Week 1 @ Denver Broncos

[callahan09]

The Broncos scored unconventional TDs. How many times do two kicks get returned for TDs in the SAME GAME? Without those, the game wouldn't have been even close. Just stop with the "we should have won it"-mentality. The Broncos shouldn't have been in the game in the first place.

The first game in Baltimore, was the first time Flacco played with his new OC, Jim Caldwell, who called offensive plays on the NFL level for the first time in his carreer. The Broncos played well, but a change in the coaching staff just prior to the game was a huge advantage for Denver. Which does explain how the Broncos won "handily".

 

It will be a hard-fought game, but the excuses, that I hear from the Broncos fanbase, are just annoying.

You piqued my curiosity.  Some research results:

 

Since 1940

56 Times in 26,560 Games

55 Times in the Regular Season in 25,574 Games

1 Time in the Post Season in 986 Games

 

The team that accomplished the feat won 44 games, and lost 12 (.786 winning percentage).

 

So when the Broncos did it against us in the post-season, it was the first time ever in post-season history that a team had two kick/punt return TDs in the same game.

 

A note of clarification on the "Games" count... that technically counts each individual NFL *game* twice... because each team gets a chance to accomplish the feat in each game, so it's counting team games.

 

To think of it another way, this feat has happened a bit less often than once per season since 1940. (0.77 times per season to be exact).

 

Some perspective, with some feats that are not as rare as this one:

 

Teams have shut-out their opponent 687 times (9.41 per season).

Teams have scored 50+ points 201 times (2.75 times per season).

Teams have outscored their opponent by 40+ points 189 times (2.59 times per season).

Teams have allowed less than 2 yards per play in a game 156 times (2.14 times per season).

Teams have gained over 25 yards per play in a game 68 times (0.93 times per season).

Teams have sacked the opponent QB 10+ times in a game 67 times (0.92 times per season).

Teams have had 9+ takeaways in a game 64 times (0.88 times per season).

[CARavensFan]

All Broncos' Fans arguments:

Boom Roasted

 

EDIT: Combined the first two into one mega gif lol

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

Last time I checked, the last time they made these guarente vids, we beat them.

Cockiness always loses

 

The level of cockiness from their fans last year was sooooooooo bad. 

 

I swear the people who came on here in January and wrote novels as to why Peyton's magical glove will ensure their victory made the win that much sweeter for me.

[PolishRifle]

Why is everybody so down on Schaub?

Schaub has Andre Johnson (the often forgotten elite WR in the elite-WR conversation), he has one of the best Olines in the AFC and plays in conference that has soft defenses against the pass (except maybe the Jags) and he has one of the best RBs in the league and he still couldn't seal the deal against the Pats?

 

Stats are a good indicator of how good or bad a player is, but you can't pretend that they are in the exact same situations like they're playing in a vacuum. Flacco has a RB, that was as good or maybe better than Schaubs, but is the Ravens Oline better than the Texans Oline? How would our D from a year ago compare to the Texans D? Do we have a weapon like Andre Johnson at the receiving position (Boldin was good in the playoffs, but not that good)?

 

Brady, Flacco, Ben, Luck, Manning, Rivers all would've taken that team to the SB easy. At best Schaub is the 7th best QB in the AFC and has a hard time stepping up, when his team counts on him (the playoffs).

[nk02442]

Schaub has Andre Johnson (the often forgotten elite WR in the elite-WR conversation), he has one of the best Olines in the AFC and plays in conference that has soft defenses against the pass (except maybe the Jags) and he has one of the best RBs in the league and he still couldn't seal the deal against the Pats?

Stats are a good indicator of how good or bad a player is, but you can't pretend that they are in the exact same situations like they're playing in a vacuum. Flacco has a RB, that was as good or maybe better than Schaubs, but is the Ravens Oline better than the Texans Oline? How would our D from a year ago compare to the Texans D? Do we have a weapon like Andre Johnson at the receiving position (Boldin was good in the playoffs, but not that good)?

