1st Games Of The Year

[steel man]

here is the 1st games of the year

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2813500

[The Unseen]

Not bad, not bad.

[PalmerToCJ]

That Monday night Bengals -vs- Ravens game is gonna be SWEEEEEEEET! In Cincy, winner gets to set the tone early in the AFCN.

(Sucks we have to share it with the Cardinals -vs- 49ers)

[bearsfan_51]

Bears @ Chargers is going to be sick.

[liquidswords]

Colts vs. Saints ... should be a goodie.

[EdReedUnstoppable]

That Monday night Bengals -vs- Ravens game is gonna be SWEEEEEEEET! In Cincy, winner gets to set the tone early in the AFCN.

(Sucks we have to share it with the Cardinals -vs- 49ers)


Agreed.... I mean I like it cause I'll get to see Vernon Davis, but how do those 2 teams get the opening MNF game? What about Dallas, or Seattle, or San Diego a team that earned that MNF game by winning last year.

[Sveen]

Looking forward to seeing the Colts getting beaten at home ;)

[GB12]

I hate it when the Packers have to play on Thanksgiving.

[Flyboy]

Looking forward to seeing the Colts getting beaten at home ;)

Indeed, sir. Indeeeeeed.

[TPFKA#1SaintsFan]

Colts/Saints should be a shootout. I'm predicting 60+ points scored between the two teams.

[bigbluedefense]

Bears @ Chargers is going to be sick.

Ooooooooooo, my defensive scheme against yours....fight to the death!!!

[GiantRutgersFan]

I like it, like it a lot. except MNF is showing some garbage. Bungles/Ravens was a terrible prime time game last season. and Cards/49ers? what the hell?

[SFbear]

Ooooooooooo, my defensive scheme against yours....fight to the death!!!


The Chargers vs. the unstoppable Juggernaut that is Rex Grossman. Please.

[bigbluedefense]

The Chargers vs. the unstoppable Juggernaut that is Rex Grossman. Please.

They can be had deep with their blitz heavy nature, and Grossman can throw a good deepball....who knows. Plus Norv Turner is their HC.

So, its not out of this world to see them lose.

[Number 10]

Ugh they give us that now. So far away.....

[MasterShake]

49ers and Cards are both up and coming teams....it should be a fun game to watch.


Bears @ Chargers will be a runaway destruction with Rex Grossman looking like a bigger fool than he already does.

The Chargers could win that game even without a coaching staff.

[Philliez01]

I am starting to get worried about the Saints game already, worrying about the run-defense and all against the likes of Deuce and Reggie.

Should be a great game.

[Geo]

Week 1, Thursday Night: Saints at Colts (NBC)
Excellent. I think calling the Saints the best offense in football last year was ignorant, to put it bluntly, when it was the Colts by a substantial margin. Now the Saints will get a good, long look for themselves up close. By the way, Reggie Bush, feel free to fumble the ball again after Marlin Jackson hits you.

Week 1, Sunday: Bears at Chargers (FOX)
Excellent game, although imo the Super Bowl losing team should host the first SNF game of the year. They deserve that stage to raise up the Conference Champions banner and play in front of the nation. San Diego should thank the schedule-makers that they didn't have to go to Soldier Field in late November/December.

Week 1, Sunday Night: Giants at Cowboys (NBC)
More Tony Romo, and Tiki Barber will be all over this game thanks to being part of NBC. (Cringe.) At least the game will be fantastic, although I already miss Tuna.

Week 1, Monday Night: Ravens at Bengals
Week 1, Monday Night: Cardinals at 49ers
Always in favor of watching division games on primetime. Hopefully the San Francisco 49ers offense aka Frank Gore and 10 Other Guys can live up to the primetime billing.

Thanksgiving, Packers at Lions (FOX)
As if one NFC North team that's not named the Chicago Bears wasn't enough, we get two. Jackpot.

Thanksgiving, Jets at Cowboys (CBS)
I'd hate to see what kind of games the Cowboys could get if they actually won a playoff game in the last decade or so and were, you know, relevant. Kidding aside, Denver @ Dallas 2 or 3 years ago was a fun game, so hopefully this will be too. Tuna Bowl?

Thanksgiving, Colts at Falcons (NFL Network)
I'm surprised the Colts got a nod on NFL Network, but it means they play on Thanksgiving so it's aces. Although they have to travel to Atlanta, but whatever. The Falcons actually play well on primetime, so this should be interesting. Nothing like eating some turkey and watching Michael Sick vs. Peyton Manning.

