2024 NFL Season Thread

[Drake]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

He badly underthrew 2 possible TDs and it seemed like he just couldn't throw it far enough. The receivers outran his arm.

...but if he had thrown it just 5% farther...

[Drake]

Also, what does it say about the state of the NFL that I'm more excited about the Bucs/Falcons game next Thursday than I was about the Giants/Cowboys?

Me and Pepperidge Farms are old enough to remember when tonight's game would have seemed like an epic matchup instead of a "football's on; I guess I'll watch it" game.

Edit: I think it might just be the bad influence on this board. There are more Falcons fans here than I've ever met in real, actual life. I feel for you guys.

[albionmoonlight]

I feel like Al Michaels's IDGAF style as he ages makes for great television and will be awesome until one game when he says something that causes Amazon to issue a statement the next day that includes the phrases "mutually decided" "regrettable" and "wish Mr. Micahels the best"

[Bobble]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

I feel like Al Michaels's IDGAF style as he ages makes for great television and will be awesome until one game when he says something that causes Amazon to issue a statement the next day that includes the phrases "mutually decided" "regrettable" and "wish Mr. Micahels the best"

Doesn't seem like he gets along with Kirk, though, and that makes it a little unfun to watch.

[thesloppy]

I hate that team and they obviously hate each other

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Carman Bulldog

I have to push back on this a bit. How many elite passers the past few seasons have not also had an elite pass catcher? At least to bridge the gap until they can turn those number 2's into 1's.

The Jags (and cousin Baalke) have taken nine players over the past five drafts with either day one or day two picks:

2020: WR Laviska Shenault
2021: QB Trevor Lawrence; RB Travis Etienne; T Walker Little
2022: G Luke Fortner
2023: OL Anton Harrison; TE Brenton Strange; RB Tank Bigsby
2024: WR Brian Thomas

This doesn't even account for Travon Walker first overall in 2022.

You hit on some of those picks a little better with guys that contribute and this looks like a different team.

You are correct. The Jags did not provide Lawrence with an elite pass catcher before he signed his record breaking contract.

Just because his name was brought up earlier, let's see what Daniel Jones has had to work with since the year before he was drafted in 2019.

2018: RB Saquon Barkley; G Will Hernandez
2019: QB Daniel Jones
2020: T Andrew Thomas; T Matt Peart
2021: WR Kadarius Toney
2022: WR Wan'dale Robinson; OL Joshua Ezeudu
2023: C John Michael Schmitz; WR Jalin Hyatt
2024: WR Malik Nabers

So where is the benefit of the doubt as far as being an elite passer who just needs his team to hit on some picks and everything would be different for Jones given the numbers both have put up?

My point is not to say that Lawrence is a bust or Jones is a future HOFer. It is not to say that either the Giants or the Jaguars have done right by either QB. Both organizations have done little to help their young QBs to this point. My point is it makes no sense to me that Lawrence can escape criticisms and threats of benchings for his performances due to the Jags front office, poor coaching and/or a lack of talent around him but a guy like Daniel Jones can't use an equally bad front office, equally bad coaching and equally poor talent around him over a longer period to excuse his poor performances.

[RainMaker]

They paid a bunch of money to bring in Zay Jones, Ridley, Engram, and Kirk. They've invested heavily in the draft on offensive line. Not saying he has a great supporting cast but if you're the #1 pick in the draft, you shouldn't need Justin Jefferson on your roster to look competent.

Coaching and front office deserve blame but he's also looked pretty bad reading defenses and being inaccurate on easy throws.

[GrantDawg]

Falcons run defense is as soft as Charmin.

[Ksyrup]

Vikings appear legit.

[Ksyrup]

Eagles coach gonna get fired.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Falcons run defense is as soft as Charmin.

Maybe. But I love those throwback uniforms. Love them! Reminds me of Steve Bartkowski and Billy “White Shoes” Johnson.

[Ksyrup]

Tyler Badie of Denver is having some sort of medical emergency on the sideline. Uncertain if it's related to the last hit he took on the field.

[Ksyrup]

Also Bo Nix is 5 for 10 for -9 yards. No sacks, that's his passing yards.

[sovereignstar v2]

Sam Darnold for President

[NobodyHere]

Flacco for VP

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Maybe. But I love those throwback uniforms. Love them! Reminds me of Steve Bartkowski and Billy “White Shoes” Johnson.

Not alone. I wish they always wore the red helmets.

[GrantDawg]

Football this weekend is going to give me an ulcer.

