It Has Begun - NFL Week 1

[Coffee Warlord]

We needed a thread.

[Lathum]

In my basement, beer in hand, in front of my 55 inch flat screen. Kids in bed, life is good.

Enjoy the season boys, it's the best time of the year

[Lathum]

LOL @ Ray Lewis being the guy to do one.

[Matthean]

Area Man Bids Tearful Farewell To Family As NFL Season Begins | The Onion - America's Finest News Source (http://www.theonion.com/articles/area-man-bids-tearful-farewell-to-family-as-nfl-se,33754/)

[Julio Riddols]

Ryan Seacrest?

[PilotMan]

game delayed for lightning and we have umbrellas?

[Julio Riddols]

This is the worst case of football blue balls I have ever had.

[Lathum]

This delay is killing the NFL right now. They are going to be losing east coast viewers like crazy at halftime.

[Julio Riddols]

I'm putting ALL of this on Seacrest.

[bhlloy]

Ray Lewis thinks this is a conspiracy. Clearly the NFL changed the weather system to throw the east coast Ravens off their game.

Also, is Dungy drunk?

[cartman]

Enjoy the season boys, it's the best time of the year

We'll see how you feel after Sunday night's game. :devil:

[mauchow]

It has not begun.....

[Julio Riddols]

Whats with the patdowns?

[Coffee Warlord]

I was wondering that myself.

[Lathum]

Whats with the patdowns?

I was wondering the same thing

[Lathum]

We'll see how you feel after Sunday night's game. :devil:

I'll still feel like the fan of a team with 2 titles in the last 7 years.

[Julio Riddols]

I feel like this is an old school wrestling match and we're gonna see brass knuckles come out when the ref turns his back.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Oh my god, it's like no one has ever experienced weather before.

[Julio Riddols]

Broncos looked really confused on that drive.

[Coffee Warlord]

Way too easy.

[bhlloy]

It's early but I didn't understand why the Broncos defense was rated so highly, even when Von Miller is back. Pretty mediocre across the board as far as I can tell

[TroyF]

Good drive from the Ravens. The Broncos are going to have serious problems the first six weeks. Without Miller's pass rush, the defense is very, very, very below average. Flacco looks like Tom Brady. (OK, a Tom Brady that makes horrible decisions with the football, can't read a third down to save his life despite having 45 minutes to throw the ball and even attempted to give Denver a pick six on a play where there was no pressure) The point is, when it looks that easy for him, it's going to be an ugly six weeks. The offense better be ready.

[TroyF]

My feelings on Flacco are well known and I fully understand if anyone disagrees with me.

But the last pass is what drives me crazy with QB's. That was not a difficult pass. It was easy. one on one coverage, no pressure at all, WR runs a great route and gets open. . . if the ball is where 75% of NFL QB's put it, Jacoby Jones is still running. Instead, he has to turn his body 180 degrees and catches the ball behind him for a nine yard gain.

That play design by the coach and the other 10 guys on the field was 70+ yards. Flacco turned it into 9.

I know the narrative will be he's playing great right now and he will likely have a monster game tonight. But I think you'll find the Denver D without Miller (and certainly without Champ) will be ripe for the taking by anyone. Missing passes like that kills offenses. The highest paid QB in the league should hit the guy on the run there.

[claphamsa]

My feelings on Flacco are well known and I fully understand if anyone disagrees with me.

But the last pass is what drives me crazy with QB's. That was not a difficult pass. It was easy. one on one coverage, no pressure at all, WR runs a great route and gets open. . . if the ball is where 75% of NFL QB's put it, Jacoby Jones is still running. Instead, he has to turn his body 180 degrees and catches the ball behind him for a nine yard gain.

That play design by the coach and the other 10 guys on the field was 70+ yards. Flacco turned it into 9.

I know the narrative will be he's playing great right now and he will likely have a monster game tonight. But I think you'll find the Denver D without Miller (and certainly without Champ) will be ripe for the taking by anyone. Missing passes like that kills offenses. The highest paid QB in the league should hit the guy on the run there.
hes also a bottom 10 QB, who had an outlier career high at the perfect time. everyone in the AFC north was thrilled when he resigned. hes A not good and B WWWWWAAAAYYYYYY overpaid

[Coffee Warlord]

Flacco's making me wish I started him in fantasy right now. Which says more for the Denver D than for Flacco.

[Coffee Warlord]

Whoops.

[cuervo72]

Yeah, that was not too good.

[Lathum]

wow, what a pick

[ColtCrazy]

Wow. What a turn of events. Until then the Denver D had looked slow and Manning looked rusty. Ball game is on.

[Dutch]

Alright, so Jacoby Jones is down, but Flacco needs to respond.

[Dutch]

...and he misses a wideopen WR on 2nd down...

[Dutch]

...and Dallas Clark to the rescue!

[cuervo72]

Dallas Clark doesn't look right wearing a numbering the 80s.

[Dutch]

agreed

[bulletsponge]

Flaccos muff punt plan worked!

[Lathum]

Welker!

[Julio Riddols]

Wow, Welker.

[Dutch]

Welker...really, dude?

[TroyF]

Serves us right for adding Patriots. . . :)

[Thomkal]

<---watches everybody go sign Thomas for their fantasy football team

[Coffee Warlord]

Heh, I have him.

...on my bench today. Pity. Though with any luck, I'll find a sucker who'll overpay in trade for him now.

[Lathum]

Peyton is throwing to the wrong Thomas

[TroyF]

Last year, I really thought Julius Thomas would break out in a huge way. He always looked good at training camp, ran good routes and had a ton of athleticism. I thought Manning would turn him into something special.

