NFC North/NFL Thread 2016-17

[forgetful]

Both the Packers and Lions should have a secret gentleman's agreement to have QB kneel downs 90 straight times on Sunday night.

That would be hilarious, game moved to SNF, both teams kneel for 60 minutes.  Beautiful.

[Dish]

If the Pack/Lions were to go to overtime on Sunday night, it'd be very interesting to see if both teams said "screw it", and tried to run the clock out. NFL would hate it, but it'd clearly be the best scenario for both teams.

[wadesworld]

Playing around with the playoff generator on ESPN.com, if the Giants beat the Redskins it seems like it's pretty much guaranteed both teams are in the Playoffs before they even start their game.  But I believe the Giants are locked into the 4 seed, so it's fairly unlikely that the Giants play their starters the entire game.  If the Redskins win it looks like they're in as the 6 seed, so that makes the Packers/Lions a win or go home.  Unless there's a tie in either game, then things change.

I'll live with Rodgers as my QB.

[tower912]

I have complete confidence in Detroit's ability to lose the last 3 and miss the playoffs.

.

[MU B2002]

I'll live with Rodgers as my QB.

Even though he isn't a leader?  (One of the most ridiculous hot takes on this board in 2016.)

[Dish]

I've been sick all week, and watching far too much tv, but watching the Sun Bowl closely and a couple other UNC games, there's some stuff to like about Trubisky, but no way, none, zero, zilch should he be a top 5 pick. Not right now. He needs much more experience, a year back will put him in the conversation next year to be a top 5 pick.

[MU B2002]

I've been sick all week, and watching far too much tv, but watching the Sun Bowl closely and a couple other UNC games, there's some stuff to like about Trubisky, but no way, none, zero, zilch should he be a top 5 pick. Not right now. He needs much more experience, a year back will put him in the conversation next year to be a top 5 pick.

Dish, still think Bears are high on Kayaa?(sic)

2nd I assume.

[Dish]

Dish, still think Bears are high on Kayaa?(sic)

2nd I assume.

02, I do, I think in the second round, that's who they would pull the trigger on.

[GB Warrior]

I've been sick all week, and watching far too much tv, but watching the Sun Bowl closely and a couple other UNC games, there's some stuff to like about Trubisky, but no way, none, zero, zilch should he be a top 5 pick. Not right now. He needs much more experience, a year back will put him in the conversation next year to be a top 5 pick.

The introduction of the rookie wave scale changed the risk profile substantially in favor of projects, especially at the quarterback position. It's no longer cost-prohibitive to draft a QB high that you think may develop into a star (or above league average, which seems to be hard enough to find) and simply discard them if you find that not to be the case. A lot of draft capital, but not the raw financial investment.

Mind you, this still isn't what well-managed teams do,  but it's becoming more common-place.

Now, to your point, I agree with you on Trubisky, and honestly don't ever see him as a franchise-altering player.

[Dish]

There's a lot to like about Trubisky, size, mobility, arm. But the mistakes he makes should be corrected at the college level, not pro's. The interception across his body on the run, and the scramble where he had tons of time, took a sack...he's mentally not ready. If he stays, a year from now could be an epic QB class (Darnold, Jackson, Rosen).

My ideal Bears scenario is a Jets godfather offer to the Bears to swap picks.

[Dish]

Thank god it's finally over.

[Dish]

Tonight's game means winner hosts NYG, loser goes to SEA (and then DAL w/win at SEA).

[drewm88]

Tonight's game means winner hosts NYG, loser goes to SEA (and then DAL w/win at SEA).

49ers and Washington are both only down a possession. Still a lot of time for those results to change and give the GB/Det winner the 3 seed and/or the loser an early offseason.

[tower912]

Both teams in?   Sit everybody.     

[brandx]

Both teams in?   Sit everybody.   

Home against NYG or on the road at Seattle?

Is the risk of losing someone worth it?

[Dish]

I honestly think whatever team loses tonight can go into Seattle and win. My concern for the Lions would be playing 3 times in 12 days, as the Seattle game on wild card weekend is a virtual lock to be the Saturday night game.

[MUEng92]

Considering I've seen McCarthy scream at more players in the 1st half of this game than I've seen the last 4 years combined, I think he wants to win the division. Unfortunately his cornerbacks have to play in the game

[brandx]

Considering I've seen McCarthy scream at more players in the 1st half of this game than I've seen the last 4 years combined, I think he wants to win the division. Unfortunately his cornerbacks have to play in the game

Considering they are on pace to hold the Lion juggernaut to 500 yards .... maybe he has reason.

[wadesworld]

Considering I've seen McCarthy scream at more players in the 1st half of this game than I've seen the last 4 years combined, I think he wants to win the division. Unfortunately his cornerbacks have to play in the game

Considering they are on pace to hold the Lion juggernaut to 500 yards .... maybe he has reason.

Not sure it matters how the defense plays if the offense is going to play like this...

[drewm88]

I honestly think whatever team loses tonight can go into Seattle and win. My concern for the Lions would be playing 3 times in 12 days, as the Seattle game on wild card weekend is a virtual lock to be the Saturday night game.

Isn't Saturday night usually the dud game on ESPN?

[Dish]

Isn't Saturday night usually the dud game on ESPN?

Raiders/Texans has to be a virtual lock to be the 3:30 pm game on Saturday, with a second game to follow.

[RJax55]

Raiders/Texans has to be a virtual lock to be the 3:30 pm game on Saturday, with a second game to follow.

I believe every Texans wildcard playoff game has been the 3:30 Saturday special.

Also, the Texans are quite lucky to the get the Raiders. They most likely will win and they are the worst team in either conference to make the playoffs. Another match up with the Chiefs would look like last years beat down.

[wadesworld]

I actually think the Packers can afford a loss to either Houston or Seattle and still get into the Playoffs.  If the Packers were to beat both the Vikings and the Lions I don't see either of those 2 teams having any less than 7 losses, and the Packers would almost surely have the tiebreaker on both, being 2-0 against Detroit and 1-1 against the Vikings but having the best record within the division.

Let's say the Packers do beat the Lions.  That means to finish with less than 7 losses, the Lions would have to win 2 of at NYG, at Dallas, and at NO.  That's tough.

Bingo.

If the Packers lose before the NFC Title game (and I'm pretty sure they will) I'm up in the air whether Mac has saved his job (not whether he actually will have, because he will be back no doubt, but whether I want him to have). I lean towards yes as he changed things up and hopefully learned just dropping Rodgers back and looking for the home run every play doesn't work. But it seems like every year we start the season like that so I'm not sure he'll keep that lesson in mind.

What I do know is I don't think Lacy is a fit for the type of offense the Packers need to run. Very good when healthy but the offense gets vanilla with him. I'd like to see Montgomery stay as the starting RB with Michael and Ripper backing him up. Keep Alison at WR and see if Cobb will take a paycut or cut him loose. Resign Cook and Lang (they probably let him go though). Have to figure out what OLBs are back and get some DBs through the draft or FA.

[JWags85]

What would the O/U on a Packers/Falcons game open at, 60?  They would put up 40 easily on that Packers makeshift secondary.  But the run that Rodgers is on, you'd think he's good for 3-4 TDs on his own.

[GGGG]

McCarthy will be back.  Thompson might be pushed to a senior role for Elliott Wolf. 

For all the crap he took, Dom Capers has been fantastic the last six games.