Brady, Flacco, Ben, Luck, Manning, Rivers all would've taken that team to the SB easy. At best Schaub is the 7th best QB in the AFC and has a hard time stepping up, when his team counts on him (the playoffs).

Yup.

Thats why I hate these boards sometimes. Ravens fans who know ziltch about football come here and comment like they are knowing what they are talking about. They think going and reading the stats makes them understand a player or a team.

Real football fans know better. A Real fan watches all games. A real fan will talk with Texans fans and find out what they think.

Dude, Scuab had the BEST team in the AFC the last two years. Hes got THE BEST DEFENSE IN THE LEAGUE, One of if not the best offensive lines in the NFL, top 3 WR a Top 3 RB (hell their Backup tate is a better RB than most team's starters), and they get to play in a dome at home, in one of the weakest divisions in the league.

Schaub is another tony romo or phillip rivers. He plays well durring the regular season, and puts up pretty numbers, but come playoff time, he folds like a paper bag.

In fact, he is the exact opposite of Flacco. Flacco will have average to not so great numbers durring the reg season, and then come playoffs, his super powers kick in and he becomes one of the best QB's in the League. In fact, the last 3 years, He has played lights out in the playoffs. It was the players around him or the defense that blew those games.

[Juviebest]

I'm sorry but Andre Johnson is not the WR he once was. I can't put him in the top 3, maybe...maybe...top 10. And Schaub can have all the stats he wants, he hasn't shown he can win yet when it really counts.

[billick]

This is a very big game. We need this to set us up with AFC tiebreakers. Denver is one of the Top 5 or 6 teams in the AFC.

 

NE, Houston, Colts, Denver, Bengals and Ravens. That puts us in the play offs. Put a fork in the Steelers. If we sweep Steelers and Browns, split with Bengals, thats 5 wins. Go .500 the other 10, and we go 11-5.

[MTRavensFan]

All Broncos' Fans arguments:

Boom Roasted

 

EDIT: Combined the first two into one mega gif lol

Just too much awesomeness right there!

[beanfigger]

This is a very big game. We need this to set us up with AFC tiebreakers. Denver is one of the Top 5 or 6 teams in the AFC.

 

NE, Houston, Colts, Denver, Bengals and Ravens. That puts us in the play offs. Put a fork in the Steelers. If we sweep Steelers and Browns, split with Bengals, thats 5 wins. Go .500 the other 10, and we go 11-5.

 

Actually, that would be 10-6.  I like 11-5 better, though.

[runamuk]

 

You piqued my curiosity.  Some research results:

 

Since 1940

56 Times in 26,560 Games

55 Times in the Regular Season in 25,574 Games

1 Time in the Post Season in 986 Games

 

The team that accomplished the feat won 44 games, and lost 12 (.786 winning percentage).

 

So when the Broncos did it against us in the post-season, it was the first time ever in post-season history that a team had two kick/punt return TDs in the same game.

 

A note of clarification on the "Games" count... that technically counts each individual NFL *game* twice... because each team gets a chance to accomplish the feat in each game, so it's counting team games.

 

To think of it another way, this feat has happened a bit less often than once per season since 1940. (0.77 times per season to be exact).

 

Some perspective, with some feats that are not as rare as this one:

 

Teams have shut-out their opponent 687 times (9.41 per season).

Teams have scored 50+ points 201 times (2.75 times per season).

Teams have outscored their opponent by 40+ points 189 times (2.59 times per season).

Teams have allowed less than 2 yards per play in a game 156 times (2.14 times per season).

Teams have gained over 25 yards per play in a game 68 times (0.93 times per season).

Teams have sacked the opponent QB 10+ times in a game 67 times (0.92 times per season).

Teams have had 9+ takeaways in a game 64 times (0.88 times per season).

 

I always enjoy reading your post . Thanks  once again for a great one

[mg90]

I can't wait for the Broncos to lose. :)

[jaege]

I'd say his first three are accurate for sure.

Opinion. Sorry. Where are the facts to support your opinion?
 
