Conclusion after watching the divisional games

[Blackshirt]

think again..the 9ers are significantly dead last in offense..and its not even close.....I'm not convinced your D is that hot either

I was unaware that stats determined which team was better. Why play the game when we can just compare on paper?

 

[Brees#1]

Here are is my honest opinion of the final 4 teams....

Hottest team- 49ers
Most Impressive team (playoff wise)- 49ers or Patriots
Best offensive team- Denver
Best defensive team- Seahawks
Most balanced team- 49ers
Best coached team- Patriots or 49ers


Seattle and Denver seem shaky right now. Peyton is known to choke, and really don't think John Fox is that great of a coach. I think Denver is good because Manning and the weapons they have. Seattle hasn't been winning @ home convincingly lately either.

I think 49ers and Patriots win this week, that's just my gut feeling.

Seattle went 13-3 what do you expect to happen when a team plays like that? But they have held teams to 10 or less points all season there unless its a blowout and garbage yards are allowed. But they also are the least experienced of the teams remaining.

 

[KwitYerWhinin]

Well did you know that Graham has been hobbled? Do you think Indy would have won in the dome? Ntm the saints played better in New England in reg season when Graham was being blanketed. The colts couldnt stop a blowout. The saints defense is better than Indy's. You do realize stupid that it was raining in the first half and in the second half Brees was throwing with ease before penalties piled up. The saints score at least 24 in Indy and San Diego both so keep talking.
You just want to find a reason to not include the saints in the elite party. The saints are elite sorry. When they draft Benjamin people will shut up then who you gonna stop between Graham, Colston, Benjamin, and Hill? Enjoy because the saints will have 2 rings before Brees retires.

I'll just let you know...once a child starts name calling, your opportunity for debate is over

 

[JDM]

the 9ers are in the bottom 3rd in the league in offense...how does that make then the "most balanced" or best coached ? seems like you have the homer glasses on is what you have...now the Saints ARE probably better than the 9ers...had those two played instead of saints/seattle, we wouldnt even be talking about the 9ers right now.

I may be biased but I see NE as the most balanced. 9th in rushing O, 10th in passing O, 2nd in scoring O. 15th in pass D, 3rd in run D, 10th in scoring D. Also the second least penalized team and 8th in TO differential.

They've had a lot of injuries but if you go on basic stats (which admittedly are not conclusive), there's not really any blatant weaknesses there.

 

[KwitYerWhinin]

I was unaware that stats determined which team was better. Why play the game when we can just compare on paper?

you arent ahead of anyone in the W/L battle either..whats left ?? my coach is better looking than your coach ?

 

[yossarian]

I may be biased but I see NE as the most balanced. 9th in rushing O, 10th in passing O, 2nd in scoring O. 15th in pass D, 3rd in run D, 10th in scoring D. Also the second least penalized team and 8th in TO differential.

They've had a lot of injuries but if you go on basic stats (which admittedly are not conclusive), there's not really any blatant weaknesses there.

This is a serious question, since I didn't watch the Pats this year and don't know much about their division, do you think they have played a defense as physical as either SF or Seattle this year? I know last year they did, lost to both, in wildly different games.

 

[KwitYerWhinin]

I may be biased but I see NE as the most balanced. 9th in rushing O, 10th in passing O, 2nd in scoring O. 15th in pass D, 3rd in run D, 10th in scoring D. Also the second least penalized team and 8th in TO differential.

They've had a lot of injuries but if you go on basic stats (which admittedly are not conclusive), there's not really any blatant weaknesses there.

I must be reading stats wrong...espn shows the pats #30 in rush D

 

[TDs3nOut]

No AFC team stands a chance against the 49ers or Seahawks defense, nor has the defense to keep their point total low enough to win.

This year reminds me of the days of the 49ers-Cowboys rivalries, where the real Super Bowl was the NFC Championship.

I don't see any way the Broncos or Pats could beat either one of those teams.

Why am I wrong?

I certainly don't know that you're wrong, but it seems very naive to think that either NE or Denver is incapable of beating SF or Seattle. The NFC teams have the edge in defenses about as clearly as the AFC teams the edge at both QB and overall offense. Add to that the old "any given Sunday" adage and a 50-50 shot seems much more reasonable than your100-0 prediction.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Highly entertaining thread.

 

[JDM]

I must be reading stats wrong...espn shows the pats #30 in rush D

I was glancing through and it was sorted backwards for some reason. You are right there, not sure how that didn't jump at me. But they do keep points off the board and have a very balanced offensive attack.

 

[KwitYerWhinin]

I was glancing through and it was sorted backwards for some reason. You are right there, not sure how that didn't jump at me. But they do keep points off the board and have a very balanced offensive attack.

I do give the Pats all the credit in the world for their offensive abilities..considering what they are working with...for that I credit BB and Brady of course..and I will admit, their defense operates better than the stats would indicate.

