NFL 2016: Week 12

Doink FTW

I'll take it. The Chiefs aren't pretty. They don't have the fire power to assert their will on teams, on offense or defense. But they rarely beat themselves. As ugly as last year's playoff loss was, where Reid mismanaged the clock on a colossal level, overall, this team just plays sound football and lets teams beat themselves.

That's what Schottenheimer used to say about the Raiders (or should we call them, in your best Chris Berman voice, tha Fayyyyderrrrrsss...). Denver outplayed them tonight. But they also gave the game away multiple times. that's enough to get KC into the playoffs. It's not enough to get them through the playoffs.

But if Maclin comes back, I think the offense, with newly found superstar, Tyreek Hill, my flip that script. The OL is nothing better than "okay," but they do have some tools that can create mismatches now.

They also need their DL healthy. They started to night without Dee Ford and Jaye Howard. Then Dontari Poe let. Houston was a force the first half, but didn't look nearly as good in the second half after leaving the game for awhile himself. The Chiefs secondary can force turnovers, but they do need the DL putting pressure on the QB. Simien had time in the 2nd half, and it nearly cost the Chiefs the game.

Their win total has them overrated, although the previous three games had pretty much exposed them. But for as ugly as they win, they are fun as hell to root for.

Minase wrote:

The SEA-TB game made me physically ill. Such bad play. Shameful squandering of a 3 quarters of excellent defense.

Seriously, 3 points on offense? Disgusting.

Fortunately the rest of the NFC West lost as well, and the team has some key injuries that should be resolved soon. Still on track for a home playoff game!

So much fail on the offense. Seriously this was a paper bag worthy production. How does that happen?

Raiders will have their first winning season since 2002.

Top_Shelf wrote:
Minase wrote:

The SEA-TB game made me physically ill. Such bad play. Shameful squandering of a 3 quarters of excellent defense.

Seriously, 3 points on offense? Disgusting.

Fortunately the rest of the NFC West lost as well, and the team has some key injuries that should be resolved soon. Still on track for a home playoff game!

So much fail on the offense. Seriously this was a paper bag worthy production. How does that happen?

Seattle's offensive line was utterly horrible in pass protection; Tampa was averaging IIRC two sacks a game, and got six. It seemed like there was some minor success running the ball, but not enough to stay ahead of the chains, which meant Wilson was basically under siege on third down, which, at least up until the end of the game, the Seahawks were 0-every attempt. Lack of Earl Thomas meant the Bucs had more open guys, and Tampa's offensive line tends to be up and down, and it was pretty up yesterday, so there wasn't much pass rush to worry about. Winston basically just carved up the defense. The game felt like way more of a blowout than 14-5, it's just the Bucs couldn't seal the deal a couple times. Plus, Roberto Aguayo sucks donkey balls.

Also, Mike Evans is really, really, really good. Fourth WR in NFL history to have 1,000 yards in his first three seasons. Last year he had the dropsies really bad, but, this year, he's catching everything.

I know the Panthers are still in the chase for the NFC South, but their chances of winning are in the mathematical zone -- you know, where they put the odds of winning the lottery, getting into Harvard, Cam getting a roughing call. (Though he got one Sunday; go figure.)

I can tolerate the Falcons on a good day (and there haven't been many of those lately), and the Saints are the Worst Franchise in the History of Organized Sport(TM).

So ... go Bucs?

Gratz on the W, Milkman. Your team could be a frisky wild card!

Enix wrote:

I know the Panthers are still in the chase for the NFC South, but their chances of winning are in the mathematical zone -- you know, where they put the odds of winning the lottery, getting into Harvard, Cam getting a roughing call. (Though he got one Sunday; go figure.)

I can tolerate the Falcons on a good day (and there haven't been many of those lately), and the Saints are the Worst Franchise in the History of Organized Sport(TM).

So ... go Bucs?

Yes, yes, come to the light, Enix. Just remember, even when Tampa is bad, we tend to be bad in extremely entertaining ways.

Top_Shelf wrote:

Gratz on the W, Milkman. Your team could be a frisky wild card!

