National Football League

[Oldman]

Hope Rivers got some guaranteed money..............

I only saw the opening minute and closing 2 minutes of game time with guests arriving for dinner. Rivers took a good hit late and from the score; managed to keep their game alive.
Seattle's coaching staff managed those last two minutes perfectly and the offense came through via Jason Mirer who managed 6 for 6 field goals. Glad I didn't see the rest of the game.

 

[Oldman]

I never thought I'd ever see Mahomes sustain a major season-ending injury. He seemed bulletproof from any major injuries all these years. It'll be a tough recovery for him & he may not be ready for the start of next season.

This Chiefs' season has been a shocker of all shockers with their complete implosion. You could make a movie on this - something along the lines of "The fall of the Chiefs' empire...How a dynasty collapsed in just one season." I don't how this team is going to want to even play their remaining 3 games.

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/lwbW8Mjs-Tk?si=VLwTsWi9RKbLCAzf

https://twitter.com/x/status/2000350945725845609

View: https://x.com/PatrickMahomes/status/2000350945725845609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2000350945725845609%7Ctwgr%5E912e6f409f9850c0469e99138f6b0dbf2eed314d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fnfl%2F2025%2F12%2F14%2Fpatrick-mahomes-injury-update-chiefs-knee%2F87765756007%2F

That hit on Mahomes, after he threw the ball away looked like it was meant to hurt him. The Tackler did not let go of his lower leg until it twisted....

 

[Potomac]

Each conference has one team that has clinched a playoff appearance, and 9 teams chasing the remaining 5 spots, and 6 teams eliminated from contention.

I think Dolphins get eliminated if they lose tonight.

 

[Unchained]

Chiefs players are dropping like flies. The calls are really favoring the Chargers strangely enough. Superman is coming back closing the gap against the Patriots.

I am not a subscriber to many conspiracy theories but refs are on the take for Kansas City Chiefs. , at home it looks even more obvious.
Not sure why referees don't use a crowd mob meter to make even calls like illegal formation, illegal motion, man down field, pass interference, off sides, just listen to angry Chief's fans and rule in their favor!

 

[Unchained]

Too many good games. Broncos and Colts on at same bar and there was yelling at TVs during final minutes. Colts loss can be blamed on lots of things but one of them is not old man Phil Rivers, guy played solid. He played with some crazy muscle memory that I didn't expect.
I am impressed by play of Minshew, into the fire immediately and the guy came to play.
Overall Chargers got lucky, even down to KC kickers having an off day.
Applause to Chargers defensive coaching staff, they made KC pay for everything, hard hits all over the field, folded Cheifs players constantly, guys laying around in pain after being body blasted by LA defenders. KC offensive line didn't play their best game.
I have listened to some crazy excuses for getting door matted but a wrist band.. That's a new one..

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/shedeur-sanders-wristband-issue-receives-164103684.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEoV7XrC6B4TiNLi2i9ykm8CgEV3yzDsz2W6zrbrADX30IZ6y24tIPyR6pqhVlKAx4qSS1r_BCbyxS5ZfrAFkf8s_QvqHqVG3auVEvaxZ-2ZKrbZeYBruclZtfQz7PVG0mmyYYfitgAYR7uTlNayc3A5D6RVetGa9v29Jv-ONAO2

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Nice game and win for JJ and the Vikings. Cowboys needed a win to stay in the playoff hunt, and again when it mattered most, Dak didn't have it. He's become a modern Warren Moon. Able to carve up defenses between the 10 yard lines. Makes extremely impressive throws...when the game isn't on the line. (Respect also to players like Tony Romo, Sonny Jurgensen and Donovan McNabb, who also played like this).

Cleveland is 6-25 the last two seasons. And 24-41 since the mega blockbuster trade and sign to get Deshaun Watson. They've had one good season since then, 2023 when their defense and Joe Flacco got them to the playoffs (so they got rid of Flacco). Does the axe fall on someone here?

I am impressed by play of Minshew, into the fire immediately and the guy came to play.

Same guy who was QB for the Raiders. A few plays he looks like a legit starting NFL quarterback. Then throws a terrible and costly interception.

