Know who to pull for: week 11 (1 Viewer)

st dude

The dotless one
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The playoff plot continues to thicken and there are a handful of week 11 games that will impact who makes it past the regular season. The NFC contenders look like this right now:

Chicago 8-1
Saints 6-3
Giants 6-3
Seattle 6-3
Dallas 5-4
Philly 5-4
Carolina 5-4
Atlanta 5-4
Rams 4-5
Vikings 4-5
San Fran 4-5
Green Bay 4-5

All I can say is wow. The bears look to be the only lock to make the playoffs. Seattle is probably the next best bet in the relatively weak NFC west. The NFC east and NFC south are up for grabs with three teams from each division in the thick of it.

I had to put the 4-5 teams in the mix because its looking more and more likely that a 9-7 team make make the playoffs. They are all kind of long shots but still have to be in the conversation.

And its not too early to start talking about the Saints-Panthers match in December in the Dome. That game is "looming large" as the cliche goes. There is a good chance the Falcons lose at Baltimore this week and its almost even money right now that the December match up between the saints and panthers will decide the division or, at the very least, decide a wild card spot. Get your tickets now. Jake better start working on his silent count now as the dome could be even noisier than the monday night home opener for that game.

5-4 Atlanta at 7-2 Baltimore - You have to love it when a big division rival has a difficult game on the road. It hurt us when Carolina beat the ravens in Baltimore and this is certainly a game the Falcons can win. But the ravens are playing very well right now and are favored to win. If the ravens play anything like they did against us in the dome they should win going away. You just never know what games Vick shows up for. When he does show up, the falcons can play with anyone. On paper you have to like the ravens to knock Atlanta to 5-5 which will put them in a bind.

8-1 Chicago at 5-4 N.Y. Jets - I am not quite ready to concede home field advantage in the playoffs to the bears as most everyone else seems ready to do. This is a must game for the jets who looked pretty good knocking off the Pats last week. If the bears lose, which they well might, and the saints win, which they well might, then we are but one game behind the bears in the home field fight. Go Jets.

4-5 Minnesota at 2-7 Miami - This looks to be almost an elimination game for the Vikings who have to play the resurgent dolphins. You never know in the NFL and the best example of parity was the dolphins beating Chicago easily two weeks ago in the windy city. We want Miami to win. If they do, it doesnt look like the NFC central will produce a wild card team.

4-5 St. Louis at 5-4 Carolina - This game looks to be an elimination game for the Rams. It doesnt look like a wild card team is coming from the NFC west either. But if the rams can drop the panthers to 5-5 and get to 5-5 themselves, the wild car race opens up. If the Panthers win you have to figure the two wild card teams to be coming out of the east and south divisions. Haslett knows Carolina very well, maybe he can get his defense going. The panthers have a short week to get ready. How huge would it be if the panthers and falcons both lose this week. It is not outside the realm of possibility.

2-7 Tennessee at 5-4 Philadelphia - I think the NFL east will be the most exciting division in either conference down the stretch. The Giants could have separated from the field with a win over the bears, but they lost and looked bad doing it. Our home win over Philly was so very big in that it gices us a valuable tiebreaker over a team we might well be tied with. I dont see Philly losing this game but it would be nice if they did.

3-6 Washington at 2-7 Tampa Bay - Yawn. I guess we pull for Tampa in the unlikely event a strength of schedule tiebreaker comes into play. It will also eliminate the virtually eliminated redskins. These are the two most disappointing teams in the NFC.

2-7 Detroit at 1-8 Arizona - Double yawn. I guess the odds would say pull for Arizona in case Detroit were to win 7 in a row and get to 9-7. I dont think the ratings will be very high for this turkey of a game.

6-3 Seattle at 4-5 San Francisco - This game is surprisingly interesting and maybe the hardest of the know who to pull for games. The niners are a very quiet 4-5 and a win over the not so solid seahawks would be huge for them. It would also make the niners a wild card contender. So do you want Seattle to win to knock the niners out? Or do you risk getting the niners in the wild card hunt to improve odds of getting home field advantage over the seahawks? The smart know who to pull for move would probably be to pull for Seattle, but I am feeling good about the saints winning their division so I will pull for the 49ers. This will be a fun game to watch. Its a really big game for San Fran and its been a while since they have had a big game. A san Fran win alos makes the NFC west a bit more interesting.

8-0 Indianapolis at 5-4 Dallas - There are just a bunch of big know who to pull for games this week and this is one of them. The Saints have to go to Dallas later this year where they will likely be underdogs. If we lose to Dallas we also lose the tiebreaker with them. If Indy can drop the Cowboys to 5-5, then 10 - 6 would be hard for them to get to. We need to get two games ahead of the cowboys so a loss at Dallas wont drop us into a tie with them. This will be a fun game to watch.

6-3 N.Y. Giants at 5-4 Jacksonville - No problem knowing who to pull for in this game. We would love to have the jags hang a loss on the giants in what is a must game for Jacksonville. Jacksonville looks like a mash unit, they have more players on the injury roster than off of it it looks like. Still, you have to figure they will play hard on Monday night with their backs against the wall. Go jags.

