National Football League

Page 662 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Aug 5, 2009
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So the injuries have started for the 49ers as well. Deebo has a hairline fracture of the shoulder and will miss the Vikings and Bengals games at least . Trent Williams ankle sprain doesn't sound too serious neither does CMC's side strain injury..........no broken ribs it seems. They get Mitchell back at RB and also Greenlaw at LB. Expect Flores to be dialling up the blitzes against Purdy.
 
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Thoughts on tomorrow's games:

DET@BAL - While they have been streaky, Baltimore is playing quite well and I'll take them at home. Part of me still can't quite believe in Detroit maybe.
LAV@CHI - Will anyone watch?! Two back-up QBs, and more back-up players.
CLE@INDY - Two more back up QBs going at it. Wow. Chance Watson plays though.
BUF@NE - Remember all those years the Patriots swept the Bills? More payback here.
WAS@NYG - Daniel Jones probably out. Amazingly enough, the Commanders injury list is clean!
ATL@TB - What makes this interesting is this division is basically up for the taking, and the winner of this game could take a step in that direction. Zero injuries for Atlanta as well!
PIT@LAR - This could be interesting, as both teams have played both well, and bad. But the Steelers seem a bit more stable, though the Rams more explosive.
ARI@SEA - Cards better than their 1-5 record, but Seattle needs this win.
GB@DEN - Packers chance to go 3-3 and use the stepping stone of Denver to get some momentum.
LAC@KC - Chiefs not playing as good as we'd expect, but they find ways to win games, and should win this one too.
MIA@PHI - I'll take the 'Fins here. I think they are as good as anyone in this league, and the Eagles aren't quite the same team as last year. Eagles missing 2 dBs. Ramsey out for Mia. Great video analysis from Mike Martz on regression from Hurts.

SF@MIN - As banged up as the 49ers are, they are still much better than Minnesota.

My favorite deep analysis isn't from Mike Martz though, it's JT O'Sullivan's YouTube channel. He goes into more detail than Marz, Kurt Warner, Dan Orolovsky.
 
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Detroit/Ravens and Miami/Eagles should be good contests. Think the Lions and Miami will win The Lions have a nice schedule and at the moment look like a lock to make the playoffs but I said the same about Miami last season until it went pear shaped...........

Be interested to see how Purdy goes after the torrid time the Browns gave him. Sounds like Trent Williams will be out which won't help and CMC will probably play. Expect the 49ers to use a lot of screen passes against the Flores defense.. But the Vikings defense is not the Browns and their offense has been very average so far especially without Jefferson.

Can't see the Chiefs or Bills losing. The Chargers look average and the Patriots look like bottom three in the league at the moment. Even though the Bills and Chiefs haven't been at their best so far.

Steelers and Rams could also be a good contest. Think the Rams might edge it.
 
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Colts screwed by the refs against the Browns. Two very bad calls late in the game gave the game to the Browns. But a great game by Garrett. Walker continues to be as good as Watson at QB. Tied for 2nd with the Steelers.

Speaking of debacles, the Raiders played one of the worst games in memory. Couldn't run the ball, couldn't tackle, etc. Adams whining he wanted the ball more. Well, they threw to him more, but he didn't do much, and dropped a TD. Good game for Tyler Bagent. The Raiders made him look like Brock Purdy with their lack of pressure and inability to tackle.

I can't tell if this was the real Detroit team, the perennial losers, who "should have" lost to KC and haven't beat anyone good, or Baltimore is really this good. But what a beatdown. Detroit's inability to execute anything was as bad as the Raiders. Lamar looks like the MVP right now. His ability to use his legs to keep plays alive, without just taking off and running was highly impressive.

Hard to think how bad the Bills played. They haven't looked good late on offense, and it finally bit them against a bad team. Not the same Bills team that spanked Miami. I am certain the Dolphins have Jan 7 circled on their calendar. A quick stat about Miami. At 223 points they lead the entire league in scoring by a wide margin. And they haven't even played yet this week!

Good win for Atlanta. They had two turnovers late, but still gritted out a good win over Tampa, who didn't look bad. If you have the ability to replay any games, make this one first (followed by Cleveland-Indy).

How foolish was the Chargers defensive gameplan? They were in zone most of the time, but without putting someone on Kelce or doubling him up? Easy pickings for Mahomes. Chiefs D continues to hold strong. CBS loves showing shots of Swift as bad as NBC.

