# 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:** 44
**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 13, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/861 "2009-12-13T22:40:47Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > You know what IS fun. Watching a Bears fan turning into a whiny little bitch after a loss to the Packers. It’s a fucking blast. Very astute. :rolleyes: > [@Omniscient](#): > > The Bears played like crap and I still feel like we should have won that game. The defense played as well as they have played all season and the WRs and O Line completely let the team down. The coaching was abysmal which is becoming a trend and the Special Teams were as bad as I’ve ever seen. I feel sick. I was so very whiny while I placed the blame of the loss on the poor effort of my team. ---
**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 13, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/862 "2009-12-13T22:52:02Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I was so very whiny while I placed the blame of the loss on the poor effort of my team. You’re not whining about the Bears’ loss. Even you, in the depths of your melodrama, realize the Bears sucked. You’re a whiny little bitch about me disagreeing with you that the Bears “should have won”. This misplaced aggression is “not a desirable quality”. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/863 "2009-12-13T22:53:25Z")
The Lions got edged out today extending their road loss streak to 19. They are closing in on the record of 24. Who holds that record? The Lions 2000 to 2003. I do not want to hear any whining from the Bear fans. ---
**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 13, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/864 "2009-12-13T22:58:14Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The Lions got edged out today extending their road loss streak to 19. They are closing in on the record of 24. Who holds that record? > > The Lions 2000 to 2003. I do not want to hear any whining from the Bear fans. I hope, for your sake, that Kevin Smith’s injury isn’t as bad as it looked. Losing Stafford, Megatron, and Smith for multiple games took away three of your best players. The Lions really don’t need that kind of luck to do so poorly. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/865 "2009-12-13T23:18:07Z")
That looked like a year ender at least. The Lions were only down 3 to zip after the first quarter. You can not believe how hard it is to watch them anymore. ---
**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 13, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/866 "2009-12-13T23:29:58Z")
Let me be the first to say GOOD GAME **VIKINGS**!!! The Bengals got worn down late and killed themselves with penalties early. Vikes playmakers showed up big in the second half. Bengals passing game showing remarkable ineptitude (a trend, no discredit to the Vikings defense, which also played well) for a unit that lit up the NFL a few years ago. Good game guys. ---
**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 13, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/867 "2009-12-13T23:50:27Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Let me be the first to say GOOD GAME **VIKINGS**!!! > > The Bengals got worn down late and killed themselves with penalties early. Vikes playmakers showed up big in the second half. Bengals passing game showing remarkable ineptitude (a trend, no discredit to the Vikings defense, which also played well) for a unit that lit up the NFL a few years ago. > > Good game guys. It’s getting so bad that I started Jason Campbell over Palmer in my money league and didn’t really even have to think about it. ---
**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 14, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/868 "2009-12-14T00:15:11Z")
Ochocinco had said before the game that he was going to blow on Ragnar’s horn if he scored a TD. he did score but he just trotted off to the sidelines without any kind of novelty celebration. I was actually kind of disappointed. I sort of like it when he does that stuff. ---
**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 14, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/869 "2009-12-14T00:19:47Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Ochocinco had said before the game that he was going to blow on Ragnar’s horn if he scored a TD. he did score but he just trotted off to the sidelines without any kind of novelty celebration. I was actually kind of disappointed. I sort of like it when he does that stuff. That’s disappointing. I was hoping to see Ocho chasing Ragnar around the goalpost playing keep away and then Ragnar tackling Ocho once he gave it a toot. The crowd would have loved it. ---
**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 14, 2009, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/870 "2009-12-14T01:46:59Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Ochocinco had said before the game that he was going to blow on Ragnar’s horn if he scored a TD. he did score but he just trotted off to the sidelines without any kind of novelty celebration. I was actually kind of disappointed. I sort of like it when he does that stuff. I had someone send him a tweet telling him just to come packing his own Ricola-style horn. No dice. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/871 "2009-12-14T03:34:08Z")
It is interesting looking at the stats for the Cincy v Minny game that the numbers aren’t that different. It’s not like anyone for the Vikings had a career day, and it’s not like the Bengals were playing that badly. Favre’s numbers are quite pedestrian, though better than Palmer’s (Palmer obviously had even less success down the field than Favre). To me, the telling stat is that AP and CB have roughly the same amount of yards, but CB managed half of his on one run, while AP never went more than 15 in a chunk. That, combined with some better efficiency by the Vikings in the air, and a stupid, stupid mistake at the end of the first half, kind of sums it up. Bengals had best get a better performance out of the offense next week. It’s not sewn up yet! Oh, and congratulations to the Packers, who beat the Bears, who did not deserve to win. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/872 "2009-12-14T04:30:54Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > That looked like a year ender at least. The Lions were only down 3 to zip after the first quarter. You can not believe how hard it is to watch them anymore. The talent gulf is really amazing. The Lions have some elite skill at maybe 3 or 4 spots on the field. After that, it’s retreads. It’s absolutely amazing. Look at the list of [transactions](http://www.nfl.com/teams/transactions?team=DET)on the Lions roster. All anyone can say is “Huh? Who?” any time they pick someone up. Nobody has ever heard of the people they pick up. They never made a run at Ty Law. They never made a run at Chris McAllister. Really, though, look at their transactions from about two months or so ago until now. Marcus McCauley (signed 9/6, cut 9/29)? Cletis Gordon? Copeland Bryan? Vinny Circiu? Jason David? Melvin Fowler? It’s incredible. Despite this, and the constant laundry list of retreads/bald tires, the Lions have one of the oldest rosters in the NFL. If they wanted a youth movement, as they said they did, why’d they trade for Julian Peterson (who finally looks to remember how to play linebacker in recent weeks)? This is a shitstorm of epic proportions, but if they nail this year’s draft, because it figures to be so deep, all can be fixed (in a few years). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/873 "2009-12-14T04:37:51Z")
Well, it doesn’t help that every time they draft somebody he more or less instantly gets hurt. Jason David was a good pickup, although he appears to have been cut before ever getting onto the field. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/874 "2009-12-14T04:59:56Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Well, it doesn’t help that every time they draft somebody he more or less instantly gets hurt. > > Jason David was a good pickup, although he appears to have been cut before ever getting onto the field. The Lions have the most [injuries](http://www.covers.com/pageLoader/pageLoader.aspx?page=/data/nfl/injury/injuries.html&t=0)in the [league](http://www.hogshaven.com/2009/12/1/1180650/redskins-ir-list-isnt-the-worst-in), but it’s the NFL. Injuries happen. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/875 "2009-12-14T06:52:01Z")
“I try to preserve my sexy and he messed up my nose.” - Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco, on a hit by Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin. [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2009/12/13/3430\_recap.html](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2009/12/13/3430_recap.html) ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/876 "2009-12-14T10:08:35Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > It is interesting looking at the stats for the Cincy v Minny game that the numbers aren’t that different. It’s not like anyone for the Vikings had a career day, and it’s not like the Bengals were playing that badly. Favre’s numbers are quite pedestrian, though better than Palmer’s (Palmer obviously had even less success down the field than Favre). To me, the telling stat is that AP and CB have roughly the same amount of yards, but CB managed half of his on one run, while AP never went more than 15 in a chunk. That, combined with some better efficiency by the Vikings in the air, and a stupid, stupid mistake at the end of the first half, kind of sums it up. I thought there were two key stats: First, Favre had over double the number of yards passing with only two more receptions - and every every pass catcher for the Vikings had at least one play of over 12 yards, with three players had long catches of at least 19 yards. Palmer - 15 completions but only 94 yards? That tells me that Palmer wasn’t getting time to set up and look deep. The Vikings only got one sack (Favre got sacked twice), and Palmer didn’t throw an INT (while Favre threw one) - but there’s an aspect of the game that doesn’t show up in the numbers - Palmer was taking quite 3-step drops and only getting short compeletions, rather than face the pass rush. With Winfield back shoring up the corners, the Bengals weren’t able to move the chains with yards after the catch. And that really shows up in first downs: 21 for Vikings, only 13 for Bengals. I thought the refs had a horrible game. Everyone’s noting the Bengals penalties, but overlooking the fact that the Vikings had 9 pentalites for 70 yards as well. And several of the penalties looked pretty dubious. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/877 "2009-12-14T17:55:54Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > “I try to preserve my sexy and he messed up my nose.” - Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco, on a hit by Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin. I think Griffin should win the award for the most vicisious looking hit that was actually quite pedestrian. The combination of 85 already lurching/falling back to try to grab the ball and a quite mundane hand to the face mask by Griffin made for a showy hit in real time, but fell apart under slow-mo replay. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/878 "2009-12-14T17:57:25Z")
Just so it’s clear, in the rest of the quote it’s clear Ochocinco was kidding around with CG and wasn’t whining, didn’t even think it was a hard hit. ---
**Author:** ![BuickGNX1987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@BuickGNX1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuickGNX1987)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/879 "2009-12-14T21:38:27Z")
It was nice to see Winfield finally out there for Minnesota. I thought he might be a little rusty before the game started, but apparently he knocked off whatever rust he had in the first few hits he made. Good to see the Vikes wait until he was ready. It really looked like Favre was going to have a repeat of last week, especially after throwing that first pick. The defense really stood up even without E.J. Henderson and kept Cincy at bay until Minnesota could get it going on offense. Hopefully other parts of the team can continue to step up when Favre isn’t lighting 'em up for 300+ yards. IMO, Minnesota played a fairly sloppy game this time, but I’ll take a win over a quality team anyway they can get it. 🙂 ---
**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 14, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514/880 "2009-12-14T21:47:22Z")
Nice win by the Pack. I don’t know who deserved or didn’t deserve to win, or shouild or shouldn’t have won. But I do know that it is the mark of a good team when they win games that they don’t play particularly well in. Charles Woodson for DPOY! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514.md?page=43) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/season-long-nfc-north-discussion-thread/508514.md?page=45)