2018 NFL Thread - The Dynasty

[mikeyd23]

I didn't put AB's behavior on Ben; I said Ben and Tomlin both enabled AB's childish behavior.

Ultimately, this is all on Antonio Brown, but I think it's obvious that the leadership at the top has been lacking, and that starts with both the coach and the QB.

I'd say part of the coach's job is to correct AB's bad behavior. I don't think that is part of Ben's job at all. Tomlin has done many things over the years that I could point to that directly enabled this type of behavior in AB. I can't do that with Ben.

[pg1067]

Anyway, as far as this weekend goes, here are my picks:

Ind @ Hou
Sea @ Dal
LAC @ Bal
Phi @ Chi

What I think will likely happy is pretty much in line with what I want to happen.

I would love if you're right.  I loathe both the Seahawks and the Ravens, but I feel like Seattle over Dallas is probably the most likely result in any of these games.  I'm also skeptical about the Chargers beating the Ravens, although the two teams having played just a couple weeks ago should give the Chargers a bit of a boost.

I have a feeling Houston may pull through and finally win a playoff game, and I agree that Chicago will likely beat Philly.

[KevShmev]

Even though Seattle has a big edge at both head coach and QB, I think Dallas will win.  The Seahawks aren't nearly as good on the road as they are at home, and the Cowboys D is pretty damn good.  I think their D and a lot of Elliot running the ball will get them a boring, low-scoring win.

Ravens/Chargers is tough.  Despite the game two weeks ago, the Chargers are the better team, but they are a west coast team having to play on the road early on the east coast Sunday (talk about getting screwed again).  Not an ideal situation for them.

The Eagles are healthier now, but that Bears D is something else. Unless Trubisky gets turnover-happy, I think the Bears take it.

It goes without saying that I never trust a Bill O'Brien team, so I am picking the Colts.

[rab7]

I have a feeling Houston may pull through and finally win a playoff game

What do you mean by "finally"? We've won the WC round 3 out of 4 times, including 1/2 in the BOB era.

[pg1067]

I have a feeling Houston may pull through and finally win a playoff game

What do you mean by "finally"? We've won the WC round 3 out of 4 times, including 1/2 in the BOB era.

Shows how much attention I pay to the Texans....  And I'd have sworn I read or heard something about them never having won a playoff game.  Oh well.  At least your team is IN the playoffs.

[black_biff_stadler]

Never take anything the media says about less-popular teams' franchise histories seriously. I've learned, on numerous occasions, that basically one person hunts down a stat and then one media outlet after another will regurgitate it regardless of accuracy. Just from spending numerous occasions nerding out on wikipedia and profootballreference I've run into several instances of the media perpetuating false stats, "records", etc., on things where I instantly knew they were wrong just by it coincidentally being something I'd already researched in the past.

[kaos2900]

Here are my playoff picks. As a Chiefs fan I would love for this to be their year however their defense is just not good enough. Next year will be their year.

Wild Card
Ind @ Hou- This should be good game among divisional foes who are fairly evenly matched though I think Houston is slightly better on both sides of the ball and they win at home.
Sea @ Dal- I hate Dallas and they have either been great or terrible. Seattle has been consistently just good enough to win. I think there is a Dallas meltdown and Seattle wins.
LAC @ Bal- Chargers are the best wild card team and they easily beat Baltimore.
Phi @ Chi- Bears defense is too much for the Eagles though the game is closer than most expect. The Eagles have been hot lately but I just don't see how the Bears lose this game.

Divisional Round
Sea @ NO- A very rested Saints team gets an easy win.
Chi @ LAR- This should be a great rematch though I think the Rams win this won at home in non-frigid weather. Honestly, I think the Super Bowl champ is the winner of this game.
LAC @ KC- And another great rematch. After squeaking out a win in KC a few weeks ago I think the Chargers have no fear of the Chiefs and we all know Reids playoff history. If KC wins this game they make the Super Bowl. Going with my Chiefs.
Hou @ NE- Houston handled the patriots earlier in the year and I think they do it again. The patriots have Brady but I just don't trust who is around him.

Conference Championship
LAR @ NO- This would be a hell of a game and another great rematch. The surprising lack of offense from the Saints lately makes me lean towards the rams.
Hou @ KC- As bad as the Chiefs defense is Houston doesn't have the offense fire power to keep up with the Chiefs.

Super Bowl
LAR vs KC- This is the rematch of the year after the crazy MNF game. As mentioned above I just don't think KC has the defense to win a title this year. Rams win the title in a thriller.

Now let's see many I get wrong. 

[rab7]

Hou @ NE- Houston handled the patriots earlier in the year and I think they do it again. The patriots have Brady but I just don't trust who is around him.

