NFC Obituary - Dead After Week 10 (and the hierarchy of the NFC)

by JimmyK on Nov 16, 2010 10:00 AM EST in Philadelphia Eagles News

Newly Dead:

The Vikings, at 3-6, are sitting behind not just the Packers and Bears in the NFC North by 3 games, but by 5 additional teams in the NFC that are also at least 6-3... and that doesn't even count the horrid NFC West, which will unfortunately eat up a playoff berth.

"That's the thing about Brett Favre: He's not afraid to throw interceptions. You have to admire him for that."

- Tom Jackson

Well Tom, he's been unafraid 16 times this season. Bye, Vikes.

Dead and buried

Yeah, Cowboys! Thanks for embarrassing the Giants. Good work fellas. OK, now go back to embarrassing yourselves, please. As for the Lions, so much better than what they were, but there's still a ton of work there. Still kind of hard to completely take them seriously when they haven't won a road game since 1988.

The Panthers remain terrible. Worst team in the NFL?

I definitely buried them too early. Oops.

I'll say exactly what I said last week - The 49ers are a bad team this year. I've personally seen nothing from this team that leads me to believe they can realistically compete for a playoff berth. I killed them off when they were 1-6, and yet, I wonder if that was too early. Why? Because that division, the NFC West, is beyond terrible.

Ridiculous that this division will send a team to the playoffs.

See the rest of the NFC hierarchy after the jump...

The worst division in sports

No changes here from last week. It's still a terrible division. The Cardinals lost to the Seahawks and the Rams lost to the 49ers in a couple NFC West crap fests.

OOF

5 years, $78M, with $40M guaranteed for Donovan McNabb? God bless you, Dan Snyder. Tom Brady should be firing his agent right about now. Nice defense by the way, Skins.

How are these teams 6-3?

The combined record of the teams the Bears have beaten: 15-39 (.278).

The combined record of the teams the Buccaneers have beaten: 14-40 (.259).

Oh, that's how.

Still a good team. Not as good as some thought.

Swoon. It's an annoying word for NFL fans. Dallas fans got annoyed at the whole "December swoon" thing. Well, it's time for the Giants fans to begin getting annoyed at the "late-season swoon" thing. They got embarrassed... at home... by a bad, demoralized team. And it was never seriously in doubt. Gone are the folks proclaiming this team the best team in the NFL. They're not even the best team in the division, and they better start winning, as in next week in Philly, if they don't want to start hearing that word with regularity. And this just in... Philly looks... you know, good.

Sleeping ~~Giants~~ Packers and Saints

These two teams had byes this week to the dismay of many a fantasy football owner. Massively talented teams here. Suddenly the NFC is really beginning to look like the dominant conference. Are the 4 best teams in the AFC as good as the Packers, Saints, Falcons and Eagles?

Flying high

Big, big win over the Ravens on Thursday night. Matt Ryan really looked like a star in the making. While the Falcons aren't as talented as the Packers or Saints, they've played better, save for a terrible performance in Philly and a few extremely lucky wins earlier this season.

Flying higher

Is there really a discussion here?

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Comments

it might take me as long to get over last night's win

as it did to get over our 44-6 beat down of Dallas.

This was the most exciting game I’ve seen since then, and I do feel as though I may have witnessed the best QB performance EVER. Vick was INCREDIBLE, and I desperately hope we resign him!

"EFF YOU, WE'RE WINNING ANYWAY!!!!!!" (Bye, Dawk)

by jalarsen1 on Nov 16, 2010 10:09 AM EST reply actions

yeah last night is definitely in the 44-6 category

especially since it was on national tv

Rec'd em? Damn near killed em!

by 700 Level on Nov 16, 2010 10:11 AM EST up reply actions

Yessir

I think I enjoyed the 44-6 game more because of the circumstances…

But that game last night was unlike any game I’ve ever seen.

by Smitty2K3 on Nov 16, 2010 10:40 AM EST up reply actions

Eagles have a few quality wins this year. Falcons, Redskins, Jags, Colts… i may be getting ahead of myself but, I think this team is among the top 5.

by h2o_34_35_44 on Nov 16, 2010 10:11 AM EST reply actions

i can't call jags a quality win

"EFF YOU, WE'RE WINNING ANYWAY!!!!!!" (Bye, Dawk)

by jalarsen1 on Nov 16, 2010 10:13 AM EST up reply actions

Eh, they’re 5-3 against non Eagles teams.