My point really is in regards to the 2 NFC teams...the only place they truly excel stat wise in in pass defense...other than that they basically match the Bronco's in run defense and neither come close to the AFC in offensive production. I just dont find them all that frightening.

 

[vindicare]

This is a serious question, since I didn't watch the Pats this year and don't know much about their division, do you think they have played a defense as physical as either SF or Seattle this year? I know last year they did, lost to both, in wildly different games.

yeah id say the Jets D is pretty physical.

 

[JDM]

This is a serious question, since I didn't watch the Pats this year and don't know much about their division, do you think they have played a defense as physical as either SF or Seattle this year? I know last year they did, lost to both, in wildly different games.

Maybe Carolina?

This team is a lot more physical than last years's IMO, and while all three games in question have been losses, all were very tightly contested and winnable. I just don't see the premise some are making that the AFC teams can't win against the NFC ones. I think the power is balanced almost evenly among all four teams left and both conferences.

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

NFL IS FIXED

 

[yossarian]

Maybe Carolina?

This team is a lot more physical than last years's IMO, and while all three games in question have been losses, all were very tightly contested and winnable. I just don't see the premise some are making that the AFC teams can't win against the NFC ones. I think the power is balanced almost evenly among all four teams left and both conferences.

Well, we agree about that, I still think SEA and SF are one and two in the NFL, but that doesn't mean the Pats or the Broncos suck or should be huge underdogs.

 

[boltfan72]

I suspect that had your chargers been victorious today, there certainly would not have been a thread like this.

Yeah there would have been. Check out the pick 'em thread at the top of the main board. Pretty sure I'm leading, having predicted 7 of 8 games correctly in the playoffs, only missing the NO-Philly game. And yes, I picked Denver over SD.

Chargers still have some missing pieces. Their defense came together but the O-line and WR corps is razor thin, and injuries caught up to them. Not an excuse, just a fact that every team deals with.

In the end I think defense wins championships, and the Seahawks and 49ers are downright awesome on defense. Yeah Brees made it close, with the help of an onside kick. And the Saints defense played better in the playoffs than just about anyone outside Seattle or SF. This years Super Bowl will be seen as a changing of the guard in some ways, and maybe a shift back toward a focus on defense when the NFC crushes the AFC.

Yeah, any given Sunday. And Denver and NE are solid teams. Both played impressive defense over the weekend. But I just think Seattle and SF are on another level.

 

[KwitYerWhinin]

Yeah there would have been. Check out the pick 'em thread at the top of the main board. Pretty sure I'm leading, having predicted 7 of 8 games correctly in the playoffs, only missing the NO-Philly game. And yes, I picked Denver over SD.

Chargers still have some missing pieces. Their defense came together but the O-line and WR corps is razor thin, and injuries caught up to them. Not an excuse, just a fact that every team deals with.

In the end I think defense wins championships, and the Seahawks and 49ers are downright awesome on defense. Yeah Brees made it close, with the help of an onside kick. And the Saints defense played better in the playoffs than just about anyone outside Seattle or SF. This years Super Bowl will be seen as a changing of the guard in some ways, and maybe a shift back toward a focus on defense when the NFC crushes the AFC.

Yeah, any given Sunday. And Denver and NE are solid teams. Both played impressive defense over the weekend. But I just think Seattle and SF are on another level.

That is no longer a proven fact, but you're entitled to your opinion of course....I dont agree with any of it but you are still entitled to it...a team still has to be able to score some points and seattles and 49ers offense is just plain weak.

 

[boltfan72]

I certainly don't know that you're wrong, but it seems very naive to think that either NE or Denver is incapable of beating SF or Seattle. The NFC teams have the edge in defenses about as clearly as the AFC teams the edge at both QB and overall offense. Add to that the old "any given Sunday" adage and a 50-50 shot seems much more reasonable than your100-0 prediction.

I could absolutely be wrong. Just an "on the surface" feeling of watching every minute of these 4 games. But NE and Denver look very vulnerable against two teams with fantastic running games and stout defenses. Call it a 30,000 foot view. Yeah Denver's defense looked strong today, but I'm not convinced they can do that for two more games. And even if they can, it may not be enough.

 

[KwitYerWhinin]

I could absolutely be wrong. Just an "on the surface" feeling of watching every minute of these 4 games. But NE and Denver look very vulnerable against two teams with fantastic running games and stout defenses. Call it a 30,000 foot view. Yeah Denver's defense looked strong today, but I'm not convinced they can do that for two more games. And even if they can, it may not be enough.

lucky for you, the deciding factor is still ahead of us...they will indeed play the games...I reckon we'll know the truth by the end of the day feb 2nd

 

[boltfan72]

That is no longer a proven fact, but you're entitled to your opinion of course....I dont agree with any of it but you are still entitled to it...a team still has to be able to score some points and seattles and 49ers offense is just plain weak.

#8 and #11 in points per game out of 32 teams. Weak?

Time will tell. I'm sure one of us will bring this thread back after the Super Bowl.