[CrimsonFox]

I don't know why Carolina called for that fancy fake punt play. All they needed to do was run the ball through the bengals terrible D. So stupid

[GrantDawg]

God. I don't know how they pulled that out, but Falcons win.

[Solecismic]

The Bears remain undefeated at home. Some struggles on offense early, which led to the fans booing Williams after a three-and-out, but he seems to be doing OK as a rookie despite the fact that they could certainly use a couple of good offensive linemen.

A lot is made of the long-term futility of quarterbacking in Chicago. I often wonder how much responsibility rests on the shoulders of that fan base. It's a miserable place to be a quarterback.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

God. I don't know how they pulled that out, but Falcons win.

Congrats dawg great for u

[Ksyrup]

I know kickers are better than ever, but the number of teams settling for 50+ yard FGs in crucial situations is insane. The Falcons not trying to get another 5-15 yards and taking long shots down the field to settle for a 58 yard FG from a guy whose career long is 54 in a building where the longest FG ever kicked was 57 is crazy. It worked, but that doesn't excuse the process.

Same thing in the Denver/NYJ game. It's raining and miserable, and Denver has Nix run a QB keeper and slide down 2-3 yards backwards to settle for a 50 yarder to try to make it a 4 point game - miss. NYJ get to a 50 yard FG to win - miss. Those guys might be automatic in perfect conditions, but that's not today.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

The Bears remain undefeated at home. Some struggles on offense early, which led to the fans booing Williams after a three-and-out, but he seems to be doing OK as a rookie despite the fact that they could certainly use a couple of good offensive linemen.

A lot is made of the long-term futility of quarterbacking in Chicago. I often wonder how much responsibility rests on the shoulders of that fan base. It's a miserable place to be a quarterback.

A lot of Bears fans are so used to failure and futility they don't recognize small successes right in front of them. Poles has done a solid job rebuilding the roster, increased the overall talent level, and rebuilt the front office into a modern, analytical front office. No small feat considering the situation when he came in. Many Bears fans think he's terrible though.

Williams looks like a solid rookie QB with a high ceiling. This looked like the first week Waldron scaled the offense back a little and just asked Caleb to manager the game, which he did.

The line needs 2, probably 3 new starters since Tevin Jenkins can't stay healthy. Pryor in place of Nate Davis at least improved the run blocking considerably.

[Solecismic]

Does the Maye era begin after the next kickoff? Or does Mayo accept this is going to be a long season and stick to his guns about keeping Maye on the sidelines while he learns?

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Tyler Badie of Denver is having some sort of medical emergency on the sideline. Uncertain if it's related to the last hit he took on the field.

Obv the jab affecting him, an otherwise healthy adult.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Not alone. I wish they always wore the red helmets.

Me too. And ditch the modern Falcon logo. The old one is a classic.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I know kickers are better than ever, but the number of teams settling for 50+ yard FGs in crucial situations is insane. The Falcons not trying to get another 5-15 yards and taking long shots down the field to settle for a 58 yard FG from a guy whose career long is 54 in a building where the longest FG ever kicked was 57 is crazy. It worked, but that doesn't excuse the process.

Same thing in the Denver/NYJ game. It's raining and miserable, and Denver has Nix run a QB keeper and slide down 2-3 yards backwards to settle for a 50 yarder to try to make it a 4 point game - miss. NYJ get to a 50 yard FG to win - miss. Those guys might be automatic in perfect conditions, but that's not today.

It made no sense to me. Why on earth were they swinging for the fences instead of just trying to pick up a few yards to help him out? It worked out, but it very easily couldn't have.

[CrimsonFox]

Raiders don't have a Single received I'm impressed with but it seems everyone on the team is good at running. Their d is Good too

[CrimsonFox]

That holding call probably decide the game

[Danny]

Dont worry Raiders will still find a way to lose

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Danny

Dont worry Raiders will still find a way to lose

nope. that questionable holding call decided the game

[JPhillips]

I didn't realize that Mahomes threw the tackle that wrecked Rashee Rice's knee.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I didn't realize that Mahomes threw the tackle that wrecked Rashee Rice's knee.

that's more than fair since he wrecked several people's cars

[weegeebored]

Originally Posted by Atocep

A lot of Bears fans are so used to failure and futility they don't recognize small successes right in front of them. Poles has done a solid job rebuilding the roster, increased the overall talent level, and rebuilt the front office into a modern, analytical front office. No small feat considering the situation when he came in. Many Bears fans think he's terrible though.

Williams looks like a solid rookie QB with a high ceiling. This looked like the first week Waldron scaled the offense back a little and just asked Caleb to manager the game, which he did.

