NFL 2019-2020 season

Why don't we use this thread for discussion of the upcoming season.

This sounds like a fine idea.

The Lions and Jags were winless this preseason. The Giants, Ravens, and Bills were all undefeated. I'm sure that there are Giants and Bills fans who believe that their teams will be competitive this season. It's nice for those fans that they get to feel that way at some point. Poor Lions fans don't have even that, although Detroit does get to visit the Cards in Week 1.

Saints, Cowboys, Pats, Seahawks... all teams who are likely to have their fans post in this thread, all teams who're playing home games in week 1, and all rightly favored to win.

We might hope to hear from a Redskins fan or two, too, but they're on the road week 1 and expected to lose. I know there's a Raiders fan among our fold, one could hardly blame her if she doesn't post here.

I wonder if any Falcons fan will post here this year. Supposedly the Falcons haven't improved over last year, but personally i'm not prepared to believe that they're deceased as a contender. They were a dangerous team last year who caught some tough breaks and finished the season with a 7-9 record having been outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 9 points over 16 games. The Panthers wen 7-9 and were similarly outscored by a combined total of 6 points. Once again i expect the NFC South to be a tough division. They play the AFC South this year: Jags, Titans, Colts, & Texans. Houston is probably the only team with a chance to go .500 or better in these contests. The Falcons are scarier than the Panthers now, imo. I feel more confident about the Saints than i have in a few years, so they might just fall off a cliff.

When I think of preseason greatness, I automatically think of the 2008 Lions, who of course went winless in the regular season. I also think of the current Ravens, who haven't lost a preseason game in years, and haven't been a regular-season factor in years. I was happy that the Pats lost their last preseason game; as Belichick has rather plainly expressed, he prefers one or two such losses for learning purposes (and probably to keep the team from becoming self-inflated). Preseason really means nothing; I'm glad it's over.

I'm predicting the Saints have a setback this year. It seems that when teams get a taste of the goal and fall short flukily, they overtry the next season and fall short, like the Falsons did after 28-3. The Raiders are on an uptick; I expect them to pass Denver in their division this year. The Panthers are done, and have been since losing the SB to Manning. Seattle is looking up significantly. Colts are obviously trending down, and the Texans are making so many odd roster moves, I think they are hurting themselves, leaving a Foles-led Jags team and a defensively-improved Titans team to change things up in that division. Other thoughts: KC will compete but not as strongly this year (their version of a sophomore slump), Jimmy G will keep the 49ers moving upward, the Dolphins are already in disarray and will flop, the Giants will sit Eli after a few fruitless weeks, the Jets will take second in the AFCE, the Chargers will start looking to the future, and the Cowboys, Bills, Vikings, Eagles and everyone in the NFCN will have a similar season to last year.

And of course, the Pats cruise to number 7.

Some sources are predicting the Seahawks to go 6-10 this season. Are they the same ones who predicted 4-12 last year? What, Doug Baldwin retired, you say? Um...he only missed nearly half of last season and in his absence David Moore led the team in TD receptions, Tyler Lockett had over 800 receiving yards, and Russell Wilson had the second highest passer rating and threw the second fewest INTs in the league while the offense, by design, led the league in team rushing yard by a long ways.

I haven't seen anybody listing Seattle outside the top 8 in power rankings.

Both Ezekiel Elliott (cowboys) and Jared Goff (rams) sign kazillion-dollar deals. That's overpaying, and both their teams will probably regret it, although Dallas less because they have a bigger fanbase and an owner with deeper pockets. LA can't sustain the spend-to-win approach.

Two Monday games?

I might get home from work in time to catch the last two minutes of regulation for this week's Saints game.

His Royal Dorkness wrote:

I haven't seen anybody listing Seattle outside the top 8 in power rankings.

One of the ESPN dot com slash NFL columnists had the Seahawks offense ranked at #28.

I'll give you a minute to wipe the coffee, or whatever, off your monitor.

Done? Okay, don't be drinking anything this time. It gets better. The writer stated in the beginning of the piece (of dross) that his basis for the rankings were heavily biased towards passing. Got that? A team with one of the top-tier QBs in the league in the prime of his career gets put at #28 in a ranking biased towards passing.

The Seahawks led the league in rushing by a significant margin last year. Brian Schottenheimer plans to keep running the ball. At times last year Wilson seemed to struggle with consistency, as if the run-heavy offense was not allowing him to get into his accustomed rhythm. He still managed to finish second in QBR and throw the second fewest INTs of any statistically-qualified QB in the league. Now imagine him when he's had a season to adjust to the run-heavy offense.

