2025 NFL Season Thread

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

A friend in a fantasy league of mine was upset that he didn't play Dak, who got close to 50 pts. I said "you didn't play Dak & he was playing the JETS????" SMH

IDK what it is, I have nothing to base this on, this is pure speculation & intuition not based on any fact at all. In fact, downright stupid. But something inside tells me Glenn is going to turn the Jets around like Campbell did the Lions. That this is the calm before the storm.

I can't tell you why I feel that way. Feel free to mark this down & show how stupid I am after his firing next year. I just got that feeling.

It's possible. But you have to give the coach and GM some time to turn things around. Everybody wants to say, same old Jets. Well yeah, they're not changing the second the new coach walks through the door.

I do have one criticism on Jets coaching yesterday. Right after the Jets scored and made it 30-14 they kicked it onsides. There was 7:43 left in the game and the Jets had all 3 timeouts I believe. You have to kick it deep there.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

That is an interesting play when you (or more precisely, I) think about it. The first thought (again in my mind) is that while the runner gave up possession of the ball before he crossed the plane of the goal line, the defense did not have possession of it either. So, the offense should retain possession, with a loss of down, at say the one-yard line.

But no:

A ball going out of bounds through the endzone has always been a touchback. A punt, kickoff, and back in the early 70s, even a missed field goal that goes through the endzone gets brought out to the 20. It only makes sense that if you fumble the ball through the endzone, it would also be a touchback.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Come on, man...................

This is different than the first one you showed. He didn't lose control of the ball. He dropped it before crossing the goal line.

This was popular going back around a decade, wasn't it? Maybe the drop the ball before crossing the goal line celebration is making a comeback.

[Ragnar]

In other news, Vikings missed a FG because the ball hits a camera wire.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/p9ll0h9QEQo

A camera wire also interfered with the Cowboys/Jets game. Preventing an interception of a batted ball. The league has to do something about this. You can't have a wire so low that you have to hope no one hits it.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

In other news, Vikings missed a FG because the ball hits a camera wire.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/p9ll0h9QEQo

A camera wire also interfered with the Cowboys/Jets game. Preventing an interception of a batted ball. The league has to do something about this. You can't have a wire so low that you have to hope no one hits it.

SMH. TV gets what TV wants.

[monkeyman576]

Yes or No: AFC champion will be Kansas City or Buffalo. NFC Champion will be San Francisco or Philadelphia. (Both super bowl entrants will be two of these four teams).

[Cobra Mgr]

Niners have the look of a fraud to me. I still like my preseason pick of the Bucs. And w/Baltimore & the Chargers floundering, the Broncs are looking like a stronger candidate.

[Amazin69]

Originally Posted by monkeyman576

Yes or No: AFC champion will be Kansas City or Buffalo. NFC Champion will be San Francisco or Philadelphia. (Both super bowl entrants will be two of these four teams).

I agree there don't seem many challengers in the AFC, but I wouldn't write off the Lions, Packers or Rams just yet.

[Déjà Bru]

Are these stories related in some manner?

[Cobra Mgr]

Personal week 4 notes.........

.......Is Baker Mayfield the MVP so far?........

.....No matter, the networks should look to put all of Tampa's games on prime time. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, & Week 5. Each game is going down to the wire. I don't think I've ever seen anything like this. This is season's worth of nail biters in a month's time........

.......Arizona has been about the same, only they haven't been as fortunate.
Week 1 went to the final possession. They nearly let the Panthers complete an improbable comeback. Lost on the final drive to the Niners. Had a 14 pt 4th quarter comeback still end up a walk off FG loss vs the Seahawks. And then let the Titans complete an improbable comeback last week. Bucs: the Thrill of Victory. Cards: the Agony of Defeat...........

.....I had a chance to pick up Emeka Egbuka in my fantasy league, but decided on Quentin Johnson (LAC). Guessing his targets would go to Evans & Godwin. Screw me............

......Why does it make me feel so uneasy thinking Buffalo is the team to beat in the AFC? I mean, that's who I predicted at the start of the season to go to the SB. And there is no strong #2 in the conference. But still............

..........And while we are here, why do so many NFL teams look like they are 2-3 yrs away from being a SB contender? There is a deep bottom right now of teams clearly looking ahead to the draft already. And even the contenders look shaky. Are we sold on the Colts & Jags yet? Can Tampa win instead of just surviving? Niners have had a ton of salary cap on the sidelines.......

......As I'm typing this, just learned Flacco & a 5th rd pick is headed to the Bengals for a 6th rd pick. If that is all Cleveland thought of Flacco, why was he starting?......

