2025/26 NFL Regular Season Thread

[Thomkal]

Guess its that time again. So how do you think YOUR team is going to do?


Hard to say with my beloved Cards coming off an 8 win season-they drafted almost all defense, so if they don't significantly improve there coaches will be fired. This has to be the season that Murray shines consistently or its the beginning of the end for him in Arizona I think. Harrison Jr too has to show he can be a #1 WR consistently too. I think they contend for the West but too much unknown to say how much. 9 wins I guess would be a good goal.


Call it karma or what but I think Aaron Rodgers gets hurt in his return to NY in Week 1

[dubb93]

I see the Colts having a rough season. Key players on the defense are on the wrong side of 30 and I say either spend a large part of the season hurt or sharply decline. The secondary is already extremely hurt and if Charvarious Ward doesn't return to form they could be a complete disaster. Latu is trending towards a bust as a pass rusher and Kwity Paye on the other side isn't a threat to have a break out season.

On the other side of the ball they lost two very good offensive lineman and replaced them with guys they have drafted (our GM hasn't drafted well so I won't hold my breath). Addonai Mitchell doesn't appear to be that guy at WR either. The cherry on top is Danny Dimes at QB.

My prediction is that halfway through the season we see a QB change to....Riley Leonard. I predict they finish last in the division and honestly that may just be what upper management is hoping for as they want an excuse to clean house after the season and have a shot at one of the top tier QB prospects in the draft. Hope I'm wrong.

[albionmoonlight]

The Saints over/under wind total is 5.5

I would bet the under. Five wins feels about right.

They are the classic case of “if you have two quarterbacks that means you have no quarterbacks.” Neither Rattler nor Shough look like the answer. Even if one believes that there is potential there in the long-term, I do not think we are going to see much of anything in 2025. And it is a quarterback driven league.

The rookies have looked good in preseason and camp. And the offensive line has a lot invested in it. And the coaching will almost certainly have improved. So there are a few bright spots, but I do not see how you can predict a team with no viable quarterback over five wins in 2025.

[cuervo72]

I don't usually reasonably expect the Eagles to win the SB, let alone two seasons running. Will mostly be content with them staying mostly healthy and not regressing too horribly.

[Thomkal]

The Saints over/under wind total is 5.5

I would bet the under. Five wins feels about right.

They are the classic case of “if you have two quarterbacks that means you have no quarterbacks.” Neither Rattler nor Shough look like the answer. Even if one believes that there is potential there in the long-term, I do not think we are going to see much of anything in 2025. And it is a quarterback driven league.

The rookies have looked good in preseason and camp. And the offensive line has a lot invested in it. And the coaching will almost certainly have improved. So there are a few bright spots, but I do not see how you can predict a team with no viable quarterback over five wins in 2025.



Yeah kinda glad Arizona starts the season there given the QB situation.,

[GrantDawg]

The Falcons are where they always are. They give you reasons to think they could turn the corner, but also give reasons not to believe they will improve. Much like what Thomkal said about the Cards, they have put so much draft capital into the defense they better improve or there will be yet another house-cleaning. The season is going to be determined on how Penix progresses. He has the cast around him to allow the run game to shine, and let him pick his shots till he is comfortable. The biggest issue he faces is his blind side. It looks like RT Kaleb McGary is going to be out most if not all of the season. His back up just had ankle surgery and is likely out half the season as well. It is likely they sign a vet off the scrap heap before the season starts, but that is not the best position to be scrambling for with a left handed rookie quarterback.

[Atocep]

The Bears have a tough schedule and it's going to take time to get the timing and everything down with Johnson's offense. Dennis Allen also doesn't have the type of guys he prefers on the defensive side. Given the circumstances, I'd say 8 wins would be a success but the talent is there for more.

[bhlloy]

If I was a betting man I'd feel quite comfortable taking under 9.5 on the Rams. There's talent there no doubt, but it feels like Stafford isn't going to be entirely healthy all season and is one hit away from being done.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Kenny Pickett to the Raiders for a 2026 5th round pick

[CrimsonFox]

Kenny Pickett to the Raiders for a 2026 5th round pick

fricking FINALLY, Cleveland!

[Thomkal]

Seems like I'm not the only one with questions about Kyler Murray:


In Arizona, the Kyler Murray question that never goes away inches closer to an answer - The Athletic (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6573495/2025/08/25/kyler-murray-arizona-cardinals-question-franchise-qb/?source=athletic_pulsenewsletter&campaign=14685122&userId=12743780)

[albionmoonlight]

The Saints over/under wind total is 5.5

I would bet the under. Five wins feels about right.

They are the classic case of “if you have two quarterbacks that means you have no quarterbacks.” Neither Rattler nor Shough look like the answer. Even if one believes that there is potential there in the long-term, I do not think we are going to see much of anything in 2025. And it is a quarterback driven league.

The rookies have looked good in preseason and camp. And the offensive line has a lot invested in it. And the coaching will almost certainly have improved. So there are a few bright spots, but I do not see how you can predict a team with no viable quarterback over five wins in 2025.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Corliss Waitman has won the Steelers punter job, and he had interest elsewhere. The Saints inquired about trading for him before the Steelers made the final decision to stick with him.</p>&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1960307481348809187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

And somehow the Saints are out here trying to trade for punters.

I'm not saying that I want an intentional tank. But this front office has to realize that draft picks mean more to this team in 2025 than punters.

[Honolulu_Blue]

It's hard to actually articulate how I am feeling about the Lions this year. It's difficult to separate 45 years of of fandom that has largely, if not entirely, been defined by failure from objectively assessing this year's team.

On one hand, they are still an incredibly talented team. They have a ton of great, young players that make up their core - Hutchinson, Sewel, Gibbs, LaPorta, Branch, St. Brown - and then other really solid younger players like McNeil, JaMo, and Campbell. They have a great head coach and a GM who has done a pretty solid job of drafting. They won 15 games last year. It was an unprecedented level of success for the franchise.

On the other hand, they lost both of their top two coordinators. Their all-pro center retired making their o-line somewhat of a question mark as opposed to one of the team's strengths. Jared Goff is a good, but not great quarterback, who is terrible under pressure (see, supra, Ragnow's retirement). Their schedule is incredibly difficult this year. They got absolutely blown out in their last game.

As a result, I can't shake the feeling that last year was just one of those blips that happen every so often where the Lions are legitimately good for a year or so and then everything falls apart and it's back to business as usual. It shouldn't happen. They should still win 10 or 11 games and make the playoffs. It would be hard to be upset at that result.

Primary concerns:
1. Offensive line without Ragnow.
2 New coordinators.
3. Lack of depth along the defensive line, especially at edge.
4. Tough schedule.
5. Health

[JPhillips]

The Bengals haven't made the playoffs in two years and they had a ton of cap space, so it's frustrating that they made not be any better talent wise than they were two years ago.

But they should be fun to watch on offense. They can score 40 every game and I think Burrow could make a run at the passing yards record.

[Ghost Econ]

I'm impressed I can still get on the forum with the Taylor-Travis news.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'm impressed I can still get on the forum with the Taylor-Travis news.

Probably required a dedicated server given the earthshattering implications of it all.

[Ksyrup]

I've received no less than 6 "breaking news" notifications about it. Fucking ridiculous. As if this wasn't choreographed perfectly to maximize revenue with an announcement a week before the NFL season starts. I wonder if they'll name their first kid Kelce Swift Inc. or LLC?

[Ghost Econ]

I'm still perplexed breaking news alerts are prevalent. I can't anything I need to know about as soon as possible. The only notifications I even have on for my phone are texts.

[Atocep]

Former WVU quarterback Garrett Greene relased by the Bucs. He likely lands on their practice squad. He had a strong preseason and he's making the transition from QB to WR. With his athleticism and what he showed in the preseason a team going nowhere should take a shot at him developing into something. The Bucs WR room is loaded so he had uphill battle making it as an undrafted free agent.

[Lathum]

Saints already in Manning tank mode.

[miami_fan]

A headline on ESPN

"Sources: Ex Chiefs star Hardman cut by Packers"

Mecole Hardman was a Chiefs' star?:confused:

[JonInMiddleGA]

A headline on ESPN

"Sources: Ex Chiefs star Hardman cut by Packers"

Mecole Hardman was a Chiefs' star?:confused:

3 rings, 1 SB game-winning catch, a pro bowl and an all-rookie. Yeah, that probably reaches the bar. More in the sense of "a star" rather than "THE star"

[Ksyrup]

Most news services call anyone in the public eye a "star" or the like in order to generate clicks. It's pretty annoying.

