National Football League

[Alpe d'Huez]

I am not a doctor but if you have seen over 100 Derek Carr games you almost certainly have PTSD!!

Been a Raiders fan for decades. He started some 125 games for the team. I watch football.

JaWalrus Russell gave me PTSD. And it killed Al Davis.

What a coaching nightmare for Philadelphia!! Your up front guys can't do the job, start putting in linebackers who are better at run defense..

It will be interesting to see how, if, the Eagles can stop Kamara, Williams, and at times Hill running the ball.

Jalen Carter was benched last week for being late to practice. Curious how he does because he had character issues in college.

The "projected year-1 starter" comes from the rankings of the NFL draft prospect data base, which is like the "Bible" for ranking draft prospects. I'm not saying it's the Word of God because these so called "expert scouts" that compile the data & assign a ranking number get it wrong more often than not (image that. Lol).

Definitely not written by the Apostles.

And it's not just at the top end where they get it wrong, but at the bottom end of the prospects as well. For example, Purdy was given prospect score of only 5.57 which translates to "Priority Undrafted Free Agent" How did they blow this one? Lol

Here's Aaron Donald. Just 5.9. "Average back-up, or special teamer."

Remember Greg Robinson? 7.0. "Pro Bowl Talent!" Drafted #2 overall). Lasted a couple years on the bench, before becoming a drug dealer.

Getting back to Young, I'm trying to figure out why he's struggled so bad...

Another good article in The Atlantic. Normally behind a firewall too. Let me know if the link doesn't work.

Here's the previous article that was behind a firewall. Poor Bryce.

One thing I'll say is I think the combine numbers were bloated. I think he's really 5'9", and maybe 185. He likely downed a gallon of or more water and put a lead cup in his jock when they weighed him, and visited a chiropractor and ballet teacher the day before to inch his height up. The kid is just tiny.

As I posted before, JTO does a terrific job of breaking down all the problems he has on his YT Channel. Footwork, not seeing over the line, moving to see through or around it, having to jump to make throws, not nearly as accurate as people thought, playing timid, etc.

 

[movingtarget]

They take on the Eagles. So I doubt it. But I still think they will move the ball, and I think they will win at home. But like 27-20. The Eagles are going to have to find a way to stop the outside run, get pressure on Carr with 4, maybe 5 guys, while taking away short-mid throws. It won't be easy.

I've seen over 100 games of Derek Carr, and he works best in a play action system with a decent running game, where he can let the ball rip on quick decisions. His arm is also strong enough to make any throw, anywhere, and he's fairly accurate deep. This is the system he is in now. He's at his worst when expected to move around, extend plays, make a play happen. And if nothing there, just check it down, which is somewhat of a "trap" he can get caught in, and frustrates him, visibly so. He's not Lamar Jackson. He's not even (the old) Russell Wilson in this regard, and never will be. But Saints new OC Klint Kubiak doesn't run that playbook, and is making the absolute most of his strengths.

As the season progresses I'm curious how the Saints OL holds up (weren't so good last year) and how their D does in close games. They might be fine on the latter. HC Dennis Allen is a pure defensive coach, a long-time DC. He's made it to HC because his players like him, his positive attitude. Now he doesn't have to worry about the offense, he just handed those keys to Kubiak, which also helps the Saints.

Seems Kubiak picked up a lot from Shanahan.

 

[Unchained]

Aaron Rodgers looked good, Jets looked decent all around. I just kept waiting for a decent coach or quarterback to jog out of the tunnel for the Patriots. New England really not able to do anything right including at least play w some semi confidence.

And just to nitpick..Madison Square Garden is not a very big structure, certainly not tall ,can't be seen from New Jersey.. Grand Central Station.. Fairly big place, not tall by city standards, can't be seen from Meadowlands..
I am not sure if you can see the Empire State Building from Met Life but I doubt it.. and maybe, just maybe you can see Freedom Tower from where the fake misnamed New Jets and Giants play in New Jersey... Only one New York team...Buffalo Bills..
The New Jersey Jets had a good game last night in New Jersey.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Jets kicked the snot out of the Patriots. They have to hope they keep playing like this once they get to the better teams. Rodgers looked a lot better last night compared to the first two games.

 

[Nomad]

One thing I'll say is I think the combine numbers were bloated. I think he's really 5'9", and maybe 185. He likely downed a gallon of or more water and put a lead cup in his jock when they weighed him, and visited a chiropractor and ballet teacher the day before to inch his height up. The kid is just tiny.

Usually the combine numbers are pretty accurate - no footwear & a workout shirt/shorts. His numbers show 5'10 1/8" & 204 lbs. Murray's numbers were basically identical at the exact same height & 207 lbs.

