jellydonut's NFL MEGA POST

[Russzilla]

[Russzilla]

[Hybrid Gojira]

Well, the Bengals are what we thought they were. They are content to make the playoffs but not much else. Marvin needs to go. He is the epitome of mediocrity. He does not coach intelligent, disciplined teams. They cannot manage the game clock. Dalton played terrible, but it's not all on him. Guys dropped passes. One fumble was a game changer in the red zone and that wasn't on him. His O line couldn't protect him today. The D didn't show up as they usually do - they weren't awful, but it was not a typical Bengals D.

[DannyBeane]

I have a hypothesis. Play Andy Dalton during the regular season. He has proven he can get us to the playoffs. Then bench him in the post season.

[Hybrid Gojira]

[briizilla]

[DannyBeane]

[jellydonut25]

Terrelle Pryor is not the answer for Cincy. They need more of an Alex Smith (obv not Smith e xactly since he's with KC but you get the idea)

[Hybrid Gojira]

Here's the deal. I think Dalton is serviceable as a QB, but there were times when the D basically carried him this year by creating TOs. Despite having INTs and fumbles, Cincy had shots to win but failed to capitalize. If Bernard doesn't fumble and Green makes that catch, we are having a different convo.
The Bengals beat themselves. Props to the Chargers - their D looked great and got to Andy alllllll day, but the INTs were just awful throws. The Bengals are not a disciplined team. I blame Marvin. They've never been disciplined. They lack leadership it showed. They imploded. Look at the Colts - they did the exact opposite because they have leadership. We (Cincy) do not.

[O.Supreme]

[jellydonut25]

[jellydonut25]

My post-Week 17 Power Rankings would have looked like this:

1.) Seattle - They earned it.
2.) Carolina - They've also earned it. Beating New Orleans was huge for them, even with Brees' track record on the road this season.
3.) Denver - The AFC favorite by miles.
4.) New Orleans Saints - Even though I thought they might lose to Philly based on weather concerns, I thought they were the better team. (as an aside, they seem pretty doomed this week)
5.) Kansas City Chiefs - Yeah, it seems silly in retrospect, but I think they lost due to injuries and they were the only road team I had actually picked to win last week...
6.) Green Bay Packers - Again, seems silly given they're now out, but with Rodgers and Cobb coming back, I would have thought they could have been this year's Ravens.
7.) San Fran - I'm surprised they finished 12-4...but they also won a lot of early games I had pegged them to lose.
8.) Cincinnati - Another that seems foolish now, but I thought they'd beat San Diego easily and have a legitimate chance against New England. Then they'd be one upset away from a Super Bowl appearance. We all know how that worked out.
9.) Philadelphia - This team was red hot coming into the playoffs and with the weather, I thought they'd be in for a potential upset of New Orleans, then I thought they could beat Carolina (maybe).
10.) New England - Sure, I thought they'd probably appear in the AFC Championship game, and I'm even MORE convinced of it now, but I really thought they got the first round bye more by default than by being great.
11.) Indianapolis - I wasn't sold on this team, and I suppose I'm still not since I think New England will slap them around, but I'd have to put them up here because I'd have given them a chance to win last weekend, though I thought it would tip in KC's favor ultimately.
12.) Arizona - This is how little I thought of San Diego backdooring their way into the playoffs due to meltdowns from Baltimore and Miami. When I do my post-Super Bowl rankings, I suspect this team will still finish ahead of some playoff teams
13.) San Diego - I'd give them this just for making the playoffs, but I'd have liked to put them behind the next 2 teams.
14.) Pittsburgh - They made everyone sweat it out and had Ryan Succop been able to seal the deal, it might be them on their way to Denver.
15.) Chicago - Can you really take them to task for losing to Rodgers? Maybe. But under a first year head coach, I think they're a team on the rise.
16.) Dallas - Jason Garrett is a clown and this team is on the downtrend as long as he's around (though let's be honest, the root cause is actually Jerry Jones) but they did make Philly EARN the playoff spot even with Orton playing in a game for the first time in years. Credit for that much, I suppose.
17.) Baltimore - The way they ended the season is shameful, but at the same time, I think this team was essentially Anquan Boldin away from a playoff appearance. It's fine to give Flacco a bajillion dollars, but he's not Brady and needs some legitimate WRs to be good.
18.) St. Louis - I would have liked to see this season under Bradford the whole way. They have a decision to make in that regard, but they seem to be getting better in all other areas.
19.) New York Giants - They didn't quit, even when they should have, and I think they will be back to contention next year.
20.) Buffalo - This team never quits. There are some health concerns with Manuel, but I think the coaches were just playing it safe with him. Once they lost 9 games, they realized there was no benefit to playing him and risking serious injury.
21.) New York Jets - Geno Smith is awful in bad weather, and I don't think this team will contend next year, but they were better than I thought they'd be this year so who knows?
22.) Tennessee - Color me somewhat surprised they fired Munchak given they were forced to start Fitzpatrick for a chunk of the season. I think this is more a sign that they will be moving on from Locker than a commentary on Munchak
23.) Minnesota - Another situation where I'm surprised the coach lost his job. Ponder, Cassel, Freeman...haven't we seen how awful these guys are and how hard it would be for ANY coach to win with them? Where's the accountability for the GM?
24.) Cleveland - Yet ANOTHER situation where I'm surprised the coach was fired. One year is all the guy gets when he's starting his third string QB by the end of the year? Wow.
25.) Jacksonville - They won a few at the end, though there's still some ways to go before they're contending again...I think they'll be better still next year.
26.) Oakland - They'll probably be right around here next year, and the next, and the next...there's no change in sight.
27.) Atlanta - Gotta think this is a top contender for worst-to-first turnaround next year. No Julio Jones, Roddy White, or Steven Jackson for most of the year...that'll change next year. They need to improve the D.
28.) Tampa - They did right and fired the coach. They should be better next year, but won't be GOOD.
29.) Houston - Yeah, I could take the easy way out and put them at 32 for the season they had, but I don't think they wound up being as embarrassing as any of the next few teams.
30.) Miami - Losses in 2 critical games to end the season against two mediocre teams. Shameful.
31.) Washington - They quit, but I think they wanted Shanahan gone. Still, there's a lot of controversy swirling around RG3 and the owner and playing favorites and...messy messy messy.
32.) Detroit - Yeah, they finished with a better record than half the teams above them here, but did you know: After their November 10 victory against the Bears, they merely needed to win any 3 games in order to ice the division and they only won ONE? Put another way, they only needed to play sub-.500 football and get a record of 3-4 in the last 7 weeks and wound up going 1-6!!