Good win for Denver. They looked okay, against a bad team. The hit by Jackson on Musgrave was ugly. Vontez Burfect level of ugly.

Seattle got it done and look like a contender.

Nice job by the Steelers in a pressured game, some clutch catches by Pickens. Now 4-2, and a half game back of Baltimore.
 
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Good win for Denver. They looked okay, against a bad team. The hit by Jackson on Musgrave was ugly. Vontez Burfect level of ugly.
Great win for Denver. They looked better than okay - especially on the O. Javonte Williams looks like he's fully recovered from the major knee reconstruction. He was cutting & pivoting on the leg - and even took a couple of hits on it. 84 yds & broke couple of long runs. I think he can be a dominating RB in the league if he can avoid injuries (this was the first game that his play count restrictions were lifted).

Wilson looked much better & connected early with Sutton on some nice throws & catches, then later found Jeudy on some key 1st down catches. No picks or fumbles - a perfect game by RW. And he's still very mobile at this stage of his career - he took off on couple of nice runs for 1st downs avoiding sacks. However, the O needs get a whole hell of a lot better in the red zone - their drives are stalling out & they're settling for FGs.

Yeah...the hit by Jackson was a penalty no doubt, but DBs use to hit like that yrs ago before the league decided to start penalizing it (back in my playing days, coaches would call that "putting the wood" on a player).

As I mentioned on a previous post, this was a pivotal game for Denver if they're going to turn it around. I liked the effort & intensity they showed today. Sure...it's a lousy GB team - but a win is a win in this league. The true test is KC at home. Maybe the Broncos could catch KC in a "trap game" - get some breaks in the game & hope Mahomes & Co are off. If they could upset KC & they'll go into the bye week with a ton of confidence.
 
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To me Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are the best football commentator duo today. They do indeed pick stuff up quick, don't often make too many judgmental calls, and Aikman sticks to his job with succinct a analysis. Basically he's the exact opposite of Cris Collinsworth who will babble to no end about made-up nonsense because he's the "expert". Collinsworth is so bad I'll either listen to the radio broadcast, or listen in Spanish (nope, not fluent). My next favorite commentators are Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma. Vilma was fairly stiff when he got started (2 years ago?) but is quite good now. I'm "okay" on Tony Romo. I don't revere, nor detest him, like others.
I'll take Kevin Harlan & Trent Green, especially Harlan who's both on TV & radio broadcasts. He has so much passion & enthusiasm in his broadcasting. And he's sharp always identifying not only the players correct name & tenure in the league, but his college & some other interesting tidbits.

And if you ever get a chance, listen to one of his radio broadcasts (usually MNF). He sets the down & distance, formation, players shifting & going in motion - and then describes the play with amazing accuracy.

Harlan also does commentary for the NBA on TNT.
 
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Dec 6, 2013
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SEA with a win. They still need to get better when they get close the the goal line. Walker is great, but the line can't block in goal line situations with the D line and LBs all coming forward. Geno has to get better at 'knowing' that 3 is better than 0. Mostly entertaining game.

PHI is stout! Entertaining game.

BAL wow!

KC is good!

Unchained: the people in the skybox asked me to tell you to leave them alone! :p
 
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This was maybe the most ugly week of the season so far, and Miami made sure to cement that. I even posted a link earlier with Mike Martz saying Hurts was running too much, and not making quick throws. Well, Hurts did fine, but it was Tua who seemed hesitant all game. Great win for the Eagles after that Jets loss.

More talk about the tush-push play in tonight's game, and I hope it's not banned, at least not unless they can show it causes injuries. I found a good article on the play and QB sneaks in general. A good read if you're curious about the play. I wondered if the Eagles had ever been stopped on it, 'cuz I don't recall it ever not working.

I'm thinking the next time the Chiefs are on TV what the league needs to do is just pay Taylor Swift to sing live for 2.5 hours and get it over with.
 