The Broncos instead brought in multiple tight ends and Thomas sat the bench. Honestly, I thought it was over for the kid. I thought if Manning couldn't turn him into something, nobody would.

Fast forward to this season, I saw he won the starting job and I shrugged my shoulders. I figured with Welker there, the TE would be taken out of the offense and Thomas might get a catch or two a game.

One game does not make a career, but this is what I thought we could see last year when I actually drafted this kid in the later rounds for all my fantasy teams.

Go figure.

[Lathum]

has Monte ball even had a touch?

[Suicane75]

<---watches everybody go sign Thomas for their fantasy football team

Not in my leagues buddy. :cool:

[Coffee Warlord]

<---watches everybody go sign Thomas for their fantasy football team

I've now had 2 texts from co-workers saying, "Why didn't you start Thomas, man!??!"

[Julio Riddols]

Started Thomas in a fanduel league; that is paying dividends so far. Might turn my 2 dollar bet into 50.

In other news, has Ray Rice lost a step or something? What is the deal with the Ravens pretty much refusing to use him?

Edit: Nevermind, I guess he has 12 touches.. Just seems like he isn't being featured enough, given their shitty receiver situation.

[Desnudo]

Manning's velocity is a littler lacking...

[ColtCrazy]

Well that was an ugly drive.

Julius Thomas is sitting on someone's bench in our league. I have a feeling everyone rushes to grab him, but I don't see him keeping this up. Welker, Decker, DThomas. Too many weapons for Julius to get a lot of touches long term. But he does remind me of a young Antonio Gates with his raw athleticism.

[Lathum]

In other news, has Ray Rice lost a step or something? What is the deal with the Ravens pretty much refusing to use him?

Hehas40yards and a TD. Seems like they are using him a lot.

[Glengoyne]

So I started the wrong bronco receiver named Thomas tonight.

[ColtCrazy]

Like seeing Dallas Clark doing well (except for the drop, but he did bail them out on that drive earlier). One of my favorite Colts ever. Stand up guy, donated for many years to our school's auction.

[cuervo72]

Well, that drop wasn't great.

[Danny]

Montee ball fantasy owners not happy right now

[Lathum]

Ouch Dallas Clark.

[TroyF]

and he tries to make up for last years boneheaded play. That was a textbook hit. It shows how you can hit hard and still be clean in this league.

[ColtCrazy]

and he tries to make up for last years boneheaded play. That was a textbook hit. It shows how you can hit hard and still be clean in this league.

Be surprised if we see Clark after that hit. His bell was rung.

What is scary is how Denver may look in 4-5 weeks once all these guys get their rhythm going. Could rival Manning's weapons in 2004/05.

[BishopMVP]

Speaking of hits... anyone think that earlier hit on Trindon Holliday shouldn't have been a penalty? It looked bad because Holliday weighs 155, but I don't think he'd actually stepped out yet.

[Suicane75]

Yeah, if Thomas, J. becomes a guy other teams have to seriously account for, that passing game is going to be deadly.

[TroyF]

Be surprised if we see Clark after that hit. His bell was rung.

What is scary is how Denver may look in 4-5 weeks once all these guys get their rhythm going. Could rival Manning's weapons in 2004/05.

You add Julius Thomas, who isn't just a threat at TE, but a deep threat, and this offense goes from great to potentially historically great. Ball will get carries and I believe he'll play well. Hillman is great used in spurts. Moreno can catch and run out of the backfield. Then you get to D. Thomas, Decker, and Welker? I mean, it gets truly frightening.

The Donkies had 67 yards on their first three drives, zero points.

They have 255 yards and five TD's on their last six drives.

Manning is 15-19 with 5TD passes in those drives.

The offense could be pretty damned special.

[TroyF]

Speaking of hits... anyone think that earlier hit on Trindon Holliday shouldn't have been a penalty? It looked bad because Holliday weighs 155, but I don't think he'd actually stepped out yet.


I thought he stepped out, but I didn't rewind and look at it frame by frame.

When a guy has given up and slowed down, you simply are not going to get that call a lot of the time if you take a shot.

[bhlloy]

I tend to agree - the Ravens really should have paid Boldin. They have a couple of nice deep threats but they are sorely lacking the guy who can get open for Flacco or make a bail out catch. Of course, it would have looked better with Pitta but still.

[TroyF]

That's the type of shot I believe deserves suspension every bit as much as the helmet to helmet hits. It was not necessary and clearly cheap. It's fine to give a guy like that 15 yards, but if you truly want to make the game safer, you sit guys who do that. I don't care if it's a Broncos, Raven, Raider or college player. That type of behavior should be punished harshly.

[ColtCrazy]

You add Julius Thomas, who isn't just a threat at TE, but a deep threat, and this offense goes from great to potentially historically great. Ball will get carries and I believe he'll play well. Hillman is great used in spurts. Moreno can catch and run out of the backfield. Then you get to D. Thomas, Decker, and Welker? I mean, it gets truly frightening.

The Donkies had 67 yards on their first three drives, zero points.

They have 255 yards and five TD's on their last six drives.

Manning is 15-19 with 5TD passes in those drives.

The offense could be pretty damned special.

It could very well be. And it's early to get excited, but this could be an incredible team. I remember the 2004 Colts when Manning had 49 TDs. Harrison, Wayne, and Stokley all had 1000 yes and 10 TDs at least. After that, Clark was still young, Pollard was okay. Edgerrin was in his prime, but Denver has incredible depth in the backfield. This Broncos team is probably deeper.

