NFL 2017

[blastula]

Over halfway done and things are shaking out. NE again has to be the favorite for another SB, because we live in the worst possible timeline. But let's forget them and talk about my LA Rams.

For the first time in over a decade they have a team worthy of playing in the league. Last season, was their crappiest season I have ever lived through. It's near miraculous the turnaround since. They made some key moves to shore up their line and receivers, but new car smell Mcvay is making Fisher look like a total fraud. Goff didn't look like he belonged in the pros last season, he's a different human this year (it's like the timeline shifted). Gurley as well. A lot of credit does go to the new line, but they also have some very inventive play calling that's been paying off. They're leading the league in scoring and point differential. Their defense started out shaky, but they've settled down under new dc Wade Phillips. They have no major weakness, strong in special teams, kicking and returning. Zurlein is an awesome weapon, he bails them out far beyond the red zone, he's on pace to break the season scoring record.

I say all this with the caveat that their schedule so far can be considered softish, and is about to enter its toughest stretch - Minn, NO, Phi in the next 4 weeks, which should seal their fate.

 

[Tars Tarkus]

Over halfway done and things are shaking out. NE again has to be the favorite for another SB, because we live in the worst possible timeline. But let's forget them and talk about my LA Rams.

For the first time in over a decade they have a team worthy of playing in the league. Last season, was their crappiest season I have ever lived through. It's near miraculous the turnaround since. They made some key moves to shore up their line and receivers, but new car smell Mcvay is making Fisher look like a total fraud. Goff didn't look like he belonged in the pros last season, he's a different human this year (it's like the timeline shifted). Gurley as well. A lot of credit does go to the new line, but they also have some very inventive play calling that's been paying off. They're leading the league in scoring and point differential. Their defense started out shaky, but they've settled down under new dc Wade Phillips. They have no major weakness, strong in special teams, kicking and returning. Zurlein is an awesome weapon, he bails them out far beyond the red zone, he's on pace to break the season scoring record.

I say all this with the caveat that their schedule so far can be considered softish, and is about to enter its toughest stretch - Minn, NO, Phi in the next 4 weeks, which should seal their fate.

I've been a Cardinal fan for 45 years and even as a division rival, hope you guys win the whole thing if we can't. Good Luck!

 

[rousseau]

I wish I could more easily follow the NFL, it's the one league whose digital package seems a little pricier than the value I'd get out of it (would be watching games from Roku). I actually checked out a few non-Superbowl games last year and it was amazing how much more enjoyable they were sans MERICA' show. Just talented athletes playing football, without the hype.

It is possible to find free streams, but the quality is usually too choppy. I'm still waiting on cable to get crushed so I can get every North American league digitally at a reasonable price. Give it 5-10 years.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The Patriots a bit hard to gauge. Yes, they have improved dramatically, adjusting to the problems with injuries, but they have also done so against questionable opponents. Pretty much I was happy as all fuck with one Super Bowl. Then 3 of 4 was incredible. Now they are 5 of 7, with two runs of 2 of 3's. Two runs of 3 of 4's would start putting them near a magnitude above the 49'ers as the best franchise dynasty.

The Eagles have been playing very well, and good for them. I have family in Philly and they likely want revenge over the Pats for McNabb's nappy 4th Quarter. Which, honestly, would be fine. You'd have to be a New Yorker to get rattled after having won 5 titles in a relatively short period of time.

Aaron Rodgers injury took Green Bay out of contention, and unlike many other years with slow starts, the Giants ain't making a comeback this year. I didn't even know the Rams were playing well. Good for them. Of course, I'd rather slit my wrists than cheer for a team from LA.

Pittsburgh is having a tremendously quiet season, for a record of 7-2. I never give this franchise a pass, they are always tough and are run like a franchise should be, unlike the local Cleveland Browns.

So AFC, Patriots and Steelers in the AFC title game... again. And the NFC... well... a whole bunch of good records there. Have no idea who is for real.

 

[Shake]

As a Giants fan, I'm calling the season over, though I could see them picking up a win or two possibly. KC and Philly will most likely be losses, but the others could be possible, especially against the Cardinals whose offense is nearly as bad. They've played some close games and I don't think they're quite as bad as their record. Ah well, now I can focus on other things. Although my other team is whoever-plays-Dallas, so maybe I'll root for them.

Edit: most folks in my area are Bills fans. I just can't get on board with them. They seem to excel at finding new and interesting ways to blow games and/or seasons. Their best chance at the title was that Super Bowl against the Giants and they were definitely the better team that year, but it just didn't pan out for them. After that, they did well enough to get there, but never performed as well.

 

[TSwizzle]

LA Rams are doing pretty well. But I still can't fathom why LA went from having no NFL teams to having two. The Chargers are probably going to have to move again.

 

[ZiprHead]

I wish I could more easily follow the NFL, it's the one league whose digital package seems a little pricier than the value I'd get out of it (would be watching games from Roku). I actually checked out a few non-Superbowl games last year and it was amazing how much more enjoyable they were sans MERICA' show. Just talented athletes playing football, without the hype.

It is possible to find free streams, but the quality is usually too choppy. I'm still waiting on cable to get crushed so I can get every North American league digitally at a reasonable price. Give it 5-10 years.

Have you tried just hooking up an antenna to your tv and see if you can pick up US channels from Port Huron?

