NFL Thread

[Claretmatt4]

After the Thursday night opener the new season begins properly tonight at 6pm. Thought it was worth starting a thread for fans of the NFL!

As a niners fan I still haven't really got over the superbowl loss last year so hoping we can go one better this year.

I fancy Seattle to go deep in the playoffs too, and it's hard to look past Texans, Chiefs and Ravens in the AFC. I think the Raiders (newly relocated to LV.. Ugh) might surprise a few with a playoff appearance as well.

Whos your team, who do you think can win it all? Surprise package?

[Conroysleftfoot]

Used to support the Houston Oilers way back when I first starting watching, I think it used to be on Channel 4. Have you seen the film/documentary 'America's parking lot' about the Tailgaters at the Dallas Cowboys, it's worth a watch.

[williamjblazkowicz]

Lions fan here. Looking forward to another season of disappointment. I can't see much beyond Chiefs winning it again, in all honesty. Although I think the Ravens and Saints are the main challengers. My first surprise package suggestion was going to be the Colts but I'm going to go further than that and say the Broncos.

Really disappointed there are no London games this year but still grateful the season is going ahead. By all accounts, I think the NFL did a great job with the virtual draft and it looks like they've prepared well for the season.

[Cubanclaret]

Broncos fan. Soft spot for Bears too.
Von miller’s pre season injury will be extremely costly For
Denver. Expecting Drew Lock to establish himself as a leading QB. Chiefs looked ominous in opening match.

[CoolClaret]

Dolphin fan here - think the short camps will effect a lot of the rookies in important positions.

Curious as to the Fins vs Pats game goes; NE traded down and drafted two relatively unknown tight ends? I'm predicting lots of twin TE 2 WR singleback sets with Cam under centre but who knows...

KC looked explosive as ever on Thursday night! Not sure anyone will be able to stop them again as long as their defense makes plays.

Bold prediction - passing leader Dak Prescott

[Braindead]

Long suffering Dolphins fan. Looking forward to taking on the Patriots tonight without Tom Brady, hopefully we can make some serious strides forward towards a winning season.
We have been very active in free agency and the draft picking up some quality in Byron Jones, Van Nooy and Matt Breida andi think we drafted well and improved our Offensive and Defensive lines considerably.
We will surprise a lot of teams this year and may even win the AFC East as everybody's favourites Buffalo have all the weapons but a bang average quarterback

Who will win the Superbowl? Tricky, but i think it might be Drew Brees and The New Orleans Saints.

[Braindead]

Dolphin fan here - think the short camps will effect a lot of the rookies in important positions.

Curious as to the Fins vs Pats game goes; NE traded down and drafted two relatively unknown tight ends? I'm predicting lots of twin TE 2 WR singleback sets with Cam under centre but who knows...

KC looked explosive as ever on Thursday night! Not sure anyone will be able to stop them again as long as their defense makes plays.

Bold prediction - passing leader Dak Prescott

Dallas are my outside bet this year if Prescott can get going. They have an outstanding OL and some serious weapons offensively and if Dak links with Amari Cooper then they can go deep into the offseason this year.

[Claretmatt4]

Eagles and Lions both choking badly in the early slate... Eagles have form for falling apart. Wentz is not a leader.

[Goobs]

As a Jags fan, I can honestly say Inever saw that coming tonight. I was looking for prices the other day for less than 3 wins in regular season.

[Claretmatt4]

I don't get it either. Traded away or cut all of the talent for the last few seasons. Minshew is a strange one too. Looks very unorthodox bordering in terrible but gets wins and puts up stats.

[FactualFrank]

I've tried to watch this, but what actually makes people want to watch this?

What is there to actually 'get', as there doesn't appear to be a sport.

[SurreyClaret]

Washington Football Team fan here, didn’t see that win coming! I think the Dline will keep us in games this year but our Oline is going to struggle unfortunately. Chase Young looks like the real deal - stuck a fiver on the WFT having the most sacks this season at 18-1, 8 today was a good start.

I’m biased but I think the Cowboys are the most overrated team right now. Dak is going to struggle with a weaker Oline this season, he always has when they’ve had players out. I can’t see past a Chiefs repeat this season personally, maybe the Ravens can challenge if they can cope with the pressure in the playoffs. 49ers have a lot of pieces, but don’t think the QB is good enough. Seattle would be my dark horses, Wilson is a baller.

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

I've tried to watch this, but what actually makes people want to watch this?

What is there to actually 'get', as there doesn't appear to be a sport.