Sometimes i think they (in this case, ESPN, but lots of sports opinion outlets do it) assign untenable positions to certain opinionists, because people love to be justifiably outraged. Given the median intelligence level of opinionists at ESPN, though, i'm sure that it's not always (or even frequently) necessary for extraordinarily stupid opinions to be assigned.

Thanks for the laughs though.

Actually did find something concrete. One simulator that actually plays out each game had the Seahawks finishing 3rd in the division with a 6-10 record. Not sure what the basis was, because they also had the Niners winning it.

Well all know how it works. Establish the run, kill them with play-action passing, now they have to respect the passing game so the run is more effective. Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Rocky Blier, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, four Super Bowl wins in six seasons...but I think the defense helped a bit as well.

The "skills" players for the Seahawks this season are a nice bunch. Chris Carson you know, Rashaad Penny, in his second year out of San Diego State, was the #3 back behind Mike Davis, now with the Bears but did a lot of work in the off-season with a certain fellow SDSU alum and came into camp looking much sharper, and C.J. Procise, who was at one time among the pack of hopefuls to replace Marshawn before injuries dampened things but is now back and at full strength, are the main RB trio. The receiving corps is good even if you ignore the abs of D.K. Metcalf. With "Dougie Fresh" retired Tyler Lockett is the new "face". David Moore caught 26 passes for 445 yards, a 17.1 yd average, and 5 TDs last season. Somehow lost in the shuffle last year was Jaron Brown who came over from Arizona. He's worked hard to make himself relevant this year and the fact that he didn's get but a couple of balls thrown his way in very limited playing time in preseason tells me that Pete was hiding him. Seen him do that before. The TEs are Nick Vannett, who is okay at blocking (better than Jimmy Graham by a long ways, at any rate) and Will Dissley who is equally good at both but tore his patellar tendon four games into the season last year.

Toss in that the O-line is actually solid. Still not among the league's top 5 but at least it does not bear more resemblance to a 5-wide turnstile subway entrance. This could actually be the best offense the Seahawks have had since Mike Holmgren was the head coach.

His Royal Dorkness wrote:

I haven't seen anybody listing Seattle outside the top 8 in power rankings.

Can't believe the Cowboys are 7th in the seasons first Power Ranking. I love'em, but come on.  

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

Both Ezekiel Elliott (cowboys) and Jared Goff (rams) sign kazillion-dollar deals. That's overpaying, and both their teams will probably regret it, although Dallas less because they have a bigger fanbase and an owner with deeper pockets. LA can't sustain the spend-to-win approach.

Jerry Jones et al were in New York while Zeke was in Dallas signing his new contract. He was ringing the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange debuting his new oil concern Comstock Resources.

Speaking of the Rams. I played poker a couple of weeks ago which is on the same property as their new stadium. There's still a long way to go, and I don't see them making the deadline for opening day, September 2020.

Antonio Brown

Is.

A.

Patriot.

They didn't need him to lay a hurting on his old team.

D.K. Metcalf set a new Seahawks record for receiving yards by a rookie in his debut with 89 in 4 receptions. The previous mark was basically as old as the team itself, set way back in 1976, in the very first regular season game. Don't worry, the guy who did it still has plenty of other team receiving records which aren't in any danger of being broken any time soon.

So, Jags sign Nick Foles to a huge FA contract, he breaks his collarbone, and now the starter is Gardner Minshew who was a graduate transfer at WSU last year. Still better than what they have had at QB any time over the last seven or so seasons.

Minshew looked pretty good in that game, all things considered. Foles could be back in time for the playoffs, where he excels. It may work out.

Lots of close games, drama and twists this first weekend. I almost wore out the remote flicking between games. My team looked to be in mid-season form, and we have yet to play A Brown, B Watson, K Van Noy or D Thomas, let alone our first-rounder N'Keal Harry (who's on IR). Very '07 feel to the team; exciting no end.

TBC's and Hodge's teams both looked really good out there; you guys have a great chance at making deep playoff runs this year. The Browns got exposed, the Dolphins look like they will be the league's doormat, the Falcons and Bucs looked awful; and several teams looked competent but clearly below the calibre it takes to be successful these days (NYJ, Wash). We even had a draw in AZ, which came off more like a Lions loss. Not too many officiating issues that I saw, even with the new challenge-everything rule.