[ny10804]

Nice to know I'll be celebrating a Green Bay Packer win as I chow down on some Turducken.

[Geo]

Ballsy, considering Old Man Favre is playing in a dome. That's a 50-50 proposition right there.

[AdrianWilson12]

Glad the Cardinals get a monday night game, although there's no guarentee it will be on TV here.

I reckon each team should get 1 monday night game a season. 17 weeks and 32 teams means it's possible.

[DI]

Dinner table won't be too nice if Brady Quinn ends up in Detroit. Brother in Law AJ Hawk plays on the other side. That would be interesting

[TPFKA#1SaintsFan]

Week 1, Thursday Night: Saints at Colts (NBC)
Excellent. I think calling the Saints the best offense in football last year was ignorant, to put it bluntly, when it was the Colts by a substantial margin. Now the Saints will get a good, long look for themselves up close. By the way, Reggie Bush, feel free to fumble the ball again after Marlin Jackson hits you.

Saints:
391.5 Yards of Offense Per Game (1st in NFL)
25.8 Points Per Game (4th in NFL)
281.4 Passing Yards Per Game (1st)
110.1 Rushing Yards Per Game (tied for 18th)

Colts:
379.4 Yards of Offense Per Game (3rd in NFL)
26.7 Points Per Game (tied for 2nd in NFL)
269.3 Passing Yards Per Game (2nd)
110.1 Rushing Yards Per Game (tied for 18th)

Was it really a substantial margin? The numbers don't lie, and they look EXTREMELY close to me...

[PACKmanN]

when is american thanksgiving?

[Homicide]

Opening game is a possible superbowl match-up! What a great way to start the season!

[Larry]

Dam I hate MNF, especially their new broadcasting crew.

Now SNF I can put up with.

[ks_perfection]

Whatever happened to that game in England?

[KCJ58]

Bears Vs. Chargers Should be a great game last years #1 D vs. #1 O

[princefielder28]

Packers get Lions on Turkey Day! :) WIN!

[21ST]

when is american thanksgiving?

November 22 this year

[Bengals1690]

I like it, like it a lot. except MNF is showing some garbage. Bungles/Ravens was a terrible prime time game last season. and Cards/49ers? what the hell?


Bengals vs Ravens, how is that a bad game? One of the premier offenses vs a great D...I dont see how thats a bad game at all. AFC division rivals fighting for an early division lead? Both teams are super bowl caliber, maybe you should think about things before you type. Cards and 49ers are on the rise, and both could be playoff teams this year.

Im personally stoked about the games, all of them look great to me.

[GB12]

Ballsy, considering Old Man Favre is playing in a dome. That's a 50-50 proposition right there.

Also since we are 11-18-2 on Thanksgiving with a 4-11-1 record against the Lions.

[LonghornsLegend]

im prediction we see plenty of colts, saints, chargers, cowboys, and packers on plenty of prime time games this year....


i think jets@dallas will be a great game to watch, should be a tough one...i love interconference schedules though, i love that they do that...


and i think they wanted to open saints-colts because thats the super bowl everyone wanted to see(least when they did a poll on espn before the conf champ games were played) so here's to that wish, and ill be interested to see how much improvement colston, henderson, and bush show from one year to the next...is bush going to be the same back he was last year, or will he start to be patient and hit the holes harder

[Warhawk]

Saints:
391.5 Yards of Offense Per Game (1st in NFL)
25.8 Points Per Game (4th in NFL)
281.4 Passing Yards Per Game (1st)
110.1 Rushing Yards Per Game (tied for 18th)

Colts:
379.4 Yards of Offense Per Game (3rd in NFL)
26.7 Points Per Game (tied for 2nd in NFL)
269.3 Passing Yards Per Game (2nd)
110.1 Rushing Yards Per Game (tied for 18th)

Was it really a substantial margin? The numbers don't lie, and they look EXTREMELY close to me...

Yes, it was.

The Colts beat the top 6 scoring defenses in the NFL (and 8 of the top 10) between the regular season and the playoffs, and went 9-1 against top 10 scoring defenses. The best scoring defense the Saints beat was 15th ranked Philadelphia, and they went 0-4 against top 10 scoring defenses.

The Saints offense last season was a paper tiger, who ran up the score on weak teams.

The average scoring defense rank of teams New Orleans beat was over 20. The average scoring defense rank of teams Indianapolis beat was about 12.

[TPFKA#1SaintsFan]

Yes, it was.

