National Football League

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Aug 5, 2009
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Three games on Saturday:

MIN@CIN - The winner here increases their chances of making the playoffs. Well, more so for the Bengals. The Vikings D behind Brian Flores has stifled some teams of late. Will they put a damper to Browning's good story?
PIT@IND - Both teams fighting for WC spot. The Steelers have been terrible on offense with Trubisky. Indy has been scrappy.
DEN@DET - Denver also fighting for a playoff spot. The Lions have been inconsistent, but quite good at home.

Four of six teams starting back up QBs. This brings up an interesting question. Is there a GM or exec out there (Paul DePodestra in Cleveland? David Tepper?!) doing any sort of cost benefit analysis on QBs? If a QB is going to take up one sixth of your entire team's salary, and about half of the league's starting QB misses large portions of the season on average, what's the point of sinking so much money into one player? Is even Patrick Mahomes worth that? I guess if he's healthy. But even with him it may only be a matter of time. Consider this:

2023 NFL team salary cap: $224m

Joe Burrow: $55m - Out for season.
Justin Herbert: $52m - Out for season.
Lamar Jackson: $52m - Playing very well, hasn't finished a full season in a few years.
Jalen Hurts: $51m - Playing very good, may be playing hurt.
Russell Wilson: $49 - Playing okay. Seems healthy. Rarely misses games.
Kyler Murray: $47 - Just came back after missing most of the season.
Deshaun Watson: $46 - Out for the season.
Patrick Mahomes: $45 - Playing great. Seems healthy.

Go further down the list. Allen, Dak, Goff, Stafford and Carr are all mostly healthy and high paid. Rodgers, Daniel Jones, Cousins are also paid high, and out for the year. Tannehill is fairly highly paid, been hurt, and now benched.

There has to be someone out there seeing these QB injuries and wondering if it's worth the cost?
Lynch and Shanahan not saying a word......................
 
Aug 5, 2009
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All three of the Saturday games will probably be close and competitive. Tipping the Vikings, Colts and Denver. Detroit are starting to look a little bit raggedy. Vikings will miss Mattison at RB and Jefferson is questionable.

Think the Bills can stop the Cowboys run, picking Seattle to upset the Eagles. Eagles were mediocre against the 49ers and even worse against the Cowboys. Think Seattle will be able to run on the Eagles hit and miss defense. Must win for Seattle.. Think the Ravens will be too good for the Jags. Something tells me that the Patriots/Chiefs game will be an odd one and close. Chiefs just. 49ers have a ton of injuries on defense. Murray and Conner might have their chances with the run game but the Cards defense has been bad and the 49ers offense is basically full strength.Purdy and co to get it done in what might be a high scoring game.
 
Aug 13, 2011
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On the one hand I want Lions to win the division and get their act together, on the other I’m hoping for a miracle and Broncos win while Chiefs lose to make things interesting in AFCW. Same with hoping Bills have their crap together at home against Cowboys. Dolphins game will be interesting especially how they play their injured players but they should win a close game.
 
Jun 22, 2010
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The Lions haven’t been this good in a while. I want them to win the division and go for the #1 seed, if that’s still possible. They’ve kind of sputtered lately, mostly getting through in the end, but that has to be a bit worrying.
 
Mar 11, 2009
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What a gritty win for the Bengals. Love the way Browning overcame the first half struggles. This was a classic Nick Mullen performance. Several impressive throws, and a few killer bad decisions.

It's almost funny how many pundits are jumping on the Cowboys bandwagon. Saying they are on a huge roll at the right time, Dak should be MVP, etc. Many people are now riding them to at least get to the NFC championship. Even Tony Gonzalez said the other night they might be able to go into SF and beat the 49ers. All because of what? They beat a banged up, tired, worn out Eagles team at home? They've had one of the easiest schedules in the league, and the Eagles are the only team they've beat with a winning record. Now, if we come back here in three weeks and they have beaten Buffalo, Miami, and Detroit. I'll give them a chance against SF too.
 
Jun 22, 2010
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What a gritty win for the Bengals. Love the way Browning overcame the first half struggles. This was a classic Nick Mullen performance. Several impressive throws, and a few killer bad decisions.

