NFL 2018 Season Thread

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by sabotai

I like defensive games. I'm enjoying it so far.

It’s intriguing, definitely not atrocious for me.

Until the weakest lead singing voice I’ve heard for a while has just started. Oof - that’s poor

[CrimsonFox]

who is that maroon 5? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

that commercial with all the greats in it was good

[MizzouRah]

To me, there is no doubt Gurley is hurt. Who knows to what extent but my guess is his knee just doesn't feel right. I would also guess even though it's the biggest game of the year for the Rams, McVay wants to have him for many more seasons, so he's seeing very limited action.

Those short 3rd down plays would typically be a pass in the flat to Gurley. He's had like 3-5 straight ahead running plays, the same as last game.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

To me, there is no doubt Gurley is hurt. Who knows to what extent but my guess is his knee just doesn't feel right. I would also guess even though it's the biggest game of the year for the Rams, McVay wants to have him for many more seasons, so he's seeing very limited action.

Those short 3rd down plays would typically be a pass in the flat to Gurley. He's had like 3-5 straight ahead running plays, the same as last game.

He may well be hurt but I think the coaches have lost confidence in him right now. He looks rattled by the big stage. On the first run of the game he had a huge hole and tripped over his own feet and didnt get the ball for quite a few plays after that.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

He may well be hurt but I think the coaches have lost confidence in him right now. He looks rattled by the big stage. On the first run of the game he had a huge hole and tripped over his own feet and didnt get the ball for quite a few plays after that.

You don't lose confidence in a player of his caliber, he's carried this team for quite some time. His knee is jacked up.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

You don't lose confidence in a player of his caliber, he's carried this team for quite some time. His knee is jacked up.

If this were the case he wouldnt be on the field. Something mentally is wrong with him whether its nerves or confidence in his knee.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Losing Chung is huge.

[PilotMan]

If the Rams defense can't get off the field, every single possession will be bad for them. The Pats will simply wear them out until they get a big enough lead and then pack it up. This has the Falcons 2nd half all over it, right now.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I will note (since my FB wall has more comments about Gurley than anyone other than Gladys Knight) that an NFL.com article in the last 24 hours predicted a split carries with Anderson and specifically cited conditioning as a factor.

[QuikSand]

Hekker MVP let’s do this

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

If this were the case he wouldnt be on the field. Something mentally is wrong with him whether its nerves or confidence in his knee.

I was thinking more like he tweaked it a few games back and maybe you're right about confidence in his knee.

[PilotMan]

Goff looking like Rothlisburger in post season.

[AlexB]

The BBC have a booth in the upper tier of the stadium that they cut to every time there’s ads in the CBS coverage.

There are a surprising number of obviously empty seats in the stadium: blocks of 4-10 seats, so it’s not just people taking a leak or getting a beer. I would say its 5-10% empty

[PilotMan]

Who says the kicking game is overrated?

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I will note (since my FB wall has more comments about Gurley than anyone other than Gladys Knight) that an NFL.com article in the last 24 hours predicted a split carries with Anderson and specifically cited conditioning as a factor.

I can only wonder what he did during his two weeks off if this is the case. Hes a world class athlete I wouldnt imagine he could get himself that out of shape in 2-3 weeks. The entire situation is puzzling. From the best back in the NFL for 15 weeks to barely seeing the field and giving up his carries to an average NFL running back.

Kind of makes you think(when a month ago it was a no brainer) if you are picking 1st in fantasy next year if you take Gurley.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

I can only wonder what he did during his two weeks off if this is the case. Hes a world class athlete I wouldnt imagine he could get himself that out of shape in 2-3 weeks. The entire situation is puzzling. From the best back in the NFL for 15 weeks to barely seeing the field and giving up his carries to an average NFL running back.

Kind of makes you think(when a month ago it was a no brainer) if you are picking 1st in fantasy next year if you take Gurley.

That's why I thought the article was kinda interesting. It even had quotes about it from the RB coach

"If you look at a guy who hasn't really practiced in two or three weeks, then all of the sudden has to go out there and play (in the playoffs), the cardio isn't where it needs to be to play 60 or 70 plays," Peete said. "And that's what he had been doing before he sat out. You need to kind of work him back where you put him in situations where it makes sense. That happened in the Dallas game, and I thought he did some things in the last game."

[JPhillips]

Kick it.

[PilotMan]

Can't say I'm surprised with the result tonight. The score, yes, but not the result. It's a sad day for USA today.

[bhlloy]

Are some the question marks back for Goff given his performances towards the end of the season and tonight?

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Who says the kicking game is overrated?

kickers that rarely miss, missed today.

[NobodyHere]

And the cheaters win again

[Carman Bulldog]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Are some the question marks back for Goff given his performances towards the end of the season and tonight?

