NFL Thread

[Lamb18]

I think this was a loser week for me as far as picks go. 

[meowmommy]

I was going to feel sorry for Joe and Troy, because for years they were the #1 team on Fox, so they were always assigned the marquee game, and now they are stuck with the dregs that are Monday Night Football, but this game was actually fairly entertaining.  Even if the game makes zero difference in the race for the top.

It's hard to believe the Patriots may finish at the bottom of their division.  I don't think that's happened since pre-Parcells days.

[Danielg342]

5 hours ago, Danielg342 said:

62% of people responding to Monday Night Football's poll concerning who will win tonight picked the Chicago Bears on the road against the New England Patriots. I'm sure 90% of those people are anti-Patriot fans, because I don't know anyone who would realistically think the Bears could actually win this game (though this is the NFL...).

So, the people were on to something tonight. Is this the win that turns the Bears' season around, as Troy Aikman said tonight? We'll see, but this is sure a "statement" win- and a "statement" loss for the Patriots.

14 minutes ago, meowmommy said:

It's hard to believe the Patriots may finish at the bottom of their division.  I don't think that's happened since pre-Parcells days.

I thought the '93 team- Bill Parcells' first season in New England- finished last but they actually finished fourth of five teams in the AFC East that year, thanks to a late winning streak and the Indianapolis Colts' own ineptitude.

[mojoween]

Chicago is probably going to put the MNF pregame on a loop in the facility (good thing Trubisky is no longer there) because every analyst was SO dismissive of Chicago’s chances.  Like, if you listened to them, the game was over before it started.

[Carey]

10 hours ago, Danielg342 said:

62% of people responding to Monday Night Football's poll concerning who will win tonight picked the Chicago Bears on the road against the New England Patriots. I'm sure 90% of those people are anti-Patriot fans, because I don't know anyone who would realistically think the Bears could actually win this game (though this is the NFL...).

I had nearly a half dozen things to do so I missed the picks segment.  Actually I tuned into the pre-game at the start, left for something else, and then turned it back on but at the end of the C'MON MAN segment before turning it off (right before the picks).  Nevertheless, I missed the selection (which is often a 1-second reveal of everybody picking a clear favorit).

62% is a lot, but it isn't a shocker.  I might've put it as 38% which is more accurate.  It was a home game for New England, but there was uncertainty toward the Pats QB.  Some of it might be the fact that the Patriots haven't been decent & the hate toward them.  The other part is the fact that when 90% of the money goes toward one way, it's best to go in the other direction.  However, this is a poll, and not betting, so it is still a surprise it was that high.  Chicago hasn't been great, but they did have some extra time off that New England did not have heading into this game

[bluegirl147]

1 hour ago, Carey said:

the hate toward them.

I can only speak for myself but if it's a game and I don't have a vested interest in either team (meaning the outcome doesn't have any effect on my favorite team) I'm most likely going to root for the team I don't dislike.  I think this might have been the case with last night's game.  Not so much that most people thought Chicago would win but they hoped NE would lose.  

3 hours ago, mojoween said:

because every analyst was SO dismissive of Chicago’s chances.  Like, if you listened to them, the game was over before it started.

That has happened quite a few times this season.  I like seeing upsets.  It's no fun if every predicted winner wins every week.

[JTMacc99]

3 hours ago, mojoween said:

Chicago is probably going to put the MNF pregame on a loop in the facility (good thing Trubisky is no longer there) because every analyst was SO dismissive of Chicago’s chances.  Like, if you listened to them, the game was over before it started.

Me too. In writing, right here.

The Patriots, regardless of what kind of personnel they put on the field, are usually a much cleaner team than what they were in this game. And to be fair, if you play a clean game against this Bears team, you have a pretty good chance of beating them. 

[Danielg342]

10 hours ago, JTMacc99 said:

if you play a clean game against this Bears team, you have a pretty good chance of beating them. 

I'd say the bare minimum for victory against anyone in the NFL is playing a clean game. You won't beat a lot of teams if you beat yourself.

Which was probably most surprising of the Monday Nighter. Say what you want about the New England Patriots, but if there's anything that they're not, it's being a team that makes a lot of mistakes. The Pats made a lot of mistakes last night and, worse, look out of sorts. They were uncharacteristically discombobulated.

