2023 NFL Regular Season Thread

[miami_fan]

It will never not be weird to see hits/tackles/ blocks penalized on Sunday that are deemed completely legal on Saturday.

[SirFozzie]

Six first half sacks by the Commanders. Being the Giants QB should be uninsurable due to danger

[miami_fan]

Anyone else notice Tua running off the field favoring his throwing arm or hand after the silly last play of the half?

[Atocep]

Justin Fields doing Mitch Trubisky things to the Lions.

[thesloppy]

Yeah, I think that seemingly improved Lions defense may have been a bit of a mirage.

[Brian Swartz]

At this point it must be said that Detroit hasn't played a particularly good game in a month now.

[Ksyrup]

Don't look now but the Vikings could steal the division from the Lions. They could/should beat the Broncos tonight and they play the Lions twice in the final 3 weeks of the season.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Don't look now but the Vikings could steal the division from the Lions. They could/should beat the Broncos tonight and they play the Lions twice in the final 3 weeks of the season.

Any true Lions fans shouldn't be surprised. The Lions are a master class on how an NFL franchise can disappoint a fanbase.

[Ksyrup]

It ain't over yet!

[Atocep]

Bears trying to stay in the running for 2 top 5 picks

[weegeebored]

The Bears are a complete fking joke.

[NobodyHere]

The greater the Pride, the greater the fall.

[thesloppy]

Yusssss

[Atocep]

That was the most bears game that has ever beared

[Coffee Warlord]

I figured it'd be an interception, but I absolutely knew Fields was gonna turn it over in clutch time.

[stevew]

Kenny sucks.

[Brian Swartz]

I feel like the Lions should apologize to the NFL for winning that game.

It's like they were out-Lionsed by the Bears.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

I feel like the Lions should apologize to the Lions fans for only winning one playoff game in the last 60 years

Fixed

[Brian Swartz]

Why not both?

[NobodyHere]

Good point

[NobodyHere]

On a postive note I get to tell the Steelers fans in my office tomorrow to go suck it.

[rjolley]

Fields turned it over on that last play, but you can't pin that loss squarely on him. He drove them down and scored on 4 of the final 5 drives and had them up 12 with 4:15 to go. In that final 4 minutes, the defense gave up 2 73+ yard touchdown drives, each taking less than 2 minutes.

[Bobble]

Originally Posted by rjolley

Fields turned it over on that last play,

I don't put a lot of blame on Fields for a non-blitz, blindside strip sack. You count on your RT to hold up or hope your coach puts a chip on the other player's best pass rusher and you takes your chances.

Originally Posted by rjolley

but you can't pin that loss squarely on him. He drove them down and scored on 4 of the final 5 drives and had them up 12 with 4:15 to go. In that final 4 minutes, the defense gave up 2 73+ yard touchdown drives, each taking less than 2 minutes.

This. Fields' running ability kept the Bears in that one, IMO. Ran for 100 yards, he connected on 70% of his passes, no INTs, and he hit the long ball for a TD to Moore.

[miami_fan]

What is the problem? Defensive players launch themselves like that at ball carriers and no one cares. Dobbs was a ball carrier at that point, no?

[Ksyrup]

If I have to keep watching Wilson throw dump-offs 5-7 yards behind the LOS, I'm going to kill myself.

[Ksyrup]

Absolute garbage.

[Ksyrup]

Worst offense for a 5-5 team I've ever seen. Although the defensive turnaround has been pretty remarkable.

[Brian Swartz]

I'd say the Steelers offense is quite a bit worse, actually.

[Ksyrup]

I don't know why Denver doesn't just go with the Perine offense all game. That's 2 games in a row Perine has been the deciding factor on the majority of a game-winning drive. One of the key factors to its success - he doesn't catch the ball 5+ yards behind the LOS! Instead, in a novel concept, he's usually a few yards down field or at least at the LOS so that any forward progress means they gain yards. It's amazing!

And yes, I know, the defense plays differently when protecting a lead with a few dozen seconds left. I'm just bitter that I can't even enjoy Denver winning because this feels like it's going to set the franchise back in its efforts to move on from Wilson. I'll give Payton credit for making it look like Wilson is actually effective when he's just doing nothing but completing safe passes that rarely, if ever, move the chains. The first 3rd down conversion was a QB sneak for 1 yard as the 3Q ended.