Yeah so...I know how some of this looks after last weekend, but just wanted to throw down my honest thoughts as of the end of Week 17.

I'll do a post-Super Bowl one too, that will reflect some of last weekend's stuff...

[The Top Crusader]

I should be used to the Bengals showing up to the playoffs and dying a horrible death, but for some reason I half expected a win. It's kind of killed my resolve to follow the rest of the football season, but I suppose I'll... cheer on the Colts or something.

[jellydonut25]

[Russzilla]

[Russzilla]

[Russzilla]

[Russzilla]

I know Jelly's against this, but it looks like that NFL playoff expansion will become reality one day. (2015 I saw on ESPN earlier this week)

http://nfl.si.com/2014/01/08/roger-good ... per-bowls/

[The Top Crusader]

[jellydonut25]

[O.Supreme]

[jellydonut25]

Win your division or don't get a home playoff game. I don't think there's anything unfair about it. It's the way EVERY sport in the history of history has done it.


As for this weekend's games...God do I loathe Jim Harbaugh. He's literally the only reason I want the 49ers to lose every game at all times no matter what. He throws temper tantrums on the sidelines like a CHILD. Grow up dude, you're freaking 50 years old.

The Colts just quit.

The NFL got exactly the outcomes they wanted...even if they had to do a little finessing of the games to get there (I thought Seattle got away with a LOT of extra contact in the secondary...and that's a game where I had no rooting interest whatsoever...I also thought Carolina got a little over-penalized). It's more upsetting to me that those games weren't properly officiated (I won't go so far as to say anyone cheated, but will say there were more than a couple calls across both games about which I disagreed) because neither one NEEDED to be. The team that played better won.

[O.Supreme]

[jellydonut25]

[Hybrid Gojira]

I predict Niners Vs. Pats ...

And I loathe the Pats, but they win in spite of losing Gronk and they don't have the talent on the offensive side. Brady's a beast even if I'm jealous of his success.
I'm rooting for Manning.