titan_uranus

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-india-2014-15/content/story/817143.html Great article from Jarrod Kimber.

Great comeback from Dallas. To come back from down 14-0 and 17-7 at the half against one of the better defences in the league in a playoff game is a big effort. Means we get the Packers, 8-0 at home, hosting the Cowboys, 8-0 on the road, which should be a great match up (Carolina at Seattle though, I'm not so excited about).

Bell out for the Steelers was always going to be huge. Having said that, I never felt Pittsburgh was anywhere near as good as the number 3 seeding suggested and they showed why - crap secondary, inconsistency from Big Ben, and a marked inability to score in the red zone. Baltimore is a well-rounded side. I don't see them winning in New England but good on them. Arizona's season ended when Carson Palmer got injured. Big fall from them, to go from 9-1 and not make the Divisional Round of the playoffs is disappointing though.

Carolina is the Richmond of the 2014 NFL season. Hopeless first half despite high expectations, then some key wins in the middle of the year allowing them to come home with a wet sail. They, at 7-8-1, now get to host the 11-5 Lions, a game that IMO could go either way now that Carolina's defence has lifted and Newton looks fit. It's all moot though, Seattle is going to the Superbowl for the NFC. If Rodgers is indeed injured then there's no chance they can win in Seattle. Arizona is floundering and will lose its first playoff surely, which leaves Dallas as the only other chance. They did it once this year but I just don't see it happening twice. As for the AFC, can't believe the Ravens are in the playoffs. They've been highly mediocre all season. San Diego is a much better side but injuries meant they'd have been average in the playoffs anyway. Buffalo blew it last week losing to Oakland; I'm not sure, but I think if they'd won that game then their win today would have put them in? Meanwhile Cleveland went from 6-3 to 7-9, sad for their supporters. I still back New England to make the Superbowl with their home-field advantage but it's so rare that both number 1 seeds make it so I'm sure something will change. (edit: happened last year. Oops. Well, it's rare that it happens twice in a row...)

Ridiculously huge turn around in this game. From 3/409 India lost 7/56 - some were saying they could push on through today to end up 150-200 in front and then have a go at bowling us out on Day 5, but instead we're now 112 runs in front with 10 wickets in hand and two days to come (with some rain it seems). Kohli and Rahane both played beautiful innings (though both were dropped and should have been caught), they kept our bowlers away nicely. Once we had someone else to bowl to at the other end though Harris and Johnson came to life a bit more.

Feel sorry for Cowan who has stacked on the runs and probably is good enough to bat at 3, but I guess the selectors are swayed by youth a bit and Burns can bat anywhere from 1-6. I'd put him at 3, Watson down at 6. Also Harris replaces Starc.

Redskins, what?! If Dallas wins tomorrow that's the Eagles' season now, I think.

Terrible day. Shaun Marsh's two dropped catches were horrendous, both of them displayed of terrible technique and were so atypical for Australian fielders. Multiple injuries and generally toothless bowling on a Brisbane pitch weren't great either. If Marsh can't bowl then he shouldn't be playing on Boxing Day. Ed Cowan's making a stack of runs; I know he's an opener but with the form he's in maybe there's a spot at 3 for him?

I'd still be surprised if you didn't win a playoff or two. But the number 1 seed is huge for you, and you may have lost it with that loss. I don't see how anyone can beat you at Lambeau but at Seattle, or even at Arizona, I reckon you're on par with your rivals (though Arizona being forced to start Lindley at QB changes things a bit). Seattle v Arizona is enormous - if Seattle wins they probably firm for the number 1 seed and if they get it, will they lose? Probably not. Meanwhile if Arizona wins they clinch a first-week bye and, possibly more importantly, Seattle will be forced to go on the road repeatedly to make the Superbowl. Could change everything.

Marsh and Starc have been added to the squad for Brisbane, so it seems that Marsh will come in (and probably bat at 5, moving Smith up to 4 I think (he's in ripping form, Smith)), but I think Siddle will get one more game on a friendlier pitch. He was also sick in the first innings apparently, which hampered his pace.

