2009 NFL Season Thread

[rams80]

The thing that bothers me the most out of this whole situation is the fact that the Colts got to play playoff gods here.

The Colts played Houston twice trying to win the game, and won both times.

The Colts played Jacksonville twice trying to win the game, and won both times.

The Colts played Denver once trying to win the game, and won.

The Colts played Miami once trying to win the game, and won.

The Colts played the Jets once trying to lose, and lost.

My point is, why did the Colts play to lose against the Jets, letting them into the playoffs but not Jacksonville, Houston, Miami, and Denver.

I'm not attacking the Jets, they're a quality football team, but they're getting into the playoffs by beating a team that played their back-ups in the middle of a close game.

So, I conclude this mini-rant with...

Go Jets, Beat the Colts in the Divisionals!

Please take your objections up with the NFL schedule masters. Perhaps another division tilt in Week 17 could have changed matters. Or not.

I'd like to nominate Jim Caldwell for Coach of the Year.

He obviously knows exactly what he's doing.

This team looks primed for a Super Bowl run.

Almost 3 weeks of rest for a complex, moving parts, precision offense? For a defense that relies on schemes, proper execution and attentiveness?

That seems just great... SUPER if you will.

Gah.

This better work.

One would think that the twinned images of a blizzard (which is hell on offensive timing and execution anyway) and Wes Welker riding on his little cart would get some people off Caldwell's back, but I guess not.

[IceCap]

So the thing that makes you successful is if you make lotsa money?

In a lot of ways, yes. Like it or not, money makes the world go 'round.

I've seen quite a few rich people who I would definitely consider "failures"

My point being that anyone who manages to make more money and achieve a standard of living beyond what most of us here will ever know and see by coaching a game for a living isn't considered a "failure" in my book.

and Wes Welker riding on his little cart would get some people off Caldwell's back, but I guess not.

Except Welker had just as much of a chance of being injured in Week 1 as he did in Week 17.

[rams80]

Except Welker had just as much of a chance of being insured in Week 1 as he did in Week 17.

Maybe. The point is that it is a chance you don't have to take, and if you don't have to take it, why should you?

[Jigga]

So the thing that makes you successful is if you make lotsa money?

Duh!

I understand the sentiment, I really do, but in the developed world, isn't this how success is measured?

I've seen quite a few rich people who I would definitely consider "failures"

I'm pretty sure those same rich people would consider you a failure.

(I'm not picking on you personally Harmening, just playing semantics games)

[FiddySicks]

another quirk from this season that I just thought of:

- the Denver Broncos started the season 6-0 and finished 8-8, the Tennessee Titans started the season 0-6 and finished 8-8.

This was easily the most bizarre season of NFL football I've ever seen.

[infrared41]

another quirk from this season that I just thought of:

- the Denver Broncos started the season 6-0 and finished 8-8, the Tennessee Titans started the season 0-6 and finished 8-8.

This was easily the most bizarre season of NFL football I've ever seen.

Until next season anyway.

[Jigga]

Mike Shanahan was flown out to DC on Redskin One...oh, this is certainly going down. Danny Boy always gets his man once he gets on Redskin One.

[NJTank]

If Shanny is hired Danny Boy needs to know now, he must get out of the picture open his wallet and nothing else. Trust Shany and be patient to let Shanny do it his way.

[Saintsfan]

Here is an interesting little factoid, the 2008 New England Patriots ended the season 11-5 and missed out on the playoffs, the 2009 Patriots went 10-6 and did make the playoffs.

[BBTV]

Here is an interesting little factoid, the 2008 New England Patriots ended the season 11-5 and missed out on the playoffs, the 2009 Patriots went 10-6 and did make the playoffs.

Similarly (kind of), last season there was one team (Chargers) that qualified with an 8-8 record. In several recent seasons, there have been teams make it with 8-8 records (and even more with 9-7 records).

This season, the 6 seed in the NFC won 11 games.

[Jigga]

Here is an interesting little factoid, the 2008 New England Patriots ended the season 11-5 and missed out on the playoffs, the 2009 Patriots went 10-6 and did make the playoffs.

Similarly (kind of), last season there was one team (Chargers) that qualified with an 8-8 record. In several recent seasons, there have been teams make it with 8-8 records (and even more with 9-7 records).

This season, the 6 seed in the NFC won 11 games.

But that was against JV competition. That would only have been 9 wins in the AFC.

[Saintsfan]

Here is an interesting little factoid, the 2008 New England Patriots ended the season 11-5 and missed out on the playoffs, the 2009 Patriots went 10-6 and did make the playoffs.

Similarly (kind of), last season there was one team (Chargers) that qualified with an 8-8 record. In several recent seasons, there have been teams make it with 8-8 records (and even more with 9-7 records).

This season, the 6 seed in the NFC won 11 games.

But that was against JV competition. That would only have been 9 wins in the AFC.

Last year the Chargers qualified for the playoffs despite being 3 games behind the Patriots, who didn't make it. (From the same conference). Just think about that for a second. In Baseball terms, thats like a team being 30 games behind a team and making the playoffs, despite the other not making it!