Follow my blog, dawg: edwerdersmustache.com :3™

by yomjoseki on Nov 16, 2010 10:14 AM EST up reply actions

but they don't look good at all

the Bucs and Bears both look better, and I think those teams are garbage…their record of cards will come falling down soon

"EFF YOU, WE'RE WINNING ANYWAY!!!!!!" (Bye, Dawk)

by jalarsen1 on Nov 16, 2010 10:18 AM EST up reply actions

but we did hold them to 3 points in there own stadium

I've been waiting my whole life for an Eagles Championship
RIP JJ

by sports00fan00 on Nov 16, 2010 12:26 PM EST up reply actions

the Jags arent a BAD team persay

they just arent GOOD either

"It was a matter of pride. You want to put that (opponent) on his back, that’s the name of the game. These (players) today are out there playing pitty-pat."
Chuck Bednarik

by northern eagle on Nov 16, 2010 10:14 AM EST up reply actions

They beat the Colts too

by DLawrence55 on Nov 16, 2010 10:36 AM EST up reply actions

And we blew them out at home

Which is where try apparently play well

Ref You Suck! Ref You Suck!

by FlyEagles15 on Nov 16, 2010 11:30 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Jags are definitely a quality win. That team is an above average nfl team this year with garrard at quarterback. He is having an awesome year. They are not a pushover this year by any means.

by PhilsForever on Nov 16, 2010 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

i LOVED Vicks performance last night

but do we REALLY have to get rid of KOlb? I already bought his black jersey (sighs regretablly)

"It was a matter of pride. You want to put that (opponent) on his back, that’s the name of the game. These (players) today are out there playing pitty-pat."
Chuck Bednarik

by northern eagle on Nov 16, 2010 10:14 AM EST reply actions

well that was stupid....

i would have at least waited till he did somethin…..young bucks always jumpin the gun

by theaction on Nov 16, 2010 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

hahahah

im glad i count as “young bucs” cuz ive been feelin old since i hit 31. now 34 seems ancient, but i guess im still young at heart. as for the jersy i got it as a late b-day gift from my father the giants(gag) fan

"It was a matter of pride. You want to put that (opponent) on his back, that’s the name of the game. These (players) today are out there playing pitty-pat."
Chuck Bednarik

by northern eagle on Nov 16, 2010 11:47 AM EST up reply actions

I'm waiting to get a Vick jersey until we resign him...grr

by justyn725 on Nov 16, 2010 11:50 AM EST up reply actions

i just might jump the gun

and buy one this week. Even if we do lose him i can have that as memorabilia of an INSANE season (so far)….on a side note anyone wanna contribute to the" buy northern eagle a Cunningham throwback jersey fund" ? LOL

"It was a matter of pride. You want to put that (opponent) on his back, that’s the name of the game. These (players) today are out there playing pitty-pat."
Chuck Bednarik

by northern eagle on Nov 16, 2010 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

now that my friend is smart...kudos

by theaction on Nov 16, 2010 2:26 PM EST up reply actions

this might be of some use

http://easternlettering.net/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=114

EAGLES!

by xADx GoGreen4Ever on Nov 16, 2010 4:39 PM EST up reply actions

Vick Vick Vick!

Fly Eagles Fly!
Monday Night Football: Michael Vick @ Washington Redskins = A big a** "W" 59-28. 333 Pass Yds, 4 Pass TD, 80 Rush Yds, 2 Rush TD
1(Bosh)+3(Wade)+6(James)=It's our year and the beginning of a dynasty.
"Sorry if everyone thought we were going to go 82-0" - Dwyane Wade
"it’s 9 games in, if Riles will step in, it will be about game 30…give Spoelstra a chance to piece this team together…Jesus, Henry the VIII gave his wives more of a chance than some of you" - TooManyNinjas

by The One Who Wears The Crown on Nov 16, 2010 10:23 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

rec

by h2o_34_35_44 on Nov 16, 2010 12:06 PM EST up reply actions

I’m one of those people who was a Vick doubter. I didn’t think wins over the Lions and Jags was all that impressive.

Mind. Changed.

Bring Vick back.

Let the beasting begin.

by TransplantedFan on Nov 16, 2010 10:27 AM EST reply actions

Fist pound!