This might solve my indecisiveness on who to play in Madden 25. I was wanting to move the Jags to London, but wow. This team is going to be fun to watch.

And this is only the first game. Damn I've missed football.

[TroyF]

I tend to agree - the Ravens really should have paid Boldin. They have a couple of nice deep threats but they are sorely lacking the guy who can get open for Flacco or make a bail out catch. Of course, it would have looked better with Pitta but still.

The Broncos are playing without their two cornerbacks. They are without their best pass rusher. Dallas Clark has not been horrible tonight, so I think he's replaced Pitta just fine.

If Boldin means that much to the team, they were in serious trouble to begin with. If there is anything wrong, I'd say it's Jones being out. That said, Flacco should be torching this defense. They can't run the ball, which is not Flacco's fault. They can't throw the ball, which is.

I just hope the Broncos don't get complacent here. The defense is still weak. Flacco has big plays in him. This game is not over yet.

[bhlloy]

They can't throw the ball because they have nobody who can get open on those intermediate routes. 2 deep guys is not that hard to take away if you can't hit the 10-15 yard routes and run the ball.

And yah, I think Boldin means a lot more to them seeing as he more than doubled Jones' production last year and was massive in the playoffs. It's a huge hole for them to fill, even if Jones was on the field.

[ColtCrazy]

No amount of money will keep me from the Broncos-Colts game this year….although I can imagine some crazy money is going to be thrown around for tix.

I would agree that Denver's D is suspect. The tackling was awful early and really only changed once the Ravens lost Jones and Oher. They have the potential to improve since they are missing some of their best players.

[TroyF]

Well, scratch my concerns. They don't have a prayer of stopping this team.

374 yards and 6 TD's. . . with over 300 yards of that and all the TD's in just under 2 quarters. Damn.

And the Decker/Thomas combo have five combined catches. Nice win, doesn't make up for Moore being an idiot last year, but I'll take what I can get.

[ColtCrazy]

Bad Flacco! Bad.

[Abe Sargent]

Well that's a thumping continuing

[PilotMan]

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

[ColtCrazy]

Followed by the revenge of the Plaxico play. hahaha

[Julio Riddols]

People with the Denver D scream.

[britrock88]

wut? just stopped watching.

[mckerney]

wat wut?

[Logan]

He so obviously dropped that ball early I can't comprehend how Michaels/Collinsworth didn't notice it right away. Sucks that the Denver player got hurt trying to pick up the ball in the end zone, but good job by Stokley not giving up on the play.

[TroyF]

Ugh, Broncos fans not in fantasy are pissed. Woodyard is critical this year. That would be a very bad injury.

It goes from 49-17 to 42-24 and now we have to keep the starting offense out there. Just a horrible football play. I like the kid and how he plays, I'm glad we had a large lead when he did it.

Still, silly and stupid. A play you just cannot make.

[ColtCrazy]

I hate when teams take their foot of the gas. 8 minutes. 3 scores. Not impossible.

[TroyF]

Did Collinsworth really just say that it was a few minutes away from one TD making it a one score game?

Ummm, it's not one score, it's three. I understand it's not a game again because of the screw up, but this isn't exactly nail biting time either. Not yet anyway.

[TroyF]

GAME OVER

[ColtCrazy]

SEVEN TDS! And it doesn't even feel like it. Amazing performance by Manning.

And somehow, Damaryius Thomas has me a "quiet" 36 fantasy points.

[Julio Riddols]

Holy shitballs. Manning with a team like this might throw 60 TDs.

[Danny]

This Manning guy isn't bad

[Suicane75]

They should go for 8, fuck it.

[Danny]

Manning has the best receiving corps he has ever had this year.

[PilotMan]

How would you like to be the WR who played and didn't catch a TD pass the night he threw 7?

[Danny]

Looks like Decker will be the forgotten man

[britrock88]

How would you like to be the WR who played and didn't catch a TD pass the night he threw 7?

:( for my fantasy team.

[Kodos]

Go for eight!

[ISiddiqui]

Holy shitballs. Manning with a team like this might throw 60 TDs.

Seriously. This could be pretty scary this year.

[ColtCrazy]

Glancing through my fantasy league….people that started someone from Denver scored a total of 152 points tonight (Manning had 65 alone)

[TroyF]

Looks like Decker will be the forgotten man

Decker had some drops tonight. He was targeted 7 times. I think Decker will have a couple of monster games. If you have a choice of who to go man on, do you pick either Thomas or Welker? I think you make Decker beat you.

Nice start for the Donkies. Very good offense.

[Vince, Pt. II]

So, sitting Peyton for Kaepernick was a bad idea.

[korme]

Thursday's opener has pretty much already wrapped up 3 of the 6 games in my league.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Go for eight!

I didn't see any "running up the score" haranguing this morning. I must have been looking in the wrong places.

[Butter]

Someone in one of my leagues is from Colorado, and like half her team is Broncos. Glad I didn't play her this week.

[Kodos]

I didn't see any "running up the score" haranguing this morning. I must have been looking in the wrong places.

I was joking. If I was coaching, Peyton would have been on the sideline at that point.

[Kodos]

So, sitting Peyton for Kaepernick was a bad idea.

Always.

[Kodos]

Besides, as Collinsworth astutely observed, the Ravens were one TD away from making it a one-score game at that point. :D

[larrymcg421]

I was joking. If I was coaching, Peyton would have been on the sideline at that point.

Two score game with 4:30 left? Zero chance I ever have Peyton on the sideline in that situation.

[Kodos]

Maybe my memory is fuzzy. I was thinking 18-point lead, late in game. I definitely would have pulled him after the long last touchdown pass that put things out of reach.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

I was joking too, all in good fun.