"Star LB for the 49ers passes away" - turns out it's some 87 year old dude you've never heard of.

[bronconick]

It's hard to actually articulate how I am feeling about the Lions this year. It's difficult to separate 45 years of of fandom that has largely, if not entirely, been defined by failure from objectively assessing this year's team.

On one hand, they are still an incredibly talented team. They have a ton of great, young players that make up their core - Hutchinson, Sewel, Gibbs, LaPorta, Branch, St. Brown - and then other really solid younger players like McNeil, JaMo, and Campbell. They have a great head coach and a GM who has done a pretty solid job of drafting. They won 15 games last year. It was an unprecedented level of success for the franchise.

On the other hand, they lost both of their top two coordinators. Their all-pro center retired making their o-line somewhat of a question mark as opposed to one of the team's strengths. Jared Goff is a good, but not great quarterback, who is terrible under pressure (see, supra, Ragnow's retirement). Their schedule is incredibly difficult this year. They got absolutely blown out in their last game.

As a result, I can't shake the feeling that last year was just one of those blips that happen every so often where the Lions are legitimately good for a year or so and then everything falls apart and it's back to business as usual. It shouldn't happen. They should still win 10 or 11 games and make the playoffs. It would be hard to be upset at that result.

Primary concerns:
1. Offensive line without Ragnow.
2 New coordinators.
3. Lack of depth along the defensive line, especially at edge.
4. Tough schedule.
5. Health

Re #3. After waiving Hassanein with an injury settlement (Can't re-sign for 6 weeks, could re-sign elsewhere after 3), the Lions currently have three (3) edge rushers.

[RainMaker]

Former WVU quarterback Garrett Greene relased by the Bucs. He likely lands on their practice squad. He had a strong preseason and he's making the transition from QB to WR. With his athleticism and what he showed in the preseason a team going nowhere should take a shot at him developing into something. The Bucs WR room is loaded so he had uphill battle making it as an undrafted free agent.

What ever happened to Kyle Trask? Is he still a legit backup?

[RainMaker]

Primary concerns:
1. Offensive line without Ragnow.


This would be my biggest concern for the Lions. Ragnow was really really good. Saw a breakdown of how he was one of the few centers in the league who never really needed help from the guards.

[Danny]

Lions would be my pick for highly regarded team most likely to miss the playoffs this year.

[JonInMiddleGA]

What ever happened to Kyle Trask? Is he still a legit backup?

Cut by the Bucs today apparently.

[bhlloy]

It's funny, it almost seems like the Lions are in the same position the Rams were when they gave up Jared Goff. Without everything else in perfect place, I'm not sure he's good enough to win a Super Bowl. And it's hard to see how everything could be more in perfect place than last season. I don't see a Stafford coming free to push them over the top, and I suspect Campbell might be too loyal/locker room focused to do it anyway.

I don't think they will miss the playoffs, but I don't see a Super Bowl this year either.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Ksyrup, sadly, the Tim Patrick in Detroit experience has come to an end. He was traded to Jacksonville for a 6th round pick. Isaac TesLaa took his role as the the big-bodied receiver on offense.

It was a good run!

[Ksyrup]

I saw. Hopefully he'll continue to produce - just not in any games that affect teams I want to see win!

[bronconick]

So, Parsons to Green Bay?

[miami_fan]

https://www.espn.com/contributor/adam-schefter/094c19ca0e1bc

ESPN Sources: Cowboys are trading three-time All-Pro LB Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.

Parsons and the Packers already have reached agreement on a four-year, $188 million contract. @DavidMulugheta of @Athletesfirst had a hand in the trade and ultimately negotiating the record-breaking contract that includes $120 million fully guaranteed at signing and makes Parsons the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history.

[RainMaker]

That's giving up a lot but that might make them a contender.

[Ksyrup]

Decent deal for Dallas. They aren't going to be good this year, so reset with 2 1st rd picks and not have to pay Parsons.

[GrantDawg]

"The team owned by socialism has seized the means of the NFL's most valuable defender from Jerry Jones"

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk

[bhlloy]

I’m all for the Packers drafting a first round WR and mortgaging the future to bring in elite defenders just for the thought of how furious it’s going to make Aaron Rodgers.

I don’t think it makes them a contender unless Jordan Love takes a big step forward. Let’s see.

[JPhillips]

I like it for the Packers. You can win the NFC without the stud QB that you need in the AFC, so stack up as much as you can and make a run.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I don’t think it makes them a contender unless Jordan Love takes a big step forward. Let’s see.

Title no.

SB appearance becomes at least an marginal/moderate shot probably.

[Thomkal]

Packers going all in on this season-have to think this makes them a playoff contender, and best yet Dallas plays Green Bay in week 4, so Parsons can flip off Jerry Jones every time he sacks a Dallas QB. :)

[bhlloy]

Maybe I'm overthinking this, but it's fascinating to me that Jerry has to have everything about the franchise be the biggest and best and no expense spared, and yet he gets a bonefide HOF level talent and will piss him off over what is essentially pocket change to him and what he's spent elsewhere.

Maybe there's an uncomfortable reality in there somewhere about what he really thinks about the players, but ultimately just like Al Davis it seems to come down to a stubborn old man who won't accept that the way the game works today has passed him by.

[miami_fan]

Maybe there's an uncomfortable reality in there somewhere about what he really thinks about the players, but ultimately just like Al Davis it seems to come down to a stubborn old man who won't accept that the way the game works today has passed him by.

Taking everything that I have read at face value, I think stubborn fits here.

I think Jerry believes he negotiated Parsons into a team friendly deal without his agents' knowledge and got away with it. In his mind, you win some, you lose some in business but either way a deal is a deal is a deal no matter what. The idea of Parson going back on that "deal" just because his agents weren't involved and/or Parsons did not understand the "fine print" is just unethical according to Jones's way of thinking. Once the agents got involved and began to roll back some of the things that Parsons and Jones agreed upon during their leadership chat, Jerry dug his heels in rather than concede.

[flere-imsaho]

Package those picks to move up in one of the next two drafts and get Dak's successor if/when Dak shows signs of (serious) decline and reload for the next glorious era of Cowboys football. Jerry's thinking 4d chess here, folks.

[Ksyrup]

I will admit I don't dive as deeply into sports as I did when I was younger. I still watch a lot of sports - maybe even more than I used to - but I don't have the depth of knowledge (or interest in acquiring it) that I used to.

Anyway, reading the Athletic this morning where the consensus was that Dallas got fleeced and comparing the Parsons trade to the Doncic trade felt like a tad bit of hyperbole. Am I that off-base? A potential HOF LB (just for sake of argument) wanting to break the bank in a salary cap league to stay on a team with an overpaid QB that the team will likely need to move on from in the next year or two? It certainly hurts to lose an anchor on your defense, but given Dallas' situation, I don't think this was a bad move at all.

[flere-imsaho]

The Doncic trade looks a little better today because the Mavs lucked into the first pick of the draft and got Cooper Flagg, although lucking into the first pick of the draft had little to nothing to do with the Doncic trade.

The Parsons trade looks really bad today because it just happened.

The Doncic trade is one of the worst in NBA history. The Parsons trade isn't even the worst in which Dallas has been involved (that would be the Walker trade, though they were on the right side of that one).

[bhlloy]

There’s a pretty convincing argument he’s the best defensive player in the league by some distance. 30% pass rush win rate vs 23% for Myles Garrett in second - in a league where getting to the QB and disrupting things keeps getting more and more important every year, I don’t see how you can spin it as anything other than a very poor trade.

It’s nowhere near as bad as the Doncic trade still, but it being totally self inflicted and trading him to a huge divisional rival who has beaten you three times in the playoffs recently is the cherry on top for me.

[miami_fan]

I will admit I don't dive as deeply into sports as I did when I was younger. I still watch a lot of sports - maybe even more than I used to - but I don't have the depth of knowledge (or interest in acquiring it) that I used to.

Anyway, reading the Athletic this morning where the consensus was that Dallas got fleeced and comparing the Parsons trade to the Doncic trade felt like a tad bit of hyperbole. Am I that off-base? A potential HOF LB (just for sake of argument) wanting to break the bank in a salary cap league to stay on a team with an overpaid QB that the team will likely need to move on from in the next year or two? It certainly hurts to lose an anchor on your defense, but given Dallas' situation, I don't think this was a bad move at all.

If Jerry has just purchased the team last week and had the Parsons contract situation dropped in his lap on day one, this would not be a bad move and would possibly be seen as the best of bad options. Kenny Clark is a good player and along with two first rounders, that is a good haul for this situation.

