NFL Pick 'em 2011: Week 1 [Archive]

Dragon

Sep 1st, 2011, 11:05:42 PM

Holy crap you guys it's time for football!

First off, congratulations once again to last year's champion, Jedi Master Carr, and the runners-up, Rutabaga and Nathaniel K'cansce! All three of them finished with a record of 167-100, but in what as far as I know was a SW-Fans first, we had to pick scores to break the three-way tie.

Second off, the rules of the game are as follows: each week, I'll post the slate of NFL games, and then everyone who wants to participate will post their picks. Picks must be submitted before kickoff to count. If there's a Thursday game (like this week), often people put in the Thursday pick and wait until the weekend to pick the rest of the games. At the end of each week, I'll tally up the scores, people will correct my inevitable mistakes, and I will keep a running tally for the season all the way to the Super Bowl. If you miss a week, you will be given the worst score for the week minus one so you don't fall hopelessly out of contention.

Third off, if there's any interest, we can do the survivor pool again as well. This is separate from the pick 'em - the object is to pick a single winner each week. The rub is that you cannot pick the same team twice. If your survivor pick loses, you're out of the running. Ryan Pode was our survivor champion last year.

Fourth off, here is the schedule for the first week of the 2011 season. Get those picks in!

Thursday, Sep 8
NO @ GB

Sunday, Sep 11
PIT @ BAL
CIN @ CLE
IND @ HOU
DET @ TB
PHI @ STL
ATL @ CHI
BUF @ KC
TEN @ JAX

NYG @ WAS
MIN @ SD
CAR @ ARI
SEA @ SF
DAL @ NYJ

Monday, Sep 12
NE @ MIA
OAK @ DEN

Park Kraken

Sep 2nd, 2011, 03:00:51 AM

I've watched nary a preseason game or looked up anything on the teams, so I'll purely be picking for favorites or preferreds for winners.

Thursday, Sep 8
NO @ GB (W)

Sunday, Sep 11
PIT @ BAL (W)
CIN (W) @ CLE
IND @ HOU (W)
DET @ TB (W)
PHI @ STL (W)
ATL @ CHI (W)
BUF @ KC (W)
TEN @ JAX (W)

NYG @ WAS (W)
MIN @ SD (W)
CAR (W) @ ARI
SEA (W) @ SF
DAL (W) @ NYJ

Monday, Sep 12
NE (W) @ MIA
OAK (W) @ DEN

Nathanial K'cansce

Sep 3rd, 2011, 07:41:27 AM

Let's do this. :D

Thursday, Sep 8
NO @ GB (W)

Sunday, Sep 11
(W) PIT @ BAL
CIN @ CLE (W)
IND @ HOU (W)
(W) DET @ TB
(W) PHI @ STL
(W) ATL @ CHI
(W) BUF @ KC
TEN @ JAX (W)

(W) NYG @ WAS
MIN @ SD (W)
CAR @ ARI (W) (In Kolb We Trust!)
(W) SEA @ SF
DAL @ NYJ (W)

Monday, Sep 12
(W) NE @ MIA
OAK @ DEN (W)

Miranda Tarkin

Sep 4th, 2011, 06:36:06 PM

Thursday, Sep 8
NO @ GB (W)

Sunday, Sep 11
PIT (W) @ BAL
CIN @ CLE (W)
IND @ HOU (W)
DET (W) @ TB
PHI @ STL (W)
ATL @ CHI (W)
BUF (W) @ KC
TEN (W) @ JAX

NYG @ WAS (W)
MIN @ SD (W)
CAR @ ARI (W)
SEA (W) @ SF
DAL @ NYJ (W)

Monday, Sep 12
NE (W) @ MIA
OAK @ DEN (W)

Dragon

Sep 4th, 2011, 07:07:44 PM

First week is almost always a crapshoot...