Great start to the NFL year, few games were duds.

So...I hear some kid from Prosser is the new OC for the Cowboys. What's up with that?

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

Antonio Brown

Is.

A.

Patriot.

I'm looking forward seeing if he can conform to the "Patriots Way". He's to self-absorbed to put anybody above himself. Plus, he's a cancer on any team he visits.

Here's my prediction...He doesn't make it thru the season. And, what I mean by that is, he'll be cut before seasons-end. You heard it here first.

TBC wrote:

They didn't need him to lay a hurting on his old team...

What a dismal showing by the Steelers. Neither the Offense nor Defense showed up. Mike Tomlin has a lot of 'plain'n to do.

TBC wrote:

...D.K. Metcalf set a new Seahawks record for receiving yards by a rookie in his debut with 89 in 4 receptions...

I'm looking for a lot from this kid, TBC. Ever since he ran a 4.33/40 at the Combine. And, at the time, he was weighing 223lb, and 6'3". Just damn!

TBC wrote:

...So, Jags sign Nick Foles to a huge FA contract, he breaks his collarbone, and now the starter is Gardner Minshew who was a graduate transfer at WSU last year. Still better than what they have had at QB any time over the last seven or so seasons.  

Because they're an NFC-East team, I hate 'em, but I feel sorry for him.

TBC wrote:

So...I hear some kid from Prosser is the new OC for the Cowboys. What's up with that?

TBC, did you get a chance to watch the game? Play calling was off-the-chart. Play-action, made the game easy for everyone involved.

I can't say i was pleased with how the Saints looked Monday night. The offense is definitely missing Mark Ingram, and it looks like neither Latavius Murray nor Taysom Hill nor switching them out is going to replace the ground game punch that he brought. I thought the defense looked a bit better, especially in the second half.

I hope that Murray and Hill can improve and/or that the Saints can acquire somebody to help with the situational running game. I also felt like the receiving corps could use a little improvement. Thomas is a great #1, and Ted Ginn Jr. is definitely still capable of contributing, but i think it would be great to see Dez Bryant come back and play well too. He's promised New Orleans right of first refusal and indicated that he'd play for the veteran minimum - none of that is legally binding, and NO has cap space to burn if they want to.

I don't mean to take anything away from the performance of the Texans, they played great with the personnel that they have. But imo that game should not have been that close if the Saints were playing up to their potential.

A win is always a win in the NFL, though, even an ugly home win. In a way, it's good for the team to have obvious ways to improve, too. It's keeps them from getting cocky, and hopefully having clear goals for improvement can help the offense as a whole to become more focused.

I missed the Cowboys-Giants game, Hodge. I really don't think Cowboys fans should be getting so carried away on the celebrations just yet. The result was completely predictable. The Giant flat out stink, so it was a lot of execution practice for both squads, especially the offense.

That Saints-Texans game was probably the best of the opening weekend from a neutral viewpoint. It more than compensated for the Thursday Night Bore-Fest.

The Saints-Texans game was a top-notch game for a pro sport league called something like "American-Style Football Entertainment"

It had entertainment value oozing from every pore. Personally i don't think anything underhanded contributed to the late game drama, so the scripts are clearly improving. The Texans played mostly at the top of their abilities and the Saints had their glaring offensive hole exposed glaringly but still managed to win the game because that's guaranteed to create interesting debates about the relative qualities of a team RAWBED of a SB win.

His Royal Dorkness wrote:

I can't say i was pleased with how the Saints looked Monday night. The offense is definitely missing Mark Ingram, and it looks like neither Latavius Murray nor Taysom Hill nor switching them out is going to replace the ground game punch that he brought. I thought the defense looked a bit better, especially in the second half...

I think it was "first-game jitters".
I thought the TD to Hill added a lot to the game and to the season. Defenses are going to have to play him "honestly", if you know what I mean.
That last drive with 37-seconds left was a thing of beauty. Brees is a master, and that 58-yrd FG was something to behold.

His Royal Dorkness wrote:

...I also felt like the receiving corps could use a little improvement. Thomas is a great #1, and Ted Ginn Jr. is definitely still capable of contributing, but i think it would be great to see Dez Bryant come back and play well too. He's promised New Orleans right of first refusal and indicated that he'd play for the veteran minimum - none of that is legally binding, and NO has cap space to burn if they want to...

