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Alpe d'Huez

Alpe d'Huez

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What I noticed in the HOF game:

Both teams have some depth at QB. Rypien played surprisingly well for Chicago, and Bagent looked decent too. On Houston's side you can easily see why both Mills and Keenum were starters in this league at some point. Both looked poised. Keenum had a pretty good career actually, one stellar season with the Vikings. I like everything about Houston actually. Even if Stroud regresses a little (doubt it), they are in a great position to win 11 or more games and sail into the playoffs.

This spring the UFL had the choice between going with the USFL kickoff (all kickoffs from the 20 yard line, guys have to line up in a certain way to prevent high speed collisions), and the XFL kickoff, which is what the NFL chose and you saw last night. Considering how, to me at least, these new NFL/XFL kickoffs don't really seem any safer as you may have witnessed last night, you can see why the UFL decided to not use the XFL kickoff, and instead go with the USFL kickoff.

Having said this, a kicker in the UFL tried to make a tackle after getting up to full speed and fractured a vertebra in his neck. So it's still going to be football.
 
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SHAD0W93

SHAD0W93

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Alpe d'Huez

Alpe d'Huez

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After the draft, and when Receiver was on Netflix and they did a great job making it look like Davonte Adams wanted out of Vegas (and to the Jets is my guess), some people were concluding the Raiders QB situation was so bad they needed to sign Tannehill.

Yes, people thought this. Some still do.

I'm not saying the Raiders are going to go 17-0 and win the SB, but considering most "experts" have them at 6-11 (worse than with McDaniels and Garappolo), and mostly because in their minds the team has the worst QB room in the NFL. Okay, sure. Same "experts" who year over year have the Chargers contending with the Chiefs for the division. Some are saying it this year, the combination of Herbert, now finally having a real coach in Harbaugh, they are going to light the league up. Right.

In honesty, I can see both teams fighting to finish about 9-8. A few bounces, injuries, etc. could swing things a game or two, maybe.
 
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Nomad

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When it comes to the AFC West there's only two conclusions I can reach with any degree of certainty: 1) The Chiefs win the division & 2) The Broncos finish last.

I think everyone here agrees the Chiefs will win the division - no brainer. The Broncos of course will be breaking in a new QB. Though I don't think Nix with have a disastrous rookie year similar to what Young experienced last year, I don't believe he'll have a Stroud "rookie of the year" type season either. I think the expectations for Nix to lead the Broncos to the promised land & make the playoffs hinges on the 2025 season. This year will simply be on-the-job training for Nix where expectations shouldn't be high.

As for the Raiders, can Minshew or O'Connell lead them to the promised land? One thing is for certain - whomever is at the helm better figure a way to get the ball to Bowers. He's one of the best pass-catching TEs to come around in a long time (basically a "Megatron" receiver playing TE).

I have no comment on the Chargers because I've already concluded that Herbert is a bust, and I don't think Harbaugh will make any difference. And now Herbert has a plantar fasciitis injury & will miss most of preseason camp. Lol. This is the exact same injury that Peyton Manning sustained in preseason camp during the 2015 season. He tried playing through it but eventually reaggravated it with a tear mid-season where Osweiler played out the remainder of the season.
 
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SHAD0W93

SHAD0W93

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My early preseason picks are for the division win first and the teams that could make the wildcard:
AFCE Bills, Dolphins
AFCN Bengals, Ravens, Browns, Steelers
AFCS Texans, Jags, Colts
AFCW Chiefs, Chargers
NFCE Cowboys, Eagles
NFCN Lions, Packers, Bears
NFCS Buccaneers
NFCW Niners, Rams, Seahawks

I think Chiefs or Bengals and Lions will be the one seeds. AFC playoffs; Bills, Chiefs, Bengals, Texans, Dolphins, Chargers, and Ravens though any in AFCN can make it and three teams in the south can make it. NFC playoffs; Lions, Cowboys, Eagles, Bucs, Niners, Packers, and Rams.

Super Bowl will most likely have Bills, Chiefs, or Bengals vs Lions, Niners, or Packers. Hoping for a Dolphins vs Lions Super Bowl. If Chiefs offense plays like we think they will Mahomes wins MVP.
 
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www.espn.com

Calf injury to keep McCaffrey out for preseason

Christian McCaffrey has a calf injury that will likely keep him out for a couple of weeks of practice and the preseason.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

I doubt he would have played much in the preseason games anyway. I think the bigger concern here is that the injury doesn't turn into a chronic situation that lingers during the season. Or worse yet, he tears the calf by coming back too soon.

The 9ers better treat this one carefully, they can not afford to lose someone of his caliber.
 