It's almost funny how many pundits are jumping on the Cowboys bandwagon. Saying they are on a huge roll at the right time, Dak should be MVP, etc. Many people are now riding them to at least get to the NFC championship. Even Tony Gonzalez said the other night they might be able to go into SF and beat the 49ers. All because of what? They beat a banged up, tired, worn out Eagles team at home? They've had one of the easiest schedules in the league, and the Eagles are the only team they've beat with a winning record. Now, if we come back here in three weeks and they have beaten Buffalo, Miami, and Detroit. I'll give them a chance against SF too.
The thing is, a (very) mediocre Seahawks team went on the road in Dallas and was one score away from basically putting the Cowboys away in the 4th quarter. The Cowboys couldn’t really do anything on defense. Seahawks should have won that game, but the coaching staff has been more inept than not this season, and they let the Cowboys off the hook.

Dallas is a good team, but I don’t think they’re the best in the NFC, and I don’t see them beating any of the top AFC teams with that defense either.
 
CIN with the win. When Joe went down I thought that they were finished, but they could still be a 10 win team.

Great catch and body control by Higgins! Good day for Browning again.
And in other Pac 12 news; Jake Brownings adversary just helped his team's chances toward playoffs: The 'Stache abides and the Colts win. It's like the Apple Cup re-matchup would be the longest betting odds, ever.
 
Apr 20, 2016
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It's almost funny how many pundits are jumping on the Cowboys bandwagon. Saying they are on a huge roll at the right time, Dak should be MVP, etc. Many people are now riding them to at least get to the NFC championship.
Mr "Here we go" isn't anything close to being MVP. This Cowboy team with Dak can't get the past the divisional round of the playoffs. Lol. And yet Jones keeps spouting off every season that his team is going to the SB...yada...yada...yada.

The Cowboys are so overrated it's not even funny. My prediction one & done in the playoffs.
 
Mar 11, 2009
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And just like that, Detroit sends Denver crashing hard back to earth. I thought the Bronco defense would keep them in the game, but the Lions shredded them. Whomever it was that last week said all the teams to watch are in the NFC might be right.

I hate to see anyone fail, but Mitch Trubisky had a terrible game against the Colts. Last year the Steelers brought him on as a back-up, and he looked like he could fill that role okay. But this year he's gone from bad, to worse. Can't get Pickett back soon enough. I've defended Mike Tomlin for some time, but I'm starting to fear he's become "Mr. 9-7" (granted, now 17 games in a season, but I think you get my point. Is he not much more than a better version of Jeff Fisher?). Really good win for the Colts though. Fun team to watch.

I'm not surprised about Disandro being banned. From all I read he's actually not a bad guy at all. But what he did is something you can never do. I wrote about it before and why.

As to the Cowboys, there are people out there talking about their defense as well, after they stuck it to the Eagles. And how great of a job Dan Quinn has done. Even talk about Micah Parsons being DPOY. I guess we'll find out soon enough.
 
Aug 5, 2009
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And just like that, Detroit sends Denver crashing hard back to earth. I thought the Bronco defense would keep them in the game, but the Lions shredded them. Whomever it was that last week said all the teams to watch are in the NFC might be right.

I hate to see anyone fail, but Mitch Trubisky had a terrible game against the Colts. Last year the Steelers brought him on as a back-up, and he looked like he could fill that role okay. But this year he's gone from bad, to worse. Can't get Pickett back soon enough. I've defended Mike Tomlin for some time, but I'm starting to fear he's become "Mr. 9-7" (granted, now 17 games in a season, but I think you get my point. Is he not much more than a better version of Jeff Fisher?). Really good win for the Colts though. Fun team to watch.

I'm not surprised about Disandro being banned. From all I read he's actually not a bad guy at all. But what he did is something you can never do. I wrote about it before and why.

As to the Cowboys, there are people out there talking about their defense as well, after they stuck it to the Eagles. And how great of a job Dan Quinn has done. Even talk about Micah Parsons being DPOY. I guess we'll find out soon enough.
Yes it seems as though time is up for Tomlin and Bill B. They have had a good run. All the talk about the Steelers in the off season has amounted to nothing and the QB position is still a problem.
 
Aug 5, 2009
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Denver will be very disappointed with that. They couldn't stop the run and Goff was carving the defense. Denver seemed to make little adjustment on defense and Wilson didn't do much at QB. Much better game for Goff after a bad one last week. Easy win.
 
Aug 5, 2009
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Vikings game was entertaining. Some great WR play by Higgins. Usual mixed bag from Mullens while the Bengals QB had a much better second half.

Good win by the Colts. Run game worked well and Minshew had a nice game. Too many mistakes from the Steelers and also more problems getting the ball over the line in the red zone. Trubisky was mediocre.
 