IMO, Thomas is the best WR in the League.
Anytime you know he's getting the ball and you can't stop him says a lot.
Speaking of #13, he went 10/123yrds. That doesn't make sense.

What's happening with Dez? Is he ready to go?

Hill is effective catching passes from out of the backfield, from TE, and from the slot, but he doesn't have the burst speed to play wide out against most of the CBs in the league. I actually liked what the commentator said about him, "Not being just a fancy swiss army football knife," to paraphrase from memory, because he really does have a considerable variety of skill sets. If Brees needs some time off, Teddy Bridgewater definitely IS the second string QB, but it's great that Hill can contribute so much more than just special teams and holding a clipboard.

The latest i heard about Dez was that he could work out for the team next week, could join the practice squad at that time, and could potentially be running routes in a game as early as Week 4. I definitely wouldn't argue with you about Thomas, but it feels like the Saints could use somebody else who can stretch the secondary, especially without the ground game punch that left with Michael Ingram. I love Alvin Kamara's vision, patience, balance, and athleticism. He reminds me in ways of Barry Sanders. But one thing he does lack is the ability to drop his shoulders and put a linebacker on his back the way Ingram could. Hill can bring that kind of pop, but only from the fullback spot, which gives up a couple extra yards, and he can't do it consistently like Ingram. I hope to see Murray develop more, but i'm not holding my breath.

_______________

i can't help but wonder what's going to shake out with A.B. and the Pats.

Panthers drop their first two games of the season, both at home. Their season is already over.

For those of us tired of A) Cam Newton, and B) Ron Rivera that is the best news possible.

His Royal Dorkness wrote:

...The latest i heard about Dez was that he could work out for the team next week, could join the practice squad at that time, and could potentially be running routes in a game as early as Week 4. I definitely wouldn't argue with you about Thomas, but it feels like the Saints could use somebody else who can stretch the secondary, especially without the ground game punch that left with Michael Ingram. I love Alvin Kamara's vision, patience, balance, and athleticism. He reminds me in ways of Barry Sanders. But one thing he does lack is the ability to drop his shoulders and put a linebacker on his back the way Ingram could. Hill can bring that kind of pop, but only from the fullback spot, which gives up a couple extra yards, and he can't do it consistently like Ingram. I hope to see Murray develop more, but i'm not holding my breath...

That's good news about Dez. I'd definitely like to see him get another try.
Does Ginn usually play out of the slot or can he also play the "Z" WR?

His Royal Dorkness wrote:

...i can't help but wonder what's going to shake out with A.B. and the Pats.

Don't get me started HRD.   What a selfish bastard. He only cares about himself, and screw everyone else.

IMO, he should be left on the sideline until this civil case is adjudicated. Which I know goes against everything we stand for. But I just hate this guy.  

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

Panthers drop their first two games of the season, both at home. Their season is already over.

TBC wrote:

For those of us tired of A) Cam Newton, and B) Ron Rivera that is the best news possible.

Checked the groups Thursday picks, and had to laugh because we all chose the Panthers.

Got to ask...What did everyone think of Cams post-game interview attire?

Reminds me of Prince.

Hodgepodge wrote:

Does Ginn usually play out of the slot or can he also play the "Z" WR?

He's done a lot of both in his career. Ginn used to have great breakaway bursts and could leave many NFL CBs in the dust when they weren't ready for it, and he's always had great cuts for slant routes. Dangerous on reverses and end-arounds. He's had some injuries the last few years and is getting a little long in the tooth (34 this year, slot-only receivers aren't usually still playing at that age), and he's never been a #1, although he's had good if not great years as a #2. At this point, using him as the starting #2 shows that New Orleans has little depth at WR, although it's also something of a tribute to his dedication and toughness that he earned that spot. A healthy Dez Bryant would be a Godsend to Brees and the entire Saints' offensive unit.

ETA: Ginn started his NFL career as mostly a special teams kick and punt returner, who earned WR time in spite of not having very sticky hands, because he was fast and tall, could jump high, and had great footwork.

Hodgepodge wrote:

His Royal Dorkness wrote:

...i can't help but wonder what's going to shake out with A.B. and the Pats.

Don't get me started HRD.   What a selfish bastard. He only cares about himself, and screw everyone else.

IMO, he should be left on the sideline until this civil case is adjudicated. Which I know goes against everything we stand for. But I just hate this guy.

