NFL Week 5

[jersey cubs fan]

Then they cheered Quinn coming in. Yes, that Quinn.

That's what was befuddling about the cheers. Yeah, Cassel's been atrocious and Quinn might be a step up from what they've gotten from Cassel (almost anyone would be), but it's not like they've got a hotshot young stud waiting in the wings. Quinn is in his sixth season in the league already.

 

Sad to admit, but it kind of reminded me of Bear fans with backup QBs, and delusions that he will somehow make everything OK

 

I don't think it was a matter of the new guy making everything ok as much as it was "oh my god Matt Cassel is the worst QB in the history of the world." he was pathetic

[Banedon]

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/181gdqosq6czvgif/original.gif

 

Discount double check + Raji Shuffle

[Careless]

Love it. And they certainly earned it.

[Formerly Snayke]

Wow the Jets are bad.

[Careless]

This NJ crowd could be a lot of fun if the Jets implode.

[Careless]

Wow the Jets are bad.

Their kick coverage has been good.

 

ha, finally get the fans feeling good and give up a 50 yard run from the 3 yard line

[Soul]

How is Houston only 6 points ahead?

[Guest]

How is Houston only 6 points ahead?

 

Gave up a kick return for a TD and settled for two short field goals including one after they didn't block on what should have been a pick-6.

[UMFan83]

I've been telling people all offseason not to expect more than 5 wins out of this Colts team, and now the horribleness of the AFC is making me wonder if they could be in contention for a playoff spot. They have played 3 home games already, which is a problem (and didn't play particularly well in their one road game). But they have already played three of the four NFC teams, their non-common games with the division are Cleveland and Kansas City, and one of their Houston games is week 17 when Houston might be resting starters. Am I crazy to think they could get to 9 with some average to good luck in close games?

 

No its not that crazy. I'm not sure they actually do that, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least considering the somewhat strong play, and the weak schedule. Plus you factor in Luck probably improving as the season progresses.

 

Looking at the AFC, the teams that I think have no chance at the playoffs are Cleveland, Kansas City, Tennessee and Jacksonville. That leaves 9 teams to fight for 3 spots (assuming NE, BAL, HOU are locks). Those 9 teams are SD (3-2), CIN (3-2), PIT (2-2), IND (2-2), NYJ (2-3), BUF (2-3), MIA (2-3), DEN (2-3) and OAK (1-3). What a pack of mediocre to bad teams. I guess with a gun to my head I'd go SD (west), DEN and PIT. And the thing is, I don't like any of those 3 teams that much...they just aren't that good.

[DivineBovine]

Arian Foster is a good player, but I think even Shonn Greene could get 5 yards/carry if he had Arian Foster's blocking. OK. Maybe anyone but Shonn Greene. Because that guy sucks.

[Soul]

(watching the post game press conference)...

 

Man, this is a much different Rex Ryan from what came into the league a few years ago, full of piss n' vinegar.

 

This guy is all about telling people how good his opponents are. That's great Rex. How come you suck so bad?

[Soul]

Is anyone at ESPN going to interview someone on the Texans?

 

You know, the best team in the league who just won the game?

[Guest]

Is anyone at ESPN going to interview someone on the Texans?

 

You know, the best team in the league who just won the game?

 

They had Arian Foster on the set.

[UMFan83]

(watching the post game press conference)...

 

Man, this is a much different Rex Ryan from what came into the league a few years ago, full of piss n' vinegar.

 

This guy is all about telling people how good his opponents are. That's great Rex. How come you suck so bad?

 

lol, he set himself up for failure when he called this team the best Jets team he's had in the preseason. If its the best team and they are playing like crap, whose fault is it?

[bcl412]

The NFC West is the only division where all teams are above .500. Ok, then.

[Exile on Waveland]

I've been telling people all offseason not to expect more than 5 wins out of this Colts team, and now the horribleness of the AFC is making me wonder if they could be in contention for a playoff spot. They have played 3 home games already, which is a problem (and didn't play particularly well in their one road game). But they have already played three of the four NFC teams, their non-common games with the division are Cleveland and Kansas City, and one of their Houston games is week 17 when Houston might be resting starters. Am I crazy to think they could get to 9 with some average to good luck in close games?

 

No its not that crazy. I'm not sure they actually do that, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least considering the somewhat strong play, and the weak schedule. Plus you factor in Luck probably improving as the season progresses.

 

Looking at the AFC, the teams that I think have no chance at the playoffs are Cleveland, Kansas City, Tennessee and Jacksonville. That leaves 9 teams to fight for 3 spots (assuming NE, BAL, HOU are locks). Those 9 teams are SD (3-2), CIN (3-2), PIT (2-2), IND (2-2), NYJ (2-3), BUF (2-3), MIA (2-3), DEN (2-3) and OAK (1-3). What a pack of mediocre to bad teams. I guess with a gun to my head I'd go SD (west), DEN and PIT. And the thing is, I don't like any of those 3 teams that much...they just aren't that good.

 

It might not be crazy, but I'm still not expecting any more than five or six wins from the Colts. They lost at home to one of the worst teams in the NFL (Jacksonville). They've only played one road game and were dominated (though against a good team). Sure, they beat Green Bay but that was an emotional aberration, in my opinion, from Pagano's absence (don't think that can really be carried over week to week). The schedue isn't exactly murderer's row though, that's for sure.

[Banedon]

Torn ACL for Cushing. Done for the season.