.....The NFL is doing themselves a disservice @ the QB position by not taking over from the colleges in developing QB's. When you look @ how some "busts" (Baker, Darnold, Jones) have begun to thrive after a change in coaching, in environment & just plain old time, it seems clear to me that the NFL needs to provide an environment for QB to learn the pro way to play the position. Colleges aren't doing the job. Consider there are 120 Div I schools. Each year, you'd think it would be no problem to produce 3-7 young men capable of playing the position right away. But most years, there isn't 2. And most clubs don't have the patience to wait. Nor the guides to develop.......

....Is the Harbaugh mystique beginning to disappear?...............

....Take the over when the Cowboys visit Carolina next week..........

....I hate these overseas games. But then again, Europe can babysit the Jets one weekend...........

.....What is the +/- Vegas is giving for mentioning last year's ending during Bears/Commanders previews?

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Personal week 4 notes.........

.......Is Baker Mayfield the MVP so far?........

.....No matter, the networks should look to put all of Tampa's games on prime time. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, & Week 5. Each game is going down to the wire. I don't think I've ever seen anything like this. This is season's worth of nail biters in a month's time........

.......Arizona has been about the same, only they haven't been as fortunate.
Week 1 went to the final possession. They nearly let the Panthers complete an improbable comeback. Lost on the final drive to the Niners. Had a 14 pt 4th quarter comeback still end up a walk off FG loss vs the Seahawks. And then let the Titans complete an improbable comeback last week. Bucs: the Thrill of Victory. Cards: the Agony of Defeat...........

.....I had a chance to pick up Emeka Egbuka in my fantasy league, but decided on Quentin Johnson (LAC). Guessing his targets would go to Evans & Godwin. Screw me............

......Why does it make me feel so uneasy thinking Buffalo is the team to beat in the AFC? I mean, that's who I predicted at the start of the season to go to the SB. And there is no strong #2 in the conference. But still............

..........And while we are here, why do so many NFL teams look like they are 2-3 yrs away from being a SB contender? There is a deep bottom right now of teams clearly looking ahead to the draft already. And even the contenders look shaky. Are we sold on the Colts & Jags yet? Can Tampa win instead of just surviving? Niners have had a ton of salary cap on the sidelines.......

......As I'm typing this, just learned Flacco & a 5th rd pick is headed to the Bengals for a 6th rd pick. If that is all Cleveland thought of Flacco, why was he starting?......

.....The NFL is doing themselves a disservice @ the QB position by not taking over from the colleges in developing QB's. When you look @ how some "busts" (Baker, Darnold, Jones) have begun to thrive after a change in coaching, in environment & just plain old time, it seems clear to me that the NFL needs to provide an environment for QB to learn the pro way to play the position. Colleges aren't doing the job. Consider there are 120 Div I schools. Each year, you'd think it would be no problem to produce 3-7 young men capable of playing the position right away. But most years, there isn't 2. And most clubs don't have the patience to wait. Nor the guides to develop.......

....Is the Harbaugh mystique beginning to disappear?...............

....Take the over when the Cowboys visit Carolina next week..........

....I hate these overseas games. But then again, Europe can babysit the Jets one weekend...........

.....What is the +/- Vegas is giving for mentioning last year's ending during Bears/Commanders previews?

Some good points. On Flacco, there's probably an issue between the GM and head coach. The GM can't tell the head coach who to start. So...

Although I also believe college football isn't properly preparing QBs for the NFL, was that really the cause for the three QBs you've mentioned? I never thought Baker was a bust. His worse year was playing injured. He never should have done that.

On Jones and Darnold, could it have been just bad teams? Rushing young QBs to start on a bad team rarely ends well. Look at any QB that plays for the Jets. I think college football pumps out too many 1 read/run quarterbacks.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Ok. So I know I made a statement implying I would kick people for an inopportune fumble. But I wasn't serious. Just describing how furious I would be.

I do not condone hitting players for screw ups no matter how big the screw up is.

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Coach is lucky that, in this day and age, he didn't get a stiff forearm to the nose in response. I don't see the average professional taking that lightly.

As it is, it's going to cost the dude $100K.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-sideline-spat

Sidebar: Nice pic of Rex Ryan with his big mouth wide open. Yet more reinforcement for me to shun sports show personalities. The video is in the article; you can click it if you want the Rex Ryan experience.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

Although I also believe college football isn't properly preparing QBs for the NFL, was that really the cause for the three QBs you've mentioned? I never thought Baker was a bust. His worse year was playing injured. He never should have done that.

