NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Packers seem have a friendly schedule going down the stretch... wouldnt surprise me to see them pass the Vikings (temporarily). No confidence in the Vikings with 2 on the road, then 2 with the Lions and 1 with the Packers... odd schedule with the Vikes having 3 straight vs the North to close it out.

Falcons can do a lot to help themselves if they win their home games and play well in NO to close it out... big last game for them.

Rams are surprising me and that game on the road vs the Ravens is troubling, but at least they play the 49ers at home to close it out.

Saints and Buccos are just hanging around like a hair in a biscuit.

If the Cowboys are a legitimate power-house, they have their opportunity to prove it with their next 3 games.

In other words - the NFC is mumbo jumbo. The NFL is getting what they want with parity and the extra game (week 17). Lots of teams hanging around creating excitement and Playoff hopes (some fake ones where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth), so every team and fan can still have high hopes through week 17.

 

LMAO, thought I’d heard them all

 

I probably offended our resident Saints fan..... again.

 

Naw. I have eyes.

 

This week’s Patriots-Steelers game on Thursday Night Football has an over-under point total of 30 at most sports books. That’s a shockingly low total: Although historic data on gambling can be hard to find, StatMuse.com says there hasn’t been a total that low for an NFL game since 1993.

 

Take the under.

 

4-2 Steelers

 

Week 14: Four things to watch for in Patriots-Steelers

1) Mitch Trubisky should be able to keep the trains moving on time. If there's a team that can survive a QB injury now, it might be the Steelers. Trubisky has started five games for Pittsburgh, appeared in five more for them and started 57 NFL games (two in the postseason). He's not a franchise QB, but his teams have a winning record with him starting. Trubisky's athleticism is an underrated element of his game, as he once ran for 81 yards and a score against Belichick's Patriots in 2018. But the next time he faced them, with the Steelers last season, New England played more zone and also spied Trubisky, limiting his scrambling chances. They were happy to let him pick away underneath, too, taking away the deep part of the field. Trubisky was 5 of 12 for 74 yards and a pick when throwing the ball 10-plus yards downfield in that game. New play caller Mike Sullivan has been more aggressive than predecessor Matt Canada in terms of attacking downfield, but we'll have to see if he takes this approach from the outset on Thursday.

2) Patriots must find a way to generate offense. Although the bulk of the 2023 season has been a grueling one offensively, the Patriots might find themselves at their low point now. They've scored six, seven and zero points the last three games. Jones struggled (five INTs in his past four games) before being benched. Zappe, who threw a bizarre pick late in the London loss to the Colts, replaced Jones and did little last week (13 of 25 passing, 141 yards, five sacks). The Patriots' offensive line has failed, the top two running backs are beat up and the WR room has also been chewed up and ineffective. With Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) unable to go, it figures to be an Ezekiel Elliott game -- and he's dealt with a thigh injury. Stevenson also leads the team in receptions. Wideout Demario Douglas (concussion) is also out for this game. Whoever quarterbacks will need some help from somewhere. TE Hunter Henry needs to step up. Maybe Tyquan Thornton, who had a 39-yard run last week, can break off a big play. DeVante Parker (knee; questionable) had 64 yards receiving last week, but on nine targets. Perhaps Kayshon Boutte or Jalen Reagor can show something. But no matter how you spin it, the cupboard looks mighty bare.

3) Pittsburgh's defense, other playmakers must step up. Tomlin won't want to put the entire game on Trubisky, so you can bet he'll be expecting a lot from his defense and run game. Linebacker Elandon Roberts (groin) could return to give his position a lift, facing his former squad. Cameron Heyward is back and improving after his own groin injury, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick also has returned from being sidelined. T.J. Watt, despite being banged up, and Alex Highsmith continue to be game-wreckers. The secondary is shaky at times, but that's less of a worry against the Patriots' passing game. Offensively, the Steelers can lean heavily on their RB duo of Najee Harris (knee; questionable) and Jaylen Warren. This might be more of a Warren game, as the Patriots generally have shut down opponents' run games recently, so getting Warren more involved as a receiver makes sense even if he hasn't had more than 25 receiving yards in a game since October. WRs George Pickens and Diontae Johnson have delivered as much drama as they have consistent big plays, but the recent return of TE Pat Freiermuth (who grew up a big Patriots fan) has helped. The Steelers need to play complementary football around their backup QB, and getting a slew of players back from injury on both sides of the ball recently figures to help.

