Week 1 discussion thread

[BamBam]

First topic message reminder :

Seeing as no one else has started one (surprisingly!) I thought I would get the ball rolling with the first thread of the season.

Who is staying up tonight to watch the Cowboys-Giants? My currently unemployed ass is loving the opportunity to watch the game with no guilt about having to wake up early tomorrow, so I will definitely be watching! As much as I dislike the Giants, I almost have to hope Eli does well this year seeing as he has ended up on a number of my fantasy teams, and seeing as I have never really liked the Cowboys, I'm going to be rooting for the Giants tonight

Prediction - Giants by less than 7

[BamBam]

Eagles pick off Weeden with 1.05 to go and a 1 point lead, that looks like a lucky escape for them

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Weeden had 4 INT's I believe today, stunk that place out

[BamBam]

Matched by Vick. 8 picks in 1 game, yeuchh

[Breadvan]

Watching game on laptop with the sound down, SF coach is going nuts at the officials all the time, what gives?

[BamBam]

22 seconds for Brees, surely even he can't do this

[BamBam]

Well done Skins! Number-25 how are your nerves??

[Number-25]

Skins win!!!!!!! Can't believe it!!!!! Sooooo happy!!!

[crazy_dave23]

close... Good for me in fantasy... Brees INT hits cherries in the keeper league

[Number-25]

Well done Skins! Number-25 how are your nerves??

Haha!!! My nerves are shot! It would just be typical Redskins to find a way to lose that so was braced for it happening. When Brees took them to our 40 for a Hail Mary shot I was tearing my hair out!

Great job by the Skins today. So pleased with them. RG3 exceeded expectations as did Alfred Morris and our defense. How many teams go to the Superdome and outscore the Saints in a shootout?? And when was the last time the Skins scored 40 points in a meaningful game??

[BamBam]

Randy Moss is back! Go Niners!!!

[BamBam]

Well done Skins! Number-25 how are your nerves??

Haha!!! My nerves are shot! It would just be typical Redskins to find a way to lose that so was braced for it happening. When Brees took them to our 40 for a Hail Mary shot I was tearing my hair out!

Great job by the Skins today. So pleased with them. RG3 exceeded expectations as did Alfred Morris and our defense. How many teams go to the Superdome and outscore the Saints in a shootout?? And when was the last time the Skins scored 40 points in a meaningful game??

Even I was off my seat when I saw him launch that Hail Mary, so can't imagine how it must have been for a fan!

[Colan (niner)]

refs better not become too big a part in the game. 49ers have been outright screwed over a few times. GB have had a few bad calls but that last one must have been just due to fan pressure, never interference. But don't think they have been as bad as commentators have made out. On another note, Alex Smith has been great and 'young' randy seems to be back, but where are the turnovers, reverses and the few LaMichael James screen passes I was looking for.

[BamBam]

What a FG by Akers! 63 yarder

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

That was immense!

[prop_lyd]

That was huge!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dancingweeman]

is it just me or are there a lot of flags being thrown tonight?

Is this down to replacement officials, or teams being a bit rusty?

[BamBam]

I would say its more to do with the players. I haven't seen any wrong calls really, most of the flags tend to be for false starts etc,

[Take it to the house]

Was that a block in the back? Not sure but a great return by Cobb nevertheless

[Take it to the house]

Huge (blown?) call there! Looked like two blocks in the back! These replacement officials are going to get it if Green Bay win

[dancingweeman]

Another Okung false start, thats at least 4 so far this game.

I need some points in this one...

[BamBam]

I take back my comments about not many wrong calls. The officials in the Niners game have been rubbish!

[GB1919]

Yep, they've been horrific, and that's coming from a Packers fan even considering we've benefited from some of the worst calls.

[Pr4wn]

Let's go bucs! Carolina kept to only 10 yards rushing in the entire game!

[BamBam]

YES! 49ers picking up the win in Green Bay is huge for us!!

[BamBam]

Let's go bucs! Carolina kept to only 10 yards rushing in the entire game!

What a stat. didn't you guys have one of the worst rush defences in the league last year

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Braylon Edwards misses the catch to win Seattle the game. Tough catch, but should have made it

[mikeygnfl]

YES! 49ers picking up the win in Green Bay is huge for us!!

Definitely a great win. Will be having another serious crack at the Super Bowl with hopefully a better passing game. Running game is strong, defense is strong, kicking/ punting team excellent.

We have a stronger schedule this year too so winning start is good going forward.

Outside the 49ers the Bears looked very good while the Texans and Patriots were comfortable. I think the Buccaneers could surprise a few this season as well.

Not sure what to make of the Eagles and Vick who just managed to scrap home against a very poor Browns team.

[Colan (niner)]

Really happy with the 49ers win, the sky sports analysts still don't like to give them credit though it seems. Refs could have screwed the niners with that botched punt return call but the defense held strong. I was really happy with Alex Smith, he didn't go deep often but the playcalling was done in a way in which they would avoid Rodgers having the ball, so I understand the tentative football. But once again, find me a better D

[bluestonevedder]

Great performance by the 49ers- congrats, well deserved.

