NFL Week 3

[Guest]

I think we can beat Buffalo, I really do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who the fuck am I kidding.

[Guest Vitamin X]

The fact that Seattle signed Koren Robinson of all people (and that Koren Robinson is that desperate for a job) speaks volumes about how desperately in need they are for receivers. Remember this is the team that cut him while he was trying to go to rehab for alcohol.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

What's more sad, the fact that Seattle is relegated to bringing in Colbert and Robinson, or that Shaun Alexander and Cedric Benson got tryouts with Lions and didn't make the team?

[Red Baron 0]

Koren Robinson is Seattle's best receiver as of right now. What pisses me off as a Seahawk fan is we gave up 33 points to the Niners. There is no excuse for that defence to give up 33 points to the Niners.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I think we can beat Buffalo, I really do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who the fuck am I kidding.

 

I think they can. It's "will they" that's a different story.

[Red Baron 0]

Please Oakland. I don't think I can deal with Buffalo chanting Super Bowl going into week four.

[Guest Brady's Torn ACL]

What's more sad, the fact that Seattle is relegated to bringing in Colbert and Robinson, or that Shaun Alexander and Cedric Benson got tryouts with Lions and didn't make the team?

It's sad that Alexander has had such a precipitous decline from Madden cover to out of the league. Cedric Benson is completely worthless and will never play another down.

[Red Baron 0]

And I thought that Buffalo would sign him during the offseason.

 

I'll gladly take Alexander back and dump Morris and Jones. Mind you I would let go a majority of Seattle's offence starting with the QB.

[Zetterberg is God 0]

I think we can beat Buffalo, I really do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who the fuck am I kidding.

 

Keep faith. Buffalo has a bad habit of losing games they should win.

[Guest Tzar Lysergic]

I think Dallas is going to win the game at Lambeau in such a fashion that they look like they're going to go all the way.

 

Minnesota, Jacksonville, Cleveland, and San Diego are all in must-win games. I'm thinking only San Diego does, though Cleveland should beat Baltimore, despite being an underdog.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

Broncos open up offense

Denver leads NFL in yards gained, points scored

By Frank Schwab (Colorado Springs) Gazette

Thursday, September 18, 2008

 

ENGLEWOOD -- Mike Shanahan hasn't started wearing hoodies with the sleeves cut off like coaching counterpart Bill Belichick, but the Denver Broncos have borrowed some ideas from the New England Patriots.

 

For those who figured the Broncos' offensive attack looked a little like last year's Patriots, with spread formations and a lot of passes, you'd be right.

 

"We really liked what the Patriots were doing with some of their empty sets," quarterback Jay Cutler said, referring to some offseason study. "We've got similar weapons with our guys, with our tight ends and our backs are able to get out.

 

"Offensively we kind of matched up with what they were doing and we thought we might put it in, and it's working so far."

 

There's little doubt about the success. The Broncos are 2-0 and lead the league in yards gained and points.

 

The Broncos have passed the ball at a surprising rate. Cutler threw 50 passes on Sunday against San Diego, which tied a franchise record. The 2007 Patriots were the highest-scoring offense in NFL history and asking the Broncos to duplicate their numbers would be absurd. But Denver thinks the wide-open style fits their personnel, and quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates has gotten a lot of credit for his aggressive plan.

 

"Jeremy is doing a heck of job play-calling, changing things up," Shanahan said.

 

Cutler said the Broncos also studied the Steelers, Chargers, Cowboysand this week's opponent, the Saints, who are all pass-heavy teams.

 

"This is a copycat league and everyone looks at everyone, everyone takes plays and tweaks them here and there a little bit," Cutler said.

 

The Broncos have averaged 4.9 yards per carry running the ball, but have been most effective when throwing. In the third quarter against San Diego the Broncos didn't get a first down. They were a little more conventional that quarter, especially in the second series when they ran twice, threw a short screen and punted.

 

The fourth quarter was back to being wide open, including many empty sets in which Cutler lined up in a shotgun formation and had nobody with him in the backfield. In two fourth-quarter drives the Broncos picked up 12 first downs and 146 yards.

 

Denver has the personnel to employ a pass-heavy offense. The receiving corps is deep enough that Keary Colbert, a high-priority free-agent signee this offseason, was traded to Seattle on Tuesday.

