National Football League

[SHAD0W93]

Damn, I just found out the Bears are 6-3.

 

[Nomad]

While the Eagles won, I'm not entirely sure they're happy about how the game went.

As I said, Packers needed to get the ball moving and into the end zone, and they couldn't.

Probably not since Barkley was held to a season low 60 yds rushing & their whole running attack was neutralized. And with only 10 pts scored (season low), this is where Love needed to play better & somehow just manufacturer one scoring drive there at the end to win the game

Maybe just a bad game for him, because Love has been throwing the ball real well this year. He's kept the turnovers down with only 3 picks so far, and he's way above his career averages in completion Pct (68 vs 64) & passer rating (103 vs 96). And let's not forget he's Tier-2 described as a "Bit of gunslinger...but more consistently good than bad."

The situation with the Pack moving forward is their BRUTAL schedule: Games against NYG, Detroit, Denver, Baltimore, Chicago (twice), Minnesota (twice). It's going to be a donnybrook as they'll be going toe to toe with these teams. Should make for some exciting football to watch.

 

[Nomad]

Broncos with another win, though they have to be firing on all cylinders against the Chiefs. If the. Broncos win. I think they take the division.

What do you think of the Chargers though? They're 7-3 & just one game behind the Broncos. They still have the 2nd games against the Broncos & Chiefs, with the Bronco game the last one of the year (wouldn't that be something if that game was for the division title).

In fact, I'm surprised the Chargers have been doing so well given their horrendous injury situation: They're down to their 3rd string RB, and All-Pro stud tackles Alt & Slater are out for the year. But Herbert has risen to the occasion playing some of his best football. Unbelievably, the guy is currently #1 in QB rushing yards! (already more than last season's total). Plus he's #2 in passing yardage behind D. Jones. The guy is getting done with his arm & legs.

I'll say it again; Greg Roman was dead serious that he wants Herbert to use his athleticism & run more.

NFL Qb Rushing Yards Leaders 2025 | StatMuse

Justin Herbert has rushed for the most yards by a quarterback this season, with 324 yards.

www.statmuse.com

 

[Nomad]

Cowherd's take on Drake Maye:

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/rpJvyhz4HWo?si=cz8I3FgZMUWwtnlf

 

[Nomad]

Don't ask me who the best team in the AFC is. The USA Today guys mostly think it's the Chiefs who will prevail!

C'mon man, you must have an opinion? I personally thought it was the Patriots - but you pointed out their weak schedule which changed my mind - even with the Tampa win last week.

IMO, the Broncos are winning with luck barely squeaking by lousy teams. And Nix has regressed from the last season (if it wasn't for their defense, I think they'd be below .500).

The Bills looked like the King of the Jungle & the team to beat with that impressive shootout win over the Ravens in week #1, but the loss at home to NE, the loss to Atlanta & the crushing defeat at the hands of the hapless Dolphins has raised some concerns.

The Chargers are a badly damaged warship only staying in the battle because of Herbert & some key backups stepping up. But how much longer can Herbert keep that up? (particularly if he's running the ball a lot, his risk of injury goes up). They have a fairly tough 2nd half schedule with big games against the Eagles, Chiefs & Broncos.

Could it be the Colts? The one-two punch of Jones & Taylor? Any holes in their game?

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Colts were somewhat exposed as being this year's Vikings when they could barely do anything against the Steelers. But they immediately bounced back. They are #1 in the league in point differential. Who is next in the AFC at #5 overall? KC. Yards per play? Colts are again #1. Chiefs? 9th. Colts also #1 in yards overall, and yards per game. Their 1-2 punch is indeed impressive. I compare the two teams because the Colts play at KC in two weeks.
Which brings up a point. Chiefs really need to beat the Broncos this weekend, then also beat the Colts the following weekend. They do that, then we'll know some of their losses were just tough losses, and they are for real and maybe the team to beat in the AFC.

Ravens play Browns, Jets, Bengals, Steelers coming up. They could definitely be 9-5 at that point and in first place.

I honestly don't know what to think of the Patriots. Other than they are obviously good, and Maye really good. Vrabel has that team drilled, dialed, and motivated. And Josh McDaniels is obviously perfect for Maye.