Time to convert more people and have them fall to the ground!

by The One Who Wears The Crown on Nov 16, 2010 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

Lmao

by LegendKnight22 on Nov 16, 2010 11:05 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed

I was vocally against the move to Vick. Didn’t understand it. Heck, I was close to calling for Reid’s firing over it.

I was wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. We need to give him an extension. As soon as possible.

Never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience.

by wildcatlh on Nov 16, 2010 10:31 AM EST up reply actions

Sign me up for (gladly) eating my words.

by Team Serbia on Nov 16, 2010 10:36 AM EST up reply actions

I was questioning the move as well.

Consider the crow eaten.

by Smitty2K3 on Nov 16, 2010 10:42 AM EST up reply actions

Moar crow. Kolb’s good, Vick’s the MVP.

I’d love to keep both if it were possible, I’m a big Kolb fan.

by LeQuan Glover on Nov 16, 2010 10:42 AM EST up reply actions

agreed wholeheartedly

see above comment

"It was a matter of pride. You want to put that (opponent) on his back, that’s the name of the game. These (players) today are out there playing pitty-pat."
Chuck Bednarik

by northern eagle on Nov 16, 2010 11:49 AM EST up reply actions

My signature says how much of a skeptic I was.

Boy was I wrong.

Vick-tory? Let's hope so.

by Advent Horizon on Nov 16, 2010 10:53 AM EST up reply actions

Right with ya, brother.

"The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for." - Alain Bernard
RIP Fran Crippen

by alcatraz0109 on Nov 16, 2010 11:12 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I told off this guy in the mall (in california, not Philly)

I was wearing my Eagles jersey so he started talking to me about them. Before the season started he said, “Vick is gunna be the starter by Week 2. Kolb sucks!” so I obviously backed up Kolb and said he was wrong because Vick is way too inconsistent to be the starter. Anyways, long story short I got pwnd by a 16 year old working at hot dog on a stick.

Ref You Suck! Ref You Suck!

by FlyEagles15 on Nov 16, 2010 11:41 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I love their fries.

by KornontheKobb on Nov 16, 2010 11:03 PM EST up reply actions

is a win over the Redskins that much more impressive?

2009 Did Not Happen

by cjmulrain on Nov 16, 2010 12:26 PM EST up reply actions

It’s not as much the opponent as much as it is the way he looked like he was a created video game player with 99’s across the board.

by JimmyK on Nov 16, 2010 12:35 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

that he did

not denying it, but it was still the 31st against the pass Redskins.

That said, I’ve been scared of Vick all year, now I’m peeing in my pants about what he’s gonna do to a defense that just got lit up by Jon Kitna next weekend.

2009 Did Not Happen

by cjmulrain on Nov 16, 2010 12:42 PM EST up reply actions

You can beat a bad team in poor fashion (Eagles over Lions or 49’ers comes to mind) or you can dominate a bad team in such fashion that the other team doesn’t even look like they belong on the same field (Eagles over Redskins). I don’t care how bad the Redskins are on pass defense. NFL defenses don’t give up 6 touchdowns in one game to one guy.

Let the beasting begin.

by TransplantedFan on Nov 16, 2010 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

in 3 Q

"What a gorgeous dog. What do you feed him?"

by waterfield on Nov 16, 2010 4:07 PM EST up reply actions

It was like Tyson vs Spinks

"What a gorgeous dog. What do you feed him?"

by waterfield on Nov 16, 2010 4:08 PM EST up reply actions

btw

That was some weak shit Meangelo Hall tried on J Harrison on the 50yd TD run.

"What a gorgeous dog. What do you feed him?"

by waterfield on Nov 16, 2010 4:24 PM EST up reply actions

That was some weak shit the Washington Redskins tried on the Philadelphia Eagles.

