What is in store for the NFL MMXXV season?
The Draft in a few weeks.
:cool:
Mike
More playoff heartbreak for the Buffalo Bills.
It's the year of the Dallas Cowboys again.
Maybe it's time for the NFL to relocate a well-loved, historic franchise like the Dolphins to Toronto. After all, it's the "National" Football League, right???
(Roger Goodell, if you're seeing this, please don't do this. I'm not a Dolphins fan but nobody likes the Chargers in LA or the "Oakland" Raiders in Vegas.)
((Goodell probably cares more about an 18 game regular season than league expansion TBH because $$$.))
Quote from: noelbotevera on February 26, 2025, 11:26:10 PMMaybe it's time for the NFL to relocate a well-loved, historic franchise like the Dolphins to Toronto. After all, it's the "National" Football League, right???
(Roger Goodell, if you're seeing this, please don't do this. I'm not a Dolphins fan but nobody likes the Chargers in LA or the "Oakland" Raiders in Vegas.)
((Goodell probably cares more about an 18 game regular season than league expansion TBH because $$$.))
Maybe they can absorb the CFL teams, and then we'd have all four of the major pro leagues with teams north of the border!
I remember when nobody liked the L.A. Rams in St. Louis, so they were moved back to their rightful home. It may not be their original city (Cleveland is), but it's the one that makes the most sense.
On a more serious note, the league is perfect where it is now, so if I were Goodell, I would prioritize the 18-game schedule over expansion.
Quote from: Henry on February 27, 2025, 10:51:25 PMQuote from: noelbotevera on February 26, 2025, 11:26:10 PMMaybe it's time for the NFL to relocate a well-loved, historic franchise like the Dolphins to Toronto. After all, it's the "National" Football League, right???
(Roger Goodell, if you're seeing this, please don't do this. I'm not a Dolphins fan but nobody likes the Chargers in LA or the "Oakland" Raiders in Vegas.)
((Goodell probably cares more about an 18 game regular season than league expansion TBH because $$$.))
Maybe they can absorb the CFL teams, and then we'd have all four of the major pro leagues with teams north of the border!
I remember when nobody liked the L.A. Rams in St. Louis, so they were moved back to their rightful home. It may not be their original city (Cleveland is), but it's the one that makes the most sense.
On a more serious note, the league is perfect where it is now, so if I were Goodell, I would prioritize the 18-game schedule over expansion.
You can't hold cities hostage for new and improved stadiums if teams don't have options to skip town for somewhere else.
Regardless, the NFL doesn't really need more teams because so much of the revenue is based on media rights versus game attendance. And while an extra game or two a week will result in more media money, that money will need to be shared with two additional franchises. It's easier to create that revenue with an additional week - and maybe a second bye.
Anyway, I don't mind the Las Vegas Raiders. The Oakland Colesium had become a terrible NFL venue.
Having Deebo Samuel in Landover could be either fun or boring.
Quote from: ZLoth on February 26, 2025, 10:27:26 AMWhat is in store for the NFL MMXXV season?
Perhaps the Texans can tie their franchise record 12 wins this fall (
slightly less difficult schedule than last season -- slightly is the key word).
The Bears aren't messing around with Ben Johnson at the helm, trading for two guards in two days to help protect Caleb Williams.
https://www.nfl.com/news/joe-thuney-bears-chiefs-trade
From Bleacher Report:
Jimmy Johnson Retires from NFL on Fox Role; Won 2 Super Bowls as Cowboys HCQuoteHall of Fame head coach Jimmy Johnson announced Monday he's retiring from his on-air role with Fox Sports.
Johnson said on The Herd with Colin Cowherd he has contemplated stepping away from broadcasting "for the last four or five years" and decided it's the right time.
FULL ARTICLE HERE (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25166347-jimmy-johnson-retires-nfl-fox-role-won-2-super-bowls-cowboys-hc)
Now, all we need is Terry Bradshaw to retire as well. I like both Jimmy and Terry, but I also think that age is catching up to Terry as well.
Geno Smith has been traded from the Seahawks to the Raiders.
Devante Adams signs a 2-year contract with the Rams.
And the Steelers get DK Metcalf from the Seahawks...
