A sad realization

Not winning in the tough environments is a very valid point against Drew Brees and would be the biggest knock against him. I also agree with you in regard to the run game and how he shines when it is top tier. However those two knocks against Drew Brees are hige pluses for Eli Manning because he wins in any environment and does it with a weak offensive line and a well below average running game. Heck, NY Giants had the worst running gamd in NFL this past season. I find Eli Manning to be very consistent and I think folks tend to be very critical of him. It is obvious that Eli Manning is not worried about his overall stats because he often makes high risk attempts at the end of games to try and come back when in the same situation a lot of other QBs are too worried about their stats and they just hold the ball.

Vitrophy, I pay no mind to the top 100 that is voted because it is about as meaningless as the pre season predictions of where the teams will finish. The fact that the players themselves vote on it does not take away that it could still very well be a popularity contest.

We are not that far off at times on the top QBs, just have them ranked in a different order. In general though the rankings are meaningless.

On a side note how do people feel about the 49ers? There are times I want to say they won't repeat last season but at the same time I can't count out a Jim Harbaugh led team and as long as that D is at the top of it's game they are going to be a tough opponent.

Man I loved that defense last year......they played their freaking asses off in the NFCCG too. Eli took a real pounding lol. I will give him credit there, not many QBs can get the crap pounded out of them and keep getting up and making plays at times.

Exactly. We are just ranking them differently but I think we are in agreement kn the top tier of QBs.

I think 49ers defense is so good that they have a real shot at going far this season. They kept intact be resigning folks. I think 49ers offensive line is really really good and although I dont think Alex Smith is a great QB he is good and he doesn't make the foolish mistake. He showed in the New Orleans playoff game that he is much more than just a game manager and even throughout the Peyton Manning courtship by 49ers he remained even keel and resigned with them even though he would have gotten same money from money from Miami. A lot of players would have let their egos get in the way and sign witha different team but Alex Smith stayed with 49ers because it is a better chance to win and that shows a lot about his personality and it is good. Due to the strength of their defense, the strength of their offensive line and the additions they have made on offense, I would say that they have to be close to being the top favorite with Green Bay Packers to go to SuperBowl from NFC.

I think I am getting back on the Houston bandwagon. They have a few minor holes but nothing scary.

With a healthy Schaub last year I firmly believe they would have beaten Baltimore. They could have beaten NE too. And yes, they could have beaten the Giants and the GOAT Eli Manning. The second ranked Texans D from last season would have made life much more difficult for Eli then that cupcake crap the Packers and Patriots had. (sorry guys but it was cupcake-ish) last year.

And Houston can run the ball as well as anyone if not better and could have burned up a lot of clock vs. the G men.

Now, the only thing I feel can seriously hurt Houston again is injuries. But, if they stay healthy and Schaub stays healthy they have the potential to have a top 5/10 defense AND offense.

They could honestly end up being the AFCs best hope for another SB title again. Age might show up in key areas eventually with the Pats/Steelers/Ravens. And with the Broncos that D is ridiculously overrated but people talk like they are the 2000 Ravens. Last years Broncos finished 20th in overall defense and got pummeled by good offensive teams like the Pats/Packers/Lions.

Kinda sad that the two SB teams had lower ranked D's then both the Colts. The Colts finished I think 25th and they didn't even have a QB last season and gave up crazy cushions in the secondary in a lazy cover 2 that didn't work and went nowhere because Jim Caldwell sucked balls and never made adjustments.

Those are my football thoughts for tonight......

Houston Texans have a stout defense but true to all Wade Phillips defenses they constantly blitz off the cuff and Eli Manning would have feasted in them Aaron Rodgers would havr also exploited that defense. I think Houston Texans had their chance and we will be lookong at New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens to go to SuperBowl from AFC.

Denver Btonvos have a good defense but I agree with you that they are overrated. Their strength is the run game and it will be nice to see what Peyton Manning can do when he has a power running game.

I dont see the Pats as a lock to the SB. So many things can happen or change. I dont even think the Pats are a lock to win their division. well see though.

It is hard to pick anyone as a lock but I think they have the best chance to go back to SuperBowl from AFC. They drafted exceptionally well to their defense and although Tom Brady more than likely will not throw for 5200+ yards again this upcoming season, which will illicit so many "he is falling off and on the decline" comments to be thrown around, he will have another great year. Tom Brady tends to get the most out of those around him and I expect that we will see another huge year from Gronkowski and Hernandez will contribute a lot. I am interested to see what Pittsburgh Steelers do under their new offensive coordinator and am curious to see if Joe Flacco is really over the hump and takes Baltimore Ravens further. Houston Texans are going to be interesting to watch and see what they do and Denver Broncos may surprise people, they have a great running game and a good enough defense that gets plenty of rest because of that running game. If Peyton Manning comes back healthy and to form, they have a shot but I kind of expect them to get Tebowed by NY Jets in 1st round of playoffs if they meet.

