2019 NFL Thread v. Chiefs are Champs, Missouri rules the sports world

[cramx3]

NE has been struggling, but I think I'd put both them and KC ahead of Baltimore to make the superbowl and that's due to experience.  I wouldn't be surprised just as EB is saying, one bad game in the spotlight by Lamar and they can be beat.  I know BB can plan this, not sold on Reid being able to, but I think KC is really good and certainly has the talent and had their year of experience last year.  Now, I wouldn't be surprised if Baltimore made it, I just can see a hiccup happening in the playoffs due to inexperience.

[Stadler]

Nice to see Brees get the TD record - and single game comp % record. Afterward I checked the Patriots fans forum and predictably there was a thread about how much Brees sucks. This is not to be confused with the threads about how Peyton Manning sucked and how Aaron Rodgers sucks. Incredibly paranoid and thin-skinned forum; if any QB other than Brady ever gets praised for any accomplishment they become incensed  . Of course they compare Brees' and Brady's playoff records and conveniently ignore the vast difference in the quality of the defenses behind them. Just ignore the noise folks, Brees has been absolutely awesome and is an all-time great.

Were you beat up in high school by someone wearing a Patriot jersey or something?  Did someone named "Brady"hit on your girl at a school dance?   

Any opportunity to shit on the Pats.  Predicable as an AC/DC record.

Pats fan here, and Brees is one of the best QBs to ever play the game, period.  Guy's amazing. 

[TAC]

I like Brees. I do think playing in a dome has helped his numbers though.  It's Payton I think is overrated. Up until last year, the two of them averaged a 9-7 season. I think now it's up to 10-6, with 1 SB appearance and 3 CG appearances.

[Stadler]

Bold prediction:  Ravens do not make the Super Bowl.

Who's going to knock them off? Buffalo is not going there and winning. Neither is NE. It can only be KC, and that'll be after beating NE in Foxboro.

Buffalo or NE could go there and beat them. This is a team built entirely around one player. You find a way to beat him, or he has a bad game, and BAL is very beatable. I'm not suggesting that it will happen, or even that it's likely, but simply that BAL isn't unbeatable and a good defense is what will make it happen.

Pretty much this.  I like Jackson, and I like Harbaugh (a lot, actually) but as great as Lamar Jackson is, he will not be the first "great" player that was stymied for 60 minutes - and that's all that it takes - in a playoff game.  Most recently, Patrick Mahomes II (by the Pats), Cam Newton (by the Broncos), Brees (by the Rams)...

Buffalo just played Baltimore pretty well.  I'm not suggesting that they're not one of the best teams in the league.  I'm suggesting that "any given Sunday". 

[El Barto]

NE has been struggling, but I think I'd put both them and KC ahead of Baltimore to make the superbowl and that's due to experience.  I wouldn't be surprised just as EB is saying, one bad game in the spotlight by Lamar and they can be beat.  I know BB can plan this, not sold on Reid being able to, but I think KC is really good and certainly has the talent and had their year of experience last year.  Now, I wouldn't be surprised if Baltimore made it, I just can see a hiccup happening in the playoffs due to inexperience.

I wouldn't go so far as to put them ahead of KC and Baltimore. I just wouldn't rule them out. And Belichick can certainly craft a plan to take Jackson out of the game. They'll just have to execute, unlike how they did in their first matchup. While most saw it as the death knell for NE, I came away half way optimistic. NE made a bunch of stupid, uncharacteristic mistakes, essentially beating themselves. Otherwise they were halfway competitive. My money would probably still be on BAL, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if the playoffs roll around and somebody schools them.

[Rattlehead]

Brees (by the Refs)...

Fixed that for you 

[Dublagent66]

Triple header this Saturday!

[KevShmev]

Cowherd had an excellent point today as to why Russell Wilson is more valuable than Lamar Jackson: the Ravens have 12 Pro Bowlers; the Seahawks have two.

Now, I get that the Pro Bowl nominations are not the end-all, be-all, and it's funny seeing people lose their minds over Pro Bowl snubs, but it is very easy to argue that Wilson has been the most valuable player to his team this season.  He has one player considered great enough to make the Pro Bowl this season (besides himself), yet he has the Seahawks at 11-3 and currently the 1 seed in the NFC, the much tougher conference.

[bosk1]

...OR Bobby Wagner can rightly say that he is the rightful MVP when he has carried his team to 11-3 and the #1 seed in the NFC, the much tougher conference, when only having one other player considered great enough to make the Pro Bowl this season.

[KevShmev]

LOL, there is that argument as well.

