NFL 2015

[Paelos]

Nope, nothing was good. This was one of the worst NFL weekends in a long time. I feel like we're saying that weekly now, but nothing except the Denver game was interesting (and that was for the wrong reason).

[Shannow]

Thank you Broncos and Bengals.

We only lost 3 players to injury this game, things are looking up!

[HaemishM]

Jesus, AFC, you really really really want New England back in the goddamn Super Bowl, don't you?

Cheery up, Cincinnati - at least you won't have Andy Dalton to blame when you get knocked out of the playoffs first round. Anybody in the AFC that's going to the playoffs better hope like hell the Steelers either don't make the playoffs or if they do, the Rapistberger gets hurt before then, because their offense is fucking money. They have 3 legit wideout threats, a good running game and a QB that can deliver and already has 2 rings. Now, if their defense wasn't total shit, they'd already have booked their playoff place but seriously, they are contenders. I'm not sure they can beat New England in Foxboro, but they are probably the only team that can give them a game in the AFC. Denver's defense will not hold up in Foxboro unless Peyton is back to his normal self. And he won't be.

The NFC is just a joke. Atlanta looks like they have totally closed up the shop and went home for the winter. Carolina is undefeated thanks partly to the benefits of a soft schedule from last year's 7-9-1 record, and partly because the NFC South is utter shit, on par with the NFC East and AFC South. I think Arizona can beat them, even if they play in Carolina. I don't think Green Bay can beat either of those teams though, based on what I've seen from them the last 5-6 weeks. Neither can Minnesota or whoever makes it out of the NFC East. The way they are playing lately, Seattle might be able to do it.

And Chicago - Jesus. Just... wow. Two straight weeks with a chance to win/tie it on a field goal and you shank them both and I don't think either were from that crazy a distance.

[01101010]

Jesus, AFC, you really really really want New England back in the goddamn Super Bowl, don't you?

Cheery up, Cincinnati - at least you won't have Andy Dalton to blame when you get knocked out of the playoffs first round. Anybody in the AFC that's going to the playoffs better hope like hell the Steelers either don't make the playoffs or if they do, the Rapistberger gets hurt before then, because their offense is fucking money. They have 3 legit wideout threats, a good running game and a QB that can deliver and already has 2 rings. Now, if their defense wasn't total shit, they'd already have booked their playoff place but seriously, they are contenders. I'm not sure they can beat New England in Foxboro, but they are probably the only team that can give them a game in the AFC. Denver's defense will not hold up in Foxboro unless Peyton is back to his normal self. And he won't be.

The NFC is just a joke. Atlanta looks like they have totally closed up the shop and went home for the winter. Carolina is undefeated thanks partly to the benefits of a soft schedule from last year's 7-9-1 record, and partly because the NFC South is utter shit, on par with the NFC East and AFC South. I think Arizona can beat them, even if they play in Carolina. I don't think Green Bay can beat either of those teams though, based on what I've seen from them the last 5-6 weeks. Neither can Minnesota or whoever makes it out of the NFC East. The way they are playing lately, Seattle might be able to do it.

And Chicago - Jesus. Just... wow. Two straight weeks with a chance to win/tie it on a field goal and you shank them both and I don't think either were from that crazy a distance.

More like cheer up Andy Dalton. When they get bounced in the first week of the playoffs he can just grin and wash his hands of it. My dream would be for the Jets, Chiefs, and Steelers to all win out and watch this city cry foul they didn't get into the playoffs, then watch Cincinnati get bounced in the first weekend so the AFC north is completely out of it. As a bottom feeder, it gets lonely down here and we need the company.

[Paelos]

Somebody find that post where I declared Seattle dead, because those fuckers are NFL cockroaches in the NFC. They might be this year's Giants that win it all at 10-6.

[HaemishM]

That's entirely possible. I think Seattle is beatable but they are also capable of beating anybody. The big mystery is going to be their running game. If it can't survive on a 3rd string back, they might go nowhere and I don't think they can rely purely on defense to win this year. I sure as shit wouldn't want Green Bay to have to play them again no matter if it's a home game. Thanks to the NFC East, you can bet Green Bay will be the #3 seed unless they lose the division, so they would probably get Minnesota instead.

