Penthouse to Outhouse Week 17

Published on 01-03-2012 12:03 PM

22 Comments

The last weekend of the regular season saw a lot of disappointment, disappointment turned into jubilation, the last show for some Head Coaches, and yet ... more records. Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees (NFL single season yards passing record) have attained "Elvis" status and get their own Penthouse floor (just like Elvis in Las Vegas), so they don't qualify for a suite. Here are my Penthouse Sweets and my Outhouse Stinkers for Week #17. Any other nominees?

Penthouse Sweets

(Suite 1A) Matt Flynn - I have a sentimental spot for back up QB's but ... WoW!!! Flynn completed
31-44 (70%) passes for 480 yds (franchise record) and threw 6 TD passes (franchise record). Oh by the way, he led his team to a come from behind 45-41 win over a playoff team (Lions) who wanted to win this game. Flynn did something that Bart Starr, Bret Favre, and Aaron Rodgers hadn't done in the storied history of this franchise. Becoming a free agent at the end of the season couldn't have come at a better time for this young man.
(Suite 2A) New York Giants Team - With an NFC East title showdown at stake, the Tom Coughlin led Giants dominated the Dallas Cowboys. Eli was superb, Cruz was salsa-sational, and the defense played inspired championship football. This team had their backs to the wall 2 weeks ago, Tom Coughlin went all in and his team followed. Momentum is on their side, can 2007 repeat itself?
(Suite 3A) Matt Stafford/Calvin Johnson Combo - This is becoming the most dangerous combination in the NFL. Stafford threw for 520 yds and 5 TD's while Megatron caught 11 passes for 244 yds with a TD. The defense blew their chance at the #5 seed and now Stafford and Johnson have to go to New Orleans on a short week. Hopefully for them, a defense gets on the plane with them.
(Suite 4A) Ray Rice - Against a good defense (Cinti) with a lot on the line for both teams, Rice went off. He ran 24 times for 191 yds and scored 2 TD's. On the 4th play of the game , Rice set the tone for the Ravens by bolting to a 70 yd TD run, and later in the game, he went for a 51 yd TD jaunt.
(Suite 5A) MJD - On a bad football team, Maurice Jones Drew led the league in rushing. Sunday he ran 25 times for 169 yds in leading his team to a win. MJD is the new head coaches best offensive asset. If the new HC can build a legitimate passing game to go with MJD next year, this team could contend for a playoff spot quickly.
(Special Weekend Suite) Jared Allen - Allen recorded 3 1/2 sacks this past game. That gives him a franchise record and league leading 22 sacks. In a dismal year for the team, Allen stood tall.
(One Night Stay Suite) Cinti Bengals/Denver Broncos - Playing at home, and a playoff birth in the bag with a win, these two teams lost. But, both teams made the playoffs with other contenders losing as well. One game doesn't tell the story of an entire season. After 16 weeks of work playoff spots are determined, and these two teams qualified this season. Congrats to both teams ... you earned it ... you don't have to apologize to anyone. But, as I say that, if you don't play better ... you will have a one day stay in the playoffs.

