Macca

Couple from 'Oasis'

Yep ... and such is the nature of divisional football, a team can win a division, get hot at the business end and win the whole thing. We've seen it happen with the Steelers, Giants, Packers and 1 or 2 others. For that reason alone, the sport is fascinating. It's like following 8 different leagues within the 1 big league. It's a great system.

Yep. Looking ahead, Houston might win their division if Watson is decent. They'd have a chance regardless as the AFC South is wide open.

Although Watson's rushing TD was quite impressive though. Don't know much about him but he looks like he can at least run well with the ball.

Arizona New England Dallas

A number of the pundits reckon we need to see the how the teams are faring after 3 completed weeks ... however, even after week 1 there are a few teams who look like they've emerged or could threaten - Rams, Raiders, Vikings, Ravens, Panthers, Eagles & KC. The AFC South is up for grabs too. Conversely, there's a few identifiable poor performers already. The Colts look woeful without Luck and Cinci won't win games if their QB keeps getting QBR's of 0.6. The Jets & Cleveland could have long seasons ahead and the Giants will need to find some form quickly. Leaderboard in the comp 1 - JV7, Go the Biff, Clintosaurus, Macca 0 - The rest The Re-match of the NFC Championship (Packers @ Falcons) on SNF should be a beauty but there's a number of other excellent match-ups this week (Eagles @ KC, Pats @ Saints, Vikings @ Steelers, Dallas @ Denver, Washington @ Rams and then MNF - Detroit @ Giants) 2 points on offer in the comp this week. Arizona looks a monty but finding 2 other road winners might be tough going ... Here's Bill Simmons 'Guess the Lines' podcast as well (which may or may not help!)

A tad late but here's a couple of up-to-date magazines with their NFL preview's for the year. ESPN The Magazine Sports Illustrated USA .

Good win by your lads ... especially at Houston.

Ended up watching extended highlights and the Chiefs were great. Alex Smith's best game? Kareem Hunt had some sort of game too.

I listened to the game (on & off) but that is an impressive win. They were saying that the Pats have only lost 6 home games in 10 years and only 1 of those 6 was an AFC team.

All I can think about is Belichick and what new game-winning idea he comes through with. Andy Reid's teams are nearly always in the contest though so it could be a close one. A big night of sport tomorrow night ... Footy, NRL & NFL.

Anyone give KC a chance tomorrow? I'd like nothing better than to see the Pats get beaten but I can't see it. Hope it's close at least.

I have the same issue GTB so I generally put the tips in early. I post up the lines (see below) as a reminder to myself! Here they are again seeing we're on a new page ...

We played well enough tonight to win by 4 or 5 goals but such is the nature of the sport, we only just managed to achieve victory. We now need Japan to get at least a point against the Saudi's if we're to qualify automatically.

I'm at a stage with the pre-season games where I just have a quick look at the results and how many snaps Rodgers has had! The clubs get a bit out of them with regards schemes, formations and the like but the scoring and the winning & losing seems secondary.

Atlanta Pittsburgh Carolina

There's a couple of standout road chances in week 1 but finding a definite 3rd road winner is tricky ...

We'll do well to not lose this series to Bangladesh 2-0 This time last year we lost to Sri Lanka 3-0, then lost at home to South Africa, saved a bit of face at home against Pakistan but then, we lost another series in India. We haven't won in England since 2001 and have won just 1 series in India since the late 1960's. Gone are the days when we were an all-powerful outfit.

With no footy on this weekend I'll be tuning into the last round of league. Some vital games on show with finals spots at stake. Starts tonight on 'Gem' (or foxtel) ... Broncos @ Cowboys (7.30pm) Nth Queensland need to win to secure a finals spot.

