NFL's back again.

I'd have probably gone with the Jets in your position Fin as i always go for the underdog.

I only started following the Steelers in the 80s when they were shit, i know now they were amazing in the 70's but when it first came on channel 4 all those years ago they were poor and i didn't want to follow all the big teams of the time like the Dolphins, Cowboys and the 49ers. 
My second team were the Chargers when they were in still in San Diego for the same reason 

wanderlust wrote:

finlaymcdanger wrote:I couldn’t go with the Giants or Jets because it just seemed like picking Man Utd or City.

That made me laugh - Jets are 7 and 1 and the Giants are 8 and 2 so they're not much better than the Bengals.
Why the Bengals though? Why not a team nearer to NYC like the Bills, Pats, Redskins, Browns or Steelers? In recent times only the Pats would be considered glory-hunting.

Ah but I didn’t just pick the Bengals this year. It was around 9 years ago.

Norpig wrote:I'd have probably gone with the Jets in your position Fin as i always go for the underdog.

I only started following the Steelers in the 80s when they were shit, i know now they were amazing in the 70's but when it first came on channel 4 all those years ago they were poor and i didn't want to follow all the big teams of the time like the Dolphins, Cowboys and the 49ers. 
My second team were the Chargers when they were in still in San Diego for the same reason 

I went for the Bengals after watching a season of Hard Knocks on HBO. It’s was the first time that I really gave a shit about football since it was given a massive push back in the 80’s in the UK (Redskins v Raiders in the Super Bowl I believe).

I’ve just moved back to NY and started a new role with the XFL which kicks off right after the Super Bowl. Having to brush up on my knowledge of the game super-quick at the moment!

Exciting stuff Fin 

Isn't the XFL run by Vince McMahon from WWE? I presume its the summer league similar to the AAF that only lasted a few months.

Norpig wrote:Exciting stuff Fin 

Isn't the XFL run by Vince McMahon from WWE? I presume its the summer league similar to the AAF that only lasted a few months.

Spring league. Kicking off after the Super Bowl with 8 teams in the first season. Fingers crossed it’s more successful than the AAF! NY, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, DC, Dallas, Houston, Seattle and LA. It’s backed by Vince but that’s the only connection with WWE this time around.

finlaymcdanger wrote:

Norpig wrote:Exciting stuff Fin 

Isn't the XFL run by Vince McMahon from WWE? I presume its the summer league similar to the AAF that only lasted a few months.

Spring league. Kicking off after the Super Bowl with 8 teams in the first season. Fingers crossed it’s more successful than the AAF! NY, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, DC, Dallas, Houston, Seattle and LA. It’s backed by Vince but that’s the only connection with WWE this time around.

Good luck with it Fin. Do Americans accept the rule changes? I know it's intended to be a bit quicker (which is no bad thing IMO having sat through several hours of bullshit to watch a one hour game )

Seems to me that 6 teams stand out in  the AFC as most likely to make the postseason but there's a nice little battle going on in the AFC as to who will grab the final spot.
In the AFC I can't see past the Pats, Ravens, Bills, Colts, Texans and Chiefs (although the Steelers may yet turn it around even though the AFC South looks strong throughout ) And the Chiefs might blow it without Mahomes.
But in the NFC there are the Packers, Vikings, Saints, 49ers and Seahawks who look good enough so far but then what? Cowboys? Eagles? Rams? Panthers? Really struggling to see who is showing signs of stepping up.
What is your top twelve prediction?

I would say the teams top of their division now will go onto win and go through. i'm guessing the 2 wildcards from the AFC will be the Bills ands the Texans and from the NFC the Seahawks and Vikings.

A lot of good teams there (no Steelers though) and i'm going out on a limb now and say the Patriots will play either the Packers or the Saints in the Superbowl.

Norpig wrote:I would say the teams top of their division now will go onto win and go through. i'm guessing the 2 wildcards from the AFC will be the Bills ands the Texans and from the NFC the Seahawks and Vikings.

A lot of good teams there (no Steelers though) and i'm going out on a limb now and say the Patriots will play either the Packers or the Saints in the Superbowl.

Hard to bet against the Pats and Packers for the SB at the moment but you never know. 49ers are looking excellent and even though their record isn't perfect I do like the look of the Texans - or more accurately the skill of Deshaun Watson who is playing out of his skin ATM - although with JJ Watt getting injured (again) I suspect their defence is now vulnerable.

Yay Boncey - the Bills got their win albeit against the Redskins who are now 1 - 8. But a win's a win and they're looking like contenders at 6 - 2.
Steelers absolutely stole it with the last kick of the game too. Exciting stuff.
Thought the London game would be a really tough test for the Texans against divisional rivals the Jags - in what to me looks like the toughest division of them all - but they strolled it with the aid some more magic from Watson who for me is shaping up as the QB of the season. Thought they coped in defence really well without JJ Watt. And the Chiefs finally scraped a win without Mahomes.
Oh - and the Packers lost!

Late game should be interesting as the Pats are playing their first game of a very tricky run starting with the Ravens tonight and over the next few weeks we'll find out if they're all they're cracked up to be. They've got the Eagles, the Cowboys and the Texans following that so we should learn a lot about them and where these teams are really at.

The Pats got beat 

Norpig wrote:The Pats got beat 

....with 3 tough games to come. There's hope for everyone

And the Steelers won! I thought it was all over when Vinatieri stepped up but it was a bad kick thank God. I was surprised to see the Packers being so easily especially as the Chargers have been so inconsistent this year.

Norpig wrote:And the Steelers won! I thought it was all over when Vinatieri stepped up but it was a bad kick thank God. I was surprised to see the Packers being so easily especially as the Chargers have been so inconsistent this year.

Goes to show there are a few teams that are in contention, some who have got better as the season has progressed and with injuries etc playing a part who knows how it will pan out?
That run of difficult games for the Pats I was on about really will sort the wheat from the chaff but I'm sticking with my top 12 for the post season.

Could this be the week the 49ers lose their winning streak? They've got their divisional rivals the Seahawks (7 and 2) on Tuesday so it could/should be a cracker. No disrespect to the Steelers but this could be their toughest game so far.

I'll not mention the other results but the Steelers won again 

Four game winning streak now and Minkah Fitzpatrick has been brilliant since he came in from the Dolphins.

Norpig wrote:I'll not mention the other results but the Steelers won again 

Four game winning streak now and Minkah Fitzpatrick has been brilliant since he came in from the Dolphins.

Yup - they’re looking good ATM.

We couldn't beat the Browns at their own place, which was a big disappointment. Frustrating season.

Dolphins won again - WTF is going on?

Another great week, the 49ers finally beaten in an epic game that they should have won in OT themselves.

Couple of shock results, the Saints beaten at home by the Falcons and the Chiefs losing to the Titans.

The Ravens look a good team and have a great QB and are one to watch in post season i reckon.