NFL 2014-2015 Season: Super Bowl Champion Patriots

[Lord Raven]

okay the steelers gotta prove to me they wont with the way they've been playing lol

[Anacybele]

They're doing way better than last season and they had still come VERY close.

Also, stop loling every time you reply to me about this. It feels like you're just doing it to taunt me and make me feel lame for supporting the team.

[Lord Raven]

I'm not doing it to taunt you, I just find your argument ridiculous. "They will make the playoffs because the city will go up in flames"?

Ravens, Broncos, Bengals, and Chargers look better and even the Browns look better than the Steelers despite a 1-2 record. Steelers look much more comparable to an AFCS or AFCE team.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Lord Raven

[Anacybele]

The Browns look better even though they lost to us? lol

Your anti-Steeler bias is showing.

The Steelers have shown that they can be beasts. They shut down one of the best defenses in the league last week and ended the game with a blowout. They just need to start being more god damn consistent and stop getting so many god damn penalties.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Anacybele

[Lord Raven]

I wouldn't be so quick to judge that Panthers D right now... we put up 21 in the first half on them and played super conservatively with the lead (and put up another 17) purely on offense. I don't think we even punted. They couldn't even get pressure on Flacco even though our LT is out and he's being replaced with a rookie LT.

Browns definitely looked a lot more competitive in their games. They beat the Saints, came within a hair of beating us, and came within a hair of beating the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Then again, Saints may not be as good as we all thought either.

EDIT: Raiders fired Dennis Allen. Holy shit.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Lord Raven

[Jiac]

The Browns look better even though they lost to us? lol

Your anti-Steeler bias is showing.

The Steelers have shown that they can be beasts. They shut down one of the best defenses in the league last week and ended the game with a blowout. They just need to start being more god damn consistent and stop getting so many god damn penalties.

By that logic, the top teams stay on top the bottom teams stay on the bottom.

Your Steeler bias is also showing.

The Steelers have shown they play at a high level. But they don't have what it takes with their defense right now. It's as if everyone is on a different page. They especially have flaws when the offense in no huddle, which most play-off contending offenses have. Offense is talented and explosive, but the fact they allowed 99 points in their last 4 games and scored only 97 in the last 4 just doesn't show give conclusive evidence that they are playoff contenders. Also, they got blown out by the Ravens by 20 points as opposed to blowing out the Panthers by 18 points. Now look at the Ravens. They scored a total of 103 points. They allowed a total of 53 points their last games. A VERY big difference. The Bengals are the AFC North favorite for a reason scoring 80 points in the last 3 games (Bye this week) and allowing only a mere 33 points in the last 3 games.

Steelers average score in the last 4 games : 24.25

Steelers average points allowed in the last 4 games: 24.75

Ravens average score in the last 4 games: 25.75

Ravens average points allowed in last 4 games: 13.25

Bengals average score in the last 3 games: 26.666

Bengals average points allowed in the last 3 games: 11

The Bengals score twice as more as they allow and +4.

The Ravens score twice as more as they allow.

The Steelers score equal to the amount they allow.

That's why Steelers are not going to be in the play offs.

The Browns allow only 24.666 points. Which is slightly better than what the Steelers allow but they do not score as many points. The Browns also almost made a comeback on the Steelers, so I can agree with Lord Raven's idea on the Browns being better than the Steelers.

This is no bias. I am a mere Charger fan. It's just sometimes I have the need to point out why I have my opinion and why others share these opinions.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Vermilia Scarlet

[Lord Raven]

Also the turnover differential is real. Pittsburgh has -2, Baltimore has +1, Cincy has +6, and Browns are at +4.

[-Cynthia-]

jets had that issue last year

I was wrong about the Chargers, either that or they're actually looking legit. Playoffs rn (no order):

AFCW Winner: Broncos

AFCN Winner: Bengals or Ravens

AFCS Winner: Colts

AFCE Winner: ... Patriots?

WCs: Chargers, Ravens/Bengals

NFC is way more up in the air. Cardinals and Seahawks probably get into the playoffs. Lord knows about the others.

That's what I would pick as well. I'd put the Bengals as favorites over the Ravens right now since they've already won @ Baltimore.

NFC...uh

NFC East: Giants look like the strong team for the past 2 weeks, better D than the Cowboys or Eagles

NFC North: Lions have been consistent except for a terrible week 2, surprisingly strong D.

