2025 NFL Season discussion thread

Xavi6

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124219600#Comment_124219600

Is that a requirement for appreciating music? I like Rammstein and don't speak German but fair enough if so. A few of our own would struggle with Amhrán na bhFiann!

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124219603#Comment_124219603

It's about the rap, not the music. The music is never original, it's all just samples.

Manic Moran

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124219466#Comment_124219466

There are two forms of controversy from the choice of artist,

One is that there is backlash from conservatives for picking a Hispanic with leanings against the current administration. There may be some, but if you go to places like “Ask a Trump supporter” on Reddit, the majority response is “never heard of the guy” with some thought that it’s a manufactured controversy from the news media to get clicks. Doubtless there is some hostility on the grounds, but there is doubt that it’s a broadly representative opinion.

The other is that for all the popularity that Bad Bunny has in the Hispanic world, he’s not particularly popular with the average football-watcher in the US. Some, sure, but again, the answer from many is “who?” and from many more “I have no problem with him as a person, but his music is not to my taste” So, is the production supposed to appeal to folks who are already likeLy to be watching the Super Bowl to further increase their enjoyment, or are they trying to reach outside their core demographic to bring in new eyeballs? To be fair, my wife was happy, she is Puerto Rican, though she also was not particularly familiar with him (but not unheard of either).

I ended up being dragged out to a Super Bowl party by said wife. We ended up not paying much attention to the game. Whilst appreciating the defense, we weren’t finding it all that interesting. We honestly found the close calls (did he have control of the ball before it hit the ground? Was that NE TD actually caught without hitting the grass?) more intereting than much of the game.

The_Kew_Tour

Once a team reached 20-22 points they were going to win with the Defenses on board.

Seahawks are a machine. The size of some of those guys is insane.

jacool

Congratulations to the Seahawks - great win.

In related news, Bad Bunny was the number 1 streamed artist in the world in 2025 on Spotify, so a little bit popular, you would think. I'm older than most people on here (judging by admissions above) and I've been aware of him since 2023!

CR 7

Just watched the half time show, didn't watch it live as I took a 30 minute power nap instead. I didn't recognise any of the songs and he's not someone I would listen to, but it was a very good show and the music was enjoyable in the context of the show.

It was the exact same arguments when it was Kendrick Lamar, and I'm sure for any previous rappers, "Who is that" and "that's not music, it's only all samples". Billions of people seem to like music that is "only samples" so maybe there's something to it.

Now the game, I know that it was a great defensive show but it's just not as entertaining to watch, in my opinion anyway. Probably could have set the alarm for 2am, then gone back to bed at 3am.

Penn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124219630#Comment_124219630

"The other is that for all the popularity that Bad Bunny has in the Hispanic world, he’s not particularly popular with the average football-watcher in the US. "

Unlike other previous halftime acts like Shakira & Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Usher, Madonna, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga again, The Weeknd and Rihanna, who all appeal directly to the average football-watcher in the US.

The halftime show has become about spectacle more than anything else. Someone who will put on a creative, imaginative and unique show for 10-15 minutes. Someone popular who will grab attention and draw eyes to the show so the networks and NFL can charge more for ads.

Bad Bunny was a good choice. I don't know any of his music, couldn't understand a word, didn't get half the messages he was likely trying to convey. It was still a good show and I enjoyed it.

josip

Was there any nip slip from Bad Bunny? Be gutted if I missed that. Watched the last 5 minutes of the 2nd quarter with the young lad after loading the dishwasher. (Giving myself an 8+ for packing and filling for that load). 25 minutes and 57 time outs later I opted for bed after witnessing another thrilling field goal. Yaay. (I'm just bitter the Bills weren't there)

cena

Anyone switch on the kid rock half time show

el Fenomeno

edit: wrong thread

Manic Moran

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124219884#Comment_124219884

Well, yes, frankly. Unlike them.