Mar 11, 2009
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Thoughts on games:

CHI@CLE - I'm curious what the Browns can do to stop Fields running. Also, the Bear D has stepped up lately. How will Flacco do ?
TB@GB - Packers fell flat last week, and Baker playing well for TB. Winner better chance to make the playoffs.
NYJ@MIA - Tyreek out for Fins. Which Zach Wilson shows up for Jets? Expect Jets D to be very aggressive.
HOU@TEN - With CJ out, I like the Titans chances. Rolling with Will Levis.
KC@NE - Cold weather or not, I don't see the Pats being much of a problem for KC.
DAL@BUF - I'll take Buffalo here. Cowboys overrated.
BAL@JAX - Big game between two playoff teams. To me the Ravens are the best team in the AFC.

PHI@SEA - I think this game could be quite competitive and fun to watch.
 
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Aug 5, 2009
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Cowboys not the same against the better teams and away from home.

Packers have gone off the boil.

49ers offense get them home and win their division. Purdy, CMC and Deebo do it again.

Nice result for the Buccs. Rams still hanging on to wildcard hopes. Browns gut out another win, with injuries piling up and Flacco produces when he has to. Panthers get a win. Dolphins much too good. Texans needed that win.
 
Apr 20, 2016
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Pathetic Bronco game last night. No running game, no passing game & the D forgot to show up. Lol. Goff torches them for 5 TDs & they rush for 185 yds embarrassing the Broncos.

That being said, the Broncos have an easy last 3 games playing the Chargers & NE at home, and the Raiders on the road. The Broncos should easily win the 2 at home, but I think the Raiders game at Allegiant will be more of a challenge & they'll have to play their best football to win that one. Nonetheless, IMO, they'll need 10 wins plus some help to make the playoffs. This will be one of Payton's biggest challenges in his coaching career. He said prior to the season that the Broncos are a playoff-caliber team. They sure didn't show it last night.

Nice victory by Houston without Stroud. Impressive 4th quarter comeback by Cleveland with Flacco looking very good orchestrating the game winning FG drive --- though Mooney dropped the Hail Mary which would have won the game for the Bears.

Chiefs get a solid victory over the hapless Patriots. Lol. Receivers were catching the ball better & less turnovers than last week. Edwards-Helaire got his 2nd start and though he was ineffective in running the ball, he showed his pass catching skills by hauling in 4 passes for 60+ plus yds including this impressive grab outjumping a much taller LB in the endzone:

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/hf1pV70vwgc?si=P8OsXzeV9w3z6_IA


The Chiefs should have no problem winning their 8th division title in a row. The question is can they fix their problems on both sides of the ball & make another SB run?
 
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Chiefs had the same amount of turnovers as last week, 2, and Toney’s bobble lead to the second interception.
I missed that when I was reviewing the game/player stats. And Toney needs to catch & secure the ball.

The game shouldn't have been that close (though Reid has class having the O take a knee with over 2 mins still left instead of running up the score), but win is a win in this league.

I think if the Chiefs fix their problems, they'll get to at least the AFC championship game. The main thing is they have a healthy Mahomes. And with the Gunslinger and his ability to make things happen, anything is possible - even another SB run!

A 2-time SB MVP, a future HOF, and arguably already top-10 all-time great, Mahomes brings magic to the game that we haven't seen in a long time.

Andy Reid will probably go down as one of the greatest coaches of all-time. But all of that was only possible because of the Gunslinger.

In this league, the quarterback makes the coach - and Mahomes has put Reid on a pedestal that he wouldn't have been able to achieve without him.
 
Aug 13, 2011
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This is a great win for the Bills and a huge confidence boost. They just can’t downplay the next two games to set up a finale in Miami. Depending on how the Eagles go later this might seal the 5 seed for the Cowboys again

Dolphins with a nice bounce back win against a really good defense and without Hill. Hopefully Waddle’s injury isn’t serious though he returned to the game. The Cowboys next week will be make or break for their season. Win the game and they most likely win the division and have huge confidence for the playoffs, lose it and Bills win out will lead to a potential breakdown in their rematch against the Bills.

Bucs played well and used Godwin a lot more, to the delight of Godwin’s wife. They’re doing better than I thought before the season and have adjusted well to make up their lost ground and fix what lost them last year besides the new qb. They have the division lead and it could all come down to their Saints rematch at home.

Tough loss for the Bears but par for the course. Still in the playoff hunt crazy enough though.

Chiefs had a good bounce back win and made the proper half adjustments to pull away from the Patriots. The game plan they had for this game should be what they keep, and Toney most likely bobbled himself out of the lineup or any passes. They most likely beat the Raiders but from yesterday Raiders could be frisky and have an extra day to prepare.


Jags absolutely killing themselves right now with missed opportunities.