Of Note (Week 15, 2012)

The AFC is interesting. Before the season some of us were talking about a regime change in the AFC. And yet today, on the surface, the same old big dogs are looking at the post-season: NE, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

But barely a micron below that surface, change is clearly on the way. Baltimore can't win for losing and Pittsburgh is scrambling to get in. They hardly look like the powers of yore. Right now, the teams with the two best records in the AFC aren't in the Big Three. None of the Big Three have home field throughout the playoffs.

And it looks entirely reasonable to think that the AFC team in the Super Bowl won't be one of the Big Three.

Originally Posted by wxwax

The AFC is interesting. Before the season some of us were talking about a regime change in the AFC. And yet today, on the surface, the same old big dogs are looking at the post-season: NE, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
And it looks entirely reasonable to think that the AFC team in the Super Bowl won't be one of the Big Three.

The 2 best teams in the AFC are the same teams that dominated from 2001 to 2011. The teams led by Manning and Brady. It just so happens that Manning changed zip codes.

The Steelers have done the same thing they've done every 4 years (get racked by injuries and slow them down enough). But Ben has shown that he can win enough games that I wouldn't discount them just yet. Until the Bengals under Dalton actually can beat an AFC North team from outisde of their state, I cannot give them the edge.

Until another QB can show up to compete with those 3, or they retire, they'll keep been the class of the Division. Schaub isn't in their class, and neither is Dalton, Flacco or Luck (yet). Of those 3 QBs, I'd give Luck the edge over the others except for his rookie status. I used to believe in Flacco, but I'm done.

You can look at the NFC and paint the same picture: I trust Rodgers (I hate saying that). I trust Eli (never thought I'd say that until last year). I'd trust Brees, but he isn't in it. I might trust RG3, but again, rookie. I might trust Kaepernick, but we haven't seen him have to play from behind yet. Ryan: he's put up some stinkers in the playoffs. Can't trust him either.

I can't trust Cutler either. He did destroy the Seahawks in 2010. He played like crap against the Packers. I've seen him be great, and I've also seen him put up stinkers. But I trust him over Matt Ryan, even though I don't think the Bears are making the playoffs.

Hmm. I agree wrt to Flacco, he has regressed. Also Peyton and Brady, of course (although in the case of Denver obviously a football team is more than just the QB.)

I'm not so sure about Eli. His play directly contributed to losses against the Redskins and the Falcons. His confusion against the 'Skins was a shock. In year 5, I'm definitely putting Ryan ahead of Cutler and Eli. Naturally, I have a home-town bias and I recognize that until Ryan does it in the playoffs people won't believe in him.

I agree, both rookies need at least one more season before we can judge them. Maybe two.

Thanks, Russell. Fun stuff, as usual.

Good info.

Why the lack of playoff change this year???

Originally Posted by wxwax

I'm not so sure about Eli. His play directly contributed to losses against the Redskins and the Falcons. His confusion against the 'Skins was a shock. In year 5, I'm definitely putting Ryan ahead of Cutler and Eli. Naturally, I have a home-town bias and I recognize that until Ryan does it in the playoffs people won't believe in him.

I agree, both rookies need at least one more season before we can judge them. Maybe two.

I'm not one of those discounting Ryan. But he has up stinkers as a home favorite.

I hate Eli with every fiber of my being. But I've jsut seen him win too many times to doubt he has some weird mojo.

Originally Posted by Rich Gapinski

Thanks, Russell. Fun stuff, as usual.

My pleasure, sir!!