Thursday, Sep 8
NO @ GB WIN

Sunday, Sep 11
PIT WIN @ BAL
CIN @ CLE WIN
IND @ HOU WIN
DET WIN @ TB
PHI WIN @ STL
ATL WIN @ CHI
BUF @ KC WIN
TEN @ JAX WIN

NYG @ WAS WIN
MIN @ SD WIN
CAR @ ARI WIN
SEA @ SF WIN
DAL @ NYJ WIN

Monday, Sep 12
NE WIN @ MIA
OAK WIN @ DEN

Morgan Evanar

Sep 4th, 2011, 07:55:46 PM

Thursday, Sep 8
GB WIN

Sunday, Sep 11
PIT WIN
CLE WIN
HOU WIN
TB WIN
PHI WIN
ATL WIN
KC WIN
JAX WIN

NYG WIN
SD WIN
ARI WIN
SF WIN
NYJ WIN

Monday, Sep 12
NE WIN
OAK WIN

Figrin D'an

Sep 4th, 2011, 08:15:09 PM

Thursday, Sep 8
NO @ GB (W)

Sunday, Sep 11
PIT @ BAL (W)
CIN @ CLE (W)
IND @ HOU (W)
DET @ TB (W)
PHI (W) @ STL
ATL (W) @ CHI
BUF @ KC (W)
TEN (W) @ JAX

NYG (W) @ WAS
MIN @ SD (W)
CAR @ ARI (W)
SEA (W) @ SF
DAL (W) @ NYJ

Monday, Sep 12
NE (W) @ MIA
OAK @ DEN (W)

Aurelias Kazaar

Sep 4th, 2011, 08:27:33 PM

Thursday, Sep 8
NO @ GB W

Sunday, Sep 11
PITW @ BAL
CIN @ CLE W
IND @ HOU W
DET @ TB W
PHI W @ STL
ATL W @ CHI
BUF @ KC W
TEN @ JAX W

NYG W @ WAS
MIN @ SD W
CAR @ ARI W
SEA @ SF W
DAL @ NYJ W

Monday, Sep 12
NE W @ MIA
OAK @ DEN W

Kyran O'Hurn

Sep 5th, 2011, 06:55:03 AM

I hate week 1's... at least in terms of picking.

Thursday, Sep 8
NO @ GB W

Sunday, Sep 11
PIT W @ BAL
CIN @ CLE W
IND @ HOU W
DET W @ TB
PHI W @ STL
ATL W @ CHI
BUF @ KC W
TEN @ JAX W

NYG W @ WAS
MIN @ SD W
CAR @ ARI W
SEA @ SF W
DAL @ NYJ W

Monday, Sep 12
NE W @ MIA
OAK W @ DEN

Rutabaga

Sep 5th, 2011, 08:54:42 AM

Will this season be as goofy as last season? Only time will tell.

BTW, saw online that Peyton Manning may be out indefinitely with his neck issues. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but it could be a weird season for the Colts.

Thursday, Sep 8
NO @ GB WIN

Sunday, Sep 11
PIT WIN @ BAL
CIN @ CLE WIN
IND WIN @ HOU
DET @ TB WIN
PHI WIN @ STL
ATL WIN @ CHI
BUF @ KC WIN
TEN @ JAX WIN

NYG WIN @ WAS
MIN @ SD WIN
CAR @ ARI WIN
SEA @ SF WIN
DAL @ NYJ WIN

Monday, Sep 12
NE WIN @ MIA
OAK @ DEN WIN

Kyran O'Hurn

Sep 5th, 2011, 02:05:41 PM

Will this season be as goofy as last season? Only time will tell.

BTW, saw online that Peyton Manning may be out indefinitely with his neck issues. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but it could be a weird season for the Colts.

I think the Colts were going to be in a bit of trouble this year anyway. Probably not like last in the division trouble, but I think they are going to have a tough time with the Texans this year.

Also going to be interested to see if the Eagles can live up to the hype that they've created for themselves.