The line needs 2, probably 3 new starters since Tevin Jenkins can't stay healthy. Pryor in place of Nate Davis at least improved the run blocking considerably.

The bar for a Bears GM is set really low. Poles has a lot of misses to go along with some good signings/drafts. (Some of it was luck, thank you Lovie and David Tepper.) He's an average GM at best. But there is no way you take Odunze at #9 knowing that both the D- and O- lines (especially) need help. There was a trade to be made there and he didn't make it. WR wasn't a pressing need; Odunze isn't lighting up the league, and there are WRs in the 2025 draft. Anyone who has a reasonable amount of football knowledge knows that good teams have good lines. Apparently Poles has a blind spot for O-lineman because his decisions regarding that position have not been too good.

[RainMaker]

They're 12-26 since Poles took over and currently have the worst offense in football. I understand rebuilds but the offense is actually somehow getting worse in year 3.

How many years should it take for a GM to not have a bottom 10 team? Seems like other franchises who turn things around don't need 5 years.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Not alone. I wish they always wore the red helmets.

I agree on bringing back the red helmets. Would want them to update the falcon some.

Didn't watch the game live. Cousins seem to have done okay. 58-yard FG was a thing of beauty.

[CrimsonFox]

I would love it if the browns had a little...you know....BROWN on their uniforms.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Williams looks like a solid rookie QB with a high ceiling. This looked like the first week Waldron scaled the offense back a little and just asked Caleb to manager the game, which he did.

I'm curious what that scaled back offense looked like. I don't understand why teams would not give a QB a scaled back offense early on if they are going to start in their rookie year and then add things to the playbook as the year goes on. I get it throwing the entire playbook at the rookie and see if he sinks or swims but I feel like that should be an exception not the rule.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Not alone. I wish they always wore the red helmets.

A Saints/Falcons double throwback day where they each wore their 1980s uniforms would be sweet as hell.

[albionmoonlight]

dola:

As the Saints might be trending toward being as below-average as I thought they would be at the beginning of the season, I am keeping an eye out for bandwagons to jump on.

I've already got a ticket on the Dan Campbell train, so I'm keeping that.

But I'm starting to look at seat maps on the "Fuck You Dan Snyder!" Commanders express.

One more "better than peak Peyton Manning" week out of Daniels, and I'm all in.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by weegeebored

The bar for a Bears GM is set really low. Poles has a lot of misses to go along with some good signings/drafts. (Some of it was luck, thank you Lovie and David Tepper.) He's an average GM at best. But there is no way you take Odunze at #9 knowing that both the D- and O- lines (especially) need help. There was a trade to be made there and he didn't make it. WR wasn't a pressing need; Odunze isn't lighting up the league, and there are WRs in the 2025 draft. Anyone who has a reasonable amount of football knowledge knows that good teams have good lines. Apparently Poles has a blind spot for O-lineman because his decisions regarding that position have not been too good.

Both the Bengals (Ja'Marr Chase) and the Dolphins (Jaylen Waddle) chose wide receivers instead of Penei Sewell the top O-line prospect in the draft that year. There was probably a good argument for both teams to have taken Sewell given Burrow got his ass kicked before he suffered a season ending injury and Tua's injury history before he entered the league. However, both wide receivers were all rookie selections and stars for their teams. Folks can make an argument for both sides based on their own beliefs and if Odunze sucks for his entire career then it's an obvious blown pick. I am just pointing out recent examples of teams choosing receivers over O-line help

[Danny]

If they had Odunze as say #4 overall on their board and the next lineman as say #14 overall, then its the right pick.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

I'm curious what that scaled back offense looked like. I don't understand why teams would not give a QB a scaled back offense early on if they are going to start in their rookie year and then add things to the playbook as the year goes on. I get it throwing the entire playbook at the rookie and see if he sinks or swims but I feel like that should be an exception not the rule.

The Bears were pretty open that they weren't scaling back the offense for Caleb in the preseason and that seemingly hadn't changed through the first 3 games. He was being asked to do a lot and I do think it benefited him in some ways. He doesn't look like a rookie at the line making adjustments and picking up blitzes pre-snap. He's also working through his progressions and taking checkdowns/throwing it away when nothing is there. Where it's hurt is they haven't been keeping an extra blocker in pass protection and with a questionable line he's been under a lot of pressure.

