NFL

[titan_uranus 25,020]

Not sure how long Rodgers is out for, but if he's out then Green Bay's playoff chances are surely in big trouble. With Stafford and Megatron in awesome form, winning NFC North is going to be tough (especially if the Bears can win games with McCown at QB).

Today's result means that, if the playoffs were now, GB wouldn't be in them. Detroit wins NFC North, and Carolina beats out GB (and Chicago) in the tiebreaker for the second wild card (based on conference record).

If we assume that Seattle/SF and Denver/KC make up the first WC in both conferences, the battles for the 6th and final playoff spot on both sides is really heating up. Going to be a massive finish to the season.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

I can still see Green Bay making it. Their schedule is pretty easy and unlike other years they have a running game. Matt Flynn is available. Vikings have 3 backup QB's if you want one Macca.

[titan_uranus 25,020]

I can still see Green Bay making it. Their schedule is pretty easy and unlike other years they have a running game. Matt Flynn is available. Vikings have 3 backup QB's if you want one Macca.

Incredibly soft schedule. Eagles, Giants, Vikings, Falcons, Steelers don't pose a huge threat (though I guess Eagles in their Week 9 form might be a bit tougher). That just leaves games against the Lions, Cowboys and Bears, all of which are road games and much tougher assignments.

Having said that, at 5-3 they'll need to pick up all those easy games to get 10 wins. Lions and Bears also have 5 wins each, so the competition in NFC North is definitely on.

[Macca 16,996]

No change to the tipping comp points tally ...

4 - cowboy from hell

2 - Strafford, Macca

1 - pantaloons

0 - Gorgoroth, DemonDave, 45HG, Norm Smith's Curse, bananas, Demon Land 7

Week 10 games and the BS Report

[Gorgoroth 12,972]

Even though we lost, a great running game again from Stacy. Pity this running game wasn't happening when Bradford hadn't done his season.

[Whispering_Jack 30,235]

A pity our own AFL doesn't take an example from the NFL which has given SF and Jax the bye after last week's game in London. The bye would come in handy for Melbourne after one of those energy sapping trips to Darwin.

[pantaloons 2,019]

Looks like three weeks for Rodgers. I'll get in early with week 10 picks:

Seattle

Denver

Miami

[Macca 16,996]

Tips...

Seattle

Denver

Miami

[DemonDave 1,089]

Fractured collarbone for Rogers, no timetable of a return given. I see that the Pack have also placed Jermichael Finley on season-ending IR. Plenty of injury concerns down there. The logical replacement would be newly free-agented Flynn. Seneca Wallace underwhelmed in this game at key moments, as opposed to McCown. He was very comfortable out there, surprisingly for such a journeyman who if memory serves, did the preseason games with the Niners. The question then becomes, after 2 road wins at the helm, does he keep his job when Cutler returns? Always very odd seeing a game with two non-starter QBs at the helm, but it was a good game to watch.

How bad is the situation at the Dolphins? What a lowlife Incognito is. Questions now need to be asked about the Dolphins handling of the whole issue, the whole hazing culture in that side seems out of control.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

The Miami situation will get worse before it gets better. Incognito is done in the league and would want to keep his head low. The whole Miami locker room must be a bad place to be if things like this can happen and the head office at Miami must have not wanted to know anything about it. The hazing and dinner bills are from what I have read quite normal but voicemails with racial slurs is far beyond a rookie hazing. How stupid is Incognito? After Cooper was busted for racial slurs in the pre season this moron goes and leaves a voicemail.

Tips:

Washington

Seattle

Denver

[titan_uranus 25,020]

Some perspective on the good sides, courtesy of Tuesday Morning Quarterback:

• Undefeated Kansas City and stats-a-palooza Denver each have only one victory over a team with a winning record, in both cases shaky 5-4 Dallas. Cincinnati has a quality win over New England, but also three losses; Chicago has a quality win over Cincinnati, but also three losses; Green Bay is 1-3 against other winning teams; Detroit 2-2 against other winning teams. Seattle beat the 49ers but lost to Indianapolis, making the Seahawks 1-1 in authentic games. San Francisco 1-2 against top teams. New England has just one quality victory, over New Orleans, which in turn has just one victory over a winning team. For authentic accomplishments, so far Indianapolis is tops (3-0, having beaten SF, Seattle and Denver).
• Carolina is on a 4-0 streak -- over teams with a combined 6-27 record.
• The Chiefs haven't faced a starting quarterback since September. Opposition quarterbacks in Kansas City's past five games have been second string, second string, second string, third string and fourth string.

