varaven45

Following up on cockiness.... Earl Thomas, shut your dang pie hole about saying we will be in the SB. I love it when there is quite confidence about winning and making it to the SB. But its another thing when you say it to the media. You haven't won jack squat on this team yet. You've been on this team for what 6 months ? Weren't you the guy that quit on the Browns' Nick Chubb TD run earlier in the season ? Shut up and play the game; stupid comments like this always come back and bite ! Niner's guys like Richard Sherman are eating this bulletin board crap up !

In reply to Spen and Tsy, I'm thinking about the same things - arrogance, injuries and Skura - my thoughts: I like to cockiness, confidence and swagger. They could pump the brake on the showmanship, celebrations after TD's, etc. However, that's today's culture and I suppose it is what it is. I just dont want to hear anyone proclaim our defense is scary - Its the kiss of death. Just shut up and keep making plays ! Injury-wise, we have been really fortunate.... thus far this season. Lets hope Lamar stays healthy and injury free. We are 1 Lamar injury away from mediocrity. In terms of Skura, thats a damn shame he's lost for the season. His replacement fared well Monday night...... but that was one night. He will be tested big time Sunday against the 9ers. Maybe EDC and or Harbs are working on a contingency plan. Either way, its a critical piece moving forward but i have faith in our FO.

Nicely put Tsy. I'm thinking another slobberknocker and a lower scoring game. Agreed we need to put mucho heat on Jimmy G. Lamar's going to get some heat too. He'll need to take extra care of the rock. Should be a wing ding doodler doo !

Wow, what another outstanding signature performance; maybe our best yet ! This team has become quite the offensive juggernaut that is playing with so much energy and passion. Its a lot of dang fun to watch ! As someone noted earlier, I'd like to see Lamar take a tad fewer hits and stay out of harms way. Otherwise, its a blast to watch ! What I'm beginning to notice is team character, chemistry and a sense of purpose - similar to the 2000 team. Not the same dominant D but an opportunistic, high flying and swarming bunch that is improving by the week. Sunday's test against San Fran sets up as yet another classic matchup. Cant wait for another slobberknocker !

Im enjoying this season too much to give this much thought. Sounds like good fodder for the off season.

Im expecting a Monday night slobberknocker in LA ! Close game.

I hear you on the LA game . Look how the Aaron Rodgers led-Packers laid an egg against the LA bolts. Its a different game and team, I know, Just saying. Thursday night game coming up ? I believe that's against the J-E-T-S. I'm thinking about going to that game.

Max et al, its been a dang fun ride thus far. Who know how far this train goes ? Hopefully Miami One of these Sundays we will have an off day/game, hopefully not this season. But for now, I'll follow Ray's quote "It's a dream, only it's real." Just don't wake me up !

Scary indeed - that Preston provides such accolades and kudos. Hey, this is a very special team - interesting swagger, chemistry and character. While we all enjoy the fun ride, lets hope our team stays healthy and even keeled. From some of yesterday's post games interviews these guys are funny and engaging but starting to get a little too cocky. Harbaugh might remind them that we haven't won squat yet, there's lots of season left w/some big games against LA, San Fran, Buffalo, Cleveland & Pittsburgh. Any one of these teams could knock us on our arses. In the meantime, this is one damn fun team and it'll be interesting to see how they keep their swagger, sense of urgency and dominance. Go Ravens !

Agreed; we are ranked too high. Rather be the hunter than hunted. Its all good though - nobody really watches these rankings, right ? Right ? Hopefully, this team maintains its edge and sense of urgency

Close game indeed. If, and its a huge if, both teams bring their A games, its a shootout and W goes to the last GW drive. If one team doesn't show up or turns it over, all bets are off. Otherwise, its a slobberknocker and one for the ages. Cant wait !

Its on to the Texans and arguably our toughest game left on the schedule. The Texans and DeShaun are the real deal and coming off a bye. Anyway, this is a huge challenge, test for us, even at home. Barring some bad turnovers - pick 6 or fumble scoop TD - I see this game coming down to the last possession. Should be an awesome, epic game- one where we need our A game to win. Anything less, we drop to 6-3. We need this game.... and bad...... to get to 7-2 !

Peko huh ? Isn't he the big dude with hair down to his butt ? If so, the dude takes up space and can stuff the run. Hopefully, he corrals and takes down RB Carlos Hyde this weekend.

