NFL Week 5

[Number27]

week for is officially in the books so nows we moves on.


the Pats have a bye week to come up with an offensive system that won't be so predictable for the Ravens (unlike last year's playoffs :scowl: )

What we do have this week is...

JAC @ BUF: The Jags will be riding high after that upset over the Colts.. prehaps a little too high. Me thinks Icarus will come crashing down this week (yes i realise they're playing the Bills). Fittzy-bun-buns has a good game: Ocelots 17 Flubbalo 20

DEN @ BAL: Having seen literally zero of the Broncos Titans game the only way i can explain the scoreline is that Tim Tebow called in a favor with God and had the Titans smited. These are the kinds of favors that one can only call in once a year so i'll go with Blotimore. My Little Ponies 10 Crows 24

KC @ IND: Who woulda thought that the Chiefs would be the undefeated team going into this weeks match? certainly not me. If they pull this one out though i'll be officially impressed. Patriots West 12 Flicka 23

GB @ WAS: Washington may have beaten the Eagles but I still don't have a lot of confidence in them. Green Bay on the other hand started out like a house on fire and.. well with the way they've played the last two they could end up like.. well.. like a house that was on fire BTW has anyone else thought it strange that packers fans are cheeseheads? i mean i get that Wisconsin is famous for cheese but the Pack were named after MEAT packing not cheese packing... anyway I'll look to the Pack to turn things around here with a road victory. Meatheads 24 Rosacea 14

STL @ DET: The Edsels did suprisingly well against the supposedly unstoppable juggernaut that is the Green Bay Packers so it should pass that they could beat a frisky but hardly unbeatable Rams team. With (potentially) two up and coming QBs on parade it'll probably be an entertaining game. Sheep 21 Edsels 23

CHI @ CAR: Too bad for Cutler to suffer a concussion, but frankly, behind a line like that it's a miracle he hasn't been knocked out before. Carolina sucks. Pooh(bears) 17 Carolina Hurricanes 3

TB @ CIN: This is where the Bucs start showing us who they really are... Creamsicles 9 Bagles 28

ATL @ CLE: I'm going to keep riding the Falcons until they show me that can no longer beat mediocre->terrible teams. Flacons 21 Cleveland 14

NYG @ HOU: The big bad Giants knocked Cutler senseless in their game, meanwhile the savy Gary Kubiak managed to punish Adrian Foster (by leaving him benched for the first quarter) but not to the detriment of his team as the ended up winning on the road (although they were playing oakland). That's coaching i like. The Blue Man Group's less talented scrubs 20 Moo Moos 34

NO @ ARI: I don't care how bad New Orleans is they should be able to take the Cards... just Fleur de Brees 28 Tweeties 13

TEN @ DAL: We'll see if Houston's former team do any better against Jerry's boys than their current did. Dallas just came off their bye so they've had plenty of time to study what they did right in the first 3- scratch that- last game they played. Thumbtacks 18 Cowfolk 20

SD @ OAK: See last weeks ARI v SD blurb. Whale's Vagina 34 Al Davis' Monster 10

PHI @ SF: A vickless Eagles versus a witless 49ers. Home team +3. Vickadelphia 17 Wewishbillwalshwasstillaliveers 20

and for monday night:
MIN @ NYJ: I said last week that if Jersey are really good then they'll take out the trash in Buffalo. And unfortunately they did. The Favre show is in town now and is probably not going to be sticking around for an encore. Minnebago 16 New Jersey 24

 

[Jeff K]

As a Steelers fan, I shall be rooting for the Patriots in that one...

 

[Number27]

As a Steelers fan, I shall be rooting for the Patriots in that one...

and as a Patriots fan i shall be rooting that Ben Worthlessburger shows that he has learned from all his past mistakes by showing up at Heinz Field on a motorcycle shaped like a 13 year old girl.

 

[mrpackerguy]

Packers at Skins. Hmmmm....Donovan is playing well. Packers are playing marginal. I think this could be high scoring.

Pack 34
Skins 31

In other NFC action

Queens should lose in the Meadowlands the way they are playing - Jets D is too tough

Lions I think will get their 1st win against St. Louis, hough the Rams are coming on strong and Bradford looks confident.

Chicago probably squeeks by Carolina.

 

[MJ5150]

It doesn't feel right unless MPG starts these threads.

No game for me this week, so I am not watching any football on Sunday.

