NFL Thread

[Botman]

Lions vs Vikings for the 1 seed has been a very tense game, littered with errors from the Qbs
And a key sequence on the edge of halftime with the vikings cutting it to 7-6 and then a wayward kick off resulting in great field position and a free 3 points for the lions
10-6 at the half and that could be a critical 3 point come the final 4 minutes

[Matt]

Patriots fired HC Jerod Mayo, league sources tell ESPN.
Schefter

[Botman]

Patriots fired HC Jerod Mayo, league sources tell ESPN.
Schefter

Antonio Pierce also **** canned.
And i dont have a particularly problem with either one in a vacuum because i think they both showed some pretty big red flags as head coaches, but i do wonder what these organisations expected?

For the Pats, this was a team completely devoid of talent. This was a CFL team. Some talent on defence, particularly in the back 7 but the DL was a disaster. Offensively they had nothing. The RB is... fine... the OL is awful, 14 different starting combinations, none of them good, the WR's could beat a drum... the only thing that mattered was whether the QB showed promise and he did. Maye absolutely looks like a potential future franchise QB... and in some respects that's a reason to cut bait on a bad HC and just get competent guys in there before you ruin Drake Maye, but if you believed in Mayo enough to give him the job, maybe give him another year to see what can be done when the talent is improved

For the Raiders, AP should never have been given the job to begin with. Interim HCs almost never work out when given the full time job. Giving a bloke the job on the dead cat bounce and because the players like him... bad business. And those same players who liked him, well they're all making noise about wanting out because of what a **** show it's been in the last few years including this year with him. But again, what was the expectation? Minshew and AOC at QB. You trade away Adams. It's Maxx Crosby on defence
Just no talent. Expecting more than 4-5 wins is absurd

Both franchises really need to nail their next 12 months to get out of this **** show.

[Botman]

Re super wild card weekend

My tips:

Charges @ Texans: Don't like the way the Texans are playing. Think a rethink of how this offence is working is required. They're too good to be this bad. I think Herbert and Harbs are going to beat them and frankly they might beat them by double digits+. I'm gonna say Chargers win, and looking at it on the markets, im quite surprised to find the chargers are favourites. Houston's OC Bobby Slowek will be fired within 24 hours of this loss. LAC 27 HOU 17

Steelers @ Ravens: I'd be a little nervous about this as a Ravens fan. Don't love divisional games in the playoffs, particularly a team who had a history of sort of convincing the ravens to rope a dope themselves. But i think Lamar is not going to allow it. Ravens to pull away late. BAL 31 PIT 13 (I expect this to be something like 17-13 with 7-8 minutes left)

Broncos @ Bills: Don't give the Broncos much hope here. They're a good team and well ahead of schedule but their runs ends here. And i don't think this will be remotely competitive. I don't think this is a very compelling game, but hey Bo Nix, prove me wrong! This BUF defence isn't that good! Lets make a game of this and get fun. BUF 37 DEN 10

Packers @ Eagles: This will be a banger, maybe the best game of the weekend. Two really good teams and two well balanced teams. I think the eagles defence will be the difference. I think they'll be able to get a few key stops that forces FGs instead of TDs. And the Eagles should be able to run it on the Packers. Tight game and the packers winning wont be a shock at all. PHI 27 GB 23

Commanders @ Bucs: This should be a banger too. Latimore vs Evans Round 22 (ish!). Cant wait, hopefully watching this after an eagles win. Don't think either defence has much of a chance to get stops but i think the Bucs are a little more opportunistic. The Bucs offence is more likely to give the Commies some chances to create takeaways though. In the end i think the Bucs will win a shoot out. TB 37 WAS 35

Vikings @ Rams: I don't know why the Rams were happy to lose and concede the 3rd seed and play the loser of Vikings/Lions. I don't think the Sam Darnold will play as bad as he did last week but i would be lying if i said i was confident in him when its play off football. I think i've gone chalk this entire WC weekend and this is where i zag. Hard to imagine there are no upsets and i think the Rams can get them. Kupp to wind the clock back and the Rams to get at Darnold and force some turn overs. Going for the upset. LAR 28 MIN 21

[Matt]

Patriots fired HC Jerod Mayo, league sources tell ESPN.
Schefter

Antonio Pierce also **** canned.
And i dont have a particularly problem with either one in a vacuum because i think they both showed some pretty big red flags as head coaches, but i do wonder what these organisations expected?

