2025 NFL Season Thread

[Ragnar]

I know this is an NFL thread, but you gotta love this. All they had to do was take 3 knees, game over. After the first knee, you'll see a guy to the far left throw up his helmet. It reminds me of a Bill Parcells quote. "Dumb Players do dumb things".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHupdq04h0w

[Cobra Mgr]

Jets fire DC Steve Wilkes

[David Watts]

Anyone think that catch in the Lions/Rams game was a touchdown?

[pilight]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

Dak Prescott has never beaten a team in the playoffs with a better record than the Cowboys. Perhaps the least "clutch" QB of all time.

Wins & losses are not a QB stat, even in the playoffs. The Cowbots have given up a lot of points in his playoff appearances.

[Cobra Mgr]

Why would the inability to beat a team w/a better record be a damnation on someone's career? Better record after the regular season ends generally means better team. Why would I expect someone to have a successful record vs teams better than his? It's like criticizing Pete Davidson for never winning a beauty contest vs Halle Berry.

[Ragnar]

I can't tell you how many times in conversation or online that I've heard or read, "what has Matt Stafford ever done?" Then he leaves Detroit. Those people will just move on to the next QB.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Anyone think that catch in the Lions/Rams game was a touchdown?

Has to be a touchdown. Because had that ball touched the ground at all, they would have ruled it an incomplete pass. With that in mind, you can't then rule him down before he has full possession of the ball.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Jets fire DC Steve Wilkes

The Jets and Dolphins are probably two of the worst run organizations in the league. Since when has firing a coordinator mid season ever worked? Especially a DC after you trade away your two best defenders.

Same with Miami back in 2019. The GM tanks the season, they fire the coach. That's just one incident.

[low]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

I can't tell you how many times in conversation or online that I've heard or read, "what has Matt Stafford ever done?" Then he leaves Detroit. Those people will just move on to the next QB.

MVP this year and it's not even close.

When he went to the Rams I told everyone they'd win at least one Super Bowl. They have a very good chance to make it number 2. Sounds weird to say, but Stafford has always been underrated.

[pilight]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

I can't tell you how many times in conversation or online that I've heard or read, "what has Matt Stafford ever done?" Then he leaves Detroit. Those people will just move on to the next QB.

He's the poster child for W/L not being a QB stat. He was this good n Detroit, despite his team's records.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by pilight

He's the poster child for W/L not being a QB stat. He was this good n Detroit, despite his team's records.

It isn't. But unfortunately, that line of thinking will persist. Why aren't the Chiefs going to make the playoffs? After all, they have Mahomes. Truth is, had Mahomes been drafted by the Cowboys, he doesn't have a ring yet. Maybe 1 tops.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

It isn't. But unfortunately, that line of thinking will persist. Why aren't the Chiefs going to make the playoffs? After all, they have Mahomes. Truth is, had Mahomes been drafted by the Cowboys, he doesn't have a ring yet. Maybe 1 tops.

*shudder* Can you imagine the Mahomes hype if he was a Cowboys QB??????? IDK if I could be a football fan anymore.

[Cobra Mgr]

These are my results on this week's Playoff Machine.......

Seeds Denver (15-2) & San Fran (13-4)

1st round
#7 LAC (11-6) vs #2 NEngland (14-3)
#6 Jax (12-5) vs # 3 Hou (12-5)
#5 Buff (13-4) vs # 4 Pitt (10-7)

#7 GB (11-5-1) vs #2 Chicago (12-5)
#6 Sea (13-4) vs # 3 Philly (11-6)
#5 LA Rams (13-4) vs # 4 TB (9-8)

NFC stayed exactly the same. AFC's teams stay the same. Buff switches seeds w/Jax. Interesting scenarios........If what I picked is correct, the games Det @ Chi & Car @ TB will be all or nothing games for the playoffs. What is startling is that if Chicago wins, they will be a #2 seed. If they lose, they are out & Detroit is the last seed......The season finale between the the Seahawks @ the Niners will be not just for the division, but the #1 seed. A lot of that depends on this week's Rams @ Seattle game......In the AFC, it is hard to see any of the current playoff teams changing. Rivers would have to conduct miracles in Indy, or Baltimore would have to finally find their groove vs NE & road finishes in GB & Pittsburgh.............

..........Allow me to rant about Carolina......But c'mon, man!!!!! How do you get swept by a team w/just 2 other wins???!!!!? Jaycee Horn has had 2 bad games all year. Both vs his dad's old squad. Nothing fishy there. But what was just as infuriating was the penalties. The penalties! I think it was 11 total. Most on defense & special teams. But there was also a dead ball roughing on Okwanu. Guy gives a shove to Bryce Young at the Carolina sidelines. No one on the Panthers is going after the Saints' player. Why are you, stupid?

And of course, the worst was this one. We can get going about the QB slide. We can debate about whether it was late or not. The problem is you know how the refs call these things. Even if the hit is legal, they will whistle it. So why take the risk? That's my point. The goal isn't to hit the QB. The goal is to prevent the QB from advancing. Mission accomplished.

