NFL 2011

[Jon Brakel]

If the Colts can convince Manning to restructure his contract they could do it. I don't know if the new CBA would allow for that but its the only way I see them getting both on the team. I also see Manning as an Elway kind of player and go from playing for the Colts to their front office so he might be willing to restructure.

I think I could be a good Bears GM. In my Madden league I just traded Urlacher to Green Bay for their 1st through 7th draft picks!

[Tom McManus]

Tom, it will be a total landslide, trust me.  It wasn't even a discussion 3 weeks ago, and any discussion now is manufactured for the sake of drama. 

When it comes to MVP voting in any sport, the voters always lean heavily toward those who play on the best team.  This is why Ryan Braun won over Matt Kemp this year and why Joey Votto won over Albert Pujols the year before.  The Packers were 15-1 this year.  The Saints were 13-3.  The Saints have to play a Wild Card game.  The Packers have home-field throughout the playoffs.  The Packers beat the Saints in Week 1. 

Also,
1.  The Packers defense is generally considered well below average, if not terrible, ranking dead last in terms of yardage. 
2.  The Saints defense is not considered to be good, but not nearly as bad as the Packers, ranking 24th in yardage
3.  The Saints rank 6th in the NFL in rushing yardage.
4.  The Packers rank 27th in rushing yardage.
5.  Rodgers had the most efficient season at QB of all-time, with a 122 QB rating.
6.  Brees had a 110 rating, which is a long ways from 122 for this statistic.

So, basically the Packers were a better team than the Saints, and they relied much more heavily on their passing game than the Saints do.  I don't see any logical case for Brees over Rodgers.  This vote will not be close.  I guarantee it.

I think you are going to be right on this one Dan. I didn't think so before, but every FB writer at SI picked Rodgers.

[pdga#7648]

Dan? what is considered a landslide to you? Rodgers going to get 90% of the votes?   I am down $25.00

[Tom McManus]

The New England Patriots cruised to a 13-3 record on their way to the AFC's top seed, but Tim Britton of the Providence Journal uncovered a disquieting fact for Pats fans: the team only played two games against franchises that finished with winning records, and lost them both -- to the Steelers in Pittsburgh and at home against the Giants.

[pdga#7648]

that's what I'm talkin about!

[Dan Michler]

So you're saying I shouldn't have had them so high in the playoff confidence pool?  Honestly I have no clue in the AFC.  At first I was thinking Baltimore, but then I changed it up.  I guess I have no confidence in Flacco to beat Brady on the road.  I don't think Pitt wins on the road against either of those teams.  NE has a history of going out early the last few years.

[Tom McManus]

I am not saying anything. I just pointed out what someone else pointed out that NE hasn't beaten a team with a winning record this year.

I would like to think that the Packers are the favorite to win it all, but with the way the NFL is this year it seems like it is wide open. I think anyone of 9 teams could win it.  I don't think Denver, Houston, or Cincinnati will be able to win it, but who knows.

[Tom McManus]

If the all-pro team is any indicator of the NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers will run away with it, which Dan has been saying all along.

Aaron Rodgers was the quarterback for the first time, easily beating New Orleans' Drew Brees, 47 1/2 to 2 1/2. Rodgers led Green Bay to a league-best 15-1 record, maintaining the brilliance he showed in taking the Packers to the Super Bowl title last February over the highly overated Pittsburgh Steelers. 




Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/01/06/nfl-all-pro.ap/index.html#ixzz1iiIzWqfr

[pdga#7648]

Rodgers was 14-1, Flynn was 1-0. let's get our facts straight!


and highly overrated?  cmon. it was a 1 score victory, not a blowout! The best AFC team last year was represented in last years superbowl!

[CEValkyrie]

The Lions did not beat a team with a winning record too.

[Dan Michler]

The Lions did not beat a team with a winning record too.

The Patriots were 7-0 against teams that finished 8-8 and the Lions were 5-1, so I think that stat is more than a little deceiving. 

