The NFL 2011 Thread

mkozlows · 2011-10-23T15:35:53.000Z

That 58 yard field goal of Crosby’s was insane. Not just that it was a 58 yard field goal, which is impressive enough on its own, but that it was an easy, easy 58 yarder. It looked like a routine 30 yarder, except for where it came from.

Sarkus · 2011-10-23T15:36:29.000Z

We probably shouldn’t jump to any conclusions since McFadden is out, but Palmer sure does look rusty. Which is not a surprise, but if the Raiders are going to win this year they need him to get up to speed quickly.

sluggo · 2011-10-23T15:44:58.000Z

This is a good time for Palmer to start working the kinks out. They’re already behind, they’re not coming back, and they’ve got a bye next week, so hopefully he’ll be in game shape in 2 weeks.

caesarbear · 2011-10-23T15:57:10.000Z

mkozlows:

As much talk as there is about the talent level on the Packers, I increasingly suspect that they’re a Colts-like team, where if Rodgers went out, they’d be lucky to win at all.

How quickly we forget about Matt Flynn.

sluggo · 2011-10-23T15:57:52.000Z

Well, this Minnesota game just got more interesting, didn’t it?

Lorini · 2011-10-23T15:59:49.000Z

Sarkus:

We probably shouldn’t jump to any conclusions since McFadden is out, but Palmer sure does look rusty. Which is not a surprise, but if the Raiders are going to win this year they need him to get up to speed quickly.

Bush has more yards (99) than McFadden did last week, so it’s not like the Raiders are losing a lot with McFadden’s absence. And yes, they may as well play Palmer.

Sarkus · 2011-10-23T16:10:26.000Z

sluggo:

Well, this Minnesota game just got more interesting, didn’t it?

Yes it is. Ponder looks a lot better then I thought he would.

mkozlows · 2011-10-23T16:16:23.000Z

“It’s easy for us to forget about the pressure on Mike McCarthy taking over from Mike Holmgren.” Yes, it’s extremely easy to forget about that, due to how Ray Rhodes and Mike Sherman were in there between them.

sluggo · 2011-10-23T16:27:53.000Z

This was actually a very interesting day in Suck For Luck, as we start to see some separation between teams that might have been in the hunt:

Chiefs: win, 3-3
Browns: win, 3-3
Broncos: win, 2-4
Panthers: win, 2-4

Meanwhile:

Cards: lose, 1-5
Rams: lose, 0-6
Vikes: lose, 1-5
Dolphins: lose, 0-6
Colts: 0-6, play Saints tonight

I think the Cards and Rams will both inevitably win a few games playing the NFC Worst, and the Vikings have shown several times that they’re hardly an inept team, so I think it’s going to come down to the Colts and Dolphins. Both teams have rough schedules, so it might come down to who only gets 1 or 2 wins and Indy vs Jax on the final day of the season.

DT1 · 2011-10-23T16:30:14.000Z

It had better not be the Colts. That’s not fair.

Sarkus · 2011-10-23T16:30:55.000Z

I don’t know about discounting the Rams chances, anyway. They are really horrible, even in comparison to Seattle and the Cardinals this year.

scottypuck · 2011-10-23T16:35:30.000Z

sluggo:

As a fellow Dolphins fan of 31 years, I think the most hilarious part of it is how predictable their sucking is. At 15-0, I KNEW they wouldn’t be able to quietly run off the last 7 minutes, that they would find a way to let the Broncos back in the game. That’s the mark of real suckage.

Not just real suckage, but epic suckage:

ESPN Stats & Info:

                                                 [U]#Elias:[/U] Today, the Broncos became 1st team since merger to win gm in which they  trailed by 15+ pts with 3 min remaining in the 4th quarter.

Brandon_Clements · 2011-10-23T16:49:01.000Z

Lost in all those stats: DeMarco Murray passes Emmitt Smith’s single game rushing record for the Cowboys. Bad day all around for former Arkansas running backs.

Eightball · 2011-10-23T17:05:57.000Z

If the Colts get Luck, that’s simply unfair.

Brandon Clements:

Lost in all those stats: DeMarco Murray passes Emmitt Smith’s single game rushing record for the Cowboys. Bad day all around for former Arkansas running backs.

Didn’t Smith go to Florida?

Brandon_Clements · 2011-10-23T17:13:57.000Z

Eightball:

Didn’t Smith go to Florida?

Went out to Arizona; still a Cowboy though.

Sarkus · 2011-10-23T17:16:16.000Z

Yeah, Emmitt went to college at Florida, so I don’t know what the Arkansas comment is about (other then a reference to McFadden), unless is was supposed to be about Felix Jones having a bad day because his replacement did so well.

Chris · 2011-10-23T17:16:24.000Z

I assume he is referring to ex-Razorback Felix Jones who has done nothing all year long for the Cowboys and is currently out with a high ankle sprain. Murray might just take over the starting RB job from him while he is sidelined. I hope so anyway, Murray fought for yardage with each carry, Jones didn’t run with that kind of authority this year.

sluggo · 2011-10-23T17:33:34.000Z

Sarkus:

I don’t know about discounting the Rams chances, anyway. They are really horrible, even in comparison to Seattle and the Cardinals this year.

After next week, when they lose to the Saints, the Rams’ next 7 games are: Arizona, Cleveland, Seattle, Arizona, SF, Seattle, Cincy.

Even if they split with the Cards, they’re going to win at least 2 or 3 of those games. And I think 3 wins will put you out of the running for Luck.

In contrast, here’s Miami’s schedule after the KC game: Washington, Buffalo, Dallas, Oakland, Philly, Buffalo, New England, Jets.

Who do you think will end up with more wins? :)

If Miami doesn’t beat the Chiefs – who look like they’re shaking off the rust – Miami might run the table.

Sarkus · 2011-10-23T17:42:00.000Z

St. Louis could easily lose to everyone on that schedule. Arizona is the only “really bad” team on that list, and they’ve actually played several solid games. The Rams, in comparison, have yet to show up. And even the Dolphins have come close several times, even though that is a tougher schedule.

I’m just saying that its too early to discount the Rams from having a chance to end up with the #1 pick. One big factor in how it turns out will be when/if coaches are fired and how players respond to that.

Brandon_Clements · 2011-10-23T17:48:07.000Z

Felix Jones, Darren McFadden and Peyton Hillis were all at Arkansas at the same time. None played for any length of time today; my apologies if the reference wasn’t well known.