But...

Jerry has owned and run the team for thirty plus years. Beyond everything else involved in that, Jerry specifically knew that the potential HOF LB wanted to break the bank. That bank was smaller before let's say T.J. Watt signed his deal in July and may have been smaller earlier in the offseason. Jerry knew he was in a salary cap league. Jerry knew whether or not he had overpaid his QB, star WR, etc and how that affected his salary cap because he negotiated and signed those deals. Most importantly, Jerry knew or should have all of this back in March. Before free agency. Before the draft. I refuse to believe that the Cowboys are not better off asset wise if they do this trade back then or before the draft.

Moving on from Parsons can be defended even though it is not something I would have done. Moving on from him a week before the season can not be defended IMO. It is definitely not the Donic trade though I see where they are trying to go. Parsons is one of the best players in the league. But Parsons is a annual contender for DPOY. Donic should be an annual contender for MVP.

[flere-imsaho]

Jerry's cost his team tens of millions of dollars by waiting to re-sign Lamb and Dak (twice) until after other players re-set their respective markets. He's just not very good at his job.

[albionmoonlight]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Harsh reality of the recent rules changes on kickoff....if you can have a starter run 20 yards don't need special teams ace. Getting harder to make teams unless see you as a possible starter or have a role on O or D. Not lot of teams just keeping guys to cover punt and punt… <a href="https://t.co/FXIfnPc8wi">https://t.co/FXIfnPc8wi</a></p>&mdash; Scott Shanle⁵⁸ (@scottshanle) <a href="https://twitter.com/scottshanle/status/1962685372334272876?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That's an angle I had not considered with the new rules.

[CrimsonFox]

Lotsa people saying that the Bengals won't make the playoffs again.

[Brian Swartz]

The Parsons trade looks really bad today because it just happened.

I think it looks really bad because it actually is really bad. For Dallas, it's great for Green Bay. I'm flabbergasted by the reaction to it in this thread. Idiotic is not too strong a word for this trade.

[Atocep]

I think it looks really bad because it actually is really bad. For Dallas, it's great for Green Bay. I'm flabbergasted by the reaction to it in this thread. Idiotic is not too strong a word for this trade.

Yeah 2 late firsts and an above average 29yo DT are nothing compared to one of the top 5 defenders in the NFL at a premium position. The cap may become a problem for the Packers at some point and the back is a concern, but you make this trade every single time.

The Khalil Mack trade is probably the closest thing to this trade and the Bears do that trade again without hesitation.

[flere-imsaho]

I'm not saying it isn't bad. It's really bad. I'm just saying the Doncic trade was even worse.

[flere-imsaho]

It's nowhere near as bad as the Deshaun Watson trade, for instance.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Reading some of the coverage since the trade, I don't get the feeling many players on the roster were sad to see him go.

[Danny]

They may be sad after they go 5-12

[JonInMiddleGA]

They may be sad after they go 5-12

They were already 31st in TDs allowed, how much worse can they actually be?

If Parsons had lost the locker room -- and that seems to be the growing sentiment, with reports suggesting he was considered by teammates to be a selfish player before his contract foolishness this year -- then there could be some overall gains to help offset the individual stat loss.

[Jstraub]

Reading some of the coverage since the trade, I don't get the feeling many players on the roster were sad to see him go.

yeah... I'm sure the Cowboys would rather have players win "Man of the Year awards" rather than actual football games.

As with everything in the NFL, performance is what matters. You have a 31% pass rush win rate?, you can be an asshole on my team any day.

[dubb93]

yeah... I'm sure the Cowboys would rather have players win "Man of the Year awards" rather than actual football games.

As with everything in the NFL, performance is what matters. You have a 31% pass rush win rate?, you can be an asshole on my team any day.

Yea it was really rich that Dak of all people came out and implied that Micah's contract situation was becoming a distraction. How long did Dak's contract situation drag on?

[CrimsonFox]

Here is a really long article and history of Jerry being Jerry
From dynasty to soap opera: how Jerry Jones traded Dallas Cowboys glory for ‘365 days of sizzle’ | Dallas Cowboys | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/03/dallas-cowboys-jerry-jones-legacy-parsons-trade)

[JonInMiddleGA]

yeah... I'm sure the Cowboys would rather have players win "Man of the Year awards" rather than actual football games.

As with everything in the NFL, performance is what matters. You have a 31% pass rush win rate?, you can be an asshole on my team any day.

The talk wasn't about him being an asshole, it was about his tendency to freelance too much, exposing the defense by not playing in the system/coverage everyone else was in. I forget the precise wording of the report now, the gist was that their run defense might actually improve with his absence since a replacement presumably wouldn't be out of position so frequently.

[Thomkal]

Good luck to everyone's team this season, except for anyone playing my beloved Cardinals of course. :)

[flere-imsaho]

Dallas Cowboys 2024 defensive ranks:

PPG: 31st
YPG: 28th
Pass Yards: 17th
Pass Yards/attempt: 30th
Passing TDs: 24th
Interceptions: 12th
Rushing Yards: 29th
Rushing Yards/attempt: 28th
Rushing TDs: 30th

Cowboys' players are deluding themselves if they think Parsons was the problem last season.

[GrantDawg]

Doesn't sound like he was the solution either.

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk

[Ghost Econ]

Is Jalen Carter a moron?

[Atocep]

Is Jalen Carter a moron?

Yes

[bhlloy]

Probably at least another game suspension if he’s lucky. So yes.

[sovereignstar v2]

Those pesky cameras

[Atocep]

Those pesky cameras

Hell, he did it right in front of a ref. Gotta be one of the stupidest things I've seen a player do.

[miami_fan]

I don't do this often but this is one time I would be okay with Jalen Carter being forced to have to deal with the discipline of the stereotypical pre-1980s HS football. Stadium stairs, gassers, etc for a an hour or two.

[GrantDawg]

From Georgia Bulldogs Reddit: "Has Kirby lost control of the Philadelphia Eagles?"

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk

[bhlloy]

In non Jalen Carter news, bet the Cowboys wish they had an elite pass rusher right about now

[JonInMiddleGA]

Is Jalen Carter a moron?

I have to assume this is a rhetorical question

[CrimsonFox]

Wtf is this delay
How weak.

Play thru the weather!

[bhlloy]

Yeah no, I mean if a fan or player gets hit or killed by lightning that’s a billion dollar lawsuit.

I do think the length of the delay is absurd, if a player is hurt and we get a lengthy break for that they don’t allow them another warm up period, but nowhere in the world are they playing through a lightning storm, let alone the most litigious country on the planet.

[CrimsonFox]

Im a lightning rod!!!!!!!

[RainMaker]

Maybe the Cowboys should have spent the money on the elite pass rusher and not a receiver who can't catch.

[bhlloy]

Dallas should have won this game, just brutal offensive miscues.

Maybe an overreaction but it feels like the Eagles offense is hope Saquon or Hurts can make three guys miss on any given play. Maybe Dallas defense is better without Parsons, I tend to doubt it.

[CrimsonFox]

Maybe the Cowboys should have spent the money on the elite pass rusher and not a receiver who can't catch.

yeah that guy dropped two key passes

[JonInMiddleGA]

Maybe the Cowboys should have spent the money on the elite pass rusher and not a receiver who can't catch.

While the three drops weren't pretty and I'm not sure Lamb is quite worth what he's getting paid, probably fair to note that it's been 26 games (and counting) since any DAL receiver NOT named Lamb has even gotten 100 yards in a game.

And they held Philly to 302 yards offense.

[Ksyrup]

Eh, it's the first game. A lot of people thought Dallas might be a surprise team (at least, compared to expectations based on the negativity surrounding the off-season). I know instant over-reactions are the way of the world now for damn near everything, but I didn't see much more than a couple of teams working out the kinks and trying to figure things out in real time.

Didn't the Saints look like SB challengers 3 games into last season? A couple huge wins and then they almost beat Philly, as I recall.

[Jstraub]

Eh, it's the first game. A lot of people thought Dallas might be a surprise team (at least, compared to expectations based on the negativity surrounding the off-season). I know instant over-reactions are the way of the world now for damn near everything, but I didn't see much more than a couple of teams working out the kinks and trying to figure things out in real time.

Didn't the Saints look like SB challengers 3 games into last season? A couple huge wins and then they almost beat Philly, as I recall.

I totally agree. With the reduction in preseason games and practice times, the first month is basically the preseason. I wish the NFL would only schedule non-conference games during the first 3-4 weeks. But I get it it... money. Not sure much was learned about either team last night; other than Carter confirmed he is a moron, Eagles fans are still jerks, and Siriani follows suit. Kudos to the Eagles to find a way to win, thats all that matters in these early games.