4) Can New England's defense keep this game close? If there's a saving grace to the Patriots' horrific offensive struggles, it's that the defense largely has given them a chance to win games. Despite the 2-10 record and injuries to LB Matthew Judon and CBs Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones, New England's defense has largely been good -- especially in recent games. The Patriots have allowed only 725 yards and 26 points the past three games, even if they lost all three. There was some luck against the Chargers, with a spate of dropped passes, but the Patriots still know how to play defense. It's been good but not good enough. The Patriots need to force more turnovers (11 this season, two in the past three games) and probably score on defense to have a chance. This season, they have one safety (by Judon, who is out) and zero defensive TDs. In 2022, they had seven defensive scores, but it has been over a year since the Patriots scored on defense. Some of their better defensively players recently include DT Christian Barmore, LB Jahlani Tavai and S Jabrill Peppers, but can any of them make a game-changing turnover? Trubisky will take some sacks and has been turnover-prone at times.

NFL.com
_____________
_______________________

For some reason I find this game to be interesting... Im tuning in. The QB play I suppose is the most intriguing thing to me.

Everyone in the betting world, sport prediction, odds making thingy, have this as a low scoring game... you watch, both teams will explode and put up astronomical numbers.

 

Bucs treating Sunday “like a playoff game”

The Buccaneers will play four more games regardless of the result of Sunday’s matchup with the Falcons, but the chances that those games are meaningful will go way down if they don’t win.

Atlanta is 6-6 and they’ve already beaten the Bucs this season, so another loss would make the path to a division title in Tampa a very difficult one. Those circumstances explain why right guard Cody Mauch said the team is adopting a playoff mentality as they prepare for their trip to Atlanta.

“We’re treating it like a playoff game, because, really, for us, it is,” Mauch said, via Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. “You’ve got to keep winning, especially these division games. That’s just kind of the mentality for us.”

That feeling comes from the top down. Head coach Todd Bowles said at his Wednesday press conference that “every game we play from here on out is a playoff game” and that this game is of particular importance.

“December football,” Bowles said. “It’s a round-robin tournament until the end. We understand the importance of this game. If we can win this one, the next game will be more important than that one. It’s the biggest game this week, it’s the only game this week. It’s a division rival. They’re one game ahead of us. We know we’ve got to try to catch up, they know they’ve got to keep a lead.”

The stakes are clear and we’ll find out soon enough if the Bucs are up to the task.

PFT
________
___________________
I totally disagree. Every game from day 1 of the season is a Playoff game and should be treated as such, from day 1. This isnt the NHL or the MLB, there are only 17 games, so getting your shit together and treating every game as a Playoff game is where your mindset ought to be. This game is crucial, no doubt, but to finally declare it a playoff type game is something that seems late to me.

 

Najee Harris was questionable, but he is now expected to play.

 

Kicker Robbie Gould announces retirement after 18 NFL seasons

An illustrious kicking career has reached its end.

Veteran placekicker Robbie Gould announced his retirement after 18 NFL seasons on Thursday via an article published by The Players' Tribune.

"Now, although football has been a really great part of my life for the past 18 years, it is with the utmost regard and appreciation that I officially announce my retirement from the National Football League," Gould wrote in the piece, in which he recapped his winding NFL journey that saw him kick for three franchises (the Bears, Giants and 49ers).

"Will I miss it? Absolutely. The fire to play and to compete definitely still burns, and I'm not sure that will ever go away. As I look back over the entirety of my career, it's kind of ironic because the thing I'm going to miss the most isn't really even all that much about the actual game of football. I'll miss being a part of a football team. The plane rides, the pregame meals, the companionship, the locker room culture, the workouts, and the grind of one unit trying to accomplish a common goal of winning -- that part can't be replaced.

