2023 NFL Regular Season Through Super Bowl LVIII

[SFGiants58]

7 minutes ago, BBTV said:

 

I think I'm on Team Baker now, as long as they bring back those commercials where he lives in the stadium.

Well, the RayJay seems like a decent living space. You’ve got a big pirate ship with which to mess around! The closest I’ll get is finally building the Lego pirate ship in my “I have no display space” backlog.

[MJWalker45]

12 hours ago, See Red said:

Purdy went from MVP front runner to being benched for Sam Darnold.

He was injured. Otherwise he'd have stayed in.

[TrueYankee26]

 

[tBBP]

I feel like the media/press has given exactly 0 attention to all the offseason/preseason hoopla surrounding Lamar Jackson, from betting on himself by fighting for his own guaranteed deal, all the criticism he garnered for doing all that, threatening to hold out, bulking up and adding more muscle—and now look at him/the team. AND he's still healthy. If this dude and the Ravens somehow win even the AFC let alone the Super Bowl this season, it'll be one of the biggest FU/sorta-redemption stories of all time. 

 

And I'll be here for all of it.

 

(I'll also take a Detroit/Cleveland Super Bowl, as well, but we'll see how the next few weeks goes.)

[FiddySicks]

Yeah people were kind of ignoring the Ravens before the season, but I had a feeling they were going to be one of the best teams in the league. They were really well put together, and only got stronger during the off season (they also almost beat Cincinnati in the playoffs without Lamar). Baltimore is a supremely well run organization and it’s always made me a little envious. I can’t even imagine how it must make old school Browns fans feel. 
 

In a perfect/the funniest world, Flacco would beat the Ravens in the AFC title game this season, and then for the late game we could watch Baker try to do the same to the Lions. 

[The_Admiral]

25 minutes ago, FiddySicks said:

Baltimore is a supremely well run organization and it’s always made me a little envious. I can’t even imagine how it must make old school Browns fans feel. 

Probably a big part of why people overlooked them. We're just used to the Ravens making the playoffs every year. However, this year is different in that for the first time, all four teams in the division are good.

 

Also, I don't know how much I can blame the Chiefs' disappointing season on Taylor Swift and Matt Nagy, but I'd like to do it anyway.

[Dynasty]

2 hours ago, tBBP said:

I feel like the media/press has given exactly 0 attention to all the offseason/preseason hoopla surrounding Lamar Jackson, from betting on himself by fighting for his own guaranteed deal, all the criticism he garnered for doing all that, threatening to hold out, bulking up and adding more muscle—and now look at him/the team. AND he's still healthy. If this dude and the Ravens somehow win even the AFC let alone the Super Bowl this season, it'll be one of the biggest FU/sorta-redemption stories of all time. 

 

And I'll be here for all of it.

 

(I'll also take a Detroit/Cleveland Super Bowl, as well, but we'll see how the next few weeks goes.)

 

As much as I hate to say it (because I've constantly tried to talk him down), Lamar Jackson is easily among the best quarterbacks. Even when the Ravens keep losing people to injuries, they just keep winning! They don't have the most talented offense in the league either, but Lamar Jackson has the ability to make things happen for them on nearly every play. It hasn't been easy for me to appreciate the kind of player he is because he doesn't post the most flashy stats and numbers. Maybe it's because I started watching football when pocket passers were so prevalent, with their high yardage and touchdown stats (Manning, Brady, Brees, etc.). That's what the quarterback position was to me.

 

Given the state of the AFC, this is Lamar Jackson's best shot at a Super Bowl. While I'm still not rooting for him because my team is also competing, I'm not going to throw a fit if he gets it done.

[BBTV]

1 hour ago, tBBP said:

hoopla surrounding Lamar Jackson, from betting on himself by fighting for his own guaranteed deal, all the criticism he garnered for doing all that, threatening to hold out, bulking up and adding more muscle—and now look at him/the team.

 

 

Maybe he's matured since then, but I still remember him saying in the 2021 season that he's changing his number from 8 to 1 after he wins the Super Bowl that year so that the Ravens will have to retire both in his honor since his future SBs will be in the new number.