[Mithas]

Green Bay looked shaky against Dallas for a good chunk of that game. I would not be surprised if they lost 2 out of their last 3. Meanwhile Minnesota has the Bears and the Giants at home.

[HaemishM]

You know, I forgot to mention Jacksonville. Normally, that'd be ok, because fuck, it's Jacksonville. But 51-16? ... THE FUCK? How have the Colts imploded so spectacularly that they allowed this to happen? And how have the Jags managed to draft a QB that can actually play the game and a wide receiver that can catch touchdowns and not get busted weekly with drugs?

[Shannow]

Irony would be AJ McCArron winning a playoff game for Cincy. Then Dalton coming back for the next round and them losing. That would be peak Bengals. :D

[Paelos]

Irony would be AJ McCArron winning a playoff game for Cincy. Then Dalton coming back for the next round and them losing. That would be peak Bengals. :D

I love where your head is at. That is ultimate bungles.

[01101010]

Irony would be AJ McCArron winning a playoff game for Cincy. Then Dalton coming back for the next round and them losing. That would be peak Bengals. :D

I like where this is going....

[Chimpy]

Irony would be AJ McCArron winning a playoff game for Cincy. Then Dalton coming back for the next round and them losing. That would be peak Bengals. :D

I like where this is going....

But it would only make most of the country really happy if it was the Patriots they beat, and then they lose the next week.

[Merusk]

That'd be delicious.

But no, the bungles will be out first round, the same as always.

I do notice the Steelers have a thing for destroying Cincys QB in the final weeks of the season. Heh

[Shannow]

Irony would be AJ McCArron winning a playoff game for Cincy. Then Dalton coming back for the next round and them losing. That would be peak Bengals. :D

I like where this is going....

But it would only make most of the country really happy if it was the Patriots they beat, and then they lose the next week.

I'm chuckling about this and I'm a Pats fan. So wrong but off the unintentional comedy scale.

[Mithas]

Who wins tonight in the epic matchup of Ketchup vs Mustard?

I don't think I've seen a "color rush" uniform I've liked.

[HaemishM]

That's because they are all solidified eye rape.

I just pulled up ESPN's page to see the score and not only was I face fucked by those piss yellow Rams unis, then I saw that Tampa has well and truly shit the bed against a team they probably should beat or at least not be down by 2 TD's.

But seriously, fuck those uniforms.

[WayAbvPar]

That's because they are all solidified eye rape.

This. I think it was a secret plot to make the fans in St. Louis glad the team is leaving.

[01101010]

Thursday night football is a waste. They needed something to jazz it up and what better way than costumes!

I am all for unique, new uniforms and helmet designs which puts me in the minority, but even this color overload thing is too much for me. When I realized I could catch the games online this year (basic cable so no frills channels), I watched the first two and gave up - mainly because the scheduling turned out to be shit, but those uniforms were a close second.

[HaemishM]

Thursday night scheduling has been shit for the entirety of the time they've been doing regular Thursday games. There are usually 4 good matchups all year.

[Malakili]

The problem is that there aren't that many good games on a given week.  Certainly not enough to fill up even one per major time slot (Thursday Night, Sunday Early, Sunday Late, Sunday Night, Monday Night).  Sunday night always gets priority for what I imagine are a combination of marketing and contract reasons with NBC.  Outside of that you hope you get one local game you care about and maybe one other game that is worth watching if you're lucky.

[Rasix]

I think Thursday and Monday are set at the beginning of the season.  Sunday night has a few set weeks and then can get the priority games.

You can go from playoff team to garbage in the span of an offseason.  Bengals, Cardinals and Panthers may be quality viewing this year, but give them a significant injuries or free agent losses and you're going to get stuck with a MNF game featuring two teams just trying to stay relevant.

[Velorath]

The only way I can be bothered to watch Football these days is Redzone. Maybe I'll end up watching the Sunday night game if there's a really good match-up. Pretty much never watch Thursday or Monday night.

[WayAbvPar]

If my team is playing I watch them (and switch to RZ during the innumerable TV timeouts). If my team is not playing, I will have RZ on in the background while I do other shit. Same with the national night games, unless it is a really good matchup and/or the game becomes interesting in the second half.

