Random NFL thoughts as of 12/22

[StickierBuns]

What a weird year in the NFL. Seriously. 

• Want to bag on a team? I give you the Detroit Lions. Their chances of making the playoffs are on serious life support (6.6% chance), so what's changed? I mentioned months ago that it was possible they just don't have the fight or grind in them after blowing and choking away 2 seasons where they were arguably the best team in the NFL. Is their window closed? 
  
• Along that vein, what happened to the Tampa Bay Bucs? Or even the Washington Commanders? I get it, Jayden Daniels has missed a decent part of the year but they look like complete ass. Add the Baltimore Ravens. And the Kansas City Chiefs. Maybe a handful of decent teams, but a buttload of mid to horrible teams. 
  
• So those fans that live in Minnesota and have PTSD about the Packers every year, how do you feel about Jordan Love now? How many more games do you need to see from him to feel that he's probably much closer to above average than great? 
  
• JFC, Drake Maye. You're smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy. Nothing but major props to that kid. 
  
• Ashton Jeanty: overrated? Probably too early to say, but 3.7 yards a carry isn't 'generational' to me, despite the team you are on. 
  
• The Tush Push keeps getting less effective every year. Refs aren't letting their guards fire off the ball a millisecond early or line up illegally anymore which diminishes the effectiveness greatly.
  
• Dallas is the most underperforming organization in NFL history for all the media hype they get EVERY...SINGLE....YEAR. 
  
• The strangest thing this season is all the low-yardage games by QBs this year, its amazing. Josh Allen threw for 130 yards yesterday. Mayfield 145 yards. Take a stroll through various boxscores of games throughout the season and they are everywhere, for every team, almost consistently weekly.
  

[Vikesrock]

What a weird year in the NFL. Seriously. 

• Want to bag on a team? I give you the Detroit Lions. Their chances of making the playoffs are on serious life support (6.6% chance), so what's changed? I mentioned months ago that it was possible they just don't have the fight or grind in them after blowing and choking away 2 seasons where they were arguably the best team in the NFL. Is their window closed? 
  
• Along that vein, what happened to the Tampa Bay Bucs? Or even the Washington Commanders? I get it, Jayden Daniels has missed a decent part of the year but they look like complete ass. Add the Baltimore Ravens. And the Kansas City Chiefs. Maybe a handful of decent teams, but a buttload of mid to horrible teams. 
  
• So those fans that live in Minnesota and have PTSD about the Packers every year, how do you feel about Jordan Love now? How many more games do you need to see from him to feel that he's probably much closer to above average than great? 
  
• JFC, Drake Maye. You're smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy. Nothing but major props to that kid. 
  
• Ashton Jeanty: overrated? Probably too early to say, but 3.7 yards a carry isn't 'generational' to me, despite the team you are on. 
  
• The Tush Push keeps getting less effective every year. Refs aren't letting their guards fire off the ball a millisecond early or line up illegally anymore which diminishes the effectiveness greatly.
  
• Dallas is the most underperforming organization in NFL history for all the media hype they get EVERY...SINGLE....YEAR. 
  
• The strangest thing this season is all the low-yardage games by QBs this year, its amazing. Josh Allen threw for 130 yards yesterday. Mayfield 145 yards. Take a stroll through various boxscores of games throughout the season and they are everywhere, for every team, almost consistently weekly.
  

I think a couple of things, #1 Ben Johnson was/is the genius behind that Detroit offense over the last couple of years.  Goff looked like an MVP candidate last year, and this year, looks like he did at the end of his run in the Rams org.  Very pedestrian.  Their offense just doesn't have that zip.  I am also sure some of it is that Ragnow retired.  Many folks under appreciate a great center, but just looking at the Vikings offensive line, how much better it has looked with Kelly.  It's not even how well Kelly blocks, but the line calls are enormous.

Tampa Bay, Baltimore, K.C, and Washington.....It's all about the QB baby.  Lamar has had a significant drop off since the hamstring injury.  Mahomes is running for his life behind a Vikings like offensive line, and Baker has come down to earth it seems.  I want to add that Philadelphia's offense has dropped off as well.  I think this is a direct relation to Kellen Moore leaving.

On the flip side, Bo Nix and Drake Maye are playing great.  As well as Sammy D apparently playing well at the right moments.  Matthew Stafford at MVP level and there you have the top 4 teams in the NFL right now.  I don't think the formula is hard.  Have innovation on offense, a QB that can execute and don't poop yourself on defense.