The sport appeals to a pretty wide range of Americans. There's a reason it's the most watched sporting event in the US. Shakira & Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Usher, Madonna, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga again, The Weekend and Rihnanna are all very popular in the American Market. If you're thinking the average American football watcher is a white hick from Arkansas, which it isn't, I can't imagine Green Day is at the top of their hit list either but they don't seem to have caused much complaint.

Here's this week's Top 40 charts in the US.

https://www.americantop40.com/charts/top-40-238/latest/

See Bad Bunny's rank? The man just won a Grammy, he's not even on the chart. (On the Billboard 100, he's at #85 between Jeff Buckley and A$AP Rocky)

A month ago…

https://www.americantop40.com/charts/top-40-238/january-10-2026/

Nope, no Bad Bunny. (Billboard chart archives are paywalled)

He was announced on 28 Sept.

https://www.americantop40.com/charts/top-40-238/september-27-2025/

Nope…

This wasn't Bad Bunny's first appearance at the Superbowl, he was a guest singer in 2020. Released a very successful album the following month.

https://www.americantop40.com/charts/top-40-238/2020-03-07-march-07-2020-top-40/

Nope.

Kendrick Lamar may not be at the top of some folks' favourite artist lists either, but he was in the Top 40 when he was the headline act this time last year. And when he was announced in Sept 2024. Apparently he would have appealed to a substantial portion of the audience.

I suspect that Bad Bunny would be a bit more popular with the audience of the FIFA World Cup half-time show in a few months. He did put on a good show. But until he did, the majority of people tuning in on this side of the water and North of the Panama Canal will not have heard his work. The half-time act isn't only supposed to put on a good show at the time, they are also supposed to create excitement and anticipation. Whatever his qualities, you can't place someone whose work is not on your radio unless you tune into Sirius channel 152, or who most people would not recognize walking down the streets as having the same half-time show appeal in the run-up to the event as Katy Perry, Rihanna or Lady Gaga. It's the difference between "This year's half-time show will be Jennifer Lopez" and a split of the audience going "yay" and "meh", and "this year's half-time show will be Bad Bunny" and almost everyone hitting Google to find out who the hell that is.

Penn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124220332#Comment_124220332

So an artist must only be popular during the preceding calendar year to be considered?

From Wikipedia:

He was crowned Artist of the Year by Billboard in 2022 and 2025. He was the most-streamed artist on Spotify from 2020 to 2022 and 2025; he was second in 2023 and third in 2024.

So yes, he has huge commercial appeal. Maybe just not to you. You're saying the average watcher isn't a white hick from Arkansas, but likewise, the NFL surely has great interest in attracting younger and new fans to the sport and so the halftime show is an opportunity to draw in new eyes (and just because some of the core existing audience may not know who Bad Bunny is, doesn't mean they can't either still enjoy the performance, or just skip that part and watch the rest of the game.

I've never heard his music, but even as a middle-aged Irishman who doesn't listen to any radio and prefers podcasts or playlists of classic rock… I'd heard of Bad Bunny. Absolutely nothing wrong with him being chosen as the halftime show. He put on a great and interesting show. And he did create excitement and anticipation. It's not his fault the small-dick MAGA brigade decided to throw a hissy-fit because he sings in Spanish and is Puerto-Rican.

Anyway, getting back to the game, it's amazing the work the Seahawks have accomplished by bringing in the right players at the right time. Darnold may not have had a great or spectacular performance last night, but he managed the team on the field well and kept a cool head.

Maye has a lot of potential, but they might have been better off not reaching the Superbowl this year. All credit to them for digging in deep and never giving up throughout the playoffs, but Maye particularly just didn't seem ready for it.

Xavi6

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124220332#Comment_124220332

”Almost everyone hitting Google to find out who the hell that is” is a strange sweeping statement to make about someone who keeps hitting the top of the streaming charts, that’s more relevant these days than record sales.