Let the beasting begin.

by TransplantedFan on Nov 16, 2010 4:48 PM EST up reply actions

That was a fun read

Slight disagreement is about the Bucs – Thats a good team, unfortunately. Freeman is a gamer and LaGarette Blount is going to be a big time back. I saw them in person against my Falcons and we barely pulled it out at home

Speaking of gamers, I saw the 1st half last night. Vick was phenomenal. That may be the most dominant performance I’ve ever seen by a quarterback. As a Falcons fan, its bittersweet watching the guy mature into a game changer after being so inconsistent with us and then ripping our hearts out. I don’t begrudge him anything, its just weird to watch

by zooker on Nov 16, 2010 10:52 AM EST reply actions

Donovan's contract

Ok, so I am watching first take this morning and apparently McNabb’s deal is mostly incentive laden. He is only guaranteed 3.5 million dollars in the deal. This information makes a lot more sense. The Redskins still do not have any ties to McNabb. If he continues his poor performance the rest of this year they could go another direction. I am shocked McNabb would go for this deal. Also shocked Snyder may have made a good decision here. I guess McNabb can also see he is on the decline. Sidenote, Skip Bayless has got to be the most biased Eagles hater I have ever seen. The guy time and again does not give the Eagles credit and even said without Vick they are not a good team. It really is disgusting the bias he has.

by PhilsForever on Nov 16, 2010 11:58 AM EST reply actions

he's a Cowboys fan

he hates the Giants too. I look at it this way: Bayless is a hack who doesn’t know what he’s talking about. That usually makes me feel better about it.

2009 Did Not Happen

by cjmulrain on Nov 16, 2010 12:28 PM EST up reply actions

Also

Why are they talking about Desean Jackson’s comments after the game with “Pitbulls.” So it was not inappropriate for landry and hall to tell desean they were gonna “put him to sleep?” That was intentional and this was not. Unbelievable that the Philly player is chastized.

by PhilsForever on Nov 16, 2010 12:03 PM EST reply actions

"They got embarrassed... at home... by a bad, demoralized team. And it was never seriously in doubt."

I don’t know if I agree with that – if Nicks doesn’t give up on that slant route, the Cowboys don’t run that thing back 101 yards. That was at least a 10-point if not a 14-point swing early in the game, and really demoralizing when your defense isn’t playing that great. And even with that, the Giants were driving down 13 when Manning threw another pick.

Not saying the Giants played good by any means, just saying that considering how poorly they played (and it was really, really poor), they actually had a few chances in that game. That probably says more about the Cowboys than it does the Giants, but still.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens next week. You guys can’t play better than you played last night, and the Giants can’t play much worse than they did on Sunday. This season has been all about teams looking great one week and then awful the next and vice versa (look at the Patriots the past two weeks). I do wish we had Steve Smith though, losing him really hurts (not to mention 3/5ths of our O-line).

2009 Did Not Happen

by cjmulrain on Nov 16, 2010 12:34 PM EST reply actions

one more thing

about the demoralized team – I think we have to throw that part out. This wasn’t Wade Phillips’ Cowboys, I think they clearly were a little more focused and a little more “peppy” for lack of a better word under Garrett. We’ll see if they can maintain that, but I feel very confident saying that had Wade still been around on Sunday, the Giants would have cruised.

2009 Did Not Happen

by cjmulrain on Nov 16, 2010 12:43 PM EST up reply actions

if Nicks doesn’t give up on that slant route, the Cowboys don’t run that thing back 101 yards.

I’ve been seeing a lot of that since the Giants game. Why is Eli getting no fault? True, Nicks ran a crappy route, and actually slipped as well, but what exactly did Manning see there on that play that made him think “He’s open – Touchdown.” That was a horrible decision. The play wasn’t there and he forced it. I mean, he’s not a robot – He doesn’t have to throw it to Nicks in that spot. But he did, the Cowboys defender was in a good position to make a play, and make a play he did. I put that way more on Manning than on Nicks.

by JimmyK on Nov 16, 2010 12:53 PM EST up reply actions

I’m glad somebody else highlighted that statement, though to take a different route than Jimmy did, I have to wonder… why did Nicks give up on the route? Saying “if my receiver didn’t leave my quarterback twisting in the wind…” doesn’t really inspire a lot of confidence.

I would also disagree with your statements about the state of the Giants play. From what I’ve seen, the Giants played exactly the way they’ve been playing all season against the Cowboys. Sloppy mistake-prone football. They finally just got nailed for it.

I was a person who didn’t really fight the notion that the Giants were the best team in the NFC because frankly, they were still winning despite playing some really bad football. I knew someone would beat them by simply capitalizing on the mistakes of the Giants.