We talk a lot about Mike Tomlin having lost his touch. Maybe we have to start wondering if Bill Belichick has lost his too.

[Lamb18]

I'm watching a replay of the Green Bay / Washington game. Packers are playing better than i thought, considering they lost.

i don't know who the commentators for the game are but i like listening to them. They do a good job calling the game and explaining what's going on. They also explain what a player did to get a penalty.

[meowmommy]

6 minutes ago, Lamb18 said:

i don't know who the commentators for the game are but i like listening to them.

I find 506 Sports a great resource when I want to know who's calling a game, which networks are carrying it, and which games are being carried on local channels.

It says the GB - Wash game was called by Adam Amin and Daryl Johnston.

Edited October 26, 2022 by meowmommy

[Lamb18]

On 10/18/2022 at 10:26 AM, Lamb18 said:

I did 9 correct, 5 incorrect on my picks last week.  Now for week 7. Picks based on what's best for Vikings, underdogs, who I want to win and who I don't want to win.

Saints vs Cardinals*
Browns vs Ravens*
Falcons vs Bengals*
Detroit vs Cowboys* (this is a tough one but I don't think Vikings' division lead will be ruined if Detroit wins one)
Packers vs Commanders*
Buccaneers vs Panthers*
Giants* vs Jaguars
Colts vs Titans*
Texans vs Raiders*
Jets* vs Broncos
Seahawks* vs Chargers
Chiefs* vs 49ers
Steelers vs Dolphins* (another exciting Sunday night matchup)
Bears* vs Patriots

I didn't mean to copy this to a new post. I just meant to update the original post.

Edited October 26, 2022 by Lamb18

[Carey]

You might be a little work toward updating the post since the teams and who they play differ significantly.

Speaking of Week 8, I think I'll go for the teams that look like they might lose.  That was a joke of a set of selections, but it actually worked better than what I've done all season

[Lamb18]

I got 6 out of 14 picks correct last week. Time for the week 8 picks!

Ravens* vs Buccaneers
Bears vs Cowboys* (Vikings need the Bears to lose)
Steelers vs Eagles* (wishful thinking)
Broncos* vs Jaguars
Dolphins* vs Lions
Panthers vs Falcons*
Cardinals vs Vikings*
Patriots* vs Jets
Titans* vs Texans
Seahawks* vs Giants
Commanders* vs Colts
49ers* vs Rams
Packers vs Bills*
Bengals vs Browns*

By the way, whatever happened to the breakaway jerseys from way back? Wondering as a Washington guy hangs onto a Packer jersey and it stretches out like mozzarella.

Edited November 1, 2022 by Lamb18

[Carey]

Chicago is trading Defensive End Robert Quinn to Philadelphia

[Carey]

On 10/19/2022 at 9:50 AM, Colleenna said:

I'm a Steelers fan and a total  efing yinzer, but there's  nfw the Steelers beat the Dolphins.  

On 10/19/2022 at 10:48 AM, bluegirl147 said:

On 10/19/2022 at 10:27 AM, xaxat said:

There was no effin way they could beat Tom Brady and the Bucs.

But they did.

The Steelers have a history of beating teams they shouldn't. They also have a history of losing to teams they shouldn't.  This game could go either way.  But I think my Black and Gold wins.  Pickett is starting and we get Fitzpatrick back.  It will be close but I think Boswell wins it with a FG.

I haven't had a day off since the Labor Day holiday (save to one day very soon after for a personal manner).  So it's still been a couple months.  Part of that is due to plans to take off at the end of the year, the beginning of next year, and the holiday.  That's a long time, so I ought to take a day off very soon.  I need it.

In relation, I still haven't posted a couple of things, and I haven't gotten around to addressing the above, which is important for this Sunday.

Colleenna was right after all, but that was due to doing everything they could to not win the game.  Steelers and Dolphins was winnable for the former, but while it was likely they'd lose, it was mainly due to be so one-dimensional and sorta lame.

Xaxat was right about TB12 since the history doesn't support it.  However, it appears the Bucs are a mess.  Tampa returns home so they might be okay; it is vs Baltimore.