[BBTV]

Here is an interesting little factoid, the 2008 New England Patriots ended the season 11-5 and missed out on the playoffs, the 2009 Patriots went 10-6 and did make the playoffs.

Similarly (kind of), last season there was one team (Chargers) that qualified with an 8-8 record. In several recent seasons, there have been teams make it with 8-8 records (and even more with 9-7 records).

This season, the 6 seed in the NFC won 11 games.

But that was against JV competition. That would only have been 9 wins in the AFC.

Last year the Chargers qualified for the playoffs despite being 3 games behind the Patriots, who didn't make it. (From the same conference). Just think about that for a second. In Baseball terms, thats like a team being 30 games behind a team and making the playoffs, despite the other not making it!

Specifically, a team would win it's division with a 81-81 record, while another team would somehow not qualify for the wildcard with a 111-51 record. Not sure we'll ever see three teams in the same division win 111 or more games, which is what would have to happen for this to occur.

[TFoA]

Are people seriously still mad at Jim Caldwell for resting his players, especially after Welker got hurt? If anything, Caldwell is looking smarter because of it. Yeah it would've been cool for them to make a run at an undefeated season, but why risk your players in meaningless games just so you can stop Don Shula & Mercury Morris from poppin bottles? I mean, who cares about that, as long as you get your players as ready & healthy for the playoffs as possible?

[BBTV]

I'm greedy. I'd want the Eagles to go 19-0 if they could.

However, if they tanked the perfect season to rest guys, and still won the SB, I'm sure I could get over losing the perfect season.

If they didn't win the SB though, I'd be pisssssssssssed.

[Jigga]

Are people seriously still mad at Jim Caldwell for resting his players, especially after Welker got hurt? If anything, Caldwell is looking smarter because of it. Yeah it would've been cool for them to make a run at an undefeated season, but why risk your players in meaningless games just so you can stop Don Shula & Mercury Morris from poppin bottles? I mean, who cares about that, as long as you get your players as ready & healthy for the playoffs as possible?

17 And 0, I Know You Hate It

'72 Dolphins, The All-Time Greatest

All Hail The Champs, You Can't Debate It

Forever Got The Crown, No One Can Take It

Ooooooooooooh, Pop Champagne

Ooooooooooooh, Pop Champagne

Ooooooooooooh, We Pop Champagne

Ooooooooooooh, We Pop Ghampagne

[NEW.ERA]

Houston Texans Linebacker Brian Cushing was named Defensive Rookie of the Year by a very wide margin.

Cushing received 39 of the 50 votes, finishing second was Bills CB Jarius Byrd (6), third Packers LB Clay Matthews Jr. (3), Redskins LB Brian Orakpo (2)

[gingerbreadmann]

Beating the Giants in Week 17 of '07 with the Brady-Moss TD records was an incredible feeling. I still contend going for 16-0 was far from the reason they lost the Super Bowl and was totally worth it. If they still lost the Super Bowl after resting and going 15-1, I would have been quite angry. Of course it works both ways, losing the Super Bowl was twice as infuriating because they were so friggin' close and just lost it. I don't care if they had won 6 straight Super Bowls previously, I will never truly get over that game. (unless they somehow go 19-0 in the future, which is extremely unlikely)

Even so, I would still go for it. Players can get hurt in Week 1 or Week 17, as we have seen in the past two years with Brady and Welker, and I think any time you have a serious chance to go 16-0 you should do it. The injury risk is the only real factor in play as you will have a bye week to rest anyway, and those odds don't suddenly go up in the last week of the season. Sure you could completely eliminate it, but I think at least for the first time someone goes undefeated the reward outweighs the risk. Just think about it: You could be the undisputable Best Team Ever. A Super Bowl is still the primary goal, but it is in either case. Once you are 14-0, it should not be too taxing to go all out.

[Billy B]

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=6466

The Bears fired 6 coaches today, including offensive coordinator Ron Turner. Getting rid of Turner should be a good move. The Bears offense was way too predictable, coming from guys sitting on the couch watching the game. I can't imagine how the opponent's defensive coordinator must have felt. Hopefully they make a good hire and we won't be able to call out the screens and draws before they happen.

[Saintsfan]

Are people seriously still mad at Jim Caldwell for resting his players, especially after Welker got hurt? If anything, Caldwell is looking smarter because of it. Yeah it would've been cool for them to make a run at an undefeated season, but why risk your players in meaningless games just so you can stop Don Shula & Mercury Morris from poppin bottles? I mean, who cares about that, as long as you get your players as ready & healthy for the playoffs as possible?

I think you can only judge Caldwell's judgement after the playoffs. Just because Welker got injured to me doesn't effect how you judge Caldwell's judgement. No one player (with the possibility of a quality of an elite QB) is THAT important to there team. The Patriots could still go all the way with Welker on the treatment table. After 2 1/2 weeks off, can the Colts starters really turn it on again, against a top level team? Thats where Caldwell's judgement is being questioned. Welker's injury doesn't come into that.