Dappa Dan

HA! Sold. Might even change my ID on here...

My picks this week.. Bengals SeaHawks No easy ones, so Steelers.

I started this thread years ago, so I'd like to nominate myself... Change my name to Franchise Dappa. But in reality, probably more appropriate for O.C.

My worry over Dallas has been brewing since half time of their week one match against 49ers. I reckon that defense was playing amazing football, and getting results, causing Murray to fumble and the whole Dallas offense to crumble. Then after half time, Dallas' defense hasn't really been beaten yet this year. Their offense will put up 30 more often than not, and right now are playing far better football, for weeks, than the Eagles who are supposedly favourites. Both teams likely to be 4-1 in a week's time... But come the end of the season when they play off to make playoffs, I feel like injuries aside, Dallas are looking better. Their OL is playing as well as anyone's. Eagles OL will get guys back, but that doesn't mean they'll fix their issues. And these last couple of weeks has shown they just don't have depth.

Vikes?

Just don't know what to make of Eagles. Getting killed by SF Defense. But are up 21-10 with 2 special teams TDs and a pick 6....

Holy crap Kaepernick is slippery. I reckon they don't even care if they let through the odd blitz... they're not gonna catch him anyway.

Ugh. Washington by 9 not looking too wise.

Washington by 9... not part of my picks.

Saints Dolphins Panthers for me.... Is this 3 points this week? I can see it being mega hard during bye rounds...

I'm completely hooked. I've been wrecked on Monday since now I'm watching even non Eagles games at 3am...

Hmm. I disagree... I thik that first year you join a club you learn SO much of what you need to know. Also not nearly enough is made of the players you have around you. For example, Hogan would be a much higher chance of being a superstar if he had, say, a Neitz there to set an example. As it is at demons, we have precious little to show kids the way. Not teach, but set an example. At least that's my feeling... Apologies to other NFL fans. I forgot how it works in here.... Back to the fun 'Muhrican sports...

Yeah the thing that pisses me off isn't what you've described. It's that that's been the case for years now, everyone knows that's the way it is, and noone ever does anything. My only hope is that now with the Essendon saga, it's a last straw scenario. Which of course, my heart tells me, won't happen. Money still talks. And I actually disagree on the "wrong 17 year olds" thing... Yes it's partly that, but I think if you put those kids in better systems, they would be successes. You could have given us all the picks you want under Neeld, he didn't know how to develop for [censored]...

Yeah that's all been the case even since the mid nineties when Eddie got the AFL to give them all the Friday nights. Those are all good points, that people have been screaming about since Gardiner days, and were ignored. The difference here is that the Cowboys, Pats, Eagles, Packers don't run the NFL. The NFL is governed. Essendon has proven in the last couple of years that none of the big clubs care about being governed. Winning is the only thing. What it'll take is the smaller clubs banding together to crack it... If they complain, and are ignored, or worse... if they're punished, then it could widen the gap between the haves and have nots. Add to that the game is now almost unwatchable as a sport...

There's no doubt that in this thread, you would find more hatred of the AFL powers that be than in any other. When you see how it CAN be done...

I think MOST fans, when asked who out of the big group of 1-2 teams that should be doing better, will actually do better... they say Packers will find their form. And they offer only one piece of evidence. Rogers. I reckon the more stuff changes the more it stays the same. If Rogers plays, you still can't go past them... Though I am curious... at what point do you jump off a team that should be above .500? Is it mid season? Eagles were 3-5 last year and stormed home. Maybe we're all just looking too much at a tiny sample size. In 6 weeks I reckon Eagles will be 5-1... but then after 10 I reckon they could easily be 5-5... So many things in the NFL I wish the AFL could steal. Like season length. PS... I'm interested in peoples' thoughts on Patriots. I think they'll have a better second half than first, as their new big name list on defense finds its groove with the DC.

I have Cinci as a team to look out for. But that's largely going off 3 games of sensational defense... so... small sample size. As for the rest, yeah... I think the only thing we disagree on is Cutler. You've been burned by him. I haven't. I reckon if he's healthy his best is better (slightly) than Flacco and Eli.

Yeah good point. I think what I meant more was that Seattle won last year with incredible defense, and a good offense, rather than the other way around. As they say int eh NFL it comes in waves. Offense becomes the most important factor for a few years, then it swings back to defense for a few, and so on and so forth... What's probably closer to the truth is that you can't win with one side of the ball being a glaring weakness.... You CAN win if they're just ok, though... Take the Eagles this year for example. There's no way they can continue on their merry way with the D giving up that many yards, and not getting turnovers, getting to the quarterback. The bend but don't break thing was good last year, but the floodgates were always gonna open. And it will probably be the reason they finish where they finish. Be it second in NFC East, or losing a Divisional playoff... or anything in between. My point was in comparison to Chicago. His points were well made about their weaknesses. But I think with a scary offense, which I believe they have, the only need to be "good" on defense in the same way Seattle are good on offense and scary on defense. Just didn't make my point at all well... lol

No defense never seemed to hurt GB.... But yeah, I think the tackling is the most galling part there. You just know in those first few weeks if the defense aren't at least hitting their hardest, and tackling soundly then the problem is between the ears, and it might take weeks to figure out, by which time the season's half over. The opposite of that is Dallas, who have absolutely noone on defense... But play like a team, tackle soundly and get results.

Yeah, I think the second part of your post sort of rings true to me. Not having a gun safety never really hurt anyone that badly. Having a good one, sure, it's great. But lots of teams enjoy success with a secondary that just does its job unspectacularly. I think it's the Bears offense that really does worry opposition teams. They have a tough division, sure. Maybe the toughest. But if they CAN get through to the postseason, I think their WRs and QB scare a lot of people. Cutler's best is as good as anyone's best. There isn't any throws he can't manage. I think asking for a complete list on both sides of the ball is unreasonable in this day and age. Or in any day and age really. You can only jope your best guys get good at the business end. In the NFC I only see the Packers, Saints and Seahawks having starting talent that outstrips other teams. And really then only by a player here and there. I wonder what result it would take for you to get a bit more positive on your (evidently my) Bears. Ticket to the NFC championship game? I have Cutler as my fantasy QB. Paying huge dividends. Took him in the tenth round too. Boom.

I somehow know a lot of Bears fans, and they're saying this is their year... a LOT. Cassell and Henne out would be two of the least stressed-about injuries/drops this year. lol

Yeah it's getting like that. Last year Eagles shouldn't have won NFC East. But they did cos they had only 2 season ending injuries at the start of the year, and nothing else. The whole OL played all year. This year, they're doing ok, but it won't last with almost its entire OL now out. Almost makes you think they should make lists bigger. Almost. (They're already HUGE as it is)

Chicago wins on the road. Surely some people will be sharing the yellow jersey with me this week?

Seems easy to me. I think the Philly bubble has to burst. They had no more OL left on the bench. Foles was getting killed, had to get rid of it immediately every play and still got smashed pretty badly. You can't go on winning against the good defenses like that. For most they said we had to win this to be taken seriously. Which we did but only just. It was a great win, but only because of context. The nastiness of it, the fact it was at home, the amount of injuries on offense we have and still #2 in scoring and yards. The fact that Foles is worrying everyone in rounds 1 and 2, and he played one of his best games yet, under huge duress and injured. And Peters showing the Eagles phans and players what it's all about. I think though that the Colts win was probably more telling, and if they beat the 49ers who are a serious team, then we'll have some news.

No way. I thought for sure everyone would have tipped those. They were the only ones this week I thought even looked like it? Got luck though with Ravens with their last minute FG.