For the Pats, this was a team completely devoid of talent. This was a CFL team. Some talent on defence, particularly in the back 7 but the DL was a disaster. Offensively they had nothing. The RB is... fine... the OL is awful, 14 different starting combinations, none of them good, the WR's could beat a drum... the only thing that mattered was whether the QB showed promise and he did. Maye absolutely looks like a potential future franchise QB... and in some respects that's a reason to cut bait on a bad HC and just get competent guys in there before you ruin Drake Maye, but if you believed in Mayo enough to give him the job, maybe give him another year to see what can be done when the talent is improved

For the Raiders, AP should never have been given the job to begin with. Interim HCs almost never work out when given the full time job. Giving a bloke the job on the dead cat bounce and because the players like him... bad business. And those same players who liked him, well they're all making noise about wanting out because of what a **** show it's been in the last few years including this year with him. But again, what was the expectation? Minshew and AOC at QB. You trade away Adams. It's Maxx Crosby on defence
Just no talent. Expecting more than 4-5 wins is absurd

Both franchises really need to nail their next 12 months to get out of this **** show.

Agreed. Both were destined to fail. Which is why they need time to sort out the mess. 1 yr ain't it.

[Matt]

Re super wild card weekend

My tips:

Charges @ Texans: Don't like the way the Texans are playing. Think a rethink of how this offence is working is required. They're too good to be this bad. I think Herbert and Harbs are going to beat them and frankly they might beat them by double digits+. I'm gonna say Chargers win, and looking at it on the markets, im quite surprised to find the chargers are favourites. Houston's OC Bobby Slowek will be fired within 24 hours of this loss. LAC 27 HOU 17

Steelers @ Ravens: I'd be a little nervous about this as a Ravens fan. Don't love divisional games in the playoffs, particularly a team who had a history of sort of convincing the ravens to rope a dope themselves. But i think Lamar is not going to allow it. Ravens to pull away late. BAL 31 PIT 13 (I expect this to be something like 17-13 with 7-8 minutes left)

Broncos @ Bills: Don't give the Broncos much hope here. They're a good team and well ahead of schedule but their runs ends here. And i don't think this will be remotely competitive. I don't think this is a very compelling game, but hey Bo Nix, prove me wrong! This BUF defence isn't that good! Lets make a game of this and get fun. BUF 37 DEN 10

Packers @ Eagles: This will be a banger, maybe the best game of the weekend. Two really good teams and two well balanced teams. I think the eagles defence will be the difference. I think they'll be able to get a few key stops that forces FGs instead of TDs. And the Eagles should be able to run it on the Packers. Tight game and the packers winning wont be a shock at all. PHI 27 GB 23

Commanders @ Bucs: This should be a banger too. Latimore vs Evans Round 22 (ish!). Cant wait, hopefully watching this after an eagles win. Don't think either defence has much of a chance to get stops but i think the Bucs are a little more opportunistic. The Bucs offence is more likely to give the Commies some chances to create takeaways though. In the end i think the Bucs will win a shoot out. TB 37 WAS 35

Vikings @ Rams: I don't know why the Rams were happy to lose and concede the 3rd seed and play the loser of Vikings/Lions. I don't think the Sam Darnold will play as bad as he did last week but i would be lying if i said i was confident in him when its play off football. I think i've gone chalk this entire WC weekend and this is where i zag. Hard to imagine there are no upsets and i think the Rams can get them. Kupp to wind the clock back and the Rams to get at Darnold and force some turn overs. Going for the upset. LAR 28 MIN 21

I reckon the Commies are the upset team of the wk. With Vikings getting it done.

My step brother is a Ravens fan. He is shiitting brinks about their game. Steelers have a history of beating them. Even in their building. I agree Ravens are the better team, but this rivalry/history is weird man.

[President Clinton]

I can’t see PIT getting a win, but if they do it is going to put series and further question marks around Lamar’s ability in big games. Potentially more MVP awards than playoff victories.