-Mike

 

[Gard]

30-32 for the season. That's just suckin'....let's see if I can improve a bit this week:

Jacksonville @ Buffalo - Jax beat the Colts last week, so they're great right? No...but they're better than Buffalo! Jax 24 Buffalo 10

Denver @ Baltimore - Baltimore seems to have found their passing game, they already have a fair rushing game. Denver won't sneak out of Baltimore with a win like they did out of Nashville. Denver 13 Baltimore 20

Atlanta @ Cleveland - CLEVELAND ROCKS, CLEVELAND ROCKS!! They actually won a game. Amazing!!! Too bad it won't matter this week. As much as it pains me to pick the Foulclowns (who were VERY fortunate against the 49ers!), I must. Atlanta 27 Cleveland Steamers 9

Kansas City @ Indianapolis - KC on a roll; Indy looking flat. Part of me doesn't trust KC, and doesn't trust Indy looking as flat as they have. However, ignoring evidence is not wise either....tough call...home field 3... KC 20 Indy 23

Tampa Bay @ Cincinnati - TB was rolling early, going 2-0 out of the gate!!! They're gonna win the NFC South!!!! They're a real contender!!!!! Nope, the wheels are off, and Cincy will take out the frustration of losing to the Brownies on the Yucs. TB 10 Cincy 31

Green Bay @ Washington - Interesting game, Washington is playing way over their heads, won a couple of games they shouldn't have....GB is looking a bit vulnerable, barely squeaking out a win against the Lions, and that 18 penalty disaster in Chicago. However, they're a really good football team, and I don't think Washington is...close, but still GB gets the W. GB 24 Was 20

St. Louis @ Detroit - St. Louis is another team playing way over their heads. Detroit is a team that is about 4 plays from being .500. Home field will count for the Lions, but it will be close. StL. 17 Detroit 21

Chicago @ Carolina - Chicago's weakness against Carolina's strength: offense versus defense; Carolina's weakness against Chicago's strength: offense versus defense. Two teams with pretty decent D, and not so decent O. Cutler is questionable with a concussion. Claussen is just questionable. Low scoring game, Panters manage to remain winless. Chicago 13 Carolina 10

NY Giants @ Houston - Giants have shown defense now. Houston has a pretty productive offense and a pretty solid D. Depends on which Eli shows up. Home team wins.... NYG 24 Houston 31

Tennessee @ Dallas - Bleah. Dallas woke up against Houston, Tennessee took a late game nap against Denver. Gut call, just don't think Dallas has their heads all the way together, and Chris Johnson has a great day, ruining another home game for the Cows. Tennessee 21 Dallas 17

San Diego @ Oakland - SD beats down weak opponents at home, then goes on the road and lays eggs. Oakland is looking to make a statement in their home stadium, and will be up for this one. If SD doesn't show up, this could be embarrassing. It will not be COMPLETELY embarrassing, but a bit... SD 24 Oakland 20

SNF: Philadelphia @ San Francisco - SF has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory all season. Trend reverses now - Philly's only hope was Mr. Bad Newz, he's out, and they're stuck with Mr. Worse Newz. SF takes out some frustration on a team that is just not going to be ready for it. Philly 13 SF 27

MNF: Minnesota @ NY Jets - Minnesota has no business even showing up for this one. The old man may see his last start here, these guys are vicious, and they remember the game he played with them a few seasons ago. Make no mistake, this IS a grudge game for the Jets, and the Whiners are going to be out of their depth. Not even close, blowout time. Whinequeens 13 Jests 31

My team:

New Orleans @ Arizona - Last matchup, the Saints flatted both Warner & the dreams of the tweety birds. Warner is retired, and there is no replacement for him on the roster. The Saints are playing flat right now, and the locker room is resembling a trauma ward, but they're still way more than Arizona can handle.

Don't know if the NOLA offense will wake up this week, they are getting P. Thomas back it appears, Betts looked solid last week, Ivory looked punishing - if he can learn to hold onto the freakin' ball! - and hopefully whatever is buggin' Drew will be resolved (he's just not looking "Drew-like" so far this season...).

Saints DB's are banged up, Porter is out 2-4 weeks with a sprained MCL, Sharper is still on PUP and ineligible for another 2 weeks (but back for the Steelers game), Prioleau is questionable with a chest injury, Reis is IR'd with a major shoulder injury. Hopefully they get Harper back, and Greer can stay with Fitzgerald while P. Robinson gets his rookie baptism by fire against whoever the Tweets put out as #2.