I live in Australia and he’ll be performing to close to 90,000 people across two nights in Sydney in a few weeks. His reach is far and wide. Sure, he might not be on the radar of middle aged white dudes (a demographic I’ve snuck into recently) but you’re wildly underestimating his popularity both globally and with the substantial Spanish speaking demographic in the USA. As we’ve seen with the ever increasing number of international games, the NFL is trying to spread its wings as far and wide as possible and attract new eyeballs. They already have the pickup truck, gun toting audience to in their pocket.

It’s perfectly okay to dislike his music but it’s undeniable that Bad Bunny is a massive artist and in line with previous Super Bowl performers (many of whom aren’t US citizens, funnily enough).

Xavi6

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124219992#Comment_124219992

Seeing him described as Hillbilly Vanilli for lip syncing had me chuckling.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124220332#Comment_124220332

He's from north of the Panama canal.

Manic Moran

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124220607#Comment_124220607

No, you're missing the point here. Not just "not to me", which I don't deny. Neither am I denying his global popularity, nor his quality. I'm not even arguing that it was a bad choice for the NFL half-time show. I'm observing that choosing someone relatively unknown amongst the primary audience can be considered a controversial decision. That's not a 'must' question, it's a 'should it' question and, as mentioned, comes down to what people expect the headline act of a superbowl is for and who the target audience is. It's a business decision, not a foregone conclusion.

The man does not have a major appeal to much of the US. I don't see how that can be denied. He doesn't chart well in the popular charts, despite hispanics being a fairly large portion of the US population. He's much not on the 'current hits' radio stations. He may be selling lots and lots of singles and selling out stadia but his being repeatedly at the top of the charts in Chile or Spain does not count much for the populations of Massachusetts or Washington where people are hearing the soundtrack for an animated movie far more than they're hearing his work. I have no doubt that if it were announced that Marquinhos was going to be signing autographs at Madison Square Garden, there would be a queue ten city blocks long with people camping out days ahead of time, but that doesn't mean to say most Americans have a clue who he is or if he's any good at his job, or that his presence at an event is necessarily the best business decision for a predominantly US spectacle. Doesn't mean it's a bad thing to have him, but can one at least legitimately question the merits?

If Bad Bunny was universally known in the US last year, the media would not have had to put out articles explaining who he was after he was announced. When was the last time Superbowl half-time was headlined by someone who needed introduction to most of the audience?

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

That's where the controversy is. If one believes that the purpose of the headline act is to generate anticipation (Otherwise why announce it to great fanfare?), then choosing a relative unknown, especially when such is not standard practice, can be questioned. It doesn't mean it's wrong, it does mean that there isn't going to be total buy-in.

Where is your issue with this statement?

Manic Moran

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124220956#Comment_124220956

I didn't say otherwise.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124220607#Comment_124220607

It's unfair to say Maye wasn't ready. He didn't have his best game but he was rushed on nearly every play because he can't see his blind side and it broke down a lot casing him to be sacked and pressured too often.

Manic Moran

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124221138#Comment_124221138

Arguable. It seemed to me that he was starting to make 'hail mary' type deep throws which had an excellent chance of either going incomplete or intercepted when he still had time to think even before the score got desperate. Granted, perhaps this was an effect of repeatedly getting rushed that he was taking it for granted that the trouble was incoming.

But I will agree that his performance prior to this game gave little indication that he wasn't ready.

ipitydafool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124221138#Comment_124221138

If your OL is not functioning and you don't change your game plan to reflect it then really not setting yourself up to succeed which I think is what happened with Maye last night. McDaniels didn't really have any answer to what Seattle were doing esp when getting so much pressure just rushing 4. Didn't look like he tried going max protect or bringing in extra OL or FB. Rookie Left tackle Campbell seems to be getting alot of heat but interesting that Next Gen stats threw out him giving up 14 pressures and an all time high rate for an OL man in a Superbowl but PFF only graded him as giving up 3 🤷

Patriots look to still have plenty of cap space, getting a true WR1 looks like a need, definitely could do with a difference maker in your receiving core.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124221315#Comment_124221315

It wasn't just that, they shut down the run game as well. So what are you going to do then?

