2014 NFL Season Thread

[DG_ThenNowForever]

After last season? I have hope for the Chargers. Problem is they share a division with the Manning-led Broncos and Peyton still seems to have a year or two left in the tank. He doesn't seem as troubled by the Chargers since leaving Indy. They're still a playoff team, but I'm conceding the division to the Fighting Peytons.

Went ahead and just made this the 2014 NFL season thread. Don't think there's one yet (if so, could somebody point me in the direction so I can merge this?) and with preseason starting tomorrow, it makes sense for us to have them.

Predictions are fine in the season threads but I'm not sure we need a special thread for them so far out. We've always for the most part done them in threads and I see no reason not to here.

Rodger that. Cap, that's what makes it fun! It's a crapshoot.

I once heard someone compare picking the Super Bowl winner before the pre-season to trying to predict the exact weather conditions in a specific location six months from now. We just don't know. I just said that I think Manning has one or two more good years left. He could be out of gas though, and the season could go terribly for Denver. Manning's at that age where any season, including this one, could be the one where he body just can't go any more. That's just one variable for one team. I don't know. I just don't see the point to trying to predict the Super Bowl this early out.

Now predicting that the Raiders will play uninspired football? That's just playing the odds

I understand editing out politics, insults, religion and so on, but structuring how and when people can discuss totally non-confrontational topics like NFL predictions? On the eve of the Hall of Fame game, which launches preseason football? That seems a little off to me.

[Coast2CoastAM2006]

With the Cowboys I fully expect either a 7-9/8-8/9-7 type of season. I threw in 9-7 as being generously optimistic. Defense really worries me, I don't feel confident that they really improved at all. Now offensively I could see them doing somethings, unless they plan on lighting teams up with 40-50 points each game, I have my concerns going into this season. Now I don't want to channel crownking, but I have to think for Jason Garrett, it has to be playoffs or bust if he plans on keeping his job. I can't see him surviving the next off season going 7-9/8-8.

[FiddySicks]

In the NFC, despite the quality team depth, everyone not named SF/SEA is playing for third.

Lol. Can't wait for SF to have a down year. So tired of people thinking they are in the same tier as Seattle and Denver.

You're right. The Niners aren't in the same tier as Denver. They're in the tier above Denver, right with the Seahawks.

I see absolutely nothing that shows me that the Niners will have a down year this season. Maybe health will hold them back, but every team has that same concern. Overall the Niners are still downright nasty.

I've also heard that line about the Niners having a "Down year" each of the last two seasons.

And I love all the hope people have for the Bucs, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Please. The only reason SF plays Seattle close is because they are division rivals. That's it. Manning would have lit up that secondary had the Niners pulled off a win in Seattle.

I seriously doubt that.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

SF gave the Seahawks fits in last years NFC title game. Seattle needed a couple of lucky breaks to win the game, and even still, it came down to the final play.

The 49ers are an incredibly good team, and had three straight years in NFC title games. They played all three incredibly close, and lost the Super Bowl by a single score, They're like the Eagles of the early 2000s, except they play all of their big games tight and come really close to winning.

The 2013 Seahawks had an all-time defense. The 2014 Seahawks have the same players, but lost two receivers, had their star RB get older and hold out, and are facing much different expectations. If the 2014 title game is in Seattle, maybe the Seahawks go to the Super Bowl again. If SF wins the division, I wouldn't bet against them.

[IceCap]

After last season? I have hope for the Chargers. Problem is they share a division with the Manning-led Broncos and Peyton still seems to have a year or two left in the tank. He doesn't seem as troubled by the Chargers since leaving Indy. They're still a playoff team, but I'm conceding the division to the Fighting Peytons.

Went ahead and just made this the 2014 NFL season thread. Don't think there's one yet (if so, could somebody point me in the direction so I can merge this?) and with preseason starting tomorrow, it makes sense for us to have them.

Predictions are fine in the season threads but I'm not sure we need a special thread for them so far out. We've always for the most part done them in threads and I see no reason not to here.

Rodger that. Cap, that's what makes it fun! It's a crapshoot.