Finally, Bluegirl147 is right that in terms of who Pittsburgh wins and loses to.  As for the following...

On 10/19/2022 at 12:09 PM, bluegirl147 said:

I remember the year they beat the undefeated Patriots and Eagles.  But I don't foresee them beating the Eagles this year.   But it sure would be nice if they did.

That was great year.  A very nice and memorable 2 years (that season and the next).  However, both of those game were at Heinz Field.

If there's a game the Steelers have "no effin chance" of winning, it's this Sunday.  The Steelers arrived back after a night of football on a Sunday that the Eagles were off.

Philadelphia's bye week followed a home game, a nice win over a decent Cowboys team.  So Pittsburgh has to travel again in back-to-back weeks to a hot decent team that hasn't lost yet.  That's anything but fair.  That could get very ugly and cost at least someone everything.

Though if the reverse were the case, I'd still pick the Eagles to win.  They're great this season, the Steelers are not.

Finally, what's important is that Pittsburgh hasn't won in Philadelphia in 57 years.  Their last win there precede Noll / Cowher / Tomlin.  If there's a year that it ends, it isn't this year, and even though the Steelers are likely to be better in 2024 if they make the right moves, it probably isn't in two years either

Edited October 27, 2022 by Carey

[Xeliou66]

Here are my picks for Week 8’s games 

Buccaneers over Ravens. 
Jaguars over Broncos. 
Falcons over Panthers. 
Cowboys over Bears.  
Dolphins over Lions.   
Vikings over Cardinals.  
Raiders over Saints.  
Jets over Patriots.  
Eagles over Steelers.  
Titans over Texans.  
Colts over Commanders.  
Rams over 49ers. 
Giants over Seahawks.  
Bills over Packers.  
Bengals over Browns. 
 

Should be another fun weekend of games!!

[meowmommy]

3 hours ago, Carey said:

Finally, what's important is that Pittsburgh hasn't won in Philadelphia in 57 years.  Their last win there precede Noll / Cowher / Tomlin. 

It's an interesting historical stat, but in terms of what it means for the current schedule, I'm not convinced it holds any significance whatsoever.  They've only played five games in Philadelphia in the last fifty years, and the last matchup was six years ago.  So even though they play in the same state -- pardon me, commonwealth -- it's never been a rivalry.

I'm always more fascinated by the fact that the Steelers have had three coaches in fifty-three years, when some teams go through three coaches in two years.

[Colleenna]

3 hours ago, meowmommy said:

So even though they play in the same state -- pardon me, commonwealth -- it's never been a rivalry.

Part of that is geography.  Pgh is closer to Cleveland (2 hours) Cincinnati (4hours) and Bawmer (4 hours) than that other  Pennsylvania city. Plus, the Bungles, Clowns, and Ratbirds are in the same division as the Steelers.  

[Xeliou66]

Reports are Ja’Marr Chase is out 4-6 weeks with a hip injury and may go on injured reserve. Very tough break for the Bengals, and I hate seeing star players go down. 

[xaxat]

4 hours ago, meowmommy said:

So even though they play in the same state -- pardon me, commonwealth -- it's never been a rivalry.

Agreed, but at one time, they were the same team, the Steagles. Back during World War II.

I really hope the Bengals don't go with the white helmets on Monday so we can have orange on orange violence on Halloween.

Edited October 27, 2022 by xaxat

[Chit Chat]

Well, as Buc's fans, we're back to recording the games and will go back and watch if the Bucs don't embarrass themselves on national TV.  It's not looking good.  Our O-line is terrible.  It's a whole host of problems.  It's depressing.  

[Carey]

Before I post my remarks on Cincinnati and Chase, I better get my picks "documented" in case I lose service again.  Just TNF.  Not ready for everything else but might be before Sunday.

The favorites/underdogs have flip-flopped between the Ravens and Buccaneers this week.  Currently Tampa is back to the favorites slot (1.5).  Gotta be the injuries.  Over/Under is 46.5.  Both stats are FanDuel stats.