[Paelos]

There's 2 reasons Thursday night games suck.

1 - Just like Rasix said, they are scheduled at the beginning of the season. Did you have Carolina undefeated? Did you have the Cowboys sliding into the abyss after 12 wins with 2 QB injuries. Exactly, neither did the schedulers.
2 - The time frame to practice puts pressure on teams to make it work in a really short window. Well coached teams have little problem with this. Poorly coached teams almost always get their asses reamed, especially if they are the road team.

[Megrim]

lol, giants

[Rasix]

Why does every play have to be celebrated like you just accomplished a miracle?

[Malakili]

Because professional football is by and large played by a bunch of man children.

[Gimfain]

It about positive reinforcement, its to remind your brain of all positive things you did during the game. All sorts of athletes do those things, it can be anything from a stupid dance to a clenched fist.

[HaemishM]

Well that certainly cleared up the playoff picture a bit more.

Chip Kelly is either an insane idiot, or a guy who just wants the fuck out of Philly. 4th and less than 1 in the red zone, and you have DeMarco Murray who is 100% on those kinds of plays on the bench. Keep in mind you paid a shitton of free agent money to get this guy. Then you give the ball to Ryan Matthews who is at best 50% on those kinds of plays. And you fail. I mean, there really isn't any other explanation is there? He can't really have thought Matthews gave him a better chance to succeed there? As for Arizona, I'm going to go ahead and say if Carson Palmer survives to the Super Bowl, they can beat New England. It would likely be a good game too especially if New England's offensive injuries continue. Also, David Johnson is a motherfucking BEAST.

I watched the Broncos/Steelers game and Brock Lobster played half of a great game. Too bad it was the wrong half. This game is exactly why no one should want to play the Steelers in the playoffs. Their defense is trash-ish, but they have perhaps the 3 best wideouts in the league and a QB who can get them the ball.

Goddamnit, the Racial Slurs look relevant. Granted, they are in a trash heap division and are benefiting from a last-place schedule but teams keep making Kirk Cousins look capable.

Carolina continues to win and I continue to not trust them in the playoffs. Spotting the Giants 35 points after getting out to a 4 TD lead? That ain't good defense.

[Paelos]

Carolina took the foot off too early. Lesson learned for them, it won't happen again. If they get beat it will be toe to toe, not in some ridiculous comeback.

Skins will win the NFC East because it's fitting the worst franchise should win it. AND KIRK COUSINS LIKES THAT!

Pittsburgh is scary now. They looked awful for months, but they are a serious AFC contender with that offense humming. I think they could take out New England due to the injuries and mismatches.

Arizona will flame out. I'm sure of it now. After that bye they'll likely get GB and I'm sorry that's the worst of all draws for them in the 1st round as Aaron Rodgers just wins. Seattle is going to prove me wrong, beat Carolina and the Skins, and play in the damn NFC champ game against GB. I have no idea who wins that based on injuries.

[HaemishM]

Let me just say, you are HIGH if you think Green Bay can beat Arizona. The way the Packers offense is playing right now, a good defense actually CAN shut them down or at least shut them down enough that they have to rely on turnovers to win. Fuck, did you see their game against Dallas? The final score does not reflect how close that game was for most of the afternoon with Matt FUCKING Cassel at QB. Green Bay's defense is also really susceptible to the big play and that's what Arizona excels at - deep passes 10-15 yards downfield that will torch their secondary.

Right now, the only team in the playoffs that I think Green Bay can beat home or away is Minnesota and the Racial Slurs.

[Paelos]

We'll fine out soon. They play Arizona next in the regular season. I think it's a bad matchup for Arizona, but we'll see.

[Mithas]

The Packers had 97 yards of offense in the first half against Oakland. Granted, Oakland's defense isn't terrible, but still. Outside of a few weeks they haven't had a running game to speak of. They are winning, but not in a way you would expect. I think any team with a decent defense will give them fits in the post season.

[WayAbvPar]

The Packers offense seems to be based on drawing teams offside and chucking it deep, or chucking it deep and hoping for PI.

[HaemishM]

You forgot the plethora of bubble screens, screens to the running back and the occasional five-yard slant.