Thought Rodgers looked a bit off...?

Oh, and our secondary still stinks in deep coverage.

[Colan (niner)]

I think Rodgers just struggled with the pressure the 49ers brought. They didn't get a lot of sacks but he seemed to have someone in his face all of the time. Rodgers is still the best qb in the NFL, wouldn't say he was off, just that he hasn't faced a defense that good in a while. I doubt he will struggle like that again this seasonbecause he won't come up against a better D. I don't think Green Bay cope well with physical teams either, prefer a finesse matchup

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Really happy with the 49ers win, the sky sports analysts still don't like to give them credit though it seems. Refs could have screwed the niners with that botched punt return call but the defense held strong. I was really happy with Alex Smith, he didn't go deep often but the playcalling was done in a way in which they would avoid Rodgers having the ball, so I understand the tentative football. But once again, find me a better D

The Buffalo Bills. Keeping Sanchez and Tebow to under 50 points deserves a round of applause

[bluestonevedder]

I think Rodgers just struggled with the pressure the 49ers brought. They didn't get a lot of sacks but he seemed to have someone in his face all of the time. Rodgers is still the best qb in the NFL, wouldn't say he was off, just that he hasn't faced a defense that good in a while. I doubt he will struggle like that again this seasonbecause he won't come up against a better D. I don't think Green Bay cope well with physical teams either, prefer a finesse matchup

Hopefully you're right Niner. I just thought his interveption was pretty careless, and out of character from last season.

Randy Moss has proved to be a heck of a signing already for you guys! Hopefully he has a productive season.

[twelve283]

I think Rodgers just struggled with the pressure the 49ers brought. They didn't get a lot of sacks but he seemed to have someone in his face all of the time. Rodgers is still the best qb in the NFL, wouldn't say he was off, just that he hasn't faced a defense that good in a while. I doubt he will struggle like that again this seasonbecause he won't come up against a better D. I don't think Green Bay cope well with physical teams either, prefer a finesse matchup

Good point, the 49ers were a very physical matchup for the Packers.

The 49ers success on D# was down to more than making Rodgers uncomfortable in the pocket, SF were only sending 3 or 4 guys on the plays and while the rushers did a good job making Rodgers move the coverage was tight all over the field. Watching the replays and Rodgers just had no where to throw the ball half the time.

SF just sat in nickel and dime for most of the game and played tight coverage. The Packers couldn't run the ball on them either. One of the more interesting things of the game- Bowman took some of Willis' snaps in the dime package and came up with an interception.

[Colan (niner)]

Bowman is really showing how good he is, Willis coming off the field shows that. Willis is now the second best lb in coverage in the NFL, Bowman is actually relied upon more heavily than Willis when they are being spread out by teams like Green Bay. Having Willis get some rest time is a great thing too, we need to get him rushing the passer more

Just found this

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000060381/article/packers-jarrett-bush-says-49ers-really-didnt-beat-us?module=HP11_headline_stack

Haha, Bush is not even a starter calibre corner and he's talking smack. I actually like Green Bay but the whining of some of their players is pretty funny. Finley looked like he was crying (great player btw). Also, did anyone see Alex Smith winding up Clay Matthews. Clay looked all annoyed and Smith just said something with a huge grin whilst laughing and he went away in a huff. The Packers will just be annoyed they never got all the decisions they wanted. It's the exact same with the Saints, both teams seem to get all the calls going their way, and when they don't they moan. Beating yourself is throwing 3 picks and fumbling a few times. Actually being beaten by a better team is when you give up 200 yards plus passing, almost 200 rushing and 3 sacks like they did.

"Give us a break. The Giants and 49ers pushed the Packers around. Green Bay has lost three of its last four games. Their defense was generally awful for all of last season.

We're starting to think Green Bay's attitude that no team can actually beat them is part of the problem". Got to agree with Rosenthal.

[bluestonevedder]

When a team's beaten, they are beaten. End of. I don't like all this smack talk or complaining after losing a game. Bush shouldn't have said anything, and instead, channel the frustration of losing into the next game.

It was a great game between two of the hottest teams in the NFL at current. Rightfully, the 49ers came away winners, and that's that.

Some players need to learn to let their performance on the field do the talking.

[Colan (niner)]

To be fair most teams have stupid players who make excuses. I can't really thik of any specific niners players doing it but it happens. I remember the Harbowl last year when the 49ers had an interception an td wrongly taken away and so many said the reason they were beaten was that. People seemed to forget that the o-line looked like they had never played before.

[Number-25]

Never saw the 49ers game last night but that's a great win for them. They've made a big statement there that last season wasn't a one-off and that they need to be considered as contenders this year. Good on them!

Opening weekend defeats for the Giants, Packers and Saints have certainly made things very interesting in the NFC.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

David Nelson has torn his ACL and is out for the season.
Fred Jackson is out for at least 4 weeks.

Bills are proper screwed

[Lowlandbrit]

Saw the Packers/49ers game; Niners look really good, Packers defence looked terrible.