Nonetheless, there's hardly any 5'10" & under QBs to ever have played the game. Other than Murray, there's Doug Flutie at 5'10" but a lightweight at 180 lbs. He had stints with the CFL, USFL & NFL but fluctuated as a starter on several teams over 9 seasons (now he looked tiny out on the field. Lol).

But at least Young is bigger than the shortest QB ever - Little Eddy LeBaron at 5'7", 168 who played for a couple of teams in the 1950s (Rookie of the year, 4 x Pro Bowl, Commander's Ring of Fame). I guess you'd call this guy a diminutive dynasty? Lol

 

[Nomad]

Two picks can get you target tested. Lol

Buffalo Bills Cornerback hit with NFL Drug Test Immediately after Two Interception Game

The National Football League appears to be skeptical of the Buffalo Bills' hot start to the season. The team is already rolling, moving to 2-0 after blowing out

buffalowdown.com

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Let's put it this way, I'll be surprised if Bryce Young ever becomes more than a routine starter in the NFL, at best. He's more likely to be a career back-up. I also think unless Dalton really flops, or gets hurt, there's a good chance Bryce won't see the field again this season, unless it's garbage time. All his college accolades (on a stacked Alabama team playing against mostly weak competition) hasn't amounted to anything, and I doubt it ever really will. I can see the year 2028 or so, he'll take the field as a back-up and some fans will go, "oh yeah, that little guy. Let's see how he does." And he'll play average, but still be too small.

I'm surprised how badly the Patriots were beat at the line of scrimmage, both sides of the ball, but especially on offense. Hardly the same team that held their own against the Bengals.

On the flip side, this is probably the best win for the Jets in a decade. The first time since the early days of Rex Ryan they looked like a team that can consistently win games. Let's find out how they do against better competition, and if Rodgers can stay healthy.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

And just to nitpick..Madison Square Garden is not a very big structure, certainly not tall ,can't be seen from New Jersey.. Grand Central Station.. Fairly big place, not tall by city standards, can't be seen from Meadowlands..
I am not sure if you can see the Empire State Building from Met Life but I doubt it.. and maybe, just maybe you can see Freedom Tower from where the fake misnamed New Jets and Giants play in New Jersey... Only one New York team...Buffalo Bills..
The New Jersey Jets had a good game last night in New Jersey.

As someone who used to live in the northeast and has been to The City many times, I'll play...

MSG isn't tall, and it's surrounded by other buildings, but it's still iconic because of its history. Did you know it's actually round on the outside? Shouldn't it be Madison Round Building?! Also, did you know the original, glorious Penn Station was on that very spot? Well, it still mostly is, but underground. It's new building is across the street in the old post office. But that lacks the beauty and frosted skylights and marble of the old Penn. I remember standing right outside MSG and thinking, "wow, Muhammad Ali fought Joe Frazier right in this building. Led Zeppelin played here, so did John Lennon..."

Grand Central isn't very tall indeed. But it's even more famous, and beautiful. That area is busy, you can walk right past it, even though there are like 20 ways to enter/exit. Been there many times, took the same photos many others have. People line up there all the time to do the same. Right across the street from the Pan Am, I mean Met Life building. You most certainly can see the Empire State Building from the Met Life building. Well, that area. If on the sidewalk you'd have to peek around a few buildings. But it's just blocks away!

The Freedom Tower is much further south. You'll want to have your private helicopter land on top of Met Life to see it. Or go to the viewing platform on top of the Empire State Building. Midtown (this area) and Downtown are not walking distance, really, a long 3 mile walk, one way. I forget which subway to take, but the subway system is easier to figure out than people realize.

I've never been to the Meadowlands, I mean Met Life stadium. Drove by it many times to work in Newark. That whole area is a quirky dump. The west is an old industrial wasteland. West has lots of township boroughs on the NJ side between the stadium and the Hudson, working class, working poor in the past. Union City, Hooboken, Weehawken, Fake New..., I mean West New York. It all looks a lot like Brooklyn, without the history. No Brooklyn Bridge, no Navy Yard, no Coney Island, No Brooklyn Dodgers, no Son of Sam. Nothing happens in New Jersey.

Buffalo? Now that's like another state. A whole 'nother part of the country.

First visited NYC in 1998. It was transitioning at that time, cleaning up, getting safer, and I fell in love with all of it. The rusty parts, and the parts freshly cleaned. If I had the cash I'd go back to tomorrow and spend a few weeks there just hanging. I might even go to a football game. One in New Jersey I mean.

 

[movingtarget]

Rams without Kupp, Nacua and some O line v the 49ers without CMC, Kittle and Deebo. Rams will be desperate to not drop to 0-3. While the 49ers will want to atone for the sloppy performance against the Vikings.

