NFL 2018 Season Thread

[sabotai]

Players also don't like to lose their starting jobs, even if it is just for a meaningless game.

[Butter]

Contract incentives

[bob]

Those reasons all make sense, thanks. I guess its tough to align everyone's incentives in a situation like this.

[Lathum]

I am going to the Jets game Sunday, my wife was given a luxury suite through a vendor. I for one am glad Rodgers is playing.

[bhlloy]

Chargers gon’ Charger

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Chargers gon’ Charger

Hopefully the Saints will take care of the Steelers tomorrow.

[NobodyHere]

Well with a little Luck and some dumb penalties committed by the Giants D, the Colts are still in the playoff hunt.

[SirFozzie]

Holy shit that texans catch.

[Thomkal]

Record 470 yards passing for Foles today-not bad for a backup.

[Thomkal]

Larry Fitzgerald adds his first ever passing TD, a 32 yarder to David Johnson to his Hall of Fame Resume

[QuikSand]

Genious here decided to bench Aaron Rodgers in a fantasy title game, for a 2 QB league. Yeah...



Honestly seemed like him sitting down in the second half was in play, right?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Boy, the rest of the AFC teams REALLY want the Chiefs to have the #1 seed. Hopefully they can seal that up tonight.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Genious here decided to bench Aaron Rodgers in a fantasy title game, for a 2 QB league. Yeah...



Honestly seemed like him sitting down in the second half was in play, right?

My opponent had been starting Prescott all week (1 QB League), and this morning he swapped Rodgers in. My solace is that I was probably losing anyway, but still...

Hard to blame you for benching him, they'd been steaming garbage for weeks.

[stevew]

Browns would be foolish not to just make the Gregg Williams thing permanent. He’s been coaching his ass off.

[JonInMiddleGA]

My kid controls his fantasy league destiny in part due to ... C.J. Anderson.

It's a crazy world.

[stevew]

Awesome catch by saints #13. Thomas I think?

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

My opponent had been starting Prescott all week (1 QB League), and this morning he swapped Rodgers in. My solace is that I was probably losing anyway, but still...

Hard to blame you for benching him, they'd been steaming garbage for weeks.

I was there. Wife got a luxury suite through work. Hell of a game.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by stevew

Browns would be foolish not to just make the Gregg Williams thing permanent. He’s been coaching his ass off.

it feels like a trap

[stevew]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

it feels like a trap

I dunno. He's enough of an also ran that of you keep him on a 3-5 year deal and just whack him after next year of you miss the playoffs. Maybe you can't get Harbaugh or a similar level guy this year anyways. Guys are performing and the team is probably at where they should be. I guess maybe if you just think Williams is replacement level, which may be accurate, it's not like he's Hue Jackson. That's a giant upgrade.

[stevew]

Dola- if Kitchens has the offense as good next year and is getting sniffs at HC jobs then you whack Williams absent a conference championship

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Boy, the rest of the AFC teams REALLY want the Chiefs to have the #1 seed. Hopefully they can seal that up tonight.

Nobody wants it apparently.

The AFC race has gone crazy. New England and Houston are still alive for the #1 seed, even Baltimore and Tennessee are still alive for the #2 seed. I'm digging through all the possible scenarios and it's both fun to do and giving me a bit of a headache.

[MIJB#19]

AFC picture
Kansas City
KC win -> KC #1
KC tie + LAC loss/tie -> KC #1
KC tie + LAC win -> KC #5
KC loss + LAC loss + NE loss/tie + HOU loss/tie -> KC #1
KC loss + LAC loss + NE loss/tie + HOU win -> KC #2
KC loss + LAC loss + NE win + HOU loss/tie -> KC #2
KC loss + LAC loss + NE win + HOU win -> KC #3
KC loss + LAC win/tie -> KC #5
* KC has common games tie-breaker over LAC
* NE has head-to-head tie-breaker over HOU+KC
* NE has head-to-head tie-breaker over KC
* HOU has strength of victory tie-breaker over KC