 

Eh not just on paper. The NFC just has the better teams divisions, and more parity. 3 of our divisions are pretty much already locked down and those teams aren't even good enough to say they have it like that. The same teams make the playoffs in the AFC, not in the NFC though. They have the craziest divisions and are hard to predict who will come out NFC champs. Lets not even get into this bro, because its clear to anyone who follows the entire league that you can name more true NFC contenders for the crown then you can AFC. I love AFC North football but cmon...........

All opinion. Now if you were to claim that Brady were the best QB playing today because he has more rings, then you may have some ground to stand on. That is not the method that I would use. In my opinion, Rodgers is the best. In my opinion. Personally, I do not know how to determine the best defense of 2013-2014 since none of these defenses have played a single, meaningful, game yet. I can say that the 49ers were not the best defense of last season since they lost the SB. By the criteria that the NFL uses to determine the best team, the 9ers were the 2nd best team and by extension, had the 2nd best defense of last season.


Fantasy stats, and talking heads and "experts" do not make that determination. Winning the SB is the criteria that is used to determine the best team, right?

[K-Dog]

 

You piqued my curiosity.  Some research results:

 

Since 1940

56 Times in 26,560 Games

55 Times in the Regular Season in 25,574 Games

1 Time in the Post Season in 986 Games

 

The team that accomplished the feat won 44 games, and lost 12 (.786 winning percentage).

 

So when the Broncos did it against us in the post-season, it was the first time ever in post-season history that a team had two kick/punt return TDs in the same game.

 

A note of clarification on the "Games" count... that technically counts each individual NFL *game* twice... because each team gets a chance to accomplish the feat in each game, so it's counting team games.

 

To think of it another way, this feat has happened a bit less often than once per season since 1940. (0.77 times per season to be exact).

 

Some perspective, with some feats that are not as rare as this one:

 

Teams have shut-out their opponent 687 times (9.41 per season).

Teams have scored 50+ points 201 times (2.75 times per season).

Teams have outscored their opponent by 40+ points 189 times (2.59 times per season).

Teams have allowed less than 2 yards per play in a game 156 times (2.14 times per season).

Teams have gained over 25 yards per play in a game 68 times (0.93 times per season).

Teams have sacked the opponent QB 10+ times in a game 67 times (0.92 times per season).

Teams have had 9+ takeaways in a game 64 times (0.88 times per season).

 

 

 

Google or Bing ?

[5aiah]

Yup.

Thats why I hate these boards sometimes. Ravens fans who know ziltch about football come here and comment like they are knowing what they are talking about. They think going and reading the stats makes them understand a player or a team.

Real football fans know better. A Real fan watches all games. A real fan will talk with Texans fans and find out what they think.

Dude, Scuab had the BEST team in the AFC the last two years. Hes got THE BEST DEFENSE IN THE LEAGUE, One of if not the best offensive lines in the NFL, top 3 WR a Top 3 RB (hell their Backup tate is a better RB than most team's starters), and they get to play in a dome at home, in one of the weakest divisions in the league.
 

That's so ironic though because i don't think you do any of that or are a real fan by those standards. I actually talk with all fans of the teams and the Texans fans will tell you that the defense was missing its heart and soul(Brian Cushing) and things went downhill from there. That is like their number one response to "aha the texans lost again in playoffs".

 

Opinion. Sorry. Where are the facts to support your opinion?
 
 


All opinion. Now if you were to claim that Brady were the best QB playing today because he has more rings, then you may have some ground to stand on. That is not the method that I would use. In my opinion, Rodgers is the best. In my opinion. Personally, I do not know how to determine the best defense of 2013-2014 since none of these defenses have played a single, meaningful, game yet. I can say that the 49ers were not the best defense of last season since they lost the SB. By the criteria that the NFL uses to determine the best team, the 9ers were the 2nd best team and by extension, had the 2nd best defense of last season.


Fantasy stats, and talking heads and "experts" do not make that determination. Winning the SB is the criteria that is used to determine the best team, right?

