2020 NFL Season

[Red Comet]

6 minutes ago, oldschoolvikings said:

 

However, they won the off season uniform update game, and on this site, what else really matters?

 

Fair. And I'm inclined to agree if only because the other uniforms ranged from bland (Tampa Bay) to hideous (Atlanta's red alt uniform). Heck, I only listed off-field issues. Don't even get me started on how they treated Marty Schottenheimer and how they pissed away the careers of Phillip Rivers, Antonio Gates, Ladanian Tomlinson and Junior Seau.

[SFGiants58]

Their medical staff has always been operating at the Zoidberg level. Heck, Dr. John Zoidberg himself would be an improvement over the Chargers’ medical staff.

[Red Comet]

Serious talk, though, the Chargers are a few winning seasons removed from being a laughingstock like the Lions and Browns are. Kind of makes me feel bad knowing that the Raiders are owned by CWC, the Broncos have a dispute in the wake of Pat Bowen dying and the Chargers are a clownshow. You know, maybe an actual challenger can stand up and I hope it does because being Patriots Midwest is going to get boring very soon.

[goalieboy82]

1 hour ago, SFGiants58 said:

Their medical staff has always been operating at the Zoidberg level. Heck, Dr. John Zoidberg himself would be an improvement over the Chargers’ medical staff.

 

[DnBronc]

5 hours ago, Red Comet said:

 

FTFY

 

Maybe, but I am starting to think that these leagues should contract some teams.

[sky1324]

58 minutes ago, DnBronc said:

 

Maybe, but I am starting to think that these leagues should contract some teams.

MLB probably, NHL maybe, but NFL? Nah.

[Ridleylash]

1 minute ago, QCS said:

MLB probably, NHL maybe, but NFL? Nah.

I'd think the NHL goes relocation before contraction, and even then the only candidate I can really think of in the near-future is the Panthers, since their lease is up soon and they'll be crippled by a lack of fans in attendance.

[sky1324]

2 minutes ago, Ridleylash said:

I'd think the NHL goes relocation before contraction, and even then the only candidate I can really think of in the near-future is the Panthers, since their lease is up soon and they'll be crippled by a lack of fans in attendance.

Agreed, for all the reasons you stated on the Anti-NHL thread. Really, really hoping for Nordiques 2.0 but I wouldn't be surprised if the Panthers head to Houston, because NHL.

[JayMac]

10 hours ago, QCS said:

Agreed, for all the reasons you stated on the Anti-NHL thread. Really, really hoping for Nordiques 2.0 but I wouldn't be surprised if the Panthers head to Houston, because NHL.

I would almost guarantee this.

[BBTV]

You’ll never see contraction in US pro sports. Realistically, there’s not enough top-tier talent to support more than around 26 teams in each, and for football and baseball there’s really only 26 or 28 suitable markets, but contraction will never ever ever happen. 

[LMU]

21 minutes ago, BBTV said:

You’ll never see contraction in US pro sports. Realistically, there’s not enough top-tier talent to support more than around 26 teams in each, and for football and baseball there’s really only 26 or 28 suitable markets, but contraction will never ever ever happen. 

Bingo.  You'll see more situations like the Expos, Coyotes, and Hornicans where the league will serve as a caretaker owner until they can sell to a local group or one that'll relocate.

[leopard88]

On 9/23/2020 at 10:45 AM, Red Comet said:

 

I believe it was 5 weeks in a row and they still won 2 games. Also, IIRC, Tony Banks was the starter during that stretch of the season and was benched when the Ravens were 5-4. Dilfer didn't lose a game for the rest of the year. 

 

They don't bench Banks and that 2000 Ravens team is like The Grits Blitz. A nice bit of trivia but ultimately wouldn't go anywhere.

 

It was 5 weeks.  Dilfer took over for Banks in the middle of game 4 of the TDless streak and started the 5th game of the streak.  They lost game 5, leaving them at 5-4, then won 11 in a row, including the playoffs and Super Bowl.

 

That team won every game in which they scored at least one touchdown . . . and managed to go 2-4 in games when they didn't score a touchdown.

[Red Comet]

5 hours ago, leopard88 said:

 

It was 5 weeks.  Dilfer took over for Banks in the middle of game 4 of the TDless streak and started the 5th game of the streak.  They lost game 5, leaving them at 5-4, then won 11 in a row, including the playoffs and Super Bowl.

