NFL Weeks 11-17 thread

[Butter]

National TV games
New Orleans v. Carolina - Thursday night
Philadelphia v. Seattle - Sunday afternoon
Green Bay v. Washington - Sunday night
Houston v. Oakland - Monday night @ Mexico City, Azteca Stadium

[CrescentMoonie]

All four of those games seem interesting.

Was the Carolina collapse against KC the official end of their season, and if so does NO run it up on them?

Is Seattle all the way back to being the favorite to come out of the NFC, or do the Eagles continue the surprisingly strong season by the NFC East?

Is Green Bay toast, and if so do the Redskins get far enough ahead to rest players on a Sunday night before a Thanksgiving day game?

How do Oakland and Houston adapt to playing in the elevation at Mexico City? Is Oakland really taking that next step, or is Houston better than most are giving them credit for?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Lions vs. Jaguars!!!!

Game of the week!

I am pretty stunned it wasn't flexed to Sunday night.

[CrescentMoonie]

Really hope Kuechly's injury isn't as bad as it appeared.

[bhlloy]

Payton's play calling and clock management has been horrendous

[nilodor]

Originally Posted by CrescentMoonie

Really hope Kuechly's injury isn't as bad as it appeared.

FWIW I've given up on the NFL because of their stance on head injuries. I saw a clip of him being carted off the field and it's exactly what happened to me when I had a massively bad concussion. I hope he recovers much quicker than I am.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Someone poked the bear......

“At the end of the day, we’re not playing against the noise. We’re playing against the Kansas City Chiefs.” ~ Jameis Winston on Arrowhead.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Had to laugh at the jinx action by the announcers in the first half of the KC/TB game.

-Announcer: "Winston seems to be handling the KC crowd and defense well." Next snap: Winston fumble.

-Announcer: "This patchwork O-line of TB is doing well with this noisy crowd." Next two snaps: two false start penalties by the offensive line.

[EagleFan]

Guess that bear was dead?

[General Mike]

Only 8 posts this week?

Anyway, Giants about to choke away another one.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Guess that bear was dead?

Should make for a great game ball trophy in the first week of the playoffs when Winston is sitting on his couch watching the Chiefs bragging about how he beat that team.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Guess that bear was dead?

eagle, I'll bet you a coke over the outcome of the hawks/eagles game

[Julio Riddols]

I think the torn hammy for AJ Green all but ensures the Bengals finish something like 4-11-1 this year. They might beat the Browns one more time, but that's all I would expect. I guess that's what happens when you lose like 6 coaches in one offseason.

[SteveMax58]

Originally Posted by General Mike

Anyway, Giants about to choke away another one.

Landon Collins!!!!!!

Yeah the offense tried to give it away. Did their best anyway.

Not really sure what to think of this Giants team. I mean, I guess you have to say they are better than the previous 2-4 seasons but.....dam they just don't beat down teams no matter how good/bad they are.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

eagle, I'll bet you a coke over the outcome of the hawks/eagles game

This game is tough for me; the Seahawks are my other team.

[larrymcg421]

Rams-Fins is one of the worst NFL games I've seen in a while.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Should make for a great game ball trophy in the first week of the playoffs when Winston is sitting on his couch watching the Chiefs bragging about how he beat that team.

Which would be no fault of the Chiefs.

http://www.buccaneers.com/videos/vid...4-746241cba207

57 second mark...Winston compliments the Chiefs crowd noise.

[larrymcg421]

Wow. Dolphins do nothing on offense for the whole game until scoring twice in the final 4 minutes to win 14-10.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Wow. Dolphins do nothing on offense for the whole game until scoring twice in the final 4 minutes to win 14-10.

Back when QS did the who makes the playoffs/who misses with their records, I predicted the Dolphins to make the playoffs. They are still a game out, but they should win next week and that will equal them in record with the loser of the Denver/KC game next week. The loser of that game has a rough, rough schedule the rest of the year.

They could still find a way in.,

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

This game is tough for me; the Seahawks are my other team.

oooooo neat! a handoff to WR Doug Baldwin who throws it to QB Russell Wilson in the endzone!

There must be a name for such a cool play!

[Jas_lov]

This should be the end of the Fat Mike McCarthy era in Green Bay. And Capers and Thompson, too. Clean house and actually build a defense that doesn't give up 40 points a game.

[Arles]

I appreciate that Chris is circling the wagons for the Green Bay coaches, but many team lose a couple corners and inside LBs and don't become the worst defense in the NFL. Capers knew we had marginal CBs, LBs and safeties in there and he still left them repeatedly on an island. This is a failure for the coaching staff as well.

[Marmel]

I know he has that 1 title and 2 other NFC championship games, but I feel like McCarthy has wasted most of Aaron Rodger's career. This team should have had at least another SB appearance, right? This season should give this team a sense of urgency to make a move. I've always liked the Packers well enough so this is sad to see.

[CrimsonFox]

Seahawks don't seem to have that superstar RB like Lynch but they seem to have an endless supply of utility backs. I love watching Michael do his spin moves...now this precise guy can jet. And the fullback is breaking out too.
Not to mention superstud tight end Graham.

[CrescentMoonie]

Give a little credit to the very underrated OL in Washington and the QB who needs to be paid there. Fat Rob is looking like a steal at RB.

[stevew]

"He did a really good job," Fisher said. "No delay of games. He was in complete control in the huddle. He did a nice job on the line of scrimmage. I was disappointed in the outcome of the game, but you could see the light -- there's light there for him.


-low expectations here for Fisher. Surprised he didn't praise Goff for pooping in the potty

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Marmel

I know he has that 1 title and 2 other NFC championship games, but I feel like McCarthy has wasted most of Aaron Rodger's career. This team should have had at least another SB appearance, right? This season should give this team a sense of urgency to make a move. I've always liked the Packers well enough so this is sad to see.

