2022 NFL regular season thread - discussion (no picks)

eagle eye

Just thinking about the weekends games.

How strongly do we consider the Ravens and Giants giving their starters a bye week. It's gotta be a huge thing this late in the season don't you think?

Bucs got their guys out early enough too and the Cowboys playing their guys hard made no sense with the score at halftime from Philly being so one-sided.

49ers should do it at home to the Seahawks who are particularly weak against the run.

Bills should do it unless Tua gets to play which looks very unlikely.

Jags v Chargers is anybody's guess but I'd have a slight lean towards the Jags with how they finished the season winning their last five games.

Lamar Jackson done for the season and hopefully that's Harbaugh done with the Ravens.

https://twitter.com/Lj_era8/status/1613667426876653568

High grade 2 bordering on grade 3 is usually about 3-4 months without surgery. With surgery you could be looking at 9-12 months.

It's possible Lamar has played his last snap for us.

Foxtrol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120102850#Comment_120102850

Type of situation where I'd guess he'd try to play if he had a contract, especially the guaranteed type he is asking for.

Ravens are entering the reaping phase with Lamar

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120103520#Comment_120103520

Is this now a situation where he holds all the cards? If they go to tag him he can go for surgery, if they give him the contract he wants then he doesn't, if it's not necessary?

Like if he gets tagged, has surgery and a whole year to recover he'll be in great shape after it. With the way he plays the game, all the hits he takes, a year off would be hugely beneficial I'd imagine.

adrian522

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120102850#Comment_120102850

Not sure why you are so eager for he Ravens to move on from Harbaugh. He has been one of the best coaches in the league for well over a decade. Whatever issues the ravens have had they never looked poorly coached or poorly prepared.

Their roster is pretty weak in parts and they have suffered as much as anyone with injuries over the last few years but but I don;t think you make them better if you lose Harbaugh.

I'd argue they should replace the OC especially if Lamar is elsewhere next season.

eagle eye

The big guys show up in the big games. McCaffrey, Deebo, Metcalf and Walker looks like he fits that mould as well even though he's a rookie.

Christy42

SF are terrifying.

Also love the Jags but that was insane. Lawrence went from Peterman stats to Brady within a game. Started 4-16 0 TD 4int

Went 24/31 4 TD and 0 int after that.

This is also why to Charger is a verb. I thought Stanley had done a great job getting that team to the play offs when they were badly injured in the season. They were just getting healthy when he got Mike Williams injured in a pointless game, obviously he deserves credit for helping them get to 27-0 lead but to blow that lead you have to wonder if his job is on the line now.

Kev8360

justin Herbert has 2 years left before his contract renews so the chargers have a big decision ahead to keep Staley or not. I am not sure he has done enough to convince in the games that matter that he has what it takes to put them over the top. If Sean Payton goes to the Rams would McVay be tempted to swap LA clubs? Chargers would be well set for a playoff run next year

adrian522

McVay is returning to the Rams, Staley needs to be fired.

Foxtrol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120110581#Comment_120110581

They dont have that type of time with Herbert's contract.

It is open to be extended this offseason - usually the slam dunk QBs on rookie contracts get done at that point. They might get away with not doing it this year, as there'll likely be a stand off between him and Burrow to see who gets a deal and sets the latest bar. If they end up waiting until the end of year 5 they're in Lamar type trouble.

Itssoeasy

This could get very bad for the dolphins already 14-0 down and the game is still in the first quarter.

Itssoeasy

The dolphins might get lucky here as that ball looked like it hit the ground. They might get a reprieve but only briefly.

Kev8360

fair play to Miami - they are hanging tough in this one.

Itssoeasy

Miami takes the lead after Josh Allen fumbles the ball 24-20 Miami.

as you say @Kev8360 fair play for Miami for not giving up. I did worry early on for the dolphins.

Itssoeasy

Barring some further insanity the bills will win and advance but Jesus will they need to play better next weekend.

Kev8360

Yes absolutely - the Bills offense did just about enough and made a lot of mistakes to keep Miami in the game. they won't get away with that next week

The_Kew_Tour

Well done to Buffalo.

Proud in one way of our performance but will be few what ifs too.

Our play calling and time management at key times cost us.

hynesie08

As a cowboys fan, I should be rooting for a Giants loss, and I am, but only because I would much rather go to Philadelphia than San Francisco right now. Assuming we beat the Bucs of course.

Kev8360

Vikings defense does not look like stopping the Giants tonight.

CMcsporty

Sack!

Giants defence aren’t doing a great job either!