I once heard someone compare picking the Super Bowl winner before the pre-season to trying to predict the exact weather conditions in a specific location six months from now. We just don't know. I just said that I think Manning has one or two more good years left. He could be out of gas though, and the season could go terribly for Denver. Manning's at that age where any season, including this one, could be the one where he body just can't go any more. That's just one variable for one team. I don't know. I just don't see the point to trying to predict the Super Bowl this early out.

Now predicting that the Raiders will play uninspired football? That's just playing the odds

I understand editing out politics, insults, religion and so on, but structuring how and when people can discuss totally non-confrontational topics like NFL predictions? On the eve of the Hall of Fame game, which launches preseason football? That seems a little off to me.

It wasn't so much NFL predictions that caught my eye as much as it was Super Bowl predictions...

The point, though, is that it was decided that the thread was better served as something else so my initial decision to lock it was reversed. The system works!

[BBTV]

According to former Seahawks DB Chris Maragos, the Eagles were the one team they didn't want to see in the playoffs. They were more concerned about that potential match up than games against the saints or 49ers, who they were confident they would beat.

[MrRangersFan]

AFC Championship

Colts 28-Broncos 17

NFC Championship

Seahawks 57-Panthers 23

Super Bowl XLIX

Colts 31-Seahawks 24

[rams80]

In the NFC, despite the quality team depth, everyone not named SF/SEA is playing for third.

Lol. Can't wait for SF to have a down year. So tired of people thinking they are in the same tier as Seattle and Denver.

You're right. The Niners aren't in the same tier as Denver. They're in the tier above Denver, right with the Seahawks.

I see absolutely nothing that shows me that the Niners will have a down year this season. Maybe health will hold them back, but every team has that same concern. Overall the Niners are still downright nasty.

I've also heard that line about the Niners having a "Down year" each of the last two seasons.

And I love all the hope people have for the Bucs, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Please. The only reason SF plays Seattle close is because they are division rivals. That's it. Manning would have lit up that secondary had the Niners pulled off a win in Seattle.

Hmmmm...let's see the list of teams Seattle beat by 35 points last season (besides Denver)

*crickets*

Well, how about 30 or more?

*crickets*

28?

Jacksonville, then *crickets*

There are other defenses that can disrupt Denver in the same way that Seattle did. Pretending that the Broncos are otherwise invulnerable is akin to pulling an ostrich.

[JayMac]

In the NFC, despite the quality team depth, everyone not named SF/SEA is playing for third.

Lol. Can't wait for SF to have a down year. So tired of people thinking they are in the same tier as Seattle and Denver.

You're right. The Niners aren't in the same tier as Denver. They're in the tier above Denver, right with the Seahawks.

I see absolutely nothing that shows me that the Niners will have a down year this season. Maybe health will hold them back, but every team has that same concern. Overall the Niners are still downright nasty.

I've also heard that line about the Niners having a "Down year" each of the last two seasons.

And I love all the hope people have for the Bucs, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Please. The only reason SF plays Seattle close is because they are division rivals. That's it. Manning would have lit up that secondary had the Niners pulled off a win in Seattle.

Hmmmm...let's see the list of teams Seattle beat by 35 points last season (besides Denver)

*crickets*

Well, how about 30 or more?

*crickets*

28?

Jacksonville, then *crickets*

There are other defenses that can disrupt Denver in the same way that Seattle did. Pretending that the Broncos are otherwise invulnerable is akin to pulling an ostrich.

Seattle can't rout anyone because they have a mediocre offense. So bringing up that point doesn't mean much. That defense was ridiculously dominant. That is why they won.

I really think that San Francisco will never win because of their QB. He had a great 1st half of the NFCCG but came up lame in the second half. He is not a clutch QB when it counts. He is a better QB that Wilson (as much as it pains me to say that) but he isn't as clutch.

[crashcarson15]

Browns over the Lions in the Super Bowl. Bookmark this post, y'all.

[JayMac]

Browns over the Lions in the Super Bowl. Bookmark this post, y'all.

I'm all for it! Just as long as Manziel isn't the QB for Cleveland.

[Unocal]

The thing with DEN/SF/SEA- The Niners secondary, while hard-hitting, is a little slow and lacks blazing speed.

They were occasionally burned by the passing play here and there- see Palmer week 17.

Either way, DEN/SF doesn't end 43-8.

It's all about matchups- is SB 37 still the same type of game if it's Philly/Oakland or Tennessee/Tampa?