I think Jeanty is a direct result of having a totally shit offensive line as well as a QB who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.  He has the explosion to be a great back, but the few times I have watched him, about 25% of the time he is hit in the backfield and another 30% of the time there isn't a hole for him.

The Josh Allen, I wonder the lack of receiver talent (Probably the same with Mahomes) is really hurting him?  I haven't watched him a lot (Red Zone), but I just wonder.  

I think at this point now, I am most disappointed with McCarthy and his injuries.  There wasn't much left to watch this season, and if we have to suffer through watching Brosmer growing pains as well....uggh.  Hopefully McCarthy can come back and play the last 2 games.  I was excited to see his growth..

[purplefaithful]

Yah, same for me re: JJM...If he's done for the year?
- I turn into uber casual fan the remaining 14 days.
- I have 0 interest in Brosmer
- Having the QB position on this team clear as mud almost 2 yrs after drafting JJM is just unkind

Injuries have really taken their toll on teams that have hit the skids:
- Detroit is my poster child losing a bunch on D and then LaPorta on top of it.
- Would Ben Johnson there have been good for another win or 2? Maybe
- Gotta put Balt, Wash, KC in that boat too

These teams and games are for the most part razor thin margins. I think parity has really taken a step up and its not easy on fans lol!

Defenses are so good now that if you cant run, play (at least) avg on the OL and have a TE that can create mismatches while your WR's are doubled? GL to you
I have a new appreciation for good, pass catching TE's
KC you just knew was going to take a step back --- But the Bills fighting for a wild-card? Never would have predicted that

I am not surprised by Caleb or the Bears
I think Poles got the QB and Coach right and it'll be an even harder division to win tomorrow

[supafreak84]

I am not surprised by Caleb or the Bears
I think Poles got the QB and Coach right and it'll be an even harder division to win tomorrow

Wait, I thought Ryan Poles sucked and Caleb Williams was a joke? That's what many said on this board and had a good laugh after Poles famously said "we're going to take the North and never give it back." Well, four years later the Bears are the #1 overall seed in the NFC and have been built long term while Kwesi and the Vikings linger in mediocre purgatory. The Bears tore it down, made smart trades, took their lumps, and are now reaping the benefit of those decisions and rebuilding blueprint. Don't worry though, the Vikings have been "competitively rebuilding" since 2021. Totally differently philosophies, and people can cry otherwise, but the competitive mandate of ownership is the reason Poles spurned Minnesota for the Bears job and we ended up with the analytics dynamo.

[comet52]

Wait, I thought Ryan Poles sucked and Caleb Williams was a joke? That's what many said on this board and had a good laugh after Poles famously said "we're going to take the North and never give it back." Well, four years later the Bears are the #1 overall seed in the NFC and have been built long term while Kwesi and the Vikings linger in mediocre purgatory. The Bears tore it down, made smart trades, took their lumps, and are now reaping the benefit of those decisions and rebuilding blueprint. Don't worry though, the Vikings have been "competitively rebuilding" since 2021. Totally differently philosophies, and people can cry otherwise, but the competitive mandate of ownership is the reason Poles spurned Minnesota for the Bears job and we ended up with the analytics dynamo.

Jim Harbaugh now has back to back 11 win seasons (and 2 games to go this year) and when he has a functioning oline next year he'll have that team contending for a title.   Kwesi had him in the building via their 49ers connection only to have Andrew Miller and the higher ups say nope, get KOC.    So we're headed for year 5 of Vikings FAFO after we let one of the best coaches of his generation walk out the door.   I know you hate Kwesi but the problem runs deeper than him.

[supafreak84]

Jim Harbaugh now has back to back 11 win seasons (and 2 games to go this year) and when he has a functioning oline next year he'll have that team contending for a title.   Kwesi had him in the building via their 49ers connection only to have Andrew Miller and the higher ups say nope, get KOC.    So we're headed for year 5 of Vikings FAFO after we let one of the best coaches of his generation walk out the door.   I know you hate Kwesi but the problem runs deeper than him.

Trust me, I've been pounding the table for the Vikings to hire Harbaugh since his early Stanford days. I almost fell out of my chair when they passed him over for a guy who had never been a head coach or called plays before. That whole Harbaugh situation is still a sore subject with me and one of the catalysts in my strong belief that the Wilfs just don't know what the hell they are doing and make poor football decisions. It's a long list...