2015 NFL Season

[E.H. Ruddock]

Cards and Broncos are better than the Bengals and Panthers

And I'd still probably take the Packers over the Panthers.

Cam's poor passing is gonna catch up to Carolina eventually.

And Manning's isn't?

[nyquillyn]

Cards and Broncos are better than the Bengals and Panthers

And I'd still probably take the Packers over the Panthers.

Cam's poor passing is gonna catch up to Carolina eventually.

And Manning's isn't?

Maybe. But Cam still misses receivers wildly several times a game. A sub-54% completion rate is pretty terrible.

As a Cards fan, I'd love to see the Panthers continue doing well. I'd much rather go to Carolina for the NFC Championship than GB. And I think the Cards match-up well against the Panthers.

[Simple Torture]

I only placed the Panthers in the top tier because of their record. Their first four games were quite soft, the last four have been tougher but they've slogged it out. The only game I was able to watch like 75% of was the Eagles game, and I did notice Cam's accuracy problems--unfortunately, they never show Panthers games up here.

[TBAMTS]

[epilogue]

Man, all division rivals lose and the Chiefs are gonna have a hell of a time capitalizing on that good fortune. I hate when this happens. It's just a total wash.

[Simple Torture]

Which teams are you willing to completely cross off from playoff contention? I've got:

Spoiler: show

Dolphins
Ravens
Browns
Texans
Jags
Titans
Chiefs
Chargers
Washington
Cowboys
Bears
Lions
Bucs
49ers

Which is only 14 teams! Still over half the league has some sort of shot.

[Electromatic]

Cards and Broncos are better than the Bengals and Panthers

And I'd still probably take the Packers over the Panthers.

Cam's poor passing is gonna catch up to Carolina eventually.

Have you watched that defense? They are getting guys like Charles Johnson back eventually too.

They don't have a lot of options, but his passing has been extremely good lately.

[Simple Torture]

I think 4 of the Pack's 6 wins don't look impressive at all: Bears, Chiefs, 49ers, Chargers. And the Seahawks were a mess when they played them. The Rams win is like half-impressive, since they've shown feistiness, but I think it's telling that they've lost two in a row against definite playoff teams. They'll make the playoffs, since they've got two against the Lions and one against the Bears left; I think they'll split with the Vikings, beat the Raiders in a shootout, and probably take care of a tanking Cowboys team. Week 16 against the Cardinals in the most interesting game left on their schedule; so they'll either be 11-5 or 12-4 (if they beat the Cards), which will look impressive on paper, and luckily they'll get a home playoff game. But I'm not super into them.

[Coach]

I know part of it is the Lions awfulness, but I find the NFL is not very compelling this season for some reason.

I agree with you, despite the fact that the Pats are undefeated.

I think it's a combo of 1) injuries to star players, 2) the drama (Hardy, ball pressure), and 3) the media (ESPN and the NFL Network/social arm taking shots at the Pats/AM games in London via the Web/constant hot sports takes) are all to blame.

Also, the onslaught of fantasy sports gambling advertisements is really annoying.

Even the Red Zone, which saved football for me, lacks enough games because of the Thurs night games, coupled with all the London early games.

[nyquillyn]

I think 4 of the Pack's 6 wins don't look impressive at all: Bears, Chiefs, 49ers, Chargers. And the Seahawks were a mess when they played them. The Rams win is like half-impressive, since they've shown feistiness, but I think it's telling that they've lost two in a row against definite playoff teams. They'll make the playoffs, since they've got two against the Lions and one against the Bears left; I think they'll split with the Vikings, beat the Raiders in a shootout, and probably take care of a tanking Cowboys team. Week 16 against the Cardinals in the most interesting game left on their schedule; so they'll either be 11-5 or 12-4 (if they beat the Cards), which will look impressive on paper, and luckily they'll get a home playoff game. But I'm not super into them.

That's fair. Their D has been horrific the past few weeks, but they have a history of being able to "right the ship" on that side of the ball. And Aaron Rodgers is Aaron Rodgers.
The back-half of the Cards' schedule is brutal. Seahawks twice, Bengals, Packers, Vikes, Rams. They'll probably finish 11-5. That Week 4 lose against the Rams will loom large.
Like I said, I like the Cards chances against the Panthers. Their hybrid DB-LB defense is built to stop offenses with QBs like Cam. And while I think the Panthers' D is good, it's certainly not "elite". The Cards could have the best offensive weapons in the league and their O-line should get better as the season progresses. Obviously losing Carson is a big concern, however.
All things being equal, I'd just rather not face The Pack in Green Bay in January.

[Simple Torture]

On the other hand, Carolina's schedule looks pretty solid: they've got the Cowboys, Titans, Bucs, and Washington. Those two Atlanta games are huge question marks, and they play the Saints and Giants on the road. Could they go 13-3 (win 3 of the 4 easily winnable games, split with Atlanta, split Saints/Giants)? Possibly.

[Simple Torture]

For the Pats, the NYG game and the Broncos game are obviously the big questions marks. Bills in week 11 could be a trap game with Denver coming the next week in Mile High.

Ugh, I hate this:

[Self]

Luck!

Ouch. I wonder if his ribs still weren't fully healed?

[verb_to_trust]

Lacerated organs are the new concussion s in todays NFL.

[Simple Torture]

Lacerated organs are the new concussion s in todays NFL.

Excited to watch "Lacerated," starring Jaden Smith, coming to theaters Christmas 2045.

[nyquillyn]

Lacerated organs are the new concussion s in todays NFL.

Excited to watch "Lacerated," starring Jaden Smith, coming to theaters Christmas 2045.

Do you think the NFL will have conceded a link between football and CTE by Christmas 2045?

[Simple Torture]

Lacerated organs are the new concussion s in todays NFL.

Excited to watch "Lacerated," starring Jaden Smith, coming to theaters Christmas 2045.

Do you think the NFL will have conceded a link between football and CTE by Christmas 2045?

I think Goodell's successor will make that the first thing he does in order to build good will with the fans/player's union. Take a % of profits and use it for a retired players' fund. Done and done.

[nyquillyn]

Lacerated organs are the new concussion s in todays NFL.

Excited to watch "Lacerated," starring Jaden Smith, coming to theaters Christmas 2045.

Do you think the NFL will have conceded a link between football and CTE by Christmas 2045?

I think Goodell's successor will make that the first thing he does in order to build good will with the fans/player's union. Take a % of profits and use it for a retired players' fund. Done and done.

I don't see that happening anytime soon. Not something that directly links the NFL to CTE anyway. I've read some recent stories with various team exes and "medical experts" the NFL has hired and they sound a lot like climate change deniers.

I hope I'm wrong.

[Simple Torture]

The PR's only going to get worse, is the way I see it, so it may force their hand. Although I think you're onto something when it comes to comparing it to climate change: just like politicians who get money from the energy lobbies need to deny climate change in order to keep lining their pockets, so too do owners need to keep denying CTE to make the big bucks. Also, I bet ya 95% of football viewers don't give a damn about it.

[Green Habit]

Also, I bet ya 95% of football viewers don't give a damn about it.

This is the end game as I see it. People will eventually accept there's a risk of concussions in playing football, and we'll all watch knowing that fact. And plenty of athletes will still want to play it knowing this, due to the fame and fortune they can obtain.