Right now I consider it way better than even that Aaron Rodgers will be out of the NFL after the current round of free agency is complete (but you never know if a team is THAT desperate for an 'experienced' quarterback).
Mike
QB Justin Fields going to the Jets for a 2-year, $40 million contract...
Quote from: mgk920 on March 10, 2025, 09:13:35 AMRight now I consider it way better than even that Aaron Rodgers will be out of the NFL after the current round of free agency is complete (but you never know if a team is THAT desperate for an 'experienced' quarterback).
Mike
He's going to either Pittsburgh or the Giants.
I'll be curious what the Bears do with the 10th pick now that the O-line has gotten a good overhaul.
My Vikings are being very active in free agency for the interior of both the offensive and defensive lines. Also signed two corners. This is my ideal kind of free agency window. We also let Darnold walk so that we could actually afford those players. Had we signed him, most of those signings would have been impossible under the cap.
Would really love to hear Kenny Pickett's honest thoughts about having to be in a QB room with Deshaun Watson.
Quote from: ET21 on March 11, 2025, 10:29:02 AMI'll be curious what the Bears do with the 10th pick now that the O-line has gotten a good overhaul.
Better be DT, DE or OT. They are pretty well set everywhere else. Need one more WR but you can get good ones in the 2nd-3rd rounds.
Figured it should be mentioned that the NFL's postseason overtime rule allowing both teams to possess the ball in overtime is being expanded to the regular season, among other rule changes: https://apnews.com/article/nfl-rules-explainer-kickoff-05f6952530dbcc772f62190cad9d1ad6
And it makes sense. Once the chance was implemented without issue in the postseason, it seemed pretty much inevitable that it would eventually be implemented in the regular season too.
My sports hot take is that ties are fine in the NFL. So the each team guaranteed a possession and a ten minute OT works for me.
There are ways to avoid complicated overtime rules in any sport.
- Continue as if the game didn't end. The next team to score wins. (Baseball: already done as much as inning structure allows. Soccer and hockey: already done, and I support hockey's 3-on-3 rule. Basketball: no break after the timer hits 0; just continue play that will likely last under two minutes. Football: no break after the timer hits 0 except for a possible commercial break, and the ball position doesn't reset.)
- Whoever was most recently ahead wins if there's a tie when the timer hits 0. Only works for games that never end 0-0; football, basketball, lacrosse, and handball would all work with this rule.
- Tie. Ideally 1/3 of a win rather than 1/2 to discourage draw by agreement.
Quote from: hotdogPi on April 03, 2025, 09:24:35 AMThere are ways to avoid complicated overtime rules in any sport.
- Continue as if the game didn't end. The next team to score wins. (Baseball: already done as much as inning structure allows. Soccer and hockey: already done, and I support hockey's 3-on-3 rule. Basketball: no break after the timer hits 0; just continue play that will likely last under two minutes. Football: no break after the timer hits 0 except for a possible commercial break, and the ball position doesn't reset.)
- Whoever was most recently ahead wins if there's a tie when the timer hits 0. Only works for games that never end 0-0; football, basketball, lacrosse, and handball would all work with this rule.
- Tie. Ideally 1/3 of a win rather than 1/2 to discourage draw by agreement.
I think soccer generally has it right with 3 points for a win and 1 point for a tie...er...draw.
The NBA and MLB simply don't have ties. The NFL does, which is why I don't think its that big of a deal when a game ends this way.
I actually like the new OT rules, where the team that lost the coin toss should get one chance to match the TD if the team that won the coin toss scored on their initial possession, then sudden death. If the second offense fails to match the TD, then the game is over.
As for the playoff revision proposed by the Detroit Lions, I actually like the idea of better record host the playoff game in the Wild Card game....it is that way in the remaining rounds of the playoffs (before the Super Bowl) where better record hosts the game.
Quote from: jgb191 on April 03, 2025, 09:44:30 AMAs for the playoff revision proposed by the Detroit Lions, I actually like the idea of better record host the playoff game in the Wild Card game....it is that way in the remaining rounds of the playoffs (before the Super Bowl) where better record hosts the game.
I have mixed feelings about this only because divisions and division rivalries are partly what make the NFL stand out from other sports, and this would significantly reduce the importance of winning the division.
