National Football League

[SHAD0W93]

Yeah, the NFL has worked hard to get 3 games on Xmas going head to head with the NBA smorgasbord (5 games!). When they put the schedule together, they were counting on marquee games that had division title & playoff implications. But how would they have known that KC, Wash & Dallas all would be eliminated from postseason by this time. Lol. And I don't think they can flex Thursday games like they do with SNF?

It requires 28 days in advance to swap a Sunday and Thursday game. But they had to think they were cooking with the games that we got today.

 

[movingtarget]

Wow...Australia, I never would have guessed in a million years.

Speaking of Australia, I faithfully watch the Tour Down Under every January. I get it on Peacock streaming under the Epic Cycling series. Fun race to watch during these cold, winter months here.

Curious, is the NFL popular down there?

Cricket is the big summer sport, Rugby League and AFL are the biggest winter sports. I would say the NFL has a healthy cult following like the cycling, lots of regulars but not huge numbers compared to the other sports. NFL might be getting bigger out here viewer wise as they are holding a game in Melbourne in 26. Rams game, not sure who they are playing. God knows what the ticket prices will be !

 

[movingtarget]

I thought they were 12.5 point underdogs with the +3 for being at home, so really 15.5 underdogs?

@jmdirt #wemissyou


Though I’ve been watching less football as well this season.

Maybe I misread the points spread. 12.5 sounds more like it.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I'm sure the Rams are going to love that 15 hour flight to Oz, and back.

Three dud games today. Even the ones with close endings.

I'm not saying Denver will be one and done in the playoffs, but it's looking like either they peaked in early December, or they are this year's Chiefs. Winning several games by the skin of their teeth and a great D, when they could be about 9-6 right now.

Lions and Chiefs were the #1 seeds last year. This year both will miss the playoffs.

 

[Nomad]

Excellent points & I couldn't agree with you more. I think the Broncos are in trouble heading to the postseason. This is their 11th one-score win which is not a favorable stat to be taking into the playoffs. Payton is going to have to fix this scoring offense.

The Broncos dominated the Chiefs in almost every category; they had twice of much total yardage, twice as many 1st downs, almost twice as much TOP, and only one turnover. But they score only two TDs? Their red zone efficiency was a disappointing 50% (2/4).

Though Oladokun only threw 22 passes for less than 100 yds, I thought he looked good for a 3rd stringer thrown into the starting role at such short notice. Though he's clearly lacking in accuracy, he's mobile & athletic making a couple of nice throws off-platform. I could be wrong, but I think he's worked his way into the backup spot next season especially with the uncertainty of Minshew's injury. Of course, we'll see how he does in the season finale @ the Raiders. Alpe- I bet you're getting pumped for that game? Just think if the Raiders can get that 3rd win or 4th win of the season (depends if they beat the NYG this Sun), they probably save Carroll's job. Lol.

Am I reading this right: Minnesota beats Detroit with Max Brosmer???

 

[SHAD0W93]

This isn’t the new Lions, this is the same ol’ Lions. Disappointing season for them and a lot of it is their own doing. Goff is good but they need a replacement. Burrow going to Detroit or Minnesota would be good.

 

[Nomad]

Are they going to fire Dan Campbell? He's got a Tier 2 QB & one of the best multi-purpose RBs in the league...and he can't make the postseason? If he lost Goff or even Gibbs, I could see him staying. But both Goff & Gibbs were a 100% all year. And man did Gibbs light it up: Over 1100 yds rushing & 72 pass catches with still one more game to play (that's CMC type stats).

I'm sure Jefferson would welcome Joe Cool with open arms. But I'm thinking McCarthy would want a trade. He's kind of an arrogant young man with a chip on his shoulder. And it doesn't help matters when Jim Harbaugh calls him the best QB out of that young guns class. Lol.

 

[movingtarget]

Lions haven't really been the same since losing their coordinators. Campbell calling plays hasn't been very successful plus their injury toll but of course many teams have that problem. What looked good in the 23 season isn't looking so good now for the Lions. They have plenty of talent but missing the playoffs is a huge disappointment for them.

Terrible loss. Not the best time for the offense to implode while meeting a Flores defense and a rookie QB ! Just a mess of a game for the Lions. Van Ginkel played like a real barbarian.