[albionmoonlight]

Didn't the Saints look like SB challengers 3 games into last season? A couple huge wins and then they almost beat Philly, as I recall.

Yes.

Relatedly, the Saints will be bad this year. But it would not shock me if Kellen Moore and Brandon Staley have some cool wrinkles saved up and they use those to beat the Cardinals and stay close to the 49ers and right when people wonder "are the Saints maybe not bad?" they have put out enough tape that teams figure them out and the lack of talent starts to really show on the way to a 4 or 5 win season.

[cuervo72]

On the Saints, and maybe this has been covered, Taysom Hill is no longer the Next Big Thing, right?

[Kodos]

Huh. I knew there was a game tonight, but didn’t know there was one last night.

[CrimsonFox]

So like...does Philly's defense suck to let Dallas score as much as they did?

Granted the D DID hold them in the second half.

[miami_fan]

Wtf is this delay
How weak.

Play thru the weather!

Are you a producer of the Barstool morning show on Fox Sports?

Because I laughed out loud while on the treadmill this morning and saw a question basically calling the NFL soft for delaying the game.

Reminds me of parents complaining about lightning delays during summer baseball tournaments but actually being willing to sign the waiver the tournament organizer produced relieving him and the tournament from any liability if lightning struck one of the kids. :lol:

[Thomkal]

Yes.

Relatedly, the Saints will be bad this year. But it would not shock me if Kellen Moore and Brandon Staley have some cool wrinkles saved up and they use those to beat the Cardinals and stay close to the 49ers and right when people wonder "are the Saints maybe not bad?" they have put out enough tape that teams figure them out and the lack of talent starts to really show on the way to a 4 or 5 win season.


I'm okay with them beating the 49ers at least...

[flere-imsaho]

Those pesky cameras

Hell, he did it right in front of a ref. Gotta be one of the stupidest things I've seen a player do.

EPL VAR would have fucked it up, tho.

[GrantDawg]

The Falcons season starts hot. Three plays and a score with Bijan taking a pass in the flat to the house.

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk

[bhlloy]

Remember when we thought the problem with the Dolphins offense was that only Tua was able to run it? Thank god they don't have that particular problem any more.

[flere-imsaho]

I know McDaniel was the favorite to be the first coach fired this season, but does he make it to next week, now?

[dubb93]

Daniel Jones looks like he can play quarterback in the NFL.

[GrantDawg]

The Falcons have problems, but at least the quarterback isn't one now.

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk

[Edward64]

Falcons lost but Penix looked good. Running game is lackluster though, hope it gets seriously better.

I watched the Steelers-Jets game. Hard fought game with a nice 60 yard FG.

[Danny]

Great halftime adjustment by the raiders after a slow start. Amazing what good coaching can do. From failed high school coach to one of the 10 best to ever do it. Age leaves the risk for decline but it hasn't happened yet.

[Atocep]

Great halftime adjustment by the raiders after a slow start. Amazing what good coaching can do. From failed high school coach to one of the 10 best to ever do it. Age leaves the risk for decline but it hasn't happened yet.

It would be interesting to see what type of career numbers Geno would have if he had landed in better situations to start his career. He has some of the best arm talent I've ever seen from a QB.

[JPhillips]

Bengals had 7 yards in the second half and -18 in the 4th quarter.

And somehow won.

[CrimsonFox]

Greenbay gonna be big threat this year. Detroit less so

[bronconick]

The Lions won the North the past two years because of line play. The problem is the IOL are a pair of rookie guards (ok, one guy who had 75 snaps ) and a replacement level center replacing an All-Pro and a solid guard, and a pair of defensive ends who hadn't played since weeks 5 and 1 2024, so "rusty" is an understatement. They're going to have to hope the rookies find their legs and the rust shakes off because there's no easy fix in season.

[dubb93]

Bengals had 7 yards in the second half and -18 in the 4th quarter.

And somehow won.

I saw on Redzone they said the Bengals avoided another bad start and I’m thinking they beat three teams this week. Browns, Panthers, and maybe the Dolphins.

[JPhillips]

Lots of things will happen still, but for week 1 it's hard not to see the Ravens as the best roster in the NFL.

[Thomkal]

My heart could do with my beloved Cardinals not almost giving the game away at the last play after leading most of the way. Murray not spectacular with less than 200 yards passing but no mistakes and a win, and a good chance to get another win next week at home vs Carolina

[Lathum]

I saw on Redzone they said the Bengals avoided another bad start and I’m thinking they beat three teams this week. Browns, Panthers, and maybe the Dolphins.

Giants

[Lathum]

This game is insane

[sovereignstar v2]

Lots of things will happen still, but for week 1 it's hard not to see the Ravens as the best roster in the NFL.

Does that count defense? ;)

[flere-imsaho]

I think a lot of defenses are going to struggle against the Bills. Or, more specifically, against Josh Allen.

[dubb93]

This game is insane

Halfway and even 3/4 of the way through the game I was wondering if anyone in the NFL could contend with a team as physical and talented as the Ravens. Then they lost.

[Thomkal]

Halfway and even 3/4 of the way through the game I was wondering if anyone in the NFL could contend with a team as physical and talented as the Ravens. Then they lost.


Yeah I went to bed last night with the Ravens scoring 40 points clearly thinking that would be enough to win...

[Thomkal]

I don't think having about 20 yards passing at halftime is what your franchise QB to look like

[bhlloy]

Why is Ben Johnson bright yellow?

And yeah, McCarthy looks like a rabbit in the headlights. Not good.

[CrimsonFox]

The last 30 seconds of the first half was more exciting than the rest of the first half

[Glengoyne]

I'm sure there are no regrets about letting Darnold go. I regret selecting Jefferson with my first pick in fantasy. It turns out that not just any QB can supply him in this offense.

[sovereignstar v2]

JJ about to unleash his inner Josh Allen in the 4th quarter

[bhlloy]

Same. Painful lesson about talent over situation. Ironically I passed on CeeDee instead because I thought the Cowboys would be a trainwreck, but the Vikes offense looks putrid.

[bhlloy]

DOLA - absolutely insane decision to not really play McCarthy in the preseason. Like they really thought just throw him out there having hardly played in 2 years and he’d be an NFL QB right away?

[sovereignstar v2]

JJ Montana!

[CrimsonFox]

The qbs have woken up!

[CrimsonFox]

I found the manningcast lol. Fun stuff. Randy moss is on with them

[sovereignstar v2]

Nom nom nom nom

[bhlloy]

Bears have invested how much on both lines? Just getting bullied out of it.

Let's play at what point of the season Johnson absolutely loses his mind and starts Tyson Bagent... my guess is week 9.

[CrimsonFox]

Oh man there you go jj
Love coach kevin

[weegeebored]

Same ol' fucking Bears. Johnson might be a good HC some day but not with the Bears. PN18? Generational? Puleeez. How much money did they spend on the O-line? Too much. SOS. Let's draft more offensive skill players. Burden and Loveland made a real impact, no? :rolleyes: Poles is a pos GM. He's as bad as Emery and Pace. But let's extend him. Dumbest ownership in sports.

[Ryche]

I'm sure there are no regrets about letting Darnold go. I regret selecting Jefferson with my first pick in fantasy. It turns out that not just any QB can supply him in this offense.

Yep, zero regrets.

[Glengoyne]

Yep, zero regrets.

LoL

I had a work thing come up, and said "Well at least I don't have to watch the rest of this sorry game" Ooops

I just now have to figure out is this was more Vikings clicking or the Bears crashing!

[RainMaker]

Same ol' fucking Bears. Johnson might be a good HC some day but not with the Bears. PN18? Generational? Puleeez. How much money did they spend on the O-line? Too much. SOS. Let's draft more offensive skill players. Burden and Loveland made a real impact, no? :rolleyes: Poles is a pos GM. He's as bad as Emery and Pace. But let's extend him. Dumbest ownership in sports.

It is insane they extended Poles through 2029.

[CrimsonFox]

LoL

I had a work thing come up, and said "Well at least I don't have to watch the rest of this sorry game" Ooops

I just now have to figure out is this was more Vikings clicking or the Bears crashing!

It all seemed to hinge on not continuing to give Swift the ball. He was on fire. Then they switched to passing, got penalties and it all fell about like that.

[bhlloy]

Eh, he was averaging 3.1 per carry. Had a couple decent back to back runs at one point, went nowhere most of the rest of the time.

