Week 4 NFL Game Thread

[Section15Box113]

All gets rolling tonight with BAL (0-3) at PIT (sans Roethlisberger).

And on Sunday. Tom Brady will have his feet up as he watches from his couch - starting with Jets-Dolphins from London at 9:30 ET.

 

[dbn]

I just looked at the schedule for this week, and it occurred to me that I have no idea who either of the starting QBs will be for the Sunday night game (DAL@NO).
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwF5tzFi11s

 

[dynomite]

Who would have thought the Ravens would be playing for their season in Week 4? Crazy. And that Saints/Cowboys game certainly lost a lot of its appeal over the last few weeks, huh? That game should have been the highlight of the weekend. Now it's the Thursday game and...uhhhh?

Love that there are 4 national games this weekend:

Thurs.
BAL @ PIT, 8:25 pm (CBS/NFLN)

Sun.
NYJ vs. MIA, 9:30 am (CBS)
DAL @ NO, 8:30 pm (NBC)

Mon.
DET @ SEA, 8:30 pm (ESPN)

 

[McBride11]

All gets rolling tonight with BAL (0-3) at PIT (sans Roethlisberger).

And on Sunday. Tom Brady will have his feet up as he watches from his couch - starting with Jets-Dolphins from London at 9:30 ET.

 
Brady doesn't have time to put his feet up mid-season.
 
National TV Maps
 
I'm torn tonight. On the one hand, Baltimore going 0-4 would be great and on the other the Steeler's losing is always nice and hangs another L for seeding purposes at the end of the year upon a dangerous team (when Ben's active).  However the Steeler's next 3 are @ SD, Arizona, @ KC.  They could easily get another 2 losses in that stretch with Ben out. And if he is out more than 4 weeks, they then have division rivals, and current 3-0 team, Cincinnati.

 

[tims4wins]

I'm rooting for Pittsburgh tonight. Since the Pats have the H2H win in the books I am not concerned about their seeding - plus as you said they are likely to pick up a couple losses with him out. I would rather just have Baltimore continue its downward spiral. Fuck that team.
 
Saw a tweet from Schefter that the Steelers are 1-5 against the Ravens with Ben out though - so it is uphill sledding for sure.

 

[pappymojo]

I'm roozing for the ravens. May their season suck but may they get stuck outside the top five draft picks.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

I'm rooting for Pittsburgh tonight. Since the Pats have the H2H win in the books I am not concerned about their seeding - plus as you said they are likely to pick up a couple losses with him out. I would rather just have Baltimore continue its downward spiral. Fuck that team.
 
Saw a tweet from Schefter that the Steelers are 1-5 against the Ravens with Ben out though - so it is uphill sledding for sure.

 
Me too.
 
Most importantly, I just want to gawk at the ongoing trainwreck that is the 2015 Ravens season.  I would love to hear Harbaugh's excuses for why his squad lost to a Vick-led Steelers team.
 
Further, I know its ridiculously early but, based on current team performance and future schedule, I feel about as good as possible three games into the season regarding our chances of getting the #1 seed in the AFC.  I also think Pitt is probably the 2nd or 3rd best team in the AFC with a healthy Ben and so I'd rather have them win the North and get slated to meet the Broncos (the presumptive 2 or 3 seed in this scenario, since the South "champion" looks fairly likely to be the 4 seed) in the playoffs than get a WC and quite possibly come to Gillette in the divisional round.

 

[mauf]

 
Me too.
 
Most importantly, I just want to gawk at the ongoing trainwreck that is the 2015 Ravens season.  I would love to hear Harbaugh's excuses for why his squad lost to a Vick-led Steelers team.
 
Further, I know its ridiculously early but, based on current team performance and future schedule, I feel about as good as possible three games into the season regarding our chances of getting the #1 seed in the AFC.  I also think Pitt is probably the 2nd or 3rd best team in the AFC with a healthy Ben and so I'd rather have them win the North and get slated to meet the Broncos (the presumptive 2 or 3 seed in this scenario, since the South "champion" looks fairly likely to be the 4 seed) in the playoffs than get a WC and quite possibly come to Gillette in the divisional round.

