Ravens

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

Flacco is very good, but Ryan is better, imo.  Don't forget, I was whining about how the Ravens would be foolish not to draft Flacco.   He's Drew Bledsoe with better mobility.  That said, Matt Ryan is the better player.  Not by much, maybe 10%.

Well...Ryan did go to BC, so there's your bias right there. I think Flacco will have the better career because I think he's more physically talented than Ryan. If you compare their rookie contracts they signed and you look at the guaranteed money Ryan got before he played a down in the NFL, well.....

Ryan should be a lot better than 10% if you go strictly by paychecks. I understand it's because of where Ryan was drafted compared to Flacco's position. But I think Flacco has proven to be the better player so far strictly by wins and losses.

[body88]

id say ben is a top 5 qb for sure.

manning
brady

mcnabb
brees
ben

My list would look like this:

Brady 1a
Manning 1b
Farve - not even close to the two above, imo.

Breese
Ben
Mcnabbe
Ryan
Rivers

Flacco
Cassel (Going by 2007, his injury made this year a wash, imo).

the rest....

[body88]

Well...Ryan did go to BC, so there's your bias right there. I think Flacco will have the better career because I think he's more physically talented than Ryan. If you compare their rookie contracts they signed and you look at the guaranteed money Ryan got before he played a down in the NFL, well.....

Ryan should be a lot better than 10% if you go strictly by paychecks. I understand it's because of where Ryan was drafted compared to Flacco's position. But I think Flacco has proven to be the better player so far strictly by wins and losses.

I have no bias.  I said the ravens should draft either Ryan or Flacco.  To me, Ryan is the better player by 10% or so.  Paychecks have nothing to do with it, because no one thought Flacco would be as good as he is.  Hindsight 20/20,  Flacco would have went in the top 5, easy.  You can't go wrong either way - imo.  To me, Ryan is slightly better at reading coverage.  Again, no knock on your binky, he was my binky pre-draft, remember!?

[Earl1972]

i agree.

and bens 22.4 qb rating in superbowl xL tells you a running attack+top rated D alone can get you by.

what about the playoff games against the bengals, colts, and broncos?

E

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

I have no bias.  I said the ravens should draft either Ryan or Flacco.  To me, Ryan is the better player by 10% or so.  Paychecks have nothing to do with it, because no one thought Flacco would be as good as he is.  Hindsight 20/20,  Flacco would have went in the top 5, easy.  You can't go wrong either way - imo.  To me, Ryan is slightly better at reading coverage.  Again, no knock on your binky, he was my binky pre-draft, remember!?

I was kidding about the bias...I just think it speaks volumes about Flacco's stats so far this year considering that Atlanta has much better offensive weapons. Gonzalez, Turner, and White are a much better trio than Rice, Mason, and Heap. Yet Flacco has thrown for more yardage, less picks and has a higher completion %.

[2ND COMING]

lol

[2ND COMING]

I can't help but think that, but for a few lapses, this team could be 6-1 or 7-0. 

do you still feel that way 

[Andy Griffin]

do you still feel that way 

hahahahahahaha

Brutal self-ownage.  I won't recover.

[2ND COMING]

it happens to the best of us..

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

The Ravens are searching for a defensive identity. They have yet to find it. Fabian Washington and Dominique Foxworth are about as bad as it gets when it comes to starting cornerbacks in the NFL. I would give anything as a fan if we had a chance at Chris McAllister back as a starter. Big, physical corner who could shut down the opposing team's #1 back in the day. Oh, how I long back for those days....

I'd be surprised if we won 8 games this year. Brutal second half schedule yet to play. Home games against the Colts and Steelers back to back and Green Bay on the road. The Bengals look like a legitmate playoff team this year.

[Earl1972]

dammit i actually wanted the ravens to win

E

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

dammit i actually wanted the ravens to win

E

Yep..now you'll just have to deal with the Steelers losing to Denver tonight......

[Earl1972]

Yep..now you'll just have to deal with the Steelers losing to Denver tonight......

not happening

E

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

I look at this game as the last tough matchup for the Steelers. They always play like shit in Mile High and you know this.

The Steelers should easily cruise to 12 wins this year.

[Earl1972]

They always play like shit in Mile High and you know this.

they didn't in a january 2006 game

E

[americanbulldog]

dude..forget it. It's a losing battle. For me, until the Ravens(or your team, for that matter) experience anything close to the success Ben and the Steelers have had, it's not worth it for me to argue with Earl back and forth. Besides, I'm a shitty typer and grew tired of it.

Steelers have an 18-11 won/loss record against my team, nuff said. I got nothing but respect for Big Ben and the Steelers. I hope the Ravens get to that level one day. Maybe with Flacco they will, who knows?

Fuck stats. It's about wins and losses in the NFL, bottom line. However way you get there depends on some breaks that go your way during a season and being lucky with injuries.