Once the defense stops forcing 4 TOs A GAME (as they have averaged the past 3 weeks), Wilson won't have the luxury of turning those possessions into FGs, and presumably the defense will not be able to hold up all game, and they'll go back to losing. I just don't know what is gained by making Wilson's numbers look effective when they are not. It says quite a bit when you're calling plays for a vet as if he's an undrafted rookie.

[Swaggs]

Pickett's line of 15/28 for 106 yards is pretty wild. 3.79 per attempt. May as well just wildcat it with Harris and Warren at this point and see what happens. I feel like the Steelers actually have a pretty solid receiving core, too, which hurts.

I read that Tommy Devito already has more multi-touchdown games than Pickett (2 to 1).

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

Pickett's line of 15/28 for 106 yards is pretty wild. 3.79 per attempt.

The tight end who rotated at QB for Syracuse against GT this weekend averaged just over 4 YPA on 14 attempts.

And that outing helped get Babers fired (for not having QBs).

[miami_fan]

Sounds like you guys won't have Zach Wilson around to pick on anymore. Time for the All Pro Tim Boyle era

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

On a postive note I get to tell the Steelers fans in my office tomorrow to go suck it.

and this is all that matters that is good in life

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by weegeebored

The Bears are a complete fking joke.

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

The greater the Pride, the greater the fall.

Originally Posted by thesloppy

Yusssss

Originally Posted by Atocep

That was the most bears game that has ever beared

Originally Posted by stevew

Kenny sucks.

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

I feel like the Lions should apologize to the NFL for winning that game.

It's like they were out-Lionsed by the Bears.

you guys make me laugh so damn much

[sovereignstar v2]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...shua-dobbs-hit

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

Pickett's line of 15/28 for 106 yards is pretty wild. 3.79 per attempt. May as well just wildcat it with Harris and Warren at this point and see what happens. I feel like the Steelers actually have a pretty solid receiving core, too, which hurts.

I read that Tommy Devito already has more multi-touchdown games than Pickett (2 to 1).

Pickett is the only QB since the merger to have attempted more than 500 passes with a TD% of less than 2%. It’s like 300+ people.

[stevew]

Matt Canada fired. About fuckin time

[cartman]

I always thought Canada Day was in July

[QuikSand]

you know how an injured QB can sometimes be a "line mover" at the casinos... where a missing star changes the odds for the upcoming game?

Canada getting fired seems like it could move the Steelers a couple points stronger for their next game. Even if the replacement is three raccoons in a trenchcoat it has to be better than him.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

What is the problem? Defensive players launch themselves like that at ball carriers and no one cares. Dobbs was a ball carrier at that point, no?

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

Broncos' Kareem Jackson banned again, this time for Dobbs hit - ESPN

I agree with the appeal and disagree with the suspension. It was definitely a horrible tackle but one that is regularly done against actual running backs all the time without punishment. The only difference is an actual running back would have also lowered his pads and/or head and the result could have been the running back trucking Jackson or both players having their bell rung because of head to head contact. Jackson should be punished given his previous history and the danger of the hit. He should also feel like he is being unfairly persecuted because all he did was hit a running back the way he and all his peers hit running backs on a play like that.

[miami_fan]

Tom Brady bemoans NFL play, says 'there's a lot of mediocrity' - ESPN

I...I... okay I can do this... I agree with everything Tom Brady says in this article? Yes, it is rich that Tom Brady of all people is criticizing the recent player protection rule changes but I think he was spot on everything else. If I have one quibble, it would be colleges not developing players for the pro game. I am more inclined to believe the pro game has been slow to adjust to bring the best out of the players the colleges are developing.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Tom Brady bemoans NFL play, says 'there's a lot of mediocrity' - ESPN

I...I... okay I can do this... I agree with everything Tom Brady says in this article? Yes, it is rich that Tom Brady of all people is criticizing the recent player protection rule changes but I think he was spot on everything else. If I have one quibble, it would be colleges not developing players for the pro game. I am more inclined to believe the pro game has been slow to adjust to bring the best out of the players the colleges are developing.

