Why did it take so long in the season for this team to play it's most complete game without Brandon Marshall. I hope it's not too little too late for this team to make a playoff run. If we can play like this each Sunday things could get very interesting. What do you guys think do we still have an outside chance at the playoffs?

Is it at all ironic that we played our most complete game without Marshall?

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"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

We have a reasonable shot at the wildcard slot that will come out of our division.

It was good to see Wallace and Moore get some playing time.

Hooligan2 Wrote:
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> We have a reasonable shot at the wildcard slot
> that will come out of our division.


No, we don't. We have to catch one of NY, NE, Balt, or Pitt. If we go 5-0 the rest of the way, we need Balt or Pitt to go 2-3, because we lose the head to head tiebreaker with both. Within the division, if we go 5-0, we need one of NE or NY to go 2-3, just to force a tiebreaker scenario, which we may lose. Even if we went 11-5, unless we catch one of those 4 teams, it does not matter.

Aqua&Orange Wrote:
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> Is it at all ironic that we played our most
> complete game without Marshall?


It was nice not having a WR killing drives with selfish penalties.

Seriously, you do have to wonder a little bit about Marshall's presence. For all his talent, in order to appease him, you need to throw him the ball, even when coverage dictates the ball should go somewhere else. Because you gave up the draft picks, and spent all that money on a new contract, you force plays to the guy who is double and triple covered. And he is probably the primary read on most plays. Without him in there, maybe it actually simplifies things a little bit. Maybe you read the defense, and go with the option that makes the most sense, rather than trying to force the ball to the guy you just gave $40M to.

NE plays NY next weekend. One of those teams lose. If we beat the loser we've made up alot of ground. I wouldn't put serious money on it but, It's not impossible.

What is important is that others had the opportunity to play and succeeded. This is important for the coaches, the players, and hopefully Brandon Marshall.

I'm not a shrink, but must wonder what he thought about other's doing their job at WR without castrating plays with foolish penalties. If he's smart, maybe he learned something positive from it.

Hooligan2 Wrote:
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> NE plays NY next weekend. One of those teams lose.
> If we beat the loser we've made up alot of ground.
> I wouldn't put serious money on it but, It's not
> impossible.

Might have to root for the Pats in that one, one way or another if we want a shot at making the playoffs we HAVE to beat the Jets no matter what!!

If New England can sew up the division, than on the last game of the season they may rest starters to prevent injury heading into the playoffs making that last game a little more winnable for the fins should they still be in the wildcard hunt by then.

This may be due, partly, to the fact that we're not trying to go out of our way to get Marshall the ball. I think most is just coincidence.

Let's be sincere. Oakland is terrible. Not too difficult to play a "complete game" against a really bad team. I would like to see us play a "complete game" on Dec. 12 and Jan. 2.

3 weeks ago, they were the hottest team in the league.

Give them a little bit more credit than "terrible".

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"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

Quote"Seriously, you do have to wonder a little bit about Marshall's presence. For all his talent, in order to appease him, you need to throw him the ball"


I hope he doesn't turn into a headcase premadonna receiver!

Think about this a little bit.

Brian Hartline is matched up with Nmamdi Asomugha, with safety help over the top. He is the primary read on a play. How long do you think Henne sticks with that read before moving on to the secondary read? He probably moves on very quickly, maybe not even considering that first read at all.

Now, imagine the same scenario, except with Marshall instead of Hartline. How long does Henne stick with that primary read before moving on? Probably a lot longer, because Marshall is the guy they are trying to feed. Is that a good thing for the offense? I don't think it is. That's why, just maybe, without Marshall today, things were a little simpler.

As long as Marshall is drawing double and triple teams, he needs to be a decoy. On those plays, Bess, and Hartline, and Fasano need to be the guys getting the ball. But, because Marshall pouts when he doesn't get the ball enough, and will commit selfish penalties to show his displeasure, you are forced to throw him the ball when you probably shouldn't.

If you need proof that we should be going to the guy with single coverage instead of forcing it to Marshall, check out Hartline's last 4 games.
4 catches for 85 yards
5 catches for 98 yards
5 catches for 70 yards
4 catches for 75 yards

That's a 72 catch, 1300 yard pace. If that's what the defense is willing to give, we need to take it. And Marshall needs to suck it up, and accept that until the coverage schemes change, he isn't going to get the ball as much.