The Colts beat the top 6 scoring defenses in the NFL (and 8 of the top 10) between the regular season and the playoffs, and went 9-1 against top 10 scoring defenses. The best scoring defense the Saints beat was 15th ranked Philadelphia, and they went 0-4 against top 10 scoring defenses.

The Saints offense last season was a paper tiger, who ran up the score on weak teams.

The average scoring defense rank of teams New Orleans beat was over 20. The average scoring defense rank of teams Indianapolis beat was about 12.

That's not a fair analysis at all; quite honestly, it one of the more ridiculous attempts at proving a point that I've seen. We can only play the schedule we're given. Let's use a common opponent to compare... hmm, how about the #1 defense in the NFL last year?

We put up 403 yards of offense and scored 22 points against a Baltimore defense that ranked #1 in the NFL in both yards allowed (264.1) and in points allowed (12.6). How did the Colts do against Baltimore? 261 yards of offense, and no touchdowns scored.

Does this mean that New Orleans had a better offense than Indy by a "substantial margin?" Absolutely not. But it does prove that your method of comparison is faulty. How can anybody know that the Saints offense wouldn't have done the same, or even better, with Indy's schedule? Or Vice Versa?

By the way, it's a 16 game season, and New Orleans' offense was very consistent throughout; so no, we really didn't just run up the score on weak teams.


**Edit - after reading over your post a few more times, I just think you're confused. We are talking about the best offense, not the best TEAM.

[Geo]

I can't believe anyone would bring up the Baltimore game. The Ravens dismantled the Saints in their home dome and scored at least one touchdown on defense (Landry I definitely recall). I also believe Reggie Bush throw a pick in that game, if memory serves correct. The Saints managed to get some garbage time scores because the score was so out of reach.

Try going into Baltimore in mid-January and playing a team that thinks it's going to hoist the Lombardi trophy, and they could have, coming off of a bye week.

[Shiver]

I can't believe anyone would bring up the Baltimore game. The Ravens dismantled the Saints in their home dome and scored at least one touchdown on defense (Landry I definitely recall). I also believe Reggie Bush throw a pick in that game, if memory serves correct. The Saints managed to get some garbage time scores because the score was so out of reach.

Try going into Baltimore in mid-January and playing a team that thinks it's going to hoist the Lombardi trophy, and they could have, coming off of a bye week.

I would be remiss without mentioning, the yards and points they got, were in garbage time. The Ravens dismantled the Saints offense.

[Phrost]

Does anyone else think that Peyton Manning's head contributes a lot to his 6'5 height?

[TPFKA#1SaintsFan]

I can't believe anyone would bring up the Baltimore game. The Ravens dismantled the Saints in their home dome and scored at least one touchdown on defense (Landry I definitely recall). I also believe Reggie Bush throw a pick in that game, if memory serves correct. The Saints managed to get some garbage time scores because the score was so out of reach.

Try going into Baltimore in mid-January and playing a team that thinks it's going to hoist the Lombardi trophy, and they could have, coming off of a bye week.

Both offenses played poorly against Baltimore's defense. I never said the Saints played well. We had 5 turnovers in that game. The difference is, we were able to move the ball very well on offense. Their defense couldn't stop us from moving the ball, but we shot ourselves in the foot with some very poor decisions from Brees and a bad playcall for Reggie. We managed to get ONE garbage time score, by the way. If you want to discount that score, fine, take it away and we still scored 2 touchdowns, compared to Indy's 0. Indy's defense and special teams played great and won them the game, but you're dead wrong if you think our offense didn't fare much, much better against the Ravens than Indy's. Their offense got shut down. We made a bunch of mistakes and took ourselves out of the game.

[Geo]

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061029_BAL@NO

The score was 28-7 at halftime, 35-7 at the start of the 4th quarter until the Saints put up 15 points. Brees threw 3 touchdowns, but he also threw 3 picks - 2 of which were returned for touchdowns by Prude and Landry. Brees threw for 383 yards, but that's because he aired it out for a ridiculous 45 times, and was sacked twice. The Ravens said all week they'd put hot sauce on hits on Reggie Bush and he practically folded like a lawn chair (5 carries for 16 yards, 11 of which came on one run); Duece didn't any better, with 5 carries for 11 yards. The Saints had 17 total first downs, 13 from passing and 4 from penalty, and converted 6 of 14 (43%) third downs. TOP was absurdly 36:46 in favor of the Ravens, 23:14 for the home team Saints. Mind you, the Saints were coming off a bye week.

http://www.superbowl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20070113_IND@BAL

