I reread this and I was trying to say Atlanta seems to be getting good right now.

Going to the SB and winning is very difficult for a team full of players that have never been there. That is why NE and ATL if they make it that far have to be a heavy favorite against any teams that haven't.

I wasn't as impressed by Atlanta. The Rams' special teams, normally a strong point, completely self destructed and they basically handed that game to Atlanta. Then the long trip back east, followed by another trip north to Philly. The number opened at Atlanta -3 and lasted for about 15 minutes as they were hit by a flurry of Eagle money.

More a drizzle than a flurry...IMO. You can still get the Eagles+3 if you lay the extra juice.

Just a silly idea I'll throw out there since I'm not playing any races; I'm fighting an annoying cold, and I still have a big sheet of ice along my driveway despite sunny and warmer days lately.

Could this play out, even remotely ...

Patriots lose, sooner rather than later ... everyone is pissed.

Bill Belichick either quits or is fired ...

The New York Giants sign Belichick to be their head coach ...

Nick Saban, fresh off another National Championship year, quits Alabama to be the Head Coach of the New England Patriots!

I can't see Bill B taking a position with the Giants ever!!!!!

Nick will coach at UA through at least one more NC. When he does retire for good it will be from Alabama, he will never coach elsewhere. Swinney or Kirby will be the only coaches looked at to replace him.

jocko, if I had a bet, I'd wager on Dabo Swinney getting the nod.

I'd like to think Smart considers himself a Georgia guy more so than an Alabama guy -- just an opinion with no sound reasoning behind it except he was born there and his dad was a Georgia h.s. coach. I also think the yearly battles between Georgia-Auburn-Alabama in the next 2-3 years potentially may be the greatest games we'll ever see on the college level.

Either choice would be great ones, obviously.

Personally I'd like to see Lane Kiffin get the job -- which would never happen as long as Nick Saban has a say.

Kiffen has the best offensive mind than any coach in college ball. I predict this upcoming season will be Kiffin's last at FIU, only because a major --major-- school will hire him away.

Sorry that I digressed.

Yes, you're probably right about Nick never leaving Alabama.

BUT... competitive and successful people often want to straighten out and correcting any previous 'failure' if given the chance. I think Nick badly wants to succeed as an NFL coach which would erase the Miami Dolphins dark spot on his resume.

What better and possibly easier place to do such a thing then at New England? Plus, Saban is just like his early mentor Bill B. and Kraft must know this too -- if the situation should arise.

Reckless,

Good response but Kiffin will NEVER be head coach at Alabama. The Alumni cannot stand him and they really drive who gets hired.

Maybe Kiffin can replace Harbaugh at Michigan. I think Jimmy is on his last lifeline up there.

Yes I do know kiffin will never coach alabama. I think it was alleged he dated Saban's daughter.

I agree with you about harbaugh at michigan. They can't bring back Bo but I believe the great Lloyd Carr is still alive. :lol:

Patriots are still kicking.

I'll tell ya who's dead. The Stihlers, that's who. Jacksonville was up 21-0 when I got home from church. Tv was on cbs when I turned it on (going to watch the wings - hawks game)

End of the stihler era... Again

As a Bengal fan...observer...realist, or something, I've heard that several times already this century.

The Steelers were smoke and mirrors all season long. They had an easy schedule, with teams that were not that good or hurt. The only two teams left in the AFC, the Jags and Pats, are probably the only two that had a chance at the Super Bowl over the NFC team that gets in......even that may be a slight chance where they will need breaks or turn overs to win the Super Bowl. Look at the games so far, the AFC has been a joke all year, even before the playoffs. These teams don't play defense, that's how Jacksonville made it and even they had to hang on for dear life yesterday giving up 42 points!


The Steelers, KC, Buffalo or Tenn. wouldn't of even made it in the NFC. They are not good teams. People are bitching about the Steelers coaching........lol.......you just gave up 45 to the Jacksonville Jaguars.........Moses could be the coach and you wouldn't deserve to win that game at home........you stink!

Jaguars have a real good starting defense. those 11 guys they put on the field are the best in the league. the shortcoming they have is their quarterback. the coaching is real good too.

the linemakers and everyone else have the Patriots underrated right now because talent wise they aren't as good as the teams that are still left. since the Vikings are the favorite in Philadelphia, the superbowl will be a home game for them and the Pats could come into their home field and be a very short favorite. in this particular instance, i am going to say that the place they play will make a difference. the main problem that the Pats have is that there won't be as many people traveling to this game and the tickets will be scooped up by locals who are die hard Vikings fans. i would love to see the Vikings finally win a Super Bowl, they have a great franchise and tremendous fans.` but my money will not be on them.

Steelers are showing several red flags.

They have the highest paid running back. = I could go to college or jail and get a backfield. No, I wouldn't find a LeVeon Bell, but we'd have an NFL backfield. Or more traditionally, look among the league for proven cheap talent (SEE PATRIOTS). Running back has such a large pool of competent players, it is horrible strategy to overpay.

Their undersized first round draft pick linebacker didn't work out.

Ben is 35. (Unlike Brady,) he has mileage on those years.

The Steelers remain a huge brand in the NFL ad-revenue game. Don't expect the Bengals, Browns, or Ravens to get any help from the league. However, the Steelers themselves are a top-heavy paper tiger.

Imo, lack of preparation evident in Steelers loss yesterday.

Specifically - the botched onside kick.

When you get to this point in the season and you attempt an onside kick, even if your team doesn't recover the ball:

You should at least LOOK like you know how to execute an onside kick.

After watching yesterday's game, the thought occurred to me that the last time the Steelers practiced an onside kick might have been back in the pre-season.

That was just one play.

But there's only one way you get to look that comically bad:

Lack of preparation.



-jp

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