NFC West: Seahawks

NFC South: No one looks like they want to win this division...Falcons are undefeated in the division I guess?

Wild Card: Cardinals and...I'll go Niners

[Jiac]

I really feel Chargers will be 7-1 by the end of Week 8...

Since the only team that knows how to contain the Broncos is the Seahawks and the Chargers. Or I could go winner logic. Chargers beat the Seahawks, Seahawks beat the Broncos, therefore Chargers beat the Broncos. xD

(We also get our RB starter Ryan Matthews since of his MCL sprain from Week 2. He's back during the Broncos game more likely)

EDIT: Also Cardinals not winning the NFC West? Wha?

Edited September 29, 2014 by Vermilia Scarlet

[ClevelandSteve]

I don't sing the praises of the team I root for very often, but if Josh Gordon wasn't suspended and we didn't let D'Qwell Jackson and TJ Ward go, the Browns would probably be 3-0 right now. Any one of those guys could have made the difference in those two very close loses.

Of course, the fact that Jackson and Ward play for other teams now and Gordon's out for the year means that none of that makes a difference. Hopefully we make some smart picks in the draft for once and Josh Gordon manages to go all of next season without being suspended (and sitting out this season doesn't cause him to lose his talent). "Wait 'til next year" is basically the motto of Cleveland sports, but if we can pull all that stuff off then next season (spoiler alert: we probably won't, or all that stuff will happen but we'll just let some of our best players leave in free agency) might actually be the year the Browns finally do well.

As for this year, though, playoffs aren't going to happen. We'll be 4-12, 5-11 or, at best, 6-10.

Edited September 29, 2014 by ClevelandSteve

[Lord Raven]

You make that argument but you'd have to deal with Will Hill Week 2, too. That dude is a monster at FS, ask any Giants fan and they will tell you he was their best player last year despite his off-field issues.

I could see the Browns sweeping the NFCS and going 3-1 against the AFCS, btw.

I really feel Chargers will be 7-1 by the end of Week 8...

Since the only team that knows how to contain the Broncos is the Seahawks and the Chargers. Or I could go winner logic. Chargers beat the Seahawks, Seahawks beat the Broncos, therefore Chargers beat the Broncos. xD

(We also get our RB starter Ryan Matthews since of his MCL sprain from Week 2. He's back during the Broncos game more likely)

EDIT: Also Cardinals not winning the NFC West? Wha?

A lot of it has to do with the fact, in my opinion, that Carson Palmer is iffy and I don't know how Stanton can stand up and take his spot if something happens and most importantly stay reliable. They also lost all 4 of their linebackers from last year - one of them being Karlos Dansby who is a fucking beast and actually makes up for losing D'Qwell Jackson (@ClevelandSteve), and then they lost Daryl Washington too. John Abraham is on the cusp of retirement right now due to memory loss. Their DL is still strong and their secondary is ridiculous with the ever-so versatile Honey Badger/Tyrann Mathieu.

Their run game is also very, very iffy. Seahawks are still a more complete team even if the Cardinals have a better DL and OL.

Having that said, the Cardinals are still a good team and the NFC is currently a dumpster fire. The NFCE blows despite strong showings from the Eagles the past few weeks, the Cowboys today, and the Giants on Thursday, the NFCS might have an 8-8 winner, the 49ers/Rams are a joke. Finally... the NFCN is way up in the air because the Packers/Bears/Vikings have been very inconsistent (and Packers D still sucks lol), and Lions have had issues on offense as of late.

So strange how the NFL changes. Last year the NFCS had a 12-4 and 11-5 team, and like three years back the Saints/Falcons always had good seasons with the Panthers/Buccs chiming in. NFC North was the same way, sending two teams to the playoffs consistently (even having a division with 3 double digit winners and the Lions being competitive in every game despite a 4-12 finish). NFCW was a joke only 3-4 years ago.

AFCN might be the strongest division. Steelers may not be good but they would look a lot better if they were in the AFCS or AFCE.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Lord Raven

[-Cynthia-]

Some teams do make quick turnarounds though. Like the Panthers last year started 1-3 and people thought they were going nowhere- then they go 12-4. Niners got blown out weeks 2 and 3 last year, ended up 12-4 as well.

