2020-21 NFL Season

[CreightonWarrior]

RIP Kevin Greene. Will never forget the moment captured by NFL Films when he spoke to Clay Matthews right before his forced fumble in the Super Bowl.

[MUBurrow]

I really could understand if he wants to move on.  I am not sure what else he could accomplish at NW.

Yep. And there's no worse than a 40% chance that if the NFL doesn't work out, that job will be there if he wants it back. Most coaches at Northwestern are going to have a rough go, and bringing Fitzgerald back will always be a popular move.  I doubt that leaving for an NFL gig at this point would leave any bad blood, especially if the report is true that nine teams have asked after him over the past five years. He's been the head man since '06 and been on staff there since '01. He won a bunch and got those beautiful new facilities built - he's done plenty to take a shot.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Heard from a NU buddy of mine that if the Bears come calling he's gone.

Would probably explain a bunch of their players declaring for the draft and entering the transfer portal. Not even backups, but starters are transferring out.

Hank announces his retirement, AD is leaving for the ACC, just too much smoke.

[MU82]

Sooooo....does Lawrence refuse to go to Jacksonville? I mean, they're an even more dysfunctional franchise than the Jets and probably won't be in Jacksonville within a few years.

Here's one for you 82, keep him in the Carolinas and have him force a trade to the Panthers.

If only.

I wonder how much it would cost the Panthers to move up from #4 or 5, where it looks like they'll be, to #1.

The Panthers need so much that they really can't afford to give up something like three #1s and two #2, or whatever. So it probably won't happen. But damn!

[Jockey]

If I understand the NFL tiebreakers correctly, and I'm not sure I do, the Packers game against the Titans does not matter. Win or lose against the Titans, beating the Bears will guarantee the 1 seed and losing to the Bears will guarantee a 2 or 3 seed depending on the results of the Saints and Seahawks games (except for a very convoluted situation where the Packers/Saints/Seahawks go 0-2 and the Bucs/Rams go 1-1, letting the Packers keep the 1 seed at 11-5).

Mostly correct. Unless both Seattle and NO lose Sunday and GB wins. Then the Bears game would be meaningless to GB. I would still expect GB to use their starters (at least for most of the game against Chi) as you don't want a 3 week layoff.

[MU82]

Brady might only be a "system quarterback," as his few critics claim, but the coach who devised that system made the playoffs (and usually won big in those playoffs) when he had Brady ... but is oh-fer without Brady.

Meanwhile, Brady's gonna make the playoffs in a whole nother system with a sad-sack franchise.

[JWags85]

Brady might only be a "system quarterback," as his few critics claim, but the coach who devised that system made the playoffs (and usually won big in those playoffs) when he had Brady ... but is oh-fer without Brady.

Meanwhile, Brady's gonna make the playoffs in a whole nother system with a sad-sack franchise.

I mean, he won 11 games with Matt Cassell and made history in not making the playoffs that year with their record. He also has a good record with Brissett and Jimmy G in their starts. This year he has a QB with a shot shoulder off major surgery and tons of hard miles in addition to the worst team the Pats have had in years outside of the QB position.

Meanwhile Brady has EASILY the best receiving core in the league, a likely Pro Bowler at RB, and an offensive minded HC who has covered up his failing arm and bad decision making. They aren't riding his exceptional play to victory. Not quite apples to oranges

[cheebs09]

I mean, he won 11 games with Matt Cassell and made history in not making the playoffs that year with their record. He also has a good record with Brissett and Jimmy G in their starts. This year he has a QB with a shot shoulder off major surgery and tons of hard miles in addition to the worst team the Pats have had in years outside of the QB position.

Meanwhile Brady has EASILY the best receiving core in the league, a likely Pro Bowler at RB, and an offensive minded HC who has covered up his failing arm and bad decision making. They aren't riding his exceptional play to victory. Not quite apples to oranges

Also, I think a bunch of Patriot defensive starters opted out this year.

[The Sultan]

I mean, he won 11 games with Matt Cassell and made history in not making the playoffs that year with their record. He also has a good record with Brissett and Jimmy G in their starts. This year he has a QB with a shot shoulder off major surgery and tons of hard miles in addition to the worst team the Pats have had in years outside of the QB position.

Meanwhile Brady has EASILY the best receiving core in the league, a likely Pro Bowler at RB, and an offensive minded HC who has covered up his failing arm and bad decision making. They aren't riding his exceptional play to victory. Not quite apples to oranges

I would suggest that BB the GM has been the biggest problem.

[MU82]

I mean, he won 11 games with Matt Cassell and made history in not making the playoffs that year with their record. He also has a good record with Brissett and Jimmy G in their starts. This year he has a QB with a shot shoulder off major surgery and tons of hard miles in addition to the worst team the Pats have had in years outside of the QB position.

Meanwhile Brady has EASILY the best receiving core in the league, a likely Pro Bowler at RB, and an offensive minded HC who has covered up his failing arm and bad decision making. They aren't riding his exceptional play to victory. Not quite apples to oranges

I won't dispute any of that.