Rev Solomon

Sep 5th, 2011, 05:53:21 PM

To be honest, I think that hype is more media creation than anything else. It seems harsh to judge a team by an extemporaneous comment made by its newly signed backup quarterback. Also, I never like the line, "This season will be a failure for X if they don't win the Super Bowl."

I am excited to see what the Texans can do. I was in their market from 2008-2009 and adopted them as a sort of secondary team of interest, and I've had a lot of fun watching them build a competent offense. They're the last team in the league to have never made the postseason, and I'd love to see them make the next step.

Jedi Master Carr

Sep 5th, 2011, 05:56:42 PM

Thursday, Sep 8
NO @ GB W

Sunday, Sep 11
PIT @ BAL W
CIN @ CLE W
IND @ HOU W
W DET @ TB
W PHI @ STL
W ATL @ CHI
BUF @ KC W
TEN @ JAX W

W NYG @ WAS
MIN @ SD W
CAR @ ARI W
W SEA @ SF
DAL @ NYJ W

Monday, Sep 12
W NE @ MIA
W OAK @ DEN

Lykaios

Sep 7th, 2011, 05:49:51 PM

Gb
Bal
Cle
Hou
Det
Stl
Atl
Kc
Jax
Nyg
Sd
Car
Sea
Nyg
Ne
Den

Liam Jinn

Sep 7th, 2011, 08:27:45 PM

Thursday, Sep 8
NO @ GB (W)

Ryan Pode

Sep 7th, 2011, 08:28:11 PM

Thursday, Sep 8
NO @ GB Win

Sunday, Sep 11
PIT @ BAL Win
CIN @ CLE Win
IND @ HOU Win
DET @ TB Win
PHI @ STL Win
ATL @ CHI Win
BUF @ KC Win
TEN @ JAX Win

NYG @ WAS Win
MIN @ SD Win
CAR @ ARI Win
SEA @ SF Win
DAL @ NYJ Win

Monday, Sep 12
NE @ MIA Win
OAK @ DEN Win

And I'm down for a survivor pick.

Yog

Sep 8th, 2011, 03:23:09 AM

This time, I should be able to do the whole season, so watch out :)

I am also in favor of survivor picks.

Thursday, Sep 8
NO @ GB (W)

Jedi Master Carr

Sep 8th, 2011, 03:39:39 PM

Manning had surgery again today
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6944302/indianapolis-colts-peyton-manning-more-surgery-neck-sources-say

I don't know how he can play this season after this surgery.

Dragon

Sep 8th, 2011, 04:10:38 PM

If you want to do survivor picks, go ahead and post them. Obviously, you won't be able to pick the Packers or Saints for this week unless you post before kickoff at 8: 30 EST, but if you were planning to pick either one tonight for the Survivor Pool you probably misunderstood the concept...

On that note, I'll take Arizona!

jjwr

Sep 8th, 2011, 06:15:27 PM

Thursday, Sep 8
NO @ GB (W)

Sunday, Sep 11
PIT @ BAL (W)
CIN @ CLE (W)
IND @ HOU (W)
DET (W) @ TB
PHI (W) @ STL
ATL (W) @ CHI
BUF @ KC (W)
TEN (W) @ JAX

NYG @ WAS (W)
MIN @ SD (W)
CAR @ ARI (W)
SEA @ SF (W)
DAL (W) @ NYJ

Monday, Sep 12
NE (W) @ MIA
OAK (W) @ DEN

Rutabaga

Sep 8th, 2011, 09:38:39 PM

Dragon

Sep 8th, 2011, 09:52:53 PM

So, you guys have all been so great, I'm just going to give everybody a point tonight.

;)

Morgan Evanar

Sep 8th, 2011, 09:55:55 PM

Holy cow what a game.

Jedi Master Carr

Sep 8th, 2011, 10:05:41 PM

I knew it would be a close game but figured the Packers would win because of the home field edge. The game was a shoot out and was fun to watch.

