Macca

You're right ... and when they got to 56 points in rapid time, they took their foot off the pedal. We were speculating on whether they would run up the score or not. Especially in the NFL, why would a coach risk his starters when the score becomes irrelevant. They'd won the game and the way playoff spots are decided, "strength of victory" very rarely comes into play. In fact, I can't remember the last time "strength of victory" did come into play in deciding a playoff spot. Regardless, it happens so rarely that it's just not a part of how teams go about things. The thinking in the AFL is almost the opposite but the way footy has become an endurance event, I believe the thinking will change in terms of percentage - albeit in a small way (initially)

Yep, the "divisional" W/L record for the better performed teams within each division is something I've learned to keep an eye on over the years. I occasionally have a look at the Packers fan site and most of the talk is about the Bears, Vikings and Lions - the AFC barely gets talked about. It's so much different to the AFL in that sense. 4 years ago, Seattle won the NFC West with a record of 7/9 and beat the 11/5 Saints over the wild-card weekend. In reality there's 8 "ladders" (so to speak) and each division has it's own quirks. Atlanta will now be eyeing off the Panthers and the 2 games you've got against them suddenly become ultra important.

I had the day off from about 11.00 am and eagerly rushed home to pick up the game "live" ... 21 - zip was the score when I put the tele on ... a few minutes later it was 28 - 0 and that was the end of that. At least tonight's footy might be a bit more competitive ... might be. Edit: The footy is heading the same way Edit II: The footy went the same way

Running up the score is often frowned upon in the States with a number of obvious exceptions (New England being one - historically) Tampa have just scored a TD so I'd say Atlanta will cruise through now. Good luck with your trip - that particular game you're seeing will probably be a vital one for both teams the way things are panning out.

Could the record be broken?

Yeah, I knew that but they'll be switching over anyway. The line-up of Thursday night games is actually quite good as compared to previous years - at least it was before the season started. The next 2 Thursday night games have lost their impact somewhat (Giants/Wash & Vikes/Packers) but after that it livens up again ... (Indi/Texans, Jets/Pats, Chargers/Broncos, Saints/Panthers) The Giants/Washington game will still command a big audience regardless (unless it's another blowout)

Viewers are switching over to "The Mysteries of Laura" in the States. The 2nd half could resemble a preseason game

Arizona still have to visit Seattle, San Francisco, Denver, Atlanta, St Louis & Dallas ... they've also got home games against Philadelphia, Seattle and San Francisco on Monday ... St Louis also represents a challenge for them at home ... a win on Monday can give them the confidence to go on a bit of a streak but a loss can create doubt. Like Detroit, the Cards need to start winning important games like the one coming up on Monday. I still rate the 49ers quite highly despite a number of pundits predicting that they'll drop back to the field so in my eyes, it won't be easy for Arizona to get over the line. To contend, a team just can't win the games it's supposed to win. In the AFL, North did this for years and it's really only this year where they've started beating a few other serious contenders. 10 wins might secure a wild-card in the NFC as you've suggested but getting to 10 wins is easier said than done. As we all know, Arizona won 10 games last year and missed the playoffs. I wouldn't be writing off the Steelers just yet but they will need to get a hurry on ... however, they're my favourite team in the AFC so I'm a tad biased. I'm tipping that the Jets will somehow be in contention going into week 17 and I'm not convinced with Houston just yet. The Saints and Colts need to get on the board. Trying to tip winners is a nightmare so far this year ... Seattle, Colts, Pats. Saints, Eagles & Cinci "should" all win on Monday but every other game is up for grabs in my opinion. I wouldn't be all that confident that all the above 6 teams will definitely win either ... there's bound to be at least one upset in those 6 games that those teams are involved in. 28 to zip already ... there goes my day off! Good for you obviously ... the Falcons are back?