New England
NE win + KC loss + LAC loss -> NE #1
NE win + LAC win/tie -> NE #2
NE win + KC win/tie -> NE #2
NE tie + HOU loss/tie -> NE #2
NE tie + HOU win -> NE #3
NE loss + HOU loss + TEN loss/tie + BAL loss/tie -> NE #2
NE loss + HOU loss + TEN win + BAL loss/tie -> NE #3
NE loss + HOU loss + TEN loss + BAL win -> NE #3
NE loss + HOU loss + TEN tie + BAL win -> NE #3/4 (depends on HOU-BAL sov/sos)
NE loss + HOU loss + TEN win + BAL win -> NE #4
NE loss + HOU win/tie + BAL loss/tie -> NE #3
NE loss + HOU win/tie + BAL win -> NE #4
* NE has head-to-head tie-breaker over HOU+KC
* NE has head-to-head tie-breaker over HOU
* NE has head-to-head tie-breaker over KC
* BAL has conference record tie-breaker over NE+IND
* BAL has conference record tie-breaker over NE+TEN
* BAL has conference record tie-breaker over NE
* NE has head-to-head tie-breaker over IND
* TEN has head-to-head tie-breaker over NE
* BAL+HOU have conference record tie-breaker over NE (BAL-HOU undecided)
HOU leads strength of victory tie-breaker vs BAL:
HOU:71.5+DEN+DAL+WAS (wk17 results)
BAL:71+BUF+OAK (wk17 results)
if tied, BAL has strength of schedule tie-breaker over HOU

Houston
HOU win + NE loss/tie + KC loss + LAC loss -> HOU #1
HOU win + NE loss/tie + KC win/tie -> HOU #2
HOU win + NE loss/tie + LAC win/tie -> HOU #2
HOU win + NE win + KC loss + LAC loss -> HOU #2
HOU win + NE win + KC win/tie -> HOU #3
HOU win + NE win + LAC win/tie -> HOU #3
HOU tie + NE loss -> HOU #2
HOU tie + NE win/tie -> HOU #2
HOU loss + IND-TEN tie + NE loss + BAL loss/tie -> HOU #2
HOU loss + IND-TEN tie + NE loss + BAL win -> HOU #2/4 (BAL-HOU sov/sos)
HOU loss + IND-TEN tie + NE win/tie + BAL loss/tie -> HOU #3
HOU loss + IND-TEN tie + NE win/tie + BAL win -> HOU #3/4 (BAL-HOU sov/sos)
HOU loss + IND/TEN win -> HOU #6
* IND has division record tie-breaker over HOU
* TEN has division record tie-breaker over HOU
* NE has head-to-head tie-breaker over HOU+KC
* NE has head-to-head tie-breaker over HOU
* HOU has strength of victory tie-breaker over KC
* BAL+HOU have conference record tie-breaker over NE
* BAL-HOU undecided
HOU leads strength of victory tie-breaker vs BAL:
BAL:71+BUF+OAK (wk17 results)
HOU:70.5+NYJ+DEN+DAL+WAS (wk17 results)
if tied, BAL has strength of schedule tie-breaker over HOU

Baltimore
BAL win + HOU loss + IND/TEN win + NE loss -> BAL #2
BAL win + HOU loss + IND-TEN tie + NE loss -> BAL #2/3 (BAL-HOU sov/sos)
BAL win + HOU loss + IND/TEN win + NE win/tie -> BAL #3
BAL win + HOU loss + IND-TEN tie + NE win/tie -> BAL #3/4 (BAL-HOU sov/sos)
BAL win + HOU win/tie + NE loss -> BAL #3
BAL win + HOU win/tie + NE win/tie -> BAL #4
BAL tie + PIT loss/tie -> BAL #4
BAL tie + PIT win + IND-TEN tie -> BAL #6
BAL tie + PIT win + IND/TEN win -> BAL no playoffs
BAL loss + PIT loss -> BAL #4
BAL loss + PIT win/tie -> BAL no playoffs
* PIT has division record tie-breaker over BAL
* BAL has conference record tie-breaker over NE
* BAL has conference record tie-breaker over NE+IND
* BAL has conference record tie-breaker over NE+TEN
* BAL has conference record tie-breaker over IND
* BAL has head-to-head tie-breaker over TEN
* BAL+HOU have conference record tie-breaker over NE
* BAL-HOU undecided
BAL leads strength of victory tie-breaker vs HOU:
BAL:71+BUF+OAK (wk17 results)
HOU:70.5+NYJ+DEN+DAL+WAS (wk17 results)
if tied, BAL has strength of schedule tie-breaker over HOU