Arizona pretty much can't miss the playoffs now. They still have a game against us which they can bank I'd think, even with Lindley at QB. If they can knock off Seattle next week on SNF they'll win the division too.

Fantastic effort from Lyon. Always coming under largely unwarranted criticism but stood up when needed. Should have had both Vijay and Kohli out well before they actually got out too, two horrendous decisions from Erasmus with those non-lbws (of course, Dhawan and Rahane didn't hit the ball either so it evens out). Amazing that Dave Warner could hit centuries in both innings and probably only be the third best player in the match. Clarke won't play again this series you wouldn't think, which will probably mean Rogers will save his spot for now. S Marsh might get Clarke's spot since he was in the squad, must be next in line. Siddle is also in trouble - he really doesn't threaten anywhere near as much as he needs to.

What happened? Haven't heard much about bad calls in either game. Kaepernick is what he is, I think. Huge arm, ability to run, but can't read defences, makes stupid mistakes over and over again (delays of game, burning timeouts, passing into double/triple coverage, passing the wrong side of a good route) and hasn't shown any - literally, any - development in the time he's been our QB. He's the same QB he was when he started. At his best he wins games (e.g. the divisional round playoff win over Green Bay a couple of years ago where he set the record for QB rushing yards). At his worst, well, see the game against Oakland, or the Seahawks game, or the Broncos game. So I'm not sure a new coach would make any difference to Kaepernick. Our WRs could use a refresh or two I guess but the talent is still there - an offence with Crabtree, Boldin, Davis, Gore at RB and a pretty strong O-line should be scoring more than we are - 6 of our last 7 games we've scored under 20. It's mainly down to horrendously inconsistent play at QB.

Huge win for Arizona. Keep their buffer over Seattle. That Week 16 Sunday night game looms large, could determine the number 2 seed. Browns were so close to a massive upset that would have kept them alive, but you'd have to think they're out of it now. Steelers' win over Cincy changes the AFC North again - they've got a strong division and conference record which keeps them above Baltimore if they finish on even wins. And as for SF, we're hopeless. Kaepernick is holding us back.

Green Bay and Detroit will both make it. Detroit's schedule is easy though - Tampa Bay, Minnesota and Chicago should be three wins for them, which will make Week 17 vs Green Bay a winner-takes-the-division game. Seattle and Arizona are fighting for the NFC West, and I think Seattle's going to win it. Injuries at RB for Arizona plus an iffy QB makes it tough for them. So I see it as Arizona vs Dallas (who are likely to end this week on the same number of wins) for the final WC spot (edit: and the Cardinals beat the Cowboys earlier in the year which means Dallas has to finish a win in front of them to get the WC over them. Same deal for SF and Dallas, though Dallas does have the win over Seattle which will help them if it comes to it.)

The AFC WC race is really tight and will be really interesting to watch it play out. Tuesday Morning Quarterback noted today how this December features so many critical playoff-implication matches, whereas in previous years December has been the playoff sides just tuning up for January. For example, San Diego has to play Denver, Kansas City, SF and New England. They looked good this weekend but that's an horrendous run home. Similarly, Buffalo has the Raiders, but also Green Bay, New England and Denver. Baltimore has crucial games against Cleveland and Miami, Miami has the Ravens and Patriots, the Browns have the Colts, Bengals and Panthers. So many important games with so much riding on them. If Miami beats Baltimore this week, they could get to 10 and get in. If Baltimore win they could do it, but they lose the tiebreaker to San Diego and they're weak in their conference record which also hurts. Chiefs will need to beat at least one of Pittsburgh and Arizona on the road if they want to make it (the Oakland and Tennessee losses are shaping up to make them miss the playoffs).

Ripping week of games. Ripping season generally. Packers-Pats is going to be stunning.

Parity in the NFL is much more of a reality than in the AFL. There are so many teams realistically vying for playoff spots this year. Two of Arizona, Seattle, SF, Detroit, Green Bay, Dallas and Philadelphia are going to miss the playoffs this year. In the AFC, there's Cincy, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Miami, Buffalo, KC and San Diego - battling for only 3 playoff spots. Green Bay right now has to be in one of the strongest positions to win the NFC, but right now hasn't got a playoff spot. Pittsburgh can absolutely thrash Indianapolis but lose to Tampa and the Jets. I find it a lot easier to believe in the underdog winning in the NFL than in the AFL. So many amazing games this week. NE v Indianapolis is my favourite, but Arizona v Dallas, Seattle v KC and Green Bay v Philadelphia are huge too.

