2021-2 NFL Pro Football (pls, no other sports!)

I was born in NY but live in Denver, so my loyalties will have to stay with Denver in tomorrow's game. Let's see if Teddy can do it again! Of course, with the Jets at 0-2, they may not present much of a challenge.
 
Chargers found the way to beat KC-keep Mahomes off the field.

NFC East continue there losing ways. The other teams scheduled to play NFC East teams must be licking their chops.
Not to worry, Monday night football-a NFC East team will win a game guaranteed.
 
I'm watching the Packers/49ers game as I type this. It's always fun to watch Aaron Rogers.

The Broncos had a good day, shutting out the Jets. They're going to have more of a challenge next week against the Ravens.
 
I've often thought that defense wins games.
If you shut down the offense, good things can come your way.
Titans held the Colts to one touchdown and 3 of 12 attempts at a first down.
Fun game to watch and I'm happy with the team.
 
We don't have any chatter on this site, as in fan's opinions prior to games.
Example: Philly hasn't got a chance, Dallas offense will score forty points.

Don't believe it, as a long time Cowboy fan I'm more than use to them playing 'flub and dub' with the football.

Predictions on who will be the 🐐 of tonight game.
It is hard to say, there are so many to pick from.
 
What We Learned From Week 3 of the NFL Season Pt 1 of 2
Josh Allen is still Josh Allen and the Steelers aren’t winning their bet on Ben Roethlisberger.
NY Times Sept. 26, 2021 (also local media, WashPost, and SB Nation)

Thursday Night Football

Panthers 24, Texans 9
It wasn’t pretty, but the Panthers gutted out a win. Yes, they won the game, and DJ Moore is emerging as a true No. 1 wide receiver. But they lost some key players: RB Christian McCaffrey went out with a hamstring injury for at least a couple of weeks, and CB Jaycee Horn was put on IR with three broken bones in his foot. Once CM went out, the Panthers offense turned the lights off, and only a gritty performance by QB Sam Darnold got them the win to go 3-0. He finished the game 23-of-34 for 304 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns and 0 turnovers, and he was sacked three times for a loss of 14 yards. The Panthers now have 10 days to get healthy before heading to Dallas to take on the suddenly ferocious Cowboys in Week 4.

Chargers 30, Chiefs 24
These Chargers proved they aren’t those Chargers of old with a signature win, stunning the Chiefs in KC. LAC’s new HC Brandon Staley called pass plays often, early and late; as well as going for it on two critical 4th down plays. QB Justin Herbert delivered 281 passing yards on 26-of-38 passing with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

With the score tied at 24-all in Q4, just one week after his costly turnover in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Mahomes made another backbreaking error. His third-and-8 overthrow of tight end Travis Kelce was intercepted by Alohi Gilman at the Chargers’ 41-yard line. The Chargers took it to pass for a TD. But the Chiefs faltered on their last-minute drive and Mahomes’ Hail Mary fell short. The Chiefs should still be considered the favorites. But for the first time in his career, Mahomes is racing from the back of the pack. Chiefs HC Andy Reid was taken to the hospital afterwards and treated for dehydration, but was released the next day.

Bills 43, WFootball Team 21
In 2020 Bills QB Josh Allen came in second in the MVP vote. The first two 2021 games he looked more like a rookie than a fourth-year player who received a six-year, $258 million contract this off-season. But in Week 3 Allen came back into form, eviscerating the WFT with three touchdown passes in Q2 alone for a 21-0 lead. Washington cut the lead to 21-14 with quick scores before the half ended, but Buffalo smothered the threat with offense, scoring on five of its final seven possessions. Allen was pin-point accurate, throwing for 358 yards, four TDs and no picks with a 129.8 passer rating.

Vikings 30, Seahawks 17
The Vikes (1-2) are looking good with QB Kirk Cousins after a win over the Seahawks (1-2). Through three games, Cousins has passed for 918 yards with eight touchdowns, zero interceptions and has been sacked only five times. Even with Vikes RB Dalvin Cook sidelined, Seattle QB Russell Wilson couldn’t rally.

Bengals 24, Steelers 10
Pittsburgh had no interest in a total rebuild and welcomed back Ben Roethlisberger (aged 39) on a pay cut, in a division where Lamar Jackson (24), Baker Mayfield (26) and Joe Burrow (24) are the other starters. The Cincinnati Bengals, the AFC North’s forever doormat, waltzed into Heinz Field and dominated. QB Joe Burrow, a second-year QB coming off a heinous knee injury last season, finished with a 122.9 passer rating on 14-for-18 passing for 172 yards. The Steelers’ talented secondary struggled keeping up with Burrow and his former Louisiana State teammate Ja’Marr Chase, who caught two of his three TD passes. Roethlisberger threw the ball a ridiculous 58 times, which is about 38 more times than Coach Mike Tomlin would probably like. Najee Harris, their rookie RB, has yet to make an impact that would ease Big Ben’s decline.