The Lions got smoked in their game @NO a month ago.  I'm expecting the same result this weekend, but with Calvin Johnson out there I give them a puncher's chance.  Their defense just hasn't been as good as advertised.  They can't afford to fall behind against the Saints as they have so often this season.

I love how Doug is defending the Steeler's performance in the Super Bowl last year by saying it was a 1 score game, but on this thread he also said the Steelers dominated the Pats and made Brady look bad.  That was also a 1 score game Doug.

[pdga#7648]

Dan, overrated would mean the Packers blew them out and they didn't deserve to be there, which wasn't the case.

And Brady threw for 200 yds, that's not Brady like #'s. he was confused and baffled, not playing like he usually plays. 

[pdga#7648]

I don't hate the Steelers at all - I have respect for them similar to how I have respect for the Red Sox while I am a Cubs fan.  It's a different dynamic Cubs/Cards  I think you're a little over confident on how your team will perform though.  I was just looking at their schedules as well before I saw you post this.  I think both Ravens and Steelers will go 2-1 in their final 3 games.  The Texans look like they could also go 2-1 leaving NE with the #1 seed (@Den, Mia, Buf is NE's remaining schedule).

I'm thinking this will be the seeding:
1. NE
2. Houston
3. Baltimore
4. Denver
5. Pittsburgh
6. Jets

That would mean Pitt/NE and Balt/Hou Round 2.  I'm not confident that the Steelers can get past NE again.  If it is an AFC championship game Pitt/Balt - odds are it will be in Baltimore, and regardless it will be one crazy good game.  They can feel free to knock each other out so that neither one is ready to play the Super Bowl

ok, so I was a smidge off - Baltimore moved UP to the 2 seed and the Jets blew it allowing the Bungles to get in.  We have:
1. NE
2. Balt
3. Houston
4. Denver
5. Pitt
6. Cin

The Bengals went 0-7 against teams that finished over .500, but the Texans didn't beat the Colts or Titans at the end of the season.  I could see a win for the Bengals there.  Pitt over Denver would mean another Ravens vs. Steelers matchup.  Not sure if Doug wants to see that or not, so maybe there will be a lot of rooting for the Houston team this weekend in the Payne household?  It's a tough matchup to play NE or Baltimore though as long as they avoid Tebow power!

And wow - I almost picked up Flynn for my fantasy team when I benched Rodgers.  I picked up Ryan Fitzpatrick instead (who had a great first half... and that's it), but squeaked out a Superbowl W my first year playing fantasy football, woo   Glad I'm not kicking myself for not adding flynn!

read up Scott.  I would so love to get the rematch with the Ravens. But I really don't care who we play in rd#2 as we have already beat the Patriots. made Brady look bad even!  I wont root or any AFC team except Indy with Manning at the helm!

I went back to page 13 and never saw where I said Pitt dominated the Pats?? This here says they beat N.E. and made Brady look bad!

I knew you were putting words in my mouth over the last 4 years! 

[pdga#7648]

page 5 has the post after they beat the Cheaters, and again, no domination talk! just the fact they beat them.

[Dan Michler]

I think 'dominated' was just inferred from your last 4 years of posting.  I guess you've tamed down. 

[Tom McManus]

I think 'dominated' was just inferred from your last 4 years of posting.  I guess you've tamed down. 

I am going to have to use the word inferred, it sounds much better than assumed.  I also like the fact that Brady was "confused and baffled".  I am surprised he was able to get up to the line of scrimmage and find his center against the highly over rated Steelers.

[Dan Michler]

This weekend's results:
Houston 23
Cincy 18

Steelers 23
Broncos 3

Saints 38
Lions 22

Atlanta 28
Giants 27

[Tom McManus]

Cincinatti wins at home.

Steelers by less than 10.

Saints by more than 10.

Giants by less than 7.

[Dan Michler]

Tom, Cincy is a longshot to win at home this weekend when the game is scheduled to be played in Houston.

[Tom McManus]

Tom, Cincy is a longshot to win at home this weekend when the game is scheduled to be played in Houston.

Thanks for the update. I guess I haven't been paying much attention. I inferred by your previous post that they were the home team. But I should have known that the conference champs get the home game no matter the record.