NFL (since 2016)

[crystal falace]

"Free agency started last night and was pretty crazy some huge money being spent. Osweiler getting £18m a year for the Texans, leaving the Broncos without a QB, Giants have spent a fortune on good but not great players, Oliver Vernon has more guaranteed money than JJ Watt. lots more deals but cant be bothered to list them all."

[crystal falace]

Jaguars are hiring urban meyer as the new head coach. Dont know much about college football but i know he's regarded as one of the best coaches in college history. Guess trevor lawrence and over 100m in cap space is quite appealing

[Grumpster]

"Still can't see past a Chiefs v Packers SB. If it comes down to who doesn't choke, their 2 QB's have been there, seen it and done it. And their probable opponents in the championship games the Bucs and Bills look good, but very beatable for me. Actually think the remaining games all look absolute belters."

[southbankbornnbred]

"Nothing wrong with dreaming, Zeb. My lot have only dreams!"

[southbankbornnbred]

"Leftie QBs are rare - partly because they cause so much disruption to tactics! You try convincing a 340lb right-tackle that he's got to match-up against the oppo's best DLs, or move along the line, if he wants to carry on playing. After that, you've got to tell your 260llb tight end that he's got to memorise an entire new playbook (in negative) for some of his receiving routes. Then you go back to your centre and make sure he can snap slightly to the left hand of your QB, rather than the right, while your FB shifts across and has to learn to stiff-arm block more regularly with his right-hand because he's now on the open-side. Mid-season."

[zebthecat]

I can dream can't I? Watson wants out two of the draft picks are first round this year. We've been pretty good on free agency revcently and there should be some very good receivers available this year.

[southbankbornnbred]

"I should add - I'm not remotely convinced by what I've seen of Tua. He looked like a fish out of water (excuse the pun, Isaac!) at times last season. But he had only half a season to transition into a starting NFL QB. And the transition is not only his, either: he's a leftie, so the offensive line, tight-ends and receivers also have to get used to change. Your right tackle is suddenly playing blind side etc. He might come good. He might not. But Miami would be foolish to not give him at least a little more time."

[southbankbornnbred]

"Not going to happen. I strongly suspect that Tua will be the Fish's starting QB next season. The pressure is on that franchise to give the kid some time in the saddle. He didn't start games until mid-season in 2020, so any half-decent GM would give him some time. In addition, his below-par performances so far mean that few sides will take a big risk by offering up too many high picks in the draft. I just can't see it happening. Put yourself in the Texan's shoes - you're asking them to give away a nailed-on NFL quality QB and to get in return an unproven kid who struggled last season (but who has time to improve) and some picks that nobody can put a value on."

[zebthecat]

Reading some interesting speculation linking DeShaun Watson with the 'Fins in exchange for Tua and draft picks. That might be a pretty good deal.

[southbankbornnbred]

"Here you go - if Donald is not 100% and the Rams have to remove him from key plays at any stage, expect a fair bit of this from Rodgers (probably calling the audible at the line of scrimmage if/when he realises Donald is not there)... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nTl3CRrsHM"

[southbankbornnbred]

"On a (mercifully brief) different note, it looks like the Eagles are trying to muscle-in on the Jets' talks with Rob Saleh. Ordinarily, I'd be pissed-off about another side trying to steal a good defensive coach from under us. But I wouldn't mind this time around. I still think we need an offensive HC, regardless of Saleh's obvious talent."

[southbankbornnbred]

"Four well-matched games, though. There are favourites in each game (particularly the Chiefs), but any combination of results is genuinely possible. I would love to see Cleveland upset things. But it's probably wishful thinking. The Chiefs still look like the strongest side in the competition."

[southbankbornnbred]

"I fancy the Ravens to 'upset' the Bills. Jackson's movement upsets some teams and not others. Unfortunately for the Bills, I think they seem vulnerable to a scrambling QB. They like to press defence/cover in straight lines, and they are good at it, but that is something Jackson upsets. He'll run for first downs when the Bills will assume they've covered their bases. Two good sides, though, so it should be a good match-up. In fact, I like the look of all four games. No easy predictions in any of them. The Brownies are inconsistent - lose to the Jets one week and then deal well with the Steelers. Their game against the Chiefs will all depend on the start they get. If it is close after the first half, then they will start to believe they can cause the big upset. I doubt they will come back from being more than a score down, though. It's hard to tail-chase the Chiefs - you have to cause panic/uncertainty among them, and they don't panic if they're ahead. Packers-Rams will be tight and much will depend on Donald's availability. If he's on the line of scrimmage on the first snap, and almost fully fit, then his presence will play on Rodgers' mind. If he's not, you might see the Packers slant their pocket/bootleg etc to give Rodgers some easier targets in parts of the pitch the pass rush usually gets to. If Donald is missing, expect a big day for a Packer tight end. Saints/Buccs another tough one to call. I want the Saints, just because I have an aversion to Tom Brady following years of torture (no Stockholm Syndrome for Jets fans!). But he is superb and he does have a lot of weapons to aim for. Saints running game will need to keep Tampa on the pitch for long periods."

