DeeSpencer

It's harsh to call McCarthy a bad coach. I know I'd love a superbowl winning coach who also developed the best QB in the game. But I get the feeling he's far from perfect. I think some of it stems from him being the play caller. I don't know the stats but I just don't like head coaches calling plays. It's hard to hire an offensive genius without them then calling the plays as head coach, maybe Belichick's got it right. Hire Josh McDaniels, get him to flame out in Denver then come crawling back with a point to prove, but due to Pats coaches failing once they leave the nest no one wants him for another shot! The reason's for Green Bay losing I'd summarise as this: - 80% luck - we've got the onside kick, the crazy 2 point conversion that had no right to land in a receivers lap and the coin toss just to name a few. An unbelievable sequence - 5% on the poor guy who muffed the onside kick - 5% on the Packers defense and special teams, both who have been great for most of the game giving up big plays late And getting back to where I started: - 10% on McCarthy's play calling in the second half. You've got Aaron Rodgers! Yes I know you want to kill the clock but run, run, run, punt with Eddie Lacy whilst Rodgers is there doesn't get the game wrapped up. Nor was there any big play attempts. I know all about Seattle's secondary but you have to give up one play to try for 40 yards deep to Nelson or Cobb right???

Not surprised the Packers are winning. But wow the margin. Kind of surprised that Seattle have picked Rodgers twice but still conceded 16 points. Not really shocked that the SeaHawks offense is battling, I think they've battled for most of the year compared to last year and really have come good more later in games. But 3 picks and 0 points is again a surprise. I thought last drive was their drive to get 7 and back in to it. But this is looking ugly.

I think a number of factors that meant he didn't have the trust in the GM and/or of the owner. Reports were: - He wasn't happy that they gave away this years first round pick for Sammy Watkins - Wasn't happy that they signed Orton - which helped him win short term but long term now their are bigger doubts on EJ Manuel Then there's whatever they did recently where Bill Polian was coming in to be some kind of adviser above the GM and then didn't. And of course Orton retired as well. Pretty much he'd have a good defense but such a troubling relationship with the GM and also no real idea what level of play he'd have at QB. They are 2 very negative factors for success. Instead he took a 4 million dollar pay out and a shot at being head coach somewhere, which it now looks like wont happen.

I don't think they trust Keath. Better to have a strong 5 bowlers and hope you don't have to chase a big total than have 4 bowlers and gift the team 4 overs for 40 runs is probably the theory. That said Hastings isn't the worst number 7 and Boland not the worst number 8 either. Adelaide and Perth don't bat deep either and are leading the ladder. It seems it's a bit like baseball in that good pitching will beat superstar batting, but also like baseball you need consistent hitting from your top bats even if it's not flashy. Graft to 150-160 and bowl well seems to be the model to win most games. I thought the Thunder were really weak last night with how slowly they went at 3 down. Ok 3 for 9 is a big whole. But you rarely win by then going slowly and trying to set 110. The bowlers can block it for 4 and over. So hit out or get out and try to resurrect the innings and make 140.

But that's the thing. The Bills are now owned by Terry Pegula, the patron saint of Buffalo. They aren't going anywhere and the other owners won't force them to move. Not unless they want a fracking well in their stadium. Defense is back in vogue to an extent right now, but it's still a QB league, you only have to look at the playoff QBs this year. I get the feeling Rex took the Bills job so he can have a super strong defense and a middling offense and can turn that in to a few successful seasons. He can probably make the playoffs again with that formula and therefore stick around in the job for many years. If he took Atlanta he'd have to create the entire defense from a fresh start and could be out of a job by the time they improved. Rex is undoubtedly a good defensive coach, but so much of his success at the Jets came from Revis, first round picks on D-Line guys like Wilkerson and Richardson, free agent linebacker signings back in the day and so on. I think both Rex and the Bills took the easy road.

I know the finals now come quickly, but I would've preferred that Ange rested guys for the Oman game and started Cahill and co v Korea. Oh well. We have to be good enough to beat China. Then it will be Japan first then someone else instead of maybe the other way. The biggest same is apparently if we beat China we are set to play Japan in Newcastle, which is such a shame for fans because that game deserves a bigger stadium or a bigger city (think Newcastle stadium is slightly bigger capacity than Melbourne but lets be honest Melbourne would do it better!).

Dimitroff in Fed and Murray's side of the draw. If he's in form this could be the year he beats both of them and makes it through to the semi at least. I like Nadal over Berdych as long as Rafa is fit he's too mentally strong. Stan gets a pretty strong draw to get back to the semi's. Can't see the Djoker being trouble by Raonic. The unseeded Del Potro or Gael Monfils might cause more trouble in that quarter. Those latter two could have a heck of a second round match.

