Week 4 power rankings!!

[stretch]

guys, let's be realistic here.

The Cowboys won't be beating the Colts in the Super Bowl.






























































they'll be losing to the Patriots!

I hate to say it, because it sounds ridiculous, but the Patriots are going to lose to the Colts again. The Pats secondary is just too weak. And I think the Colts are the ONLY team that can beat the Patriots. Because neither team can defend each other, so it will basically become a shootout. And no one is going to beat the Colts in a shootout. I see a high scoring classic, going into the 40s and 50s, with the Colts pulling out another last minute victory.

[monosylab1k]

Manning played exactly one GOOD half of football in last year's playoffs...the second half against New England. Granted, that was the half of football that mattered most, but it didn't prove that Manning is now a consistent performer in big games. Other than that one half, his postseason run last year was rather mediocre and he benefited a huge deal from his defense turning All-World out of nowhere.

Just because Dallas beat San Antonio once in the playoffs didn't mean they could never lose again.

The Patriots had their own "Manu Stupid Foul" moment at the end of that game anyways - if Troy Brown runs his route in the right direction, the Patriots get a first down and run out the clock. The Colts deserve credit for sacking up and getting back into the game & then taking the win out of New England's clutches, but if not for one stupid mistake, we're going into this season talking about Manning still being a choker.

Must like the Mavs against the Spurs, the Colts were really not "clutch" and more just benefited from the Patriots making uncharacteristic and flat-out stupid errors. To their credit, they took advantage of every last one of those mistakes and now they've got a ring.

[johnsmith]

I hate to say it, because it sounds ridiculous, but the Patriots are going to lose to the Colts again. The Pats secondary is just too weak. And I think the Colts are the ONLY team that can beat the Patriots. Because neither team can defend each other, so it will basically become a shootout. And no one is going to beat the Colts in a shootout. I see a high scoring classic, going into the 40s and 50s, with the Colts pulling out another last minute victory.

Either way, I'm taking the over.

[stretch]

You are correct, then he won it all and vindicated himself.

Again, people said the same thing after him choking the Colts out of the playofs year after year. Now I'm not saying that he isn't going to perform better. I think I will. I think winning the SB has made him a lot smarter, and gotten him the experience he needs. But before I fully believe that he will show up consistently in the playoffs, he needs to show me. Last year he didn't show me anything, aside from the game against the Patriots.

[stretch]

Must like the Mavs against the Spurs, the Colts were really not "clutch" and more just benefited from the Patriots making uncharacteristic and flat-out stupid errors.

What errors were those? The fact that they have a ridiculously overrated secondary that Manning finally figured out how to pick apart?

[johnsmith]

Again, people said the same thing after him choking the Colts out of the playofs year after year. Now I'm not saying that he isn't going to perform better. I think I will. I think winning the SB has made him a lot smarter, and gotten him the experience he needs. But before I fully believe that he will show up consistently in the playoffs, he needs to show me. Last year he didn't show me anything, aside from the game against the Patriots.

Out of curiosity, how many super bowls must a quarterback win in order to impress you?

[stretch]

Out of curiosity, how many super bowls must a quarterback win in order to impress you?

Who said he doesn't impress me? The guy is freakin amazing. He already is by far the best regular season QB of all time, and if he starts showing up more often in the playoffs (which I highly suspect he will), then he will be hands down the greatest QB of all time. The guy is incredible. I'm just saying that before I start calling him a great playoff performer, I want to see a few more good performances in the playoffs.

[monosylab1k]

What errors were those?

The Reche Caldwell drop, The offensive penalty near the end of the 2nd quarter that prevented the halftime score from being 24-3 or 28-3, and of course Troy Brown running the wrong route when a 1st down would have iced the game in the 4th quarter.

The Colts took advantage of some braindead errors by NE and won the game. Props to them, but if the Patriots prevent just one of those errors, they win the game.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Manning does have to do it again to be mentioned alongside Brady. He has too many horrid playoff performances to atone for to be mentioned alongside the likes of Brady as money playoff performers..

But Romo has to prove he can be consistent in the playoffs as well. He's an unknown commodity at this point and didn't exactly begin his playoff resume with a bang.

[samikeyp]

Again, people said the same thing after him choking the Colts out of the playofs year after year. Now I'm not saying that he isn't going to perform better. I think I will. I think winning the SB has made him a lot smarter, and gotten him the experience he needs. But before I fully believe that he will show up consistently in the playoffs, he needs to show me. Last year he didn't show me anything, aside from the game against the Patriots.

Again...yes they did...and the monkey went back on his back when that happened. Then, IMO, when he won the Super Bowl he got it back off again. He showed me win can lead his team to a Super Bowl.

[johnsmith]

Who said he doesn't impress me? The guy is freakin amazing. He already is by far the best regular season QB of all time, and if he starts showing up more often in the playoffs (which I highly suspect he will), then he will be hands down the greatest QB of all time. The guy is incredible. I'm just saying that before I start calling him a great playoff performer, I want to see a few more good performances in the playoffs.