You either get it or not and nobody will change your mind but it is a wonderful spectacle of power, pace and tactics. Once you understand the game you can watch It with a coach’s eye. What play would you run, how would you defend against it. The best of all is how many games come down to the last 5 mins and can go either way.

[Goobs]

I don't get it either. Traded away or cut all of the talent for the last few seasons. Minshew is a strange one too. Looks very unorthodox bordering in terrible but gets wins and puts up stats.

Aye. I thought they were building for a good selection of drafts to start a rebuild project maybe.

Baffled by some of the releases especially Fournette but then I was reading an article then other day that basically said statistically he was awful and it was a good decision to let him go.

Minshew is odd like you say. He looks clueless at times but seems to get the job done somehow. He's like a younger slightly better version of Blake Bortles.

[SurreyClaret]

I've tried to watch this, but what actually makes people want to watch this?

What is there to actually 'get', as there doesn't appear to be a sport.

Watched it since the early 80’s and played it at Uni after fancying a change from Rugby, and it’s my favourite sport personally.

It’s way simpler to understand than those that don’t follow it think, and incredibly fascinating from a strategic perspective for those that are heavily in to it. People say that wearing a helmet and pads means that players are soft, but no sport with maybe the exception of Rugby League is more brutal - players hit each other at full speed because of that protection, it’s a collision sport as opposed to a contact sport. These guys are either absolute behemoths or incredible athletes or both, and whilst it can be attritional, as a sport it’s been speeded up in recent times, and is definitely more of a passing game now making it more exciting.

If you are new to it or want to get what its all about, I’d thoroughly recommend watching NFL Redzone on a Sunday nights (free on Skysports Mix starting 6pm), as it shows all the exciting bits and scoring from all the games.

[NewClaret]

You either get it or not and nobody will change your mind but it is a wonderful spectacle of power, pace and tactics. Once you understand the game you can watch It with a coach’s eye. What play would you run, how would you defend against it. The best of all is how many games come down to the last 5 mins and can go either way.

What are the actual rules? To try to catch the ball in the end zone? Or kick it between the posts?

I always think it looks quite impressive on TV - just cannot for the life of me fathom what I’m watching or what they’re trying to do?

Is the NFL one league like the PL?

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

What are the actual rules? To try to catch the ball in the end zone? Or kick it between the posts?

Try this.
https://www.realbuzz.com/articles-inter ... all-rules/

[FactualFrank]

Watched it since the early 80’s and played it at Uni after fancying a change from Rugby, and it’s my favourite sport personally.

It’s way simpler to understand than those that don’t follow it think, and incredibly fascinating from a strategic perspective for those that are heavily in to it. People say that wearing a helmet and pads means that players are soft, but no sport with maybe the exception of Rugby League is more brutal - players hit each other at full speed because of that protection, it’s a collision sport as opposed to a contact sport. These guys are either absolute behemoths or incredible athletes or both, and whilst it can be attritional, as a sport it’s been speeded up in recent times, and is definitely more of a passing game now making it more exciting.

If you are new to it or want to get what its all about, I’d thoroughly recommend watching NFL Redzone on a Sunday nights (free on Skysports Mix starting 6pm), as it shows all the exciting bits and scoring from all the games.

Thanks for that mate, and a really good write up.

Are you in the UK? Guessing Surrey.

[SurreyClaret]

What are the actual rules? To try to catch the ball in the end zone? Or kick it between the posts?

I always think it looks quite impressive on TV - just cannot for the life of me fathom what I’m watching or what they’re trying to do?

Is the NFL one league like the PL?

I’ll give it a go!

32 Teams in 8 divisions (AFC and NFC conferences), the winners and best runners up (Wild Cards) go into a straight knockout competition after 16 games each, with the best two competing in the Super Bowl.

A Touchdown (6 points) is scored if a runner breaks the imaginary line across the front of the end zone with the ball, or someone catching the ball in the end zone gets both feet down with the ball in their hands. After a Touchdown teams can choose to kick through the posts for 1 extra point or have one attempt to run/pass it in which is worth 2.

The team with the ball has 4 attempts (called Downs) to move forward 10 yards - starts with 1st Down & 10 (first attempt, 10 years to go). If they progress 4 yards on their first attempt it will then be 2nd Down & 6 (2nd attempt of 4 with 6 yards needed). If they do get to the target of 10 yards they start again with another 4 downs and a new 10 yard target (1st and 10 again). If they are inside 10 yards from the end zone with a 1st Down, it’s called 1st & Goal, and on TV the target line is superimposed in yellow on your screen.

