NFL 2012 Week 3 Thread

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For the first time in who-knows-how-long, an NFL weekend passed and I didn't get to watch a lick of it.

So, this week, I want you guys to each post one "football thought" bullet point of the week, and I'll promote the best ones to this top post, for posterity.

Pick 'Ems:
Bills at Browns: Suddenly, CJ Spiller is the most productive and explosive back in the NFL. In two games, he's shown ability only hinted at across his 11 starts over his first two years. Over in Cleveland, Brandon Weeden went from the NFL's least effective QB in week 1 to one of its most productive the following week. Mario Williams and the Bills front four has been a bit quiet so far, but I think they might start making themselves known this week. Bills

Jets at Dolphins: Well hello there, Reggie Bush. Maybe that production last year, your first in Miami, didn't in fact represent a peak. Bush has played like a feature back since the moment he left New Orleans, and is looking like he's finally kicking off his career (and at 27, not a moment too soon). It was back down to earth for Sanchez and the Jets last week, not just for their offense, but an underperforming defense as well. I expect that defense will show Tannehill some things he's yet to see, but I'll still pick the team that has the only offensive weapon that's rolling. Dolphins

Patriots at Ravens: Just when the offense starts picking up in Baltimore, the defense has problems. Baltimore's defense is currently ranked 27th in the league. That won't cut it with the Patriots coming into town. New England is playing like New England, albeit with more running game than we've seen since Corey Dillon. It's quite an offense when Aaron Hernandez goes down and no one really bats an eye. I like the Ravens' chances this season, but the defense has to turn around soon, and I don't know that this is the game where it happens. Patriots

Buccaneers at Cowboys: Dallas is favored by 8 points - the second largest spread of the week - which seems to underrate Tampa, if you ask me. Granted, giving up a 500+ yard passing day isn't going to win you much respect. But I expect Tampa will make more of a game of it than the oddsmakers are crediting them for. That said, it's still early. Dallas disappoints the state of Texas every year because they look awesome early. And after getting thumped by Seattle, they have to bounce back ASAP or they won't build up those expectations to crush later. Cowboys

And the die rolls gives up a 3, which means...
Jaguars at Colts: Oh hell. With the offensive line starting 3 bench scrubs (I don't even know who the frack Herb Taylor is) and Daryl Smith still out, I'm not sure even I can pick the Jags. The team's failure to address OL depth in the offseason is biting them squarely in the cheeks right now. Gabbert in week 1 looked like a passer starting to come together, but that next step in development will be hard to come by without some baseline level of protection. Oh hell, Jaguars anyway. Shut up, don't judge me. I said shut up, Gumbie.

I'll edit in last week's pick'em results later this evening.

Whew, just in time for tonight. Have time to think about picks.

Bills
Jets
Ravens
Bucs
Colts

Browns
Jets
Ravens
Bucs
Colts

Mario Williams and the Bills front four has been a bit quiet so far, but I think they might start making themselves known this week.

Mario has been quiet, but the rest of the line woke up a bit last week. They had 5 sacks and while Mario's stats still look terrible he did recover a Cassell fumble. It might take some more time for them to gel, but the overall combined talent was certainly shown last week.

Just when the offense starts picking up in Baltimore, the defense has problems.

They're giving up yardage, sure, but they're also giving up the 6th lowest point total. I wouldn't count them out because the offense definitely was flat in the second half of the Philly game. They stopped running Ray Rice and Flacco couldn't get the ball to anyone. Two games isn't enough to make calls about where they truly stand. Yet.

Bills at Browns: Why, no, I don't vaguely trust Brandon Weeden's improved week two. Not vaguely.

Jets at Dolphins: Reggie Bush running wild last week says far more about Oakland's lousy defense than it does about his having spent years as a largely ineffective runner (but good receiver); I don't buy it. And Ryan Tannehill is still Ryan Tannehill.

Patriots at Ravens: Outside of RB, I'm not sure where the Ravens are superior to the Patriots. I also trust "angry Tom Brady" far more than "embarrassed Joe Flacco" after last week.

Buccaneers at Cowboys: I would pick the Bucs if they were in Tampa. I don't really trust the Cowboys at this point and think the game will be competitive. I mean, maybe. I have no idea what to think of this Bucs team yet. I do see Romo getting harried a lot due to offensive line issues, and if Tampa is smart enough to throw a lot, they'll keep it close.

Jaguars at Colts: Do I have to? Really? Uh . . . well, the Jags' pass defense made Christian Ponder look like a star in week one, and Blaine Gabbert last week was pretty much Blaine Gabbert last year. Not to suggest that that is a bad thing, but I'm thinking that "I ate a lot last night and just took a giant 'Blaine Gabbert last year' in the toilet, don't go in there" should become a new euphemism.

Bills at Browns

Jets at Dolphins

Patriots at Ravens

Buccaneers at Cowboys

Jaguars at Colts

My bullet point thought of the week: It'll be interesting to see how Peyton Manning bounces back this week: were the three picks he threw last week a function of his mind knowing where we wants to go, but his arm not quite doing what he wants it to do?

