NFL

I'm being dead serious. Whoever loses this game will significantly improve their chances of landing a top 2 draft pick. Currently the draft order is:

1. Bears (via Carolina)

2. Giants

3. Pats

4. Cardinals

5. Bears

Arizona already looks like they might play themselves out of the top 5. Murray looked too good to assume they aren't going to win a few games down the stretch, as they have 3 or 4 very winnable games remaining on their schedule. Chicago is already picking 5 and their last 3 games are Cardinals, Falcons, Packers. Hard to imagine they don't win at least 1 more game with Feilds coming back. Carolina I don't expect to move from the 1 spot, but it's certainly possible they sneak out another win.

Patriots on the other hand really don't have many games that look like a potential wins after the Giants (Chargers, Steelers, KC, Broncos, Bills, and the Jets with a potentially returning Rodgers). Giants have a slightly easier schedule (Washington, GB, NO, Rams, and Philly twice) but are on their 3rd string QB so my hopes aren't high they win any games.

There is a very real chance that neither the Giants nor the Pats win another game after their head to head match up, making this game ridiculously impactful for both franchises. Obviously it's impossible to know how picks will work out, but a top 2 pick means a quarterback will on the menu for whichever team is picking there. The 3rd pick? No so much, unless someone like Penix or Daniels (who I LOVE) shoots up the draft board unexpectedly.

Much more likely that the team at 3 will be looking at Harrison Jr. or one the top two tackles. Both teams could absolutely use Harrison Jr or a potentially elite tackle... but both desperately need to upgrade at QB. This game could be the difference between having a potential franchise QB for the next decade or remaining somewhat barren at the position.

Side note: while unpopular, I personally think Chicago should strongly consider doing the exact same thing they did last year if they do wind up #1 overall. Move down to somewhere like 3-5, get yourself another absolute haul of picks/players, and continue to build around Fields. Imagine if Chicago moved down to 3 or 4, were still able to snag Harrison Jr. AND one of the top 2 tackles at 5-6? Suddenly they have two stud tackles, Harrison Jr., DJ Moore, AND another year of multiple top 50 picks in 2025. Potentially could find themselves loaded with cheap, young talent with more or less zero major needs remaining on the offensive side of the ball.

RECORD: Love: 3-6 Rodgers: 3-6

Mayfield: 4-5 Brady: 4-5

TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS: Love: 16 Rodgers: 14

Mayfield: 14 Brady: 10

TOTAL TURNOVERS: Love: 10 Rodgers: 10

Mayfield: 5 Brady: 3

TOTAL YARDS: Love: 2,334 Rodgers: 2,293

Mayfield: 2,363 Brady: 2,649

PASSER RATING: Love: 80.5 Rodgers: 89.0

Mayfield: 93.7 Brady: 90.5

The only stat that these guy’s have that’s significantly different than their predecessor is that Love’s comp% is 58.5, whereas Rodgers’s was 64.7. Mayfield has had five 2+ td games, whereas Brady only had one.

I wish Richardson well but it is interesting how all we heard was how small Bryce was and how he'd struggle to hold up

Doesn't this prove playstyle has more to do with injuries than size?

Before we go any further, we need to define what a mayday field goal actually is. Broncos coach Sean Payton said he calls it “hurricane” now, and other teams might refer to it as “lightning,” but whatever you call it, teams have similar parameters.

1. Running clock
2. Offense has no timeouts left in the half
3. Third down, in or near field-goal range
4. Inside of 40 seconds, all the way down to 17 seconds on the clock

The Athletic talked to two recently out-of-the-game special teams coordinators and three other current NFL staffers who work closely with coaching decisions, and all five agreed that an NFL team should not sub out their existing defense for the field goal block defense when they are operating in a “mayday” field goal situation. There’s not enough time to guarantee a clean substitution (under two minutes, the officials don’t stand over the ball to allow a man-for-man substitution) and the chances of blocking a field goal are miniscule.

“Defensively, we would never substitute an opponent’s mayday situation for the exact reason (of) what happened the other night,” said Mike Priefer, longtime special teams coordinator for four NFL teams, most recently the Cleveland Browns.

Over the past five seasons, just 2.2 percent of all field goal attempts have been blocked across the NFL (86 of 3,925), and it’s been even less common with the game on the line. Over the same span, just 1.8 percent of all potential game-tying/go-ahead field goal attempts in the fourth quarter or overtime have been blocked (7 of 392).

Buffalo has actually had better-than-average results on this play. The Bills have blocked 2.7 percent of all opponent field goal attempts under head coach Sean McDermott, the seventh-highest rate across the NFL since his first season in 2017. That includes 7.1 percent of potential game-tying/go-ahead attempts in the fourth quarter or OT by their opponents (1 of 14).

But that’s still not enough reward to risk a more likely and unnecessary result: Having too many men on the field.

“You don’t want to give them a second chance,” Priefer said. “Whatever 11 is on the field, in a mayday situation, nickel or dime, keep them out there and make sure you don’t have more than six on the line of scrimmage on one side of the center or the other, and make sure you come off the edge.”

I'm talking about the complete first and last name combos...

Tyler Conklin

Will Dissly

Evan Engram

Noah Fant

Pat Freiermuth

Dallas Goedert

Hunter Henry

TJ Hockenson

Hayden Hurst

Travis Kelce

Dalton Kincaid

George Kittle

Cole Kmet

Sam LaPorta

Mercedes Lewis

Isaiah Likely

Trey McBride

Foster Moreau

Michael Mayer

Luke Musgrave

David Njoku

Dalton Schultz

Logan Thomas

It's like you have to have a cool name to be a decent tight end in the NFL.

I am european and I live in Europe following both soccer and football.

