The N"If"L - A Look into the Future of an Alternate NFL

[Rumplebeanskin]

Year 2 16/17- Week 16


The 4 Quick Takes From This Week's NFL


Amanda Reditch


1st Down - End of an era in New England?

Rumours have been swirling for a while now that the Brady/Belichek era could come to an end as soon as this offseason. Coach Belichek was his tight lipped self but Tom Brady was more insightful, suggesting his recent injury had allowed him to put some things into perspective regarding his career. Does that mean he's thinking about the end? Or that he can go for even longer? With only Jimmy Garoppolo on the depth chart at QB behind Brady, Patriot fans will no doubt be desperate for their current QB to play for as long as possible.


2nd Down - Kansas and Green Bay on collision course?

They are as opposite as chalk and cheese. Kansas are winning by grinding teams down with a dominant defence and a slow, methodical run based offence that controls the clock. The Packers will just blow you out of the water entirely. With a mentality of not caring how many points you score because they will score more, Green Bay are setting the NFC alights in much the same way as Kansas are torching the AFC. If they both make it that far, it would make for a very exciting Super Bowl.


3rd Down - Hot Seat time!

With income and revenue rising every year in the NFL, more and more is at stake with every season that passes. With greater income comes greater spending and ultimately, a more desperate need to see a return on that investment in the form of wins on the field. I can see a number of coaches across the league that could face the chop before the end of this season. Some teams are out of contention and will have to seriously examine their coaching situation (John Fox in Chicago, Gary Kubiak in Denver, Lovie Smith in Tampa, Jim Tomsula in San Francisco, Bill O'Brien in Texas) after multiple sub-par seasons. The more interesting dismissals will come from teams who make the playoffs but fall short of internal expectation. It's hard to say that making the playoffs is a bad season, but some teams just expect more from their team, including their coach.


4th Down - Robert Griffin III, Comeback Kid

How good was that piece by Boo Carling earlier this season? A great insight into the mind of RG3. And with only a few games to go, it is pretty likely that the Eagles have sewn up an NFC wildcard spot. It's not out of the question that they catch the Cowboys and win the division, but it is so great to see a player that has battled through adversity and injury regain their form and lead their team.

I'm excited for the rest of the season and I hope you guys are to. Whoever you end up watching, enjoy it!

Amanda

[tdawg3782]

Really loving this man. I like the way you do the write ups. Makes it feel like we are part of something. The only thing I'd like to see is maybe a 4 week and 12 week power ranking added but without the report part. Just a little heads up on where teams stand. Also glad to see you were able to expand on my excel file and make good use of it. Awesome job bro.

[Rumplebeanskin]

Thanks for the feedback, that's really cool. I see the number of views going up, but it's always good to hear what people think.

I will implement this as soon as I can (it wouldn't take a lot of work at all), but may not be until season 4 as I've simmed 3 but not yet written it up. I may have the right screenshots though!

[Rumplebeanskin]

NFL Standings – Year 2 2016/17
NFC EAST	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
1 - Dallas Cowboys	12	4	0	?	88
5 - Philadelphia Eagles	11	5	0	?	83
Washington Redskins	8	8	0	18	80
New York Giants	3	13	0	1	81
NFC NORTH	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
4 - Green Bay Packers	9	7	0	?	89
Minnesota Vikings	9	7	0	19	88
Detroit Lions	8	8	0	17	86
Chicago Bears	4	11	1	4	79
NFC SOUTH	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
2 - New Orleans Saints	10	6	0	?	79
6 - Carolina Panthers	10	6	0	?	89
Atlanta Falcons	7	9	0	11	85
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	5	10	1	5	81
NFC WEST	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
3 - Seattle Seahawks	10	6	0	?	88
Arizona Cardinals	10	6	0	20	86
St Louis Rams	7	8	1	15	85
San Francisco 49ers	4	12	0	2	84
AFC EAST	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
1 - New England Patriots	13	3	0	?	89
Miami Dolphins	8	8	0	16	82
New York Jets	7	9	0	13	83
Buffalo Bills	6	9	1	10	82
AFC NORTH	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
3 - Cincinnati Bengals	10	6	0	?	87
Pittsburgh Steelers	7	9	0	14	81
Baltimore Ravens	7	9	0	12	87
Cleveland Brown	6	10	0	6	83
AFC SOUTH	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
4 - Jacksonville Jaguars	9	7	0	?	81
Tennessee Titans	6	10	0	9	82
Indianapolis Colts	6	10	0	8	80
Houston Texans	4	12	0	3	85
AFC WEST	W	L	T	DRAFT	OVERALL
2 - Kansas City Chiefs	12	4	0	?	84
5 - San Diego Chargers	11	5	0	?	82
6 - Oakland Raiders	9	7	0	?	80
Denver Broncos	6	10	0	7	82

*Number Denotes Playoff Seeding

Season Leaders

Passing
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
5,382 yards, 38 touchdowns, 15 interceptions

Rushing
Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
315 rushes, 1,818 yards, 10 touchdowns

Receiving
Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers
111 catches, 1,619 yards, 9 touchdowns

Tackles
Colin McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys
182 Tackles

Sacks
JJ Watt, Houston Texans
17.5 Sacks

Interceptions
Jason McCourty, Tennessee Titans
8 Interceptions

Coach of the Year
Bill Belichick, New England Patriots

[Rumplebeanskin]

Year 2 16/17 - Divisional




Daniel Grainger, NFL

Long Time Retired? Don't Count On It!

