I disagree with designating a punter as a defenseless player, especially when he is downfield attempting to assist his teammates in a tackle. I had never heard the explanation that a punter is considered defenseless throughout the entire down. The block was a brutal hit, but one that special team playerrs are expected to make. The injury and intensity of the hit was made worse by the punter's failure to see it coming.

The league, in my opinion, has been vague and arbitrary about imposing fines and suspensions. The claim that hits with the front of the helmet or crown are illegal doesn't properly consider the speed and objective of the game. There are helmet to helmet hits on every play at the line of scrimmage and runners are always running head first and tackling and blocking can't avoid many of the hits or contact to the head.

It has gotten to the point where every time there's a hard hit, you expect to see a flag or expect a fine.

That was the understanding of the rules by fans and players alike until this week. If punters are defenseless throughout the down, defenses better be careful on fake punts.

Ok, I understand your frustration based on your post.

However, I believe that while the fans were naive about the rule (I was), the special teams players must have known the rules. After all, it's what some of them do for a living, and they have a dedicated special teams coach.

Looking back on it, I don't recall ever seeing a punter getting pancaked on a block. Part of it might have been that they're usually the last line of defense. But they never seem to be blocked and are left alone for a one/one tackle attempt on the ball carrier.

It seems like no one wants to win the NFC North. Detroit is out. Its probably time for Schwartz to hit the road.

I agree. He hasn't been a good coach from the get-go. It's time for Rex Ryan to go too.

As a Bears fan I hope we beat Green Bay this Sunday and win the north. However, if we do, I can't see us advancing in the playoffs. Our D is terrible and Cutler is too hot/cold. As far as Schwartz, if he's not fired by 12:01 a.m. after the season, the Detroit owner is nuts. He has all that talent, Jay Cutler and Aaron Rodgers have missed two months of the season and he STILL can't win the division? The team is undisciplined and a complete wreck. Goodbye.

NO ROMO



out for last game and playoffs

reports are that injured/bad back is keeping him out

====================================================

The Eagles are now a 7.5 point favorite, up from 3 points.

Uh-OH. That doesn't bode well for the Eagles.

??

...meaning, Romo's replacement might do better than Romo, who is known for is late season collapses. Did I say that right?

Well, I thought that when Manning returned a couple of years ago that he would take a hit and be reinjured. How wrong! However, I'm predicting that Rodgers has returned too soon and he will be reinjured.

I agree that Rodgers is returning too soon as well, oli. I hope he does not get injured and of course the Bears win fair and square. SOMEBODY has to win the NFC North and I sure hope it is Chicago. However, if Rodgers gets injured again and leaves early, then us Bear fans will have to hear the tiresome narrative: "Yes, you won the division BUT Aaron Rodgers was out!"

There's a lot of Bears fans (myself included) that think a lot of Rodgers but of course dislike the Packers. That's the rational side of the the argument, the Meatball fan side says "GO BEARS!"

Well, as someone once said, a victory is a victory.

Well, for want of a field goal, my Steelers missed the playoffs. They did their part, but fate had a different plan. Some compensation; the Cowboys lost.

The Chiefs didn't play their qb or all-pro players as they had nothing to gain from winning the game, but that is their right that they earned. I was happy that they p[layed hard and if Succup made that 41 yarder, the Steelers would be in the postseason.

To rub salt in the wound, the league has commented that on that field goal attempt at the end of regulation, the Chargers had too many players on the right side of the line and should have been flagged, and the Chiefs allowed to rekick. There are two officials, whose job it is to count the players on the line before the kick for this purpose.

Moreover, the officials blew it for the Chiefs (more specifically, the Steelers) in overtime when the Chargers fumbled on the fake punt and KC seemingly returned it for a td. The ruling after the fact was that progress was stopped. Replays confirm clearly the ball was being advanced when it came loose, but the call is not reviewable.

Anyway, the beneficiary of the result was Cincinnati. I wouldn't wager on how far the Steelers would have advanced in the playoffs, but I am quite onfident they would have beaten the Bengals next week.

Sorry about the Bears losing, but at least I'm sure you're happy that Rodgers played the whole game and you don't have to put up with the tiresome Packer fans.

The Cowboy/Eagle game was a fun one to watch. People worried about how Kyle Orton would play, but I think he lived up to the standards of Tony romo in the clutch.

LeSean McCoy is a hometown kid, so I'll root for the Eagles with the Steelers eliminated even though there is usually strong dislike between Steeler and Eagle fans where I live.

My picks for next week:

Eagles over the Saints by 6
49ers over the Packers by 3
Bengals over the Chargers by 7
Colts over the Chiefs by 4

I hate those stinking Cowboys. They are most Eagle fans #1 enemy ...then comes the Giants.

EAGLES!! NFC East division champions!

It's gonna be a tough game vs the Saints....should be a good game though.

I think I would have just settled for a win - no matter what... this one stung.

No doubt. That's a loss that stays with you for a while.

Which would have a better chance of winning?
Good players overcoming bad coaching (play calling)?
Good coaching overcoming bad players?

I think of the Giants. I have not been a Kevin Gilbride fan (the Offensive Coordinator), and now he is gone. This year the Giants O-line was either aging, injured or of mediocre talent, but the play calling didn't seem to change. Same power running, same pass patterns. Without searching statistics, I'd venture a guess that the "yards after catch" were very low. Player or Play calling? I think when the Giants were winning two Super Bowls, it was good players overcoming bad coaching.

I'm not sure. I think that in both super bowls the Patriots had better players on the field than the giants, particularly at quarterback. While I think Belichick is probably the best head coach today, he was outcoached in those games by a good coach, who used to work with him. Sure. the Giants had some luck late in both games that was crucial, but it was finding a way to stop Brady that put them in a position to take advantage of good fortune.

Well, on the money side I came out ahead on Saturday's playoff games. I had the Chiefs and 3 points and the Saints and 7 points.

For Sunday I have the 49ers even. No Chargers bet though.

The Eagles lost 26-24....damn!

Tough loss, but a great year for a rookie coach and basically a rookie QB. Where was Vick? No sideline shots of him.

3 out of 4 great games. 2 with 3 seconds on the clock. Oh, to be a kicker.

3 for 3 with the spread. That's pretty sharp. great games thius weekend. Andy Dalton laid an egg, and the Bengals still haven't won in the postseason since 1990.

My picks for next weekend:

Seahawks 31 Saints 23
Patriots 35 Colts 24
49ers 19 Panthers 17
Broncos 37 Chargers 35

I agree Mary...i had written the season off at one point but they came back and won the NFC East division.

Would of been great to advance to the next round but overall i'm pretty happy with the way they came back this season.

These are my picks
Seahawks 35, Saints 23
Patriots 41, Colts 38
Broncos 39, Chargers 36 (OT - Reg will end with 33 tie)
49ers 28, Panthers 24

Conference Championships
49ers 29, Seahawks 13 (I am not high, the 49ers are)
Patriots 26, Broncos 19

Super Bowl
49ers: 34, Patriots: 28