 
As a Steelers fan, I wish I could agree, but I think it's fairly clear that Cincy is the best team in the AFCN, even with Roethlisberger healthy. And Pittsburgh's schedule is brutal. The toughest games (the three divisional road games, plus Denver and Seattle) don't hit until after Roethlisberger is expected to return, but that's a double-edged sword -- assuming they'll go no better than 3-3 down the stretch, PIT needs to go something like 5-2 in their current stretch of games (BAL, @SD, ARI, @KC, CIN, OAK, CLE) before their bye week. That's a tall order for a second-tier team without its starting QB.

 

[RedOctober3829]

I'm sick of hearing about how great John Harbaugh's playoff record is.  Sure he is 10-5, but if he was such a great coach why does Baltimore play on Wild Card Weekend every year?

 

[Kevin Youkulele]

 
As a Steelers fan, I wish I could agree, but I think it's fairly clear that Cincy is the best team in the AFCN, even with Roethlisberger healthy. And Pittsburgh's schedule is brutal. The toughest games (the three divisional road games, plus Denver and Seattle) don't hit until after Roethlisberger is expected to return, but that's a double-edged sword -- assuming they'll go no better than 3-3 down the stretch, PIT needs to go something like 5-2 in their current stretch of games (BAL, @SD, ARI, @KC, CIN, OAK, CLE) before their bye week. That's a tall order for a second-tier team without its starting QB.

I think you just convinced me as a non-Steelers fan to hold my nose and root for BAL.  PIT probably makes it into the postseason as a wild card if at all, meaning there's a decent chance they run into the Pats.  They'd be the worst case scenario as a wild-card opponent making it to the divisional round, e.g., after taking out a 3/4 seeded IND.  

 

[Super Nomario]

I'm sick of hearing about how great John Harbaugh's playoff record is.  Sure he is 10-5, but if he was such a great coach why does Baltimore play on Wild Card Weekend every year?

Because they play in the same conference as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning?
 
(Seriously, a Brady or Manning team has had the 1-seed in the AFC going back to 2009. 2008 Titans were the last "other" team to have the best record)

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

I really like Baltimore -3 with Ben out.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

 
As a Steelers fan, I wish I could agree, but I think it's fairly clear that Cincy is the best team in the AFCN, even with Roethlisberger healthy. And Pittsburgh's schedule is brutal. The toughest games (the three divisional road games, plus Denver and Seattle) don't hit until after Roethlisberger is expected to return, but that's a double-edged sword -- assuming they'll go no better than 3-3 down the stretch, PIT needs to go something like 5-2 in their current stretch of games (BAL, @SD, ARI, @KC, CIN, OAK, CLE) before their bye week. That's a tall order for a second-tier team without its starting QB.

 
I agree that Pitt is very unlikely to overtake Cincy given that they're a game behind and they're going to lose a bunch of games with Ben out.  Cincy may also be just as good in the abstract but I think I like the way the Patriots match up with the Bengals better than I like how they match up with the Steelers.  Some of that may be unreasonable projection from their past performance in the playoffs.  But it also scares me a bit to play any top tier passing offense given that the Patriots corners are a substantial weakness - I can see a shootout type game where Ben and Brady trade touchdowns all afternoon and the outcome ends up hinging on a second half turnover or a fluke play in either direction. 

 

[NortheasternPJ]

Because they play in the same conference as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning?
 
(Seriously, a Brady or Manning team has had the 1-seed in the AFC going back to 2009. 2008 Titans were the last "other" team to have the best record)

It's also hard to get the bye when you don't win your division which they've done only twice since 2007.

I'm rooting for Pitt tonight with that brutal schedule coming up.

 

[pappymojo]

I think the Steelers could have won the game against the Patriots. Two missed field goals, and the receiver stepping out of bounds on the touchdown pass. Plus they were without their RB1 and their WR2. I'm glad the Patriots won but I kind of feel like the stupidity and crying over the headset has overshadowed how close that game was. I am not nearly as giddy about the Patriots so far as everyone else, and I will be glad if the Steelers miss the playoffs entirely. If healthy, they can compete with any team in the league.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

I think the Steelers could have won the game against the Patriots. Two missed field goals, and the receiver stepping out of bounds on the touchdown pass. Plus they were without their RB1 and their WR2. I'm glad the Patriots won but I kind of feel like the stupidity and crying over the headset has overshadowed how close that game was. I am not nearly as giddy about the Patriots so far as everyone else, and I will be glad if the Steelers miss the playoffs entirely. If healthy, they can compete with any team in the league.

