NFL Thread

[mojoween]

The Duke University men’s basketball team was scheduled to play ten games since the season opened November 25.  Exactly half of those games have been cancelled/postponed due to COVID on the other teams.

No matter what I thought many times during this NFL season, I’ll give them kudos that every team played every game that was scheduled.  It was an incredibly wacky year, but they got it in.

[DrSpaceman73]

50 minutes ago, Johann said:

Living in Maryland, I'm probably too sensitive on this issue, but Baltimore gets a lot of crap for the Cleveland organization moving here, but, like you said, they got to keep their name, colors and stats.  When the Colts snuck out one snowy night, they took all that and Baltimore was without a team for a longer time.

Although, I have to admit that I'm glad Cleveland kept their name, colors and stats.  Ravens got the better of that deal.  NOT happy whenever Indy takes credit for Unitas.

I'll kick my soapbox back under the bed no

As an Indy colts fan I don't care or claim the about the years in baltimore.  

Baltimore still stole another citys team though even if the name stayed in cleveland.  The ravens were not the same as an expansion team.  

And also what the Indy did to get the colts is no different than what dozens of other teams and cities have done in all sports over the past 100+ years. 

Speaking of which st louis/ arizona cardinals were in the nfc east before

[mojoween]

If I’m remembering correctly, Arizona was still in the NFC East after they left St. Louis until the realignment to four divisions.

Still weirds me out that Seattle was an AFC team.  

[Moose135]

Never mind...

Edited January 4, 2021 by Moose135

[Lamb18]

1 hour ago, Johann said:

Although, I have to admit that I'm glad Cleveland kept their name, colors and stats.  Ravens got the better of that deal.

Yes, "Ravens" is a cooler nickname for Baltimore with the Edgar Allan Poe connection.

I didn't remember the Cardinals being an East team! I remember Tampa being in Central and Dallas in East. Eagles, Giants and Washington must have been the other three. Now I'm trying to remember who was NFC West besides San Francisco and LA Rams.

[DrSpaceman73]

Afc south was won in the last play if the year for ten on a FG that bounced off the upright and in.   

Quite nerve wracking that final quarter of Indy/ jax and ten/ houston at same time.  One of the few scheduling things nfl does right putting division deciding games on at same time week 17. 

[Magog]

1 minute ago, Lamb18 said:

I didn't remember the Cardinals being an East team! I remember Tampa being in Central and Dallas in East. Eagles, Giants and Washington must have been the other three. Now I'm trying to remember who was NFC West besides San Francisco and LA Rams.

Atlanta Falcons & the New Orleans Saints were in the NFC West.

Adam Gase has just been fired. Hopefully, he will never work in the NFL or College Football in any capacity ever again. He is an absolute loser & he should be thanking those sorry Rams for not making him even more of a loser than he already is. 

Speaking of losers, it makes me sick to my stomach that those sorry Rams made the Playoffs. I don't know who they'll be playing next weekend, but I hope those clowns get the doors blown off of them. I don't want those sorry Rams & the Bucs anywhere near the Super Bowl. I find both of them very repulsive.

[DrSpaceman73]

7 minutes ago, Lamb18 said:

Yes, "Ravens" is a cooler nickname for Baltimore with the Edgar Allan Poe connection.

I didn't remember the Cardinals being an East team! I remember Tampa being in Central and Dallas in East. Eagles, Giants and Washington must have been the other three. Now I'm trying to remember who was NFC West besides San Francisco and LA Rams.

The saints and falcons wre in the nfc west

It made no sense geographically.  Plus the 49ers dominated fir years that division 1981 to about 2000 the same way NE has dominated the east because of both being good and the division being poor.  

From 1981 to 1996 the superbowl was dominated by the nfc east and the 49ers.  I believe one of those teams won it every year except the bears team in 86 and the raiders win one in 84

Edited January 4, 2021 by DrSpaceman73

[Johannah]

1 hour ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

As an Indy colts fan I don't care or claim the about the years in baltimore.  

Baltimore still stole another citys team though even if the name stayed in cleveland.  The ravens were not the same as an expansion team.  

And also what the Indy did to get the colts is no different than what dozens of other teams and cities have done in all sports over the past 100+ years. 

Speaking of which st louis/ arizona cardinals were in the nfc east before

See?  "Baltimore stole" a team, but what Indy did was no different than other teams...  

[ebk57]

3 minutes ago, Johann said:

See?  "Baltimore stole" a team, but what Indy did was no different than other teams...  