4-5 Cincinnati at 6-3 New Orleans - I am not going to say this is a must game for N.O. because its not. The saints have lost two games that hurt them the least, one to Pitt and one to Baltimore. Losing to Cincy would be way better than losing to the giants, cowboys, falcons or panthers. That being said, winning this game would be a big step to getting in the playoffs for the saints. Winning this game and having the falcons lose would be better, adding a panthers loss would make it a dream weekend.


All in all its a great week to have Sunday ticket.
 
If we lose this game that would mean we have lost 3 of our last 4 including 2 at home and 2 in a row for the first time this season. Your right it is not a must win but it could be the determining factor of how this team plays the rest of the way. Would be nice to get this win and put together a 3 game win streak before the schedule gets tough again.

If we win Sunday then suddenly we are looking at a Falcons team that will likely be on a 3 game skid and be in big trouble, then we get the 49ers and Redskins at home. In the next three weeks we could possibly deliver a knock out punch to the Falcons and ensure a winning season. This would also give us a huge confidence and momentum boost heading down the stretch so I am rooting hard for the 49ers, Jets and Jags this weekend. I feel like we have a shot at homefield advantage throughout but certainly are in great postition for a first round bye and homefield for at least one game. I am not counting on the 49ers since they have been dismal on the road and never play the Seahawks good.

The Eagles and Cowboys are both teams to watch. I think the Cowboys can win against the Colts but I'm pretty confident in the Colts winning this game. The Eagles/Titans game should be very interesting. Jeff Fisher does more with less than any coach in the NFL. The Titans will play tough and they have a very physical offensive line that can run the ball. If the Titans get their running game going early then the Eagles may be in trouble. The Titans have been 1 point from beating the Colts and Ravens and they did beat the Jags so they could do it but I will be surprised if they can pull the upset in Philly.

The Jags have been up and down all year. Hopefully they will be up this week and can deliver a big blow to the Giants.

The Jets offensive line has been very good this year and they have got better each week as a unit. The Bears secondary is not the strength of their defense and the Jets have been very effective passing the ball. This is a team that just beat the Pats, almost knocked off the Colts and they have won 3 of their last 4 games. I think they will pull the upset on the Bears Sunday. The Rams have had a tough 1st half schedule but after this week they play only 1 team with a winning record and they have the 49ers, Cardinals, Raiders and Redskins all on the schedule. So even if the Panthers win this game (and I think they will) they are still a team to pay attention to.

The Vikings are one of the teams that I thought would be among the top of the NFC but they can't get anything going on offense. They lost Marcus Robinson for the past few games and Troy Williamson has dissapeared after dropping a bunch of balls the past few weeks. They get Robinson back and that should help but I think the Dolphins win this game and suddenly the Vikings are in a world of trouble. The Vikings are the type of team that can put together a streak and be a force in the playoffs. Anytime you get a team with a good offensive line and a good defense they can create havoc in the post season so here is to hoping they don't get there (not to mention our history vs the Vikings).
 
Nice analysis and there are some great matchups...I am going to my only Saints game this season on Sunday. I hope all the dome scoreboards are kind since I wont be at home watching all the games on the ticket.
 
Nice analysis and there are some great matchups...I am going to my only Saints game this season on Sunday. I hope all the dome scoreboards are kind since I wont be at home watching all the games on the ticket.

The scoreboars constantly flip thorugh the other scores around the league. Also, this year they actually show the league leaders in passing, recieving an rushing on the scorebaords as the games go on. Nice, if you are a Fantasy football guy.
 
I really love these posts. Less thinking for me and more time for beer.
 
st dude and bclemms,
I love your styles. Great analysis. You guys should do this for a living... I'm serious.:worthy:
 
If every game goes our way, the NFC looks like this at the end of week 10:
(yeah, there is no chance, but hey...)

Chicago 8-2
Saints 7-3
Giants 6-4
Seattle 6-4
Dallas 5-5
Philly 5-5
Carolina 5-5
Atlanta 5-5
Rams 5-5
San Fran 5-5
Vikings 4-6
Green Bay 4-6
 
It's a Must win if you don't want to hear the "so-called" experts and commentators all week or the rest of the season talking about saints have reached they're Mid-season Downward spiral, expect the rest of this season to look inconsistant for them, they've had they're time to shine and now saints look to fight for a wild card spot (if that).. I don't wanna hear these words, im tired of hearing them every other year or more, We need this team to approach all games as a MUST WIN, We as fans need to march in that Damn Dome like we Own that place and we have intruders, Bark as loud as you can everytime they're Offense huddles, and come to the line!, Not just when they are at the line, it's crucial we disrupt them at the Huddle, that usually has a 30% or more chance of someone not hearing the play going to the line, Which produces offsides Penalties, or other Penalties.

We "AINT" losing at home again!! "AINT" Gonna Happen!
 
We lost last week because you didn't post a "who to pull for" thread. I blame you.
 