Didn't see the Kansas game. Starting to think that the Denver offense might be tested in the playoffs by the more dynamic offenses. Their defense may not be enough. Same might go for the Texans. that's what makes this playoffs so interesting. There isn't one or two stand out teams like there usually is that are really strong on both sides of the ball.

 

[Potomac]

I like that the NFL plays regular season international games and I have nothing against Australia but that is literally a game too far.

2026 NFL Melbourne Game: American Football in Australia and New Zealand – NFL.com

 

[Nomad]

This isn’t the new Lions, this is the same ol’ Lions. Disappointing season for them and a lot of it is their own doing. Goff is good but they need a replacement. Burrow going to Detroit or Minnesota would be good.

That would be ill-advised to replace Goff, IMO. He's been very good this year; Currently 2nd in passing yardage, 2nd in TDs thrown & 3rd in passer rating (this will be his 4th 4000 plus throwing season in a row, and he has a league-high 96 TD passes of the past 3 seasons). He & Stafford are the only pure pocket passers left with elite arm talent. And Goff is only 31 & should some good years left.

The Lions are #1 in points scored, and if you factor out pick-6s, fumble recoveries for TDs & special team TDs, the Lions are the 2nd most prolific offense average 30.1 PPG just slightly behind the Rams at 30.5.

Can you imagine what McDaniel could have accomplished if he had Goff at the helm?

Current NFL Qb Rating Leaders | StatMuse

Matthew Stafford has the highest passer rating by an active quarterback this season, with a 112.1 rating.

www.statmuse.com

 

[movingtarget]

I like that the NFL plays regular season international games and I have nothing against Australia but that is literally a game too far.

2026 NFL Melbourne Game: American Football in Australia and New Zealand – NFL.com

Oh well they played in Germany, London, Mexico City, Brazil etc...........hopefully they do the right things by both teams with the scheduling. obviously it will be a one off and all about world marketing. They may do another one down the track sometime.

 

[SHAD0W93]

That would be ill-advised to replace Goff, IMO. He's been very good this year; Currently 2nd in passing yardage, 2nd in TDs thrown & 3rd in passer rating (this will be his 4th 4000 plus throwing season in a row, and he has a league-high 96 TD passes of the past 3 seasons). He & Stafford are the only pure pocket passers left with elite arm talent. And Goff is only 31 & should some good years left.

The Lions are #1 in points scored, and if you factor out pick-6s, fumble recoveries for TDs & special team TDs, the Lions are the 2nd most prolific offense average 30.1 PPG just slightly behind the Rams at 30.5.

Can you imagine what McDaniel could have accomplished if he had Goff at the helm?

Current NFL Qb Rating Leaders | StatMuse

Matthew Stafford has the highest passer rating by an active quarterback this season, with a 112.1 rating.

www.statmuse.com

Goff just can’t get it done reliably if he’s pressured is the issue. When everything works or breaks down in the “best way” he’s good, but as soon as it starts falling apart he plays worse. Overall he’s played well, but for the next seasons there’s better options. McDaniel would start with a better field day but the dolphins would have the same issue of once the opposing team gets physical, their offense falls apart. Now McDaniel as the Lions OC would be really great.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

While the Lions are going to need a long-term plan to replace Goff, this was really the only bad game he had all year. He's been quite good for them four years running now. Also, recall two years ago they drafted Hendon Hooker wondering if he sat a year he could be Goff's replacement. Hooker never impressed that much with his lack of accuracy, and Goff played lights out. An issue with Goff's age though is that he's not very mobile. He's outstanding at getting the ball out quick though. Still just 27, Hooker is stuck in purgatory on the Jets practice squad. Too young to give up on, too old to take a chance on.

Until they bring back a modernized Concorde, I don't see the practicality of so many international games. Is football not popular enough in the US cities? Why not have something like, the Texans play a game in San Antonio? The Seahawks play a game in Portland? The Cowboys play a game in Oklahoma City? I imagine the crowds would be huge.

I think the NFL would love to expand to a full division in Europe, maybe even somewhere like Mexico City. The problem is there aren't enough good players, especially quarterbacks. The league is already stretched so thin we get to the point in a season when so many players get injured. Plus the NFL wants to expand to 18 games (or more).