http://sports.espn.ago.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100108 New rules help define '09 playoffs By Bill Simmons Those are the Jets-related parts. To me, the points about Sanchez seemed well thought-out and gave me a lot to think about. Thoughts?
What I dont get is, how are people picking the Bengals to score over their average PPG against the number one D in the league?
Bill Simmons is a New York hating homer moron. everything he says is pretty much worthless. he can stay in the cargo pants wearing shithole they call Massachusetts
He makes a few good points, but he's never liked the Jets anyway. That being said I agree that we have absolutely no reason to be confident in Mark Sanchez's ability to lead this offense, and the Bengals are going to make sure they force him to make difficult throws.
Turnovers probably. I think everyone picking against the Jets sees Sanchez throwing 3 picks in this game.
Simmons has blinders on because he's a Pats fan. His take on the game is way, way off. The Bengals may well beat the Jets on Saturday but it won't be by much and it won't be an explosive high scoring game. Even if the Jet's defenders weren't historically good against the pass, and they are that good against the pass, the weather is going to keep the game to a relatively low scoring slog. He sees the Bengals scoring 20 points on the Jets and yet the only way that happens is if Mark Sanchez throws a pick-6 and probably turns the ball over a couple of other times. The only team that has torched the Jets without help from Sanchez was the Dolphins twice in passable to good weather both times and with a couple of KR TD's in one of the games. So obviously Simmons has inside info from Schotty and knows the Jets are going to be tossing the ball around like crazy in the frigid weather in Cincinnati. Not.
Bill. New Orleans vaunted offense, at the height of their revelry, in the Vaunted Superdome...put up 10 points on this defense IN WEEK 4 of a new system. The Bengals will be lucky to match that total outdoors in the cold. The worst matchups for this team are Indy and NE... (Short passing game negates the rush...duh....)
so he's saying how the passing game is so important... Yet the Jets defense is the best in the league at shutting down the opponents passing game, seems to work in the Jets favor here unless I'm missing something
I was at the first game. It was as hot and humid as I can ever remember a fall night. That Defense was gassed. Not an excuse at all. But you could cut the air with a knife it was that thick. The Jets D-line (Jenkins) was terrible that game and was just worn out from the heat. Again not an excuse, just an anomaly.........
A few things here: 1) I completely disagree with the premise that having a big-time defense still isn't the most important thing to have come playoff time. (Who won the superbowl last year?) Bill Simmons can throw all the gaudy, present-day, NFL passing stats he wants to throw at me. The bottom line is, in the playoffs, when the intensity is ratcheted up a notch, the offenses tend to execute at a lower level. When you have a great defense, you can force these highly pressurized offenses into MISTAKES AND TURNOVERS. Nothing determines the outcome of playoff games more than mistakes and turnovers. 2) I DO agree with Simmons that the current rules in the NFL are such that it is very valuable to have a great passing attack. HOWEVER, the COMBINATION of a great running game and a great passing game still is hard to beat. In big games, great defense usually rules supremem over great offense. And what protects a great defense? BALL CONTROL. (i.e. limiting the number of times the opposing offense has an opportunity to score) And what leads to ball control? A great running game. 4) It's Bill Simmons . . . I wouldn't lose much sleep over this one.
What a fucking moron. "THIS TIME OF YEAR" means something because look at the weather conditions in Cincy--it's going to be snowing, windy, and cold, that means a hard ball, difficult conditions to throw in, and, especially in pass blocking, slippery footing. That's why running the ball is so important in the playoffs, Simmons.
funny, since during his podcast, almost everyone that wasn't a pats homer was saying the Jets are better. the footballoutsiders guy said this is not even close on paper and that the Jets should win. the vegas guy said that the betting sharps are the ones that brought the line down, not the public. i'm hearing the public is actually betting the bengals side. so who do you take, the football experts betting the jets or the general public betting the bengals?