Crav, your starting to sound like Brian Billick btw- welcome back on the board. Hope you are enjoying life in FLA !

Nice solid, convincing W against a god awful team. Didn't realize Cincy was so bad. Their only real weapon is Mixon, Lamar is amazing, a generational player for sure. His passion and leadership are off the charts. My only possible concern is whether/how long he can keep this up at such a high level. In the meantime, its damn fun and enjoyable to watch. Its better than any video game !

I don't have a clue after last Sundays huge win - which felt like a mini-SB victory. Cant imagine us topping that victory and even see us coming out a little flat. Agreed with TSY, we need to come out flying and lay down the hammer. No score prediction but believe it'll be closer than most of us think.

Yep to all. Got to put the foot on the Bengals throats and bury them, No and, ifs, or buts.

Tough indeed, but everyone is pumping the 9ers and Texans. Jimmy G and DeShaun Watson. Those (along with LA) are going to be damn tough games. Oh, and we got the Steelers and Browns in there, too. Every Sunday we play a professional team - Bengals this Sunday, Jets next month. If we sleep on any team, any Sunday, well, you know the deal. See the Cowboys at Jets 2 weeks ago. Any body, any team, any Sunday. Speaking of Sunday, we play the Bengals and rookie QB Ryan Finley starting his first game at Cincy. Our D needs to approach and suffocate Finley like they did Brady - no less. If something special is going on, we need to bring a special D and whoop arse on this rookie QB right out of the gates. Lets see how we build on this huge win. Time to bring another special effort to this Sunday !

Special, playoff contender aside, its a fun and intriguing team to be sure. The back half of the schedule is like murderers row. Big challenge w games against SF, LA and Texans. I don't have a clue how they'll do. As pointed out, staying healthy is critical. Regardless, it should be an interesting, fun playoff run.

Tough game to call. My heart says Lamar and running attack goes wild and puts up impressive numbers; meanwhile, the defense suffocates Brady and the offense. We keep it close (3 pt game). My head says Dr Bellichick and Brady, already light years ahead of Harbs and Lamar, keep it close fora half but pull away and win by 1-2 TDs. Anyone else ?

TSY - Spot on ! Call it NFL parity, mediocrity, or whatever. There really are no dominant teams sans maybe New England - even they as you pointed out have flaws. We have a bunch of above average teams -- Saints, 49ers, Pack - and host of slightly above average teams - us, Texans, Bills. Everyone else is average or below average. Again, a lot of mediocrity. In my mind, the above average and slightly above average teams will make the playoffs and duke it out. Come January, we will be assessing each playoff team, like you said, by the number or fewness of flaws. And the teams with the fewest flaws will meet for the SB in Miami. How do we stack ? Agree with your assessment and believe we could make the playoffs and make a run or fall flat on our faces. We have an incredibly difficult schedule on the back half, starting Sunday. FWIW- we cant sleep on the Steelers or Browns. Regardless of how they've played or their records, look at their schedules. Aside from playing us, both teams have a "little sisters of the poor" remaining schedule and should end up around 9-7 or 10-6. Just saying, cant sleep on either team. There are nine games - over the half the season - left to be played. We are about 6 weeks away from talking playoffs. Whoops ! Did I say the P word ? !

You bet Harbs knows but the mad scientist (Bellichick) has probably been up 24/7 scheming up his D to shut down our running the ball 90 times, 100 times, whatever. I think Bellichick and Harbaugh absolutely live and thrive in these moments. It should be interesting; Bellichick/Brady vs. Harbs/Jackson.

Explains Sanu pickup

As Bill Bellicheck says, "we'll see". All kidding aside, I'm looking for a slobberknocker of a game.

Agreed on all the above sentiments. The consensus is we/ the league needs to run on NE- agreed 150 %. If Lamar attempts to get into a shootout w Brady, we get torched. Doubt that happens; just saying. And, as pointed out by Grubber, Lamar needs to play smart and stay upright. He's now our franchise ! I'll be watching the Browns-Pats game with huge interest to see how Nick Chubb runs on the Pats or whether the Browns and Baker lose patience and attempt to chuck it around the field - which would be fatal. Regardless, we need to be/get healthy - Jimmy, Hollywood, etc.- and secure a FA pass rusher (Beasley, Miller, ?) before next weeks deadline. Our D needs to show up big time and suffocate Brady, Edelman and company. Should be dang fun at M&T on 11/3 !