posted by Ironman92The simulators and all of the playoff percentages are just crap. What were the numbers 3 weeks ago? Vastly different for many many teams. The games are on the field.
I agree. If the Browns get boat raced by a Case Keenum lead Texans team, by 23 points, they don't deserve to be in.
If that were to happen, either the defense imploded or Flacco threw multiple pick 6's.
The Texans running game worries me more than Keenum, who can't throw a ball more than 20 yards.
posted by Ironman92My power rankings
1. 49ers
2. Ravens….I still don’t fully trust them
3. Chiefs….I still trust them maybe more than I should
4. Eagles…still time but better right the ship
5. Dolphins (beware their crappy schedule)
6. Lions…my feel good bandwagon team, but don’t greatly trust
7. Cowboys….most likely to win by 4 TD and lose by 4 TD in the playoffs
8. Browns…can Flacco stay young? He’s up to age 30
9. Bills….I might be buying this as their year. Something looks different since they were 5-6 and “out of it”….Allen will be the key and can’t be a turnover machine
10. Bengals….great line and weapons. Must stay hungry.
11. Texans…no Stroud this week kills in a huge game. I like their OC and what a great turnaround
12. Jaguars….still time to get it back but we’ll see
13. Seahawks…if I’m big contender, I’m rooting for them to not make the playoffs or get beat in round 1
14. Colts…little trust here but have had a nice season
15. Rams….have became somewhat dangerous
16. Vikings…boring but more functional than 1/2 the league
17. Buccaneers….beat team in the NFC South. Bleh
18. Broncos…don’t forget about them just yet for the postseason but they aren’t scaring anyone
19. Raiders….things get weak here lol
20. Packers…. 🤷🏻♂️, they’ve shown signs but maybe next year
21. Steelers…..dumpster fire hoping for some “because NFL wins”…playing bottom 1 or 2 but wins over 3 top 10 teams keep them from season bottom tier
22. Saints…I am WATCHING their game as I type this and they are the team inkeft off on the first run through. That’s telling.
23. Bears….no sense for the dramatic lol
24. Jets….maybe next year
25. Falcons….ass
26. Titans…I like Levis but Vrabel seems disinterested
27. Giants
28. Commanders
29. Patriots
30. Cardinals
31. Chargers…crazy
32. Panthers
Sign of parity since the Browns at 8 have beat both of the top 2 teams. Yet lost to the Steelers at 21
I've seen a lot of these power rankings with the Bills in the top 5 and they aren't even leading their division.
posted by BR1986FBI agree. If the Browns get boat raced by a Case Keenum lead Texans team, by 23 points, they don't deserve to be in.
If that were to happen, either the defense imploded or Flacco threw multiple pick 6's.
The Texans running game worries me more than Keenum, who can't throw a ball more than 20 yards.
I think with Stroud it’s a great game….like I guessed with Fields. Keenum isn’t mobile enough and the Browns DB’s can cover. I see a 24-16 game
Before Covid he was the daily insanity of twitter and the sports world.
It’s crazy how good he was once upon a time.
posted by BR1986FBWoof....I'm hearing rumblings that Tomlin may have interest in being traded to the Commanders or Chargers. I still think he's a good motivator but has no control over his locker room with guys like Pickens, Diontae Johnson and previously Antonio Brown. This stat, ouch...
His problem is he can't coach, and has struggled massively to hire people that can coach.
If you have enough talent to overcome that, and you're happy to settle for non-losing seasons, then Tomlin is definitely your guy.
Hopefully someone is dumb enough to trade for him. But he has NO coaching tree, which is probably the best indication of what league insiders actually think about what Tomlin has done. Some owner will probably cave to their irrational fan base, though.
posted by jmogSign of parity since the Browns at 8 have beat both of the top 2 teams. Yet lost to the Steelers at 21
I think another sign of parity is how quickly you get into the list and see teams that you think have major issues that could/should hurt them in a playoff run. With this one, it took me all the way to #3 (those wide receivers and their drops) and then followed that up with #4 (three straight losses, two by blowout against good teams and one against a mediocre team where they led most of the way but couldn't put them away, and then gave up an amazing drive in crunch time).