[Botman]

According to reporting, the Bears requested to interview Mike McCarthy for their HC opening and the Cowboys has denied that request.
Which is significant on 2 fronts

1. Indicates the Cowboys are intending on keeping Mike McCarthy
2. Dallas stopping a team in January is rare thing indeed

[gerg]

According to reporting, the Bears requested to interview Mike McCarthy for their HC opening and the Cowboys has denied that request.
Which is significant on 2 fronts

1. Indicates the Cowboys are intending on keeping Mike McCarthy
2. Dallas stopping a team in January is rare thing indeed

Oooof... low blow.

Interesting move from the bears. Mike has a history of slowly making an organisation worse. How could that even be possible with the bears?

Really hope the Lions do well in the next month.

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[Botman]

According to reporting, the Bears requested to interview Mike McCarthy for their HC opening and the Cowboys has denied that request.
Which is significant on 2 fronts

1. Indicates the Cowboys are intending on keeping Mike McCarthy
2. Dallas stopping a team in January is rare thing indeed

Oooof... low blow.

I mean the Cowboys already denied the request and i knew that, but i just wanted to take a shot anyways

[Matt]

According to reporting, the Bears requested to interview Mike McCarthy for their HC opening and the Cowboys has denied that request.
Which is significant on 2 fronts

1. Indicates the Cowboys are intending on keeping Mike McCarthy
2. Dallas stopping a team in January is rare thing indeed

Oooof... low blow.

I mean the Cowboys already denied the request and i knew that, but i just wanted to take a shot anyways

Contract talks started today apparently... yaay...

[Botman]

Love that ****
Give him another 3-4 years Jerreh!

Starting to get nervous about the birds game... man finals/play off footy is the best

[Northern Raider]

Texans dominate the Chargers. Brutal day for Herbert with 4 ints.

[President Clinton]

Chargers gunna charge.

[Botman]

Shocking Herbert game
it'll take awhile to wash the taste of that one out of the mouth as a Herbo fan

Texans get fed to the wood chopper next week in KC. Whilst Buf and Bal are likely fighting to the death. Hardly seems fair

[Matt]

Shocking Herbert game
it'll take awhile to wash the taste of that one out of the mouth as a Herbo fan

Texans get fed to the wood chopper next week in KC. Whilst Buf and Bal are likely fighting to the death. Hardly seems fair

Cheifs to get another beat up opponent for a spot in the SB

[Matt]

Texans dominate the Chargers. Brutal day for Herbert with 4 ints.

Oh man. That's a shocker. Haha. Chargers looove a choke

[samvucago]

Shocking Herbert game
it'll take awhile to wash the taste of that one out of the mouth as a Herbo fan

Texans get fed to the wood chopper next week in KC. Whilst Buf and Bal are likely fighting to the death. Hardly seems fair

Cheifs to get another beat up opponent for a spot in the SB

TBF that is the reward teams get for topping their conference over 17 games. And by the way , Derek Henry is an animal.

[Matt]

Vrabel is going "home" to the Pats.

[Botman]

Go bird!

Sketch win, was not feeling confident at various stages of that game but this is the play offs and the packers are a damn good team, so just take that win, and move on the divisional round game.

[Northern Raider]

So far the teams that have dominated on the ground have won their games.

[Botman]

Mike McCarthy out... he and jerreh couldnt agree on a contract...

Early mail is that Kellen Moore and Jason (teehee) Witten are both expected to be strong candidates for the job
I wouldnt want to lose Kellen Moore, mostly because id just like 1-2 seasons of consistency in my coordinators, but i had some trepidation about the Moore hiring to begin with and this offence by DVOA is WORSE than it was last year. I think Moore has done some really good things, dont get me wrong! Like he's solved the issues against the blitz mostly, good example was the Goedert td yesterday, that was a zero blitz pressure, Hurts checks into a quick throw to Goedert and he's got a one on one match up with a corner and big boys him all the way for a td... that's good stuff that wasnt in the play book last year

But overall, the passing game is not what i think it should be. Some of that is Hurts for sure. But some of that is the OC, so if Moore goes and we have to get a new OC in here, i think im OK with that.

But ideally the Cowboys hire Witten. That'd be hilarious

[Matt]

Mike McCarthy out... he and jerreh couldnt agree on a contract...

