American Football

[Stagat]

Commiserations Kieran but that's a lovely scoreline to wake up to.

Like you guys, don't see Denver beating either of the NFC teams. I'd enjoy the fairytale if they did though. Omaha!

 

[Renegade]

What was the line on this Renegade or did you just bet on the straight up win?

Panthers should be pleased with their start so far. Would like to see this being a high scoring shootout.

Nah, I stuck £5 on the Cardinals in week 13 to go all the way at 14/1, when my Steelers Superbowl bet looked like it was going down the shitter.

What a run by Ginn, he is amazing in space. This Panthers team could easily have went 19-0, they are pretty special.

 

[kieran_vale]

Probably the longest 20 yard run I've seen from Ted Ginn. Think Cards D didn't do their job with the basics there though.

Understood Stagat, for the record I'd be the same if it were any of our divisional rivals in place of us. Can't get beaten in the trenches like our O-Line were and expect to win though. Would love us to sort that out in the draft oh and sign Matt Forte or someone like that as my kneejerk reaction.

 

[Stagat]

What a run by Ginn, he is amazing in space. This Panthers team could easily have went 19-0, they are pretty special.

Longest 22-yard TD run in playoff history. I guess.

 

[kieran_vale]

Got to hand it to Arians, he will never die wondering. Breaking out everything in the playbook. Panthers just too good and too well coached themselves though.

 

[RavenBish]

love Cam Newton so much

 

[Renegade]

Serious case of deja vu...

Cardinals desperately need to score next. it's funny, this game looked like the most enticing game all year and Manning vs Brady XXLLVVV looked like a bit of a dud, turning out to be the opposite of that. A bit like Seattle vs Carolina last week.

They're just too good. If Newton continues like this next year with Benjamin back, they have a real chance of winning multiple titles. They should be able to keep all their key players in the off-season.

 

[kieran_vale]

Agreed one thing with Panthers though is if they go into their usual mode when they have a big lead and go to that prevent rubbish. Almost cost them last week.

Got to admit to being very envious of watching that pass protection Cam was getting. This is an exceptional all round team.

Edit - impressive bit of work there by David Johnson. Really like him.

 

[Anon]

There's no real way to know the numbers, but while prevent defense gets a lot of criticism - almost exclusively when it fails or gets near to failing - it rarely gets criticised or even noticed when it works.

 

[Renegade]

Well, this is over. Palmer in meltdown, Bish licking his chops.

The Panthers D-line is bullying them up front.

Edit: PETERSON! Keep this game alive please.

 

[Anon]

Well, this is over.

Panthers could always go prevent to make a game of it

 

[kieran_vale]

Hmm rather contrasting fortunes for the Cards on the last two plays. Another shot for Palmer to make this closer at least.

Edit - Bengals Carson Palmer has officially resurfaced. Oh dear.

 

[Renegade]

Palmer you absolutely useless fuck. The throw was never ever there.

 

[Anon]

To me, to you, to me.

 

[Anon]

Those were the sort of throws Palmer was trying against us last week...

 

[Stagat]

Oh Carson. Can't help feeling a bit sorry for people when they're just so hapless.

 

[Anon]

This game aside, obviously the Cardinals and Panthers have been the best two NFC teams this season. I do wonder though how different the teams could be next season. Carolina an ascending team with Newton, cap room, and returning players... and yet the Cardinals could easily drop back to .500 or worse if Palmer's hit the wall (again) in his career given he'll turn 37 during the 2016 season.

 

[kieran_vale]

Maybe they could but a lot depends on the rest of their division as well though. Seattle are about to go through some upheaval. It's surely not sustainable for them to keep eating the contracts for the LOB, Wilson and Graham so would expect a down year from them with Lynch also leaving. The other two teams are either rebuilding or in the Rams case handicapped by their coaching so while they may not have the same winning record they would still be good for playoffs I'd imagine. 7 months is a long time though.

This game just feels like its going through the motions now. Fitz would probably want that drop back even if it was tipped someone like him should have taken that.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

This is just a comfortable, no-hassle, aint really broke a sweat victory against a very solid team. Ominous.

 

[Renegade]

Cardinals secondary getting shredded without Honey Badger. Coming into the game, analysts were wondering how the Carolina secondary would be able to handle the overload the Cardinals have at receiver, they've barely had to do anything such is the quality of their front seven.

As for the Cardinals next year, I reckon they'll be fine as long as they have Arians in charge. That's good for a winning season at least. Seattle will be strong as ever, but both should be playoff teams again with the Fisher led Rams and the 49ers in transition.

Will be interesting to see how the Broncos deal with Cam running in a couple of weeks. This game has been a complete dud. I'm off to watch the Royal Rumble. Fack this.

 

[kieran_vale]

I feel sorry for Palmer watching this, been a nightmare for him.

 

[Renegade]

This is almost as bad as Ryan Lindley last year.

EDIT: Six turnovers...