Oh, you got started upthread already. I wasn't surprised that the Pats signed him, given this coaching staff's track record with diva wideouts, but i'm starting to wonder if you might be right about him being gone before the playoffs. If i had to bet money, i'd bet he shapes up for New England. I'm not ready to rush to judgment about the rape allegations, but it's bad shit even if it's not true.

Hodgepodge wrote:

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

Panthers drop their first two games of the season, both at home. Their season is already over.

TBC wrote:

For those of us tired of A) Cam Newton, and B) Ron Rivera that is the best news possible.

Checked the groups Thursday picks, and had to laugh because we all chose the Panthers.

Got to ask...What did everyone think of Cams post-game interview attire?  

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

Reminds me of Prince.

Prince DEFINITELY wore it better. WTF is Cam thinking coming out after a loss dressed up like a Lenny Kravitz effigy? He could be extensively interviewed as source material for an upcoming self-help(?) book called Being A Pretentious Asshat Loser For Dummies.

For the record, Roethlisberger exiting the game at halftime had nothing to do with the Steelers getting beat by the Seahawks. The offense worked better with a second-year QB making his first appearance in an NFL game than it did with him.

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

Reminds me of Prince.

In my youth, I was going to a club in Santa Monica, CA. I was waiting to cross the street, when I noticed someone on the other corner waiting to do the same.

He was wearing "Tiger-print" pants, with a "Zebra-stripped" jacket. I said WTF is that coming my way? As we crossed the street, we passed each other in the middle of the intersection, it was Prince. 5'5" was stretching it.

TBC wrote:

For the record, Roethlisberger exiting the game at halftime had nothing to do with the Steelers getting beat by the Seahawks. The offense worked better with a second-year QB making his first appearance in an NFL game than it did with him.

"Big Ben" will have season-ending elbow surgery this week. Stemming from his non-contact injury Sunday. Rumors suspect it's "Tommy John" injury.

We also have an injury to HRD's main-man, Drew Brees. He'll have thumb surgery this week, possibly here in CA.
He's expected to out 4-6 weeks.
HRD, can Teddy hold down the fort until #9 returns?

The Saints' next 6 games are: @ Seattle; Dallas; Bucs; @ Jags; @ Bears; Cards.

Teddy's a good #2. There are probably a few teams he could start for, maybe even a handful. I don't like his chances against Dallas though, and kinda wish the Saints could just concede next week's game (although it should be valuable experience for Bridgewater). Assuming he survives those games, though, i think the rest of the stretch is winnable, and after those 6 games is the bye, then a critical divisional matchup hosting the Falcons. Don't forget that Payton can mix things up with Taysom Hill a bit too, and that Dez might be bringing some stretch to opposing secondaries soon.

So i picture the Saints at 1-3, and even if the Bears prevail, they come out of that stretch at .500, and Drew will have had 7 weeks to heal before the crunchiest part of the season. All hope is definitely not lost, this team only needs to make the postseason to have a chance to win it all.

It's fair to wonder whether this is the end of the line for Big Ben. If Mason Rudolph continues to play like he did in Ben's stead on Sunday, I think Ben follows through on his oft-insinuated retirement.

Brees still has a lot of play in him yet. Teddy can win three of next six.

Did anyone see the end of that Bears-Broncos game on Sunday? First, Broncos (formerly Bears) coach Vic Fangio goes for a win-or-go-home two-point play, succeeds, then his team is called for a dubious roughing-the-QB penalty, and then the Bears win by FG with one second left. Great game, even if you weren't invested in either team.

My team ran up the score on Miami. It's what we do.

Stephen A. SMH says that the "Saints are done without Drew Brees." Two people who don't believe that: Me and Ken Norton, Jr. I don't believe it because I know from experience that if "Sassy" says so then it's probably cowflop and Norton doesn't believe it because he's the one in charge of preparing a plan to face Teddy Bilgewater (Oops, sorry, damned autocorrect. Wait. I am not sending this from a phone. nvm) on Sunday.

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

It's fair to wonder whether this is the end of the line for Big Ben. If Mason Rudolph continues to play like he did in Ben's stead on Sunday, I think Ben follows through on his oft-insinuated retirement.

Brees still has a lot of play in him yet. Teddy can win three of next six.

Did anyone see the end of that Bears-Broncos game on Sunday? First, Broncos (formerly Bears) coach Vic Fangio goes for a win-or-go-home two-point play, succeeds, then his team is called for a dubious roughing-the-QB penalty, and then the Bears win by FG with one second left. Great game, even if you weren't invested in either team.