That's a much nicer response than the ones swirling around in my brain... 

[DrSpaceman73]

28 minutes ago, Johann said:

See?  "Baltimore stole" a team, but what Indy did was no different than other teams...  

Yes they're the same.  Cities steal teams all the time.  

Never understand why baltimore losing the colts was viewed so differently than any other tram that leaves for another city or why baltimore fans think theyre the only ones it's ever happened to

[DrSpaceman73]

WTF now ?  Division on the line and the eagles put in the THIRD string qb in the 4th quarter of a one score game.  

And he quickly throws an int and fumbles.  

Philly just basically gave this game away

Sorry giants fans

[Court]

I don't give a crap who wins this game but I'm baffled why the Eagles benched Hurts. He's the only shot they have at winning this game. 

 

[Lamb18]

Maybe they're tanking for Trevor.

[DrSpaceman73]

Ron rivera about to win his SECOND division title with a sub .500 team

Also last two teams to make playoffs with 7 wins won in the WC round. 

[Carey]

I'm okay with Doug Peterson wrecking New York's chances at winning the division with only 6 wins out of 16 games.  I don't dislike the Giants at all, but it's not Philadelphia's problem.  They need to pump up their draft position.

I am saddened, however; that we won't see a 6 win team knock off Brady, which would get Arians fired for sure

[Lamb18]

Kansas City is D/ST on my fantasy team and their points are -3.0. How does that happen? Did their kicker miss all the extra points and field goals?

[mojoween]

Doug Pederson CLEARLY hates Joe Judge.  KICK THE FIELD GOAL, DOUG.

I know the Giants should have taken care of their own business but they didn’t and needed Philly to come through for them which was OBVIOUSLY a fool’s errand and I hate them all.

Tom Brady is going to shred the WTF defense and I will vomit.

[Lamb18]

So next week it will be:

New Orleans vs Chicago

Seattle vs Rams

Washington or Giants vs Tampa

I was going to do AFC, but I don't know who is 5,6 and 7 since they're all 11-5.

Bills vs. ?

Steelers vs.?

Titans vs. ?

 

[DrSpaceman73]

40+ years of watching the nfl I've never seen a team change QBs in a one score game in the 4th quarter for a non- injury reason.   

And the third string qb no less.  

And yeah then not kicking to tie it?   Hard to say you aren't just trying to lose. 

Just now, Lamb18 said:

So next week it will be:

New Orleans vs Chicago

Seattle vs Rams

Washington or Giants vs Tampa

I was going to do AFC, but I don't know who is 5,6 and 7 since they're all 11-5.

Bills vs. ?

Steelers vs.?

Titans vs. ?

 

Bills colts. 1 pm sat

Steelers browns. 

Titans ravens. 

[Lamb18]

Steelers vs. Browns two weeks in a row!

And it will be Tampa vs. the fighting ferocious Football Team!

[mojoween]

Sigh.  Fucking Eagles, man.

When my team plays its last game of the season I have to change the flag on our mailbox to the next team up (perhaps, although I am unsure if Duke is going to play another game this season) and there are RULES to this, and I am not looking forward to doing this at 11:30 at night when it’s snowing.  Glad I have tomorrow off from work.  Fucking Philly. 

[Carey]

Yep.  Alex Smith is 1000% the Comeback Player of the Year

[mojoween]

NFL Twitter is MAAAD at Doug Pederson and that’s not even counting the Giants players who had hope.

[merylinkid]

What the hell was Doug Pederson doing?    Does he want to prove that Wentz is the only hope for that team?    What?????     

Dagnabbit, now the WTF team is in the playoffs.

[twoods]

They likely tanked for the 6th pick instead of the 9th and didn’t want Hurts to get injured behind a shitty O line. Maybe the Giants should have taken care of business themselves and not rely on others to get their sorry asses in. Sorry, I’m irritated that a subpar NFC East team made it again to the playoffs while a 10-6 team is out on the AFC side (and I hate the Fins). 

[mojoween]

Cris Colinsworth went full Redskins at the end of the game but I think they had both just given up at that point.

[Carey]

18 minutes ago, twoods said:

They likely tanked for the 6th pick instead of the 9th and didn’t want Hurts to get injured behind a shitty O line. Maybe the Giants should have taken care of business themselves and not rely on others to get their sorry asses in. Sorry, I’m irritated that a subpar NFC East team made it again to the playoffs while a 10-6 team is out on the AFC side (and I hate the Fins). 