Leaving aside those teams with little hope, I found myself still leaving out a number of decent or half decent teams (Giants, Eagles, Texans, Raiders, Bengals, Saints(?), Arizona(?). Rams(?) As always, a few teams will fall away and other, less fancied teams will bob up from nowhere. Every year we've done this I reckon we've all missed by a fair bit. Picking 5 from 8 division winners is about par. AFC: North: Steelers East: Pats South: Colts West: Denver WC: KC, Ravens NFC: North: Packers East: Dallas South: Falcons West: Seahawks WC: Vikings, Panthers NFC Championship - Falcons/Dallas AFC Championship - Patriots/Steelers SB: Patriots/Dallas

Yep, it's also important to remember that a lot of clubs have a lot of deficiencies as well. But I'd rather see the club create a greater gap between us and those other clubs = more wins. Our strengths are at the contest, contested ball, our teamwork (at times) stoppages, in the ruck and we are not bruise-free. We need more quick players like Hunt & Frost. Both those lads are learning how to play footy though. Oliver is an enormously quick thinker with lightning fast hands, and he reads the play well. Tyson is a ball magnet but we need to learn how to feed off him and use him properly. Other players have other strengths We're not the worst but we're a fair way off the best. I want to see the club build a great list. Like a dour accountant evaluating a company that may or may not be going places, the list should perhaps be looked at and addressed from a pessimistic point of view.

The current list is really only capable of 10-12 wins. We have deficiencies in the backline, forwardline and in the midfield. We are often a slow side and even mediocre teams are able to exploit our slow movement of the ball - that's why we lose to them. It's time to face facts. We also lack a killer instinct and start too many games slowly before we slip into gear (and often, that's too late) Other teams knew how to easily beat us when we were bruise free and they now know that they can beat us with leg speed and quick movement of the ball. There are no secrets in the AFL. Opposition tall forwards are a real issue too. More than a few of our players are overrated too ... we're just not that good and we missed the finals for good reasons. However, if we can improve our list we can win more than 12 games ... we need 2 key backs, 2 key forwards (T-Mac should be one of those) and an injection of real pace and skill in the midfield (3 or 4 of them) We also have far too many inbetween players on the list and it's time to cull them. We do all that and we can play finals.

10 days to go and it's on ... not a bad game to start with too - KC @ Patriots (Friday Sept 8 - 10.30am) Anyway, for those who may want to participate in an NFL tipping comp, we're running one here (again) Feel free to join in the comp anytime. It's a bit of fun and we could do with a few more people on the thread anyway. It looks like we've got 6 or 7 starters to begin with so it's all systems go. Rules of the 'Demonland' NFL tipping competition All participants are allowed 3 picks only in any given week - but, they must all be 'road' teams. Anyone who correctly tips all 3 winners from their 3 picks receives 1 point (any number of people can win a point in any given week) Bonus points are up for grabs in weeks 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 (2 points to all winners) whilst week 17 carries 3 points for any given winner. No margins or correct scores are required - just the straight winners. If you miss a week or come into the comp later on, there is no penalty. You just simply miss the chance to win points for that week or weeks. You can join in the comp at any time. Your tips must be in before the start of Monday's games (AEST) ... or before the Friday game if you include that game. All 3 tips must be included in your post (editing your tips is strictly forbidden ) The person (or persons) with the most points at the end of the regular season wins. Here's an early look at the week 1 games & lines ...

Yep, you make a good point Gorgo but from my point of view and in the interest of keeping up the interest (so to speak), the 3 pointer at the end keeps the participants in it, often until the final week. And finishing 'on the podium' only is interesting for historical purposes. Anyway, the key to it all is perseverance and never believing you're out of it. From memory @Strafford missed a couple/few weeks in the first comp but was still the joint winner with 'cfh' The 'mathematical possibility' is never more apt than with this unnecessarily cruel tipping comp

That makes 4 starters so far in the tipping comp ... a shout out to @cowboy_from_hell @Dappa Dan @DeeSpencer @titan_uranus @Go the Biff @pantaloons @DemonDave & @layzie If any of you blokes are keen to participate in the tipping comp, just join in whenever. We'll probably end up with at least 5 or 6 players so it's all systems go. Any newcomers are welcome of course. Missing a week or 3 or starting late may not necessarily effect your chances of winning ... there are numerous weeks when no one gets a point or points. However, the bonus weeks is where the comp is usually won & decided. Bonus weeks are weeks 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 & 17 (2 points are on offer with week 17 worth 3 points) It's easy to play ... just select 3 road teams in any particular week who you think can win ... if all 3 win you get the points.