Great win from the Niners, but essentially every other result went against us - Eagles, Cowboys, Packers, Lions, Cardinals and Seahawks all won. With Palmer going down Arizona might drop a few but that really only opens the door for Seattle rather than us. Meanwhile can Cleveland win the AFC North? Next three are against Houston, Atlanta and Buffalo. Play like they did against Cincy and they could pocket all 3 and be 9-3 with a month to go...what a fairytale that would be! Is Foles' time at Philly over?

His passer rating was 2.0. Lower passer rating than number of interceptions. Ridiculously bad game. But go the Browns! Love seeing the Browns and Bills on the up.

My guess at this point: AFC 1. New England 2. Denver 3. Indianapolis 4. Pittsburgh 5. Kansas City 6. Cincinnati NFC 1. Green Bay 2. Arizona 3. Philadelphia 4. New Orleans 5. Detroit 6. Dallas The season is too even to be picking with any confidence right now. Both Philadelphia and Dallas have soft schedules so either could top the division. Detroit has 4 winnable games (Bears x 2, Bucs and Vikings) which if they bank gives them 10 wins. Not sure Seattle is going to get there, they have a much tougher run and aren't playing well enought to give me confidence. 49ers will get players back on defence but that's not going to help us score points and it'll be too little too late to catch the other contenders for wild cards. As for the AFC, three divisions are sewn up you'd think (West, East, South). I'll put Pittsburgh in for the win but if Big Ben fades from his current form watch out, they're not flawless (e.g. losing to Tampa) and all three of their division opponents are capable of pushing them not just off the top but off a WC spot too. AFC Championship game is shaping up for a boring old NE v Denver match-up. In the NFC it's impossible to call. Green Bay for mine is the stand out but Arizona is playing really solid football and both Dallas and Philly can do the job against anyone. New Orleans is good at home but useless on the road, so write them off unless they finish 1st (which they won't).

I was meaning to say our fast bowlers would thrive here, and I think they will. India's most recent Test series was in England and they were absolutely humiliated against the pace bowling from the English. Their younger batsmen all struggled - Vijay, Pujara and most of all, Kohli. Dhoni was the only one able to score runs. You'd expect them to have worked on it to an extent but they were as bad there as we were in Pakistan. Not sure if Maddinson has the form to warrant selection, but then again Maxwell didn't. If Haddin's not right who takes his spot? Wade? Paine? I'd be going for Paine.

The Austin return was perplexing - guess just excitement more than anything but running sideways in the end zone, seriously? Sometimes I wonder if the players are fully aware of the rules around safeties (e.g. last week Luck was convinced it wasn't a safety when he was tackled but it clearly was). The thing about you is you seem to play much better against the NFC West than anyone else. You played well against us, beat the Seahawks, then had a shocker against KC, then beat us.

You're talking Crabtree's, right? Can you explain why that wasn't a TD? That ball definitely crossed the plane...

For mine Rogers stays. He and Warner at the top is working, and even in the UAE it worked to an extent. Maxwell must go, not just from 3 but from the side. He is everything that is wrong with Australian Test cricket at the moment - doesn't have perseverance, no technique, gets selected based on limited overs form, thinks he's the bees knees without having any points on the board, and of course underperforms. The Shield games to be played prior to the Brisbane Test might give us a stronger indication of who is in form but right now the spot should go to Hughes. I'm not convinced Doolan has what it takes. Watson's not a 3; ideally if he plays he bats at 6 to allow him to bowl. I'm not sold on Marsh but he probably holds his spot for now. As for the bowlers, neither Starc nor Siddle impressed but Siddle at least kept a good line and length. I'd drop Starc for whoever's ready to replace him (Harris? Pattinson? Cummins?) but keep Siddle with Johnson. Remember, of course, that in Australia against India we'll thrive.