The NFL Thread: 2018 Preseason

[Baltimore-Ravens]

Hey, but on the bright side they've never won a SB, Lum. The Falcons are 0-2. Both shameful affairs though in different aspects. New Orleans is 1-0.

At least you are not in a division like the AFC North with some team that is 6-2 in SBs, (although 4 of those wins happened while dinosaurs still roamed the Earth).

[Luminesa]

Hey, but on the bright side they've never won a SB, Lum. The Falcons are 0-2. Both shameful affairs though in different aspects. New Orleans is 1-0.

At least you are not in a division like the AFC North with some team that is 6-2 in SBs, (although 4 of those wins happened while dinosaurs still roamed the Earth).

I now feel slightly better. Thank you, Balty.

And we play the Panthers next week. Ho boy...

[Maineiacs]

Hey, but on the bright side they've never won a SB, Lum. The Falcons are 0-2. Both shameful affairs though in different aspects. New Orleans is 1-0.

At least you are not in a division like the AFC North with some team that is 6-2 in SBs, (although 4 of those wins happened while dinosaurs still roamed the Earth).

*was alive for the '70s* Dinosaurs, eh?

[Trollgaard]

Man, is Eli Manning done? He has been really bad the first two games, and wasn't good that good last season...

If I was a Giants fan I would be very concerned.

I don't see them making the playoffs the way they're going!

[Ranoria]

Man, is Eli Manning done? He has been really bad the first two games, and wasn't good that good last season...

If I was a Giants fan I would be very concerned.

I don't see them making the playoffs the way they're going!

If you're watching the game, it's not all his fault. I dare say I could trip some guys up and be a better pass protector than Bobby Hart and Ereck Flowers.

[Baltimore-Ravens]

Hey, but on the bright side they've never won a SB, Lum. The Falcons are 0-2. Both shameful affairs though in different aspects. New Orleans is 1-0.

At least you are not in a division like the AFC North with some team that is 6-2 in SBs, (although 4 of those wins happened while dinosaurs still roamed the Earth).

*was alive for the '70s* Dinosaurs, eh?

Hey brother. I was once a model for those old Sinclair Gas Station signs. I voted for McGovern too!

[Baltimore-Ravens]

Man, is Eli Manning done? He has been really bad the first two games, and wasn't good that good last season...

If I was a Giants fan I would be very concerned.

I don't see them making the playoffs the way they're going!

You'd think he'd really want that 3rd SB ring to top his brother Peyton (though Eli's SB wins were versus Brady and the Pats, so they're probably worth more).

[Trollgaard]

Man, is Eli Manning done? He has been really bad the first two games, and wasn't good that good last season...

If I was a Giants fan I would be very concerned.

I don't see them making the playoffs the way they're going!

You'd think he'd really want that 3rd SB ring to top his brother Peyton (though Eli's SB wins were versus Brady and the Pats, so they're probably worth more).

Yeah, you would. I'm no football expert, but man...I see the Giants offense as completely one dimensional, kinda like how KC was with Jamaal Charles for a bit, but even worse! I haven't followed the Giants for years like many people, but I don't see anything with Eli...it seems he, and the Giants, are living on name and reputation, which is heavily borrowed from their Defense in the first place!

The Giants just look bad.

[Kohr]

This week we play the Bucs. I'll miss most of it, sadly, but it should be a good game. Sam Bradford had better start, though.

[Arkinesia]

Just a random thought, my Super Bowl picks for the next few years, and why. This is basically just me being unable to sleep, but here goes.

52: Packers over Raiders
The Raiders offense is EXPLOSIVE, and I think their secondary has taken a major step forward through the draft. Khalil Mack, meanwhile, makes this an elite unit, along with Mario Edwards taking a step forward and Bruce Irvin continuing to produce. This firepower on both sides of the ball leads to an AFC Championship, but Aaron Rodgers does that thing that he does and shreds them while the Packers' defense holds on for dear life, and holds Carr to 27.
Green Bay: 34 Oakland: 27
SBMVP: Aaron Rodgers