I'm going to go with Baltimore outright.  Best TNF game since the beginning of the month (in terms of pre-game expectations).  Other than Burrow (more on that later), TB12 is winless against Lamar Jackson.  This is the best spot to outduel yet another.  Tom has yet to lose 3 straight in his career.  It's a home game, but Baltimore's losses are due to the lack to close.  Tampa Bay hasn't done too much.  Not an easy game to pick, but oh well.  I don't think the combined total gets to 47.

As for the Cincy situation, given the nature of Cincinnati's game on Sunday, maybe something happened there that was overlooked or not many people paid attention to.  That's not a pleasant loss for the AFC North Champions with a recent bad matchup against the Browns on Monday.

He'll miss division games against the Steelers & mentioned Browns before the divisional/championship playoff rematch combo from a year ago.  Tennessee is doubtful & Kansas City is questionable.  I imagine, barring any setbacks, he'll be back for the much anticipated slate of games against Belichick, Brady, and Allen (Patriots, Bucs, Bills) late in the year

Edited October 27, 2022 by Carey

[mojoween]

All year people have been trying to get me to trade Ja’Marr Chase to them in fantasy and all year I have ignored every request.  Cool.

[Carey]

Well, it's not season-ending (right now), but it's not a positive outcome either

[Lamb18]

Well I come home from choir practice and the game's a nail-biter at.10-3. Come on, Baltimore!

[Salacious Kitty]

6 minutes ago, Lamb18 said:

Well I come home from choir practice and the game's a nail-biter at.10-3. Come on, Baltimore!

You're good luck for the Ravens! Keep up the good work! 😀

[Lamb18]

28 minutes ago, Salacious Kitty said:

You're good luck for the Ravens! Keep up the good work! 😀

I'll do my best, I picked the Ravens to win! And this game has turned into a nail-biter.

[twoods]

Over/under on how many tantrums Brady will throw in the last 6 minutes.

[twoods]

John Harbaugh is 60???

[Xeliou66]

Nice road win for the Ravens - they threw the ball a lot more than normal tonight but I think they need to let Lamar throw, you can’t win consistently just by running and being conservative and I think Lamar can throw. The Bucs were banged up in the secondary which helped the Ravens, and they opened up their rushing attack some in the second half. The Bucs are really struggling, they cannot play a complete game, their rushing attack is the worst in the NFL forcing Brady to carry them entirely, and their defense is inconsistent. If my Falcons win this Sunday they are alone atop the division, no one saw that coming. 

[Lamb18]

Congrats to Ravens on the win!

[merylinkid]

The Ravens are a running team.   They threw the majority of the first half and it was not good.   When they went back to running mostly is when they got their mojo back.   Plus it ate up clock giving the Bucs less time to overcome the double digit deficit.

How much longer are they going to blame the Bucs woes on the receivers and Brady being "out of sync?"   That excuse only works for so long.   Of course maybe if brady hadn't skipped a chunk of training camp to ruin his face, then MISSED THE DAMN WALKTHROUGH last week to go to Robert Kraft's wedding, maybe they would be more in sync.   Brady is not mentally in these games.   It shows very badly that he is distracted.   But he has apparently decided football is more important than his family.   Hope his kids appreciate that.

[DrSpaceman73]

I was mad brady decided to unretire because I'm so sick of him. 

But now I'm quite enjoying it and watching him lose. 

[Carey]

I'm more likely to be wrong than right, but 25-50 years from now, could people be reading or watching a sports/news special that features the biggest tragedy in tragedies starting some California kid-turned Michigan teenager that did it all & had it all, only to blow it all in the biggest, record fashion in the history of Planet Earth?

[Chit Chat]

1 hour ago, merylinkid said:

How much longer are they going to blame the Bucs woes on the receivers and Brady being "out of sync?"   

It's more than that.  Our O-line sucks, and the injuries keep piling up.  It's a trainwreck. 

[Carey]

The fact is, I'll never count out a team with TB12 until they're actually out.  As mentioned, there are reasons, and Tom does get the benefit of the doubt.  It's just that Brady always seems to find a way.  It's either for the title (examples are 2014, 2016, 2020) or close calls (2015, 2017, 2021).

