American Football

[Real ale Madrid]

Cut that fine despite being in an unassailable lead. Manning lost his Consecutive TD pass game streak tonight. Was on 51; Brady had the next record at 52. No idea who's ahead of him in no. 1 position, I'll just assume Favre.

Drew Brees 54 - wasn't that long ago - maybe 2 years ago?




Rumour on Fox he might be going to Oakland.That would be amazing!

McDaniels in for the Oakland job apparently as well.

[Crosby87]

McDaniels, as in the guy that used to coach the Broncos? Why? Some guys should just stay coordinators. Rex Ryan for example. The Eagles offensive coordinator too.The Jets are looking at him supposedly. He was a a disaster as head coach.

Harbaugh wants to stay out west but Michigan still needs a coach and he would be top choice provided they decide to cough up the cash.

Pinstripe bowl is too cold, Real Ale..... I'm done with Winter events there after the winter classic last year. My friend went to PSU. I never let him live down the Sandusky thing. Photo shop is an amazing thing.

New Years day is going to be grand with these two playoff matches. Hopefully Urban Meyer eats sh*t for once.

Gotta tell you Bonnie, i feel like Peyton is going in the wrong direction. He's old, had that neck trouble.Looks a bit out of sync. I dont think he has it in him. That loss of Decker hurts him too. Decker is not a number one as the Jets are realizing, but he runs great routes, is big, and is a gamer. His wife Jessie James said last week BTW that he never even heard back from Denver about an offer. Very strange if so.

Lets be honest, the Super Bowl is going to be in the NFC playoffs when SEA plays GB. Seattle is peaking at the right time. I don't think NE, DEN or Indy have a chance to beat either in the super bowl. And again, so silly that ATL or whoever will host a game with maybe 4 or even 5 less wins than the team they are playing....Even 3 would be bad.

[WexCar]

And again, so silly that ATL or whoever will host a game with maybe 4 or even 5 less wins than the team they are playing....Even 3 would be bad.

Might see a reversal of 2010/11 playoffs when Seattle won the division @7-9, host the champion Saints & win.

[Crosby87]

Yeah i would say so.

[Real ale Madrid]

Lets be honest, the Super Bowl is going to be in the NFC playoffs when SEA plays GB. Seattle is peaking at the right time. I don't think NE, DEN or Indy have a chance to beat either in the super bowl. And again, so silly that ATL or whoever will host a game with maybe 4 or even 5 less wins than the team they are playing....Even 3 would be bad.

Patriots hat going on here but..... the Pats only lost to GB by 5 in Lambeau so a SB in a neutral venue would be a close call - you would have GB may 1 or 2 point fav max. The Patriots Offense didn't fire the last 2 weeks but they now have great D and a decent running game. GB's run DEF is still pretty poor and would be a worry for me come play-off time.

Denver are still the main threat for me in the AFC. They have found a running game in the last few weeks - hard to over-estimate that come playoff time.
As for Seattle - well they are still the favourites for me - but they still have to go to Arizona and win Sunday night week - no forgone conclusion against that DEF and a 10-3 team, otherwise they are looking at being seeded 5 in the playoffs.

[Crosby87]

I think AZ could lose tonight.
I think Sea would beat NE soundly if the supe were played today. But you are right, its not.

Cam Newton hurt in that car accident on Wednesday.

Clowney will miss 9 months after knee surgery. Out of shape, lazy, already having knee surgery. Texans might rue that pick. Have a feeling he is the next Tony Mandarich. (Google it). Different position but a bust.

Woody sounding like he is going to clean house with the Jets. They need to lose this week to Tennessee or they wont get Mariota or Winston. Who is risky anyway.

[Real ale Madrid]

Mariota is clearly the No. 1 pick; bigger, stronger and faster version of Russell Wilson. Can't wait to see him up against that Ohio D and then against Alabama
Can't see Winston Quarterbacking in the NFL at all if I'm being honest.

[Spudulika]

If Oregon get past Florida State it will be a great result, as for Alabama. They have battled so much this season but have something special about them. It'd be great to see an Alabama - Florida final, really raise the roof!