53: Seahawks over Steelers
By now, the Seahawks Offensive Line will have improved, hopefully, by some small margin, even if the legion of boom is in it's last couple of dominant years. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh, with the fall of New England, finally manages to break through the AFC gauntlet and take on the 'Hawks. However, it isn't quite enough, with Roethlisberger doing a Manning and falling apart against a vaunted defense.
Seattle: 27 Pittsburgh: 17
SBMVP: Earl Thomas or Russell Wilson

54: Forty Niners over Raiders
Kirk Cousins and a powerhouse defense led by Reuben Foster, Solomon Thomas, Deforest Buckner, and an aging captain in Navarro Bowman carry San Francisco to the Super Bowl, where Derek Carr arrives with his first league MVP award and second conference championship. A somewhat weaker offensive line, however, falters early to a strong San Fransisco front seven, and Reuben Foster dominates throughout, shutting down the run game. Carr nearly leads a comeback in the fourth, scoring 20 points in a span of 13 minutes, but Jack Del Rio's aggressive play calling results in a failed 2 point conversion.
San Francisco: 24 Oakland: 23
SBMVP: Reuben Foster

55: Buccaneers fall to Titans
Two teams with hype centered around no-longer-young quarterbacks come into the stadium, but Jameis Winston is incapable of beating Marcus Mariota. Despite a strong offense on both sides, points are hard to come by until Tennessee pulls ahead in the fourth.
Buccaneers: 17 Titans: 31
SBMVP: Derrick Henry

56: Buccaneers fall to Raiders
In a second straight season, this Tampa Bay squad can't finish the year off with the greatest of prizes. This time, Winston is the defending league MVP, one whom has looked to be a dominant pocket passer, shredding even the best defenses on his path. Unfortunately, his confidence, and gunslinger of an arm, costs Tampa Bay just one possession, and one score, that loses the highest scoring game of the season.
Tampa Bay: 38 Oakland: 45
SBMVP: Gareon Conley or Amari Cooper

I'm going to say it again. The Giants need to trade a 1st rounder for Joe Thomas. They are a team that is in win now mode, so get your pass protection right, that first rounder would be very well spent.

I think Winston gets it on his first or second try, to be honest, and his chances come a lot sooner.

[Baltimore-Ravens]

You'd think he'd really want that 3rd SB ring to top his brother Peyton (though Eli's SB wins were versus Brady and the Pats, so they're probably worth more).

Yeah, you would. I'm no football expert, but man...I see the Giants offense as completely one dimensional, kinda like how KC was with Jamaal Charles for a bit, but even worse! I haven't followed the Giants for years like many people, but I don't see anything with Eli...it seems he, and the Giants, are living on name and reputation, which is heavily borrowed from their Defense in the first place!

The Giants just look bad.

Their saving grace (relative to keeping fans) in the NYC area is the pitiful Jets. They always look plenty worse.

[Luminesa]

*was alive for the '70s* Dinosaurs, eh?

Hey brother. I was once a model for those old Sinclair Gas Station signs. I voted for McGovern too!

And I voted for the first time last year! : D

[Baltimore-Ravens]

Nothing like a twitter pix to get people riled up. Recall that actual ravens hang around the infamous Tower of London irl. Nothing embarrassing ever happened there, right?



"We are not pleased!!!"

They took it down. Johnny Rotten is disappointed.

[Trollgaard]

The Rams didn't look bad against the Redskins.

[Tombradya]

Saw some interesting stats today. Belichick's Patriots actually have a better record against all NFC opponents combined (.750) than against the AFC East (.746). Also, the AFC East (minus Patriots) is .504 against the rest of the league in that same era. So maybe that whole "Pats dominate because the AFC East is trash" is maybe not so true after all. Our win percentage against the Steelers is higher than any of those records (.770) and of course there is the 1.000 against Jacksonville, Dallas and famously Atlanta

[Baltimore-Ravens]

Saw some interesting stats today. Belichick's Patriots actually have a better record against all NFC opponents combined (.750) than against the AFC East (.746). Also, the AFC East (minus Patriots) is .504 against the rest of the league in that same era. So maybe that whole "Pats dominate because the AFC East is trash" is maybe not so true after all. Our win percentage against the Steelers is higher than any of those records (.770) and of course there is the 1.000 against Jacksonville, Dallas and famously Atlanta

Speaking of stats, did you see where John Harbaugh's Ravens have the best win % in the NFL at home since he took over as head coach in 2008? It's true.

