NFL

Is there just so much added pressure on teams to improve fans’/gamblers’ fantasy teams and sports betting outcomes? One related stat: “According to ESPN Stats & Information research, there have only been six NFL head coaches since the merger who didn't finish their first season with their team, with three of those instances having come in the past three seasons: Urban Meyer (Jaguars), Nathaniel Hackett (Broncos) and Reich.“ https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38991151/carolina-panthers-fire-head-coach-frank-reich

I’ll preface this by saying that the GM and owner are more at fault for the current mess in Carolina than Frank Reich is.

That being said, trust me as a fan of his former team that he needed to go as well. My main reason for this is that he just shouldn’t have been hired in the first place. His best years with the colts were when he had Andrew Luck in 2018 and Philip Rivers in 2020. Both of them were good QBs that didn’t need development at that stage of their careers. Reich is the ideal HC for if you have an established pro bowl level QB so that he can scheme the rest up. He’s not the guy to develop a rookie QB whether he had Stroud or Young.

To further go into this year, Bryce Young has shown zero development. The offense seems to be doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results as evidenced by Kenny Moore getting him for 2 pick sixes. I know the roster is lacking talent all over the place but you’d think maintaining a scheme for 11 straight games would at least see some improvement in executing it and looking better even in defeat. The panthers pretty much look like the Colts did at the end of his Indy tenure.

I want to again go back to my first point. You don’t hire a retread unless that coach has proven he can consistently get his team in contention (think Mike Tomlin). Reich didn’t mess up the roster, he just wasn’t a good hire in a vacuum

Just thought it was an interesting stat that we have not had a matchup in almost 40 years where both teams had never won a Super Bowl before. Every game since then has featured at least one team having won the title before. It makes sense as the league has been around for longer, the odds of this happening will happen less frequently, but it does seem like a very long time where teams from each conference have featured at least one previous winner.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Super_Bowl_champions

I have a legitimate question in good faith. Jalen Hurts in 2023 is having a pretty similar season to Dak Prescott in 2022 but Hurts is in the mvp combo, but dak was called ass after 2022.

In 2022 Dak played 12 regular games, 23 tds 15 ints, 66.2 comp rate, 7.3 ypa 2860 yards passing.

In 2023 Hurts through 11 games has 18 tds 10 ints, 67.6 comp rate, 7.5 ypa, 2697 yards

Those rates are pretty comparable. The obvious difference here is the rushing stats - which I'll concede - however in context of operating as a passer - this sub was ready to run Dak out of the league, but this year with similar stats Hurts seems to be the odds on favorite for MVP.

What gives?

Disclaimer: Not an Eagles fan. I pull for them to lose more often than not.

So I guess I’m just tired of seeing fans of other teams try to cope with the fact that a team they don’t like is good. Same thing that everyone did with the Patriots, and more recently the Chiefs. Last year, a large portion of NFL fans were calling the Eagles, who stood with the best record in the league, a bunch of frauds because of their strength of schedule. They then proceeded to go to the Super Bowl and lose a tight game.

This year the Eagles have one of the hardest schedules in the league, and once again, have the best record. And now you have fans saying they’re “the luckiest team ever” and “frauds” or whatever else. Earlier, I saw a post on this sub that said the Eagles are “only” 7th in point differential. ONLY???? How does that make sense? When did top 10 in the league become unimpressive?

I also saw another article that detailed the ratio of penalties called for or against Philadelphia. I didn’t bother to do the math but the comments on that post revealed that it averages out to 2 penalties more per game against teams facing Philly. Yet another reach that desperate haters want to point to and then cry about the NFL being fixed.

My question is, when does it end? When can we collectively move on and say “Okay, maybe they’re just good.” Do they catch lucky breaks? Sure, but so has every championship team ever. I hate the Eagles just as much as any other true-blooded American, and I will always want to see them lose (apart from last year’s Super Bowl). But I’m not going to try and act like they’re not good just so I can feel a little bit better about my favorite team losing to them, or losing money from sports betting. Most of us are adults. We gotta stop reasoning like 12 year olds when a football game doesn’t go our way.

I feel this season could have some crazy ones.

Lions Vs Browns Broncos Vs Cowboys Ravens Vs 49ers Eagles Vs Chiefs rematch

And the term realistic can be used loosely. Honestly if they can make the playoffs, I'm OK if you say they can make a superbowl.

It's too early to write Mingo, obviously. And he has had 2 games with 50 yards receiving. But that's it. No TD's. Other rookie WR's are beginning to take off. And then there's Marshall who is only seeing a 50% snap share with an 11% target rate.