CMcsporty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120113801#Comment_120113801

Brady is winning another Superbowl!

Can anyone direct me to some decent website surmising potential teams that Brady might play with next season?

eagle eye

First game was nuts. It's clear the Bills really miss Daboll, he took risks but his offense was far more organised than what's going on there now. They took a two touchdown lead and were throwing on all three downs after that which is just stupid. When you have that lead you run the ball on first down and slowly make your way down the field with short throws, it's okay to take a couple of shots but you just keep the drive moving along and burn clock.

Second game showed us what happens when you take a bye week late in the season. The Giants were fresh and it showed all through but particularly late in the game. We also seen a very organised Giants offense with Daboll obviously the reason for that.

Daniel Jones has improved so much under Daboll. The coach has made it easier for him with his offense but he's clearly worked with Jones on his decision making. There was a play tonight where Jones had two defenders around him and went down and took the sack for a two yard loss which was the smart play because throwing it away might have resulted in a deflection and a pick. A year ago in the same situation Jones would have been trying to make the hero throw.

This late game is a different game with a premium defense coming off a week off playing a great offense, it's low scoring and close. Ravens don't have a good offense without Lamar because neither of their reserves can be trusted to throw the ball. Their defense is so good that they have a chance. Keeping Burrow and co on the sideline is the way you beat them.

Normally playoff games are about defense and running the ball and normally not very high scoring. We've had a game with 54 points and three with 60+, it's not normal but it makes for great viewing. This current game feels much more like a playoff game.

I have to mention overthinking. We've seen loads of this. The chargers last night similar to the Bills tonight but even worse. They decided not to use their best player, Austin Ekeler, much when they had a big lead. That was incredibly stupid.

We seen the Vikings on 3rd and 1 have Jefferson run across the backfield, take the ball and pass it back to Cousins who got drilled. You've got Dalvin Cook, it's highly likely you run the ball with him and you get a first down. That's what they did all season in those situations so why change it? It's overthinking things.

The Dolphins on 3rd and a mile near their own end zone decided to go fie the hero pass instead of running the ball to give your punter a little more space. Just stupid and overthinking things again.

A couple if weeks ago I watched Michigan and TCU in the college football playoff semi-final. The same thing happened, Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines were constantly coming up with plays which they never used all season. They lost the game badly. Then the Ohio State Buckeyes played the Georgia Bulldogs and played just like they did all season and missed a field goal at the end to win the game. Georgia went out and destroyed TCU in the final. The reason I mention that second game is because Michigan played Ohio State two weeks previous to.it and best them well playing their normal game. If they'd played their regular way they'd have beaten TCU and possibly Georgia.

The great coaches don't overthink things. They just stick with what works for them.

eagle eye

Bengals are a real playoff team, they just get it done somehow.

They looked like they were about to go a touchdown down and not only denied the TD but forced the fumble and returned it 98 yards for the TD. That's real playoff football.

As for the Ravens they sent Huntley on an air dive which didn't work as explained above. JK Dobbins who is their best back was never given a rushing opportunity on goal to go short yardage situations. Edwards got a couple but denied every time. Sending Huntley on that play was the height of stupidity in my opinion. You never send a backup QB on that type of attempt, you send an experienced running back. I wouldn't even send Lamar on that.

eagle eye

Just on the niners, they've looked great but they lost to the Bears, Falcons and Chiefs who all have QBs who can run with the ball.

I don't think they'll beat the Eagles if they meet.

I'm still looking at the Bucs as a danger to everybody. That game where Evans went for 200 yards and Godwin for 120 made me take note.

Christy42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120114206#Comment_120114206

I think this is a very different SF team to those games. I think cmc was in the building a day or two before the Chiefs game and wasn't there for the other two. Brock is also avoiding the typical Jimmy gift interceptions/fumbles so even if the defense struggles with a mobile qb the offense can keep up. Vs the Seahawks they were getting FGs on most drives when Brock was playing badly and TDs when he was playing well. I think Eagles would be favourites but it will be close.

I can't see it happening repeatedly but Brady is always a threat to any team, especially in the play offs were games can be more cagey and give him a chance in the 4th quarter.

As an interesting stat if Brady does make the SB he will have more play off wins than any franchise. Just behind NE and the Steelers currently who can't add to their totals this year.