Quote from: jgb191 on April 03, 2025, 09:44:30 AMI actually like the new OT rules, where the team that lost the coin toss should get one chance to match the TD if the team that won the coin toss scored on their initial possession, then sudden death. If the second offense fails to match the TD, then the game is over.
As for the playoff revision proposed by the Detroit Lions, I actually like the idea of better record host the playoff game in the Wild Card game....it is that way in the remaining rounds of the playoffs (before the Super Bowl) where better record hosts the game.
I prefer eliminating overtime completely by adopting a modified soccer points system.
3 points for a win. However, instead of giving each team 1 point for a tie, the team that was most recently ahead gets 2 points and the other team 1 point. (There hasn't been a 0-0 tie in decades, but just in case each team would only get 1 point.)
Makes late game strategy really fun.
Quote from: jgb191 on April 03, 2025, 09:44:30 AMI actually like the new OT rules, where the team that lost the coin toss should get one chance to match the TD if the team that won the coin toss scored on their initial possession, then sudden death. If the second offense fails to match the TD, then the game is over.
As for the playoff revision proposed by the Detroit Lions, I actually like the idea of better record host the playoff game in the Wild Card game....it is that way in the remaining rounds of the playoffs (before the Super Bowl) where better record hosts the game.
Agreed. I also think that if a division winner can't get to .500, they shouldn't qualify for the playoffs. That means an additional wild card team qualifies instead. (Unless there are no other wild card teams .500 or above.)
I want the Elam ending.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 03, 2025, 12:04:11 PMI want the Elam ending.
After watching a few games with this...it really wasn't that great. I think there are better ways to speed up the end of basketball games anyway.
Quote from: jgb191 on April 03, 2025, 09:44:30 AMit is that way in the remaining rounds of the playoffs (before the Super Bowl) where better record hosts the game.
Higher seed always hosts. The 10-7 Rams would have hosted the NFC title game vs. 12-5 Washington if they beat the Eagles.
The last time the home team had the worse record in a non-wild card playoff game was the 2018 AFC divisional, where the 12-4 Chargers visited the 11-5 Patriots.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on April 03, 2025, 12:04:11 PMI want the Elam ending.
In football? God no.
Quote from: thspfc on April 03, 2025, 12:25:11 PMHigher seed always hosts. The 10-7 Rams would have hosted the NFC title game vs. 12-5 Washington if they beat the Eagles.
Would have to have been played elsewhere though, likely Arizona.
Quote from: thspfc on April 03, 2025, 12:25:11 PMQuote from: JayhawkCO on April 03, 2025, 12:04:11 PMI want the Elam ending.
In football? God no.
T'was a joke. Obviously not enough scoring in football to even do a variation of it.
Quote from: webny99 on April 03, 2025, 08:45:56 AMFigured it should be mentioned that the NFL's postseason overtime rule allowing both teams to possess the ball in overtime is being expanded to the regular season, among other rule changes: https://apnews.com/article/nfl-rules-explainer-kickoff-05f6952530dbcc772f62190cad9d1ad6
And it makes sense. Once the chance was implemented without issue in the postseason, it seemed pretty much inevitable that it would eventually be implemented in the regular season too.
I also note that a touchback will now be placed on the 35 YL instead of the 30, this to discourage kickers from booming the ball into the end zone (It should be placed on the 40 - MGK).
Mike
If you want to stress winning the division, how about this: After the final week of the regular season, the following weekend the top seed in each division would host the second-best record in the division (instead of a second-place team in another division) in a Division Championship Game. The winner of all those games would be officially crowned Division Champions and advance to the second round. Then seed each of those winners according to regular season records and tiebreaker rules: the best record would host the 4th best and the 2nd best record-holder would host the 3rd best. The winner of those two games would meet in the Conference Championship Game and the team with the better record hosts that game.
This idea I really think truly emphasizes winning the division, while still rewarding better records all the way through. Personally I prefer division winner only clinch playoff spots and seed playoff teams according to best regular season records; the best seven records in each conference makes the playoffs....if three teams in one division (NFC North & AFC West) are among the top seven records and all three are in the playoffs.
Quote from: jgb191 on April 03, 2025, 09:44:30 AMAs for the playoff revision proposed by the Detroit Lions,
NFL teams sure do love advocating for playoff rule changes when they're inconvenienced.