 

[Unchained]

Nice game and win for JJ and the Vikings. Cowboys needed a win to stay in the playoff hunt, and again when it mattered most, Dak didn't have it. He's become a modern Warren Moon. Able to carve up defenses between the 10 yard lines. Makes extremely impressive throws...when the game isn't on the line. (Respect also to players like Tony Romo, Sonny Jurgensen and Donovan McNabb, who also played like this).

Cleveland is 6-25 the last two seasons. And 24-41 since the mega blockbuster trade and sign to get Deshaun Watson. They've had one good season since then, 2023 when their defense and Joe Flacco got them to the playoffs (so they got rid of Flacco). Does the axe fall on someone here?

Same guy who was QB for the Raiders. A few plays he looks like a legit starting NFL quarterback. Then throws a terrible and costly interception.

I can't disagree... But he warmed up for 30 seconds, took first snap from shotgun, didn't look too shaky.
Yes it was a bad throw.. He didn't call that high risk play.. Uncle Andy and staff should shoulder some of the guilt for trial by fire, 4th quarter, defense that has knocked multiple people out of the game, swarming rush..
I am trying to be positive.
I forgot what QB stepped in for Chiefs a couple of years ago and did a good job closing a game.. Old guy..
I had a feeling that Minshaw was going to blow it because of his haircut.. Mahomes has that Flashdance, mullet headband thing down to a science.. Trevor Lawrence tries but he does not really master that aerobics instructor vibe like PM.. I think that's why Brian Bosworth was in and out so fast.. Hairstyle.. I heard that is why Packers traded Matthews, hair issues. I wonder if Payton Manning ever thought about wearing a headband to cover some of his real estate..

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Blaine Gabbert? Chad Henne?

Last year Carson Wentz played once, but they were blown out by Denver in week 17 in a meaningless game. They sat nearly every starter, so not really Wentz fault.

The loss yesterday fell on Reid as much as Minshew. They were in FG range to tie the game, so you'd think Reid would have been more conservative, or told Minshew that incompletions were perfectly fine. But Minshew does have a history of some impressive play, followed by really bad decisions.

 

[SHAD0W93]

That hit on Mahomes, after he threw the ball away looked like it was meant to hurt him. The Tackler did not let go of his lower leg until it twisted....

Someone has said here repeatedly that a team should take the penalty since it’s coming and just hit Mahomes to take him out of the game. It happened and there was no penalty.

 

[Nomad]

The loss yesterday fell on Reid as much as Minshew. They were in FG range to tie the game, so you'd think Reid would have been more conservative, or told Minshew that incompletions were perfectly fine. But Minshew does have a history of some impressive play, followed by really bad decisions.

I think the loss falls entirely on Minshew's shoulders. He's a not a rookie backup or even a young backup with limited experience, but he's a veteran with 46 starts & over 1700 passes thrown. If he can't find an open receiver then just throw the ball away. Instead he tries to force a pass into a well-covered receiver...what a knucklehead.

And it's not that this guy isn't making good dough. He's got a one-year contract through the Chiefs for $1.17m with a $9k bonus for doing after practice workouts. Lol. And he's still getting $15m from the Raiders as part of the guaranteed money owed on the 2-yr/$25m contract he signed with them in 2024.

So, here's a highly-paid veteran backup that goes in the game throwing a stupid game losing pick & he probably just laughs about it.

Btw, Brady tore his ACL back in 2008 at age 31 (about the same age as Mahomes). Brady had a full-recovery & the rest is history. And I would think now 17 yrs later surgical techniques are even better.

 

[Nomad]

That hit on Mahomes, after he threw the ball away looked like it was meant to hurt him. The Tackler did not let go of his lower leg until it twisted....

Kinda does look like it. And I think the Chargers we're trying to knock certain players out of the game.

Here's a vicious hit on Rice by safety Tony Jefferson. Though it was a legal hit, it knocked Rice's mouthguard out!

