2020 NFL Season Thread

[devo22]

Josh Allens progress is simply amazing. Accuracy has always been his biggest issue, and now he completes 69% all of a sudden?! Hats off.

Rodgers will surely win MVP and Mahomes is Mahomes, but I don't see any other QB that had a better year than Allen. Imagine thinking that a couple of years ago ...

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Weitz

3rd seed means playing Baltimore in the first game win basically means playing Miami. Seems like a good enough reason to play and win.(assuming the Steelers win)

Im not sure why people are thinking the Ravens are some sort of scary team that should be avoided at all costs.

I mean they beat up a pretty good Giants defense last week and Jackson is a wild card for sure, but overall their record is based on beating up on a lot of really poor teams this year for the most part.

Yes seeing the Dolphins might be preferable but the Ravens aren't some juggernaut of a team. The Bills have much more impressive wins IMO.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Im not sure why people are thinking the Ravens are some sort of scary team that should be avoided at all costs.

I mean they beat up a pretty good Giants defense last week and Jackson is a wild card for sure, but overall their record is based on beating up on a lot of really poor teams this year for the most part.

Yes seeing the Dolphins might be preferable but the Ravens aren't some juggernaut of a team. The Bills have much more impressive wins IMO.

They lost to KC, Tennessee in OT, NE in a Monsoon, Pitts with a backup team, and Pitts when the refs screwed them on the last drive/plays

So 1 bad lost to KC.

They beat Cleveland twice and Indy.

They have the best point differential in the league. They are finally all recovered from COVID, and Jackson's leg injury looks to be behind him

I don't think anyone would argue they are better then the Bills, but they are a team no one wants to play

[transplant99]

Actually now that look at it, its pretty even league wide as far as teams go.

The Chiefs last 7 games are all wins but by margins of 2, 4, 3, 6, 6, 3, and 3 points....suggests they are not heads and shoulders above the rest like they were last year...W/L records aside.

Things are wide open in both conferences though the AFC is much more top heavy and deeper.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

They lost to KC, Tennessee in OT, NE in a Monsoon, Pitts with a backup team, and Pitts when the refs screwed them on the last drive/plays

So 1 bad lost to KC.

They beat Cleveland twice and Indy.

They have the best point differential in the league. They are finally all recovered from COVID, and Jackson's leg injury looks to be behind him

I don' think any would argue they are behind the Bills, but they are a team no one wants to play

Not sure thats a claim to greatness after watching that club recently.

And already lost twice to the Steelers who...well...who knows what they are anymore.

Look who else the Ravens actually beat in those 10 games...

Houston 4-11
WFT 6-9
Cincy 4-10
Philly 4-10-1
Dallas 6-9
Jacksonville 1-14
NY Giants 5-10

34-73 combined.

Again....yeah they are a good team but hardly anyone that should be avoided at all costs.

I think they are too one dimensional on offense to win it all though that one dimension is the best in the game and their defense is elite. That could be enough (and they did it that way once before with almost strictly defense) but i wouldnt be wagering on it myself. There are a bunch of good teams this year but no single dominant club which is why there is no one to try and stay away from on purpose.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The scariness of the Ravens comes down to them with the lead. Of course they are the scariest team in the league with the lead, they can run non-stop and the play action becomes unstoppable because you have to sell out for the run. But get up 10 points or more against the Ravens and they might be the least scary team in the league, you're happy to let them bleed to clock running between the 20s knowing the field becomes a 12th defender closer to the end zone and you can sell out for the run without the consequences of a deep shot.

The Chiefs are the favorites, but they've been less than impressive in the second half of the year. How much of that is simply boredom, I guess we'll find out. If they have been slow rolling things then they will walk to the title this year, if the issues we've seen are real they are very beatable.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The scariness of the Ravens comes down to them with the lead. Of course they are the scariest team in the league with the lead, they can run non-stop and the play action becomes unstoppable because you have to sell out for the run. But get up 10 points or more against the Ravens and they might be the least scary team in the league, you're happy to let them bleed to clock running between the 20s knowing the field becomes a 12th defender closer to the end zone and you can sell out for the run without the consequences of a deep shot.

The Chiefs are the favorites, but they've been less than impressive in the second half of the year. How much of that is simply boredom, I guess we'll find out. If they have been slow rolling things then they will walk to the title this year, if the issues we've seen are real they are very beatable.

Very good observation and spot on about the Ravens.

Similar to what we saw on Sunday night. The Titans couldnt ground and pound nearly as much as they would have liked because they got behind so much and so quickly....and also had no answer for the Packers running game which has been severely under rated all year and just grew a third head with AJ Dillon looking like a tremendous bad weather back.

[Strange Brew]

I don't know. As I see it, if you take the Chiefs out of the mix this would be as wide open a post season as any I can think of.

Not that they're unbeatable, far from it, but I certainly see them as the prohibitive favorite.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Steelers rolling with Mason Rudolph this week. I wanna say that's great news for the Browns, but it would of course be peak Browns to lose to a garbage QB like Rudolph to miss the playoffs.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I don't know. As I see it, if you take the Chiefs out of the mix this would be as wide open a post season as any I can think of.

