The official NFL Thread (13 Viewers)

Sky_Blue_Dreamer

Well-Known Member
does that make Eli Manning a better QB than Rodgers?

Has Eli done himself and the Giants a favour and retired yet? He really ought to - it's becoming a bit embarrassing now.
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
Undoubtedly best team won - totally outclassed the Rams and should feel lucky it didn't end up a rout. Got their defence to thank for that and how they kept that level up despite spending so much time on the pitch is a massive achievement. Think I'm right in saying only one redzone possession and the Pats made the most of it. I usually start to fall asleep during second qtr and then properly fall asleep during HT show, but this time I was wide awake throughout. Didn't watch HT show though.

Rams defence did as much as it could do but Goff just gave absolutely nothing. I said during the pre-show and when they came onto the pitch he looked nervous and what seemed like quite a Patriots-favouring crowd he was again going to struggle with communication and without that he's nothing. He has to be told what to do and can't manage his own plays. The one where he went out wide with a wide-open receiver in the middle showed that. Even when he looked like he was getting into his stride he just threw an easy INT.

Edelman undoubtedly MVP, although I feel the Rams punter probably deserves a decent mention - had so much to do and made sure Brady didn't get good field position at all.
Yeah, he had an excellent game.

The Rams couldn't cope with Edelman at all and failed to stop the aggressive pressure the Pats defence constantly put on Goff
 

tisza

Well-Known Member
All the prematch predictions had this as a 60+pt game - so bookies cleaned up :)
Even though a low scoring game and very little field position I enjoyed it. Like a defensive game and for all the plaudits going round nowhere near enough being said about the defensive lines of both sides.
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
All the prematch predictions had this as a 60+pt game - so bookies cleaned up :)
Even though a low scoring game and very little field position I enjoyed it. Like a defensive game and for all the plaudits going round nowhere near enough being said about the defensive lines of both sides.
Yeah, a defensive game can be just as enthralling as an offensive laden points fest.
 

Sky_Blue_Dreamer

Well-Known Member
All the prematch predictions had this as a 60+pt game - so bookies cleaned up :)
Even though a low scoring game and very little field position I enjoyed it. Like a defensive game and for all the plaudits going round nowhere near enough being said about the defensive lines of both sides.

Yeah. As much I enjoy a points fest (Rams-Chiefs etc) these games can be enthralling in their own right. You wonder how long can a team keep that level up for.

And I'd prefer either of those to a one-sided blowout - often fall asleep during those because they're so boring and predicatable.
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
Yeah. As much I enjoy a points fest (Rams-Chiefs etc) these games can be enthralling in their own right. You wonder how long can a team keep that level up for.

And I'd prefer either of those to a one-sided blowout - often fall asleep during those because they're so boring and predicatable.
And it's not so exciting when they score.

Bit like basketball and one of the things I don't like about that sport.

Being brought up on football I like to go crazy and jump up and down with every goal and it's the same with the NFL and touchdowns, when the score isn't batshit crazy.

113-111 in basketball just doesn't do it for me and I would be dead with that amount of required jumping up and down.
 
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Sky_Blue_Dreamer

Well-Known Member
If they're scoring off every drive, yes. That Rams-Chiefs game was an exception though because both teams were doing it. You were expecting them to score but it was incredible to watch.

I prefer a more even game where they'll score a TD, next drive have to punt, then get a FG, then get intercepted. Variety keeps it interesting.
 

tisza

Well-Known Member
With all these things it's about which element is showing the highest degree of skill.
If an offense is scoring because the defense is poor then it's not that exciting.
If the Rams had held onto those 2 catches in the endzone then they would have exciting scores as they were competing with defenders. That 1st one look nailed until McCourty made a great play- looked like they'd broken coverage then he seemed to come from nowhere.
Seen much worse Super bowls than this - some of the blowouts, Broncos last win was an average game.
This one wasn't about poor offenses but just great defences. Bears showed how Rams should be played (and the Lions until they picked up a load of injuries 4th quarter) Belichick just refined and improved it.
Other problem it came on the back of last year's offensive shoot-out which in itself was a one-off
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
With all these things it's about which element is showing the highest degree of skill.
If an offense is scoring because the defense is poor then it's not that exciting.
If the Rams had held onto those 2 catches in the endzone then they would have exciting scores as they were competing with defenders. That 1st one look nailed until McCourty made a great play- looked like they'd broken coverage then he seemed to come from nowhere.
Seen much worse Super bowls than this - some of the blowouts, Broncos last win was an average game.
This one wasn't about poor offenses but just great defences. Bears showed how Rams should be played (and the Lions until they picked up a load of injuries 4th quarter) Belichick just refined and improved it.
Other problem it came on the back of last year's offensive shoot-out which in itself was a one-off
That McCourty play was absolutely outstanding.