Jets were surprising, Falcons looked really good, and the Vikings/Jaguars game was terrifying: I thought Terminator was a science-fiction movie, but judging by Adrian Peterson the technology actually exists...

[mikeygnfl]

Opening weekend defeats for the Giants, Packers and Saints have certainly made things very interesting in the NFC.

I think the Saints will recover ok. Last night was a shock and wake up call. The Giants will be as good as the last few years and their hopes will rest on what the Eagles, Cowboys and Redskins do. The Packers may have a harder time winning the NFC North if they let the Bears get too many games ahead.

[Thomond]

Me and Derby are in a prediction league with a few other blogs and sites, I plumped the Broncos, Cowboys and Bucs to win but was overruled.......



We'll forget the fact that I also made some mistakes


Niner, 49ers D is the best in the league, no question they seemed to have been super from what I saw, Not getting ahead of myself as it is only one game but that was probably the best Bucs defensive display I have seen since 99 NFC Championship game ( wasn't supporting them was only a kid, but saw it on youtube recently, to hold that Rams team to 11 points is unbelievable). Tied a franchise record, grabbed 2 picks, Ronde had a superb 200th game and more importantly got that win! Coach Schiano could do great things on defence, but they won't be good enough to carry the team, J5 will have to step up and carry this time and I wonder is he capable of it.


Still celebrate for the moment, nearly a year since they won a feicing game like!

Also, for guys who said Mark Barron was overratedor questinoed Lavonte David (not many on here for the latter)

Spoiler:

Only about 3 safeties in the league could make that play and they are all elite. Barron will be up there with the best, As for Lavonte, he played every snap, wore the mike helmet on his debut and accounted for 6 tackles. As a rookie calling the plays in your first game that's good going!

[Colan (niner)]

As a Nebraska fan, I always thought David would end up a great player. Although Barron was a litlle overdrafted, I still think he is a great player. When I say overdrafted, I mean prior to the draft he was built up because of need more than talent, I'm sure in hindsight he will be a steal and up there with Berry and Thomas

[crazy_dave23]

Thought now that i've watched SNF i'd point out the relatively obvious fact that Manning had a great game for the Broncos. Running the no huddle is still a thing of beauty and it was often a chess match between him and Polamalu with Manning often getting a hint from Troy and shifting the blocking assignments. Great fun.

Also Tracy Porter impressed me a lot for a guy that often gambles on routes.

Haven't seen much of the Packers game yet (besides that which was on red zone in the first half as I'm on Gamepass and so the full game was blacked out) but i'm a little disappointed. From what I saw we looked rusty on offence and I repeatedly saw penalties on the DBs for interference or illegal use of the hands... just a bit sloppy. Then again I'm not too fussed, clearly it's not ideal to loose a game at home but it's week one against a top team and a top defence.

Atlanta looked on a role against KC. Scored on their first 6 or so possessions if I remember correctly. Going to be dangerous this year.

Big congrats to the Redskins as well for toughing one out against the Saints. Played a good game to "restrict" Brees to 300 or so yards, a large chunk of which were chasing the game in the 4th. Griffin made some sick throws whilst running out of the pocket... locked comfortable.

And for some comedy...
If a 5.1 QB rating wasn't enough - to quote Mike Carlson "Earthquakes get a better rating than that"
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap1000000060271/Weeden-gets-trapped-under-American-flag

[Thomond]

Yeah Weeden stunk the place up, 8 Ints in that game and there were still only 33 points scored , should have been in the 40s with that amount! You're right about niner, Barron was a solid pick for a team who needed a big presence in their defence, McCoy will have 10+ sacks if he stays healthy. He was Sapp like yesterday, that guy is a great player just can't stay healthy. Barron also nearly killed Steve Smith, screwed up on the play and gave up big yards but nearly killed him at the end.

[adams_legend]

Just watched the broncos game and Manning looks quality, no sign of slowness.

[sodhat]

Finally caught up with the week, and with the Raiders game.

Who knew that a long snapper could decide a game? Our defense was looking pretty good generally, especially with backs to the wall in our own territory.

The offence never really got going and Palmer's numbers, though good, were more the result of yards after the catch than big plays. We never got going on the ground either.

Need to be better, even against Miami.

[mikeygnfl]

Watching the Raiders game... They really need to move to Santa Clara (even if that means being the 49ers' tenants).

[crazy_dave23]

Watching the Raiders game... They really need to move to Santa Clara (even if that means being the 49ers' tenants).

Some times I feel like I prefer Oakland with a baseball diamond (presumably the point you are referring to!)

[sodhat]

Watching the Raiders game... They really need to move to Santa Clara (even if that means being the 49ers' tenants).

They need a new stadium, I agree. It looks awful with the diamond still visible, no enzone marking, and the sidelines thin like that.

It's a small thing but aesthetics are nice to have.

[CFCNick]

The Raiders don't need to move. There's a new ballpark being built in San Jose for the A's. They'll move in 2017.

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