Games That Matter - Week 10

[Cartire]

Were now entering my favorite time of the season. We did these last year and had some fun discussions. At this point and on during the season, we start having to keep an eye on the others teams as it relates to us for the playoffs and seeding. I love football. I watch as many games as I can, but what makes watching these games better is having a dog in the fight. Being able to root for a specific team thats not our own makes a lot of these games more entertaining.

Let me be clear, I understand that if we win out, we will be #1 seed. But its ok to cheer for a little more support along the way. I will only go over games that are NFC vs NFC as its obvious that any AFC team beating an NFC team is in our favor. Therefor, we shouldn't need to debate the obviousness of those games. Feel free to still root against the Stealers though if you must.

So without further ado, here are your week 10 GAMES THAT MATTER.


Washington (3-5) at Minnesota (1-7)

LETS GO: Minnesota
Why? As of right now (subject to change), im writing both these teams off from the playoffs. So standings wise is moot when it comes to catching up to us. However, the game has a lot of SOS factors. We dont play the Redskins (am I allowed to say that name?) this year. But SF, DAL, CHI and GB all do. We do play MN, while SF and DAL do not. I cant in good conscience predict a win for MN, but it would be one step closer in helping us get an edge in the SOS battle.


Detroit (5-3) at Chicago (5-3)

Lets Go: Detroit
Why? This game was nearly a wash. Both teams (along with GB) are fighting for the NFCN title along with a wild card spot. There is a small SOS factor though as Chicago plays NO and Detroit does not. Otherwise, being in the same division, they pretty much play the same schedule. A CHI loss would effectively drop NO SOS.


Philadelphia (4-5) at Green Bay (5-3)

Lets Go: Philadelphia
Why? Multiple reasons. The obvious standings. SOS wise, SF played GB. They do not play Philly. And because its one more loss to stick it to the Green Bay fans and wipe some more of that smugness off. The truth is, with A-Rod out, Philly actually has a chance too.


Carolina (5-3) at San Francisco (6-2)

:49ersmall: :49ersmall: :49ersmall: :49ersmall: :49ersmall: :49ersmall:

Good enough reason for you?


Dallas (5-4) at New Orleans (6-2)

Lets Go: Dallas ukeface:
Why? I actually looked for reasons to go with NO. Almost all the current contenders play NO this year, including us, so SOS is a wash with a NO loss or win. Dallas does play CHI, GB and Detroit. So them losing does help us with the SOS battle vs them. But overtime, I dont see Dallas as the bigger threat, its NO. So giving them another win is a no-no at this time.


Feel free to discuss and disagree (including you Roland :twisted: ).

 

[hawksfansinceday1]

Hard to root for Dullass, REALLY hard. But if it helps the Hawks, I'm in. ukeface:

 

[Oakhawk]

Love these posts--I feel more smartier because of it! :th2thumbs:

 

[IcedHawk]

I'm ready to write Green Bay off. With Aaron Rodgers out until playoffs possibly, there's almost no way Green Bay wins that division, especially with Cutler coming back soon.

 

[BlueTalons]

Here's my "order of importance":

+++++ Hawks over Atlanta (duh!)
++++ Panthers over 49ers (another duh...but also could help in the common games record tie breaker which comes before SOV...but only if our "loss" came against Vikings or Giants)
+ Dallas over Saints (though I want to see the Saints show their HF dominance and carry it into the SF game the next week.)
+ Eagles over Packers (Are the Packers without Rogers really a threat?)

Everything else to me is a wash.

Honestly...I don't see the Vikings/Giants (3-13) overcoming the Packers/Redskins (8-8)

 

[Cartire]

Love these posts--I feel more smartier because of it! :th2thumbs:

Your avatar .... Wins. :lol:

 

[jdblack]

NO SOS doesn't matter much because we play them once & only once. We'd have to split on Dec 2 to begin talking about it, and even then it's highly unlikely that the other tie-breakers would be exactly even.

 

[Cartire]

NO SOS doesn't matter much because we play them once & only once. We'd have to split on Dec 2 to begin talking about it, and even then it's highly unlikely that the other tie-breakers would be exactly even.

You are correct that head to head is the only thing that will matter if we tie. I'm more looking to lower their seed at this point.

 

[Hawknballs]

I'm going with Chicago over Detroit on my cheat sheet this week.

Why?

Detroit has a pretty easy schedule minus games against the bears and Packers. Aside from that the only tough game i see is when they host the Ravens who aren't impressing anyone currently at 3-5.

Chicago on the other hand has to play some teams that maybe don't have a great record, but are tough outs. They also play the Ravens, as well as the Cowboys, and the Rams and Browns who can be tough teams when they put it together. No easy outs anyways.

Green Bays' schedule is a little easier than the Bears; but who knows how long they will be without Aaron Rodgers.

 

[justafan]

I am glad you started posting these again.Not sure why but it just hit me that the season is over halfway over.Feels strange not counting all the playoff possibilities trying to see who needs to lose just hoping to sqeek into the playoffs.

 

[HawkWow]

I'm ready to write Green Bay off. With Aaron Rodgers out until playoffs possibly, there's almost no way Green Bay wins that division, especially with Cutler coming back soon.

Agreed on the Pack. But if I'm the Bears, I'm letting Cutler walk at season's end. If I'm letting Cutler walk at season's end, I'm riding McCown the rest of the way....or until he shows he can't handle.

Cutler is out of his mind in wanting top 5 money and reports suggest he plans to play hardball to get it. Cutler is a decent QB that can't stay on the football field. Signing him to a 100 mil + deal should be grounds for the dismissal of Emery. Rolling with McCown and drafting their next QB (from a very good crop) would be the smarter play, IMO.

BTW, great thread Cartire. Thanks.

 

[Cartire]

Thought I would do a little self promotional bump. I know it's tacky, but it's already on the second page and am liking some of the other insights that come with this. This will be my only one, I promise.

 

[Hawks46]

I'm with you, I love football, I love watching as many games as I can, and I'm really loving the ramifications of being the front runners and watching where the cards fall, and not being on the outside and looking in.

Seriously, it's kind of weird. On one hand, it's nerve wracking the way we've been playing, and feeling a 49ers team breathing down our neck that's actually been playing better than us the last 3-4 games. I'm looking at the teams that have the best chance to beat them. Then you get this weekend: the Panthers and Niners are a very interesting matchup. The Panthers' DL is physical enough to hang with the Niners front line, and Newton is on a freaking roll, so you have the QB that ushered in the "new era" of QBs playing against the QB who is one of the ones who's perfecting it.

You also have an interesting matchup of our dreadful OL against Atlanta's dreadful DL. They don't play the run all that well, and they don't rush the passer well, meaning they will probably have to blitz us. How will Wilson play against the blitz? We had trouble run blocking last year in the playoffs there, can we do better this time around ? Will our defense get the expected shutdown of a very banged up offense ? Will our defense show the fire that we, as fans, expect them to with all the trash talk this offseason ? Personally, I think the Hawks want revenge for last year and the Falcons aren't playing for very much.

So, ironically, what's the hardest.....being in first place (playing sloppy) and worrying about every team that's challenging us losing ?

Or playing average football and worrying about all the teams in front of you losing so you get a chance to get the wildcard and barely get into the playoffs?

Right now, I'm torn, but I'd go option B. still sucks more.