If the attacking team doesn’t get the 10 yards after 3 downs, they tend to opt to kick (punt) the ball away to the opposition and give the opposition further to travel to get to their own end zone. If they are close enough, they can also opt to kick through the posts (field goal) which is worth 3 points. The scoreline will also determine what they do.

Like Rugby, players are specialists at their positions and teams are made up of Offense (the attacking team), Defense (the defending team obviously!) and Special Teams (involved in any kicking situations, made up of a mix of both Offensive and Defensive players plus specialist kickers).

It’s a very strategic sport with the teams trying to outsmart each other, but if you just understand the basics then you can enjoy it without needing to know all the nuances, and you’d start to learn more just by watching and listening to the commentary.

Hope that helps!

[Belial]

Another long suffering fins fan - hopefully we'll click this year. Good signs on the OL. Washington result was great. Colts lost me £35!

[Spiral]

I’ll give it a go!

32 Teams in 8 divisions (AFC and NFC conferences), the winners and best runners up (Wild Cards) go into a straight knockout competition after 16 games each, with the best two competing in the Super Bowl.

A Touchdown (6 points) is scored if a runner breaks the imaginary line across the front of the end zone with the ball, or someone catching the ball in the end zone gets both feet down with the ball in their hands. After a Touchdown teams can choose to kick through the posts for 1 extra point or have one attempt to run/pass it in which is worth 2.

The team with the ball has 4 attempts (called Downs) to move forward 10 yards - starts with 1st Down & 10 (first attempt, 10 years to go). If they progress 4 yards on their first attempt it will then be 2nd Down & 6 (2nd attempt of 4 with 6 yards needed). If they do get to the target of 10 yards they start again with another 4 downs and a new 10 yard target (1st and 10 again). If they are inside 10 yards from the end zone with a 1st Down, it’s called 1st & Goal, and on TV the target line is superimposed in yellow on your screen.

If the attacking team doesn’t get the 10 yards after 3 downs, they tend to opt to kick (punt) the ball away to the opposition and give the opposition further to travel to get to their own end zone. If they are close enough, they can also opt to kick through the posts (field goal) which is worth 3 points. The scoreline will also determine what they do.

Like Rugby, players are specialists at their positions and teams are made up of Offense (the attacking team), Defense (the defending team obviously!) and Special Teams (involved in any kicking situations, made up of a mix of both Offensive and Defensive players plus specialist kickers).

It’s a very strategic sport with the teams trying to outsmart each other, but if you just understand the basics then you can enjoy it without needing to know all the nuances, and you’d start to learn more just by watching and listening to the commentary.

Hope that helps!

How does this work at grassroots level, and does a grassroots level even exist? I've watched a few superbowls while not completely understanding what's happening, enjoying them nonetheless, but it seems like there's an awful lot of officiating and marking which would make playing with your mates near impossible. Am I being completely ignorant?

[Belial]

How does this work at grassroots level, and does a grassroots level even exist? I've watched a few superbowls while not completely understanding what's happening, enjoying them nonetheless, but it seems like there's an awful lot of officiating and marking which would make playing with your mates near impossible. Am I being completely ignorant?

I've had a go at it too. The pros have tons of plays for different situations. It's still strategic at a grassroots level but not as much

[Spiral]

Sorry, I think that came across wrong. I meant marking in terms of determining the yard lines and markers (those big orange things) at downs, not tactical plays or marking in the sense we use in English football. It seems like a quite sophisticated officiating operation and that the essence of the sport would be eroded without that finesse at lower levels? Perhaps I'm mistaken?

[Lord_Bob]

Packers fan, Good start. Great draft that clearly gave Aaron extra motivation! Defense needs some work.

[SurreyClaret]

Sorry, I think that came across wrong. I meant marking in terms of determining the yard lines and markers (those big orange things) at downs, not tactical plays or marking in the sense we use in English football. It seems like a quite sophisticated officiating operation and that the essence of the sport would be eroded without that finesse at lower levels? Perhaps I'm mistaken?

There are about 5-6 umpires and two people who are like linesmen holding the chains which measure out the 10 yard mark. Very occasionally you see these chains brought out on to the field to measure if a first down is achieved, but only when it’s very close, most of the time it’s down to the umpires judgement, this keeps the game flowing - they tend to give the benefit of the doubt to the attacking team, but in the NFL all scoring plays and turnovers (where the opposition Defense manage to get the ball) are reviewed by TV replay (like our VAR). Head Coaches get challenge flags if they disagree with an umpires call, and the spotting of the ball for the next play is one of them.