The favorties to go to SuperBowl from NFC in my opinion are San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers. San Francisco 49ers kept that ferocious defense in tact and they made some off season moves that will make their offense better. I think Alex Smith is a good QB and he plays very smart. Green Bay Packers are going to play with a chip on their shoulders after going 15-1 last season and then 1 and done in playoffs. I think their defense will be better and they are going to be hard to beat. It is going to be interesting to see how New Orleans Saints respond after the bounty scandal and suspensions. Also I was a little bit surprised over the fit Drew Brees threw over franchise tag. I thought as the leader on that team that he would have kept it in house and not made a public spectacle like he did. However I think he will put it behind him and have a great year but I think New Orleans Saints will suffer and fall short due to losing their head coach and all the other mess in their organization. Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears always have a chance because of how tough Bears play Packers and how tough Eagles play Giants. A playoff upset in those two scenarios is always possible. NY Giants have a good chance to repeat but our defense is still suspect. We have an awesome defensive line but are weak at linebacker and questionable in secondary. We are really counting on Ty Thomas returning to form and Prince Amukumara to play consistently at the level he did in the playoffs. We are going to need Eli Manning to control time of possesion in order to give defense a rest. I am excited about our chances and expect an awesome season.

Best of luck to you guys and I expect that we will meet you folks again in playoffs.

I bELIeve.

The only problem there is every year people think that, only for SD to fold like a cheap suit towards the end of the season or the playoffs.

teams aren't as intimidated by the Pats like they were about 8-10 yrs ago. I've already made my SB pick. It's early but in about a month guys on the NFL network will do the same. NFC Championship will be GB vs Eagles(or brother vs brother)35-24 GB. AFC title game is a rematch. Ravens vs Pats. 28-24 Ravens. SB Packers vs Ravens. 38-24 Packers

I like those picks. Ravens are going to be strong.

I could see several afc teams that could sneak in. Pittsburg, jets could get hot, chargers, texans, ect.

Packers and Ravens was my preseason/early season SB pick LAST year.

This year? I am pretty torn on the AFC. I don't truly "feel" anyone. Maybe it's still too early yet.

Who knows. That NE schedule is a joke though. If they stay healthy and avoid the so called "SB loser curse" then perhaps they can pull a Buffalo Bills on us.

Houston's schedule looks good to. If they can avoid blowing it and losing major players again they have the road IMO paved for them. In the back of mind I often expect Houston to fail though so it's tough.

Whoever is healthiest in the AFC with home field in the title game might end up in the SB.
2006: Colts go to SB with title game at home
2007: Pats go to SB with title game at home
2008: Steelers go to SB with title game at home
2009: Colts go to SB with title game at home
2010: Steelers go to SB with title game at home
2011: Pats go to SB with title game at home
2012: ???


The upsets seem more common lately in the NFC where being the 6th seed or the 9-7 4th seed doesn't seem to matter much.

The way I see the 2012/13 season:

AFC- New England defeats Oakland 21 - 17 to win the AFC Championship.
NFC- Green Bay spanks Atlanta 49 - 13 to win the NFC Championship.

NFL- Green Bay vs New England in SB Forty Seven.
In a game for the record books, GB & NE take to the skies in a see-saw aerial circus. With the game tied at 42-42 regulation time expires and the game goes into overtime. In overtime it's the Defense that wins the day when Nick Perry tips a T.Brady pass. The ball is caught by B.J.Raji who runs 37 tough yards into the end zone. Final score GB 48 -42 over NE !!! GO PACK GO !!!

I am not really feeling Baltimore this offseason, not sure why. Unlike last offseason I was really into them and picked them to maybe get to the SB after the first few weeks of the season. Personally, I still feel like Baltimore should have been in the big one. Heck, both the Giants and Pats were a few lucky bounces from sitting home watching the HarBowl. Please, Giants and Pats fans....you know it. Your teams got in by the smallest of margins. Luck (not Andrew) was on your side.

I am feeling Pittsburgh again more. Perhaps losing to Tebone will light a fire under them too. I mean lets face it......they went 12-4, were in the SB the year before AND LOST to Tim Tebow's 8-8 Broncos in Denver. Can it get worse? Oh wait, it can. The Saints the year before lost to a 7-9 Seahawks team but at the same time it wasn't Tebow and the Saints were not boasting the top ranked D in the league either. So whatever. Besides, it hurts a lot less when you are the defending SB champs.


BTW the Pats schedule looks like a freaking JOKE!!!!

Haha... this could be the one of the most brain-damaged posts I have EVER read. You're 'reaching and stretching' as Giants' fans have a tendency to do en masse - following your tangental meandering, the Giants then are also responsible for the great Cowboy teams as well? YAWN!!! {poster stretches and scratches balls}

If your thought as copied above, is carried out to its endpoint, let's call it what it was back then ... the Giants only wanted Lombardi AFTER he came to Green Bay and proved that the Italian/Roman Catholicism in him, would no longer 'get in the way' of a rather closed minded and bigoted East Coast population.

Incidentally, Vince Lombardi started his coaching career at St. Cecilia's high school. Winning State Championships in football AND basketball - basketball being a sport he never participated in, nor coached prior. The guy was natural - if you've played at ANY level and/or coached at any level, you'll know what I'm referring to. Therefore, it could be argued that Lombardi made the Giants - not the other way around - the facts in the matter seem to support my supposition but I'm sure that you'll have some line of 'stuff' from one of the Giants' forums that will involve "persecution by the NFL/refs" and "lack of respect" and "Blah blah blah" ... all three topics seem to occupy a lot of bandwidth at those sites.

Incidentally, congrats on your teams' Super Bowl win. The way things played out, I was happy to see it.

To say Eli is the NYGs best ever QB is tough. Phil Simms was a great QB for the NYGs also. As for the best QB in the NFC your wrong on that one. Rodgers is the best in the NFL hands down. Not saying that as a Packers fan but that's the truth