Fair enough. I actually agree with you on this, but I also think Manning is unfairly criticized on his playoff performances. He is scrutinized a bit more then most quarterbacks in regards to the playoffs because frankly, the guy is incredible 90% of the time. It's not his fault when his O-line breaks down at the wrong times.

[TheSanityAnnex]

The Reche Caldwell drop, The offensive penalty at the end of the 2nd q that prevented the halftime score from being 24-3 or 28-3, and of course Troy Brown running the wrong route when a 1st down would have iced the game in the 4th quarter.

The Colts took advantage of some braindead errors by NE and won the game. Props to them, but if the Patriots prevent just one of those errors, they win the game.

If we want to play the would coulda shoulda game, then I'm playing too.

The Chargers should have beat the Patriots last year. Had it not been for a muffed punt, a stupid personal foul, and a fumbled interception, all in the fourth quarter, the Chargers win. Which then means they go on to play the Colts, and since they beat the Colts the year before, that also means they win the AFC Championship game. On to the Super Bowl. And since they beat the Bears this year, of course they would have won last year. Chargers are now the Super Bowl Champs!

[johnsmith]

Or maybe he's scrutinized because he's white.

[stretch]

The Reche Caldwell drop, The offensive penalty at the end of the 2nd q that prevented the halftime score from being 24-3 or 28-3, and of course Troy Brown running the wrong route when a 1st down would have iced the game in the 4th quarter.

Well, obviously they were the ones that choked that game, werent they? Maybe this time, it was Peyton Manning getting in their heads, knowing that he figured them out. That's what it looked like to me. The Patriots actually looked intimidated by the Colts when they started coming back, instead of playing with the iness that got them there, and got them wins over the Colts 2 previous times in the playoffs in the first place. Let's not kid ourselves now, the Colts were definitely more talented than the Patriots, but they played scared, and the Patriots were not afraid of them and their offense, like other teams were. However, the Patriots defense is nowhere nearly as good as it was in those seasons, while the Colts offense has gotten better, and much smarter.

[samikeyp]

Manning does have to do it again to be mentioned alongside Brady. He has too many horrid playoff performances to atone for to be mentioned alongside the likes of Brady as money playoff performers..

But Romo has to prove he can be consistent in the playoffs as well. He's an unknown commodity at this point and didn't exactly begin his playoff resume with a bang.

Agreed. Right now, Brady is the measuring stick in the league. Romo has to show that he can lead his team through adversity. He started off hot last year then nose dived. He had help but, as with any team, the QB is held accountable for wins and losses, fair or not.

[johnsmith]

If we want to play the would coulda shoulda game, then I'm playing too.

The Chargers should have beat the Patriots last year. Had it not been for a muffed punt, a stupid personal foul, and a fumbled interception, all in the fourth quarter, the Chargers win. Which then means they go on to play the Colts, and since they beat the Colts the year before, that also means they win the AFC Championship game. On to the Super Bowl. And since they beat the Bears this year, of course they would have won last year. Chargers are now the Super Bowl Champs!

Sweet, I'm gonna work on something that wins the Broncos the Super Bowl for the last twenty years.

[stretch]

Again...yes they did...and the monkey went back on his back when that happened. Then, IMO, when he won the Super Bowl he got it back off again. He showed me win can lead his team to a Super Bowl.

Good for you. Now I want him to show me that he can consistently perform in the playoffs.

[samikeyp]

Good for you. Now I want him to show me that he can consistently perform in the playoffs.

Good for you. If that is what you want I hope you get it.

Just not at the expense of the Cowboys.

[johnsmith]

Good for you.

Lot of positive reinforcement going on around here.

[stretch]

If we want to play the would coulda shoulda game, then I'm playing too.

The Chargers should have beat the Patriots last year. Had it not been for a muffed punt, a stupid personal foul, and a fumbled interception, all in the fourth quarter, the Chargers win. Which then means they go on to play the Colts, and since they beat the Colts the year before, that also means they win the AFC Championship game. On to the Super Bowl. And since they beat the Bears this year, of course they would have won last year. Chargers are now the Super Bowl Champs!

Good points.

The fact is, the Patriots nutted up, while the Colts showed up when it mattered most.

[samikeyp]

That is what makes football fun....if everyone agreed..it would be boring.

[johnsmith]

That is what makes football fun....if everyone agreed..it would be boring.

Really? I thought it was the cocaine and s..........guess that's just me.

[monosylab1k]

If we want to play the would coulda shoulda game, then I'm playing too.

The Chargers should have beat the Patriots last year. Had it not been for a muffed punt, a stupid personal foul, and a fumbled interception, all in the fourth quarter, the Chargers win. Which then means they go on to play the Colts, and since they beat the Colts the year before, that also means they win the AFC Championship game. On to the Super Bowl. And since they beat the Bears this year, of course they would have won last year. Chargers are now the Super Bowl Champs!

There's a difference between a dynasty making uncharacteristic errors and a team of immature whiny es showing their true colors during playoff pressure time.

[samikeyp]

Really? I thought it was the cocaine and s..........guess that's just me.

That is for the football players.

[johnsmith]

There's a difference between a dynasty making uncharacteristic errors and a team of immature whiny es showing their true colors during playoff pressure time.

What's the difference?