[flere-imsaho]

http://profootballcartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/01.jpg
http://profootballcartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/02.jpg
http://profootballcartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/03.jpg
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http://profootballcartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/05.jpg
http://profootballcartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/06.jpg
http://profootballcartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/07.jpg
http://profootballcartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/08.jpg
http://profootballcartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/09.jpg
http://profootballcartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/10.jpg
http://profootballcartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/11.jpg
http://profootballcartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/12.jpg
http://profootballcartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/13.jpg

[Vince, Pt. II]

Always.

I was of the opinion that the Ravens defense was actually going to take the field, and the last time Kaepernick faced the Pack he ran up 180 yards rushing.

Doesn't make me feel any better that there was semi-decent rationale behind the move.

[cuervo72]

Ho-lee shit....

[Kodos]

:)

And yay for the return of Flere!

[Vince, Pt. II]

:)

And yay for the return of Flere!

+1 to all of the above :)

[Logan]

I legitimately let out a gasp when I saw that post. And I'm at work.

Glad to have you back. I had to go into your profile to see your last post...in October of 2010. I had barely known my now wife for 6 months at that point.

[Logan]

Perfect transition to another throwback, courtesy of the Columbia Dispatch:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BTeZdw_IcAAsi--.jpg

It's really impressive that the mistake was made both in the headline and in the body. Usually with these types of mistakes, you hear how it's another person besides the author who actually comes up with the headline.

[TroyF]

Maybe my memory is fuzzy. I was thinking 18-point lead, late in game. I definitely would have pulled him after the long last touchdown pass that put things out of reach.


I would have pulled him after number 7. There was no need for him to go back on the field at that point. Up to the long TD, it was still a game.

[mckerney]

Thanks to ESPN's QBR we know that Peyton's performance last night was the 605th best game by a QB since 2008.

[MizzouRah]

My first FF opponent... has Peyton.. lovely..

[Kodos]

Thanks to ESPN's QBR we know that Peyton's performance last night was the 605th best game by a QB since 2008.

:)

[DaddyTorgo]

FLERE!!!!!!!!!

Where you been man!?!?!?!?!

[Thomkal]

Yay Flere! Nice to see you back at it :)

[Izulde]

:)

And yay for the return of Flere!

Yep. What a great start to my morning.

[Thomkal]

Whats with the patdowns?

Not sure if this was talked about during the game, but Mike Golic this morning on Mike and Mike was saying they were checking the jersey and arms of the players to make sure nothing had been sprayed or rubbed on them that would make them slippery and thus hard for the opposing team to get a good grip on. I'm assuming this happens every game behind the scenes? Just because of the delays, they had to check again?

[DaddyTorgo]

Not sure if this was talked about during the game, but Mike Golic this morning on Mike and Mike was saying they were checking the jersey and arms of the players to make sure nothing had been sprayed or rubbed on them that would make them slippery and thus hard for the opposing team to get a good grip on. I'm assuming this happens every game behind the scenes? Just because of the delays, they had to check again?

Yes. And the cameras caught them checking one team and not the other apparently. Nothing to see here.

[Radii]

FLERE!!! Well done, and welcome back!

[Coffee Warlord]

Flere's return has made my day.

[DaddyTorgo]

Flere's return has made my day.

This. Only thing that might top it is a USA victory vs. Costa Rica tonight.

[MacroGuru]

Wow, Flere returns with a bang!

[Julio Riddols]

Not sure if this was talked about during the game, but Mike Golic this morning on Mike and Mike was saying they were checking the jersey and arms of the players to make sure nothing had been sprayed or rubbed on them that would make them slippery and thus hard for the opposing team to get a good grip on. I'm assuming this happens every game behind the scenes? Just because of the delays, they had to check again?

Yeah, I read that somewhere after the game.. But it kinda seems like they should be checking the position players and not the linemen so much. :)

[Julio Riddols]

Dola: Welcome back Flere! I have to say this is one of the funnier ones I have seen.

[TroyF]

Thanks to ESPN's QBR we know that Peyton's performance last night was the 605th best game by a QB since 2008.

LOL. I actually like the rating better than standard QB rating, but that's pretty funny.

I still can't get over how quickly the damage was done. Granted, two of the drives were short ones due to turnovers and blocked punts, but 35 of those points were in a span of 17 game minutes and 42 were within 2 quarters of play.

When they got rolling, they went completely off. One game assumptions can be incredibly dangerous, I'll reserve judgement until the next few weeks. That said, they look freaking good. They look really, really good.

[PilotMan]

Flere's return has made my day.

+1

[JAG]

Hooray for a flere sighting! Nice job too. :)

[flere-imsaho]

Yeah, so I woke up this morning and read about last night's game (yeah, I often don't have time anymore to watch football, such is life...), and as I was reading the recap I recalled how I might have turned this into a somewhat funny cartoon.

Then I thought, you know what? Screw it, I'll just slap one together. I'm glad you folks liked it. :D

However, just to temper expectations, I wouldn't expect me to go back to doing cartoons with any sort of regularity.

I had to go into your profile to see your last post...in October of 2010. I had barely known my now wife for 6 months at that point.

Yeah, I knew it had been a while. Some of that time "away" I did read FOFC, but didn't bother to post because it seems a bit weird to post randomly if you've already been away for a year or whatever. I figured if I "came back", I'd do so with a bang, so when cartoon inspiration struck, etc....

Congrats on your marriage, btw! :D


Where you been man!?!?!?!?!

I stopped posting mainly because I got a new job, and that job turned out to be very busy and incredibly exciting. I also stopped reading as well, for the same reason.