LA Chargers
LAC win + KC loss/tie -> LAC #1
LAC win + KC win -> LAC #5
LAC tie + KC loss -> LAC #1
LAC tie + KC win/tie -> LAC #5
LAC loss -> LAC #5
* KC has common games tie-breaker over LAC

Indianapolis
IND win + HOU loss + BAL loss/tie -> IND #3
IND win + HOU loss + BAL win -> IND #4
IND win + HOU win/tie -> IND #6
IND tie + PIT loss/tie -> IND #6
IND tie + PIT win + BAL loss -> IND #6
IND tie + PIT win + BAL win/tie -> IND no playoffs
IND loss -> IND no playoffs
* IND has division record tie-breaker over HOU
* IND has head-to-head tie-breaker over TEN
* BAL has conference record tie-breaker over NE+IND
* NE has head-to-head tie-breaker over IND
* BAL has conference record tie-breaker over IND
* PIT has common games tie-breaker over IND

Tennessee
TEN win + HOU loss + BAL loss/tie + NE loss -> TEN #2
TEN win + HOU loss + BAL loss/tie + NE win/tie -> TEN #3
TEN win + HOU loss + BAL win + NE loss -> TEN #3
TEN win + HOU loss + BAL win + NE win/tie -> TE #4
TEN win + HOU win/tie -> TEN #6
TEN loss/tie -> TEN no playoffs
* TEN has division record tie-breaker over HOU
* IND has head-to-head tie-breaker over TEN
* BAL has conference record tie-breaker over NE+TEN
* TEN has head-to-head tie-breaker over NE
* BAL has head-to-head tie-breaker over TEN

Pittsburgh
PIT win + BAL loss/tie -> PIT #4
PIT win + BAL win + IND-TEN tie -> PIT #6
PIT win + BAL win + IND/TEN win -> PIT no playoffs
PIT tie + BAL loss -> PIT #4
PIT tie + BAL win/tie -> PIT no playoffs
PIT loss -> PIT no playoffs
* PIT has division record tie-breaker over BAL
* PIT has common games tie-breaker over IND



NFC picture
New Orleans
#1 seed
* NO has head-to-head tie-breaker over LAR

LA Rams
LAR win/tie -> LAR #2
LAR loss + CHI loss/tie -> LAR #2
LAR loss + CHI win -> LAR #3
* NO has head-to-head tie-breaker over LAR
* CHI has head-to-head tie-breaker over LAR

Chicago
CHI win + LAR loss -> CHI #2
CHI win + LAR win/tie -> CHI #3
CHI loss/tie -> CHI #3
* CHI has head-to-head tie-breaker over LAR

Dallas
#4 seed
* DAL has head-to-head tie-breaker over PHI

Seattle
wild card
SEA win/tie -> SEA #5
SEA loss + MIN loss/tie -> SEA #5
SEA loss + MIN win -> SEA #6
* SEA has conference record tie-breaker over MIN+PHI
* SEA has head-to-head tie-breaker over MIN
* SEA has conference record tie-breaker over PHI

Minnesota
MIN win + SEA loss -> MIN #5
MIN win + SEA win/tie -> MIN #6
MIN tie -> MIN #6
MIN loss + PHI loss/tie -> MIN #6
MIN loss + PHI win -> MIN no playoffs
* SEA has conference record tie-breaker over MIN+PHI
* SEA has head-to-head tie-breaker over MIN
* MIN has head-to-head tie-breaker over PHI

Philadelphia
PHI win + MIN loss -> PHI #6
PHI win + MIN win/tie -> PHI no playoffs
PHI loss/tie -> PHI no playoffs
* DAL has head-to-head tie-breaker over PHI
* SEA has conference record tie-breaker over MIN+PHI
* SEA has conference record tie-breaker over PHI
* MIN has head-to-head tie-breaker over PHI

[stevew]

Matt Millen got a heart transplant this morning. He’s only 60. Which means he was my age when he was ruining the Lions

[NobodyHere]

I still think it's pretty incredible that the Colts started the season 1-5 and can still possibly get a home playoff game. If this team was healthy they could make a good Superbowl run.