The Bills have to show me something before I believe in them. In my 50 years of watching football, teams don't have bad losses, then just turn a switch on and win, especially when it comes to the playoffs. Tampa next on their schedule, with tough games at New England, then the Eagles late. They need to essentially win all these games.

Denver's offense needs to show me something. This is why I think they will lose to KC (other than KC desperate). I see the Chiefs grinding ahead, maybe something like 10-3, and Denver unable to ever catch up or take the lead.

I'll believe Herbert is good when I see him win a big game, or a playoff game. Until then, he's Andy Dalton, or Derek Carr (Trent Green, Sonny Jurgensen...). And if he wins just one, and it's a team win, then he folds again, he's Kirk Cousins.

 

[Potomac]

Two NFL coaches getting fired before Thanksgiving?
That's got to be the record. Unfortunately, I don't think the football statistic websites make that kind of research any easier.

And yes, best teams in the AFC is a conundrum. And when I say best team, I mean who will play in the AFC championship game.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I think it was 2021 that a third of the coaches were fired or resigned by year's end. Total bloodbath. But fired before Thanksgiving? That I don't know.

The AFC champion's hope is that the powerhouses in the NFC take each other out, or wear each other down, or a key upset happens. Basically, someone like Indy, NE, KC, need to get through the AFC unscathed, then hope something like the Lions take out the Eagles, Tampa takes out the Rams, then Tampa takes out Detroit. This leaves Mayfield with no receivers going up against the AFC team.

• Marino's 1993 Dolphins had a decent chance at beating the Cowboys who went through the Eagles and Niners to get to the SB. But the Dolphins, who had HFA, botched the AFC championship against the Bills, who were ez pickins for the Cowboys in the SB.
• After the 1996 season Denver was a powerhouse but fell completely flat against Jacksonville in the playoffs, this allowed Green Bay to take out New England.
• The following season Denver got to the SB, but may have gotten a gift when the Packers beat the 13-3 Niners in the NFC Championship. Denver was damn good this year though.
• The year after, the 15-1 Vikings lost in the NFC championship against Atlanta (who granted, finished 14-2, but with an easier schedule), and a lot of people think the Vikings would have beaten Denver.
• 2019 playoffs the Saints were screwed by the worst no-call in NFL history and should have beat the Rams. They would have been much more formidable against the Pats in the SB, where the Rams could only put up 3 points.

 

[SHAD0W93]

What do you think of the Chargers though? They're 7-3 & just one game behind the Broncos. They still have the 2nd games against the Broncos & Chiefs, with the Bronco game the last one of the year (wouldn't that be something if that game was for the division title).

In fact, I'm surprised the Chargers have been doing so well given their horrendous injury situation: They're down to their 3rd string RB, and All-Pro stud tackles Alt & Slater are out for the year. But Herbert has risen to the occasion playing some of his best football. Unbelievably, the guy is currently #1 in QB rushing yards! (already more than last season's total). Plus he's #2 in passing yardage behind D. Jones. The guy is getting done with his arm & legs.

I'll say it again; Greg Roman was dead serious that he wants Herbert to use his athleticism & run more.

NFL Qb Rushing Yards Leaders 2025 | StatMuse

Justin Herbert has rushed for the most yards by a quarterback this season, with 324 yards.

www.statmuse.com

I think they’ll charger somewhere and be the sixth seed though they have been playing well so far.

 

[Unchained]

I think they’ll charger somewhere and be the sixth seed though they have been playing well so far.

Chargers are in the top ten for rushing and the decisions that they made looked to me originally crazy, I would have kept Eckler, but I was wrong, backfield is doing ok.. No way of knowing but it sucks that Eckler has a season ending injury...KC not playing well, Denver is.. Chargers need to be more aggressive on first down and not burn plays on running as a rule. Herbert is playing well.. Hope Chargers can protect the football and keep interceptions and fumbles to a minimum for balance of the season. Chargers have a long, long ( too long) tradition of beating themselves. Defense is OK, but soft secondary constantly an issue, poor coverage, poor fundamentals with blown coverage, arm tackles, missed tackles..
They do look good so far. Harbaugh has made a difference..