NFL Fans?

[enema of the state]

OK after my trip to the usa last week, i reckon ive seen enough to make sopme worthwhile observations

1. the best 5 teams seem to me to be in the AFC (no particular order): Indy, denver, SD, pats and ravens. KC are a close 6th

2. nfc: i'm not convince bears are all that nor giants. i predict dallas to go 12: 4, get home advantage in the playoff ist round and get to SB - probably winning at chicago if things continue to current form. i dont see either of these getting past any of the above 5.

3. indy are proven chokers, I write them off when playoff time comes. SD impressed me in doing the broncos but theyre too reliant on 1 player and i'm not convinced they have a plan B. I think the ravens are SUPREMELY well equiped to beat SD - and I also admire mcnair more than an current nfl player.
NE can never be written off but i think theyre a little off theyre peak strength of 2-4 years ago.

Prediction

Conf finals:

Dallas v Chicago

Baltimore v SD

SB: Dallasv baltimore

ravens to win with mcnair running in a TD from the 1 with 1 second left

[KingKenny]

The AFC is defo looking strong this year, more so than the NFC. I agree with you ENEMA.
However I think if Dallas goes to Chicago and it's minus 10 degrees they will not have a chance coming from Texas and the hot weather.
The Chargers for me are a more complete team than the Ravens.
Also, I would not count Brady & his bunch, mind the punt they always show up in the playoffs.
So If I'm pressed for a prediction it will Bears x Pats super bowl.

[enema of the state]

However I think if Dallas goes to Chicago and it's minus 10 degrees they will not have a chance coming from Texas and the hot weather..

agree kk, this could be a key factor - chicago's schedule is piss easy and i see them getting 14-2 and losing only to the pats from here on in. I think theyre a CERT to have the best NFC record but I dont think theyve played anybody that good ( seahawks win and win at NY most impressive) so I think they'll prove beatable - even at home in the freezing cold. if they win convincingly at NE then I would have to think about revising my prediction. well know shortly!

The Chargers for me are a more complete team than the Ravens.

Disagree totally on this one, i think theres little to choose on stats but the SD figures are buoyed by a much easier division and if you take tomlinson out youve got a HUGE hole in both rushing and recieving. the ravens came through a close game to win when they went head to head and theyve got class al through the roster especially the defence.

I also think schottenheimer is the nfl's equivalent of don howe ( r u old enough to remember him?) i hate to see that kind of guy be successful.

ravens main problem would be coping with a high octane passing attack from indy

[REDSCOUSER]

Disagree totally on this one, i think theres little to choose on stats but the SD figures are buoyed by a much easier division and if you take tomlinson out youve got a HUGE hole in both rushing and recieving. the ravens came through a close game to win when they went head to head and theyve got class al through the roster especially the defence.

I also think schottenheimer is the nfl's equivalent of don howe ( r u old enough to remember him?) i hate to see that kind of guy be successful.

ravens main problem would be coping with a high octane passing attack from indy

Don'tind me joining in the convo lads
Schottenheimer's record in the NFL is ok, nothing major. So you do have that point. But, if Brees can continue his good run, then players like Tomlinson, Gates & McCardell will benefit.
I never liked the Raven tbh, too defensive minded, their games bore me to death and since the SB win in 2001 they have not done nothing.
Having said that I think Jamal Lewis is a fantastic rb.

[enema of the state]

I never liked the Raven tbh, too defensive minded, their games bore me to death and since the SB win in 2001 they have not done nothing.

a fair point up until this september

but any offence with mcnair - even in his autumn years - in it, is exciting to watch

[hoeyd2]

agree kk, this could be a key factor - chicago's schedule is piss easy and i see them getting 14-2 and losing only to the pats from here on in. I think theyre a CERT to have the best NFC record but I dont think theyve played anybody that good ( seahawks win and win at NY most impressive) so I think they'll prove beatable - even at home in the freezing cold. if they win convincingly at NE then I would have to think about revising my prediction. well know shortly!



Disagree totally on this one, i think theres little to choose on stats but the SD figures are buoyed by a much easier division and if you take tomlinson out youve got a HUGE hole in both rushing and recieving. the ravens came through a close game to win when they went head to head and theyve got class al through the roster especially the defence.

I also think schottenheimer is the nfl's equivalent of don howe ( r u old enough to remember him?) i hate to see that kind of guy be successful.

ravens main problem would be coping with a high octane passing attack from indy

WAIT, wait, wait. Are you trying to say that the AFC West is a much easier division? The AFC West is the strongest division in football. The AFC North is no gimme, but San Diego have it very tough.

[hoeyd2]

a fair point up until this september

but any offence with mcnair - even in his autumn years - in it, is exciting to watch

McNair hasn't put together 4 quarters of good play this year. He's been good when he's needed to be but most people agree that Baltimore's offense is going to have to get better if they want to make a run to February.

[enema of the state]

WAIT, wait, wait. Are you trying to say that the AFC West is a much easier division? The AFC West is the strongest division in football. The AFC North is no gimme, but San Diego have it very tough.

sorry should have said schedule so far, not division as such. i actually think the number of tough fixtures has been similar if not identical! but baltimore have had panthers and saints (even falcons) from the nfc compared with the much weaker rams and niners giving them the harder program. i also think the raiders are easier wooden spoonists than the browns

looking at it in more detail, the 16 fixture programmes are pretty much equal

the key point in my opinion is, one twist of mr tomlinsons knee and sd cease to be superbowl candidates

[enema of the state]

McNair hasn't put together 4 quarters of good play this year. He's been good when he's needed to be but most people agree that Baltimore's offense is going to have to get better if they want to make a run to February.

wouldnt disagree but i think they have the potential and the recent track record to do just that and i also think that their defence will score heavily in the playoffs.

[hoeyd2]

Well, God bless Asante Samuel. 3 Ints. Can you spell contract year?

[hoeyd2]

Oh, and may I just say that the officials were awful. 3 massive dodgy calls. Hawkins pass interference. Phantom. Hobbs holding. Phantom. Hobbs pass interference. Phantom. Gifted the Bears 10 points.

[Red Star]

Got to agree about the officiating. Awful! Thought they were trying to hand it to the Bears.

How about the Giants meltdown? They will be lucky to make it to the playoffs with the schedule they have the rest of the way.

Vince Young is looking like a good young QB!

[philred10]

i'm pissed off, samuel playing a blinder that gets rid of one of my favourite rants. officiating was poor but nothing new. felt the game was as important for the pats as the bears to prove they weren't just kings of an unimportant hill but genuine challengers. if they can get a fit secondary together in time for the playoffs, or even just have harrison fit, then a superbowl may be in the offing. didnt see enough from the bears to think theyll be there at the end, next week is the big one in the nfc, dallas @ giants, should be corker. week off next week for the pats against detroit.

[Mattshark]

Well we pissed on the eagles 44-21, 4 td's for Addai (Equalling a Colts record for rushing TD's in a game) and Manning becoming the fastest ever player to reach 3000 completions. Great game for us.

[hoeyd2]

Well we pissed on the eagles 44-21, 4 td's for Addai (Equalling a Colts record for rushing TD's in a game) and Manning becoming the fastest ever player to reach 3000 completions. Great game for us.

Hollow, hollow, hollow.

No McNabb, no problem. Westbrook even ran up 120-something yards without the threat of a passing game.

That run defense has to get better before january.

Everybody has issues at this point. I honestly can't see one clear top team.