I keep hoping the offense shows up...and this is the week they do:

New Orleans 38 Arizona 20

 

[Ed Goode]

It doesn't feel right unless MPG starts these threads.

Yup, I agree ... almost feels like we're cheating on MPG by posting . It seems that every year somebody jumps the gun on MPG at least once ....

30-32 for the season. That's just suckin'....

Been a tough year so far for me, too .... 31-31 .... too many teams letting me down this year ....

As usual, riding on Gard's typing

Jacksonville @ Buffalo - Jags

Denver @ Baltimore - Ravens have been quite a surprise for me, sticking with 'em this week

Atlanta @ Cleveland - Falcons, easily ....

Kansas City @ Indianapolis - Colts are one of the teams that I can't figure out. Despite the 3-0 for KC, IND by a TD at least

Tampa Bay @ Cincinnati - Bengals

Green Bay @ Washington - I need the Pack to win so I can put another big "L" in the Skins column

St. Louis @ Detroit - Lions, it's their week

Chicago @ Carolina - In spite of the pounding the Giants put on them, the Bears have some good chances if the O line shows up

NY Giants @ Houston - Giants, decisively

New Orleans @ Arizona - The Saints have been another big disappointment for me, they haven't shown any life this year and while the wounded list is tough, they need to wake up and start playing NO football. I don't think the dream sequence is over yet, though ..... Cards in a close call ....

Tennessee @ Dallas - The Boys are another team letting me down .... I expected a much stronger effort, but I guess this isn't their year (again!!) .... Titans

San Diego @ Oakland - Chargers

Philadelphia @ San Francisco - Time for the 49ers to wake up, time for the Eagles to roll over and start to rot

Minnesota @ NY Jets - Jets might be yapping too much, but so far they are backing it up, and I'd love to see Favre (Farve??) go out this season as a loser ....

 

[Gard]

Ed, seriously, have you WATCHED the Cards?????



...the Saints could phone the win in from David Drive, the Tweets are in trouble...because they WON'T phone it in.

 

[GregC]

Dolphins have a bye this week, but at least they fired their special teams coach 12 hours after the debacle.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5651160

 

[Gard]

Dolphins have a bye this week, but at least they fired their special teams coach 12 hours after the debacle.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5651160

Yeah, that was a flustercluck of a performance by the Phins ST...I'd say they looked like they came to the game in the short bus, but that would be an insult to the kids that ride the short bus. Pathetic ST work - 2 direct TD's and one very short drive because of bad play on ST....ouch.

 

[Ed Goode]

Ed, seriously, have you WATCHED the Cards?????



...the Saints could phone the win in from David Drive, the Tweets are in trouble...because they WON'T phone it in.

Here's my convoluted thinking (which, BTW, has lead to a rather crappy 31-31 on my pics this year ) .... The Cards are in a terrible division now that the 49ers have decided that winning games is not important. ARI has, somehow, been presented with the opportunity to maybe take the division, whereas SEA and STL will do what they always do of late (namely, nothing).

Meanwhile, your guys have put it into cruise control so far this year (injuries or no injuries, they aren't working too hard ), which is something the really good teams can do for a while, up until about game 7 or 8. So, with the Cards thinking they might have a chance to steal the division that no one wants and the Saints figuring ATL can be nipped in the bud when things get serious, I think your guys will take it easy until just before the late BYE week (NO is the last week, #10, aren't they?), then start to really hurt everyone they play ....

OTOH, at 31-31, I've been wrong pretty much all year

 

[GregC]

Yeah, that was a flustercluck of a performance by the Phins ST...I'd say they looked like they came to the game in the short bus, but that would be an insult to the kids that ride the short bus. Pathetic ST work - 2 direct TD's and one very short drive because of bad play on ST....ouch.

And all of that came after the Dolphins had a punt blocked the previous week in a close loss to the Jets. Simply inexcusable.

 

[Gard]

Here's my convoluted thinking (which, BTW, has lead to a rather crappy 31-31 on my pics this year ) .... The Cards are in a terrible division now that the 49ers have decided that winning games is not important. ARI has, somehow, been presented with the opportunity to maybe take the division, whereas SEA and STL will do what they always do of late (namely, nothing).

