At the halfway point of 2016, who is the best team in the NFL?

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

The Patriots had like 17 guys on IR last year, IIRC.

There are no healthy teams in January, I'm growing very tired of that excuse.

Can you name a single one of them for NE? I won't even count Charles, but did they hurt as bad as losing Houston, Maclin, Morse, or LDT?

No...

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

Can you name a single one of them for NE? I won't even count Charles, but did they hurt as bad as losing Houston, Maclin, Morse, or LDT?

No...

Sure, just their starting RB, 3rd down back, fullback, two starting OL, Dom Easley and Jerod Mayo.

Just your typical JAG's.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Sure, just their starting RB, 3rd down back, fullback, two starting OL, Dom Easley and Jerod Mayo.

Just your typical JAG's.

Eh, they're good players, but at that point, they weren't a huge detriment.

If they were without Gronk and Edelman, and had no Chandler Jones, it would have been different.

But injuries happen and thats a big part of the playoffs, whose the least injured.

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Sure, just their starting RB, 3rd down back, fullback, two starting OL, Dom Easley and Jerod Mayo.

Just your typical JAG's.

They cut Easley this offseason, Mayo was average at best last year, fullbacks are used maybe 10% of the snaps, and they always have a capable 3rd down back.

No one on that list even comes close to Houston or Maclin. Not fucking close.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

They cut Easley this offseason, Mayo was average at best last year, fullbacks are used maybe 10% of the snaps, and they always have a capable 3rd down back.

No one on that list even comes close to Houston or Maclin. Not ****ing close.

Yep, the whole team sucks.

Thanks for the conversation!

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Yep, the whole team sucks.

Thanks for the conversation!

Dude, don't put words in my mouth.

Houston is our best player and Maclin was our best offensive weapon last year. Game changers.

That would be like NE not having Gronk and Chandler Jones. Not the dudes you just named. Get real.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

Dude, don't put words in my mouth.

Houston is our best player and Maclin was our best offensive weapon last year. Game changers.

That would be like NE not having Gronk and Chandler Jones. Not the dudes you just named. Get real.

Easley got cut a year later = trash.

If we lost two OL at ANY time, this place would be flipping shit.

19 guys on IR. That's only 35% of the active roster. 35% of next man up.

This place bitches and moans when a guy or two are out.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

If we lost two OL at ANY time, this place would be flipping shit.

What? LDT and Morse were out with concussions for several games. Fulton played left guard and center. Stephenson played LT, LG and RT. Jah Reid played RG and RT. Fisher played RT and LT.

There was ZERO continuity on the offensive line last year, some of which bled into this year. There was a reason why the Chiefs offense was so anemic in Houston back in September and that's because Fulton started for Ehinger and Reid started for LDT.

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Easley got cut a year later = trash.

If we lost two OL at ANY time, this place would be flipping shit.

19 guys on IR. That's only 35% of the active roster. 35% of next man up.

This place bitches and moans when a guy or two are out.

Let me just put it this way. Last year, we had no Houston or Maclin for the playoff game.

Deal Denver that same hand. They don't have Miller or Emmanuel Sanders for the playoffs. Do they win the Super Bowl?

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

Can you name a single one of them for NE? I won't even count Charles, but did they hurt as bad as losing Houston, Maclin, Morse, or LDT?

No...

Last year? Oh, **** yes. Our two best RBs, our starting FB, our starting left tackle, one of our starting guards, our starting middle linebacker, and key depth at a number of positions, including CB and LB, which affected special teams. Sure, none of those guys individually is as good as Houston, but collectively, it had a HUGE impact. There's a reason we went from 10-0 to start the year to wheezing through the final six games and then losing in the playoffs!

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Last year? Oh, **** yes. Our two best RBs, our starting FB, our starting left tackle, one of our starting guards, our starting middle linebacker, and key depth at a number of positions, including CB and LB, which affected special teams. Sure, none of those guys individually is as good as Houston, but collectively, it had a HUGE impact. There's a reason we went from 10-0 to start the year to wheezing through the final six games and then losing in the playoffs!