Bills
Dolphins
Ravens
Bucs
Colts

Browns - Week 2's matchup against the Bengals showed some signs of life for Weeden, Richardson, and the Browns offense. Playing at home, I think the Browns D shows up and makes life difficult for Fitzpatrick and the Bills.

Jets - This is a pick I begrudgingly make. The only offensive weapon Miami has is Bush and coupled with the Jets D, I think it will prove to be too much for Miami to handle.

Ravens - Ravens D looks like business as usual and Flacco has shown up to play in both games so far. Great D and too many offensive weapons.

Cowboys - Another pick I loathe to make but against a very improved Cowboys backfield, in Dallas, the young Bucs will not put up the numbers they did against an injured and absent Giants secondary.

Colts - I like Luck better than Gabbert. Not much more to it.

Bills
Jets
Ravens
Cowboys
Colts

Bills at Browns - *sigh* the Browns are actually a decent team but they have a horrible QB.

Jets at Dolphins - I could the same thing I said above about the Dolphins but the Jets are a good team with a mediocre QB.

Patriots at Ravens - This could be a classic Patriots bounce back game but since the Ravens lost as well, I see them playing just as angry. So home team wins.

Buccaneers at Cowboys - I think these two teams are evenly matched. So home team wins.

Jaguars at Colts - *sigh* the Jaguars are actually a decent team but they have a horrible QB.

Bills
Jets
Patriots
Buccaneers
Jaguars

Bills
Jets
Patriots
Cowboys
Colts

Bills
Jets
Patriots
Cowboys
Colts

Bills
Dolphins
Patriots
Buccaneers
Colts

Bills
Dolphins
Ravens
Cowboys
Colts

Bills at Browns

Jets at Dolphins

Patriots at Ravens

Buccaneers at Cowboys

Jaguars at Colts

Bullet point thoughts about the games? about last week? About any game coming this week? Randomness?

I'm taking this opportunity to talk about the Packers cause thats all that matters.

Without getting into hurries/qb hits and other pressure related stats the Greenbay Packers lead the league after two games with 11 sacks. The woeful Bears O-line accounted for 6 of the sacks. Their over under for sacks this year was 35.5. Last year they had only 29 and were tied for 27th in the league. In 2010 they had 47 tied for 2nd in the league. The obvious name leading the way is Clay Mathews with 6 already. Nick Perry their first round pick this year has 0 sacks so far and had 0 box score related involvement last week.

I think its safe to say the success of the defense and most defenses is highly dependent on getting to the QB. This week they go to Seattle on Monday night. They have a youngish O-Line and you cant use last years performance as a measure as it was heavily influenced by injuries. Maybe Minase could shed some light about them but so far this year they have allowed 3 sacks to the Cards and 2 to the Cowboys. I will be watching with extra special interest to see how much pressure Mr.Capers is able to apply to Mr.Wilson. Mr.Rodgers can carry the team to the playoffs alone the question is can the D get back to a reasonable level of QB pressure or even maybe back to the 2010 level.

*Legion* wrote:

I don't even know who the frack Herb Taylor is.

Journeyman OL, cut by the Packers in the preseason after a horrendous showing. Good fracking luck with this dude.

Bills at Browns

Jets at Dolphins

Patriots at Ravens

Buccaneers at Cowboys

Jaguars at Colts

GO PANTHERS

Bills, Jets, Patriots, Buccaneers, Jaguars

Bills at Browns

Jets at Dolphins

Patriots at Ravens

Buccaneers at Cowboys

Jaguars at Colts

Bills
Dolphins
Ravens
Cowboys
Colts

fangblackbone wrote:

Bills
Dolphins
Ravens
Bucs
Colts

Needs more bold.

Bills
Jets
Patriots
Cowboys
Colts

Browns
Jets
Ravens
Cowboys
Colts

Bills at Browns

Jets at Dolphins

Patriots at Ravens

Buccaneers at Cowboys

Jaguars at Colts

Browns
Jets
Patriots
Cowboys
Colts

All the love Russel Wilson is receiving from the national media is bizarre, and it's going to make the eventual backlash even worse once everyone realizes there's a reason he went in the third round.

billt721 wrote:

All the love Russel Wilson is receiving from the national media is bizarre, and it's going to make the eventual backlash even worse once everyone realizes there's a reason he went in the third round.

Yeah, the reason is he had a poor showing at the Senior Bowl. And he's short. Also Seattle made a high profile UFA signing during the offseason who's currently sitting on their bench.
Wilson is athletic and has shown great arm strength so far. He's also done a good job keeping his eyes downfield and been very efficient. I don't know what else you want from a rookie QB.
/badger fan rant

Bills

Jets

Patriots

Cowboys

Colts

Will we see another 0-16 team this year? (Jaguars)

Bills
Jets
Patriots
Cowboys
Jaguars

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