My team ran up the score on Miami. It's what we do.

I am always invested in the Broncos losing. Years of ingrained vitriol. Know how difficult it was for me to shake that, even if temporarily, when they played the Panthers? For the first half of that game I was rooting for a meteor. Then I decided I wanted a more realistic, less horrendous outcome and decided that Peyton picking up the second Ring which my Hawks had denied him was a preferable outcome to Cam getting a Ring at all.

Mason Rudolph continuing to play that well is a big "if". Let DCs get some footage of him, let him face better secondaries (honest here, the starters are all 2nd and 3rd year players), we'll see. That said, I hope he goes lights out on the Whiners this week.

His Royal Dorkness wrote:

The Saints' next 6 games are: @ Seattle; Dallas; Bucs; @ Jags; @ Bears; Cards.

Teddy's a good #2. There are probably a few teams he could start for, maybe even a handful. I don't like his chances against Dallas though, and kinda wish the Saints could just concede next week's game (although it should be valuable experience for Bridgewater). Assuming he survives those games, though, i think the rest of the stretch is winnable, and after those 6 games is the bye, then a critical divisional matchup hosting the Falcons. Don't forget that Payton can mix things up with Taysom Hill a bit too, and that Dez might be bringing some stretch to opposing secondaries soon.

So i picture the Saints at 1-3, and even if the Bears prevail, they come out of that stretch at .500, and Drew will have had 7 weeks to heal before the crunchiest part of the season. All hope is definitely not lost, this team only needs to make the postseason to have a chance to win it all.

Looking at those 6 games, I think you guys can go .500.
I think you guys loose against TBC's Seahawks, and my Cowboys.
You guys should be able to beat the Bucs, Jags and Cards.
I don't know what's happening with the Bears, but if their Offense remains enigmatic as it has for the first two weeks, you might be able to squeeze out another one.

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

It's fair to wonder whether this is the end of the line for Big Ben. If Mason Rudolph continues to play like he did in Ben's stead on Sunday, I think Ben follows through on his oft-insinuated retirement...

TBC wrote:

...Mason Rudolph continuing to play that well is a big "if". Let DCs get some footage of him, let him face better secondaries (honest here, the starters are all 2nd and 3rd year players), we'll see. That said, I hope he goes lights out on the Whiners this week.

Peggy, I think you're exactly right.
If Mason goes butt-wild for the remaining portion of the season, "Big Ben" retires.

TBC wrote:

...Did anyone see the end of that Bears-Broncos game on Sunday? First, Broncos (formerly Bears) coach Vic Fangio goes for a win-or-go-home two-point play, succeeds, then his team is called for a dubious roughing-the-QB penalty, and then the Bears win by FG with one second left. Great game, even if you weren't invested in either team...

Yeah, I saw the highlights. What an awful game to loose. Especially since Fangio was the Bears DC last season.
Apparently, Nagy and the Bears have found a Kicker they can count on.

Two footnotes from Sunday for the Seahawks: Russell Wilson became the 5th fastest QB in NFL history to reach 200 TDs passing. The only guys who have done it in fewer games are Marino, Favre, Brady, and Rogers. Also, Will Dissley had two receiving TDs, his first since tearing his patellar tendon in Week 4 of last season.

If you can't tell, I am rather fond of Dissley. I watched him at the UW. He's like Gronk, only intelligent.

TBC wrote:

Two footnotes from Sunday for the Seahawks:...

Speaking of footnotes, how did Clowney look?

Hodgepodge wrote:

TBC wrote:

Two footnotes from Sunday for the Seahawks:...

Speaking of footnotes, how did Clowney look?

Solid, but not specifically stellar. The return of Ansah on the other side was a big help, when he was in. Actually the Seahawks debut of Ansah is more correct. Second year DT Poonah Ford was out though, picked up a knock in the Bengals game. He was listed as week to week, so we'll see if he's back healthy to face the Saints.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jags 20 Thumbtacks 7. Minshew's playing like he belongs in the NFL, Mariota's playing like he belongs to a kindly spinster in her mid-40s who has read all of Anne McCaffery's books, keeps a nice pillow by the window for him to lay down and watch the bird outside, doesn't complain when he walks across the keyboard while she's on line but absolutely forbids him from hopping up onto the dining table.

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

Antonio Brown

Is.

A.

Former.

Patriot.

