NFL Open Thread

[fhrblig]

I think I might play with the format a bit.

Here's all of the week 13 games (Bucs and Panthers are on their byes) (games in bold are just the ones airing locally for me):

Saints at Falcons (early) - I don't know that I'll watch this one that much. Even with Taysom Hill still at QB, I doubt the Falcons can beat them. I guess it could be a good game up until the Falcons find a way to lose at the end.

Lions at Bears (early) - This is the only other Fox game in the early slate, which means I guess they really did give us the better game. The Bears should do what the Broncos did last week and put in a practice squad WR at QB. They'd probably still beat the Lions. Side note, I've heard a rumor that the Broncos are interested in trading for Matthew Stafford after the season. Oh please God yes make that happen.

Browns at Titans (early) - Here's the game I'll be watching. I know they're both 8-3, but I don't think I can believe the Browns are actually good until I see them beat a team like the Titans. I don't think that'll happen today.

Bengals at Dolphins (early) - I forgot that Brandon Allen went to the Bengals, and he's starting again today. Looks like the Dolphins are starting Tua Tagovailoa. I think I would have gone with Fitz instead until Tua is 100%. But I think the Dolphins get this one. Bengals aren't entirely helpless, they just don't have enough talent at this point.

Jaguars at Vikings (early) - Mike Glennon? Mike Glennon. No, thanks.

Raiders at Jets (early) - Why do I get the feeling this is the game the Jets win? They shouldn't, but my spidey senses are all a-tingle. That can't possibly be correct.

Colts at Texans (early) - I wish I could see this game. I have no idea. I want to say Colts, but I have no conviction in that pick.

Rams at Cardinals (late) - You ever see a decent matchup on the schedule and just cannot force yourself to care? I don't know why, but that's this game to me. One of the teams will win, unless they tie.

Giants at Seahawks (late) - This is yet another game where I have the gut feeling the worse team somehow wins, but I can't bring myself to pick the Giants. Seahawks win.

Eagles at Packers (late) - Dammit NFL. STOP SHOVING THE NFC EAST DOWN OUR THROATS. For God's sake, the Pats-Chargers game is just as sucky as this game, but at least it would be relevant to people in my area. This is so stupid.

Patriots at Chargers (late) - Whoo boy. I don't know which team I trust least. I guess I'll take the Pats to win.

Broncos at Chiefs (Sunday Night Football) - How did this not get flexed out of SNF? The only game where people actually wanted to watch the Broncos was last week. Ain't nobody wants to see them get their carcass stomped tonight. Although it's not snowing like the last two disasters, so maybe the Broncos might score a few more points?

Teamies at Steelers (Monday Afternoon Football) - I think I saw somewhere that this game won't be aired nationally on Fox, but I'll be able to listen to it at work. Lucky me. I'd love to see the Team win, but the Steelers are probably going to find away to stay undefeated while kinda looking like crap. My fearless prediction for this year is that the Steelers get knocked out in the playoffs, probably in their first game. They're giving me the same feeling as the 2012 and 2014 Broncos.

Bills at 49ers (Monday Night Football) - I'll take the Bills. I want to see them do well in the playoffs since my team has zero chance.

Cowboys at Ravens (Tuesday Night COVID Football) - Sounds like Lamar Jackson will be back, so I'll say Ravens.

Not to bum everyone out, but this will be my first weekend watching the games without my football watching buddy Sophie. I miss her so much. But I wanted to share my favorite memory of our fun times together. It was actually the first time she was with me when watching a game, back on opening weekend in 2009. She was only a few months old and not at all prepared for what was about to happen. I wasn't, either. What happened? THIS:

Brandon Stokley's deflected catch for a TD. I was shouting probably louder than Gus Johnson was, and Sophie was excited and horrified, and confused. There were lots of those times that followed. It won't be the same without her.

Enjoy the games!

[Just Jeepin']

I'm amazed at how long it's been since I've actively followed the NFL; last time I was engaged, Stokley was making the Colts look good.

[Huzer]

@fhrblig Difference with the Steelers vs last year: Ben and the fact they're winning the crap games they lost last year.

Yes they're undefeated, but they are a very underwhelming undefeated team, and that's coming from a Steelers fan. They could easily have 5 losses.

[fhrblig]

@just-jeepin That was his first stint with the Broncos. He came back when Peyton Manning came to Denver; in fact, he helped the Broncos sign him. He's still here and is on the local sports talk station.

[fhrblig]

@huzer They might very well win every regular season game, but I really think they lose in the playoffs. There's always one team that steams through the season and then is the surprise knockout. How bad would it be if the Browns were the team to knock them out?