Then, in 2011 (July 3rd) we had our second baby (another boy, named Gabriel) and life got even busier.

Then, last year, my wife & I decided to move from Chicago to Maine. I grew up in Maine and much of my immediate and extended family is still here. We made the decision primarily because it was becoming clear how much our boys loved visiting Maine, which is a combination of being closer to family, and enjoying all the outdoor activities on offer (for instance, they both love the ocean).

So, we moved this April after finding jobs, and that brings us to today.

Anyway, I can see myself posting here and there, but probably not at the rate I used to. I do wonder how the various political threads sustained themselves in my absence, but clearly they did. :D

[Honolulu_Blue]

Welcome back, man!

Glad to hear everything's going well.

[DaddyTorgo]

Yeah, so I woke up this morning and read about last night's game (yeah, I often don't have time anymore to watch football, such is life...), and as I was reading the recap I recalled how I might have turned this into a somewhat funny cartoon.

Then I thought, you know what? Screw it, I'll just slap one together. I'm glad you folks liked it. :D

However, just to temper expectations, I wouldn't expect me to go back to doing cartoons with any sort of regularity.



Yeah, I knew it had been a while. Some of that time "away" I did read FOFC, but didn't bother to post because it seems a bit weird to post randomly if you've already been away for a year or whatever. I figured if I "came back", I'd do so with a bang, so when cartoon inspiration struck, etc....

Congrats on your marriage, btw! :D



I stopped posting mainly because I got a new job, and that job turned out to be very busy and incredibly exciting. I also stopped reading as well, for the same reason.

Then, in 2011 (July 3rd) we had our second baby (another boy, named Gabriel) and life got even busier.

Then, last year, my wife & I decided to move from Chicago to Maine. I grew up in Maine and much of my immediate and extended family is still here. We made the decision primarily because it was becoming clear how much our boys loved visiting Maine, which is a combination of being closer to family, and enjoying all the outdoor activities on offer (for instance, they both love the ocean).

So, we moved this April after finding jobs, and that brings us to today.

Anyway, I can see myself posting here and there, but probably not at the rate I used to. I do wonder how the various political threads sustained themselves in my absence, but clearly they did. :D

Cool - so you're right up the coast from us now and part of the NE contingent. Congrats on the second baby (well not so much baby anymore!).

It's not random to pop in and post every so often.

[MizzouRah]

Hooray for a flere sighting! Nice job too. :)

+1

[Lathum]

good to see you Flere

[Glengoyne]

So I started the wrong bronco receiver named Thomas tonight.
I guess I spoke too soon. I thought he recovered nicely in the second half when I tuned away, imagine my surprise when I saw an even 30 points in the fantasy box score this morning. I've even forgiven Peyton for over throwing him on what would have been his first TD.

[kingfc22]

+1

+1

[hoopsguy]

Flere's return has made my day.

+something (sure others have already done the +1)

[RedKingGold]

Good stuff flare, glad you're back!

[Lathum]

Lions in mid season form

[Suburban Rhythm]

Steelers with what is most likely fastest score ever. Safety, 3 seconds in, as returner picks up ball outside the goal line, back into end zone and takes a knee.

[bulletsponge]

lolions are so fun. 2nd and a foot, and up botching a FG, then let AP run for 78 yards and a score the next play

[sovereignstar v2]

AP averaging 78 yards per carry.

[whomario]

AP off to kinda a good start there :popcorn:

[mckerney]

Lions in mid season form

At least they didn't return the opening kickoff for a safety.

[britrock88]

Dammit, Megatron.

Also, I'm playing Danny in two different fantasy leagues today! Good thing he only Bronco-ed me in one of them...

[hoopsguy]

4-0 - not a score you see in football very often.

Never mind - looks like that got called back. Bummer.

[tucker rocky]

3 teams with their first score being a safety.
What are the odds of that?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Maurkice Pouncey carted off about minutes into Steelers season.

And in a move they make more and more often, Steelers only dressed 7 OL today. Down to 6.

[Matthean]

Weeden proving once again QBs in their second year make their biggest leap. Unfortunately for him, it is a leap backwards. 3-8, 22 yards and two INTs.

Speaking of which, Luck is 8-8 with two TDs.

[bulletsponge]

Suh going all Lolions and taking a td off the board. sure enough statford throws a pick next play

[whomario]

Weeden proving once again QBs in their second year make their biggest leap. Unfortunately for him, it is a leap backwards. 3-8, 22 yards and two INTs.

Speaking of which, Luck is 8-8 with two TDs.

and that 2nd TD Pass was awesome, great pass with pressure on him.

And Ponder with a good drive, then Peterson finishing it off with his 2nd TD

[Coffee Warlord]

Tillman with his second pick, amazingly held onto it.

[Lathum]

wow, direct tv having all sorts of issues. Website keeps crashing and when I try to access sunday ticket on my ipad it tells me I don't have that content on my account, which I do.

[JPhillips]

Andy,

The Bengals are doing a pretty good job of whipping the Bears. Please stop throwing INTs.

Thanks.

[Matthean]

I would totally use the Simmons rule about changing franchises you cheer for if Weeden didn't suck so horrendously bad. 6-12 with 3 INTs.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Whoo! Having a good QB and a coach who knows how to run an offense is awfully nice. Huge holes for Jamal now that the Chiefs actually have a QB who is accurate.

[mckerney]

Classic Ponder. Throw the ball away by lobbing it to a linebacker with no one else within 10 yards of him.