Of all the teams that were facing elimination from postseason contention with a double-digit point total, Miami was the most painful.  Had Indy or Tennessee falling off I would've been okay with it.  Indy lost to both AFC North contenders they were facing, and Tennessee, who humiliated the Bills, were humiliated in the very same venue by the Browns.

That being said, giving up nearly 60 to a team playing for nothing isn't playoff material (although with the Dolphins, it sorta would've been).  Miami has turned things around, and it sucks that they lost people due to the restrictions where it cost them games.  They're not there yet, but they are close.  If all goes well, they'll be back next year.

Yeah, the Eagles tanked.  I don't blame them; as much as I mentioned that it was up to New York to win more games, Philadelphia actually didn't want to be there.  Mike Florio mentioned how the league may or may not do anything about it.  They handled the situation when Indy threw a couple games in 2009.  The thing is it wasn't a big deal to the NFL that Philly had to host a team for nothing.  That while the NFL could benefit as always and possibly have Dallas or New York backdoor into the playoffs.  It's only a problem for the league if someone actually benefits from such a bad spot.  The 256th game was awful and it made the league look awful.  The thing is that there were several other options but they went with the NFC East again.

In conclusion, if the NFL is pissed at tonight's game, I can't say I'd lose sleep over it

[Irlandesa]

4 hours ago, mojoween said:

The Duke University men’s basketball team was scheduled to play ten games since the season opened November 25.  Exactly half of those games have been cancelled/postponed due to COVID on the other teams.

No matter what I thought many times during this NFL season, I’ll give them kudos that every team played every game that was scheduled.  It was an incredibly wacky year, but they got it in.

Yeah, I think we've seen the difference between professional sports and college players.  The NFL had to do some careful maneuvering but they got their games in and COVID didn't tank anyone's season. And it's precisely why they didn't cancel the season. 

Now let's see what happens in the playoffs where it's one and done.  Aaron Rodgers was asked if he had any advice for his teammates going into the bye and it was simply "don't get COVID."  Ain't that the truth for all the teams in the playoffs. 

1 hour ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

WTF now ?  Division on the line and the eagles put in the THIRD string qb in the 4th quarter of a one score game.  

And he quickly throws an int and fumbles.  

Philly just basically gave this game away

Sorry giants fans

I saw some people making jokes on Twitter about this game and how the NFL chose two teams with losing records play and one of them full out tanking.

BTW, a few weeks I argued against tanking in the NFL.  I stand by that.  It's very hard to get a team to tank routinely.  But tonight with the coach's job secure?  Yeah, they practically begged WFT to take it and WFT still almost lost. 

1 hour ago, Carey said:

Yep.  Alex Smith is 1000% the Comeback Player of the Year

He won that the minute he came back onto the field.  Everything else has done this season is gravy.

There's nothing I enjoy more than a football weekend when the team I care the most about has a bye.  It's stress free viewing.  Rams and Seattle should be interesting.  The third divisional matchup in a season is always one to watch since they really know each other quite well.

[Moose135]

9 minutes ago, Irlandesa said:

BTW, a few weeks I argued against tanking in the NFL.  I stand by that.  It's very hard to get a team to tank routinely.  But tonight with the coach's job secure?  Yeah, they practically begged WFT to take it and WFT still almost lost. 

The players still played hard, and that's why the Iggles almost won. Decisions their coach made (putting in a third string QB, passing up FGs) is why WFT did win.

[Irlandesa]

2 minutes ago, Moose135 said:

The players still played hard, and that's why the Iggles almost won. Decisions their coach made (putting in a third string QB, passing up FGs) is why WFT did win.

True.  But the game also did end on a defensive penalty at 4 and 1.  I'm sure it was an accident but it's hilarious that it still fits the narrative.

[Bastet]

I tried to hold my nose and root for the Eagles, and if I thought the Giants had a chance at actually doing anything if they got in the playoffs I would have, but I really couldn't muster up any enthusiasm for them.  Neither could their coach, so whatever.  What's important was already achieved - the Cowboys are done.

But now I have to root for Washington, since they're playing Tampa Bay (who I don't give a shit about normally, but with Tom Brady under center ... no).  That game is going to suck, but I'm stoked about the rest in the NFC, since I like all the other NFC teams in the playoffs.

On the AFC side, I do not care, as often happens.  If the Steelers didn't have a rapist for QB, I'd root for them, but I guess I'll pull for Kansas City, but come Super Bowl I'd still be rooting for whichever team is representing the NFC unless it's the Bucs.

