# Season Long NFC North Discussion Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 1, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514 "2009-09-01T17:54:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 40
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/781 "2009-12-07T16:53:58Z")
I had a bad feeling about the Cards game all week. The loss itself isn’t that big of a deal, since the Vikings are pretty well locked into the 2nd seed anyway. The loss of EJ Henderson is a bigger deal. The O-line was banged up last night too, and we really missed Antoine Winfield against the passing game. I don’t think it’s time to despair and fold up the tents or anyhing. I guess it was inevitable that Favre would have on off game and throw a couple of picks. Better now than in the playoffs. I think they’ll rebound against the Bengals at home, and clinch the division next week. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/782 "2009-12-07T16:57:37Z")
I don’t think the loss is a big deal either, except that it certainly makes an inevitable Saints-Vikings Championship game seem less ineveitable. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/783 "2009-12-07T17:28:06Z")
Since the Saints barely hung on against the lowly Washington Redskins yesterday, (and only won because the skins missed a chip shot field goal), I’d say you’re right. It no longer looks like a sure thing that the Saints will necessarily get to the NFC Championship game. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/784 "2009-12-07T17:30:11Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I don’t think the loss is a big deal either, except that it certainly makes an inevitable Saints-Vikings Championship game seem less ineveitable. You misspelled Saints-Vikings Championship game. It’s properly spelled Saints-Packers Championship game. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/785 "2009-12-07T18:10:35Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > It’s properly spelled Saints-Packers Championship game. 🙂 You misspelled it as well. It’s actually ‘Saints-Packers Complimentary Spectating Players suite, at Mall of America Field at Metrodome’. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/786 "2009-12-07T18:12:56Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > You misspelled Saints-Vikings Championship game. It’s properly spelled Saints-Packers Championship game. 🙂 Chuckle. Unless the Packers really have turned the corner on pass-blocking and committing stupid penalties, I still think they’re a flawed team. I also think that a good QB is going to take advantage of the weakened situation at cornerback, with Harris out. I’m happy to see them at 7-4, but I’m not at all convinced they’d make it out of the wild-card round. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/787 "2009-12-07T18:13:32Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I think they’ll rebound against the Bengals at home, and clinch the division next week. Both the Bengals and the Vikings are going to finish the season 13-3… ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/788 "2009-12-07T18:27:02Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Chuckle. Unless the Packers really have turned the corner on pass-blocking and committing stupid penalties, I still think they’re a flawed team. Of course they are. But it is nice to see that they get better almost every week. Tonight’s game with the Ravens will be a good test to see if they’re for real or not. I kinda think they are. > [@kenobi](#): > > I also think that a good QB is going to take advantage of the weakened situation at cornerback, with Harris out. Losing two Pro Bowl players on a defense is really tough. Look how much whining the Steeler fans are doing about not having Troy Polamalu, and that’s just one Pro Bowler they’re missing. Certainly in the playoffs against better caliber QB’s, there will be problems. I don’t like Jarrett Bush and Tramon is always a risk to have a bad game, but I trust Capers and the rest of the D to adjust. Of course, it is still possible it will fall apart like a house of cards. > [@kenobi](#): > > I’m happy to see them at 7-4, but I’m not at all convinced they’d make it out of the wild-card round. I’m just hoping they win tonight. One game at a time. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/789 "2009-12-07T19:58:45Z")
Last night’s game was hard to watch. Just a lackluster performance all the way around. Hopefully they got it out of their system and will rebound against the lowly Bungles. Last night they abandoned the run game too early. It still kills me to see AP trot off the field on 3rd down every time… ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/790 "2009-12-07T20:21:39Z")
