NFL (2020-2024)

[webny99]

I wish I'd never become an NFL fan. Or a sports fan in general. Every team I root for is an embarrassment.

Don't beat yourself up over that one. The fact that the Vikings were in that position to begin with was incredibly impressive, and there's no shame in losing to a historically great Lions team.

Plus you can argue they may have lucked out by the Rams failing to clinch the #3 seed yesterday. I think you'd rather take your chances against a very hot and cold Rams team (that's been trending cold lately) than the Bucs. My biggest fear would be that Kevin O'Connell may still be owned by his former boss Sean McVay, much like McVay himself was owned by Kyle Shanahan for many years. Aside from that I think the Vikings have a decent shot to get past the Rams.

[Henry]

Super Bowl:

BUF over PHI

I'm still so desperate for a Bills breakthrough in the big game, and it'd be nice for it to be against Philly.

I'd rather see a Bills-Vikings or Bills-Lions matchup, since either one would guarantee the winner its first ever Lombardi trophy. The Eagles already have their own from 2017, when they were the last team to upset Tom Brady's Patriots in the Big Game.

[epzik8]

Super Bowl:

BUF over PHI

I'm still so desperate for a Bills breakthrough in the big game, and it'd be nice for it to be against Philly.

I'd rather see a Bills-Vikings or Bills-Lions matchup, since either one would guarantee the winner its first ever Lombardi trophy. The Eagles already have their own from 2017, when they were the last team to upset Tom Brady's Patriots in the Big Game.

And Bills-Vikings would mean one team would become the first in the NFL to have an 0-5 Super Bowl record.

[jgb191]

I'd love to see my Texans advance in the playoffs, but this is a huge coaching mis-match.  As much as I'm happy having DeMeco as our coach, for him (only his second-year HC) to beat a Jim Harbaugh-coached team is too tall of a task.  I've seen an upset happen last year in the Wild Card vs the Browns, and sure anything can still happen, but Harbaugh has his team primed and ready for a Super Bowl contention and the Chargers will be extremely hard for any team to eliminate (let alone the Texans).  I've said this for other games, but I predict another "battle-of-the-defense" game. 

My prediction is Chargers come to Houston and win it at Reliant/NRG Stadium 19-15.  The Texans offense will probably be held scoreless again; both teams will force multiple turnovers and both defenses will score one TD and one safety each, but the Chargers offense will add another TD.  CJ is looking at several more sacks against him facing the vaunted Chargers defense.

Last Year the Texans were 10-7 and that was considered wildly successful facing an easier schedule strength of 0.470.  This year, in the face of a tougher schedule than last year schedule strength of .550, they match that 10-7 record, yet it's considered dismal failure??  So what has changed?  My best guess is the weight of expectations wore the team down.  Last year no one expected anything from them so the Texans caught the NFL by sheer surprise, but this year no one was caught off guard -- every opponent took them seriously and gave their best punch and yet the Texans still survived to the playoffs.  Also they were unfairly expected to contend for the Super Bowl, which I knew they weren't ready for it yet even before the season started.  And you know the unfortunate reality:  if you overperform (last year) they'll just expect more out of you going forward.  I still like the direction the Texans are headed moving onto next year.

[SEWIGuy]

I'd love to see my Texans advance in the playoffs, but this is a huge coaching mis-match.  As much as I'm happy having DeMeco as our coach, for him (only his second-year HC) to beat a Jim Harbaugh-coached team is too tall of a task.  I've seen an upset happen last year in the Wild Card vs the Browns, and sure anything can still happen, but Harbaugh has his team primed and ready for a Super Bowl contention and the Chargers will be extremely hard for any team to eliminate (let alone the Texans).  I've said this for other games, but I predict another "battle-of-the-defense" game. 

My prediction is Chargers come to Houston and win it at Reliant/NRG Stadium 19-15.  The Texans offense will probably be held scoreless again; both teams will force multiple turnovers and both defenses will score one TD and one safety each, but the Chargers offense will add another TD.  CJ is looking at several more sacks against him facing the vaunted Chargers defense.

Last Year the Texans were 10-7 and that was considered wildly successful facing an easier schedule strength of 0.470.  This year, in the face of a tougher schedule than last year schedule strength of .550, they match that 10-7 record, yet it's considered dismal failure??  So what has changed?  My best guess is the weight of expectations wore the team down.  Last year no one expected anything from them so the Texans caught the NFL by sheer surprise, but this year no one was caught off guard -- every opponent took them seriously and gave their best punch and yet the Texans still survived to the playoffs.  Also they were unfairly expected to contend for the Super Bowl, which I knew they weren't ready for it yet even before the season started.  And you know the unfortunate reality:  if you overperform (last year) they'll just expect more out of you going forward.  I still like the direction the Texans are headed moving onto next year.

I think the biggest concern is that Stroud had a worse season this year than last - he threw for less yards, was less accurate, threw more interceptions and less touchdowns.

