NFL 2011

[scandal 951]

Week 6 brings a loss for Detroit to the 49ers in the last moments of the 4th quarter, taking them to 5-1.

With the Packers trouncing of St. Louis today, Green Bay is now the only undefeated team 6-0.

I'm now in favor of putting a cash bounty on Aaron Rodgers head.

Anyone who takes him out, anyway, anyhow, I'll chip into the bounty fee.

Watching the Dallas/NE game now, in the 2nd quarter. Not what you'd expect from a Romo-Brady matchup, pretty sloppy with turnovers and flags.

[Pooky 3,786]

Week 6 brings a loss for Detroit to the 49ers in the last moments of the 4th quarter, taking them to 5-1.

With the Packers trouncing of St. Louis today, Green Bay is now the only undefeated team 6-0.

I'm now in favor of putting a cash bounty on Aaron Rodgers head.

Anyone who takes him out, anyway, anyhow, I'll chip into the bounty fee.

Watching the Dallas/NE game now, in the 2nd quarter. Not what you'd expect from a Romo-Brady matchup, pretty sloppy with turnovers and flags.

And that is how you do it. Brady to Hernandez for a go-ahead touchdown with 0:22 to go in the 4th quarter.

[scandal 951]

And that is how you do it. Brady to Hernandez for a go-ahead touchdown with 0:22 to go in the 4th quarter.

Congrats, Pats.

Brady is an elite QB. Tony Romo is no slouch either. I'd take either one of them ahead of the "elite" QB we though we were getting with Cutler. Jay is ok, but not in the same league with guys like Brees, Rivers, Romo and Brady. It's not his arm or accuracy or even toughness. He's plenty tough enough and can launch missiles downfield as good as anyone. I think it's his inability to rally his offense around him. That's what the Mannings, Bradys and Rivers do best - LEAD their teams.

[Pooky 3,786]

Congrats, Pats.

It was by no means a classic

But the messiness on the field made it that much more of a nailbiter

[scandal 951]

It was by no means a classic

But the messiness on the field made it that much more of a nailbiter

Well we're convincingly tromping the Vikings tonight. It's 26-3 going into the half. I didn't dare hope we could actually win a football game with everything working, but tonight we've got the pass game, run game, and defense all clicking. Gould just kicked a 51 yard FG and we even picked up a safety, nailing McNabb in the endzone. I hope we can keep it up during the second half without choking. I haven't felt this good watching a football game all year.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

It was by no means a classic

But the messiness on the field made it that much more of a nailbiter

Definitely a sloppy game by both teams. It was a real nailbiter at the end. It was nice to see the Pats march down the field during the last two minutes or so and come away with the win, although if they were going to lose a game, this one was out of conference so it would hurt the least if it came to tie breakers for the playoffs- even if they make the playoffs.

We have a bye next week, then we go to Pittsburgh, play the Giants here and then go to NY for the Jets, so three tough ones coming up.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Well we're convincingly tromping the Vikings tonight. It's 26-3 going into the half. I didn't dare hope we could actually win a football game with everything working, but tonight we've got the pass game, run game, and defense all clicking. Gould just kicked a 51 yard FG and we even picked up a safety, nailing McNabb in the endzone. I hope we can keep it up during the second half without choking. I haven't felt this good watching a football game all year.

Well it is the Vikings. Is Favre playing?

[scandal 951]

Well it is the Vikings. Is Favre playing?

Apparently Christian Ponder is. This rookie looks good!

[The_Dude 1,142]

Congrats, Pats.

Brady is an elite QB. Tony Romo is no slouch either. I'd take either one of them ahead of the "elite" QB we though we were getting with Cutler. Jay is ok, but not in the same league with guys like Brees, Rivers, Romo and Brady. It's not his arm or accuracy or even toughness. He's plenty tough enough and can launch missiles downfield as good as anyone. I think it's his inability to rally his offense around him. That's what the Mannings, Bradys and Rivers do best - LEAD their teams.

All those quarterbacks have good offensive lines, although Dallas' RT is very questionable. Sorry, but Cutler doesn't have that luxury. I think its a bit difficult to rally the offense when you're getting throw to the ground every time you drop back to pass.

What is up with Mike Martz? Why does he refuse to run the ball, given the Bears personnel? Martz is an offensive genius, if he has the right personnel to suit his scheme, but the bears don't, and Martz doesn't seem to want to acknowledge that. Last year was the same, then he gave in and started running the ball, and the Bears started winning.

[scandal 951]

All those quarterbacks have good offensive lines, although Dallas' RT is very questionable. Sorry, but Cutler doesn't have that luxury. I think its a bit difficult to rally the offense when you're getting throw to the ground every time you drop back to pass.

What is up with Mike Martz? Why does he refuse to run the ball, given the Bears personnel? Martz is an offensive genius, if he has the right personnel to suit his scheme, but the bears don't, and Martz doesn't seem to want to acknowledge that. Last year was the same, then he gave in and started running the ball, and the Bears started winning.

