Official Non-Packer Games Thread

[gex]

Might as well get this to the top.
Hey, I just noticed all the stickys are finally gone.

Congrats, gex!!

Your troll count is almost to 1,000.

Whoa,
Who the hell let you back in here? Your ban just get lifted today?
Hopefully its short-lived because this forum has been running very smooth while you and the rest of the delinquents were BANNED.

[Rastak]

Matt Cassel is inactive.......

[MOBB DEEP]

Matt Cassel is inactive.......

incredible...

[gex]

Might as well get this to the top.
Hey, I just noticed all the stickys are finally gone.

Congrats, gex!!

Your troll count is almost to 1,000.

BTW, I hope Joe see's this post by you. It is excactly the kind of attacks that this forum didn't have in your abscence

[Rastak]

Looks like Bernard Berrian will play.......

[Bretsky]

Looks like Bernard Berrian will play.......

GOOD; I have him in FF and can't change the roster after the game Thursday

ANY WORD ON BOLDIN ???

[Rastak]

Looks like Bernard Berrian will play.......

GOOD; I have him in FF and can't change the roster after the game Thursday

ANY WORD ON BOLDIN ???

I do too but I gotta sit him.....speed guy with a bad hammy = bad news.....hope I'm way off base and you get a shitload of points from him.....

[Rastak]

Browns-Vikings preview from scouts inc.....

After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Vikings-Browns matchup.


1. Minnesota needs to establish an identity on offense: With the offseason acquisition of Brett Favre, the Vikings' offense should have more balance in its approach to attacking opposing defenses. Cleveland can be strong versus the run with a formidable interior defensive line; balance will be important for the Vikings.

2. Expect Favre to make a play early in the contest: Favre likely won't be the gunslinger he once was, but look for him to make an improvisational play in the first half that will make Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan back off an all-out pressure package to guard against the big play. Games often come down to a particular team's signal-caller versus the defensive coordinator's game plan. Expect Favre to mark an impact early in this game.

3. Minnesota will stop the run first: As has been its M.O. in the past, this impressive Vikings defense needs to make the Cleveland offense one-dimensional by stopping the run. There are still question marks about the Browns' quarterback situation, and making Brady Quinn move the chains through the air will be Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier's approach.

4. Look for some plays specifically designed for rookie Percy Harvin: The Vikings' first-round pick is one of the most explosive players in this year's rookie class. Harvin has excellent quickness, balance, speed and instincts with the ball in his hands. He has the ability to make a big play almost any time he touches the ball. Look for Minnesota offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and head coach Brad Childress to design specific plays (bubble screens, shallow crossing patterns, reverses, etc.).

5. Matchup to watch -- Vikings DE Jared Allen vs. Browns LT Joe Thomas: This one should be outstanding. Both players are intense competitors who are used to performing at a high level. Allen has been a force on the outside throughout his career and racked up 14½ sacks in 2008. Thomas is an excellent combination of size, strength and athleticism, which should make for an excellent matchup.

6. Cleveland probably will force the running game: Even though Minnesota's defense is one of the best at stopping the run, look for first-year Browns coach Eric Mangini to force the ground assault. He will want to make a statement with a hard-nosed approach on offense, which should eventually help the Browns' relatively young quarterbacks when they do need to air it out.

7. Expect WR Braylon Edwards to see a lot of balls thrown his way: Edwards is a tough matchup for the Vikings' secondary. His size, strength and athleticism are concerns for Frazier. Edwards has the ability to make plays in a crowd and usually out-battles shorter defenders on jump balls.

8. Look for some trickery in the Browns' backfield: Mangini and his staff know how tough it will be to move the ball versus Minnesota's defense, so we should look for some trickery involving Josh Cribbs. We are likely to see some form of the Wildcat formation with Cribbs being the main focus. Cribbs has proved to be an explosive playmaker as both a returner as well as out of the backfield.

9. Look for Cleveland's defense to bring the heat: Expect the Browns to use a multitude of pressure packages for Favre and Vikings, but Ryan will need to pick his spots. Favre is extremely dangerous at picking a secondary apart if given time, so look for some all-out blitzes from the Cleveland defense.

10. Matchup to watch -- Browns DT Shaun Rogers vs. Vikings second-year center John Sullivan: Rogers is a massive body who can push the pocket versus the pass as well as get penetration when defending the run. Sullivan is a hard-nosed, athletic center, but he probably will get help to keep the middle of the line solid.
Prediction Minnesota 24 Cleveland 20

[Rastak]

Wow Browns are starting rookie center Alex Mack against the Williams wall......

[Lurker64]

Wow Browns are starting rookie center Alex Mack against the Williams wall......

The Browns are a mess, in the immortal words of Emmit Smiff, the Vikings will debacle them today.

At least I'm getting Texans v. Jets for the AFC game, which should be a closer tussle.

[Rastak]

Wow Browns are starting rookie center Alex Mack against the Williams wall......

The Browns are a mess, in the immortal words of Emmit Smiff, the Vikings will debacle them today.

At least I'm getting Texans v. Jets for the AFC game, which should be a closer tussle.

That is an interesting matchup....Jet's have a rookie coach and QB.....should be interesting.

[Lurker64]

Wow Browns are starting rookie center Alex Mack against the Williams wall......

The Browns are a mess, in the immortal words of Emmit Smiff, the Vikings will debacle them today.

At least I'm getting Texans v. Jets for the AFC game, which should be a closer tussle.

That is an interesting matchup....Jet's have a rookie coach and QB.....should be interesting.

The Texans have also quietly assembled on of the most promising front 7s in all of football. Not necessarily the best, but they had a ton of talented young guys with upside. Mario Williams, Omobi Okoye, Connor Barwin, DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing...

[Rastak]

Not sure how Cushing will do but yea, not bad.

[MOBB DEEP]

Im already mad at chilly Ras

[Rastak]

Spot them 30 yards and they only get 3.....nice return by Harvin.