Interesting stats especially the fact that 28 teams have made the playoffs since 2007. That's terrific for the league but it's real pity that right now, a number of player's general behavior off the field has been so abhorrent. Anyway, the whole conference (the NFC) might be a lot closer than what we thought previously in terms of how the seedings & wild-cards may end up. Seattle losing last week gives a lot of the other teams hope. The Seahawks will probably still win all or 7 of their home games but on the road, it might be a different story for Seattle. I reckon they'll drop one home game but that may or may not matter. I was looking at both sides when describing the 49ers/Arizona game as a season definer - if Arizona lose it puts them somewhat behind the 8 ball and if they win, the same can be said about San Francisco. Also, Arizona would go to 3/0 if they win with a number of winnable games coming up for the Cards. Of the teams that missed the playoffs last year I reckon the best chances lie with Baltimore, Chicago & Arizona. The jury is out for Atlanta, Buffalo, Houston, Detroit and Pittsburgh. Of course, it's early days but if any given team doesn't make an impact in the first 5 or 6 games, their season can slip away very quickly.

Liking the line-up of the Thursday night games ... home from work on a Friday and you get a double dose of football. Ideal. Could be a close one tomorrow but a loss will hurt the Falcons more than the Tampa ... Atlanta by a field goal

Tips - week 3 San Francisco Baltimore Indianapolis

Ha! Just wasn't your day but a lot of teams can only dream of making a Super Bowl ... Denver still had a terrific year. It's not all or nothing with the way I view sport. Any win, anytime in the NFL should be enjoyed. Gonna be tough at Seattle for your blokes all the same ... especially with them coming off a loss.

Wow ... that's a lot and more evidence on how good this league is. Found out that Buffalo haven't made the playoffs since the late 90's so they're overdue. Makes the Demons record look quite good in comparison

With the Super Bowl rematch between the Seahawks and Broncos coming up on Monday (7mate ... 6.25am) it might be worth having a look at the soundbites and highlights of the Super Bowl played between these 2 teams (produced by NFL films) Seattle / Denver 1st half (approx 8 mins) Seattle / Denver 2nd half (approx 9 mins)

TV games ... Friday 10.25am Tampa Bay at Atlanta (ESPN) Monday 3.00am - 9.30am RedZone (ESPN ... "Every Touchdown From Every Game") 3.00am Washington at Philadelphia (7mate) 6.25am Denver at Seattle (7mate) 10.30am Pittsburgh at Carolina (7mate & ESPN) Tuesday 10.30am Chicago at NY Jets (ESPN) All the week 3 games BS Report

Fixed There's nearly always around 3 new teams that make the playoffs ... often any of those 3 are teams that have played playoffs more recently. Can't remember the last time Buffalo made it though. Big game for your blokes this week @ Arizona - an early in the year ... "season definer?"

Yeah, Luck has already slipped into that role where we don't sort of notice him unless he does something special. He's very good though, all the same. That's a huge win for your blokes in the whole scheme of things ... especially when considering your rivals in your division. The Cowboys might be your only competition the way it's shaping up but really, it's yours to lose. The Giants look woeful and RG3 could be out for quite some time (although I've heard he may not need surgery) In my division, the NFC North, Green Bay go to Detroit then Chicago in the next 2 weeks whilst Detroit and Chicago both visit the Jets over the next 2 weeks as well. The Vikes are at New Orleans and then host Atlanta. I mentioned previously that 9 wins might win the NFC North as I don't believe there's a standout side. Detroit promise much but rarely deliver, Chicago always seem to get a lot of injuries and the Packers leak too many points. The Vikes without Peterson are obviously not as strong. It's up for grabs. The NFC West could get interesting if Arizona keep winning ... the Cards next 6 games are ... vs 49ers, @ Denver, vs Washington, @ Oakland, vs Eagles & @ Dallas. They could win 4 of them and be 6/2. And New Orleans better get a hurry on in the NFC South ... the Panthers look good and already have a 2 game lead over the Saints and ... Atlanta have some winnable games coming up. And how 'bout those Bills & Texans? Week 3 games

Top game to watch and an excellent win by the Eagles. McCoy & Sproles were terrific and Foles had a good game. The Colts could have won it but that interception was costly. Luck was good for the most part and I thought Richardson had a very good game. Anyway, there were 7 road winners and I went 0/3 in the comp. Typical. The points tally 0 - Everyone (joint leaders)

Eagles to win in a barnburner!