Outhouse Stinkers

9. NFL Rule Book - All scoring plays must be reviewed, this rule needs to be expanded to all potential scoring plays in the end zone. Detroit was hurt by the existing rule because an official made the wrong call on a TD catch. The Lions were without a challenge, but a coach shouldn't be penalized for an incorrect scoring call by an official.
8. Stevie Johnson - Needs to go by Steve ... it sounds more mature ... which Stevie is not. Got another 15 yd celebration penalty for his team after scoring a TD. He knew that it was wrong, and yet, he did it anyway. A selfish act!!! Coach Gailey benched him for the rest of the game which hurt the offense and the team.
Stevie needs to grow up soon!
7. Santonio Holmes - Pouting, arguing in the huddle with teammates, quitting on your teammates, and finally getting benched ... gets you a spot in the outhouse. When your teammates are saying that you quit ... that's bad!!
6. Packers Defense - I know that the game was meaningless to the Packers record and playoff position, but if this team wants to repeat ... they can't play like this.
5. Buffalo Bills Collapse - The Bills stormed out to a 21-0 lead ... then the Patriots outscored them 49-0. Fitzpatrick went 13/16 for 156 yds and 2 TD's in the first quarter, after that, he threw for 151 yds while throwing 4 picks (one a pick 6). This game was a microcosm of their season.
4. Detroit Lions Defense - With the #5 seed at stake, the defense watched their offense crank out 575 yds while putting 41 points on the scoreboard. Unfortunately for the Lions, the defense stood around watching the GB Packers offense (led by back up QB Matt Flynn) go for 550 yds and 45 points. They watched Matt Flynn throw for 480 yds and 6 TD passes (setting 2 franchise records). This unit was awful ... and now they get Drew Brees and the Saints offense on a short week. A quick fix would be a good New Years resolution!
3. Mark Sanchez - Threw 3 picks, the last one (in the red zone) killing their chance at a win in Miami. The Jets actually wound up with a decent shot at making the playoffs (if they'd won) as the day progressed but Sanchez's picks killed those hopes (as well as Tennessee's 1 pt win over Houston).
2. Denver Broncos Offense - All they had to do to win the game was score 8 points ... and they couldn't do that. Last week at the half they had 13 net passing yards, this week ... they had 29 yards. In a passing league, this offense is hard to watch. Next up ... the #1 ranked defense in the league ... the Pittsburgh Steelers. This will be a short visit to the playoffs for this offense.
1. Oakland Raiders Team - They were playing at home against a team already eliminated from the playoffs, and the Denver Broncos were losing. A win and you're in with a Denver loss couldn't compel this team to play focused, determined football. Penalties, clock mismanagement, and downright bad defense ended their season. Carson Palmer did his part throwing for more than 400 yards and 3 TD's, but he couldn't overcome the 38 points the Raiders defense and special teams (105 yd TD K.O. return) gave up. Hue Jackson stated in a recent interview that there will be an attitude and discipline change next year. Raiders nation hopes so.

* Tampa Bay was so bad ... they weren't worth mentioning.

22 Comments

GoBigOrGoHome - 01-03-2012 12:22 PM

Dear Stevie Johnson:

Turk is absolutely correct.

Drop that "I", son.

Reply

bluestree - 01-03-2012 12:38 PM

Great stuff, coach. The Lions/Packers matchup was epic, so no surprise it garnered four comments. No meaningless games in the NFL. One thing I saw in that game, Matt Stafford missed a couple of throws for no apparent reason. Reminded me of Brady in the '07 SB. Is he nicked up? The other Matt was so accurate, and threw slants, and checks with great touch and location, and also dropped in some rainbows that were just sweet. Must be the system, huh?

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iwatt - 01-03-2012 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by bluestree

Great stuff, coach. The Lions/Packers matchup was epic, so no surprise it garnered four comments. No meaningless games in the NFL. One thing I saw in that game, Matt Stafford missed a couple of throws for no apparent reason. Reminded me of Brady in the '07 SB. Is he nicked up? The other Matt was so accurate, and threw slants, and checks with great touch and location, and also dropped in some rainbows that were just sweet. Must be the system, huh?

Stafford plays in a dome. Flynn doesn't.

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mango - 01-03-2012 05:51 PM

Turk, need to throw in a suite for Jason Taylor, great way to end a great career.

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Turk Schonert - 01-03-2012 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by mango

Turk, need to throw in a suite for Jason Taylor, great way to end a great career.

No doubt, heck of a career. Lets give him a retirement Suite for two weeks ... he deserves it.

Reply

wxwax - 01-03-2012 06:42 PM

If you're going to (rightly) nail the Packers D, you probably need to do the same to NE's D.

Crazy that these are the cream of the conferences.

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Turk Schonert - 01-03-2012 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by wxwax

If you're going to (rightly) nail the Packers D, you probably need to do the same to NE's D.

Crazy that these are the cream of the conferences.

NE had a bad first quarter, after that, they shut the Bills out. It is amazing that NE and GB have the 31st and 32nd ranked defenses, yet have the best records in their perspective conferences.

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Dave Lapham - 01-03-2012 07:26 PM

People think that NE and GB are a subpar performance by or injury to their QB away from trajedy in the playoffs because their respective defenses are ranked so low. Both defenses seem to make plays when they have to though. The way Flynn played vs. Detroit sure gave his coaches, teammates, the entire organization a big boost of confidence. What if Brady goes down?

