Name 5 teams you are certain won't make the playoffs - 5 teams who you think will

[BoltsFan]

We swept them in 2003 and in 2005 we beat them at Miami when it counted and lost to them at home when it didn't. We lost by 2 points playing our 3rd string QB in the 4th quarter and having Flutie drop kick an extra point for the first time since 1941.

But come on! You gotta admit that was classic! Berman @ESPN loved that play. Not that that means anything. Just sayin'...

 

[JaredOfNazareth]

BoltsFan,

So what if your Chargers can draft. Losing a coaching staff, like the top three coaches as well as some position coaches, is going to affect the team in a negitive way. I actually liked the Craig Davis pick, and taking Siler in the 7th was a steal....maybe. The Chargers do have a complete team but will the new leadership affect the chemistry those guys already have. Like how "Moss is going to be a cancer" in the locker room.

If anyone noticed, this was a "Free Agent" offseason. I'm not saying that because NE signed free agents but because the salery cap went up by 8 mil this season. Most free agents underperform for a number of reasons. Mostly due to "peaking" with their former team. Adalius Thomas probably won't have the stats from last year but thats ok because NE didn't over-pay for his services. NE didn't over-pay for anyone....well except for Brady. It's cool because NE made it to the AFCCC with an inferior team money-wise. Now we have that same team with an additional 20 mil in talent. No other team can say that.

This was a unique year to spend and very few teams did. The teams that did spend on FA, with few exceptions, over-payed for those players.

 

[BoltsFan]

BoltsFan,

So what if your Chargers can draft. Losing a coaching staff, like the top three coaches as well as some position coaches, is going to affect the team in a negitive way. I actually liked the Craig Davis pick, and taking Siler in the 7th was a steal....maybe. The Chargers do have a complete team but will the new leadership affect the chemistry those guys already have. Like how "Moss is going to be a cancer" in the locker room.

If anyone noticed, this was a "Free Agent" offseason. I'm not saying that because NE signed free agents but because the salery cap went up by 8 mil this season. Most free agents underperform for a number of reasons. Mostly due to "peaking" with their former team. Adalius Thomas probably won't have the stats from last year but thats ok because NE didn't over-pay for his services. NE didn't over-pay for anyone....well except for Brady. It's cool because NE made it to the AFCCC with an inferior team money-wise. Now we have that same team with an additional 20 mil in talent. No other team can say that.

This was a unique year to spend and very few teams did. The teams that did spend on FA, with few exceptions, over-payed for those players.

Yea, bottom line I understand NE's moves. I think many teams this year appear to have made solid offseason moves. Looking at your additional 20m in expenditures this year the only key acquisition that I think will definitely make you better is Thomas. I know how much all pats fans think Moss could also be key. Obviously he's gonna have to prove that. If he does? So be it. I have my doubts. He's got 10 years under his belt. He's pushing 31. Believe me when I tell you he does NOT have the the 4.3x speed he possessed at the start of his career. I've been watching him closely for the last two years. He's never going to be that swift again. Do understand that was his best asset.

For RM to be effective for you he's going to have to evolve. Like he never has before. If you can't run sub 4.4 you need to be able to mix it up over the middle. Can RM adapt? Can he find a burst? We'll see? I know he's on a far better team. Forgive me when I say, from my perspective? That doesn't matter. Even if he's the RM of old (which I seriously doubt) he still won't be enough.

Getting back to Thomas. Solid pick up. To my mind it remains to be seen how much of a diff he makes.

We'll have a clue soon enough...

 

[g-fresh]

The Broncos, Jets, and even the Raiders had WAY more room to improve.

I think this article about this upcoming year has it just about right:
http://www.phillysportsline.com/getnews/929372#

What are you talking about? I was responding to your claim that the gap between the Chargers and Broncos is the same as that between the Patriots and Jets. How much room they had to improve is irrelevant, the fact is that the Broncos closed the gap between themselves and the Chargers while the Patriots increased the difference between themselves and Jets. I suspect the Chargers will have a tougher battling the Broncos than the Patriots will against the Jets. Of course only time will tell.

 

[BoltsFan]

What are you talking about? I was responding to your claim that the gap between the Chargers and Broncos is the same as that between the Patriots and Jets. How much room they had to improve is irrelevant, the fact is that the Broncos closed the gap between themselves and the Chargers while the Patriots increased the difference between themselves and Jets. I suspect the Chargers will have a tougher battling the Broncos than the Patriots will against the Jets. Of course only time will tell.

What I'm talking about is the notion that that's just your opinion. To suggest that the Broncos closed the gap would be inaccurate at best. Think about it. Precisely what did they do that is going to prevent us from doing the same kinds of things we did to them last year? I don't see it? Acquiring Bly doesn't put them in position to close the gap. Travis who? He'll have to show us. Maybe he will, maybe he won't?

We'll see who does what this year. All I know is NE split with it's two most bitter rivals last year. We didn't. Ok, we split with our 3rd most bitter rival. But that was the diff between 12-4 and 14-2.

Ultimately, things went the way they did and I'm letting that go. Might be practical for NE fans to do so also.

I can feel the upwelling of bet propositions being considered as I write this. Not gonna happen during the reg season with me. Given that the post-season is one and done, it does have a different sort of appeal. Lets get there and talk biz.