Tampa's remaining schedule is San Diego, Dallas, Carolina, and the Saints twice. Suffice to say, I don't think the playoffs are happening just based on that. Next year? Sure, but Tampa probably has to go 4-1 to make the playoffs, and that seems pretty unlikely.

Top_Shelf wrote:
Minase wrote:

The SEA-TB game made me physically ill. Such bad play. Shameful squandering of a 3 quarters of excellent defense.

Seriously, 3 points on offense? Disgusting.

Fortunately the rest of the NFC West lost as well, and the team has some key injuries that should be resolved soon. Still on track for a home playoff game!

So much fail on the offense. Seriously this was a paper bag worthy production. How does that happen?

You know, I never thought I'd say this, but we actually missed Britt. In the past seasons, I've been Female Doggoing and moaning about him, and blaming all of the O-line ills on him. But I think he found himself in the centre position (plus he's now one of the most senior guys on that line). He was visibly missed in yesterday's game. And Ifedi was being schooled all the way to Sunday. Ah well, what did you expect from 3 rookies.

On the D we are missing more than just Thomas. Benett is still out, and Jeremy Lane is no replacement for Shead. Remember, Shead plays a corner, but he can also play a safety and has great mobility all over. It looked like Bucs really capitalized on all of the injuries Seahawks had. Well played...

MoonDragon wrote:

It looked like Bucs really capitalized on all of the injuries Seahawks had.

Every NFL team is missing key starters by this point of the season. Seattle has frankly been one of the less scathed teams in the league.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/6sYL0TD.png)

Seattle is in the bottom half (almost the bottom third) of the league in terms of total games lost to injury, and weighted by quality of player-games lost (represented by the bubble size), they're the 5th lowest.

Can I get a hallelujah?

From PFT: League will take a close look at Thursday Night Football

SI says the NFL says Florio's story is full of sh!t.

I suspect both things are true at the same time. The NFL most likely is using PFT as a trial-balloon launcher.

Hey Roger! If you're reading, Thursday night football is awful.

I'd compromise for a limited Thursday Night slate and putting Mayock the f*ck back on them.

Seattle is in the bottom half (almost the bottom third) of the league in terms of total games lost to injury, and weighted by quality of player-games lost (represented by the bubble size), they're the 5th lowest.

That chart doesn't include week 12, which was by far the biggest injury hit for SEA. Another thing not represented on there is the gimpy Russell Wilson games. Seattle is very fortunate that all these injuries didn't happen at the same time.

Can I get a hallelujah?

Hallelujah!

Keep Thanksgiving and week 1, but get rid of the rest, please.

Minase wrote:
Can I get a hallelujah?

Hallelujah!

Keep Thanksgiving and week 1, but get rid of the rest, please.

Get rid of week one and I am with you. Kill'em all except Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving, just have two games, the nightcap is not necessary.

My hopes for a winning week rest in the hands of Certis Carson Wentz.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

I think it's hilarious that ESPN knows their game tonight is garbage. The ads for the game say "Desperation is Motivation"

Ha!

tboon wrote:
Minase wrote:
Can I get a hallelujah?

Hallelujah!

Keep Thanksgiving and week 1, but get rid of the rest, please.

Get rid of week one and I am with you. Kill'em all except Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving, just have two games, the nightcap is not necessary.

I'll take the night game. Often, it's when I actually have time to sit and watch.

Enix wrote:

Can I get a hallelujah?

Spoiler:

Well, you asked.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Tampa's remaining schedule is San Diego, Dallas, Carolina, and the Saints twice. Suffice to say, I don't think the playoffs are happening just based on that. Next year? Sure, but Tampa probably has to go 4-1 to make the playoffs, and that seems pretty unlikely.

I really hope they beat Dallas, just because. And Dak plays horrible. And Jerry steps in and makes them start Romo. And the wheels come off.

Stele wrote:
MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Tampa's remaining schedule is San Diego, Dallas, Carolina, and the Saints twice. Suffice to say, I don't think the playoffs are happening just based on that. Next year? Sure, but Tampa probably has to go 4-1 to make the playoffs, and that seems pretty unlikely.