Re SNF ... Kaepernick didn't have his best night ... the 49ers seemed to be off their game whilst the Chicago D was very good. The game was mainly decided by the 3 interceptions gained by Chicago and there were penalties galore in an ugly game. Because of that, it's hard to draw a line through the game. Cutler was good though - stepped it up and credit to him. The niners ran the ball 3 times from 5 yards out at one stage and I found that to be a bit baffling. As expected the Bears are 1/1 but they've done it in an opposite way to how most would have thought. Maybe Buffalo are decent? The NFC North is certainly up for grabs with my Packers winning ugly and we certainly need to get our game together. Rodgers & Nelson had big games but not much else to report. Detroit did as expected - failed miserably in a big game. I can see 9 wins being enough to win the NFC North - all the teams have a reasonably tough schedule and there's no standout team (at this stage) Divisional games will almost certainly decide things. A few other surprise results with the big one being the Chargers win (and Seattle losing) & the Browns defeating the Saints ... both results destroyed any chances of anyone picking up the points in the tipping comp - whooda thunk-it. All 9 of us are still on zero points - happy days KC had their chances & the Bills might be a playoff chance. Arizona could challenge for the NFC West and Dallas had a surprise win (8/8?) Cinci & the Panthers look like being challengers again and the Ravens looked good last Friday. The Rams got on the board and Houston are another 2/0 team. The RG3 injury looked awful and he might end up missing the rest of the season if he needs surgery - he can't take a trick.

Found it ... quite a talent ...

Trying to avoid any of the scores is turning into an artform for me ... I've banned at least 3 people from texting or ringing me on a Monday (that is absolutely true by the way - I'm hard work sometimes) Other people I know who have a bit of an interest in the sport know not to blurt out results. Then there's the radio, work colleagues, internet, this thread, being extra careful with the TV .. it's hard work and it takes a great deal of concentration Anyway, here's Bill Simmons' latest column ... The Sports Guy’s Week 2 NFL Picks

So ... if we pass on Petracca and pick another player not rated in the top 5, those who want to go against the conventional way of thinking will be ok with that? (that would be a Toumpas/Wines type scenario by the way) Even to the point where if Petracca turns out to be an 'A' grader and the bloke we picked outside the top 5 turns out to be a 'C' grader? That's still ok? You see, this whole hype surrounding Petracca almost forces a team to pick him with their early pick. It's the same nearly every year. Kreuzer, Gibbs, Scully, Watts/Natanui etc etc. It must be remembered that Petracca is no guarantee to turn out to be an A grader despite what all the experts and pundits think. There's a lot of grey area here - it's confusing, chaotic & not all is what it seems. Where was the hype about Fyfe (20), Stevie J (24) Chapman (35) Robbie Gray (55) Goodes (43) Dangerfield (10)? There's a stack of other champs who were picked late.

... Poll mixed on Goodell keeping job and again, the TV games ... Monday 3.00am - 9.30am RedZone (ESPN ... "Every Touchdown From Every Game") 3.00am Detroit at Carolina (7mate) 6.30am Kansas City at Denver (7mate) 10.30am Chicago at San Francisco (7mate & ESPN) Tuesday 10.30am Philadelphia at Indianapolis (ESPN) ... All the week 2 games and ... The BS Report (podcast with Bill Simmons) The most interesting of the TV games for me is the Eagles/Colts match-up. I give KC a sneaky chance as well and if Detroit are going to step it up, they need to win games like these @ the Panthers. Me, I'm already hooked on redzone

Whilst I don't feel sorry for AP, I do feel for the Vikes fans such as yourself. I can only imagine how I would feel if it were Rodgers instead. Hopelessly conflicted and not wanting to believe it's true plus, the natural reaction is to try and play it down. The Rice thing complicates matters but if Rice had been dealt with properly at the time, this latest episode with AP would be a lot more clearer. As it stands, Peterson is in fair bit of strife, regardless. I don't always know how all these things work in the States ... First or 2nd time PED users carries with it only a 4 game penalty and a 2nd time marijuana user can cop a whole season.