The problems to me on offense look like they start with the center of the line getting caved in on basically every play, then Caleb just missed enough reads or throws that would have otherwise won them the game.

[sovereignstar v2]

Eh, he was averaging 3.1 per carry. Had a couple decent back to back runs at one point, went nowhere most of the rest of the time.

The problems to me on offense look like they start with the center of the line getting caved in on basically every play, then Caleb just missed enough reads or throws that would have otherwise won them the game.

https://twitter.com/NickOlsonNFL/status/1965429668347277533

[weegeebored]

Williams may turn out to be the worst 1st round QB of that draft. He has the same problems as Fields and Trushitsky: he can't process things quickly enough, doesn't see the field well, and he can't throw people open. His anticipation is really bad. Sure, he goes through his progressions but are we to believe that Johnson can't scheme guys open? There is a lot of evidence to the contrary. So holding on to the ball for 3.5+ seconds is entirely on the QB.

For his entire football career up to the NFL Williams has been the best player and probably the best athlete on every team he's been on. He's been pampered and now thinks he's god's gift to football. He has an attitude problem, a borderline narcissist. Welcome to the NFL, PN18. That superman shit don't fly no more.

The joke is that the Chicago Bears are where quarterbacks go to die. I think that needs to change to "The Chicago Bears are where bad football goes to thrive. (And where bad GMs go to get extensions.)"

[RainMaker]

It is insane they extended Poles. He's 15-37 and missed on just about everything he's done. His only good move was the Panthers trade and he botched that by drafting the worst of the available 1st round QBs.

[GrantDawg]

Jalen Carter gets time served and loses the game check. Seems about right.

[MIJB#19]

Maybe not the right thread for this banter, but it's getting really annoying how the sports media websites make it near impossible to figure out what the bleep is going on in the NFL.

I haven't been able to visit ESPN.com in a normal way for more than a year, they haven't responded to my reminders of the problem that they keep redirecting me to a ESPN.nl, which isn't even close to the same thing. It's been a quirk on their website for over 14 months now.

Since the start of the NFL's regular season, NFL.com is also broken. When I try to go to nfl.com, it keeps redirecting to their /international/ subpage, which is completely blank. (I tried to report it on their support page by replacing 'international' with 'support', through their contact form there, but after writing down in this specific problem, I got redirected to an 'unauthorized' page.)

I've given up on the BBC as well, which used to be a media party to help stay in touch with the NFL, their website has been broken for at least a full year in a similar way. At least I could still rely on German broadcaster RTL for broadcasting the last two Super Bowls...

What's next? The NFL Highlights Youtube channel automatically redirecting me to the last Amsterdam Admirals games from 2007?

[Passacaglia]

I guess that puts the Operation Sports issues into perspective.

[Ksyrup]

The only time I have visited ESPN in the past several years is either to get directly to the WatchESPN portion or as a direct link from a search (like for a player or a team's schedule). I couldn't tell you the last time I visited the ESPN.com homepage.

[CrimsonFox]

so many ads on those sites i can never find anything. I come here for sports news....when I can connect that is

[AlexB]

Maybe not the right thread for this banter, but it's getting really annoying how the sports media websites make it near impossible to figure out what the bleep is going on in the NFL.

I haven't been able to visit ESPN.com in a normal way for more than a year, they haven't responded to my reminders of the problem that they keep redirecting me to a ESPN.nl, which isn't even close to the same thing. It's been a quirk on their website for over 14 months now.

Since the start of the NFL's regular season, NFL.com is also broken. When I try to go to nfl.com, it keeps redirecting to their /international/ subpage, which is completely blank. (I tried to report it on their support page by replacing 'international' with 'support', through their contact form there, but after writing down in this specific problem, I got redirected to an 'unauthorized' page.)

I've given up on the BBC as well, which used to be a media party to help stay in touch with the NFL, their website has been broken for at least a full year in a similar way. At least I could still rely on German broadcaster RTL for broadcasting the last two Super Bowls...

What's next? The NFL Highlights Youtube channel automatically redirecting me to the last Amsterdam Admirals games from 2007?

It sounds like it’s not an issue with the sites TBH - I visit NFL.com near daily, get redirected to the international site and it’s definitely not blank.

Same with BBC (both UK and international sites depending on where in the world I am).

On my iPad some sites load but are not clickable for me, but I think that’s to do with one of my content blockers - could a setting on something similar your end be causing the issue?

[Ksyrup]

Beginning of week 2, and I'm really slow to getting into the season right now. Sunday afternoon I enjoyed watching red zone although I split my time between football and the Alcaraz/Sinner match (holding the men's US Open final on the afternoon of NFL opening Sunday is just a tremendous self-inflicted gunshot to the balls, but I digress...), but each of the night games, I've barely watched or I turned them off early on, even with some decent matchups. I even forgot there was a game last night until my boss mentioned it about 2-3pm.

Not sure what my issue is. I've given up on college football (have barely watched/followed CFB since late 2023), but I enjoyed the NFL last year (and having free Saturdays). But this year... not sure where my enthusiasm/interest is.

[Atocep]

I don't know WTF the Saints are doing. PFF ranked Polk 128th out of 128 receivers last year and he's out for the year after shoulder surgery.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">TRADE: The Patriots are trading WR Ja’Lynn Polk and a 2028 7th-round pick to the Saints for a 2027 6th-round pick, per sources.<br><br>Polk is currently on season-ending IR recovering from a shoulder injury. <a href="https://t.co/o5ypHugs5K">pic.twitter.com/o5ypHugs5K</a></p>&mdash; Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) <a href="https://twitter.com/DMRussini/status/1966903116806451671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Thomkal]

Strange trade-only thing I can think of is that they are already giving up on the season and building up the roster for next season. He was a 2nd round pick so he must have some potential to play in the NFL despite the horrible ranking

[Ksyrup]

Hilarious that Shadeur turned down being drafted by the Ravens where he could sit and learn and possibly turn into an actual NFL QB so he could immediately compete somewhere else and expose himself as not ready to be an NFL QB. Good job, good effort.

[Lathum]

NFL clearly wants the Cowboys to be relevant. Just called the weakest unnecessary roughing call I have ever seen.

[Lathum]

Nabers is such a freak of nature

[bhlloy]

10 straight scoring drives to start the season against the Dolphins by Daniel Jones and the Colts and now the Patriots.

That’s not good right?

[CrimsonFox]

welp burrow out of the game

[weegeebored]

I see absolutely zero difference in the Bears this season compared to previous years. What are the common elements? Bad lines, no running game, an overrated QB, the McCaskeys, Poles, and Warren. At least my Sundays are free now. Not wasting my time with this pathetic team. I stopped watching with 7 minutes left in the 3rd. And for the record, Ben Johnson is no brilliant play caller. I was positive it was Trestman or Nagy on the sidelines with all the fking screen passes. He's in over his head. Some guys never can get past being successful as an NFL coordinator; that's their peak. We see it year after year.

[bhlloy]

You think Dan Campbell maybe trying to send a message here?

[JPhillips]

What the fuck is going on with Dal/NYG?

[CrimsonFox]

backup browning gets the job done. Bengals win by 4. Burrow has toe injury

[Lathum]

I hate being a Giants fan

[CrimsonFox]

I hate being a Giants fan

Go Russell!

[CrimsonFox]

Sorry Lathum...

One could almost hear the tiny Russell Wilson voice shouting "I'm the best quarterback in the woooooooooorld!" while he chucked it as far as he could to absolutely no one with his eyes closed.

[albionmoonlight]

Sorry Lathum...

One could almost hear the tiny Russell Wilson voice shouting "I'm the best quarterback in the woooooooooorld!" while he chucked it as far as he could to absolutely no one with his eyes closed.

LOL

[albionmoonlight]

It is kind of funny that there is no recognized hand signal for “we stopped them on fourth down” so players just give the same fourth down signal that they give when they stop a team on third down.

[Thomkal]

So yeah I so called the Dal/NYG 4th quarter Prescott/Wilson Shootout....Crazy to see NFL offenses come alive today after mostly poor starts

[Danny]

Its early but so far Im glad to have Pete Carroll over Ben Johnson.

[flere-imsaho]

Geno Smith > Caleb Williams

[Ksyrup]

I can't believe how many ways Denver handed that game to the Colts. At least the Chiefs lost.

[Thomkal]

Apparently my beloved Cardinals want me to have a heart attack-they led from nearly the first play of the game, had a 20 point lead late and still nearly gave away the game to the Panthers. They are 2-0 but not convincingly. They get the 49ers next week. Who are also 2-0

[Thomkal]

Sad to say Marvin Harrison Jr looking more and more like a bust. Only 2 catches and no TD's

[Lathum]

What makes it worse is Nabers and Odunze look like studs and Thomas Jr, McConkey, Pearsall, and a few others look like solid receivers.