We're all talking about what it took for Carolina to get Young, but it's also worth noting in the last 3 drafts, the Panthers have used a 39th, 94th, and 59th overall picks on Mingo, QB Matt Corral, and Marshall Jr. Yikes.

I guess ultimately my question is what do you think the ceiling for these WR would be in a different system? Or do you just think they were overdrafted to begin with?

I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving weekend! As always, this post is to really see what’s going on around the league after yesterday’s games. Who’s playing well, who’s playing poorly, complaints about your team losing, whatever it is.

Here’s what I took away from this week:

Dolphins are going to run away with the AFC east crown

On a similar note, the pats and jets are done for the year and the bills have a tough road to win the division.

Broncos Country is finally riding again.

Matt canada really WAS that bad after all. Maybe the steelers offense is alright now.

Chargers fucked up drafting Quentin Johnston over Zay Flowers. Best waiver wire pickup this season for me.

the playoff race is going to be really interesting over the next few weeks.

What are some of your reactions?

Pretty much just the title - when is the latest the two minute warning has set in? 1:48? 1:47? Figure it could be after a kickoff at 2:01 or 2:02.

I can’t quite put my finger on it, maybe I am legitimately just getting tired of watching football.

Between the constant, game-changing flags and injuries every other play, the NFL is losing its magic.

I can’t be the only one who feels this way. Am I alone here?

Carolina Head Coaches

Pittsburgh Head Coaches

Crosby's a hero. One of my very favorite players in the league today

From the article:

"Things happen in life," Crosby said. "I've been through a lot, in general. Some people have their opinions, think I'm crazy, but I know I'm crazy. So, it's fun, I love it."

After starting the season 1-5, the Broncos have ripped off a five game win streak. Denver's last five opponents: GB, KC, Buffalo, Minnesota, and Cleveland yesterday. Wilson has thrown 8 TDs and 0 INTs over this streak.

How do you rate Denver through 11 games? They're currently out of the playoff picture, but there's a bit of a log jam behind Pittsburgh and Cleveland for the 7th seed. And they have a big game against a fellow 6-5 team at Houston next week.

Herbert is good, but he isn’t exactly winning the big games. This has been the main criticism for Kirk Cousins in that he can’t win the big game, but Herbert doesn’t seem to be able to do this either. This seems especially true after losing in terrible fashion in the playoffs last year. Unless he leaves for another team, it seems he will also rarely make the playoffs (Cousins has made the playoffs 4 times) or win the division (Cousins has no division titles). Kirk Cousins had Rodgers blocking division titles, and Herbert has Mahomes blocking him from division titles too.

Please don’t bring up coaching or not having a defense because Cousins could use those same excuses.

Is it fair to say Herbert is destined to be the NFL’s new Kirk Cousins in being a fantasy football star and produce great stats, but not ever really being able to win the important games consistently? I’m aware he’s only 24, but he seems destined to have the career arc of Cousins. This isn’t saying he’s a bad QB, but just won’t ever be on the same level as Lamar/Mahomes/Hurts/Allen just as Cousins wasn’t on the same level as Brady/Rodgers/Wilson/Brees.

I don't understand how QBR works. In Raiders/Chiefs game yesterday, O'Connell had a better QBR than Mahomes even though he wasn't better than Mahomes in a single quarterback related stat. What's up with that? Is it Mahomes' rushing stats that dragged his QBR down? No fumbles for either of them, so I'm totally confused.

Hurts has 8 straight victories when trailing by double digits at any point in the game. NO other QB has more than 4.

Hurts has won 15 straight regular season games against teams with a winning record. He passed Peyton Manning / Vinny Testaverde (both them had 13)

Also, when the Eagles are TIED or LOSING Hurts has completed 71% of his passes for 1,710 yards with 14 TD’s 1 INT. 114.4 rating

When trailing in the second half this season Hurts had a completion rate of 67.6 for 686 yards 10 TD’s 0 INT. 136.6 passer rating

Hurts has also had 11 rushing TD’s this season. Making NFL history as the first qb to have 10+ Rushing TD’s in 2 consecutive seasons (Hurts has 3 seasons)

Do what you will with this information.

Tweet

“The trade for Bryce Young was a Tepper call. Paying Matt Rhule…was a Tepper call…they’re screwed if Bryce Young doesn’t figure it out…there is no fix for a meddlesome owner.”

@MichaelRyanRuiz, @Stugotz790, and the crew react to the firing of Frank Reich.