Could have totally changed the game if that had been a TD.
 

skybluebeast

Well-Known Member
Yea defensive games can be as exciting as point fests but for me this one wasn’t a classic. It’s only good when both sides are nearly the equal of the other, that Rams offence was woeful and although the Pats D played lights out it was fairly easy for them.
These new young coordinators/head coaches need to leave their egos at the door when facing the master Belichick. That’s Shananhan and McVey that have been dispatched with ease in the space of 3 years now. Give Belichick 2 weeks to coach and scheme for a game and he is going to be hard to beat, you have to move away slightly from what you have been doing and match him in devising something new. That Rams O came out with the same bunch formation they have done all year. Easy to negate with aggressive play at the line of scrimmage. Back that up with a zone coverage in the secondary which takes away the big play that the Rams love boom all of a sudden you have got a very predictable opponent.
For me that victory just affirmed that the Pats aren’t going to go away, they were poor to their standards in the regular season, but get them in the playoffs and they are a different beast. Unfortunately they are guaranteed a playoff place because of how poor their division is. Gronk will finish this year, but you can bet Belichick will go out and get a Free agent or trade someone just as good. Brady will be back Edelman will be back, they will get a new deep threat cause Gordon is finished and that D will all return apart from maybe the McCourty brothers who to be fair will be replace by Harmon anyway.
NFL in 2019 will be who can outthink the master mark XVIII.
 

tisza

Well-Known Member
Yep Pats will reload with free agents and trades again.
So many undrafted, mid-low round draft picks and trades in that team.
 

CCFC88

Well-Known Member
Anyone see any of the AAF this weekend? I've only seen a few highlights and read a couple of bits but the reports seem positive mainly.

We've seen this all before though and making it last is the hard part.
 

tisza

Well-Known Member
Anyone see any of the AAF this weekend? I've only seen a few highlights and read a couple of bits but the reports seem positive mainly.

We've seen this all before though and making it last is the hard part.
Potential for these leagues always seems to be there. Many mass markets without NFL coverage. College game attendances show appeal of football
There's always a large pool of players that go undrafted that are still good players just not quite NFL standard. Plus a large % of NFL players that get released each year.
Done properly it can survive. Has a decent TV contract.
Main issue will be quality of games. Can they build fan bases.
 

CCFC88

Well-Known Member
Got a hunch that Kaepranik will end up here, would do wonders for ratings. I had a look through some of the rosters this morning expecting to see at least one QB that I recognised but there wasn't.

Was reading that it has MGM money behind it, the draft and playoffs/final all to be played in Vegas. Bookies heavy interest to fill that 7 month gap with no football betting.

Think its important that they keep it as raw and as close to the NFL as possible, stay away from the gimmiky nature of the XFL
 

CCFC88

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Just in the US currently I believe, will need a couple of years of consolidation before a UK channel pays anything for it. Seems like the kind of thing Channel 5 or Dave would take a gamble on in the early stages.
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
Just in the US currently I believe, will need a couple of years of consolidation before a UK channel pays anything for it. Seems like the kind of thing Channel 5 or Dave would take a gamble on in the early stages.
Yeah, agree,it would be right up C5's street I would have thought. Or Eurosport perhaps.
 

tisza

Well-Known Member
Got a hunch that Kaepranik will end up here, would do wonders for ratings. I had a look through some of the rosters this morning expecting to see at least one QB that I recognised but there wasn't.

Was reading that it has MGM money behind it, the draft and playoffs/final all to be played in Vegas. Bookies heavy interest to fill that 7 month gap with no football betting.

Think its important that they keep it as raw and as close to the NFL as possible, stay away from the gimmiky nature of the XFL
i watch quite a bit of college football so recognise quite a few names.
There's 4 or 5 QBs there that were drafted. Obviously recognise the likes of Trent Richardson, Asiata (ex-viking), Cobb.
Having read a bit more some smart ideas like focusing players on teams near where they went to college where possible. With the strength of college football, player recognition will be strong in market areas.
there's more than a few players who with game time could play themselves into NFL. Game time always an issue for late drafted players & practice squad players - maybe a few minutes in pre-season games.
 

tisza

Well-Known Member
don't know if it's been mentioned before but "Hard Knocks" series well worth a watch.
I'm just starting 1st series back from 2001 & the Ravens.
 

tisza

Well-Known Member
To be fair there's FA salary implication on that. Hopefully that means we're looking at a QB in the draft.
Bridgewater probably not overly expensive on a one year deal. He's looking for playing time to line up a big deal.
This year's draft for QBs is very weak past the 1st 2 - Murray and Haskins. Going to be a defense heavy draft particularly tackles, edge defenders and linebackers. Also deep on receivers but probably only a couple of elite ones.
 
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CCFC88

Well-Known Member
Think Haskins goes first out of the QB's, likely to NYG, no one really has a true feel for Murray, the controversy around his Baseball/Football decision has pushed his name into the limelight, he had a decent year at Oklahoma racking up silly scores every week, winning the Heisman and a pretty good performance vs Bama (although that doesn't look quite as good now after seeing what Lawrence did to them), and his height will put a lot of teams off.

Skins will draft a WR or CB first I feel, maybe take a punt on a QB in the lower rounds. Either way I think its relatively certain we'll be getting a pretty high pick in the 2020 draft.
 

tisza

Well-Known Member
Think Haskins goes first out of the QB's, likely to NYG, no one really has a true feel for Murray, the controversy around his Baseball/Football decision has pushed his name into the limelight, he had a decent year at Oklahoma racking up silly scores every week, winning the Heisman and a pretty good performance vs Bama (although that doesn't look quite as good now after seeing what Lawrence did to them), and his height will put a lot of teams off.

Skins will draft a WR or CB first I feel, maybe take a punt on a QB in the lower rounds. Either way I think its relatively certain we'll be getting a pretty high pick in the 2020 draft.
Probably a corner as not many elite ones past 1st 2 or 3. Williams will go early. Choice of Murphy or Baker both immediate starters. Lot of receivers around but all pretty similar once metcalf and the 2 Browns have gone.
 

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