Ravens will also want to avoid dropping to 0-3 . Have no idea why the Ravens haven't been running Henry more often. Now they have to beat the Cowboys at home who got blasted by the Saints last week. Jaguars and Bengals also need a win. Bengals are probably the more likely winners with the Bills probably too good for the Jags.

Other interesting games include the Saints v Eagles, Vikings v Texans plus Detroit v Arizona and Hawks v Miami.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Teams that start 3-0 have a very good chance of making the playoffs. If they play just .500 ball, they still go 10-7. Teams that can do this include Houston and Minnesota, who play each other. Chargers at Steelers too. A few other teams on that cusp. Seattle, KC, Buffalo, TB.

If you flip it around, out of 162 teams that started 0-3 since 1990, only four made the playoffs. That's it. The Ravens must win, at Dallas, to avoid this. Jacksonville must do the same, in Buffalo. Bengals cannot lose to the Commanders.

A little history here. After going 13-3 and barely losing in the playoffs in 2008 on a bad call, the following year the Titans started 0-6, with some shocking losses. They then rallied to win the next 7 out of 8 games. Only Peyton Manning and the Colts could beat them. A late season loss to the Rivers/Tomlinson Chargers did them in.

MIA@SEA, and CAR@LV have the makings of "trap" games. Home team, looking good, loses to a back-up qb. It's happened many times.

 

[Unchained]

I really hope that Nomad writes some broken glass about Herbert being a bust and being marshmallow soft, w toe injury keeping him off the field so I can give it a double, triple thumbs up!!

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Steelers just ground the Chargers down to nothing. "Marshmallow Toes" Herbert or not.

Eagles-Saints like a playoff game. The last forced int by Carr was exactly what I was talking about that he can't do.

Who here had the Vikings starting 3-0, and blowing out the Texans? Sam Darnold playing better than anyone ever thought he ever would. JJ who?

Denver's D was downright impressive! Nix looked good too. Deshaun Watson sucks, but their entire O struggled against a weak NY team. Is Caleb Williams really any good? He hasn't shown much at all. Colts did okay, but looked like a lot of injuries in that game.

In one single drive, Andy Dalton accomplished more than Bryce Young has in over a year.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Dolphins season is over honestly. Straight pitiful the last two weeks. Team has no direction, and they still can’t take being ruffed up.

Panthers look like they made the right choice changing to Dalton. Chargers, Bucs, and Browns were disappointing. Vikings with a good win Lions and Ravens look like they’ll win. Niners can’t lose this game to Rams after it’s tied up when they were winning.

 

[movingtarget]

Dolphins season is over honestly. Straight pitiful the last two weeks. Team has no direction, and they still can’t take being ruffed up.

Panthers look like they made the right choice changing to Dalton. Chargers, Bucs, and Browns were disappointing. Vikings with a good win Lions and Ravens look like they’ll win. Niners can’t lose this game to Rams after it’s tied up when they were winning.

Yes not looking good for Miami, 49ers finding ways to lose games it seems. If they can't beat the Patriots next week they are in trouble. 49ers Defense took 27 points from the Rams B grade offense. Jennings had a career game and they still couldn't win. Drops, penalties and poor defense cost them.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Considering how good SF looked in week 1, it's astounding how they lacked the energy to finish drives, even finish the game. They had the Rams beat, several times, but just folded. 49ers now in last place.

I think Miami does indeed look done. Seattle looks good at 3-0, but the Dolphins just looked empty.

The Raven-Dallas game wasn't as close as the score seemed. Baltimore dominated most of the game. Dak is good in garbage time. Cowboys look like they are in trouble.

Raiders however get the worst effort of the year award. An incredibly pathetic, embarrassing performance. Had their asses handed to them by the worst team in the league.

Chiefs win again. 3-0. None are crazy impressive wins, but they did this the last two years too.

Seattle, Minnesota, Pittsburgh are three teams I wouldn't want to play about now. All playing aggressive, tough, smart coaching, smart playing, good in the trenches, tough on D.

 

[movingtarget]

Seems like the year sitting behind Purdy hasn't harmed Darnold and he is beating good teams. Surprised by the Giants and Denver wins. The win by the beaten up Rams should get them back on track. Raiders loss was a shocker but that's the NFL week to week. Even the worst teams can win. At this rate the Patriots should be able to draft a quality QB next draft or one that looks like he will be quality...........

 

[BullsFan22]

Seahawks have held their first 3 opponents to under 150 total yards. First time a team has done that since the 1979 Steelers.