> [@unwashed\_brain](#): > > Last night’s game was hard to watch. Just a lackluster performance all the way around. Hopefully they got it out of their system and will rebound against the lowly Bungles. > > Last night they abandoned the run game too early. It still kills me to see AP trot off the field on 3rd down every time… The lowly Bungles, eh? 9-3, 6-0 in the tough ramshackle AFC North, 2-0 against the NFC North, best scoring defense in the NFL, third best defense against the run, one of the best rushing attacks in the league? Best red zone scoring percentage, one of the best at converting third downs, etc. _Those_ lowly Bengals? Or are you perhaps thinking of the lowly Bengals pre-Marvin Lewis? Its OK to admit it. They’re good. They’re for real. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/791 "2009-12-07T20:34:12Z")
Bait taken. Man, you Bungle fans are easy. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/792 "2009-12-07T20:39:56Z")
**Bengals** under Lewis: 2003: 8-8 2004: 8-8 2005: 11-5 (playoffs, first round loss to eventual Superbowl champion, franchise QB has knee wrecked) 2006: 8-8 2007: 7-9 2008: 4-11-1 (only _bad_ year due to unbelievable amount of injuries, including early season-ender to Carson Palmer) 2009: 9-3 (so far, playoffs almost assured) 7.8 wins per season on average playing in a stronger division than Minnesota, no playoff wins **Vikings** since 2003: 2003: 9-7 2004: 8-8 (playoffs due to lucky tiebreakers, lost to Eagles in divisional round) 2005: 9-7 2006: 6-10 2007: 8-8 2008: 10-6 (playoffs, first round loss) 2009: 10-2 (so far, playoffs a certainty) 8.5 wins per season on average in a weaker conference, one playoff win in 2004 So, one playoff win, and not even a full game better on average during the regular season since 2003 when Marvin Lewis took over and altered the course and culture of the Bengals. You were saying? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/793 "2009-12-07T20:41:05Z")
> [@unwashed\_brain](#): > > Bait taken. Man, you Bungle fans are easy. Shit. :mad: 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/794 "2009-12-07T20:43:08Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > and not even a full game better on average during the regular season since 2003 Of course, that lowly 1 win difference, that almost miniscule detail, , that negligible hair split between 8.5 and 7.8, is the difference between averaging a winning season and averaging a losing season. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/795 "2009-12-07T20:48:36Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Of course, that lowly 1 win difference, that almost miniscule detail, , that negligible hair split between 8.5 and 7.8, is the difference between averaging a winning season and averaging a losing season. 😃 Where’s that “Like” button? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/796 "2009-12-07T20:57:11Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Of course, that lowly 1 win difference, that almost miniscule detail, , that negligible hair split between 8.5 and 7.8, is the difference between averaging a winning season and averaging a losing season. 😃 But…but…its only _seven tenths_ of a win! Not a _WHOLE_ win, so it doesn’t even COUNT! And…and…Carson Palmer isn’t collecting social security like _your_ quarterback is! And your running back is a _fumbler_! A FUMBLER, I tell ya! All the yards and TD’s in the world can’t make up for his ( **checks stats** ) SIX fumbles this season! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/797 "2009-12-07T22:18:45Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > And your running back is a _fumbler_! A FUMBLER, I tell ya! All the yards and TD’s in the world can’t make up for his ( **checks stats** ) SIX fumbles this season! > > 😃 Yours is Cedric Benson. Just you wait… ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/798 "2009-12-07T23:36:19Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Yours is Cedric Benson. Just you wait… The voice of Experience. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/799 "2009-12-07T23:52:21Z")
It’s hard to do away a franchise history of futility with half of a good season. And even when the Bengals won the AFC, they went on to lose ridiculously one-sided Super Bowls. The Bengals will need to actually win the Super Bowl – maybe two or three – before anyone takes them seriously. But it can happen. It worked for Tampa (although now they’re back to sucking again.) ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/800 "2009-12-08T01:00:29Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > It’s hard to do away a franchise history of futility with half of a good season. And even when the Bengals won the AFC, they went on to lose ridiculously one-sided Super Bowls. The Bengals will need to actually win the Super Bowl – maybe two or three – before anyone takes them seriously. But it can happen. It worked for Tampa (although now they’re back to sucking again.) When Cincy lost to he 49ers it was anything but ridiculously one-sided. In fact it required a Joe Montana to John Taylor with about 30 seconds left for the Niners to win. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514.md?page=39) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514.md?page=41)