If it goes out of control and it's a mess, oh well.  He'd return next year and things would be back to normal or headed in that direction.  While I picked against him twice in as many games, I'm not counting him out until he's out

[merylinkid]

Tom and Gisele are splitsville according to TMZ.   Settlement reached (I knew it wouldn't be messy, he does these things quietly).   Papers to be filed today.

https://www.tmz.com/2022/10/28/tom-brady-gisele-bundchen-divorce-florida/

No one ever says on their deathbed, I should have spent more time working.   Some day Tom will actually retire from football and want to be a part of his kids' lives.   And they will be all "oh sorry Dad, too busy for you, why don't you go watch some game film."   

[Carey]

It's easy for me to say I would've quit the game.  No way I'm separating from my wife.  It is until death do us part.  The fact is, marriage isn't for everyone (long term / everlasting).

I wouldn't bet on people being mad about not working forever right before they die.  Though there have been some cases (at least one) where someone died soon after exiting the game.  It's usually a case where someone has nothing left (no family, no friends) and work is all they have.  And they would do it until it's over.

Not me though!  BTW, Tom will be too busy with FOX that if he can't hang out with his son(s) and daughter, he might be okay.  It'll happen especially when kids need money.  Or not since Gisele will still have more money

[Kip Hackman]

32 minutes ago, merylinkid said:

Some day Tom will actually retire from football and want to be a part of his kids' lives.   And they will be all "I'd love to, dad, if I can find the time. You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kids have the flu, but it's sure nice talking to you, dad. It's been sure nice talking to you"   

Fixed it.

[bluegirl147]

2 hours ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

I was mad brady decided to unretire because I'm so sick of him. 

But now I'm quite enjoying it and watching him lose. 

Looks like his decision to unretire has cost him his marriage and if him and his team continue to play like they have been no chance of making a SB run.  

2 hours ago, merylinkid said:

 Of course maybe if brady hadn't skipped a chunk of training camp to ruin his face, then MISSED THE DAMN WALKTHROUGH last week to go to Robert Kraft's wedding, maybe they would be more in sync. 

I don't care how good a QB you are (or at least used to be) missing time with your team has to hurt.   You don't see other QBs asking for time off.

36 minutes ago, Carey said:

Tom will be too busy with FOX

I rarely watch the Fox games so I will hardly ever have to see him. 

56 minutes ago, merylinkid said:

 Some day Tom will actually retire from football and want to be a part of his kids' lives.   And they will be all "oh sorry Dad, too busy for you, why don't you go watch some game film."

I'm sure he loves his kids but even once retired from playing he is still going live and breathe football.  That is just who he is.  I wonder if Gisele stays in Florida.  And where does Tom go after he does retire?  

I remember feeling bad for Bridget Moynahan when they broke up and she found out she was pregnant and Tom was already with  Gisele.  Now I think Bridget is so much better off.

[Black Knight]

I was wondering just this morning if, since the Bucs are clearly not going to win a Super Bowl this year, Brady would choose to retire after the season was done in order to save his marriage or if he would play again next season, likely with a new team, in an attempt to win another SB and be able to retire on top.

Now that it's official that the divorce has been finalized, there's no reason for him not to return next season. I'm sure he does not want to go out with a whimper. Obviously he should have retired in 2021 after his SB win then; he'd have gone out on top and he'd still have his marriage.

Let the Tom Brady sweepstakes begin. Yes, he's been a little off this season, but teams who have a contending roster and just need an upgrade at QB will be more than willing to attribute most of this season's issues to Bucs team composition, coaching, and some personal upheaval with his marriage dissolving.

[Carey]

I think he was planning on returning anyway.  Just not to Tampa.  He didn't even want to return to the Bucs, but he was under contract.  There was the Miami plan but that no longer makes sense.  I think it could be Indy, Tennessee, Vegas, and New England in that order, but there's no sense in playing in Tampa Bay anymore

[meowmommy]

1 hour ago, Kip Hackman said:

Fixed it.

That's *exactly* what popped into my mind with Merylinkid's post.  The late great Harry Chapin.

Can I please bitch and moan about NFL Network, which has now, at least twice, spoiled for me the same-day replay of TNF?  The first one I noticed was the Colts/Broncos game where in the first minute, a crawl saying so-and-so was injured in the Colts' win, then so-and-so was injured in the Broncos' loss ran on the bottom of the screen.  This time it was their post-game show running over into the time that was scheduled for the game, and big banner about the Bucs now losing three in a row.  Which I could see even as I fast-forwarded.

