The OtherArena

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 17247

Watching the Vikes without AP this year will be interesting. My guess is that it sets them up for life without AP, and he'll get cut before his roster bonus is due next March.

Bob Morris · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2886 Location: New Mexico

With AP expected to be out until at least December, I'm pretty sure the Vikings will hope he can return this season, but let him go after the season.

The question will be what Sam Bradford can do. He looked all right against Green Bay but it remains to be seen if he can hold up throughout the season.

Otherwise, we may be looking at another team that will count on its defense to get them to the playoffs.

corrado · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 5008 Location: LI

And now the Patriots are 3-0 without Tom Brady, after a 27-0 romp of the Texans. That was also an impressive win.

Bob Morris · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2886 Location: New Mexico

Bill Bardwell talked about the teams with the best defenses in the NFL and has high praise for a few notable teams who are 3-0: Broncos, Vikings and Eagles.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page/barnwellx160926/the-best-teams-far-best-defenses-let-rank-top-defenses-overall-2016-nfl

The Eagles had a great hiring in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who may not be head coaching material but is one of the best coordinators out there. Carson Wentz has looked good, but there's no way Wentz looks this good if Cleveland had stayed at No. 2 and drafted him. Perhaps Wentz does well if the Rams had taken him instead of Goff. But it's pretty easy to see the Eagles defense is a big reason why they are 3-0.

It's more so with the Vikings, although Sam Bradford has played well. Perhaps Bradford is the right fit for Norv Turner's offense. But back to the defense, the Vikings are making things rough on opponents thus far. It's going to be interesting to see if the Vikings can keep their current pace up.

Broncos, of course, were expected to have a strong defense. They aren't dominant this year but they are still effective. The thing with the Broncos is their offense is better this year. The line is playing better than last year and Trevor Siemian, while far from a top player, hasn't reached his ceiling yet. Siemian might be to the Broncos what Jon Kitna was to the Bengals at one point.

Bob Morris · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2886 Location: New Mexico

Bill Barnwell talks about why the Broncos and the Panthers are trending in opposite directions.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page/barnwellx161003/the-denver-broncos-cruising-carolina-panthers-struggling-long-super-bowl-50-nfl

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 17247

Good piece by Bill.

corrado · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 5008 Location: LI

One of the feel-good stories this year in the NFL is the strong start by the Raiders. Unfortunately for Oakland, they may not see the likes of Derek Carr and Amari Cooper as they hit their peak, because the Raiders to Las Vegas rumors may become official:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/10/14/mark-davis-calls-vegas-new-home-for-the-entire-raider-nation/

corrado · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 5008 Location: LI

So we had last night, a rare tie. Which is surely going to have huge implications for the postseason. Since it was Seattle vs Arizona.

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 17247

Lord was that a bad game. :)

corrado · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 5008 Location: LI

I dont want to post this in the Sager thread but wearing cleats in his honor gets you fined in the NFL.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/12/22/double-standard-beckham-says-he-was-fined-for-sager-cleats/

what a joke.

Bob Morris · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2886 Location: New Mexico

So Super Bowl LI will be remembered for three things.

1. Tom Brady cemented his legacy as greatest QB ever.
2. Bill Belichick cemented his legacy as greatest coach ever.
3. Kyle Shanahan may be about to cement his legacy as...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIPr23xyoZg

Or if you prefer the visual...

corrado · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 5008 Location: LI

Even during the blowout, I wasnt enjoying the game that much. Probably because I was hoping that the Giants was the representative of the NFC. Maybe there would've been a different end result.

This game will sting so long for not only the Falcons, but also the 49ers as well, which is where Shananhan will go.

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 17247

4 possessions when they needed just a FG to ice the game, and they came up empty. Everyone will talk forever about the sack+holding late in the 4th, but the failure to take advantage of the onside kick with another holding+sack combo was just a brutal. That was a chance to ice the game with a simple FG.

They Falcons also wasted all three time outs in the second half, and left themselves with none for the last drive. Stupid.