NFL 2023-2024

[GregC]

Miami got beat up tonight by Philly. Not sure how much to take away from that, though. Miami was missing two starting offensive linemen, including the center (source of a number of penalties and bad snaps)--three when another got hurt in the first quarter. Plus 2 of their top 3 cornerbacks were out.

On top of that, the Eagles allegedly committed zero penalties during the game. Quite the achievement.

All that said, Miami has to deal with physical teams better. Thank goodness the Pats upset the Bills (who have the tiebreaker on us thus far), so Miami still leads the division.

 

[Gaolee]

The Seahawks offense tried to give the game to the Cardinals. The defense wouldn't let the Cardinals have it. That's all I can figure from that game. The defense looks pretty good against objectively really bad teams.

 

[MJ5150]

If Pittsburgh had any sense, they'd move George Pickens. He's the latest diva WR on that team. Talented like the others who proceeded him, but doesn't have the mental capacity to keep his emotions in check.

-Mike

 

[MJ5150]

Ok wait. Minnesota has the ball, first and 10 on their own 36 yard line, with 30 seconds left to go in the half and no timeouts wining by a field goal. They throw for a four yard pass, so it's second and six on their own 40. They have no timeouts, so they have to clock it. Third and six, 16 seconds left in the first half.
What does Minnesota do next? Throw for a 60 yard touchdown.
There's no way in h e double hockey sticks Tomlin would've ran a play, let alone two or three plays with that little time left, and no timeouts.
I am jealous.

-Mike

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Gotta admit, I was pulling for the 9ers but the Vikes earned my respect last night.

 

[GregC]

And just like that, the only one-loss teams left are last season's Super Bowl teams. Go figure.

 

[HowieD72]

When I lived in the States, my team was the Ravens. Back when Ray Lewis, Jonathan Ogden etc were in their prime. Hopefully it will be the Ravens year!

 

[Sam Evans]

I'm especially pleased with the Jags this week, considering my in-laws are Steelers fans.

 

[foal30]

Come on Bengals!!

What about Denver??

 

[Jeff K]

If Pittsburgh had any sense, they'd move George Pickens. He's the latest diva WR on that team. Talented like the others who proceeded him, but doesn't have the mental capacity to keep his emotions in check.

-Mike

Very prophetic post, Mike! The Steelers/Jags game wasn't shown here, but I was reading some things. Apparently Pickens referred to the Jags defense as a "Hope Defense", as in "They HOPE to know what to do". (Obviously I'm paraphrasing that last part.) But it gave the Jags plenty of bulletin board material, and they're laughing at, and belittling the Steelers post-game.

I miss the days of my youth when teams spoke respectfully about their competition. At least publicly...

 

[Killing Floor]

My Falcs desperately wanted to get blown out today. But Taylor “Beers” Heinicke came in for Ridder at halftime and led 4 scoring drives in the half. Wasn’t enough but it makes you wonder just how bad our normal starter can be. I don’t think Ridder has reached his bottom yet.
Our secondary put out the welcome mat for Will Levis. That was kind of us.
Go Falcons anyway.
Please fire Art Smith.

 

[Killing Floor]

Come on Bengals!!

What about Denver??

Happy for Denver. Nobody need to lose that much. And to take down KC. Good for them.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Only saw the second half, but the Bengals looked like the old (edit: the recently very good) Bengals yesterday. The D line looked formidable in the stretch I saw, and Mixon bounced outside for two huge runs with some spring in his step that I haven’t seen for a while. 9ers looked like a good team going through a rough patch. This adversity will make Purdy stronger in the end.

Steelers looked absolutely hapless. Not sure what the injury to Pickett turned out to be, but it didn’t look good. Good to see the Broncos and Panthers get off the schneid.

 

[dwm74]

The Cardinals, trailing by two scores in the fourth, oddly decide to burn all three of their timeouts on consecutive plays with over six minutes left. I understand the 'thinking' behind the Cards coach's decision, but still have never seen such a gamble taken, and to no one's surprise, it didn't work. Too bad, because it was actually a pretty exciting fourth quarter for Cards fans as they showed some life, but not having any TOs left didn't help their cause.

 

[gln1955]

Steelers looked absolutely hapless. Not sure what the injury to Pickett turned out to be, but it didn’t look good.

I've been out of the country the last two Sundays, so missed the Steelers games. Yesterday's sounded like the typical Steelers game these past few years. Haven't heard an update on KP, but with a Thursday game this week, I don't expect him to play. Not that it matters too much. Trubisky is quite capable of executing their garbage game plans and, with some luck, keep Tomlin above the .500 mark.

 

[MJ5150]

I've been out of the country the last two Sundays, so missed the Steelers games. Yesterday's sounded like the typical Steelers game these past few years. Haven't heard an update on KP, but with a Thursday game this week, I don't expect him to play. Not that it matters too much. Trubisky is quite capable of executing their garbage game plans and, with some luck, keep Tomlin above the .500 mark.

I did get a call from Canada and Tomlin inquiring about my availability for Thursday. I said yes, but they wouldn't pay for my plane ticket, so it didn't work out.
I let Canada know to check some of the local middle school football teams around Pittsburgh for a QB, but to be careful since they probably know more about NFL football than he does. Pop Warner may be a better choice to run his offense.

-Mike

 

[Gaolee]

The Seahawks didn't look great, but seemed to hold up pretty well against Cleveland's defense. They were good enough at the right times. If Cleveland can keep their defense and running game and get a good QB (ie not Watson), they will be formidable. I can't decide whether to get on a Seahawk bandwagon or stick with the good, but also flawed Huskies to have my cardiac problems this football season.

 

[MJ5150]

I'll give Tomlin credit for acknowledging the officiating wouldn't be a factor when you're a good team and that bad calls happen every game, but doggoneit I'm tired of hearing about a failure to execute. It's the same lame excuse every week, which while true, takes the spotlight off him and that joker Canada.
As Mike Leach said, you either coach it or allow it to happen.

-Mike

 

[gln1955]

As Mike Leach said, you either coach it or allow it to happen.

I love this Leach quote and it certainly applies here. A failure to execute week after week means that they are not coaching to their players' strengths (I believe the talent is there for them to be one of the better teams in the league) or there is a culture of accepting a half-assed effort every week.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Gawd, the Raiders offense looked hapless last night. I almost felt bad for them. It’s like they were the Steelers in a different uniform or something.