And while I like the Chargers and think Harbaugh will do a lot of good stuff there, sending that team on the road in the playoffs to the likes of Buffalo or Kansas City is going to be a really tall order.

[DenverBrian]

How about no divisions, top seven get in?

Maybe two divisions instead of four. AFC North and South; NFC East and and NFC West. The "division" winners get in, but it allows for five at-large seeds in each conference. You could still keep all legacy division rivalries.

That wouldn't work either if you want to maintain two games per season against rivals.

Why not? In an 18-game season, you'd reserve 7 games for "division" opponents; perhaps 4 or 5 games for designated "rivalries" - which, in most cases, are your former division opponents, so that's two games per season against rivals; and 6 or 7 games to use for the other "division" and inter-conference. <shrug>

[Henry]

The Texans and Chargers don't have any Super Bowl championships, either. That being said, I've concocted a list of matchups that would give the winner its first title ever:

Lions-Bills (four-time loser would play against a team whose last championship came in 1957)
Lions-Texans (the only two in the bracket that have never gone to a Super Bowl)
Lions-Chargers (Chargers went to Super Bowl XXIX and lost)
Vikings-Bills (as pointed out previously, the loser would be 0-5)
Vikings-Texans (would provide perfect symmetry geographically)
Vikings-Chargers (Twin Cities vs. Hollywood)

The Commanders don't count, since all three of their titles were won as the Redskins. And even though the former name is racist, it sounds way better than the current one.

[thspfc]

Chargers/Texans is a personell mismatch more than it is a coaching mismatch. I expect the Chargers defensive front to take over the game against the Texans' bad o-line and make things nearly impossible for a battered Texans offense that is very Nico Collins-reliant at this point. Collins is a great receiver, but Houston has no other real weapons. He will be doubled all game and he's not a guy that's going to beat a double team on a consistent basis. If Diggs or Dell was playing it would be much more of a real game.

On the other side of the ball, the Chargers have two excellent tackles that will keep Anderson and Hunter at bay on the edges.

This year has been a reality check for Stroud. Partially due to injuries, and probably partially due to defenses having a season of tape to watch, but I also think he just got high on himself after last year. The "lil bro" moment with Caleb Williams is hard to watch in hindsight. Stroud had played less than 20 games in the NFL at the time. It's not his element right now to give the type of speech you would hear from a Hall of Fame vet at the end of their career. Even if elevating himself above Caleb wasn't the intention, that's definitely how it comes off the tongue in my opinion.

I think the reality check will be a good thing in the long run, and with an offseason to reflect on what happened, a hopefully healthier team, and a better o-line, I think Stroud will have the best season of his career thus far in 2025.

Last Year the Texans were 10-7 and that was considered wildly successful facing an easier schedule strength of 0.470.  This year, in the face of a tougher schedule than last year schedule strength of .550, they match that 10-7 record, yet it's considered dismal failure??  So what has changed?

I've been following this narrative too. It's good to contextualize things. And a good reminder that there is no such thing as "house money" in the NFL.

[JayhawkCO]

Vikings-Chargers (Twin Cities vs. Hollywood)

Lakers vs. Lakers

[webny99]

Last Year the Texans were 10-7 and that was considered wildly successful facing an easier schedule strength of 0.470.  This year, in the face of a tougher schedule than last year schedule strength of .550, they match that 10-7 record, yet it's considered dismal failure??  So what has changed?

One word: Expectations.

[jgb191]

Last Year the Texans were 10-7 and that was considered wildly successful facing an easier schedule strength of 0.470.  This year, in the face of a tougher schedule than last year schedule strength of .550, they match that 10-7 record, yet it's considered dismal failure??  So what has changed?

One word: Expectations.

Yeah that's what I figured:

And you know the unfortunate reality:  if you overperform (last year) they'll just expect more out of you going forward.

Very unfortunate -- and really unfair -- reality indeed; just look at what happened to the Bengals since their shocking Super Bowl appearance in 2022.  Hopefully, the expectation for the Texans will simmer down just a tad for next year while they figure some things out.  But regardless, I still consider this year's Texans to be better than last year's version (albeit only slightly better).  The Texans offense just needs to figure out how NOT to lose grip on any lead.  The Texans had 4th quarter leads in 14 games, that means seven of those games they squandered it.  They also had nine games where they lead by double-digits, only vs the Lions they coughed up the game.

And a couple of you said , which I agree with, I don't think it's a slump, it really do believe opponents have figured CJ out with lots of tape and film on him and brought him back down to Earth.

[Edit to add]  I know full well that injuries are part of the sport (any sport for that matter), but I also can't help but to wonder how differently the season would have gone in my team had been practically injury-free.

[thspfc]

Last Year the Texans were 10-7 and that was considered wildly successful facing an easier schedule strength of 0.470.  This year, in the face of a tougher schedule than last year schedule strength of .550, they match that 10-7 record, yet it's considered dismal failure??  So what has changed?