Meanwhile, your guys have put it into cruise control so far this year (injuries or no injuries, they aren't working too hard ), which is something the really good teams can do for a while, up until about game 7 or 8. So, with the Cards thinking they might have a chance to steal the division that no one wants and the Saints figuring ATL can be nipped in the bud when things get serious, I think your guys will take it easy until just before the late BYE week (NO is the last week, #10, aren't they?), then start to really hurt everyone they play ....

OTOH, at 31-31, I've been wrong pretty much all year

Interesting logic.

I think you're overthinking it.

There is PRIDE to account for, and sooner or later, that Saints offense is going to get tired of being "just good enough"...when they do (and I'm expecting it each week), you do not want to be the other team.

 

[Gard]

And all of that came after the Dolphins had a punt blocked the previous week in a close loss to the Jets. Simply inexcusable.

It is especially frustrating because the defense was playing lights-out in the 1st half, and the offense - excluding the two really bad INT's for Henne - looked pretty good as well.

The ST's lost that game last night, plain and simple. Without those three really bad plays, they're right in that game.

I didn't have a favorite in the game, but watching a team go down like that is just painful.



(...unless you're a big Pats fan, that is...which I'm not... ...not really a 'Phins fan either...just hate seeing that happen to a team that is otherwise doing well....)

 

[Ed Goode]

I think you're overthinking it.

At 31-31, the actual "thinking" part of it might be a stretch ....

 

[chondro776]

I normally only hold a 'in-good-fun' aversion to the Saints as they are a divisional rival. After reading these threads for a few weeks, I have begun to hate them.
The friggin' arrogance is ridiculous, even amongst NFL trash talking circles.

Hope for your sake you guys win on Monday night in a few weeks, you would hate to be swept by Atlanta on our way to the Playoffs.

 

[Gard]

I normally only hold a 'in-good-fun' aversion to the Saints as they are a divisional rival. After reading these threads for a few weeks, I have begun to hate them.
The friggin' arrogance is ridiculous, even amongst NFL trash talking circles.

Hope for your sake you guys win on Monday night in a few weeks, you would hate to be swept by Atlanta on our way to the Playoffs.

Arrogance???

...really???

Wait...you're a Falcons fan, right?

Y'know what, you're right, I do have arrogance toward you.

New Orleans has always had better food, better music, better art, better atmosphere, and better architecture than Atlanta.

Now we have a better football team too, must really stick in your craw.





Bottom line, the ONLY reason the Falcons won the last two games were GIFTS: first from our head-case of a kicker who hooked a 29 yard field goal; second from a DB that didn't have the situational awareness to just lie down so his offense could KNEEL DOWN and run the clock out on the Falcons.

Here's why you have an issue with the Saints and their fans:

I got real money that says you never get to post a photo of "Matty Ice" like that.

 

[Kaa]

I'm gonna stick up for my Browns and call them a winner in a 13-10 nail-biter. Payton Hillis is a beast, and if we can keep Flynn on the sidelines for long periods of time, our running game will grind Atlanta down.

 

[MJ5150]

I'm not so sure it's the Saints just cruising along as it is also the opposing defenses gearing up for the game better. Along with the SB trophy comes a big giant target you get to wear on your chest all season.

While Reggie Bush did not post MVP stats, he added an element to the game that is now missing. With Pierre Thomas nursing an injury, the Saints offense really isn't all that lethal so far this season. Maybe a couple of the WR's had career years last year, and have fallen back to earth? It was a special season in NOLA last year with how that offense clicked, and it is very difficult to keep all those guys firing on all cylinders for another year.

But I'm still going to give some credit to the opposing DC for having his guys ready each week. That can't be overlooked if you ask me, which no one did, so I'll shut up.

-Mike

 

[chondro776]

Na, Drew Brees is pretty likable even if he can't throw a football hard enough to break through toilet paper. Also, I am sort of a fan of the offensive scheme and your head coach.

Let me be perfectly clear: it is the fans that I don't like. As far as I am concerned, you guys are now up there with the likes of Oakland fans. Just irritating.

Last year I was happy for NO to win, the city had been through quite a bit (understatement) and I really was happy for the fans.
Was.
Past tense.

Who knows if #2 will ever hold up the Lombardi. I am however pretty sure that you will get to see him well into December over the next few seasons. Luckily for you guys, there are 2 wild card spots to shoot for.