Quote from: jgb191 on April 03, 2025, 01:36:33 PMIf you want to stress winning the division, how about this: After the final week of the regular season, the following weekend the top seed in each division would host the second-best record in the division (instead of a second-place team in another division) in a Division Championship Game. The winner of all those games would be officially crowned Division Champions and advance to the second round. Then seed each of those winners according to regular season records and tiebreaker rules: the best record would host the 4th best and the 2nd best record-holder would host the 3rd best. The winner of those two games would meet in the Conference Championship Game and the team with the better record hosts that game.
This idea I really think truly emphasizes winning the division, while still rewarding better records all the way through. Personally I prefer division winner only clinch playoff spots and seed playoff teams according to best regular season records; the best seven records in each conference makes the playoffs....if three teams in one division (NFC North & AFC West) are among the top seven records and all three are in the playoffs.
I, for one, am not all that impressed by a division championship. They only have four teams each, which is convenient for scheduling purposes, but outside of that is rather meaningless. So cool... you are one of the 25% of teams who won their division. Tremendous accomplishment... :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:
The Packers have won their division 21 times. You won't find reference to that anywhere inside of Lambeau Field.
Here would be a fun way to shake things up and also make winning divisions more of an accomplishment.
1) Eliminate conferences.
2) Merge the geographic partner divisions to create four 8-team divisions.
3) Each year, you play your original division opponents 2x each and the other teams 1x each. The other 7 opponents are out of division (several options for structuring this).
4) The best record, after applying tiebreakers, is the division champion and gets a playoff seed of 1-4.
5) The best record FROM THE OPPOSING GROUP OF FOUR, after applying tiebreakers, in each division is the division sub-champion and gets a playoff seed of 5-8.
6) The next 6 best records, after applying tiebreakers, get playoff seeds 9-14.
Seeds 1-2 get byes. First round games match 3 vs 14, 4 vs 13, etc. No re-seeding after the first round.
Quote from: jgb191 on April 03, 2025, 01:36:33 PMIf you want to stress winning the division, how about this: After the final week of the regular season, the following weekend the top seed in each division would host the second-best record in the division (instead of a second-place team in another division) in a Division Championship Game. The winner of all those games would be officially crowned Division Champions and advance to the second round. Then seed each of those winners according to regular season records and tiebreaker rules: the best record would host the 4th best and the 2nd best record-holder would host the 3rd best. The winner of those two games would meet in the Conference Championship Game and the team with the better record hosts that game.
This idea I really think truly emphasizes winning the division, while still rewarding better records all the way through. Personally I prefer division winner only clinch playoff spots and seed playoff teams according to best regular season records; the best seven records in each conference makes the playoffs....if three teams in one division (NFC North & AFC West) are among the top seven records and all three are in the playoffs.
This is too far in the opposite direction - it puts too much emphasis on divisions.
Looking at last season, the Lions would have hosted the Vikings for the second week in a row, and the Bucs would have played the Falcons for a spot in the next round while the Packers sat at home. I know all those teams went one and done anyway, but that doesn't make it less absurd. And the NFC championship would have happened in the "division championship" instead.
As long as we're throwing out proposals to "fix" the playoffs, I'll cast my vote for changing nothing.
Here is a fun fact regarding sports and Pope Francis:
During Pope Francis' time as Pope (about the last 12 years), Every MLB, NBA, and NFL sports team has played in at least ONE post-season playoff game...
EXCEPT for one...
The New York Jets.
Quote from: thenetwork on April 22, 2025, 10:38:34 PMHere is a fun fact regarding sports and Pope Francis:
During Pope Francis' time as Pope (about the last 12 years), Every MLB, NBA, and NFL sports team has played in at least ONE post-season playoff game...
EXCEPT for one...
The New York Jets.
That excludes the NHL and the Sabres, but pathetic nonetheless.
In addition to the Jets, three other NFL teams hadn't won a playoff game during the tenure of Pope Francis: the Dolphins, Raiders, and Bears. In the Dolphins' and Raiders' cases, you have to go all the way back to John Paul II.
Quote from: jlam on April 22, 2025, 11:51:31 PMQuote from: thenetwork on April 22, 2025, 10:38:34 PMHere is a fun fact regarding sports and Pope Francis:
During Pope Francis' time as Pope (about the last 12 years), Every MLB, NBA, and NFL sports team has played in at least ONE post-season playoff game...
