NFL '13 SEASON THREAD

[CS85]

Naturally this Bears defense, formulated almost entirely by the Angelo/Smith tenure, merits a rib at Phil Emery after that performance. Alright. I admit that there's shared blame by numerous parties including but not limited to Phil Emery, but I personally find it somewhat...insipid, I guess, to gesture in that direction for blame. I don't enjoy the silly buzzwords more than anyone else but it wasn't Phil Emery out there missing tackles and fumbling kick returns.

[The_Admiral]

I don't care about petty things like details. I just want to make fun of Bears management for speaking in the loathsome argot of corporate retreats.

[CS85]

I don't care about petty things like details. I just want to make fun of Bears management for speaking in the loathsome argot of corporate retreats.

Duly noted!

[Sport]

These are pretty slick

But I'm holding out for now.

BTW, in the 12 years of AFC North Play the Steelers have 5 division championships, the Ravens have 4, the Bengals now have 3, and the Browns have 0.

[teddthebucfan]

There is going to be something so grossly unfair if Arizona misses the playoffs at 11-5.

What'll be worse is if they miss it at 11-5 and the Steelers make it at 8-8.

[BBTV]

In

These are pretty slick

..

But I'm holding out for now.

BTW, in the 12 years of AFC North Play the Steelers have 5 division championships, the Ravens have 4, the Bengals now have 3, and the Browns have 0.

Those are kinda nice, considering most championship shirts are really obnoxious.

So I looked it up - in the 12 years of the current version of the NFC East, the Eagles have 5 (possibly 6), Giants have 3, Cowboys have 2 (possibly 3), Washington 1.

[infrared41]

There is going to be something so grossly unfair if Arizona misses the playoffs at 11-5.

What'll be worse is if they miss it at 11-5 and the Steelers make it at 8-8.

It's happened before. The 1985 Cleveland Browns won the AFC Central at 8-8 while the 11-5 Broncos didn't make the playoffs. There may be other examples but that's the only one I could think of.

[Kramerica Industries]

Oh yeah, just back in 2008 when 8-8 San Diego made it in while 11-5 New England missed out. Same thing.

That San Diego team was 4-8, won their last four games (including a miracle rally in Kansas City), paired with the Broncos shooting themselves in the foot late in the season (losing at home to Buffalo in Week 16; hah), and then, to top it off, beat the 12-4 Colts, a team that was on a nine-game winning streak, in their first playoff game.

[Still MIGHTY]

Hell, lest we forget the 2010 7-9 Seahawks HOSTED and WON a playoff game while the 10-6 Giants and Bucs stayed home.

[Kramerica Industries]

I would've mentioned that, but 10-6 teams missing the playoffs is a little more common than 11-5 teams missing.

But, yeah, the Bucs wrecked the Seahawks in Week 16 that year and it mattered 'nil. I think the Giants also had wrecked the Seahawks to the tune of 41-7 or something in Seattle a few months before that as well. Mattered 'nil.

And that "win-and-in" SNF game against the Rams may have been the worst meaningful SNF matchup in the history of the Flex era.

[BigEd76]

Tony Romo's Christmas card. Make your own jokes

[NEW.ERA]

I want to take this time to thank the Philadelphia Eagles.

Also, remember when the NFC West was the worst division, that ever graced the sport of Football?

Well there's a chance the entire division could be at .500 or above if the Rams beat Seattle, even if they lose 7-9 for the Rams without Bradford, is still a step in the right direction. Enjoy that Redskin pick, eh!

[Kramerica Industries]

St. Louis is in a perfect position where they could have an incredible football team in a very short period of time; either 2014 or 2015. They could leverage that #1/#2 pick like they did in 2012 or use it to plug in one of their gaps (not that they have too many left). Zac Stacy looks legit in the backfield, they have the best DE in the league in Robert Quinn, they are athletic at hell on the outside on both sides of the ball, and they've still got a great deal of high draft picks coming in thanks to the Griffin trade.

It's not like they've been an easy win for division foes this year, but they'll be even better next year. They've actually managed to keep a .500 mark since Bradford got hurt and Kellen Clemens took over as their QB; that tells me all I need to know about them.

[FiddySicks]

This Washington State rep is a little butthurt about losing to Zona.

Well... I mean, FWIW, he did kinda nail the description of the state of Arizona.

[NEW.ERA]

There are now 7, 4:25pm ET starts next week.

Bucs/Saints, Bills/Pats, Packers/Bears all flexed to the afternoon. Makes sense to play all the games that matter in the late slot, though the Pats will know by there kickoff whether or not they'll have a shot at the bye.

[lordsketor]

And Von Miller is out for the rest of the season with an torn ACL....

[JayMac]

And Von Miller is out for the rest of the season with an torn ACL....

I have a feeling that the Broncos will get bounced in the divisional round despite scoring 5 or 6 touchdowns. I'm also fairly certain that Manning will take the brunt of the blame and the media will say he came up small again.

[infrared41]

I want to take this time to thank the Philadelphia Eagles.

It pains me to say it, but so do I.

I'd also like to add that it is entirely ridiculous that the Packers are playing for the division title next week. I'm not complaining, but it is ridiculous.

[DG_YouKnowWhatThatMeans]

I want to take this time to thank the Philadelphia Eagles.

It pains me to say it, but so do I.

I'd also like to add that it is entirely ridiculous that the Packers are playing for the division title next week. I'm not complaining, but it is ridiculous.

Apropos of nothing, but I remember when you were a big-time Browns fan. That Packers stock sale sure changed things, huh?

My certificate is still sitting in the UPS envelope it came in. Had it been a standard size, I would have framed it ages ago. (Though I am changing offices in the new year; no time like the present to re-demonstrate how awesome I am.)

[ADW77]

And Von Miller is out for the rest of the season with an torn ACL....

I have a feeling that the Broncos will get bounced in the divisional round despite scoring 5 or 6 touchdowns. I'm also fairly certain that Manning will take the brunt of the blame and the media will say he came up small again.

Denver went 6-0 without Miller to start the season. While he's an all-pro linebacker and all, they did manage without him.

The fact that they've managed to keep pace with all the injuries they've had is amazing. They've now lost 7 of their 11 defensive starters to injury for at least two games or more each. Other than DRC, they've missed at least four games a piece (I'm counting Miller's suspension here).

They've been without their all-pro left tackle for more than half the season, they lost TWO starting centers before the season ever started. It's just incredible how they've managed to bear through all of it and remain the top team in the AFC.

Now please don't take this the wrong way, I know every team struggles with injuries, look at New England and Green Bay for example. However, I don't hear people saying New England is going to get bounced in their first game because they lost Gronkowski.

I just don't see this team letting a repeat of last year happen.