 

The contract thing - at least his desires - never bothered me - at least not what he was trying to get (and threatening holdouts/demanding trades) - it just seemed like by not having an agent, it dragged on much longer than necessary, created unnecessary animosity, and from the reports, he had rejected deals that were as good (if not better) as what he eventually settled on.

 

Up until this year, I always viewed him as a guy who's athleticism made up for poor decision making and lack of recognition, but he's so much more complete now.  For the first time, I could see him winning it (then we'll see if he still wants to change his #.) 

 

Flacco vs the Ravens in the AFCCG would be great.  And I hope the playoffs work out such that Mahomes loses in Baltimore. 

 

[oldschoolvikings]

14 hours ago, SFGiants58 said:

Indeed, this is the AFC’s Super Bowl to lose.

 

14 hours ago, infrared41 said:

 

It's one game.

 

What @infrared41said. 

 

Yeah, so the 49ers are just going to give up 5 interceptions every week now?

 

Seems unlikely. And without those interceptions, I wonder what the score would be?

[The_Admiral]

There's an interesting subphylum of sports observers online who seem to be Brock Purdy denialists. The good games are because of everyone else, and the bad games are proof positive that he's an illegitimate usurper who's every bit the last overall draft pick at best. They're mad that the 49ers abandoned Trey Lance but aren't 49ers fans themselves. Sometimes they'll add that Justin Fields would make them even better if the Bears ever gave up on him. 

[SFGiants58]

I mean, I’m all for being cautious with Purdy. He’s good, but I wouldn’t call him MVP good. If you put him on another team, you’re looking at a sixth-seed team. The AFC North in particular is a weak spot for him this year.

 

My point about the AFC is more than I don’t think the NFC contenders can really hold up against what the AFC North (sans Steelers) and the AFCW/S/E winners have to offer.

[Rockstar Matt]

16 hours ago, BottomlessPitt said:

Very telling stat just stated by Joe Buck: 49ers are 0-37 when trailing by 8 or more points in the 4th quarter under Kyle Shanahan. 

This stat is a little disingenuous.

(From Twitter):

“- All teams win 7% of games in that scenario (98-1337-4)
- KC have the best win% (6-14, .300)
- GB 2nd best : 7-34 (.171)
- SEA 1-38, CAR 1-58, IND 1-36-1
- BLT 2-22, DAL 2-37, NE 3-35

- No one really wins these
- Helps to be good at dropback pass
- SF scheme weakness/QB weakness is the dropback pass”

 

These stats are from 2017-present day including the regular season and postseason (when Shanahan took over as the 49ers HC).

 

I’m definitely not a 49ers supporter but it’s generally very difficult to win games when you’re already down by 8 or more points with only 15 minutes to go. 
 

EDIT: a better stat showcasing their struggles when trailing would be the Shanahan 49ers’ record when trailing by 3+ at the start of the 4th.
 

They’re 1-31 in that scenario.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Trent Dilfer kind of messed up QB analysis for everyone. He won that Super Bowl with an all-time defense, and then became the poster boy for "good enough quarterback."

 

Brock Purdy is playing with an all-time defense and all-time offensive weapons, but he's also making plays and scoring touchdowns.

 

Dak plays with a great defense and great offense, but he doesn't have the wins or numbers of Brock. Ditto DeShaun Watson. And all of the bums on the Jets.

 

Purdy is in the best possible situation but he's also delivering. I think he's the MVP. Him or Lamar.

[GDAWG]

7 minutes ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

Trent Dilfer kind of messed up QB analysis for everyone. He won that Super Bowl with an all-time defense, and then became the poster boy for "good enough quarterback."

 

Brock Purdy is playing with an all-time defense and all-time offensive weapons, but he's also making plays and scoring touchdowns.

 

Dak plays with a great defense and great offense, but he doesn't have the wins or numbers of Brock. Ditto DeShaun Watson. And all of the bums on the Jets.

 

Purdy is in the best possible situation but he's also delivering. I think he's the MVP. Him or Lamar.

 

Purdy's performance last night took him out of the MVP conversation.  It put Lamar back in though.  

[Fowler2]

I wouldn't be surprised if neither the Ravens or 49ers made the Super Bowl. If feels like one of those seasons where a couple of low seeded teams like the Rams or Browns go on a run.