[Ranoria]

Saw some interesting stats today. Belichick's Patriots actually have a better record against all NFC opponents combined (.750) than against the AFC East (.746). Also, the AFC East (minus Patriots) is .504 against the rest of the league in that same era. So maybe that whole "Pats dominate because the AFC East is trash" is maybe not so true after all. Our win percentage against the Steelers is higher than any of those records (.770) and of course there is the 1.000 against Jacksonville, Dallas and famously Atlanta

Speaking of stats, did you see where John Harbaugh's Ravens have the best win % in the NFL at home since he took over as head coach in 2008? It's true.

That's interesting. I have to say, besides the Bengals, I do like the entire AFC North. But once(if) the Browns ever get good, I'll be screaming for their heads. XD

Just a random thought, my Super Bowl picks for the next few years, and why. This is basically just me being unable to sleep, but here goes.

52: Packers over Raiders
The Raiders offense is EXPLOSIVE, and I think their secondary has taken a major step forward through the draft. Khalil Mack, meanwhile, makes this an elite unit, along with Mario Edwards taking a step forward and Bruce Irvin continuing to produce. This firepower on both sides of the ball leads to an AFC Championship, but Aaron Rodgers does that thing that he does and shreds them while the Packers' defense holds on for dear life, and holds Carr to 27.
Green Bay: 34 Oakland: 27
SBMVP: Aaron Rodgers

53: Seahawks over Steelers
By now, the Seahawks Offensive Line will have improved, hopefully, by some small margin, even if the legion of boom is in it's last couple of dominant years. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh, with the fall of New England, finally manages to break through the AFC gauntlet and take on the 'Hawks. However, it isn't quite enough, with Roethlisberger doing a Manning and falling apart against a vaunted defense.
Seattle: 27 Pittsburgh: 17
SBMVP: Earl Thomas or Russell Wilson

54: Forty Niners over Raiders
Kirk Cousins and a powerhouse defense led by Reuben Foster, Solomon Thomas, Deforest Buckner, and an aging captain in Navarro Bowman carry San Francisco to the Super Bowl, where Derek Carr arrives with his first league MVP award and second conference championship. A somewhat weaker offensive line, however, falters early to a strong San Fransisco front seven, and Reuben Foster dominates throughout, shutting down the run game. Carr nearly leads a comeback in the fourth, scoring 20 points in a span of 13 minutes, but Jack Del Rio's aggressive play calling results in a failed 2 point conversion.
San Francisco: 24 Oakland: 23
SBMVP: Reuben Foster

55: Buccaneers fall to Titans
Two teams with hype centered around no-longer-young quarterbacks come into the stadium, but Jameis Winston is incapable of beating Marcus Mariota. Despite a strong offense on both sides, points are hard to come by until Tennessee pulls ahead in the fourth.
Buccaneers: 17 Titans: 31
SBMVP: Derrick Henry

56: Buccaneers fall to Raiders
In a second straight season, this Tampa Bay squad can't finish the year off with the greatest of prizes. This time, Winston is the defending league MVP, one whom has looked to be a dominant pocket passer, shredding even the best defenses on his path. Unfortunately, his confidence, and gunslinger of an arm, costs Tampa Bay just one possession, and one score, that loses the highest scoring game of the season.
Tampa Bay: 38 Oakland: 45
SBMVP: Gareon Conley or Amari Cooper

I'm going to say it again. The Giants need to trade a 1st rounder for Joe Thomas. They are a team that is in win now mode, so get your pass protection right, that first rounder would be very well spent.

I think Winston gets it on his first or second try, to be honest, and his chances come a lot sooner.

I think a Winston-Mariota super bowl would be absolutely legendary though, don't you? And I'd love it because Winston can't beat Mariota. Proves that in his final game in college and first as a pro. (Cruel scheduling, tbh)

[Ameriganastan]

Hernandez had advanced CTE.

[Baltimore-Ravens]

Hernandez had advanced CTE.

Football, not just the NFL, took a massive hit today with these findings. This is a tragedy of epic proportions.

