2024 NFL Discussion Thread

[sveumrules]

Top Four teams in the NFL by point differential are all in the NFC North at the moment...

MIN (+63)
DET (+60)
CHI (+47)
GBP (+41)
 

[adambr2]

I think they're definitely a contender. Trouble is everyone else got better too. Right now you could legitimately claim that every NFC North team is a Super Bowl contender. Kind of crazy. Great for the division but not so great for each team in it. 

Not to make excuses for the two Packer losses, but the first one is hard to read into being opening day in Brazil, horrible surface, etc. 

Not really sure what happened in the Minnesota game. It was just one of those games where everything seemed to go wrong early and by the time things finally clicked the hole was too big to dig out of. I'd be willing to bet that the game is Minnesota is much different with possibly a different winner, but for sure they dominated us on that day. 

[nate82]

4 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

Right now you could legitimately claim that every NFC North team is a Super Bowl contender.

So you are saying Da Bears are Super Bowl bound?

[adambr2]

40 minutes ago, nate82 said:

So you are saying Da Bears are Super Bowl bound?

Of all 4 North teams, I'd see them as least likely of the 4. 

But -- if everything fell into place for them -- defense being a top D all year, the offense continuing to develop and progress, given how relatively open the NFC is, yes, not impossible. 

It seems likely to me that the North sends 3 teams to the postseason, maybe even 4.

At some point I do expect the Vikings to regress. Probably starting with Detroit next weekend. 

[HarryDoyle]

You have to remember to that we are six weeks into the season and there has only been one divisional game played in the North (us losing to Minnesota). We've all been beating up on everyone else.

[Joseph Zarr]

This just in:

The New York Football Jets absolutely still stink - with or without Saleh. What an ugly arse football game on this fine fall Monday evening. Tyler Bass missed a kick. Zurlein missed two kicks. Narvs had a twinkle in his eye.

A-Rod under threw a pass toward the sideline for what would have been a big gain as the Jets were 'marching' for a possible go-ahead score or FG for a tie (with Zurlein missing with frequency, far from a guarantee). WR Mike Williams had a chance to make a play but slipped and fell as the ball fell short and to his inside back shoulder. Looks like a poor throw to me, regardless:

 

[nate82]

10 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

This just in:

The New York Football Jets absolutely still stink - with or without Saleh. What an ugly arse football game on this fine fall Monday evening. Tyler Bass missed a kick. Zurlein missed two kicks. Narvs had a twinkle in his eye.

A-Rod under threw a pass toward the sideline for what would have been a big gain as the Jets were 'marching' for a possible go-ahead score or FG for a tie (with Zurlein missing with frequency, far from a guarantee). WR Mike Williams had a chance to make a play but slipped and fell as the ball fell short and to his inside back shoulder. Looks like a poor throw to me, regardless:

 

He definitely looks old and he can't throw the ball as well as he used to.  I wish he was still on the Packers.

[SeaBass]

7 hours ago, nate82 said:

So you are saying Da Bears are Super Bowl bound?

Four wins against 1 win teams does not inspire me much. Gotta play the schedule you're given, sure, but losing to the Colts isn't a good look either. Packers wins aren't exactly all that much better but it's been a bit of a strange season with the Love injury and we have last season to draw from.

The Bears have potential and maybe their offense is rounding into shape but I need to see it against something approaching a competent opponent before I can really get a feel for how seriously to take them. 13 pts vs. the Texans ain't doing it for me.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, nate82 said:

He definitely looks old and he can't throw the ball as well as he used to.  I wish he was still on the Packers.

He looks older and can't throw like he used to. BUT that has been the case for several years. I can't tell you the number of times I saw A Rod force it into Adams downfield when a winning play was staring him down like this - heck thinking of that blown opportunity at Lambeau vs the Brady Bucs. He hasn't been a big moment clutch performer for quite some time in my view. A better throw to the sideline likely works out there but he can't throw like he used to. He might think he can. That was an extremely costly misfire mistake in a crunch time moment. When is the last Brady-esque drive any of us saw from Rodgers. I honestly can't even think of One any more.

[CheezWizHed]

7 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

He looks older and can't throw like he used to. BUT that has been the case for several years. I can't tell you the number of times I saw A Rod force it into Adams downfield when a winning play was staring him down like this - heck thinking of that blown opportunity at Lambeau vs the Brady Bucs. He hasn't been a big moment clutch performer for quite some time in my view. A better throw to the sideline likely works out there but he can't throw like he used to. He might think he can. That was an extremely costly misfire mistake in a crunch time moment. When is the last Brady-esque drive any of us saw from Rodgers. I honestly can't even think of One any more.

I will hold to my statement forever that Rodgers' resurgence in 2020-21 was due to the Love draft pick.  People said it was "wasted" at the time, but it was worth Rodgers getting the chip on his shoulder alone.  Love's performance now makes the pick double good. 

Honestly, I think this has less to do with his physical aging (I'm sure there are some impacts of course) and more to do with Rodgers' inability to mesh with a team 20 years younger than himself.  It was clear the last couple years with the Packers... and he "played nice" in the offseason when first coming to the Jets.  But I think it is pretty clear that he isn't aligned with his offense.  Allan Lazard is his crutch. 