FIFY

TBC wrote:

Hodgepodge wrote:

TBC wrote:

Two footnotes from Sunday for the Seahawks:...

Speaking of footnotes, how did Clowney look?

Solid, but not specifically stellar. The return of Ansah on the other side was a big help, when he was in. Actually the Seahawks debut of Ansah is more correct. Second year DT Poonah Ford was out though, picked up a knock in the Bengals game. He was listed as  week to week, so we'll see if he's back healthy to face the Saints.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jags 20 Thumbtacks 7. Minshew's playing like he belongs in the NFL, Mariota's playing like he belongs to a kindly spinster in her mid-40s who has read all of Anne McCaffery's books, keeps a nice pillow by the window for him to lay down and watch the bird outside, doesn't complain when he walks across the keyboard while she's on line but absolutely forbids him from hopping up onto the dining table.

Allow a retraction on that. Ansah was not in the game. He seems ready to make his Seahawks debut tomorrow vs the Saints. Get ready, Teddy. Also, Poona Ford is not listed on any injury charts so he seems to be a go to play as well.

One note to report. Barron Hilton, the founding owner of the Chargers, passed away at the age of 91.

He was the first guy to buy into the scheme when a couple of Texas oilmen who had been rebuffed in their efforts to buy an expansion NFL franchise began reaching out to wealthy types with the intent of creating a rival league. One of those was, of course, the legendary Lamar Hunt.

Hilton located his franchise in Los Angeles before moving it to San Diego, hired Sid Gillman away from the Rams and Jack Kemp to be the quarterback. Gillman is the only person who is a member of both the NFL and College Football Halls of Fame as a coach (Pete Carroll be like "Hold my chewing gum") and Kemp got traded to Buffalo and was so popular there that they elected him to Congress. He was key in both the creation of what later became the Super Bowl and the league merger before his father, Conrad Hilton, essentially issued him an ultimatum that it was time he grew up and stopped playing with that football team.

And if his given name is ringing bells, yes, the youngest son of the President, who is of course also a hotelier, is named in his honor.

TBC wrote:

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

Antonio Brown

Is.

A.

Former.

Patriot.

FIFY

Yeah, that. Oh well.

That Saints game was something else. Bridgewater actually was showing ability and confidence in the second half that i didn't expect to see from him for at least another week or two. I've believed in the Saints defense ability to step up when needed over the last few years, but i didn't expect them to step up so well this particular week. Special teams helped out too, and it was nice to see that the Saints showed wisdom enough to put Ted Ginn Jr out as the last receiver on that one kick in the 4th quarter where it wasn't clear what Seattle was going to do.

Russ looked mostly pretty sharp out there, but the Saints' secondary outplayed Seattle's receiving corps, held their own at the line of scrimmage, and were effective against a reasonably strong running game that features multiple options.

This was a big road win against a high quality opponent in my opinion, and to get it in the very first game after the starting (future HOF) QB is injured, says a lot about the coaching staff, the unit captains, and verifies my high opinion of the depth chart outside the RB position. And speaking of that, Kamara showed some flashes of Mark Ingram tonight, admittedly against a run defense that iirc isn't highly ranked but isn't garbage either.

I can't believe Teddy B could go into that stadium and win. Probably the biggest upset of a very unusual week.

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

Yeah, that. Oh well.

Everything was going well until TB-12 invited AB over for dinner and he made a play for Giselle.  

Then I heard Belicheck took him out on the boat and AB set it on fire.  

Good riddance to bad trash!  

His Royal Dorkness wrote:

That Saints game was something else. Bridgewater actually was showing ability and confidence in the second half that i didn't expect to see from him for at least another week or two. I've believed in the Saints defense ability to step up when needed over the last few years, but i didn't expect them to step up so well this particular week. Special teams helped out too, and it was nice to see that the Saints showed wisdom enough to put Ted Ginn Jr out as the last receiver on that one kick in the 4th quarter where it wasn't clear what Seattle was going to do.

Russ looked mostly pretty sharp out there, but the Saints' secondary outplayed Seattle's receiving corps, held their own at the line of scrimmage, and were effective against a reasonably strong running game that features multiple options.

This was a big road win against a high quality opponent in my opinion, and to get it in the very first game after the starting (future HOF) QB is injured, says a lot about the coaching staff, the unit captains, and verifies my high opinion of the depth chart outside the RB position. And speaking of that, Kamara showed some flashes of Mark Ingram tonight, admittedly against a run defense that iirc isn't highly ranked but isn't garbage either.