Mariota is an excellent pick, but he's windy (imho).

[Real ale Madrid]

I have my CFP semi finals mixed up. Off to watch Arizona / St. Louis now having avoided the result all day:)

[Crosby87]

The NFL needs to scratch those Thurs games. Unwatchable, awful! And now who is AZs QB?

Draft guru Mel Kiper jr seems to think neither Mariota or Winston are franchise QBs. Mariota worries me. It will take a while for him to learn an NFL system. Not sure what style O he is suited for.
Previous Ducks QBs who were high draft picks all sucked. The Pac 12 is a long way from the NFL. Andrew Luck being the exception of course.

Washington's dysfunction is funny. (And i mean football wise.)
That owner is a little Napoleon tyrant who is a pleasure to see fail. Gruden is trying to tell it like it is, but will prob get fired after just one year. Now they have all 3 QBs taking reps this week and they all stink. Also b/c of racial turmoil (and of course it has nothing to actually do with race) Gruden cant come out and just say he thinks RGIII is lazy. But that's what he thinks.

If Dallas beats PHI again this week, assuming Romos back lasts another Sunday, Im off the Eagle bandwagon totally. Was an interesting story for a while though. But at the end of the day I think that was the real Mark Sanchez last week.

[Real ale Madrid]

Didn't Philly beat the crap out of Dallas on thanksgiving?

Fantasy playoffs tonight who's in ?- "Somewhere over the Dwayne Bowe" looking to progress to semi finals!

[Crosby87]

Yeah I shouldnt have said again.

Will Peyton call it day after the season?
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/24886631/will-peyton-manning-retire-qb-linked-as-potential-owner-of-nfl-team

[Real ale Madrid]

Better change his name to Johnny Punt-ball.

[Crosby87]

Not impressed with Broncos at all!

Real what do you say about the night game?
Cowboys 27
Eagles 24

[Crosby87]

Some terrible officiating today.

Is Foles coming back this year? Sanchez looks like I remember him on the jets.

Johnny Football off to a terrible start in Cleveland. Almost like he is on the Jets!

[Real ale Madrid]

Real what do you say about the night game?
Cowboys 27
Eagles 24

Don't remember saying anything about the first game! - I will say any win the 'boys get in December is a major surprise - I must watch it later.

[Clifford]

Didn't Philly beat the crap out of Dallas on thanksgiving?

Fantasy playoffs tonight who's in ?- "Somewhere over the Dwayne Bowe" looking to progress to semi finals!



Jay Cutler should make up the 13/14 you need to sneak through.

I on the other hand after going 12-2 in the reg season will be bowing out at first round of the play offs as usual. 130 or so points week in week out til this week, made a balls of the Wallace/Matthews call at kick off time and Shady has had a mare of a night last night let alone season. Unless Brees get's matched and then outscored by Forte and Lofton (DP) and Graham (K) can make up 30 points or so. Ha ha, no hope.

Fair play to Bohs roughrider, big score defense and defense player. Don't know if people enjoyed the def player or not this season. I'm not a fan, but happy to keep it as is going forward.

[Crosby87]

Black Monday coming for a bunch of coaches.
Rex Ryan, The Bears guy (take Cutler with him), Falcons. Raiders interim coach. SFs Harbaugh will move on. I think Philbin is done in Miami.

[Crosby87]

Michigan offered Harbaugh 48 million. Can you imagine a public inst allegedly in the education biz paying someone that much to coach football? The sports world is so out of control.

I hope the Eagles somehow lose tonight.

[Real ale Madrid]

Had a minor heart attack last night when Beast Mode was apparently a non-starter due to an upset stomach - (needed 6 fantasy points) - thankfully he played a bit and played fairly well too!

So many things to talk about after yesterday.
NFC:
The mash up of 5 11-4 teams in the NFC is a tad confusing - who will be no.1 seed?
Throw in Carolina and Atlanta in the playoff mix then ( 1 of those is going to host an 11 / 12 win team in the playoffs! )
Green Bay v Detroit

AFC:
Still a big game tonight Broncos @ Bengals
Patriots fans need a change of underwear after that yesterday but if the Broncos lose tonight it's no1 seed time.
Chargers OT win in San Fran was epic Saturday night - still work to do to get into play-offs.
Steelers v Bengals (flexed to SNF)

foot.ie fantasy Nfl update:
Somewhere over the Dwayne Bowe into the final and will face, in all probabilty, Pyro Folk - unless they become Pyro Choke !