One thing that is interesting to me is that in Europe there are so many former star players that became coaches. Some of them have been very successful coaches. Others less so. But the point is a lot become coaches. And Head Coaches nonetheless. I can list like 15-20 people without even thinking too hard.

In football, that seems to not be the case. People like Prime and DeMeco Ryans are the exceptions.

It is a two part issue 1) why are former top players not interested in being coaches 2) why are teams not offering top gigs to former players straight up

Let’s look at two current examples. Bills OC job and the Texas A&M job. Both of these jobs are highly desirable and pay well. A&M likely $10 mil +.

Why are people like Larry Fitzgerald, Rivers, Demarcus Ware, Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, Mannings, Brady, Revis not interested and not being offered these jobs straight up?

I can easily see Messi or Ronaldo coaching down the road. Many players of their status have done it.

And I am not talking about recent developments. Many of the former star players never became coaches over the past 30+ years

But it seems impossible to imagine Mahomes or Mannings becoming coaches down the road. Wondering why such a difference.

Thanks!

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https://preview.redd.it/qx0dt9dkyo0c1.png?width=1120&format=png&auto=webp&s=420d9e05b997a38115eddf84e420a2f63039d308

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The Minnesota Vikings went 13-4 last year, winning some of the craziest games late across the NFL. This season has been a true rollercoaster, starting off with thre straight Ls and losing star players to injury, but somehow they're up to a 6-4 record now and right in the thick of things of a murky NFC.

Let's break down what the insertion of quarterback Joshua Dobbs has meant and how Brian Flores is starting to turn around the defense!

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I could only post the first 15 minutes. You can check out the full video here!

(Yes, the mods allowed me to link my stuff.)

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https://reddit.com/link/17wpzkl/video/u7b5269b0p0c1/player

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I pondered this question after my wife told she was going to “call Sam Hubbard to find out if he’s ok”.

I scoffed. Later, when I saw Burrow is a wrist brace, I also wanted to call Burrow to find out if he’s ok.

So who are you checking on when they go down?

Tampa rushing yards per attempt with league ranks:

2023: 3.1 (32nd)

2022: 3.4 (32nd)

2021: 4.3 (15th)

2020: 4.1 (25th)

2019: 3.7 (27th)

2018: 3.9 (31st)

2017: 3.7 (27th)

2016: 3.6 (29th)

With the exception of 2021 season when they were simply average, Tampa has had a terrible rushing attack since 2016. Three different HCs, different players - but results are almost constant.

This season they stink again. What is the reason behind it? Draft choice strategy prioritizing passing?

He had huge red flags in terms of character, has been a compete bust and is making Jamarcus Russell’s deal look like a bargain.

Cleveland could have been a SB contender with a decent QB and instead they gave their fans this epic disaster.

If this isn’t the worst contract of all time, what signings are worse?

I don't know if you all have noticed, but this 2023 Giants team sucks. As an analyst, the eye test isn't enough for me. I need data, so I got it. And the data confirms that they suck...maybe even worse than the eye test. The Giants -14.8 point differential per game is second worst only to the 1-12-1 1966 Giants who had a per game point differential of -17.0. That 1966 team put up 41 points on offense against Washington in a game and still lost. They lost because they gave up 72.

Below you can see each year's point differential per game for the Giants with a few annotations. This image really puts into perspective just how bad 2023 has been so far.

https://preview.redd.it/kxth5tfwpp0c1.png?width=1708&format=png&auto=webp&s=1cfc9fd7d4b173c7a1fa9c0e4e46b5f064bbb59e

Some context for younger Reddit posters: Monday Night Football used to be *the* biggest game of the week from the 70s through 2005 when it was on ABC. When ABC Sports merged with ESPN and MNF was placed behind cable in 2006, Sunday Night Football (which had just been acquired by NBC) became the biggest primetime game of the week, especially with Al Michaels, John Madden, Dick Ebersol, and others switching sides. Additionally, the MNF package was removed from the Super Bowl rotation.

Now, is it just me, or does it feel like Monday Night Football is (slowly) overtaking SNF on NBC to become the premier primetime game once again? MNF seems to have regained its credibility by poaching Joe Buck and Troy Aikman from FOX. They've also set several personal records for ratings this season, including a record 22.6M viewers on opening night, in large part due to each game getting simulcasted on ABC (part of an agreement to bring Disney/ABC/ESPN back into the Super Bowl rotation). Most importantly, MNF has out-drawn SNF in ratings on several occasions this season, and I'd expect this week to be no different with the Super Bowl LVII rematch. Between the matchups not being as compelling and the gravitas of Al Michaels leaving the program (no disrespect to Mike Tirico, who is an outstanding announcer), it almost feels like SNF has taken a step back. Of course, they still hold an important advantage over MNF with their ability to flex games later in the season.

So, is this considered an unpopular opinion, or do others feel the same way?

It’s not gonna happen anytime soon but the league really should have all bye weeks within 4 weeks of each other. I feel like even from a TV watcher perspective. This is going to be way better(esp if you buy Sunday ticket)

I am absolutely loving not having any clue which team is actually the best team in the AFC North. Sucks when players are getting hurt, but the games have been entertaining.

1. Tom Brady 🐐
2. Mac Jones
3. Andrew Luck 4.Matt Ryan
4. Eli Manning
5. Drew Brees 7.RG3 8.Ben Roethlisberger
6. Joe Flacco
7. Johnny Manziel

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/calvin-ridley-promises-dominant-jaguars-debut-after-reinstatement-im-giving-jacksonville-1400-yards/

He currently sits at 471 yards through 9 games and is projected 900 total yards for the season. Not a good look from a guy who got suspended for betting on games to "betting on his daughter's name" on something that has virtually no shot of happening now.