[Irlandesa]

20 minutes ago, Bastet said:

But now I have to root for Washington, since they're playing Tampa Bay (who I don't give a shit about normally, but with Tom Brady under center ... no).

It's so tough.  Alex Smith over Tom Brady 100 out of 100 times.  Plus with all that Ron Rivera has gone through.  But then there's Snyder.  Can't the NFL boot him already?

[shoregirl]

7 hours ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

 

And yeah then not kicking to tie it?   Hard to say you aren't just trying to lose. 

 

 

8 hours ago, mojoween said:

Doug Pederson CLEARLY hates Joe Judge.  KICK THE FIELD GOAL, DOUG.

 

5 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

True.  But the game also did end on a defensive penalty at 4 and 1.  I'm sure it was an accident but it's hilarious that it still fits the narrative.

I have no excuse for pulling Hurts but you all didn't have to watch a lot of Eagles games this year if you think Doug leaving points on the board even if that would tie the game or being undisciplined on 4th down and giving an offense extra downs is them tanking one game. That happened many times this year.That's one of the reasons they are where they are to begin with. 😅 They are a bad football team and Doug may be a bad coach. I think Frank Reich was a big reason they won in 2017 amd since hes been gone the Eagles have steadily declined.

But pulling Hurts for the 3rd string QB in the 4th Quater was totally tanking the last game. Even if Doug had said pregame that Sudfeld would be getting some snaps. No one believes you ,Doug, when you say you were playing to win

That said the outrage on Twitter is a little overdramatic. No one would be this up in arms if NBC hadn't flexed this game to Primetime . (I know why they did it but still these are two bad teams in a bad division). 

Edited January 4, 2021 by shoregirl

[mojoween]

I really hope WTF locks all of their defensive linemen in solitary rooms for a week and feeds them nothing but raw ground beef because we all know Tom Brady’s weakness, and that defense needs to be ravenous and looking for something to hit.

I was wondering if there is a Trent Dilfer/Rex Grossman/Brad Johnson in the playoffs and it would be Mitch, yeah?  I don’t think Josh Allen fits the bill (ha! No pun intended) because he has really cut down on his spastic tendencies.  Jared Goff, if he plays, has already been to a Super Bowl.  So I landed on Mitch.  But if Goff doesn’t play and the Rams make a run, his backup would absolutely be that guy.

[DrSpaceman73]

In the end I don't feel that bad for a 6 win team not making the playoffs. 

But still an odd move by the Eagles in the fourth quarter.  In the fourth quarter of the final game of the year, you suddenly need to know how good your 3rd string QB is, or as it turns out, not unexpected, is not? 

[mojoween]

We’ve already had a 7-9 team make the playoffs.  6-10 is uncharted territory baby!

[cambridgeguy]

1 hour ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

But still an odd move by the Eagles in the fourth quarter.  In the fourth quarter of the final game of the year, you suddenly need to know how good your 3rd string QB is, or as it turns out, not unexpected, is not? 

I do wonder if Pederson would have had the guts to pull that little stunt if there had actually been fans in the stands.  Might as well just start him if you need to see what he can do (btw, your organization has problems if you've stashed a good QB on the bench as your backup's backup).

[Crashcourse]

So my guys won.  WTF? 

I want Tom Brady to shit bricks when he sees Chase Young coming after him.

[Carey]

3 hours ago, cambridgeguy said:

I do wonder if Pederson would have had the guts to pull that little stunt if there had actually been fans in the stands.  Might as well just start him if you need to see what he can do (btw, your organization has problems if you've stashed a good QB on the bench as your backup's backup).

He might have, but I think he would not have made it so obvious.  He’d still get destroyed anyway, but he would have a better chance of escaping Lincoln Financial alive.  On the subject of QB’s, I wonder what Foles situation is.  If that were to ever happen again, you’d still stick with Hurts, but having a veteran in place instead of Sudfeld is always the better option.

5 hours ago, mojoween said:

I really hope WTF locks all of their defensive linemen in solitary rooms for a week and feeds them nothing but raw ground beef because we all know Tom Brady’s weakness, and that defense needs to be ravenous and looking for something to hit.

I had to check the history between Ron Rivera and Tom Brady before my response here.  Riverboat is 2-0 against him as a head coach, but about the opposite as a coordinator or assistant.  Rivera’s teams, in defeat, kept it close all the time.  I still won’t pick Washington to upset Tampa, but it could very well happen.  I think Ron could make it a game.  The problem is their offense is not great and the Bucs defense is good enough to shut out Washington

[Johannah]

20 hours ago, Court said:

I don't give a crap who wins this game but I'm baffled why the Eagles benched Hurts. He's the only shot they have at winning this game. 