That's a distrubing list. Some absolute tennis journey women including the two Aussies. I thought Venus gave it away years ago? Nope top 20. Suarez Navarro actually looks like she's from the 1980's. She looks ripe to beaten by Steffie Graf. Garbine Muguruza is the one to watch from that list. Could go deep.

Love: Ponting - wow Ch9 stuffed up not getting him Flintoff - what a lad! Mel McLaughlin- yep Like: Gilly - great bloke KP - just for someone interesting 50/50: Mark Waugh - plays the grumpy old man sometimes, but generally knows his stuff Howie - bit of excitement, fair bit of knowledge, works well with the ex-cricketers Nope: Andy Maher - dead set moron Damien Fleming - giant nose, small brain. Had enough of the avenue of apprehension and all it's synonyms. Carries on non stop

Solid win from the stars. But they look much weaker now Tiffitt (sp?) comes in at 6 and having to play 5 bowlers. They need another all rounder - Stoinos - to bolster the batting and then need to hope Hastings, Bird and Beer in particular continue their good form and that they can find the 4th and 5th bowlers from either McKay or Boland and an all rounder. KP trotting out some overs tonight was a smart move. Good to see Cam White in a little bit more like something resembling form before that horrible decision. The openers have not being playing well. KP is now the star batsman. Although Handscombe and Quiney are decent replacements and as I said they just need that one more all rounder.

Green Bay 21 Seattle 20 - Everyone thinks it's Rodgers v Seattle's D that will make this game. I disagree. I think the champion QB and champion D will slug it out all right. But I think the key to the game is the other side of the ball. In the superbowl and in the great 49ers v Seattle games it's always been the Russell Wilson does enough on key 3rd downs or Marshawn Lynch blows off the big run and from there the defense has the upper hand on a QB playing from behind. I'm backing Green Bay to have finally worked out how to trap Wilson on key 3rd downs and also stopping (or containing) Lynch. Which of course starts from their own running game as well! Colts 17 - Pats 34 - The Colts don't have a running game. The Pats seem to be able to create one against defenses they can beat that way, otherwise they just Brady it up. The Colts have a defense that's come right at the right time but lacks an obvious pass rush. The Pats have Revis! As much as I like Luck I don't think he's at that otherworldly stage needed to go in to Foxborough and beat the Pats. Only Joe Flacco does that!

Happy with Foxy. Reckon he'll bring a steadying presence similar to Roosy. But we need good coordinators. Mike Mularkey ex Atlanta and Steelers OC sounds interesting, would run the ball. But I'm really intersted in the Defensive Coordinator. I see they've put in a request for Fangio and I think he's done a fantastic job at the 49ers so I'd love him. Long road back to relevance and nothiing fixes our QB problem but I certainly feel we've done better than some. I can't understand why the Bills hired Rex Ryan. I understand defensive based coaches for Oakland, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver and even the Jets and 49ers if they want to be a defensive based team. But the Bills have a good defense. They have no answer on offense. They really should've kept Jim Schwarz and gone after a coach to either draft and develop or build up a free agent QB (Hoyer seems the perfect fit).

As for the rest of the games: - The Ravens are a great playoffs team, but needed either one more offensive weapon or even better a healthy and good secondary. The pats, hmmm, best team in the AFC probably and definitely the best coach team. I hate them and even more I hate their bandwagon fans. - The Panthers weren't good enough. The SeaHawks look beatable though. Their offense isn't at the level of last year and it's just impossible for their defense to be although they are still the best left in it. - Manning- well he has such little physical tools these days that he can't afford to be slowed further by injury. If he comes back he should take a pay cut and let them buy a couple extra hands on the offensive line to make sure they are up to it in January. As for that defense, I think they were really weak. The colts O line and running game should be weaknesses in playoffs, but Luck had way too much time and space. I didn't actually see any of GB v Cowboys, but I am impressed by the Cowboys. Rod Marinelli will continue molding their defense and finding great D line men. And on offense I think they have something sustainable as well. Maybe another year for Romo and Whitten slows them down, but if they stay at a high level then I think the offensive line, running game and receivers are sustainable.

Here's a few things I don't get: If you've caught the ball and are down by contact as Dez was, then that's the end of the play normally right? And if you catch the ball and control it the whole time then what does it matter if it moves in your arms as you go down as long as you don't lose it. That said I think they got it right according to the rules. But in an offensive league that gives so many soft penalties to offensive players I'd rather see them relax the rules on a catch.