Hou @ KC- As bad as the Chiefs defense is Houston doesn't have the offense fire power to keep up with the Chiefs.


Now let's see many I get wrong. 

We lost 27-20 in Week 1, so I'm not sure what you mean by "handled the Patriots". That said, it was Watson's first game back from a torn ACL so he was pretty rusty.

As long as we have a healthy Watson, that's all the firepower we need. Though I do agree that we won't keep up. It'll be close, but it'll probably come down to whoever has more turnovers. Our defense hasn't been able to stop anyone lately.

I'm thinking 42-35 Chiefs, assuming we even beat the Patriots.

[rab7]

I have a feeling Houston may pull through and finally win a playoff game

What do you mean by "finally"? We've won the WC round 3 out of 4 times, including 1/2 in the BOB era.

Shows how much attention I pay to the Texans....  And I'd have sworn I read or heard something about them never having won a playoff game.  Oh well.  At least your team is IN the playoffs.

I forgive you. I thought you were making a thinly veiled insult about how our only playoff wins have been against the Carr-less 2016 Raiders, and the Bengals in 2011 and 2012, who haven't won a playoff game since the 90's.

[Architeuthis]

Whoever wins the Seattle @ Dallas game will likely fall to the Saints next week. I'm rooting for Seattle or Dallas to beat the saints, but not likely.  Dallas beat the Saints earlier but that was at home, it would be a good re-match though.  I'm still not counting out the Seahawks either, they're hungry and are playing as good as anybody on a good day.

[El Barto]

Hou @ NE- Houston handled the patriots earlier in the year and I think they do it again. The patriots have Brady but I just don't trust who is around him.

Hou @ KC- As bad as the Chiefs defense is Houston doesn't have the offense fire power to keep up with the Chiefs.


Now let's see many I get wrong. 

We lost 27-20 in Week 1, so I'm not sure what you mean by "handled the Patriots". That said, it was Watson's first game back from a torn ACL so he was pretty rusty.

As long as we have a healthy Watson, that's all the firepower we need. Though I do agree that we won't keep up. It'll be close, but it'll probably come down to whoever has more turnovers. Our defense hasn't been able to stop anyone lately.

I'm thinking 42-35 Chiefs, assuming we even beat the Patriots.

I don't see the Texans winning in Foxborough. In fact, have they ever? My hunch is that NE wins at home and loses to KC at Arrowhead.

The SEA/DAL game is a tough one. Dallas is the better team, but I keep coming back to Carrol vs Garret, and Dallas's history of always coming up just short in the playoffs. A bobbled hold. Calvin Johnson rule bullshit. Aaron Rodgers heroics. They just never catch a break.

No underdog mystique this year. Chicago beats the Eagles.

The Chargers are definitely the better team, and they'll very likely win this, but I don't have a huge amount of confidence in Rivers. This game's by no means a certainty.

[King Postwhore]

Yeah, it that's the scenario,  El Barto has it right.

[El Barto]

Pete Carrol and Dak Prescott understand Dallas and football better than most.

It’s a real glitzy place you know. When you come out of a football locker room ready to play football and you go into a nightclub, it’s kind of like, ‘We’re in the club. No, wait a minute, we gotta go play ball.’ And then you come back to the club and they’re all — anyway — it’s unusual. And then they’re right with you too. Those people that are sitting behind you, I don’t know how they see the game. It doesn’t look like they care; they’re having such a good time. It is an unusual place.

Jerry never wanted to build a house of football. He wanted a big circus tent, which is exactly what Dallas wants. People who go to the game go to party and go to be seen. That's why 30k people shell out money to get in the stadium and not even have a seat. As much as they hate him, Dallasites were very lucky to have him buy the team. He knows what they want and he gives it to him. I suspect the go-go dancers will be out in full force tomorrow.

I just hope when I signal for everyone to be quiet, they will be quiet, knowing how important it is for us to communicate. Hopefully, the fans are working well with us. But when we’re on defense, showing how loud they can be.

This is a longstanding deal, and it's indicative of Pete's point. Football fans know when to cheer and when to STFU. Cowboys fans aren't football fans, though. They want to see offense. I went to a couple of games back during the glory years, and it was really silly. Deion Sanders would line up as receiver, which he was never good at, and the crowd would be deafening. After a false start penalty Troy would land a ball where he was supposed to be. Then they'd punt. At which point that wonderful defense would come out and the fans would all go to get a beer. I always thought Jerry should have paid to run some commercials explaining to Cowboys fans how to cheer. I doubt he gets it either, though.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

My predictions....

6. Indianapolis @ 3. Houston - Should be a wild game, but I like Watson to make a crucial play in crunch time. 

5. Seattle @ 4. Dallas - Wilson and Carroll's experience edges out a game Dallas team. Garrett is fired. Jerry hires (or trades for) a name.