[CrimsonFox]

Apparently my beloved Cardinals want me to have a heart attack-they led from nearly the first play of the game, had a 20 point lead late and still nearly gave away the game to the Panthers. They are 2-0 but not convincingly. They get the 49ers next week. Who are also 2-0

At least Brock Purdy is out. Your beloved will have an easier time I think

[bhlloy]

I still think most of the problem is that Kyler Murray is a deeply unserious QB. He runs around like an angry toddler! He throws the ball wildly down the field! Does it work? Sometimes!

That game was fully in control until Kyler throws an awful interception and another few drives where he went outside the offense and they stalled out.

[RainMaker]

I hate the Bears so much.

[CrimsonFox]

McCarthy and Penix are both allergic to the end zone :P

jeez....all MIN had to do was give it to Mason and they would have had a TD. Instead a delay of game and several sacks.

[bhlloy]

Last week he turned it around after I said this, but McCarthy looks shellshocked and a mile away from an NFL QB right now. The rush has him spooked and if his first read isn’t open he’s either taking a sack or forcing it in anyway.

If you are going to do that, at least maybe lock on JJ more than twice a half.

[CrimsonFox]

grantdawg, what'd yuou think of Penix?

[GrantDawg]

grantdawg, what'd yuou think of Penix?
Work in progress. Either he is afraid to throw the ball downfield (which is what he was best at in college), the coach is afraid to call a play downfield, or they just don't trust the line to hold up for him the throw downfield. Right now he is just dinking and dunking. With his arm, he should be airing it out. Part of the problem seems to be Zac Robinson. Just like he did last year with Cousins, his formations are telegraphing the play call. I don't know why he is married to running the pistol an ungodly amount, and it seems to always be a run out of the pistol, pass out of shotgun. This guy was supposed to be an offensive genius, and he is running a Highschool offense. Of course, that may be on Penix as well. He may not feel like he has grasped enough of the playbook.
Anyway, put simply, he shows signs that he can be a franchise quarterback, but he hasn't put it together yet.

[Ksyrup]

Surprised to see the Falcons new kicker went to my high school. When I heard he was from PTC, I automatically assumed he went to Starrs Mill (which didn't even exist when I was in HS but which I understand has become quite an athlete factory). Back then, all we had was wrestling, soccer and, a few years after me, Jeff Sheppard.

[NobodyHere]

So who had the Colts starting 2-0?

I sure didn't.

[albionmoonlight]

I think that we are officially in Joe-Burrow-may-go-down-as-one-of-the-great-what-ifs-of-the-NFL territory.

[Ghost Econ]

I only watched Red Zone, but it seemed like Trevor Lawrence makes a lot of dumb decisions. Not just bad, but literally dumb.

[Thomkal]

I think that we are officially in Joe-Burrow-may-go-down-as-one-of-the-great-what-ifs-of-the-NFL territory.


Sorry Bengals fans. :( Hate long injuries to star players-the NFL should ban these.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Surprised to see the Falcons new kicker went to my high school. When I heard he was from PTC, I automatically assumed he went to Starrs Mill (which didn't even exist when I was in HS but which I understand has become quite an athlete factory). Back then, all we had was wrestling, soccer and, a few years after me, Jeff Sheppard.

Yeah, not a lot of NFL talent passing through McIntosh, although Romo would have at least been there as a backup during their best season ever (8-3 in 2013) he was only a 2-year letterman in HS so they were just 7-13 in his junior/senior seasons.

His path to the NFL is pretty much "didn't see it coming". Was mostly a kickoff specialist at Central Arkansas for a year, walked on at Tulsa where he only kicked off, transferred to Va Tech from there and after kicking off exclusively for a year eventually became their regular kicker for only his final season.

Then UDFA stuff, 2023 XFL stuff, which finally got him a short stint active with the Vikings last year.

[Ksyrup]

We were horrible when I was there in the mid-late 80s. Except for one year, we had this amazing RB named Bobo who transferred in. Turns out there was some kind of recruiting/payment going on, and I'm pretty sure we forfeited all the wins that year once it was discovered.

Woodward Academy was a big school for athletes as I recall. I remember some dude who went to UNC to play LB. And I definitely remember Andre Hastings at Morrow. He single-handedly destroyed us as I recall.

[JonInMiddleGA]

We were horrible when I was there in the mid-late 80s. Except for one year, we had this amazing RB named Bobo who transferred in. Turns out there was some kind of recruiting/payment going on, and I'm pretty sure we forfeited all the wins that year once it was discovered.

Woodward Academy was a big school for athletes as I recall. I remember some dude who went to UNC to play LB. And I definitely remember Andre Hastings at Morrow. He single-handedly destroyed us as I recall.

Oh yeah, I remember that now. 1986, a 6-4 regular season (all forfeited) and to date the only post-season -- region playoffs opening round -- win in school history (also forfeited). The actual standout that year was a RB named Jeff Eskew, all-state honorable mention. He was the only football player there to get statewide recognition until 2013 (QB Andrew Johnson who played 4 seasons at Yale, almost exclusively as the holder on kicks). It's better now at least, with 8 players earning some statewide honor between 2022-2025.

I saw the late 90s teams a few times while I was doing pbp for Griffin. 165-12 was the aggregate score in those four games so, umm, yeah.

re: Hastings, yeah he was a beast in HS, 2x-all state first teamer. Catching passes from future GT career backup QB Jeff Howard

edit to add: And not to rub it in at all, just providing a little context for the rest of the board I guess, what made matters worse is that they were getting pushed around really hard by teams that really weren't very good themselves. Frequently 0 or 1 win in region play but in a really weak region that was mediocre at best. From 1983-1988 no team from that region even won a single state playoff game. It was a very different era in Georgia at the time though, with only 8 teams qualifying for actual "state playoffs", with the post-season being mostly contested in a series of "region playoff games" just to get there.

[Ksyrup]

We were really good at soccer and wrestling. I graduated with a guy who pitched at FSU and played a few years in the minors.

Lately, watching college softball, I've actually seen quite a few girls from PTC and surrounding area showing up on rosters.

[JonInMiddleGA]

We were really good at soccer and wrestling. I graduated with a guy who pitched at FSU and played a few years in the minors.

Lately, watching college softball, I've actually seen quite a few girls from PTC and surrounding area showing up on rosters.

Oh absolutely, football was an outlier there for sure.

[bronconick]

I think that we are officially in Joe-Burrow-may-go-down-as-one-of-the-great-what-ifs-of-the-NFL territory.

If the Bengals don't find an O-Line, he's going to follow the Andrew Luck/Carson Palmer route.

[weegeebored]

A purely hypothetical exercise but would you trade Caleb Williams right now? If yes, what do you think another team would give up for him -- what's his value? What other players would be on the trading block if you were the Bears GM?

[albionmoonlight]

https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/548142431_2416531768742507_591710702813004043_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_p526x296_tt6&_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=833d8c&_nc_ohc=_Q_OJ1301pcQ7kNvwEee5Ue&_nc_oc=AdlDBTZfIsvfVYI0kklVkwGRRKmSI0T2enXord-Qlqq57e_7HDahyG5xMP2vsqHTNgo&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.xx&_nc_gid=wuywsgaj-aO-u7aSv3Uu-Q&oh=00_AfYj0jWeX7EGR4pZ1H5QOhKztxxUwB7py7VzApQ1J3bZJA&oe=68CF6190

[Ksyrup]

Flacco ain't gonna be starting by then. Or, maybe he'll have been benched and re-inserted into the starting job at that point.

[JonInMiddleGA]

A purely hypothetical exercise but would you trade Caleb Williams right now? If yes, what do you think another team would give up for him -- what's his value?

A bag of used kicking practice balls maybe? But only the oldest ones that are in the back of the equipment room and don't even get dragged out by anyone other than a new/substitute equipment guy.

[RainMaker]

A purely hypothetical exercise but would you trade Caleb Williams right now? If yes, what do you think another team would give up for him -- what's his value? What other players would be on the trading block if you were the Bears GM?

I don't think he's that bad. He's not the generational talent you want from a #1 pick but he's miles better than Fields.

The problem is the roster is so poorly built. The defense gave up 52 points with ease and made JJ McCarthy look like an NFL QB despite huge investments in it. Their offensive line is better but left tackle is a disaster and they can't run the ball because their options are Swift and a 7th round rookie (plus being down multiple scores isn't helping).