Ravens 19, Lions 17:
Kickers matter. Justin Tucker’s game-winning, 66-yard FG showed him as maybe the most clutch kicker of his generation. But what set up the longest kick in NFL history: Lamar Jackson’s 36-yard strike to Sammy Watkins on fourth-and-19 from his own 16-yard line, after being sacked twice. The Ravens’ offense still has issues to work out, starting with three drops by No. 1 wideout Marquise Brown. Thanks to Tucker, they can do it from a tie atop the AFC North.

Cardinals 31, Jaguars 19:
AZ gave Jacksonville their undisputed 2021 highlight play. A 68-yard field-goal attempt by the Cardinals backfired badly, in the form of a 109-yard TD return by the Jaguars’ Jamal Agnew, tying the record for the longest play in NFL history. But with the Cardinals winning to go 3-0 for the first time since 2015, they are feeling no regrets.
 
What We Learned From Week 3 of the NFL Season Pt 2 of 2
NY Times Sept. 26, 2021 (also local media, WashPost, and SB Nation)

Saints 28, Patriots 13:
If Mac Jones needs to throw 51 times per game as he did Sunday, the Patriots aren’t going to win much. NE’s rebuild continues but still has a ways to go. The play script got away from NE at home, with Saints QB Jameis Winston supplying the sort of TD pass only he can – throwing a TD pass to the back of the end zone, while falling over sideways in the clutches of Saints DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

Falcons 17, Giants 14:
The good news: Saquon Barkley scored his first TD since 2019. The bad: everything else. Barkley managed 3.2 yds per carry against the hapless Falcons, Daniel Jones was average and the Giants are 0-3. Falcons QB Matt Ryan completed two long passes with 1:50 remaining to set up the game-winning FG. He ended with 27 of 36 for 243 yards – good quarterback, bad team.

Titans 25, Colts 16:
Colts QB Carson Wentz gave it a go on two sprained ankles but played like a QB on two sprained ankles. He didn’t run the ball once, threw it away several times and the Titans rolled despite committing three turnovers. Tennessee’s offense is talented enough to win even when Derrick Henry and Julio Jones don’t score.

Browns 26, Bears 6:
Chicago fans wanted to see rookie QB Justin Fields. They got Justin Fields, the rookie. The former Ohio State star has a long road ahead. He’s athletic, but holds the ball too long. Neither the Bears porous OL nor HC Nagy’s conservative game plan helped Fields. He had only six completions the entire game, getting sacked nine times - 4.5 times by Cleveland’s Myles Garrett - and hit 15 times in all. QB Baker Mayfield delivered the win on 19 of 31, 246 yards, 1 TD, no interceptions.

Broncos 26, Jets 0:
Until they play the Chargers or the Chiefs, it’s hard to get an accurate read on how good this Broncos team is. Denver QB Teddy Bridgewater is completing three out of every four passes, albeit against weak competition. But there’s no denying the defense gives Denver a shot for a winning record this year. Denver’s first hurdle: Game 4 Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson.

Rams 34, Buccaneers 24:
LAR asserted themselves as the team to beat in the NFC. We knew the HC Sean McVay/QB Matthew Stafford combo had potential. LAR was also helped by an injury-ravaged Bucs secondary. Stafford completed 27 of 38 passes for 343 yds with four TDs, no picks and was only sacked once.

Raiders 31, Dolphins 28 (OT):
The Dolphins made it interesting but give Coach Jon Gruden and QB Derek Carr credit for finding a way to win another close game. Arguably no QB is playing better than Carr right now and the Raiders are 3-0. With star RB Josh Jacobs out with a toe injury for the last two games, Gruden has tossed out his run-first strategy and allowed Carr to uncork what is one of the stronger passing arms in the NFL with excellent accuracy. In three games Carr leads the league with 1,203 passing yards. Raiders DE Maxx Crosby has been an equal nightmare on the D side: he leads the league in most pressures and most QB hits. The Raiders are the first team in NFL history to have 4 receivers pass the 200+ yard mark within the first 3 games: Ruggs has 237 receiving yards, Waller has 224, Edwards has 210 and Renfrow has 204.

