The NFL Thread

[Alan]

Alan, I deleted that. Unintentional but doesnt look good.

It went over my head anyway.

 

[Alan]

The #1 is massively over-valued in the current system. And by comparison there is no real difference perceived between 2 and 3. Hence Philadelphia resting half a team against the Commanders as they literally didn't give a stuff about #2 or #3, but they really gave a stuff about star player rest schedules.

There’s a train of thought that having the bye is actually a negative. Dunno the stats on that, though.

 

[Dennisons Wrong Foot]

There’s a train of thought that having the bye is actually a negative. Dunno the stats on that, though.

During the regular season teams tend to perform better the game after their bye week, so it has to be something every team would want in the playoffs.

 

[Alan]

I believe the idea is that they're coming into the Divisional Round "too cold". When Peyton Manning and the Colts were constantly getting a 1 or 2 seed and then not making Super Bowls, I remember this conversation being all over the place.

I don't really I know if it matters whatsoever, really. You're definitely right that it's almost always a benefit during the regular season. And that teams generally prefer to have the extra week of rest, recuperation, etc., at least in theory.

In the playoffs I would bet that it's very much team-by-team. Mentality and all that American rah rah shit.

 

[Dire Wolf]

I think the stats show that the number 1 seed has done well in the divisional round since the 7 seed format began. But they typically face either the 5, 6, or 7 seed so whether its a result of the bye or just facing the worst team left in is open to debate. But facing the worst team left plus having a week to rest is a MASSIVE advantage youd have thought.

In this year's AFC I'm not sure that anyone would argue that the Broncos are that much of a better team than the Bills, but they do have the advantage because of the extra rest while the Bills are totally injury riddled again, and it is Mile High. Same with Seattle and San Fran. For both Denver and Seattle the competitive advantage has swung massively in their favour because of:

1. An extra week of rest
2. Their opponents coming off a short week.

In both cases because of that you'd give them the edge rather than either team really being the better team.

 

[Dennisons Wrong Foot]

Traditionally in non-american sports there are no playoffs. The winner is the team with the best record over the regular season. Playoffs are a money making scheme that also provide excitement for the fans but are not actually 'fair'.
Obviously fairness is an alien concept to the US and NFL is so physically demanding that it isnt possible for teams to play every other team, so playoffs are actually necessary. But the teams with the best record do deserve a reward, and ironically the extra week rest might actually be the fairest outcome.

 

[Jack Regan]

Harbaugh heading to the Giants according to the Athletic.

 

[Tony Towner]

Apologies if this is 'granny to suck eggs', but a decent piece on the benefits of back loading cap, whilst front loading cash. Apparently it's on the radar for being more regulated.

Can the Eagles trade A.J. Brown, simply from a financial perspective?

Does it make any financial sense for the Eagles to trade away A.J. Brown and his monster contract?

www.phillyvoice.com

 

[Alan]

Traditionally in non-american sports there are no playoffs. The winner is the team with the best record over the regular season. Playoffs are a money making scheme that also provide excitement for the fans but are not actually 'fair'.
Obviously fairness is an alien concept to the US and NFL is so physically demanding that it isnt possible for teams to play every other team, so playoffs are actually necessary. But the teams with the best record do deserve a reward, and ironically the extra week rest might actually be the fairest outcome.

Fucking ouch, dude!

 

[Dire Wolf]

Are the Patriots paper tigers who feasted on a soft schedule? I guess we will find out.

 

[Alan]

"Bostonians in up-their-own-asses shocker"

 

[Jack Regan]

Sam Darnold has been listed as questionable for the Seahawks. He'll likely play anyway, although based on the last meeting between the two teams (where he wasn't a deciding factor) it probably wouldn't make a huge difference to the result either way.

 

[Dire Wolf]

Sam Darnold has been listed as questionable for the Seahawks. He'll likely play anyway, although based on the last meeting between the two teams (where he wasn't a deciding factor) it probably wouldn't make a huge difference to the result either way.

Its kind of wild that the Seahawks have listed more players in their injury report than the 49ers despite having an extra week of rest.

 

[Alan]

Sam Darnold has been listed as questionable for the Seahawks. He'll likely play anyway, although based on the last meeting between the two teams (where he wasn't a deciding factor) it probably wouldn't make a huge difference to the result either way.

The Patriots used to do this with Brady quite regularly IIRC, even though there was never any actual doubt.

Never was clear on what the point of that was.

 

[Dennisons Wrong Foot]

Are the Patriots paper tigers who feasted on a soft schedule? I guess we will find out.
View attachment 15707

You can only beat the team in front of you, and the Pats have been good at that this season.
Success breeds success - the Pats have a ton of confidence. Maye in particular has benefited from the schedule and become a better QB than he was 12 months ago.
One of their wins was in Buffalo, proving they are capable of beating good teams.
Bills and Pats had 14 games against either each other or common opponents. Pats have a better record.
The cold weather and possibility of snow will be an advantage against a Texans team that has played most its games either indoors or in warmer weather.
Maye has had a better season than Stroud, and although neither played particularly well last weekend, Strouds fumbles were the more glaring errors.
The Texans will be without our best receiver (Nico Collins).

Of course I am confident that we can win. I am not confident that we will. It could easily come down to one or two big plays - either by Maye or the Texans D.

 

[Dennisons Wrong Foot]

I think I heard this right.
Since 2000 dome teams are 2-15 in outdoor freezing weather in playoffs.

 

[Tony Towner]

I think I heard this right.
Since 2000 dome teams are 2-15 in outdoor freezing weather in playoffs.

The designs for Washington's new stadium look fantastic, but I don't understand why they aren't putting a retractable roof on it for that reason. Philly are probably a decade off a new one, if it were a dome the locals would burn it down. The commercial advantages are obvious, but you are losing a lot sporting wise. Buffalo appear to have got it right with theirs.

 

[Dire Wolf]

The New Highmark Stadium looks good. Sad to see the end of The Ralph though.

 

[Mel Evo]

Why don’t they put the old NFL on on Friday and Saturday. Then I could watch it. Sunday late night is a just a killer. With the yanks work ethic I don’t really get it. It’s not like the religious reasons for football on a Sunday in Spain.

 

[Jack Regan]

Why don’t they put the old NFL on on Friday and Saturday. Then I could watch it. Sunday late night is a just a killer. With the yanks work ethic I don’t really get it. It’s not like the religious reasons for football on a Sunday in Spain.

Because the regular season early games on Sundays already kick off at lunchtime due to the three TV slot window, so most people would be at work for both of those if a Friday.

Saturday lunchtime/afternoon is set aside for college football so rules that out also.