[Lord Raven]

Though that was with their All-Pro linebackers playing, and Kaep wasn't turning the ball over.

[Anacybele]

Yeah, I'm not denying that the Steelers have problems at defense right now. But don't forget that they lost Shazier, Jarvis Jones, and Ike Taylor. James Harrison was the only worthwhile replacment they could get.

It was kind of expected. I'm just glad Ben and his offense are doing their job (mostly).

[Hawk King]

JJ Watt gets a lucky/flukey pick-six and the bills ultimately lose by 6 points. To Ryan Fitzpatrick nonetheless. That game was so depressing. Those are the games we need to win to be a play-off contender... Houston is not going anywhere with Ryan Fitzpatrick as their QB.

And i just found out that Kyle Orton is getting the start next week for the Bills. EJ didnt even have that bad of a game. The O-line played like shit, there were 4 dropped passes by his receivers, and there was holding/pass interference on the final play when he got intercepted to seal the game that wasnt called.

Being a Bills fan is hard. At least the Patriots look like ass so far this season. If they lose tonite, which I think they will, the AFCE race will be pretty interesting.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Hawk King

[Anacybele]

Matt Shaub isn't Houston's QB anymore? Where'd he go? o.O The only teams I could see that had to get new QBs or had a QB issue were the Jets (because Mark Sanchez vanished...) and the Browns (Hoyer vs Manziel). I never figured out what happened to Mark Sanchez either though. I guess the Jets and Texans just didn't think their old QBs were good enough.

Good news for Steeler fans though, Mike Tomlin is going to fix the penalty issue. Or at least try. But he's gotta succeed or else this will not sit well. Steeler fans were complaining all over the place about the penalties.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Anacybele

[Lord Raven]

Do you pay attention to any team at all that's not the Steelers or the Panthers or something? At least one of those changes were a pretty big deal this past offseason.

Matt Schaub was benched and playing on-and-off last season for Houston and Case Keenum/TJ Yates were alternatives. He then got traded to Oakland for like a 4th or 5th rounder or something really low, and lost the QB battle in training camp to a rookie Derek Carr because as it turns out Schaub hasn't recovered from his lisfranc injury and can't throw the ball as effectively as he used to. I bet you'd also be surprised to know that Schaub was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 2004 to back up Vick until he was traded to Houston.

Mark Sanchez hit free agency and was signed by the Eagles to backup Nick Foles. Repeatedly the Eagles have hinted on taking out Foles and putting in Mark Sanchez. (Anyway a lot of people are probably still employed thanks to Mark Sanchez - I'm looking at you, Brandon Weeden. The butt fumble definitely took some heat away from terrible quarterbacking in 2012). In a strange turn of events, the Jets signed Michael Vick to backup Geno Smith.

Browns' QB carousel had Hoyer start 3 games last year, Jason Campbell start a bunch of games, and Brandon Weeden start some other games. Now it's basically Hoyer as the starter and Manziel as either the future or competition.

JJ Watt gets a lucky/flukey pick-six

Every big play is flukey. It relies on busted coverage, a perfect read, etc. Are you going to call a bunch of Ed Reed pick sixes flukey too? What about Devin Hester's return TDs? Any deep passing touchdown or any 20+ yard run play? Fumble recoveries too? Come on, man.

And i just found out that Kyle Orton is getting the start next week for the Bills. EJ didnt even have that bad of a game. The O-line played like shit, there were 4 dropped passes by his receivers, and there was holding/pass interference on the final play when he got intercepted to seal the game that wasnt called.

Are you sure it's not just injury? Was your OL really that bad or did EJ have bad pocket presence? I know EJ was injured a considerable amount of time last year. I don't even know what the Bills were thinking drafting him.

Being a Bills fan is hard. At least the Patriots look like ass so far this season. If they lose tonite, which I think they will, the AFCE race will be pretty interesting.

Your whole division looks awful lol Jets are just lacking at secondary and Geno is fucking it up now that he actually has weapons and a line; Patriots have an awful offensive line and nobody outside of Julian Edelman; and they have a hard time with their pass rush (but thankfully the Raiders were dysfunctional on offense) and run stopping; the Bills are missing some key linebackers, have a bad offensive line, and I have no idea if anyone outside of Sammy Watkins is any good (but who cares because they broke the bank to get him); the Dolphins have a terrible head coach, still not a great OL, and Tannehill is not very good at throwing to his receivers in stride. On top of that, Mike Wallace kinda blows and their run game is kind of ass... I think the Dolphins look like the best team but I don't know if we can count the Patriots out.