I'd throw Ted in as well. This team has signed one free agent since 2014 (Cook) and haven't signed one that needed draft pick compensation (ie, a guy that wasn't cut by another team) since Jeff Saturday in 2012. Overall, they've added four players who've started on other teams since 2009 in FA (Cook, Peppers, Guion and Saturday). On the flipside, they've lost BJ Raji, Josh Sitton, Casey Heyward, Devon House, Tramon Williams, Mike Neal, James Jones, AJ Hawk, Brad Jones, Jermichael Finley, Sam Barrington and John Kuhn in just the past 3 seasons. This team has been losing 3-4 productive players each of the past 4 seasons and replacing them with late 20s draft picks and undrafted FAs. At some point, the talent loss becomes too deep and they have no depth right now. Look at the two positions everyone is talking about (CB and ILB). At CB, 2-3 years ago, we had Sam Shields, Tramon Williams, Casey Heyward and Devon House (all quality veterans). Going into this season, we had Shields, Randall (2015 pick), Rollins (2015 pick), Gunter (undrafted) and Goodsen (6th round pick). We had one guy with 2+ years XP in Shields and a bunch of young guys. So, when Shields got hurt, we were in trouble. At ILB, we used to have Barrington, Hawk, Jones and Desmond Bishop (all productive vets). Now, we have a rookie 4th rounder (Martinez), 4th rounder from last year (Ryan), undrafted guy (Thomas) and converted OLB 6th round pick (Bradford). Again, not surprising this unit would suck if one of the top two got hurt. GB has no depth at OL, DL, LB, CB, RB, TE or WR because they haven't replaced the talent they lost. They don't even make trades for veterans (last trade that stayed on the roster was in 2010 - for a safety named Anthony Smith who last half a season).

So, when you don't sign FAs, don't trade for players and only draft in the late 20s for 4-5 years - the talent pool thins out unless you hit HR after HR in the draft (which Thompson has not done).

[thesloppy]

Originally Posted by Arles

I'd throw Ted in as well.

I'd agree with that. Even as a Lions fan who just casually follows Green Bay I've had to scratch my head for the last 3-4 years as the free agency period passes and the Packers have signed literally nobody. You have to draft perfectly if you're going to try that approach, and they haven't.

[EagleFan]

Texans got screwed; they should be up 7-0 (or 6-0 if the missed XP epidemic continues).

[digamma]

Houston is getting jobbed here.

[EagleFan]

What are these refs smoking?

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Texans got screwed; they should be up 7-0 (or 6-0 if the missed XP epidemic continues).

This entire game has been a travesty. Texans just got screwed on a clear first down inside the 15. Then Cooper catches a ball that looks out of bounds. Refs call it in bounds. ESPN doesn't even want to show the replay because it is such a joke.

They are doing everything they can to give this game to Oakland. The refs may as well be wearing Oakland jersies.

[Abe Sargent]

These Mexican designed helmets are awesome

New designs for every NFL helmet via Mexican artists - 2016 NFL

[thesloppy]

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

These Mexican designed helmets are awesome

New designs for every NFL helmet via Mexican artists - 2016 NFL

Some of those are quite odd (the Bears are represented by a robot whale?), but I like the Lions one a lot.

[jbergey22]

Such a non-aggressive call by Houston in not going for it with 1 timeout left on 4th and 5. That decision got them the result they deserved.

A lot about that game seemed off. Almost as if the Mexican Mafia had rather substantial sized bets on Oakland -6.

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Such a non-aggressive call by Houston in not going for it with 1 timeout left on 4th and 5. That decision got them the result they deserved.

A lot about that game seemed off. Almost as if the Mexican Mafia had rather substantial sized bets on Oakland -6.

Yeah, refereeing was awfully shady but that was a gutless call by O'Brien against a damn good offense that was just starting to get in the groove on the previous drives. Don't know what the odds would say but it felt like the game was over at that point.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Yeah, refereeing was awfully shady but that was a gutless call by O'Brien against a damn good offense that was just starting to get in the groove on the previous drives. Don't know what the odds would say but it felt like the game was over at that point.

Combined with the decision to go for it 4th and 1 midway through the 4th when a FG gives them the lead. Kicking both times or going both times I could live with because at least you are being consistent. If you were so confident in your defense like apparently you were punting with 1 timeout left let the damn defense try to hang on to the 3 point lead as well.

[Bobble]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

Some of those are quite odd (the Bears are represented by a robot whale?), but I like the Lions one a lot.

Agreed. Lions, Buccs, Giants, Jags, Ravens are cool. Bengals and Browns are interesting takes.

[Kodos]

I liked the Giants helmet.

[cuervo72]

Buffalo looks like a cross between a fish and the chompy thing on a chain in the Super Mario games.

(Whose name is, apparently, Chompy.)

[cuervo72]

Chiefs look like sperm.

[stevew]

Worst anthem ever? My brother started timing roughly halfway thru and got 3m20s

[NobodyHere]

Probably one of the more stranger anthems

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

"Performing at half time, international performing artist Andy Grammer"

Detroit crowd: "Who?'

[Super Ugly]

This halftime show is painful.

[Honolulu_Blue]

First place Detroit Lions!

[MrBug708]

I wonder if they Vikings will somehow get two first for Bradford? That's the way it's going it seems

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

First place Detroit Lions!

Fantastic ending for any Lion's fan

[thesloppy]

Woooo! This season has been fantastic fun for Lions fans.

[stevew]

bradford had this look of "I'm going to throw a pick six" when he walked onto the field for the final drive. And he basically did. In fact, a pick 6 may have been a better result, since they would have at least gotten another chance to score.