[Crosby87]

Still playing fantasy on the last week? That's dicey.

After watching Peyton looking like he is playing hurt and watching Brady running for his life vs the Jets I think a under the radar team like the Steelers are going to sneak into the super bowl, and lose to Sea.

[Crosby87]

Have to comment on one of the strangest bowl games ever from earlier. Chippewas vs Hilltoppers from Bermuda in the Bermuda bowl. Rugby stadium or soccer, I couldn't tell. Maybe 1000 people in the stands. Windy as hell.
One of them was winning 49-14. Late. I think Western Kentucky. So Central Michigan scores 34 straight points. In a snap. The last td for 6 is one of those desperate laterals crazy stuff that NEVER works and some of them were obviously forward laterals. But no flag. THEN the guy who ends up with it last dives into the end zone. Hard to see if he even got on the right side of the pylon.
Zebras review it and somehow it stands.
So its 49 48. And do they kick the extra point and go into OT? No! They go for 2! They go for the win. And don't get it!
Crazy. One for the books.

[Spudulika]

Have to comment on one of the strangest bowl games ever from earlier. Chippewas vs Hilltoppers from Bermuda in the Bermuda bowl. Rugby stadium or soccer, I couldn't tell. Maybe 1000 people in the stands. Windy as hell.
One of them was winning 49-14. Late. I think Western Kentucky. So Central Michigan scores 34 straight points. In a snap. The last td for 6 is one of those desperate laterals crazy stuff that NEVER works and some of them were obviously forward laterals. But no flag. THEN the guy who ends up with it last dives into the end zone. Hard to see if he even got on the right side of the pylon.
Zebras review it and somehow it stands.
So its 49 48. And do they kick the extra point and go into OT? No! They go for 2! They go for the win. And don't get it!
Crazy. One for the books.

I switched on the tv here at the start of the 4th quarter. Amazing turnaround. I know it sounds a bit mad, but it seemed like WKU stepped off the gas a little, or deliberately, and the final throw of the dice (going for the 2 pt conversion) was set up. Great ending to a match. Love bowl season!

[Crosby87]

You think it was fixed? Ha. Have you seen the 30 for 30 with the late Henry Hill about fixing boston college bball games in the 1980s? Its really good.

[Spudulika]

It's one I wanted to see (the Hill docu), nothing would surprise me, though I think in the Bahamas it was more about making it interesting and noteworthy - like Steve Davis vs Denis Taylor, or the Falklands War for Maggie's grip on power. But it was a good game.

Now watching Duke trying to survive and win a first bowl game since 1961! A friend of mine, from here, is a senior in Duke. Good game so far.

[Crosby87]

A guy from my high school, a few years older; John Donovan, is the O coordinator of Penn St.
Great guy. Put years in at Maryland.mI'm worried, he moved his family to happy valley, has little kids......I wish they would score some pts here. They are calling for his head on the websites. Great Irish family BTW. His sister was my babysitter. They wouldn't fire him after one year I hope.

[Spudulika]

Penn State are linked with Pittsburgh and the Irish Rooney's? They're moving the ball well now. Russian tv is covering it, I want to support PS but BC have Murphy at qb and are kind of Irish. And......just a yard short! Equaliser coming up!

WOrld is very, very small!

[Crosby87]

Yeah, right? How was the duke game? Had to work today. Nice crowd at yankee stadium, I make fun of this game but it is full. Nice weather today helpful.
Murph has a decent arm. What year is he? BC fell off the nyc sports map when they left the big east years ago. I never hear **** about them. Oh murph can run?

[Spudulika]

Yeah, right? How was the duke game? Had to work today. Nice crowd at yankee stadium, I make fun of this game but it is full. Nice weather today helpful.
Murph has a decent arm. What year is he? BC fell off the nyc sports map when they left the big east years ago. I never hear **** about them. Oh murph can run?