College and High School American Football is huge in the US with whole towns turning out to watch, but after College there is little other than the NFL apart from the occasional startup league such as the XFL, or Arena Football which is similar but has some funky rules to try and be different. It’s also huge in the UK in Universities and there are Senior Leagues but less teams around than there were in the 80’s. It’s quite an expensive sport which is less of a problem for Universities, and they have paid umpires at every game.

[williamjblazkowicz]

Well, the Lions lost in the most Lions way possible. Once again, Matt Patricia, defensive guru, makes Mitchell Trubisky look like an elite QB. I believe we have given up 4th quarter leads in a third of Patricia's games in charge. Still, it's great that it's back -- really enjoyed following the action yesterday.

Does anyone else do fantasy football? I could perhaps set up a league next season if there was enough interest.

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

I’ve followed Washington since it first came on C4. Been turned off them more and more by the owner, wealthy guy but a loser.
Great comeback win to start the season and the D looked awesome, sacking Wentz 7 times.

[Belial]

Sorry, I think that came across wrong. I meant marking in terms of determining the yard lines and markers (those big orange things) at downs, not tactical plays or marking in the sense we use in English football. It seems like a quite sophisticated officiating operation and that the essence of the sport would be eroded without that finesse at lower levels? Perhaps I'm mistaken?

Ah ok, yeah in the NFL, college etc., in the US there are the markers and lines etc., as they are geared up fr playing it and have been for years. Here, some of the grassroots have it, and others have simpler ways of getting round it like cones and a few people watching out as umpires etc., itrdepends where you go really.

[Claretmatt4]

Week two closing in. 49ers just been declared lock of the week v Jets... We best had win!

Interested to see if Buccs can beat Carolina today. No Mike Evans makes it that much more difficult for Brady, I think Panthers might cause an upset.

[box_of_frogs]

Go Bears!

[whentheballmoves]

Week two closing in. 49ers just been declared lock of the week v Jets... We best had win!

Interested to see if Buccs can beat Carolina today. No Mike Evans makes it that much more difficult for Brady, I think Panthers might cause an upset.

As a Bucs fan, I hope not!

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

Dallas Cowboys get out of jail. Go two points behind with 1:30 to play. Try an onside kick that doesn’t look as though it will travel the necessary 10yds. Atalanta players leave it roll and it spins over the 10 for a Dallas player to fall on it.
Kick the field goal as time expires for a 40-39 win.
I hate Dallas.

[williamjblazkowicz]

Another game, another Lions loss. That's 10 or 11 in a row under Matt Patricia.

[Dyched]

Not a sport I can get into aprt from the odd half of the super bowl. But tactically the coaches are way ahead of coaches in our football imho. If I wanted to be a (our) football manager Id go to the states and learn from what they do.

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

Not a sport I can get into aprt from the odd half of the super bowl. But tactically the coaches are way ahead of coaches in our football imho. If I wanted to be a (our) football manager Id go to the states and learn from what they do.

Absolutely. The timing of some of the plays could definitely be brought into FK and corner situations.

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

I've tried to watch this, but what actually makes people want to watch this?

What is there to actually 'get', as there doesn't appear to be a sport.

Frank if you get the chance watch tomorrows highlights package of Cleveland Browns @ Dallas Cowboys. Excitement to the end, Loads of points but more importantly it shows how quickly the game can change hands. I’ll not put up a spoiler score.

[Spiral]

Not a sport I can get into aprt from the odd half of the super bowl. But tactically the coaches are way ahead of coaches in our football imho. If I wanted to be a (our) football manager Id go to the states and learn from what they do.

I think it might unravel were games to flow continuously like our football. The precise plays seem to be a direct consequence of the way the game is played, i.e. pauses and resets after every down. You can't coach a 10 minute passage of soccer football, but a 10 second burst is manageable. Think of it like a pre-modern battlefield: a commander might detail the disposition of his personnel, and the battle might go according to plan for a time, but during the course of intense battle the left flank is eventually overrun, the centre is destroyed, the cavalry is in shambles and opposition reinforcements arrive on the right. It's chaos, and eventually comes down to numbers and who fights harder. Some of those plays in the NFL are a sight to behold, but can't really be replicated in European football due to the fluidity of our game.

[timshorts]

I hope to f that dak Prescott won't sign a contract again. He could go somewhere that he is appreciated a bit more.
A black quarterback playing for a team where the fans boo the players taking a knee and the owner who has a pretty big mouth (even if he could do with some subtitles) but has been noticeably silent during the BLM issue is not a good look.

Still, their D (or lack of it) has been amusing.....