Packers 30, 49ers 28:
The slightest mistake will cost a team against a determined Aaron Rodgers. Chances are Niners QB Jimmy Garoppolo will be thinking all week about snapping the ball with 12 seconds still on the play clock with less than a minute left in Q4. Sure, the 49ers scored that play but Rodgers had more than enough time - even with no timeouts left - to get the Packers into FG range. Two passes to Davante Adams, a 25-yarder and a 17-yarder, was all it took with the Niners secondary playing soft. Like the Bucs, the Niners secondary is injured and weak on depth. Rodgers was happy to make the Niners pay the price.

Niners fan boards are aflame with who’s to blame. Pick a target: rookie DC Demarco Ryans who has fallen short of predecessor Robert Saleh’s genius; HC Kyle Shanahan, whose offensive genius has yet to produce a winning record over 5 years at 33-37; or QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who looks increasingly mismatched to Shanahan’s rigid and complex offense.

Monday Night Football

Cowboys 41, Eagles 21
Dallas dominated Philly on both offense and defense on Monday Night Football. The Eagles D was overwhelmed as Ezekiel Elliott (17 carried for 95 yards and two TDs) and Tony Pollard (11 carries for 60 yards) powered the running game. Dalton Schultz had six catches for 80 yards and two TDs, and the other Dallas TD catch belonged to Cedrick Wilson on 2-yarder. QB Dak Prescott threw for 238 yards and three TDs on 21-of-26 passing. The Cowboys' 19 first downs in the first half were the most by any team this season. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts finished with 25-of-39 for 326 yards, two TDs and two interceptions. The TD passes went to Zach Ertz and Greg Ward Jr. and the interceptions to Anthony Brown and Trevon Diggs.

The Cowboys will face the unbeaten Carolina Panthers in Week 4, while the Eagles face a much more daunting task when they go up against Patrick Mahomes and the KC Chiefs -- a team looking to end a rare two-game slide.
 
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Onwards and upwards!

NFL Week 4 Predictions: Pt 1 of 2
NY Times Sept. 30, 2021 | All times Eastern.

Thursday’s Matchup
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20p, NFL Network
Pick: Bengals
Bengals 2020 top pick Joe Burrow probably keeps Jags 2021 top pick Trevor Lawrence winless. The Jaguars surrender an average 302.3 passing yds/game. Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase have connected for TD passes in all three games, including two last week in the 24-10 dismantling of the Steelers. Trevor Lawrence’s league intro has been rough: seven interceptions and only five TDs. Expect Burrow and the Bengals to score at will while the Jaguars (0-3) struggle to respond.

Sunday’s Best Games
TBay Buccaneers at NE Patriots, 8:20p, NBC
Pick: Buccaneers
Teams have not run effectively against TBay’s front seven and have instead exploited its defensive backs. The Bucs’ secondary has allowed opponents to throw for over 300 yds twice, including in a loss to the Rams last week, when Matthew Stafford totaled 343 yds and four TDs. Brady will be motivated to win and the Bucs likely will, but the secondary’s struggles give Mac Jones and the Patriots a chance to cover the spread. Much depends on the Pats mounting any kind of pass rush; Brady remains a classic pocket passer and can be pressured into mis-aimed throws.

Arizona Cardinals at LA Rams, 4:05p, Fox
Pick: Rams
This is the game all NFC West fans want to see. Have the Cards finally put it together? The Cardinals’ defense has yet to face an offense as dynamic as the Rams’ (3-0). Both are undefeated, but the Cardinals were saved from a Wk2 loss to the Vikings by a shanked FG attempt, and last week played down to the level of the lowly Jaguars before winning.

Rams QB Matthew Stafford’s connection with Cooper Kupp has made the receiver a fantasy football must-have. Kupp leads the NFL in receiving yds (367) and TD receptions (5) and is tied at first for catches (25). Elite Rams D players Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey are unlikely to allow Cards QB Kyler Murray (averaging 335 yds per game) to put up such high numbers. Rams Coach Sean McVay has never lost to the Cardinals, and probably won’t this time, either.

Cleveland Browns at Minnesota Vikings, 1p, CBS
Pick: Browns
Vikes QB Kirk Cousins has twice thrown for more than 300 yds, including last week while RB Dalvin Cook was out with an ankle injury. Cook’s replacement, Alexander Mattison, rushed for 112 yds in his absence. Cousins has yet to throw an interception this season, but the Browns (2-1) are the most complete defense the Vikings (1-2) have faced.

No matter whether Cook returns or Mattison starts, the Browns’ defense will be up for the challenge. It ranks fifth against the rush (201 yds allowed) and second in sacks (14). Cleveland’s offense last week welcomed back receiver Odell Beckham Jr. from his knee injury. Browns fans rank QB Baker Mayfield their most hated player, but only a Lombardi Trophy could win over Cleveland’s fanbase – they’re a tough lot to please.