[TheSoundofThrowingPennies]

The thing with DEN/SF/SEA- The Niners secondary, while hard-hitting, is a little slow and lacks blazing speed.

They were occasionally burned by the passing play here and there- see Palmer week 17.

Either way, DEN/SF doesn't end 43-8.

It's all about matchups- is SB 37 still the same type of game if it's Philly/Oakland or Tennessee/Tampa?

Thank you. I've said this before. That Hawks defense will go down as one of the best. The Niner defense is much more akin to the Chiefs defense, and Peyton had absolutely no problem with them.

For people like Rams80 to think there are other defenses capable of doing that to the highest scoring offense of all time just makes me scratch my head.

[dbadefense1990]

Browns over the Lions in the Super Bowl. Bookmark this post, y'all.

I don't know what will happen first; a Detroit-Cleveland Super Bowl, or Lindsay Lohan winning an Oscar.

With the Cowboys I fully expect either a 7-9/8-8/9-7 type of season. I threw in 9-7 as being generously optimistic. Defense really worries me, I don't feel confident that they really improved at all. Now offensively I could see them doing somethings, unless they plan on lighting teams up with 40-50 points each game, I have my concerns going into this season. Now I don't want to channel crownking, but I have to think for Jason Garrett, it has to be playoffs or bust if he plans on keeping his job. I can't see him surviving the next off season going 7-9/8-8.

The thing is that Dallas already can put 40-50 a game; it is the defense which sucks. In all but two of their losses, the Cowboys scored at least 20 points. They lost four times scoring at least four touchdowns. They had a higher PPG in their losses than the total PPG of all but four teams (CHI, NE, PHI, DEN). Hell, Dallas had a higher PPG in their losses than the total PPG of the eventual champion Seahawks.

All of these shouldn't amount to an 8-8 season (and be subjected to another last-game-of-the-season humiliation on NBC). It shouldn't.

[TheSoundofThrowingPennies]

Browns over the Lions in the Super Bowl. Bookmark this post, y'all.

I don't know what will happen first; a Detroit-Cleveland Super Bowl, or Lindsay Lohan winning an Oscar.

Hey, if Robert Downey Jr could rebound, there's still hope for Lindsay...

[rams80]

For people like Rams80 to think there are other defenses capable of doing that to the highest scoring offense of all time just makes me scratch my head.

Maybe its because I'm a Rams fan and know what happens to high scoring offenses once the league sees the model of how to stop them.

[TheSoundofThrowingPennies]

For people like Rams80 to think there are other defenses capable of doing that to the highest scoring offense of all time just makes me scratch my head.

Maybe its because I'm a Rams fan and know what happens to high scoring offenses once the league sees the model of how to stop them.

That's just it. There's no model. It was a combination of injuries, poor prep, and secondary play which has since been declared illegal by the league. So good luck emmulating that.

[ninersdd]

While the Niners secondary wasn't as good as Seattle's, their pass rush was probably better. They got 4 sacks in GB, then buried Newton for 5 the next week. They got 4 in the first half against Seattle, but none in the 2nd half which was big. Seattle had 2 sacks and 3 takeaways in the 2nd half, while the Niners couldn't get one of those.

In a weird way, I'm less upset about losing to the Hawks then the previous 2 years, because they were an elite team, unlike the Ravens and Giants that they lost to.

[Lights Out]

I'm actually excited about the Chargers going into the season for the first time in years. Can't wait to see how the new-look secondary does.

Definitely worried about you guys. Excited to see your take on the K Gun offense though.

I'm assuming the Chargers will stick to their unorthodox glacially-slow and methodical offense from last year. It's in the red zone where the change in OC should hopefully make an impact.

[rams80]

For people like Rams80 to think there are other defenses capable of doing that to the highest scoring offense of all time just makes me scratch my head.

Maybe its because I'm a Rams fan and know what happens to high scoring offenses once the league sees the model of how to stop them.

That's just it. There's no model. It was a combination of injuries, poor prep, and secondary play which has since been declared illegal by the league. So good luck emmulating that.

Yes, that's how you stop Martz's offense. The point, which you are missing, is that every DC in the league is watching that Super Bowl game tape. They'll emulate Seattle's tactics when possible. And it is possible for more teams than you think.