"As the football chapter, this 'good thing,' comes to an end, it also opens a door for new endeavors that come my way. Charity work is an integral part of my core values, and I'm looking forward to pursuing more opportunities to give back. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't also thinking about all of the golf courses I've yet to visit. And in my book, a Little League position titled 'Coach Rob' has a pretty nice ring to it."

Gould began his career as an undrafted free agent signed by Chicago out of Penn State in 2005. He would spend the next 11 seasons in a Bears uniform, converting 85.4 percent of his 323 attempted field goals and 99 percent of his point-after attempts, earning a first-team All-Pro selection and Pro Bowl nod in only his second season in 2006. In that campaign, his Bears reached Super Bowl XLI, where they fell to Peyton Manning's Colts in Miami.

Gould would make three playoff appearances with the Bears (2005, 2006 and 2010), converting every single kicking attempt (6 for 6 on field goals, 19 for 19 on extra points). He'd move onto New York where he spent one season as the Giants' kicker (2016) for a squad that reached Wild Card Weekend before bowing out against the Green Bay Packers. At 34 years old, Gould had already been in the NFL for a dozen seasons, but wasn't done with professional football, moving west to San Francisco. He'd serve as a reliable kicker for the 49ers for the next six seasons, posting a field-goal percentage of 87.5 while converting 96.1 percent of point-after attempts.

He unceremoniously departed San Francisco following the 2022 season, noting he'd prefer to play somewhere closer to family in Chicago in the twilight of his career. That opportunity never arrived for Gould, who spent most of the 2023 season out of work before calling it a career.

Gould retires with a career field-goal percentage of 86.5 and extra-point conversion rate of 97.5 percent, walking away as one of the most trustworthy kickers of his generation. He accounted for 1,961 points scored in his 18 NFL seasons, and as an avid golfer, he'll hope to take that consistency to the course, where he'll enjoy rounds during a retirement focused on enjoying life as a retiree and dedicated father to two young boys.

NFL.com
___________
__________________

Kickers are the unsung heroes.

 

REMEMBER, lest we forget and repeat.

December 7th 1941

 

You talking about the movie with John Belushi ?

 

Thursday Night Football: Patriots hold off Steelers in 21-18 upset

The Steelers looked like a lock for the postseason before last week, with back-to-back games upcoming against two-win teams. The Steelers, though, lost to the Cardinals 24-10 on Sunday and, four days later, fell to the Patriots 21-18.

It has put a dent in their playoff hopes as Pittsburgh fell to 7-6.

The Patriots, who at 2-10 before Thursday, had nothing to play for, outplayed the Steelers in a battle of backup quarterbacks. They outgained Pittsburgh 303 to 264.

Bailey Zappe, making his second consecutive start after replacing Mac Jones, completed 19 of 28 passes for 240 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He did all of the damage in the first half with 196 yards and three touchdowns.

Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 68 yards on 22 carries and JuJu Smith-Schuster caught four passes for 90 yards.

The Steelers rallied from down 21-3 late in the second quarter to make it a game, but they will look back on all the missed chances.

After Mykal Walker’s interception of Trubisky late in the third quarter, the Steelers faced a fourth-and-two from the New England 8. They bypassed a field goal and Jaylen Warren was stopped short of the line to gain on a pass from Trubisky.

With 5:06 remaining in the game, the Steelers’ punt coverage team thought they had gotten Jahlani Tavai to jump offsides on fourth-and-three. (Tavai reacted as if he thought so, too.) But officials penalized long snapper Christian Kuntz for a snap infraction. Pittsburgh was not happy with the officials’ call.

The Steelers’ last best chance came with 2:01 left. They had a fourth-and-two at their own 49 when Trubisky tried to hit Diontae Johnson deep. It was overthrown.

Trubisky, making his first start since Week 15 of last season, went 22-of-35 for 190 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also ran for 30 yards on eight carries.

