Octopus Overlords

What would be more meaningful, would be if one of the top defenses actually went up against one of the top offenses and we could observe the empirical evidence.

Unagi wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 4:01 pm What would be more meaningful, would be if one of the top defenses actually went up against one of the top offenses and we could observe the empirical evidence.

Like the Patriots and Bears?

noxiousdog wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 4:11 pm

Unagi wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 4:01 pm What would be more meaningful, would be if one of the top defenses actually went up against one of the top offenses and we could observe the empirical evidence.

Like the Patriots and Bears?

Or the Rams and Bears? (which I think was the Chicagoans point...)

noxiousdog wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 4:11 pm

Unagi wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 4:01 pm What would be more meaningful, would be if one of the top defenses actually went up against one of the top offenses and we could observe the empirical evidence.

Like the Patriots and Bears?

Still doesn't change the fact that a dominant defense can beat a dominant offense in today's NFL. I never claimed that a dominant defense would always beat a dominant offense.

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 4:31 pm

noxiousdog wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 4:11 pm

Unagi wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 4:01 pm What would be more meaningful, would be if one of the top defenses actually went up against one of the top offenses and we could observe the empirical evidence.

Like the Patriots and Bears?

Still doesn't change the fact that a dominant defense can beat a dominant offense in today's NFL. I never claimed that a dominant defense would always beat a dominant offense.

In other news, water is wet.

It's still a story that dominant offenses are performing better than dominant defenses. If you want to make it into an always/never strawman, have fun.

noxiousdog wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 4:33 pm
It's still a story that dominant offenses are performing better than dominant defenses.

That has not been proven. If someone has time to spare (I do not) then pick out all of the match-ups between top offenses and top defenses and check the results. That may prove something, or may be inconclusive.

The only thing you might be able to say is that a dominant offense is unlikely to have a bad outcome against a bad defense. Lacking a reliable offense, top defensive teams can still be vulnerable against a mediocre to poor offense.

noxiousdog wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 4:33 pm

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 4:31 pm

noxiousdog wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 4:11 pm

Unagi wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 4:01 pm What would be more meaningful, would be if one of the top defenses actually went up against one of the top offenses and we could observe the empirical evidence.

Like the Patriots and Bears?

Still doesn't change the fact that a dominant defense can beat a dominant offense in today's NFL. I never claimed that a dominant defense would always beat a dominant offense.

In other news, water is wet.

It's still a story that dominant offenses are performing better than dominant defenses. If you want to make it into an always/never strawman, have fun.

What bullshit. There are fewer dominant defenses making your "top 10" comparison not terribly valuable, and you're trying to dismiss my argument by calling it a strawman instead of addressing it. Have fun yourself.

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Mon Dec 10, 2018 11:25 am Someone tell me again how dominant defense can't stand up to dominant offense in modern football. I love that story.

noxiousdog wrote: ↑Wed Dec 12, 2018 4:33 pm It's still a story that dominant offenses are performing better than dominant defenses. If you want to make it into an always/never strawman, have fun.

The Pats beat the Bears by staying nose-to-nose with the Bears offense and coming out 1 yard ahead at the end of the game. It wasn't that the Pats had no trouble with the Bears D -- in fact a lot of the stats for the Bears that game were better than the Pats stats (yrds,rushing,passing,plays,time).... they just didn't win, which is everything, of course.

The Bears beat the Rams by shutting their superior offense down with a dominant defense. 2 field goals in the first half, nothing else... where the Bears had safety points on the board.

I think a dominant defense is harder to achieve and far less common. I think that's why it seems like 'dominant offenses perform better than dominant defenses'. It's like saying males out-perform females in some male dominated field.

Half time adjustments baby! The Chargers play to win and clinch a playoff berth!

Jaymann wrote: ↑Fri Dec 14, 2018 1:48 am Half time adjustments baby! The Chargers play to win and clinch a playoff berth!

And sink my chances to win my FFB league (I have Mahomes, Kelce, Hill, and K Allen). I was really hoping for overtime like last week. Glad they won, though.

TNF on Amazon is a revelation. Being able to select the UK audio over Buck/Aikman is so beautiful.

Bears win! Hopefully this marks the start of a dominance steak over the Packers; we were long overdue. First division title since 2010. They also ended Rodger string of passes without interception.

Woo Hoo! Dominance Steak!

Jeff V wrote: ↑Sun Dec 16, 2018 5:46 pm Bears win! Hopefully this marks the start of a dominance steak over the Packers; we were long overdue. First division title since 2010. They also ended Rodger string of passes without interception.

all of a sudden you're a bears fan

Unagi wrote: ↑Sun Dec 16, 2018 9:58 pm Woo Hoo! Dominance Steak!

They were named after a canned meat packing company, after all.

naednek wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 3:11 pm
all of a sudden you're a bears fan

? I've never not been a Bears fan.

Jeff V wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 12:45 pm

naednek wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 3:11 pm
all of a sudden you're a bears fan

? I've never not been a Bears fan.

never a postive thinking bears fan...

naednek wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 1:00 pm a positive thinking bears fan...

I understand each of these words, but this phrase makes no sense to me. Is this Esperanto?

naednek wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 1:00 pm

Jeff V wrote: ↑Tue Dec 18, 2018 12:45 pm

naednek wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 3:11 pm
all of a sudden you're a bears fan

? I've never not been a Bears fan.

never a postive thinking bears fan...