Take the last draft. They took a backup TE at #10. They had 3 second round picks! One was used on a kick returner and the other 2 weren't even active for the game. A year earlier they took a punter ahead of Bucky Irving

Caleb has been disappointing and there are some issues there, but he's not the reason the Bears are this bad. If you swapped Love or any of the other QBs taken a couple years ago to this team, they'd be miserable too. They have the worst GM in football and it's not particularly close at this point.

[CrimsonFox]

so what quarterbacks are available for the bengals to grab?

[Atocep]

Caleb is the least of the Bears issues. He ranks 13th in PFF grade for QBs and is middle of the pack in QBR. It's incredibly difficult to play QB in the NFL and people expect immediate superstars. There's zero QBs in the top 10 in QBR with less than 6 years experience that played in both games. Purdy is 7th with 4 years, but he's only played 1 game.

Out of the 2024 draft class, Penix is first in QBR but coming off an awful game. Then Maye and Caleb are pretty much equal at 58 QBR. Rattler is right there with them, then Nix at 46, Daniel's 39, and McCarthy has a 20 QBR.

Caleb has also played 2 very good defenses. Caleb's QBR for the Lions game likely goes up as the year progresses as they're weighing the Lions defense off of last year right now when it was mostly backups. They're healthy now and playing well.

Eyeball test for Caleb is he's mostly making the right reads and and is definitely getting the ball out quicker. He missed 3 big throws against the Vikings because of poor footwork but was mostly on target against the Lions until the game got out of hand and they could just blitz the hell out of him because they had to throw.

The lack of running game is hurting him more than anything. Both the Vikings and Lions were blitzing on more than 40% of snaps. He's making the right check downs on those plays but if you can't punish them on the ground at all when they bring extra defenders it can and likely will get ugly. Part of that is Swift sucks but the line has been bad so far. Not a huge surprise considering they replaced the entire interior and the left tackle missed half of training camp. That should get better as they play together more.

On the defensive side, the talent is an awful fit for Dennis Allen and the bears haven't had a coherent approach to roster building there for years. Way too many scheme changes over the years as well. Allen is the 5th DC since 2020. Eberflus did mostly control the defense when he was HC but what he does and Allen wants to do really couldn't be any more different.

I'm very confident Caleb ends up being a pretty good QB. It takes time though and last year was effectively a lost year for him. Out of the 2024 qbs, there still isn't one I'd take over him when looking long term.

[RainMaker]

I thought there was a rumor they were going to trade for Jameis Winston? Isn't Browning pretty good for a backup? Remember a couple years ago he looked legit.

[cuervo72]

so what quarterbacks are available for the bengals to grab?

Cousins! :D

[JPhillips]

Yeah, Browning is the guy. If he gets hurt I expect they trade for Cousins on Winston, but for now Browning is the best option and knows the offense.

If they win Sunday against a depleted MN, they only need to go 7-7 the rest of the season to most likely make the playoffs. That's doable.

[Arles]

Caleb to me looks like the traditional "marginal QB, great vs prevent down 2+ scores" guy. I'd be interested in seeing his numbers down a score, tied or with the lead. It seems like a lot of his damage is in slop time vs a defense that doesn't care.

For this year, he seems OK for the first drive or two when everything is scripted. But the moment he has to read defenses, throw on time or deal with pressure he resorts back to his USC "wait, wait, try to run" mode. He seems better fit for a run and shoot style offense where you spread the defense out, run a bunch of motion and give him 2-3 keys. The problem is Ben Johnson likes to run the ball control, play action offense where the QB has to be able to see the open guy and throw on time. Maybe Caleb will get better, but given all the stories about how he struggles to listen to coaching - I'm dubious.

[Atocep]

Caleb to me looks like the traditional "marginal QB, great vs prevent down 2+ scores" guy. I'd be interested in seeing his numbers down a score, tied or with the lead. It seems like a lot of his damage is in slop time vs a defense that doesn't care.

For this year, he seems OK for the first drive or two when everything is scripted. But the moment he has to read defenses, throw on time or deal with pressure he resorts back to his USC "wait, wait, try to run" mode. He seems better fit for a run and shoot style offense where you spread the defense out, run a bunch of motion and give him 2-3 keys. The problem is Ben Johnson likes to run the ball control, play action offense where the QB has to be able to see the open guy and throw on time. Maybe Caleb will get better, but given all the stories about how he struggles to listen to coaching - I'm dubious.

QBR and PFF ignore garbage time. The Bears also haven't had a lot of garbage time with him. 10 games last year were 1 score games and 2 more were within 2 scores. Out of his 300+ yard games last year 1 was a win, 2 were 1 score losses, and 1 was a 2 score loss. The Lions never went into prevent this past week. They were playing straight up and blitzing heavily to the end.

The stories are hard to trust because at least one that came out was from Tyson Bagent's dad, who is a well known colossal asshole, and was made up and "leaked" to a bears reporter last year to try to hurt Caleb and help Bagent. The entire bears offensive staff was a disaster last year and likely trying to cover for their own failures. Walton is also kind of a dick, which isn't just coming from the Bears side. The Seahawks players hated him too.

[CrimsonFox]

Cousins! :D

https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTZjMDliOTUyYzhha28yY2kzd2p5M2Q5dWVzeTU0Mmp5bzNlcHF4Z2p1cDVqZGExNyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/ynRrAHj5SWAu8RA002/giphy.gif

[CrimsonFox]

I mean yeah they'll play Browning, but they will still need another QB. Maybe to share the job i dunno or at least back him up

[Arles]

Caleb Williams' one win with 300+ yards was home vs Carolina - congrats. Here were the scores in his three other 300+ yard performances:

A bad Indy team was up 21-9 in the 4th
Vikings up 24-10 in the 4th
Lions up 27-7 in the 2nd and 34-14 in the 4th

He also hit 250+ in a Lions game that was 23-7 Lions in the 4th. Outside of Green Bay (who bench half their team before the game and the other half at halftime) to end the season, he's been a pretty consistent losing QB who stinks in quarters 1-3 before turning it on to pull within 3-17 points in the fourth when teams are playing prevent.

[GrantDawg]

Cousins! :D
I just don't see Cousin being traded at this point. Someone would have to offer something big to get him, because there isn't much salary saving at this point to let him move on. He might consent to a trade to team like the Bengals with their roster of WR's, but then he might not want to go someplace with that suspect a line. I think he would only be interested in going to a contender at this point, and the Falcons like have him as a security blanket. A team would need to step up to get him.

[Brian Swartz]

So when does the Daniel Jones for MVP campaign start?

[NobodyHere]

So when does the Indiana Jones for MVP campaign start?

Fixed.

And it started two week ago.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I still think most of the problem is that Kyler Murray is a deeply unserious QB. He runs around like an angry toddler! He throws the ball wildly down the field! Does it work? Sometimes!

Maybe he's just not real bright

Cardinals' Murray sorry for post with Vick jersey, bulldog - ESPN (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46296175/cardinals-murray-sorry-post-vick-jersey-bulldog)

[Thomkal]

Maybe he's just not real bright

Cardinals' Murray sorry for post with Vick jersey, bulldog - ESPN (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46296175/cardinals-murray-sorry-post-vick-jersey-bulldog)


*sighs* Guess I won't be getting that Murray jersey anymore. I'm glad he took down the post and apologized.

[bhlloy]

Throws like that really make me wonder if Tua’s brain is working the same way it used to. IIRC he’s thrown at least one of those straight to a linebacker previously this season as well.

[RainMaker]

I could really do without Thursday games. Can't remember the last one that was well played.

[albionmoonlight]

Throws like that really make me wonder if Tua’s brain is working the same way it used to. IIRC he’s thrown at least one of those straight to a linebacker previously this season as well.

The Bills LB said that it was a play the Dolphins liked to run, and the Bills coaches emphasized it in prep, so he knew to break on the ball.

Sounds like Tua did what the play called for. Just bad on the Dolphins for being predictable and good on the Bills for coaching it up right.

[albionmoonlight]

I could really do without Thursday games. Can't remember the last one that was well played.

I know scheduling is complicated, but the easy fix seems to be to only schedule Thursday games after a bye for each team.

That would mean no Thursday games for the first few weeks. But that seems like a small price to pay for better football.

[Ksyrup]

If they add an 18th game, aren't they also talking about adding a second bye week? At least, that's what I recall of the discussions/proposals from a few years back.

[flere-imsaho]

The Bengals should trade for Jameis Winston and see if Jamarr Chase can get to 3000 receiving yard on the season.

