The NFL Thread 2012: Baltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII

[amp316]

Pipedream24 said:

@amp316 and the Rest of the Bears Fans

Although the Bears are much improved, they are still a third place finish in the NFC North this season. No one is going to stop the passing attack of Rodgers. Green Bay has the best receiving corp in the NFL. You don't need defense when scoring 40 pts a game.

Seriously, you think the Lions were a fluke last year??? They have one of the best defensive lines in football. You're not going to beat them on the ground. Calvin Johnson is the best receiver in the game and Stafford threw for 5000 yards last season. If Detroit had anything that resembled a decent secondary they would be a Super Bowl contender. But they don't so they will be 10-6 again this season.

Meanwhile the Bears will get to 9-7 which will be quite an accomplishment considering the 4 losses Green Bay and Detroit will hand them.

The Packers do need a defense though.  What happened when they played a very balanced team with an excellent QB in the first round of the playoffs last year?  Yeah, you know what happened.  

Do I think that the Lions were a fluke last year?  That depends on your definition of fluke.  I don't expect them to go back to their days of being the absolute worst team in the league this year, but I don't expect them to go to the playoffs either.  Hate to break it to you; but a weak schedule, bad coaching by opposing teams early in the season, and a slew of injuries to the Bears last year are what enabled them to make the playoffs.  After starting off 6-0 last year (I think three of their wins were because of massive second half collapses by teams that played prevent defense), the Lions fell into a tie with the Bears at 6-3 after the Bears destroyed them 37-13.  The Bears went on to win the next game handily and their sixth game in a row.  Unfortunately, Jay Cutler got hurt and Matt Forte did I believe the next game.  They still would have went at least 11-5 if it weren't for the worst QB in the history of the world, Caleb Hanie, being under center.  They would have had an outside chance at reachinging the Super Bowl last year with Cutler and Forte returning and the Lions would have sat home again.  Are you forgetting that the Bears were in a competitive NFC Championship game the season before?  And yes they are greatly improved this year.  How, if they remain healthy does that add up to 9-7 and how after the Lions were massacred by the Bears 37-13 the last time that they met are you acting like the Lions winning both games over them this season is a forgone conclusion?  Sounds like to me that you are a long suffering Lions fan that saw a little success last year and has gotten delusional.  They are going to have a much tougher schedule this season and won't being playing the cream puff teams that they did last year.  10-6 isn't going to happen.  More like 8-8 or 7-9.  

BTW, Calvin Johnson isn't the greatest WR in football.  That's Larry Fitzgerald.

5000 yards for a QB isn't really a big deal when the rules of the NFL have been changed so the QB can hardly be touched without a 15 yard flag being thrown and when you throw the ball every single play like the Lions do.

I can see why someone would pick the Packers first, but I can't see how anyone can't see the Lions for what they are this year (barring injries).  A third place team.  Don't feel too bad about it though.  They're better than the Vikings.