 

That team won every game in which they scored at least one touchdown . . . and managed to go 2-4 in games when they didn't score a touchdown.

 

Thank you for the correction. That defense was amazing and its funny how things can change with the switch of a quarterback. Even if it is going from one mediocre QB to another. What changed with Dilfer at the helm that led to the offense producing more? 

[JayMac]

7 hours ago, BBTV said:

You’ll never see contraction in US pro sports. Realistically, there’s not enough top-tier talent to support more than around 26 teams in each, and for football and baseball there’s really only 26 or 28 suitable markets, but contraction will never ever ever happen. 

I always thought that 24 is the sweet spot for leagues. The NFL can afford maybe a few more but then the talent pool gets dilated. The NHL and MLB should not have franchises in certain markets. The NBA could stand to lose a few franchises to become a bit more competitively balanced. 

[Dynasty]

Who is it that decides what goes on primetime? I don't think anyone was screaming for Miami and Jacksonville.

[Red Comet]

Show of hands, did anyone expect Fitzpatrick and Co. to beat the crap out of Jacksonville? Not that the Jags are great but I was low-key thinking that they'd compete for a playoff spot this year and the Dolphins would be a Top-10 pick next year. 

 

Any Given Su-er-Thursday.

[AustinFromBoston]

43 minutes ago, Red Comet said:

Show of hands, did anyone expect Fitzpatrick and Co. to beat the crap out of Jacksonville? Not that the Jags are great but I was low-key thinking that they'd compete for a playoff spot this year and the Dolphins would be a Top-10 pick next year. 

 

Any Given Su-er-Thursday.

It's Fitzmagic. The bipolar QB. 

 

He's always good for a few wins before he looks like a bottom tier QB again. 

[dont care]

5 hours ago, Red Comet said:

Show of hands, did anyone expect Fitzpatrick and Co. to beat the crap out of Jacksonville? Not that the Jags are great but I was low-key thinking that they'd compete for a playoff spot this year and the Dolphins would be a Top-10 pick next year. 

 

Any Given Su-er-Thursday.

Maybe you weren’t paying attention to the absolute gutting this team has taken the past year. There are maybe 2 stars coming back from last year.

[tBBP]

7 hours ago, Red Comet said:

Show of hands, did anyone expect Fitzpatrick and Co. to beat the crap out of Jacksonville? Not that the Jags are great but I was low-key thinking that they'd compete for a playoff spot this year and the Dolphins would be a Top-10 pick next year. 

 

Any Given Su-er-Thursday.

 

2 hours ago, dont care said:

Maybe you weren’t paying attention to the absolute gutting this team has taken the past year. There are maybe 2 stars coming back from last year.

 

^ Yeah, that. That Jaguars squad is full of a bunch of rookies and backups. I'm actually surprised they played as well as they did through the first two games.  They've definitely got some promising young'ns on that squad. James Robinson we know about, but this Laviska Shinault character though...that is one TOUGH little dude. That guy is gonna be worth keeping an eye on.

 

All that said...yeah, they sho' got rolled on last night, in typical Jaguars bipolar fashion: build up the hype, then get stomped on during primetime at home. And to 37-year journeyman caveman QB Fitzpatrick, no less.  (Seriously, how does thay guy keep getting signed around the league, though?)

[leopard88]

14 hours ago, Red Comet said:

 

Thank you for the correction. That defense was amazing and its funny how things can change with the switch of a quarterback. Even if it is going from one mediocre QB to another. What changed with Dilfer at the helm that led to the offense producing more? 

 

You're welcome.  I still remember that season well, so most of the details are pretty fresh in my mind . . . even after 20 (*gulp*) years.

 

As for what changed, I think there were three things --

 

1.  The streak was broken against a really bad Bengals team, who they just pasted.  I think the confidence derived from that changed the mindset . . . and no one was talking about the streak any more.

2.  Jamal Lewis had taken over as the starting RB by then.  He was just a beast, which improved the running game and helped open up the passing game.*

3.  Dilfer was just a smarter player than Banks.  I think he had a better handle on the offense and didn't make as many head scratching decisions.

 

* -- If only they could have figured out a way to maximize the talents of Lewis and Priest Holmes.  The offense actually could have been pretty good.