Duke couldn't hold on. They played well but the 1st and 3rd quarters did for them.

Yankee Stadium was packed, the commentators said it sold out within 72 hours! And it was a good match up. I think they said he is a Senior. He was able to move his line quite well, but Penn State were very determined and dogged.

USC beat Nebraska by 3, which ruined my night. If the cornhuskers had turned up in the 2nd quarter I would have had a very, very good night!

[Spudulika]

Poor old Cleveland. Gotta love this town. Great films for baseball and football (Major League, Draft Day), but the football team look in tatters. 3rd QB of the season and 2nd debutant. And they've a wee lad 5'8" and 12 stone playing wide receiver who just got laid out. Have an awful feeling that rugby is heading this way fast - collision, collision, collision.

[Crosby87]

The josh gordon thing is funny. What a cancer that dude is. He missed a meeting, then showed up late for practice, came out in the wrong jersey eating mcdonalds breakfast. Now saying the browns had no right to fine him....
Another misfit the jets will probably try to sign.

[Real ale Madrid]

Tyler Murphy is primarily a rushing QB with a poor arm,but a tremendous competitor, who did a great job for BC this season. He was the no 1 rushing QB in div 1 this season. He was a 5th year senior transferred from Florida. Looking back at yesterday BC really threw it away. They missed 8 PAT's throughout the season - which is ridiculous quite frankly. I find it hard to believe that they couldn't fix the problem. It was quite a turnaround from last year kicking wise as BC's kicker was Nate Freese who I think only missed 1 kick the whole season, and was subsequently drafted by the lions only to flop when handed the starting position!
Overall though it's great to see BC turn things around generally - Addazio the head coach is now 13-13 over his opening 2 seasons after getting handed a program that went 2-11 in 2012.

Now back to the NFL! What do we make of tonight?
Atlanta must be the first team in history still alive on week 17 that badly need a top 10 draft pick

[Crosby87]

Atlanta fired smitty. Cards vs Panthers is a stupid playoff game. Winner will get smoked in 2 weeks. Shame palmer got hurt.
Dallas cant possibly lose with Lions having Suh suspended. Can they?

[Spudulika]

Oregon - Ohio, cannot see past the Ducks. The games today were very interesting. Oregon did a number on FSU and Alabama were unlucky. Wil be a great final.

Auburn - Michigan was excellent, great finish. Missed the Baylor - MS game, though it looked a riot.

Great game today, Kansas State - UCLA, if UCLA can get a good start, they'll romp home.

So far this bowl season my picks have been terrible, the only decent run I had was Monday when I got all 3 picks.

[Spudulika]

Unreal Armed Forces Bowl game, Houston and Pittsburgh. Houston just came back and scored 29 points in the 4th quarter (2 onside kicks) and just took the lead with under a minute left going for a 2 pt conversion. My accumulator is on track.

[swinfordfc]

Suh is playing .......

[Crosby87]

I don't think any of the road teams have a shot this weekend. The SEA game is just stupid, the Ravens I guess have the best shot b/c Flacco was decent vs Pitt and they have done it before. I dont see it tho. Indy literally does not run the ball, so they will have to get into a shootout. Not happening on the road in cold weather. Dallas also a warm team playing in frigid GB.
See all the favorites winning. Maybe even all of them covering.

Does the best football coach in the world, Urban Meyer, have a shot vs the Ducks?

[Spudulika]

Watching the RAvens start hard and fast in NE, looking good at 14-7, but Steve Smith is injured.


A Ducks WR done for drugs. Still think they'll just edge Ohio.

[Crosby87]

Im wrong already, what a F-ing game so far....great play call for NE to tie it....shaping up as a classic.

Ducks have tons of injuries and suspensions spuds...nothing stopping the train. Great year for OSU though....

Oh Flacco picked off! NE has really killed it since the half....

[swinfordfc]

Im wrong already, what a F-ing game so far....great play call for NE to tie it....shaping up as a classic.