One word: Expectations.

Yeah that's what I figured:

And you know the unfortunate reality:  if you overperform (last year) they'll just expect more out of you going forward.

The Texans had 4th quarter leads in 14 games, that means seven of those games they squandered it.

HOU went 10-4 in games in which they held a 4th quarter lead.

[jgb191]

The Texans had 4th quarter leads in 14 games, that means seven of those games they squandered it.

HOU went 10-4 in games in which they held a 4th quarter lead.

You're right; I miscounted.  Only four games lost, not seven.

[ET21]

So happy the Bears beat Green Bay 

Notable streaks that were broken:

-1st win since Week 6 against Jacksonville (ends franchise record-tying 12 game losing streak)
-1st win against Green Bay since 12/26/2018
-1st Sunday road win since 12/26/2021
-Caleb Williams is the first Bears QB to win at Lambeau Field since 2015

[thspfc]

If there's one consolation regarding the (regular) season being over, it's that the Purdy v. 49ers negotiations are about to start, and to me that is the most fascinating offseason storyline in years.

[Henry]

So happy the Bears beat Green Bay 

Notable streaks that were broken:

-1st win since Week 6 against Jacksonville (ends franchise record-tying 12 game losing streak)
-1st win against Green Bay since 12/26/2018
-1st Sunday road win since 12/26/2021
-Caleb Williams is the first Bears QB to win at Lambeau Field since 2015

I too am glad that the Bears beat their hated rivals; that was easily my favorite moment in an otherwise dismal season.

[Max Rockatansky]

The Rams vs Vikings game was moved to Arizona due to the nearby wildfires.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43350951/nfl-moves-vikings-rams-playoff-matchup-arizona

[tchafe1978]

So happy the Bears beat Green Bay 

Notable streaks that were broken:

-1st win since Week 6 against Jacksonville (ends franchise record-tying 12 game losing streak)
-1st win against Green Bay since 12/26/2018
-1st Sunday road win since 12/26/2021
-Caleb Williams is the first Bears QB to win at Lambeau Field since 2015

I too am glad that the Bears beat their hated rivals; that was easily my favorite moment in an otherwise dismal season.

Congrats to Duh Bears on finally winning their version of the Super Bowl. See you next season!

[ZLoth]

The Rams vs Vikings game was moved to Arizona due to the nearby wildfires.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43350951/nfl-moves-vikings-rams-playoff-matchup-arizona

...to a stadium where State Farm has the naming rights... the same State Farm which cancelled policies due to the wildfires threat...

So glad I escaped California six years ago this month.

[wanderer2575]

The Rams vs Vikings game was moved to Arizona due to the nearby wildfires.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43350951/nfl-moves-vikings-rams-playoff-matchup-arizona

...to a stadium where State Farm has the naming rights... the same State Farm which cancelled policies due to the wildfires threat...

Jake never mentions that in the commercials.

[Max Rockatansky]

The Rams vs Vikings game was moved to Arizona due to the nearby wildfires.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43350951/nfl-moves-vikings-rams-playoff-matchup-arizona

...to a stadium where State Farm has the naming rights... the same State Farm which cancelled policies due to the wildfires threat...

Jake never mentions that in the commercials.

I mean hey, they did the same to my sister in Florida with sink hole insurance in 2014.

[webny99]

the same State Farm which cancelled policies due to the wildfires threat...

My very basic understanding is, that's a California problem, not a State Farm problem.

[Max Rockatansky]

the same State Farm which cancelled policies due to the wildfires threat...

My very basic understanding is, that's a California problem, not a State Farm problem.

More an issue with insurance companies not wanting to cover indefensible mountainous properties prone to fire risk.  The particular range in question has had a long history of high rates of wildfires.

[webny99]

the same State Farm which cancelled policies due to the wildfires threat...

My very basic understanding is, that's a California problem, not a State Farm problem.

More an issue with insurance companies not wanting to cover indefensible mountainous properties prone to fire risk.  The particular range in question has had a long history of high rates of wildfires.

Right, but they would have covered the properties for a higher premium, which the state of CA did not allow them to charge. So of course they cancelled the policies instead. I'm definitely not out to defend the insurance industry, but this particular circumstance was just business 101.

[Max Rockatansky]

the same State Farm which cancelled policies due to the wildfires threat...

My very basic understanding is, that's a California problem, not a State Farm problem.

More an issue with insurance companies not wanting to cover indefensible mountainous properties prone to fire risk.  The particular range in question has had a long history of high rates of wildfires.

Right, but they would have covered the properties for a higher premium, which the state of CA did not allow them to charge. So of course they cancelled the policies instead. I'm definitely not out to defend the insurance industry, but this particular circumstance was just business 101.

Hence why I'm not looking to switch my car insurance anytime soon.  My provider closed all their California offices but my policy is grandfathered in.