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The ugliness of some of these games also helped warm up seats for some coaches on the verge of this being their last year:
  • Brandon Staley and Josh McDaniels made real strides today giving their team owners reason to can them before the season is even over.
  • While Ron Rivera has done okay up to this point, the Commanders were flat against a bad Giants team with a backup QB, and NY turned the ball over a few times too, with Washington looking worse than everyone expected.
  • Dennis Allen has never been known as HC material, and the Saints looked so sloppy on Thursday, he can't be far behind. Carr was a big problem, but the losses will fall on Allen.
  • While Matt Eberflus Bears won today, he beat a team that is disorganized and flatlined playing an old backup QB. They may have got a bit lucky playing a QB no one had heard of. As soon as teams start to see real film on Tyson Bagent (I question his arm strength) and do enough to bring the Bears back to earth, their losing ways will fall squarely on Eberflus.
  • Frank Reich also has to be on a hotseat. He was hired for one reason and one reason only: Take rookie Bryce Young, who they gave up their future for, and make him good, and then a star. They have the worst team in the NFL, and Young looks like a potential bust. Is that harsh? Keep in mind some people were comparing Young to Patrick Mahomes. So, with an impatient, meddling owner, the losses will fall on Reich.
Apparently Belichek got some sort of extension before the season, and I not can't see the Broncos firing Payton, Denver looks like they are slowly getting better, inch by inch, even though their roster is a mess. So I think they are both safe for now, even if their teams finish in the cellar.
 
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Rams and Steelers was a good contest. Steelers defense finished on top. Rams kicker missed three kicks but only one was easy.

Ravens blew out out the Lions early and had 28 points on the board with 11 minutes to go in the second quarter. Great game by Jackson. Detroit badly missed their in form RB Montgomery.

Eagles were too solid for the Dolphins even with a few turnovers. Dolphins defense was hit and miss.

The Bills continue to be out of sorts. Jones had his best game of the season. Never know which Bills team will show up it seems.

Bears too good for the hapless Raiders. The Bears rookie QB Baigent had a nice game throwing his first TD in the NFL while the Raiders offense looked terrible. Hoyer has an awful win record since becoming a back up and is really a third string now if that. Even Adams dropped a sitter and cost them 6 points.

Crazy game of the day was the Browns/Colts game. Multiple turnovers for each team and the game was moving end to end all the time. Browns defense took a day off and the Colts are a much better team when they have a healthy Taylor back at RB. Too bad the refs got involved again late in the game. Colts fans obviously not happy.

Giants ran the Bills close last week and their defense has improved against a very average Commanders team. Hard to see Rivera getting another season at this point as the playoffs look unlikely re current performances. Taylor looked better than Jones at QB and did enough to get the Giants the win.
 
Dec 6, 2013
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This was maybe the most ugly week of the season so far, and Miami made sure to cement that. I even posted a link earlier with Mike Martz saying Hurts was running too much, and not making quick throws. Well, Hurts did fine, but it was Tua who seemed hesitant all game. Great win for the Eagles after that Jets loss.

More talk about the tush-push play in tonight's game, and I hope it's not banned, at least not unless they can show it causes injuries. I found a good article on the play and QB sneaks in general. A good read if you're curious about the play. I wondered if the Eagles had ever been stopped on it, 'cuz I don't recall it ever not working.

I'm thinking the next time the Chiefs are on TV what the league needs to do is just pay Taylor Swift to sing live for 2.5 hours and get it over with.
I really hope that the league doesn't make a hasty decision on the scrum in the name of safety especially when its not about safety.
 
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Bills had one job and couldn’t even do that.


The beginning of the game and parts of the second half had some to be excited for the Dolphins but they just got bullied by the Eagles and Hurst showed why he’s one of the best. One of the defenders jumping on top of the Tush Push sums up how dominate they are. They should rightly keep doing it and it shouldn’t be banned besides to save poor Jason K.

Glad I didn’t have to see Swift and Brittany doing their weird chicken shake repeatedly. Chargers are disappointing from what they showed last year, which can be summed up as “same ol charger”. Which could also be said about the Lions but I think they were always going to have a bad game or two but stay as the third best NFC team.


Packers, how do you let the Broncos beat you. They can only hope Love has a Rodgers type rise in his sophomore year. In a way it’s funny for Brady and Rodgers of the success being from Belichick and Lefleur’s systems but they’re not doing too hot without the HOFs. On Belichick it would be funny if he goes to the Chargers as rumored and Brady gets the part ownership of the Raiders approved so the media could have that “rivalry”.
 