Dude what? The point is no matter how you try to slice it, the NFC has much more parity and more competition in its divisons overall. The AFC North is our best division in the AFC. The NFC has 3 divisions where you can say 2 or 3 teams could win this divison. You just can't say that for the AFC, thats a fact. Lets experiment. Name the teams in the AFC(on paper) that could make playoffs and threaten to make the Superbowl. Then name the NFC teams. Also just because the Niners lost the Superbowl doesn't mean they didn't have the best defense(could be just a bad offense). The point is the NFC is the stronger more dominant division,period.

[Ravensallday24/7]

Wow ESPN analyst actually say something nice about the Ravens? I think the world is ending.

[jaege]

That's so ironic though because i don't think you do any of that or are a real fan by those standards. I actually talk with all fans of the teams and the Texans fans will tell you that the defense was missing its heart and soul(Brian Cushing) and things went downhill from there. That is like their number one response to "aha the texans lost again in playoffs".
 
Dude what? The point is no matter how you try to slice it, the NFC has much more parity and more competition in its divisons overall. The AFC North is our best division in the AFC. The NFC has 3 divisions where you can say 2 or 3 teams could win this divison. You just can't say that for the AFC, thats a fact. Lets experiment. Name the teams in the AFC(on paper) that could make playoffs and threaten to make the Superbowl. Then name the NFC teams. Also just because the Niners lost the Superbowl doesn't mean they didn't have the best defense(could be just a bad offense). The point is the NFC is the stronger more dominant division,period.

My original post in this thread was to point out that a fellow poster made claims that were IN FACT opinion. He stated that Rodgers was the best QB etc. That is an opinion. Do you disagree that Brady could be easily and accurately given that same title? He also claimed that the 9ers had the best defense. Why? What is the criteria that is being used to judge that? Couldn't an alternate criteria be used to judge another team as having the best defense? Whose criteria is the definitive criteria?

As far as the toughness of the NFC, you have made a reasonable argument to support your opinion.I would have a hard time claiming that the Patriots are not going to walk with their division or the Broncos with theirs. Good point. Although I never disagreed that the NFC did not have greater parity or was more dominant. I only said to make such a statement would be opinion. An opinion I share, but I could be wrong. If we are definitely correct then there would be no need to actually play the games. We could just calculate who the winner is going to be. Also we could make a lot of money in Vegas.

[ROH522155]

Opinion. Sorry. Where are the facts to support your opinion?
 
 

 

Peterson and Johnson are clearly the best in the league at their positions. Rodgers for best QB is debatable, but he has statistically been the best QB in the league over the past 3 seasons and has a Super Bowl to show for it.

[JO_75]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QcY0KlelJ0

 

I am trying to figure out what I just watched.

 

I loved the people in the beginning, we should have won and it should have been over at halftime. LOL

[nk02442]

I'm sorry but Andre Johnson is not the WR he once was. I can't put him in the top 3, maybe...maybe...top 10. And Schaub can have all the stats he wants, he hasn't shown he can win yet when it really counts.

You are clearly mistaken. Another ignorant football fan who just looks at a stat sheet and thinks he knows the game

Andre had 1600 yards last year. The year before, he was injured

Since 2007 (besides the year he was injured obviously) , EVERY YEAR, He has averaged atleast 90 yards a game. That is an insane stat.

The guy hasn't even been in the league 10 years yet, and hes got over 11,200 yards. That is insanse.

He is without a doubt a top 3 WR (calvin and whoevr else u want to throw in there)

[nk02442]

That's so ironic though because i don't think you do any of that or are a real fan by those standards. I actually talk with all fans of the teams and the Texans fans will tell you that the defense was missing its heart and soul(Brian Cushing) and things went downhill from there. That is like their number one response to "aha the texans lost again in playoffs".

 

Dude what? The point is no matter how you try to slice it, the NFC has much more parity and more competition in its divisons overall. The AFC North is our best division in the AFC. The NFC has 3 divisions where you can say 2 or 3 teams could win this divison. You just can't say that for the AFC, thats a fact. Lets experiment. Name the teams in the AFC(on paper) that could make playoffs and threaten to make the Superbowl. Then name the NFC teams. Also just because the Niners lost the Superbowl doesn't mean they didn't have the best defense(could be just a bad offense). The point is the NFC is the stronger more dominant division,period.

