What a NFL season this year....

[StickierBuns]

Some really, really entertaining games like last night's Bears - 49ers matchup and then some crazy QB stat lines like Bryce Young throwing for 54 yards in a loss. I've mentioned this in the recent past but the week to week boxscores for various QBs has been so weird. Speaking of QBs, looks like some teams have some guys worth hanging onto and watching develop possibly (i.e. Tyler Shough in New Orleans). And the bad teams that are tanking are SO bad. A few quick observations:

• Just when the media had re-crowned Pittsburgh, they shit the bed against Shedeur and Cleveland. Bad looking loss there.
  
• Malik Willis: you just made yourself some money this offseason, good for that kid.
  
• Drake Maye is ridiculous, just in total control of it all as QB for New England. Smooooth.
  
• Green Bay is so overrated....seriously. I don't know what Minnesota does this offseason, but the NFCN isn't an insurmountable task to win for any team to take in 2026.
  
• I really like Tyler Shough's game, not bad at all for a 2nd round QB. I think they might have their man.
  
• Purdy's scramble and TD throw toward the end of that game was SICK. Broke out a nice dance after that pass, lol. 
  
• I can't help but like Jaxson Dart, but not sure what kind of QB he'll end up being.....smashed into the turf is likely if he doesn't learn to stop running.
  
• Caleb Williams is just a crazy magician in getting out of tight spots in the pocket and making some great hero throws. Still needs work on his accuracy, but well worth the effort now to go all in on his development if you are Chicago. 
  
• Buffalo.....damn. The way has been paved for you and now you are pissing away wins. New England sure as hell isn't scared of you.
  
• In the WTF Department: Tampa Bay.....zoinks. But the NFCS is SO bad, they'll be playing for the title in next week's matchup with Carolina, who looked horrible against Seattle.
  
• Finally, Jax and Lawrence look legit. Not sure what Indy was trying to do with Rivers, but his arm is weak sauce. 0-3 with him starting. 
  

Final note: not sure if JJM will play Sunday, he's not practicing obviously with his hand on the mend so I'm doubtful. And if he does, not sure what can be gleaned with both teams beat up and GB probably smartly resting some starters. Should be an interesting offseason.

[JimmyinSD]

For JJ its reps, he needs more reps,  even agaisnt backups he needs to go out and throw against NFL coverage and develop that confidence that only comes by doing things yourself and having success at it.  I hope like hell they give him the start as long as his hand isn't in danger of getting worse.

[pattersaur]

For JJ its reps, he needs more reps,  even agaisnt backups he needs to go out and throw against NFL coverage and develop that confidence that only comes by doing things yourself and having success at it.  I hope like hell they give him the start as long as his hand isn't in danger of getting worse.

Yeah I'd almost rather he be back there with a club on his hand than watch Brosmer again, but I don't think he'll play. Team probably doing what they did last week-- letting the NFL weekend news settle down then quietly announce he's out. I'd love to be wrong.

On the NFL as a whole-- I agree it's been great. My favorite TV show every year and this season has been one of the better ones in recent memory. Big shame the Vikings aren't a part of it but I still watch every game I can and have been mostly rewarded this year for my time commitment. Fun stuff. I promise it's not recency bias but Philly and SF have looked like the class of the league for bit now to my eyes.



Next week it's Darnold vs Niners for the one seed, loser gets the wildcard. Sound familiar? Good luck, Sammy.

[purplefaithful]

Id keep JJM on ice - literally. Yah, he needs reps. But one more game isnt going to do much for his growth or clarity for the team on his ceiling.

The NFC is a little more wide open this year for sure...I'd still have to put the Eagles at the front, but not by as much as last year.

I hope history doesnt prove the Vikings screwed the pooch on Darnold. Time will tell. So frustrating not having QB clarity.

Something is just off with Buffalo...Their passing game isnt that stellar and barely keeps up with how good their run game has been. Allen needs a #1 WR.

Detroit will have more work to do than I thought going into 2026. Their OL used to be a strength and it just aint now.

I have NO IDEA what the Vikings will do this off year. I expect payroll to go down some and after that? Your guess is as good as mine.

[MaroonBells]

It was a crazy, mixed up year in the NFL, and not many teams crazier or more mixed up than the Vikings. As bad as I feel for the Vikings, I feel worse for the Colts. They make a good decision in signing Daniel Jones. Feeling good about their first half record, they trade the moon for Sauce Gardner to take them over the top. He can't stay healthy, then Jones goes down for the year (and maybe next). Desperate, they bring in Grandpa Rivers. That they felt more comfortable starting a 44 year old who hasn't played in FIVE seasons over a 6th round rookie tells you everything you need to know about playing QB in the NFL. Colts started 7-1 and haven't won since. 

Maye looks really good. That's what I hope JJ looks like next year. But the Pats are really benefitting from an easy schedule: The 13-3 Patriots have as many wins against teams over .500 as the 2-14 Giants. Two.

[purplefaithful]

It was a crazy, mixed up year in the NFL, and not many teams crazier or more mixed up than the Vikings. As bad as I feel for the Vikings, I feel worse for the Colts. They make a good decision in signing Daniel Jones. Feeling good about their first half record, they trade the moon for Sauce Gardner to take them over the top. He can't stay healthy, then Jones goes down for the year (and maybe next). Desperate, they bring in Grandpa Rivers. That they felt more comfortable starting a 44 year old who hasn't played in FIVE seasons over a 6th round rookie tells you everything you need to know about playing QB in the NFL. Colts started 7-1 and haven't won since. 

Maye looks really good. That's what I hope JJ looks like next year. But the Pats are really benefitting from an easy schedule: The 13-3 Patriots have as many wins against teams over .500 as the 2-14 Giants. Two.

Yah, what happened with the Colts is very Viking like...

I know they are NFC rivals, but I do have some empathy for Lions fans. Such great weapons and QB and then...Id be thinking its never meant to be if I were them. Lady luck closed their window???

Oh yah, Love is over-rated and so are the Bears. I like Caleb though.

[pattersaur]

Yah, what happened with the Colts is very Viking like...

I know they are NFC rivals, but I do have some empathy for Lions fans. Such great weapons and QB and then...Id be thinking its never meant to be if I were them. Lady luck closed their window???

Oh yah, Love is over-rated and so are the Bears. I like Caleb though.

Bears feel properly rated as a team capable of winning or losing any week. Their run game could do some damage in the playoffs but I don't view them as a favorite. Ben Johnson looks like the real deal but he's still a rookie HC and their clock mgmt at the end of games has not been good. They have some stuff to overcome if they wanna go far, for sure. My dad's a Bears fan so I root for them kinda when they aren't playing us.

[greediron]

Bears have been crazy good on the take away dept. But the ball bounces in weird ways. We lived by them last year and this year they just didn't bounce right.

Packers are bad, fun to watch them go into a nosedive. Anyone remember the Mayfield MVP talk earlier this year?

[medaille]

The biggest takeaway I have on the season is just how upside down the whole season has been. So many of the teams you thought were going to be good, just struggling. Bad teams, doing well? The number of teams being tanked by massive injuries to their OLines.

The only thing that really feels consistent to norms to me is the NFC West.

Like who are the good QBs this year? Who will be the good QBs next year? How many of them are names that have historically been good?

[purplefaithful]

For whatever reason, the Vikings can’t escape the every-other-year rule.

Mike Zimmer feasted during odd seasons (playoffs in 2015, 2017 and 2019). He was finally undone with two subpar in a row (2020 and 2021).

O’Connell has worked even-year magic (27 combined wins in 2022 and 2024).

The Vikings haven’t made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since 2008 and 2009.