 

Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley and Darrell Jackson are the top four, and Tony Scheffler is a talented tight end. Stokley was on a great passing offense in Indianapolis from 2003-06, with Pro Bowlers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.

 

"I think, from top to bottom, receiving corps-wise, we're better than when I was with Indy," Stokley said. "We've got a lot of depth at receiver, a lot of good players. I wouldn't trade Eddie and 'B-Marsh' for anybody else right now in the league." The Broncos also have an offensive line that has allowed only one sack, and that was credited as a team sack to San Diego when Cutler fumbled on a disputed call late in Sunday's game.

 

No matter what the Broncos' record is this season, their offense should be fun to watch from beginning to end.

 

"Tight ends, offensive line, quarterback, from top to bottom we've got what it takes to keep this up and have a great offensive year," Stokley said.

 

Will be interesting if the Broncos can keep up this success and if they do, how many teams it carries over to later this season or next season.

[CanadianChris 0]

I also read somewhere that Shanahan has brought back a big section of his playbook that he hadn't used since John Elway retired.

 

They've been incredibly fun to watch so far. I wasn't expecting big things this season, because I wasn't sold on the defence, but if they keep putting up points like this, they could certainly contend in a wide-open AFC.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I also read somewhere that Shanahan has brought back a big section of his playbook that he hadn't used since John Elway retired.

 

They've been incredibly fun to watch so far. I wasn't expecting big things this season, because I wasn't sold on the defence, but if they keep putting up points like this, they could certainly contend in a wide-open AFC.

 

Helps to have a referee in your back pocket, too.

[bob_barron 0]

The Saints signed Joey Harrington.

 

The picture NOLA used was him getting sacked.

[CanadianChris 0]

The Saints signed Joey Harrington.

 

The picture NOLA used was him getting sacked.

Just warming up for the real thing, I'm sure.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

The Saints signed Joey Harrington.

 

The picture NOLA used was him getting sacked.

 

There probably aren't many pictures of him doing anything else.

[MrRant 0]

And I thought that Buffalo would sign him during the offseason.

 

I'll gladly take Alexander back and dump Morris and Jones. Mind you I would let go a majority of Seattle's offence starting with the QB.

 

Offense.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I also read somewhere that Shanahan has brought back a big section of his playbook that he hadn't used since John Elway retired.

 

They've been incredibly fun to watch so far. I wasn't expecting big things this season, because I wasn't sold on the defence, but if they keep putting up points like this, they could certainly contend in a wide-open AFC.

 

Helps to have a referee in your back pocket, too.

 

I just want to weigh in my two cents on the whole Ed Hochuli thing...

 

Honestly, don't blame Ed. Yes, he made an abysmally terrible call, and it was very incorrect. However, consider this- the Broncos were on San Diego's 5 yard line, absolutely needing a touchdown to score and send the game into OT (or go for 2 and win it, as it were). Blown call or not, San Diego still had TWO more chances to win the game- and they blew it by allowing the touchdown, and furthermore Shanahan made it clear that they would win on what isn't a fluke by running the exact same play for the 2 point conversion. You could make an argument the touchdown was a result of the blown call. But the 2PT? I'm sorry, but if San Diego really deserved to win that game, they would have stopped them from converting. So quit whining, San Diego. You earned that loss, and it wasn't entirely the blown call's fault.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Anyone who rails against Ed Hochuli is an idiot. Yes, it was a blown call. Referees blow dozens of calls every weekend. Unfortunately for him and the Chargers, it happened to come at a time that ended up directly affecting the outcome of the game. But sending threatening emails to a ref? That's just unfathomably stupid. He apologized to Norv and to the fans. What more do you want? If anything SD should have manned up and stopped Denver on the next play and the two-point conversation.

[Mik 0]

I'll be at the Bills/Raiders game this weekend. Hopefully it will be a good game.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I was mostly joking. I agree that San Diego screwed it up by allowing the TD and the conversion. But without that call, San Diego has the ball and Denver's threat is ended. So while it's lame to put all the blame on Hochuli for the actual loss, it's also just as lame to think that the call was an insignificant one that didn't matter to the outcome.