Seattle Seahawks at SF 49ers, 4:05p, Fox
Pick: SF
Hello, defense? Anyone home? Pete Carroll must be asking that question after the Seahawks (1-2) allowed opponents to amass over 450 yds of offense in each of the last two games. No amount of Russell Wilson magic can save a game with those putrid defensive performances.

The 49ers (2-1) lost a heart-breaker to the Packers on a last-second FG. They continue to battle injuries on both sides of the ball, with important players like TE George Kittle (calf) and CB Josh Norman (lungs) listed as day-to-day. They signed journeyman Norman last week, then lost him in Q2 of his very first Niners game, allowing Rodgers to gleefully complete pass after pass to Davante Adams on the vulnerable left side of the field.

If Seattle can muster a respectable defensive outing to harass QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who gets flustered under pressure, then the Seahawks could be competitive and maybe even pull off an upset. With the Niners secondary injured and weak, Wilson is just the QB to take advantage. One local media wag half-jokingly suggested the Niners drop 10 defenders into coverage and have only star DE Nick Bosa rush Wilson. The Seahawks are 1-2 overall; in desperate need of a win to avoid falling further back in the NFC West. A win over the 49ers would put both teams at 2-2.

Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos, 4:25p, CBS
Pick: Ravens
The Ravens somehow beat the Lions last week on a record field goal by Justin Tucker. The Broncos are undefeated but face a much stiffer test against Baltimore (2-1), who struggled last week before closing out the Lions. Denver QB Teddy Bridgewater will be without receiver K.J. Hamler, the Broncos’ No. 3 receiver, who tore his left ACL in another big loss to the receiving corps after Jerry Jeudy was placed on injury reserve earlier in the season.

Ravens QB Lamarr Jackson missed practice this week, but is expected to play. After an OT loss to open the season, the Ravens have closed out thrilling victories at home and on the road. They should be able to ride that momentum to give Denver its first loss.

Sunday’s other games
Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys, 1p, Fox
Pick: Cowboys
It took a record 66-yd field goal by Justin Tucker to beat the Lions last week. Losing RB Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) and CB Jaycee Horn (foot) may devastate the Panthers’ (3-0) chance of remaining undefeated. With McCaffrey out for a few weeks, receiver DJ Moore takes over. He will be shadowed by Cowboys’ top CB Trevon Diggs, who has an interception in every game this season. The Cowboys will keep up an aggressive offensive attack as OC Kellen Moore looks to exploit a secondary that hastily traded for CJ Henderson this week. Until proven otherwise, expect the Panthers to struggle without McCaffrey as the workhorse.
 
NFL Week 4 Predictions: Pt 2 of 2
NY Times Sept. 30, 2021 | All times Eastern.

Washington Footballers at Atlanta Falcons, 1p, Fox
Pick: Footballers
Two 1-2 teams face off in a battle to be .500. Oddsmakers predict a tossup, as Washington’s D has not played to its potential. Atlanta (1-2) has rushed for 100 yds only once and is heavily relying on Matt Ryan’s arm at the ripe age of 36. But the Footballers (1-2) failed to sack Bills QB Josh Allen last week, and he dissected them for four TDs. Against a weaker OL, Washington should find more success.

Houston Texans at Buffalo Bills, 1p, CBS
Pick: Bills
The Bills (2-1) are a lopsided pick, with a defense generating three turnovers in each of the last two games. It will feast on Davis Mills of the Texans (1-2), who threw for 168 yds and was sacked four times in his first NFL start last week against Carolina. It’s emblematic of the Texans that QB Deshaun Watson is getting paid $10 million in salary to sit and watch this season implode. Expect the score to get ugly quick.

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears, 1p, CBS
Pick: Bears
The Lions (0-3) have played competitively in first halves against playoff-caliber teams. Ravens kicker Justin Tucker had to convert a record 66-yard FG to rob Detroit of a win last week. That evasive W may come against the Bears (1-2), who posted 1 net passing yard (yes, one yard total) with rookie Justin Fields taking nine sacks by the Browns. Coach Matt Nagy said Fields, Andy Dalton and Nick Foles are all under consideration to start. Can Bear fans spell d-y-s-f-u-n-c-t-i-o-n?

Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins, 1p, CBS
Pick: Dolphins
Injuries continue to plague the Colts (0-3), most recently with All-Pro OG Quenton Nelson, who sprained his ankle and was carted off the field last week. The Colts hope DT DeForest Buckner will help rush Miami’s backup QB, Jacoby Brissett. Brissett completed over 65% of his passes in an OT loss to the Raiders in Week 3, showing he can manage the offense efficiently while Tua Tagovailoa’s ribs heal. If that level of play continues and Miami’s D generates pressure and turnovers, the Carson Wentz experiment in Indianapolis could remain winless.