[VincentMalamute]

@fhrblig said

t I don't think I can believe the Browns are actually good until I see them beat a team like the Titans. I don't think that'll happen today.

I agree with you. And now seriously??!! Browns 38-7 in the 2nd quarter!!??

[fhrblig]

Right? They've come out kinda flat in the second half though. That's not a good sign.

[boredalways]

Oh no Da Bears are playing like...well, Da Bears.

[boredalways]

And Da Bears choke and Nagy should be fired tomorrow

[VincentMalamute]

@fhrblig I dislike arrogant loudmouths like Mayfield and Gruden and always hope they loose. Of course they both won. Mayfield seems to have shut up a bit this year.

[VincentMalamute]

@boredalways I've already forgotten why Nagy was so in demand for a hire. I went to school in Chicago during the Superbowl shuffle defense - that was fun especially Refrigerator Perry.

[Shop-Teacher]

@boredalways I told ya they'd lose to the Lions! I'm glad I didn't bother watching.

[VincentMalamute]

The only game I'm really watching is the Eagles-Packers. Hurts is doing well. Why did they stick with Wentz for so long?

[EngineerWithTools]

@boredalways
@Shop-Teacher

Oooof, that was painful. Mr. -Teacher, you chose wisely.
Previously I though that the Bears should - and might - fire Nagy and promote Pagano. No longer, he’s got to go too.

Holy moly this team is mismanaged.

[Shop-Teacher]

@engineerwithtools Every time a head couch tries to be a coordinator too, this is how it goes. Lovie Smith tried being the DC at the same time as head coach, and we know how well that worked. There's a reason those are separate jobs.

[MisterButtercup]

@fhrblig sorry you had to watch the eagles game

[fhrblig]

@vincentmalamute I think those "At Home With Baker Mayfield" commercials have made me like him. They're all pretty funny. Man I wish the Jets had won, though.

[fhrblig]

@misterbuttercup My sister was stuck watching it too after the Dolphins game ended. At least she was able to switch to the Rams-Cardinals.

[MisterButtercup]

@fhrblig well that's good. I live near Philly and didn't want to watch that game. One of my co-workers calls this division the NFC-Least because every team is just so bad

[trivet]

I've been a Chiefs fan since the 80's. I have waited a LONG time to see them become a championship team - they got close in '93 with Joe Montana leading the offense to the AFC Championship, but losing to the Bills (and we all remember how THAT turned out).

But I was surprised that during the SNF game the Bronco's defense held and did not allow a single Red Zone touchdown from Mahomes and crew. Luckily Butker was on point and scored 16 of the Chiefs 22 points.

What I thought was going to be a blow-out ended up being a good game to watch.

[VincentMalamute]

@trivet That was a surprisingly a good game. I ended up rooting for the underdogs, the Chiefs!

@fhrblig I agree, those are good commercials. I didn't like his arrogant tweeting and then crapping on the field on game day. He seems to have shut down his tweeting in lieu of playing better.

[davesaddiction]

@fhrblig @trivet

Can't believe the Chiefs almost had to try to win that one with all FGs! Lots of credit to the Bronco's D, and zero credit to the Chiefs' box for not realizing Hill's crazy catch was actually a TD before punting...

Also a fan since the 80s.

[trivet]

@davesaddiction said in NFL Open Thread:

@fhrblig @trivet

Can't believe the Chiefs almost had to try to win that one with all FGs! Lots of credit to the Bronco's D, and zero credit to the Chiefs' box for not realizing Hill's crazy catch was actually a TD before punting...

Also a fan since the 80s.

I've started following the Chiefs when Christian Okoye was the RB - I loved to watch him run through defensive linemen, and I've been a Chiefs fan ever since.

I have an autographed 8x10 of his.

[davesaddiction]

@trivet The Nigerian Nightmare! That's awesome that you have his autograph.

My wife grew up in Olathe, and I grew up in Jeff City (I'm a Cards fan and a Chiefs fan - football Cardinals had left and Rams hadn't arrived when I really started following sports). She's Royals blue.

[fhrblig]

@davesaddiction Our D is really good in red-zone defense. Problem is, we have barely any offense. Some of that is Lock's fault, but the majority of the blame is on play-calling. I didn't think we could be worse than last year, and yet here we are. Shurmur is cut from the same cloth as Mike McCoy in that he loves to call the plays he likes regardless of whether he has the player talent to pull it off; then it gets worse because he refuses to play to the strengths of the players he does have.