​

[pantaloons 2,019]

Some perspective on the good sides, courtesy of Tuesday Morning Quarterback:

• Undefeated Kansas City and stats-a-palooza Denver each have only one victory over a team with a winning record, in both cases shaky 5-4 Dallas. Cincinnati has a quality win over New England, but also three losses; Chicago has a quality win over Cincinnati, but also three losses; Green Bay is 1-3 against other winning teams; Detroit 2-2 against other winning teams. Seattle beat the 49ers but lost to Indianapolis, making the Seahawks 1-1 in authentic games. San Francisco 1-2 against top teams. New England has just one quality victory, over New Orleans, which in turn has just one victory over a winning team. For authentic accomplishments, so far Indianapolis is tops (3-0, having beaten SF, Seattle and Denver).
• Carolina is on a 4-0 streak -- over teams with a combined 6-27 record.
• The Chiefs haven't faced a starting quarterback since September. Opposition quarterbacks in Kansas City's past five games have been second string, second string, second string, third string and fourth string.

​

I have to add that Indianapolis would have just lost to a two-win Houston team had the Texans' coach not appeared to be on his last legs at half time. They have also lost to two mediocre sides in San Diego and Miami. I fully expect KC to lose 2-4 games before the playoffs, but we can only beat who we play. Despite being a good side, Indy failed to do that twice.

[titan_uranus 25,020]

I have to add that Indianapolis would have just lost to a two-win Houston team had the Texans' coach not appeared to be on his last legs at half time. They have also lost to two mediocre sides in San Diego and Miami. I fully expect KC to lose 2-4 games before the playoffs, but we can only beat who we play. Despite being a good side, Indy failed to do that twice.

Indy has its flaws, absolutely, but they're going to make the playoffs and when it comes down to it, you have to be able to beat the best. Indy has shown it can lift its game when required to match the best.

Of course, KC and Denver will get their turns when they play each other, and KC will get Indy later too, so we'll be able to make better comparisons then.

[Gorgoroth 12,972]

I must say I really enjoyed the jets saints game last weekend. Here's hoping for another great game Friday morning.

[DemonDave 1,089]

Denver

Seattle

Detroit

[Macca 16,996]

TV games ... OneHD aren't covering tomorrow's game

Friday

12.25pm Washington (3/5) at Minnesota (1/7) (ESPN)

Monday

5.00am Oakland (3/5) at NY Giants (2/6) (OneHD)

5.00am Cincinnati (6/3) at Baltimore (3/5) (Fox2)

8.05am Carolina (5/3) at San Francisco (6/2) (Fox2)

8.25am Denver (7/1) at San Diego (4/4) (OneHD)

12.30pm Dallas (5/4) at New Orleans (6/2) (OneHD & ESPN)

Tuesday

12.30pm Miami (4/4) at Tampa Bay (0/8) (ESPN)

... all the other week 10 games

Not a bad array of matches this week and even MNF has some added interest now!

[Gorgoroth 12,972]

Dallas saints looks like agreat game.

Same as the panthers niners game

My three winners are

Washington

Seattle

Cincinnati

[DeeSpencer 25,722]

Well shock horror I can't believe it the bears did it!

Although we caught a lucky break with McClellin not only playing the game of his life but taking out Rodgers. From then on it was just a matter of playing something close to decent defense.

Green Bay looking very silly now not getting an adequate back up BEFORE preseason so the player gets full reps in OTAs/camp/preseason and preseason games. That was the reason why Wallace looked rubbish and McCown looked better than most starters. No doubt having the bye week and knowing he was going to start helped McCown as well.

Best bit about the win - according to his twitter Cam Schwab was fulfilling a life long dream going to GB to watch the pack. Sucked in mate. Spend your pay out some other way.

Bears season on the line again though this week. Beat Detroit and go to the top of the NFC North and we are every chance to win the division or a wild card. Lose and we are in trouble. Not that I expect us to win or make the play offs. The defense is just too banged up and rubbish.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

Well shock horror I can't believe it the bears did it!

Although we caught a lucky break with McClellin not only playing the game of his life but taking out Rodgers. From then on it was just a matter of playing something close to decent defense.

Green Bay looking very silly now not getting an adequate back up BEFORE preseason so the player gets full reps in OTAs/camp/preseason and preseason games. That was the reason why Wallace looked rubbish and McCown looked better than most starters. No doubt having the bye week and knowing he was going to start helped McCown as well.

Best bit about the win - according to his twitter Cam Schwab was fulfilling a life long dream going to GB to watch the pack. Sucked in mate. Spend your pay out some other way.

Bears season on the line again though this week. Beat Detroit and go to the top of the NFC North and we are every chance to win the division or a wild card. Lose and we are in trouble. Not that I expect us to win or make the play offs. The defense is just too banged up and rubbish.