 

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/jSvcb9-b3wc?si=xYmd5Gr9p0lVymIc

Here's the helmet-to-helmet cheapshot on Thornton by Jefferson that got him ejected & caused a ruckus (the league is looking at a possible suspension):

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/EBDU_aDN9Dg?si=gzP7jmGMfaEaN5q8

 

[movingtarget]

Chiefs aftermath: What does Week 15 disaster mean for Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, K.C. in 2026?

Sounds like some veterans will have to go. Think Kelce may retire. Time for a makeover.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Did you see the Chargers-Chiefs game? I ask because the play right before this JJ SS hit Jefferson with an illegal crackback block. The Chargers were upset because it could have been an additional penalty for helmet to helmet. This does not justify Jefferson's hit. It just explains what people aren't seeing. Jefferson likely saw the hit he gave as payback. I think this played into why he was ejected, as much as how hard the hit was (the crackback block was arguably a harder blow to the head).

Someone has said here repeatedly that a team should take the penalty since it’s coming and just hit Mahomes to take him out of the game. It happened and there was no penalty.

I don't think the tackle by Hand on Mahomes was dirty. I think he simply was trying to tackle him before he ran away, or out of bounds. And he got the right leg, not the left. Mahomes just stepped really bad, on a knee that was already sore. Hand could have let up, yes. But a great many players have been burned by Mahomes when they do this. This is nothing compared to Tony Siragusa flattening Rich Gannon in the AFC playoff game years ago. That was blatant and intentional, and not even flagged.

It was former Raiders coach Antonio Pierce who a said similar quote. That since Mahomes tricks players faking running out of bounds for example, and you're going to get flagged for touching him, at some point someone is likely to just get their money's worth. He didn't advocate for it, just said it could happen. But again, I don't think that's what Hand was doing. I think he was just trying to tackle Mahomes, that's it.

So, here's a highly-paid veteran backup that goes in the game throwing a stupid game losing pick & he probably just laughs about it.

He actually looked pretty despondent about it. But otherwise agree. Minshew has a long, long track record of making impressive throws, followed by a really bad one. It happened again here. Same old, same old.

Chiefs likely to re-tool if not total rebuild next year. So having Mahomes only play 12 or so games, or wear a brace for the season and be less mobile, likely won't matter much.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I thought the tackle was fine, but the Chargers were definitely coming for the Chiefs like the Texans.

Rivers Return Means 5 More Years of Health Insurance—for 10 Kids

Sunday’s start meant that Rivers couldn’t get in the Hall of Fame until 2031. It also added five years of health benefits for his family.

frontofficesports.com

Maybe an ulterior motive for Rivers coming back.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Also shows you how messed up the US healthcare system is.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Also shows you how messed up the US healthcare system is.

Might get even worse starting next year depending on what happens but not on the right track.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Kind of off topic, but yah.

Nice win for Steelers tonight. Rodgers looked very comfortable playing in the cold and wind. 23/27, to nine different targets. Pittsburgh in the drivers seat in that division. They can lose to both the Lions and Browns, and as long as they beat the Ravens, at home, in the last game of the season, they win the division. Ravens have a much harder schedule left.

 

[SHAD0W93]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2000722564444799056

View: https://x.com/RapSheet/status/2000722564444799056

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/chiefs/2025/12/15/patrick-mahomes-injury-updates-acl-surgery/87786892007/

Dolphins continuing their historic season keeping pace with the Chiefs. Usually I rather Dolphins be the higher rated seed but I think it’s better to give it to chiefs this one time.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

It appears Mahomes LCL was also torn and surgically repaired. But Andy Reid expects him to heal "quickly" (whatever that means).

Micah Parsons tore his ACL. What a huge disappointment for the Packers.

MRI confirms Packers star Micah Parsons suffered torn ACL vs. Broncos

 

[SHAD0W93]

If Vingegaard can come back like he did last year, anything is possible. It’s good he was able to do the surgery so soon and probably quick on the best possible rehab and medications. My brother in law tore his ACL in mid October and he still has to wait a couple weeks before the surgeon will do the surgery. It’ll be interesting how he plays when he comes back. If he’s just stuck to pocket passing the Chiefs need to seriously upgrade in the receiving and running department since they’ve survived so long on Mahomes’s amazing backyard and running ability. We’ve already seen them not qb sneak him anymore. If he’s not able to start week one, extremely crazy but they could throw a Hail Mary at Flacco or Rivers, or even more out there for Taysom Hill. I think Hill is the better option since he can do the crazy play designs if Mahomes is hampered scrambling around.