But no one is mentioning this......What was up w/that defense in the 1st place? Two defenders at the line and it looks like no one was trying to rush. So what you thought the Saints' option were limited by zero time outs? This is stupid defense. This is over thinking at it's worst.

And this was a golden opportunity for the Panthers to set themselves up for the divisional title. Now, even if they win @ home vs the Bucs, they still have to beat TB in their place the final week to win the division. Or beat Seattle & hope the Bucs fall in Miami. Neither scenario is promising. All because you prevent yourself from getting swept by probably the least talented team in the NFL. C'mon, MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!...............

........What is Mark Bavaro doing?..........

.......Coaches I think should be gone.......Pete Carroll...There are so many badly run franchises & Vegas is one of them. But it is obvious Pete Carroll's best days are behind him.....Andy Reid.....What a career. What more does he need to prove?.....Mike McDaniel....Just because you are a good creator & designer doesn't mean you are a good decision maker. He looks to me like a career offensive coordinator, but not a head coach.....Kevin Stefanski....I don't know all that went down w/him & Baker Mayfield, but his inability to make that work doomed his tenure. If he even gets another head job, he needs to make sure it is w/an established QB & then stay out of his way........Zach Taylor ...... Yeah, the Bengals have had injury problems. But I've never thought much of his decision making, even when they were winning. I think what we see is someone who talent brings out the best, not one that brings out the most in talent. Another career O-coordinator.......Mike Tomlin.....leave 'em wanting more. I think he is overrated. But I also think he has been hindered by the Steelers not finding a replacement for Big Ben. Win the division, retire, and let your critics see it wasn't as easy as they think.........

.......I'm not drafting a QB in the 1st 3 rounds of this draft............

......Seven franchises held back by their owners......Cardinals, Raiders, Browns, Jets, Cowboys, Titans, & Bengals...........

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

And of course, the worst was this one. We can get going about the QB slide. We can debate about whether it was late or not. The problem is you know how the refs call these things. Even if the hit is legal, they will whistle it. So why take the risk? That's my point. The goal isn't to hit the QB. The goal is to prevent the QB from advancing. Mission accomplished.

Why take what risk? You either go after the QB or you don't. A player is not going to be able to alter his course if the QB slides last second. A player can assume a slide and do nothing. A QB like Josh Allen can send him into the shadow realm. The best fix for this is to remove the slide.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

Why take what risk? You either go after the QB or you don't. A player is not going to be able to alter his course if the QB slides last second. A player can assume a slide and do nothing. A QB like Josh Allen can send him into the shadow realm. The best fix for this is to remove the slide.

It;s nearly an impossible play to officiate. Like I said, that is a debate with in itself.

My problem is that since it is so often officiated wrong, in that instance, after 20 penalties have been called in the game, including one on a QB slide earlier, why seek to deliver a blow to the QB? Just tag him down. Stopping the clock & adding 15 yds was too much to risk in that situation. If he doesn't touch him, they got :09 at best to try and spike it & send in the special teams for a 62 yd FG. If this was in the 3rd quarter, I'm more about the call itself. But in that instance it was way too costly.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

It;s nearly an impossible play to officiate. Like I said, that is a debate with in itself.

My problem is that since it is so often officiated wrong, in that instance, after 20 penalties have been called in the game, including one on a QB slide earlier, why seek to deliver a blow to the QB? Just tag him down. Stopping the clock & adding 15 yds was too much to risk in that situation. If he doesn't touch him, they got :09 at best to try and spike it & send in the special teams for a 62 yd FG. If this was in the 3rd quarter, I'm more about the call itself. But in that instance it was way too costly.

What I'm saying is, they can't just tag him down, or that's what they would do. They're committed to tackling the QB, not tagging him down. The QB slides so late that they can't mentally adjust to it. Defenders are going to have to learn a new mindset when the QB runs.

[Cobra Mgr]

They can just "tag him". In fact, they don't even have to tag him. Cause he is down @ the spot where he starts his slide. The "problem" is defenses are taught to take their shot at the ballcarrier whenever they have a chance. And especially when it is the QB.

And it is matter of situation recognition. These refs were not shy about tossing flags. New Orleans had zero timeouts. They were trying to get it with in 65yds, line up, & spike it in :15. Even if Orleans were successful in setting it up, their reward was a nearly impossible 62 yd FG. You still like your chances for OT. Even if the refs don't penalize it, what would have been Carolina's reward?

It wasn't worth the risk.

I get what you are trying to say. Believe me, I get it.

[Cobra Mgr]

Quinn Ewers named this week's Dolphins' starter

[low]

Tua should just retire at this point.

[Cobra Mgr]

Bears having trouble finding someplace to build a stadium. Or I should say, having trouble finding a way to get Illinois to cut them a tax break. I don't mind the government using public funds to enable a biz to live seamlessly within the community. That does mean highway concerns, sewage & the like. But why in the world do these teams think they deserve a tax break? Just greed. They can use terms like 'financial stability assurance" all they want, it is still welfare.