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by stevew

I dunno. He's enough of an also ran that of you keep him on a 3-5 year deal and just whack him after next year of you miss the playoffs. Maybe you can't get Harbaugh or a similar level guy this year anyways. Guys are performing and the team is probably at where they should be. I guess maybe if you just think Williams is replacement level, which may be accurate, it's not like he's Hue Jackson. That's a giant upgrade.

Hiring the interim is always a risky proposition - you have to figure out how much of the success is just the new coach (or getting rid of the terrible old coach) bounce, whether he'll take the team forward with a whole offseason to mould things his way, etc....

With that being said, I think where this Browns team is right now and the fact that Williams almost certainly would have been a HC candidate again a few years ago if not for Bountygate, I can't see the Browns doing any better this offseason.

Assuming you can keep the rest of the staff together including Kitchens, I think it's probably the right move. Continuity for a young QB is pretty important, especially one that has responded once the coaching change was made. Assuming that Cleveland isn't too cheap to make a change if it doesn't work out after a season or two. The other alternative would presumably be take a chance on a young assistant from another team, which feels like it's even more of a trap.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Hiring the interim is always a risky proposition - you have to figure out how much of the success is just the new coach (or getting rid of the terrible old coach) bounce, whether he'll take the team forward with a whole offseason to mould things his way, etc....

With that being said, I think where this Browns team is right now and the fact that Williams almost certainly would have been a HC candidate again a few years ago if not for Bountygate, I can't see the Browns doing any better this offseason.

Assuming you can keep the rest of the staff together including Kitchens, I think it's probably the right move. Continuity for a young QB is pretty important, especially one that has responded once the coaching change was made. Assuming that Cleveland isn't too cheap to make a change if it doesn't work out after a season or two. The other alternative would presumably be take a chance on a young assistant from another team, which feels like it's even more of a trap.

Isn’t Williams maybe the most successful interim head coach in recent history? Normally mid season promotions do REALLY bad. I mean Arians was kind of a different situation, since that team was stacked and the HC was just sick. I don’t see how you could promote Kitchens this rapidly. I think maybe John Harbaugh would be the only hire ever with any less coordinator experience.

[BishopMVP]

DJ Swearinger's release comes at an interesting time. I'd take him on the Patriots over *checks depth chart* Keoin Crossen & Obi Melifonwu.

[molson]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

DJ Swearinger's release comes at an interesting time. I'd take him on the Patriots over *checks depth chart* Keoin Crossen & Obi Melifonwu.

I think he has to go through waivers and is under contract for next year, so I think it's probably unlikely that a playoff team gets him.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Genious here decided to bench Aaron Rodgers in a fantasy title game, for a 2 QB league. Yeah...

So, at the tail end of the MNF game, the Raiders kicked a pointless long FG, which served to put our league title game as a TIE. ESPN doesn't seem to have any field to enter in the means to break a playoff tie (?) so we... hmmm.. split the 1st and 2nd pace prizes and declare co-champions? Seems un-American.

[molson]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

So, at the tail end of the MNF game, the Raiders kicked a pointless long FG, which served to put our league title game as a TIE. ESPN doesn't seem to have any field to enter in the means to break a playoff tie (?) so we... hmmm.. split the 1st and 2nd pace prizes and declare co-champions? Seems un-American.

The default on ESPN is that the higher seeded team wins/advances.