Johnson caught three passes for 57 yards and a touchdown.

The over-under point total was 30 at most sports books, which hit the over before halftime.

PFT

 

On the Steelers loss last night...

Veteran safety Minkah Fitzpatrick pointed to the lack of mental fortitude and willingness to put in the work as the reason the Steelers flopped against 2-win opponents.

"In order to see the fruit, you've gotta toil for it," he said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN. "I think too many people don't want to toil for it. They just want to walk out here and think that they're going to make plays and think that they're going to perform at a high level. I think we need to have more people who want to work for it, not expect it to be handed to them.

"This is the NFL. Nothing's handed to you. You got to earn everything. I think that dudes just think that because they're wearing the black and gold, that they're going to win games, and I think we need to check that mentality and make people realize that they got to earn that mentality, and they got to earn every single blade of grass, every single splash play and every single rep that they get out there. They got to earn it."

 

Still just words and platitudes.

Do it and shut up.

 

Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) ruled out vs. Bills

The Kansas City Chiefs will attempt to bounce back from last week's loss in Green Bay without their top running back.

The Chiefs ruled out Isiah Pacheco for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills due to a shoulder injury, head coach Andy Reid told reporters.

Pacheco missed practice all week. He briefly went down in Sunday's loss but returned shortly after. The running back was ejected with less than a minute left in the contest.

The second-year back leads the Chiefs with 779 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 176 carries. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is second among K.C. RBs with 140 rushing yards and a TD on 40 totes. As the passing game has struggled to find consistency, Pacheco's bruising running style has helped keep the operation balanced and churn out yards. Facing a Bills defense that allows 4.7 yards per carry in 2023, fourth-most in the NFL, the Chiefs will miss Pacheco on Sunday.

In his stead, CEH figures to see an uptick in totes. Jerick McKinnon, who missed the past two games due to a groin injury, will see the pass-catching duties and could share carries against Buffalo.

Reid also ruled out linebacker Drue Tranquill, defensive back Bryan Cook and offensive tackle Donovan Smith for Sunday's tilt.

NFL.com

 

fuck it, I’m happy with their words and platitudes..

 

T.J. Watt is in the concussion protocol

On Thursday night, Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt took a knee to the face from Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott on the first play from scrimmage.

Watt returned to action. He eventually was checked for a concussion. At one point, he had a tinted visor. After the game, he was unable to participate in a previously-scheduled conversation with Peter King due to a “migraine,” as King said on Friday’s PFT Live.

On Friday, Watt was checked once again at the team facility, and he was placed in the concussion protocol, according to the Steelers.

It’s unclear why he wasn’t removed from Thursday night’s game. It’s also unclear why he was given a tinted visor. Light sensitivity is a symptom of a concussion.

Now that Watt is in the protocol, he won’t be able to practice or play until properly cleared. The big question for now, however, is how and why was he cleared to continue to play on Thursday night?

PFT sent the league an email on Friday asking for an explanation of why and how Watt was cleared to play, and regarding the use of a tinted visor. As of this posting, the league has not responded.
__________
____________________

Seems like week after week all we hear is the fumbles and mumble jumble by the NFL... Refs stinking things up, medical evaluations are lagging, from top to bottom, things are getting to be the 'greatest show on Earth' to being the 'greatest shit show on Earth'.

The now public fines being made available make absolutely zero sense also. One week a helmet head-shot is fined thousands, then a week later its not.

Personally, Its time to fire the head honcho in Goodell, before he absolutely ruins the game of NFL football. Things could be and should be better, there's no reason for the wishy-washy, week in and week out BS that permeates this game. I also have a beef with the legalized gambling... how in hell is that even fair in a system that cant get anything right in context to the dynamics necessary to hold fair and reliable usage of the 'extra' revenue?

This is fucked up, period. Its time the Owners, who are crooked as hell to begin with, to get all their 'collective asses' together and right the ship.

( I went off on a tangent/rant... happens once in a while)