NFL 2014 - 2015 Season Thread

While I certainly think the GB D is suspect, McFatty is known for taking his foot off the gas too early in games. He also tends to run vanilla schemes when facing sub par opponents, which is part of why both this game and the last Vikings game were as close as they were. They played their guts out against NE and had extra time off and the lack of total preparation showed in places in the second half. This is basically my main gripe with McCarthy is that he seems to be unable to consistently motivate the team from week to week and we always get these late season brain fart games in the middle of out big run up to the playoffs. I also think that McCarthy and Rodgers are both way too eager to pass late in these blowout situations, which often lets teams sneak back into the game. Once we were up three scores, it should have been a steady diet of Lacy, Kuhn, and Starks with only occasional play action, but instead we are fucking airing it out constantly. Three bad series later, Atlanta sneaks back into the game.

I don't entirely agree with Wombat about how this season is going to play out, but I agree that if we have to play a D that is worth a shit on the road, we are pretty much fucked in the playoffs. We got lucky on the road in Miami, but that is about the only quality D we have beaten on the road all year. The rest of our road wins have come against teams with issues on defense. With that in mind, the Packers basically have to win out to get to the SB. They can likely beat whatever shit pile crawls out of the south on the road and maybe the Cowboys, but every other NFC playoff contender has a decent defense and solid home field crowd advantage. And the team that concerns me most is Seattle. While it is not certain (I think AZ at home might beat them) they will win out, it seems pretty likely they will and capture their division and they hold the head to head tie breaker over us. There is a world of difference between playing them on their own turf with amplified crowd noise and continuous uncalled PI and facing them at Lambeau with the atmosphere there. If the Seahawks take their division and top seed, there is no way we beat them on the road in the playoffs, in fact I doubt anyone in the NFC can under those circumstances. So, basically, this entire season is going to come down to us having to run the table, which effectively means that the last game hosting Detroit will make or break the season for both teams.

Thisis what I expect to happen. There are three monkey wrenches here. First, I think with how anemic Seattle's Offense has been on the road, AZ might take them at home, but it is unlikely. Second, the Packers are due for their late season fuckup game where they come out completely flat. Maybe last night was that game, but maybe not. Third, the Rams could randomly beat Seattle or Arizona because Jeff Fischer is the greatest troll in the NFL, which I give 50/50 odds of happening.

Under that scenario, I predict Arizona pushing past Carolina and losing to GB. I see the Eagles beating the Lions and losing in Seattle. The likely Lambeau game of GB vs Seattle, I see as a dead heat and (sadly) will entirely be decided by the officials enforcement of the PI rules on Seattle and pick rules on GB. In the AFC, I see the Ravens as the only possible obstacle to the Superbowl for the Pats. Sadly, I don't think the Pats will face the Ravens, because I see the Chargers winning the wild card game and losing to NE while the Ravens get edged in Denver, instead. Bungles have no chance, since all playoff games are nationally televised. That pretty much means Denver losing on the road in NE in the AFC Championship game, setting up NE vs whoever wins the coinflip game between GB and Seattle in the Superbowl.

I think NE loses to either team, because both will beat up Brady, though Seattle gives them the better chance since they lack the depth at wideout and ridiculous accuracy that the Packers have at their disposal. The game will be closer than most SBs in recent years, though, no matter which team faces NE.

That's my prediction. I look forward to being ridiculed for my stupidity the week after the SB.