Category: Football

There are opinions all over the map on what is right and wrong, with strong arguments on all sides. SB Nation has an article explaining the sides:

“Put yourself in their shoes, an injury could change the course of the rest of their lives,” the veteran NFL personnel man said. “We’re not talking about a left guard here. We’re talking about a skill (position) player who is a huge target. That’s the reality of it.

“Look at what these coaches are making now. Those guys are making $5 or $6 million a year and they may pressure these kids to play? Look at what these coaches and ADs are doing. It’s OK for them to leave, but it’s not OK for players to think about their futures? For coaches to (be critical), that’s incredibly selfish. Hold on a second here, guy. You pressure these kids to play, and then one of them (suffers a career-altering injury) and it’s, ‘I love you, and you’re a great teammate. Sorry about that.’ And it’s all for some bowl game who no one cares about? That’s a joke. I’m looking at it practically. If it was your son, what are you gonna say?”

Bruce Arians, the Arizona Cardinals Coach, doesn’t seem enamored.

“That would concern me. Depending on what their situation is as a team, because this is a team sport. But you’ve had a couple of guys get injured in the last couple years. Agents have a lot to say about it. Parents have a lot to say about it. But, it would concern me.”

Top 15 Teams Strength of Schedule

Week 17
Rank	Team	Difficulty
1	Broncos	49
2	Buccaneers	47
3	Steelers	46
4	Raiders	45.5
5	Redskins	44.5
6	Chiefs	44.5
7	Packers	43.5
8	Ravens	43.5
9	Cowboys	41.5
10	Falcons	41
11	Lions	40
12	Seahawks	38.5
13	Giants	38.5
14	Dolphins	34.5
15	Patriots	34.5

Who has had the easiest path to the playoffs?  Who has had the hardest?  This strength of schedule table is based off current power rankings and gives you those answers.  Key word, current. This is not a projection of strenth of schedule from before the season, but based off the current power ranking positions of the teams they have played.

The Patriots have a 13-2 record, but have had a patsy schedule, not to mention they played the Steelers without Roethlisberger.  They do have a 12-3 record against the spread, but haven’t been tested besides a Seahawks game, that they lost.

Also, if the Dolphins and the Broncos had switched schedules, maybe the Broncos would be in the playoffs.  The Buccaneers strength of schedule knocked them out of the playoffs.  The Raiders record with the 4th toughest schedule is impressive.  Vegas still hasn’t shown them respect, they have gone 12-3 against the spread.  The Steelers may have 5 losses, but they came against a schedule tougher than most.  They have been tested this season.

Before you buy too much into the records of the teams, check out their strength of schedule to determine whether there value is inflated.

From Andrew Sumsion:

 1.      Cowboys
2.      Patriots
3.      Falcons
4.      Chiefs
5.      Packers
6.      Steelers
7.      Seahawks
8.      Giants
9.      Raiders
10.    Dolphins
11.    Lions
12.    Texans
13.    Redskins
14.    Ravens
15.    Broncos
16.    Saints
17.    Bucs
18.    Cardinals
19.    Colts
20.    Bills
21.    Eagles
22.    Titans
23.    Vikings
24.    Panthers
25.    Bengals
26.    Chargers
27.    Bears
28.    Jets
29.    Jaguars
30.    Rams
31.    49ers
32.    Browns

Brady and Belichick have dominated this league since 2001. I don’t think that two rookies, who have been playing really well, will come in and upend things. If the Cowboys and Patriots played, I don’t care where it is, I am taking the Patriots every day. The Patriots have played a weak schedule compared to other teams, but they have been handling business.  They are 12-3 against the spread. I take tried and true over new and shiny.

Timothy Rapp reporting on Richard Sherman:

After Sherman said he would have accepted criticism from offensive players if a defensive call cost the Seahawks a game—much like Russell Wilson‘s interception to end Super Bowl XLIX against the New England Patriots, which Sherman referenced—Moore, a radio host for 710 ESPN Seattle and a columnist at SeattlePI.com, asked Sherman if he had thought he had a better handle on play-calling than Bevell.

“No, I just had a prior experience, so we talked about it,” Sherman responded. “But let me guess, you have a better play call. Let me guess, you have better experience.”

“No, I don’t have a better play call,” Moore replied.

“Then you should probably stop,” Sherman added.

But Sherman wasn’t done. As he walked away from the podium, he confronted Moore.

“You don’t want to go there,” Sherman said. “You do not. I’ll ruin your career.”

“You’ll ruin my career?” Moore asked. “How are you going to do that?”

“I’ll make sure you don’t get your media pass anymore,” Sherman countered.

Looks like The Green Bay Packers avoided the Grim Reaper and have put the NFC on notice.

Pete Carroll, as reported by the Green Bay Press Gazette said:

“This is such a rare occurrence for our team, we’ve been playing for a lot of years and have not seen a game like this. We don’t remember those days. We’ve had a remarkable run. The thing just snowballed on us; it just turned out to be a terrible night.”

This puts Green Bay where everyone thought they would be.  A top tier team with a chance to win it all.  This shows their recovery wasn’t because they played the Eagles and the Texans.  It is because their receivers are playing better and their defense is healthier.  They no longer let opposing quarterbacks throw touchdown passes on them at will.  They have the Bears next weekend, then finish with the Vikings and the Lions.  The Lions at 8-4 play the Cowboys, Giants, before finishing the season against Green Bay.  The Lions have a tough schedule leaving many to think the Packers can get in by winning out.

This is sports and anything can happen, but in my opinion, the Packers are going to the Super Bowl.  The best way to prevent this is: collusion.

Both the Cowboys and Giants play the Lions in the next two weeks.  If either team beats the Lions, and the Packers take care of business beating the Bears and the Vikings, the winner of the Lions/Packers game would win the division and are in the playoffs.  After treating Seattle yesterday, like a Fast and Furious movie treats cars, not one team wants to see them.  The best way to keep the Packers out would be for the Giants and the Cowboys to tank against the Lions.  That would seemingly ensure the Packers were out.   They would avoid the hottest teams in the league and everyone would sleep better keeping them out.  They still might be able to get a wildcard, but this is the NFC’s best shot.  All of the teams would prefer the road to the Super Bowl not include the Green Bay Packers.

Aaron Rodgers playing this well against the Seattle defense?  I’d rather play against Dak Prescot, Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, Eli Manning, or anyone else not named Brady.