How do playoff tie breakers work? - ESPN

[lungs]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

So, at the tail end of the MNF game, the Raiders kicked a pointless long FG, which served to put our league title game as a TIE. ESPN doesn't seem to have any field to enter in the means to break a playoff tie (?) so we... hmmm.. split the 1st and 2nd pace prizes and declare co-champions? Seems un-American.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by molson

I think he has to go through waivers and is under contract for next year, so I think it's probably unlikely that a playoff team gets him.

Cardinals picked him back up off waivers.

[NobodyHere]

It's weird to see the Packers get booed off the field at halftime.

[EagleFan]

Kiko Alonzo needs to be suspended at some point for his cheap shots.

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Kiko Alonzo needs to be suspended at some point for his cheap shots.

Preferably for at least 3 games. Not helped by the fact he was apparently joking around with the announcers about taking cheap shots at QBs before the game.

In more bizarre news, the brain trust that brought you the Blake Bortles extension is back in Jacksonville. WTF.

[MIJB#19]

AFC picture
Kansas City
KC win -> KC #1
KC tie + LAC loss/tie -> KC #1
KC tie + LAC win -> KC #5
KC loss + LAC loss -> KC #3
KC loss + LAC win/tie -> KC #5
* KC has common games tie-breaker over LAC
* NE has head-to-head tie-breaker over HOU+KC
* NE has head-to-head tie-breaker over KC
* HOU has strength of victory tie-breaker over KC

New England
KC loss + LAC loss -> NE #1
LAC win/tie -> NE #2
KC win/tie -> NE #2
* NE has head-to-head tie-breaker over HOU+KC
* NE has head-to-head tie-breaker over KC

Houston
KC loss + LAC loss -> HOU #2
KC win/tie -> HOU #3
LAC win/tie -> HOU #3
* NE has head-to-head tie-breaker over HOU+KC
* NE has head-to-head tie-breaker over HOU
* HOU has strength of victory tie-breaker over KC

Baltimore
BAL win -> BAL #4
BAL tie + PIT loss/tie -> BAL #4
BAL tie + PIT win + IND-TEN tie -> BAL #6
BAL tie + PIT win + IND/TEN win -> BAL no playoffs
BAL loss + PIT loss -> BAL #4
BAL loss + PIT win/tie -> BAL no playoffs
* PIT has division record tie-breaker over BAL
* BAL has conference record tie-breaker over IND

LA Chargers
LAC win + KC loss/tie -> LAC #1
LAC win + KC win -> LAC #5
LAC tie + KC loss -> LAC #1
LAC tie + KC win/tie -> LAC #5
LAC loss -> LAC #5
* KC has common games tie-breaker over LAC

Indianapolis
IND win -> IND #6
IND tie + PIT loss/tie -> IND #6
IND tie + PIT win + BAL loss -> IND #6
IND tie + PIT win + BAL win/tie -> IND no playoffs
IND loss -> IND no playoffs
* IND has division record tie-breaker over HOU
* IND has head-to-head tie-breaker over TEN
* BAL has conference record tie-breaker over IND
* PIT has common games tie-breaker over IND

Tennessee
TEN win -> TEN #6
TEN loss/tie -> TEN no playoffs
* IND has head-to-head tie-breaker over TEN

Pittsburgh
PIT win + BAL loss/tie -> PIT #4
PIT win + BAL win + IND-TEN tie -> PIT #6
PIT win + BAL win + IND/TEN win -> PIT no playoffs
PIT tie + BAL loss -> PIT #4
PIT tie + BAL win/tie -> PIT no playoffs
PIT loss -> PIT no playoffs
* PIT has division record tie-breaker over BAL
* PIT has common games tie-breaker over IND



NFC picture
New Orleans
#1 seed
* NO has head-to-head tie-breaker over LAR

LA Rams
LAR win/tie -> LAR #2
LAR loss + CHI loss/tie -> LAR #2
LAR loss + CHI win -> LAR #3
* NO has head-to-head tie-breaker over LAR
* CHI has head-to-head tie-breaker over LAR

Chicago
CHI win + LAR loss -> CHI #2
CHI win + LAR win/tie -> CHI #3
CHI loss/tie -> CHI #3
* CHI has head-to-head tie-breaker over LAR

