NFL 2011

[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.

I will take Cincy on the road.

[pdga#7648]

Bengals 24
Texans 16

Saints 35
Lions 32

Falcons 31
Giants 13

Steelers 24
Broncos 9

[acepalmer]

I don't know why anyone listens to this Doug Payne dude,he is nothing but a Douchebag punk.

[pdga#7648]

coming from somebody who has to hide behind his computer is pretty funny!

[pdga#7648]

I have watched football for a long time, but can't remember ateam losing scoring just 2 points! Ryan can't play outdoors, when weather is below 55.

If the Giants can put pressure on Rodgers, they know how to beat a GREAT team. Ask the Patriots.

[tacimala]

They also know how to lose to bad teams as shown by this season, should be an interesting game to watch at least if the right Giants team shows up. I don't see San Fran beating New Orleans though unless the refs take a break from giving Brees every call possible.

[Dan Michler]

Don't be fooled by the Giants, they've been pulling this Jekyll and Hyde act all year.  With the home crowd making things tough on a mediocre Falcons team, they looked great.  On the road next week will be a different story.

Tebow magic in full effect right now in Denver, 14-6.

[Dan Michler]

The NFL is happy about this game.  The rest of the 1st round was a snooze fest.

Playoff Overtime!  To see who gets to lose in New England next week!

I love the strategy the Broncos employ with Tebow.  Throw it deep, throw it deep, and throw it deep again.  You don't see a lot of pick 6's on a deep ball, and you see a ton of defensive pass interference.  There is a lot good that can happen, and not a lot bad.  I don't know why more teams with inaccurate QB's incapable of consistently moving the chains don't employ this strategy.

[tacimala]

As Sheed would say, both teams played hard

[Dan Michler]

Doug, what happened?  You just got Tebowed!

[Tom McManus]

and what Tebow power? haven't they lost 4 straight now? that dude is a joke, and he is not a NFL QB! yea he was great in college playing with kids, but this is the Big Boy league! Elway will find another QB!

Is this mean?

[pdga#7648]

yes we got Tebowed.
no, Tom, not mean at all. I still believe it, a blown coverage ended the game. No safety in middle of field. He hit his man in stride. Kudos to him.

[Dan Michler]

A blown coverage ended the game.  Alot of blown coverages actually.  316 yards worth of blown coverages against a team that only managed 60 yards passing at home in a must-win game.... against KANSAS CITY!

Is it possible McManus was right and Pittsburgh was incredibly overrated this season?  I did not have this happening today.  Tebow caught me off-guard again, which has become his forte.

Next week I'll be expecting the Broncos to be destroyed by the Patriots, as they were a few weeks ago.  But you never know when someone is about to get Tebowed....

[pdga#7648]

but the 80 yarder ended the game, the big one.
#1 defense can't be overated, just outplayed  tonight. when Kisel and Hampton went out, the game changed.

My last football prediction of the year,,,,, Saints win the Superbowl.

[Tom McManus]

Doug's top posts of 2011:

1. February 5: I Think I have done pretty good so far about being quiet. If the Steelers were playing the Bears, this topic would have about 5-6 pages, not just 1.  I respect the Packers and always have. They have a great WR in Jennings, 1 not afraid to go across the middle(Driver), and a great Cornerback in Woodson. But enough is enough....

I am soooooo tired of hearing that Rodgers is one of the best QB's in the league.  He is good, yes, but what has he really done besides this year?  I mean hell, he lost to Chad Henne and the Dolphins. Along with Drew Stanton and the Lions, yes Drew mother f'n Stanton    He has not seen a defense like he will see tomorrow.  And yes, last year he threw for 3td's and 383 yds against Pitt, but if I recall, Pitt didn't make the playoffs last year, and didn't have the #1 defense in football, more like 8th. Besides Green Bay's rookies, it's the same defense!!! and Ben lit them up for 503 yds, matching Rodgers 3 td's, with the game winner.   Ben's losses came to Brees, and the Saints. Brady and the Patriots, and Sanchez and the Jets. all 3 playoff teams. In this BIG of a game, on that BIG of a stage, Pittsburgh has 25 guys returning from 2009's superbowl team, Packers have 2 guys with superbowl experience.  This will be the ultimate deciding factor in the game. Ben knows how to win the BIG games, like him or hate him!!!  Green Bay will not handle the pressure, and Pitts defense will rattle Rodgers. Everyone knows, the Pack will not be able to run at all, so Lebeau will bring the house. I just hope Pitt doesn't do what they did against the Jets, and shut it down in the 2nd half.
I think Mike Wallce has a game like last years, well over 100 yds, and 2 TD's. He is too fast for any of the corners. And he wins MVP, if Ben doesn't.

