Week 12 NFL thread

[Steak Snabler]

Figure we should probably have one considering there's a game in less than 48 hours.

Saints at Falcons on Thursday night. Maybe Atlanta has some fight left, but I don't see how.

Early Sunday games are kinda crappy, though San Diego at Kansas City, Pittsburgh at Cleveland and Jets at Baltimore have some intrigue. Jacksonville at Houston could go a long way toward deciding the No. 1 overall pick if the Jags somehow win.

Indy at Arizona is a late CBS game. The Cardinals are kind of sneaky good this year, especially on defense.

Dallas at the Giants could be a real shootout in the late Fox game.

Denver at New England on Sunday night, because we just need another Peyton vs. Brady showdown.

San Fran at Washington on Monday night in a battle of flash in the pan QBs (trolling any number of SJ members with that one).

 

[joe]

I'm going to the Chiefs-Chargers game. Lower-level seats are under an overhang, so shadows all game long with temps in the 30s. I'mma gonna freeze my ass off.

 

[LongTimeListener]

The Giants making the playoffs after an 0-6 start is my new love interest.

Cowboys, at Redskins, at Chargers, Seahawks, at Lions, Redskins. 9-7, own division tiebreakers. I think they can do it.

 

[outofplace]

I'm amazed that both the Giants and Steelers have climbed back into contention after such ugly starts. Of the two, I think the Giants have the much better shot of actually making it. Pittsburgh really needs to win at Cleveland this week an then at Baltimore the following game and I just don't see it happening.

 

[93Devil]

I'm amazed that both the Giants and Steelers have climbed back into contention after such ugly starts. Of the two, I think the Giants have the much better shot of actually making it. Pittsburgh really needs to win at Cleveland this week an then at Baltimore the following game and I just don't see it happening.

Pittsburgh is in the same spot it seems from when they made the run to beat the Seahawks; they have to win out for a shot at the playoffs. That group only had to win four games and was much better and younger, though.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

I have NO doubt the Steelers will disappoint, losing at least one - if not both - of the next two games.
They may well be a fringe contender for the final playoff spot, but I don't think there's any way they get in at 7-9 (I think that's VERY optimistic).

 

[Steak Snabler]

The Colts have signed Chris Rainey, because apparently even a woman beater is a better option than Trent Richardson right now:

http://blogs.colts.com/2013/11/20/indianapolis-colts-sign-rb-chris-rainey/

 

[Mizzougrad96]

San Fran at Washington on Monday night in a battle of flash in the pan QBs (trolling any number of SJ members with that one).

At least RG3 has an excuse. I'm really beginning to wonder if Kaepernick isn't a one (half) season wonder. That's not to say he'll never do anything good again, but based on the way he's played this season, he's going to need major work this off-season. Or maybe we'll find out that the issue has been the receivers, but I tend to think it's more on Kaepernick.

 

[JackReacher]

No point in getting all lathered up about RG3 or Kaepernick's decline into the abyss until next year. That critical third year that seems so important and that everyone talks about. Newton seems to be coming into his own in his third year. If the same problems exist this time next year, time to worry.

 

[bigpern23]

I haven't bothered to look up to see whether the numbers disprove the old "sophomore slump" theory, but isn't it just possible Kaepernick, Wilson and RGIII are just going through an expected regression? As others have noted in other threads, defensive coordinators have plenty of game film of these guys to study and have adjusted to take away what worked so well last season.

Now, it's up to the quarterbacks and their coaching staffs to adjust and figure out what works moving forward. Does everyone think these guys don't have the tools to make those adjustments?

I haven't seen enough of Kaepernick or Wilson to really judge, but I think RGIII has all the tools to be a successful NFL quarterback.

 

[bigpern23]

No point in getting all lathered up about RG3 or Kaepernick's decline into the abyss until next year. That critical third year that seems so important and that everyone talks about. Newton seems to be coming into his own in his third year. If the same problems exist this time next year, time to worry.

Beat me to it, Sonner. Fully agree with you.

 

[MisterCreosote]

I haven't bothered to look up to see whether the numbers disprove the old "sophomore slump" theory, but isn't it just possible Kaepernick, Wilson and RGIII are just going through an expected regression?

Wilson hasn't regressed one bit.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

No point in getting all lathered up about RG3 or Kaepernick's decline into the abyss until next year. That critical third year that seems so important and that everyone talks about. Newton seems to be coming into his own in his third year. If the same problems exist this time next year, time to worry.

Beat me to it, Sonner. Fully agree with you.

Next season will be Kaepernick's fourth season, but point taken...

My biggest concern with both of these guys is that they both have seemed to turn into whiny ******* after last season.

With RG3, I'm a little sympathetic since he has to deal with Shanahan and it would be easy to understand how that could take its toll on any young QB, and RG3's reputation was that of a class act up until recently.

Kaepernick just seems like a petulant child who is spending his time reading his Twitter messages when he should be doing game prep.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Yeah, Wilson has gotten better and he didn't have his best receiver for the first half of the season either. Granted, it was a player he hadn't played with before, so it wasn't like he was used to relying on him, but still...

 

[JackReacher]

Third season of playing.

 

[JC]

I haven't bothered to look up to see whether the numbers disprove the old "sophomore slump" theory, but isn't it just possible Kaepernick, Wilson and RGIII are just going through an expected regression? As others have noted in other threads, defensive coordinators have plenty of game film of these guys to study and have adjusted to take away what worked so well last season.

Now, it's up to the quarterbacks and their coaching staffs to adjust and figure out what works moving forward. Does everyone think these guys don't have the tools to make those adjustments?

I haven't seen enough of Kaepernick or Wilson to really judge, but I think RGIII has all the tools to be a successful NFL quarterback.

What more would you like to see from Wilson?

 

[JC]

Yeah, Wilson has gotten better and he didn't have his best receiver for the first half of the season either. Granted, it was a player he hadn't played with before, so it wasn't like he was used to relying on him, but still...

He has played most of the year without their best olinemen and a times with 3 startes on the offensive line out.

 

[bigpern23]

I haven't bothered to look up to see whether the numbers disprove the old "sophomore slump" theory, but isn't it just possible Kaepernick, Wilson and RGIII are just going through an expected regression? As others have noted in other threads, defensive coordinators have plenty of game film of these guys to study and have adjusted to take away what worked so well last season.

Now, it's up to the quarterbacks and their coaching staffs to adjust and figure out what works moving forward. Does everyone think these guys don't have the tools to make those adjustments?

I haven't seen enough of Kaepernick or Wilson to really judge, but I think RGIII has all the tools to be a successful NFL quarterback.

What more would you like to see from Wilson?

As noted, I haven't watched much of Wilson. Haven't even looked at his numbers this season. Just seemed like I've seen him lumped in with the others in other discussions of whether this group of young QBs is unable to hack it in the NFL. If not, just ignore the mention of his name in my post.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Wilson's numbers (both rushing and passing) are virtually identical to last year (or at least are on pace to be) and his team is 10-1. No regression there.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/14881/russell-wilson

 

[bigpern23]

Wilson's numbers (both rushing and passing) are virtually identical to last year (or at least are on pace to be) and his team is 10-1. No regression there.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/14881/russell-wilson

Again, I wasn't trying to pick on Wilson. My mistake if I thought I saw others include him in this topic of discussion. Best to exclude him from my post and any further discussion.

My point being, isn't it entirely normal for these second-year quarterbacks (let's limit this to RGIII and Kaepernick) to experience a sophomore slump and a bit unfair to begin labeling them as busts when they haven't even completed their second seasons as starters?

I'm curious if the numbers, historically, back up the idea of the sophomore slump.