Favre mentioned his struggles meshing with the younger teammates when he was in mid 30s.  But I think his personality fits better on a team to just go play.  Rodgers has always been a prima donna personality.  That might be overlooked when everyone is friends, but when you can't connect with your teammates, I can imagine that he is really hard to play for.

As for the North, I think the Vikings are smoke and mirrors.  Darnold is playing well in the system, but there are chinks in the armor.  The defense is playing well, but likewise, I think people will find holes as they go on. I think the coaches have done a great job getting the team ready from game 1, but it just feels like the team that has peaked while everyone else is ramping up (Packers serious suck at being ready on game 1). 

For the Bears, Williams has unfortunately looked better than I hoped.  I've not seen any game, so I'm not sure what to say about their level of play.  

The Lions looks like a repeat of last year and mirroring their coach.  Highs and lows. Playmakers around a good, not great QB.  Still the team to beat in the North, IMO. 

Packers are still putting it together.  This feels like a repeat of the first half of last year (with better results).  I was hoping that the offense would be more consistent by now. The defense is starting to come together.  The turnovers are driving the D right now, but nothing overly dominant otherwise.  And that kicker... we beat the Vikings if Narv makes the FGs...

[OldHeidelberg]

14 minutes ago, CheezWizHed said:

As for the North, I think the Vikings are smoke and mirrors.  Darnold is playing well in the system, but there are chinks in the armor.  The defense is playing well, but likewise, I think people will find holes as they go on. I think the coaches have done a great job getting the team ready from game 1, but it just feels like the team that has peaked while everyone else is ramping up (Packers serious suck at being ready on game 1). 

For the Bears, Williams has unfortunately looked better than I hoped.  I've not seen any game, so I'm not sure what to say about their level of play.  

The Lions looks like a repeat of last year and mirroring their coach.  Highs and lows. Playmakers around a good, not great QB.  Still the team to beat in the North, IMO. 

Packers are still putting it together.  This feels like a repeat of the first half of last year (with better results).  I was hoping that the offense would be more consistent by now. The defense is starting to come together.  The turnovers are driving the D right now, but nothing overly dominant otherwise.  And that kicker... we beat the Vikings if Narv makes the FGs...

I like where the Packers are at, a talented and well balanced offense and a defense that has 3 good looking rookies who will only get better. The Vikings don't have the offense that the Packers and Lions do and I agree with you that teams will figure out their D, it happened just last year. I haven't seen Bears either, only one game between North teams so far which is sort of strange 6 games in. A big key for Packers will be the health of Jaire and Watson and that is a constant question mark. Lions are still favorites I agree but Hutchison was a huge loss for them.

[nate82]

In a not so surprising move: Davante Adams to the Jets

 

[SeaBass]

Ah it's like the Packers 2021 season all over again in Jets land, except Rodgers is now 3 years older and less mobile and effective. Can't imagine Garrett Wilson is loving this move, he already trails Lazard in receiving TDs 5 to 3 and now Davante enters the target group. I'm glad that mess is happening there.

[OldHeidelberg]

30 minutes ago, SeaBass said:

Ah it's like the Packers 2021 season all over again in Jets land, except Rodgers is now 3 years older and less mobile and effective. Can't imagine Garrett Wilson is loving this move, he already trails Lazard in receiving TDs 5 to 3 and now Davante enters the target group. I'm glad that mess is happening there.

Wilson gets plenty of targets and having Adams there should be big boost to their offense. Maybe too little too late at 2-4 but AFC full of crappy teams. Rodgers is going to get knocked out soon from all the hits he is taking though, if they don't clean that up not much that Adams' presence will change. 

[MrTPlush]

11 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

This just in:

The New York Football Jets absolutely still stink - with or without Saleh. What an ugly arse football game on this fine fall Monday evening. Tyler Bass missed a kick. Zurlein missed two kicks. Narvs had a twinkle in his eye.

A-Rod under threw a pass toward the sideline for what would have been a big gain as the Jets were 'marching' for a possible go-ahead score or FG for a tie (with Zurlein missing with frequency, far from a guarantee). WR Mike Williams had a chance to make a play but slipped and fell as the ball fell short and to his inside back shoulder. Looks like a poor throw to me, regardless:

 

Underthrown? I mean, better placed there than leading him. It probably should have been caught.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

34 minutes ago, MrTPlush said:

Underthrown? I mean, better placed there than leading him. It probably should have been caught.

 

Yes. By my eyes, the sideline is wide open there for a post fade type route - you think leading him up and to the sideline is a poor decision? Maybe you're right. BUT, Williams did slip. Then A-Rod threw him under the bus claiming he ran the wrong route. You can see right there he is having to come back for the ball. And, obviously, he could sit in that Zone there? Maybe? Maybe that is where that route was supposed to take him? I don't imagine A-Rod would lie in the post-game presser. Maybe it was one of those "You're supposed to know what I'm thinking!" routes? But, the ball died mid flight by quite a bit and came low and inside with the Safety shading him there. Safety made an incredible play. Unfortunate for the Jets. I'm merely pointing out: A-Rod consistently sees this type of result with the game on the line regardless. And, he consistently by-passes the open underneath routes for more chunk plays in crunch time and it rarely ever works. This is his second consecutive INT in a final drive scenario where the Jets were driving and had a chance to win the game. I feel like his clutch magic died at least five years ago. Maybe I'm wrong.