Dragon

Sep 8th, 2011, 11:12:31 PM

A fantastic, rousing start to the season. The Packers seem to have picked up exactly where they left off and looked solid all around. If not for Drew Brees's amazing ability to will his team down the field, this might have been a laugher. It seems to me that where the Saints primarily came up short was the matchup between their offensive line and the Packers' defensive line. The Saints could not shift B.J. Raji, and the Packers' rushers consistently had penetration against both the pass and the run. I hated Sean Payton's decision to go for it on fourth down late in the third quarter for exactly that reason. Kick the field goal, cut the deficit to five, and don't give the Packers the momentum of a fourth-down stop.

As epic as that final drive by the Saints was, I think the pass interference penalty that extended it by one play at the end of regulation was a bad call. Clay Matthews indeed was going over the top of Sproles's back, but he was playing the ball all the way and in fact spiked it to the turf before it came close to Sproles's hands. The ref who threw the flag was behind the play and had a terrible angle on it. I feel the officiating was very good otherwise, but I'm glad the game didn't turn on that call.

Wow it's great to have regular season football again. Can't wait for Sunday. :D

Figrin D'an

Sep 9th, 2011, 04:21:09 PM

Interestingly enough, even as a Packers fan, I actually felt the pass interference call was probably justified. It looked to me like A.J. Hawk made contact with Darren Sproles shoulder as he was airborne. It's arguable I suppose, but the call itself didn't really upset me, other than it gave New Orleans a chance to extend the game and a shot at tying it up.

This will end up being one of the best games we see all year, IMO. Scary thing is, these two teams could meet again the NFC title game in January.

Liam Jinn

Sep 10th, 2011, 08:38:19 PM

Sunday, Sep 11
PIT @ BAL (W)
CIN @ CLE (W)
IND @ HOU (W)
DET (W) @ TB
PHI (W) @ STL
ATL @ CHI (W)
BUF @ KC (W)
TEN (W) @ JAX

NYG (W) @ WAS
MIN @ SD (W)
CAR @ ARI (W)
SEA @ SF (W)
DAL (W) @ NYJ

Monday, Sep 12
NE (W) @ MIA
OAK @ DEN (W)

Yog

Sep 11th, 2011, 10:11:11 AM

Sunday, Sep 11
PIT (W) @ BAL
CIN @ CLE (W)
IND @ HOU (W)
DET (W) @ TB
PHI (W) @ STL
ATL @ CHI (W)
BUF @ KC (W)
TEN (W) @ JAX

NYG (W) @ WAS
MIN @ SD (W)
CAR @ ARI (W)
SEA @ SF (W)
DAL @ NYJ (W)

Monday, Sep 12
NE (W) @ MIA
OAK @ DEN (W)

Survivor: Denver Broncos

Park Kraken

Sep 11th, 2011, 10:27:11 AM

Survivor Pick: TB

Liam Jinn

Sep 11th, 2011, 11:23:04 AM

Survivor Pick - SF

Morgan Evanar

Sep 11th, 2011, 02:31:07 PM

Rutabaga

Sep 11th, 2011, 05:36:16 PM

Thursday, Sep 8
GB WIN -yup.

Sunday, Sep 11
PIT WIN - 7 turnovers? really guys? Crikey.
CLE WIN - worse than I thought, not by much though.
HOU WIN - woooooooooo that was a bombing.
TB WIN - Detroit is better than I expected. Wow Stafford!
PHI WIN -yup.
ATL WIN -!?!?!?!?
KC WIN - 4 touchdowns from Buffalo? Is there a portal to the early 90s?
JAX WIN - Heh.

My thoughts exactly. O_o

Needless to say, at least I did see the light and change my IND-HOU pick to HOU.

And dare I begin to hope that the Niners just might have a decent season this year? *fingers crossed*

Figrin D'an

Sep 11th, 2011, 06:22:46 PM

Pittsburgh looked like they forgot that a new season was starting today.

