NFL 2025

[hurtinbuckaroo]

I picked the Patriots today in one of my survivor pools. That kickoff return saved me. It was a big risk, but there are 78,000 people still alive, so I’m trying to save the top teams while hoping for a couple big upsets to take out 40-50k.

 

[blastula]

Getting ready for Mac Jones to pull a Brady/Bledsoe on Brock Purdy.

I've seen Mac Jones. He's lucky to have a job.

Washed up quarterbacks reviving their careers is the hot new trend. See Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith, and now possibly even Daniel Jones.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Playing one or two good games isn't uncommon. When the defenses get a feel for the QB, things usually return to normal.

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

Getting ready for Mac Jones to pull a Brady/Bledsoe on Brock Purdy.

I've seen Mac Jones. He's lucky to have a job.

Washed up quarterbacks reviving their careers is the hot new trend. See Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith, and now possibly even Daniel Jones.

Mayfield has always been a competent QB who was expected to be the savior in Cleveland. When he wasn’t, they turned on him. That’s the Browns in a nutshell. I’m glad he got out of there.

Smith and Jones were also in bad situations. I think Jones can be effective with a decent organization. I saw him in a preseason game and he was making good decisions and throws.

Mac Jones doesn’t have a career to revive.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Getting ready for Mac Jones to pull a Brady/Bledsoe on Brock Purdy.

I've seen Mac Jones. He's lucky to have a job.

Washed up quarterbacks reviving their careers is the hot new trend. See Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith, and now possibly even Daniel Jones.

Mayfield has always been a competent QB who was expected to be the savior in Cleveland. When he wasn’t, they turned on him. That’s the Browns in a nutshell. I’m glad he got out of there.

Mayfield was done wrong in Cleveland. And I'm glad he got out. Guy tried and they spat on him... and the ownership even made it personal. Then they replaced him with a damaged QB that never got his performance back, trading away several seasons to do so.

Mayfield isn't a HoF QB, but he isn't trash either.

Mac Jones doesn’t have a career to revive.

Yeah. His years in New England were about hoping he'd be better next year. In his defense, the OC changed every season and the offensive line were clearly seen taking 10's and 20's before plays from the defensive line. Regardless, he had targeting issues and that impacted his development as an NFL grade QB.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Patriots versus Steelers. First quarter had the feel of a blowout, the Patriots defense couldn't stop a Pee Wee running back in the first quarter. It looked like it was going to be a long afternoon. Outcome ended up being much much much worse than a blowout! Steeler fans walk away with a win, but I can only imagine how hollow it is for them and worries about the remainder of the season.

In the fourth quarter, I was thinking, how do you win a football game with 4 turnovers? Go 4 for 4 on 4th down, including near your own 20 yard line. The Browns... I mean the Patriots, gave up 5 turnovers (6 including the final one on downs) and could have still won the game as Vrabel found a cheat code for 4th down. After the second Steeler touchdown, the Patriots defense completely shut down the Steelers, who might not have made a first down on non-penalty gained yardage for two or so quarters.

I wish I could blame the officiating, but what happened yesterday was one of the largest cases of botched football in my recollection. Yes, the Steelers do deserve the credit for forcing the fumbles, it isn't as if they were unforced errors. But to see so much progress and control of the game by the Patriots offense and then followed by repeated loss of possession including on two plays that would have otherwise resulted in TD scores... it was probably the hardest loss (for my team) to have ever watched.

Drake Maye looked great... on most plays. But, he did botch a few throws again. Overall, it was a great performance, but he needs to get a handle on accuracy. He rushed the ball very effectively, and in a manner that doesn't get one hurt.

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

Patriots versus Steelers. First quarter had the feel of a blowout, the Patriots defense couldn't stop a Pee Wee running back in the first quarter. It looked like it was going to be a long afternoon. Outcome ended up being much much much worse than a blowout! Steeler fans walk away with a win, but I can only imagine how hollow it is for them and worries about the remainder of the season.

