Madden NFL 12 Team Ratings - AFC West (ESPN)

[mestevo]

Divison is Chargers' to lose again, last year they lost it for once. Raiders had to go 6-0 in the division just to make 8-8, I think they improve and reach that same mark at best. Chiefs I think will play better, but I don't think their record will reflect it due to their 2nd half schedule:

• Broncos
• @ Patriots
• Steelers
• @ Bears
• @ Jets
• Packers
• Raiders
• @ Denver

Could lose all of those, or win 5 of them, really don't know.

They are also one of the 3-4 teams that has a ton of money that they have to spend in order to hit the salary floor, will be interesting to see what they do once the league year opens or if they just sign rookies/mid-level FA's and rework a lot of players to deserve the money.

Denver... who knows. Could surprise people, otherwise could be a dismal rebuilding year as they figure out their QB situation.

[BigSpleen]

Quote: Originally Posted by bkrich83

Chargers were missing a lot of players when the Raiders beat them. Still took what 3 (or was it 2 I don't remember) blocked punts to beat them in the first game. If SD returns everyone, they should on paper be pretty good. That being said Gates has been dinged up a lot lately and with the new CBA in the works, there's no guarantee Floyd or Jackson will be back at the WR positions. As far as the Raiders ratings, I tend to agree that they are rated low there's some talent on that roster. I think they lack depth and have some holes, but at the skill positions they look pretty damn solid. Ford is a nightmare to cover, Miller is probably one of the most underrated TE's in the league, and McFadden and Bush represent a nice 1-2 punch. McFadden finally showed flashes of being the player everyone thought he could be when he was drafted. I am a huge Michael Bush fan. I so desperately wanted the Chargers to draft him. He reminds me of Marion Butts with his running style and his physical makeup. He's a presence and can wear down a defense, who's usually already tired after chasing McFadden around the field. I think KC caught lightning in a bottle, I am not convinced they are quite as good as their record indicated they were. Just going on talent on paper I would rank the Raiders #2 behind the Chargers, if the Chargers do indeed keep everyone and Gates remains healthy. If not then I think the it's anyones guess. Phillip Rivers however does give the Chargers the chance to win any game. His production last year despite the fact that the Chargers were literally signing guys off the streets to play WR was pretty phenomenal. I think the top 3 in the division are pretty close together the more I look at it however. I will say this about Routt, I didn't watch the Raiders a ton last year, but San Diego had a lot of success against him. Malcolm Floyd had a 200 yard game, and I think IIRC a lot of that was on him. Rivers threw for 700 yards in the two games they played, and they picked on him quite a bit in those games. If memory serves.. I may be off there, as I have tried to block last season from my memory.

The ole we missed some players excuse, BS, we were missing as many if not more. One of those games you guys were healthy. face it, excuses are for losers, we beat you fair and square. After saying that you are still the best team in the division talent wise.

Again, its not the score as such, it was the comment about DHB and that sums up the team, did this guy watch or see any Raiders games last year or know anything about the roster?

As the other guy said, routt had the third best CB rating in the league, ASo will be missed but not as much as some think.

[bkrich83]

Quote: Originally Posted by BigSpleen

The ole we missed some players excuse, BS, we were missing as many if not more. One of those games you guys were healthy. face it, excuses are for losers, we beat you fair and square. After saying that you are still the best team in the division talent wise. Again, its not the score as such, it was the comment about DHB and that sums up the team, did this guy watch or see any Raiders games last year or know anything about the roster? As the other guy said, routt had the third best CB rating in the league, ASo will be missed but not as much as some think.

Wasn't an excuse. It was what it was. And no you weren't missing the same number or same caliber of player.

Hats off to the Raiders for breaking the losing streak, but as someone else said they went 6-0 to go 8-8. They may not have turned that corner just yet.

If you believe Aso won't be missed I think you are kidding yourselves.

[TheTodd84]

BigSpleen - I think the issue is that people like that are reviewing these games, who clearly do not know a lot about football, or choose to believe the hype they hear about stigmas. No one has doubted the raiders talent, the criticism is about building a proper football team. The coaches have not been able to realize their full potential because they are constantly looking over their shoulder at an overbearing owner. For example... why was Tom Cable fired after going 6-0 in the division and 8-8 overall, which was the Raiders best record in a long time? My guess would be it was that he and Al Davis butted heads on the direction of the football team, so Al got rid of him. Otherwise, it's hard to justify firing a guy who has improved every year as the Raiders coach. And Al Davis can have all the skill position speed in the world, but what difference does it make if the offensive line is mediocre? Jacoby Ford is a nightmare to cover, but not if Jason Campbell can't get him the football. That's my only gripe.

Maybe the rating has something to do with a heavy emphasis on skill position players and not enough in the trenches with the raiders? Although, I do not know enough about the raiders defensive and offensive lines to say that they are truly mediocre. I am just saying that is maybe why they only went 8-8 last year and have been held back in their development, despite having speed and talent all over the field.

[TheTodd84]

I want the raiders to succeed because when the Silver and Black are good and are truly feared, it is good for the game and for the NFL. So I am hoping they are good. Plus, I love routt, ford, and Michael Bush.

[BigSpleen]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheTodd84

BigSpleen - I think the issue is that people like that are reviewing these games, who clearly do not know a lot about football, or choose to believe the hype they hear about stigmas. No one has doubted the raiders talent, the criticism is about building a proper football team. The coaches have not been able to realize their full potential because they are constantly looking over their shoulder at an overbearing owner. For example... why was Tom Cable fired after going 6-0 in the division and 8-8 overall, which was the Raiders best record in a long time? My guess would be it was that he and Al Davis butted heads on the direction of the football team, so Al got rid of him. Otherwise, it's hard to justify firing a guy who has improved every year as the Raiders coach. And Al Davis can have all the skill position speed in the world, but what difference does it make if the offensive line is mediocre? Jacoby Ford is a nightmare to cover, but not if Jason Campbell can't get him the football. That's my only gripe. Maybe the rating has something to do with a heavy emphasis on skill position players and not enough in the trenches with the raiders? Although, I do not know enough about the raiders defensive and offensive lines to say that they are truly mediocre. I am just saying that is maybe why they only went 8-8 last year and have been held back in their development, despite having speed and talent all over the field.

The raiders had one of the best d-lines in football.........................

The raiders has the #2 running game in the NFL, a bad o-line doesn't produce a run game like that.

How do you go 8-8 after going 6-0 in the division, and several of those losses were to teams we should have beaten... Cable deserved to be fired.


it was only the offense that showed improvement, which cable had nothing to do with, our current HC turned that around drastically. Hue jackson.

lets not even mention the lawsuit his wife beating pat cost the org.


Cable and Davis got along fine, cable got fired because he was a bad coach.

The Riders never always had talent, the art shell, lane kiffin teams were paper thin with guys who were backups on other teams were starting for us.

[BigSpleen]

Quote: Originally Posted by bkrich83

Wasn't an excuse. It was what it was. And no you weren't missing the same number or same caliber of player. Hats off to the Raiders for breaking the losing streak, but as someone else said they went 6-0 to go 8-8. They may not have turned that corner just yet. If you believe Aso won't be missed I think you are kidding yourselves.

it was an excuse, injuries happen to everyone. . One of the games we played you you were fully healthy.

[PowerPitcher]

Quote: Originally Posted by BigSpleen

it was an excuse, injuries happen to everyone. . One of the games we played you you were fully healthy.

Speaking of excuses, why is it then, that the Raiders went 2-8 in non divisional play? Try to explain that WITHOUT making an EXCUSE LOL.