Was it really that close? They were up 14 from the early fourth until a few seconds left.

If Pitt was in a dog fight with the Pats the Pats probably would have played with more urgency or different style.

I think Pitt is probably the 2nd or 3rd best team in the AFC when healthy as well.

 

[Marciano490]

It wasn't that close, but Pitt was also without Bell and Bryant.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Pitt missed two FGs and we recovered the game's only fumble on the one yard line, which is like winning a seven point coin toss.  The late Pitt TD made the final score appear closer than how the game unfolded, but the score progression in the game reflected some significant luck that went our way.

 

[bankshot1]

If we figure Cincy wins the AFCN, then that leaves Balt and Pitt fighting for a WC spot. Either team healthy/close to full strength can be tough, so in that vein, I'm holding my nose, root for the Ravens tonight, (they go to 1-3) hope they continue to struggle, and that Pitt (2-2) struggles without Ben, and both end the season on the outside looking in.   

 

[thehitcat]

I want tonight to be the one tie in this NFL season.  Something like 13 all, no offensive Touchdowns and both kickers missing a chance to win it (Ravens in regulation and Pitt in OT) crushing both teams confidence in their kicking games and leaving everyone dissatisfied.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Because they play in the same conference as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning?
 
(Seriously, a Brady or Manning team has had the 1-seed in the AFC going back to 2009. 2008 Titans were the last "other" team to have the best record)

Baltimore always has to fight and claw to make the playoffs.  If Harbaugh was such a great coach, wouldn't they win the division more times and put them into position to get a first round bye?  

 

[Stitch01]

Fuck the Ravens.  I hope they lose every game the rest of the year by 50 points.

 

[tims4wins]

Not just elite - the best QB in the NFL, per his coach

 

[mauf]

Baltimore always has to fight and claw to make the playoffs.  If Harbaugh was such a great coach, wouldn't they win the division more times and put them into position to get a first round bye?  

 
Chuck Noll won 4 Super Bowls in 6 years. It took BB 14 years to do the same. Therefore, Noll was a better coach than BB.

 

[Dogman]

 
Chuck Noll won 4 Super Bowls in 6 years. It took BB 14 years to do the same. Therefore, Noll was a better coach than BB.

 
Likewise, Terry Bradshaw was the QB for those teams. Therefore, Bradshaw was better than Montana, Brady but not Flacco.

 

[RedOctober3829]

 
Chuck Noll won 4 Super Bowls in 6 years. It took BB 14 years to do the same. Therefore, Noll was a better coach than BB.

What does that have to do with anything I'm saying?  My overall point was that Harbaugh's playoff record is overblown because he's had to play so many more games.  He plays on WCW every year.  To be considered a great coach, he should be doing better in the regular season to put his teams in a position to be at home and getting a bye.  I think he's done a good job, but Harbaugh is overrated.  He's Teflon Don in that town.

 

[ipol]

My lead man is from Baltimore. Polish kid - his dad's a retired stevedore - who grew up in the west side and watches The Wire and knows the street corners. We've had plenty of awkward and salty conversations over the past ten years but, hell, I was his third job out of high school. The fucker is family to me. C'mon you asshole John Harbaugh: Win it for Joe.

 

[mauf]

What does that have to do with anything I'm saying?  My overall point was that Harbaugh's playoff record is overblown because he's had to play so many more games.  He plays on WCW every year.  To be considered a great coach, he should be doing better in the regular season to put his teams in a position to be at home and getting a bye.  I think he's done a good job, but Harbaugh is overrated.  He's Teflon Don in that town.

 
 
My point is that you have to judge a coach by reference to the talent on hand and the quality of competition. The 1970s Steelers might be the greatest team ever, but Chuck Noll isn't even in the discussion for greatest coach.
 
Most of us think John Harbaugh has done just about the best job possible with the talent he's had on hand -- and it's not like we're saying that because we're fond of the guy. But even haters like us mostly think that talent-wise, Harbaugh's teams have ranged from mediocre to pretty good, and his results have been a lot better than that. He gets the most out of his teams, and no one wants to play them in January.
 
