2012 NFL Season Thread

[lordsketor]

And the Patriot Defense and Special Teams give the game right back to Frisco..

[FiddySicks]

James with a huge return, and Kaepernick connects again with Crabtree, Niners back up by 7.

This game is nuts.

[Brass]

Bipolar defense. Arrington gets cooked again and gives the game right back.

[Kramerica Industries]

The 1:00 slate was a total dud, but between Steelers/Cowboys and this game, the NFL day has turned out quite well after all.

[Brass]

HUGE missed blocking assignment by Solder. Hopefully the defense can hold up or else that will cost them dearly.

[Cujo]

Can we count the Patriots out now?

[Gothamite]

Can we count the Patriots out now?

No more than we can count on people ditching the term "Frisco" once they've been told how little it is held in regard.

[Brass]

Well, during the bye week, I examined the Patriots schedule and predicted at least one win between the Texans and 49ers game. It's impossible to not be happy that the Patriots made a game out of this, but a few little things stopped them from making such a great comeback win. The defense showed some signs of brilliance during the comeback, but ultimately, still needs a ton of work. If they had a more competent defense, especially the past couple of years, they would have been an unstoppable dynasty.

Oh well. Get back to work. Aim for 12-4. Gotta snap a winning streak sometime. Great game, San Francisco!

[Kramerica Industries]

Denver is celebrating tonight, because they now move into a bye week spot. And playing home to Cleveland and Kansas City, there's little reason to think that will go by the boards.

[Cujo]

FRISCO WINS!

[ninersdd]

The division is pretty much the Niners, since regardless of next week's game, beating Arizona will be enough. However, the lead is only a 1/2 game for the bye over GB which is big. Can't wait to do this again next Sunday Night!

[pmoehrin]

Denver is celebrating tonight, because they now move into a bye week spot. And playing home to Cleveland and Kansas City, there's little reason to think that will go by the boards.

I think that's a the biggest thing to come out of this game. As you said Denver has about as easy of a schedule to close out a season as you can have.

New England has a pretty cupcake schedule as well though. Jacksonville on the road and then Miami at home. So its a pretty good bet that both teams will wind up winning out.

Its also great news for Houston. If they win one of the next two games, they lock up the one seed.

As a a sidenote I think Kurt Cousins is going to be this year's Matt Flynn/Matt Cassel/Rob Johnson. Somebody I think is going to offer him a contract based on his performance today, especially given how weak the draft class is.

[sportstar1212]

Wow. I turn off the TV and go to bed thinking the game was a sealed deal, and then the Pats come back and almost win it.

[Kramerica Industries]

Since NBC promoted it so heavily, I imagine the Niners/Seahawks game is locked into the SNF slot next week.

Because I think Bengals-Steelers has a case for being in that slot as well. The NFC West is very likely sealed for the Niners. Arizona has no chance in hell of winning at Candlestick in Week 17. The game has meaning because, as mentioned above, there's still a race with the Packers for the #2 seed.

But I don't think that meaning is as significant as the Bengals and Steelers playing in what amounts to a knockout game. Steelers will win their final game regardless, so a W gives them the tiebreak over Cincinnati, wile a W for the Bengals clinches them a playoff spot as well, and possibly even a Week 17 matchup with Baltimore for the division title.

But this is an all-for-naught argument. I won't complain about a matchup between a 10-3-1 team, and a 9-5 team in primetime. Better than what ESPN has for their final two games of the season, that's for damned sure.

[NEW.ERA]

Since NBC promoted it so heavily, I imagine the Niners/Seahawks game is locked into the SNF slot next week.

Because I think Bengals-Steelers has a case for being in that slot as well. The NFC West is very likely sealed for the Niners. Arizona has no chance in hell of winning at Candlestick in Week 17. The game has meaning because, as mentioned above, there's still a race with the Packers for the #2 seed.

But I don't think that meaning is as significant as the Bengals and Steelers playing in what amounts to a knockout game. Steelers will win their final game regardless, so a W gives them the tiebreak over Cincinnati, wile a W for the Bengals clinches them a playoff spot as well, and possibly even a Week 17 matchup with Baltimore for the division title.

But this is an all-for-naught argument. I won't complain about a matchup between a 10-3-1 team, and a 9-5 team in primetime. Better than what ESPN has for their final two games of the season, that's for damned sure.

The only other game if it holds any merit, and the Giants/Cowboys have to lose next week and the Vikes have to win. Vikings vs. Packers. Vikes with a shot at the playoffs, Packers with a chance at a bye. Might be how it works.