Oh I was very positive in 1985 when I had season tickets. The decades since? Totally uncalled for. This year I'm actually getting excited again, and not just for potential outcome this year but for several years to come.

You've always been the caretaker.

Josh Gordon "stepping away from football to focus on his mental health"...likely before he gets suspended for drugs. Again.

Shame that guy could never get his head on straight.

That early slate of games was very entertaining.

Afternoon was pretty good too.

So the playoffs start a week early with Colts at Titans. And the Chargers really screwed the pooch by losing to the Ravens - they could have had the #1 seed. And they all but eliminated the Steelers. Wonder if Big Ben packs it in after this season.

Nice win against what should have been a super-motivated team. 12-4 after 5-11, but had we beat Green Bay earlier this year, we'd be ahead of the Rams for first round bye. Oh well, bring on the Eaglets!

Wow. I really thought the Ravens were going to choke again, but managed to finally stop the Browns(!) on that final series. And honestly, even if we lose to the Chargers (at home! woo hoo!) next weekend, at least the Steelers will be watching the playoffs from home. That, and no more Flacco, makes this a great end to the season.

I get to taunt my coworkers with the Eagles Christmas sweater for another week. And I will be a Seahawks fan for the week.

stessier wrote: ↑Sun Dec 23, 2018 6:28 pm That early slate of games was very entertaining.

Except for the Saints game. Took my son to his first NFL game. Brees and Kamara on the bench, team unmotivated, at least we saw Ingram.

Lassr wrote: ↑Mon Dec 31, 2018 2:28 am

stessier wrote: ↑Sun Dec 23, 2018 6:28 pm That early slate of games was very entertaining.

Except for the Saints game. Took my son to his first NFL game. Brees and Kamara on the bench, team unmotivated, at least we saw Ingram.

My statement was from 12/23.

stessier wrote: ↑Mon Dec 31, 2018 5:27 am

Lassr wrote: ↑Mon Dec 31, 2018 2:28 am

stessier wrote: ↑Sun Dec 23, 2018 6:28 pm That early slate of games was very entertaining.

Except for the Saints game. Took my son to his first NFL game. Brees and Kamara on the bench, team unmotivated, at least we saw Ingram.

My statement was from 12/23.

 Lassr 
 

stessier wrote: ↑Mon Dec 31, 2018 5:27 am

Lassr wrote: ↑Mon Dec 31, 2018 2:28 am

stessier wrote: ↑Sun Dec 23, 2018 6:28 pm That early slate of games was very entertaining.

Except for the Saints game. Took my son to his first NFL game. Brees and Kamara on the bench, team unmotivated, at least we saw Ingram.

My statement was from 12/23.

So it was. That's what I get for checking the forum before going to bed after a 7 hour drive home. And that gives Unagi even more reason to vote for me.

Saturday:

Colts at Texans - 4:35 EST
Seahawks at Cowboys - 8:15 EST


Sunday:

Chargers at Ravens - 1:05 EST
Eagles at Bears - 4:40 EST

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Mon Dec 31, 2018 12:42 pm Saturday:

Colts at Texans - 4:35 EST
Seahawks at Cowboys - 8:15 EST


Sunday:

Chargers at Ravens - 1:05 EST
Eagles at Bears - 4:40 EST

Those are some surprisingly even match ups. I would never bet on the Eggles, but they seem to play up to their competition.

How about some predictions for this round:

Colts at Texans - 4:35 EST Colts
Seahawks at Cowboys - 8:15 EST Seahawks

Sunday:

Chargers at Ravens - 1:05 EST Ravens
Eagles at Bears - 4:40 EST Bears

I hope the Chargers prove me wrong

The Chargers tied with the Saints for best road record this year, 7-1. They also have the worst home record of any playoff team, 5-3. At 6-2, the Ravens are tied for second worst home record.

Seattle's road record is 4-4. Dallas is tied for the second best home record at 7-1.

The Bears have the longest current win streak in the league at 4. They are 7-1 at home, the Eagles are 4-4 on the road.

The Texans are 6-2 at home, the Colts are 4-4 on the road. This is their 3rd meeting, they are 1-1 with the road team winning each time.

Oh god, Allen Hurns ankle. That was horrific.

I think I just saw Janikowski’s career end.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Wed Jan 02, 2019 4:32 pm How about some predictions for this round:

Colts at Texans - 4:35 EST Colts
Seahawks at Cowboys - 8:15 EST Seahawks

Sunday:

Chargers at Ravens - 1:05 EST Ravens
Eagles at Bears - 4:40 EST Bears

I hope the Chargers prove me wrong

PREDICTIONS:

Colts beat Texans 21-7 (I have a good feeling about this one).
Cowboys beat Seahawks
Chargers beat Ravens
Bears beat Eagles.

Also feeling like the Patriots have no real shot against the Chargers.

Saturday games are just about done so picking Sunday's:

Chargers by 10
Bears by 1

El Guapo wrote: ↑Sat Jan 05, 2019 11:00 pm Also feeling like the Patriots have no real shot against the Chargers.

Welcome to the Dark Side!

I feel our best hope against the Chargers is that they are West Coast headed East and that the forecast is for 30s and possible snow.

Against the Ravens i feel the only hope is that the Patriots run defense has been playing possum all season specifically for this game.

As such, we're doomed.