I will be at the Jag/Giants MNF games screaming for the Jags in order to help our Saints. Hopefully, they will knock Eli out.
 
great post, dude. Man, you have really been on a roll this season with the actual football posts. Been a long time since I saw that one! lol.
 
I think we win Sunday. Maybe not handily, but it won't be a lucky last-second job either.

Great work by st dude and bclemms. A few additional thoughts:

We are reaching the point in the season, in the next 2-3 weeks, where teams that are going to advance in the playoffs start putting their run together.

The two teams in the NFC that you'd figure for this would be the 5-4 Eagles and 5-4 Panthers. Unlike many, I was not denigrating the Eagles for the 4-4 start, given the close losses and big wins. I think they'll handle the Titans pretty well and start moving toward a division title. They've righted the ship, and I'm glad we played them when we did, and that they're still ahead for the Falcons and Panthers. As far as the Panthers this week, based on their last three games, they're clearly still looking for that smooth gear, and don't seem to have the defensive horses or the big back that they've relied on in past late-season situations. It's tough to build for a stretch drive winning every game ugly, because things even out after a while. Having said that, this schizo Rams team is probably our best hope for a surprise loss by the Kitties who, even though they still have to play the Eagles and Steelers, can keep a lot of pressure on us by just hanging one game behind us all season.

And, as much as it pains me, we're all 49ers fans this week. And while that's looking like a little tougher game for us than we figured, well, 49ers fans are probably feeling the same way about us right now.

The Colts are developing a great team's knack for doing just what they need to take care of the lesser teams while stepping it up for the big games. The Cowboys are a chic pick to win this week, but, obviously, let's hope not.

I have already written off the Vikings as credible threats and believe they will finish behind the Lions. I want all the of the NFC North teams to have enough of a pulse, however, for when they play the Bears in hopes that one of them can steal one for us. And I wouldn't be terribly disappointed if the Lions made a little run here, for that reason.

There's a very small part of me that doesn't want to play a desperate Falcons team that's lost three in a row next week, maybe about the size of a small cyst. Of course, the rest of me wants them to lose, but how? Rather than a temporarily satisfying 40-10 blowout in Baltimore, that might lead to some kind of players-only, soul-searching meeting and one last hurrah for a wounded, undermanned D and a beleaguered QB, they need to drop a close game, with a couple of critical mistakes at the finish. Let the finger-pointing and blame assignments begin.
 
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IAnd, as much as it pains me, we're all 49ers fans this week. And while that's looking like a little tougher game for us than we figured, well, 49ers fans are probably feeling the same way about us right now.

.

I think this is the toughest 'know who to pull for' game, Saint J. The others are pretty much no brainers.

While I wrote I would pull for san fran, I am not so sure in thinking about it. If we lose this week we drop to 6-4. If san fran wins they go to 5-5.

That would leave them one game behind the saints and we play them. All the 49ers would have to do then , assuming both teams would stay a game apart, is beat the saints and they would be ahead of us in the wildcard race by virtue of the tiebreaker.

I am sure some fans on here see the 49ers as a walkover game for the saints, but you and I know how tough a game that would be if San Fran came in a game behind the saints, which is very possible.

This is the one know who to pull for game I have mixed feelings about. it sure wouldnt be all bad to have the niners get beat and be eliminated pretty much.
 
I just don't think they can sustain a big run, they've been winning close games against mediocre teams and getting killed by the big boys. As I said two weeks ago, I have confidence that this team will make the playoffs in any event and I am going all-in with my chips for a bye in the playoffs. If I have to choose between knocking out a wannabe that hasn't beaten a good team and has gotten just slaughtered (41-0, 48-19, 40+-something) three times in the last eight games, and a game that hangs a loss on another division leader, this is an easy one. The 49ers winning is a much bigger problem for the Seahawks than for us.

Frankly, under these circumstances the no. 2 seed wouldn't bother me; if a no. 6 beats no. 3 (Seattle?), it's either going to be Carolina or an NFC East team, and they'll give the Bears a run in that game, if not, it's the 4-5 winner, again out of the same group, ironically, the hottest of 4-5-6 will go to Chicago that week.

Like I said, all in.
 
I think this is the toughest 'know who to pull for' game, Saint J. The others are pretty much no brainers.

While I wrote I would pull for san fran, I am not so sure in thinking about it. If we lose this week we drop to 6-4. If san fran wins they go to 5-5.

That would leave them one game behind the saints and we play them. All the 49ers would have to do then , assuming both teams would stay a game apart, is beat the saints and they would be ahead of us in the wildcard race by virtue of the tiebreaker.

I am sure some fans on here see the 49ers as a walkover game for the saints, but you and I know how tough a game that would be if San Fran came in a game behind the saints, which is very possible.

This is the one know who to pull for game I have mixed feelings about. it sure wouldnt be all bad to have the niners get beat and be eliminated pretty much.


Still pull for 49ers, st dude. Seattle's still the biggest obstacle for us. If your assumption came to pass, and we were in the "unlikely" position of playing SF on Dec. 3rd for what amounted to a wild card berth... And if we subsequently lost that game, then we don't deserve to go to the post season this year... JMHO
 

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