Dallas
#4 seed
* DAL has head-to-head tie-breaker over PHI

Seattle
wild card
SEA win/tie -> SEA #5
SEA loss + MIN loss/tie -> SEA #5
SEA loss + MIN win -> SEA #6
* SEA has conference record tie-breaker over MIN+PHI
* SEA has head-to-head tie-breaker over MIN
* SEA has conference record tie-breaker over PHI

Minnesota
MIN win + SEA loss -> MIN #5
MIN win + SEA win/tie -> MIN #6
MIN tie -> MIN #6
MIN loss + PHI loss/tie -> MIN #6
MIN loss + PHI win -> MIN no playoffs
* SEA has conference record tie-breaker over MIN+PHI
* SEA has head-to-head tie-breaker over MIN
* MIN has head-to-head tie-breaker over PHI

Philadelphia
PHI win + MIN loss -> PHI #6
PHI win + MIN win/tie -> PHI no playoffs
PHI loss/tie -> PHI no playoffs
* DAL has head-to-head tie-breaker over PHI
* SEA has conference record tie-breaker over MIN+PHI
* SEA has conference record tie-breaker over PHI
* MIN has head-to-head tie-breaker over PHI

Updated after early games

[EagleFan]

Poor play call on 4th down, regardless of what the play was. On 4th and a foot why did he have Foles in the shotgun?

This scoreboard watching is nerve wrecking.

[bhlloy]

I don’t really understand the risks teams are taking leaving their starting QBs in the game today. Dak played the entire meaningless game vs the Giants, and Goff and Mahomes are both still in with huge leads against terrible teams that have almost zero chance of coming back.

Continuity is nice, but one unlucky play and kiss goodbye to any chance of playoff success. Doesn’t make much sense to me.

[Carman Bulldog]

So the Bears, playing on the road, hold the Vikings offence to 49 yards in the first half. Now, if the Bears happen to lose this game, that means they get to play the Vikings again next week at home. I'm wondering if this is factoring into their play in the second half so far.

[bob]

Cousins stat line is impressive: 15 of 20 for 80 yards

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by bob

Cousins stat line is impressive: 15 of 20 for 80 yards

He’ll be cashing some nice paychecks though.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Carman Bulldog

So the Bears, playing on the road, hold the Vikings offence to 49 yards in the first half. Now, if the Bears happen to lose this game, that means they get to play the Vikings again next week at home. I'm wondering if this is factoring into their play in the second half so far.

Interesting...
Bears win/tie -> Bears vs Eagles
Bears lose + Seahawks win/tie -> Bears vs Vikings
Bears lose + Seahawks lose -> Bears vs Seahawks

[EagleFan]

A month or so ago I wasn't expecting playoffs.

[bhlloy]

Wow. Baker flat out missed a couple of easy throws there that would have had them in FG range.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Man, I was really pulling for the Browns there.

[MIJB#19]

Last game of the regular season:
Indianapolis wins -> Indianapolis #6
Tennessee wins -> Tennessee #6
IND-TEN tie -> Pittsburgh #6

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

Last game of the regular season:
Indianapolis wins -> Indianapolis #6
Tennessee wins -> Tennessee #6
IND-TEN tie -> Pittsburgh #6

Worth noting that Mariota is out for the Titans. Have to figure that gives the Colts a huge advantage.

[MIJB#19]

AFC
1. Chiefs 12-4
2. Patriots 11-5
3. Texans 11-5
4. Ravens 10-6
5. Chargers 12-4
6. Colts 10-6 or Titans 10-6 or Steelers 9-5-1

NFC
1. Saints 13-3
2. Rams 13-3
3. Bears 12-4
4. Cowboys 10-6
5. Seahawks 10-6
6. Eagles 9-7

[Thomkal]

Coaches have started to get the ax-Koettler out in TB, expected Bowles out soon for Jets

[Thomkal]

My beloved Cards had one job today-play like they had all season and the #1 pick was theirs-and they almost blew it. They have so many holes, not sure there will be a player good enough to keep them at that spot. Need to trade down and get more picks I think.