Giants at New Orleans Saints, 1p, Fox
Pick: Saints
It’s a second straight 0-4 start under Giants coach Joe Judge, who might not get a chance at a third straight next season. Receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton (injured hamstrings) were both ruled out for Game 4, removing two of QB Daniel Jones’s favorite targets. Expect Jones and the Giants (0-3) to struggle against deafening Superdome noise for the Saints’ first true 2021 home game. The Saints (2-1), whose defense collected three interceptions last week against the Patriots, should have fun as Jones throws to receivers on the bottom of the depth chart.

Tennessee Titans at Jets, 1p, CBS
Pick: Titans
Receiver A.J. Brown’s hamstring injury should not stop the Titans (2-1) from winning this game easily, given the team’s formidable stars, RB Derrick Henry and receiver Julio Jones. The Jets lack such options. The rookie QB Zach Wilson has thrown seven interceptions to two TDs, and the Jets (0-3) have only once rushed for more than 100 yds. Even a developing defense like Tennessee’s should be able to contain the Jets’ attack.

KC at Philadelphia Eagles, 1p, CBS
Pick: KC
KC (1-2) has had back-to-back losses only three times since 2018, and unexpectedly sit at the bottom of the AFC West. They are likely to bounce back against the Eagles (1-2), who took a beating from Dallas on Monday and had a short week to prepare. KC Coach Andy Reid returned to work after being treated for dehydration after Sunday’s game. He will likely preach ball security to his team, which committed six total turnovers in losses vs Ravens and Chargers.

If the Chiefs can fix those issues, their firepower should be too much for the Eagles’ young offense to respond. This game could mark Andy Reid’s 100th win with the Chiefs. He won 140 with the Eagles (1999-2012), making him the first NFL coach to win 100 games (postseason included) with multiple teams.

Pittsburgh Steelers at GBay Packers, 4:25p, CBS
Pick: Packers
Ben Roethlisberger has not looked like himself this season, while Aaron Rodgers is back to doing Aaron Rodgers-like things. Pittsburgh’s pedestrian offense is a problem and now faces a Packers team (2-1) beginning to click. Pittsburgh’s has yet to rush for more than 75 yds in a game this season and its defense has given up first-quarter leads. The Steelers (1-2) are hopeful outside linebacker TJ Watt (groin) will be available after missing last week’s loss to the Bengals, but Aaron Rodgers’s output should far exceed that of the Steelers’ offense.

Monday’s Matchup
LVegas Raiders at LA Chargers, 8:15p, ESPN
Pick: Chargers
A critical AFC West game. KC must figure out how to end its rut vs the Eagles. The Broncos face the Ravens, their first winning opponent. Here in LA either the Chargers or the Raiders will gain invaluable ground in the division. Raiders Derek Carr, NFL’s leader in passing yards, goes against up-and-coming Chargers passer Justin Herbert. The Raiders running game is in flux. Star RB Josh Jacobs (toe) is day to day, but back-up Peyton Barber had success against Miami, with 20+ touches and 100 rushing yards.

Matchups to watch: can the Chargers’ new-look OL can hold its own against the Raiders’ improved pass rush? The Chargers (2-1) have allowed only five sacks, but LAC’s offense leads the league in penalty yds (243). Chargers rookie tackle Rashawn Slater may struggle against elite Raiders DE Maxx Crosby. Chargers safety Derwin James will have to lock down Raiders TE Darren Waller.
 
Will be interested in this game. Odds are with the Bucs, and I tend to agree.
Just can't picture Brady and Gronk going back and laying an egg.


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If the Bucs should lose this game watch all media light up the "Maybe it's time for Bray to step down" jargon. But I doubt NE stands and chance of challenging the Bucs.
 
Today's football 10-3-31
NFC-West
looks like SF is collapsing:unsure:
Seattle continues to win, wish they would collapse🙁
Rams-Stafford while with Detroit, was not a trustworthy QB-now he returned to his former behavior. 🐐

Press has been telling me, Broncos have great defense, no one told Ravens 🤗

Don't get puffed up about Cowboys, they will make playoffs, and then, and then??

Pats vs Brady, can't get excited about it, but the TV is touting it as must watch game

P.S. Viewed Brady vs Pats, do not intend to, but it was interesting:Blelchick throwing in a new defense after every play.
Belichick almost pulled it off.
 
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