Sep 5, 2016
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I missed most games.. Rode @29 mph for 10 minutes drafting a double trailer 18 wheeler hauling hay..the suction of the draft was strong enough that I was able to soft pedal often.. I made it to the group ride on time.. everything was fine got home Chargers blew 3 third down conversations in a row, didn't get a Pacheco fumble call, held KC 2 times.. Chargers down 1 touchdown, plenty of time, peeled vegetables and look up and it's 31-17 ..starting to wonder if I should have just scheduled to miss the entire game.. and seeing Herbert Subway and SoFi TV commercials made veins in my head pop out.. and Taylor Swift in a Capital One commercial and the camera cutting to her and Mahommes wife made me physically sick..I think I will go as a Charger for Halloween that will scare people..
The league needs to step in and give the LAC a couple of wins just because.. This can't be the season.. some of these games need to be replayed.. This is not fair.. Waaaaaah.waaaah
The NFL allowed the Chicago Bears to win..Chargers deserve as much.. It's a rigged system..
I am in front of the TV screaming " let's go Brandon!!! "
 
Dec 6, 2013
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Bills had one job and couldn’t even do that.


The beginning of the game and parts of the second half had some to be excited for the Dolphins but they just got bullied by the Eagles and Hurst showed why he’s one of the best. One of the defenders jumping on top of the Tush Push sums up how dominate they are. They should rightly keep doing it and it shouldn’t be banned besides to save poor Jason K.

Glad I didn’t have to see Swift and Brittany doing their weird chicken shake repeatedly. Chargers are disappointing from what they showed last year, which can be summed up as “same ol charger”. Which could also be said about the Lions but I think they were always going to have a bad game or two but stay as the third best NFC team.


Packers, how do you let the Broncos beat you. They can only hope Love has a Rodgers type rise in his sophomore year. In a way it’s funny for Brady and Rodgers of the success being from Belichick and Lefleur’s systems but they’re not doing too hot without the HOFs. On Belichick it would be funny if he goes to the Chargers as rumored and Brady gets the part ownership of the Raiders approved so the media could have that “rivalry”.
BB already extended with NE.
 
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Bears too good for the hapless Raiders. The Bears rookie QB Baigent had a nice game throwing his first TD in the NFL while the Raiders offense looked terrible. Hoyer has an awful win record since becoming a back up and is really a third string now if that. Even Adams dropped a sitter and cost them 6 points.
I have to wonder how ashamed Adams was. He was whining all week that he didn't get the ball enough. So, they threw at him, 12 times. And he caught 7 passes, rarely doing anything with the ball after he caught it. He played as bad as the rest of the team and should own it.

If I were the Raiders I would release Hoyer, and immediately ask him if he's interested in being an assistant QB coach. I said before he was signed to be a coach in pads as much as anything. Just remove the pads and get it over with. He just doesn't have it anymore. I'd promote O'Connell to 2nd string, and re-sign Chase Garbers, who was 3rd string rookie last year and actually played better than Hoyer when he's seen the ball. That's how bad Hoyer looked, and I actually like the guy (just not as a player anymore). But the entire Raider team looked terrible. Worse than Detroit without question. As bad as the Chargers (see my previous post on which coaches are top picks to be fired).

At least the Chargers lost to the Chiefs, who played good, because they are good. But the Chargers looked terrible most of the game, period. Painfully bad at times. On paper they have a good roster, and just paid their QB a zillion dollars because at times he looks great. But they are just an ugly team to watch right now. Just search across the web, lots of Charger fans about ready to jump off a bridge and get it over with.

Detroit didn't play as bad as the Raiders or Chargers, they just didn't have an answer for Lamar. I think they planned on him running more than he did and keeping him from doing so, but the Ravens beat them with Lamar's arm, ability to keep plays alive, and their RBs. Also, on D the Ravens clogged the line of scrimmage and took away the Lions run game, and with that, much of the quick passing game. The Lions just didn't adapt at all. It's like they never got out of first gear and by the time they looked up it was 28-0. They had their butt kicked, but they didn't look like a terrible team honestly. Considering they play the Raiders next week, at home, I fully expect them to rebound.

Article from SB Nation saying Cleveland's trade (and contract) for Deshaun Watson is the worst in history. From the moment this trade and sign was done I said it was a total disaster for Cleveland, but even I didn't think a year later it could be considered the worst in history, but maybe it will be.
 
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  • Frank Reich also has to be on a hotseat. He was hired for one reason and one reason only: Take rookie Bryce Young, who they gave up their future for, and make him good, and then a star. They have the worst team in the NFL, and Young looks like a potential bust. Is that harsh? Keep in mind some people were comparing Young to Patrick Mahomes. So, with an impatient, meddling owner, the losses will fall on Reich.
Yeah...and they were also comparing Young to Brees & Broadway Joe.  Lol

But they're paying him 37 mil with a signing bonus of 24 mil! Young could walk away from the game as a very rich man - invest that money wisely & never have to work another day in his life living a very affluent lifestyle.