BB is the reason the Patriots lost in Denver. He kept going for it on 4th down when a FG would have sufficed. He made the most confounding decisions I'd ever seen him make.

It was like Bizarro BB.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

BB is the reason the Patriots lost in Denver. He kept going for it on 4th down when a FG would have sufficed. He made the most confounding decisions I'd ever seen him make.

It was like Bizarro BB.

There were multiple reasons we lost in Denver, including BB, and Ghost missing his first point after attempt EVER.

I'm perfectly fine with blaming BB, however, the blame for him starts before we ever got to Denver, by losing two games that we should NEVER have lost (Philly and Miami), in VERY large part due to terrible coaching decisions.

If we win either of those games we have HFA and I don't believe we would have lost to Denver if it had been at Gillette.

It was, seriously, the worst year of BB coaching I can remember. Multiple strategic and tactical mistakes, a couple instances of weird/bad clock management at the end of the half or game, which NEVER happens with BB/Brady. Yeah....bizzarro BB. No sign of it so far this year however.

[conspiracy theorist]BB had to manufacture home field for Peyton so he had a plausible chance of beating the Patriots, so the NFL could crown his ass on the way out the door.[/conspiracy theorist]

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I don't think I'd use the adjective "distant" when describing the Chiefs, Cowboys and Patriots.

The return of a healthy Houston puts this team firmly in the #2 spot for me and I think the Chiefs and Patriots would be a close game on a neutral spot.

I don't really disagree here.

Problem for KC is that the game won't be played on a neutral site. It will be played in NE in all likelihood, and their stats their are well known. If we go to NE, we will need to play at our highest level, including game management, and not walk in playing not to lose.

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Last year? Oh, **** yes. Our two best RBs, our starting FB, our starting left tackle, one of our starting guards, our starting middle linebacker, and key depth at a number of positions, including CB and LB, which affected special teams. Sure, none of those guys individually is as good as Houston, but collectively, it had a HUGE impact. There's a reason we went from 10-0 to start the year to wheezing through the final six games and then losing in the playoffs!

A reason why I don't think KC being healthy is all that we need to beat NE. We need a different attitude, and better execution from the players in the red zone so far this year. People talk about KC's injuries, and while NE did get key players back, the injury bug was working for them as well.

And odds are, somebody big will be missing for KC and/or NE should a rematch occur.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

A reason why I don't think KC being healthy is all that we need to beat NE. We need a different attitude, and better execution from the players in the red zone so far this year. People talk about KC's injuries, and while NE did get key players back, the injury bug was working for them as well.

And odds are, somebody big will be missing for KC and/or NE should a rematch occur.

The Patriots have dominated the NFL to a large extent over the last 15 years, and seem to have a great team this year, but as always there are weaknesses. Sometimes they overcome them, and sometimes they don't. SB wins were well within reach in '06, '07, '11 and last year, but the Pats couldn't overcome the issues they had.

The pass-rush seems very weak so far this year (some players seem to be underperforming, and at other times it seems schematic), and the OLine as usual has some questions, though they've been ok so far. Third down/red area was a problem early in the year but has been corrected, seemingly.

But Brady, the skill position players and the DLine have been excellent. If we can get HFA, then I will take my chances against anyone. All teams have warts... And then, of course, there's random luck -- from the refs to the bounce of the ball. Chiefs with a good, balanced team and a good pass rush (assuming Houston is back and effective) will have as good a chance as anyone.

The more I see of Siemen the less I think of him. He's a noodle arm with decent accuracy but limited game management abilities.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

I don't really disagree here.

Problem for KC is that the game won't be played on a neutral site. It will be played in NE in all likelihood, and their stats their are well known. If we go to NE, we will need to play at our highest level, including game management, and not walk in playing not to lose.

On top of this we are a beat up team right now. And even when Houston returns it will be a while before he's in game shape.

Hell, last week by the end of the game the only real starters on offense playing were offensive lineman.

The impressive thing was winning last week with a combination of our 2nd and 3rd string offense...