Ducks have tons of injuries and suspensions spuds...nothing stopping the train. Great year for OSU though....

Oh Flacco picked off! NE has really killed it since the half....

Flacco two interceptions cost them the game but they put up a great fight..... Seahawks are impressive though .... will be tough to beat again this year!

[Crosby87]

Yeah after all that i think i WAS right haha all the favorites will win. Rodgers hobbled today can make it interesting. You will know, if you are watching the game, if he is injured from the first series. You'll be able to tell right away.... I mean he is injured but if the shots don't work, it will be obvious. Dallas gets way too much credit for their D. Their D is not good. Strength is obviously the offensive line.

Still think Manning is going to pick Indy apart.

Next week is when the fun starts. Ravens have no one to blame but themselves. Seahawks are the only good team in the whole league, Pats are so flawed. If it were the 1990s they wouldnt even be a playoff team imho.

Im getting tired of Gisele BTW. Amazing body blah blah blah but an average face! Huge gob on her. All Brazillian girls are stacked. She's tall. Big deal. For a super model her face is just average!!! There, I said it. While Im complaining and this is a shock to absolutely no one, commercials have just killed the ebb and flow to this. Al Michaels kept alluding to it. Between the never ending call reviews ON OBVIOUS PLAYS and the commercials its become a 4.5 hour thing. Just awful. Peyton Manning singing about a chicken parm stopped being funny around 2007 BTW.

[Real ale Madrid]

So Superbowl 49 is set up between the New England Patriots v The Rainy City Pigeons.

The Seattle / Green Bay game was astounding to watch, a real choke job by the Packers.

While the Pats beat the Colts with a quarter and a half to spare. Crosby - if you think the Pats are a flawed team - I'd love to see your version of a "good" team.

Personally I think the Ravens were superb last week - and the Patriots did exceptionally well to beat them - and that will be perfect practice for the Seahawks - who were anything but convincing yesterday. Lets hope its more competitive than last year anyway. Seahawks opened -2.5 favourite in Vegas with that changing to just -1 by the end of the night.

As a Patriots fan I'm not sure my opinion is valid but I genuinely think they have a chance, they need to contain Beast mode / Wilson in the running game and if they can do that I think they have enough tools on offence to make an impact. The Seahawks are an exceptional team - no discernible weakness even if they didn't play great yesterday. It will come down to who can play mistake free football on the night.

[swinfordfc]

How Seahawks won that game is unreal! ... Bostwick wont hear the end of it at the Packers for a long time!

[Crosby87]

That second game was awful.
Yeah Real Ale, at the end of the day there are 2 good teams in this whole league and they are meeting in the finals. Oddly they both righted the ship after losses to KC.

Thought Sea was bizarre on Sunday. Didn't come to play at all and GB still couldn't hang on. GB coach was a disaster in the 4th.

All the talk today about Pats cheating with the deflating balls. There's a joke in there somewhere.
Watch the Pats stack the left and Brady go right at Sherman one on one on the right side...
Should be interesting I guess but that's what I thought in last years debacle. At least last year it was here and I got free ice cream from rex ryan.

Incidentally the Glendale, AZ mayor says the city will lose 1 million on having the game there. I cannot believe that is true. Could it be?

[Crosby87]

Weird presser from Bill this afternoon trying to put this deflategate to rest. He is seriously borderline personality disorder if he is lying. Threw in a My Cousin Vinny reference too....

Spread still hasn't moved.....its a pick em. I think Sea wins 24 17. So bet on the Pats.

[Crosby87]

My favorite prop bet: will katy perry show cleavage? Yes -100. No + 200.
I say yes. She loves her toys.

[Crosby87]

Oh that was hilarious. Worst play call of all time. Good God.

[Acornvilla]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11713_10204710984827298_6952586182242834488_n.jpg? oh=0a6ec7f74c610199986033844d6c1d4e&oe=55227B38&__gda__=1432109305_3df7528a2fbd2a7570f6a29500e2b66 6

[Spudulika]

I do not know how I will survive today after staying up all night. Got an hours sleep. SOme finish.

[strangeirish]

Uh huh...



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