 

[g-fresh]

Of course its only my opinion, most of whats posted on these boards is just peoples opinions. Like I said, only time will tell. See you in the playoffs.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Believe it or not what was dysfunctional was the relationship between our GM and Marty. When you lose the way we did somethings gotta give. After that loss it was pretty much mission impossible for AJ and Marty to get on the same page.

Yes, I appreciate that. Fortunately, the relationship between Belichick and Pioli is very strong but what if it turned sour? Belichick would have to go!

OK, but my point is that I'm doubtful about the environment, not just about Turner.

Can't have that. I think Norv and Cottrell provide absolutely the best chance for us to maintain continuity. Norv installed the offense we currently run back in 01. Cottrell taught our former DC, Wade everything Wade knows about the 3-4. They both know our O and D backwards and forwards. Plus, the team is onboard with both of them.

So all those rumours about them trying to persuade Pete Carroll (Pete Carroll!) back to the NFL and getting turned down were bogus and it wasn't just that Norv was about the only half-way credible candidate who was prepared to take the job?

Look, BoltsFan, no disrespect.

To repeat, I think that your team WILL make the play-offs and, if it can overcome the obvious downside risk of the coaching changes, it will again be a very strong Superbowl candidate. What's more, I would certainly be happy to see San Diego beat out the Broncos (and not just because the Belichick magic obviously doesn't work on Shanahan).

But the Original Poster invited us to bet our houses. I wouldn't do that on a team with a new coaching staff and such a serious divisional rival.


.

 

[Brady-To-Branch]

To suggest that the Broncos closed the gap would be inaccurate at best.

I agree with this. Denver's late season collapse was due to their defense. Specifically Al Wilson's injury. There's speculation that DJ Williams might move inside. There will be an adjustment there. In the draft Denver targeted smaller, faster DEs and they'll have to go through the ususal rookie grind. IMO, Denver is 1-2 years away from being a contender.

 

[1BoltFan Here4Fun]

5 that will:

New England
Indianapolis
New Orleans
Baltimore
Chicago

5 that won't:

Miami
Oakland
Washington
Detroit
Houston

5 Either Way:

San Diego
NY Jets
Denver
Carolina
Jacksonville

Chicago has had more negative turmoil than any in the league this off season. If their division didn't suck so bad, they'd be middle of the pack.

The Chargers have a tough schedule and play in the NFL's toughest division (sorry AFC North, but its true, even with the Raiders), but I think they still match up better with the Donks. They won't be 14-2, but they'll make the playoffs. Denver should have a strong offense, but they've suffered some losses on D and have some age issues there.

Locks:
NE
Indy
Chicago
(Chicago doesn't belong in this list, but all have winnable divisions)

Probable:
SD
Denver

Flip em:
Carolina vs. NO (NO)
Seattle, St. Louis, SF (Seattle)
Philly, Dallas, NY (Philly)

Dark horse: Tennessee

 

[1BoltFan Here4Fun]

To repeat, I think that your team WILL make the play-offs and, if it can overcome the obvious downside risk of the coaching changes, it will again be a very strong Superbowl candidate. What's more, I would certainly be happy to see San Diego beat out the Broncos (and not just because the Belichick magic obviously doesn't work on Shanahan).

I think you are on the money. The Chargers are downgraded because of coaching unknowns. Norv would be getting great press had Dallas picked him up, but in San Diego, it is perfectly acceptable to disregard him. Why? ...market conditions. Dallas is always a story, San Diego has to fight for one. Norv's Peter Principle unknowns make it tough to predict. Still, this is a talented team.

Denver's success against the Pats is because of Shanahan's cheating cut-block scheme. A strong defensive line is somewhat neutralized when they spend the game worrying about leaving on a stretcher.

Only the biggest Pats homer wouldn't admit they should be thankful that Marty played the second half of January's game against his Martyball reputation. Had he elected to keep running... :bricks: Idiot. Norv, can't be a downgrade...

 

[g-fresh]

I think you are on the money. The Chargers are downgraded because of coaching unknowns. Norv would be getting great press had Dallas picked him up, but in San Diego, it is perfectly acceptable to disregard him. Why? ...market conditions. Dallas is always a story, San Diego has to fight for one. Norv's Peter Principle unknowns make it tough to predict. Still, this is a talented team.

Denver's success against the Pats is because of Shanahan's cheating cut-block scheme. A strong defensive line is somewhat neutralized when they spend the game worrying about leaving on a stretcher.

Only the biggest Pats homer wouldn't admit they should be thankful that Marty played the second half of January's game against his Martyball reputation. Had he elected to keep running... :bricks: Idiot. Norv, can't be a downgrade...

I agree that Marty played a sizable role in costing you guys the game, but while Norv Turner has shown himself to be a quality offensive coordinator he has not shown that he is a good head coach. His career record is 58 - 82 in the regular season 1 - 1 in the playoffs; he has only one coached a team to double digit wins and that was only to 10. At best he has shown himself to be a mediocre head coach. Say what you want about Schottenheimer but bringing in Turner to be the new head coach does leave a good deal of questions, especially since the Chargers have a ton of talent but seem to lack cohesion and discipline. I think that they are still good enough to be considered likely to make the playoffs, but I can see where some people are coming from when they are a bit more leery.