This type of thing is usually what a "get real" thread is for. But, this one is too short and simple for me to do a get real post on it.
But, some of you guys need to get real about this.
Im reading a lot of stuff in many threads about the idea that our schedule is so much softer in the 2nd half of the season. It seems to be a general consensus on this board. Im telling you, our schedule in the 2nd half is just as tough, and realistically probably tougher than the 1st half.
Going into the season, I wouldve said, and I did say that the last 8 games were much softer than the 1st 8. But, as the season has played out, we really need to LOOK AGAIN and GET REAL about it. Our first 8 games turned out to be a bit softer than we thought it would be and our last 8 have developed a few teams that we figured would blow that instead are pretty legit.
In the first half, we knew the Jets, Pats, Steelers, and Ravens would be tough games. But, we also thought Minnesota on the road, Cincinnati on the road, and the Packers on the road would be really tough games. So, as it turns out, the schedule was a bit less harsh than we figured it would be.
Face it. The Vikings kind of ****ing blow. We faced them with a beat up WR corps that lacked any talent aside from Harvin. Favre has looked more like Favre in the 2nd half of the season with the Jests. Thats why they have like 2 wins and havent really beaten any good teams.
Face it. The Bungles blow. They are nowhere near the team they were last season. I expect them to play some close games and perhaps beat a couple of good teams, especially in their division, but I dont see them winning more than 7 games.
Face it. The Bills are horrible as it is and when we played them they were still going with Trent Edwards.
Green Bay is a good team. That was a legit win. But, you have to admit we caught them at a great time with all those injuries they had.
So of the 8 games we played in the first half, 3 of them were against teams that we should definately beat. We also managed to draw the 3 toughest opponents we had in the first half of the season at HOME.
So I really dont see how that set of 8 games is any tougher than what we have in the 2nd half. Lets look.
I see three games we should definately win. Gotta figure we take the Bills, Lions, and Bears at home.
The Bears are playing terrible right now and I dont see how they turn it around. Plus we get them on a very short week and they have to travel. Its a Thursday night game. Big advantage to be at home in that one.
The Lions havent won on the road since the last JCane turned down a redhead that weighed less than 150lbs.
The Bills despite playing better, are still winless.
So those three games are slightly easier than the Bills, Vikings, and Bungles on the road. I will grant you that.
But, lets compare the toughest games. Remember, we drew the 3 real tough games at home in the first half.
In the 2nd half, we play two of the very same teams on the road. The Pats and Jets. Those 2 games are tougher than playing those same teams at our place.
The third toughest game is probably the Titans. We host them. I will grant you, playing the Steelers is tougher. But so far, the 2 halves of the schedule are very even.
Now lets check out the last two we havent talked about.
Playing the Raiders on the road is now looking way tougher than we thought it might be when the season started. They have as many wins as we do and have DESTROYED two opponents in a row. They have a great rushing attack with several good RBs and they also play great special teams. Add in that its a cross country trip to the west coast and this is no picnic. While I will say traveling to Baltimore is probably tougher, its still compareable.
The only game left to discuss is Cleveland. We host them and while they certainly arent good, that team is improving every week. And they just went into New Orleans and destroyed the Saints. We should win this game, but I wouldnt chalk it up by any means. Traveling to Green Bay is likely still a tougher game, despite the injuries they had, but its still not so much of a tougher game than we thought at seasons beginning.
So yea, we have a few games in the last 8 that seem easier than what we did play already. But, to say that the schedule was way tougher in the first half and that the 2nd half is some huge drop off from what we have faced so far is just a total misconception.
But, some of you guys need to get real about this.
Im reading a lot of stuff in many threads about the idea that our schedule is so much softer in the 2nd half of the season. It seems to be a general consensus on this board. Im telling you, our schedule in the 2nd half is just as tough, and realistically probably tougher than the 1st half.
Going into the season, I wouldve said, and I did say that the last 8 games were much softer than the 1st 8. But, as the season has played out, we really need to LOOK AGAIN and GET REAL about it. Our first 8 games turned out to be a bit softer than we thought it would be and our last 8 have developed a few teams that we figured would blow that instead are pretty legit.
In the first half, we knew the Jets, Pats, Steelers, and Ravens would be tough games. But, we also thought Minnesota on the road, Cincinnati on the road, and the Packers on the road would be really tough games. So, as it turns out, the schedule was a bit less harsh than we figured it would be.
Face it. The Vikings kind of ****ing blow. We faced them with a beat up WR corps that lacked any talent aside from Harvin. Favre has looked more like Favre in the 2nd half of the season with the Jests. Thats why they have like 2 wins and havent really beaten any good teams.
Face it. The Bungles blow. They are nowhere near the team they were last season. I expect them to play some close games and perhaps beat a couple of good teams, especially in their division, but I dont see them winning more than 7 games.
Face it. The Bills are horrible as it is and when we played them they were still going with Trent Edwards.
Green Bay is a good team. That was a legit win. But, you have to admit we caught them at a great time with all those injuries they had.
So of the 8 games we played in the first half, 3 of them were against teams that we should definately beat. We also managed to draw the 3 toughest opponents we had in the first half of the season at HOME.
So I really dont see how that set of 8 games is any tougher than what we have in the 2nd half. Lets look.
I see three games we should definately win. Gotta figure we take the Bills, Lions, and Bears at home.
The Bears are playing terrible right now and I dont see how they turn it around. Plus we get them on a very short week and they have to travel. Its a Thursday night game. Big advantage to be at home in that one.
The Lions havent won on the road since the last JCane turned down a redhead that weighed less than 150lbs.
The Bills despite playing better, are still winless.
So those three games are slightly easier than the Bills, Vikings, and Bungles on the road. I will grant you that.
But, lets compare the toughest games. Remember, we drew the 3 real tough games at home in the first half.
In the 2nd half, we play two of the very same teams on the road. The Pats and Jets. Those 2 games are tougher than playing those same teams at our place.
The third toughest game is probably the Titans. We host them. I will grant you, playing the Steelers is tougher. But so far, the 2 halves of the schedule are very even.
Now lets check out the last two we havent talked about.
Playing the Raiders on the road is now looking way tougher than we thought it might be when the season started. They have as many wins as we do and have DESTROYED two opponents in a row. They have a great rushing attack with several good RBs and they also play great special teams. Add in that its a cross country trip to the west coast and this is no picnic. While I will say traveling to Baltimore is probably tougher, its still compareable.
The only game left to discuss is Cleveland. We host them and while they certainly arent good, that team is improving every week. And they just went into New Orleans and destroyed the Saints. We should win this game, but I wouldnt chalk it up by any means. Traveling to Green Bay is likely still a tougher game, despite the injuries they had, but its still not so much of a tougher game than we thought at seasons beginning.
So yea, we have a few games in the last 8 that seem easier than what we did play already. But, to say that the schedule was way tougher in the first half and that the 2nd half is some huge drop off from what we have faced so far is just a total misconception.