[Island_Style]

Anyone else feeling a 49ers vs Broncos Super Bowl?

[CS85]

Anyone else feeling a 49ers vs Broncos Super Bowl?

Texans-Seahawks would be more my flavor.

It'll probably be Patriots-Packers and some part of my soul will wither and die.

[pmoehrin]

Since NBC promoted it so heavily, I imagine the Niners/Seahawks game is locked into the SNF slot next week.

Because I think Bengals-Steelers has a case for being in that slot as well. The NFC West is very likely sealed for the Niners. Arizona has no chance in hell of winning at Candlestick in Week 17. The game has meaning because, as mentioned above, there's still a race with the Packers for the #2 seed.

But I don't think that meaning is as significant as the Bengals and Steelers playing in what amounts to a knockout game. Steelers will win their final game regardless, so a W gives them the tiebreak over Cincinnati, wile a W for the Bengals clinches them a playoff spot as well, and possibly even a Week 17 matchup with Baltimore for the division title.

But this is an all-for-naught argument. I won't complain about a matchup between a 10-3-1 team, and a 9-5 team in primetime. Better than what ESPN has for their final two games of the season, that's for damned sure.

The only other game if it holds any merit, and the Giants/Cowboys have to lose next week and the Vikes have to win. Vikings vs. Packers. Vikes with a shot at the playoffs, Packers with a chance at a bye. Might be how it works.

They just ran the network promo for Niners/Seahawks so I'm taking that as an official announcement.

[Island_Style]

Anyone else feeling a 49ers vs Broncos Super Bowl?

Texans-Seahawks would be more my flavor.

It'll probably be Patriots-Packers and some part of my soul will wither and die.

Personally, I don't buy the Texans. I do think Seattle is a good pick to crash the party. I also find myself pulling for them a little.

I am with you on the Pats-Pack. CFB was already ruined for me with ND-Bama. I don't need the NFL to ball punch me either.

[Kramerica Industries]

I do think next week will be when we get to see if Andy Dalton is ready to take the next step forward.

Bengals started 6-2 last year, but finished 9-7, backed into the playoffs, and got nuked by the Texans. The culprits for that 3-6 backslide? The Ravens, Steelers, and Texans, who each beat the Bengals twice. Andy Dalton is 0-6 in his career against his chief division foes. It's put up or shut up time for him and the Bengals. They would be in a much more tenable spot if they had held on to a few more passes in the game against Dallas, but they didn't, so now they have to win in Pittsburgh. I think with the Ravens disintegration of late, there's a fine chance the Bengals win the Week 17 matchup at home. But it will all be for naught if they lose next week, because there's literally no chance in hell the Browns win in Pittsburgh, in a game where the Steelers could clinch a playoff spot.

And, in regards to the Ravens, they are a 4th-and-29 non-conversion away from a four game skid, an 8-6 mark, and a tenable playoff hold, at best. Yikes. John Harbaugh's Ravens have never looked as bad as they have the past couple weeks. And they'll be facing a team just as pissed off as they are next week. It doesn't get any easier from here. I do expect Ray Lewis to provide a huge emotional boost to that decrepit and wounded defense.

Since NBC promoted it so heavily, I imagine the Niners/Seahawks game is locked into the SNF slot next week.

Because I think Bengals-Steelers has a case for being in that slot as well. The NFC West is very likely sealed for the Niners. Arizona has no chance in hell of winning at Candlestick in Week 17. The game has meaning because, as mentioned above, there's still a race with the Packers for the #2 seed.

But I don't think that meaning is as significant as the Bengals and Steelers playing in what amounts to a knockout game. Steelers will win their final game regardless, so a W gives them the tiebreak over Cincinnati, wile a W for the Bengals clinches them a playoff spot as well, and possibly even a Week 17 matchup with Baltimore for the division title.

But this is an all-for-naught argument. I won't complain about a matchup between a 10-3-1 team, and a 9-5 team in primetime. Better than what ESPN has for their final two games of the season, that's for damned sure.

The only other game if it holds any merit, and the Giants/Cowboys have to lose next week and the Vikes have to win. Vikings vs. Packers. Vikes with a shot at the playoffs, Packers with a chance at a bye. Might be how it works.

They just ran the network promo for Niners/Seahawks so I'm taking that as an official announcement.

We're mixing weeks here anyway. That Packers/Vikings game is in Week 17, and if I had to take any guesses right now as to what that game will be, I'd say the Cowboys/Redskins game that will win the division for one team, and knock the other team out of the playoffs. Kinda like last year, eh?