 

[Elixir]

The Patriots a bit hard to gauge. Yes, they have improved dramatically, adjusting to the problems with injuries, but they have also done so against questionable opponents. Pretty much I was happy as all fuck with one Super Bowl. Then 3 of 4 was incredible. Now they are 5 of 7, with two runs of 2 of 3's. Two runs of 3 of 4's would start putting them near a magnitude above the 49'ers as the best franchise dynasty.

The Eagles have been playing very well, and good for them. I have family in Philly and they likely want revenge over the Pats for McNabb's nappy 4th Quarter. Which, honestly, would be fine. You'd have to be a New Yorker to get rattled after having won 5 titles in a relatively short period of time.

Aaron Rodgers injury took Green Bay out of contention, and unlike many other years with slow starts, the Giants ain't making a comeback this year. I didn't even know the Rams were playing well. Good for them. Of course, I'd rather slit my wrists than cheer for a team from LA.

Pittsburgh is having a tremendously quiet season, for a record of 7-2. I never give this franchise a pass, they are always tough and are run like a franchise should be, unlike the local Cleveland Browns.

So AFC, Patriots and Steelers in the AFC title game... again. And the NFC... well... a whole bunch of good records there. Have no idea who is for real.

Thank you for not mentioning the Broncos. Boy, do they ever suck this year!
Lucky for me, my wife was raised in Philly, and has tons of family there. I lived on the main line for a year or so as a kid, too. I wish the Eagles all the best, and they look deserving.
As for the Patties... they look somewhat anomalous at this point of the season for the last few years, but always end up playing excellent ball by the end of the regular season. I hate 'em.

 

[blastula]

I've been a Cardinal fan for 45 years and even as a division rival, hope you guys win the whole thing if we can't. Good Luck!

Thanks. Honestly, Cardinals have been a second tier team I root for since at least Warner played there. Good to see Fitzgerald still competing.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The AFC East started hot, with the Dolphins at 4-2 and Bills at 5-2. Now the two teams are 4-6 and 5-5, respectively. The Patriots remaining schedule is uber-heavy on the AFC east, 5 of the last 6 games. The big match up will be 12/17 when the Patriots make the trip to Pittsburgh, in what could likely be the preview to the AFC Championship game.

Eagles continue to look real good, but the NFC has a bunch of teams with good records. It'll be tough to get out of the NFC. Meanwhile, with the collapse of the Chiefs, the AFC is a two/three pony show, New England, Pittsburgh, and maybe Jacksonville (whose offense wasn't spectacular against a bad Cleveland team).

 

[rousseau]

I wish I could more easily follow the NFL, it's the one league whose digital package seems a little pricier than the value I'd get out of it (would be watching games from Roku). I actually checked out a few non-Superbowl games last year and it was amazing how much more enjoyable they were sans MERICA' show. Just talented athletes playing football, without the hype.

It is possible to find free streams, but the quality is usually too choppy. I'm still waiting on cable to get crushed so I can get every North American league digitally at a reasonable price. Give it 5-10 years.

Have you tried just hooking up an antenna to your tv and see if you can pick up US channels from Port Huron?

Might be something to look into, I wonder if they'd reach that far.

American Football.. and by coincidence, the football the rest of the world plays, are the two sports I really miss since cutting cable.

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

They made some key moves to shore up their line and receivers, but new car smell Mcvay is making Fisher look like a total fraud.

That's because Fisher was a total fraud. We always figured he had compromising photos of the owner; there was no logical explanation for his contract extensions.

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

The AFC East started hot, with the Dolphins at 4-2 and Bills at 5-2. Now the two teams are 4-6 and 5-5, respectively.

The 'phins are just plain soft, and they've been that way for years. The Bills? They had a chance, until genius head coach decided to replace a decent QB with the only surviving member of the Three Stooges. What an incredibly bad move.

Belichick must send those teams (and the Jets) presents every Christmas, because they're virtually gifted home playoff games every year.

 

[TSwizzle]

Monday Night Football served up a pretty good game last night. A cliffhanger of an ending as Seattle mounted a good comeback against Atlanta. Carroll made two bad blunders in managing the game last night that may have cost Seattle the game.

 

[blastula]

Rams dropped an axle on their way to world domination, but that's only because the curse of the Texans was too powerful.

Teams that played Texans have lost the next week every time in 2017 | Texans Wire

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Rams dropped an axle on their way to world domination, but that's only because the curse of the Texans was too powerful.

Teams that played Texans have lost the next week every time in 2017 | Texans Wire

Wow, that curse even took down the Cleveland Browns!

 

[blastula]

Go ahead and mock it, but you're lucky they play Steelers only after Steelers the Pats.

 

[ZiprHead]

Just saw on FB that Chicago fired their kicker. I guess that field goal attempt at the end of the game against the Lions was the last straw.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Just saw on FB that Chicago fired their kicker. I guess that field goal attempt at the end of the game against the Lions was the last straw.

As a Patriots fan, I can empathize. We had Scott Missin' Scisson. Despite being 5-11, the Patriots had 5 games terribly affected by his missed field goals, as the Pats lost a lot of close games.

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

Just saw on FB that Chicago fired their kicker. I guess that field goal attempt at the end of the game against the Lions was the last straw.

As a Patriots fan, I can empathize. We had Scott Missin' Scisson. Despite being 5-11, the Patriots had 5 games terribly affected by his missed field goals, as the Pats lost a lot of close games.

Wow. 14/26. Kickers do better that from 50+ now.