Why these owners continue to throw huge $$$ at these highly-drafted, overrated QBs is beyond me. FFS, these guys haven't proven themselves one bit! Just because these scouts compare these "college kids" to the likes of Mahomes, Brees, Brady, Manning, etc - these owners go crazy with their checkbook & hand out these absurd signing bonuses when these guys having done jacksh*t in the league yet!

Take the situation with Will Levis. Drafted as the 2nd player in the 2nd rd (33), the Titans generously gaved him a 9.4 mil contract with a 3.9 mil signing bonus! And he's the 3rd string QB behind backup Willis! Lol. What a joke - they're paying a guy 9.4 mil with 3.9 signing bonus to run the scout team O. Lol. (does Levis even suit up for the games or he listed as one of the inactives?). And I'm hearing Levis is about as ready to be a starter in this league as Paxton Lynch was. Lol.

Contrast that with Purdy - Mr. Irrelevant - who the scouts thought was a chump & would be lucky to make a practice squad. Lol. Now he's likely the franchise QB for SF making 900k a year with a measly $77k signing bonus. And the poor guy can't even afford his own place in downtown SF: Lol.

 
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Great post! I've been saying similar about owners and GM's falling in love with NCAA quarterbacks for some years. They see a guy who has never failed in the NFL, and their minds go crazy thinking he'll quickly do the same thing in the NFL.

Some simple math. If Young went out and blew $4m overnight, leaving him with $20m. He could put that money into a variety of municipal bonds, which yield about 3.5%. These units are extremely stable, plus they are not subject to taxes. His take home pay? $700,000 per year, tax free. And the $20m is still his, just sitting there making him money.

Levis has been hurt since the preseason to some degree with a left quad strain. He was supposed to be out about 2 weeks, but I think they put him on IR. Why IR? If you go back and watch clips of him and read up, there were real concerns about his accuracy, and his decision making adjusting to the NFL. His arm strength is without question, huge. But so was Jim Druckenmiller, Jamarcus Russell, etc. He's unofficially a project at this point. I think he's off IR now, but even though Ryan Tannehill has a high ankle sprain, he says he's going to play. Keep in mind Tannehill had the same sprain last year that was reportedly worse than what Mahomes was dealing with, and Ryan still played. I don't think Tannehill fears Levis, at all, I think he believes his team needs him. Some fans want to see Levis, but I think that would be a real mistake and the Titans must believe the same. I'm not saying he's a guaranteed bust, or the next Logan Thomas or Terrell Pryor, both of whom successfully converted to TE, but don't expect to see much from Levis this year, and maybe not next. Unlike Wilson in NY, or maybe even O'Connell in Vegas, who seem to grasp the game but really need snaps. Levis needs months to practice before he gets snaps in a game that means anything at all. That's just my thought/guess.
 
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I missed most games.. Rode @29 mph for 10 minutes drafting a double trailer 18 wheeler hauling hay..the suction of the draft was strong enough that I was able to soft pedal often.. I made it to the group ride on time.. everything was fine got home Chargers blew 3 third down conversations in a row, didn't get a Pacheco fumble call, held KC 2 times.. Chargers down 1 touchdown, plenty of time, peeled vegetables and look up and it's 31-17 ..starting to wonder if I should have just scheduled to miss the entire game.. and seeing Herbert Subway and SoFi TV commercials made veins in my head pop out.. and Taylor Swift in a Capital One commercial and the camera cutting to her and Mahommes wife made me physically sick..I think I will go as a Charger for Halloween that will scare people..
The league needs to step in and give the LAC a couple of wins just because.. This can't be the season.. some of these games need to be replayed.. This is not fair.. Waaaaaah.waaaah
The NFL allowed the Chicago Bears to win..Chargers deserve as much.. It's a rigged system..
I am in front of the TV screaming " let's go Brandon!!! "
Cleveland Browns not saying a word about the refs after the past two games............
 
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Another sloppy 49ers performance. CMC fumble, Ward gets the ball stolen from his grasp . Purdy with a few picks. 49ers defense looks off. They won't beat the Bengals next week playing like that. Cousins had a good game especially on third downs. Vikings made less mistakes and their defense was good for the most part except for the ill timed blitz that let CMC stroll in for a TD. 49ers won't want to go into their bye week with another loss. Vikings O line played well. 49ers pass rush didn't do much. Purdy played pretty well but the two picks were critical especially the first one.
 
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