I'm all for player safety and whatnot, but there was roughing call on Mahomes last night that was bad IMO. The NFL has created a cycle of making qbs thr most important player on the field and then being forced to protect these long term investments. It's getting out of hand.

On development, I think it goes both ways. I think both are doing a better job than they were in the 80s and 90s. Colleges not using headsets with quarterbacks is hurting qb development. You're simply not going to see an NFL team using signs to call plays and having the qb stand at the line for 30 seconds so the OC can read the defense while preventing subs.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Brady was pretty darned accurate, can't find much fault with his takes.

[NobodyHere]

Colts waive three-time All-Pro LB Shaquille Leonard

Well shoot, I was really hoping he would stick around for a long time.

[miami_fan]

I did not see the game last night but I think we all can picture bad roughing calls from the past few years.

My view of what Brady said about safety comes down to an expectation by all players but specifically offensive players that the rules will protect them so they don't have to worry about protecting themselves or their teammates. For example. there definitely should be rules to protect a defenseless receiver or a QB, but there was also a responsibility of the QB to not toss hospital balls to said receivers leaving them defenseless or for a coach to draw up slow developing plays with statue QBs and turnstiles on the QB's blindside that gave a Miles Garrett free runs at that QB. Not wanting to take unnecessary hits may have provided that extra bit of motivation for a QB to get the ball out on time.

As far as development goes, that was a bit more of an "it was better back in my day" rant but I think it is the same across all sports. We are developing better athletes not necessarily better players. I also agree with him on the coaching and schemes. The thing he said about coming from a college program was an interesting one. IIRC, Michigan ran a pro style offense with a RB, FB, 2WR, and a TE. Most NFL teams ran a similar offense. I could see how Brady could spend 4 years in Lloyd Carr's program with the same staff, develop and have that transfer over to working with an NFL team in 2000 without NFL coaches telling him to stop doing the stuff that allowed him to be successful at Michigan.

[bronconick]

Originally Posted by stevew

Matt Canada fired. About fuckin time

The last time the Steelers made a midseason coaching change, it was a few months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Justin Fields doing Mitch Trubisky things to the Lions.

What does this mean? Sounds squishy

[RainMaker]

I've wondered if the NFL should invest more in developmental leagues. Maybe just taking over the USFL or XFL for instance. Maybe starting NFL Europe back up. Maybe buying into the CFL.

But it does seem like a minor league system of some sort would help many positions get reps. QB play is about as bad as I can ever remember. Tackling has been piss poor. It's just not great football. It would be beneficial for fringe NFL guys and those young 3rd string QBs to get some actual gameplay with NFL style systems.

The college game was a great minor league system for awhile, but I think the game has diverged too much between the two and players are just not ready out of college. The coaching in college is also incredibly bad from a football development standpoint. Even the top passers are coming into the league having played in rudimentary systems.

The G-League is a good example of the benefits. NBA benches used to be so bad 15-20 years ago. Just 35+ year old guys who could barely move and would be a mess if they came in. Now benches are mostly filled with guys who can play and contribute. There's even been a few stars who developed from it.

[Ksyrup]

The Browns have scored more points than the Chiefs this year.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I've wondered if the NFL should invest more in developmental leagues. Maybe just taking over the USFL or XFL for instance. Maybe starting NFL Europe back up. Maybe buying into the CFL.

But it does seem like a minor league system of some sort would help many positions get reps. QB play is about as bad as I can ever remember. Tackling has been piss poor. It's just not great football. It would be beneficial for fringe NFL guys and those young 3rd string QBs to get some actual gameplay with NFL style systems.

The college game was a great minor league system for awhile, but I think the game has diverged too much between the two and players are just not ready out of college. The coaching in college is also incredibly bad from a football development standpoint. Even the top passers are coming into the league having played in rudimentary systems.

The G-League is a good example of the benefits. NBA benches used to be so bad 15-20 years ago. Just 35+ year old guys who could barely move and would be a mess if they came in. Now benches are mostly filled with guys who can play and contribute. There's even been a few stars who developed from it.

I have been saying that forever. It would benefit the sport, but the league has no interest in the overhead.