Yeah, I'm not denying that the Steelers have problems at defense right now. But don't forget that they lost Shazier, Jarvis Jones, and Ike Taylor. James Harrison was the only worthwhile replacment they could get.

You're contradicting yourself. Are you saying the Steelers are playoff bound yet also saying that your defense is bad because you've lost a bunch of your good players? Because that's not a good team if the next man up can't do anything. Trust me, that Buccs offense was bad and Glennon is actually probably not a very good QB AND they lost their OC for the year. Edited September 29, 2014 by Lord Raven

[Jiac]

Glennon has a 50% completion rate (21 out of 42) and pulled off 305 passing yards.

That's like 14.5 yards per successful attempt.

Mike Glennon is quite far from elite and their offense is nothing amazing.

It doesn't help they are ranked 32nd in Passing Yards. Also ranked 22nd in Offense.

Conclusion: Mike Glennon and his offense are not that good yet they managed to beat the Steelers lol.

With a defense like that who knows how the Steelers will perform against teams like the Bengals, Colts and Saints.

Unless you're clutch like the 2007 Giants.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Vermilia Scarlet

[Anacybele]

I do follow as much as I can besides the Steelers and Panthers, but I can't follow every single little detail, you know...

And I don't see how that's contradictory. It's still early and things can change easily like Cynthia pointed out. Ryan Shazier's injury isn't serious, so he'll be back soon. And the Steelers have a decent schedule ahead. Jarvis Jones and Ike Taylor won't be gone the whole season either, they'll eventually return as well. Though I hope not too late.

The Steelers aren't bad at all, they shot themselves in the foot with a fuck ton of penalties. And if Antonio Brown hadn't dropped that game-clinching pass, the Bucs would've lost. And they were given a free TD by the refs when they missed a holding call that should've gone against them.

The Steelers got way too many penalities and missed opportunities, but the Bucs also got very lucky.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Anacybele

[Lord Raven]

Lots of penalties is bad and a team prone to a lot of them is not a very good team. It definitely shows a lack of discipline - the kind that's necessary to prevent the worst offense (currently) in the league to drive down the field and score in a minute. Also Ike Taylor broke his arm... Jarvis Jones is out at least 8 weeks, and idk if Shazier will be back soon (this week at the earliest). Also there are a lot of excuses to be made but if the game has to come down to one drop that just means your team didn't play well enough. If Brown kept dropping passes on third down then it'd be an issue, but one drop is not the end-all be-all and it still didn't stop the defense from shitting the bed. And depth is still a big deal. I can go into Ravens injury and suspension issues but I won't have that many complaints (aside from an attachment to Dennis Pitta) because the next man up is filling in at least admirably.

It's contradictory because you said "we will make the playoffs" and "we are bad but some good players are out" even though two of them had injuries that sideline them for at least two months.

Term you're looking for Vermilia is Yards per Attempt. His YPA was 7.5 which is decent. YPC is a rushing stat.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Lord Raven

[Anacybele]

Ike Taylor himself said awhile back that his season isn't over.

You're right that these penalties shows a lack of discipline. Mike Tomlin has stated that he's going to fix it and that he has to fix it. I posted the article earlier. It's just a matter if he succeeds. But if he does, you can be sure that the Steelers won't be a bad team at all.

[Lord Raven]

yeah because the earliest he can come back then is december given the nature of the injury lol

[Randa]

Time for my "it's a quarter of the way through the year and I still haven't seen a minute of the pats during the regular season" thoughts.

1. I want donte scarnecchia back.

2. Why did we waste a first round draft pick on Nate Solder.

3. Our offensive line sucks.

4. Brady has an average of "no fucking time in the goddamn pocket"-my dad.

5. Did I mention we have o-line problems.

[Lord Raven]

Nate Solder is a beast... but lol at this game

[Randa]

Nate solder is a horrible pass blocker, good run blocker yes, but a shitty pass blocker. Also I'm more upset that I started the pats D over the texans then I am that the pats are losing. Is that a bad thing?