There's something very, very wrong with the Chiefs. The loss today to Buffalo might not be an fluke.

Atlanta killed themselves today more than the Bears did. Atlanta is better than they showed today, and the Bears are not as good as they showed today (they still can't protect Cutler.)

The Colts are so incredibly screwed without Peyton Manning. I'm saying 6-10 is their ceiling this year, even if he does come back late November (not happening, BTW. I don't think he suits up at all this season).

Nice first game by Cam Newton. The kid definitely has a lot of potential. However, his stats today are an aberration. He'll come back to earth next week against the Packers.

Morgan Evanar

Sep 11th, 2011, 07:01:58 PM

And now the afternoon games:

NYG WIN - all the bad stuff I've heard just might be true about you guys. Sheesh.
SD WIN - Rivers and Co. does their thing. The Vikings are pretty old.
ARI WIN - these teams are not very good but Arizona was better right now, as I guessed. Kolb is a solid QB. They might win the (very bad) division, although...
SF WIN - Don't expect Ginn to do that every week, but if Alex Smith plays that safe, effective football you guys could be ok in this weak division.

The late games were much easier to pick. I thought several of the early games were total toss-ups. The Steelers and Falcons were massive disappointments, though. Not even close in either case.

Rev Solomon

Sep 12th, 2011, 10:04:44 AM

I feel like I have to apologize for the Steelers. Wow. I can only hope they've used up their season's allotment of turnovers, missed tackles, and blown coverages. But kudos to the Ravens, they got up for this game and played fantastic all around.

I didn't get to see much at all of any of the afternoon games, so I've had to look at stats sheets to try to figure out how they went. I was surprised to see very pitiful numbers for Donovan McNabb for the Vikings. 7/15 for 39 yards? Really? And here I'd thought from score-watching that I might have underestimated the Vikings this season...

Morgan Evanar

Sep 12th, 2011, 08:58:20 PM

oh god Dolphins, you got bent over by Billy's Brutes. At least Henne didn't look like hot garbage.

Dragon

Sep 13th, 2011, 10:12:06 AM

Lykaios, you picked the Giants twice, so I'll assume one of those was the Jets. Here's the week 1 tally. Not bad for the first week, really...

Dragon: 12-4
Jedi Master Carr: 11-5
jjwr: 11-5
Kyran O'Hurn: 11-5
Liam Jinn: 10-6
Miranda Tarkin: 10-6
Morgan Evanar: 10-6
Nathanial K'cansce: 10-6
Park Kraken: 10-6
Ryan Pode: 10-6
Yog: 10-6
Aurelias Kazaar: 9-7
Rutabaga: 9-7
Lykaios: 8-8
Figrin D'an: 7-9

For Survivor last year, we ended up saying you can enter again if you miss a week, and the winner is the one who earns the longest streak, with tiebreakers going to streaks that started earlier. We might as well do that again this year, as otherwise we only have two people still alive after Week 1. Or we could just say people can rejoin in Week 2 so we'll have a larger pool and go hardcore the rest of the way. I don't mind either way.

Dragon: ARI
Liam Jinn: SF
Park Kraken: TB
Yog: DEN<strike>D<strike>D<strike>D</strike<img></strike<img></strike<img>

Park Kraken

Sep 13th, 2011, 11:17:31 AM

Yeah, but if you rejoin, your previous picks aren't reset.

Dragon

Sep 13th, 2011, 08:28:02 PM

Yep, that's the way we did it last year. That includes picks you missed - so Park can't choose the Buccaneers and Yog can't choose the Broncos from here on out.

Yog

Sep 15th, 2011, 02:53:12 AM

Yep, that's the way we did it last year. That includes picks you missed - so Park can't choose the Buccaneers and Yog can't choose the Broncos from here on out.
Not a big loss there. Clearly, when Broncos can't even beat the Raiders on their own homefield, that tells a lot about how terrible they are.