What you think and what is reality are two different things.

 

Yes Cushing went down (Hard to stay healthy off the juice) but I think they were just fine. They were the best team in the AFC last year along with the Broncos.  

 

They dominated the regular season, including a complete and utter asswhopping of the ravens,

 

They did in fact, fall apart in the playoffs. Their QB choked, like he always does, in big games.

[Spartan]

Well, upon looking into it, the OP has good reason to be more confident than the overall forecast reflects - that being Denver as a heavy favorite: Broncos' injuries include C Koppen being out for the season (I may stand corrected already; I didn't look at recent posts); his replacement OG Vasquez just sustained a left knee injury, though not serious; DE Wolfe suffered a scary head/neck injury (test results showed good signs, but they may mean not life threatening. Yikes!); CB Bailey suffered a foot injury, of which the severity is 'not yet known' (?); the prized acquisition, Welker, suffered an ankle sprain (no solid report yet). Goodness, injuries to key points on the OL, secondary, and receiving corps.

 

I was looking at a Broncos forum (Broncos County, or something like that) - indeed, many of them are unabashed over how they hate the Ravens and want revenge badly! Some, IMHO, are far too sweeping how they were 'robbed' of that playoff game, and are even connoting how easy it will be to roll over the Ravens on September 5. That's probably now wishful thinking. I must say, they had their share of jerky posters.

 

Good luck :)

[PurpleCityLights]

Sorry Guys, dont see us winning the first game.

[Tank 92]

At this point, given all of the injuries and issues that both teams have, this game is a toss up. Maybe give a slight edge to the broncs because they are at home. I think it will take a game or two for us to get in sync and performing well, but I also think we'll play well enough to pull this out in a close one.

 

I am as anxious going into this game as I am when we play the squealers or patsies. You can never count out a team that includes Peyton.

[Fairfaxcat]

Hoping the O's are out of the playoff picture by Sept. 5 because Peter Angelos screwed the Ravens, making them lose the NFL's showcase kickoff game at home.

[PurpleCityLights]

you guys are ALL wrong cause Tim Tebow is the best. The way he throws the ball & how he COMMANDS his players to be better is just so uncanny.

Have you seen his team speech back when he was at Florida.........No one could have done it better not even Ray Lewis!!! Skip was right bout him and blah blah blah blah & blah blah blah Tie Tebow.

[jaege]

Sorry Guys, dont see us winning the first game.

And why is it you are so sure of that? The Broncos are plagued by injuries, we have proven that Manning can be beaten on his on turf. Why so assured of a Ravens loss?

[MrPlankton]

Peyton is a threat, but not if the D keeps getting in his face all game long.

[ghost1986]

Are they kidding? Did they see our D-line last night? That was against Cam Newton who can scramble. Good luck.

[Mick0311]

Ugh, NO
Patriots are paper tigers and the only reason they make the playoffs every year, is 6 free wins from that pathetic division.
Steelers are going to be Mediocre to downright bad. If ben stays healthy, they may be able to salvage a 8-9 win season based on their weak schedule, if he gets injured, they are picking top 10 next year in the draft
Houston has  ton of problems.... they also have another Romo for QB
Colts have no defense... They may slide by houston depending on how houstons D plays this year
Broncos and the Bengals are the strongest teams. I give edge to cinic based on Den recent happeneings.
 
I would rate the AFC   Bengals, Bronco's, Ravens, Houston, Patriots....................

Really? The AFC west is stupid bad. I believe you had a division winner with only 8 wins at least twice in the last few years. 10 wins in the AFC north MIGHT get you a wild card.

[nk02442]

Really? The AFC west is stupid bad. I believe you had a division winner with only 8 wins at least twice in the last few years. 10 wins in the AFC north MIGHT get you a wild card.

Who said anything abouth the AFC west? Where Did I say they were good (or bad)

 

All you are doing is proving my point that the AFC is weak.