I've always said, if late to tips and just wanting to rip off someone's then pick the prettiest. Well that happens to be Biff's! Baltimore 17 New England 28 Carolina 10 Seattle 31 Dallas 17 Green Bay 31 Indianapolis 21 Denver 28 Funny thing is I'd tip Dallas at Seattle and Baltimore at Denver but the seedings don't fall that way so I think all 4 will prevail. But I'm praying for all and any upsets. 4 really really good home ground advantages help. Carolina travel cross the country, Indi and Dallas go from nice indoors to strong outdoors. Baltimore are the ones going somewhere they suit, but have such a huge challenge.

Dallas impressed me. They just keep surprising. So I think next week will be a step too far but who knows. I can't actually get excited about any of the games next week. Maybe Luck and the Colts. But Manning with an extra weeks prep and the way the Colts have been playing like flat track bullies for most of the year doesn't inspire either. If results are predictable it might be a boring week but will set up one heck of a AFC/NFC championship weekend and likely a great superbowl as well.

Not just Palmer. Stanton and Ellington as well. Back up QB and starting RB. Plus they had some gun defensive players out. Pretty much they did well to get as far as they did and at the end of the season their gun defense had too much load to carry with a 3rd string QB and without starting RB. I think if you were a Cards fan you'd have to be somewhat happy with the year considering.

I'm obviously too late to tip in this game. But would've had Carolina. Something like 24-16. Ravens 20 Steelers 27 Bengals 10 Colts 20 Lions 17 Cowboys 30

Have to go different to you! Dallas - am I little worried they have nothing to play for. But they are red hot Indy New Orleans - Tampa must tank! Hoping the Bears tank (not that it will be hard for them) and lost to the Vikings

But you look at the Cowboys who nailed 3 O line picks in a short time period and have now really rode their O line to what looks like a playoff appearance. That said I think the difference between a top pick and bottom pick is smaller than in the AFL. You just need to find a guy who wins his position and there are more at the top but they come throughout the rounds of the draft. So yeah I'd much rather win the games as well. The one difference is obviously the Quarterback. You only need to look at the Colts going straight from Manning to Luck to see that if there's a QB to be had you may as well tank. Same with Washington. If they had pick 2 and took Griffen it would've saved them a swag of picks that could've given them some much needed depth and RG3 probably would've been heading towards a solid future as at least a midlevel QB.

I missed it. The thing that I thought was going to make it truly terrible was that is wasn't just two 2 and 12 teams but a predictable result. Jax thing they have their QB and are at home. They needed to win and had motive to win. Once Tenn lost to the Jets they had to tank this one. They are now heavy rivals with Tampa for the number 1 pick. You'd have to think the Raiders (as the third 2 win team) would back Carr in and trade it to either Tenn or Tampa as well. Anyway, that's for another day. Feeling pretty confident this week: Green Bay - See above re Tampa Detroit - Clausen might give the Bears a kick along, but this team has packed it in for the year New England Could've tipped Philly, Buffalo, Seattle or Denver (Dalton melts in Prime Time) as well.

Or just making sure the game against Detroit decides the division and has that extra edge before the playoffs! The NFC play off seedings are right up in the air with two weeks to go. Crazy. Green Bay, Philly etc will be wanting the number 1 seed, but at the same time I think they'll be cheering on Arizona next week and just a happy to have Seattle down in the 5 seed.

Green Bay Pittsburgh New Orleans Who else is excited for some Johnny Football!!! A couple of fine battles for the Mariota Cup in Jets v Tennessee and surely not even Tampa and Lovie would be so silly as to actually beat Carolina now they are on their backup QB.

Indi Houston San Fran Wish I did early tips and went the Coybows. Funnily enough I'm not overly upset with our loss. We need to get real about where the team is at and fighting to an 8 win season would've been false hope. I am slowly getting a bit more faith in our defense even if they keep getting torched I can see effort and can see some improvement with a few good signings, we at least will stop paying money to always injured veterans in Tillman and Briggs after this year. And our offense was dead for 3 quarters before getting back in it, stuffing up an extra point and then Cutler being Cutler. But there was some signs of life. I go through swings of thinking who we should or shouldn't sack. Overall I think the franchise is completely screwed by having Cutler, but at the same time I see a sign of life if we take our medicine and rebuild with young players in every other position. Whilst our win-loss record isn't quite bottom of the league I think we are now having a season so bad that next year has to be better! So very MFC! Long term of course the entire future of the franchise will rest on picking right for the next QB. Oh to have a legitimate superbowl quality franchise quarterback. I hate those teams who have one!

Positions are kind of useless, but I get the theory. I think he will start his career in the forward line at AFL level as Salem, Kent and others have recently. But I can definitely see us going Petracca's paddock if he develops to his full potential especially when games open up late. Richmond did this so well with Dusty Martin this year and Adelaide have done it with Dangerfield.