Not that they're unbeatable, far from it, but I certainly see them as the prohibitive favorite.

Oh no question and the money thinks so too....

https://www.sportsline.com/nfl/odds/futures/


There are some decent value bets there though....actually i see value in about 5 of them.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Steelers rolling with Mason Rudolph this week. I wanna say that's great news for the Browns, but it would of course be peak Browns to lose to a garbage QB like Rudolph to miss the playoffs.

Mason is dating Genie Bouchard. Respect!

[Sylvanfan]

Once you get to the Division round the NFC even's up a fair bit and any of those matchups really could go either way. I think the Wild Card round will be pretty lame on that side as Arizona and the Rams both have banged up QB's, and it could be Brady vs Andy Dalton in the other game. I would have to think Andy Dalton being 0-4 might be a record for most post season losses by a QB without a win. But in the Division round you potentially have Brady and Rogers head to head and Wilson and Brees. 3 guys who are easily first ballot hall of famers, and a 4th in Wilson who likely will be a shoe in if he finds a way to win another Super bowl.

Pittsburgh and Buffalo face teams who can win a playoff berth with a win. But we saw Baltimore rest starters last year and still win that game. Since neither team can earn a bye, they might treat it as one as they don't have much control over who they play as there is too much to still be decided. We already see Pittsburgh putting Rudolph out there...although maybe they're trying to bait Myles Garrett into a repeat of last year's helmet swing. Baltimore played backups against Pittsburgh last year when the Steelers needed to win, and still won so nothing is ever guaranteed. I suspect both teams rest starters and treat it as a bye before they play the next week. Given the choice, they likely don't mind having Cleveland or Miami as potential playoff opponents.

Weather wise I don't think Pittsburgh or Buffalo are much different, but if I was the Bills, I think I prefer to be in position to have the 2 seed as I wouldn't trust the turf at Heinz field in January as much as the Field turf they have for a Division round game.

I have to think Indy should beat Jacksonville and get to 11 wins but the Jags have Lawrence guaranteed, and Rivers has a history of choking. So the Jags might bookend their season with wins over the Colts. The Texans might be able to pull an upset on the Titans if they take some of JJ Watt's words to heart and they still have Deshaun. The Ravens should beat the Bengals, but we've seen the Bengals still care a bit, and they have spoiled the Ravens as recently as 2017 so although I expect Baltimore to win, I don't think it's a slam dunk it would have been 3 weeks ago. Than you get Miami and Cleveland playing the Bills and Steelers. So you have a glut of teams who can finish any of 4-5-6 with a win or loss, plus the two AFC South teams who can win their Division with a win, and maybe miss out entirely with a loss. The week does lack that marquee win and you're in and the other team loses game. But there is a lot to be determined yet.

[devo22]

makes sense to sit Ben and let him heal a bit. Also makes sense to play Rudolph to see if there is ANYTHING that warrants working with him beyond his rookie deal. But man, kicking Cleveland out of the playoffs would have been a lot of fun and that task just became 300% harder.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Oh no question and the money thinks so too....

https://www.sportsline.com/nfl/odds/futures/


There are some decent value bets there though....actually i see value in about 5 of them.

I like the odds on Green Bay, Tampa, Buffalo, and Baltimore. I would think that Baltimore would change a fair bit next week if they're in the playoffs for sure.

After week 16 last year KC was +650 looking like the third place team with no bye. After week 17, they moved to +300. So I would think if the Ravens are assured a spot in the playoffs that they likely move to +900 or maybe even less.

[rubecube]

+1200 for the Ravens is great odds.

[flamingred89]

Probably late to the party but ESPN killed it with their animations last night. Josh Allen jumping through a table Bills Mafia style was a personal fave. Their announcing crew sucks but their production has been on point lately.

[rubecube]

Lol, Jordan Mailata is in concussion protocol, so the Eagles will very likely be starting their 14th different offensive line combo this week. Chase Young is going to feast.

[Deegee]

Originally Posted by flamingred89

Probably late to the party but ESPN killed it with their animations last night. Josh Allen jumping through a table Bills Mafia style was a personal fave. Their announcing crew sucks but their production has been on point lately.

I'll watch football on any channel, but in order of preference for me it's:

NBC
CBS
FOX
ESPN

For me not only are the announcers not great on MNF, and frankly they haven't been for awhile, but the video always seems dark or dull compared to the others. I hate Fox because they don't keep the ticker on so I need to hunt for scores of other games and that's super annoying.

I'm probably the only guy who doesn't hate Al and Chris, even if Chris doesn't know where Toronto is, or is surprised females know stuff about football. In fact, I find the are the best to listen to.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Man, I don't want the ticker. If I don't have red zone on I'd rather watch the extended highlights later and not be spoiled.

[Sylvanfan]

Fitzmagic out on Sunday due to Covid. Too bad, his comeback on Saturday was epic.

https://nfltraderumors.co/dolphins-q...19-out-sunday/