[Ksyrup]

What first - 3000 yards for Chase, or 30 INTs for Winston?

[Atocep]

The Vikings defense is legit. JJ McCarthy's injury may end up being a blessing for them.

[bhlloy]

If Trevor Lawrence wasn’t the best QB coming out of college in a generation, he’d have a good chance of being out of the league. He’s garbage.

How do you have those weapons on offense and you are somehow throwing less than 50% trying to force it to Parker Washington on every play.

[Atocep]

If Trevor Lawrence wasn’t the best QB coming out of college in a generation, he’d have a good chance of being out of the league. He’s garbage.

How do you have those weapons on offense and you are somehow throwing less than 50% trying to force it to Parker Washington on every play.

I read an article on QBs coming out of the draft that year that was breaking down the offenses that the QBs played in and how easy their transition to the NFL would be. The coach they spoke to pointed out that Trey Lance wasn't playing in an offense where anything translated to the NFL. He was also really down on the Clemson offense and their concepts. He ranked Lawrence's transition as 2nd toughest that year behind Lance. Now that we've seen Deshaun Watson really only have success when Bill O'Brien simplified his offense to copy a lot of Clemson concepts and how much Lawrence has struggled I think back to that article and how that coach nailed his analysis of those 2.

[GrantDawg]

Penix is absolutely crapping the bed in this game. He looks lost.

[NobodyHere]

Penix is absolutely crapping the bed in this game. He looks lost.

And I decided to start the Falcons D at the last minute in my fantasy league. They had the most points so far and I didn't think Carolina's offense was any good.

It'll probably cost me my game.

[GrantDawg]

This is getting bad enough that I think it might hurt Penix's confidence long term. It is like the Panthers are in the huddle.

[NobodyHere]

The Packer's with a very Brown-worthy turn of events...against the Browns

[NobodyHere]

Bad interception followed by the Browns tying up the game.

[bhlloy]

And I decided to start the Falcons D at the last minute in my fantasy league. They had the most points so far and I didn't think Carolina's offense was any good.

It'll probably cost me my game.

Same here. Opponent had the Vikings defense and he’s +30 in the matchup. That will kill any chances I had.

[bhlloy]

Speaking of highly rated young QBs who look absolutely lost, what on earth has happened with CJ Stroud? Anyone who can explain that one should probably be applying to NFL front offices.

[NobodyHere]

Speaking of highly rated young QBs who look absolutely lost, what on earth has happened with CJ Stroud? Anyone who can explain that one should probably be applying to NFL front offices.

He went to Ohio State, what more do you need to know?

[NobodyHere]

Lol Packers, get their game winning field goal blocked.

[NobodyHere]

The Browns win on a 55yd field goal!

[Ksyrup]

Crazy day today. The Eagles' Walk-off Big Man TD on the blocked would-be GW FG was awesome.

[NobodyHere]

And now the Jets score a TD on a Tampa Bay field goal attempt.

Crazy.

[Atocep]

Lol Packers, get their game winning field goal blocked.

Tampa said they could do one better.

[GrantDawg]

Crazy two minutes. I dont remember two blocks for tds in two different gsnes like thwt.

[Ksyrup]

If TB misses this FG or it gets blocked...

[GrantDawg]

Jets get that big break, and still loses.

[bhlloy]

Plus a Seattle punt block that should have been returned for a TD just now. Lots of special teams coordinators going to be a bit uncomfortable returning to practice on Monday.

[Ksyrup]

Chargers look legit. Broncos continue to look like ass. The offense appeared to have been upgraded but they continue to struggle.

[flere-imsaho]

My clever strategy of drafting Jamarr Chase, Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins in one of my fantasy leagues is not paying off as I may have hoped.

[Thomkal]

Cards probably lose RB Conner for a long time-he was carted off. They still lose with both Purdy out and Bosa for most of the game. And right after the Conner injury-Marvin Harrison dropped a pass with nobody within 5 yards of him. I swear he's got some kind of vision problem.

[Atocep]

If i were a QB needy team with some offensive weapons and an offensive coach, I'd take a look at Mariota as a bridge QB next year. I think he's been better than his rep but has been in bad situations for a QB. If I were to bet on someone being the next Geno, a QB that catches on in his 30s, it'd probably be him.

[Danny]

An issue with Mariota is health. He cant stay healthy as the guy. But I agree hes solid when he is healthy and in the game.

[bhlloy]

2025 Russell Wilson you’d rather him be 90 yards from the end zone than 20. Those might have been the 3 ugliest back to back red zone throws of all time.

[CrimsonFox]

I bet the Bengals trade Higgins or Chase

[Thomkal]

Nick Bosa tore his ACL and is out for the season. Not heard the official word on James Connor yet but likely also out for the season. Anybody got any spare RB's they can give Arizona?

[CrimsonFox]

so why aren't we doing another thread of taking over a team?

[Thomkal]

Nick Bosa tore his ACL and is out for the season. Not heard the official word on James Connor yet but likely also out for the season. Anybody got any spare RB's they can give Arizona?


Connor's foot is injured and out for the season. Chargers RB Harris also out for the season

[Brian Swartz]

I'll be the first to say I did not see the Lions winning. Ain't complaining though.

[Bobble]

I'll be the first to say I did not see the Lions winning. Ain't complaining though.

Same. Sacked Lamar SEVEN times? TWO 95-yard drives? Didn't see those coming either. The massive onions on MCDC with that 4th down floater to St Brown.

[Ksyrup]

Sean Payton should take notes on how to close out a game. Onions for days, but that's what it takes these days. Honestly, I feel like even the (more rational) fans are willing to forgive a calculated gamble to close out a win now given how easy teams seem to move up and down the field. Especially if all they need is a FG

[JonInMiddleGA]

Honestly, I feel like even the (more rational) fans are willing to forgive a calculated gamble to close out a win now given how easy teams seem to move up and down the field.

Ironic that Lane Kiffin has curbed his nutty fixation with go-for-it (averaged nearly 3x per game last couple years, only 2 in four games this season) and discovered the existence of field goals. And it's probably the difference in being 4-0 vs at least one bad loss.

[Brian Swartz]

Also, I don't believe for a moment that either Baltimore or Kansas City is anywhere near bad enough to be 1-3. I'll be shocked if both of them don't make their way back to the playoffs eventually.

[Bobble]

Sean Payton should take notes on how to close out a game. Onions for days, but that's what it takes these days. Honestly, I feel like even the (more rational) fans are willing to forgive a calculated gamble to close out a win now given how easy teams seem to move up and down the field. Especially if all they need is a FG

I wonder, though, if the go-for-it mentality is only suited for having a great offense that converts most plays and a so-so defense that you have trouble being confident in. Put another way, I think it suits a team makeup like the Lions rather than, say, the Browns with a great defense and not much of an offense. Not every team should be going for it all the time like the Lions are.

[JPhillips]

Former Bengals RB Rudi Johnson has died. TMZ is hinting at suicide after CTE problems.

[flere-imsaho]

Ashton Jeanty has accumulated 144 yards on rushing attempts this season. He has also accumulated 146 yards after contact on those rushing attempts.

[flere-imsaho]

Also, I don't believe for a moment that either Baltimore or Kansas City is anywhere near bad enough to be 1-3. I'll be shocked if both of them don't make their way back to the playoffs eventually.

I think KC is this bad. Mahomes has been papering over a lot of cracks for a few seasons now.

[Atocep]

I think KC is this bad. Mahomes has been papering over a lot of cracks for a few seasons now.

Their defense is solid, but they invested heavily on the line to protect Mahomes and have largely ignored or missed on the skill positions. Their skill guys are probably among the worst in the NFL.

[RainMaker]

Their defense is solid, but they invested heavily on the line to protect Mahomes and have largely ignored or missed on the skill positions. Their skill guys are probably among the worst in the NFL.

Also that division is a lot better than it was. Chargers and Denver are no longer doormats for him.

[Lathum]

Wilson is out. Not that he was ever going to be the answer but I feel like they are caving to public pressure. Dart is gonna get killed behind that line.

The season was already lost. Would have rather had him sit and learn. He’ll, throw Winston out there. Maybe he has a couple 400
Yard games and you can flip him for a pick.

[RainMaker]

I think they had to do it to save the locker room. Still not sure how Schoen has a job.

[Lathum]

I think they had to do it to save the locker room. Still not sure how Schoen has a job.

He really is the issue. I actually like Dabol as a coach, he just doesn’t have the horses.

What’s dumb is they draft Dart. He will spend the season learning Danika scheme and then Dabil will get fired and back to square one.