[Radii]

Carolina's front 7 looking like one of the best in football early on, they're getting tons of pressure on Russell Wilson. One good drive from the offense, if not for a couple awful drops by Olsen Carolina might actually be up multiple scores here.

[frnk55]

Classic Ponder. Throw the ball away by lobbing it to a linebacker with no one else within 10 yards of him.
Grrrrr...Ponder increases my blood pressure way to much. Gotta watch the other game.

[BillJasper]

Good to know Miami still has no offense to speak of.

[Suburban Rhythm]

I'll be the first to bitch about officials.

Roethlisberger sacked with 41 seconds in the half, while attempting pass. Ruled completion on the field, clock tuns down to 15 seconds.

Play reviewed (announcers said Munchak challenged, might just be Fouts being dumb, but that would be another issue). Ruled a sack...clock not reset to 0:41.

I used to think I had an idea of most rules. I question it more each week.

[Matthean]

Good to know Miami still has no offense to speak of.

Miami's RB is averaging 0.4 per carry. This is what you get when you let your starting tackle and RB leave during the offseason.

[Coffee Warlord]

Thus far...typical Bears. Defense & Special Teams keeping them in the game, anemic offense.

[Matthean]

Lions have 45 plays compared to the Vikings 18 and yet are still down.

[mckerney]

Lions have 45 plays compared to the Vikings 18 and yet are still down.

Just saw they had a pick 6 called back by a blocking penalty on the return, ouch.

[tucker rocky]

Steelers with only 2 points at the half, fans must be raging about that, seeing that they are playing the Titans.

[Thomkal]

Ah so nice to have football Sundays again. Good luck to everyone's team this season. Especially to my beloved Cardinals, who are gonna need a lot of it :(

I see Amendola is hurt in the New England game, boy that's a shock that he got injured...not. Looks like Edelman doing a good job replacing Welker.

[Dutch]

Bucs new $40M safety Goldsen penalized twice for unsportsmanlike conduct for hard hits with his shoulder on defenseless receivers...I don't get it. Isn't this what sent him to the pro-bowl for 2 years straight with the 49ers?

[Coffee Warlord]

Any time the Bears wanna cover AJ Green, it'd be fine by me.

[Danny]

I doubt we'll win, but I am impressed by the Raiders so far given their talent level.

[Atocep]

Any time the Bears wanna cover AJ Green, it'd be fine by me.

It'd be nice if the DLine would do something too. Peppers hasn't even made it into the box score.

[bulletsponge]

brady just fumble on the 1 foot line! thats lolion like

[Thomkal]

I doubt we'll win, but I am impressed by the Raiders so far given their talent level.


Al Davis must be jumping up and down in his grave with the way Pryor has been running all over the Colts.

[Danny]

Pryor looking good in regular season.

[Matthean]

I see the Lions switched QBs to Stat Padford during the halftime.

[Coffee Warlord]

Just as the announcers start to praise Cutler for looking good...he throws an absolutely awful pick straight to Cinci.

Typical.

[bulletsponge]

I see the Lions switched QBs to Stat Padford during the halftime.

the vikes wish they had a QB capable of padding any good stat

[Matthean]

EJ Manuel is also 15-20 with 2 TDs.

[whomario]

amazing pass and catch for the Seahawks TD

[Radii]

Ugh, gut punch right there for Carolina fans, running the ball really well (after some help from seattle with a couple big penalties), and Williams fumbles inside the 10...

[Lathum]

Bills better stay aggressive.

[hoopsguy]

Malaluga (sp?) from Bengals gets a personal foul to end the Bears/Bengals game. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

[panerd]

Malaluga (sp?) from Bengals gets a personal foul to end the Bears/Bengals game. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Yep. Another season, lots of hope, same fucking lack of discipline from the players and lack of any sort of game management from the coaching staff. What the Bengals could do one of these years without Lewis's coaching blunders and the team's stupid penalties. (15 yard late hit gives Chicago a field goal to end the 1st half, Maluaga's penalty ends the game)

[JPhillips]

Really disappointing loss by Cincy. They were dominating, but they made too many mistakes. Hope this game isn't important in January.

[Atocep]

Liked what I saw from Trestman today. He managed the game very well. His offense actually looks like a modern NFL offense, which is something odd to see as a bears fan. The plays develop quickly and the vast majority of routes run are short to intermediate. It wasn't run beautifully, but it looked a lot better than what I'm used to seeing.

The defensive line was non-existent. The defense was rather average but forced some turnovers.

AJ Green is a beast.

[panerd]

Really disappointing loss by Cincy. They were dominating, but they made too many mistakes. Hope this game isn't important in January.

On a brighter note the AFC North appears to be headed to 0-4 and Pittsburgh might actually be as bad as they seemed this summer on paper.

[mckerney]

TD Joseph Fauria

[Lathum]

Anyone know if Stevan Ridley is hurt, he hasn't done anything since early

[panerd]

Liked what I saw from Trestman today. He managed the game very well. His offense actually looks like a modern NFL offense, which is something odd to see as a bears fan. The plays develop quickly and the vast majority of routes run are short to intermediate. It wasn't run beautifully, but it looked a lot better than what I'm used to seeing.

The defensive line was non-existent. The defense was rather average but forced some turnovers.

AJ Green is a beast.

The Bengals have a pretty good o-line so don't judge the Bears too much by this game. You should be excited about that offense though because Cincy has a damn good defense.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

The match-up of top picks today was pretty lopsided. Elvis Fischer looked great. Joeckel looked lost, including a key miss that allowed Hali to get a pick six. I'd say chalk that up to coaching this early in their career.