 

[kieran_vale]

And now another pick

Fuck me, they should just have a continuous running clock on this game. End this carnage for Palmer early.

Either way a soon to be 50 burger on a very good team like this is frightening.

 

[Kim Mitten]

Panthers should be winning Superbowl 50.... but D wins championships and the Denver D has been the best all season. Could be in for a classic in two weeks time a bit reminiscent of 2007 when the Patriots were meant to roll the Giants D, and we all know what happened there.
It is of course all set up for a Manning fairy tale retirement and I still can't believe all the doubters that he can win in these playoff games or the big one, Trent Dilfer, Jeff Hostetler, Doug Williams, Brad Johnson and Joe Flacco have won the big game and Manning playing at 1% is better than all of them put together at 100%.

 

[Anon]

Maybe they could but a lot depends on the rest of their division as well though. Seattle are about to go through some upheaval. It's surely not sustainable for them to keep eating the contracts for the LOB, Wilson and Graham so would expect a down year from them with Lynch also leaving. The other two teams are either rebuilding or in the Rams case handicapped by their coaching so while they may not have the same winning record they would still be good for playoffs I'd imagine. 7 months is a long time though.

I reckon the Seahawks will be ok. Rawls looks better than Lynch these days so that's a bunch of money off the books, and have promising rookie contract receivers too. If they can find decent offensive linemen in the draft it's only really Graham's contract that potentially needs redoing. If they don't think he fits the offense, they could get a 2nd round back for him I expect.

Seven months defo a long time though...

 

[kieran_vale]

Panthers should be winning Superbowl 50.... but D wins championships and the Denver D has been the best all season. Could be in for a classic in two weeks time a bit reminiscent of 2007 when the Patriots were meant to roll the Giants D, and we all know what happened there.
It is of course all set up for a Manning fairy tale retirement and I still can't believe all the doubters that he can win in these playoff games or the big one, Trent Dilfer, Jeff Hostetler, Doug Williams, Brad Johnson and Joe Flacco have won the big game and Manning playing at 1% is better than all of them put together at 100%.

I don't see how this game will be close in any way, Panthers too well rounded a team. Even allowing for defence wins championships with the likes of Kuechly, Short and Norman the Panthers D is probably only marginally worse than Denvers and there really is no match in comparing the two offences. The biggest difference is the Panthers have an O-Line unlike the Pats so the 23 hits or whatever it was they landed on Brady isn't going to happen. Panthers will cruise this by 10 points at least I think. Would help Denver offensively mind if Demariyus Thomas would show up to a game, don't think even heard his name mentioned yesterday.

Feel bad for Gost that he was blaming himself for the defeat after when in reality its the turnstiles on the O-Line who are largely to blame. Was a shock to see him miss the point after but it's sad for him that was the difference on the scoreboard at the end as he has been so good for us this year. Also feel since the 2nd half of the season a lot of shine has been taken off McDaniels as an OC. His play calling has been increasingly questionable over that time. On the plus side Jamie Collins is right up there probably only behind Kuechly now as one of the elite Linebackers in the game, was an incredible performance from him. Hope we can sort an extension for him (and Hightower also) this off-season.

 

[Anon]

So who's hyped for the Pro Bowl?

...

What, no-one?

 

[JJ1532]

So, the Chargers have decided to play the 2016 season in San Diego, although they can still take the Rams up on their stadium share option.

They are going back to the city authorities to try and once again get a new stadium. Be interesting to see how that one pans out.

Raiders are also changing tack, exploring possible sites to move to in Las Vegas. So, if the Chargers and the Raiders get their way, leaves the Rams as the only team in Los Angeles.

 

[kieran_vale]

Raiders to Vegas is surely just a bargaining chip one would have thought. Can't see the NFL sanctioning it given they have held pretty anti-sports gambling views in the past (incredibly hypocritical given the way they are in bed with Draftkings for one). That aside I just don't think there will be the fanbase there, I go there quite a lot and a huge percentage in the city are from elsewhere similar to the San Diego demographic incidentally and work irregular hours in the tourist sector. They will be relying on visiting fans to fill the stadium each week. Same problem that will occur if they put a NHL franchise there eventually which is presently in the offing.

That said if ever there was a team for Johnny Manziel to land with eventually the Las Vegas Raiders would be the one...

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

I agree that Vegas is very likely a stalking horse, and especially with your point that the city has a number of quirks that make if a tough place to make a pro-sports franchise work.

But parenthetically I think a lot of that anti-gambling stuff is increasingly in the past, actually. Just in my time watching US sports I've seen it go from a totally verboten subject (Brent Musburger falling off his chair with nudges and winks when someone covered the spread with 30 seconds to go felt like an illicit thrill, a polari for those wot knew, which was everyone...) to money lines and point spreads being openly discussed on Gameday and the like in the last couple of years.

America remains a lot more leery of it than us, obviously, but I suspect the particular rubicon has been crossed....