Thursday Night Football: The Pacifier Bowl

50-yard-line said:

Do NOT sleep on Denver. Their Defense is for real

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Let's pump the brakes on that until they play a pro offense.

Yea, even Pittsburgh held them to 20 points in regulation

A Defiant Goose said:

Yea, even Pittsburgh held them to 20 points in regulation

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Denver?

The Brandon Five said:

Denver?

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Sorry, LOL. Even Pittsburgh (with as bad a defense as they have) held Baltimore to 20 points in regulation (where Denver held them to 13). Basically Baltimore's offense sucks.

PP2 said:

It was unbelievable how much they pared down the playbook for Vick last night. The guy is truly dumb. I can't believe that through 3 games and through the entire preseason he still doesn't know **** when it comes to the playbook.

Even more baffling is why the Steelers even signed him in the first place- they are usually a solid, smart organization.

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Not just dumb but lazy, too. He has confessed in the past that he doesn't put in the work to study.

AQPE said:

I'd be willing to bet that Bart Scott thinks Tomlin is a great coach.

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Tough anyway. And definitely NOT a cornball.

Other than some HS games, that was the worst coached game of football I've ever seen.

1960Pats said:

Other than some HS games, that was the worst coached game of football I've ever seen.

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Calling that a game of "football" is a generous assessment.

Don't sleep on the Raiders, they look promising and could be the other wild card alongside the Bills. Obviously very early for projections here, but wouldn't be shocked at both Ravens and Steelers ending up on the outside looking in when January rolls around.

Rob0729 said:

I don't see either of these teams sniffing the playoffs. The Steelers might have if Roethlisberger was healthy, but they could have 6-7 losses by the time he gets back in 4-5 weeks. I can't see the Ravens beating any good team. The Bengals may wrap up the division by the end of November.

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The issue at hand is how poor the wild card competition is in the AFC. There seems to be a decent chance that one or both teams could be at 9-7 or worse. With teams such as KC and SD looking awful and getting off to bad starts, that allows teams like PIT and BAL a shot.

While you claim that Pittsburgh could have 6-7 losses by the time Roethlisberger gets back, they could also have 4 losses just as easily, and that's if they lose 2/3 games. That puts him back after the 4 week point, and he has been reportedly very optimistic and upbeat these past couple of days about coming back on the early side of things. There's also the fact that they could end up winning a game or two while he's out.

As far as BAL goes, there's a decent chance that they'll be 3-3 again in a couple of weeks. Sometimes momentum changes things. Either way, I agree with you that it's highly unlikely that either one of these teams is anything of a concern, but I could definitely see one of them making it as a WC.

EDIT: I think you could be right that either team may have as little as 6-7 wins, but I also think it's just as possible that they could have 8-9. I guess that's why they play the games

JMC00 said:

He and Rapistburger were the biggest beneficiaries of Brady getting injured.

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The Roethlisberger/Cowher combo benefited in 2005 as well, when Brady and the team went out to Denver and lost in the divisional round. They were able to avoid the Patriots both times in their past two SB victories, and three if you include Pittsburgh's loss in the 2010 SB (when we lost to the NYJ).

Why do I keep hearing how weak the AFC is but not a word about the NFC, which is actually the weaker of the two leagues. It has been since the merger.

1960Pats said:

Why do I keep hearing how weak the AFC is but not a word about the NFC, which is actually the weaker of the two leagues. It has been since the merger.

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Probably because the comments are only pertaining to this year, and the AFC doesn't appear to be stronger than the NFC. There appear to be more solid teams in the NFC than AFC.

betterthanthealternative said:

Probably because the comments are only pertaining to this year, and the AFC doesn't appear to be stronger than the NFC. There appear to be more solid teams in the NFC than AFC.

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I know it's early, but the AFC is ahead of the NFC this year also in head to head play, and is deeper. If it wasn't for the pathetic AFCS the AFC would be running away with things.

1960Pats said:

I know it's early, but the AFC is ahead of the NFC this year also in head to head play, and is deeper. If it wasn't for the pathetic AFCS the AFC would be running away with things.

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Arizona and Green Bay are the only teams playing at the Pats level right now.

And I differ with your assertion that the AFC has led the NFC ever since the merger. There were long stretches when the NFC was far better, including almost the entire decade of the 80's. Heck, there were years when the NFC East had 2, even 3, teams that were better than any team in the AFC. The NFC has 20% more SB wins, and far more seasons where it had the better inter-conference record. Only the recent years keeps the AFC even in the ball game. Has the NFC started to change that momentum this year? We'll know soon enough.

1960Pats said:

Other than some HS games, that was the worst coached game of football I've ever seen.

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Our resident Tomlin supporter thinks he is a great coach. :shakeshead:

Well that was quick lol

betterthanthealternative said:

Arizona and Green Bay are the only teams playing at the Pats level right now.

And I differ with your assertion that the AFC has led the NFC ever since the merger. There were long stretches when the NFC was far better, including almost the entire decade of the 80's. Heck, there were years when the NFC East had 2, even 3, teams that were better than any team in the AFC. The NFC has 20% more SB wins, and far more seasons where it had the better inter-conference record. Only the recent years keeps the AFC even in the ball game. Has the NFC started to change that momentum this year? We'll know soon enough.

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Arizona has played the two bottom teams in the entire NFL (NO and @Chicago) and SF. I'd put Atlanta ahead of them just based on the superior teams they played with two on the road (Philly, @NYG and @Dallas)

In spite of the dominance of the 80's and 90's, the NFC is still way behind all time vs the AFC. Also, in spite of a ridiculous run of 13 straight SB wins in that same time the AFC is still within range after a 9-6 run in the last 15 years.

The idea that the NFC is stronger than the AFC is a myth.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

Well that was quick lol

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Mike Triplin had a chance to put some faith in the guy and let him go for the game winner. Instead he put the game into the hands of Michael Vick and lost... twice.

1960Pats said:

Mike Triplin had a chance to put some faith in the guy and let him go for the game winner. Instead he put the game into the hands of Michael Vick and lost... twice.

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It's one of two things. Huge nads or no nads. I think the later.