NFL's Biggest Story?

[Dutch]

Saw this poll on ESPN and was curious how FOFC would differ (if at all).

[BillJasper]

Manning's injury. People keep saying it's a team game, well evidently he's the team in Indianapolis.

[MIJB#19]

How about them Lions?

[Matthean]

Tebow. Period. Suck for Luck should have been added although it was part of what fueled the Peyton story.

[cougarfreak]

How about a team that most thought would win 2 games, and now they could very well make the playoffs? For years I heard how, even though Palmer put up good numbers, he wasn't "good" because his team didn't win. Now Dalton has the team winning, and Newton puts up better numbers, but he's "super".

[Matthean]

How about a team that most thought would win 2 games, and now they could very well make the playoffs? For years I heard how, even though Palmer put up good numbers, he wasn't "good" because his team didn't win. Now Dalton has the team winning, and Newton puts up better numbers, but he's "super".

My Mom didn't ask about the Bengals. She did ask about this whole Tebow thing.

[Danny]

Biggest story was clearly Tebow and it wasn't even close

[MIJB#19]

How about a team that most thought would win 2 games, and now they could very well make the playoffs? For years I heard how, even though Palmer put up good numbers, he wasn't "good" because his team didn't win. Now Dalton has the team winning, and Newton puts up better numbers, but he's "super".True, the Bengals are probably the number one team that has the biggest (positive) margin between expected wins going into the season and actual wins. Is there any place to check the over/under win odds that the major betting websites used back at the start of the season?

[JPhillips]

Yeah, it has to be Tebow. That's the only story that spread beyond football fans.

[Matthean]

True, the Bengals are probably the number one team that has the biggest (positive) margin between expected wins going into the season and actual wins. Is there any place to check the over/under win odds that the major betting websites used back at the start of the season?

Carolina has to be in the running as well.

[henry296]

Carolina has to be in the running as well.

I was thinking about San Fran. Probably forecasted for 7-8 wins and probably will end up at 13.

[sabotai]

Are we being asked what the biggest story as reported by the media, or are we being asked what we think is the most important story?

Obviously, Tebow was the biggest story in the media. But for me personally, Manning going down to injury and the Colts doing as badly as they did is the most important one. And if the Colts end up drafting Luck, it might be the only thing I remember about this season 10 years from now.

[OldGiants]

Most over-reported story was Tebow, who will be off the grid one year from now. He simply isn't good enough to be a QB. Unless he comes back at another position and shines, he will be remembered alongside Tim Mandarich.

Clearly the most important event is the injury to Peyton Manning which may yet to prove to be the end of a great player's career.

The other events are chaff in the winds of time: all to be swept away with a new season.

[cougarfreak]

True, the Bengals are probably the number one team that has the biggest (positive) margin between expected wins going into the season and actual wins. Is there any place to check the over/under win odds that the major betting websites used back at the start of the season?

I believe Vegas has the Bengals at 5.5. I would have definitely taken the under.

[Dutch]

Are we being asked what the biggest story as reported by the media, or are we being asked what we think is the most important story?

Obviously, Tebow was the biggest story in the media. But for me personally, Manning going down to injury and the Colts doing as badly as they did is the most important one. And if the Colts end up drafting Luck, it might be the only thing I remember about this season 10 years from now.

Good question. Time Tebow is the clear winner in the TV poll and I think it's the human interest/controversy over is religious overtones that make his #1 versus anything to do with winning 7 games as a rookie. Clearly from an NFL/football standpoint, there were bigger stories.

And good point if you consider the historical perspective. I'm not so sure we remember Tim Tebow 5 years from now much less 10 years from now. Manning maybe never playing again would make this a pretty big story (and imho Luck is really a 2012 story).

Personally, Brees beating Dan Marino's 27-year mark was my vote but I can see how that's not a bigger "story"...although it's arguably the one thing we'll still remember 10 years from now from this season.

[korme]

Its definitely 1,2 or 5

[korme]

Most over-reported story was Tebow, who will be off the grid one year from now. He simply isn't good enough to be a QB. Unless he comes back at another position and shines, he will be remembered alongside Tim Mandarich.

Todd Marinovich? Tony Mandarich?

[Matthean]

I was thinking about San Fran. Probably forecasted for 7-8 wins and probably will end up at 13.

I think there is a difference in trying to do well against the likes of St. Louis, Seattle, and Arizona versus doing so against N.O., Atlanta, and T.B. who before this year was a team on the rise and almost made the playoffs last year. Even if San Fran got more wins than expected, I think it's far less surprising it happened. People knew Harbaugh could coach. People who thought Cam would work out thought he was at least a couple years away. I don't think even Carolina thought Cam would come in on a shortened offseason and break the rookie record for total TDs.

[Abe Sargent]

Anyone who thinks that the biggest story isn;t the record breaking is crazy. (Internet crazy, not real crazy :) ) Brees broke a record of one of the most precious ones we have - most passing yards in a season. He still has a game tomorrow to add to it. What are the others? Someone becoming an overhyped QB starting in his first season? See also Vince Young, Mike Vick and many others - that's nothing new. Somebody getting injured? Happens all of the time and each year sees stars take a break from football due to it. The Packers going 13-0? We've had a lot of strong undefeated starts, and that's nothing new. Breaking a record held for a long time by one of the game's greatest? That's something interesting, something fresh, and something that makes the 2011 season.

[CU Tiger]

Anyone who thinks that the biggest story isn;t the record breaking is crazy. (Internet crazy, not real crazy :) ) Breaking a record held for a long time by one of the game's greatest? That's something interesting, something fresh, and something that makes the 2011 season.


So you agree it was Cam's season, right?

J/K sorta....