On Jones and Darnold, could it have been just bad teams? Rushing young QBs to start on a bad team rarely ends well. Look at any QB that plays for the Jets. I think college football pumps out too many 1 read/run quarterbacks.

Of course they were on bad teams. They wouldn't have been drafted early to a good team.

And I know many have the sentiment QB's should sit. But I don't subscribe to that thought. I don't believe watching and not doing makes someone better at anything. And I also believe 1st round picks should play. You better have plenty of depth & a championship pedigree to draft a 1st rounder and not play them. That's just my philosophy.

But one of the biggest enemies of QB development is impatience. Coach isn't interested in developing a QB for the next coach. GM's want the payoff to come quickly or people start pointing the finger at them for the pick. Fans aren't interested in enduring a losing season after losing the year before. Local sports media isn't interested in reporting on a team that isn't relevant. And all the noise makes owners get antsy.

QB's need to learn, make mistakes and grow into the pro position.

The problem with college is that it isn't the coach's job to develop QB's for the pros. Their job is to win. They are beholden to the school & the boosters. Sarkisian can get Archie ready for the NFL all he wants. If he doesn't win 11-12 every season he'll be an OC again real soon.

That is why they need a minor league. The QB position is the hardest position in sports, period. First, of course you need the arm. But after that, you have to assess the game situation, get the play, recognize your personnel, relay the playcall correctly, know the assignment for the other 10 teammates, take note of the opponent's personnel, note where they are positioned, guess what their move will be post snap, figure out how that will affect the effectiveness of the play you've called, make adjustments to your teammates assignments and have all that done in 40 frikkin' seconds.

You don't acquire that ability in camp. You don't get up to speed in practice. You get that from countless reps in real game situations. That takes time & experience. And they aren't getting the chance to learn that in college. They may have played 24-25 games tops in a simple system the coaches micromanage. You need a minor league system where the goal is from age 18 getting them ready for the NFL. For an organization that doesn't care about the wins, but the development.

[Ragnar]

Unless we're talking about chess, watching is certainly not going to make a QB any better. But it can sometimes make them more comfortable. It doesn't have to be the entire year.

I don't think the college situation will change because the NFL doesn't feel the need to do so. What do they care if the product isn't suffering financially?

Hold off on any thought of better the over on the Cowboys/Carolina game. Some tropical system is on its way and should be there by Saturday, early Sunday. Some models have it sitting there through the game.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

Hold off on any thought of better the over on the Cowboys/Carolina game. Some tropical system is on its way and should be there by Saturday, early Sunday. Some models have it sitting there through the game.

I hope not. They found my best friend dead last weekend & his funeral is back home on Sunday. Don't want to have to drive thru rain the whole weekend.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

I hope not. They found my best friend dead last weekend & his funeral is back home on Sunday. Don't want to have to drive thru rain the whole weekend.

That's certainly depressing. Never want to hear something like that. But that storm will be at the coast on Saturday. It will be bringing tropical storm winds and rain. How far it affects the interior of NC is the question. One model has it stalling and going straight into NC. Others have it just affecting the coastline. We'll know more by Friday.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

That's certainly depressing. Never want to hear something like that. But that storm will be at the coast on Saturday. It will be bringing tropical storm winds and rain. How far it affects the interior of NC is the question. One model has it stalling and going straight into NC. Others have it just affecting the coastline. We'll know more by Friday.

I will have to pay attention. I gotta pick up my mom for the service. She is about 45 minutes out of the way. Then drive to my old hometown. Cry. Then reverse. Don't feel like doing about 6hrs of driving in the rain.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

I will have to pay attention. I gotta pick up my mom for the service. She is about 45 minutes out of the way. Then drive to my old hometown. Cry. Then reverse. Don't feel like doing about 6hrs of driving in the rain.

Well, Saturday is the bad day as of right now depending on how close to the coast you are. Sunday is still up in the air. As of right now there is at least one model that takes it far away affecting no one. That's why I said we'll know much more by Friday.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

I hope not. They found my best friend dead last weekend & his funeral is back home on Sunday. Don't want to have to drive thru rain the whole weekend.

Woof. I am truly sorry to hear that.

[Amazin69]

My sympathies for your loss, Cobra. And it sucks even more that it happens on the one weekend when we get a vague chance of drizzle in the forecast.

(I don't know how things have been up north, but in SC this has been the driest "storm season" I've seen yet. Not only did the developers turn my neighborhood into Kansas when they took down all the trees, but they brought the Dust Bowl weather with them. I've been wishing and hoping for the wet stuff to put an end to the unending construction work, but if wishes were horses, the streets would be full of horse-poop or whatever…dry as a bone, I'm just saying.)