2024 NFL Discussion Thread

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Every year there is a hot start team that fades because they aren't really that good. I think it's them. Got lucky to play GB when they did with Love being rusty, win against SF doesn't look that impressive anymore. They did pound the Texans but the other two wins are the Jets and Giants.

I believe they are a worse team than DET and GB, Chicago isn't out of the realm but I won't say that with certainty. So say they finish 3rd in the divison, it would just mean they finish behind the Eagles and any other team. There is so much left to go that nothing would surprise me, not even finishing under .500.

[Fear The Chorizo]

The Vikings have routinely proven to be posers following early season successes.  Two years ago they were among the luckiest teams in league history winning 13 games with a season-long point differential of -3, and they got bounced out in playoffs round 1 by Daniel Jones and the Giants.  

They have serious skill position talent, but if Darrisaw (who I think is overrated) is out for any length of time after that knee injury their offensive line is once again going to be a problem for their offense.  Defensively, they're following last year's pattern of taking advantage of early season rust with confusing pressure packages - that slowly fades as teams figure out what they're having to do to generate a pass rush and they wind up gouging them down the field with big plays, coupled with inevitable injuries and wear and tear mounting up to expose their lack of quality depth at key positions.

I think their coaching staff squeezes the most it can out of a roster that is really good in a few spots but meh at best overall in terms of talent.

 

 

[HarryDoyle]

There isn't a more cursed franchise in the NFL than the Minnesota Vikings, and I'm here for all of it :)

[BrewerFan]

15 hours ago, homer said:

I sure hope so. They have 4 games left they should win easily ( Colts, Titans, Cardinals, Jags).  If they go 4 - 0 in those and split with the Bears that's a 10 win season. I don't think they miss the playoffs with 10 wins in the NFC but who knows. They could certainly choke away one of those 4 easy ones.

I saw a rumor they were trying to trade for Stafford which, IMO, would make them pretty scary but I don't know if the Rams will do that now that they are back to full strength. 

There were just comments about Darnold getting 50M in Free Agency, now...they'll replace him with Stafford!

I think I'd actually be for that. They've got 3 picks in this upcoming draft, a 1 and 2 5ths. They picked JJ McCarthy...who is really hard to evaluate(he's tough, athletic, but didn't throw much). 

But they'd almost certainly have to start with 2 1sts, right? That seems to be the standard for a starting QB of his caliber...and then probably a couple more day 2 picks. 

Is Stafford that big of an upgrade over what Darnold has done to leave them without 1sts for '25 and '26 and then just 6-7 picks total those two years?

[BrewerFan]

14 hours ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

The Vikings have routinely proven to be posers following early season successes.  Two years ago they were among the luckiest teams in league history winning 13 games with a season-long point differential of -3, and they got bounced out in playoffs round 1 by Daniel Jones and the Giants.  

They have serious skill position talent, but if Darrisaw (who I think is overrated) is out for any length of time after that knee injury their offensive line is once again going to be a problem for their offense.  Defensively, they're following last year's pattern of taking advantage of early season rust with confusing pressure packages - that slowly fades as teams figure out what they're having to do to generate a pass rush and they wind up gouging them down the field with big plays, coupled with inevitable injuries and wear and tear mounting up to expose their lack of quality depth at key positions.

I think their coaching staff squeezes the most it can out of a roster that is really good in a few spots but meh at best overall in terms of talent.

 

 

I mostly agree with this. I think Darrisaw is huge for that team and a really good young OT and a huge loss for Minnesota. He's not a Sewell type OT, but closer to a Zach Tom.

I see the parallels to the 13-4 season, but this team has looked much better this year. I throw out the TNF games...

I just don't know what Sam Darnold really is. 

They still have the 4 teams the Bears were lucky to get to start the season. That was the NFLs way of helping Caleb Williams since their coaches aren't exactly developing QBs like Tom Clements. So that helped them ease in and the Vikings still get to see those teams. 

 

Great coaching staff. Detroit is really good, but without their starting DEs, unless they make a huge move and add a DE, the loss of Hutchinson is just too big.

Chicago is not there yet, Caleb looks much better, but that's been a soft schedule. 

Packers seem like they're in a really good situation right now. DL got some pressure last week, even if it was scheme rather than just beating their man, that should get better. Lloyd and Musgrave coming back give the Packers more options, Wicks, Doubs are playing better. 

Not a single complete game and they just beat a 5-1 team with two turnovers inside the ~10-15 and they still pulled it out. I think they're going to just round into form and they'll take off. 

[HarryDoyle]

6 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

There were just comments about Darnold getting 50M in Free Agency, now...they'll replace him with Stafford!

I think I'd actually be for that. They've got 3 picks in this upcoming draft, a 1 and 2 5ths. They picked JJ McCarthy...who is really hard to evaluate(he's tough, athletic, but didn't throw much). 

