2014 NFL Season Thread

[dfwabel]

Do they have even an outside shot at a bye? You need to balls out for that if so, no natter how long the odds

It is more out of their control even by winning.

From Dallas Morning News/NFL.com:

COWBOYS CLINCH BYE WITH ...

(via NFL)

Most possible -- Seattle loss and Arizona loss.

Unlikely: Dallas win AND Detroit-Green Bay tie

Unlikely: Dallas tie, Steattle tie and Arizona loss AND Detroit-Green Bay does not end in tie

COWBOYS CLINCH TOP SEED AND HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE WITH ...

(Very unlikely): Dallas wins at Washington AND Arizona loses or ties AND Detroit-Green Bay tie.

So it's either...

Host DET for the widlcard and and play Stafford who 0-16 on the road against a team with a winning record (2-26 overall). If you win travel to GB and deal with Aaron Rodgers.

or

Host GB and Aaron Rodgers whose is even more dangerous when playing indoors in the wildcard and then got to Ford Field for the divisional round.

[dfwabel]

Who is this wearing #18 for the Broncos?

A guy whose arm strength on throws over 20 yards just left him for good tonight!

[See Red]

Who is this wearing #18 for the Broncos?

A guy whose arm strength on throws over 20 yards just left him tonight!

It's not helping that he can't step into his throws because the offensive line is a mess.

That ball moved a little bit as Kirkpatrick went to the ground. It appears to squirt from around his chest/stomache area to around his waist, but since there wasn't a bobble or anything, I think they made the right call.

Broncos don't look like they're going to be a factor. They can still win the AFC but it doesn't seem likely, and another Super Bowl beat down would probably result.

[ninersdd]

The Bengals would be in the playoffs were it not for the 49ers blowing a 21-0 lead. F*** you, San Francisco. Can you help me out once?

OR you can take care of business tonight. Props to Dalton for not making mistakes after the first drive.

[Unocal]

Everyone not named Andy Dalton came up big for the Bengals. Basically took the game out of his hands.

[Kramerica Industries]

Terence Newman was getting so roasted tonight by DT that he stole Charles Tillman's nickname.

Finally, he was taken out in favor of 'Dre Kirkpatrick, who promptly made two picks in the final minutes of the game. Total 180 on R-CB play.

[dbadefense1990]

So to my understanding, here are the seedlings entering Week 17:

AFC:

1. New England

2. Denver/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati

3. Denver/Pittsburgh/Cincinnati

4. Indianapolis

5. Pittsburgh/Cincinnati

6. San Diego/Baltimore/Houston/Kansas City

NFC:

1. Seattle/Dallas/Green Bay

2. Seattle/Dallas/Green Bay/Detroit

3. Dallas/Green Bay/Detroit

4. (begrudgingly) Atlanta/Carolina

5. Arizona/Green Bay/Detroit

6. Arizona/Green Bay/Detroit

[Rockstar Matt]

Do they have even an outside shot at a bye? You need to balls out for that if so, no natter how long the odds

They do have a shot. It's an outside shot, but they have a chance nevertheless.

EDIT: The most likely scenerio in which Dallas gets a bye involves both the Seahawks and Cardinals losing their last game, but if that comes to pass, Dallas could lose to Washington and still be the second seed.

[dfwabel]

ATL/CAR to air on CBS in the late window. And most of the country will get both doubleheaders on CBS and FOX.

*CAR AT ATL 4:25 PM CBS

*DET AT GB 4:25 PM FOX

OAKL AT DEN 4:25 PM CBS

ARI AT SF 4:25 PM FOX

ST. LOUIS AT SEATTLE 4:25 PM FOX

*-Originally, 1 PM games.

[Kramerica Industries]

I'm really surprised the San Diego/Kansas City game wasn't bumped late as well. Usually a game like that, where a team that's not clinched but controls their fate, is aired in the late time slot.

There are three divisional championship games next week. The NFL making that schedule alteration in 2010 to have Week 17 be all-divisional is one of the best decisions the NFL has ever made.

[Unocal]

The AFC is pretty weak in depth. They don't exactly have a Green Bay Packers/Dallas Cowboys type team that can be viewed as a capable threat to the big, bad monster favorite.