I really hope they beat Dallas, just because. And Dak plays horrible. And Jerry steps in and makes them start Romo. And the wheels come off.

YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

(Please?)

Jayhawker wrote:

I'll take it. The Chiefs aren't pretty. They don't have the fire power to assert their will on teams, on offense or defense. But they rarely beat themselves. As ugly as last year's playoff loss was, where Reid mismanaged the clock on a colossal level, overall, this team just plays sound football and lets teams beat themselves.

That's what Schottenheimer used to say about the Raiders (or should we call them, in your best Chris Berman voice, tha Fayyyyderrrrrsss...). Denver outplayed them tonight. But they also gave the game away multiple times. that's enough to get KC into the playoffs. It's not enough to get them through the playoffs.

But if Maclin comes back, I think the offense, with newly found superstar, Tyreek Hill, my flip that script. The OL is nothing better than "okay," but they do have some tools that can create mismatches now.

They also need their DL healthy. They started to night without Dee Ford and Jaye Howard. Then Dontari Poe let. Houston was a force the first half, but didn't look nearly as good in the second half after leaving the game for awhile himself. The Chiefs secondary can force turnovers, but they do need the DL putting pressure on the QB. Simien had time in the 2nd half, and it nearly cost the Chiefs the game.

Their win total has them overrated, although the previous three games had pretty much exposed them. But for as ugly as they win, they are fun as hell to root for.

Alex Smith hates it, but the name fits. He is a game manager. That's about all he is.

Yes and no. He's led some pretty damn good 4th quarter comebacks, even without the kind receivers a playoff team actually needs. But he definitely does not take chances until he has to.

I'm all for upgrading the QB portion in KC. But I would invest in the OL for a couple of seasons before trying to find a QB. I the mean time, I would be drafting more 3rd and 4th round QBs, trying to hit on one that can actually be developed. I don't think drafting in the middle of the pack is an excuse to not try.

But Alex Smith made the most sense when the got him, and he is winning games for them, whether he is managing the game or mounting a comeback.

MoonDragon wrote:
Vector wrote:

In people that have picked every week, I am last. Dead last. The lastest. There is no Last of Us. It's Last of Me. I went 3-2 and it did nothing.

Hey, that is a skill unto itself. You probably couldn't repeat it even if you tried.

This is the first week I pick all home teams. Here's hoping...

Damn it! It seems the system didn't record my picks. Any chance I can still get credit, considering I went on record as to what my picks were, before the weekend? (not that I did very well at all :()

Yes, I will credit your picks.

Minase wrote:
Seattle is in the bottom half (almost the bottom third) of the league in terms of total games lost to injury, and weighted by quality of player-games lost (represented by the bubble size), they're the 5th lowest.

That chart doesn't include week 12, which was by far the biggest injury hit for SEA.

It didn't move the needle much.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/JMV7ICe.png)

In fact, Seattle dropped from 21st to 22nd in overall games lost, and moved from 5th to 4th lowest in quality-weighted.

Everyone else is missing more players, and missing good players for much longer periods of time.

That doesn't make a lot of sense. SEA had injuries at these starting positions:

HOF-caliber FS, 1 top-tier pass rusher (arguably best all-around DT/DE in the league), CB, RB, LT, C, LB.

And further injuries at RB, WR, DT.

How did they possibly get healthier overall? I'm questioning their methodology, but not enough to go through the hassle of creating an account at the site and reviewing the data myself.

I do think Seattle has built their roster around certain players more than the average team, making those injuries more impactful. The entire defense is predicated on Earl Thomas being Earl Thomas, and the offense is largely based around Russell Wilson improvising behind a bad offensive line. Thomas is out, the line is worse than usual, and Wilson at least for a while was gimped up with an ankle injury.

I don't think Seattle has been particularly beaten up at all, but they're just a team extremely reliant on a couple very specific things.

Minase wrote:

How did they possibly get healthier overall?

They didn't get "healthier". It's not a rating. It's a ranking. They went down because everyone else also played a game with missing players, and they are missing more.

Really, going from 5th to 4th lowest isn't particularly significant, it's just the team bouncing around in that general statistical area.

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