 

First, when I want to make an entry here without quoting anyone, the site randomly picks a quote for me.  This time, it actually pertains to what I'm going to say, so I'll leave it...

There are reasons teams have losing records and one of them is poor decisions by coaches.  And the NFL decided a game between two losing teams would make a wonderful marquee matchup.  I'm sure there was another meaningful game they could have shown in primetime.

 

[caracas1914]

I'm torn: It seems that it's a huge advantage for the #1 team in each conference to get  a week rest while everyone else dukes it out.  OTOH, why shouldn't the best record have the advantage, since it reflects  excellence over the entire season.  

 

Caveat on the WTF and Bucs game, didn't the last 7-9 playoff team pull off the upset in 2011 ? 

Not only did the Seattle Seahawks upset the NO Saints, but the Saints with Drew were the defending SB champs.   That was a crazy year regardless as the wildcard  NY Jets led by Mark Sanchez upset the 14-2 NE Patriots.   

However back to reality now, if the Bucs/Brady  score a couple of TD's early just can't see Alex/WTF getting much offense going.

[DrSpaceman73]

5 hours ago, caracas1914 said:

I'm torn: It seems that it's a huge advantage for the #1 team in each conference to get  a week rest while everyone else dukes it out.  OTOH, why shouldn't the best record have the advantage, since it reflects  excellence over the entire season.  

 

Caveat on the WTF and Bucs game, didn't the last 7-9 playoff team pull off the upset in 2011 ? 

Not only did the Seattle Seahawks upset the NO Saints, but the Saints with Drew were the defending SB champs.   That was a crazy year regardless as the wildcard  NY Jets led by Mark Sanchez upset the 14-2 NE Patriots.   

However back to reality now, if the Bucs/Brady  score a couple of TD's early just can't see Alex/WTF getting much offense going.

Both the last two sub 500 teams to make the playoffs won their wild card round games.  The Panthers as well won in this scenario. 

Of course the even crazier part of making the playoffs as a sub 500 division winner is you also get a home game for the playoffs, which the NFL should change.  Let them in, but give the team with the better record home field.  Especially given how big an advantage home field typically is in the NFL, though maybe not this year. 

The NBA does it this way.  Division winners get the higher seeds but the better record determines the home court advantage. 

[mojoween]

I have no beef with the division winners getting the home game regardless of record.  Wanna play at home?  Do better in your division.

Also anything that makes Tom Brady uncomfortable should always be the goal.

[Danny Franks]

On 1/4/2021 at 3:37 AM, DrSpaceman73 said:

Yes they're the same.  Cities steal teams all the time.  

Never understand why baltimore losing the colts was viewed so differently than any other tram that leaves for another city or why baltimore fans think theyre the only ones it's ever happened to

Yes, because the one thing that passionate sports fans always are is objective. You know, the logical argument of "this happened to other teams too, why are you upset?" is always a real winner.

It's a merry-go-round. Indy fans get pissy because Baltimore fans hate them, Baltimore fans get pissy because Cleveland fans hate them and, if the Colts ever decided to go to Oklahoma or Phoenix (where Irsay Jr. actually wanted to go) then Indy fans would hate that team too.

[cambridgeguy]

16 minutes ago, icemiser69 said:

I can't believe all of the whining in the media due to the way the Eagles played their last game.  Do they not remember when the Chargers played Drew Brees in a meaningless end of the season game in which the Chargers weren't going anywhere and Brees got hurt with an injury that put his future in doubt?  He was able to make a comeback with the Saints, but by no means at the time was it a guarantee.

If the Giants had taken care of their own business, they wouldn't have to rely on others.

The Giants definitely have no one to blame but themselves - going 6-10 should automatically disqualify you from the playoffs.

That being said, if you're (rightfully) worried about injuries in a meaningless game then why even start anyone important? If Hurts is the future then he's too important to risk.  If Sudfeld is the future then the Eagles are completely screwed, but fine, give him the entire game to prove himself rather than tossing him in cold at a critical moment in the 4th quarter.

[Carey]

Well, the news of the Browns finally making the playoffs came at a cost: No Kevin Stefanski for now

[stealinghome]

Oh come on, that's just not fair. The Browns are CURSED.