A lot of us in Chicago are asking that. Two weeks ago, Forte ran up a storm -205 yards. Yesterday he had a solid game as well against the Vikings. Forte right now IS the core of the team. They should pay him what he's asking and stop dicking around with his contract. Still, as good as your run game is you can't have a one-dimensional offense. I agree that pass protection is a huge problem for the Bears and it's by no means all Cutler's fault. He also doesn't have any good targets to throw to, we really don't have any top tier wideouts. If our QB was Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton, I wouldn't blame the QB. I'd blame the line, Martz, and the wideouts. But when you pay a shitload of cash and draft picks to get a star QB, and your offense keeps struggling, sorry- I put some of that on that elite athlete. Not that he doesn't have heart and skill, he does. But he's not performing at his paygrade.

[The_Dude 1,142]

A lot of us in Chicago are asking that. Two weeks ago, Forte ran up a storm -205 yards. Yesterday he had a solid game as well against the Vikings. Forte right now IS the core of the team. They should pay him what he's asking and stop dicking around with his contract. Still, as good as your run game is you can't have a one-dimensional offense. I agree that pass protection is a huge problem for the Bears and it's by no means all Cutler's fault. He also doesn't have any good targets to throw to, we really don't have any top tier wideouts. If our QB was Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton, I wouldn't blame the QB. I'd blame the line, Martz, and the wideouts. But when you pay a shitload of cash and draft picks to get a star QB, and your offense keeps struggling, sorry- I put some of that on that elite athlete. Not that he doesn't have heart and skill, he does. But he's not performing at his paygrade.

While Jay Cutler makes a lot of money, he is not an elite quarterback. He is a very good quarterback, who should put up better numbers and win more games. But how are you supposed to throw for more yards when you are getting annhialated even on 3 step drop plays? Tough spot to be in, and I think it is more Martz fault than anyone. Rather than build an offense to suit your team, he is trying to ram a square peg through a round whole.

A bad offensive line is usually the death sentence to any team. Raiders lost their QB for the season, but we'll be fine, we'll just run the ball more. I think we are good enough to make the playoffs, but not win a playoff game. We are 1 elite cornerback away I think. Letting Nnamdi go is turning out to be a smart move as he is playing horribly this year. But we still only have 1.5 DB's on the roster, collectively.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Raiders just traded Carson Palmer for a 2012 1st round pick (probably low 20's pick) and a conditional 2013 pick (1st round if the Raiders win a playoff game this year, 2nd round if they don't). I'm not quite so sure that how I feel about this. I really like Palmer, but realize he hasn't been the same since kimo von oelhoffen took that cheap shot on him in the playoffs. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[scandal 951]

While Jay Cutler makes a lot of money, he is not an elite quarterback. He is a very good quarterback, who should put up better numbers and win more games. But how are you supposed to throw for more yards when you are getting annhialated even on 3 step drop plays? Tough spot to be in, and I think it is more Martz fault than anyone. Rather than build an offense to suit your team, he is trying to ram a square peg through a round whole.

A bad offensive line is usually the death sentence to any team. Raiders lost their QB for the season, but we'll be fine, we'll just run the ball more. I think we are good enough to make the playoffs, but not win a playoff game. We are 1 elite cornerback away I think. Letting Nnamdi go is turning out to be a smart move as he is playing horribly this year. But we still only have 1.5 DB's on the roster, collectively.

Good analysis. I basically agree with you. I put a little more of this on Cutler than Martz, but you're absolutely right about our line, and that Martz still hasn't delivered.

The Palmer trade was indeed interesting. Not sure it's so smart to give up the draft picks, but I guess if you have a team in contention this year, it's bird in the had vs. 2 in the bush. Good luck. I was never into the Raiders when I lived in the Bay area (99-2004). Didn't follow the 49ers much either. I've only gotten into football in the years since I moved to Chicago. I regret I didn't get my kids into the game when we lived in CA. Raider Nation is a sight to behold.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Good analysis. I basically agree with you. I put a little more of this on Cutler than Martz, but you're absolutely right about our line, and that Martz still hasn't delivered.

The Palmer trade was indeed interesting. Not sure it's so smart to give up the draft picks, but I guess if you have a team in contention this year, it's bird in the had vs. 2 in the bush. Good luck. I was never into the Raiders when I lived in the Bay area (99-2004). Didn't follow the 49ers much either. I've only gotten into football in the years since I moved to Chicago. I regret I didn't get my kids into the game when we lived in CA. Raider Nation is a sight to behold.

Yeah, it is a fairly substantial gamble for the Raiders. It's like betting your rent money on double zero at the roulette table. I'm not so much worried about the draft picks though. We are the 2nd youngest team in the NFL, and really only need a few players in the future, that will be addressed in free agency rather than the draft anyways. I just hate seeing the comparisons to Jim Plunkett. When are they going to realize there will never be another Jim Plunkett? I think we'll be fine and if his knee holds up, Palmer will have been a good pickup. I'm not quite so sure about starting him this week, on 3 days preparation though.

[scandal 951]

Bears just won in London. Gave up a comfortable lead at the half only to turn it into a nailbiter in the 4th quarter, no thanks to a late interception by Cutler that enabled two back to back scores by the Bucs. Luckily our D was good for 4 interceptions against Josh Feeman and Forte had another outstanding game. PAY THAT MAN. Final score 24-18.