Let the beasting begin.

by TransplantedFan on Nov 16, 2010 1:00 PM EST up reply actions

You trust a WR to get to a spot

that play scored twice against the Cowboys in the first game. Eli threw the ball before Nicks made (or stopped) his break. It was a one and a half step drop timing pattern, he would have had to decide before Nicks broke that the play was wrong. He trusts Nicks, and on this play Nicks let him down. Now let’s look at it from a similar hypothetical situation. Let’s say on that roll out on the first play Vick sees Jackson breaking against Landry 1 v 1. This is a play that has worked multiple times in the past. Vick lets that ball go and a second after he does, Jackson inexplicably stops running and Landry catches the ball. You blame Vick for that?

"Stop the run to earn the right to rush the passer"- great philosophy from new SU DLine coach Jimmy Brumbaugh.

by bigbluethruandthru on Nov 16, 2010 1:13 PM EST up reply actions

If the corner is playing back, that’s when you trust your receiver to cross the corner’s face and make the play. But McCann was ready for the quick slant and Manning forced it. The play wasn’t there. Manning made a dumb decision.

by JimmyK on Nov 16, 2010 1:19 PM EST up reply actions

I really think you are overestimating the amount of time Eli had

it was a pattern that had the ball out of his hand in under two seconds. The receiver has to be where he is expected to be. And McCann jumped the route, he wasn’t shading inside pre-snap. He made a good play, and Nicks did not. Myself, his coach, and most fans think Eli was doing what he supposed to. Now if you want to debate the merits of calling that pass in the first place, when the Giants had already punched the ball in from the 2 two plays earlier, then you have a point. The inconsistencies of the sometimes brilliant, sometime infuriating Kevin Gilbride.

"Stop the run to earn the right to rush the passer"- great philosophy from new SU DLine coach Jimmy Brumbaugh.

by bigbluethruandthru on Nov 16, 2010 10:14 PM EST up reply actions

Does it matter...

whose fault it is? They are both on the same team and someone made a big mistake that was integral to the team losing. No need to place blame any further than that. No excuses…the Giants got beat.

by phanatic's phloozies on Nov 16, 2010 1:23 PM EST up reply actions

It's just that Giant fans are protecting Eli.

It does matter whether a veteran QB makes a bad mistake, or a young WR.

"What a gorgeous dog. What do you feed him?"

by waterfield on Nov 16, 2010 4:52 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe in that situation

you want the QB to protect the probable 3 points you have in hand. Has Eli commented on this play? It would be interesting to know his take.

"What a gorgeous dog. What do you feed him?"

by waterfield on Nov 16, 2010 5:23 PM EST up reply actions

Coughlin did

he said Nicks stopped the route when he should have fought through the CB. I haven’t seen Eli speak, but he’ll probably take some responsibility because he doesn’t throw his guys under the bus. But if Nicks goes through the route four things could happen:
1- TD reception (unlikely but possible)
2- Receiver/DB collide, INC pass (most likely)
3- PI on either player- Either scenario better than…
4- INT

But stopping his route? Guaranteed INT unless defender completely muffs short catch. That is just recognizing facts, the onus there is on the receiver to play through the route.

"Stop the run to earn the right to rush the passer"- great philosophy from new SU DLine coach Jimmy Brumbaugh.

by bigbluethruandthru on Nov 16, 2010 10:10 PM EST up reply actions

“Are the 4 best teams in the AFC as good as the Packers, Saints, Falcons and Eagles?”

Pats, Steelers, Jets and Colts. Just as good if not better imo.

by philiafan14364 on Nov 16, 2010 2:22 PM EST reply actions

Don’t know about Jets. Back-to-back overtime games against Lions and Browns? Granted, both won but you shouldn’t be going to overtime in back-to-back games against those two teams.

RIP Jim Johnson, best ever.

by Imp on Nov 16, 2010 5:15 PM EST up reply actions

True, but then again, you could always swap the Ravens in for the Jets.

Either way, I think overall, the top of the AFC is still better than the top of the NFC.

by philiafan14364 on Nov 16, 2010 11:57 PM EST up reply actions

nah

It is about even now, and the nfc might be slightly better, case in point. Pack beat the Jets, Saints beat the Steelers, Falcons beat the Ravens, and Eagles beat the Colts. If that is not enough evidence I am not sure what is.

by PhilsForever on Nov 17, 2010 12:42 AM EST reply actions