Ben wins games.  He is cool in the clutch, throws a decent deep ball but has touch to put the ball into coverage.  He extends plays with his feet and toughness as well.  I don't know of a single QB I'd want in the crunch other than he.  He has the most talent now, versus anytime in his career.  I think with Arians approach, the talent behind Ben, we will see what he can do statistically.  His number one receiver is a player who prolly wouldn't get drafted in the first five rounds.  Wallace finally gives them someone who can stretch the field vertically.  

Ben played great tonight, eh. 

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

Steelers have only the Colts to contend with as the AFC's best team. It all comes down to who gets homefield advantage in the playoffs.


Steelers have a better than solid chance of making it to the Superbowl once again. Mendenhall is kicking ass out there.

Denver is being exposed as a fraud, in my opinion. Orton sucks. That pick 6 he threw changed the entire game and took the life out of Denver and the home fans.

[body88]

Steelers have only the Colts to contend with as the AFC's best team. It all comes down to who gets homefield advantage in the playoffs.


Steelers have a better than solid chance of making it to the Superbowl once again. Mendenhall is kicking ass out there.

Denver is being exposed as a fraud, in my opinion. Orton sucks. That pick 6 he threw changed the entire game and took the life out of Denver and the home fans.

I don't agree with that at all.  I agree that they are the best team (by record) in the AFC, but until they play the Pats, they are not the only team that the Steelers might have to deal with if the go to the championship game.  The Patriots are tops in the AFC when it comes to total points scored and second in total points allowed.  The Colts secondary is fucked, and I think they will get shredded by the Pats and the Saints.

Also, why in Denver a fraud?  They moved the ball pretty easily through the first half and Orton looked good.  Everyone loses games.  Orton far from "sucks" this year, imo.  That's crazy to say considering how well he has played thus far.

Total points scored over 8 games
1 New England Patriots  8 225  225  28.1  8  16  0  0  1  0  0  0  22  17  0  1  
2 Indianapolis Colts8  27.1 217  217  27.1  8  17  0  0  1  0  0  0  25  12  0  0  
3 Houston Texans  9  23.9 215  215  23.9  7  17  0  1  0  1  0  0  25  10  1  1  
4 Baltimore Ravens  8  25.8 206  206  25.8  11  12  0  1  1  1  0  0  26  8  0  0  
4 San Diego Chargers  8  25.8 206  206  25.8  5  14  1  0  1  1  0  1  23  15  0  0  
6 Pittsburgh Steelers  8  24.4 195  195  24.4  6  15  0  0  2  1  0  0  24  9  0  0

Total points allowed over 8 games
1 Indianapolis Colts  8  13.5 108  108  13.5  6  4  0  0  0  0  0  0  9  13  0  0  
2 New England Patriots  8  14.4 115  115  14.4  2  9  0  0  1  1  0  0  13  8  0  0  
3 Denver Broncos  8  15.5 124  124  15.5  3  7  1  1  1  0  0  0  13  11  0  0  
4 New York Jets  8  16.8 134  134  16.8  4  5  0  2  1  3  0  0  14  10  0  0  
5 Cincinnati Bengals  8  16.9 135  135  16.9  4  10  0  0  2  0  0  0  15  8  0  0  
6 Pittsburgh Steelers  8  17.4 139  139  17.4  2  9  0  2  2  2  0  0  14  7  0  1

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

I don't agree with that at all.  I agree that they are the best team (by record) in the AFC, but until they play the Pats, they are not the only team that the Steelers might have to deal with if the go to the championship game.  The Patriots are tops in the AFC when it comes to total points scored and second in total points allowed.  The Colts secondary is fucked, and I think they will get shredded by the Pats and the Saints.

Total points scored over 8 games
1 New England Patriots  8 225  225  28.1  8  16  0  0  1  0  0  0  22  17  0  1  
2 Indianapolis Colts8  27.1 217  217  27.1  8  17  0  0  1  0  0  0  25  12  0  0  
3 Houston Texans  9  23.9 215  215  23.9  7  17  0  1  0  1  0  0  25  10  1  1  
4 Baltimore Ravens  8  25.8 206  206  25.8  11  12  0  1  1  1  0  0  26  8  0  0  
4 San Diego Chargers  8  25.8 206  206  25.8  5  14  1  0  1  1  0  1  23  15  0  0  
6 Pittsburgh Steelers  8  24.4 195  195  24.4  6  15  0  0  2  1  0  0  24  9  0  0

Total points allowed over 8 games
1 Indianapolis Colts  8  13.5 108  108  13.5  6  4  0  0  0  0  0  0  9  13  0  0  
2 New England Patriots  8  14.4 115  115  14.4  2  9  0  0  1  1  0  0  13  8  0  0  
3 Denver Broncos  8  15.5 124  124  15.5  3  7  1  1  1  0  0  0  13  11  0  0  
4 New York Jets  8  16.8 134  134  16.8  4  5  0  2  1  3  0  0  14  10  0  0  
5 Cincinnati Bengals  8  16.9 135  135  16.9  4  10  0  0  2  0  0  0  15  8  0  0  
6 Pittsburgh Steelers  8  17.4 139  139  17.4  2  9  0  2  2  2  0  0  14  7  0  1

Not forgetting about the Pats but I think that with the Steelers remaining schedule, they should cruise to at least the AFC's #2 seed. And until the Colts lose, they're in the driver's seat.