Less than a week after another 6 win season and a failure to make the playoffs, Gary Kubiak was relieved of his coaching duties by the Denver Broncos. It would appear that for some time the Broncos and John Elway have been lining up Peyton Manning for a sensational return to the NFL. It came as little surprise that Manning would find his way back into the game, but the destination, timing and role were the details providing the buzz around the league this morning.



Asked about his return, Manning was clearly excited for what lies ahead,"It was very good to hear from John (Elway) about this opportunity. I had said to my wife that I was going to take some time and I wasn't in a rush to move back into the game. This was too good to turn down though and I think everyone around me understands that. I can't wait to be back in the facility and helping the fans again and to try and get this great franchise turned around.

The first task for Manning upon his return to Mile High Stadium will be reviving the fortunes of a team that has fallen on hard times during the end of his tenure and subsequent time in retirement. Manning knows offence, and the team he inherits was 32nd in points scored last season. The quarterback position has been in a state of flux. Likely to be high on the list of priorities, Denver need to negotiate with current starter and free agent to be Ryan Fitzpatrick. It is not known if Fitzpatrick currently wishes to stay with the Broncos but his lack of contract at least gives Manning and GM John Elway some flexibility as to how they move forward. This draft is thought to contain 3 or 4 signal callers that could transition to the next level and Denver possesses the #7 pick.

A further issue holding back the development of this Denver team is their 32nd ranked pass defence from last season. Outside of elite corner Chris Harris Jr, the Broncos don't have a lot on offer. There is firm rumour around the team that DeMarcus Ware is set to retire, another move that provides flexibility to help shape the roster moving forward.

While it's not currently known how active Manning will be in recruitment with John Elway firmly in the GM role, Elway is sure to listen to Manning's opinion after pulling him so quickly out of retirement though. One thing is for sure, this role for Manning won't involve anything but coaching. "Playing? Absolutely not, even if we have to hold open tryouts for a quarterback!"

[Rumplebeanskin]

Year 2 16/17 - Divisional


The 24-Hour Home of CBS Sports


Jeff Hardy-Grant, Contributor

After Stellar Season, Chiefs Lose QB Smith At The Worst Time

It's rare that a team isn't happy after a 1 point victory in the playoffs, but the mood in the Chiefs camp this morning was anything but jovial. Alex Smith appears to be finished for the season, however long that happens to be, with a concussion. After a 12-4 record and a week off to begin the playoffs, the Chiefs looked rusty from the get-go of their divisional game with Cincinnati. Whilst they escaped from the game with a W, Smith took a number of hits throughout the contest that have taken their toll.

Untested Aaron Murray will take Smith's place the remainder of the way and his shoulders must now carry the burden of a franchise that hasn't won a Championship since Superbowl IV in 1969. One thing that should help Murray in his quest to replace Smith is a team around him playing at an elite level. This Kansas offence isn't built around a dominant QB and the team will continue to lean heavily on All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles. Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid was quick to support his young signal caller "Aaron knows what is expected of him, and he has the tools to succeed. He is the next man up and he has our full support. The past is in the past, all we can do now is look forward."



The first test for Murray, Charles and the Chiefs will be an intimidating trip to Foxboro to play New England on Sunday. With Tom Brady and the Patriots looking very strong as the AFC's #1 seed, Murray will need to find his best form, and quickly.

JHG
CBS Sports

[Rumplebeanskin]

Year 2 16/17 - Conference


The Worldwide Leader in Sport


Ed Shakespear, NFL Analyst

After Snowy Night in Foxboro, Patriots Dynasty Ends In Every Way Possible

The ramifications of Sunday's shock 35-24 loss to Kansas City will be felt long after the snow has thawed from the pitch in Foxboro. Before we allow ourselves to get swept up with the off field changes for the Patriots, Aaron Murray deserves a tremendous amount of credit for his performance. Throwing for 2 TDs was significantly more than the Chiefs hoped for but he was measured and in control from start to finish, taking care of the football and giving the Chiefs an opportunity to win.

In the aftermath of a disappointing defeat, the worst was yet to come for the New England Patriots. In press conferences held a day apart, Coach Bill Belichick and Quarterback Tom Brady both called time on their respective careers. As one of the most decorated and successful coach/player combinations in the history of the NFL, the Patriots must now face the herculean task of replacing both men. The response from the NFL community has been vast, praising the achievements of both Belichick and Brady throughout their careers.



Denver have shown us most recently that replacing an iconic player is very difficult. It remains to be seen who Manning's replacement will be under centre for the Broncos and solutions for the Patriots aren't any clearer. Behind Brady sits Jimmy Garoppolo, an untried and untested signal caller drafted in the 2nd round of 2014 out of FCS minnow Eastern Illinois. It was presumably the intent of the Patriots front office that the torch would pass to Garoppolo and that plan will now most likely be tested. What remains unknown is if Garoppolo was the Patriots preference for replacing Brady, or if he was merely the back up for the team when Brady called it quits. That will be the real question as the off-season progresses.