He's a different quarterback with Cooper Kupp. Same way that Brady is different with Julian Edelman. Goff still has a great skill set and is very young.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

who is that maroon 5? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

that commercial with all the greats in it was good

That commercial was definitely the highlight of the whole night.

[Young Drachma]

More fun playing fake sports at this point, tbh.

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by Carman Bulldog

He's a different quarterback with Cooper Kupp. Same way that Brady is different with Julian Edelman. Goff still has a great skill set and is very young.

Sure, but Woods and Cooks are both also good receivers. Is a QB really that good if he needs three good receivers and a functional running game to play well? Playing devils advocate for a second.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

who is that maroon 5? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I didn't mind maroon 5, but why have that rapper and marching band? Those are the two lowest forms of music.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

kickers that rarely miss, missed today.

Both punters were critical and frankly damn good about where they put the ball. I think it made a huge difference.

[Warhammer]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Sure, but Woods and Cooks are both also good receivers. Is a QB really that good if he needs three good receivers and a functional running game to play well? Playing devils advocate for a second.

The bigger issue this game was the OL, he was under pressure all night. He looked best the few times they moved the pocket. The hell of it, had Goff thrown more of a dart when Cooks was wide open in the end zone, they get 7 rather than 3 there. If Cooks brings in that ball right before the INT, that’s another 7.

Did they deserve to win? No. But they weren’t far from it either.

[Thomkal]

Is it time for the draft and my beloved Cards with the #1 pick yet? (please trade down for some more picks beloved Cards)

[Carman Bulldog]

Kind of hard to believe that in the nine seasons between 2006 and 2014, the Patriots did not win a single Super Bowl and only made it to the final twice.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Warhammer

The bigger issue this game was the OL, he was under pressure all night. He looked best the few times they moved the pocket. The hell of it, had Goff thrown more of a dart when Cooks was wide open in the end zone, they get 7 rather than 3 there. If Cooks brings in that ball right before the INT, that’s another 7.

Did they deserve to win? No. But they weren’t far from it either.

Agreed. He picked himself off the turf many times. He did hold onto the ball a bit long when he had time, but I credit that to the Patriots secondary. The Rams had chances to to win for sure.. but I think Goff learned some things tonight which will make him that much better going forward.

I still don't understand what the heck is going on with Gurley. Maybe it is a conditioning issue, but they are average without him.

I think the Saints would have been a better match up.

[EagleFan]

Saints/Chiefs would have been a lot more entertaining...

[Galaril]

Enjoyable Super Bowl to me at least. A good defensive battle as well as a obvious out coaching scenario for sure. For the record I have hated this Pats team for 16 years but will give respect as it is due. Whether anyone wants to admit or not we likely witnessing the NFL's version of Wooden's UCLA dynasty or the Bronx Bombers from 1924 to the early 60's . Congrats to Pats fans you guys have taken ALOT of shit for just winning.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Carman Bulldog

Kind of hard to believe that in the nine seasons between 2006 and 2014, the Patriots did not win a single Super Bowl and only made it to the final twice.

Those were dark times.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

any actual pats fans here?

Hi. (Molson also checking in.)

Originally Posted by sabotai

Either McVay decided to do something similar with Gurley, of Gurley is really hurt.

Since the Patriots won, I'm allowed to say it... Gurley's absence is weirder than Malcolm Butler's at this point. I assume he had a knee/groin injury, but it's not like the Patriots/Saints could've targeted that, so idk why the Rams didn't just admit it.

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

And the cheaters win again

People used to admire greatness in this country, now we just try to tear down any team that wins more than one championship. It's predictable but still sad

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

I didn't mind maroon 5, but why have that rapper and marching band? Those are the two lowest forms of music.

Travis Scott suuuuucks, but idk why you'd insult marching bands like that. My earliest football memories were under the bleachers while hearing the band play, with a fence as one sideline & the load bearing beams as the other out of bounds marker

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Saints/Chiefs would have been a lot more entertaining...

Presumably it would have been. But presumably Patriots/Rams would also be high scoring, and (spoiler alert) it wasn't.

[molson]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Hi. (Molson also checking in.).

Yes Sir.

It was an interesting Super Bowl party this year - the hate was very subdued (I'm a long way from New England), there were more people just enjoying the insanity of this Patriots run.

On the way home (got my girlfriend to drive - that was my personal Super Bowl championship!), I was just thinking about how crazy this whole run has been for Boston sports generally - I became aware of Boston sports in '86, just barely missed out on appreciating the last Larry Bird championship that year; and then, through those sports-crazy childhood years, I never did get a home town championship between '86 and 2000, when I graduated college.....A single championship would have meant SO much to me in those years, but it didn't happen.

