Turning points in NFL season (1 Viewer)

[Frank Black]

For many NFL teams, there is a turning point in the season where the team goes up or down in terms of their chances to make the playoffs. Often this seems to come down to a single play or a single drive. It may be getting to be that time of the season where we can identify some of those turning points, even though we still don't know how things will unfold. For example, when Matt Bryant hit that 63 yard FG against Philly to win the game, that seemed like a turning point at the time. It just seemed like Philly was destined at that point to have a bad season.

Does anyone have any thoughts on what some of those turning points have been so far?

 

[plymkr]

Tony Romo Baby!!!

 

[baronson]

For many NFL teams, there is a turning point in the season where the team goes up or down in terms of their chances to make the playoffs. Often this seems to come down to a single play or a single drive. It may be getting to be that time of the season where we can identify some of those turning points, even though we still don't know how things will unfold. For example, when Matt Bryant hit that 63 yard FG against Philly to win the game, that seemed like a turning point at the time. It just seemed like Philly was destined at that point to have a bad season.Does anyone have any thoughts on what some of those turning points have been so far?

actually, the philly season imploded after they blew the 4th quarter lead to the giants.giants have been reeling ever since devin hester ran back that short field goal in the bears game.tony romo has completely transformed the cowboys. you don't even hear TO's name during a broadcast anymore.

 

[DoubleG]

For many NFL teams, there is a turning point in the season where the team goes up or down in terms of their chances to make the playoffs. Often this seems to come down to a single play or a single drive. It may be getting to be that time of the season where we can identify some of those turning points, even though we still don't know how things will unfold. For example, when Matt Bryant hit that 63 yard FG against Philly to win the game, that seemed like a turning point at the time. It just seemed like Philly was destined at that point to have a bad season.Does anyone have any thoughts on what some of those turning points have been so far?

actually, the philly season imploded after they blew the 4th quarter lead to the giants.giants have been reeling ever since devin hester ran back that short field goal in the bears game.tony romo has completely transformed the cowboys. you don't even hear TO's name during a broadcast anymore.

At the risk of turning this into an NFC North-o-centric thread, the Vikings were 2-0 and beating the Bears. The Bears come-from-behind victory seemed to take some of the wind out of the Vikings' sails - they then dropped 5 of their next 7.I also think the Broncos blowing their 24-7 lead over the Chargers three weeks ago pretty much sealed their (and Plummer's) fate. Losing the following to week to KC and this week to Seattle was just a continuation of the fall. I don't think Denver will recover.

 

[Liquid Tension]

For many NFL teams, there is a turning point in the season where the team goes up or down in terms of their chances to make the playoffs. Often this seems to come down to a single play or a single drive. It may be getting to be that time of the season where we can identify some of those turning points, even though we still don't know how things will unfold. For example, when Matt Bryant hit that 63 yard FG against Philly to win the game, that seemed like a turning point at the time. It just seemed like Philly was destined at that point to have a bad season.Does anyone have any thoughts on what some of those turning points have been so far?

I would say 4 weeks ago when the Giants lost 6 starters on defense and then lost their starting LT right before Tiki Barber broke his hand.

 

[zamboni]

For the Jets, it definitely seemed to be the win over New England in week 10, coming off the bye week.

They had just lost a miserable game in week 8 to Cleveland, in which they almost tied at the end on a great catch by Chris Baker, but the officials (incorrectly) viewed him as out of bounds when he was really knocked out. Anyway, they had no business being in that game, and were reeling at 4-4 (even though they had already defied expectations).

That victory over the Pats in week 10 really lifted their spirits, and despite losing to the Bears the following week, have been a confident bunch ever since.

 

[Gr00vus]

This one's easy - the Charger 2nd half come back at Cincy.

 

[brednbuddah]

For the Jets, it definitely seemed to be the win over New England in week 10, coming off the bye week. They had just lost a miserable game in week 8 to Cleveland, in which they almost tied at the end on a great catch by Chris Baker, but the officials (incorrectly) viewed him as out of bounds when he was really knocked out. Anyway, they had no business being in that game, and were reeling at 4-4 (even though they had already defied expectations).That victory over the Pats in week 10 really lifted their spirits, and despite losing to the Bears the following week, have been a confident bunch ever since.

"IF" the Jets make the playoffs, the win in NE will be the story the sports media will hype the crap out of.(another thing, you don't hear much about Pennington's rotator cuff surgeries anymore, do ya? Christ, even Kiddnets changed his avatar!)

 

[snogger]

Two moments that defined the Vikings season.

1. Vikings fumbling the ball away in the 4th quarter v.s The Bears in the TolietDome. They win that game and things may have been different for my Vikings..

2.The loss to N.E. showed the rest of the NFL our weakness and it has been abused since.

 

[Frank Black]

Tony Romo Baby!!!

Yes, the switch to Romo is one that maybe stands out above the rest, at least for positive turning points.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

when the raiders signed jeff george.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Good topic.

I think the Jets loss to the Colts was a turning point for them even though they lost. It showed them that they could play with anyone. Yes, they got thumped in a let down the previous week, but I think it really secured the buy-in from the players into Mangini's system.

Ben taking the big hit against Atlanta really took the wind out of the Steelers sails, echoing into that brutal loss at Oakland the next week.

SD's record breaking comebacks:

Crushed one team (Denver)

Woke another one up (Cincinnati)

The missed Feely FG returned for TD by the Bears really turned the Gints season around.

For the Saints, I really think that early blocked punt on monday night in week 3 unleashed the positive energy we are seeing carry them to a division title. Bush's punt return vs. Tampa was also a crucial moment.

More to come as I think of them.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Tony Romo Baby!!!