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Alpe d'Huez

Alpe d'Huez

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Nomad said:
As for the Raiders, can Minshew or O'Connell lead them to the promised land? One thing is for certain - whomever is at the helm better figure a way to get the ball to Bowers. He's one of the best pass-catching TEs to come around in a long time (basically a "Megatron" receiver playing TE).
Click to expand...
People are wondering what the Raiders will do with their passing game. I keep saying it's simple. The QB has this progression to go through: Adams, Bowers, Myers, dirt. If there's enough time after looking at Myers, then look back at the others. If any guy is close to being open, let it rip. If none are, throw it in the dirt. There will also be occasional fly patterns with Tucker, especially if matched against a safety. That's it. Simple. Basically get the ball to Adams or Bowers, and sometimes Myers.
Nomad said:
I have no comment on the Chargers because I've already concluded that Herbert is a bust..
Click to expand...
I'm fairly critical of the guy, I have said many times he's grossly overpaid, and overhyped, but a bust still seems like a real stretch to me. But this really will be the season where we find out if he's actually good (some people are expecting "great" with Harbaugh), or he's pretty much the same guy he's always been, sans for about 10 games (sub average). If he really doesn't show any improvement at all, then you are definitely right about the "bust" label.
SHAD0W93 said:
Super Bowl will most likely have Bills, Chiefs, or Bengals vs Lions, Niners, or Packers. Hoping for a Dolphins vs Lions Super Bowl. If Chiefs offense plays like we think they will Mahomes wins MVP.
Click to expand...
You're taking a flyer on the Bills. They lost several players, but the layers of talent do seem there. I think this is the season the Dolphins take at least their division.

I think the Falcons will push Tampa in the NFCS. But they will do it mostly with defense.

The Bengals are still a huge question mark. On paper they have what it takes to win the SB. They are just stacked. IF Burrow stay healthy.

I think the Chiefs offense will be a bit better, and their D not quite as good. Still, they will easily win their division, and playoff games. As good as guess as any to win the SB.

I like the Lions chances in the NFC a lot. What they lost in the off-season, they were able to fill. And that team is on a mission.

I think Dak will take a small step back this coming season, but still play quite well, making the decision for the Cowboys what to do with him even more difficult.

I think Bryce Young will have a better season, but not great, and Carolina will still be pretty bad. Washington will also not be good, but I'm thinking by season's end there will be optimism for their future.

I think the wheels will just about come off for the Jets, but their D will keep them in games. I can see them finishing 7-10, regardless of Rodgers, and cleaning house after the season (yet again).

I think this is a season where Derek Carr shows he's not worth what the Saints paid. He'll be sub average. If the Saints are smart, they'll spend a LOT of time looking closely at both Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler in the pre-season, and during the season, and if the season is nearly lost, start one of them instead of Carr.

This is indeed a mulligan season for the Broncos. But the ownership is going to expect to see progress, end the season on a positive note making them think their future is bright. 2025 will definitely be a "prove it" season for Payton, and Nix, and a few others. If they don't make the playoffs in 2025, Payton may be able to fire his OC, or try to find another QB, but he quite possibly could be canned.
 
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SHAD0W93

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Just 2 weeks into training camp & we're starting to see some significant injuries to key players. Brown could miss several weeks & he's got to be worried about getting hit in that area again.

Bralen Trice, the 4th LB taken in the draft & factored in as a potential starter/rotator tore his ACL. And this was after Rondale Moore sustained a season ending leg injury a few days ago in practice.

www.espn.com

Falcons put rookie OL Trice on IR with knee injury

Atlanta now has lost a second key player to a likely season-ending injury in the span of three days.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
Alpe d'Huez

Alpe d'Huez

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Steelers lost NT Breiden Fehoko for the season too. Bills lost backup QB Shane Buechele for likely a few months as well.

Preseason is somewhat junk, but there were a few good players and moments:

Both Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener looked very good for the Saints (as I predicted above!), better than Carr.

If Jim Harbaugh's high powered offense is going to change the league, he's hiding it. Either that or the Chargers are expecting Justin Herbert to bail them out of almost everything.

Bennett vs. Lance showed both badly need reps. Bennett to go from goat to hero in that game was something.

Cincy vs. Tampa was the most exciting game of the week. Joe Burrow had some nice throws.

I know some Seattle fans here, and their D looked good. They all looked on the same page.
 
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Nix's preseason debut against Indy not too bad, IMO. Stidham started & played two short series with Nix playing all of the 1st half (5 series).

Positives: Good mobility & scrambling; ran once & scrambled once throwing for a 1st downs after pocket breakdown, a 1st down run on a designed outside sweep out of spread, a precision short TD pass to Mimms, a nice accurate throw for a 1st down rolling toward his weak side throwing across his body, and Nix appeared to have a pretty good grasp of Payton's O (102 passer rating - no picks).

Negatives: A fumbled snap under center, under threw & over threw wide open receivers on two occasions, miscommunication & not seeing the field on some incompletion pass plays, and no audibles that I saw.

All in all, I'll give Nix a B+ though he played mostly against the Colt's backups. The Broncos have a joint practice with GB this week culminating with a game on Sunday. I think we'll get a better look at Nix this week as he should see action against GB's starters in the live hitting practice scrimmages and maybe some in the preseason game.
 
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That comparison came right from Payton's mouth as he had to justify taking a QB in the 1st round. That means Nix has to win at least one SB & several division titles. Time will only tell. No different with the 3 guys out there being labeled as the next "Payton Manning," the next "Brett Favre" & "Mahomes 2.0." Lol
 
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