I honestly think the 49ers will go into Seattle Week 17 and win the game to take back the division, but it won't be easy, especially since that will likely be the game that is flexed to Sunday night in Week 17, and Seattle usually plays really well in home night games, especially when they start pumping in that crowd noise and persuading refs to call interceptions touchdowns.

[bosk1]

Depends on whether they can overcome the injuries.  It is ridiculous how many starters they have had go out this season, and it really caught up to them last week.  I don't know if they have the most injury-depleted roster in the league, but I'm sure they have the most depleted roster among playoff contenders.  But they are going to get some guys back in the not-too-distant future, so we'll see what happens.

[El Barto]

LOL, there is that argument as well.

I honestly think the 49ers will go into Seattle Week 17 and win the game to take back the division, but it won't be easy, especially since that will likely be the game that is flexed to Sunday night in Week 17, and Seattle usually plays really well in home night games, especially when they start pumping in that crowd noise and persuading refs to call interceptions touchdowns.

I don't think there are night games in wk 17s. All Sunday afternoon games.

[pg1067]

LOL, there is that argument as well.

I honestly think the 49ers will go into Seattle Week 17 and win the game to take back the division, but it won't be easy, especially since that will likely be the game that is flexed to Sunday night in Week 17, and Seattle usually plays really well in home night games, especially when they start pumping in that crowd noise and persuading refs to call interceptions touchdowns.

I don't think there are night games in wk 17s. All Sunday afternoon games.

You are correct (and no Thursday or Monday games either).  Most of the games start at 10 a.m.  Three games (Raiders @ Broncoes, Cards @ Rams and 49ers @ Seahawks) start at 1:25 p.m.  Sadly for me, I'm likely to get stuck with having to watch the Cards/Rams game.

http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2019/REG17

[DragonAttack]

We won't know until this Sunday or Monday which game will be flexed for the final week....

https://awfulannouncing.com/nfl/which-nfl-game-will-be-flexed-into-primetime-in-week-17.html

https://www.sentinelsource.com/sports/national/nfl-flex-scheduling-which-games-will-get-moved-to-sunday/article_eedffcf0-5a95-5821-bff9-c557ebdd04fc.html

[KevShmev]

Correct. It looks like they have the option to not flex anything if there are no games where both teams have playoff implications, but if there is, they will flex it.

[Cool Chris]

3 things I get giddy thinking about reading in December every year:

1) How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2) A Christmas Carol
3) The NFL Playoff tiebreaker procedures

[Architeuthis]

Depends on whether they can overcome the injuries.  It is ridiculous how many starters they have had go out this season, and it really caught up to them last week.  I don't know if they have the most injury-depleted roster in the league, but I'm sure they have the most depleted roster among playoff contenders.  But they are going to get some guys back in the not-too-distant future, so we'll see what happens.

I know they're getting Sherman back for the play-offs. I bet Sherman is gonna want to play against the Seahawks in week 17 though.  Seahawks are banged up too, Rishaad Penny is out for the season, their center is out for the time being, also Bobby Wagner is questionable with a ankle injury. Their starting corner is out too.   It should be a good game though, it will be close.

[bosk1]

So, that's four starters missing for the Seahawks.  The 49ers are missing close to 1/2 their starting lineup in all three phases of the game.

[Stadler]

LOL, there is that argument as well.

I honestly think the 49ers will go into Seattle Week 17 and win the game to take back the division, but it won't be easy, especially since that will likely be the game that is flexed to Sunday night in Week 17, and Seattle usually plays really well in home night games, especially when they start pumping in that crowd noise and persuading refs to call interceptions touchdowns.

I don't think there are night games in wk 17s. All Sunday afternoon games.

You are correct (and no Thursday or Monday games either).  Most of the games start at 10 a.m.  Three games (Raiders @ Broncoes, Cards @ Rams and 49ers @ Seahawks) start at 1:25 p.m.  Sadly for me, I'm likely to get stuck with having to watch the Cards/Rams game.

http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2019/REG17

You're weird.  It's 1:00 and 4:25, everyone knows that.





(I'm kidding; when I lived in Burbank the absolute BEST THING was waking up Sunday morning, making coffee and some breakfast, and sitting down to watch football.  Likewise, coming home from work and making dinner with the MNF game on.)

[bosk1]

So, how likely to people think it is that we'll have an 8-8 division winner in the NFC East?  I was kinda hoping we'd get a 7-9 winner.  But unless I'm missing something, that's no longer possible with the way the schedule shakes out the last two weeks.

[pg1067]

(I'm kidding; when I lived in Burbank the absolute BEST THING was waking up Sunday morning, making coffee and some breakfast, and sitting down to watch football.  Likewise, coming home from work and making dinner with the MNF game on.)