Cutler is starting against Detroit. Should be a good game if Cutler isn't too rusty. Obviously my vikes aren't in the hunt this year but I love the NFC north. It is always a division where every game counts but it can be bloody stressful.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

For the love of god Ponder! Opening drive he throws to a 2 on 1 and it's interception time. He can't throw long and I don't understand why those plays are called. On 3rd and long I'd rather see a screen pass to AP or Patterson.

[titan_uranus 25,020]

For the love of god Ponder! Opening drive he throws to a 2 on 1 and it's interception time. He can't throw long and I don't understand why those plays are called. On 3rd and long I'd rather see a screen pass to AP or Patterson.

Nice win by your boys in prime time!

Interesting move though, when Ponder went down you went to Cassel and not Freeman. I wonder how that will affect the rest of your year, given you seem to have banked on Ponder.

Washington is such a shadow of 2012. They're in a weak division, sure, but if the Cowboys beat the Saints they're three games back with 7 to play which is dangerous territory. They were 3-6 last year though, and rounded out the year with 7-0, so I guess it's possible.

[DeeSpencer 25,722]

Nice win by your boys in prime time!

Interesting move though, when Ponder went down you went to Cassel and not Freeman. I wonder how that will affect the rest of your year, given you seem to have banked on Ponder.

Washington is such a shadow of 2012. They're in a weak division, sure, but if the Cowboys beat the Saints they're three games back with 7 to play which is dangerous territory. They were 3-6 last year though, and rounded out the year with 7-0, so I guess it's possible.

Please never mention Thursday night football as prime time. You can almost feel the hatred that everyone has towards it haha.

Felt bad for Ponder doing such a great job of rebounding from an awful start to playing a pretty good game then getting injured on a desperate attempt to score.

Cassel looks like the Vikings best quarterback. I think Freeman gets another shot right at the end of the year but right now the Vikings future is probably going to be in the draft with another QB with Cassel as back up. With a top 5 pick and some good QB's coming out of college you have to ask if it's worth persevering with Ponder or Freeman in any role next year.

Washington's offense is still handy but that defense is a complete mess. Conceding that amount of points to the Vikings despite doing an ok job on special teams and not huge turnovers or even getting torched by AP is embarrassing.

[DeeSpencer 25,722]

For the love of god Ponder! Opening drive he throws to a 2 on 1 and it's interception time. He can't throw long and I don't understand why those plays are called. On 3rd and long I'd rather see a screen pass to AP or Patterson.

No play caller ever says go long up the middle to 2 deep safeties.

It's Ponder's inability to either read the defense pre snap or vision to see the play.

Whatever you make of Ponder's accuracy, mobility, heart, arm strength it's his lack of vision that is his greatest undoing. Misses open receivers and then throws in to coverage.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

No play caller ever says go long up the middle to 2 deep safeties.

It's Ponder's inability to either read the defense pre snap or vision to see the play.

Whatever you make of Ponder's accuracy, mobility, heart, arm strength it's his lack of vision that is his greatest undoing. Misses open receivers and then throws in to coverage.

Happy with the win but my tips are stuffed. Ponder just can't do the basics for a deep throw. As you point out his vision is awful and he stays in the pocket too long. After the interception we went back to what made us a good offence last year, We went to AP and our TE's. Ponder can scramble and keep a play alive and we should continue to look at short yardage plays. Not long bombs to Jennings. Ponder is somewhat of a poor man's Alex Smith. But last year we didn't try and play like we had a top shelf QB and we made the playoffs.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

Nice win by your boys in prime time!

Interesting move though, when Ponder went down you went to Cassel and not Freeman. I wonder how that will affect the rest of your year, given you seem to have banked on Ponder.

Washington is such a shadow of 2012. They're in a weak division, sure, but if the Cowboys beat the Saints they're three games back with 7 to play which is dangerous territory. They were 3-6 last year though, and rounded out the year with 7-0, so I guess it's possible.

It's a bit of a shambles when it comes to the QB at Minnesota. Freeman gets one week to get used to the offence, gets a game and plays poor. So it;s back to Ponder while until yesterday the only QB with a win is our 3rd stringer. Washington had all the play and possession. They should have won. Vikings secondary is really ordinary and injuries don't help. Our pass rush is still pretty good with Kevin WIlliams still going well and first round pick Floyd going ok with Robinson and Jared Allen on the edge all day Washington started to give up sacks at important parts of the game. Skins can still win the division though. Hell the Giants might get up. As you said the skins had the same record last year. Loved the story about Alfred Morris refusing to buy a new car because he still fears getting cut. He is driving around in a 1991 Mazda.