New England has NO excuses. They have everything in their favor- #1 seed, faltering Broncos, homefield, an improved defense.

[Sport]

I can't believe the Bengals won that game. They always lose that game.

And they played in a primetime game and didn't s*** their pants.

Will make the Pittsburgh game on Sunday much easier to handle knowing we're already in the dance.

[tigerslionspistonshabs]

Damnit 4:25??? Either keep it at 1 or make it the primetime game.

[tigerslionspistonshabs]

So most likely fields.

1. New England

2. Denver

3. Pittsburgh

4. Indianapolis

5. Cincinnati

6. Baltimore (in the best shape, facing Cleveland at home)

---------------------------------------------

7. Kansas City (they'll beat a banged up Rivers at Arrowhead)

8. Houston

9. San Diego

1. Seattle

2. Green Bay (would love to see Detroit here, but I'm logical)

3. Dallas

4. Atlanta (in Atlanta and the Falcons just have more weapons than the Panthers)

5. Arizona

6. Detroit

Which means

Pittsburgh beats Baltimore; Cincinnati beats Indianapolis

Detroit beats Dallas; I really don't know who wins Atlanta-Arizona, especially if Stanton is still out, but let's say Arizona

New England beats Cincinnati

Denver beats Pittsburgh

Seattle beats Detroit

Green Bay beats Arizona

New England beats Denver

Seattle beats Green Bay

SB- New England- Seattle.....

[See Red]

I think it's fair to remind everybody that the Patriots completely embarrassed the Broncos last year in the regular season and were then thoroughly dismantled by them in the playoffs (and the Broncos actually looked considerably better in this years regular season game). Sure, it will be at New England and the Broncos look like a hot mess but New England did just eke by a pretty terrible Jets team, so I'm not sure why they're the runaway favorites. It's entirely possible neither team represents the AFC.

[IceCap]

I think it's fair to remind everybody that the Patriots completely embarrassed the Broncos last year in the regular season and were then thoroughly dismantled by them in the playoffs (and the Broncos actually looked considerably better in this years regular season game). Sure, it will be at New England and the Broncos look like a hot mess but New England did just eke by a pretty terrible Jets team, so I'm not sure why they're the runaway favorites. It's entirely possible neither team represents the AFC.

Peyton Manning wasn't falling apart before our very eyes last season.

[Cosmic]

I think it's fair to remind everybody that the Patriots completely embarrassed the Broncos last year in the regular season and were then thoroughly dismantled by them in the playoffs (and the Broncos actually looked considerably better in this years regular season game). Sure, it will be at New England and the Broncos look like a hot mess but New England did just eke by a pretty terrible Jets team, so I'm not sure why they're the runaway favorites. It's entirely possible neither team represents the AFC.

Peyton Manning wasn't falling apart before our very eyes last season.

So sad. How many of us hoped Brady would fall apart before Manning, but secretly knew it would be the other way around?

[JayMac]

I think it's fair to remind everybody that the Patriots completely embarrassed the Broncos last year in the regular season and were then thoroughly dismantled by them in the playoffs (and the Broncos actually looked considerably better in this years regular season game). Sure, it will be at New England and the Broncos look like a hot mess but New England did just eke by a pretty terrible Jets team, so I'm not sure why they're the runaway favorites. It's entirely possible neither team represents the AFC.

Peyton Manning wasn't falling apart before our very eyes last season.

So sad. How many of us hoped Brady would fall apart before Manning, but secretly knew it would be the other way around?

I thought that this would be Manning's last season. He may play another season but his days as an elite QB are most likely over.

[FiddySicks]

Man, the NFL sure is a reactionary league. Peyton has one season that's not quite up to par and everyone is ready call it a career. I say let's wait to see what happens in the playoffs first before we try to prematurely send another quarterback to Valhalla.

[IceCap]

Brady had one bad game, and then proceeded to PWN the rest of the league. Manning's had how many unimpressive weeks now? Four? Five? He's at the age where you go from top of your game to struggling to keep up at a flick of the switch. Not saying the switch has been flicked but it's not reactionary or nonsensical to consider it as a possibility given the circumstances.

The good news for Manning and the Broncos is that they have Oakland next week. So Peyton's going to get a nice tuneup game in time for the playoffs.