Between Amazon and NFLN, it's become really not worth it to watch TNF at all.

[bluegirl147]

6 minutes ago, Carey said:

I think it could be Indy, Tennessee, Vegas, and New England

Oh crap. I don't want him back in the AFC.

If he does come back next year there is no guarantee he will play any better than he is playing now.  It is true some of it is not his fault but he is 45  years old.  At what point do you (or someone who can make you realize) realize you just might not have it anymore?  

Gotta be honest.  If he retires this year or next year without having a winning season I will enjoy it.  

[nittany cougar]

It's natural to wonder if Tom Brady's divorce is about football. However isn't it possible that, after he retired and was at home, they realized that they had grown apart?  It happens a lot and is a common reason for people to divorce after a life transition. Look how many people file for divorce right after their kids graduate high school.

Whatever is going on with him, I hope that he can move forward and find a way to make this a winning season. They are on second place in the division, so things are not over for the Bucs.

[Lady Whistleup]

The thing is, Gisele knew Tom was obsessed with football when she married him. She knew he lived and breathed football. He didn't change. it's not like they met and he sold insurance and now he won't stop playing football.

[DrSpaceman73]

3 minutes ago, Lady Whistleup said:

The thing is, Gisele knew Tom was obsessed with football when she married him. She knew he lived and breathed football. He didn't change. it's not like they met and he sold insurance and now he won't stop playing football.

But he is at the age where unless you're a kicker you are retired by now. 

And he had a job offer STILL IN FOOTBALL as an announcer.  She isn't asking him to give up football but to move to a different job in football. 

[bluegirl147]

8 minutes ago, Lady Whistleup said:

The thing is, Gisele knew Tom was obsessed with football when she married him. She knew he lived and breathed football. He didn't change. it's not like they met and he sold insurance and now he won't stop playing football.

I still think the issue is he retired and then unretired.  We don't know if they had a deal. Or he promised her and then broke that promise.  I don't think him playing football is what destroyed their marriage. I think it was him not keeping his word to her.  

[shoregirl]

funny..mean but still funny 🤣

[Notabug]

39 minutes ago, Lady Whistleup said:

The thing is, Gisele knew Tom was obsessed with football when she married him. She knew he lived and breathed football. He didn't change. it's not like they met and he sold insurance and now he won't stop playing football.

Of course she knew that.  But there was no way she could've known that he could still compete as a starting QB in the NFL at age 45.  I think she presumed he would retire at some point several years ago as virtually no NFL QB's are still playing, let alone starting, at his age.  For that matter, I doubt TB12 thought he'd still be playing at age 45 back when they first got involved.

58 minutes ago, nittany cougar said:

It's natural to wonder if Tom Brady's divorce is about football. However isn't it possible that, after he retired and was at home, they realized that they had grown apart?  It happens a lot and is a common reason for people to divorce after a life transition. Look how many people file for divorce right after their kids graduate high school.

Whatever is going on with him, I hope that he can move forward and find a way to make this a winning season. They are on second place in the division, so things are not over for the Bucs.

His 'retirements' have never lasted very long, a matter of months at best.  I doubt they had enough time together to decide that they'd grown apart.  I think they probably did grow apart; at least on their feelings as to how long he would play and how much time that took away from their family time.  I expect she thought that he would've moved on by now; but he cannot or will not.

I think the problem is that he told her he was retiring several years ago and, then, not only didn't retire, but kept coming back year after year while she and the kids were in a holding pattern wondering when he would be more available at home.  She has repeatedly said that he is not very 'present' during the season when it comes to their family and he has admitted that is true.  She probably decided she and the kids had waited long enough to become his priority and she lost faith that it was ever going to happen.  It's also public knowledge that she turned down a lot of lucrative business opportunities over the years in order to allow him to play in order to care for their kids.  Maybe she wanted her chance to excel at her career, which has been pretty spectacular in and of itself, even with the sacrifices she's made for him.

Edited October 28, 2022 by Notabug