the Niners and the Broncos

[Jetstream Green]

I can't wait for these teams to eventually get into some games where their less than capable QBs will have to play a full game of actually throwing the ball to win for more than a few drives. The season is very young and if anything, these are the two teams one should watch which are mostly likely to fall apart. The QB position is the most important position on the field and I still believe this will be evident sooner or later when the games really start to count

 

[vinnymac]

I think the broncos & 49ers qb are doing what they are suppose to do. Not lose games for their team. The defense on both teams are pretty good. After watching Singlatary coach the 49ers last season, I knew they would be a team on the rise. Bottom line is that the Cardinals need to start playing football.

 

[Ronin]

if you were tell me that the 49ers and Broncos would be this good defensively ....I would've said you are outta your mind!

Kyle Orton and Shaun Hill.....all they do is win football games!

 

[Jetstream Green]

correction, all that they do is let the defenses win games because that is all they can do and there will come a time, more than once when they will have to win games with their arm. For instance, the Cardinals with healthy wrs and Gore not being able to run on the Cardinals for a second time...hmmmmmmmmmm

 

[Jetstream Green]

four games into a season and people already filling the playoff docket, so entertaining

 

[Ronin]

they will have to win games with their arm.

Kyle Orton already did.
Shaun Hill came close....

 

[Assface]

2007 the Lions got off to a very impressive 6-2 start. After that they won 1 out of their next 26 games. Last year the Cards had a good season and playoff run and still need to prove they're legit. I'm not jumping on or off any bandwagons after 4 games.

 

[cardpa]

Bottom line like it or not they are winning games. How they get there doesn't matter. Pittsburg and Baltimore have won a lot of games with defense.

 

[chickenhead]

If the Broncos and Niners aren't as good as their record, then good for them for stockpiling wins early. It's the more talented Cards who are in the hole right now. We are in the unfortunate position of having to wait for our team to turn it on while we wait for other teams to break down.

 

[gohard83]

The Cardinals is a much more talented team than the 49ers. Just take a look for Warner (SB QB) vs. Hill (back up at best), Hill's numbers only look better because of sheer luck. We have been playing with heart but our hearts will suddenly dissapear soon enough. All that hard work in practice will come back to haunt us later. I mean look at Gore, he's already injured. We really need to follow Whiz' approach and take it easy next year.

This is how the 49ers' numbers look right now (everything could drop down to 32nd in the next 7 games):


OFFENSE
Interceptions - 1 (T-3rd)
Fumbles Lost - 1 (T-1st)
Giveaways - 2 (2nd)
Passer Rating - 92.4 (11th)
Offensive TD's - 8 (T-12th)

DEFENSE
Total Defense - 284.0 (6th)
Yards per play - 4.4 (3rd)
Yards per rush - 3.1 (T-4th)
Rushing TD's - 0 (T-1st)
Yards Per Attempt - 5.9 (5th)
Passing TD's - 4 (T-8th)
Passer Rating - 69.3 (6th)
Completion % - 56.8 (8th)
Sacks - 11 (T-5th)
Interceptions - 5 (T-5th)
Passes Deflected - 25 (4th)
TD's allowed - 4 (T-3rd)
Defensive TD's - 3 (T-1st) (not counting blocked FG)

OVERALL
TOP: 31:03 (11th)
Turnover Ratio +5 (4th)
Points Scored/game - 25.5 (9th)
Points Allowed/game - 13.2 (2nd)
Net Points/game - 12.3 (3rd

 

[PDXChris]

Kyle Orton is 24-12 as a starter in his career. Is a good enough NFL QB to win games. Defenses do not win you 24 out of 36 games.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

The 49ers remind me a lot of the Superbowl Raven team (just no quite as good right now) but they have a very good defense (right now) and only need their QB to not make mistakes and that is what Hill does.

He may not be flashy, but he gets the job done as it suits his team. If he were on almost any other team in the NFL it would be pretty ugly.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Orton was such a good QB that the Bears did all they could to nab Cutler, and saying Hill 'almost' did something just proves my point

 

[TJ]

Broncos next 4 games:

New England
@San Diego
@ Baltimore
Pittsburgh

San Franciscos next 4 games:

Atlanta
@Houston
@Indianapolis
Tennessee

SF and Denver should not be thumping their chests just yet, because their 2nd quarter schedules are brutal.

