NFL Thread

[user 1190]

I figured that the Vikes would have some real road rust in this game, but I expected to stay within 7 or so. The Vikings have had a VERY easily schedule thus far, with their only real road test being a loss at Pittsburgh; it was just a matter or which Cardinals team would show up.

That has been the one thing that has drove me crazy about people(including experts) talking about the domination they have shown. They have played 1 team with a winning record at this point and played them twice. But they have also played 3 team 4 times that have a total of 4 wins

Looks like the real Farve is back.

 

[karamazov80]

I'm not gonna try to hard to defend the Vikes, but 11-1 is no easy task, no matter who your opponents are. Random chance suggests that you lose a handful of those, and these are all teams filled with some of the best, most highly paid athletes in the country trying to beat each other. They deserve their praise, in my opinion, though I might disagree with those saying that they are better than the Saints

As for tonight, the Cards defense is playing like the Saints did against the Patriots. They are looking like a Superbowl team tonight.

 

[wofford29]

The Vikings aren't playing well, but this officiating is really starting to look like some home cookin'.

 

[ProgMatinee]

horrible injury right there. i know the violence and the risk of injury has an appeal to people, but this is one huge reason football will never be as entertaining to me as baseball. I just don't need to see people get disgusting broken legs and stuff.

 

[OSCORP]

Vikes played like ????. Why can't AP get more than a yard (not just this game the last 3?) blocking?

Vikes were brought down to earth tonight, and now EJ Henderson is gone for the year. (Vikes=????ed on D)

 

[ProgMatinee]

season? i think thats a career ender unfortunately.

 

[OSCORP]

Could be

 

[BadMoon]

The true teams are starting to show their colors. It still will be tough for anyone to beat the Saints and Colts. However, it can be done. What a great weekend!

 

[wofford29]

Anyone get the same feeling with the Cardinals that came on late last year? It's awfully similar. Wouldn't be surprised to see them go deep again. Hitting their stride at just the right time.

 

[ProgMatinee]

It was a darn good Sunday. I wish I got a better afternoon game, but oh well. The Saints/Skins was terrific. Also watched much of the Broncos game.

As long as Warner is healthy the Cards have a shot. This is one of the best NFC regular seasons in a while I think.

 

[user 1190]

Anyone get the same feeling with the Cardinals that came on late last year? It's awfully simliar. Wouldn't be surprised to see them go deep again. Hitting their stride at just the right time.

Really, I remember a AZ team that didnt play all that well last year and made the playoff by winning an awful division.

 

[ProgMatinee]

yeah Cards went like 2-4 in their last 6 last year, but they sure turned it on in the playoffs.

 

[wofford29]

Really, I remember a AZ team that didnt play all that well last year and made the playoff by winning an awful division.

I'm referring to their playoff run. I thought it turned out pretty well.

 

[user 1190]

I'm referring to their playoff run. I thought it turned out pretty well.

Yeah they did come out of nowhere in the playoffs.

 

[OSCORP]

And that's all that matters.

 

[BadMoon]

Anyone get the same feeling with the Cardinals that came on late last year? It's awfully similar. Wouldn't be surprised to see them go deep again. Hitting their stride at just the right time.

Thats all I'm saying. The games that matter are in November and December. ???? all the other stuff. This is going to be a fantastic finish.

 

[JediMike71]

Of course, it is great that the Saints are winning. It is enjoyable now, it will be memorable for us for years to come, etc. etc. But what will people remember about this season 5 or 10 years from now, if anything? The team that won the Superbowl. It won't even matter who was the runner up. The reason teams play the game is to win the Superbowl. They don't play to play well during the regular season, and I didn't think that fans typically rooted for their team to have a good regular season (though maybe I'm wrong). They want to win, fans want them to win, and to win it all. That's why they hire expensive coaches and QBs and spend absurd amounts of money on draft picks--to win the Superbowl. And when you do, I'm sure it is glorious. Having a great regular season is nice, but at the end of the day, Sean Peyton doesn't care about that. Drew Brees doesn't care about that. Is it wrong for fans to have the same goal as the team? That's what I want as a fan, and anything less will be disappointing. A complete bust of a season? No. But a disappointment to be sure, because both the worst team in the league and the team who was second best end up with no title.

Okay, okay. I get your point. I see from what you're saying that you get my point. Am I right? But, fans will remember the incredible season we had this year for many years to come. Yes, the "ultimate goal" as I've heard Drew Brees mention many times is the Super Bowl. I know the coaching staff and players of every team set that up as their ultimate goal every season. To get to the Super Bowl...and win it! Of course players play every year to have a good season! You have to win the game during the regular season to get to the playoffs...and then ultimately to the Super Bowl! No team is randomly chosen out of a hat to play another team in the Super Bowl. Every team in the A.F.C. and N.F.C. play hard during their regular seasons to get to the Super Bowl. Every fan for every team roots for their team to have a good season! That's why they watch the games on T.V., and spend their hard-earned money to go to the games! So all of the coaches and all of the players have to care about how they perform during the regular season. That is the point. To have an incredible WINNING regular season, to be able to get to the Super Bowl and win it. Of course I want the Saints to go the Super Bowl! I do just like you do! I want them to go for the first time in their 42 year team history..and WIN IT! Yeah, anything less would be disappointing. But anything less than getting to the Super Bowl, and winning it would still be fondly remembered by the fans. But, in the end the "ultimate goal" is to get to the Super Bowl and win. That's what every one of the 32 N.F.L. teams try to do every year. The road to the Super Bowl goes right through the regular season...for every team. So, I strongly think the the regular season DOES MATTER! It has to matter. That is the only way to get to a Super Bowl, is to have a winning season that matters, that gets you to the "ultimate goal".

 

[karamazov80]

Even if your team does lose in the first round, you still gotta be having a good time this season. It don't HAVE to be about the SB (thats a hard feat)

And that's all that matters.

So. . .is winning in the playoffs all that matters, or isn't it?

As for the Cards, they looked as good as anybody last night, but that team is very Chargers-esque in how unpredictable they are. Next week they could play like crap and lose, and no one would be very surprised. Strange team, but like you guys are saying, trending upward when playoff time comes around is what matters in my opinion.

 

[LOTRFan]

Fortunately if you are a Cards fan your team has played better than most on the road; including a loss that shouldn't have been against the Titans. Seeing as how the Saints and Vikes will most likely lock-up homefield through the playoffs (which both DESPERATELY need to win), you can take some comfort in knowing how they get up for big games, and can actually play well in a hostile environment. Not only that, but where AZ has struggled on the road shouldn't be much of an issue, there aren't any cold weather teams that they will likely face.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Kurt Warner in a dome is pretty much unstoppable.