h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, I saw a few references to American Football (which surprised me!), and found this forum. I've been lurking a bit, which is in my nature - sounds really weird for a Raiders fan, doesn't it? Around here (New Mexico) the big joke is that Raiders fans are mostly criminals and gang members (with some truth to that, perhaps due to their image). It's not true of me, before you ask.

I have to admit to being a big Raiders fan (and have been since the late 1970s). I get pretty annoyed with Al Davis a lot, but then that's what owners are for I guess. It was *&^@#ing moronic moving 'em to LA in the first place, the bastard. Heh, maybe I am a Raiders fan after all ...

I have soft spots some other teams, though - oddly enough even some teams in the same conference, like the Chargers. Go figger. I find myself rooting for the Buccaneers a lot (must be a pirate thing) - no, it's really 'cos I admire Gruden so much. I've rooted for both the Browns and the Packers in the past (old school, baby!), and even been known to cheer on the likes of Giants and the Jets (I dunno why, I just like 'em). But, when it comes down to it, I'm a die-hard Raiders fan, ever since I lived in Oakland back in the mid 1970s. Like BBS, I'm having a great time this season. Just don't mention the phrase "tuck rule" and I might stick around. As to whether that's a Good or a Bad thing ...

- JD (Black and Silver, all the way)

Tuck rule, Tuck rule, Tuck rule!!
Nah, just kidding.. Welcome to the forum, mate. Good to have another one on board, and especially someone from the US who can probably give us a bit more local updates on what's goig on...

Welcome JD - now we are two ...

Hi JD

Nice to see a new member, I think you'll like it here

Wanna try this out? A901928

Another Faider fan? I'm surrounded by 'em...

Welcome aboard JD, and despite the long standing rivalry between the Hawks and the Faiders, I'd like to say know that I'm actually rooting for them in the play-offs, even though my lust for points led me to the conclusion that the Eagles will actually take the big one...

I seem to be the first Browns fan to post. (Please send flowers , no sympathy cards. It is fantastic to have the Browns back in the playoffs giving everyone palpitations. I have followed them since 85 when I saw them lose to the Redskins in Cleveland and it has been up and mostly down since then. I did see the Scottish Claymores win the European Championship game here in Edinburgh.

So, loosehead, are you going to go watch the World Bowl in Glasgow this summer? Hampden Park, June 14.

Yes, why not
Sounds like an excuse for a meet up perhaps?

Hi loosehead

If you've been reading these conversations you'll notice I have supported three teams in two weeks through late game collapses... My beloved Fins, your Brownies and the Giants..

I feel your pain

Anyways, JM Fantasy League... Browns it is

Dare we ask who you fancy in the rest of the playoffs? I think I may back anyone you dont pick

Ha ha ha you asked for that one FF, as your scores in the predictions recently will testify...

Definitely... I'll be going there since I've got season tickets for the Claymores anyways. I think it's goig to be a good show..

Hey Sharkey! It's not who I think wil win, it's who I want to win is the problem... any team I become a surrogate supporter of is losing, spectacularly (except for the Falcons).

I admit it, I'm cursed..

This week, the teams I want to win are:

Oakland
Tennessee
Atlanta
Tampa Bay

Sorry folks...

Of the teams I don't want to win the SB are the Jets (for previously stated reasons) and the 49'ers (for the spurious reason that they are the only team left I have witnessed win a SB).

Put your bets on these teams NOW!!!

Well, thanks for the warm welcome! I'll probably be a quiet member of the forum (totally unlike a Raiders fan, heheh), but I'll be here. I barely have time to catch the games themselves, but I do read a lot of analyses in my favorite sports rags (ESPN and The Sporting News are my current favorites). Anyway, it'll be interesting to see what happens this weekend ...

Where's the prediction forum? I just though I'd air mine out here, since I'm kinda new ...

I can't pick which matchup is the more interesting! I'm going to be keenly watch the Radiers-Jets of course, but the Steelers-Titans matchup could be very interesting. I have to say that in the case of the latter matchup, I predict a falling apart of the Maddox-Machine (or at least a failing to get going) IF the Titans get out ahead by more than 14 points in the first half. I know he wants revenge for what happened the last time they met, but there's more to a team than the QB, of course. Still ... the high may not have worn off as much as I think. I'd bet that the Titans will take it by 10, though I could easily be surprised. I think this is the most interesting matchup to watch outside of the Raiders-Jets.

I think the Raiders-Jets could actually be more of a defensive showcase than the expected all-offense shootout. I think that if the Raiders secondary and D-line make the key plays they are capable of, the Jets are going to find themselves against the wall - and previous games played this year could be more habit-forming for them than fuel for change. However, the Jets have been known to surprise me - I would bet the game will be decided by less than 7 points.

I'm not much for the Atlanta-Philly matchup, so I'll just have to say, "whatever happens happens" on that one. I know, I know, a classic college-style athletic QB matchup here between Vick and McNabb, but still ... even odds on this one, if I were a bookie.

Bucs and 49ers ... well, what can I say, I *want* the Bucs to win very much, but can Brad Johnson do it now that he's back? I'm not convinced of that, and I pick the blasted 49ers to win significantly (by 14 or so). My only hope is that the Bucs' crushing defense does the 49ers enough damage to keep it interesting.

Well, that's it. I'll have to see how I do, in this informal prediction post. If last weekend was any judge, I'll prove accurate about who's in which column (W or L) but totally wrong about how it happened. I never thought the blowouts would go to the 49ers and the Falcons.

- JD

The interesting thing about the Jets is that their offense ranked 22nd in the league and their defense 24th! Meanwhile Denver were 3rd in offense and 6th in defense but failed to make the playoffs.

Perhaps the key was turnover ratio as the Jets ranked 11th with +4 while Denver were 21st, but with only -5.

For the record, Oakland were 1st in offense, 11th in defense and 6th in turnover ratio (+12).

From those you'd think the Raiders have got it easy. But there are lies, damn lies and statistics as they say.

BBS

Damn it. I never got around to watching the footy this year . I do have an excuse, we don't have tv in our flat. So I still have no idea. The Baltimore Ravens? The Houston Texans? The 'Oakland' Raiders? Who are these teams?

Oh, those are very good points, truly the big difference between why Denver didn't make the post-season and New York did. The Jets made the most of their offensive attempts while I think the hapless Broncos seemed too unorganized and tentative at crucial moments.

Along those lines, I think the slightly hidden indicator there is one of confidence and emotion. I think the Raiders record and their #1 offense indicate two things: one is that the high turnover rate is a direct result of their offensive powerhouse style (i.e. they simply are on offense for the majority of the game time, usually much more than their opponents in general); but it's also an indicator of not being afraid to take chances that leads to them sometimes turning the ball over. I think that a turnover or three could kill the Jet's game, but the Raiders would shrug those off - and make 'em pay. It's not the mistakes that kill the team, but failing to recover from them!

Nice "damned lies," so to speak. Mark Twain with some the very words I live by.

- JD

I suspect the hidden indicator for the struggle of Denver will reveal itself in red zone efficiency. Anyone know of a site that keeps that stat?

Here's one:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/broncos/02red.htm


- JD

It's missing the key stat: number of red zone opportunities. We can figure out the ratio of field goals to touchdowns with this link, but we still don't know how many total opportunities they had.

What numbers are available don't help my theory. Offensively, they appear to be only slightly worse than Miami, slightly better than Oakland, and much better than the Packers and Niners.

Defensively, they don't look too impressive. Maybe that's the link.