8-4 going into Monday night. *Sigh* I'm destined to a "middle of the pack" season. And that's optimistic. Just like my team.

quote:

Originally posted by MajorNougat:
Green Bay would lose by 21 to Indianapolis and New England. Dallas would lose by 14.

Heh, I guess I gave Dallas too much credit. Who knew?

But seriously, I think that this New England team is head and shoulders above any team in recent years. As much as Belicheck irritates me, his team is a thing of beauty to watch this year. They have the best offense in the league and one of the best defenses as well.

The Cowboys are very good, but two things bother me about them(aside from the fact that they're the hated Dallas Cowboys):
1)Wade Phillips just doesn't look like an NFL head coach. I find it hard to picture that guy coaching in the Super Bowl.
2)TO. I'm not convinced that any team's chemistry can last with a guy like him in the locker room.

quote:

Originally posted by MajorNougat:
TO. I'm not convinced that any team's chemistry can last with a guy like him in the locker room.

Parcells evidently agreed with you. However, I'm interested in how quiet Randy Moss and TO have been this year. Maybe they just needed to find the right team. I've hated TO for years, but it's been harder recently.

Dallas did lose by 14 points; it was 41-27 before the Patriots scored that last touchdown with less than 30 seconds left.

I concede that New England is a better team but no, I don’t think that they are “head and shoulders above any team in recent years.” And I also don’t believe that they have the best offense in the league, you need to have some kind of running game for that to be true. I think it’s very simple to realize how the Patriots play. Brady loves to sit back in the shotgun—he does this because it gives him a few extra seconds to watch everything because 1) he can’t move and 2) he needs that little extra time to figure out the defense. They basically throw it around the entire field and the Cowboys are horrible at given up the big play down the secondary. And the Patriots running game consist of the short passing game. Brady has always loved that and that boosts his completion percentage—take a two step drop, throw a quick pass, for 4 yards—that’s the way they move the ball. That’s why the Cowboys figured it out when they rushed Brady when he tried to do that on Sunday and they ran it back for a touchdown because of it.

Their defense is all right as well, the Cowboys moved the ball all right. Romo’s numbers weren’t inflated because they do have a running game and the Cowboys were able to run it on New England. They did have the ball in New England territory a lot though and they did put up points.

I have a sneaking feeling like the Patriots might lose against the Dolphins this week. Everyone was saying “well they scored that many against Dallas, imagine against Miami, haha!” Yeah, well Miami has given them fits in years past and their defense knows how to rattle Brady.

But aside all of that, I hate the Patriots. I hate their cocky, stuck-up attitude that stems from their cheating coach and pretty-boy quarterback.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
you need to have some kind of running game for that to be true.

Here's the thing, though, they do have a running game. Maroney has been out the last few games, but Morris has filled in very nicely up until yesterday's game when he got dinged up. If Maroney or Morris can stay healthy, they will produce. In fact, the Patriots rank 7th in rushing and Dallas ranks 11.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
I hate their cocky, stuck-up attitude that stems from their cheating coach and pretty-boy quarterback.

You mean kinda like the Cowboys teams of the mid 90's?*

*minus the cheating part.

BTW, did anyone else see the NFL guys last night when they said the only team that could beat the Patriots are the Rockies!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PRG,

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
Dallas did lose by 14 points; it was 41-27 before the Patriots scored that last touchdown with less than 30 seconds left.

Yeah, hence my wink. I thought scoring that touchdown was a dick move.

quote:

I concede that New England is a better team but no, I don’t think that they are “head and shoulders above any team in recent years.” And I also don’t believe that they have the best offense in the league, you need to have some kind of running game for that to be true.

Well, I don't think that you need a good running game to have a great offense, but they do have a good one when Maroney plays. They've been over 100 yards rushing every game that Maroney has played.

quote:

I think it’s very simple to realize how the Patriots play.

It might be simple to realize, but so far it's been near impossible to stop. They have too many weapons at receiver and tight end, and you'd realize they had one at running back too if Maroney were healthy.

quote:

They basically throw it around the entire field and the Cowboys are horrible at given up the big play down the secondary.

Yes, Belicheck is a master at pinpointing your weaknesses and making you pay for them. Both sides on the ball. I don't like him, but he sure can coach. Your secondary is more of a weakness than your line, and he exploited that. It's confusing, because I always feel Dallas has the personnel to have a top-notch secondary, but they have seemed to be suspect.

quote:

Their defense is all right as well, the Cowboys moved the ball all right. Romo’s numbers weren’t inflated because they do have a running game and the Cowboys were able to run it on New England. They did have the ball in New England territory a lot though and they did put up points.