Against the Rams, it appeared to me that Caleb was given shorter routes and simpler play designs which, with an actual running game, allowed him to manage the game rather than have to win it. IMO the pressure has made his footwork sloppy on deeper throws so his accuracy there has been inconsistent. His talent is head and shoulders above Trubisky and Fields and he's the 2nd youngest starting QB in the NFL right now. Although with Richardson's status that could change.

I've watched quite a bit of all-22 breakdown of the bears first 3 games, I still want to watch some on the Rams game, but considering the difficulty of the route trees, the progressions, and lack of support up front he's been impressive. He's also gotten better each week, which is probably the most important thing.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Danny

If they had Odunze as say #4 overall on their board and the next lineman as say #14 overall, then its the right pick.

I preferred a lineman there, but I was ok with Odunze. For the record, Fashanu has been god awful for the Jets so far so it's not like a tackle would have fixed their issues up front to this point. The only other option would have been trading way back, which requires a partner and I'd take Odunze at 9 over an interior lineman later on. I don't think any other linemen made sense in the first for the Bears.

[RainMaker]

I think Odunze was the right pick. In many other years, he would be the first WR off the board. I just don't think you can pass up that kind of value at #9. And they'd be hard pressed to find a player of that caliber at WR in future drafts.

With that said, the issue is the Bears had a TON of cap space the past couple offseasons and instead of investing in the offensive line, spent it on linebackers, running backs, and tight ends. Even Keenan Allen. They've wasted a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round pick on wide receivers that just didn't pan out.

The Bears issue is their atrocious offensive line. But it wasn't the #9 pick that caused that. It's years of not spending cap space on linemen and not using draft picks to shore up the position. That's on a GM who just didn't value offensive line play and if the Bears don't turn it around this season, he deserves to go.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

The Bears issue is their atrocious offensive line. But it wasn't the #9 pick that caused that. It's years of not spending cap space on linemen and not using draft picks to shore up the position. That's on a GM who just didn't value offensive line play and if the Bears don't turn it around this season, he deserves to go.

The line needs addressed but he's improved literally every other position group. QB, WR, TE, DL, LB, Secondary, and special teams are all better. Running back is probably a wash from when he took over although the depth there is better.

As I mentioned earlier, he's also completely overhauled and modernized the front office. Getting the bears out of operating like an organization from 20-30 years ago alone is a hell of an achievement. The Bears were a shit organization when he came in. There's only so much you can do at a time.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Atocep

The line needs addressed but he's improved literally every other position group. QB, WR, TE, DL, LB, Secondary, and special teams are all better. Running back is probably a wash from when he took over although the depth there is better.

As I mentioned earlier, he's also completely overhauled and modernized the front office. Getting the bears out of operating like an organization from 20-30 years ago alone is a hell of an achievement. The Bears were a shit organization when he came in. There's only so much you can do at a time.

At some point you have to produce positive results. Winning on paper just doesn't cut it. And despite those improvements you cited, their offense is now worse than it was when he took over.

I consider the offensive line one of the most important areas of a football team. It's incredibly hard to sustain success without one. And at this point, he needs to likely replace 4 players which is not going to happen in one offseason.

I get what his approach is and why people may like it, but wins and losses are what matter at the end of the day and this team is still really far away.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

At some point you have to produce positive results. Winning on paper just doesn't cut it. And despite those improvements you cited, their offense is now worse than it was when he took over.

I consider the offensive line one of the most important areas of a football team. It's incredibly hard to sustain success without one. And at this point, he needs to likely replace 4 players which is not going to happen in one offseason.

I get what his approach is and why people may like it, but wins and losses are what matter at the end of the day and this team is still really far away.

Teams have been winning consistently with bad lines and going cheap on them for ages. The Packers were winning with bad lines at different points, the Steelers have had some god awful lines but have won under Tomlin, the Seahawks literally ignored the line most of the Pete Carrol years. The Chiefs have had some horrible lines with Mahomes as well. It's not ideal and with a young QB I'd prefer to have a better line but it's not a necessity in today's NFL.

I'm honestly not sure what you expect from a GM. This was a complete rebuild that started in 2022 that resulted in the #1 overall pick. In the 2 years since, as I said, every position group has improved and they won 7 games last year. The most Bears thing the Bears could do at this point is fire the GM responsible for putting this group in place and start over again.

[RainMaker]

Who is responsible for them having the worst offense in NFL so far this season?

[Solecismic]

Who figured on Tyler Huntley (on his third team in about a month) going up against Mason Rudolph on Monday Night Football?

That's why you have to punt on 4th-and-2 from your opponent's 46 as halftime approaches. ESPN, I'm sure, is loving this kicker's duel.