However, this knowledge is also power to all people to make better decisions in using their heads, both figuratively and literally.

As for the NFL, they will probably hide behind a bunch of high priced lawyers and their double talk.

[Ranoria]

Hernandez had advanced CTE.

Football, not just the NFL, took a massive hit today with these findings. This is a tragedy of epic proportions.

However, this knowledge is also power to all the little people to make better decisions. As for the NFL, they will probably hide behind a bunch lawyers and their double talk.

I don't think anything took a 'big hit' about this in particular. Because yes, there are those who quit from football to prevent CTE coming on, but at the same time, ask 99.9% of anyone who plays football. They'd do it again, regardless of the consequences, in a heartbeat. Now, the general increase in knowledge regarding CTE in the first place? That had some impact. But this case in particular, not so much.

[Baltimore-Ravens]

Football, not just the NFL, took a massive hit today with these findings. This is a tragedy of epic proportions.

However, this knowledge is also power to all people to make better decisions in using their heads, both figuratively and literally.

As for the NFL, they will probably hide behind a bunch of high priced lawyers and their double talk.

I don't think anything took a 'big hit' about this in particular. Because yes, there are those who quit from football to prevent CTE coming on, but at the same time, ask 99.9% of anyone who plays football. They'd do it again, regardless of the consequences, in a heartbeat. Now, the general increase in knowledge regarding CTE in the first place? That had some impact. But this case in particular, not so much.

I did edit the post somewhat. Your response was quick.
Listen, parents (of which I am one) are going to steer their kids away from this sport if it maintains it's current form. That's the hit I am talking about for football in general.
Ratings are down last season and this one so far and maybe this CTE deal is a part of the reason. Time will tell.

You don't doubt this is an epic tragedy, do you? Aaron Hernandez was probably not sane when he killed these people. He was suffering from severe brain damage.
He is now also a victim of what is the real culprit, many repeated hits to the head. How do you fix that and keep football as is?

[Ranoria]

I don't think anything took a 'big hit' about this in particular. Because yes, there are those who quit from football to prevent CTE coming on, but at the same time, ask 99.9% of anyone who plays football. They'd do it again, regardless of the consequences, in a heartbeat. Now, the general increase in knowledge regarding CTE in the first place? That had some impact. But this case in particular, not so much.

I did edit the post somewhat. Your response was quick.
Listen, parents (of which I am one) are going to steer their kids away from this sport if it maintains it's current form. That's the hit I am talking about for football in general.
Ratings are down last season and this one so far and maybe this CTE deal is a part of the reason. Time will tell.

You don't doubt this is an epic tragedy, do you? Aaron Hernandez was probably not sane when he killed these people. He was suffering from severe brain damage.
He is now also a victim of what is the real culprit, many repeated hits to the head. How do you fix that and keep football as is?

I don't think parents, for the most part, are going to do that though. Granted, I'm not a parent, I don't plan on being one in the near future (fingers crossed), and perhaps you're right about the ratings thing. But I don't think this has much to do with it, unless perhaps parents, as you somewhat ish said, want less exposure for their children.

And no, I do understand that this is awful. I don't want to go mentally insane because of playing a sport that I love, and anyone dying, especially like this, is horrible. But I also wouldn't sacrifice what football has done for me, personally, if it took forty years off my life, and I mean that wholeheartedly. I would not be who I am today, or anywhere near it, without football. And that's what I'm saying when I say that I don't think people will quit playing football.

[Shazbotdom]

Things are not looking good for the 49ers at the half.

[Trollgaard]

If I had been of the size to pursue football, or had speed to play RB, I would have gladly done it.

The chance to make it big and make millions with the risk of dying early do to trauma from playing? Who the fuck cares? Who wants to live forever? Become a star and make bank.




Also, the Rams look good. I've been a Gurley fan since he played for Georgia. He is a solid RB.

[Shazbotdom]

If I had been of the size to pursue football, or had speed to play RB, I would have gladly done it.

The chance to make it big and make millions with the risk of dying early do to trauma from playing? Who the fuck cares? Who wants to live forever? Become a star and make bank.




Also, the Rams look good. I've been a Gurley fan since he played for Georgia. He is a solid RB.

I'd have loved to be a Wideout.