You can disagree with that any part of that analysis -- maybe you think his teams are stocked with overrated players, or that his (relatively) SSS 10-5 postseason record is chock full of lucky bounces and serendipitous matchups. If so, you can make that case, but simply saying he's not a good coach because he hasn't gotten first-round byes is silly.

 

[soxhop411]

Mike Rosenberg ‏@RosenbergMerc  5h5 hours ago
NFL just finished a calendar month without any player arrests reported. That hadn't happened in more than 6 years.

 

[johnmd20]

Mike Rosenberg ‏@RosenbergMerc  5h5 hours ago
NFL just finished a calendar month without any player arrests reported. That hadn't happened in more than 6 years.

 
I wonder if that includes early September. Because the season started on September 10th.

 

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

Looks like the last one was Ahmad Brooks on 8/26.

 

[ShaneTrot]

I am shocked at how lousy the Ravens' skill position players are besides Smith, is there a decent receiver on that team? The Pitta injury hurts. Their top 2 picks in the draft were a WR and TE but the first rounder, Breshad Perriman, just had surgery. 

 

[Marciano490]

What happened to Forsett?  Was he just never that good?

 

[tims4wins]

Well that and he had Kubiak last year who is basically a hall of famer when it comes to coaching the running game in coordination with the O line

 

[mauf]

I am shocked at how lousy the Ravens' skill position players are besides Smith, is there a decent receiver on that team? The Pitta injury hurts. Their top 2 picks in the draft were a WR and TE but the first rounder, Breshad Perriman, just had surgery. 

After their improbable Super Bowl run, the Ravens pulled out all the stops cap-wise to keep the band together. The bill for that is now coming due; the lack of talent at the offensive skill positions is part of that.

I'm not knocking the Ravens for those decisions -- you can't dismantle a championship team, and the hangover they're presently enduring is a price any team would gladly pay for a championship -- but it explains why a team that is widely considered well-run wound up with so many holes.

 

[Warning Track Speed]

And as the calendar turns to October, out come the pink shoes, towels, etc. Can't say I'm a fan of a full month of it.

 

[swiftaw]

And as the calendar turns to October, out come the pink shoes, towels, etc. Can't say I'm a fan of a full month of it.

Yeah, it should be the first home game in October for each team, then done.

 

[rodderick]

Yeah, it should be the first home game in October for each team, then done.

Can you explain to me what bothers you about it? I see this sentiment a lot and I'm genuinely curious.

 

[ipol]

Clearly they're pandering but I, also, don't see it as egregious.
 
Edit to mention that I shouldn't have been inclusive.

 

[Devizier]

Can you explain to me what bothers you about it? I see this sentiment a lot and I'm genuinely curious.

 
My guess is the fact that Susan G. Komen is a scam has a big part to do with it.

 

[54thMA]

Have to give Steelers and Ravens fans credit; two very good looking fan bases, I'll give them that

 

[Jnai]

I hate Vick. Fuck this dog abusing asshole.

 

[ipol]

Not a good start.

 

[Warning Track Speed]

I'm not a big fan of Komen but really I'm more shallow than that; it's largely aesthetic. It just seems a little over-done. A month? I'd be fine with the first-home-Sunday plan. Like baseball on Mother's Day.

 

[McBride11]

Have to give Steelers and Ravens fans credit; two very good looking fan bases, I'll give them that

 
I'd laugh but it just makes me cry as that is my dating life.

 

[Marciano490]

I really like Baltimore -3 with Ben out.

You grab it? I took Pitt, Bell over 78.5 yards rushing and Pitt over 2 sacks.

 

[tims4wins]

You grab it? I took Pitt, Bell over 78.5 yards rushing and Pitt over 2 sacks.

1 down already

 

[54thMA]

 
I'd laugh but it just makes me cry as that is my dating life.

 

The one guy who said he was 57 made me laugh; in what, fucking dog years?

 

[snowmanny]

1 down already

He might get the Bell one in about five minutes.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

I'm a Pats fan with an insatiable appetite for SB wins and I often get what I want.  Who am I rooting for in this game?  (I'm thinking Pitt.)