in other words, we should go ahead and award the Broncos the 2013 division title (and perhaps 2014 as well) so long as Manning's neck stays fused together.
in other words, we should go ahead and award the Broncos the 2013 division title (and perhaps 2014 as well) so long as Manning's neck stays fused together.Interesting. The AFC West has 4 out of the top 7 easiest schedules. Obviously because the division was so awful in 2012 outside of the Broncos.
In fact, the AFC West had by far the fewest victories of any division in football despite the fact that the Broncos went 13-3.
- Corey Graham, Chykie Brown, and Cary Williams are playing much better.
- Ray Lewis and Dannel Ellerbe are starting at ILB.
- Suggs is healthier.
- The O-line is finally healthy and actually playing the right positions. McKinnie - Osemele - Birk - Yanda - Oher is what Ravens fans have been calling for all year
- Caldwell has had more than 3 days as the OC
- The Ravens are built to beat the Steelers, a good cold weather team with a good cold weather QB. Peyton is not (so far) a good cold weather QB.
- Bernard Pierce is emerging as a great compliment to Ray Rice
That's just off the top of my head.
Well, the Broncos do have the easiest schedule based on strength of schedule.in other words, we should go ahead and award the Broncos the 2013 division title (and perhaps 2014 as well) so long as Manning's neck stays fused together.
ACTUALLY, the Colts had a strength of schedule in the middle of the pack based on their opponent's 2011 record. The Redskins actually had a weaker schedule:
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/56896/2012-nfl-strength-of-schedule
And here I believed you Skins fans when you talked about how incredibly hard their schedule was compared to the Colts. Take a look who had the easiest schedule -- the Patriots.
And they displayed an excellent pass rush too. Yes, I know the Colts line sucks, but the Ravens mixed up the blitzes and came in from every angle and were untouched on many.
Keep talking, I'm liking this, glimmers of hope we won't have to go to Mile-high. While PM can take a hit and get right back up with anyone he is in the latter stage of his career, maybe the Ravens accept a roughing the passer to try and batter him up a little, probably will backfire though. he'll just get pissed..
I have to admit I learned in this thread that the Broncos are not the super team everyone had said they were. Just going back and looking at their schedule and who they beat and at what point in the season they beat them makes me think they could just be a house of cards ready to fold when they meet a good team.
And anyone who wants to say that the broncos WILL win, confidently (looking at you AMZ) is foolish. Anything can happen.
Keep talking, I'm liking this, glimmers of hope we won't have to go to Mile-high. While PM can take a hit and get right back up with anyone he is in the latter stage of his career, maybe the Ravens accept a roughing the passer to try and batter him up a little, probably will backfire though. he'll just get pissed..
I disagree. While the Ravens can win (because anything can happen on any given Sunday), I'm also pretty confident that the Broncos will win handily. Manning is 9-0 against the Ravens in his last 9 meetings and I believe 10-2 lifetime, so as long as his line gives him time, I think don't think he will have any problem moving the ball on them.
The wildcard in all of this, to me, is the bye week and how it will affect the Broncos. It will be interesting to see how (or if) the Broncos are affected. I won't be the least bit surprised if the Broncos win by 2 TDs or more but would be surprised if the Broncos lost.
I'll never forgive the Packers for dropping the NFC crown that year.As I said before, also the bye week can really screw up momentum.
No team ever practices as hard as they play. And thus w/o a game last week maybe the broncos go cold, and cannot find the rythem?
Maybe the jitters get to some of their newer players as they didn't just come off a Playoff win like the ravens.
Maybe The ravens will push beyond their limits and pull off a good upset because they are pushing a win for Ray Lewis.
There is plenty of reasons the broncos could lose the game.
And anyone who wants to say that the broncos WILL win, confidently (looking at you AMZ) is foolish. Anything can happen.
Yes the broncos are the favorite, yes they look to be the better team throughout the season. But let us backtrack to 1997.
