything and took everything that was given to him. No bad passes from him the whole game and yet the Raider defense outplayed them.
I don't think the raiders will be raideresque this year
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Hahahahahahahaha!!!!! Oh my god!
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EPIC FAIL!!!
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I always like how there's more offense in last minutes of an NFL game than the 3 plus quarters before it. Just see:
San Diego v. Oakland
Cincinnati v. Denver
Tennessee v. Pittburgh
Chicago v. Green Bay
etc...
Re: Week 1 Open Discussion Thread
Prevent defense...
Prevents you from winning.