NFL's biggest surprise so far

[MrWebb78]

what has surprised you the most so far this season? Constant debates I hear are:

1) Colts being 9-0(10-0 now)

2) Green Bay and Vikings sucking

3) TO's behavior

4) Eli Mannintg emerging as a "dominating" QB(I disagree btw)

for me I am surprised most by the Bears at 7-3. I counted them out from day1, and assumed they would go about 4-12 at best.

But I do like seeing the Colts undefeated so far it's just not that surprising, they have an easy schedule with the exception of about 5 games.

[lifter4life]

I'm suprised by how terrible the patriots and the eagles are doing, and I don't think Eli is that dominating too either. I would like to hear some predictions of next weeks game when they play the 8-2 seahawks, I live in Seattle so you know my pick. go hawks

[Invain]

Biggest suprise was the Lions tied for first in their division the first couple weeks or so. Not suprisingly, they're back to sucking, so everything's normal again.

[D Breyer]

the vikings winning a single game supprised me.

[MM]

Jake Friggen Plummer's TD/INT ratio.

[KingJustin]

Patriots sucking so bad ... I'm not too surprised about Green Bay, though.

I was all excited about Indianapolis' chance of going undefeated for the whole season, until I saw the rest of their schedule. The next 5 games are all against tough opponents. Steelers, Seahawks, Titans, Chargers and Jaguars ... then finishing up with the Cardinals.

[MrWebb78]

Patriots sucking so bad ... I'm not too surprised about Green Bay, though.

I was all excited about Indianapolis' chance of going undefeated for the whole season, until I saw the rest of their schedule. The next 5 games are all against tough opponents. Steelers, Seahawks, Titans, Chargers and Jaguars ... then finishing up with the Cardinals.

4 of those are home games where they thrive. I don't know about undefeated, but 15-1 at worst sounds realistic.

As for the Pats, they lost 3 or 4 KEY guys to injuries. the guys who have made them the team they are are gone. I am not too shocked at their record.

Denver looks awesome right now too.

Lots of "Sports Analysis Professionals" AKA dumbass writers picked the Vikes to at least appear in the Super Bowl. HA!

[gator]

Jake Friggen Plummer's TD/INT ratio.

Agreed.

[Dirt]

what has surprised you the most so far this season? Constant debates I hear are:

The fact no one is talking about Denver.

[rdkraus]

Jake Friggen Plummer's TD/INT ratio.

:withstupi

Really. Who knew?

Also, Jets demise from SB contender to ___________ (fill in the blank, cause it beats me).

Who was saying Eli is dominating? As a Giants fan, I'm pretty happy with his development, but he's not a Brady or a Peyton or a Favre yet? Maybe some day. We'll see. He's made great progress since last year, when I thought he would turn out to be bust.

[f=ma]

TO's behavior is probably the least suprising thing this season

[ElPietro]

Shaun Alexander.

He is a great back, with a great line and great blocking, but for someone to be challenging for both godly RB records in a season is astounding.

He is a TD machine but this is rediculous, even with a very soft schedule.

He was my pick 2nd overall, and I'm happy to have him.

I guess I could add in LT2's passer rating.

[Relentless]

the bears' record, especially after losing Grossman

[lilmase1153]

Broncos were a big suprise for myself, COlts will not go undeafted nor I doubt they will even go 15-1. They are more than likely gonna rest there starters big time in the last 3 or so games since they are pretty much locked in their division for the top spot..

If they chose to play starters in everygame, than Yes I would say they could go 16-0 not easily but They are almost unstoppable as of late..

[MrWebb78]

They are more than likely gonna rest there starters big time in the last 3 or so games since they are pretty much locked in their division for the top spot..

..

this all depends on other teams, like the broncos. the colts NEED homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. if the they need to win all of their games to do that, since the broncos have an outstanding record as well, then they will play all starters. they cant afford to go to denver in the cold in the playoffs, they would probably lose again.

but if denver loses a game or two more, then i would love it if they could rest starters for a week or two before playoffs. especially against Arizona in week 17, who needs starters against them.

[ElPietro]

If the colts are still perfect towards the end of the year you can sure as hell bet they won't rest their starters.

A superbowl is the ultimate goal, but most folks don't remember champs past a few years, an undefeated team would be mentioned forever in this league. Especially in the 16 game format which a team has never managed to do.

If they lose one game then yes they will rest. But to go undeafeated they could never pass that up, and you could argue that carrying such momentum into the playoffs would be worth any fatigue or injury risk.

Only two players that are irreplaceable right now on the colts are Peyton and Freeney. They have plenty of talented ball catchers, and Rhodes is one of the best backups in the league, so even if the worst could happen, they aren't going to be without a chance.