[PERRIN]

I'm a huge Brock Purdy apologist but anyone claiming he's the Most Valuable Player in the entire NFL is smoking something. He's not even the most valuable player on the 49ers offense; he's at best third after McCaffery and Deebo. I love his humility and at his best he's a damn good quarterback, but when he has performances like last night and leads his team to a three-game losing skid after losing his top two weapons, it seems pretty obvious that he simply isn't on the same level as other MVP candidates.

 

I’m not super hyped for any specific candidate for MVP this year, as funny as it sounds. This year hasn’t had anyone set themselves apart from the pack like in previous years. I’d say that this year is easily the closest MVP race I’ve ever seen, but if I had to pick anyone, I’d probably go with Lamar. McCaffery, Tyreek, and Dak deserve consideration also, but Lamar takes the cake for me right now. Going to be interesting to see how the last few weeks shape the MVP race further.

[Rockstar Matt]

7 hours ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

Dak plays with a great defense and great offense, but he doesn't have the wins or numbers of Brock. Ditto DeShaun Watson. And all of the bums on the Jets.

 

Purdy is in the best possible situation but he's also delivering. I think he's the MVP. Him or Lamar.

Dak has one less win than Purdy (QB wins are a horrible way to evaluate a QB), and their stats are similar in every way (except Dak has more TD’s and less INT’s).

 

Purdy: 68.8cmp%, 4050 yards, 29 TD’s (31 total), 9.7 Y/A, 11 INTS (13 total TO’s), 71.7 QBR and 112.2 qb rating.

 

*Dak: 68.4cmp%, 3892 yards, 30 TD’s (32 total), 7.5 Y/A, 7 INTS (8 total TO’s), 71.5 QBR and 104.2 QB rating. 
 

I just wanted to push back against the notion that Purdy is just vastly outplaying Dak. Also if Purdy is considered to have the better weapons, shouldn’t Dak’s numbers have more value because he’s doing it with less talent around him yet essentially has the same stats (if not better) than Purdy?

 

If the MVP has to go to the QB on the best team, then it has to be Lamar, if it’s the QB who’s played the best throughout the whole season then it’s Josh Allen or Dak. In reality we’re ignoring who should be the true MVP front runners just because the MVP has become a QB only award: Myles Garrett and Tyreek Hill

 

*- need to point out that Dak’s total volume stats would be better if he hadn’t sat the entire 4th quarter, or the majority of the 4th, in over 7 games this season. 

[GDAWG]

If the Browns go to the Super Bowl and they win it do we really want Deshaun Watson to win a Super Bowl Ring even though he's injured?

[DG_ThenNowForever]

6 minutes ago, Rockstar Matt said:

Dak has one less win than Purdy (QB wins are a horrible way to evaluate a QB), and their stats are similar in every way (except Dak has more TD’s and less INT’s).

 

Purdy: 68.8cmp%, 4050 yards, 29 TD’s (31 total), 9.7 Y/A, 11 INTS (13 total TO’s), 71.7 QBR and 112.2 qb rating.

 

*Dak: 68.4cmp%, 3892 yards, 30 TD’s (32 total), 7.5 Y/A, 7 INTS (8 total TO’s), 71.5 QBR and 104.2 QB rating. 
 

I just wanted to push back against the notion that Purdy is just vastly outplaying Dak. Also if Purdy is considered to have the better weapons, shouldn’t Dak’s numbers have more value because he’s doing it with less talent around him yet essentially has the same stats (if not better) than Purdy?

 

If the MVP has to go to the QB on the best team, then it has to be Lamar, if it’s the QB who’s played the best throughout the whole season then it’s Josh Allen or Dak. In reality we’re ignoring who should be the true MVP front runners just because the MVP has become a QB only award: Myles Garrett and Tyreek Hill

 

*- need to point out that Dak’s total volume stats would be better if he hadn’t sat the entire 4th quarter or the majority of the 4th in 7 games this season. 

 

Good post.

 

And I agree: it should be Tyreek Hill. He's the most disruptive player on the field.

[The_Admiral]

Won't be Hill (or CMC for that matter), has to be a quarterback these days. I think Jackson has it just about locked up at this point.