And then you go down the list and see teams ranked lower that you'd probably have more faith in at the current time. Even though they're not assured of being in the playoffs and the way this year has gone, could easily hit a slump and wind up on the outside.
posted by HereticAnd then you go down the list and see teams ranked lower that you'd probably have more faith in at the current time. Even though they're not assured of being in the playoffs and the way this year has gone, could easily hit a slump and wind up on the outside.
Feels like it's been that way for a while, with really only about 4 teams a notch above and a huge group of 10-15 behind separated more or less by a few plays here and there, or injuries.
I imagine coaches have also adjusted to the fact that 7 teams now make the playoffs, and there's only one bye. It's definitely an art to getting your team to peak in January. I think, for a lot of coaches, that probably trumps seeding.
posted by BR1986FBI've seen a lot of these power rankings with the Bills in the top 5 and they aren't even leading their division.
I can understand that if the rankings are based simply on how they are playing now and only that. Winning at KC and blowing out Dallas at home is probably the best current two-game stretch of anyone --- even if they still aren't currently in the playoffs and likely will have to turn that two-game stretch into just not fucking losing ever again due to having about zero tiebreakers in their favor.
posted by BR1986FBESPN used their "simulator" to predict the last 3 games, determining who makes the playoffs. They had the Browns getting destroyed by Houston 33-10 this week, then squeaking by the Jets by one point and beating the Bengals the final week, getting in as the 5 seed. They had Pittsburgh beating the Bengals this week, by one, then losing out to go 8-9. They had the Bengals losing their last 3 games. They said this simulator was very accurate last year. I'm thinking not so much this year.
That makes about zero sense to me (the Houston game). Even with Stroud playing great, their M.O. more often than not was to play teams close and get a clutch drive late to seal the deal, as opposed to killing them (their only two lopsided wins were early in the year with Jacksonville and Pittsburgh back to back). Their one game with Keenan was an ugly OT win against a bad team. If they have a magical formula for how to utterly smash a decent-to-good team while starting a career back-up, uh, can they please pass it to Pittsburgh like right now?
Commanders are historically the sort of idiot-run franchise who would give up far more than needed to pull something like this off, so I'd be down with that!posted by BR1986FB
Woof....I'm hearing rumblings that Tomlin may have interest in being traded to the Commanders or Chargers. I still think he's a good motivator but has no control over his locker room with guys like Pickens, Diontae Johnson and previously Antonio Brown. This stat, ouch....
Best stat of the NFL season: #Steelers have more drives where they lost yards (22) than drives that they scored a TD (20).
— Dean Schleicher (@DeanSchleicher) December 22, 2023
posted by Heretic
Commanders are historically the sort of idiot-run franchise who would give up far more than needed to pull something like this off, so I'd be down with that!
Tomlin is not a builder. I don't think he'll risk his faux "legacy" going to a bad team where he knows he'll fail. The only situation he can succeed in is a SB-ready team that just needs a few tweaks on defense and a bit more discipline on offense.
So this is messed up...WR Mike Williams, who died a few months back, died from sepsis from an infection due to bad teeth.
posted by BR1986FBSo this is messed up...WR Mike Williams, who died a few months back, died from sepsis from an infection due to bad teeth.
sepsis is some serious stuff….infections gone too far. Sounds crazy but any little opening could do it
Bengals looking ass
Just like I predicted.
Once this loss is official my interest in the season can conclude. Hope Burrow can stay healthy for a change next season.
Bengals didn’t look overly energized for this game.
NFL has had a mess of unpredictable 3 game winning streaks and losing streaks that were basically out of nowhere. Should investigate. 😁