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wxwax - 01-03-2012 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by Dave Lapham

People think that NE and GB are a subpar performance by or injury to their QB away from trajedy in the playoffs because their respective defenses are ranked so low. Both defenses seem to make plays when they have to though. The way Flynn played vs. Detroit sure gave his coaches, teammates, the entire organization a big boost of confidence. What if Brady goes down?

Green Bay has been living on turnovers, it would seem. That's a great stat to have on your side and it wins games.

But how much of that is providence? Is it something you can lean on? Can you call up a turnover when you need one? I remain doubtful (although I still think they're the favorite to win the SB.)

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SpartaChris - 01-04-2012 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by wxwax

Green Bay has been living on turnovers, it would seem. That's a great stat to have on your side and it wins games.

But how much of that is providence? Is it something you can lean on? Can you call up a turnover when you need one? I remain doubtful (although I still think they're the favorite to win the SB.)

I think Green Bay has been consistent enough at getting turnovers that they can lean on them. Their secondary is mighty opportunistic when it matters. It seems to be the way they play. If only they had a pass rush, this defense would be a force.. Hopefully the bye week helps them solve their issues.

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mikesteelnation1 - 01-04-2012 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by wxwax

If you're going to (rightly) nail the Packers D, you probably need to do the same to NE's D.

Crazy that these are the cream of the conferences.

I'm assuming you're basing "cream of the conference" on playoff seed. The pats might be the worst 13-3 team ever. They didn't beat a single team with a winning record this year. They lost to both teams they played with winning records. They don't make the schedule, and won 13 games vs who was out in front of them, but they lost to both winning teams. Got dominated by the only double digit win team they played. The pats had a super easy schedule. With this defense its going to be very difficult to beat the best Afc teams. The only time they played one, they got dominated. This defense was that bad against 14 8-8 or worse teams. That d is worse than the stats suggest.

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MachoMenos - 01-04-2012 09:56 AM

Hue Jackson IS the problem.

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Turk Schonert - 01-04-2012 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by mikesteelnation1

I'm assuming you're basing "cream of the conference" on playoff seed. The pats might be the worst 13-3 team ever. They didn't beat a single team with a winning record this year. They lost to both teams they played with winning records. They don't make the schedule, and won 13 games vs who was out in front of them, but they lost to both winning teams. Got dominated by the only double digit win team they played. The pats had a super easy schedule. With this defense its going to be very difficult to beat the best Afc teams. The only time they played one, they got dominated. This defense was that bad against 14 8-8 or worse teams. That d is worse than the stats suggest.

I did not realize that NE had not beaten a team with a winning record until your post, home field advantage is big for this team when they play the good playoff teams. I'll be surprised if this team gets to the Super Bowl.

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iwatt - 01-04-2012 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Turk Schonert

I did not realize that NE had not beaten a team with a winning record until your post, home field advantage is big for this team when they play the good playoff teams. I'll be surprised if this team gets to the Super Bowl.

I'ts a bit of a misleading stat though.

They did beat the Chargers, Cowboys and Jets when they were still legit contenders.

They are exposed if they have to face an elite QB. But given the seeding, and the likelihood of a Cinci upset of the Texans, that might mean that they could make the AFC championship without facing one of those, and the Steelers would have to make it past the Ravens.

The only QB in the AFC field that could scare the patriots is Ben.

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Turk Schonert - 01-04-2012 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by iwatt

I'ts a bit of a misleading stat though.

They did beat the Chargers, Cowboys and Jets when they were still legit contenders.

They are exposed if they have to face an elite QB. But given the seeding, and the likelihood of a Cinci upset of the Texans, that might mean that they could make the AFC championship without facing one of those, and the Steelers would have to make it past the Ravens.

The only QB in the AFC field that could scare the patriots is Ben.

You're right iwatt, look at the AFC playoff teams QB situations:
Houston - Down to their 3rd QB (TJ Yates) who is a rookie and is injured (back up J. Delomme is turnover prone)
Cinti = Andy Dalton - Rookie QB
Denver = Tim Tebow - QB who doesn't throw accurately
Steelers - Big Ben is injured and his greatest asset (mobility) is limited. Steelers are struggling to score points with Ben injured
Balt - Joe Flacco - Hot & Cold

Doesn't look too overwhelming when you look at it.