 

 

edit: But hey, Denver... yeah that's actually a fun offense to watch.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Of course, but that's like me placing the blame on the Packers' loss in the playoffs a couple years back to 4th and 26 when 1. They could have ran the ball in for a TD earlier but Sherm kicked the field goal and played it safe like a bitch instead, and 2. They STILL had a chance to win it in overtime until Favre threw up that lame duck- much like the Giants game this past season. Or going back even further before instant replay, in 98 when Jerry Rice clearly caught a ball inbounds on San Francisco's final drive that set up the last second Terrell Owens catch- sure Rice was probably out of bounds, but the onus was on the Packers to still stop that last play, and they didn't.

 

To me, blown calls are just part of the game, despite the instant replay. I think that's what's getting most people riled up really (and for good reason) because IR is still a flawed system but it's not why the Chargers lost, just a reason why, if that makes any sense.

 

And I think Denver came on strong just a year later than I expected them to, but seriously holy crap. With the Steelers looking like ass on Monday, and the Colts underachieving so far, Denver might just be able to be in the mix for a high seed late in the year. Again yeah, only two games, but so far, so good.

 

I think Dallas is going to win the game at Lambeau in such a fashion that they look like they're going to go all the way.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid this is going to be the case as well (although Green Bay at least has history on their side and a good team, of course) but it won't even have to take a decisive victory for the national sports media and sports fans to start thinking that, anyways. After last year, I really do believe anything is possible.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Really? I think it'd go in opposite way, that Green Bay wins in an impressive fashion. Then people would really believe in Rodgers and the rest of the season either goes one of the two possible ways:

 

1. Packers surprise everyone by being a top two quality seed in the playoffs, and Rodgers has a Romo like emergence.

2. After a hot start going about 4-8 games, they stumble a bit and finish as a wildcard quality playoff team.

 

Either way, Packers are probably playoff bound.

[CanadianChris 0]

Either way, Packers are probably playoff bound.

Almost definitely. I see them winning that division by at least 3 games.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Either way, Packers are probably playoff bound.

Almost definitely. I see them winning that division by at least 3 games.

 

Three? I think Chicago might have something to say about that. The fact is, it's hard to win two straight on the road to open the season. The fact that they could have easily been 2-0 as much as they are 1-1 in reality, says the Bears aren't the crappy team you seem to think.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

Chicago scares me far more than Minnesota at this point.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Packers will still win the division, but it won't be a runaway deal, which is what I'm saying. Just getting that out there before people confuse my point.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Really? I think it'd go in opposite way, that Green Bay wins in an impressive fashion. Then people would really believe in Rodgers and the rest of the season either goes one of the two possible ways:

 

1. Packers surprise everyone by being a top two quality seed in the playoffs, and Rodgers has a Romo like emergence.

2. After a hot start going about 4-8 games, they stumble a bit and finish as a wildcard quality playoff team.

 

Either way, Packers are probably playoff bound.

 

Obviously, I'd love to agree with you especially on #1 there but I'm just cautiously optimistic at this point. What concerns me in particular is the defense which did an okay job against a crappy Minnesota offense (but still gave up 100 to Adrian Peterson) and Dallas is the best offense they'll probably face all year except for Indianapolis in Week 6. The Cowboys' D doesn't scare me, but Marion Barber does, and Romo might be able to pick on Woodson this week, who's playing again with a broken toe. I don't expect Woodson to play for a couple more weeks after this game, but this is a key matchup so I can see why he's going to go, he's definitely needed.

[CanadianChris 0]

Either way, Packers are probably playoff bound.

Almost definitely. I see them winning that division by at least 3 games.

 

Three? I think Chicago might have something to say about that. The fact is, it's hard to win two straight on the road to open the season. The fact that they could have easily been 2-0 as much as they are 1-1 in reality, says the Bears aren't the crappy team you seem to think.

I don't think they're crappy, I just don't think they have enough to seriously challenge in the division this year, especially if Hester misses any significant time. I see them going 9-7. That's not bad.

[cabbageboy 0]

Vitamin, given how the Colts have looked thus far do they still qualify as a potent offense? Maybe they'll have it going by the time they get to Lambeau in Week 6, but right now I'd almost certainly think the Packers should be favored in that one.