And please, I mean pretty please. don't come on here and blame the refs this time. Rodgers probably doesn't finish the game, but the hit will be Legal!

2. February 8, 2011: By the time Ben is done playing in Pittsburgh he will have probably 20+ playoff wins, and I'm sure he didn't just play in his last Superbowl.  He will probably win at least 1 more.

3. September 27 2011: a win is a win, no matter the score Scott. But if I recall, Indy's offense scored 1 TD. failed to score a TD 2 times in the redzone. If not for Ben being Ben and holding onto the ball, that game isn't even close. But your pack was down 13-0 to a rookie QB in Carolina!    That's some funny shit!
And Baltimore is always a playoff team. So that loss means nothing. Let's see who wins come playoff time!

4. October 31, 2011: but even you have to admit, the Steelers O-Line is protecting Ben. and if he has time to throw, he is usually winiing those games.
I can't help it they have an easy schedule. they still have to win the games on the schedule, no matter how weak it is. I'm not over reacting. I knew the Steelers would come around, and they have. If they beat Balt at home this weekend, no team remaining on the schedule has a winning record but the Bengals. and we will beat that rookie QB, gauranteed!
Just remember though, once in the playoffs, Ben knows how to win!

5. November 7, 2011: Talk to me in January!
remember, 1 game doesn't make the season! as you said last week!

but I will say that prevent defense only prevents you from holding onto the lead. stupid

6. December 5, 2011: must be nice to play in the conference where 9-7 gets into the playoffs!!  Weak!

7. December 9, 2011: if they get the #5 seed, they will beat either Denver or Oakland!  Palmer is petrified of the Steelers!  and Ben was hobbled the entire 2nd half. was painful to watch. so of course they didn't put up 30 points. but they didn't need to when the Browns only scored 3 

8. December 13, 2011:  They are not that good! They wont be able to cover the speedy WR's the Steelers have!   and if 49ers couldnt score against Arizona, how they going to score against the Black & Golds defense that just gives up 9 pts a game in their last 4 games? use some common sense you guys!  why all the hate against the Steelers Dan? how many rings do they need before you will give them the credit they deserve? Ben is Elite, as is his team!

9. December 14, 2011: fair enough, I'll leave the forum. Only Chicago people should be able to talk sports  This self imposed ban lasted until December 18.

These posts are a precursor to the completely insane post that Doug will come up with, in which he tops all the previous crazy posts. (See #1.)  Facts are facts, the Steelers were overrated this year, led by an injury prone rapist.

[pdga#7648]

wow. I only had 9?  not bad for almost a calendar year!

[Tom McManus]

wow. I only had 9?  not bad for almost a calendar year!

I didn't bother with the Cardinal/Pujols stuff, I think that there was probably double that in those threads.

[pdga#7648]

oh yeah. I guess you were right though. you asked the question.... only 1 team can win in a year, would I want the Cardinals or Steelers win. I answered the Cardinals, cause no football team was close to passing or even tying the Steelers 6 rings. Guess I have to live with that for the year. That's good enough.

[Dan Michler]

Its gotta suck when you make 9 months of posts about 'wait until the playoffs' and then you get knocked out by an 8-8 team with one of the worst offenses in football.  #1 defense?  Yeah right!  When you have 6 games against the offense of the Ravens, Bengals, and Browns offense I guess you can rack up some nice regular season stats.  But as you said, the playoffs is where we find out the truth.

As for your comment about nobody being close to 6 Super Bowls:  The Niners have 5 (thats 1 less than 6 Doug), and unlike the Steelers, they are playing in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

[Dan Michler]

2-2 last week.

My predictions for next week, no upsets:

Saints 31
Niners 9

Packers 28
Giants 21

Patriots 44
Tebows 17

Ravens 14
Texans 13