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iwatt - 01-04-2012 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by Turk Schonert

You're right iwatt, look at the AFC playoff teams QB situations:
Houston - Down to their 3rd QB (TJ Yates) who is a rookie and is injured (back up J. Delomme is turnover prone)
Cinti = Andy Dalton - Rookie QB
Denver = Tim Tebow - QB who doesn't throw accurately
Steelers - Big Ben is injured and his greatest asset (mobility) is limited. Steelers are struggling to score points with Ben injured
Balt - Joe Flacco - Hot & Cold

Doesn't look too overwhelming when you look at it.

Also, they've rolled snake eyes the last 2 playoffs.

In 09, the Ravens hit a big run in the 1st series (maybe even first play), and played keepaway. I think Flacco threw for like 49 yards in that game.
In 10, the Jets got the early Int and then screwed up with the fake punt at the end of the first half, and the Jets played keepaway.

What would scare me playing the pats is that Dolphins game. They did everything right, went up by 17, and Brady still figured them out at halftime. And the Dolphins defense had been legit since they turned things around. To beat the Patriots you have to keep the pedal to the metal, at least this year. Keep away will still give Brady a chance.

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mikesteelnation1 - 01-05-2012 01:43 AM

Originally Posted by Turk Schonert

You're right iwatt, look at the AFC playoff teams QB situations:
Houston - Down to their 3rd QB (TJ Yates) who is a rookie and is injured (back up J. Delomme is turnover prone)
Cinti = Andy Dalton - Rookie QB
Denver = Tim Tebow - QB who doesn't throw accurately
Steelers - Big Ben is injured and his greatest asset (mobility) is limited. Steelers are struggling to score points with Ben injured
Balt - Joe Flacco - Hot & Cold

Doesn't look too overwhelming when you look at it.

Ben used zero mobility vs the pats, arians actually called a good game. Ben mostly took the snap from the gun. Take the quick drops, use your play makers, stay on the field and keep Brady off it, his ankle issue isn't as big an issue in that context. The pats don't get pressure, and they can't cover. They've been bailed out by Brady against suspect defenses, and offenses that aren't dominant. The field may not look daunting as a whole, but the pats will have an extremely tough time with the ravens or steelers. The steelers already beat the pats, handily. The pass d has gotten better since. The ravens have a monster run game. Rice is a beast. Rice has the ability to totally take the game over vs the pats. Brady, the tes, and Welker are great. Aside from that this pats team is ok to bad, most heavily leaning to bad. They've feasted on suspect teams. They would not be 13-3 if they played in the Afcn. I don't see them beating the ravens or steelers. Add to that what iwatt said, snake eyes two playoffs in a row.

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iwatt - 01-05-2012 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by mikesteelnation1

Add to that what iwatt said, snake eyes two playoffs in a row.

My point is that they've had circumstances go against them 2x now. Not sure I'd want to stake my life on Brady playiong subpar for the third time. Last year neither of the rookie Tight Ends showed up. In 09, a relatively decent run defense failed to show up.

And Mike, restudy the gameplan by the Pats against the steelers this year. There was a lot of Faulk, not enough Gronk. I'm sure things will be differnt this time. And the Steelers O-L isn't looking to good, which would scare me. The Ravens have to go to Foxboro...I'm not sure they have the gumption to pull of a road win there.

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darvon - 01-05-2012 02:36 PM

There are only 12 winning teams in the NFL.

If you are one of the 12, how many wins you gonna get against a winning team?

If you are in a 2 winners division, you are one of them, so you probably split the 2 games with the other one, else the other guy probably isn't a winner. So that is either 0 or 1 win from your division.

Then in the 10 other games you play, 8 come from two other divisions, so if you were in a 2 winners division, you probably didn't get 2 other 2 winner divisions. You probably got a 1 and a 2, making 3 winners.

And the other 2 teams if you were a prior year winner, is 1-2 winners, if you weren't it is probably 0.

Remembering that half of the playoff teams turn over each year, then you have about 2-3 games against winners on average. Pats had 2. Steelers had 5 with only 1 out of house.

If you dominate a division, you just aren't going to have many games against winners.

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darvon - 01-05-2012 02:40 PM

Playoff team with roughest sched is Saints with 6 games against winners. 4 out of division.

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