So... how pissed/terrified of your team are YOU?

[gk]

Vikes, Cowboys, Browns, Lions, all 0-2.

Eagles, 1-1, but only because they got to play the now 0-2 Lions.

Pittsburgh can suck it.

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

I thought no WAY would Mangini be fired in the middle of the season. But there's a distinct possibility they could start out 0-9 or 0-10.

Leading at halftime to two supposedly inferior teams (who are both now 2-0). Fumbles, penalties, offensive terribleness. The defense has played rather well, actually. They're only really responsible for ~10 points/game. I guess there's that.

Before the season, I thought 7-9 or even 8-8 was possible (see Predictions, 10 Fearless). Especially against a weaker AFCN (with Cincy and Pittsburgh regressing - oops). Now, I'm back to hoping they don't pull a Detroit and go 0-16.

For the record, I still don't think they'll come close to 0-16. In order to go 0-16 you have to get blown out every single game, like the Lions did that year. The Browns have lost two games by a total of 5 points. You'd think that they'd be able to luck in to a close win here and there. But the fact that it's even a possibility, and that they had couple layups at the start of the year, isn't a good sign for Mangini.

[mayor]

I'm glad I'm not any of you guys.

[mayor]

And I'm the defending DVR champ.

Feels good.

[fatmenace]

As many of you know, I'm a fan of the NFL team Dallas Cowboys. I'm not terrified, just saddened that this season has been reduced to only rooting for my fantasy team. Obviously, the Skins and Bears are improved, but the offense has looked beyond incompetent for two straight games. The defense completely broke down yesterday after looking good week one.

There's no fixing this because there's no leadership. There's no player like Michale Irvin to light a fire (no crack pipe puns) or bring accountability (on the field). Those teams, both offense and defense, PLAYED for Irvin. I'll tell you who that leader now should be: Jason Whitten. But for whatever reason, he won't step up.

There's no leadership on the coaching staff either. Wade is obviously a coaching cuckold. That's the only way I can describe it. Jason Garrett does whatever he wants and Wade just sticks to the defense. I forget how much Jason makes, but it's either equal to, or more than Wade. Couple that with the fact Garrett has no clue how to put together an offensive game plan (especially in the freakin red zone) and Dallas is looking at 5-11 this year. It's mind boggling.

The worst part is I can already see Garrett being the head coach next year. It's like having a vision. I've always respected Jerry even when others didn't, but it's time to hand over control to his son, whom I've heard isn't a yes man like Jerry. I give credit to Jerry for bringing in Parcells, the type of coach everyone said he would never bring in. Although he never won a playoff game, he left this team in much better shape than he found it (although he raided the coaching staff of the best coaches and personnel. Smart man).

There's nothing I can point to and say if we just fix this we'll be OK, because the coaches obviously can't see or refuse to see the problems. Everyone keeps pointing out the talent Dallas has (and there is tons of offensive talent) but they have zero discipline, zero accountability and no direction. I don't see how it can possibly change.

Supposedly the players had a players only meeting today. Good for them, but until a Michael Irvin steps up and takes charge and brings on the field accountability, this team won't turn around. Wade's a lame duck, and they know it. There's no way they respect Garrett by this point.

I'm rambling, but no, I'm not terrified. Not anymore. I've accepted it by now that this team just won't produce many results.

[fatmenace]

In the game against the Skins Dallas was running it down their throat. Couldn't be stopped.

Until Garrett stopped it by completely abandoning the run.

Inexplicable.

[fatmenace]

Has an NFL team ever had a players only meeting after the second game? Has that ever happened?

[grubbi]

Lions are 0-2 but a few breaks in their favor could easily make them 2-0. Having said that...both games the Lions were ahead only to lose the lead and had to try to come from behind. Not good. Should have won against Chicago and had a shot at tying the Philly game. Eventhough they blew it early, they still made it interesting to the end.

The offensive line needs work. The offensive players need to make the plays. Best is the best right now (and not because he is on my DVR team). The defensive front 4 are good, very good. The rest are like a sieve. Everything runs through them. I could not believe how many OPEN receivers there were. They wouldn't be able to cover my grandmother who has two knee replacements.

The going is slow but the Lions are getting better. They do have some key players in place and need a few more. Yes, I drink the kool-aid and even bleed it when cut. That's a true Lions fan. We hope for the best, and wait for the next year....

[finkle]

i've been expecting 9-7 and not making the playoffs..... so far, so good

["Redneck" Johnson]

I feel like the Vikings are just a couple of plays away from being 2-0. We struggled a lot on offense against a very good New Orleans squad. Then we played really stupid against Miami and cost ourselves the game- we had a fumble in the end zone that gave them 7 points, turned the ball over twice in the red zone, and went for it on 4th down when it was 0-0 in the first quarter. Any of those mistakes get eliminated and I think they win.

Team is hurting not to have Sidney Rice and Cedric Griffin too. But I think we're finding things to do on offense and we moved the ball well against Miami. So we're close.

The real key is not getting ourselves out of contention before it comes together. And I think that means we need to put together 4-4 at midseason. So we can only lose 2 of our next six (Detroit, @nyj, Dallas, @gb, @ne, Arizona). And that's a pretty tall order. But I think winning 6 of our last 8 is doable and that puts us at 10-6.

We may also be bailed out by the injury trouble in Green Bay. Losing Ryan Grant is going to be a big issue for that team. But to have any shot we'll need to beat both the Packers and the Bears, and they've already been spotted a 2 game lead.

[gk]

Pittsburgh's success just proves the old adage:

Good things happen to horrible, horrible human beings.

[mayor]

Speaking of Pittsburgh's success, I say Troy Polamalu might be the most valuable player in the league. If he was healthy last year, the Steelers wouldn't have just made the playoffs, they might have won the Super Bowl.

(I'm choosing to focus on Steelers players who are not horrible human beings)

[gk]

I'll admit it: it's getting harder and harder arguing that Troy Palomalu is the most overrated player in the NFL. I'm going to have to work on creating my own stat to show that.