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

I can't believe Teddy B could go into that stadium and win. Probably the biggest upset of a very unusual week.

What a game!

HRD, you guys took one from the lost column and turned it into a win. CONGRATS!

Teddy kept things afloat, while Kamaro bailed water. What a game he had.

I know you mentioned it, but I'd like to reiterate how all facets of the game were won by New Orleans. Especially in the trenches.

I'm sure TBC, is going to hire an assassin to put an end to your smiles, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Sorry, but Saints didn't beat the Seahawks. The Seahawks beat themselves. A quality opponent came into the building and, I don't know what...they must have prepared like they were going to be facing the Jets or something. Chris Carson seemed to be wearing rollerskates out there a couple of times.

There are some issues that need fixing right quick. We have division games the next two weeks, @ AZ and the home vs the Rams the following Thursday.

TBC wrote:

Sorry, but Saints didn't beat the Seahawks. The Seahawks beat themselves. A quality opponent came into the building and, I don't know what...they must have prepared like they were going to be facing the Jets or something. Chris Carson seemed to be wearing rollerskates out there a couple of times... 

They probably looked pass the Saints with Brees on the bench.
As I mentioned in another thread, Kamara and Thomas went to work.

Seahawks have been busy with shuffling TEs. The traded Nick Vannett to the Steelers for a 5th rd pick in 2020 and then signed Luke Willson, who was cut at the end of preseason by the Raiders. Willson, in his 7th season out of Rice, spent his first 6 as a Seahawk before leaving on a FA contract with the Lions, where he had statistically his worst season as a pro.

Could be a big game for Will Dissly and even Willson. Lions rookie TE T.J. Hockenson, 1st rd (8th overall) out of Iowa, had 6 catches for 131 yards and a TD in his NFL against the Cards, has 2 catches of the 7 balls thrown his way for 8 yards in the two games since. Ravens Mark Andrews was 8 catches, 112, 1 TD while the Panthers' Greg Olson was 6 for a "mere" 75 with a pair of scores. It appears the Cardinals are having issues covering tight ends.

That was a HELL of a game last night.
Yeah, we all picked the Packers, but we were 1-yard short.
And yeah Peggy, why not run the ball. Twice!

Can't believe all the upsets today. KC might well have lost, too, had not Lions coach Matt Patricia called two timeouts with 30 seconds left when KC had the ball in the red zone, trailing. Why give them time to keep trying? Detroit also gave up an endzone fumble that KC returned all the way for a TD. Otherwise another giant falls.

My team won ugly. Great defense, but we need a big playmaker downfield. Ben Watson comes back next week; he'll help, but we're still a piece away from being a complete team (and that piece, AB, is sitting at home).

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

Can't believe all the upsets today. KC might well have lost, too, had not Lions coach Matt Patricia called two timeouts with 30 seconds left when KC had the ball in the red zone, trailing. Why give them time to keep trying? Detroit also gave up an endzone fumble that KC returned all the way for a TD. Otherwise another giant falls.

My team won ugly. Great defense, but we need a big playmaker downfield. Ben Watson comes back next week; he'll help, but we're still a piece away from being a complete team (and that piece, AB, is sitting at home).

He is a piece, to be sure.

Peggy Sawyer wrote:

Can't believe all the upsets today. KC might well have lost, too, had not Lions coach Matt Patricia called two timeouts with 30 seconds left when KC had the ball in the red zone, trailing. Why give them time to keep trying? Detroit also gave up an endzone fumble that KC returned all the way for a TD. Otherwise another giant falls...

I'm going to take this to mean the, Dallas Cowboys, whether meant or not.

This is the second year in a row, whereby the 'Boys Defense holds the Saints offense to 13-points or less. In both cases, the offense couldn't come up with "offense".

Can't remember the last time "Wit" fumbled a catch. Yeah, he didn't see the guy coming up behind, but that was a huge play. And, speaking of fumbles, Zeke gives one away too. I'm pretty sure this is the first one this season, and if I a recall correctly, he had "one" last season as well.

Dak missed a lot of open throws. Run-game was non-existent. I truly expected it to be a low-scoring game, but you shouldn't loose to a team that didn't score a TD.  

Peggy, your point is well taken though. Chiefs should've lost, along with the Pats. "Yams" got blitzed, but yet they scored 40-points.  

TBC wrote:

He is a piece, to be sure.

A piece of crap!