Early mail is that Kellen Moore and Jason (teehee) Witten are both expected to be strong candidates for the job
I wouldnt want to lose Kellen Moore, mostly because id just like 1-2 seasons of consistency in my coordinators, but i had some trepidation about the Moore hiring to begin with and this offence by DVOA is WORSE than it was last year. I think Moore has done some really good things, dont get me wrong! Like he's solved the issues against the blitz mostly, good example was the Goedert td yesterday, that was a zero blitz pressure, Hurts checks into a quick throw to Goedert and he's got a one on one match up with a corner and big boys him all the way for a td... that's good stuff that wasnt in the play book last year

But overall, the passing game is not what i think it should be. Some of that is Hurts for sure. But some of that is the OC, so if Moore goes and we have to get a new OC in here, i think im OK with that.

But ideally the Cowboys hire Witten. That'd be hilarious

I'm surprised they aren't looking at Al Harris, the DB coach. He's been amazing the past 4 ir 5 yrs.

[Botman]

Pending who they hire, maybe they'll try and keep him on as DC

Mike Zimmer being promoted to HC is on my radar for this opening too. Which would be funny also

[Botman]

Rams absolutely putting it on the Vikings here
Long way back for Sam and the Vikes

[Botman]

Texans blew it big time, ST's EDIT and critical penalties (a few which were frankly **** roughing calls which Mahomes always gets) and errors in the red zone handed KC a game they should have lost.
If KC show up and play like that, the Bills or Ravens will slay the dragon.

[-TW-]

This lions commanders game is off it's face

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[Botman]

This lions commanders game is off it's face

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Isnt it what!
Incredible game so far, hope the fireworks continue

[Botman]

Commies pull off the upset
Incredible opportunity awaits the eagles now... gotta beat the Rams tomorrow and if we do, we host a Commanders team we should feel very confident about beating at home in the NFCCG.
Chances like this dont come around often, Eagles cant let it slip.

[PrimetimeRaider]

Good game for the neutral. What playoffs should be not like the wild card round. I reckon Eagles have the best squad in the league I thought they would've beat down the Lions in the NFC Title Game anyway but now they don't even need to do that.
Hopefully someone can knock off bloody Mahomes next week! Think the Ravens stand more of a chance to make it competitive against the Eagles compared to the Bills. And Mahomes is Mahomes in the Superbowl. Next 2 AFC games should be pretty good as long as both teams show up!

Also, praying that the Cowboys hire Deion Sanders lol

[Botman]

Also, praying that the Cowboys hire Deion Sanders lol

We hope and pray!

[Botman]

Eagles survive by the skin of their teeth... i was certain they'll lose once Hurts took that awful sack and handed the ball back to the Rams but Jalen Carter was not having it.
Hurts really struggled after he was hip dropped and hurt his knee, going to be one to watch on the injury report

But for now im just going to focus on enjoying that win. Hosting the NFCCG between two teams who know each other really well. Eagles will need to be prepared to win this game on 4th down.

[Botman]

Ravens and Lamar did it again. They just continually shot themselves in the foot time and time again
Should have won that game but turn overs and costly drops... Mark Andrews will be having nightmares about this one for a while

Bills @ Chiefs
Commies @ Eagles

Championship week is set

[Northern Raider]

Lamar didn't do himself any favours in the 1st half to dispell the narrative of being a play-off choker. His turnovers were the main reason they were looking at a 2 TD deficit at half time. 2nd half he was much better and almost got them back into it. Unfortunately that's when he team-mates hands started to fail them. One in particular.

[samvucago]

Lamar didn't do himself any favours in the 1st half to dispell the narrative of being a play-off choker. His turnovers were the main reason they were looking at a 2 TD deficit at half time. 2nd half he was much better and almost got them back into it. Unfortunately that's when he team-mates hands started to fail them. One in particular.

It would be a very different narrative if Andrews catches the 2pts and Baltimore win in OT . His last drive was clutch.

The takeaway from these playoffs IMO is when sporting pressure comes in the big moments 9 outta 10 times the loser has made mistakes and lost not the 1 outta 10 times the stars steal/win it. Chargers, Packers , Vikings, Lions, Rams, Ravens all out cause they made more mistakes when the pressure came.