As for who replaces Coach Belichick, that appears more obvious. Despite the lack of a formal announcement, it has been strongly circulated by numerous sources that the Robert Kraft has managed to lure long time Belichick disciple Nick Saban back to the NFL from Alabama. The fire of going 15-17 in his only stint as an NFL coach clearly still burns for Saban and he now has the opportunity to tick one box that still remains unchecked for his career. It is thought Saban will be allowed a relatively unchallenged role with regards to player personnel (something he didn't enjoy in Miami and ultimately drove him back to the college ranks) as well play calling duties on the defensive side of the ball.



We'll bring you further announcements as we have them, but it is bound to be an interesting off-season in Boston. It's an off-season that I'm sure most fans still can't believe has to begin.

Ed Shakespear
ESPN

[Rumplebeanskin]

Kansas City Chiefs vs Green Bay Packers
Feb 5, 2017	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)	7	3	0	14	24
Green Bay Packers (9-7)	7	3	7	0	17

Team Stats Comparison
	KAN	GNB
Total Offense	359	358
Rushing Yards	158	88
Passing Yards	201	270
First Downs	16	18
Punt Return Yards	9	0
Kick Return Yards	95	90
Total Yards	463	448
Turnovers	0	1
3rd Down Converstion	10	9
4th Down Conversion	0	0
2-Point Conversion	0	0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	2/0	2/1
Penalties	35	26
Posession Time	28:09	31:51

Kansas City Chiefs PASSING C/A YDS TD INT A.Murray 13/24 201 1 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD J.Charles 22 103 4.7 1 C.Johnson 7 29 4.1 0 K.Davis 4 20 5.0 1 A.Murray 3 6 2.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD A.Wilson 3 80 26.7 1 B.Quick 3 51 17.0 0 T.Kelce 2 10 5.0 0 J.Maclin 2 47 23.5 0 J.Charles 2 1 0.5 0 B.Parker 1 12 12 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD J.Brinkley 12 0 0 0 J.Mauga 11 0 0 0 E.Berry 5 0 0 0 T.Hali 5 2.0 0 0 M.Peters 4 0 0 0 J.Houston 4 1.0 0 0 R.Parker 4 0 0 0 S.Smith 4 0 0 0 P.Gaines 3 0 0 0 A.Bailey 2 0 0 0 H.Ngata 2 0 0 0 H.Bates 2 0 0 0 D.Ford 1 0 0 0 H.Abdullah 1 0 1 0 A.Hicks 1 0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG C.Santos 1/1 3/3 6 39 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 B.Fields 4 173 43.3 2 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD A.Wilson 2 53 26.5 0 K.Davis 2 42 21.0 0 PUNT RETURN RET YDS AVG TD A.Wilson 2 9 4.5 0

Green Bay Packers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT A.Rodgers 26/42 270 1 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD E.Lacy 13 63 4.8 1 D.Thomas 6 17 2.8 0 A.Rodgers 2 8 4.0 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD D.Adams 7 89 12.7 0 J.Nelson 7 112 16.0 0 M.Lewis 4 20 5.0 0 E.Lacy 2 5 2.5 0 R.Cobb 2 22 11.0 1 D.Thomas 2 13 6.5 0 T.Montgomery 1 9 9 0 J.Kuhn 1 0 0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD N.Johnson 9 0 0 0 M.Burnett 7 0 0 0 H.Clinton-Dix 7 0 0 0 C.Matthews 6 0 0 0 S.Shields 5 0 0 0 S.Barrington 5 0.5 0 0 B.Raji 5 0.5 0 0 T.Brown 3 0 0 0 D.Randall 2 0 0 0 C.Thomas 2 0 0 0 J.Elliott 1 0 0 0 J.Ryan 1 0 0 0 J.Boyd 1 0 0 0 C.McDonald 1 0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG B.McManus 1/2 2/2 5 37 PUNTING NO YDS AVG IN20 R.Quigley 3 131 43.7 1 KICK RETURN RET YDS AVG TD T.Montgomery 3 69 23.0 0 R.Cobb 1 21 21.0 0

Post Season Review

Wildcard
NFC
Carolina Panthers 38 @ 22 Seattle Seahawks
Philadelphia Eagles 28 @ 45 Green Bay Packers
AFC
Oakland Raiders 10 @ 47 Cincinnati Bengals
San Diego Chargers 29 @ 32 Jacksonville Jaguars

Divisional
NFC
Carolina Panthers 17 @ 31 Dallas Cowboys
Green Bay Packers 41 @ 30 New Orleans Saints
AFC
Jacksonville Jaguars 14 @ 45 New England Patriots
Cincinnati Bengals 23 @ 24 Kansas City Chiefs

Conference
NFC
Green Bay Packers 31 @ 24 Dallas Cowboys
AFC
Kansas City Chiefs 35 @ 24 New england Patriots

Superbowl
Kansas City Chiefs 24 vs 17 Green Bay Packers