Would it be impolite to point out (c)

[Dim Bulb]

True that'd be like 135 points for 60 minutes

Luckily, 7 minute games don't exist in the NFL.

Which, for the three quarters of the Broncos game that I attended, seemed to be how many points were being scored against this great defense of the Eagles.

[Dim Bulb]

not to go all quant or anything, but...

Have you been watching the NFL this year?

Week 11: 7 games were decided by 8 points or less.
Week 10: 9 games.
Week 9: 10 games.
Week 8: 5 games.
Week 7: 8 games.
Week 6: 6 games.
etc.

It's a pretty common occurrence for games to be close in the end in the NFL with teams fighting it out or coming back when down. The Eagles just showed that they could hold off a team. No one thinks they're the 2000 Ravens, but holding off a rally from another team is far better than succumbing to it or having to try to rally themselves.

You are pointing out that more games are close than are blowouts. Given that teams start out 0-0, that kind of makes sense, doesn't it? To prove your point you'd need to show absolute high point variance during game versus end score rather than this data.

Next you'll be telling me it's more dangerous to drive within five miles of your house because that's where most car accidents occur.

DB

[nerd]

Which, for the three quarters of the Broncos game that I attended, seemed to be how many points were being scored against this great defense of the Eagles.

i don't think anyone is saying that they are great...just that they are improved.

i also don't think that anyone is stating that this defense is done and they should just not draft or sign anyone for the team next year because it's fine as is.

but after 14 years of the ff...i don't care...i'm not going to sourpuss anything so far. it's fun and different.

[Ellsworth]

eh, NFL games usually wind up being close one way or the other. it's science.

16 points allowed and another win.

[Dim Bulb]

I hear you on this.

I didn't like seeing those 2 TDs, but they do get paid too. Scrambling QB's can do that to a defense, especially a defense that's on the field a lot and missing 3 starters.

The execution in the 4th quarter was pretty bad across the board, with the exception of special teams.

I was thinking this during the Oakland game. Essentially these Cunningham-Lite QBs can make an outstanding play, but they can also throw some clinkers up.

[Dim Bulb]

tru dat

i don't think anyone is saying that they are great...just that they are improved.

i also don't think that anyone is stating that this defense is done and they should just not draft or sign anyone for the team next year because it's fine as is.

but after 14 years of the ff...i don't care...i'm not going to sourpuss anything so far. it's fun and different.

I don't want to be Anthony here, this defense is better, particularly when the injured guys come back. But we are on the verge of major fluffing it seems.

[FuriousXGeorge]

I don't want to be Anthony here, this defense is better, particularly when the injured guys come back. But we are on the verge of major fluffing it seems.

They are playing above their talent level, and the coach deserves some fluffing when they do that. This talk about going deep in the playoffs though....well let's hope Chip keeps the offense hot.

[TerpEagle]

Which, for the three quarters of the Broncos game that I attended, seemed to be how many points were being scored against this great defense of the Eagles.

The Broncos are averaging nearly 40 points per game this season - 11 more than the second place team.

It sucks that you had to see the game the Eagles played against the highest scoring offense in the last decade (maybe ever - I only looked back to 2002).

But you're being pretty ridiculous.

The facts are:

1) They gave up 16 points this week. Less than the magic 17 preached by Jim Johnson.

2) They held off a late rally - something that this team has struggled with e.g. 2011 Dream-Gayte Game against the 49ers

3) They're trending downward significantly in points given up per game as the season has progressed.

[art vandelay]

i'm not sure if they're playing above their talent level. they have a lot of players that i like. thornton, cox, curry, barwin, ryans, kendricks(who was out of course), fletcher, williams, boykin...i like pretty much everything except for the safeties.

[TerpEagle]

You are pointing out that more games are close than are blowouts. Given that teams start out 0-0, that kind of makes sense, doesn't it? To prove your point you'd need to show absolute high point variance during game versus end score rather than this data.

Next you'll be telling me it's more dangerous to drive within five miles of your house because that's where most car accidents occur.

DB

My point is that regardless of the starting score, NFL games are often close matches where a team wins or loses by less than a single score. The fact that the Eagles defense held when the Redskins got within one score is more impressive than the fact that they gave up two TDs in the 4th quarter.

[nerd]

My point is that regardless of the starting score, NFL games are often close matches where a team wins or loses by less than a single score. The fact that the Eagles defense held when the Redskins got within one score is more impressive than the fact that they gave up two TDs in the 4th quarter.

The cardinals and Detroit have the wideouts that could give them fits... all they need to get pressure on Stafford and palmer in both those games.

[RSE]

Notwithstanding they've been winning, they've continued to give up a lot of yards and have trouble getting off the field on third down. Better teams with offenses who can finish drives and don't make red zone turnovers will punish them. The defense has made progress, but let's not kid ourselves, it's been mostly of the bend but don't break variety.

[TerpEagle]

Notwithstanding they've been winning, they've continued to give up a lot of yards and have trouble getting off the field on third down. Better teams with offenses who can finish drives and don't make red zone turnovers will punish them. The defense has made progress, but let's not kid ourselves, it's been mostly of the bend but don't break variety.

I agree totally. I think the important part is that they've made progress. My desire for this team was to see improvement as the season progressed and I think that's been the case so far.

I'm not sitting here trying to say that they're an amazing defense, but they are improved and right now they are much less of the liability that they were at the beginning of the season and most of us thought they would be all year.

[RSE]

The fact they are getting turnovers and making plays has them light years beyond last year's turd circus.

[FuriousXGeorge]

i'm not sure if they're playing above their talent level. they have a lot of players that i like. thornton, cox, curry, barwin, ryans, kendricks(who was out of course), fletcher, williams, boykin...i like pretty much everything except for the safeties.

You could be right. They have been playing below it for so long I don't remember the difference.