Yes, the switch to Romo is one that maybe stands out above the rest, at least for positive turning points.

and Young. I think these two are obvious. It should be noted that both got off to rough starts.

 

[WhoDat]

Thomas Jones' 3rd and forever draw against the Giants, which resulted in a first down, appears to have broken the Giants. They have not recovered. That play turned that game around and, perhaps, ended the season for the G-Men.

I am pretty sure my Lions blew it against the Seahawks and or Packers on Week 1 or 3. I never expected them to hang with the Bears but those two close losses early on ended the year. It was clear they could not finish and it happened again in Weeks 4-6 and 10-12.

 

[baronson]

Thomas Jones' 3rd and forever draw against the Giants, which resulted in a first down, appears to have broken the Giants. They have not recovered. That play turned that game around and, perhaps, ended the season for the G-Men.

I am pretty sure my Lions blew it against the Seahawks and or Packers on Week 1 or 3. I never expected them to hang with the Bears but those two close losses early on ended the year. It was clear they could not finish and it happened again in Weeks 4-6 and 10-12.

good point. this was what broke the giants. the field goal runback was just icing at that point. good memory.signed,

frustrated giant fan

 

[BGP]

Something about they are who we thought they were or something.

 

[PsychoMan]

rex grossman goes to arizona

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

For many NFL teams, there is a turning point in the season where the team goes up or down in terms of their chances to make the playoffs. Often this seems to come down to a single play or a single drive. It may be getting to be that time of the season where we can identify some of those turning points, even though we still don't know how things will unfold. For example, when Matt Bryant hit that 63 yard FG against Philly to win the game, that seemed like a turning point at the time. It just seemed like Philly was destined at that point to have a bad season.Does anyone have any thoughts on what some of those turning points have been so far?

I think the Bears Cardinals game was a big turning point. Leinart had just come off a narrow loss to Kansas City where he gave the team some hope. Then they face the undefeated Bears and kick their butts-- for one half.Had they even squeaked out a victory, it would have had an impact on the Cardinals and maybe Leinart's career. I don't want to overstate just one game, but to have that happen in your second start has to have a mental impact. At the very least, it set Green's future termination in motion. If not, they could have looked a lot different, been an up-and-coming force in the division, given the fans some hope and really given Leinart an excellent start to his career. I'm not saying he won't still have a great one...but that changed the timetable a bit imo.

 

[DoubleG]

Something about they are who we thought they were or something.

:kickpodium:

 

[The Man Who Met Andy Griffith]

Barry Sanders retiring.

 

[Liquid Tension]

For the Jets, it definitely seemed to be the win over New England in week 10, coming off the bye week. They had just lost a miserable game in week 8 to Cleveland, in which they almost tied at the end on a great catch by Chris Baker, but the officials (incorrectly) viewed him as out of bounds when he was really knocked out. Anyway, they had no business being in that game, and were reeling at 4-4 (even though they had already defied expectations).That victory over the Pats in week 10 really lifted their spirits, and despite losing to the Bears the following week, have been a confident bunch ever since.

"IF" the Jets make the playoffs, the win in NE will be the story the sports media will hype the crap out of.(another thing, you don't hear much about Pennington's rotator cuff surgeries anymore, do ya? Christ, even Kiddnets changed his avatar!)

I think Pennington has not played well this year. With the time he gets he should be doing MUCH better. His OL gives him some of the best protection of any QB in football.

 

[Hairy Snowman]

Tony Romo Baby!!!

Yes, the switch to Romo is one that maybe stands out above the rest, at least for positive turning points.

and Young. I think these two are obvious. It should be noted that both got off to rough starts.

VY has been arguably bigger for the Titans than Romo has been for the 'Boys.

 

[zamboni]

For the Jets, it definitely seemed to be the win over New England in week 10, coming off the bye week. They had just lost a miserable game in week 8 to Cleveland, in which they almost tied at the end on a great catch by Chris Baker, but the officials (incorrectly) viewed him as out of bounds when he was really knocked out. Anyway, they had no business being in that game, and were reeling at 4-4 (even though they had already defied expectations).That victory over the Pats in week 10 really lifted their spirits, and despite losing to the Bears the following week, have been a confident bunch ever since.

"IF" the Jets make the playoffs, the win in NE will be the story the sports media will hype the crap out of.(another thing, you don't hear much about Pennington's rotator cuff surgeries anymore, do ya? Christ, even Kiddnets changed his avatar!)

I think Pennington has not played well this year. With the time he gets he should be doing MUCH better. His OL gives him some of the best protection of any QB in football.

He's been uneven, but has had some good games. The WRs have been just outstanding though, which has also helped.

 

[gman74]

Barry Sanders retiring.

lions hiring millen

 

[Despyzer]

This one's easy - the Charger 2nd half come back at Cincy.

I was thinking it was their fourth quarter collapse to the Ravens. They have been playing a different brand of football since then. I'm not sure that comeback against Cincy was possible without the lessons they learned against Baltimore.

 

[Gr00vus]

This one's easy - the Charger 2nd half come back at Cincy.

I was thinking it was their fourth quarter collapse to the Ravens. They have been playing a different brand of football since then. I'm not sure that comeback against Cincy was possible without the lessons they learned against Baltimore.

You may be right, but I'll take the positive over the negative. They hadn't proved they could do it until they came back and won the Cincy game, regardless of what they may have changed or learned as a result of the Baltimore game.

 

[H.K.]

Good thread:

1) The Broncos going with Cutler, thus ending their season

2) The Panthers running the trick play punt return vs. Minnesota. That really set the wheels in motion for their fourth quater collapses this season.