The 2015 NFL thread

[Pies4shaw]

Brilliant effort by Michael Vick to snatch victory for the Steelers in San Diego. At one stage in the last quarter, San Diego led 17:10 but on his final two possessions, Vick threw a 72 yard TD on the first play and then drove 80 yards in 12 plays to run the clock down and, with a direct snap to Bell, the Steelers stepped it over from the one-yard line. Just a very exciting effort. I wish I could have seen this.

[OEP]

[Pies4shaw]

Until I read that, I didn't realise quite how many important players had gone from the 49ers. Hopefully, they will get their act together, soon. Despite the dire predictions, they were actually good in the second half of the Giants game - it isn't like they got pumped by 40 points.

This week's FTA games are:

Cardinals at Pittsburgh (4 am Monday)

Ravens at 49ers (7.25 am Monday)

Pats at Colts (11.30 am Monday).

Today, Atlanta travel to New Orleans to pick up an easy win. Other good match-ups this round include Washington at the Jets, the Bengals at the Bills, the Panthers at Seattle (a critical game for both teams) and Giants at Eagles. The Packers take on the Chargers at Lambeau - can they get to their bye 6/0?

[Pies4shaw]

So, there's me: wrong as ever about today's game. With about 8 minutes to go, the Falcons trail the 'Aints 14:31 and, barring the 'Aints doing an impersonation of the Giants, there will be one less turn with a 100% record when the match ends (Falcons presently 5/0).

Update: Falcons lost 31:21.

[OEP]

First game and my multi-bet has already bombed. The Falcons were terrible today.

Here's my predictions for this weekend:

Falcons over Saints - WRONG
Chiefs over Vikings.
Bengals over Bills.
Cardindals over Steelers.
Broncos (by 14+) over Browns.
Bears over Lions.
Seahawks over Panthers.
Packers (by 14+) over Chargers.
49ers over Ravens......power of positive thinking.
Patriots over Colts.

As for the other games:

Jets over Washington.
Titans over Dolphins.
Texans over Jaguars.
Eagles over Giants.

[Pies4shaw]

I think that's about right (you should be very worried that I agree).

[Pies4shaw]

49ers with two long completions lead the Ravens 13:3. Smith just completed a 72-yard TD. The Ravens may wish to think about lining up with a corner or a safety at some stage during this game.

[Pies4shaw]

So, the Steelers' 3rd-string QB (Landry Jones) stepped into the game in the second-half after Vick pulled his hammy and they overran the Cardinals to win 25:13. In other decided games, so far, Jets 34:20 over Washington, Vikes 16:10 over the Chiefs, Bengals 34:21 over the Bills, the Dolphins thrashed the Titans 38:10, the Texans beat the Jags and in OT, the Broncos beat the Browns 26:23 and the Lions beat the Bears 37:34.

In the live games, Green Bay leads San Diego 17:3, San Francisco leads Baltimore 16:16 (half-time) and Seattle leads Carolina 10:7, early in the third.

[Pies4shaw]

In a classic case of counting chickens, the Green Bay offence decided to go to the bye half way through the second quarter. The result is that the Chargers have tied the game at 17:17 (and Rivers has the ball again). Since they last scored, the Packers have gone 2 yards in 3 possessions (for three three-and-outs). That's left the defence under siege.

[Pies4shaw]

49ers 25 (xtra point to come) lead Ravens 13 (11 minutes to go), Seattle lead Carolina 23:20 with a little under 4 minutes to go but Carolina have the ball.

Meanwhile, Cobb and Jones are contemplating whether they are paid enough to run a route for Rodgers or not.

[Pies4shaw]

So, the 49ers held on to win 25:20 over the Ravens. They are now level on wins with the Seahawks, who lost to the Panthers 23:27.

Meanwhile, the Packers seem to be determined to let their game go to OT. They lead 24:17 but the Chargers have the ball back at 1st and 10 on their own 43 at the 2-minute warning. The way they've played today, I don't put it past the Packers to let the Chargers win with a two-point conversion.

Meanwhile, the Colts and the Pats are up next. For those of you watching on FTA waiting for the next game, Mike Holmgren is miked up, talking to Reggie White and Brett Favre on SoundFX. I'm taping Mike to watch later, so please don't tell me how it ends....

[Pies4shaw]

Favre to Freeman and the Packers have the lead against the Vikes. Unfortunately, that was a decade ago. Right now, I have to put up with Cobb doing his impersonation of a cardboard box with the lid closed, with Rodgers tying to land it inside the box from 50 yards away.

[Pies4shaw]

An the Packers finally manage to go to the bye 6:0, after a goal-line stand by the defence forced the changeover on downs (4th and goal, pass incomplete). Once again, the Packers' defence stood up when the offensive line just didn't. Rodgers was good, as was James Stark - but the rest of the Packers' alleged weapons had better spend their week off having a good, hard look at themselves if they don't want to finish up winning their division and going out in straight sets.

Really, the turning point tody was when Keenan Allen got injured for the Chargers - he had 14 receptions for 157 yards by the third quarter and, after he left the game, the San Diego offence just stalled.

[blackmissionary]

It seems to be a common problem among some of the running QBs, that the difference between their best and their worst is far too great. Vick was woeful today, and him coming off injured was arguably the turning point for the Steelers, though the Cardinals didn't help themselves by not putting the game away in the first half, and giving away way too many penalties.

As for the Ravens, it's one thing to be out of form, but to not be able to do the basics right - like forgetting to set a safety on multiple occasions, or losing 30 seconds from the final minute because you refuse (for who knows what reason) to spike the football - that's just unforgivable.

[blackmissionary]

OK, so its 4th and 3 on your own 37, you're trailing but there's plenty of time left in the game, what do you do?

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000560754/article/colts-attempt-bizarre-special-teams-fail