The packers coming off a super bowl win against the patriots, (packers that season were considered one of the best teams to ever play in the NFL, as they won by large margins on most their wins.)
They kicked ass the next season, made it back to the super bowl and were immense favorites to win back to back super bowls.... but hold on. The broncos won that super bowl.
Yes but he is stating it like its foolish to think there is even a chance, when in reality there are plenty of chances, and much bigger upsets have happened.
Manning being 9-0 against the ravens means nothing because he was not a bronco. He had a different coach, team, OC, and playbook. The only similarity between colts PM and broncos PM, is the leadership and skill he brought with him. Thus this point means nothing.
We would all be surprised if the ravens won, but it shouldn't be a surprise to the point people are dumbfounded. Just a "oo, didn't see that coming'. Not a "Broncos cant win, anyone thinking they don't have a 100% chance to win is foolish." like AMZ is trying to put out there.
I'll never forgive the Packers for dropping the NFC crown that year.
AMDZen knows that there is always a chance for an upset. He is just super confident and is being a Broncos homer. I don't blame him. I'm a Manning homer and am pretty confident he will win.
On the contrary, the point means a great deal when you consider that the strength of the Ravens has ALWAYS been their defense and Manning has never had an issue with them. Their stars have only gotten older as well and Manning and his new team obliterated them just a few weeks ago.
In terms of his team, you can argue that the offensive line he is behind is the best he's had in 7 or so years. Don't kid yourself about his OC and playbook -- Manning is basically an OC himself and was intimately involved in every aspect of that offense.
You, as an Indy resident, should know to never underestimate Manning.
I honestly would be very shocked if the Ravens won and yes, to the point of being dumbfounded. Not as shocked as I was when the Giants won SB 42, but I'd still be shocked. I have no doubt -- none -- that the Broncos are a far superior team, particularly on offense. Yes, there are instances where superior teams lose (NE in SB42) and it can definitely happen here, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
On the contrary, the point means a great deal when you consider that the strength of the Ravens has ALWAYS been their defense and Manning has never had an issue with them. Their stars have only gotten older as well and Manning and his new team obliterated them just a few weeks ago.
AMDZen knows that there is always a chance for an upset. He is just super confident and is being a Broncos homer. I don't blame him. I'm a Manning homer and am pretty confident he will win.
On the contrary, the point means a great deal when you consider that the strength of the Ravens has ALWAYS been their defense and Manning has never had an issue with them. Their stars have only gotten older as well and Manning and his new team obliterated them just a few weeks ago.
In terms of his team, you can argue that the offensive line he is behind is the best he's had in 7 or so years. Don't kid yourself about his OC and playbook -- Manning is basically an OC himself and was intimately involved in every aspect of that offense.
You, as an Indy resident, should know to never underestimate Manning.
I honestly would be very shocked if the Ravens won and yes, to the point of being dumbfounded. Not as shocked as I was when the Giants won SB 42, but I'd still be shocked. I have no doubt -- none -- that the Broncos are a far superior team, particularly on offense. Yes, there are instances where superior teams lose (NE in SB42) and it can definitely happen here, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
actually, it really doesn't mean anything. It's not statistically significant in terms of being predictive of any future games, anyway. All it says is that in 9 previous games, Manning beat this team. That's neat, but as far as the next game is concerned, it has an identical predictive power of using the results of the Redskins/Cowboys game to predict the presidential election that year.
What am I saying? I'm saying that it only means something until that ceases to be true. As soon as Manning loses that game, people won't really talk about it.
Now, I have few doubts that the Broncos will win this game, but there are some real factors against them--namely the bye week for the Broncos. If good Flacco shows up, it could be a very good game with the chance of a Ravens upset. If bad Flacco shows up, it will be a long and miserable day for Baltimore fans.
Bigger post-season upsets (from my memory in games I actually watched)
I think the biggest upset I can remember in this round was 2010 when 2 weeks earlier the Patriots beat down the Jets 41-3 or something in NY and then turn around and lose to them in the divisional round in Foxborough, 24-17 or something