It's one reason I could never live in the eastern time zone.  Games not starting until 1 p.m. is weird, but evening games (football, regular season baseball in the Pacific time zone and playoff baseball) being scheduled so that they don't end until well after midnight would suck hard.

So, how likely to people think it is that we'll have an 8-8 division winner in the NFC East?  I was kinda hoping we'd get a 7-9 winner.  But unless I'm missing something, that's no longer possible with the way the schedule shakes out the last two weeks.

The best/worst you can hope for is a tie in the Cowboys v. Eagles game and that both teams lose their week 17 games, in which case they'd both finish 7-8-1 (and Dallas would win the division).  That said, I think an 8-8 division winner is as likely as the winner of this weekend's game also winning in week 17.  The game this weekend is in Philly, which gives the Eagles a bit of an advantage, but the Eagles play at New York in week 17, and the Cowboys are home to the Redskins.  If you just assume the home teams win all three games, then Dallas and Philly both finish at 8-8, and Dallas wins the division.

Remember that none of this is unprecedented.  As Steelers fans will remember, Denver won the AFC West in 2011 with an 8-8 record. Carolina won the NFC South in 2014 with a 7-8-1 record, and the Suckhawks won the NFC west in 2010 with a 7-9 record.

[El Barto]

This is turning into an excellent playoff hunt. Right now 9/12 playoff teams are 10-4 or better and we'll see some good H2Hs the next two weeks.

[KevShmev]

I have not paying that much attention to this 100 greatest players thing the NFL is doing, but I did like seeing that neither Terrell Owens nor Cris Carter were chosen as one of the 10 wide receivers.

[Cool Chris]

I am casually following it. I am not a football historian, so cannot really comment on anything pre-1980s, and don't want to get in to snubs. But I am a little shocked Jerry Kramer did not make the list. I always thought he was considered one of the best ever at that position.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Am I the only one that wants to see the Bills completely stomp the Patriots?

[El Barto]

I have not paying that much attention to this 100 greatest players thing the NFL is doing, but I did like seeing that neither Terrell Owens nor Cris Carter were chosen as one of the 10 wide receivers.

WR they went heavier than usual with the oldtimers. Only five came from what we consider the modern era. That seems odd to me, and a couple of the old guys I'd never even heard of. That said, WR is probably the biggest talent pool of any position, so there are going to be some snubs.

[Stadler]

Am I the only one that wants to see the Bills completely stomp the Patriots?

I would eat the Cincinnati footage if Dream Team wasn't right there with you. 

[Stadler]

I have not paying that much attention to this 100 greatest players thing the NFL is doing, but I did like seeing that neither Terrell Owens nor Cris Carter were chosen as one of the 10 wide receivers.

WR they went heavier than usual with the oldtimers. Only five came from what we consider the modern era. That seems odd to me, and a couple of the old guys I'd never even heard of. That said, WR is probably the biggest talent pool of any position, so there are going to be some snubs.

Most of those are good; Paul Warfield is certainly worthy.  The only one I might question is Lance Alworth.  Great, but maybe not top ten of all time great. Lynn Swann?   Andre Reed?  Sterling Sharpe? Calvin Johnson?  I'd take Chris Carter, but not Terrell Owens.  Great ATHLETE, not a great RECEIVER, if you're asking me.

[Stadler]

FYI, as someone that picked Houston, I LOVE Jameis Winston.

I can't believe that's Bruce Arians' first choice to lead his club.   He DOES NOT help your team; he taxes his defense with his turnovers.  They (the D) played very very well today.  That should have been worse. 

[El Barto]

How's this for a new rule: Anytime somebody's doing some stupid end zone dance you're allowed to tackle him?

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

How's this for a new rule: Anytime somebody's doing some stupid end zone dance you're allowed to tackle him?

I could get behind this! 

[King Postwhore]

How's this for a new rule: Anytime somebody's doing some stupid end zone dance you're allowed to tackle him?

That Bills TD drove you nuts giving it to the fans I'd bet.

[lonestar]

Damn...don't think I can take another close game by the Niners...and we're at Seattle next week with the division on the line. Fuck.

[KevShmev]

I am sure injuries are not helping, but confidence in the 49ers defense cannot be high at all right now.  It looked so good early in the season, but for the last eight weeks, it has not been very good, except in the GB and Balt games.

I suspect it won't take long for the NFL to flex that game against Seattle to next Sunday night since it will be for the division title, no matter what the Seahawks do today.

[King Postwhore]

Kev, nailed it.