Ohmeha

I'm finding it surreal that my Giants are going on a run in the play-offs and we could eventually get done over in the NFC by a hot team led by Mr. Irrelevant at QB

eagle eye

Brady's first red zone interception as a Buc Judy happened. Neither team.has been that impressive on offense to this point. 6-0 Dallas at the moment and they have the ball.

eagle eye

Dallas have taken over this game,it's 18-0 and that's because Maher has missed all the PATs.

MyPeopleDrankTheSoup

unreal missing 3 PATs. cowboys gotta pull him at the half right?

MyPeopleDrankTheSoup

also, anyone watching on US coverage seen the trailer for '80 for brady'? it's like a parody film SNL trailer

ridonkulous

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120118393#Comment_120118393

Make that 4 misses 🙈

hynesie08

Maher aside, this has been exactly what I wanted to see from the cowboys, just one Micah Parsons sack would be the cherry on top.

ridonkulous

That's the end of that. Not even the great Tom Brady is coming back from a 25-point deficit with 10 minutes to go.

eagle eye

Cowboys looked great last night. It's just that you can't trust them to consistently perform.

I remember from years ago when the Cowboys and niners were the top two teams in the NFC. There were some great battles between them. Heres hoping we get another one at the weekend.

I don't think there should be Monday night football in the playoffs, it's a big disadvantage having a day less to recover. Actually it's two days less in this instance isn't it?

ArmaniJeanss

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119005#Comment_120119005

Don't like the Monday night wild card game (mainly because I don't get to see it) but at least the winner is guaranteed they won't play until Sunday. Which somewhat minimises the disadvantage. Also as the Monday WC game is always going to be 4v5 seed for scheduling reasons, you could argue that playing better during the regular season is a way to avoid being landed with it.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119207#Comment_120119207

You have enough of a disadvantage being on the road for your next game which is almost certain as you are facing the two seed most likely.

ArmaniJeanss

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119215#Comment_120119215

Not disagreeing with you at all - but ultimately when you sign up for the NFL as player or coach then these are the kind of things you accept. A Monday game is more lucrative for everyone than a 3rd game on the Saturday (early) so therefore there will be a Monday game and you'll be disadvantaged if you are in that game. Not saying it's right or anything. LA Rams did overcome it last year.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120119249#Comment_120119249

The Monday game on ESPN is less lucrative than any game on a big four network. All the other games were on a national network I think. Unless Prime had one?

Foxtrol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120114938#Comment_120114938

Bears and Falcon's games were outliers that I don't think it is safe to point to. The Bears being in monsoon that took away the speed of the defense and playing against a new coaching ticket with no tape and for the Falcons game they were missing 7 of their starters on defense.

Having said that, the team has historically struggled with running QBs so it would be a concern. They have had Wilson and Kyler in their division so have seen a lot of it over the years.

Foxtrol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120120560#Comment_120120560

Monday game was on nationally on ABC in addition to ESPN.

On the Cowboys having less rest, in the past they would be playing the 49ers off a bye week as the second seed.

There isn't any justification to complain when the Cowboys actually end up in a better position than before the playoff expansion.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120120600#Comment_120120600

But they are in a worse position than any other team. The Giants were worse than them and get a day extra rest.

If the 49ers lost to the Seahawks they'd be losing a day to a worse seed.

Foxtrol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120120634#Comment_120120634

That happens basically every week in the NFL though. Whoever wins next week between 49ers and Cowboys will have a day less rest than the Eagles and Giants - same with the AFC.

Before the expansion of the playoffs, the Cowboys would have likely played on Sunday and would mean the 49ers coming off the bye resulting in 7 days of extra rest. Now with the new post expansion format the Cowboys get only 2 days less rest so they are 5 days better off than they would be historically.

In addition, the Cowboys also had 2 extra days rest in advance of the game last night which would mean going in their players were better rested, could have helped their players get over niggling injuries, and lowered the risk of reoccurrence than if they played on Saturday, like the 49ers did.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120120735#Comment_120120735

Firstly you are not considering the situation if the no.2 seed loses and they face a worse seed with two days less rest. How is that fair?

Secondly in the regular season it happens to every team so it's fair. This is the playoffs, you lose and you are out so everything should be fair and equal. The advantage is home field for higher seeds.

Talking about how things used to be is not relevant. We've moved on to a new format and no team should be disadvantaged by that. All the NFC games should be on the same day and obviously likewise with the AFC. Monday night football should end with the regular season just like TNF.

Finally, the Cowboys had the same rest period before Sundays game as the Bucs so there was no advantage there.