Feel bad for Gabbert. He may not be starting QB material, but the offensive line is terrible and not giving him much of a chance.

[Atocep]

Geno has looked pretty good today for the Jets. They're asking him to be the entire offense and for a rookie he's stepped up about as much as you could ask him to.

[Thomkal]

TD Joseph Fauria

Loved his reaction to getting his first NFL TD

[Thomkal]

ah too bad hoping for a Bills win there.

[SirFozzie]

Anyone know if Stevan Ridley is hurt, he hasn't done anything since early

Ridley dropped the ball (literally) and Buffalo returned the fumble for a TD.

He was deep in the doghouse the rest of the game

[miami_fan]

Well well well Geno may win this thing

[EagleFan]

What a stupid play by the defender.

[Lathum]

wow. 2 games end because of stupid personal fouls

[Radii]

Well, watching Tampa lose after that late hit penalty brightens my afternoon slightly.

[tucker rocky]

Jets seemingly pull off a miracle win.

[EagleFan]

Granted 10 years ago that is a no call but you know how they call things now.

[whomario]

Wow, what a stupid penalty for the Bucks ...

[chinaski]

What a stupid play by the defender.

Just cost me from going perfect on the early games in my bar pool :mad:

[tucker rocky]

TB makes it interesting on the final play.

[Thomkal]

:::facepalm::: Tampa nice job there...not

[Thomkal]

Please don't embarrass yourselves my beloved Cardinals

[Atocep]

WVU beats Schiano again. :D

[larrymcg421]

I really don't like that penalty in the TB-NYJ game. I get that the defender should be smarter there and not even make it close, but the runner was not out of bounds when the contact was made.

[TroyF]

It is becoming more and more critical in this league to watch out for personal foul penalties. They are called more frequently and they are killers when they happen. The teams who cannot figure it out will win less and less.

We have seen multiple cases of it today.

[TroyF]

I really don't like that penalty in the TB-NYJ game. I get that the defender should be smarter there and not even make it close, but the runner was not out of bounds when the contact was made.

He had given himself up and his entire body was out of the field of play. What was the guy hoping to accomplish there? If he forces a fumble, the ball is out of bounds. He wasn't going to tackled him back in bounds.

It was the VERY definition of the rule call: UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS If the guy was cutting back into the field of play or if he was a yard out, I might see it. Where he was? That was a stupid and deserved the flag.

[Atocep]

He had given himself up and his entire body was out of the field of play. What was the guy hoping to accomplish there? If he forces a fumble, the ball is out of bounds. He wasn't going to tackled him back in bounds.

It was the VERY definition of the rule call: UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS If the guy was cutting back into the field of play or if he was a yard out, I might see it. Where he was? That was a stupid and deserved the flag.

+1

It's going to get called every single time in that situation. His foot was in the process of coming down out of bounds, he had given himself up, there was no threat of him turning upfield.

It was a really stupid play.

[BillJasper]

How is Blaine Gabbert still in the NFL?

[Dutch]

It's unbelievable what the NFL will penalize you for these days.

[tucker rocky]

Just saw a highlight of Andy Reid on the sideline looking like a big red tomato.

[Thomkal]

oh look a Cardinal QB got sacked already...thank god the Cards recovered

[Thomkal]

oh look a Cardinal QB got sacked again

[MrBug708]

Nice to see Fauria to score that TD.

[Thomkal]

And here I was almost ready to curse out that Rams TD...

[mckerney]

the vikes wish they had a QB capable of padding any good stat

:sigh:

Ponder really sucks.

[TroyF]

Floyd just had a catch in the Cardinals game that was out of this world. Amazing catch.

[Thomkal]

Hey Ronde Barber-its Larry Fitzgerald, not Johnson. :) Hope that's the first of many Palmer to Fitzgerald TD's

[Thomkal]

Floyd just had a catch in the Cardinals game that was out of this world. Amazing catch.

Yeah it sure was-hope its a sign of things to come for him after a pretty horrid rookie year.

[Dutch]

:::facepalm::: Tampa nice job there...not

He didn't decleat him....he shoved him. It happens fast. If we expect a defender to be that fast, maybe the ref should have been quick to blow the whistle...which there is no way that whistle was blown before the shove.

I think it's ridiculous that the Bucs defense was penalized so many times, not for unsportsmanlike conduct, not for crushing blows....but for good hard hitting football....and what seemed to just be an insurance shove to make sure Smith went out of bounds. It's sad because even the announcers don't question it anymore.

[tucker rocky]

GB answers back with a fast TD. 7-7

[DaddyTorgo]

Horrible game by the Pats. Sloppy sloppy sloppy.

To some degree I'm surprised they managed to pull it out actually.

Crying shame that they didn't load up at all for the stretch-run of Brady's career and he's being saddled with a bunch of rookie receivers.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Just saw a highlight of Andy Reid on the sideline looking like a winning big red tomato.

Fixed.

[TRO]

...Elvis Fischer looked great...

Who? :p

[Matthean]

I like how the summary of the Lions recap is basically they are still terrible and undisciplined as hell, but they now have a RB who can get them out of those situations. Yay? :lol:

[tucker rocky]

Fixed.
Originally Posted by tucker rocky
Just saw a highlight of Andy Reid on the sideline looking like a winning big red tomato.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-cJmpwkUx4s?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[MrBug708]

That just happened for Green Bay...wow

[chinaski]

now thats a late hit!

[chadritt]

Remind me again why Baltimore decided to give Boldin away.

[Crapshoot]

Clay Matthews Jr with a jackass play. And why did GB give the 49ers a shot to replay the 3rd down anyway?