No time in the pocket for the QB. and no success on the ground. It was a brilliant performance by the Seahawks. And when you consider we played the Chargers, Texans and Broncos to get there it makes their defensive performance quite incredible.

The_Kew_Tour

Maye will have to learn quick.

Darnold was rushed many times and did brilliantly. Was a big factor in the difference between the two sides.

castletownman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124219549#Comment_124219549

Checked this myself, the seventh WR to do so actually.

Interestingly Christian McCaffrey's dad, Ed, is one of them.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124221936#Comment_124221936

Darnold didn't have anything like the pressure that was on Maye. Patriots need to fix the offensive line either through the draft or free agency. Give Maye time in the pocket and he'll torch the opposition.

castletownman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124221936#Comment_124221936

Absolutely, bearing in mind too that JSN was essentially a non-factor all night, and Charbonnet was injured meaning that he wasn't playing with a full deck.

Ultimately, Pats didn't have any x-factor offensively, like Mack Hollins the crazy bastid produced their only flashy play of the entire game. Hollins! Not even the safety blanket of Hunter Henry featured such was the off-kilterness of the offence in the face of an awesome rush.

Pats look like a flash in the pan to me. No guarantee Maye will ever get to the big dance again.

ipitydafool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124222026#Comment_124222026

Tbf I think the point made about the rushing success the Seahawks had helped them alot, with Walker being so much of a ground threat then got them into alot of manageable situations whereas Maye was in 3rd and long all night and getting light up by blitz's.

Patriots definitely missing difference makers on offense and alot would say they got to SB early in the rebuild since Vrabel came in. Diggs, Hollins and Hunter are 32,31 and 32, all on old side for those positions.

Agree on your last sentence too, they had the easiest SOS in the last 25 years this year - they faced teams tanking or else with backup QB's,rookies or struggling veterans. Their schedule next year is going to be infinitely harder - AFC east matched up with NFC north and AFC west next year - 7 of the 8 teams outside the Raiders had winning records this year plus they will face Seahawks and Jags too. Reason they not even favoured for their division

Manic Moran

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124221392#Comment_124221392

Not as much, though. There were a couple of good drives, especially in the second half, where they were getting to the ten-yard line after every play or other play, and running the plays themselves with little time between them. (And then do something weird like a long, failed pass or the QB making a run himself) I recall thinking to myself "Well, that seems to be going well for them, why on Earth aren't they still doing that and evening the score?"

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124223022#Comment_124223022

Who was making it to the 10 yard line? I presume you are talking about the Seahawks? If you are talking about the Patriots I don't remember us making the red zone in the game.

If you are talking about the Seahawks I don't know why you are quoting my post because all I talked about was the Patriots offensive struggles and the great performance by the Seahawks defense.

eagle eye

I was looking to see who at a big price could be a contender for next year. The two teams in the Superbowl this year were massive prices before the season begun.

So I'm looking at three teams. The Colts who were flying before they lost Jones, the Falcons who have one of the best rosters in the game and the Giants with Harbaugh there and some really good offensive weapons, you know Harbaugh will improve the defense right away.

So Stefanski has to rediscover his mojo but it'll be such a relief to him to have such a good offense. Only question mark is at QB and that's a critical position. I think it'll be fine but I'm not sure about Rees as offensive coordinator.

I really like the Colts chances but I like the Giants more.

castletownman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124223303#Comment_124223303

If Dart continues to show signs of potential, Nabers comes back as good as he was before injury and Cam recovers (notorious position for a complete drop-off in form after a bad injury) then with the defensive pieces there and Harbaugh's hard-nosed no nonsense, the Giants could go well yeah.

Hope your right about the Colts though