But they'd almost certainly have to start with 2 1sts, right? That seems to be the standard for a starting QB of his caliber...and then probably a couple more day 2 picks. 

Is Stafford that big of an upgrade over what Darnold has done to leave them without 1sts for '25 and '26 and then just 6-7 picks total those two years?

I don't think there's any shot the Rams will trade Stafford now. The way their offense looked now that they are healthy, they can definitely make a playoff push now.

[BrewerFan]

On 10/26/2024 at 9:13 AM, HarryDoyle said:

I don't think there's any shot the Rams will trade Stafford now. The way their offense looked now that they are healthy, they can definitely make a playoff push now.

 I don't know if they will. There are two weeks left and they're not a contender...but I'm looking at it from the Vikings perspective. 

They'd be giving up a lot of draft assets, they'd be sitting (edit-McCarthy) another 2-3 years, cap would be blown up, they'd have 2 5th rd picks this year(total) and they'd have to give up more the following year.

The Rams have 2 weeks. If they keep him, fine. They're missing an opportunity in my opinion since they're not good and Stafford, Cupp, any other veterans...I'd say Noteboom, but he and two other starters are on IR.

The team is half-old, half young and really not good. The Thursday Night game, they're flukey.

 

11th best record in the NFC tied with 3 teams and SF and AZ are both better...IMO and the Seattle game is right before the deadline. It probably won't happen, but they probably should and it'd cripple Minnesota, so I'll root for it. 

[HarryDoyle]

LOL Jets! I wonder what AI video we'll get this week.

[adambr2]

Browns all season: "Deshaun Watson isn't the problem, he's our starter"

 

Jameis Winston when Watson ruptures an Achilles and the Browns finally have no choice: 27/41, 331 yards, 3 TDs

[homer]

I am glad the Bears took Williams instead of Daniels.

[BrewerFan]

1 hour ago, adambr2 said:

Browns all season: "Deshaun Watson isn't the problem, he's our starter"

 

Jameis Winston when Watson ruptures an Achilles and the Browns finally have no choice: 27/41, 331 yards, 3 TDs

Which team is the most dysfunctional right now?

I don't think any team is in worse position than the Saints, 82M over the cap and...they just keep signing guys like Chase Young for 1 year 13M type deals and then 4 void years.

The Jets-They have drafted multiple QBs in the top 5, then trade for Rodgers. They hit on a bunch of picks, have a ton of talent all over but turn everything over to Rodgers and...somehow suck. 10 All Pros on that team.

Or the Browns. The team that appeared to be on it's way to finally breaking through, were a little up and down with Baker, but went and traded for Watson...which would have made perfect sense ~15 months earlier when everyone wanted him, but they did it after he sat for a year(and then 11 more games) and are basically just running out the clock until they can get his dead cap low enough to eat it...by which time, most of the great young talent they had, Myles Garrett for example, they'll have been completely wasted. 

Panthers-Went all in on a year there were no "sure" things at QB and handed the Bears the tools to finally get it right?

[homer]

Anthony Richardson was 10/32 passing.

[homer]

lol Bears

what are you thinking?

[yourout]

9 minutes ago, homer said:

lol Bears

what are you thinking?

It might actually work out in their favor timewise.

[HarryDoyle]

Washington should've went for it on 4th and an inch.

[yourout]

I wonder what the best season winning percentage a division has ever had in the NFL?

[homer]

wow. 

[BrewerFan]

Just now, homer said:

I am glad the Bears took Williams instead of Daniels.

AHAHAHA!!!

Same here! Especially after that Hail Marry!

[HarryDoyle]

KNOCK IT DOWN, YOU FOOLS LMAO!!!

[yourout]

Wow....

[yourout]

1 hour ago, homer said:

I am glad the Bears took Williams instead of Daniels.

Got to say those are both pretty impressive young quarterbacks.

[Zad Fnark]

That was nuts.  I couldn't stop laughing.

[young guns]

I'm gonna say geico jumped the gun on naming their "play of the day"

[HarryDoyle]

What a fun day of football today. Watching the Jets postgame vids on youtube was priceless. Now for the Bears.

[BrewerFan]

10 minutes ago, yourout said:

Got to say those are both pretty impressive young quarterbacks.

They are...but Daniels is...pretty clearly the much better player at this point.

The Bears have started with one of the easiest schedules for a Rookie QB you could have. This was the toughest game...so points for that, but Williams plays sloppy and undisciplined. He's clearly got an incredibly talented arm and he's elusive, but their coaching is just...moronic. Two straight QB draws before the 4th and 3 PI was called on a ball in the EZ that Allen likely isn't getting to?

 

Most of the best young teams go with an offensive-minded coach to help their QB out. Williams isn't getting that. They did build up the weapons around him though.