Anywho, just really really glad I'm not a Jets fan. Is there a more glaring 'Sunk Cost Fallacy' scenario going on in the NFL than the Jets continuing to throw the kitchen sink at their 40-year-old HOF QB? 

[MrTPlush]

30 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Yes. By my eyes, the sideline is wide open there for a post fade type route - you think leading him up and to the sideline is a poor decision? Maybe you're right. BUT, Williams did slip. Then A-Rod threw him under the bus claiming he ran the wrong route. You can see right there he is having to come back for the ball. And, obviously, he could sit in that Zone there? Maybe? Maybe that is where that route was supposed to take him? I don't imagine A-Rod would lie in the post-game presser. Maybe it was one of those "You're supposed to know what I'm thinking!" routes? But, the ball died mid flight by quite a bit and came low and inside with the Safety shading him there. Safety made an incredible play. Unfortunate for the Jets. I'm merely pointing out: A-Rod consistently sees this type of result with the game on the line regardless. And, he consistently by-passes the open underneath routes for more chunk plays in crunch time and it rarely ever works. This is his second consecutive INT in a final drive scenario where the Jets were driving and had a chance to win the game. I feel like his clutch magic died at least five years ago. Maybe I'm wrong.

Anywho, just really really glad I'm not a Jets fan. Is there a more glaring 'Sunk Cost Fallacy' scenario going on in the NFL than the Jets continuing to throw the kitchen sink at their 40-year-old HOF QB? 

I think if you go back to his more glory days in GB, his receivers would have all stopped between those defenders...that is probably where Rodger's frustration is. Like Jordy Nelson, yah, he wouldn't keep running to the sideline. 

I figured this Rodgers deal was destined to be failure for that reason. A lot of what made Rodgers so good was his communication and way to form incredible relationships with receivers. Think James Jones...dude in a nutshell wasn't that good, but he did exactly what Rodgers wanted and could catch the tough placed balls Rodgers could make. It is why I was never a huge fan of burning a high pick on a receiver at the end of his tenure, there was no point. He would be gone before it ever mattered. He just doesn't have that relationship with any Jets receiver and it doesn't form overnight. 

I don't think Adams will solve that either. Mostly because it has been years and Rodgers and Adams have both lost a step. It will be interesting to see if the timing will be there to do the things they once did. I think it will be disappointing, but the Jets have no other choice. 

[CheezWizHed]

Time to offer a conditional third for Wilson.  He isn't a Rodger's guy...

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, CheezWizHed said:

Time to offer a conditional third for Wilson.  He isn't a Rodger's guy...

I was more devilishly thinking: Time to grab Hassan Reddick for a 7th Rdr. 😅

(I also see the Jets are now shopping WR Mike Williams? Amazing. Man, the Jets are simply amazing with A-Rod at the helm.)

[CheezWizHed]

24 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I was more devilishly thinking: Time to grab Hassan Reddick for a 7th Rdr. 😅

(I also see the Jets are now shopping WR Mike Williams? Amazing. Man, the Jets are simply amazing with A-Rod at the helm.)

Rodgers needs WRs that don't slip and run to where the ball was thrown instead of wide-open spaces! The Jets team has some weird Soap Opera drama going on this year. It's like watching an accident... I just can look away.

Meanwhile in the NFC North...

[young guns]

And now the bills are trading for Amari Cooper.  Didn't see the comp package.

[OldHeidelberg]

15 minutes ago, young guns said:

And now the bills are trading for Amari Cooper.  Didn't see the comp package.

Cooper and a '25 6th for a '25 3rd and a '26 7th. A little less than Raiders got for Adams depending on how things shake out.

Have to think Lions will be after a pass rusher, I am not sure who will be available. 

[homer]

45 minutes ago, OldHeidelberg said:

Cooper and a '25 6th for a '25 3rd and a '26 7th. A little less than Raiders got for Adams depending on how things shake out.

Have to think Lions will be after a pass rusher, I am not sure who will be available. 

Browns did pretty well considering they gave up like a 5th and a 7th for Cooper I think. Rare to see a guy traded twice in the NFL these days and appreciate in value.

[HarryDoyle]

Yes, Rodgers is past his prime, but he can still throw a Hail Mary like nobody's business.

[OldHeidelberg]

54 minutes ago, homer said:

Browns did pretty well considering they gave up like a 5th and a 7th for Cooper I think. Rare to see a guy traded twice in the NFL these days and appreciate in value.

Bills gave up about the same as they did for Rasul. Trying to project trade values is tough in the NFL but I tend to think NFL teams overrate draft picks, if you can pick up a starting caliber player for a 3rd or 4th rounder at a position of need when you hope to contend it's well worth the gamble. Heck, I would give up a 2nd rounder for an average starting MLB at this point.