[razorcut]

The competitiveness of the Bears and Bengals are the biggest surprises, IMO. Almost as equally surprising to me are the Texans (1-9). I knew they weren't necessarily a playoff team, but I was thinking maybe a 500 record this season.

[lilmase1153]

If the colts are still perfect towards the end of the year you can sure as hell bet they won't rest their starters.

A superbowl is the ultimate goal, but most folks don't remember champs past a few years, an undefeated team would be mentioned forever in this league. Especially in the 16 game format which a team has never managed to do.

If they lose one game then yes they will rest. But to go undeafeated they could never pass that up, and you could argue that carrying such momentum into the playoffs would be worth any fatigue or injury risk.

Only two players that are irreplaceable right now on the colts are Peyton and Freeney. They have plenty of talented ball catchers, and Rhodes is one of the best backups in the league, so even if the worst could happen, they aren't going to be without a chance.

I have to disagree with you here Elp, Yes going undeafted throughout the season would be unforgettable (Just like those damn dolphin fans who whenever you say anything they say oh has your team gone undefeated.. Silly dolphin fans) But what is the Ultimate GOAL of any Athlete (Im not talking greedy TO type athlete either) thats to win the big game. Peyton knows this Harrison knows this James knows this Dungy knows this. SO even though It would be awesome for them to go 16-0 I dont think they will just for the sake of PERFECT season. If peyton does not win a superbiwl he will be another Marino good player with no ring.


*** The only way thye will play all starters is MrWebb said if they are in a tight race with The Broncos. That is the only Scenario I see that would justify playing starters in everygame.. Aside from that expect them to lose a game or 2

[ElPietro]

Yes but you guys make it seem like resting their starters is the be-all-end-all of making it to the big show.

I think there are many arguments that can be made in favour of playing their starters as not. I also think there will be at least one or two more blowout games coming down the stretch where they could easily take a quarter or a half off anyway, so I can't see missing a game or two being the secret to winning it all.

I could be wrong since my memory is fuzzy, but they still have Bye weeks for the top teams yes? If that's true, why would they want to take that much time off. One extra week of rest can be a good thing, but 2 or 3 weeks off you can easily rust up not facing proper competition in real game situations.

[MrWebb78]

i see it both ways. one one hand the Colts are a pretty ego free team. Last year for example, Manning could have SHATTERED the TD record. at least 3 or 4 games last year he sat out the 4th quarter of games in which they were WAY ahead. most memorable was thanksgiving against the Lions, Manning had 6 TDs in 3 quarters. instead of breaking the single game record and going for pprobably 9 in that game, he sat out and rested. His constant comments are along the lines of "it's not records we're after, it's super bowls."

plus, week 17 they play the Cardinals. They could rest most of their starters and destroy the cardinals. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. But we still have to get through some tough teams to worry about the last couple weeks.

[ElPietro]

I agree, but there is a difference between an individual record and a team record. One can be viewed as selfish, but if it's a team goal, I'd think it would be viewed in a different light.

They would go to their grave considered one of, if not the best team ever to play football, with little more than a minor inconvenience at best for their super bowl chances.

[MM]

There's no way they'd rest their starters if they're still perfect. 0% chance. I'd back up my argument with facts, logical analysis, and impassioned rhetoric -- but I'm inherently correct and don't need to.

[Meat_Head]

2 biggest NFL suprises: The Eagles performing terribly and being last in the division, and the Cowboys being first in the division after an ugly ugly season last year(thanks Drew Bledsoe...)

[lilmase1153]

I can deffintely see both sides, but it does not all come down to just resting their players it comes down to what if Manning get hurts, what if Harrison gets hurt, ect ect..

I would love to see them go undefeated I have been a Colts fan from Mannings second season, I love James attitude towards the game I really like the colts (2nd fav team just cause Denver is my hometown) but honestly if Broncos lose 1 or more games I seriously dont think the Colts will start their players every game.

Elp you did bring a very good argument adn one I have not thought of, that if they continue to get blow outs that it would be rest enough with 1-2 quarters.. However their schedule is looking a bit rough you never know what will happen. So in short I want them to go undefeated (so my friend can stop talking about the stupid Dolphins adn cause it would be awesome) But it just does not seem likely and if they dont win the superbowl this year who knows if they may get another chance. The pats will be coming back strong next year and HEALTHY..

I am looking forward to how this will all play out.. Boys we have a very exciting Season and it is only gonna get better.

[SW]

1) Colts being 9-0(10-0 now)

This is HUGE for any team. I'm sort of happy for them, but my team is and always will be the Patriots. Since 6th grade. Which brings me to the fact that I'm very pissed they have been doing fairly badly. This was THEIR YEAR.