Then Chad Henne is the more famous backup coming in and winning for the Chiefs.

 

[Unchained]

It appears Mahomes LCL was also torn and surgically repaired. But Andy Reid expects him to heal "quickly" (whatever that means).

Micah Parsons tore his ACL. What a huge disappointment for the Packers.

MRI confirms Packers star Micah Parsons suffered torn ACL vs. Broncos

For a brief period some players, mostly with big body types were wearing a device that looked to limit the range of motion for the lower leg. Not sure if that knee joint limiter thing works. For position players NFL has decided that they don't need any body protection, many appear to be wearing shorts\ leggings combo looking pants and shoulder pads that are smaller than typical women's clothing from the 1980s.
Last nights game had a sort of aire to it..2,3 near misses of serious injuries, legs bent backwards, players from both teams in a makeshift prayer circle as down player was examined.
Who knows what can be done but the places in the human body that are connected with gristle.. Those cartilage connections get busted, broken more and more often.

 

[Nomad]

If Vingegaard can come back like he did last year, anything is possible. It’s good he was able to do the surgery so soon and probably quick on the best possible rehab and medications. My brother in law tore his ACL in mid October and he still has to wait a couple weeks before the surgeon will do the surgery. It’ll be interesting how he plays when he comes back. If he’s just stuck to pocket passing the Chiefs need to seriously upgrade in the receiving and running department since they’ve survived so long on Mahomes’s amazing backyard and running ability. We’ve already seen them not qb sneak him anymore. If he’s not able to start week one, extremely crazy but they could throw a Hail Mary at Flacco or Rivers, or even more out there for Taysom Hill. I think Hill is the better option since he can do the crazy play designs if Mahomes is hampered scrambling around.

With Mahomes being a highly mobile, out-of-pocket, scrambling QB, I wonder if he'll be the same after this knee injury? Mahomes' whole game is predicated on his out-of-pocket, off-platform throws where his legs go one way & his arm throws in another direction. He can contort his body & make crazy throws like I've never seen before. I believe I saw a stat where something like 41% of his offensive production is outside the pocket. He's the highest graded QB on plays outside the pocket. Plus he's rushed for 2665 yds over his 8 yr career.

If he was a pure pocket passer like Brady was, then I think this injury is no big deal. Brady played 15 or so yrs after his ACL reconstruction & did fine. But Mahomes is a completely different type of QB. Mahomes needs high efficiency & reliability from his legs as well as his arm. And Mahomes isn't getting any younger at 30 either.

​

 

[Nomad]

Did you see the Chargers-Chiefs game? I ask because the play right before this JJ SS hit Jefferson with an illegal crackback block. The Chargers were upset because it could have been an additional penalty for helmet to helmet. This does not justify Jefferson's hit. It just explains what people aren't seeing. Jefferson likely saw the hit he gave as payback. I think this played into why he was ejected, as much as how hard the hit was (the crackback block was arguably a harder blow to the head).

Yeah, I watched most of the game live & remember that crackback block that wasn't called. The announcers replayed it a few times questioning how the refs could miss something that obvious.

Now the vicious hit on Rice by Jefferson was clean though the fans were screaming for a flag. And of course the helmet to helmet on Thornton is what got Jefferson in trouble.

The league said they'll announce this Saturday the punishment for Jefferson. If he's suspended, that will be another blow to the Chargers.

https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/tony-jefferson-tyquan-thornton-patrick-mahomes-injury-chargers-playoffs/

 

[Nomad]

He sure doesn't need money. Lol

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/wSTyYy9EyI8?si=9VVVO4vxVC4PSH2m

 

[movingtarget]

Even with the grocery bill for 10 kids, think he can handle it..............