[TroyF]

That was bush league. I'm not sure people would like me as a commish. If I were, Mathews would get an immediate ejection and a one game suspension (just like the NCAA) for a cheap shot. There was no need for that.

I mean, are the Packers really trying to get me to cheer for Jim Harbaugh now, really?

[Abe Sargent]

Don' know if I will seee a better play with the late hit by Matthews and the 49ers saying, oh no you don;t and smacking him back. That was a rea,l "Team protects the Team" moment., Glad the 49ers scored.

[Thomkal]

Clay Matthews really meant his comment I guess about going all out after Kaepernick. Geeze

[RedKingGold]

Clay Matthews can eat shit and die.

Fucking poser has-been.

[EagleFan]

Punk move by Matthews, and the announcers tried to downplay it.

[MrBug708]

Matthews had a little too much roid rage

Green bay essentiall had San Fran stopped on 3rd down twice and still blow it on third down

[EagleFan]

lol, what was that returner doing?

[TroyF]

If this game were to get out of hand either way, they may need military intervention to stop the cheap shots. This thing could get really nasty as we move along.

[Thomkal]

well off to fix dinner-Carson Palmer looking good so far 11/15, 156 yards 1 TD, 0 INT. Hopefully he's still looking that good when I get back here. :)

[Scarecrow]

Wow, I disagree with everyone about Matthews/Kaepernick.

Kaepernick rolls out, sees no defense payers in front of him and takes off, he becomes a RUNNING BACK. A hit with one foot out of bounds on a running back means nothing; but on a quarterback, it's worthy of a suspension. And I'm sure Harbaugh bitching about it all week had a lot to do with it.

Now I will say it should have been a penalty for spear/launching/leading with his head, but not for a late hit - Matthews was already airborne when he stepped out, and could have turned back in just as easily.

[RedKingGold]

Except that he's not a running back, he's a quarterback.

[gstelmack]

I think it's ridiculous that the Bucs defense was penalized so many times, not for unsportsmanlike conduct, not for crushing blows....but for good hard hitting football....and what seemed to just be an insurance shove to make sure Smith went out of bounds.

I disagree 100%. One thing I loved about the officiating today (caught most of the Panthers/Seahawks, the end of Pats/Bills, and the end of Bucs/Jets) was that they called all the ticky-tack after play stuff that they used to let go. They weren't about to let anything get out of control, and I'm all for it. ANYTHING late was called - they nailed a Seahawks player for diving onto a Carolina player after he was down from two other Seahakws, for example. The Carolina ejection was earned - a little shove between two linemen, then he slugged him in the head. I like it - these guys need to learn to play hard until the whistle, and stop all the cheapshots once the guy is down.

Smith WAS out of bounds, the guy didn't bump him, he put both hands on his shoulder and shoved him hard. Stupid play, and an earned penalty. That's not football (well, maybe it is for some), that's trying to show you're tough.

[Shkspr]

Remind me again why Baltimore decided to give Boldin away.

Because $92 million isn't enough money to pay for the first guy to get Baltimore a Super Bowl since Trent Dilfer.

[Coffee Warlord]

That looks...pretty bad in slomo. Looks like Matthews left his feet and launched when Kaepernick had a foot out already.

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18zk5e349lmd0gif/ku-xlarge.gif

[Lathum]

Except that he's not a running back, he's a quarterback.

not once he brings it down and runs with it.

I think it looked worse because it was up high, but it will be called every time.

[TroyF]

Wow, I disagree with everyone about Matthews/Kaepernick.

Kaepernick rolls out, sees no defense payers in front of him and takes off, he becomes a RUNNING BACK. A hit with one foot out of bounds on a running back means nothing; but on a quarterback, it's worthy of a suspension. And I'm sure Harbaugh bitching about it all week had a lot to do with it.

Now I will say it should have been a penalty for spear/launching/leading with his head, but not for a late hit - Matthews was already airborne when he stepped out, and could have turned back in just as easily.

Maybe you misunderstand me. . . I don't give a rats ass if that was a QB, a RB, an OL or a Punter. A cheap shot is a cheap shot. And I'm sorry, but that was cheap as hell. If the NCAA rules were in place, that hit doesn't happen. It's not 15 yards or an automatic first, it's you are gone the rest of the game and next week, have a nice life.

As far as the shot, I'm sorry, but it's bull. Just like the Smith hit people are complaining about earlier, Kaepernick had given himself up. It was over. Mathews did not have to throw his arm around his neck and drive him to the ground. He was targeting and that should be dealt with by the league more severely.

[Dutch]

That's not football (well, maybe it is for some), that's trying to show you're tough.

It was a shove, not a bump or a hard shove but a shove and he wasn't out of bounds yet (although I get he was giving himself up...just that he was moving forward while he was giving himself up). Regardless, I'm not surprised the flag was thrown because I've seen the NFL transform itself regarding QB's as well as anybody has, I just think it's gone to far. Geno Smith just ran 10 yards and was in a scenario where every inch counted at that point (FG range at point of shove was 63 yards) and it was not a dumb toughguy shove, but a shove to get him out of bounds so the FG would still be 63 yards and not 62, 60 or 58 yards. That quick second thinking ultimately got called as unsportsmanlike conduct and resulted in a 48-yard FG. There is just something seriously off-putting about that.

[Buccaneer]

Except that he's not a running back, he's a quarterback.

If people expect QB to be RB, then they should expect the consequences of being a RB.

[Lathum]

I can see both sides of the argument, but the reality is defenders should know how the games are being called and not make hits, bumps, shoves, whatever you want to call it.

[kingfc22]

You can't miss that tackle.