EXCEPT for one...
The New York Jets.
That excludes the NHL and the Sabres, but pathetic nonetheless.
In addition to the Jets, three other NFL teams hadn't won a playoff game during the tenure of Pope Francis: the Dolphins, Raiders, and Bears. In the Dolphins' and Raiders' cases, you have to go all the way back to John Paul II.
So 122 out of 124 teams from those leagues have participated in the playoffs...which further proves that it really sucks to be a Jets, and Sabres, fan; however, because I'm a Bears fan, the fact that they're one of three teams to not get a playoff win makes the rooting experience extra painful, but at least they were able to win while Benedict XVI was the pope.
Quote from: thenetwork on April 22, 2025, 10:38:34 PMDuring Pope Francis' time as Pope (about the last 12 years), Every MLB, NBA, and NFL sports team has played in at least ONE post-season playoff game...
EXCEPT for one...
The New York Jets.
Per https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NFL_franchise_post-season_droughts, the following NFL teams did not have a post-season WIN during Pope Francis tenure: Miami Dolphins (2000 AFC Wild Card), Las Vegas Raiders (2002 AFC Championship as the Oakland Raiders), and Chicago Bears (2010 NFC Divisional).
Quote from: ZLoth on April 23, 2025, 08:39:34 AMQuote from: thenetwork on April 22, 2025, 10:38:34 PMDuring Pope Francis' time as Pope (about the last 12 years), Every MLB, NBA, and NFL sports team has played in at least ONE post-season playoff game...
EXCEPT for one...
The New York Jets.
Per https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NFL_franchise_post-season_droughts, the following NFL teams did not have a post-season WIN during Pope Francis tenure: Miami Dolphins (2000 AFC Wild Card), Las Vegas Raiders (2002 AFC Championship as the Oakland Raiders), and Chicago Bears (2010 NFC Divisional).
jlam beat you to it two posts up.
Steve McMichael lost his battle with ALS today. X-(
Jaguars made quite the bold move trading for #2 overall and drafting someone other than a QB.
Lions make history, becoming the first team to make -1 selections in the first round. They un-drafted the 12th man on the field vs Washington.
Have to rant for a sec after seeing internet discourse: how on God's green earth is it still a popular opinion that the AFC is better than the NFC? The NFC went 47-33 vs the AFC last year and won the Super Bowl in a blowout.
Quote from: thspfc on May 02, 2025, 05:46:28 PMHave to rant for a sec after seeing internet discourse: how on God's green earth is it still a popular opinion that the AFC is better than the NFC? The NFC went 47-33 vs the AFC last year and won the Super Bowl in a blowout.
It's well past time to get rid of the AFC and NFC.
Quote from: NWI_Irish96 on May 02, 2025, 05:51:49 PMQuote from: thspfc on May 02, 2025, 05:46:28 PMHave to rant for a sec after seeing internet discourse: how on God's green earth is it still a popular opinion that the AFC is better than the NFC? The NFC went 47-33 vs the AFC last year and won the Super Bowl in a blowout.
It's well past time to get rid of the AFC and NFC.
Why?
Quote from: SEWIGuy on May 02, 2025, 06:57:45 PMQuote from: NWI_Irish96 on May 02, 2025, 05:51:49 PMQuote from: thspfc on May 02, 2025, 05:46:28 PMHave to rant for a sec after seeing internet discourse: how on God's green earth is it still a popular opinion that the AFC is better than the NFC? The NFC went 47-33 vs the AFC last year and won the Super Bowl in a blowout.
It's well past time to get rid of the AFC and NFC.
Why?
There's no point really. The conferences aren't geographic like the NBA and NHL. Outside of your own division, you play 6 games against your own conference and 5 against the other, so we might as well be measuring teams against the entire league instead of by conference. Just have 8 divisions and seed the division winners 1-8.
Quote from: thspfc on May 02, 2025, 05:46:28 PMHave to rant for a sec after seeing internet discourse: how on God's green earth is it still a popular opinion that the AFC is better than the NFC? The NFC went 47-33 vs the AFC last year and won the Super Bowl in a blowout.
Quarterbacks, which a lot of people seem to think are the only position in football nowadays.