They held one of the top three offenses in the league to less than 300 yards. Dallas didn't rush for 100 yards and they didn't throw for 200. That was at home. Yes, Dallas moved the ball some and put up 20 points(in addition to seven defensive), but has anybody done that well in limiting Dallas in terms of yards and time of possession?

quote:

I have a sneaking feeling like the Patriots might lose against the Dolphins this week.

I wouldn't bet on that sneaking feeling.

quote:

But aside all of that, I hate the Patriots. I hate their cocky, stuck-up attitude that stems from their cheating coach and pretty-boy quarterback.

That's the most reasonable thing you said in your entire post.

quote:

Originally posted by PRG:
You mean kinda like the Cowboys teams of the mid 90's?*

Man, "America's Team". That was a dark, dark period in my NFL history.

quote:

BTW, did anyone else see the NFL guys last night when they said the only team that could beat the Patriots are the Rockies!

I didn't see it, but that's pretty funny.

quote:

Dallas did lose by 14 points; it was 41-27 before the Patriots scored that last touchdown with less than 30 seconds left.

Fragile, Nougat, don't know if you ever read Bill Simmons but he brought this up in his latest article. Apparently New England has been putting up late meaningless touchdowns all season:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/bostonblog/071015

Here are my picks for the week:
Wash
N.O.
Buff
Dall
N.E.
N.Y.G.
Det
Hou
K.C.
Cin
Philly
Sea
Den
Jaq

BAL @ buf
atl @ NO
ari @ WAS
sf @ NYG
NE @ mia
TEN @ hou
TB @ det
KC @ oak
nyj @ CIN
stl @ SEA
CHI @ phi
min @ DAL
PIT @ den
**UPSET SPECIAL**
ind @ JAX
Garrard has made one turnover this year, a lost fumble. Jones-Drew has caught his rhythm and will shred a pedestrian Colts D. Manning will pitch a few touchdowns, but look for the Jags to repeat their last performance against the Colts. (Maybe not such a lopsided score, but I don't foresee this game being a nailbiter. Addai will be frustrated by a strong Jaguars running D and the Colts will be forced to be one-dimensional, rendering Manning's cripplingly effective play action passes worthless and forcing him into a three-down [or four-down?] passing situation, one that is unhealthy no matter how good your quarterback is.)

quote:

Originally posted by Besttasteinmusicever:
Fragile, Nougat, don't know if you ever read Bill Simmons but he brought this up in his latest article. Apparently New England has been putting up late meaningless touchdowns all season:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/bostonblog/071015

Yeah, I'm a regular reader of Bill Simmons. He's getting pretty unbelievably irritating in his defense of Belicheck these days.

Baltimore
New England
New Orleans
NY Giants
Washington
Houston
Tampa
Kansas City
Cincinnati
Dallas
Chicago
Seattle
Pittsburgh
Indianapolis

Full of a false sense of hope and confidence after last week:

ARI@Was
Atl @ NO
BAL@ Buf
Min @ DAL
NE@ Mia
SF @ NYG
TB@ Det
Ten @ HOU
KC @ OAK
NYJ @ CIN
Chi @ PHI
Stl @ SEA
PIT@ Den
IND@ Jac

quote:

Originally posted by MajorNougat:
Week #6 Results:

FKA ~ 6-7

Dang, I stunk up this week.

quote:

Yeah, I'm a regular reader of Bill Simmons. He's getting pretty unbelievably irritating in his defense of Belicheck these days.

Yeah, I agree, but if I was a fan of the Patriots, I might look the other way. After all, I was a Barry Bonds fan since I liked the Giants.

Tennessee
Baltimore
Dallas
Tampa
Washington
NYG
New Orleans
New England
KC
Cincinnati
Chicago
Seattle
Pittsburgh
Jacksonville

Ravens @ Bills

Buccaneers @ Lions

Titans @ Texans

Patriots @ Dolphins

49ers @ Giants

Falcons @ Saints

Cardinals @ Redskins

Jets @ Bengals

Chiefs @ Raiders

Bears @ Eagles

Vikings @ Cowboys

Rams @ Seahawks

Steelers @ Broncos

Colts @ Jaguars

Yeah, I know, and I hope you're all right, but I think everyone's prediction of the demise of the Colts at Jacksonville's hands is premature.