[CubColtPacer]

I've been telling people all offseason not to expect more than 5 wins out of this Colts team, and now the horribleness of the AFC is making me wonder if they could be in contention for a playoff spot. They have played 3 home games already, which is a problem (and didn't play particularly well in their one road game). But they have already played three of the four NFC teams, their non-common games with the division are Cleveland and Kansas City, and one of their Houston games is week 17 when Houston might be resting starters. Am I crazy to think they could get to 9 with some average to good luck in close games?

 

No its not that crazy. I'm not sure they actually do that, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least considering the somewhat strong play, and the weak schedule. Plus you factor in Luck probably improving as the season progresses.

 

Looking at the AFC, the teams that I think have no chance at the playoffs are Cleveland, Kansas City, Tennessee and Jacksonville. That leaves 9 teams to fight for 3 spots (assuming NE, BAL, HOU are locks). Those 9 teams are SD (3-2), CIN (3-2), PIT (2-2), IND (2-2), NYJ (2-3), BUF (2-3), MIA (2-3), DEN (2-3) and OAK (1-3). What a pack of mediocre to bad teams. I guess with a gun to my head I'd go SD (west), DEN and PIT. And the thing is, I don't like any of those 3 teams that much...they just aren't that good.

 

It might not be crazy, but I'm still not expecting any more than five or six wins from the Colts. They lost at home to one of the worst teams in the NFL (Jacksonville). They've only played one road game and were dominated (though against a good team). Sure, they beat Green Bay but that was an emotional aberration, in my opinion, from Pagano's absence (don't think that can really be carried over week to week). The schedue isn't exactly murderer's row though, that's for sure.

 

I wasn't surprised by the Jacksonville loss. The Colts still have in many parts the same defensive personnel that Jacksonville has run over for years, which is what has led to the endless number of close games with them.

 

I'm not projecting 9. I'd guess 7 right now (2-3 against the rest of the division, 2-2 against the AFC East, 1-1 against Cleveland/Kansas City, 0-1 against Detroit). I could see 6 (with only 1 win against the East being the most likely scenario) but I don't think 5 is particularly likely at this point. There are too many teams left on the schedule who are on or maybe even below the Colts level to have a good chance of going 3-9 the rest of the way. They only have 3 likely playoff teams left on the schedule at this point.

[Soul]

Torn ACL for Cushing. Done for the season.

 

Clay Matthews isn't happy about it, either:

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000078663/article/clay-matthews-cushing-case-shows-double-standard?module=HP11_headline_stack

[Exile on Waveland]

I've been telling people all offseason not to expect more than 5 wins out of this Colts team, and now the horribleness of the AFC is making me wonder if they could be in contention for a playoff spot. They have played 3 home games already, which is a problem (and didn't play particularly well in their one road game). But they have already played three of the four NFC teams, their non-common games with the division are Cleveland and Kansas City, and one of their Houston games is week 17 when Houston might be resting starters. Am I crazy to think they could get to 9 with some average to good luck in close games?

 

No its not that crazy. I'm not sure they actually do that, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least considering the somewhat strong play, and the weak schedule. Plus you factor in Luck probably improving as the season progresses.

 

Looking at the AFC, the teams that I think have no chance at the playoffs are Cleveland, Kansas City, Tennessee and Jacksonville. That leaves 9 teams to fight for 3 spots (assuming NE, BAL, HOU are locks). Those 9 teams are SD (3-2), CIN (3-2), PIT (2-2), IND (2-2), NYJ (2-3), BUF (2-3), MIA (2-3), DEN (2-3) and OAK (1-3). What a pack of mediocre to bad teams. I guess with a gun to my head I'd go SD (west), DEN and PIT. And the thing is, I don't like any of those 3 teams that much...they just aren't that good.

 

It might not be crazy, but I'm still not expecting any more than five or six wins from the Colts. They lost at home to one of the worst teams in the NFL (Jacksonville). They've only played one road game and were dominated (though against a good team). Sure, they beat Green Bay but that was an emotional aberration, in my opinion, from Pagano's absence (don't think that can really be carried over week to week). The schedue isn't exactly murderer's row though, that's for sure.

 

I wasn't surprised by the Jacksonville loss. The Colts still have in many parts the same defensive personnel that Jacksonville has run over for years, which is what has led to the endless number of close games with them.

 

I'm not projecting 9. I'd guess 7 right now (2-3 against the rest of the division, 2-2 against the AFC East, 1-1 against Cleveland/Kansas City, 0-1 against Detroit). I could see 6 (with only 1 win against the East being the most likely scenario) but I don't think 5 is particularly likely at this point. There are too many teams left on the schedule who are on or maybe even below the Colts level to have a good chance of going 3-9 the rest of the way. They only have 3 likely playoff teams left on the schedule at this point.

 

Looking at the schedule, you're right, 3-9 does some rather overly pessimistic. So I'll say no more than six or seven.

 

The Jacksonville game perhaps wouldn't bother me as much as if it was solely due to Jones-Drew running roughshod. Sure, Jones-Drew ran for 177 yards, but the Colts ran for 124 themselves and actually won the time of possession battle (32:24-27:36). The game was lost by allowing an 80-yard game-winning pass from Blaine Gabbert with forty-five seconds left . . . yeesh. Even worse, those late-game defensive breakdowns have become de rigueur , occuring in all three competitive games the Colts have played. The defense allowed two touchdowns in the final five minutes against Minnesota (allowing them to tie the score at 20-20), and allowed Green Bay to move into field goal range in just thirty-two seconds. Those breakdowns have already cost the Colts one winnable game; it's likely to cost them more.

 

As an aside, remember when Robert Mathis was an old dog trying to learn new tricks or whatever? Turns out, the tricks are the same: five sacks and a forced fumble in four games. (Hope his knee is fine.)