[body88]

Agreed, but the colts are going to have a tough time winning a sb with most of their secondary on ir.  Imo:

Saints - Colts

Saints - Pats

Saints - Steelers

Unless the Saints have to play in bad weather in the playoffs (Philadelphia), they are all but a lock for the SB.  As for the AFC, going to Indy would hurt the Steelers but help the Pats.  The Pats O is high powered enough to do serious damage in a dome.  Infact, they have some insane winning percentage in domes.  The steelers need to rely on their defense more and that dome will favor the colts, imo.

This may be all for not, because we'll see what's what after the Colts play the Pats and the Saints.

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

Agreed, but the colts are going to have a tough time winning a sb with most of their secondary on ir.  Imo:

Saints - Colts

Saints - Pats

Saints - Steelers

Unless the Saints have to play in bad weather in the playoffs (Philadelphia), they are all but a lock for the SB.  As for the AFC, going to Indy would hurt the Steelers but help the Pats.  The Pats O is high powered enough to do serious damage in a dome.  Infact, they have some insane winning percentage in domes.  The steelers need to rely on their defense more and that dome will favor the colts, imo.

This may be all for not, because we'll see what's what after the Colts play the Pats and the Saints.

No mention of the Vikings? If they get the #1 seed in the Metrodome they're a lock for the SB over the Saints, I think. The Saints have definate weaknesses in their running game and ability to control the clock and grind out wins with a lead. Most of their games will be high-scoring, which gives the opponent a chance to stay in the game. The Vikings on the other hand, have a much better defense than the Saints do.

[body88]

No mention of the Vikings? If they get the #1 seed in the Metrodome they're a lock for the SB over the Saints, I think. The Saints have definate weaknesses in their running game and ability to control the clock and grind out wins with a lead. Most of their games will be high-scoring, which gives the opponent a chance to stay in the game. The Vikings on the other hand, have a much better defense than the Saints do.

You're right, I forgot the Vikings.  How the hell did I manage that one?  Honestly, I can't argue with anything that you said.

Vikings - Colts, Pats, Steelers = most likely imo. 

The NFC has the edge this year.

[tonymctones]

Total points scored over 8 games
1 New England Patriots  8 225  225  28.1  8  16  0  0  1  0  0  0  22  17  0  1  
2 Indianapolis Colts8  27.1 217  217  27.1  8  17  0  0  1  0  0  0  25  12  0  0  
3 Houston Texans  9  23.9 215  215  23.9  7  17  0  1  0  1  0  0  25  10  1  1  
4 Baltimore Ravens  8  25.8 206  206  25.8  11  12  0  1  1  1  0  0  26  8  0  0  
4 San Diego Chargers  8  25.8 206  206  25.8  5  14  1  0  1  1  0  1  23  15  0  0  
6 Pittsburgh Steelers  8  24.4 195  195  24.4  6  15  0  0  2  1  0  0  24  9  0  0

Total points allowed over 8 games
1 Indianapolis Colts  8  13.5 108  108  13.5  6  4  0  0  0  0  0  0  9  13  0  0  
2 New England Patriots  8  14.4 115  115  14.4  2  9  0  0  1  1  0  0  13  8  0  0  
3 Denver Broncos  8  15.5 124  124  15.5  3  7  1  1  1  0  0  0  13  11  0  0  
4 New York Jets  8  16.8 134  134  16.8  4  5  0  2  1  3  0  0  14  10  0  0  
5 Cincinnati Bengals  8  16.9 135  135  16.9  4  10  0  0  2  0  0  0  15  8  0  0  
6 Pittsburgh Steelers  8  17.4 139  139  17.4  2  9  0  2  2  2  0  0  14  7  0  1

still second in our division and 5 and 4 

[Hugo Chavez]

You're right, I forgot the Vikings.  How the hell did I manage that one?  Honestly, I can't argue with anything that you said.

Vikings - Colts, Pats, Steelers = most likely imo. 

The NFC has the edge this year.

GO VICKINGS!!!!!  Definitly rooting for them this year. 

[body88]

still second in our division and 5 and 4 

Nothing to be ashamed of.  Houston has a lot of talent.  Conner Barwin was a guy I was hoping the Pats would draft.  Hindsight 20/20, I'm glad they took Butler.