But since adulthood, those 19 years, the Boston teams have pulled off 12 championships (and my alma mater, Syracuse, added another in '03 to make it 13). Those 13 championships in adulthood don't mean close to as much as ONE would have meant in my childhood, but, every time, it still does connect me to that past time in my life when this shit really mattered. People like to try to tell me how miserable they think I'll be when the Patriots' run ends, but, truthfully, it's all gravy now, they could go 0-16 next year and every year afterwards, and they've still given me so much more then I ever possibly could have comprehended...And I'm 40 now anyway - but Brady is a crazy throwback to those prior times and that prior way of thinking about sports - his rookie year was when I graduated from college!....Larry Bird is still my favorite athlete, but Brady is #2 and David Ortiz is #3.

[BishopMVP]

Yeah, it barely makes sense. I understand why normal people want to root against the Patriots (f.e. the Warriors didn't exactly stop playing fun up tempo basketball once they won their 1st, title and people still turned on them), but the cheating allegations are ridiculous and media people like Max Kellerman should be ashamed when they're proven wrong year after year.

[Kodos]

So Spygate wasn't real?

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Kodos

So Spygate wasn't real?

Or Edelman getting popped for PED's the only time he tried them.

Or Brady giving the nickname "The Deflator" and subsequently destroying his phone. Who hasn't destroyed their phone amongst us?

LOL. I'm not sure anyone hates the Patriots as much as apologists like Bill Simmons etc. They are great no question, they also cheat no question.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Kodos

So Spygate wasn't real?

It was 12 yeas ago, probably time to get over it.

I am a Giants fan and I always root for the Pats. I admire greatness and that is what we are seeing with Brady/BB.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Lathum

It was 12 yeas ago, probably time to get over it.

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

the cheating allegations are ridiculous and media people like Max Kellerman should be ashamed when they're proven wrong year after year.

I was responding because it seemed like Bishop was trying to say the allegations of cheating were unfair. Can any unbiased person really question whether the Patriots cheated multiple times in different manners along the way?

They are obviously great. The fact that they have been caught cheating repeatedly takes off some of the luster.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Lathum

It was 12 yeas ago, probably time to get over it.

I am a Giants fan and I always root for the Pats. I admire greatness and that is what we are seeing with Brady/BB.

Greatest of all time no doubt. Any reason to bring up cheating on your own? No.

Pats fans wondering where the cheating allegations come from and saying people like Max Kellerman should be ashamed to question the "Deflator"/destroyed phone story should warrant a response, no?

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Kodos

I was responding because it seemed like Bishop was trying to say the allegations of cheating were unfair. Can any unbiased person really question whether the Patriots cheated multiple times in different manners along the way?

They are obviously great. The fact that they have been caught cheating repeatedly takes off some of the luster.

Originally Posted by panerd

Greatest of all time no doubt. Any reason to bring up cheating on your own? No.

Pats fans wondering where the cheating allegations come from and saying people like Max Kellerman should be ashamed to question the "Deflator"/destroyed phone story should warrant a response, no?

Fair points.

I just hate the way people immediately jump to those things.

[Kodos]

FWIW, I'm not aware of any cheating allegations against them for this season. So kudos to them on that.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

People used to admire greatness in this country, now we just try to tear down any team that wins more than one championship. It's predictable but still sad

Because if there's one thing Boston fans can agree on it's the admiration for the greatness of the New York Yankees.

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by Kodos

FWIW, I'm not aware of any cheating allegations against them for this season. So kudos to them on that.

The Super Bowl MVP missed the first 4 games of the season due to a PED suspension.

But no one should call them cheaters.

[bob]

My hatred of the Patriots has almost nothing to do with the team itself vs a few Boston sports fans I personally know.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

The Super Bowl MVP missed the first 4 games of the season due to a PED suspension.

But no one should call them cheaters.

I couldn't remember if that was this season or last.

[Arles]

For most of the season, the pundits have been saying what a great opportunity it is to have a young QB on a rookie contract for team building. But, after watching the likes of Goff, Trubisky, Dak, Watson and Lamar Jackson really struggle against prepared defenses - it seems like there is a ceiling for these expensive rosters with a young QB. Even Mahomes, who is a generational talent, got shut down for a half. I get that you may have a Russel Wilson situation every so often where the roster is extremely strong and you have a very mature young QB - but I really wonder if this new blueprint is one that leads to playoff success. I'd rather have a Brady, Brees, Rivers or Rodgers and have to make cuts at other spots in my roster - but know that when I need a drive in the playoffs that these guys have a good chance to make it happen.

[thehitcat]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

The Super Bowl MVP missed the first 4 games of the season due to a PED suspension.

But no one should call them cheaters.

Your Team Cheats - The Definitive Guide to NFL Cheating

Enjoy!