I was going to say I won't dispute all the facts in my post ... except I will. In looking up Belichick's record just now, I was reminded that he actually did make the playoffs once with a QB not named Brady. The 1994 Browns made the playoffs, and they won their first playoff game, over New England, with Vinny Testaverde at QB. So I sit corrected.

[MU82]

How 'bout the Steelers?

That went real bad real fast.

11-0 ... and then 0-3, with each loss worse than the one before.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Mostly correct. Unless both Seattle and NO lose Sunday and GB wins. Then the Bears game would be meaningless to GB. I would still expect GB to use their starters (at least for most of the game against Chi) as you don't want a 3 week layoff.

Packers would not need a Saints loss if they win, only Seattle.   Saints already have 4 losses and the Packers won head to head.

If Seattle loses to the Rams, the Packers can clinch the 1 seed Sunday night against the Titans.  And, as was said, the Packers get the 1 seed if they beat the Bears regardless of what else happens.

[The Sultan]

How 'bout the Steelers?

That went real bad real fast.

11-0 ... and then 0-3, with each loss worse than the one before.

There has to be something wrong with Ben.  He looks shot.

[StillAWarrior]

How 'bout the Steelers?

That went real bad real fast.

11-0 ... and then 0-3, with each loss worse than the one before.

If the Cleveland wins this week against the Jets and Pittsburgh loses this week against the Colts - neither of which would be particularly shocking - week 17 in Cleveland will be wild. The Browns and the Steelers will be tied and playing for the division title on the last day of the season. I hope the NFL would flex this game to Sunday night.

[Hards Alumni]

There has to be something wrong with Ben.  He looks shot.

He's going to be 39 in 3 months and has been injured almost every year of his career.  It had to catch up with him eventually... just surprised his body has held out this long.

[4everwarriors]

There has to be something wrong with Ben.  He looks shot.

Ethanol and chasin' tail kinda duz dat after a bit, aina?

[JWags85]

He's going to be 39 in 3 months and has been injured almost every year of his career.  It had to catch up with him eventually... just surprised his body has held out this long.

Sure, but look at his stats early in the year versus the last couple games. It's not just the defenses they were playing, he can't throw a long ball and has no accuracy anymore. That wasn't the case early in the season. It looks like he's nursing something they haven't disclosed. His arm is stiff and weak.

[MU82]

If the Cleveland wins this week against the Jets and Pittsburgh loses this week against the Colts - neither of which would be particularly shocking - week 17 in Cleveland will be wild. The Browns and the Steelers will be tied and playing for the division title on the last day of the season. I hope the NFL would flex this game to Sunday night.

In the olden days (such as all the way back to last season), this would have been a huge deal. But only the No. 1 seed gets a first-round bye this season, so it doesn't matter as much. Still, for the Browns to win the division after years of futility, for the Steelers to blow it after an 11-0 start, and for the Browns to beat the Steelers to make all that happen, yep, that would be something.

He's going to be 39 in 3 months and has been injured almost every year of his career.  It had to catch up with him eventually... just surprised his body has held out this long.

Was thinking the same. But ESPN is reporting that he doesn't want to retire after the season.

Cam Newton says he wants to keep playing, too, and his arm looks even more shot than Ben's.

[Jockey]

Sure, but look at his stats early in the year versus the last couple games. It's not just the defenses they were playing, he can't throw a long ball and has no accuracy anymore. That wasn't the case early in the season. It looks like he's nursing something they haven't disclosed. His arm is stiff and weak.

Without a running game the LBs are able to drop back making the intermediate passes more difficult.

They will be lucky to win one game in the playoffs.

[tower912]

Lions requested their Saturday night game be moved to Sunday due to COVID.   Because Detroit, the league said no.   So most of the coaching staff will still be in quarantine and the Lions will be coached by assistants far down the food chain, none of whom having ever called plays in am NFL game.   It should be interesting to see how the line responds to this.

[GooooMarquette]

Lions requested their Saturday night game be moved to Sunday due to COVID.   Because Detroit, the league said no.   So most of the coaching staff will still be in quarantine and the Lions will be coached by assistants far down the food chain, none of whom having ever called plays in am NFL game.   It should be interesting to see how the line responds to this.

It certainly can't hurt, can it?

[tower912]

Should just let Stafford call his own plays.

[tower912]

They NFL has moved how many games around?   But when all Detroit asked was to play on Sunday so their coaches would be available.   One day.   Back to the regular day.   Detroit.

If Tampa had asked so Brady could be available...

[The Sultan]

They NFL has moved how many games around?   But when all Detroit asked was to play on Sunday so their coaches would be available.   One day.   Back to the regular day.   Detroit.

If Tampa had asked so Brady could be available...

It's because it's a Saturday game in a dedicated time slot.

[cheebs09]

It's because it's a Saturday game in a dedicated time slot.

That, and the outbreak is controlled I assume. Similar to Denver having to use a WR at QB.