Foxtrol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120121187#Comment_120121187

Sure the whole playoff bracket is based on in season form when the teams do not play the same opponents, even in division. A team can be boosted in a season, or for decades, due to playing a much weaker strength of schedule or even just having to travel less - things that are totally down to the luck of scheduling. Teams can even give their star players a bye week despite not getting first seed if they get lucky enough with scheduling - the Chargers could have negated any advantage the Jags potentially got with a day less rest by doing this (didn't hear anyone claiming the unfairness of the Jags extra rest).

Today the Cowboys are far less disadvantaged than they would have been historically when there were 2 byes per division. No one is saying the situation is perfect but very little about the NFL is 'fair' when it comes to scheduling and I'd argue most fans wouldn't want the changes put in for it to be improved - for example taking SoS into account for seeding, divisions being randomised each year, less unique games by playing home and away, bringing in home and away playoff games, or taking away seeding altogether and a random draw each playoff week.

Given all the unfairness in the league when it comes to scheduling, this is a weird instance to uniquely complain about and want to change.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120121522#Comment_120121522

It's simply because it's the playoffs. You lose and you are out.

It's not like the regular season where you can recover from a loss on a short week by winning a couple of games.

You keep bringing up the two byes but that's historic and doesn't relate to the here and now.

The Jags getting a one day advantage was not a good situation either and I didn't think of it.

Two days is a huge disadvantage.

And I'll also say I preferred the old system.

Foxtrol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120122688#Comment_120122688

You preferred the old system yet you're now complaining about the new system that results in the Cowboys receiving far more rest? 🙄

Playing Monday isn't ideal but there are far greater unfair things in the NFL that everyone just ignores (like the entire process of seeding that not taking into account difference in SoS).

If the Cowboys lose it won't be because of having slightly less rest, especially when they had a chance to rest all key players during week 18 but turned it down by trotting them out against Washington.

No point in going around in circles further on this, think we've both been clear where we stand.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120122800#Comment_120122800

I'm talking about fairness. If the niners lost to the Seahawks then they were getting two days less rest than a lower seed. Can you address that hole in your argument and how that would be fair?

ArmaniJeanss

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120122998#Comment_120122998

I don't think it's as hugely unfair as you make it out. And realistically the Monday WC game is here to stay so it's pointless to go down the road of suggesting scrapping it.

I do think an easy fix might be that if NFC conference 4v5 is picked for Monday, then the two other NFC games (2v7, 3v6) could both be on the Sunday slate. So the Monday winners will either be playing a team who played Sunday (or else away to the team who got the bye). The AFC would thus have 2 games on Saturday and 1 on Sunday of Wild Card weekend

I don't know enough to know whether having say just 2 AFC games and zero NFC on the Saturday would cause a problem with TV deals.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120123084#Comment_120123084

I said that earlier. While one day of extra rest is an advantage it's not nearly as huge as two days.

I'll always be against Monday night football during the playoffs. As far as I'm aware that only happened when we got this extra game last season. I can't ever remember Monday night football during the playoffs in the 40 years I've been watching the game before last season.

adrian522

I'd have concerns about the 49ers defense outside of just running QB's. They've shown to be vulnerable against deep passes, particularly against teams with multiple good receivers.

They got torched by Davante Adams in Vegas and teams like the Eagles can pit pressure on in that regard. The 49ers have been very good against the run and against short passes but they can be attacked deep.

Also the 49ers schedule (particularly since playing the chiefs has been very soft in terms of the offenses/QB's faced). They have done very well but it's a big step up in class against Dallas and potentially Philadelphia.

Hufanga has been great in terms of takeaways and stopping the run but he has a habit of getting lost in coverage and biting on play action. Lenoir, the 49ers outside CB has been vulnerable as well. I think the 49ers defense is really good but not as good as many make out.

Question is can Dak Prescott exploit those weaknesses?

In the 49ers favour I think is the additional rest (not just 8 days vs 6 days) but also they have been at home for all but 3 of the last 10 weeks while the cowboys have been on the road 4 of the last 5 weeks, and now have to fly from Tampa to Dallas on Monday night and then fly across the country probably Friday for a Sunday game.

I think the 49ers have an advantage on the coaching front, I just don't have confidence in McCarthy making the correct in game decisions and with their FG kicker also looking like he is lacking confidence that could be a difference in a close game.

I'd expect the 49ers to win a close game as long as they have a decent plan for Cee Dee Lamb and their pass rush is somewhat effective.

Also Dak has thrown 15 interceptions and the 49ers lead the league in takeaways so potential advantage there too.

Should be a good game, looking forward to it just wish it wasn't the late Sunday game.

49ers by 3.