 

[gohard83]

Broncos next 4 games:

New England
@San Diego
@ Baltimore
Pittsburgh

San Franciscos next 4 games:

Atlanta
@Houston
@Indianapolis
Tennessee

SF and Denver should not be thumping their chests just yet, because their 2nd quarter schedules are brutal.

Atl, Hou, and Ten are brutal games? I don't think so, for DEN maybe.

 

[TJ]

2007 the Lions got off to a very impressive 6-2 start. After that they won 1 out of their next 26 games. Last year the Cards had a good season and playoff run and still need to prove they're legit. I'm not jumping on or off any bandwagons after 4 games.

It happens every year. A couple of teams get off to really hot starts and fizzle. Last year's Bills are a great example. Came into our house 4-0 with all the pundits jumping on their bandwagon. We completely annihilated them and it was a slippery slope from there.

Sometimes, it works the other way around. Last year, the Colts were 1-2 to start the season. They rallied and ended 12-4 with an impressive nine game winning streak.

Bottom line: you can't predict the end of the NFL season by the first 4 games, unless that team goes 0-4. Statistically, those teams only have a 2% chance of making the playoffs (per ESPN).

 

[Ronin]

and saying Hill 'almost' did something just proves my point

um no it doesn't, Maybe i should've said he did.
Hill was :02 from winning that game in Minnesota, without a running game.

 

[cardpa]

If we were 4-0 we would be thumping our chests so why shouldn't the Broncos and 49ers? I think those 49er stats look pretty damn good. If those were our stats we would be talking super bowl.

It sounds like sour apples here with these two teams. We talk about getting no respect but when some other lowly team gets off to a good start we dump on them.

 

[TJ]

If we were 4-0 we would be thumping our chests so why shouldn't the Broncos and 49ers? I think those 49er stats look pretty damn good. If those were our stats we would be talking super bowl.

It sounds like sour apples here with these two teams. We talk about getting no respect but when some other lowly team gets off to a good start we dump on them.

If your implying I have sour apples, you are wrong. Think about it: why is it we picked these two teams to discuss about hot starts? Why aren't we talking about the Colts, Vikings or Ravens? Because we know they can sustain success. Its because the Broncos and 9ers were predicted to be mediocre, but have exceeded expectations. Last season, the entire planet, including many of us, were elated that the Cards started 2-0 and we felt overconfident. Naturally, we lost the next two games and doubt started to arise. I posted the schedules for both teams for the next four games and they both look like a gantlet. If they truly are an upper echelon team, they will take care of business. If not, they will be brought back to earth.

Sure the 49ers stats look good, but they are 28th in passing offense. Meaning that if they get behind by 2 possessions, they are essentially screwed.

I will gladly eat crow if they sustain this success for the rest of the 1st half of the season, but I'm not ready to "crown their ass" just yet.

 

[TJ]

Atl, Hou, and Ten are brutal games? I don't think so, for DEN maybe.

You are underestimating a couple of those games. ATL has a very balanced offensive attack and their defense has improved ten fold from last season. I would tell you that Houston is a gimmie it you played them at home, but they play teams very tough at home. They are a team on the rise and cannot be taken lightly. Even though we play them next Sunday at our place, we are still concerned. Tennessee is trying to figure out their identity but I feel that by the time you meet up with them, they will shake off the rust. Too much talent on both side of the ball to write them off just yet.

Mark my words: you will be lucky to get out of this block of your schedule 2-2.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

The Niners and The Broncos are winning using a formula that has ALWAYS produced wins in the game of football.

Strong defense + Strong running game = Wins

Now the problem is that this formula works at a high precentage, but a passing team that is in sync, and "hot" will beat this formula.

The playoffs over the last few years have proved this.

 

[PDXChris]

Orton was such a good QB that the Bears did all they could to nab Cutler, and saying Hill 'almost' did something just proves my point

Flawed point. Bears went after a franchise QB, which Orton is not. That does not mean that Orton is not a good solid QB that can win in the NFL. It is like saying Lance Berkman sucks because the Astros traded him and something else for Prince Fielder.

 

[nashman]

With Gore hurt they don't even have a strong running game sorry they will get brought back to earth quickly!

 

[Ronin]

Gore will only miss one more game!

 

[vinnymac]

to solve this discussion:

49ers 3-1
Cardinals 1-2

that says it all. 49ers won opening game. enough said

Broncos 4-0 enough said