The NFL - National Football League (Page 22 of 94)

I really don't want to jinx them, but Sunday is a huge game for the 5-3 Bears vs the 6-2 Lions. The Bears are on a little roll and Cutler is finally showing his potential, beating a pretty good Eagles team and avoiding getting sacked for the first time in 29 games.
Barring a season ending injury to Aaron Rodgers, the Bears and Lions are playing for 2nd place and a wild card berth. Look out Detroit, this is a different team than you played earlier this year.
I believe the Bears MUST win this game to make the playoffs.

Bill S wrote:

I really don't want to jinx them, but Sunday is a huge game for the 5-3 Bears vs the 6-2 Lions. The Bears are on a little roll and Cutler is finally showing his potential, beating a pretty good Eagles team and avoiding getting sacked for the first time in 29 games.
Barring a season ending injury to Aaron Rodgers, the Bears and Lions are playing for 2nd place and a wild card berth. Look out Detroit, this is a different team than you played earlier this year.
I believe the Bears MUST win this game to make the playoffs.

Agree with all the above and have gone for the Bears. I have also gone for the Fins. 

Come on gents and Cat, let's see those predictions.

THUR. NOV 10
Oakland at San Diego
SUN, NOV 13
Arizona at Philadelphia  OFF THE BOARD, no bets being made ??
Tennessee at Carolina   CAR -3 1/2
Houston at Tampa Bay   HOU -3 1/2
Washington at Miami      MIA  -3 1/2
Jacksonville at Indianapolis  IND -2 1/2
Denver at Kansas City    KC -3 1/2
Buffalo at Dallas              DAL -5 1/2
New Orleans at Atlanta   PICKEM
St. Louis at Cleveland     CLE -1 1/2
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati   PITT -3 1/2
Baltimore at Seattle         BAL -6 1/2
NY Giants at San Francisco SF -3 1/2
Detroit at Chicago              CHI -1 1/2
New England at NY Jets     NYJ -1 1/2
MON, NOV 14                                GB -13 1/2
Minnesota at Green Bay

Good to see that my first selection immediately came up trumps. 

Waiting for Rick's explanation.....

RickB wrote:

Amsterhammer wrote:

Good to see that my first selection immediately came up trumps. 

Waiting for Rick's explanation.....

Once again, too little, too late. Rookies on the O line, backfield and elsewhere showed some gaps and it's what I expected. Bolts are playing half the second team and that is what you get. Rivers can't pass well when he's running for his life.

Blah, blah, blah, THE AUTUMN WIND IS A RAY DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last nights game stirred up old feelings for the Silver & Black. Now that Al isn't meddling in the mix any longer, the old buzz is comin' back.

                                                                                                                           Just Win Baby!!!

                                                                                                                           J Dawg

The Browns will always be my first love, but trust me, it's not easy bein' a Cleveland fan.

                                                                                                     Pride & Poise!

                                                                                                     J Dawg

Hope has nothin' much to do with it Rick, but it's nice to see increased interest around the Bay for the Raiders. A new coach, winning games, and not having Mr. Davis calling all the shots has myself and some other friends paying more attention than we have in many years. I was really into the Raiders in the '70's & '80's, but the move to LA and Al's my way or the highway attitude towards some players and coaches cooled my interest. Too bad his relationship with Jon Gruden soured or the Raiders would of had another Super Bowl win to their credit. The Browns will always be my first love, but trust me, it's not easy bein' a Cleveland fan.

                                                                                                     Pride & Poise!

                                                                                                     J Dawg

ohiodawg13 wrote:

Hope has nothin' much to do with it Rick, but it's nice to see increased interest around the Bay for the Raiders. A new coach, winning games, and not having Mr. Davis calling all the shots has myself and some other friends paying more attention than we have in many years. I was really into the Raiders in the '70's & '80's, but the move to LA and Al's my way or the highway attitude towards some players and coaches cooled my interest. Too bad his relationship with Jon Gruden soured or the Raiders would of had another Super Bowl win to their credit. The Browns will always be my first love, but trust me, it's not easy bein' a Cleveland fan.

                                                                                                     Pride & Poise!

                                                                                                     J Dawg

Bandwagoners, lol,  When there is a flat tire, you won't find a one there.

First, who gave Jon Gruden his first Head Coaching Job?  I don't think you would know who Jon Gruden was if it wasn't for Al Davis.  I am not sure if Gruden would have ever been a head coach if Al Davis didn't hire him as a head coach first. 

Who hired the new coach you like?  Was Hue Jackson a head coach before Al Davis? Who hired Hue Jackson as the offensive coordinator the year before?

This is Al's team and Hue Jackson is in the mold of Al Davis.  This will be the last team that Al Davis puts together.
And I hope that torch burns brightly over and for them.

And these players on this team love Al. He picked them and was very loyal to them.  I can give you a list longer than your arm of players who loved playing under Al and still call him "Coach Davis" 

He's the one that wanted the vertical passing game and speed that we are doing today. Gruden's style of offense wasn't in Al Davis mold, but he believed in Gruden and let him do it.  Al Davis is the only reason we have the best kicking team in the league.  He is the reason we have the fastest receiving core in the league.  He is the only one who drafted a running back with a broken leg in the 4th round named Michael Bush.  And that same running back last night ran 157 yds and caught 85 yds.

Nobody can make all the right decisions, but he built this organization and he was a high-risk taker.  When you are like that you win big and lose big. Al's decisions are really starting to pay off.

And the Raiders have always been popular in the Bay Area.  The Raiders wouldn't be anywhere the enigma they are without him.  He made this franchise.  He dictated what this franchise was and is.  He made this franchise Iconic.  He made the Raiders a Nation. 

And who gave Jim Plunkett a 2nd chance after he didn't get a chance to play in San Francisco?  And Plunkett won 2 Super Bowls with the Raiders.

Al Davis definitely proved me wrong inside and out when he drafted Darrius Hayward-Bey.  Only Al at the time would pick him.  Because of his love for speed.  I didn't think the guy could catch and look at the hard work Darrius has put in. Not only is he just catching the ball, but running after the catch.  Being an aggressive receiver.  I know he is still a work in progress, but kudos to Darrius for all his determination and hard work.  He's making himself look good.

I understand what you don't like, but you are not allowing for all the great decisions he made.  I know not everything he did was great and he was an unorthodox person, but he gave his all for the Raiders. 

Feel the way you want to about him.

But I can't thank Al Davis enough for giving me one of my biggest passion's in life, Raider Football.  All the great players he put on this team and I got to meet. All the Raider friends, and when I go to the Coliseum it is like home.
Shoot, Al Davis makes me want to be a football player. 

The NFL network did a really nice special tonight about Al Davis.  A wonderful tribute to this Football Legend.