[JTMacc99]

Giants fan here: I'm perfectly okay with them not making the playoffs at 6-10, even if it was partially due to the Eagles playing a regular season with no intention of winning. (Which TBF, the only real thing that will come out of that decision is that the veterans on that team will have a bad taste in their mouths about the team when the 2021 season starts. As if they didn't have one already.)

I'm pleased the Giants beat the Cowboys, because, hell yeah I want to beat the Cowboys. Don't care if it cost them a couple draft spots.

More importantly than all that, I'm going to say it here because I want it on record:

The Baltimore Ravens should terrify every single one of the other AFC playoff teams. They have found their groove at exactly the right time, and I can see them beating anybody in the AFC, and destroying the NFC representative if they got to the Super Bowl.

[Carey]

6 hours ago, JTMacc99 said:

Giants fan here: I'm perfectly okay with them not making the playoffs at 6-10, even if it was partially due to the Eagles playing a regular season with no intention of winning. (Which TBF, the only real thing that will come out of that decision is that the veterans on that team will have a bad taste in their mouths about the team when the 2021 season starts. As if they didn't have one already.)

I'm pleased the Giants beat the Cowboys, because, hell yeah I want to beat the Cowboys. Don't care if it cost them a couple draft spots.

More importantly than all that, I'm going to say it here because I want it on record:

The Baltimore Ravens should terrify every single one of the other AFC playoff teams. They have found their groove at exactly the right time, and I can see them beating anybody in the AFC, and destroying the NFC representative if they got to the Super Bowl.

At the very least, JTMacc, I almost always agree with your predictions and thought and everything else.  There's so much there to validate it.  I hate to disagree with you here, but I have to.  However, just one part of your post: the word "should" as it relates to what Baltimore might do.  

The Baltimore Ravens could terrify all the opponents in both conferences let alone the AFC.  They should terrify Buffalo, Indianapolis, and Cleveland.  Kansas City might be tough because of what they have done to opponents within the same game that the Chiefs were getting pounded.  Pittsburgh isn't afraid of anybody in their division.  Actually, they all but undefeated in the postseason against teams in their own division.  Tennessee is like Kansas City, except their strength is on offense (the Chiefs is on defense).

Here's why I like the Ravens this time: I agree that they were clicking at the right time, and they are the most complete team in the league.  I'm thinking back to a couple of scenarios.  The 2004 Steelers & 2005 Colts were the best teams in the AFC but they both got knocked off by the eventual champions (well Pittsburgh was better in terms of record, I always thought the 2004 Patriots were better).  Add a year: the 2005 Steelers & 2006 Colts were "invisible" and won four playoff games to win the title that they missed out on a year earlier.  Flash forward to the 2011-2012 Ravens.  Baltimore was super scary in 2011 and would've won if Evans made one more catch at a better time (or if Tucker was present a year earlier). 

The Ravens took a step back in 2012 but won four games for the title.  Earlier in the year they got smacked by Denver and a guy that had their number in Manning.  Eventually they got him in the postseason (after beating the Colts before then).  Peyton almost won again, but fell short in OT.  I see that this year.  2019 Ravens were unstoppable but lost to Tennessee.  2020 Ravens are invisible, but like they avenged their 2011 defeat, I think they can against the Titans.  After possibly giving Pittsburgh their second postseason division loss they'll finally beat a Mahomes-led Chiefs before their trip to Tampa.

Tampa Bay has the defense to stop Lamar but they have Brady who's afraid of Baltimore.  Ravens can win, but not by destroying them I don't think.  Packers have Aaron Rodgers, who hasn't lost to Baltimore and can roll against the Ravens or anybody in the AFC.  Green Bay's defense is questionable.  New Orleans would be the only other team I could see knock off Baltimore, but I don't know/think they'll get there.  Everyone else in the NFC is totally getting destroyed by the Ravens if they emerge from the AFC.

 

We pretty much agree RE: Giants, Cowboys, Eagles, and Washington.  New York has to win more.  Though they did lose Barkley.  Philly can't play for a tie, and they probably could've won against Baltimore or Cleveland.  They all of a sudden, they could've played for the NFC East.  The Cowboys. Finally, Washington is a great story, and while I couldn't care less for its owner, they have leaders in Alex Smith and Ron Rivera, both of whom fought adversity.  They'll probably get killed in front of everybody but I don't see them quitting until 3 zeros show up post 4th quarter.  Didn't agree with the tanking/resting comparison as it relates to Pittsburgh or Kansas City, but other than that, I'm happy to see Washington get there this year

Edited January 6, 2021 by Carey
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