The Ravens again talked all week about putting hot sauce on Joseph Addai, and he drew blood from a stone getting 39 yards on 18 carries. With 7 or 8 minutes left in the game, the Colts buried the Ravens with a final drive mainly consisting of the OL and Dom Rhodes (14-56) running down their throats. Manning threw 2 picks, although the second was on 3rd and stupid long and proved to be better than a Hunter Smith punt, and he was only sacked once. The Colts had 15 total first downs without the benefit of garbage time/scores, 6 from rushing and 9 from passing (none form penalties). They converted on 8 of 19 third downs (42%). Colts scored 5 FGs on 5 FG attempts, and held the ball for 31:24 compared to the Ravens' 28:36.

*****

The Saints turning the ball over, especially in the red zone, is a big reason why they aren't the better offense. They ran up and down the field against Cincinnati at home, but stupid turnovers cost them the game, whereas the Colts methodically jabbed the Bengals to submission in their MNF matchup, for another example.

Football Outsiders, producers of fantastic football metrics, ranks the two offenses as follows: (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamoff.php)

TEAM TOT OFF WEIGHTED OVERALL PASS PASS RUSH RUSH
DVOA OFF DVOA RANK OFF RANK OFF RANK
IND 33.8% 35.8% 1 56.7% 1 7.5% 6
NO 13.7% 16.7% 5 22.9% 4 2.7% 10

The majority of the ratings featured on FootballOutsiders.com are based on DVOA, or Defense-adjusted Value Over Average. DVOA breaks down every single play of the NFL season to see how much success offensive players achieved in each specific situation compared to the league average in that situation, adjusted for the strength of the opponent.

Imagine two running backs who each gain three yards. Player A gains three yards under a set of circumstances where the average NFL running back gains only two yards (for example, third-and-1), it can be argued that Player A has a certain amount of value above others at his position. Likewise, if Player B gains three yards on a play where, under similar circumstances, an average NFL back would be expected to gain five yards (for example, second-and-15), it can be argued that Player B has negative value relative to others at his position.

Once we have all our adjustments, we can find the difference between this player's success and the expected success of an average running back in the same situation (or between this defense and the average defense in the same situation, etc.). Add up every play by a certain team or player, divide by the total baseline for success in all those situations, and you get VOA, or Value Over Average.

Of course, the biggest variable in football is the fact that each team plays a different schedule. By adjusting each play based on the defense's average success in stopping that type of play over the course of a season, we get DVOA, or Defense-adjusted Value Over Average. Rushing and passing plays are adjusted based on down and location on the field; receiving plays are also adjusted based on how the defense performs against passes to running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers. Defenses are adjusted based on the average success of the offenses they are facing. (Yes, this is still called DVOA, for the sake of simplicity.)

[TPFKA#1SaintsFan]

You can post every piece of analysis in the world, it doesn't change the fact that the Saints moved the ball better against the Ravens than the Colts did. Just go back and watch the two games without bias.

And since when is 18 seconds into the fourth quarter considered garbage time? At that point, the Saints were down 21 points. Who packs it in when they're only up 21 with a whole quarter left in the game? That's plenty of time for a comeback. Hell, the Saints scored 21 in a quarter twice against Dallas, in the same game.

If you want to take away the garbage time TD, fine. We still put up 356 yards of offense and 2 touchdowns vs. Indy's 261 and 0.

Whether you want to agree or disagree really doesn't matter to me. The Saints moved the ball against Baltimore with greater ease and success, and neither the game film nor the numbers lie.


I'm not using examples to prove the Saints offense was better than Indy's; hell, I'm not sure that I even believe that. It's just idiotic to say that one is better than the other by a "substantial margin."

[Chief49er]

The Niners playing host to the Cards should be fun to watch.

Young, up and coming teams playing their hearts out.

Look for Vernon Davis's first 100 yard game!!!

WOOT!

GO NINERS!

[sweetness34]

Cardinals vs 49ers on Monday Night? Are you f*ing kidding me?

:rolleyes:

[TPFKA#1SaintsFan]

Cardinals vs 49ers on Monday Night? Are you f*ing kidding me?

:rolleyes:

Yeaaaaaaaaaaah....

[Geo]

You of all people should know the Cardinals can put on a show on Monday Night Football, sweetness.

Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin in primetime: good thing the 49ers signed Nate Clements.

[TPFKA#1SaintsFan]

You of all people should know the Cardinals can put on a show on Monday Night Football, sweetness.

Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin in primetime: good thing the 49ers signed Nate Clements.

Doesn't change the fact that we have a 5-11 team taking on a 7-9 team...

It's not like either team has been any good within the last 3 years and are just coming of a down year, either. I think they are both on the rise, but this isn't really the headline matchup you would expect for the Monday Night Football season opener.

[neko4]

So when is the full schedule supposed to come out?

[indyfan1985]

Looking forward to seeing the Colts getting beaten at home ;)

Haha maybe if Peyton gets injured then you got a shot. It not, he's going to torch your secondary.

[Geo]

Doesn't change the fact that we have a 5-11 team taking on a 7-9 team...

It's not like either team has been any good within the last 3 years and are just coming of a down year, either. I think they are both on the rise, but this isn't really the headline matchup you would expect for the Monday Night Football season opener.
Considering the second of last year's double-header featured the Chargers and the Raiders, which was as we all know a beatdown of the highest order, I'd say watching the Cardinals and 49ers go at it is definitely an improvement. I don't know what the exact scores are, but the last few years has seen some competitive and/or high scoring games between the division rivals.

Coincidentally, we'll see Matt Leinart playing the team he spurned as a junior.

[sweetness34]

So you've got the Bears/Chargers sitting right there, and you put the Cardinals and 49ers on the first Monday Night Game? Ok, I can see them playing there later on in the year, but this is a marquee matchup and it deserves to be in primetime IMO.

(Watch the Cards/Niners game be absolutely incredible now that I've just said they don't deserve to be on MNF, haha).

Eh oh well, I'm sure we'll have our share of MNF games this season.

[Warhawk]

**Edit - after reading over your post a few more times, I just think you're confused. We are talking about the best offense, not the best TEAM.

Oh, if you want to make the argument that the Colts defense was far better than the Saints defense this year, be my guest, I'd like to see you try.

Fair point about the Ravens game.

Anyway, the Saints averaged 18.75 points against top 10 defenses in 06, compared to 25.8 ppg over the course of the season.

The Colts averaged 25.5 points per game against top 10 defenses in 06, compared to 26.7 ppg over the course of the season.

The Saints fell off more when faced with good competition.

[GB12]

The Packers will be on primetime in week 17 to show Farve's last game



...again

[TPFKA#1SaintsFan]

Oh, if you want to make the argument that the Colts defense was far better than the Saints defense this year, be my guest, I'd like to see you try.

Fair point about the Ravens game.

Anyway, the Saints averaged 18.75 points against top 10 defenses in 06, compared to 25.8 ppg over the course of the season.

The Colts averaged 25.5 points per game against top 10 defenses in 06, compared to 26.7 ppg over the course of the season.

The Saints fell off more when faced with good competition.

The Colts defense did step it up BIG TIME during the playoffs, and IMO is the biggest reason they were finally able to make it over the hump and win a Superbowl.

But you do make good points. I wouldn't particularly disagree that the Colts had the best offense in the NFL last season. I just think it's downright wrong to say they were the best "by a substantial margin."

[RedAttack]

The 'hate' the Cards/9ers game is getting is really unfounded. The two appearences the Cards have made on prime time recently have produced really entertaining games.

The Mexico game was highly entertaining with those two fumble recoveries and the Cards come back to win. And while from a cardinal fans point of view the MNF game was a 'debacle', it was one of the most entertaining games of the year.

Last time the Cards meet the 9ers in a season opener, there was a total of 61 points scored and the game came down to the final play of the game.

[TPFKA#1SaintsFan]

The 'hate' the Cards/9ers game is getting is really unfounded. The two appearences the Cards have made on prime time recently have produced really entertaining games.

The Mexico game was highly entertaining with those two fumble recoveries and the Cards come back to win. And while from a cardinal fans point of view the MNF game was a 'debacle', it was one of the most entertaining games of the year.

Last time the Cards meet the 9ers in a season opener, there was a total of 61 points scored and the game came down to the final play of the game.

I think it will be a good game, quite a few exciting players between the teams... it just isn't the marquee matchup that you would want to be the MNF opener.

[49ersfan_87]

I think it will be a good game, quite a few exciting players between the teams... it just isn't the marquee matchup that you would want to be the MNF opener.

Meh, its the 2nd part of the doubleheader. Its tucked away at the 10:15 EST timeslot on monday night.

Im very happy, seeing as i dont live in San Francisco and i saw 2 games only last year of the 49ers (both against the seahawks). I cant wait, and i hope they get more primetime games. Should be a fun one too on MNF.