[Hermit Road]

Rams @ Packers. - Packers. Rams are battered up and have QB problems. Ravens @ Bills - Bills. They are getting stronger with each game and March down the field with ease. Browns @ Chiefs. - Browns are improving but I think the Chiefs will have too much for them. Buccs @ Saints - Bucks. I think the Saints are vulnerable and the Buccs look like they are getting stronger. Bills then best KC and make it to the SB where they defeat the Buccs who have dispatched Green Bay.

[Lee Trundle]

I'd go with that. I'd possibly have the Saints over the Bucs if they have the refs on their side. Have the BROWNS recovered from their covid outbreak?

[cup of tea]

"DIVISIONAL ROUND FIXTURES AND PREDICTIONS Rams @ Packers Rams have been slow and steady in a mixed season. Done well to get this far but Rogers and his team will be a step too far for the Rams this time. Packers by 15 Ravens @ Bills The Ravens have gone about their business quietly but without doing anything spectacular. The Bills have impressed me this season and seem solid both defensively and offensively Bills by 10 Browns @ Chiefs I think this could be the tie of the round. The Browns from being whipping boys have become solid and hard to beat. They seem to have a good team spirit and have had some very good results. The chiefs with Mahomes can never be written off and I still think they are Superbow faves. A closer game than a lot will think. Chiefs by 5 Buccaneers @ Saints Tom Brady - you can never write him off can you? Well, can you? Done very well to get this far after a mixed season. Saints have done well but not as impressive as previous seasons. I am finding this one hardest to call and I am going to go for a 'shock' Buccaneers by 3"

[southbankbornnbred]

"""It's just another game during which I have to wear a bag over my head..."""

[southbankbornnbred]

"TM - yep, I think it's madness. It also greatly increases the chances of players getting injured during the later part of the season and missing play-off games - which is exactly when you want teams to be as close to full strength as possible. Sixteen games is plenty. We're bad enough at 2-14. Another game just makes us 2-15 and we know we're shit already!"

[Mr. Burns]

Takashi Miike 6:32 Wed Jan 13 Re: NFL (since 2016) Brown is seen as more of a short yardage 3rd down back I think but yes he'll have to step up and I think he's decent enough. Everett and Reynolds are often lambasted by the fans (yes we do have some) for dropping the ball too much. Would be good to get Van Jefferson more involved although I do think Kupp will play (as will Donald on the defensive side).

[Takashi Miike]

"it's going to be difficult for it to be a fair process, especially when we're already lined up to play so many play off teams & the possibility of another in the bills or ravens"

[southbankbornnbred]

"If they can't find another media sponsor, then it most likely won't happen in 2021."

[southbankbornnbred]

"It all looks and sounds like a plan to play more matches in Britain, Germany, Japan and Mexico, though."

[southbankbornnbred]

"Sorry, I wasn't being very clear there... The plan is for the 17th game to be one single AFC V NFC match-up. Making it three ""loose"" (non-divisional) games per season - two against sides from your own conference and one against a side from another conference. So the no-names would play 12 games against NFC teams and five against AFC."

[Takashi Miike]

"brown didn't look too bad in the carries he got, goff/mcvey need to get higbee or everett involved. woods can't carry the receiving corps on his own. reynolds isn't bad, but the TEs are decent and could really help"

[southbankbornnbred]

"TM - yeah, not sure if they plan to start that in 2021 or 2022. Personally, I think it's a bad idea, but the players have provisionally OK'd it and the owners have done their usual fudge by agreeing to it ""in principle"" but only as far as potential scheduling for 2021 goes. So it's all still slightly up in the air for 2021. The plan is for the extra game to be another single AFC v NFC match-up, making it three (of those games) against teams from the other conference (on top of the four from one other conference division). It's all getting messy. The deal - which requires another huge media partner to fund it - would mean shortening the pre-season by one game, expanding the season to 18 weeks (with everybody still having a bye week) and pushing back the play-offs/superbowl."

[Mr. Burns]

"Takashi Miike 6:07 Wed Jan 13 Re: NFL (since 2016) It's going to be very difficult for the Rams. Donald, Akers and Kupp are all banged up. You make a good point about Akers and unfortunately Henderson is out who could have taken some of the burden from him. If they can stifle the Packers offence and then run the ball well they have an outside chance. I'm looking forward to it."