In the fourth quarter, I was thinking, how do you win a football game with 4 turnovers? Go 4 for 4 on 4th down, including near your own 20 yard line. The Browns... I mean the Patriots, gave up 5 turnovers (6 including the final one on downs) and could have still won the game as Vrabel found a cheat code for 4th down. After the second Steeler touchdown, the Patriots defense completely shut down the Steelers, who might not have made a first down on non-penalty gained yardage for two or so quarters.

I wish I could blame the officiating, but what happened yesterday was one of the largest cases of botched football in my recollection. Yes, the Steelers do deserve the credit for forcing the fumbles, it isn't as if they were unforced errors. But to see so much progress and control of the game by the Patriots offense and then followed by repeated loss of possession including on two plays that would have otherwise resulted in TD scores... it was probably the hardest loss (for my team) to have ever watched.

This is how the Steelers win: they do a lot of nothing on offense, play pretty good defense, and wait for the other team to make a mistake or three. They’ll win 9 games to keep Tomlin’s streak alive, and have a mid-round draft pick (and no QB) to show for it.

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

Yesterday was bizarre even by NFL standards. Blocked kicks all over the place. Big leads blown. Super Bowl contender loses to the Browns. The Colts are 3-0, which shocks everyone including Colts fans. Cowboys suck even more than the Bears.

 

[Elixir]

Yesterday was bizarre even by NFL standards.

Except the Donkeys, who snatched defeat from the jaws of victory for the second straight week.
I've seen this movie before and it doth not bode well.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The one odd thing in the Pats game, it sounded like a decent number of Steelers fans were in attendance.

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

The one odd thing in the Pats game, it sounded like a decent number of Steelers fans were in attendance.

Lots of Steeler fans all over the country. And I imagine Patriots tickets are easier to get than they were a few years ago.

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

Still alive in both my survivor pools (Seahawks and Colts both won big). In the large one (65k alive starting the week), the Packers loss to the Browns took out almost 20%; it was the first big upset of the season. Falcons knocked out another 5% by losing in a blowout to Carolina. Now we're down to 45k.

Next week looks a bit dicey; I may have to use one of the better teams to play it safe.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Henry fumbled again. Are they greasing the ball?

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Wow! I'm assuming the Panthers weren't supposed to go anywhere this season. Patriots' defense looked awful for the first drive and a half... and then the Panthers' offense looked dreadful for the remainder of the game. Maye and the Patriots played like last week, just without all the turnovers. They won easily, in part buoyed by a kick return for a touchdown that I don't believe had a single block required once the returner started moving up field.

Ravens are 1-3 as they lose to Kansas City who are hitting their stride and improve to 2-2. Jackson currently uncertain after an injury took him out of the game.

The Browns' savior Joe Flacco led a purposeless offense to another poor outcome and the Browns are downed by the Lions and they fall to 1-3.

Finally a battle of the unbeatens with Philly and Tampa (yes, Tampa), and the Eagles strong start pulls them through. Stats imply the game was not pretty.

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

Ravens are broken. They’re looking at a 5-6 win season. They hired a woefully inexperienced coach as DC last year, and he’s actually regressed this year. Key players are hurt. Zero pass rush. They spend less money on offensive line than any other team, because Lamar bails them out. But not with a bad hamstring.

Packers are an enigma. 0-1-1 against Cleveland and Dallas on consecutive weeks, when they’re supposed to be a Super Bowl contender.

 

[Elixir]

Broncos!
They’re not as good as they should be, according to preseason hype.
Monday night, time to show up.

 

[Tharmas]

Packers are an enigma. 0-1-1 against Cleveland and Dallas on consecutive weeks, when they’re supposed to be a Super Bowl contender.

Packers and Cowboys scored 40 points apiece, which the announcers said was the highest score for a tied game in NFL history.. That tells me that neither team has much defense.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

What do you mean? They only gave up a field goal in OT.

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

Packers are an enigma. 0-1-1 against Cleveland and Dallas on consecutive weeks, when they’re supposed to be a Super Bowl contender.

Packers and Cowboys scored 40 points apiece, which the announcers said was the highest score for a tied game in NFL history.. That tells me that neither team has much defense.

Scorigami!