NFL Week 6

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

Big Ben could very well be for real, but don't think that he won't eventually cool off and look like a confused rookie some time during this process. It is only a matter of time with rookie QBs, even the best of 'em.

He sure wans't like that today, he was eextremely calm under pressure while being blitzed and such.

 

The Raiders should've taken him, in fact there are 11 yeams in front of the Steelers who should have.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

The scary part about the Steeler O-side is that they can afford to make mistakes. Duce Staley is a big upgrade over Bettis and they've still got a stellar trio of WRs. Even if Ben missteps on a throw or two, they still have the potential to make him look like a God... or, at least, a minor deity.

 

I have no doubt that he's gonna take his licks. Hell, he has 3 INTs already. But the man just looks fucking good. It didn't seem to matter when the Cowboys had his recievers locked down (which did, in fact, happen quite a few times). He simply had the feel; he could sense when he was in trouble and scrambled out of the pocket, but not to run -- he made Favre-esque shovel passes and dump offs that went for 8-12 yards on what should've been sacks.

 

I'm seriously, truly excited for the first time in my life for my team's chances. It's probably premature, but the kid honestly makes me (and, no doubt, many other Steeler fans) feel that this team is exponentially better than the 6-10 team they were last year. The only real aquisitions were Ben and Duce. This team, however, feels like a playoff team at the very least.

 

They've got a wicked schedule coming up. After the bye, they've got the Patsies and the Iggles. That's, obviously, gonna be his true test. Cowher is enough of a dumbshit that Belicheck should outcoach the hell out of him; can Ben's improvision and football sense still pull out a W? Can Pittsburgh make up for the loss of Casey Hampton for what appears to be the season? Who knows? But it's gonna be fun as hell to watch. And I'm buying my #7 jersey as soon as I can, God damn it.

[Guest Vitamin X]

With the next two games coming up against Dallas and Washington, I could see Green Bay back up to .500 going into their bye week, getting ready, and maybe start looking more like the Super Bowl team and less like the bust team.

Well Washington will be coming off their bye week for the Packers game(@FedEx) Washington's defense will be ranked #2 in the league after today, and that as without Phillip Daniels on the line and Lavar Arrington playing too. Portis had 171 rushing yards today and I don't think Green Bay's run defense is that good, but I think it will be a good hard fought, close game.

 

(Go Skins).

As long as Green Bay doesn't turn the ball over, they win. They turn it over once or twice, they're still in the game. More than that, it's a blowout (as evidenced by the Tennessee game).

 

I think I agree with you on several points, but here's the kicker and wildcard which we'll see next week.. Grady Jackson and James Lee, who together combine for around 700 pounds on the interior line, both come back next week against Dallas. Jackson was practically the entire reason for Green Bay's defensive turnaround last season.. Before they were giving up 5-6 yards a carry, after, it was around 3, possibly less. This is because Green Bay's linebackers are undersized (which is why the blitz REALLY doesn't work when there's no one big upfront to get any push), so don't expect Portis to run crazy on the Pack's defense.

 

And if this season is any indication, Green Bay is actually much better on the road than at Lambeau, crazy as it sounds. 2-1 away, 0-3 at home through six games... and the worst defeat came at home on Monday Night, no less.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Jesus christ the Bears suck. Suck suck suck. They're too injured, poorly coached, directionless, and devoid of momentum.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I'd say the worst possible thing that could have happened to Chicago was the injury to Rex Grossman, since this was his development year. The defense really seems to have improved quite a bit though, it's kept them close in games.

 

I think next year the NFC North will be the toughest division to play in, in the NFL. All Chicago needs is some weapons on offense to go along with the defense, and Detroit needs to develop some, and you've got a hell of a Black and Blue division.

 

In other news, here's Mooch talking about his special teams yesterday after getting blown out at home by Green Bay:

 

I think we won the kicking game today," said Detroit head coach Steve Mariucci . "Our return game was excellent. We just simply didn't win offense and defense. You've got to win two out of the three to be close in a football game."

 

I found that hilarious for some reason.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

Jesus christ the Dolphins suck. Suck suck suck. They're too injured, poorly coached, directionless, and devoid of momentum.

edited for accuracy (fire the stasch)

[Guest GreatOne]

I think we won the kicking game today," said Detroit head coach Steve Mariucci . "Our return game was excellent. We just simply didn't win offense and defense. You've got to win two out of the three to be close in a football game."

 

I found that hilarious for some reason.

If only Tim McCarver were a football analyst.......................

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

edited for accuracy (fire the stasch)

 

I could've told you that guy was bogus years ago.

 

I also contend that the Bears are as bad as the Dolphins right now, although Miami is really bad..

 

I don't think Grossman is going to pan out that great. This injury definitely couldn't have come at a worse time for him. He'll end up solid, but solid like a really good backup somewhere else, not as a starter for Chicago. This Jon Quinn guy fucking sucks though, flat out. He was UNDERTHROWING recievers doing friggin' come-back routes, he's innacurate, and can't hit it deep. The running game is stagnant, too, with a beat up line, and no marquee back. Going up against the statistically best D in the NFL in the Skins, I was surprised they scored ten points. One TD of which was a lucky break because Brunell screwed up.

 

That means all the Bears could muster offensively in an entire game of football was a field goal. That's just pitiful.

[Guest Vitamin X]

The Broncos are going to a be a hell of a team to beat this year. So far, they have the 5th best ranked offense, and the #1 ranked defense.

 

Also, as a bit of an odd thing since we all have been praising the trends of "Defense wins championships", here's an interesting statistic..

 

Of the top 5 teams ranked in defense, only two have winning records and both are in the AFC (The Broncos and Steelers). However, of the top 5 teams ranked on offense, only one has a losing record (My beloved Green Bay Packers).

 

I attribute this to the defense not catching up to offenses until midseason.

[Guest GreatOne]

We are at the end of Week 6, so these things do tend to work themselves out

 

But I'm sure the Seahawks would argue for it considering they've gone from contender to just-above-alsoran since the Rams' collapse.