Seattle’s defense in the red zone and 3rd down was clutch, even if it was against the Dolphins. I don’t know if it’s the LOB 2.0, but it’s looking solid to start the season. The offense has its ups and downs (a weak OL has something to do with it), but I think they’ll figure it out to be more consistent. Interesting game coming up against the Lions. Hawks haven’t lost to the Lions in last 6 games (including the January 2017 divisional ). I like their chances in that one, though this will clearly be their toughest test so far.

 

[movingtarget]

Happy Panthers

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNF7F0aeflA&pp=ygUIcGFudGhlcnM%3D

 

[jmdirt]

SEA with the win...3-0! Sloppy game, but a win is a win.

MIN/Darnold!
DEN/Nix!
CAR/Dalton!
GB/Willis! QB battle in GB?

Sloppy night game, but KC found a way to win.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Carolina are the worst team in the league with Bryce Young at QB but quite a different proposition with Dalton and may not be out of contention for that division.

 

[Unchained]

Carolina are the worst team in the league with Bryce Young at QB but quite a different proposition with Dalton and may not be out of contention for that division.

Wow harsh on Carolina w looks from Chargers and Patriots who could have been beat by decent high school team w second string quarterbacks on the field. Can't say enough about injuries, many teams are an injury or two away from total disaster.. Patriots were so bad should consider refunding part or all of ticket price or hand out paper bags and wrist bands for unlimited free beer. Chargers should tape barf bags on all seats in the event there is a toe event.

 

[Sciatic]

Seahawks have held their first 3 opponents to under 150 total yards. First time a team has done that since the 1979 Steelers.

Seattle’s defense in the red zone and 3rd down was clutch, even if it was against the Dolphins. I don’t know if it’s the LOB 2.0, but it’s looking solid to start the season. The offense has its ups and downs (a weak OL has something to do with it), but I think they’ll figure it out to be more consistent. Interesting game coming up against the Lions. Hawks haven’t lost to the Lions in last 6 games (including the January 2017 divisional ). I like their chances in that one, though this will clearly be their toughest test so far.

A lot will depend upon whether L. Williams is fully fit to play. He anchors the line against runs in a way the Seahawks haven’t had in a very long time.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Carolina are the worst team in the league with Bryce Young at QB but quite a different proposition with Dalton and may not be out of contention for that division.

I watched that whole game. Dalton and the Panthers played good. But what really happened is the Raiders were downright awful. Horrible coaching, horrible gameplan. Bad tackling, dumb penalties. Borderline lazy play. Several players admitted the Panthers came to play, and they expected to easily beat them anyway. It's shocking how poorly prepared they were heading into the game. Bryce Young would have beat this Raider team.

 

[Nomad]

Who here had the Vikings starting 3-0, and blowing out the Texans? Sam Darnold playing better than anyone ever thought he ever would. JJ who?

Denver's D was downright impressive! Nix looked good too. Deshaun Watson sucks, but their entire O struggled against a weak NY team. Is Caleb Williams really any good? He hasn't shown much at all. Colts did okay, but looked like a lot of injuries in that game.

In one single drive, Andy Dalton accomplished more than Bryce Young has in over a year.

Definitely impressive start for the Vikings. Darnold threw for 4 TDs. But it's too early to pencil them in as a playoff team. There's a lot of football left with these marathon seasons now. Let's see how they do against the likes of Detroit & GB. Let's see what they look like come December. I will say Darnold has lady luck on his side - he dodge a bullet on the knee injury yesterday. MRI showed no structural damage & officially it's a bruise - probable vs Packers.

I was surprised the Broncos won on the road vs TB. Missed the game, so I'll have to catch some highlights. But I wonder if TB took them lightly? Did Mayfield stay out too late the night before & not take the Broncos seriously? Lol

How about those Chiefs getting it done on the road & staying undefeated. Bolden's game winning tackle stuffing the runner on 4th & inches ruining an upset win by Cousins. And the Man of Steele's debut as a starter was impressive: 74 yds on 4.3 average, no fumbles & several YAC. Total team rushing was 128 yds. I'm sure RB coach Todd Pinkston is all smiles & earned his pay for the week

 

[Nomad]

Carolina are the worst team in the league with Bryce Young at QB but quite a different proposition with Dalton and may not be out of contention for that division.

I wouldn't get too excited about that win & think Carolina is all of a sudden in contention for the division title. You're talking Dalton here. Lol. A 36 yr old journeyman backup who's been with 4 teams in the last 5 seasons (DAL/CHI/NO/CAR). There's a reason why he's not a starter in the league. In 14 seasons, most as a starter with the Bengals, he's a 0-4 in the playoffs. The future for the Panthers is not Andy Dalton.