5. L.A. @ 4. Baltimore - Both QBs make mistakes, but the Baltimore D is the one that capitalizes.

6. Philadelphia @ 3. Chicago - This will be similar to last year's #6-#3 game. Chicago...more specifically Mitch is a year away and the Philly magic lasts one more week.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Luck has this offense humming in the early going.

[KevShmev]

Can't say I am surprised by what is happening so far.  The Texans D has been trash against good QBs this year, and the Colts came in white hot.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Colts move on to Kansas City. Should be an exciting game.... hopefully as exciting as their last postseason meeting.

Seahawks and Cowboys are up!

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Well that was a nasty injury

[El Barto]

Well that was a nasty injury

I missed it but from the boot I gather he broke his leg.

[SystematicThought]

We watched as his ankle snapped into two before our eyes

[Dream Team]

Luck is an easy guy to root for, glad the Colts won.

[El Barto]

We might have just seen Janikowski's last kick, and that would be a shame.

[jammindude]

Are there any special rules for drop kick FG's?    Both national and local announcers are saying Dickson practices drop kick FG's all the time and has gotten pretty good at them.   But they showed footage of him trying a standard FG and that was a disaster. 

[Ben_Jamin]

Of course, we screw ourselves over with penalties. Only got to see the last quarter. But Damn...

[King Postwhore]

Great NFC game tonight.  Right down to an onside kick.


Though the punter is doing the onside.

[Dublagent66]

My predictions....

6. Indianapolis @ 3. Houston - Should be a wild game, but I like Watson to make a crucial play in crunch time. 

5. Seattle @ 4. Dallas - Wilson and Carroll's experience edges out a game Dallas team. Garrett is fired. Jerry hires (or trades for) a name.

5. L.A. @ 4. Baltimore - Both QBs make mistakes, but the Baltimore D is the one that capitalizes.

6. Philadelphia @ 3. Chicago - This will be similar to last year's #6-#3 game. Chicago...more specifically Mitch is a year away and the Philly magic lasts one more week.

Well, you’re 0-2 so far!

[Ben_Jamin]

Great NFC game tonight.  Right down to an onside kick.


Though the punter is doing the onside.

I at that.

But its good it was a good game. Might watch it sometime when they show again.

[MinistroRaven]

Allen Hurn broke his leg 😩 #Cowboys #Seahawks https://twitter.com/manuelgvargas_/status/1081726606983409664/video/1

[Destiny Of Chaos]

My predictions....

6. Indianapolis @ 3. Houston - Should be a wild game, but I like Watson to make a crucial play in crunch time. 

5. Seattle @ 4. Dallas - Wilson and Carroll's experience edges out a game Dallas team. Garrett is fired. Jerry hires (or trades for) a name.

5. L.A. @ 4. Baltimore - Both QBs make mistakes, but the Baltimore D is the one that capitalizes.

6. Philadelphia @ 3. Chicago - This will be similar to last year's #6-#3 game. Chicago...more specifically Mitch is a year away and the Philly magic lasts one more week.

Well, you’re 0-2 so far!

Guess I won't be quitting my day job.

Allen Hurn broke his leg 😩 #Cowboys #Seahawks https://twitter.com/manuelgvargas_/status/1081726606983409664/video/1

Welcome to nearly 3 hours ago.

[dparrott]

Even with a perfect storm of stupid penalties, a great Dallas D and losing a kicker, they still almost pulled it out.   

Now my hope is the Rams.   

[pg1067]

What kind of rinky dink organization goes into a playoff game without a second player who can at least make a passing attempt at an extra point or a kick off a tee?  It's not like they didn't know Janikowski was injured going into the game.  What a joke, but I'm happy with the result.

[KevShmev]

Bad beat for those who had Dallas minus 2 1/2 points.

For all of his success in Seattle, Pete Carroll has one road playoff win (the one at Washington where they were getting clowned before RG3 got hurt).

[Dublagent66]

No idea why the Hawks have an old man, over the hill kicker with no back up.  That onside kick was embarrassing!  Victory formation!   

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Bad beat for those who had Dallas minus 2 1/2 points.

For all of his success in Seattle, Pete Carroll has one road playoff win (the one at Washington where they were getting clowned before RG3 got hurt).

He's also got one @Minnesota, where he was the beneficiary of Blair Walsh's terrible missed kick.

[Dream Team]

Of course, we screw ourselves over with penalties. Only got to see the last quarter. But Damn...

I’ve seen plenty of games where those 2 3rd-down penalties on Dallas’ last scoring drive were not called. Kinda sucks, but then again they didn’t call the one on Dak’s int when the defender got there a hair early.